WESTERN MIDSTREAM ANNOUNCES FIRST-QUARTER 2025 RESULTS
- Increased quarterly distribution by 4% to $0.910 per unit
- Record natural-gas throughput in Delaware Basin at 2.0 Bcf/d
- Completed North Loving plant ahead of schedule and under budget, adding 250 MMcf/d processing capacity
- Strong financial position with net leverage below 3.0x and $2.4 billion in liquidity
- Successfully secured domestic steel for Pathfinder Pipeline, protecting project returns from tariff impacts
- Sequential quarter decrease in throughput metrics: natural-gas (-2%), crude-oil/NGLs (-6%), produced-water (-2%)
- Significant capital expenditure commitment of $625-775 million for 2025
- Market volatility creating uncertainty in customer activity levels
Insights
WES delivered strong Q1 financial results with increased distributions despite throughput declines, maintaining solid balance sheet and growth trajectory.
Western Midstream's Q1 2025 results showcase robust financial performance despite some operational headwinds. The company generated
The
Operationally, the company achieved record Delaware Basin natural gas throughput of 2.0 Bcf/d and completed the North Loving processing plant ahead of schedule and under budget, adding significant processing capacity in a key production region. However, system-wide throughput metrics showed sequential declines across all categories: natural gas down
Despite these volume decreases, management maintained their 2025 guidance, citing contract structures that provide cash flow predictability during market volatility. The proactive decision to source Pathfinder Pipeline steel domestically before recent tariff announcements demonstrates strategic foresight that protects project economics.
With leverage below 3.0x, investment-grade credit ratings, and
- Reported first-quarter 2025 Net income attributable to limited partners of
, generating first-quarter Adjusted EBITDA(1) of$301.8 million .$593.6 million - Reported first-quarter 2025 Cash flows provided by operating activities of
, generating first-quarter Free Cash Flow(1) of$530.8 million .$399.4 million - Announced a first-quarter distribution of
per unit, which is 4-percent higher than the prior quarter's distribution, or$0.91 0 per unit on an annualized basis, and in-line with prior management commentary.$3.64
FIRST-QUARTER HIGHLIGHTS
- Gathered record natural-gas throughput in the
Delaware Basin of 2.0 Bcf/d, representing a modest sequential-quarter increase. - Completed the start-up of the North Loving natural-gas processing plant in late-February, increasing WES's operated, nameplate natural-gas processing capacity by 250 MMcf/d to approximately 2.2 Bcf/d at our
West Texas complex in theDelaware Basin. - Placed steel pipe order necessary to construct the Pathfinder Pipeline from a domestic steel mill, protecting the project's targeted returns by minimizing the impact from tariffs.
- Retired
of senior notes in January of 2025 with cash on hand.$664 million
On May 15, 2025, WES will pay its first-quarter 2025 per-unit distribution of
First-quarter 2025 natural-gas throughput(2) averaged 5.1 Bcf/d, representing a 2-percent sequential-quarter decrease. First-quarter 2025 crude-oil and NGLs throughput(2) averaged 503 MBbls/d, representing a 6-percent sequential-quarter decrease. Operated crude-oil and NGLs throughput averaged 411 MBbls/d, representing a 3-percent sequential-quarter decrease. First-quarter 2025 produced-water throughput(2) averaged 1,166 MBbls/d, representing a 2-percent sequential-quarter decrease.
"I am pleased to report another successful quarter for WES marked by strong financial performance and stability," commented Oscar Brown, President and Chief Executive Officer. "We also successfully commenced operations at the North Loving plant in the
"In the first quarter, our Adjusted EBITDA increased primarily due to increased NGLs recoveries in combination with higher commodity pricing, another quarter of record natural-gas throughput and increased margin contribution from the
"We continue to expect capital expenditures to range between
"Looking ahead, our investment thesis remains robust, highlighted by WES's compelling tax deferred distribution yield. We will continue to focus on the factors within our control, such as reducing our overall cost structure, maintaining a strong balance sheet, and allocating capital to growth projects that drive top-tier unitholder returns. With investment-grade credit ratings, net leverage below 3.0-times, and
CONFERENCE CALL TOMORROW AT 9:00 A.M. CT
WES will host a conference call on Thursday, May 8, 2025, at 9:00 a.m. Central Time (10:00 a.m. Eastern Time) to discuss its first-quarter 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
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) | Represents total throughput attributable to WES, which excludes (i) the |
(3) | Accrual-based, includes equity investments, excludes capitalized interest, and excludes capital expenditures associated with the |
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 March 31, | ||||
thousands except per-unit amounts | 2025 | 2024 | ||
Revenues and other | ||||
Service revenues – fee based | $ 823,197 | $ 781,262 | ||
Service revenues – product based | 59,252 | 66,740 | ||
Product sales | 34,469 | 39,292 | ||
Other | 198 | 435 | ||
Total revenues and other | 917,116 | 887,729 | ||
Equity income, net – related parties | 20,435 | 32,819 | ||
Operating expenses | ||||
Cost of product | 41,492 | 46,079 | ||
Operation and maintenance | 226,514 | 194,939 | ||
General and administrative | 66,786 | 67,839 | ||
Property and other taxes | 17,826 | 13,920 | ||
Depreciation and amortization | 170,460 | 157,991 | ||
Long-lived asset and other impairments | 3 | 23 | ||
Total operating expenses | 523,081 | 480,791 | ||
Gain (loss) on divestiture and other, net | (4,667) | 239,617 | ||
Operating income (loss) | 409,803 | 679,374 | ||
Interest expense | (97,293) | (94,506) | ||
Gain (loss) on early extinguishment of debt | — | 524 | ||
Other income (expense), net | 7,477 | 2,346 | ||
Income (loss) before income taxes | 319,987 | 587,738 | ||
Income tax expense (benefit) | 3,435 | 1,522 | ||
Net income (loss) | 316,552 | 586,216 | ||
Net income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interests | 7,545 | 13,386 | ||
Net income (loss) attributable to Western Midstream Partners, LP | $ 309,007 | $ 572,830 | ||
Limited partners' interest in net income (loss): | ||||
Net income (loss) attributable to Western Midstream Partners, LP | $ 309,007 | $ 572,830 | ||
General partner interest in net (income) loss | (7,170) | (13,330) | ||
Limited partners' interest in net income (loss) | $ 301,837 | $ 559,500 | ||
Net income (loss) per common unit – basic | $ 0.79 | $ 1.47 | ||
Net income (loss) per common unit – diluted | $ 0.79 | $ 1.47 | ||
Weighted-average common units outstanding – basic | 380,986 | 380,024 | ||
Weighted-average common units outstanding – diluted | 382,494 | 381,628 |
Western Midstream Partners, LP CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (Unaudited) | ||||
thousands except number of units | March 31, | December 31, | ||
Total current assets | $ 1,189,894 | $ 1,847,190 | ||
Net property, plant, and equipment | 9,727,094 | 9,714,609 | ||
Other assets | 1,539,889 | 1,582,986 | ||
Total assets | $ 12,456,877 | $ 13,144,785 | ||
Total current liabilities | $ 1,010,929 | $ 1,691,694 | ||
Long-term debt | 6,925,033 | 6,926,647 | ||
Asset retirement obligations | 378,889 | 370,195 | ||
Other liabilities | 808,455 | 781,079 | ||
Total liabilities | 9,123,306 | 9,769,615 | ||
Equity and partners' capital | ||||
Common units (381,327,148 and 380,556,643 units issued and outstanding at March 31, | 3,183,365 | 3,224,802 | ||
General partner units (9,060,641 units issued and outstanding at March 31, 2025, and | 10,045 | 10,803 | ||
Noncontrolling interests | 140,161 | 139,565 | ||
Total liabilities, equity, and partners' capital | $ 12,456,877 | $ 13,144,785 |
Western Midstream Partners, LP CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS (Unaudited) | ||||
Three Months Ended March 31, | ||||
thousands | 2025 | 2024 | ||
Cash flows from operating activities | ||||
Net income (loss) | $ 316,552 | $ 586,216 | ||
Adjustments to reconcile net income (loss) to net cash provided by operating activities and | ||||
Depreciation and amortization | 170,460 | 157,991 | ||
Long-lived asset and other impairments | 3 | 23 | ||
(Gain) loss on divestiture and other, net | 4,667 | (239,617) | ||
(Gain) loss on early extinguishment of debt | — | (524) | ||
Change in other items, net | 39,111 | (104,381) | ||
Net cash provided by operating activities | $ 530,793 | $ 399,708 | ||
Cash flows from investing activities | ||||
Capital expenditures | $ (142,402) | $ (193,789) | ||
Acquisitions from third parties | — | (443) | ||
Distributions from equity investments in excess of cumulative earnings – related parties | 11,007 | 19,033 | ||
Proceeds from the sale of assets to third parties | 19 | 582,739 | ||
(Increase) decrease in materials and supplies inventory and other | (9,414) | (10,691) | ||
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities | $ (140,790) | $ 396,849 | ||
Cash flows from financing activities | ||||
Repayments of debt | $ (663,831) | $ (14,503) | ||
Commercial paper borrowings (repayments), net | — | (510,379) | ||
Increase (decrease) in outstanding checks | (113) | 766 | ||
Distributions to Partnership unitholders | (340,996) | (223,438) | ||
Distributions to Chipeta noncontrolling interest owner | — | (1,085) | ||
Distributions to noncontrolling interest owner of WES Operating | (6,949) | (4,591) | ||
Other | (20,131) | (20,868) | ||
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities | $ (1,032,020) | $ (774,098) | ||
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents | $ (642,017) | $ 22,459 | ||
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period | 1,090,464 | 272,787 | ||
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period | $ 448,447 | $ 295,246 |
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) income tax benefit, (v) other income, and (vi) 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 | March 31, | December 31, | ||
Reconciliation of Gross margin to Adjusted Gross Margin | ||||
Total revenues and other | $ 917,116 | $ 928,503 | ||
Less: | ||||
Cost of product | 41,492 | 39,315 | ||
Depreciation and amortization | 170,460 | 162,990 | ||
Gross margin | 705,164 | 726,198 | ||
Add: | ||||
Distributions from equity investments | 34,344 | 31,585 | ||
Depreciation and amortization | 170,460 | 162,990 | ||
Less: | ||||
Reimbursed electricity-related charges recorded as revenues | 29,004 | 31,834 | ||
Adjusted Gross Margin attributable to noncontrolling interests (1) | 20,181 | 20,542 | ||
Adjusted Gross Margin | $ 860,783 | $ 868,397 | ||
Gross margin | ||||
Gross margin for natural-gas assets (2) | $ 527,144 | $ 534,452 | ||
Gross margin for crude-oil and NGLs assets (2) | 101,275 | 108,259 | ||
Gross margin for produced-water assets (2) | 84,576 | 91,219 | ||
Adjusted Gross Margin | ||||
Adjusted Gross Margin for natural-gas assets | $ 618,452 | $ 616,373 | ||
Adjusted Gross Margin for crude-oil and NGLs assets | 143,475 | 147,060 | ||
Adjusted Gross Margin for produced-water assets | 98,856 | 104,964 |
(1) | Includes (i) the |
(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 | March 31, | December 31, | ||
Reconciliation of Net income (loss) to Adjusted EBITDA | ||||
Net income (loss) | $ 316,552 | $ 341,580 | ||
Add: | ||||
Distributions from equity investments | 34,344 | 31,585 | ||
Non-cash equity-based compensation expense | 8,248 | 9,421 | ||
Interest expense | 97,293 | 99,336 | ||
Income tax expense | 3,435 | 444 | ||
Depreciation and amortization | 170,460 | 162,990 | ||
Long-lived asset and other impairments | 3 | 2 | ||
Other expense | 190 | 9 | ||
Less: | ||||
Gain (loss) on divestiture and other, net | (4,667) | (2,655) | ||
Equity income, net – related parties | 20,435 | 28,158 | ||
Other income | 7,477 | 15,617 | ||
Adjusted EBITDA attributable to noncontrolling interests (1) | 13,708 | 13,548 | ||
Adjusted EBITDA | $ 593,572 | $ 590,699 | ||
Reconciliation of Net cash provided by operating activities to Adjusted EBITDA | ||||
Net cash provided by operating activities | $ 530,793 | $ 554,446 | ||
Interest (income) expense, net | 97,293 | 99,336 | ||
Accretion and amortization of long-term obligations, net | (2,202) | (2,354) | ||
Current income tax expense (benefit) | 1,722 | 411 | ||
Other (income) expense, net | (7,477) | (15,617) | ||
Distributions from equity investments in excess of cumulative earnings – related parties | 11,007 | 3,290 | ||
Changes in assets and liabilities: | ||||
Accounts receivable, net | (28,634) | 30,203 | ||
Accounts and imbalance payables and accrued liabilities, net | 46,684 | (56,949) | ||
Other items, net | (41,906) | (8,519) | ||
Adjusted EBITDA attributable to noncontrolling interests (1) | (13,708) | (13,548) | ||
Adjusted EBITDA | $ 593,572 | $ 590,699 | ||
Cash flow information | ||||
Net cash provided by operating activities | $ 530,793 | $ 554,446 | ||
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities | (140,790) | (230,321) | ||
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities | (1,032,020) | (358,398) |
(1) | Includes (i) the |
Western Midstream Partners, LP RECONCILIATION OF GAAP TO NON-GAAP MEASURES (CONTINUED) (Unaudited) | ||||
Free Cash Flow | ||||
Three Months Ended | ||||
thousands | March 31, | December 31, | ||
Reconciliation of Net cash provided by operating activities to Free Cash Flow | ||||
Net cash provided by operating activities | $ 530,793 | $ 554,446 | ||
Less: | ||||
Capital expenditures | 142,402 | 238,769 | ||
Contributions to equity investments – related parties | — | 9,690 | ||
Add: | ||||
Distributions from equity investments in excess of cumulative earnings – related parties | 11,007 | 3,290 | ||
Free Cash Flow | $ 399,398 | $ 309,277 | ||
Cash flow information | ||||
Net cash provided by operating activities | $ 530,793 | $ 554,446 | ||
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities | (140,790) | (230,321) | ||
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities | (1,032,020) | (358,398) |
Western Midstream Partners, LP OPERATING STATISTICS (Unaudited) | ||||||
Three Months Ended | ||||||
March 31, | December 31, | Inc/ (Dec) | ||||
Throughput for natural-gas assets (MMcf/d) | ||||||
Gathering, treating, and transportation | 371 | 380 | (2) % | |||
Processing | 4,370 | 4,464 | (2) % | |||
Equity investments (1) | 550 | 550 | — % | |||
Total throughput | 5,291 | 5,394 | (2) % | |||
Throughput attributable to noncontrolling interests (2) | 181 | 181 | — % | |||
Total throughput attributable to WES for natural-gas assets | 5,110 | 5,213 | (2) % | |||
Throughput for crude-oil and NGLs assets (MBbls/d) | ||||||
Gathering, treating, and transportation | 411 | 423 | (3) % | |||
Equity investments (1) | 103 | 121 | (15) % | |||
Total throughput | 514 | 544 | (6) % | |||
Throughput attributable to noncontrolling interests (2) | 11 | 10 | 10 % | |||
Total throughput attributable to WES for crude-oil and NGLs assets | 503 | 534 | (6) % | |||
Throughput for produced-water assets (MBbls/d) | ||||||
Gathering and disposal | 1,190 | 1,216 | (2) % | |||
Throughput attributable to noncontrolling interests (2) | 24 | 25 | (4) % | |||
Total throughput attributable to WES for produced-water assets | 1,166 | 1,191 | (2) % | |||
Per-Mcf Gross margin for natural-gas assets (3) | $ 1.11 | $ 1.08 | 3 % | |||
Per-Bbl Gross margin for crude-oil and NGLs assets (3) | 2.19 | 2.16 | 1 % | |||
Per-Bbl Gross margin for produced-water assets (3) | 0.79 | 0.82 | (4) % | |||
Per-Mcf Adjusted Gross Margin for natural-gas assets (4) | $ 1.34 | $ 1.29 | 4 % | |||
Per-Bbl Adjusted Gross Margin for crude-oil and NGLs assets (4) | 3.17 | 3.00 | 6 % | |||
Per-Bbl Adjusted Gross Margin for produced-water assets (4) | 0.94 | 0.96 | (2) % |
(1) | Represents our share of average throughput for investments accounted for under the equity method of accounting. |
(2) | Includes (i) the |
(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 | ||||||
March 31, | December 31, | Inc/ (Dec) | ||||
Throughput for natural-gas assets (MMcf/d) | ||||||
Operated | ||||||
1,975 | 1,973 | — % | ||||
DJ Basin | 1,404 | 1,502 | (7) % | |||
463 | 488 | (5) % | ||||
Other | 899 | 881 | 2 % | |||
Total operated throughput for natural-gas assets | 4,741 | 4,844 | (2) % | |||
Non-operated | ||||||
Equity investments | 550 | 550 | — % | |||
Total non-operated throughput for natural-gas assets | 550 | 550 | — % | |||
Total throughput for natural-gas assets | 5,291 | 5,394 | (2) % | |||
Throughput for crude-oil and NGLs assets (MBbls/d) | ||||||
Operated | ||||||
256 | 260 | (2) % | ||||
DJ Basin | 94 | 102 | (8) % | |||
25 | 27 | (7) % | ||||
Other | 36 | 34 | 6 % | |||
Total operated throughput for crude-oil and NGLs assets | 411 | 423 | (3) % | |||
Non-operated | ||||||
Equity investments | 103 | 121 | (15) % | |||
Total non-operated throughput for crude-oil and NGLs assets | 103 | 121 | (15) % | |||
Total throughput for crude-oil and NGLs assets | 514 | 544 | (6) % | |||
Throughput for produced-water assets (MBbls/d) | ||||||
Operated | ||||||
1,190 | 1,216 | (2) % | ||||
Total operated throughput for produced-water assets | 1,190 | 1,216 | (2) % |
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SOURCE Western Midstream Partners, LP