greeksoup/ stock research

Kinetik Holdings Inc.: Q1 FY2026 earnings call

What management said about Q1 FY2026, from the documents filed with the SEC on 7 May 2026: press release. Guidance figures: 1 raised, 1 lowered, 2 kept. The quarter’s numbers.

Key takeaways

  • Net loss, Adjusted EBITDA of $251.2 million: Net loss including noncontrolling interest was $5.1 million. Adjusted EBITDA was $251.2 million, against $250.0 million a year earlier, and Distributable Cash Flow was $180.8 million. Source
  • Midstream Logistics up 12%: Midstream Logistics Adjusted EBITDA was $178.9 million, up 12% year over year, from $160.2 million in the first quarter of 2025. Source
  • Durango contracts extended into late 2030s: Agreements covering about 75% of legacy Durango gas volumes were amended in four months, with terms running into the mid and late 2030s. Source
  • Waha prices deeply negative: Waha gas averaged negative $2.37 per Mmbtu year to date through April, and management said the hub is more oversupplied and volatile than originally expected. Source
  • Activity pulled forward into 2027: Customers are pulling activity forward to early 2027, which management links to new Permian egress capacity coming online. Source
  • Net debt rose to $3.85 billion: Net debt was $3,854,380 thousand at March 31, 2026, up from $3,814,249 thousand at December 31, 2025, with cash of $0.7 million. Leverage ratio was 3.9x. Source
  • Kings Landing approvals secured: Kings Landing received Bureau of Land Management approvals for acid gas compression and the injection well, and state permits for the full 20 Mmcf/d of acid gas capacity. Source

“Kinetik delivered a strong start to 2026, reflecting the strategic positioning of the business, as well as successful commercial and operational execution,”

Jamie Welch, President & Chief Executive Officer

Guidance

AreaPeriodFigureAgainst last quarter
Adjusted EBITDA Sourcefull year 2026$950 million to $1,050 millionKept
Capital expenditures (including maintenance) Sourcefull year 2026$450 million to $510 millionKept
Processed gas volume growth, year over year Sourcefull year 2026low- to mid-single-digit percentage pointsLowered from high single-digit percentage growth
Waha price-related production shut-ins (curtailments) Sourcefull year 2026approximately 220 Mmcf/dRaised from approximately 100 Mmcf/d

What changed from last quarter

  • Guidance lowered: Processed gas volume growth guidance moved from high single digits to low to mid single digits. Source
  • Guidance raised: The curtailment assumption rose from about 100 Mmcf/d to about 220 Mmcf/d for full-year 2026. Source
  • Guidance kept: Adjusted EBITDA guidance of $950 million to $1,050 million was affirmed, not changed. Source
  • Guidance kept: Capital expenditure guidance of $450 million to $510 million, including maintenance, was maintained. Source
  • New: Multiple Durango gas gathering and processing agreements were amended with a large existing customer, extending terms to 2039 and increasing New Mexico acreage. Source
  • New: Additional Gulf Coast natural gas pricing was secured for 2028 through 2030, described as mitigating Waha exposure. Source
  • New: Several new agreements were executed with customers in Texas and New Mexico covering gas, water, and crude midstream services. Source
  • New: An agreement was executed with Pecos Power to connect Kinetik's intrabasin residue gas pipeline to a 452 MW gas-fired plant in Reeves County, Texas. Source

Results and growth drivers

  • Net loss, Adjusted EBITDA of $251.2 million: Net loss including noncontrolling interest was $5.1 million. Adjusted EBITDA was $251.2 million, against $250.0 million a year earlier, and Distributable Cash Flow was $180.8 million. Source
  • Results above internal expectations: Management said financial performance was above internal expectations and reinforces its confidence in the 2026 guidance. Source
  • Diluted EPS negative, prior year positive: Diluted earnings per share attributable to Class A holders were $(0.07), against $0.05 in the first quarter of 2025. Source
  • Operating performance and basis lifted results: Results benefited from stronger than expected system operating performance, higher fee and commodity margins, lower unit operating costs, and wider basis spreads. Source
  • Revenue down, product revenue flat: Total operating revenues were $410.0 million, against $443.3 million, with product revenue of $312.2 million, close to the prior year's $312.5 million. Source

Segments and regions

  • Midstream Logistics up 12%: Midstream Logistics Adjusted EBITDA was $178.9 million, up 12% year over year, from $160.2 million in the first quarter of 2025. Source
  • Pipeline Transportation down on divestiture: Pipeline Transportation Adjusted EBITDA was $78.0 million, down nearly 17%, which the release attributes to the EPIC Crude divestiture. Source
  • Permian Highway and NGL grew modestly: Permian Highway Pipeline and Kinetik NGL Adjusted EBITDA grew modestly year over year within the Pipeline Transportation segment. Source

“Year to date through April, the Waha Hub is even more oversupplied and volatile than our original expectations with Waha gas daily averaging negative $2.37 per Mmbtu.”

Jamie Welch, President & Chief Executive Officer

Products and customers

  • Processed gas volumes up 1%: Processed natural gas volumes were 1.81 Bcf/d, up 1% year over year, after an estimated 170 Mmcf/d of Waha price-related shut-ins. Source
  • Durango contracts extended into late 2030s: Agreements covering about 75% of legacy Durango gas volumes were amended in four months, with terms running into the mid and late 2030s. Source
  • Durango deals expected to lift EBITDA: Management expects the Durango agreements to increase annual Adjusted EBITDA starting in 2026, and says this is reflected in guidance. Source

Costs, margins and pricing

  • Operating and G&A costs rose: Operating expenses were $70.3 million and G&A was $44.2 million, against $63.6 million and $37.6 million in the first quarter of 2025. Source
  • Hedging unrealized loss added back: A $47.0 million commodity hedging unrealized loss was added back to reach Adjusted EBITDA, against $18.1 million a year earlier. Source
  • Gas revenues netted in cost of sales: Cost of sales is net of gas service revenues of $102.3 million for volumes where the company acts as principal, up from $62.2 million. Source
  • Gulf Coast position offsets Waha impact: Management said its Gulf Coast transportation position more than offsets the processed gas volume impact, given wider Permian to Gulf Coast price differentials. Source

“Against this backdrop, Kinetik is well positioned to capture the value of this structural Permian gas growth.”

Jamie Welch, President & Chief Executive Officer

Demand and the order book

  • Waha prices deeply negative: Waha gas averaged negative $2.37 per Mmbtu year to date through April, and management said the hub is more oversupplied and volatile than originally expected. Source
  • No material impact to producer activity: Gas price-sensitive customers deferred some 2026 activity in response to negative Waha pricing, but management has not observed a material impact to producer activity for 2026. Source
  • Activity pulled forward into 2027: Customers are pulling activity forward to early 2027, which management links to new Permian egress capacity coming online. Source
  • Permian takeaway capacity additions: Management expects more than 5 Bcf/d of new Permian residue gas takeaway in service by early 2027, and about 6 Bcf/d more in 2028 and 2029. Source

Capital, cash and returns to shareholders

  • Free cash flow higher than prior year: Distributable Cash Flow was $180.8 million and Free Cash Flow was $101.4 million, against $157.0 million and $91.4 million a year earlier. Source
  • Dividend coverage at 1.4 times: Dividend coverage was 1.4x, defined as Distributable Cash Flow divided by declared dividends, with a dividend of $0.81 per share. Source
  • Capital spend of $91.3 million: Capital expenditures for the quarter were $91.3 million, net of contributions in aid of construction and returns of invested capital. Source
  • Net debt rose to $3.85 billion: Net debt was $3,854,380 thousand at March 31, 2026, up from $3,814,249 thousand at December 31, 2025, with cash of $0.7 million. Leverage ratio was 3.9x. Source
  • Liquidity of $1.12 billion: Liquidity was $1,120.1 million, combining $0.7 million of cash with $1,119.4 million of revolving credit facility availability at March 31, 2026. Source
  • Shares outstanding of 162.4 million: Shares issued and outstanding were 162.4 million at March 31, 2026: 68.8 million Class A and 93.6 million Class C. Source

Strategy and investment

  • Kings Landing approvals secured: Kings Landing received Bureau of Land Management approvals for acid gas compression and the injection well, and state permits for the full 20 Mmcf/d of acid gas capacity. Source
  • ECCC Pipeline nearing completion: The ECCC Pipeline is nearing construction completion, connecting the western system north to south between Eddy and Culberson counties. Source
  • Diamond Cryo power project progressing: A 40 MW behind-the-meter power generation project at Diamond Cryo is progressing, with engineering, procurement, and permitting work underway. Source
  • Pecos Power to reimburse pipeline capital: The Pecos Power plant reached FID in March. Pecos will fully reimburse the capital for the Kinetik pipeline connection, which is one of the primary residue gas supplies. Source

Interest, equity earnings and other items

  • Interest expense and equity earnings lower: Interest expense was $53.4 million, against $55.7 million. Equity in earnings of unconsolidated affiliates was $51.2 million, against $57.5 million. Source
  • Litigation costs added back: Litigation costs were $11.6 million, against $3.0 million a year earlier, and were added back in the Adjusted EBITDA reconciliation. Source

Coming up, as management said on 7 May 2026

  • Pecos Power plant commercial operations: Commercial operations of the Pecos Power plant are expected to commence in 2027, following FID in March. Source

Figures management reported

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

Risks management discussed

  • External: Management cited near-term commodity price volatility from Middle East tensions, and said the fee-based domestic business model provides meaningful insulation. Source
  • Demand: Gas price-sensitive customers deferred some 2026 activity because of negative Waha pricing. Source
  • Operational: Price-related volume curtailments from gas price-sensitive customers continue, and management is revising 2026 processed gas volume growth assumptions. Source

Earlier plans management reported on

  • On track: Management said the Kings Landing project remains on schedule for in-service by year-end 2026. Source
  • Not stated: The ECCC Pipeline is expected to commence in-service in the second quarter of 2026, as stated in the earlier plan. 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.