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ONEOK dividend yield and MLP exposure: why OKE ranks among top income names. By Joel Kornblau, Editor, Energy Stock Channel, Friday, August 14, 2026, 8:12 AM ET ONEOK Inc (NYSE: OKE) has been identified by Dividend Channel as a top-ranked MLP-related income security in its latest DividendRank report. The screening highlights OKE for a combination of valuation, profitability, and distribution strength, placing the company in focus for investors evaluating dividend yield, midstream energy exposure, and durable cash-generation characteristics. While OKE itself is a C-corporation rather than a traditional master limited partnership, it is closely tied to the same midstream energy infrastructure themes that often define the MLP universe, including pipelines, natural gas liquids transportation, storage, and processing. That makes the stock relevant in discussions of MLP-style income exposure, particularly for investors seeking energy infrastructure cash flows without the partnership tax reporting associated with many MLPs. Why OKE appears in a top-ranked MLP screen. The report states: "Dividend investors approaching investing from a value standpoint are generally most interested in researching the strongest most profitable companies, that also happen to be trading at an attractive valuation. That's what we aim to find using our proprietary DividendRank formula, which ranks the coverage universe based upon our various criteria for both profitability and valuation, to generate a list of the top most 'interesting' stocks, meant for investors as a source of ideas that merit further research." That framework is notable because it does not rely on yield alone. In the midstream and MLP space, headline yields can be elevated for very different reasons: resilient fee-based cash flow, cyclical commodity sensitivity, balance-sheet stress, or a market expectation of slower growth. A ranking system that incorporates profitability and valuation alongside income can provide a more useful starting point than yield screening in isolation. For OKE, the case appears to rest on several factors: * Established distribution record: A long operating and payout history remains a central consideration in income-oriented analysis. * Exposure to essential midstream assets: Pipeline and processing networks can generate recurring cash flows tied to volumes and contractual arrangements. * Profitability and scale: Larger midstream operators often benefit from asset integration, network effects, and access to lower-cost capital. * Valuation support: A stock can screen well when its income profile is paired with earnings or cash-flow multiples that compare favorably within its peer set. What MLP investors should know about ONEOK. MLPs are publicly traded limited partnerships that generally derive at least 90% of income from qualifying sources under U.S. tax rules, often including pipeline and other energy infrastructure activities. The structure has historically offered tax advantages, but it also commonly results in Schedule K-1 reporting for unitholders rather than the simpler Form 1099 typically associated with corporate dividends. ONEOK differs from many traditional MLPs because investors in OKE stock generally receive standard corporate dividend treatment rather than partnership distributions reported on a K-1. That distinction matters. In practice, some investors want midstream yield exposure but prefer to avoid the complexity that can accompany partnership taxation, state filing considerations, or the treatment of MLPs in certain account types. ONEOK's current dividend and yield context. The current annualized distribution paid by ONEOK Inc is $4.28 per share, paid in quarterly installments, and its most recent dividend ex-date was 08/03/2026. At the yield referenced in the report, that payout places OKE in the upper tier of large-cap U.S. corporate dividend payers, while remaining below the highest-yielding names in the MLP universe. That relative positioning can be significant. In energy infrastructure, an intermediate yield can sometimes indicate a market view that balances income with expectations for operating stability, capital discipline, and moderate growth. By contrast, much higher yields in the sector may reflect greater perceived risk, weaker coverage, or lower confidence in future payout durability. How to evaluate OKE beyond the headline yield. A yield figure is only one part of the investment case. For a company such as ONEOK, several additional considerations are typically more important in determining whether the dividend is well supported over time: * Cash-flow coverage: The relationship between distributable cash generation and dividend obligations remains fundamental. * Balance-sheet strength: Leverage, refinancing needs, and interest expense can materially affect flexibility in a capital-intensive business. * Volume and throughput trends: Midstream systems are generally more resilient when supported by stable demand and well-connected basin exposure. * Contract structure: Fee-based revenues tend to be viewed as more defensive than direct commodity price exposure. * Capital allocation: Acquisitions, expansion projects, and debt reduction all influence long-term dividend capacity. These factors help explain why a company can sustain an attractive dividend even when commodity markets are volatile. Midstream operators are not fully insulated from energy cycles, but businesses centered on transportation, gathering, processing, and storage often depend more on volumes, customer activity, and contract quality than on outright oil or gas price direction alone. Distribution history still matters. The report also emphasizes ONEOK's long-term distribution history, and that focus is well placed. Historical payout patterns cannot guarantee future results, but they do provide evidence of management's capital allocation priorities, the underlying resilience of the asset base, and the company's ability to navigate multiple commodity and rate environments. Investors often review dividend history for three specific reasons: * Consistency: Has the company maintained regular payments through varied market conditions? * Growth trajectory: Has the payout expanded over time, or has it merely remained static? * Stress signals: Have there been interruptions, resets, or periods of elevated strain? Below is the long-term distribution history chart for OKE referenced in the report: Bottom line. ONEOK's inclusion in a top-ranked MLP screen reflects more than its 4.6% yield. The company sits at the intersection of income, infrastructure, and large-scale midstream operations, with a business model that can appeal to investors looking for MLP-like exposure in a corporate structure. The key question is not simply whether the current yield looks attractive, but whether OKE's cash-flow profile, balance sheet, and asset positioning support that payout over time. On that basis, the stock's ranking is understandable and merits closer examination.

ONEOK, Inc. $OKE shares acquired by PensionDanmark Pensionsforsikringsaktieselskab. August 8, 2026 Key points. * PensionDanmark increased its ONEOK stake by 11.5% in the second quarter, adding 12,800 shares for a total holding of 124,460 shares valued at $10.8 million. Institutional investors collectively own 69.13% of the company. * ONEOK reported quarterly earnings of $1.53 per share, exceeding the $1.46 consensus estimate, while revenue reached $12.05 billion. Analysts expect $5.87 in current-year EPS, and the stock has a "Moderate Buy" consensus rating with a $91.81 price target. * The company declared a quarterly dividend of $1.07 per share, or $4.28 annually, representing a 5.0% yield and a 73.79% payout ratio. * Five stocks we like better than ONEOK. PensionDanmark Pensionsforsikringsaktieselskab lifted its holdings in shares of ONEOK, Inc. (NYSE:OKE - Free Report) by 11.5% during the second quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The fund owned 124,460 shares of the utilities provider's stock after acquiring an additional 12,800 shares during the period. PensionDanmark Pensionsforsikringsaktieselskab's holdings in ONEOK were worth $10,821,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period. Several other institutional investors and hedge funds have also recently bought and sold shares of OKE. Clearstead Trust LLC boosted its stake in shares of ONEOK by 4.7% in the first quarter. Clearstead Trust LLC now owns 2,632 shares of the utilities provider's stock valued at $238,000 after purchasing an additional 117 shares during the period. Hoxton Planning & Management LLC lifted its holdings in ONEOK by 2.3% in the 4th quarter. Hoxton Planning & Management LLC now owns 5,372 shares of the utilities provider's stock worth $395,000 after buying an additional 120 shares in the last quarter. Welch Group LLC boosted its position in ONEOK by 0.8% in the 1st quarter. Welch Group LLC now owns 14,859 shares of the utilities provider's stock valued at $1,343,000 after buying an additional 122 shares during the last quarter. Pine Valley Investments Ltd Liability Co boosted its position in ONEOK by 0.5% in the 1st quarter. Pine Valley Investments Ltd Liability Co now owns 26,261 shares of the utilities provider's stock valued at $2,374,000 after buying an additional 122 shares during the last quarter. Finally, FAS Wealth Partners Inc. grew its stake in shares of ONEOK by 2.1% during the first quarter. FAS Wealth Partners Inc. now owns 6,057 shares of the utilities provider's stock valued at $548,000 after acquiring an additional 123 shares in the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 69.13% of the company's stock. ONEOK stock performance. Shares of OKE stock opened at $86.33 on Friday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.34, a quick ratio of 0.56 and a current ratio of 0.74. ONEOK, Inc. has a one year low of $64.02 and a one year high of $96.07. The company's 50-day simple moving average is $88.95 and its 200-day simple moving average is $87.04. The stock has a market capitalization of $54.42 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 14.89, a PEG ratio of 4.58 and a beta of 0.73. ONEOK (NYSE:OKE - Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Monday, August 3rd. The utilities provider reported $1.53 earnings per share for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $1.46 by $0.07. ONEOK had a return on equity of 16.41% and a net margin of 9.29%.The firm had revenue of $12.05 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $8.95 billion. During the same period in the previous year, the company earned $1.34 earnings per share. ONEOK has set its FY 2026 guidance at 5.680-5.680 EPS. Equities analysts anticipate that ONEOK, Inc. will post 5.87 earnings per share for the current fiscal year. ONEOK announces dividend. The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, August 14th. Stockholders of record on Monday, August 3rd will be given a $1.07 dividend. The ex-dividend date is Monday, August 3rd. This represents a $4.28 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 5.0%. ONEOK's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 73.79%. Wall Street analysts forecast growth. OKE has been the topic of several recent analyst reports. Royal Bank Of Canada boosted their price target on ONEOK from $84.00 to $90.00 and gave the stock a "sector perform" rating in a research note on Tuesday, July 21st. Truist Financial raised their price objective on ONEOK from $91.00 to $93.00 and gave the company a "hold" rating in a research note on Monday, May 4th. Morgan Stanley restated an "equal weight" rating and set a $103.00 price objective (down from $113.00) on shares of ONEOK in a report on Wednesday, July 29th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. increased their target price on ONEOK from $91.00 to $92.00 and gave the company a "neutral" rating in a research note on Friday, May 8th. Finally, Citigroup raised their price target on shares of ONEOK from $95.00 to $97.00 and gave the stock a "buy" rating in a research report on Thursday, May 7th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, seven have issued a Buy rating and ten have assigned a Hold rating to the company's stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus price target of $91.81. ONEOK profile. ONEOK, Inc NYSE: OKE is a publicly traded midstream energy company headquartered in Tulsa, Oklahoma. The company owns and operates a portfolio of natural gas and natural gas liquids (NGL) pipelines, processing facilities, fractionators and storage and terminal assets. Its operations are focused on gathering, processing, transporting, fractionating and marketing NGLs and interstate natural gas, providing critical infrastructure that connects hydrocarbon production to refineries, petrochemical plants and other end markets. ONEOK's asset base includes pipeline systems and processing plants that move and condition natural gas, along with infrastructure for the transportation, storage and fractionation of NGLs such as ethane, propane and butane. Want to see what other hedge funds are holding OKE? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for ONEOK, Inc. (NYSE:OKE - Free Report). This instant news alert was generated by narrative science technology and financial data from MarketBeat in order to provide readers with the fastest reporting and unbiased coverage. Please send any questions or comments about this story to [email protected]. Continue following MarketBeat Before you consider ONEOK, you'll want to hear this. MarketBeat keeps track of Wall Street's top-rated and best performing research analysts and the stocks they recommend to their clients on a daily basis. MarketBeat has identified the five stocks that top analysts are quietly whispering to their clients to buy now before the broader market catches on... and ONEOK wasn't on the list. While ONEOK currently has a Moderate Buy rating among analysts, top-rated analysts believe these five stocks are better buys. Discover the 10 Best High-Yield Dividend Stocks for 2026 and secure reliable income in uncertain markets. Download the report now to identify top dividend payers and avoid common yield traps.