Better Buy: Ferrellgas Partners, L.P. vs. WGL Holdings

Income investors looking for dividend stocks that provide exposure to midstream and downstream natural gas industries may cast their eye upon Ferrellgas Partners LP (NYSE: FGP) and WGL Holdings (NYSE: WGL). The former is the owner and nationwide distributor of Blue Rhino propane tanks, and it pays out a sizable annual distribution yielding 8.3%. The latter is a holding company with hands in multiple cookie jars spanning natural gas utilities and natural gas storage.

Both companies own midstream businesses, but that's about where the comparisons end. In the last three years, these two dividend stocks have performed as mirror images of each other.