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ONEOK Inc.: Q3 FY2026 earnings call

What management said about Q3 FY2026, from the documents filed with the SEC on 27 October 2026: press release. Guidance figures: 6 raised, 2 lowered, 2 new. The quarter’s numbers.

Key takeaways

  • Net income attributable rose to $1.35 billion: Net income attributable to ONEOK was $1.35 billion, or $2.13 per diluted share, against $939 million and $1.49 a year earlier. Nine-month figures are $3.09 billion and $4.89 per share. Source
  • Adjusted EBITDA reached $2.24 billion: The company reported third-quarter net income attributable of $1.35 billion and adjusted EBITDA of $2.24 billion, against $2.12 billion a year earlier. Nine-month adjusted EBITDA was $6.36 billion. Source
  • NGL throughput rose 6%, Gulf Coast/Permian 16%: NGL raw feed throughput volumes rose 6%, with the Gulf Coast/Permian region up 16%. The company cited higher volumes as a driver of third-quarter results. Source
  • NGL segment EBITDA fell on inventory: NGL segment adjusted EBITDA was $718 million, down from $748 million. The company cited a $45 million decrease from higher inventory of unfractionated NGLs, offset in part by higher volumes. Source
  • Refined products and crude EBITDA rose: Refined products and crude segment adjusted EBITDA was $685 million, up from $582 million, mainly on liquids blending and crude marketing earnings. Source
  • Debt principal reduced by nearly $5.5 billion: The company extinguished nearly $5.5 billion of debt principal in September 2026. Long-term debt excluding current maturities was $26,935 million, against $30,755 million at December 31, 2025. Source
  • Brazos Permian Midland acquisition completed: The company completed the acquisition of Brazos Midstream’s Permian Midland Basin assets, and the guidance update includes their expected contribution. Source
  • $9 billion minority equity investment completed: The company completed a $9 billion minority equity investment. The release notes $33 million of net income attributable to noncontrolling interests tied to it. Source

“Higher Permian Basin volumes and the continued execution by our employees to integrate our systems contributed to ONEOK’s third-quarter results”

Pierce H. Norton II, president and CEO

Guidance

AreaPeriodFigureAgainst last quarter
Net income Source2026$4.09 billion to $4.27 billion (midpoint $4.18 billion)Raised from $3.21 billion to $3.79 billion (midpoint $3.5 billion)
Net income attributable to ONEOK Source2026midpoint $3.985 billionRaised
Diluted earnings per share Source2026midpoint $6.30Raised from midpoint $5.53
Adjusted EBITDA Source2026$8.5 billion to $8.6 billion (midpoint $8.55 billion)Raised from $8.0 billion to $8.5 billion (midpoint $8.25 billion)
Total capital expenditures Source2026approximately $3.5 billionRaised from approximately $2.7 billion to $3.2 billion
Brazos Permian Midland acquisition contribution Source2026approximately $75 millionNew
Brazos Permian Midland adjusted EBITDA contribution Source2026approximately $50 million, net of transaction costsNew
Interest expense, net of capitalized interest (reconciliation, $ millions) Source20261,675 - 1,645Lowered from 1,835 - 1,735
Depreciation and amortization (reconciliation, $ millions) Source20261,605 - 1,555Raised from 1,600 - 1,520
Income taxes (reconciliation, $ millions) Source2026760 - 810Lowered from 985 - 1,185

What changed from last quarter

  • Guidance raised: 2026 guidance was raised for net income, diluted EPS and adjusted EBITDA. The company attributed the change to year-to-date business performance and volumes. Source
  • Guidance raised: Total 2026 capital expenditure guidance rose to about $3.5 billion. The prior release kept it at $2.7 billion to $3.2 billion, and the update cites Brazos-related capital expenditures. Source
  • New: The company completed the acquisition of Brazos Midstream’s Permian Midland Basin assets. Source
  • New: The company completed a $9 billion minority equity investment. The release notes $33 million attributable to noncontrolling interests related to it. Source
  • New: S&P Global Ratings and Fitch Ratings upgraded the company’s credit ratings to BBB+. Source
  • New: The company extinguished nearly $5.5 billion of debt principal in September 2026. Source

Results and growth drivers

  • Net income attributable rose to $1.35 billion: Net income attributable to ONEOK was $1.35 billion, or $2.13 per diluted share, against $939 million and $1.49 a year earlier. Nine-month figures are $3.09 billion and $4.89 per share. Source
  • Adjusted EBITDA reached $2.24 billion: The company reported third-quarter net income attributable of $1.35 billion and adjusted EBITDA of $2.24 billion, against $2.12 billion a year earlier. Nine-month adjusted EBITDA was $6.36 billion. Source
  • One-time tax benefit lifted net income: Results include a one-time noncash income tax benefit of $336 million, or $0.53 per diluted share, from the reorganization tied to the minority equity transaction. Source
  • NGL throughput rose 6%, Gulf Coast/Permian 16%: NGL raw feed throughput volumes rose 6%, with the Gulf Coast/Permian region up 16%. The company cited higher volumes as a driver of third-quarter results. Source

Segments and regions

  • NGL segment EBITDA fell on inventory: NGL segment adjusted EBITDA was $718 million, down from $748 million. The company cited a $45 million decrease from higher inventory of unfractionated NGLs, offset in part by higher volumes. Source
  • Refined products and crude EBITDA rose: Refined products and crude segment adjusted EBITDA was $685 million, up from $582 million, mainly on liquids blending and crude marketing earnings. Source
  • Gathering and processing EBITDA roughly flat: Gathering and processing adjusted EBITDA was $563 million, against $566 million. Higher volumes from increased production in all regions added $11 million, offset by higher operating costs. Source
  • Pipelines gained on Waha-Katy price spreads: Natural gas pipelines adjusted EBITDA was $231 million, up from $200 million, helped by Waha Hub and Katy, Texas price differentials and higher firm transportation revenue. Source

“Based on this performance and our outlook for the remainder of the year, we are once again raising our 2026 financial guidance, reflecting the momentum we continue to see across the business.”

Pierce H. Norton II, president and CEO

Volumes and customers

  • Refined products shipments rose 6%: Refined products volume shipped was 1,615 MBbl/d in the quarter, against 1,526 MBbl/d a year earlier. Nine-month volume was 1,604 MBbl/d against 1,477. Source
  • Crude oil shipments declined: Crude oil volume shipped was 1,693 MBbl/d, against 1,813 MBbl/d a year earlier. NGL raw feed throughput was 1,661 MBbl/d, against 1,574. Source
  • Transport capacity contracted rose to 92%: Natural gas transportation capacity contracted was 7,780 MDth/d, and transportation capacity contracted was 92%, against 90% a year earlier. Source
  • Permian gas volumes processed rose 4%: Permian region natural gas volumes processed rose 4%. Total natural gas processed was 5,866 MMcf/d in the quarter, against 5,852 MMcf/d a year earlier. Source

Costs

  • Operating costs rose to $861 million: Operating costs were $861 million in the quarter, against $738 million, and operations and maintenance expense was $767 million, against $639 million. Source
  • Outside services and employee costs rose: In the NGL segment, operating costs rose $27 million on $20 million of higher outside services and $7 million of higher employee costs tied to growth of operations. Source
  • Nine-month refined products costs rose: Nine-month operating costs in the refined products and crude segment rose $69 million, mainly on employee-related costs tied to growth and on outside services. Source

“As we look to 2027, we expect meaningful earnings growth from our Brazos Permian Midland Basin assets, recently completed and advancing growth projects and continued commercial optimization across our systems”

Pierce H. Norton II, president and CEO

Margins and pricing

  • Marketing gains from NGL inventory sales: Optimization and marketing in the NGL segment rose $29 million on $14 million of higher earnings on purity NGL inventory sales and $11 million of wider commodity price differentials. Source
  • Lower realized prices weighed on gathering: Nine-month gathering and processing adjusted EBITDA fell $37 million on lower realized NGL and natural gas prices, net of hedging, partly offset by higher realized condensate prices. Source
  • Lower NGL fee rates offset by volumes: Nine-month NGL exchange services fell $2 million overall. Lower average fee rates in the Gulf Coast/Permian and Mid-Continent regions cut $76 million, offset by $146 million from higher volumes. Source

Balance sheet and ratings

  • Debt principal reduced by nearly $5.5 billion: The company extinguished nearly $5.5 billion of debt principal in September 2026. Long-term debt excluding current maturities was $26,935 million, against $30,755 million at December 31, 2025. Source
  • Credit ratings upgraded to BBB+: S&P Global Ratings and Fitch Ratings upgraded the company’s credit ratings to BBB+. Source
  • Cash held for acquisition sits in other assets: Cash held for acquisition of $4,000 million is included in other assets at September 30. Total cash and cash equivalents at period end were $4,186 million, including it. Source
  • Noncontrolling interests rose to $9.1 billion: Noncontrolling interests in consolidated subsidiaries were $9,144 million, against $84 million at December 31, 2025. Total equity was $32,460 million. Source

Capital and shareholder returns

  • Third-quarter capital expenditures rose: Capital expenditures including maintenance were $937 million in the quarter, against $804 million, and $2,414 million for nine months, against $2,182 million. Source
  • Quarterly dividend declared at $1.07: The company declared a quarterly dividend of $1.07 per share in October 2026, or $4.28 annualized. The April 2026 declaration was also $1.07. Source
  • Dividends paid rose to $2,022 million: Nine-month dividends paid were $2,022 million, against $1,935 million a year earlier. Source
  • Operating cash flow rose to $4,366 million: Cash provided by operating activities was $4,366 million for the nine months, against $4,053 million a year earlier. Source

Strategy and integration

  • Brazos Permian Midland acquisition completed: The company completed the acquisition of Brazos Midstream’s Permian Midland Basin assets, and the guidance update includes their expected contribution. Source
  • $9 billion minority equity investment completed: The company completed a $9 billion minority equity investment. The release notes $33 million of net income attributable to noncontrolling interests tied to it. Source
  • Brazos adds about $50 million in 2026: Guidance includes about $50 million from the Brazos acquisition in adjusted EBITDA, net of transaction costs, on top of the roughly $75 million contribution noted. Source

Figures management reported

FigureReported
Capital plan SourceTotal 2026 capital expenditure guidance approximately $3.5 billion

Risks management discussed

  • Financial: A pretax noncash impairment of $60 million was recorded on a joint-venture investment in the Refined Products and Crude segment during the nine months. Source
  • Operational: Adjusted EBITDA from unconsolidated affiliates fell $14 million, mainly due to losses at Powder Springs Logistics, a 50%-owned joint venture. Source
  • External: Nine-month gathering and processing results were reduced by lower realized NGL and natural gas prices, net of hedging. 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.