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Western Midstream Partners, LP: Q1 FY2026 earnings call

What management said about Q1 FY2026, from the documents filed with the SEC on 6 May 2026: press release. Guidance figures: 1 raised, 1 new, 3 kept. The quarter’s numbers.

Key takeaways

  • Adjusted EBITDA up 15% year over year: Adjusted EBITDA was $683.1 million, up about 7% sequentially and 15% on the prior-year period, helped by a full quarter of Aris, excess NGLs and higher skim oil volumes. Source
  • Produced water up 140% year over year: Produced-water throughput averaged 2,795 MBbls/d, up 4% sequentially and 140% year over year, primarily from the full-quarter Aris contribution. Source
  • Adjusted Gross Margin rose: Adjusted Gross Margin was $990.7 million, against $934.8 million in the fourth quarter of 2025. Crude-oil and NGLs margin was $3.07 per barrel against $2.77. Source
  • Brazos Delaware II acquisition agreed: WES agreed to buy Brazos Delaware II for about $1.6 billion, paid as $800 million in cash and $800 million in WES common units. Source
  • Free Cash Flow of $242.3 million: Cash flows from operating activities were $469.9 million, and Free Cash Flow was $242.3 million. Source
  • Annual ranges not updated: Management said it is not updating annual guidance ranges now, because formal changes to producers' drilling plans for this year have not yet been received. Source
  • Toward high end, excluding Brazos: Management expects Adjusted EBITDA and Distributable Cash Flow toward the high end of their ranges, citing commercial discussions, commodity prices and cost efforts. Source

“The Delaware Basin remains the cornerstone of our growth strategy and the primary driver of our capital allocation.”

Oscar K. Brown, President and Chief Executive Officer of WES

Guidance

AreaPeriodFigureAgainst last quarter
Adjusted EBITDA SourceFull year 2026$2.50 billion to $2.70 billionKept
Distributable Cash Flow SourceFull year 2026$1.85 billion to $2.05 billionKept
Total capital expenditures SourceFull year 2026$850.0 million to $1.00 billionKept
Quarterly distribution SourceFirst quarter 2026, paid May 15, 2026$0.930 per unitRaised from $0.910 per unit
Brazos Adjusted EBITDA contribution Source2026, assuming close by end of second quarterapproximately $100 millionNew
Delaware Basin share of Adjusted EBITDA SourceFull year 2026More than 60%

What changed from last quarter

  • New: Agreement to acquire Brazos Delaware II in the Delaware Basin for about $1.6 billion. Source
  • Guidance kept: Adjusted EBITDA, Distributable Cash Flow and capital expenditure ranges kept; annual ranges not updated this quarter. Source
  • Guidance raised: Quarterly distribution raised from $0.910 to $0.930 per unit. Source
  • Guidance raised: Expected position within the Adjusted EBITDA and Distributable Cash Flow ranges moved toward the high end; ranges unchanged. Source

Results and growth drivers

  • Adjusted EBITDA up 15% year over year: Adjusted EBITDA was $683.1 million, up about 7% sequentially and 15% on the prior-year period, helped by a full quarter of Aris, excess NGLs and higher skim oil volumes. Source
  • Net income and diluted EPS: Net income attributable to limited partners was $342.4 million, or $0.85 per diluted unit, compared with $301.8 million and $0.79 a year earlier. Source
  • Distributable Cash Flow reported: Distributable Cash Flow was $508.9 million, compared with $526.6 million in the fourth quarter of 2025. Source

Throughput by product and basin

  • Delaware crude and NGL volumes rose: Delaware Basin crude-oil and NGLs throughput reached 272 MBbls/d, up 4% sequentially and 6% year over year. Source
  • Natural-gas throughput edged up: Natural-gas throughput averaged 5.2 Bcf/d, up 1% sequentially. Operated Delaware gas rose 3% to 2,035 MMcf/d while DJ Basin gas fell 1% to 1,520 MMcf/d. Source
  • Produced water up 140% year over year: Produced-water throughput averaged 2,795 MBbls/d, up 4% sequentially and 140% year over year, primarily from the full-quarter Aris contribution. Source

“While we are not currently updating our annual guidance ranges, as we have not yet received formal changes to our producers’ drilling plans for this year”

Oscar K. Brown, President and Chief Executive Officer of WES

Margins and operating costs

  • Adjusted Gross Margin rose: Adjusted Gross Margin was $990.7 million, against $934.8 million in the fourth quarter of 2025. Crude-oil and NGLs margin was $3.07 per barrel against $2.77. Source
  • Operating costs down excluding Aris: Operation and maintenance expense fell 7% against the first quarter of 2025 excluding Aris. Reported O&M was $264.2 million, against $226.5 million a year earlier. Source
  • Skim oil and processing contracts helped: Skim oil recoveries on the Aris system added value as crude prices rose. Management also cited fixed-recovery natural-gas processing contracts built across the portfolio. Source

Brazos acquisition and M&A

  • Brazos Delaware II acquisition agreed: WES agreed to buy Brazos Delaware II for about $1.6 billion, paid as $800 million in cash and $800 million in WES common units. Source
  • Asset adjoins existing footprint: Management said the asset is contiguous to WES's footprint, can be integrated efficiently, and gives exposure to additional geologic trends, including the Woodford Shale. Source
  • M&A approach stated by management: Management said acquisitions are intended to be accretive and strategic, add customers and Free Cash Flow, and protect investment grade credit ratings. Source

“Combined with the cost reduction actions executed in 2025, which have materially improved our operating leverage, the earnings power of WES is increasingly evident.”

Oscar K. Brown, President and Chief Executive Officer of WES

Cash, capital and debt

  • Free Cash Flow of $242.3 million: Cash flows from operating activities were $469.9 million, and Free Cash Flow was $242.3 million. Source
  • Distributions exceeded Free Cash Flow: Free Cash Flow after distributions was negative $137.4 million. Distributions paid to unitholders in the quarter totaled $379.7 million. Source
  • Capital expenditures for the quarter: Capital expenditures were $250.5 million on an accrual basis. The cash-flow statement shows $235.7 million of capital expenditures paid. Source
  • Senior notes retired after quarter-end: After quarter-end, WES retired $440.5 million of senior notes due 2026, using proceeds from notes issued in the fourth quarter of 2025. Source

Guidance and 2026 expectations

  • Annual ranges not updated: Management said it is not updating annual guidance ranges now, because formal changes to producers' drilling plans for this year have not yet been received. Source
  • Toward high end, excluding Brazos: Management expects Adjusted EBITDA and Distributable Cash Flow toward the high end of their ranges, citing commercial discussions, commodity prices and cost efforts. Source
  • Capital expenditure range kept: Management said the 2026 capital expenditure range of $850.0 million to $1.00 billion still applies. Source
  • Delaware share above 60%: More than 60% of 2026 Adjusted EBITDA is expected from the Delaware Basin, a share management said will grow as projects come online. Source

Contracts and Delaware projects

  • Fee-based contracts protect cash flows: Management said fee-based contracts, with minimum-volume commitments and acreage dedications, provide durable, protected cash flows across commodity cycles. Source
  • Projects due online in 2027: Management said the organic growth projects are expected to come online in the first and second quarters of 2027. Source
  • Integrated platform in Delaware Basin: Management said WES has built an integrated midstream platform across crude oil, natural gas and produced water in the Delaware Basin. Source

Coming up, as management said on 6 May 2026

  • Brazos expected to close by Q2-end: Brazos is expected to close by the end of the second quarter of 2026. The 2026 Adjusted EBITDA contribution assumes that timing. Source
  • Guidance reevaluated with Q2 results: Management intends to reevaluate 2026 guidance ranges with second-quarter results, after the scheduled close of Brazos. Source
  • Distribution paid May 15: The first-quarter distribution of $0.930 per unit is scheduled for payment on May 15, 2026. Source

Figures management reported

FigureReported
Capital plan Source2026 total capital expenditures $850.0 million to $1.00 billion

Risks management discussed

  • Demand: Annual guidance ranges were not updated because producer drilling plans for this year have not formally changed. Source
  • External: The first-quarter margin gain came from higher crude prices, and the high-end positioning is tied to the current price environment. Source

Earlier plans management reported on

  • Met: The first-quarter 2026 distribution of $0.930 per unit was described as in line with prior management commentary. 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.