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Summit Midstream Corp.: Q4 FY2025 earnings call

What management said about Q4 FY2025, from the documents filed with the SEC on 16 March 2026: press release. Guidance figures: 15 new. The quarter’s numbers.

Key takeaways

  • Fourth quarter loss and EBITDA: The company reported a fourth quarter net loss of $7.3 million and Adjusted EBITDA of $58.5 million, with Distributable Cash Flow of $33.7 million. Source
  • Full-year Adjusted EBITDA higher: Full-year 2025 Adjusted EBITDA was $242.6 million, against $204.6 million in 2024. Source
  • Rockies fell on liquids volumes: Rockies Adjusted EBITDA was $27.8 million, lower on 8.3% lower liquids throughput partly offset by 1.3% higher gas. Full-year Rockies was $106.9 million, against $93.8 million. Source
  • Mid-Con eased from third quarter: Mid-Con Adjusted EBITDA was $21.5 million in the quarter. Full-year Mid-Con Adjusted EBITDA was $92.4 million, against $30.6 million in 2024. Source
  • Seven rigs running behind systems: Customers ran seven rigs behind SMC systems with about 90 DUCs, which management said gives line of sight to 2026 well connections. Source
  • Free cash flow higher for year: Free cash flow was $17.0 million in the fourth quarter and $54.3 million for 2025, against $36.3 million in 2024. Source
  • Total leverage at 4.1x: Total leverage was 4.1x at December 31, 2025, excluding the Tall Oak earnout liability. Pro forma for the Double E refinancing, the table shows 3.9x. Source

“We are pleased with the commercial and financial progress achieved over the past two quarters, which underscore the strategic value of our infrastructure, embedded growth opportunities, and our continued focus on execution with financial discipline.”

Heath Deneke, President, Chief Executive Officer and Chairman

Guidance

AreaPeriodFigureAgainst last quarter
Adjusted EBITDA Sourcefull-year 2026$225 million to $265 millionNew
Segment Adjusted EBITDA Sourcefull-year 2026Piceance $35 million; Mid-Con $95 million to $105 million; Permian $37 million; Rockies $95 million to $125 million; Unallocated G&A and other $(37) millionNew
Capital expenditures excluding Double E Source2026$50 million to $70 millionNew
Growth capital expenditures Source2026$35 million to $50 millionNew
Maintenance capital expenditures Source2026$15 million to $20 millionNew
Double E capital expenditures, net to SMC Source2026approximately $35 millionNew
Double E project cost, net to SMC Source2026 and 2027approximately $50 millionNew
Well connections Source2026116 to 126 well connectionsNew
Natural gas gathering throughput Source2026875 MMcf/d to 920 MMcf/dNew
Liquids throughput (Rockies) Source202665 Mbbl/d to 90 Mbbl/dNew
Double E natural gas throughput, gross Source2026900 MMcf/dNew
Double E existing take-or-pay volumes Sourceas early as fourth quarter 20261,115 MMcf/d rising to 1,285 MMcf/dNew
Commodity price assumptions Source2026Henry Hub approximately $3.40 per MMBtu; WTI approximately $64 per barrelNew
Double E Segment Adjusted EBITDA (70% interest) Source2029approximately $60 millionNew
Double E mainline compression capacity Sourceby end of 2028over 2.4 Bcf/dNew

What changed from last quarter

  • New guidance: Company provided full-year 2026 guidance for Adjusted EBITDA and total capital expenditures. The prior release gave 2025 guidance only. Source
  • New: Summit refinanced the Double E capital structure with a new $440 million term loan facility after quarter-end. Source
  • New: Executed a 10-year crude oil gathering agreement with a Bakken producer covering more than 200,000 acres in the Williston. Source
  • New: Double E signed an 11-year take-or-pay firm transportation agreement with an investment-grade shipper for 210 MMcf/d. Source
  • New: Double E signed an 11+ year transportation agreement with an undisclosed shipper for 230 MMcf/d of firm capacity, contingent on conditions precedent. Source
  • New: Launched a binding open season on Double E to seek commitments for a mainline compression project. Source
  • New: Board approved repayment of all previously deferred Series A Preferred Stock dividends. Source

Results and growth drivers

  • Fourth quarter loss and EBITDA: The company reported a fourth quarter net loss of $7.3 million and Adjusted EBITDA of $58.5 million, with Distributable Cash Flow of $33.7 million. Source
  • Full-year Adjusted EBITDA higher: Full-year 2025 Adjusted EBITDA was $242.6 million, against $204.6 million in 2024. Source
  • Operating cash flow for the year: Net cash provided by operating activities was $133.6 million for 2025, against $61.8 million in 2024, and $53.7 million in the fourth quarter. Source

Segments and regions

  • Rockies fell on liquids volumes: Rockies Adjusted EBITDA was $27.8 million, lower on 8.3% lower liquids throughput partly offset by 1.3% higher gas. Full-year Rockies was $106.9 million, against $93.8 million. Source
  • Mid-Con eased from third quarter: Mid-Con Adjusted EBITDA was $21.5 million in the quarter. Full-year Mid-Con Adjusted EBITDA was $92.4 million, against $30.6 million in 2024. Source
  • Permian rose on Double E volumes: Permian Adjusted EBITDA was $8.8 million. Double E averaged 861 MMcf/d gross, against 613 a year earlier, and contributed $8.7 million net to SMC. Source
  • Piceance lower on deferred revenue: Piceance Adjusted EBITDA was $10.0 million. The third quarter had realized previously deferred revenue, and volumes fell 5.4% with no new wells connected. Source

“Our 2026 outlook reflects sustained activity across our systems and incremental investment in high-return growth projects, which we expect will drive EBITDA growth in 2027 and beyond.”

Heath Deneke, President, Chief Executive Officer and Chairman

Products and customers

  • Seven rigs running behind systems: Customers ran seven rigs behind SMC systems with about 90 DUCs, which management said gives line of sight to 2026 well connections. Source
  • Crude-oriented wells dominate 2026: Of the 2026 well connections, about 20% are expected to be gas-oriented wells and about 80% crude oil-oriented wells. Source
  • Arkoma and Barnett inventory: Six wells were connected in the Arkoma after quarter-end. One rig was running in the Arkoma, with 21 DUCs behind the system, 17 of them in the Barnett. Source
  • DJ Basin wells near peak: The company connected 33 DJ Basin wells in the quarter, which are expected to reach peak production in the second quarter of 2026. Source

Costs and margins

  • Operation and maintenance expense rose: Operation and maintenance expense was $38.0 million in the fourth quarter, against $28.0 million. General and administrative expense was $15.7 million, against $14.2 million. Source
  • Gas and NGL cost rose with sales: Cost of natural gas and NGLs was $39.7 million, against $26.9 million. Natural gas, NGLs and condensate sales were $68.3 million, against $49.7 million. Source
  • MVC shortfall billings near $4.3 million: All $4.3 million billed for MVC shortfalls in the quarter came from Piceance and was recognized as gathering revenue. The third quarter had $4.2 million. Source

“Furthermore, given the mid-$60 oil price assumption embedded in our 2026 guidance, we are optimistic that customer activity levels could further increase in the second half of the year”

Heath Deneke, President, Chief Executive Officer and Chairman

Demand and the order book

  • Drilling schedules anchor guidance: Guidance is anchored on customers' recent drilling and completion schedules. The company would expect the high end if producers hit production targets and well connect timing. Source
  • Bakken activity moving north and west: Management expects more commercial momentum and growth around its Polar and Divide systems as producers expand in the northern and western basin. Source
  • Dude plant condition met: Producers Midstream II reached a final investment decision on Train II, the condition for a 10-year, 100 MMcf/d firm transportation agreement on Double E. Source

Capital expenditures

  • Fourth quarter capital spending: Capital expenditures were $19.1 million in the fourth quarter, including $4.0 million of maintenance, mainly for pad connections in the Rockies and Mid-Con segments. Source
  • Full-year cash capital spending: Total cash paid for capital expenditures was $89.0 million in 2025, against $53.6 million in 2024. Reportable segments accounted for $85.7 million; Mid-Con $44.2 million. Source

Cash, liquidity and shareholder returns

  • Free cash flow higher for year: Free cash flow was $17.0 million in the fourth quarter and $54.3 million for 2025, against $36.3 million in 2024. Source
  • Total leverage at 4.1x: Total leverage was 4.1x at December 31, 2025, excluding the Tall Oak earnout liability. Pro forma for the Double E refinancing, the table shows 3.9x. Source
  • Double E distribution uses: Management intends to use the $85 million distribution for about $45 million of accrued Series A dividends and about $40 million of ABL borrowings, lowering leverage about 0.2x. Source
  • Liquidity and ABL availability: At year-end the company had $9.3 million of unrestricted cash and $113 million drawn on the $500 million ABL, with $386 million of borrowing availability. Source
  • Common dividends remain suspended: The board continued to suspend common dividends. Common distributions cannot be paid until all accrued preferred distributions are paid. Source

Strategy and investment

  • Double E funded by non-recourse loan: Double E capital requirements are expected to be fully funded by the new term loan at Summit Permian Transmission, which is non-recourse to Summit. Source
  • Refinancing seen as flexibility: Management said the Double E refinancing underscores financial flexibility and ability to pursue growth initiatives while keeping long-term leverage targets in focus. Source
  • Williston pad targeted for first quarter: The first pad under the Williston agreement, four 3-mile laterals, is expected online in the first quarter of 2026. Management cites 3-mile laterals as making northern Williams and southern Divide acreage economic. Source

Coming up, as management said on 16 March 2026

  • Series A dividend record date: The Series A quarterly dividend for the period ended March 14, 2026 is payable to holders of record on March 2, 2026. Source
  • Producers contract starts fourth quarter: The 10-year, 100 MMcf/d Producers Midstream II contract is expected to begin service in the fourth quarter of 2026. Source
  • 210 MMcf/d contract ramp: Of the 210 MMcf/d contract, 80 MMcf/d is expected to start in the fourth quarter of 2026 and 130 MMcf/d in the second half of 2028. Source
  • 230 MMcf/d contract ramp: The undisclosed 230 MMcf/d contract is expected to start 100 MMcf/d in the fourth quarter of 2027, 80 MMcf/d in 2028 and 50 MMcf/d in the second quarter of 2029. Source
  • Shipper investment decision by October: The 230 MMcf/d shipper is to give notice of its final investment decision on a processing expansion before October 1, 2026. Source

Figures management reported

FigureReported
Capital plan: 2026 capital expenditures excluding Double E Source$50 million to $70 million

Risks management discussed

  • External: Management referred to earlier oil price headwinds while keeping an active customer base. Source
  • Regulatory: The Double E compression expansion still needs more long-term take-or-pay commitments and FERC and other regulatory approvals. Source
  • Demand: The 230 MMcf/d contract is contingent on customary conditions precedent and on the shipper's final investment decision. Source
  • Operational: Mid-Con throughput fell 3.7% in the quarter, mainly from natural production declines, partly offset by new Arkoma connections. Source

Earlier plans management reported on

  • Not stated: The third quarter release said the company expected to finish 2025 near the low end of its original range.
  • Not stated: The third quarter release said the company would give an activity and 2026 guidance update in its fourth quarter release.
  • Not stated: The third quarter release said connections would come in around the midpoint, with 109 year-to-date and about 50 expected in the fourth quarter. The fourth quarter release gives no full-year 2025 connection total.
  • Not stated: Management described repaying accrued preferred dividends as a step toward resuming common dividends after reaching the 3.5x long-term leverage target. 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.