WESTERN MIDSTREAM ANNOUNCES FIRST-QUARTER 2024 RESULTS
- Reported record first-quarter 2024 Net income attributable to limited partners of $559.5 million, generating record first-quarter Adjusted EBITDA(1) of $608.4 million.
- Reported first-quarter 2024 Cash flows provided by operating activities of $399.7 million, generating first-quarter Free cash flow(1) of $225.0 million.
- Announced a first-quarter Base Distribution of $0.875 per unit, or $3.50 per unit on an annualized basis, which represents a 52-percent increase over the prior-quarter's distribution.
- Completed the start-up of Mentone Train III ("Mentone III") at our West Texas complex in early April.
- Year-to-date, repurchased a total of $150.0 million of senior notes at approximately 96-percent of par.
HOUSTON, May 8, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Today Western Midstream Partners, LP (NYSE: WES) ("WES" or the "Partnership") announced first-quarter 2024 financial and operating results. Net income (loss) attributable to limited partners for the first quarter of 2024 totaled $559.5 million, or $1.47 per common unit (diluted), with first-quarter 2024 Adjusted EBITDA(1) totaling $608.4 million. First-quarter 2024 Cash flows provided by operating activities totaled $399.7 million, and first-quarter 2024 Free cash flow(1) totaled $225.0 million.
RECENT HIGHLIGHTS
- Gathered record natural-gas throughput across our asset base and in the Delaware Basin of 5.2 Bcf/d and 1.8 Bcf/d, respectively, representing a 2-percent and 3-percent sequential-quarter increase, respectively.
- Achieved operated asset crude-oil and NGLs throughput of 374 MBbls/d, representing a 2-percent sequential-quarter increase.
- Gathered record Delaware Basin produced-water throughput of 1,149 MBbls/d, representing a 7-percent sequential-quarter increase.
- Achieved sequential-quarter throughput growth for both natural-gas and crude-oil and NGLs in the DJ Basin of 2-percent and 7-percent, respectively.
- Closed all five previously announced non-core asset sales for total aggregate proceeds of $794.8 million, including $5.9 million in pro-rata distributions through closing, during and shortly after the end of the first quarter.
- Completed the start-up of Mentone III, increasing WES's operated, nameplate natural-gas processing capacity by 300 MMcf/d to approximately 1.9 Bcf/d at our West Texas complex in the Delaware Basin.
- Repurchased $15.1 million of senior notes through open-market transactions during the first quarter, and repurchased an additional $134.9 million to date in the second quarter, all at approximately 96-percent of par.
On May 15, 2024, WES will pay its first-quarter 2024 per-unit Base Distribution of $0.875, which is an increase of 52-percent compared to the prior quarter's distribution. First-quarter 2024 Free cash flow(1) after distributions totaled $1.5 million. First-quarter 2024 capital expenditures(2) totaled $205.4 million.
First-quarter 2024 natural-gas throughput(3) averaged 5.0 Bcf/d, representing a 2-percent sequential-quarter increase. First-quarter 2024 throughput for crude-oil and NGLs assets(3) averaged 565 MBbls/d, representing a 20-percent sequential-quarter decrease as a result of the previously announced equity-investment asset sales. When focusing specifically on operated throughput, crude-oil and NGLs assets averaged 374 MBbls/d, representing a 2-percent sequential-quarter increase. First-quarter 2024 throughput for produced-water assets(3) averaged 1,126 MBbls/d, representing a 7-percent sequential-quarter increase.
"The first quarter was very successful for WES as we generated the highest quarterly Net income and Adjusted EBITDA in our partnership's history," said Michael Ure, President and Chief Executive Officer. "These records were primarily driven by increased throughput across all operated assets and across all products. We also set new gathering records for natural-gas and produced-water throughput in the Delaware Basin, and we continued to experience natural-gas and crude-oil and NGLs throughput growth in the DJ Basin."
"These strong results, coupled with increased throughput expectations predominately in the Delaware Basin, have caused us to increase our average year-over-year throughput growth expectations for 2024. Additionally, this improved outlook puts WES in a strong position to achieve the high-end of our previously announced 2024 Adjusted EBITDA and Free cash flow guidance ranges."
"I am also extremely pleased to announce that Mentone III at our West Texas complex in the Delaware Basin is now in service and has reached nameplate capacity of 300 MMcf/d. I would like to thank and congratulate the teams that worked so diligently to bring this project to fruition. The addition of Mentone III will bring WES's operated natural-gas processing capacity in the Delaware Basin to approximately 1.9 Bcf/d and represents our first, major new-build construction project since becoming a standalone enterprise in early 2020."
"We also have now successfully closed on all five of the previously announced non-core asset sales, which enabled us to accelerate the deleveraging process following the fully debt-financed Meritage Midstream acquisition that closed in the fourth quarter of 2023. As of the end of the first quarter, WES's net leverage ratio on a trailing-twelve-month basis was approximately 3.3 times, which incorporates our five-and-a-half months ownership of Meritage as well as the proceeds received from the non-core asset sales that closed during the first quarter, and we expect to reduce leverage to, or below, our 3.0 times leverage threshold by year-end," continued Mr. Ure.
"Additionally, we remain committed to our strong capital-return framework, and we continue to have line of sight to returning incremental capital to stakeholders as the business performs and Free cash flow continues to grow. Our consistent focus on prudently allocating capital, targeting strong returns, and generating meaningful amounts of Free cash flow has optimized the MLP model and transformed WES into a leader within the midstream space. The adoption of strong operating philosophies combined with our low leverage, robust Free cash flow, and diversified asset base has resulted in a more viable partnership with a strong financial foundation that is well positioned to survive through challenging commodity cycles and market conditions," concluded Mr. Ure.
CONFERENCE CALL TOMORROW AT 1:00 P.M. CT
WES will host a conference call on Thursday, May 9, 2024, at 1:00 p.m. Central Time (2:00 p.m. Eastern Time) to discuss its first-quarter 2024 results. To access the live audio webcast of the conference call, please visit the investor relations section of the Partnership's website at www.westernmidstream.com. A small number of phone lines are available for analysts; individuals should dial 800-836-8184 (Domestic) or 646-357-8785 (International) ten to fifteen minutes before the scheduled conference call time. A replay of the live audio webcast can be accessed on the Partnership's website at www.westernmidstream.com for one year after the call.
For additional details on WES's financial and operational performance, please refer to the earnings slides and updated investor presentation available at www.westernmidstream.com.
ABOUT WESTERN MIDSTREAM
Western Midstream Partners, LP ("WES") is a master limited partnership formed to develop, acquire, own, and operate midstream assets. With midstream assets located in Texas, New Mexico, Colorado, Utah, and Wyoming, WES is engaged in the business of gathering, compressing, treating, processing, and transporting natural gas; gathering, stabilizing, and transporting condensate, natural-gas liquids, and crude oil; and gathering and disposing of produced water for its customers. In its capacity as a natural-gas processor, WES also buys and sells natural gas, natural-gas liquids, and condensate on behalf of itself and its customers under certain gas processing contracts. A substantial majority of WES's cash flows are protected from direct exposure to commodity price volatility through fee-based contracts.
For more information about WES, please visit www.westernmidstream.com.
This news release contains forward-looking statements. WES's management believes that its expectations are based on reasonable assumptions. No assurance, however, can be given that such expectations will prove correct. A number of factors could cause actual results to differ materially from the projections, anticipated results, or other expectations expressed in this news release. These factors include our ability to meet financial guidance or distribution expectations; our ability to safely and efficiently operate WES's assets; the supply of, demand for, and price of oil, natural gas, NGLs, and related products or services; our ability to meet projected in-service dates for capital-growth projects; construction costs or capital expenditures exceeding estimated or budgeted costs or expenditures; and the other factors described in the "Risk Factors" section of WES's most-recent Form 10-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission and other public filings and press releases. WES undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements.
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(1) |
Please see the definitions of the Partnership's non-GAAP measures at the end of this release and reconciliation of GAAP to non-GAAP measures. |
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(2) |
Accrual-based, includes equity investments, excludes capitalized interest, and excludes capital expenditures associated with the 25% third-party interest in Chipeta. |
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(3) |
Represents total throughput attributable to WES, which excludes (i) the 2.0% limited partner interest in WES Operating owned by an Occidental subsidiary and (ii) for natural-gas throughput, the 25% third-party interest in Chipeta, which collectively represent WES's noncontrolling interests. |
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WESTERN MIDSTREAM CONTACTS
Daniel Jenkins
Director, Investor Relations
Investors@westernmidstream.com
866.512.3523
Rhianna Disch
Manager, Investor Relations
Investors@westernmidstream.com
866.512.3523
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Western Midstream Partners, LP CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS (Unaudited) |
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Three Months Ended March 31, |
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thousands except per-unit amounts |
2024 |
2023 |
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Revenues and other |
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Service revenues – fee based |
$ 781,262 |
$ 647,867 |
|
|
Service revenues – product based |
66,740 |
46,810 |
|
|
Product sales |
39,292 |
39,025 |
|
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Other |
435 |
280 |
|
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Total revenues and other |
887,729 |
733,982 |
|
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Equity income, net – related parties |
32,819 |
39,021 |
|
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Operating expenses |
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Cost of product |
46,079 |
51,459 |
|
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Operation and maintenance |
194,939 |
174,239 |
|
|
General and administrative |
67,839 |
51,117 |
|
|
Property and other taxes |
13,920 |
6,831 |
|
|
Depreciation and amortization |
157,991 |
144,626 |
|
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Long-lived asset and other impairments |
23 |
52,401 |
|
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Total operating expenses |
480,791 |
480,673 |
|
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Gain (loss) on divestiture and other, net |
239,617 |
(2,118) |
|
|
Operating income (loss) |
679,374 |
290,212 |
|
|
Interest expense |
(94,506) |
(81,670) |
|
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Gain (loss) on early extinguishment of debt |
524 |
— |
|
|
Other income (expense), net |
2,346 |
1,215 |
|
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Income (loss) before income taxes |
587,738 |
209,757 |
|
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Income tax expense (benefit) |
1,522 |
1,416 |
|
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Net income (loss) |
586,216 |
208,341 |
|
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Net income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interests |
13,386 |
4,696 |
|
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Net income (loss) attributable to Western Midstream Partners, LP |
$ 572,830 |
$ 203,645 |
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Limited partners' interest in net income (loss): |
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Net income (loss) attributable to Western Midstream Partners, LP |
$ 572,830 |
$ 203,645 |
|
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General partner interest in net (income) loss |
(13,330) |
(4,686) |
|
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Limited partners' interest in net income (loss) |
$ 559,500 |
$ 198,959 |
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Net income (loss) per common unit – basic |
$ 1.47 |
$ 0.52 |
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Net income (loss) per common unit – diluted |
$ 1.47 |
$ 0.52 |
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Weighted-average common units outstanding – basic |
380,024 |
384,468 |
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Weighted-average common units outstanding – diluted |
381,628 |
385,750 |
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Western Midstream Partners, LP CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (Unaudited) |
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thousands except number of units |
March 31, 2024 |
December 31, 2023 |
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Total current assets |
$ 1,066,347 |
$ 992,410 |
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Net property, plant, and equipment |
9,725,292 |
9,655,016 |
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Other assets |
1,473,831 |
1,824,181 |
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Total assets |
$ 12,265,470 |
$ 12,471,607 |
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Total current liabilities |
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