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Kinetik Holdings Inc.: Q2 FY2026 earnings call

What management said about Q2 FY2026, from the documents filed with the SEC on 6 August 2026: press release. Guidance figures: 2 raised, 7 new. The quarter’s numbers.

Key takeaways

  • Adjusted EBITDA guidance increased: Raised full year 2026 Adjusted EBITDA to $1.04B-$1.1B from $950M-$1.05B; midpoint increased 7% from original February guidance reflecting stronger volumes and operational performance. Source
  • Midstream Logistics segment surges: Midstream Logistics Adjusted EBITDA of $204.8M, up 35% year-over-year, reflecting strong system performance and improved commodity margins. Source
  • ECCC Pipeline operational: ECCC Pipeline placed into service, establishing north-to-south connection across western system between Eddy and Culberson Counties to enhance system connectivity. Source
  • Processed gas volume exit rate targeted: 2026 processed gas volume exit rate expected nearly 2.2 Bcf/d, representing approximately 20% exit-to-exit growth driven by customer development acceleration. Source

“Momentum is building across our system and is expected to be a strong tailwind into 2027. Curtailments have eased, customer activity is pulling forward, and the market increasingly recognizes the critical role the Permian Basin plays in meeting growing U.S. natural gas demand, anchored by LNG exports and data center developments. Kinetik is exceptionally well positioned to capitalize on this structural growth.”

Jamie Welch, President & Chief Executive Officer

Guidance

AreaPeriodFigureAgainst last quarter
Adjusted EBITDA Sourcefull year 2026$1.04 billion to $1.1 billionRaised from $950 million to $1,050 million
Adjusted EBITDA Q3 2026 Sourcethird quarter 2026$260 million to $270 millionNew
Adjusted EBITDA Q4 2026 Sourcefourth quarter 2026$270 million to $280 millionNew
Capital Expenditures Sourcefull year 2026approximately $560 millionRaised from $450 million to $510 million
Processed gas volume exit rate Sourcefourth quarter 2026 averagenearly 2.2 Bcf/dNew
Average WTI crude oil price Sourcefull year 2026$78.65 per barrelNew
Kings Landing II capital and timeline Sourcemid-2028 completionapproximately $260 million capital, completion mid-2028New
Diamond Volt power generation in-service Sourcesecond quarter 202740 MW behind-the-meter facility, Q2 2027 in-serviceNew
Planned curtailments Sourcesecond half 2026approximately 25 MMcf/d on averageNew

What changed from last quarter

  • Guidance raised: Full year 2026 Adjusted EBITDA guidance raised to $1.04B-$1.1B from $950M-$1.05B, with midpoint 7% above original February guidance. Source
  • Guidance raised: Capital expenditures guidance for 2026 raised to approximately $560M from $450M-$510M range due to KLII FID, accelerated customer development, and long-lead equipment procurement. Source
  • New guidance: Quarterly Adjusted EBITDA guidance provided for Q3 2026 ($260M-$270M) and Q4 2026 ($270M-$280M), not previously disclosed. Source
  • New: ECCC Pipeline placed into service, establishing north-to-south connectivity across western system; right-of-way procurement underway for planned 2027 expansion. Source
  • New: Board authorized long-lead equipment procurement for next processing capacity expansion beyond Kings Landing II, aligning supply chain with accelerating customer development plans. Source
  • New: Company secured firm access to additional Gulf Coast netback residue gas pricing for 2027 and executed new residue and NGL transportation agreements for Delaware North complexes. Source

Record Second Quarter Results

  • Strong distributable and free cash flow: Distributable Cash Flow of $194.9M in Q2 and $375.8M in H1; Free Cash Flow of $105.2M in Q2 and $206.6M in H1 demonstrates robust cash generation. Source
  • Outstanding operational execution: Results driven by robust system performance, improved NGL recoveries and condensate yields, optimization opportunities, and favorable commodity prices and spreads. Source

Full Year 2026 Guidance Raised

  • Adjusted EBITDA guidance increased: Raised full year 2026 Adjusted EBITDA to $1.04B-$1.1B from $950M-$1.05B; midpoint increased 7% from original February guidance reflecting stronger volumes and operational performance. Source
  • Quarterly Adjusted EBITDA guidance: Provided quarterly guidance for Q3 2026 at $260M-$270M and Q4 2026 at $270M-$280M, reflecting continued outperformance relative to original expectations. Source
  • Capital expenditures guidance raised: Raised 2026 CapEx guidance to approximately $560M from $450M-$510M to fund KLII investment, accelerated customer development, optimization projects, and long-lead equipment procurement. Source
  • Updated commodity price assumptions: Full year 2026 commodity assumptions set at WTI $78.65/barrel, Houston Ship Channel $2.83/MMBtu, Waha ($0.26)/MMBtu, and composite NGLs $0.62/gallon. Source

Segment Performance and Growth Drivers

  • Midstream Logistics segment surges: Midstream Logistics Adjusted EBITDA of $204.8M, up 35% year-over-year, reflecting strong system performance and improved commodity margins. Source
  • Pipeline Transportation segment declines: Pipeline Transportation Adjusted EBITDA of $83.0M, down 14% year-over-year primarily due to late 2025 divestiture of EPIC Crude Holdings equity interest. Source
  • Processed volumes remain resilient: Kinetik processed 1.74 Bcf/d in Q2 2026, flat year-over-year despite estimated 250 MMcf/d of Waha price-related volume shut-ins from gas-sensitive producers. Source
  • NGL and condensate performance: Strong NGL recoveries and condensate yields combined with optimization opportunities and favorable commodity spreads contributed significantly to segment outperformance. Source

Strategic Projects and Capacity Investments

  • ECCC Pipeline operational: ECCC Pipeline placed into service, establishing north-to-south connection across western system between Eddy and Culberson Counties to enhance system connectivity. Source
  • Acid gas injection on schedule: Kings Landing acid gas injection and sour conversion project remains on schedule with site construction and drilling operations underway; in-service expected by year-end 2026. Source
  • Long-lead equipment for expansion: Board approved procurement of long-lead equipment for processing expansion beyond KLII, proactively aligning supply chain with accelerating customer development plans and future growth. Source
  • Diamond Volt power project progresses: 40 MW behind-the-meter power generation project at Diamond Cryo Complex with in-service anticipated in Q2 2027, advancing company's strategic power solutions. Source

System Growth and Customer Development

  • Processed gas volume exit rate targeted: 2026 processed gas volume exit rate expected nearly 2.2 Bcf/d, representing approximately 20% exit-to-exit growth driven by customer development acceleration. Source
  • Customer development accelerating: Customer development plans accelerating into late 2026 and early 2027 with market pulling forward activity, positioning for strong 2027 aligned with new egress capacity. Source
  • Curtailments expected in H2 2026: Management anticipates approximately 25 MMcf/d of curtailments on average for second half 2026, down from first half levels due to easing Waha pricing dynamics. Source

Commercial Initiatives and Market Access

  • Gulf Coast residue gas access secured: Company secured firm access to additional Gulf Coast netback residue gas pricing for 2027, enhancing integrated residue gas offering and providing customers premium price options. Source
  • Transportation agreements executed: Signed residue gas and NGL transportation agreements for Delaware North processing complexes, providing diversified market access and improving customer netbacks. Source
  • Incremental firm Gulf Coast access: Secured incremental firm Gulf Coast market access for residue gas commencing in 2027 and new residue and NGL transport agreements strengthen egress capacity and netback pricing. Source

Coming up, as management said on 6 August 2026

  • Kings Landing II expected completion: Kings Landing II project expected to reach completion in mid-2028 with approximately $260M capital investment and 700+ MMcf/d Delaware North sour gas capacity. Source
  • Kings Landing acid gas injection: Kings Landing acid gas injection and sour conversion project remains on schedule for year-end 2026 in-service with construction and drilling operations underway. Source
  • Diamond Volt power generation startup: Diamond Volt 40 MW behind-the-meter power generation project at Diamond Cryo Complex expected to commence in-service in Q2 2027. Source
  • Customer development acceleration into 2027: Customer development plans accelerating with activity pulling forward to early 2027, positioning for strong year coinciding with new Permian egress capacity coming online.
  • Long-lead equipment procurement: Board authorized procurement of long-lead equipment for processing expansion beyond KLII to align supply chain with customer development plans. Source

Figures management reported

FigureReported
2026 Capital Expenditures Plan Sourceapproximately $560 million
2026 Processed Gas Volume Exit Rate Sourcenearly 2.2 Bcf/d (approximately 20% exit-to-exit growth)
Q2 2026 Processed Gas Volumes Source1.74 Bcf/d
Dividend Per Share Source$0.81 per share

Risks management discussed

  • Demand: Waha pricing volatility creates volume curtailment risk; management expects approximately 25 MMcf/d curtailments in H2 2026 from price-sensitive producers. Source
  • Operational: Customer activity levels are key variable; company notes need for customer development acceleration to drive volume growth to 2.2 Bcf/d exit rate. Source
  • Financial: Commodity price assumptions critical to 2026 guidance; company assumes WTI at $78.65/barrel, natural gas at $2.83/MMBtu Houston basis, and NGLs at $0.62/gallon. Source

Earlier plans management reported on

  • Raised: Raised full year 2026 Adjusted EBITDA guidance to $1.04B-$1.1B, a 7% increase in midpoint from original February guidance. Source
  • Raised: Raised 2026 capital expenditures guidance to approximately $560M from $450M-$510M range. Source
  • On track: Kings Landing acid gas injection and sour conversion project remains on schedule with site construction and drilling operations underway for year-end 2026 in-service. Source
  • Met: ECCC Pipeline placed into service as planned, establishing north-to-south connectivity across western system. Source
  • Ahead: Kings Landing II reached final investment decision in May 2026 with capital of approximately $260M and mid-2028 completion date, accelerated from previous expectations. Source
  • On track: Diamond Volt 40 MW power generation project continuing to advance with in-service anticipated in Q2 2027. 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.