News about WMB

Williams (WMB) closed at $71.28 on October 16, with a 0.5% return over 6 months, compared with 10.5% for the Insider Monkey Billionaire Index and 9.3% for the State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust. The article argues its main advantage is the Transco pipeline, which runs from the Gulf Coast up the eastern seaboard, where several attempts to build new pipe have been abandoned after failing to win approvals. A 39.54% operating margin and 21.50% return on equity are cited as evidence of this advantage, although revenue rose only 7.80% last quarter. Limits noted include debt at 200.37% of equity, rules that also restrict Williams' own growth, and a price of 26.81 times expected next-year earnings. The dividend yields 2.95%.