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Plains GP Holdings LP: Q1 FY2026 earnings call

What management said about Q1 FY2026, from the documents filed with the SEC on 8 May 2026: press release. Guidance figures: 3 raised, 2 kept. The quarter’s numbers.

Key takeaways

  • Adjusted EBITDA attributable to PAA eased: Adjusted EBITDA attributable to PAA was $730 million against $754 million a year earlier. Consolidated Adjusted EBITDA was $852 million against $881 million. Source
  • Net income fell on discontinued operations: Net income attributable to PAA was $152 million against $443 million, and diluted net income per common unit was $0.14 against $0.49. Discontinued operations, the Canadian NGL business, produced a $103 million loss. Source
  • Crude oil EBITDA rose 4%: Adjusted EBITDA from Crude Oil was $582 million against $559 million, making it the larger contributor to segment results this quarter. Source
  • NGL EBITDA fell 23%: Adjusted EBITDA from NGL was $145 million against $189 million. NGL segment Adjusted EBITDA on continuing operations was negative $7 million against negative $5 million. Source
  • Total crude tariff volumes rose: Total crude oil pipeline tariff volumes averaged 10,039 thousand barrels per day against 9,086. Permian Basin volume was 7,774 against 6,869. Source
  • Distribution declared rose 10%: Distribution declared was $0.4175 per unit against $0.3800 a year earlier. Annualized it is $1.67, and the cited current yield is about 7.5%, against about 8.5% in the prior release. Source
  • Canadian NGL sale agreed June 2025: The company agreed to sell its Canadian NGL business to Keyera Corp. The sale is expected to close in May 2026. Source

“Global events this year illustrate the importance of reliable, secure and responsibly produced energy and have accelerated the timing of our view for a more constructive crude oil market.”

Willie Chiang, Chairman, CEO and President

Guidance

AreaPeriodFigureAgainst last quarter
Adjusted EBITDA attributable to PAA SourceFull-year 2026$2.880 billion +/- $75 millionRaised from $2.75 billion +/- $75 million
Adjusted Free Cash Flow SourceFull-year 2026approximately $1.850 billionRaised from approximately $1.80 billion
Maintenance capital SourceFull-year 2026$185 millionRaised from +/- $165 million
Growth capital SourceFull-year 2026$350 millionKept
Leverage SourceAfter NGL divestiture closing, lower end of range by year-endmidpoint of the 3.25 to 3.75x target range, migrating to lower end by year-endKept
Cactus III synergies and efficiencies Source2026$100 million of contribution

What changed from last quarter

  • Guidance raised: Full-year 2026 Adjusted EBITDA attributable to PAA midpoint raised by $130 million to $2.880 billion, from $2.75 billion previously. Source
  • Guidance raised: Full-year 2026 Adjusted Free Cash Flow guidance raised to approximately $1.850 billion, from approximately $1.80 billion. Source
  • Guidance raised: Maintenance capital guidance raised to $185 million, from +/- $165 million previously. Source
  • Guidance kept: Growth capital guidance held at $350 million. Source
  • Guidance kept: Leverage target range of 3.25 to 3.75x unchanged, with return toward the midpoint after the NGL closing. Source

Results and growth drivers

  • Adjusted EBITDA attributable to PAA eased: Adjusted EBITDA attributable to PAA was $730 million against $754 million a year earlier. Consolidated Adjusted EBITDA was $852 million against $881 million. Source
  • Net income fell on discontinued operations: Net income attributable to PAA was $152 million against $443 million, and diluted net income per common unit was $0.14 against $0.49. Discontinued operations, the Canadian NGL business, produced a $103 million loss. Source
  • Operating cash flow fell 35%: Net cash provided by operating activities was $418 million against $639 million. Adjusted Free Cash Flow was $82 million against negative $308 million, and after distributions it was negative $266 million. Source

Segments and products

  • Crude oil EBITDA rose 4%: Adjusted EBITDA from Crude Oil was $582 million against $559 million, making it the larger contributor to segment results this quarter. Source
  • Bolt-on acquisitions and volumes lifted crude: The company cited contributions from recently completed bolt-on acquisitions, including Cactus III, and higher pipeline volumes as favorable factors in the crude segment. Source
  • NGL EBITDA fell 23%: Adjusted EBITDA from NGL was $145 million against $189 million. NGL segment Adjusted EBITDA on continuing operations was negative $7 million against negative $5 million. Source

“The closing of the NGL divestiture will mark a transition to a premier pure play crude oil midstream provider.”

Willie Chiang, Chairman, CEO and President

Volumes and operating data

  • Total crude tariff volumes rose: Total crude oil pipeline tariff volumes averaged 10,039 thousand barrels per day against 9,086. Permian Basin volume was 7,774 against 6,869. Source
  • Regional crude tariff volumes diverged: South Texas and Eagle Ford reached 514 against 492, Mid-Continent 475 against 415, and Gulf Coast 207 against 214. Rocky Mountain fell to 434 from 495. Source
  • NGL volumes mixed across lines: NGL fractionation was 166 against 157 and NGL pipeline tariff 250 against 234, while propane and butane sales were 135 against 147. Volumes include continuing and discontinued operations. Source

Costs, derivatives and margins

  • Selected items were a negative adjustment: Selected items impacting comparability were a $159 million negative adjustment to Adjusted EBITDA, against a $30 million positive adjustment. Derivative activities and inventory valuation adjustments were negative $289 million, against positive $34 million. Source
  • Long-term inventory costing added $114 million: The adjustment was $114 million against $3 million. Deficiencies under minimum volume commitments, net, were $32 million against $7 million. Source
  • Field operating and G&A costs flat: Field operating costs were $301 million against $300 million, and general and administrative expenses were $81 million against $85 million. Depreciation and amortization rose to $243 million from $232 million. Source
  • Revenue and purchase costs both rose: Revenues were $12,470 million against $11,477 million, and purchases and related costs were $11,493 million against $10,517 million. Operating income was $405 million against $356 million. Source

Capital, cash and returns

  • Distribution declared rose 10%: Distribution declared was $0.4175 per unit against $0.3800 a year earlier. Annualized it is $1.67, and the cited current yield is about 7.5%, against about 8.5% in the prior release. Source
  • Coverage ratio fell to 1.46x: Common unit distribution coverage was 1.46x against 1.73x. Implied DCF Excess was $136 million against $195 million, and Implied DCF per common unit and common unit equivalent was $0.61 against $0.66. Source
  • Net-to-PAA capital spending declined: Total investment and maintenance capital expenditures net to PAA were $102 million against $168 million. Investment capital was $61 million against $130 million, and maintenance capital was $41 million against $38 million. Source
  • Total debt increased from year-end: Total debt was $11,378 million against $11,262 million at December 31, 2025. Total debt to total book capitalization including short-term debt was 54% against 53%. Source

Demand, strategy and NGL sale

  • Canadian NGL sale agreed June 2025: The company agreed to sell its Canadian NGL business to Keyera Corp. The sale is expected to close in May 2026. Source
  • Canadian NGL shown as discontinued: The Canadian NGL business meets the criteria for held for sale and discontinued operations reporting, and prior periods are restated on that basis. Source
  • Retained NGL assets are in US: The company said the NGL assets it will keep after the sale are located in the United States. Source
  • Integrated model tied to global demand: Management said its integrated business model and asset base connecting U.S. crude production to global markets are critical to meeting global energy demand. Source
  • Momentum into 2027 cited: Management said internal initiatives combined with a healthy oil macro backdrop position the company with momentum into 2027 and beyond. Source

Coming up, as management said on 8 May 2026

  • Canadian NGL sale closing expected: The company expects the Canadian NGL sale to Keyera to close in May 2026. Anticipated proceeds from the divestiture are excluded from the full-year Adjusted Free Cash Flow guidance. Source

Figures management reported

FigureReported
Total crude oil pipeline tariff volumes Source10,039 thousand barrels per day (Q1 2025: 9,086)
Permian Basin crude tariff volumes Source7,774 thousand barrels per day (Q1 2025: 6,869)
Rocky Mountain crude tariff volumes Source434 thousand barrels per day (Q1 2025: 495)
NGL pipeline tariff volumes Source250 thousand barrels per day (Q1 2025: 234)
Propane and butane sales volumes Source135 thousand barrels per day (Q1 2025: 147)

Risks management discussed

  • Financial: Pro forma leverage was 4.1x at quarter-end, against 3.9x at year-end 2025. Management expects a return toward the midpoint of the target range after the NGL closing. Source
  • Operational: The company said Permian long-haul pipeline contract rate resets partly offset gains in the crude segment this quarter. Source
  • Demand: Management cited lower weighted average frac spreads and reduced NGL sales volumes from warmer weather as reasons for the NGL decline. Source

Earlier plans management reported on

  • Not stated: The prior release cited $50 million of Cactus III synergies and about $100 million of efficiencies through 2027, half in 2026. This release frames $100 million combined for 2026. Source
  • Not stated: The prior release expected the NGL sale to close toward the end of the first quarter of 2026. Ownership of the Canadian NGL business now extends into May 2026. Source
  • Not stated: Management stated a continuing commitment to financial discipline and to returning capital to unitholders. 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.