Broader markets closed lower Wednesday, Aug. 9, driven partly by geopolitical uncertainty over tensions between the U.S. and North Korea. Among energy sectors, midstream companies advanced.
The Dow Jones Industrial Average retreated 0.17% to 22,048.70, and the S&P 500 shed 0.04% to close at 2,474.02. The SNL Energy Index slid 0.07% to 289.36.
Gulfport Energy Corp. saw a 5.36% surge in share price on active volume to end the day at $11.59. Gulfport announced second-quarter 2017 adjusted profits of $60.4 million, or 33 cents per share. The results helped the company avoid the selldown from investors that hit other shale oil drillers who missed second-quarter expert estimates.
Plains All American Pipeline LP surprised analysts after reporting a 172% year-over-year decline in adjusted EBITDA to a loss of $28 million. The stock price, however, climbed 3.40% to close at $21.01 on more than four times the average volume.
Moody's announced it might downgrade Plains All American Pipeline LP credit to junk status after the partnership's supply and logistics segment reported a steep decline. The rating agency has changed its outlook for Plains' Baa3 senior unsecured rating to "under review" from "negative."
Energy Transfer Partners LP shares gained 3.62% to finish at $20.03 on heavy trading.
The SNL Midstream Index increased 0.77% to 110.75.
In the coal sector, Rhino Resource Partners LP shares grew 5.99% to close at $2.30 on above-average volume. Rhino recorded net income of $290,000 in the second quarter of 2017 with adjusted EBITDA of $6.9 million. The SNL Coal Index shed 0.40% to 64.45.
Ameresco Inc. shares jumped 6.40% on below-average volume to close at $6.65 after reporting second-quarter 2017 adjusted EBITDA of $15.4 million, a 17% increase from $13.2 million in the comparable quarter of 2016.
Transalta Renewables Inc. shares slid 0.56% after an active session to C$14.15 following the release of second-quarter results. The company's comparable EBITDA of C$98 million was up from C$89 million in the same quarter of 2016.
Boralex Inc. shares slipped 1.63% on brisk volume to close at C$21.74 after reporting second-quarter EBITDA on a proportionate basis of C$67 million, an increase from C$48 million in the comparable quarter of 2016.
The SNL Merchant Generator Index reflected the overall market performance, losing 1.01% to finish at 97.52.
Valener Inc. reported adjusted income attributable to common shareholders of C$2.5 million for the third quarter of its fiscal 2017, compared to C$1.7 million for the same quarter in fiscal 2016. Valener shares added 2.40% on high volume to close at C$22.21.
The SNL Electric Company Index lost 0.41% to close at 484.95.
NYMEX September natural gas futures continued to advance in the midweek session as traders looked to the likelihood of another below-normal storage injection in the weekly inventory report set for release Aug. 10.
Market prices and index values are current as of the time of publication and are subject to change.