Oil refiner and marketer Sunoco is close to being bought by Energy Transfers Partners for $5.3 billion. Sunoco’s BB+ credit rating is on CreditWatch positive, meaning it’s at risk of an upgrade.
The other company on the verge is HollyFrontier, an oil refiner and marketer. HollyFrontier is the only company mentioned here that is looking good not because of consolidation, but because of its long track record of being among the most profitable refiners in the U.S.
The company has low financial leverage and, most importantly, access to WTI crude, which trades at a discount to Brent and Louisiana Light Sweet crude.