<p><strong>The Williams Companies</strong> <span class="ticker-mention inline-flex items-center font-bold">(WMB <span class="ml-1 text-red-900">2.10%</span>)</span> isn't usually considered a high-growth stock. But over the past five years, the midstream company's stock has more than tripled. If we include its reinvested dividends, it delivered a total return of more than 280%. Let's see why Williams' stock skyrocketed -- and why buying it today could be the best financial decision you ever make.</p>
<h2>What sets Williams apart from other midstream companies?</h2>
<p>Williams operates more than 33,000 miles of pipeline in the United States. Like other midstream companies, the company is well insulated from volatile commodity prices because it simply charges upstream and downstream companies &#34;tolls&#34; for using its infrastructure.</p>
<div><img alt="Natural gas pipelines." width="880" height="587" src="https://imageproxy.pbkrs.com/https://g.foolcdn.com/image//query-b3A9cmVzaXplJnVybD1odHRwczovL2cuZm9vbGNkbi5jb20vZWRpdG9yaWFsL2ltYWdlcy84NzAzMTgvbmF0dXJhbC1nYXMtcGlwZWxpbmVzLmpwZyZ3PTM4NDA?x-oss-process=image/auto-orient,1/interlace,1/resize,w_1440,h_1440/quality,q_95/format,jpg" original-src="https://imageproxy.pbkrs.com/https://g.foolcdn.com/image//query-b3A9cmVzaXplJnVybD1odHRwczovL2cuZm9vbGNkbi5jb20vZWRpdG9yaWFsL2ltYWdlcy84NzAzMTgvbmF0dXJhbC1nYXMtcGlwZWxpbmVzLmpwZyZ3PTM4NDA"/>
<p>Image source: Getty Images.</p>
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<p>But unlike many other midstream companies, which transport natural gas, crude oil, and other products through their pipelines, Williams primarily handles natural gas through its Transco pipeline system -- which runs from Texas to the Eastern Seaboard.</p>
<p>That natural gas &#34;superhighway&#34; transports roughly 30% of <span>the</span> country's natural gas production. The construction of new AI-oriented data centers, coal-to-gas conversion facilities, and reshored manufacturing facilities -- as well as population growth in the Southeast states and rising liquefied natural gas (LNG) exports -- have all been driving more gas through its pipelines.</p><div><div id="foolcom_sidebar_top_container"></div></div>
<section><div><div><div><small><div>Expand</div></small></div><div><img alt="Williams Companies Stock Quote" width="64" height="64" src="https://imageproxy.pbkrs.com/https://g.foolcdn.com/image//query-b3A9cmVzaXplJnVybD1odHRwczovL2cuZm9vbGNkbi5jb20vYXJ0L2NvbXBhbnlsb2dvcy9tYXJrL1dNQi5wbmcmdz0xMjg?x-oss-process=image/auto-orient,1/interlace,1/resize,w_1440,h_1440/quality,q_95/format,jpg" original-src="https://imageproxy.pbkrs.com/https://g.foolcdn.com/image//query-b3A9cmVzaXplJnVybD1odHRwczovL2cuZm9vbGNkbi5jb20vYXJ0L2NvbXBhbnlsb2dvcy9tYXJrL1dNQi5wbmcmdz0xMjg"/></div><div><h2>NYSE: WMB</h2><div>Williams Companies</div></div></div><div><div><div>Today's Change</div><div>(-2.10%) $-1.67</div><div>Current Price</div><div>$77.73</div></div><div></div></div></div><div><div></div><div><h3>Key Data Points</h3><div><div>Market Cap</div><div>$97B</div><div>Day's Range</div><div>$77.61 - $80.08</div><div>52wk Range</div><div>$55.82 - $80.08</div><div>Volume</div><div>3.5M</div><div>Avg Vol</div><div>6.4M</div><div>Gross Margin</div><div>43.17%</div><div>Dividend Yield</div><div>2.55%</div></div></div></div></section>
<p>Williams also builds &#34;behind the meter&#34; (BTM) sites at data centers to provide hyperscalers with a stable flow of natural gas while bypassing traditional utilities. That approach makes it more of a play on the booming AI, cloud, and data center markets than many of its midstream peers.</p><div></div>
<p>That's why its year-end backlog rose from $11.8 billion in 2024 <span>to</span> $15.5 billion in 2025. It also recently announced three new projects -- including <span>its</span> largest-ever 682 MW Neo power project -- to address the soaring demand for natural gas-fired electricity.</p><div><div id="in_line_article_pitch_container"></div></div>
<h2>Why could Williams generate even bigger gains?</h2>
<p>From 2020 <span>to</span> 2025, Williams' adjusted earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization (EBITDA) <span>grew</span> at a 9% CAGR from $5.11 billion to $7.75 billion. From 2025 to 2028, analysts expect its adjusted EBITDA to grow at <span>an</span> 11% CAGR to $10.51 billion.</p>
<p>With an enterprise value of $130.5 billion, Williams still looks like a bargain at 16 times this year's adjusted EBITDA. It also pays an attractive forward dividend yield of 2.6%.</p>
<p>If it matches analysts' estimates through 2028, grows its adjusted EBITDA at a 10% CAGR through 2036, and trades at a more generous 20 times its current year's adjusted EBITDA by the final year, its stock could more than triple over the next 10 years. So if you're looking for a simple pipeline way to profit from the natural gas boom, Williams checks all the right boxes.</p><div id="article_pitch_container"></div><div id="promobox_container"></div>

MLPX

<p>The Williams Companies (WMB) has seen its stock triple over the past five years, driven by its extensive natural gas pipeline network and growing demand from AI and data center markets. With a projected EBITDA growth of 11% CAGR from 2025 to 2028 and an attractive dividend yield of 2.6%, analysts suggest that investing in WMB could yield significant returns, potentially tripling its stock value over the next decade.</p>

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Here's Why Buying The Williams Companies (WMB) Today Could Be the Best Financial Decision You Ever Make