WaterBridge Announces First Quarter 2026 Results
Key Terms
adjusted ebitda financial
adjusted operating margin financial
non-gaap financial measures financial
net income margin financial
quarterly report on form 10-q regulatory
annual report on form 10-k regulatory
forward-looking statements regulatory
u.s. securities and exchange commission regulatory
Increases full-year 2026 guidance ranges for produced water handling volumes and Adjusted EBITDA to 2.525 million barrels per day to 2.725 million barrels per day and
Reports first quarter 2026 produced water handling volumes of 2.5 million barrels per day and revenue of
Declares quarterly cash dividend of
Recent Financial and Operational Highlights
- Average produced water handling volumes of 2.5 million barrels per day
-
Revenue of
$201.0 million -
Net income of
, with net income margin of$9.5 million 5% -
Adjusted EBITDA of
, with Adjusted EBITDA Margin of$102.9 million 51% (1) -
Gross margin of
and Adjusted Operating Margin of$48.2 million (1)$111.3 million -
Increased 2026 guidance ranges based on increased confidence in commercial demand, supported by a strengthening macroeconomic backdrop:
-
Increased produced water handling volumes guidance range to 2.525 million barrels per day to 2.725 million barrels per day, representing approximately
8% year-over-year volume growth -
Increased Adjusted EBITDA guidance range to
to$425 million , representing approximately$465 million 10% annual Adjusted EBITDA growth
-
Increased produced water handling volumes guidance range to 2.525 million barrels per day to 2.725 million barrels per day, representing approximately
- Conducted the formal Speedway Phase II Open Season from February 23, 2026, through April 20, 2026. As a result of the strong demand demonstrated throughout the process, WaterBridge is progressing commercial discussions with high-quality counterparts, representing both new and existing customers
Prior to the closing of WaterBridge's initial public offering (the "IPO") on September 18, 2025, WaterBridge completed the successful combination (the "Combination") of its legacy entities WaterBridge Equity Finance LLC ("WBEF"), WaterBridge NDB Operating LLC ("NDB Operating") and Desert Environmental LLC ("Desert Environmental"). For first quarter 2026 figures presented in this release, prior year figures are not presented for comparison, as they reflect only NDB Operating results, and therefore have limited utility relative to the current period. Instead, the Company will compare our current quarter results to the prior quarter results, and expects to be able to provide prior-year periods for comparison beginning in the third quarter of 2026. Comparisons to the first quarter of 2025 can be found in the Company's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, which was filed with the
Management Commentary
Jason Long, Chief Executive Officer of WaterBridge, stated, “We delivered a strong first quarter that validates our platform and keeps our key second-half milestones on track. Speedway Phase I is progressing toward a mid-year start, the Kraken MVC ramp is on schedule, and the Phase II open season closed with demand that exceeded our expectations from new and existing customers looking for the unique long-haul capacity that WaterBridge provides. That operational visibility, combined with a more supportive macroeconomic backdrop for E&P activity, gives us the conviction to raise our full-year produced water handling volume guidance to 2.525 to 2.725 million barrels per day and our Adjusted EBITDA guidance to
Scott McNeely, Chief Financial Officer of WaterBridge, stated, "Our first quarter results highlight strong execution as we continue to scale our platform. Looking forward, our commercial and operational demand picture has strengthened since we set initial guidance, and the macro environment is supportive of the E&P activity levels that underpin our volume outlook. On that basis, we are raising full-year produced water handling volume and EBITDA guidance ranges. WaterBridge is well positioned to capitalize on a growing set of opportunities in the
First Quarter Operational Results
Produced water handling volumes for the first quarter were 2.5 million barrels per day, representing a
First quarter capital expenditures were
Gross margin and gross margin per barrel for the quarter were
First Quarter Financial Results
Revenue for the first quarter of 2026 was
Net income for the first quarter of 2026 was
Net income margin was
Strong Balance Sheet with Ample Liquidity
Total liquidity was
First Quarter 2026 Dividend
The WaterBridge Board of Directors declared a dividend on our Class A shares of
Updated 2026 Outlook
The Company increases its outlook for fiscal year 2026 to reflect the impact of increased visibility and conviction into commercial demand for our integrated infrastructure offerings, supported by the strengthening macroeconomic backdrop. Produced water handling volumes are now expected to average approximately 2,525 MBbl/d to 2,725 MBbl/d, and WaterBridge anticipates delivering full-year 2026 Adjusted EBITDA of
(1) Adjusted EBITDA, Adjusted EBITDA Margin, Adjusted Operating Margin and Adjusted Operating Margin per barrel are non-GAAP financial measures. See “Reconciliation of Non-GAAP Financial Measures” included within the Appendix of this press release for related disclosures and reconciliations to the most directly comparable financial measures calculated and presented in accordance with GAAP.
Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q
Our financial statements and related footnotes are available in our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2026, which was filed with the SEC on May 6, 2026.
Conference Call and Webcast Information
The Company will hold a conference call on Thursday, May 7, 2026, at 11:00 a.m. Central Time to discuss its first quarter 2026 results. A live webcast of the conference call will be available on the Events and Presentations section of the WaterBridge Investor Relations website at https://wbinfra.com/investor-relations/events-and-presentations. To listen to the live broadcast, go to the site at least 10-15 minutes prior to the scheduled start time to register and install any necessary audio software.
To access the live conference call, participants must pre-register online at https://events.q4inc.com/analyst/755868467?pwd=Osx5IqwY to receive unique dial-in information. Pre-registration may be completed at any time up to the call start time. An audio replay will be available following the conclusion of the call and can be accessed via the same link.
About WaterBridge
WaterBridge is a leading integrated, pure-play water infrastructure company with operations predominantly in the
Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements
This news release may contain forward-looking statements that are based on WaterBridge’s beliefs, as well as assumptions made by, and information currently available to, WaterBridge, and therefore involve risks and uncertainties that are difficult to predict. Generally, future or conditional verbs such as “will,” “would,” “should,” or “could,” and the words “believe,” “anticipate,” “continue,” “intend,” “expect” and similar expressions identify forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, strategies, plans, objectives, expectations, intentions, assumptions, future operations and prospects and other statements that are not historical facts, including our estimated future financial performance. You should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. Although WaterBridge believes that plans, intentions and expectations reflected in or suggested by any forward-looking statements made herein are reasonable, WaterBridge may be unable to achieve such plans, intentions or expectations and actual results, and performance or achievements may vary materially and adversely from those envisaged in this news release due to a number of factors including, but not limited to: our customers’ demand for and use of our services; the domestic and foreign supply of, and demand for, energy sources, including the impact of political instability or armed conflict in oil and natural gas producing regions, including increased hostilities in the
FIRST QUARTER 2026 RESULTS CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS (in thousands) (unaudited) |
||||||||
|
|
Three Months Ended
|
|
|
Three Months Ended
|
|
||
Revenues: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
||
Produced water handling |
|
$ |
153,197 |
|
|
$ |
155,475 |
|
Produced water handling - related party |
|
|
28,740 |
|
|
|
30,555 |
|
Water solutions |
|
|
8,490 |
|
|
|
10,563 |
|
Water solutions - related party |
|
|
524 |
|
|
|
1,502 |
|
Other revenues |
|
|
8,675 |
|
|
|
9,131 |
|
Other revenues - related party |
|
|
1,351 |
|
|
|
1,655 |
|
Total revenues |
|
|
200,977 |
|
|
|
208,881 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||
Direct operating costs |
|
|
70,040 |
|
|
|
79,007 |
|
Direct operating costs - related party |
|
|
13,798 |
|
|
|
14,357 |
|
Depreciation, depletion, amortization and accretion |
|
|
68,947 |
|
|
|
68,687 |
|
Total cost of revenues |
|
|
152,785 |
|
|
|
162,051 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||
General and administrative expense |
|
|
16,811 |
|
|
|
24,058 |
|
(Gain) loss on disposal of assets, net |
|
|
(74 |
) |
|
|
148 |
|
Other operating expense, net |
|
|
999 |
|
|
|
341 |
|
Operating income |
|
|
30,456 |
|
|
|
22,283 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||
Interest expense, net |
|
|
19,992 |
|
|
|
25,380 |
|
Loss on extinguishment of debt, net |
|
|
- |
|
|
|
11,411 |
|
Other income, net |
|
|
(112 |
) |
|
|
(137 |
) |
Income (loss) from operations before taxes |
|
|
10,576 |
|
|
|
(14,371 |
) |
Income tax expense (benefit) |
|
|
1,055 |
|
|
|
(788 |
) |
Net income (loss) |
|
$ |
9,521 |
|
|
$ |
(13,583 |
) |
Net income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interest |
|
|
6,006 |
|
|
|
(9,713 |
) |
Net income (loss) attributable to WaterBridge Infrastructure LLC |
|
$ |
3,515 |
|
|
$ |
(3,870 |
) |
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (in thousands) (unaudited) |
||||||||
|
|
March 31,
|
|
|
December 31,
|
|
||
Current assets: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
||
Cash and cash equivalents |
|
$ |
50,668 |
|
|
$ |
51,543 |
|
Accounts receivable, net |
|
|
156,835 |
|
|
|
161,645 |
|
Other receivables |
|
|
1,424 |
|
|
|
2,634 |
|
Related party accounts receivable |
|
|
38,071 |
|
|
|
30,469 |
|
Prepaid expenses and other current assets |
|
|
12,213 |
|
|
|
14,834 |
|
Total current assets |
|
|
259,211 |
|
|
|
261,125 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||
Non-current assets: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
||
Property, plant and equipment, net |
|
|
2,353,434 |
|
|
|
2,285,536 |
|
Intangible assets, net |
|
|
912,228 |
|
|
|
935,708 |
|
Goodwill |
|
|
53,127 |
|
|
|
53,127 |
|
Deferred tax assets |
|
|
142,485 |
|
|
|
131,805 |
|
Other assets |
|
|
31,986 |
|
|
|
32,719 |
|
Total non-current assets |
|
|
3,493,260 |
|
|
|
3,438,895 |
|
Total assets |
|
$ |
3,752,471 |
|
|
$ |
3,700,020 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||
Liabilities and equity |
|
|
|
|
|
|
||
Current liabilities: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
||
Accounts payable |
|
$ |
55,660 |
|
|
$ |
38,732 |
|
Related party accounts payable |
|
|
5,335 |
|
|
|
5,851 |
|
Accrued liabilities |
|
|
124,992 |
|
|
|
130,126 |
|
Current portion of long-term debt |
|
|
9,107 |
|
|
|
12,546 |
|
Other current liabilities |
|
|
4,397 |
|
|
|
1,685 |
|
Total current liabilities |
|
|
199,491 |
|
|
|
188,940 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||
Non-current liabilities: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
||
Long-term debt, net of debt issuance costs |
|
|
1,457,378 |
|
|
|
1,431,837 |
|
Tax receivable agreement liability |
|
|
217,118 |
|
|
|
201,375 |
|
Other long-term liabilities |
|
|
30,569 |
|
|
|
30,259 |
|
Total non-current liabilities |
|
|
1,705,065 |
|
|
|
1,663,471 |
|
Total liabilities |
|
|
1,904,556 |
|
|
|
1,852,411 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||
Commitments and contingencies |
|
|
|
|
|
|
||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||
Class A shares, unlimited shares authorized and 47,016,059 shares issued and outstanding as of March 31, 2026. Unlimited shares authorized and 43,264,850 shares issued and outstanding as of December 31, 2025. |
|
|
659,853 |
|
|
|
606,843 |
|
Class B shares, unlimited shares authorized and 76,440,150 shares issued and outstanding as of March 31, 2026. Unlimited shares authorized and 80,190,150 shares issued and outstanding as of December 31, 2025. |
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
Retained earnings |
|
|
(3,202 |
) |
|
|
(4,537 |
) |
Total shareholders’ equity attributable to WaterBridge Infrastructure LLC |
|
|
656,651 |
|
|
|
602,306 |
|
Noncontrolling interest |
|
|
1,191,264 |
|
|
|
1,245,303 |
|
Total shareholders’ equity |
|
|
1,847,915 |
|
|
|
1,847,609 |
|
Total liabilities and equity |
|
$ |
3,752,471 |
|
|
$ |
3,700,020 |
|
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS (in thousands) (unaudited) |
||||||||
|
|
Three Months Ended
|
|
|
Three Months Ended
|
|
||
Cash flows from operating activities |
|
|
|
|
|
|
||
Net income (loss) |
|
$ |
9,521 |
|
|
$ |
(13,583 |
) |
Adjustments to reconcile net income (loss) to net cash provided by operating activities: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
||
Depreciation, depletion, amortization and accretion |
|
|
68,947 |
|
|
|
68,687 |
|
Amortization of debt issuance costs |
|
|
1,025 |
|
|
|
980 |
|
Share-based compensation |
|
|
2,584 |
|
|
|
2,745 |
|
Contractual customer relationships amortization |
|
|
458 |
|
|
|
458 |
|
(Gain) loss on disposal of assets, net |
|
|
(74 |
) |
|
|
148 |
|
Deferred income tax expense |
|
|
892 |
|
|
|
(826 |
) |
Loss on extinguishment of debt, net |
|
|
- |
|
|
|
11,411 |
|
Other |
|
|
343 |
|
|
|
345 |
|
Changes in operating assets and liabilities: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
||
Accounts receivable |
|
|
5,005 |
|
|
|
(10,259 |
) |
Related party accounts receivable |
|
|
(7,602 |
) |
|
|
5,378 |
|
Prepaid expenses and other assets |
|
|
2,422 |
|
|
|
2,114 |
|
Accounts payable |
|
|
2,409 |
|
|
|
(4,638 |
) |
Taxes payable |
|
|
163 |
|
|
|
(95 |
) |
Related party accounts payable |
|
|
(46 |
) |
|
|
255 |
|
Contract liabilities |
|
|
(148 |
) |
|
|
(147 |
) |
Accrued and other liabilities |
|
|
9,204 |
|
|
|
25,207 |
|
Net cash provided by operating activities |
|
|
95,103 |
|
|
|
88,180 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||
Cash flows from investing activities |
|
|
|
|
|
|
||
Capital expenditures |
|
|
(110,940 |
) |
|
|
(89,209 |
) |
Proceeds from disposal of assets |
|
|
1,243 |
|
|
|
115 |
|
Net cash used in investing activities |
|
|
(109,697 |
) |
|
|
(89,094 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||
Cash flows from financing activities |
|
|
|
|
|
|
||
Proceeds from debt |
|
|
25,000 |
|
|
|
1,450,000 |
|
Dividends, dividend equivalents and distributions paid |
|
|
(6,217 |
) |
|
|
- |
|
Repayments of debt |
|
|
(4,230 |
) |
|
|
(1,712,083 |
) |
Offering costs |
|
|
(540 |
) |
|
|
(5,935 |
) |
Repayments of finance leases |
|
|
(283 |
) |
|
|
(256 |
) |
Taxes paid related to net share settlement of RSUs |
|
|
(11 |
) |
|
|
- |
|
Debt issuance costs |
|
|
- |
|
|
|
(25,918 |
) |
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities |
|
|
13,719 |
|
|
|
(294,192 |
) |
Net decrease in cash and cash equivalents |
|
|
(875 |
) |
|
|
(295,106 |
) |
Cash and cash equivalents - beginning of period |
|
|
51,543 |
|
|
|
346,649 |
|
Cash and cash equivalents - end of period |
|
$ |
50,668 |
|
|
$ |
51,543 |
|
Reconciliation of Non-GAAP Financial Measures
Adjusted EBITDA, Adjusted EBITDA Margin, Adjusted Operating Margin, and Adjusted Operating Margin per barrel are supplemental non-GAAP measures that we use to evaluate current, past and expected future performance. Although these non-GAAP financial measures are important factors in assessing our operating results, they should not be considered in isolation or as a substitute for net income, gross margin or any other measures presented under GAAP.
Adjusted EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA Margin are used to assess the financial performance of our assets over the long term. We define Adjusted EBITDA as net income (loss) before interest; taxes; depreciation, amortization, depletion and accretion; share-based compensation; non-recurring transaction-related expenses; litigation settlements and expenses incurred outside of the ordinary course of business; debt modification and extinguishment costs; gains or losses on disposal of assets and other non-cash or non-recurring expenses. We define Adjusted EBITDA Margin as Adjusted EBITDA divided by total revenues.
We believe Adjusted EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA Margin are useful because they allow us to more effectively evaluate our operating performance and compare the results of our operations from period to period, and against our peers, without regard to our financing methods or capital structure. We exclude the items listed above from net income (loss) in arriving at Adjusted EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA Margin because these amounts can vary substantially from company to company within our industry depending upon accounting methods, book values of assets, capital structures and the method by which the assets were acquired.
The following table sets forth a reconciliation of net income as determined in accordance with GAAP to Adjusted EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA Margin for the periods indicated.
|
|
Three Months Ended
|
|
|
Three Months Ended
|
|
||
Net income (loss) |
|
$ |
9,521 |
|
|
$ |
(13,583 |
) |
Adjustments: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
||
Depreciation, depletion, amortization and accretion |
|
|
68,947 |
|
|
|
68,997 |
|
Interest expense, net |
|
|
19,992 |
|
|
|
25,380 |
|
Income tax expense (benefit) |
|
|
1,055 |
|
|
|
(788 |
) |
EBITDA |
|
$ |
99,515 |
|
|
$ |
80,006 |
|
Adjustments: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
||
Share-based compensation - RSUs |
|
|
1,759 |
|
|
|
1,737 |
|
Share-based compensation - NDB Incentive Units |
|
|
825 |
|
|
|
1,008 |
|
Temporary power costs |
|
|
352 |
|
|
|
273 |
|
Transaction-related expenses(1) |
|
|
223 |
|
|
|
9,133 |
|
(Gain) loss on disposal of assets, net |
|
|
(74 |
) |
|
|
148 |
|
Sales tax liability release(2) |
|
|
- |
|
|
|
(237 |
) |
Debt modification and extinguishment costs |
|
|
- |
|
|
|
11,545 |
|
Other(3) |
|
|
344 |
|
|
|
227 |
|
Adjusted EBITDA |
|
$ |
102,944 |
|
|
$ |
103,840 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||
Total revenues |
|
|
200,977 |
|
|
|
208,881 |
|
Net income (loss) margin |
|
|
5 |
% |
|
|
(7 |
)% |
Adjusted EBITDA Margin |
|
|
51 |
% |
|
|
50 |
% |
(1) |
Transaction-related expenses consist of non-capitalizable transaction costs associated with corporate reorganization and non-capitalizable IPO-related charges. |
|
(2) |
Sales tax liability release represents the release of a liability associated with transaction taxes recorded in conjunction with a historical acquisition. |
|
(3) |
Other consists of abandoned well costs, abandoned project costs, mark-to-market derivatives and other non-cash or non-recurring items. |
Adjusted Operating Margin and Adjusted Operating Margin per barrel are dependent upon the volume of produced water the Company gathers and handles, the volume of recycled water and brackish water WaterBridge sells and transfers, the fees WaterBridge charges for such services and the recurring operating expenses WaterBridge incurs to perform such services. The Company defines Adjusted Operating Margin as gross margin plus depreciation, depletion, amortization and accretion excluding other revenues and cost of other revenues not associated with our produced water handling and water solution revenue streams. WaterBridge defines Adjusted Operating Margin per barrel as Adjusted Operating Margin divided by total volumes handled, sold or transferred.
WaterBridge seeks to enhance WaterBridge’s Adjusted Operating Margin in part by reducing, to the extent appropriate, expenses directly tied to operating WaterBridge’s assets. Landowner royalties, power expenses for handling and treatment facilities, direct labor costs, chemical costs, workover expenses and repair and maintenance costs comprise the most significant portion of its expenses. WaterBridge’s operating expenses are largely variable and as such, generally fluctuate in correlation with throughput volumes.
WaterBridge’s Adjusted Operating Margin incrementally benefits from increased water solutions recycled water sales. When produced water is recycled, WaterBridge recognizes cost savings from reduced landowner royalties, reduced pumping costs, lower chemical treatment and filtration costs and reduced power consumption.
The following table sets forth a reconciliation of gross margin and gross margin per barrel, as determined in accordance with GAAP to Adjusted Operating Margin and Adjusted Operating Margin per barrel for the periods presented for our produced water handling and water solutions revenues.
|
|
Three Months Ended
|
|
|
Three Months Ended
|
|
||
(Dollars in thousands, except per barrel data) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
||
Total revenues |
|
$ |
200,977 |
|
|
$ |
208,881 |
|
Cost of revenues |
|
|
(152,785 |
) |
|
|
(162,051 |
) |
Gross margin |
|
|
48,192 |
|
|
|
46,830 |
|
Less: Other revenues |
|
|
(10,026 |
) |
|
|
(10,786 |
) |
Less: Cost of other revenues(1) |
|
|
4,236 |
|
|
|
3,906 |
|
Depreciation, depletion, amortization and accretion |
|
|
68,947 |
|
|
|
68,997 |
|
Adjusted Operating Margin |
|
$ |
111,349 |
|
|
$ |
108,947 |
|
Total volumes(2) (MBbls) |
|
|
245,749 |
|
|
|
264,995 |
|
Gross margin ($/Bbl) |
|
$ |
0.20 |
|
|
$ |
0.18 |
|
Adjusted Operating Margin ($/Bbl) |
|
$ |
0.45 |
|
|
$ |
0.41 |
|
(1) |
Cost of other revenues includes direct operating costs associated with our energy waste management, gas transportation and divested crude transportation services. |
|
(2) |
Total volumes exclude skim oil volumes. |
View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260506024590/en/
Scott McNeely
Chief Financial Officer
Contact@wbinfra.com
Mae Herrington
Director, Investor Relations
IR@wbinfra.com
Media
Daniel Yunger / Nathaniel Shahan
Kekst CNC
kekst-waterbridge@kekstcnc.com
Source: WaterBridge Infrastructure LLC