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Western Midstream Partners, LP: Q2 FY2026 earnings call

What management said about Q2 FY2026, from the documents filed with the SEC on 5 August 2026: press release. Guidance figures: 3 raised, 1 new, 2 kept. The quarter’s numbers.

Key takeaways

  • Record Adjusted EBITDA on higher volumes: Adjusted EBITDA was $736.5 million, up 8% sequentially and 19% from a year earlier. Management attributed the gain to produced-water throughput, a partial month of Brazos Delaware, and fixed-recovery gas processing at higher prices. Source
  • Delaware gas throughput at a record: Delaware natural-gas throughput was 2,140 MMcf/d, up 5% sequentially. Management said most of the increase came from about two and a half weeks of Brazos Delaware. Source
  • Produced-water volumes at a record: Delaware produced-water throughput was 2,993 MBbls/d, up 5% sequentially. Produced-water throughput attributable to WES averaged 2,939 MBbls/d. Source
  • Commodity prices lifted fixed-recovery contracts: Management said higher prices raised the contribution from fixed-recovery natural-gas processing contracts in all core basins. Source
  • Operating and free cash flow rose: Cash from operations was $534.7 million and free cash flow $263.6 million, against $469.9 million and $242.3 million in the first quarter. Source
  • Pathfinder and North Loving II on schedule: Management said both projects remain on schedule and under budget, with service expected in 2027. Source
  • Powder River agreements add 2027 volume: The two new Powder River Basin agreements, covering about 270,000 dedicated acres, are expected to contribute meaningfully to 2027 basin throughput growth. Source

“Taken together, these results reflect the durable earnings power we have built into the portfolio.”

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

Guidance

AreaPeriodFigureAgainst last quarter
Adjusted EBITDA Sourcefull-year 2026$2.750 billion to $2.950 billionRaised from $2.50 billion to $2.70 billion
Distributable Cash Flow Sourcefull-year 2026$2.050 billion to $2.250 billion, or $4.94 to $5.42 per unitRaised from $1.85 billion to $2.05 billion
Free Cash Flow Sourcefull-year 2026$1.100 billion to $1.300 billionRaised from original midpoint implied at $1.0 billion
Total capital expenditures Sourcefull-year 2026$850.0 million to $1.000 billion, toward the high endKept
Distributions per unit Sourcecalendar-year 2026 paymentsat least $3.70 per unitKept
Natural-gas throughput Source2026 average, year over yearmid-single-digit percentage increaseNew

What changed from last quarter

  • Guidance raised: Midpoints for Adjusted EBITDA, Distributable Cash Flow and Free Cash Flow raised by 10%, 10% and 20% respectively. Source
  • Guidance kept: 2026 capital expenditure range reaffirmed; spending now expected toward the high end. Source
  • Guidance kept: Full-year distribution guidance reiterated without change. Source
  • New: Brazos Delaware acquisition completed in mid-June, adding about 460 MMcf/d of natural-gas processing capacity. Source
  • New: Two new long-term gathering and processing agreements in the Powder River Basin, with minimum-volume commitments. Source

Second-quarter results and growth drivers

  • Record Adjusted EBITDA on higher volumes: Adjusted EBITDA was $736.5 million, up 8% sequentially and 19% from a year earlier. Management attributed the gain to produced-water throughput, a partial month of Brazos Delaware, and fixed-recovery gas processing at higher prices. Source
  • Net income and diluted earnings per unit: Net income attributable to limited partners was $394.9 million, or $0.99 per diluted unit, against $0.87 in the second quarter of 2025 and $0.85 in the first quarter of 2026. Source
  • Distributable Cash Flow comparison differs: Distributable Cash Flow was $537.2 million. The first-quarter figure shown here is $496.6 million, versus $508.9 million in the prior release. Source

Throughput by basin and product

  • Delaware gas throughput at a record: Delaware natural-gas throughput was 2,140 MMcf/d, up 5% sequentially. Management said most of the increase came from about two and a half weeks of Brazos Delaware. Source
  • DJ Basin gas throughput at a record: DJ Basin natural-gas throughput was 1,547 MMcf/d, up 2% sequentially. Source
  • Produced-water volumes at a record: Delaware produced-water throughput was 2,993 MBbls/d, up 5% sequentially. Produced-water throughput attributable to WES averaged 2,939 MBbls/d. Source
  • Crude and NGL volumes roughly flat: Crude-oil and NGLs throughput attributable to WES averaged 523 MBbls/d, with operated Delaware volumes down 3% to 265 MBbls/d. Source

“the completed Brazos Delaware acquisition give us the confidence to raise our full-year 2026 Adjusted EBITDA, Distributable Cash Flow, and Free Cash Flow guidance ranges”

Kristen Shults, Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer

Costs, margins and pricing

  • Operating costs fell as volumes grew: Excluding Aris, operation and maintenance expense fell 2% year over year while natural-gas and produced-water throughput grew 1.5% and 10%. Source
  • Adjusted Gross Margin rose sequentially: Adjusted Gross Margin was $1,074.5 million, against $990.7 million in the first quarter, per the reconciliation table. Source
  • Produced-water margin per barrel rose: Gross margin per barrel for produced-water assets was $0.80, up 10%, and Adjusted Gross Margin per barrel was $0.96, up 7%. Source
  • Commodity prices lifted fixed-recovery contracts: Management said higher prices raised the contribution from fixed-recovery natural-gas processing contracts in all core basins. Source

Cash flow and distributions

  • Operating and free cash flow rose: Cash from operations was $534.7 million and free cash flow $263.6 million, against $469.9 million and $242.3 million in the first quarter. Source
  • Free cash flow negative after distributions: Free cash flow after distributions was negative $111.0 million, which management attributed to organic growth capital spending. Source
  • Quarterly distribution held flat: The second-quarter distribution was $0.930 per unit, equal to the prior quarter and $3.72 annualized, payable August 14, 2026. Source

Capital spending and project timing

  • Second-quarter capital spending reported: Capital expenditures were $308.3 million for the quarter, measured on the accrual basis the release defines, including equity investments. Source
  • Pathfinder and North Loving II on schedule: Management said both projects remain on schedule and under budget, with service expected in 2027. Source
  • New agreements need more gathering: Management said the new Powder River Basin agreements will require additional gathering capacity and compression facilities to be built. Source

Financing and balance sheet

  • Notes issued to refinance Brazos borrowings: Management issued $700 million of 2036 senior notes to refinance commercial paper and revolver borrowings used for the Brazos Delaware acquisition. Source
  • Long-term debt higher at June 30: Long-term debt was $8.88 billion at June 30, 2026, against $8.20 billion at December 31, 2025, per the balance sheet. Source
  • Cash balance lower over six months: Cash and cash equivalents were $104.8 million at June 30, 2026, against $819.5 million at December 31, 2025. Source

Producer activity and 2027 growth

  • Powder River agreements add 2027 volume: The two new Powder River Basin agreements, covering about 270,000 dedicated acres, are expected to contribute meaningfully to 2027 basin throughput growth. Source
  • Producers raise second-half activity: Management said higher commodity prices led many Delaware Basin producers to plan higher activity in the second half of 2026, expected to support 2027 growth. Source
  • Powder River development timing: Development under the new Powder River Basin agreements begins in the second half of 2026. Source

Produced water and beneficial reuse

  • JIP 2 facility placed into service: The JIP 2 produced-water treatment demonstration facility near Red Bluff Reservoir in Reeves County, Texas, began operating in the second quarter. Source
  • JIP 2 output ten times JIP 1: The facility delivers about 1,000 barrels per day of reclaimed fresh water, ten times JIP 1, for testing of operations, costs and reliability. Source
  • Beneficial reuse seen as growth path: Management said beneficial reuse of produced water gives an additional path for future growth and margin expansion. Source

Coming up, as management said on 5 August 2026

  • Pathfinder and North Loving II start-up: Pathfinder and North Loving II are expected in service in the first and second quarters of 2027, respectively. Source
  • JIP 2 path to first commercial facility: Management hopes JIP 2 leads to a final investment decision on a first commercial-scale facility in the near future. Source
  • Board to review distributions quarterly: Any distribution increase will be requested from the Board each quarter and is subject to its assessment of business needs. Source

Figures management reported

FigureReported
Capital plan Source2026 total capital expenditures $850.0 million to $1.0 billion

Risks management discussed

  • Financial: Higher activity in the second half needs more growth capital, which management said is required to support producer development plans. Source
  • External: Raised guidance was based partly on continued elevated commodity prices, which management cited as a basis for the revision. Source
  • Operational: JIP 2 is still being used to evaluate reliability and refine costs before any commercial-scale decision. Source

Earlier plans management reported on

  • Met: Management states the Brazos Delaware acquisition was completed in mid-June. Source
  • On track: Management said both projects remain on schedule and under budget. Source
  • Not stated: The first-quarter release said guidance would be reevaluated with second-quarter results after the Brazos close; this release revises the ranges. 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.