Pipeline giants Energy Transfer (NYSE: ET) and Oneok (NYSE: OKE) have made headline-grabbing multibillion-dollar acquisitions this year. Energy Transfer recently sealed a $7.1 billion deal to buy fellow master limited partnership (MLP) Crestwood Equity Partners, while Oneok is buying Magellan Midstream Partners for a whopping $18.8 billion.

These deals will enhance their already large-scale operations while growing their earnings. That should give them the fuel to continue increasing their high-yielding dividends.

With Oneok and Energy Transfer getting bigger, chief rivals Enterprise Products Partners (NYSE: EPD) and Kinder Morgan (NYSE: KMI) are facing the dilemma of whether they need to respond. Here's a look at whether they need to join the consolidation wave to fuel their growth.

Continue reading

Source Fool.com