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Kinetik Holdings Inc.: Q3 FY2026 earnings call

What management said about Q3 FY2026, from the documents filed with the SEC on 4 November 2026: press release. Guidance figures: 1 raised, 1 lowered, 2 new, 4 kept. The quarter’s numbers.

Key takeaways

  • Adjusted EBITDA rose year over year: Adjusted EBITDA was $278.1 million for the quarter, against $242.6 million a year earlier, and $810.1 million for nine months, against $735.6 million. Source
  • Processed volumes reached 1.94 Bcf/d: Processed volumes were 1.94 Bcf/d, up from 1.74 Bcf/d in the second quarter; the highlights describe the volumes as a record. Source
  • Midstream Logistics EBITDA up 34%: Midstream Logistics Adjusted EBITDA was $203.6 million, against $151.4 million a year earlier. Management cited system operating performance and favorable commodity margins, partly offset by lower residue gas marketing contributions. Source
  • Pipeline Transportation EBITDA down 18%: Pipeline Transportation Adjusted EBITDA was $78.5 million, against $95.5 million; management attributed the decline mainly to the EPIC Crude divestiture, with smaller effects from fuel costs at Permian Highway and Shin Oak throughput. Source
  • Demand outpacing existing infrastructure: Management said demand for gathering, processing and treating capacity is outpacing existing infrastructure in many areas, reinforcing the value of integrated systems. Source
  • Next expansion equipment ordered: Long-lead residue compression equipment for the next expansion beyond KLII is ordered; amine treating and a 400 MMcf/d cryogenic unit are in procurement, and the site is not final. Source
  • Leverage ratio down from June: Leverage ratio was 3.70x and net debt to Adjusted EBITDA 3.71x, against 3.85x and 3.84x at June 30, 2026; net debt was $3.94 billion. Source

“As our strategic growth projects come online and processed gas volumes continue to increase, our financial performance is increasingly driven by durable, repeatable earnings.”

Jamie Welch, Kinetik’s President & Chief Executive Officer

Guidance

AreaPeriodFigureAgainst last quarter
Adjusted EBITDA Sourcefull year 2026high end of the $1.04 billion to $1.1 billion rangeKept
Capital expenditures (including maintenance) Sourcefull year 2026approximately 5% below $560 millionLowered from approximately $560 million
Processed gas volumes Sourcefourth quarter 2026approximately 2.2 Bcf/dKept
KLII processing capacity Sourcein service mid-2028380 MMcf/dRaised
ECCC Pipeline throughput capacity Sourceafter phase 1 expansion, in service mid-2027approximately 225 MMcf/dNew
KLII capital cost and in-service date Sourcemid-2028approximately $260 million; mid-2028 in serviceKept
Acid gas injection and sour gas conversion project at Kings Landing Sourceyear-end 2026completion by year-end 2026Kept
Diamond Volt power generation project Sourcemid-2027in service by mid-2027
Long-haul residue gas pipeline transport capacity Sourcecommencing 20292029New

What changed from last quarter

  • Guidance kept: The full-year 2026 Adjusted EBITDA range of $1.04 billion to $1.1 billion is unchanged; management now expects the high end of it. Source
  • Guidance lowered: Full-year 2026 capital expenditures are now about 5% below the August 2026 guidance of $560 million. Source
  • New: KLII planned processing capacity was increased by more than 25% to 380 MMcf/d, with expected capital cost unchanged at about $260 million. Source
  • New: Final investment decision reached on phase 1 of the ECCC Pipeline expansion, targeting about 225 MMcf/d of throughput capacity. Source
  • New: Committed additional transport capacity on a new Waha Hub to Gulf Coast residue gas pipeline, starting in 2029. Source
  • Ended: The first Lone Star NGL transportation and fractionation contract in Texas expired on October 31, 2026; the remaining one expires at year-end. Source

Results and volume growth

  • Net income and EPS higher: Net income including noncontrolling interest was $50.9 million for the quarter, against $15.5 million a year earlier; diluted EPS was $0.26, against $0.03. Source
  • Adjusted EBITDA rose year over year: Adjusted EBITDA was $278.1 million for the quarter, against $242.6 million a year earlier, and $810.1 million for nine months, against $735.6 million. Source
  • Processed volumes reached 1.94 Bcf/d: Processed volumes were 1.94 Bcf/d, up from 1.74 Bcf/d in the second quarter; the highlights describe the volumes as a record. Source
  • Distributable and free cash flow rose: Distributable Cash Flow was $213.7 million and free cash flow $87.5 million for the quarter, against $158.5 million and $13.9 million a year earlier. Source

Segment results

  • Midstream Logistics EBITDA up 34%: Midstream Logistics Adjusted EBITDA was $203.6 million, against $151.4 million a year earlier. Management cited system operating performance and favorable commodity margins, partly offset by lower residue gas marketing contributions. Source
  • Pipeline Transportation EBITDA down 18%: Pipeline Transportation Adjusted EBITDA was $78.5 million, against $95.5 million; management attributed the decline mainly to the EPIC Crude divestiture, with smaller effects from fuel costs at Permian Highway and Shin Oak throughput. Source
  • Corporate and Other loss narrowed: Corporate and Other Adjusted EBITDA was a $3.9 million loss, against a $4.2 million loss a year earlier. Source

“The momentum we have built throughout the year has continued into the fourth quarter.”

Jamie Welch, Kinetik’s President & Chief Executive Officer

Products, customers and agreements

  • Product revenue rose year over year: Total operating revenues were $569.4 million, against $464.0 million a year earlier; product revenue was $447.9 million, against $357.6 million. Source
  • Acreage dedicated since August: New and amended low-pressure gathering and processing agreements in New Mexico and Texas dedicated over 30,000 gross acres, some prospective for the Woodford formation. Source
  • Firm minimum volume commitment added: One of the new agreements includes a firm minimum volume commitment from the customer, which management said provides enhanced cash flow visibility. Source
  • Gulf Coast pricing access from 2027: Kinetik secured firm access to additional Gulf Coast residue gas pricing, commencing in 2027. Source

Costs and margins

  • Cost of sales up; opex and G&A down: Cost of sales excluding depreciation was $300.3 million, against $235.4 million; operating expenses were $71.6 million, against $76.1 million, and G&A was $22.4 million, against $30.1 million. Source
  • Commodity hedging loss added back: The Adjusted EBITDA reconciliation adds back a $27.8 million commodity hedging unrealized loss, against a $6.5 million loss a year earlier. Source
  • Nine-month litigation costs rose: Litigation costs were $3.0 million for the quarter, against $3.7 million, and $19.9 million for nine months, against $9.1 million; both are added back to Adjusted EBITDA. Source
  • Commodity prices above guidance assumptions: Management cited commodity prices running above the August 2026 guidance assumptions as one reason for the Adjusted EBITDA guidance. Source

“which we believe will unlock the next wave of producer activity, substantially improve residue gas egress, and reduce Waha price volatility”

Jamie Welch, Kinetik’s President & Chief Executive Officer

Demand and takeaway capacity

  • Demand outpacing existing infrastructure: Management said demand for gathering, processing and treating capacity is outpacing existing infrastructure in many areas, reinforcing the value of integrated systems. Source
  • Delaware Basin benches expanding plays: Management said producers are delineating new benches with higher gas-to-oil ratios, which makes plays such as the Woodford, Avalon, First Bone Spring and Penn Shale more expansive. Source
  • Takeaway capacity arriving 2028 to 2030: Management expects more than 13 Bcf/d of incremental takeaway capacity between 2028 and 2030, which it said will unlock producer activity and improve residue gas egress. Source

Strategy and processing capacity

  • Next expansion equipment ordered: Long-lead residue compression equipment for the next expansion beyond KLII is ordered; amine treating and a 400 MMcf/d cryogenic unit are in procurement, and the site is not final. Source
  • Pecos Bend amine treating expansion: Management is expanding front-end amine treating and processing capability at Pecos Bend, citing expected higher volumes and rising CO2 concentrations from Loving and Lea Counties. Source
  • Plant modifications boost capacity and recoveries: Cost-effective modifications are being made at the East Toyah, Pecos and Diamond Cryo complexes to boost processing capacity and recoveries. Source
  • 2027 system optimization margin forecast higher: As Lone Star contracts roll off, management forecasts more meaningful margin contributions from system optimization in 2027 than it previously expected. Source

Leverage, liquidity and returns

  • Leverage ratio down from June: Leverage ratio was 3.70x and net debt to Adjusted EBITDA 3.71x, against 3.85x and 3.84x at June 30, 2026; net debt was $3.94 billion. Source
  • Liquidity near $1.07 billion: Liquidity was $1,069.4 million, combining cash of $7.0 million with revolving credit facility availability of $1,062.4 million as of September 30, 2026. Source
  • Dividend coverage at 1.61 times: Dividend coverage ratio was 1.61x for the quarter and 1.48x for nine months; the quarterly dividend is $0.81 per share. Source
  • Shares outstanding by class: Shares issued and outstanding were 162.4 million at September 30, 2026: 80.5 million Class A and 81.9 million Class C common stock. Source

Coming up, as management said on 4 November 2026

  • First flow of new agreements 2027: First flow for the new agreements is anticipated in the second and third quarters of 2027; some dedicated acreage is prospective for the Woodford formation. Source
  • Next expansion location to be disclosed: The exact location of the next processing expansion, in Texas or New Mexico, is not yet finalized; management will provide further details later. Source
  • ECCC looping construction starts 2027: Right-of-way acquisition was under way in the third quarter; procurement and construction for partial looping are to start in early 2027, with mid-2027 in-service anticipated. Source
  • Updated investor presentation posted: An updated investor presentation will be available on the company website under Events and Presentations. Source

Figures management reported

FigureReported
Capital plan Source2026 capital expenditures approximately 5% below $560 million guidance

Risks management discussed

  • External: Management said incremental residue takeaway capacity will be needed to support long-term Permian production growth. Source
  • External: Roughly 25 MMcf/d of Waha price-related gas volume was shut in during the quarter, in addition to processed volumes. Source

Earlier plans management reported on

  • Ahead: Management said margins and costs continue to run above internal budget expectations. Source
  • Met: Management said the ECCC Pipeline performed as designed during the quarter, moving surplus volumes to the Delaware South system. 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.