- J.P. Morgan says it expects the harsh oil and gas market conditions will force distribution cuts in 2016 from EV Energy Partners (EVEP-OLD -3%), Memorial Production Partners (MEMP -4.6%) and Legacy Reserves (LGCY -5.9%).
- "The market has come to the realization that supportive yield-based valuation metrics remain inadequate as distributions appear unsustainable against liquidity and balance sheet concerns,” JPM analyst Gabriel Daoud writes.
- The firm also downgrades Vanguard Natural Resources (VNR +0.4%) to Neutral from Overweight with a $5 price target, cut in half from $10, and lowers its price target for BP Prudhoe Bay Royalty Trust (BPT -6.1%) to $11 from $18.