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Kinetik Holdings Inc.: Q4 FY2025 earnings call

What management said about Q4 FY2025, from the documents filed with the SEC on 26 February 2026: press release. Guidance figures: 8 new. The quarter’s numbers.

Key takeaways

  • Full year Adjusted EBITDA reported: Full year 2025 Adjusted EBITDA was $987.7 million, against $971.1 million for 2024. Fourth quarter Adjusted EBITDA was $252.1 million, against $237.5 million a year earlier. Source
  • Net income lifted by EPIC gain: Fourth quarter net income including noncontrolling interest was $416.7 million, including a $415.4 million gain on sale of the equity method investment in EPIC Crude. Full year diluted EPS was $2.63. Source
  • Midstream Logistics up 15%: Midstream Logistics Adjusted EBITDA was $173.1 million in the fourth quarter. Full year segment Adjusted EBITDA was $635.8 million, against $614.9 million in 2024. Source
  • Gulf Coast gains offset Waha shut-ins: Management said the quarter's results were primarily helped by Gulf Coast marketing gains, partly offset by production shut-ins tied to Waha price levels. Source
  • Volumes below management expectations: Management said fourth quarter volumes were down over 8% against its expectations, after steps to mitigate wider production shut-ins from Waha gas pricing. Source
  • Quarter free cash flow lower: Fourth quarter free cash flow was $(12.0) million and distributable cash flow was $151.7 million. Full year free cash flow was $167.2 million. Permian Highway Pipeline distributions were $31.3 million lower than the third quarter. Source
  • Kings Landing commercial in-service: Management listed the commercial in-service of the Kings Landing Processing Complex among the core initiatives advanced during 2025. Source

“2025 was a year of challenges and strategic progress for Kinetik as we navigated a difficult operating environment”

Jamie Welch, Kinetik’s President & Chief Executive Officer

Guidance

AreaPeriodFigureAgainst last quarter
Adjusted EBITDA Sourcefull year 2026$950 million to $1,050 millionNew
Capital expenditures including maintenance Sourcefull year 2026$450 million to $510 millionNew
Gas processed volumes growth Source2026 compared with 2025high single-digit percentage growthNew
Commodity price assumptions Source2026 average annualWTI $61.58 per barrel; Houston Ship Channel gas $3.34 per Mmbtu; Waha Hub gas $0.44 per Mmbtu; composite NGL $0.52 per gallonNew
Share of capital expenditures in New Mexico Source2026approximately 70%New
Diamond Cryo power project capital Sourcetotal project capital; in-service targeted late 2026less than $25 millionNew
Leverage ratio target range Sourcenot stated3.5x to 4.0xNew
Dividend increases Sourceannual, until Dividend Coverage of 1.6x or higher is achieved3% to 5% annual increasesNew

What changed from last quarter

  • New guidance: 2026 Adjusted EBITDA and capital guidance was issued, after the company had said it planned to provide it with full year 2025 results.
  • New: Amended contracts with the two largest legacy Durango customers in New Mexico: longer terms, fixed-fee structures, treating fees, and control of residue gas and natural gas liquids. Source
  • New: Capital allocation framework updated to prioritize growth-oriented, scale-driven reinvestment while keeping balance sheet flexibility. Returns are weighed across organic growth, dividend increases and share repurchases. Source
  • New: A pilot engagement with Palantir began to support decision-making, add real-time profitability analytics, and improve planning across the Delaware Basin footprint. Source

Results and growth drivers

  • Full year Adjusted EBITDA reported: Full year 2025 Adjusted EBITDA was $987.7 million, against $971.1 million for 2024. Fourth quarter Adjusted EBITDA was $252.1 million, against $237.5 million a year earlier. Source
  • Net income lifted by EPIC gain: Fourth quarter net income including noncontrolling interest was $416.7 million, including a $415.4 million gain on sale of the equity method investment in EPIC Crude. Full year diluted EPS was $2.63. Source
  • Operating revenue and income rose: Fourth quarter total operating revenues were $430.4 million, against $385.7 million, and operating income was $48.4 million, against $23.7 million. Full year operating revenues were $1,764.4 million. Source

Segments and regions

  • Midstream Logistics up 15%: Midstream Logistics Adjusted EBITDA was $173.1 million in the fourth quarter. Full year segment Adjusted EBITDA was $635.8 million, against $614.9 million in 2024. Source
  • Pipeline Transportation down 9%: Pipeline Transportation Adjusted EBITDA was $84.0 million, down 9% year over year, reflecting the October 31, 2025 divestiture of the EPIC Crude equity interest. Full year segment Adjusted EBITDA was $370.1 million. Source
  • Corporate and Other loss in quarter: Corporate and Other Adjusted EBITDA was a $5.0 million loss in the fourth quarter, against a $5.6 million loss a year earlier, and an $18.3 million loss for the full year. Source

“While we expect continued volatility for much of 2026, we anticipate tailwinds from substantial operating leverage across our system”

Jamie Welch, Kinetik’s President & Chief Executive Officer

Costs, margins and pricing

  • Gulf Coast gains offset Waha shut-ins: Management said the quarter's results were primarily helped by Gulf Coast marketing gains, partly offset by production shut-ins tied to Waha price levels. Source
  • Operating costs and D&A increased: Fourth quarter operating expenses were $63.6 million, against $52.7 million, and depreciation and amortization was $100.8 million, against $87.9 million. Cost of sales was $170.5 million, against $175.8 million. Source
  • Gas service revenue netted in cost of sales: Cost of sales is stated net of gas service revenues for volumes where the company acts as principal. Those revenues were $91.5 million in the fourth quarter, against $60.4 million a year earlier. Source
  • Litigation and integration costs excluded: Litigation costs were $10.6 million in the fourth quarter and $19.7 million for the year, and are excluded from Adjusted EBITDA. Integration costs were $15.0 million for the year. Source

Demand and the order book

  • Gas processed up 3% in quarter: Natural gas processed was 1.79 Bcf/d in the fourth quarter, a 3% increase year over year. Source
  • Volumes below management expectations: Management said fourth quarter volumes were down over 8% against its expectations, after steps to mitigate wider production shut-ins from Waha gas pricing. Source
  • Permian takeaway additions expected: Management expects about 5 Bcf/d of new Permian natural gas takeaway capacity in service by the end of the first quarter of 2027, nearly 20% of current Permian natural gas volumes. Source

“system-wide volume growth, enhanced sour gas treating capabilities, cost optimization initiatives, and improving basis differentials are expected to drive material earnings growth”

Jamie Welch, Kinetik’s President & Chief Executive Officer

Capital, cash and returns to shareholders

  • Quarter free cash flow lower: Fourth quarter free cash flow was $(12.0) million and distributable cash flow was $151.7 million. Full year free cash flow was $167.2 million. Permian Highway Pipeline distributions were $31.3 million lower than the third quarter. Source
  • Buybacks totaled $176.0 million: The company repurchased $176.0 million of Class A common stock in 2025 under the existing Repurchase Program, of which $3.5 million was in the fourth quarter. Source
  • Net debt and leverage at year end: Net debt was $3,814.2 million at December 31, 2025. The Leverage Ratio was 3.8x and the Net Debt to Adjusted EBITDA Ratio was 3.9x. Source
  • Dividend coverage and capital spending: Dividend Coverage Ratio was 1.2x for the fourth quarter and the full year. Capital expenditures were $138.9 million in the quarter and $497.1 million for the year. Source

Projects, customers and investment

  • Kings Landing commercial in-service: Management listed the commercial in-service of the Kings Landing Processing Complex among the core initiatives advanced during 2025. Source
  • Acid gas injection project construction: Construction is progressing on the acid gas injection and sour conversion project at Kings Landing, following the recent final investment decision. Source
  • Diamond Cryo power solution replicable: The company bought a 40 MW gas turbine for the wholly-owned behind-the-meter project at Diamond Cryo and said the solution can be replicated at other facilities. Source
  • Growth capital spending rose: Growth capital expenditures were $475.3 million for 2025, against $227.7 million for 2024. Source

Coming up, as management said on 26 February 2026

  • Updated investor presentation: An updated investor presentation is to be posted under Events and Presentations in the Investors section of the company's website. Source

Figures management reported

FigureReported
Capital plan Source2026 capital expenditures of $450 million to $510 million, including maintenance

Risks management discussed

  • External: Management named significant changes in commodity prices as a factor that could drive variability within the 2026 Adjusted EBITDA range. Source
  • External: Wider production shut-ins linked to Waha gas pricing affected the quarter, and management described steps taken to mitigate their impact. Source
  • Demand: Producer development timing, delayed or accelerated by commodity price conditions, is named as a factor for 2026 variability. Source
  • Operational: Changes in the completion timing of certain strategic projects are named as a factor for 2026 variability. Source
  • Regulatory: Remaining permitting requirements for the Kings Landing acid gas injection project are being pursued with federal and New Mexico agencies. Source

Earlier plans management reported on

  • On track: Management said the ECCC Pipeline remains on track for in-service in the second quarter of 2026, with construction continuing. Source
  • On track: Management wrote that the project remains on schedule, with in-service anticipated by year-end 2026. Source

Other quarters

Summarised with AI from the documents the company filed with the SEC. Every point is checked against the filing before it is shown: management’s own words word for word, figures against the line or table row they come from. A point that fails the check is left out. Source opens the filing at that line.