** Shares of pipeline operator Kinder Morgan KMI.N rise 1.2% to $28.30 premarket
** KMI beats Wall Street expectations for fourth-quarter profit, helped by higher volumes of natural gas transported through its pipelines
** Co posts adjusted EPS of 39 cents, beating analysts' estimates of 37 cents - LSEG data
** TD Cowen raises PT to $35 from $34 and reiterates "buy" rating; highlights that KMI is emphasizing LNG‑related growth over data‑center load
** Says LNG is the "largest and most certain driver" of U.S. gas demand growth into 2030
** As of last close, KMI up nearly 4% YTD
(Reporting by Tharuniyaa Lakshmi in Bengaluru)
((tharuniyaa@thomsonreuters.com))