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Western Midstream Partners LP

WESTERN MIDSTREAM ANNOUNCES THIRD-QUARTER 2024 RESULTS

  • Reported third-quarter 2024 Net income attributable to limited partners of $281.8 million, generating third-quarter Adjusted EBITDA(1) of $566.9 million.
  • Reported third-quarter 2024 Cash flows provided by operating activities of $551.3 million, generating third-quarter Free cash flow(1) of $365.1 million.
  • Announced a third-quarter Base Distribution of $0.875 per unit, or $3.50 per unit on an annualized basis, which is in-line with the prior-quarter's Base Distribution.

HOUSTON , Nov. 6, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Today Western Midstream Partners, LP (NYSE: WES) ("WES" or the "Partnership") announced third-quarter 2024 financial and operating results. Net income (loss) attributable to limited partners for the third quarter of 2024 totaled $281.8 million, or $0.74 per common unit (diluted), with third-quarter 2024 Adjusted EBITDA(1) totaling $566.9 million. Third-quarter 2024 Cash flows provided by operating activities totaled $551.3 million, and third-quarter 2024 Free cash flow(1) totaled $365.1 million.

RECENT HIGHLIGHTS

  • Gathered record natural-gas and crude-oil and NGLs throughput in the Delaware Basin of 1.9 Bcf/d and 246 MBbls/d, respectively, each representing a 2-percent sequential-quarter increase.
  • Gathered record natural-gas and crude-oil and NGLs throughput in the Powder River Basin of 505 MMcf/d and 26 MBbls/d, respectively, representing sequential-quarter increases of 19-percent and 4-percent, respectively.
  • Achieved increased produced-water throughput in the Delaware Basin of 1,121 MBbls/d, representing a 2-percent sequential-quarter increase.
  • Issued $800.0 million of 5.450% senior notes due 2034, the proceeds from which will be used to repay a portion of the Partnership's senior notes due in 2025, and for general partnership purposes.
  • Maintained strong operational performance and continued flow assurance for our customers, with system operability above 98-percent, despite multiple plant turnarounds in several of our core operating basins.
  • Subsequent to quarter-end, executed agreements to realign the commercial structure of the Mi Vida joint venture, which will provide WES with 100 MMcf/d of dedicated natural-gas processing capacity in the Delaware Basin beginning in mid-2025.

On November 14, 2024, WES will pay its third-quarter 2024 per-unit Base Distribution of $0.875, which is in-line with the prior quarter's Base Distribution. Third-quarter 2024 Free cash flow(1) after distributions totaled $24.3 million. Third-quarter 2024 capital expenditures(2) totaled $198.1 million.

Third-quarter 2024 natural-gas throughput(3) averaged 5.0 Bcf/d, representing a 1-percent sequential quarter increase. Third-quarter 2024 throughput for crude-oil and NGLs assets(3) averaged 506 MBbls/d, representing a 2-percent sequential-quarter decrease. Third-quarter 2024 throughput for produced-water assets(3) averaged 1,099 MBbls/d, representing a 2-percent sequential-quarter increase.

"We achieved another quarter of record natural-gas and crude-oil and NGLs throughput in the Delaware Basin and experienced continued strong throughput growth in the Powder River Basin as the Meritage Midstream acquisition continues to exceed our expectations," said Oscar Brown, President and Chief Executive Officer. "However, our profitability declined slightly quarter-over-quarter, primarily due to lower natural-gas liquids recoveries and lower commodity prices in the Delaware Basin, lower distributions from our equity investments, and higher operation and maintenance expense, which is typical in the third quarter."

Mr. Brown continued, "Looking to the fourth quarter, we estimate increased Adjusted EBITDA primarily driven by continued steady throughput growth from our core operating basins and lower operation and maintenance expense. While we still expect Adjusted EBITDA to be towards the high end of our previously announced $2.2 billion to $2.4 billion guidance range for the year, we are reducing our average year-over-year crude-oil and NGLs and produced-water throughput growth expectations."

"In August, we issued $800.0 million of new senior notes in a highly successful offering that resulted in the best 10-year credit spread in WES's history. Our trailing-twelve-month net leverage ratio has comfortably reached our year-end 2024 threshold of 3.0 times, and we will continue to look for the most efficient ways to allocate capital to generate the best returns for our unitholders. Those options continue to include organic growth opportunities to prudently expand the business, accretive M&A similar to the Meritage Midstream acquisition, and increasing the Base Distribution in-line with the growth of the business. Our strong operating model, improved balance sheet, and transparent capital-return framework, all provide WES with a solid foundation that is well positioned for future success," concluded Mr. Brown.

CONFERENCE CALL TOMORROW AT 1:00 P.M. CT

WES will host a conference call on Thursday, November 7, 2024, at 1:00 p.m. Central Time (2:00 p.m. Eastern Time) to discuss its third-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.

2023 SUSTAINABILITY REPORT

Today WES released its annual sustainability report focused on environmental, social, and governance (ESG) issues. The report details the Partnership's continued focus on the three core pillars of its ESG approach: supporting sustainable environments, focusing on people, and operating responsibly. To download and read the full report, please click on the Sustainability section of our website 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.

______________________________________________________________

(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.

(2)

Accrual-based, includes equity investments, excludes capitalized interest, and excludes capital expenditures associated with the 25% third-party interest in Chipeta.

(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.



 

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

Western Midstream Partners, LP

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS

(Unaudited)




Three Months Ended 

September 30,


Nine Months Ended 

September 30,

thousands except per-unit amounts


2024


2023


2024


2023

Revenues and other









Service revenues – fee based


$      814,319


$      695,547


$   2,389,366


$   2,004,920

Service revenues – product based


49,115


48,446


177,321


142,212

Product sales


19,673


31,652


109,076


100,336

Other


255


368


957


800

Total revenues and other


883,362


776,013


2,676,720


2,248,268

Equity income, net – related parties


23,977


35,494


84,227


116,839

Operating expenses









Cost of product


32,847


27,590


132,936


123,795

Operation and maintenance


231,066


204,434


649,324


562,104

General and administrative


64,726


55,050


195,498


159,572

Property and other taxes


12,635


14,583


43,984


39,961

Depreciation and amortization


166,015


147,363


487,438


435,481

Long-lived asset and other impairments


4,651


245


6,204


52,880

Total operating expenses


511,940


449,265


1,515,384


1,373,793

Gain (loss) on divestiture and other, net


467


(1,480)


299,426


(3,668)

Operating income (loss)


395,866


360,762


1,544,989


987,646

Interest expense


(94,149)


(82,754)


(279,177)


(250,606)

Gain (loss) on early extinguishment of debt


—


8,565


5,403


15,378

Other income (expense), net


9,565


(1,270)


16,124


2,817

Income (loss) before income taxes


311,282


285,303


1,287,339


755,235

Income tax expense (benefit)


15,390


905


17,667


2,980

Net income (loss)


295,892


284,398


1,269,672


752,255

Net income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interests


7,412


7,102


29,714


18,393

Net income (loss) attributable to Western Midstream Partners, LP


$      288,480


$      277,296


$   1,239,958


$      733,862

Limited partners' interest in net income (loss):









Net income (loss) attributable to Western Midstream Partners, LP


$      288,480


$      277,296


$   1,239,958


$      733,862

General partner interest in net (income) loss


(6,708)


(6,453)


(28,845)


(16,960)

Limited partners' interest in net income (loss)


$      281,772


$      270,843


$   1,211,113


$      716,902

Net income (loss) per common unit – basic


$            0.74


$            0.71


$            3.18


$            1.87

Net income (loss) per common unit – diluted


$            0.74


$            0.70


$            3.17


$            1.86

Weighted-average common units outstanding – basic


380,513


383,561


380,343


384,211

Weighted-average common units outstanding – diluted


382,620


384,772


382,189


385,344

 

Western Midstream Partners, LP

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

(Unaudited)

 

thousands except number of units


September 30,
2024


December 31,
2023

Total current assets


$       1,832,688


$           992,410

Net property, plant, and equipment


9,695,591


9,655,016

Other assets


1,452,945


1,824,181

Total assets


$     12,981,224


$     12,471,607

Total current liabilities


$       1,646,195


$       1,304,056

Long-term debt


6,929,212


7,283,556

Asset retirement obligations


374,646


359,185

Other liabilities


653,654


495,680

Total liabilities


9,603,707


9,442,477

Equity and partners' capital





Common units (380,555,427 and 379,519,983 units issued and outstanding at September 30,
2024, and December 31, 2023, respectively)


3,225,855


2,894,231

General partner units (9,060,641 units issued and outstanding at September 30, 2024, and
December 31, 2023)


10,972


3,193

Noncontrolling interests


140,690


131,706

Total liabilities, equity, and partners' capital


$     12,981,224


$     12,471,607

 

Western Midstream Partners, LP

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

(Unaudited)




Nine Months Ended 

September 30,

thousands


2024


2023

Cash flows from operating activities





Net income (loss)


$    1,269,672


$       752,255

Adjustments to reconcile net income (loss) to net cash provided by operating activities and
changes in assets and liabilities:





Depreciation and amortization


487,438


435,481

Long-lived asset and other impairments


6,204


52,880

(Gain) loss on divestiture and other, net


(299,426)


3,668

(Gain) loss on early extinguishment of debt


(5,403)


(15,378)

Change in other items, net


123,929


(40,872)

Net cash provided by operating activities


$    1,582,414


$    1,188,034

Cash flows from investing activities





Capital expenditures


$     (595,087)


$     (536,427)

Acquisitions from third parties


(443)


—

Contributions to equity investments - related parties


—


(1,153)

Distributions from equity investments in excess of cumulative earnings – related parties


27,560


31,715

Proceeds from the sale of assets to third parties


792,241


(60)

(Increase) decrease in materials and supplies inventory and other


(33,118)


(32,659)

Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities


$       191,153


$     (538,584)

Cash flows from financing activities





Borrowings, net of debt issuance costs


$       789,193


$    1,801,011

Repayments of debt


(143,852)


(1,317,928)

Commercial paper borrowings (repayments), net


(610,312)


—

Increase (decrease) in outstanding checks


(2,282)


(241)

Distributions to Partnership unitholders


(905,155)


(754,998)

Distributions to Chipeta noncontrolling interest owner


(2,228)


(5,083)

Distributions to noncontrolling interest owner of WES Operating


(18,502)


(18,260)

Unit repurchases


—


(134,602)

Other


(28,479)


(16,511)

Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities


$      (921,617)


$      (446,612)

Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents


$       851,950


$       202,838

Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period


272,787


286,656

Cash and cash equivalents at end of period


$    1,124,737


$       489,494

 

Western Midstream Partners, LP
RECONCILIATION OF GAAP TO NON-GAAP MEASURES

WES defines Adjusted gross margin attributable to Western Midstream Partners, LP ("Adjusted gross margin") as total revenues and other (less reimbursements for electricity-related expenses recorded as revenue), less cost of product, plus distributions from equity investments, and excluding the noncontrolling interest owners' proportionate share of revenues and cost of product.

WES defines Adjusted EBITDA attributable to Western Midstream Partners, LP ("Adjusted EBITDA") as net income (loss), plus (i) distributions from equity investments, (ii) non-cash equity-based compensation expense, (iii) interest expense, (iv) income tax expense, (v) depreciation and amortization, (vi) impairments, and (vii) other expense (including lower of cost or market inventory adjustments recorded in cost of product), less (i) gain (loss) on divestiture and other, net, (ii) gain (loss) on early extinguishment of debt, (iii) income from equity investments, (iv) interest income, (v) income tax benefit, (vi) other income, and (vii) the noncontrolling interest owners' proportionate share of revenues and expenses.

WES defines Free cash flow as net cash provided by operating activities less total capital expenditures and contributions to equity investments, plus distributions from equity investments in excess of cumulative earnings.

Below are reconciliations of (i) gross margin (GAAP) to Adjusted gross margin (non-GAAP), (ii) net income (loss) (GAAP) and net cash provided by operating activities (GAAP) to Adjusted EBITDA (non-GAAP), and (iii) net cash provided by operating activities (GAAP) to Free cash flow (non-GAAP), as required under Regulation G of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. Management believes that Adjusted gross margin, Adjusted EBITDA, and Free cash flow are widely accepted financial indicators of WES's financial performance compared to other publicly traded partnerships and are useful in assessing WES's ability to incur and service debt, fund capital expenditures, and make distributions. Adjusted gross margin, Adjusted EBITDA, and Free cash flow as defined by WES, may not be comparable to similarly titled measures used by other companies. Therefore, WES's Adjusted gross margin, Adjusted EBITDA, and Free cash flow should be considered in conjunction with net income (loss) attributable to Western Midstream Partners, LP and other applicable performance measures, such as gross margin or cash flows provided by operating activities.

Western Midstream Partners, LP

RECONCILIATION OF GAAP TO NON-GAAP MEASURES (CONTINUED)

(Unaudited)


Adjusted Gross Margin




Three Months Ended

thousands


September 30,
2024


June 30,
2024

Reconciliation of Gross margin to Adjusted gross margin





Total revenues and other


$           883,362


$           905,629

Less:





Cost of product


32,847


54,010

Depreciation and amortization


166,015


163,432

Gross margin


684,500


688,187

Add:





Distributions from equity investments


29,344


32,970

Depreciation and amortization


166,015


163,432

Less:





Reimbursed electricity-related charges recorded as revenues


32,379


28,998

Adjusted gross margin attributable to noncontrolling interests (1)


19,986


19,741

Adjusted gross margin


$           827,494


$           835,850






Gross margin





Gross margin for natural-gas assets (2)


$           511,244


$           516,253

Gross margin for crude-oil and NGLs assets (2)


97,263


96,786

Gross margin for produced-water assets (2)


83,178


82,346

Adjusted gross margin





Adjusted gross margin for natural-gas assets


$           596,459


$           601,443

Adjusted gross margin for crude-oil and NGLs assets


134,253


138,894

Adjusted gross margin for produced-water assets


96,782


95,513



(1)

Includes (i) the 25% third-party interest in Chipeta and (ii) the 2.0% limited partner interest in WES Operating owned by an Occidental subsidiary, which collectively represent WES's noncontrolling interests.

(2)

Excludes corporate-level depreciation and amortization.

 

Western Midstream Partners, LP

RECONCILIATION OF GAAP TO NON-GAAP MEASURES (CONTINUED)

(Unaudited)


Adjusted EBITDA




Three Months Ended

thousands


September 30,
2024


June 30,
2024

Reconciliation of Net income (loss) to Adjusted EBITDA





Net income (loss)


$           295,892


$           387,564

Add:





Distributions from equity investments


29,344


32,970

Non-cash equity-based compensation expense


8,759


10,391

Interest expense


94,149


90,522

Income tax expense


15,390


755

Depreciation and amortization


166,015


163,432

Impairments


4,651


1,530

Other expense


90


37

Less:





Gain (loss) on divestiture and other, net


467


59,342

Gain (loss) on early extinguishment of debt


—


4,879

Equity income, net – related parties


23,977


27,431

Other income


9,565


4,213

Adjusted EBITDA attributable to noncontrolling interests (1)


13,411


13,276

Adjusted EBITDA


$           566,870


$           578,060

Reconciliation of Net cash provided by operating activities to Adjusted EBITDA





Net cash provided by operating activities


$           551,288


$           631,418

Interest (income) expense, net


94,149


90,522

Accretion and amortization of long-term obligations, net


(2,221)


(2,473)

Current income tax expense (benefit)


1,471


726

Other (income) expense, net


(9,565)


(4,213)

Distributions from equity investments in excess of cumulative earnings – related parties


3,257


5,270

Changes in assets and liabilities:





Accounts receivable, net


(12,683)


(28,436)

Accounts and imbalance payables and accrued liabilities, net


(8,161)


(13,338)

Other items, net


(37,254)


(88,140)

Adjusted EBITDA attributable to noncontrolling interests (1)


(13,411)


(13,276)

Adjusted EBITDA


$           566,870


$           578,060

Cash flow information





Net cash provided by operating activities


$           551,288


$           631,418

Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities


(190,701)


(14,995)

Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities


420,031


(567,550)



(1)

Includes (i) the 25% third-party interest in Chipeta and (ii) the 2.0% limited partner interest in WES Operating owned by an Occidental subsidiary, which collectively represent WES's noncontrolling interests.

 

Western Midstream Partners, LP

RECONCILIATION OF GAAP TO NON-GAAP MEASURES (CONTINUED)

(Unaudited)


Free Cash Flow




Three Months Ended

thousands


September 30,
2024


June 30,
2024

Reconciliation of Net cash provided by operating activities to Free cash flow





Net cash provided by operating activities


$           551,288


$           631,418

Less:





Capital expenditures


189,434


211,864

Add:





Distributions from equity investments in excess of cumulative earnings – related parties


3,257


5,270

Free cash flow


$           365,111


$           424,824

Cash flow information





Net cash provided by operating activities


$           551,288


$           631,418

Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities


(190,701)


(14,995)

Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities


420,031


(567,550)

 

Western Midstream Partners, LP

OPERATING STATISTICS

(Unaudited)




Three Months Ended



September 30,
2024


June 30,
2024


Inc/

(Dec)

Throughput for natural-gas assets (MMcf/d)







Gathering, treating, and transportation


388


438


(11) %

Processing


4,298


4,209


2 %

Equity investments (1)


503


508


(1) %

Total throughput


5,189


5,155


1 %

   Throughput attributable to noncontrolling interests (2)


173


167


4 %

Total throughput attributable to WES for natural-gas assets


5,016


4,988


1 %

Throughput for crude-oil and NGLs assets (MBbls/d)







Gathering, treating, and transportation


393


396


(1) %

Equity investments (1)


124


130


(5) %

Total throughput


517


526


(2) %

   Throughput attributable to noncontrolling interests (2)


11


11


— %

Total throughput attributable to WES for crude-oil and NGLs assets


506


515


(2) %

Throughput for produced-water assets (MBbls/d)







Gathering and disposal


1,121


1,102


2 %

   Throughput attributable to noncontrolling interests (2)


22


22


— %

Total throughput attributable to WES for produced-water assets


1,099


1,080


2 %

Per-Mcf Gross margin for natural-gas assets (3)


$                 1.07


$                 1.10


(3) %

Per-Bbl Gross margin for crude-oil and NGLs assets (3)


2.05


2.02


1 %

Per-Bbl Gross margin for produced-water assets (3)


0.81


0.82


(1) %








Per-Mcf Adjusted gross margin for natural-gas assets (4)


$                 1.29


$                 1.33


(3) %

Per-Bbl Adjusted gross margin for crude-oil and NGLs assets (4)


2.88


2.96


(3) %

Per-Bbl Adjusted gross margin for produced-water assets (4)


0.96


0.97


(1) %



(1)

Represents our share of average throughput for investments accounted for under the equity method of accounting.

(2)

Includes (i) the 2.0% limited partner interest in WES Operating owned by an Occidental subsidiary and (ii) for natural-gas assets, the 25% third-party interest in Chipeta, which collectively represent WES's noncontrolling interests.

(3)

Average for period. Calculated as Gross margin for natural-gas assets, crude-oil and NGLs assets, or produced-water assets, divided by the respective total throughput (MMcf or MBbls) for natural-gas assets, crude-oil and NGLs assets, or produced-water assets.

(4)

Average for period. Calculated as Adjusted gross margin for natural-gas assets, crude-oil and NGLs assets, or produced-water assets, divided by the respective total throughput (MMcf or MBbls) attributable to WES for natural-gas assets, crude-oil and NGLs assets, or produced-water assets.

 

Western Midstream Partners, LP

OPERATING STATISTICS (CONTINUED)

(Unaudited)




Three Months Ended



September 30,
2024


June 30,
2024


Inc/

(Dec)

Throughput for natural-gas assets (MMcf/d)

Operated







Delaware Basin


1,889


1,858


2 %

DJ Basin


1,418


1,452


(2) %

Powder River Basin


505


426


19 %

Other


874


898


(3) %

Total operated throughput for natural-gas assets


4,686


4,634


1 %

Non-operated







Equity investments


503


508


(1) %

Other


—


13


(100) %

Total non-operated throughput for natural-gas assets


503


521


(3) %

Total throughput for natural-gas assets


5,189


5,155


1 %

Throughput for crude-oil and NGLs assets (MBbls/d)

Operated







Delaware Basin


246


241


2 %

DJ Basin


87


91


(4) %

Powder River Basin


26


25


4 %

Other


34


39


(13) %

Total operated throughput for crude-oil and NGLs assets


393


396


(1) %

Non-operated







Equity investments


124


130


(5) %

Total non-operated throughput for crude-oil and NGLs assets


124


130


(5) %

Total throughput for crude-oil and NGLs assets


517


526


(2) %

Throughput for produced-water assets (MBbls/d)

Operated







Delaware Basin


1,121


1,102


2 %

Total operated throughput for produced-water assets


1,121


1,102


2 %

 

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SOURCE Western Midstream Partners, LP