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Mplx LP: Q1 FY2026 earnings call

What management said about Q1 FY2026, from the documents filed with the SEC on 5 May 2026: press release. The quarter’s numbers.

Key takeaways

  • Mid-single digit growth strategy: Headline strategy is mid-single digit growth, delivered through Permian sour gas treating, natural gas and NGL pipeline expansions, and Harmon Creek III in the Marcellus. Source
  • Net income attributable fell: Net income attributable to MPLX LP was $912 million, down from $1,126 million; the release attributes the decrease to derivatives, interest expense, a prior-year benefit and depreciation. Source
  • Adjusted EBITDA roughly flat: Adjusted EBITDA attributable to MPLX was $1,729 million against $1,757 million a year earlier, with the segment split covered below. Source
  • Gas segment EBITDA fell: Natural Gas and NGL Services adjusted EBITDA fell to $618 million from $660 million; the prior-year quarter included a $37 million non-recurring customer benefit. Source
  • Growth capital spending rose sharply: Total growth capital expenditures were $791 million against $307 million a year earlier; total growth and maintenance capital was $843 million against $341 million. Source
  • Distribution rose to $1.0765: Declared first-quarter distribution was $1.0765 per common unit, against $0.9565 a year earlier, with distribution coverage of 1.3x against 1.5x. Source
  • Adjusted FCF after distributions negative: Adjusted free cash flow was $549 million; after $1,093 million of distributions paid, adjusted free cash flow after distributions was negative $544 million. Source

“Cash flow from this growth will allow us to reinvest in the business, return capital to unitholders, and is expected to support 12.5% annual distribution growth for two more years.”

Maryann Mannen, MPLX chairman, president and chief executive officer

Guidance

AreaPeriodFigureAgainst last quarter
Distribution growth Sourcetwo more years12.5% annual
Organic growth capital Sourceorganic growth capital plan$2.4 billion
Leverage Sourceongoing4.0x
Unit repurchase capacity Sourceas of March 31, 2026$1.1 billion remaining
Titan Complex sour gas treating Source4Q26150 MMcf/d to over 400 MMcf/d
Harmon Creek III processing plant Source3Q26300 MMcf/d plant and 40 mbpd de-ethanizer
Bay Runner and Rio Bravo pipelines SourceBay Runner 3Q26; Rio Bravo 2029up to 5.3 Bcf/d
BANGL pipeline expansion Source4Q26250 mbpd to 300 mbpd
Blackcomb pipeline Source4Q262.5 Bcf/d
Traverse pipeline Source2H272.5 Bcf/d
Gulf Coast Fractionators SourceFrac I 2028; Frac II 2029two 150 mbpd facilities
Gulf Coast LPG export terminal JV Source2028400 mbpd
Marcellus gathering system expansion Source1H28100% owned
Eiger Express pipeline Sourcemid-20283.7 Bcf/d
Secretariat II processing plant Source2H28300 MMcf/d

What changed from last quarter

  • New: Revolving credit facility replaced with a new five-year $2.5 billion facility, effective April 7, 2026, with term extended to April 2031. Source

Results and growth drivers

  • Mid-single digit growth strategy: Headline strategy is mid-single digit growth, delivered through Permian sour gas treating, natural gas and NGL pipeline expansions, and Harmon Creek III in the Marcellus. Source
  • Net income attributable fell: Net income attributable to MPLX LP was $912 million, down from $1,126 million; the release attributes the decrease to derivatives, interest expense, a prior-year benefit and depreciation. Source
  • Adjusted EBITDA roughly flat: Adjusted EBITDA attributable to MPLX was $1,729 million against $1,757 million a year earlier, with the segment split covered below. Source
  • Operating cash flow rose: Net cash provided by operating activities was $1,347 million, up from $1,246 million; distributable cash flow was $1,408 million, down from $1,486 million. Source

Segments and regions

  • Gas segment EBITDA fell: Natural Gas and NGL Services adjusted EBITDA fell to $618 million from $660 million; the prior-year quarter included a $37 million non-recurring customer benefit. Source
  • Crude segment EBITDA rose: Crude Oil and Products Logistics adjusted EBITDA rose $14 million to $1,111 million; the release credits higher rates across business units, partly offset by lower crude throughput. Source
  • Consolidated gathering volumes declined: Consolidated gathering throughput fell 13% to 3,712 MMcf/d; Southwest rose 11% and Marcellus 5%, while Utica and Rockies consolidated volumes show zero. Source

“We are executing our growth projects anchored in the Permian and Marcellus basins, as we expand the Delaware Basin Sour Gas treating plant to over 400 million cubic feet per day of treating capacity by year end”

Maryann Mannen, MPLX chairman, president and chief executive officer

Volumes and tariffs

  • Pipeline throughput down 4%: Total pipeline throughput was 5,702 mbpd against 5,928 mbpd, with crude oil pipelines down 6% and product pipelines flat. Source
  • Tariff rate slipped to $1.05: Average pipeline tariff rate was $1.05 per barrel, against $1.06, and terminal throughput fell 4% to 2,976 mbpd. Source
  • Processing and fractionation volumes lower: On an operated basis, natural gas processed fell 4% to 9,406 MMcf/d and C2 plus NGLs fractionated fell 4% to 634 mbpd. Source

Costs and margins

  • Operating expenses rose to $918 million: Operating expenses including purchased product costs were $918 million, up from $867 million; related-party operating expenses were $398 million, down from $420 million. Source
  • Financing costs rose sharply: Net interest and other financial costs rose to $291 million from $229 million. Source
  • Depreciation and amortization rose: Depreciation and amortization rose to $358 million from $326 million, and general and administrative expenses were $114 million against $112 million. Source

“investments in these value chains reflect the partnership’s confidence in the long-term fundamentals of the energy market”

Mplx LP, press release

Capital spending and projects

  • Growth capital spending rose sharply: Total growth capital expenditures were $791 million against $307 million a year earlier; total growth and maintenance capital was $843 million against $341 million. Source
  • Equity affiliate investments rose: Investments in unconsolidated affiliates were $237 million, against $119 million a year earlier. Source
  • Maintenance capital spending rose: Maintenance capital expenditures, net of reimbursements, were $53 million, up from $35 million. Source
  • Projects concentrated in two basins: Growth projects are concentrated in the Permian and Marcellus basins, which the company describes as two of the most prolific and competitive basins in North America. Source
  • Investments reflect long-term confidence: The company says the investments reflect confidence in long-term energy market fundamentals. Source

Cash, leverage and shareholder returns

  • Distribution rose to $1.0765: Declared first-quarter distribution was $1.0765 per common unit, against $0.9565 a year earlier, with distribution coverage of 1.3x against 1.5x. Source
  • Adjusted FCF after distributions negative: Adjusted free cash flow was $549 million; after $1,093 million of distributions paid, adjusted free cash flow after distributions was negative $544 million. Source
  • Working capital builds smaller: Working capital builds were $71 million, against $230 million a year earlier. Source
  • Leverage ratio at 3.7x: The leverage ratio was 3.7x at quarter end, unchanged from year-end and up from 3.3x a year earlier. Source
  • Liquidity sources at quarter end: Cash was $1.5 billion, with $2.0 billion available on the bank revolver and $1.5 billion through the intercompany loan agreement with MPC. Source
  • Public unit repurchases reduced: Repurchases of publicly held common units were $50 million in the quarter, down from $100 million a year earlier. Source

Figures management reported

FigureReported
Volumes SourceTotal pipeline throughput 5,702 mbpd vs 5,928 mbpd (down 4%)
Revenue per unit SourceAverage pipeline tariff rate $1.05 per barrel vs $1.06 (down 1%)
Fleet SourceBarges in operation 320 (vs 319); towboats in operation 30 (vs 29)

Risks management discussed

  • Demand: Lower natural gas liquids prices weighed on Natural Gas and NGL Services results this quarter. Source
  • Operational: Lower crude pipeline throughput partly offset higher rates in the Crude Oil and Products Logistics segment. Source

Earlier plans management reported on

  • Not stated: Management says it is executing growth projects in the Permian and Marcellus basins. 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.