greeksoup/ stock research

Western Midstream Partners, LP: Q3 FY2026 earnings call

What management said about Q3 FY2026, from the documents filed with the SEC on 4 November 2026: press release. Guidance figures: 1 raised, 3 new, 4 kept. The quarter’s numbers.

Key takeaways

  • Adjusted EBITDA up 12% year over year: Adjusted EBITDA was $708.3 million, a 12% increase on the prior-year period. Source
  • Sequential Adjusted EBITDA decline: Adjusted EBITDA fell from $736.5 million in the second quarter, which management attributed to lower crude-oil and NGLs pricing, DJ Basin throughput, and seasonal maintenance expense. Source
  • Brazos contributed a full quarter: Brazos Delaware, acquired in June, contributed a full quarter of volumes this quarter. Source
  • Natural-gas throughput at 5.9 Bcf/d: Total natural-gas throughput was 5.9 Bcf/d, up 8% sequentially, which management described as a record; throughput attributable to WES was 5.7 Bcf/d. Source
  • Delaware gas throughput at 2.6 Bcf/d: Delaware Basin natural-gas throughput reached 2.6 Bcf/d, up 20% sequentially, which management described as a record. Source
  • Adjusted Gross Margin down 3%: Adjusted Gross Margin was $1,039.7 million, against $1,074.5 million in the second quarter. Source
  • Free Cash Flow negative after distributions: After distributions, Free Cash Flow was negative $148.5 million, which management attributed to organic growth capital expenditures. Source

“WES achieved record natural-gas throughput, partnership-wide and in the Delaware Basin, driven by increased throughput from our legacy assets and a full quarter of contribution from the Brazos Delaware acquisition that closed in June,”

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 billionKept
Adjusted EBITDA Sourcefull year 2026above the midpoint of $2.750 billion to $2.950 billion
Distributable Cash Flow Sourcefull year 2026$2.050 billion to $2.250 billionKept
Free Cash Flow Sourcefull year 2026$1.100 billion to $1.300 billionKept
Total capital expenditures Sourcefull year 2026slightly above the high end of $850.0 million to $1.0 billionRaised from $850 million to $1.0 billion, expected toward the high end
Total capital expenditures Sourcefull year 2027relatively in line with 2026New
Capital allocation Source2027approximately 80-percent to the Delaware BasinNew
Distribution Sourcethird quarter 2026, payable November 13, 2026$0.930 per unit, $3.72 annualizedKept
Solitude pipeline takeaway capacity Sourcelate 2029 and 2030up to 2.25 Bcf/d initially in late 2029; incremental 2.25 Bcf/d in 2030New

What changed from last quarter

  • Guidance kept: The 2026 Adjusted EBITDA range of $2.750 billion to $2.950 billion was reaffirmed. Source
  • Guidance kept: The 2026 Distributable Cash Flow and Free Cash Flow ranges were reaffirmed at $2.050 billion to $2.250 billion and $1.100 billion to $1.300 billion. Source
  • Guidance raised: 2026 capital expenditures moved from expected toward the high end of the $850 million to $1.0 billion range to slightly above the high end. Source
  • New guidance: 2027 capital expenditures guidance was given as relatively in line with 2026. Source
  • New: WES acquired a 7.5% equity interest in the Solitude Pipeline System joint venture, which was not in the prior quarter's release. Source

Results and growth drivers

  • Adjusted EBITDA up 12% year over year: Adjusted EBITDA was $708.3 million, a 12% increase on the prior-year period. Source
  • Sequential Adjusted EBITDA decline: Adjusted EBITDA fell from $736.5 million in the second quarter, which management attributed to lower crude-oil and NGLs pricing, DJ Basin throughput, and seasonal maintenance expense. Source
  • Net income per diluted unit $0.78: Net income attributable to limited partners was $324.8 million, or $0.78 per diluted unit, compared with $0.99 in the second quarter and $0.87 a year earlier. Source
  • Brazos contributed a full quarter: Brazos Delaware, acquired in June, contributed a full quarter of volumes this quarter. Source
  • Fourth-quarter results linked to wells: Management linked expected fourth-quarter results to a greater number of wells coming online than in the third quarter. Source

Segments and basins

  • Natural-gas throughput at 5.9 Bcf/d: Total natural-gas throughput was 5.9 Bcf/d, up 8% sequentially, which management described as a record; throughput attributable to WES was 5.7 Bcf/d. Source
  • Delaware gas throughput at 2.6 Bcf/d: Delaware Basin natural-gas throughput reached 2.6 Bcf/d, up 20% sequentially, which management described as a record. Source
  • Delaware produced water up 2%: Delaware Basin produced-water throughput was 3,047 MBbls/d, up 2% sequentially; produced water attributable to WES averaged 2,992 MBbls/d. Source
  • DJ and Powder River gas volumes mixed: Operated DJ Basin natural-gas throughput fell 4% to 1,482 MMcf/d, while Powder River Basin natural-gas rose 1% to 400 MMcf/d. Source
  • Crude-oil and NGLs volumes slightly higher: Crude-oil and NGLs throughput attributable to WES averaged 526 MBbls/d, a slight sequential increase. Source

“We expect this momentum to carry into 2027, with incremental customer activity”

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

Costs, margins and pricing

  • Adjusted Gross Margin down 3%: Adjusted Gross Margin was $1,039.7 million, against $1,074.5 million in the second quarter. Source
  • Per-unit margins lower across product lines: Adjusted Gross Margin per unit fell 7% for natural gas to $1.25 per Mcf, 9% for crude-oil and NGLs to $2.93 per Bbl, and 7% for produced water to $0.89 per Bbl. Source
  • Operation and maintenance expense higher: Operation and maintenance expense was $291.5 million, compared with $212.4 million a year earlier; general and administrative expense was $87.8 million. Source
  • Product-based revenue rose sharply: Product-based service revenue was $88.2 million and product sales were $95.7 million, up from $33.9 million and $50.1 million a year earlier. Source
  • Depreciation and amortization higher: Depreciation and amortization was $223.8 million, up from $170.3 million a year earlier and $205.9 million in the second quarter. Source

Demand and producer activity

  • Producer activity accelerating: Management tied higher 2026 capital spending to accelerating producer activity levels and the Solitude investment. Source
  • Momentum expected into 2027: Management expects the momentum to carry into 2027, with incremental customer activity and a full year of Brazos contribution. Source
  • Powder River agreements support growth: New Powder River Basin gathering and processing agreements are positioned to lift throughput across all three product lines in 2027. Source

“The Brazos integration is progressing as expected, and we anticipate tying those assets into our West Texas Complex by mid-December”

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

Capital program and growth projects

  • Third-quarter capital spending $303.4 million: Third-quarter capital expenditures totaled $303.4 million, compared with $308.3 million in the second quarter. Source
  • 2027 Delaware spending on Solitude and North Loving II: Most 2027 Delaware Basin spending covers the Solitude investment and completion of North Loving II. Source
  • Powder River gets remaining 2027 capital: The vast majority of capital outside the Delaware Basin in 2027 is directed to the Powder River Basin to support the new agreements. Source

Cash flow, distributions and balance sheet

  • Free Cash Flow $244.2 million: Operating cash flow was $567.5 million and Free Cash Flow was $244.2 million, versus $263.6 million in the second quarter. Source
  • Free Cash Flow negative after distributions: After distributions, Free Cash Flow was negative $148.5 million, which management attributed to organic growth capital expenditures. Source
  • Distributable Cash Flow down from second quarter: Distributable Cash Flow was $512.3 million, down from $537.2 million in the second quarter. Source
  • Debt and interest expense higher: Long-term debt was $8,883.6 million at September 30, 2026, up from $8,195.2 million at December 31, 2025; interest expense was $116.6 million. Source
  • Liquidity supports funding and returns: Management said its liquidity and investment-grade balance sheet position it to fund growth, return capital to unitholders, and pursue acquisitions. Source

Strategy and acquisitions

  • Brazos integration progressing as expected: Management said the Brazos integration is progressing as expected. Source
  • Solitude pipeline stake acquired: WES holds a 7.5% equity interest in the Solitude joint venture, operated by WhiteWater, covering two 48-inch natural-gas pipelines from the Permian Basin to Katy. Source
  • Acquisition-related items affect comparability: Acquisition-related expenses and other, net were shown as (12.5) million in the third quarter, against 0.5 million in the second quarter. Source

Coming up, as management said on 4 November 2026

  • Brazos tie-in by mid-December: Management expects to tie the Brazos assets into the West Texas Complex by mid-December, which it said would reduce offloads. Source
  • Pathfinder and North Loving II start-up: Management cites the start-up of the Pathfinder pipeline and North Loving II coming online as drivers of 2027 throughput. Source
  • Capital return and acquisitions continue: Management said it will return substantial capital to unitholders and continue to pursue strategic acquisitions. Source

Risks management discussed

  • Operational: Brazos volumes are offloaded until the assets are tied in, with tie-in targeted for mid-December. Source
  • External: Lower crude-oil and NGLs pricing reduced Adjusted EBITDA sequentially, according to management. Source
  • Operational: Operation and maintenance expense was slightly higher, which management described as typical for the third quarter. Source

Earlier plans management reported on

  • On track: Management said the Brazos integration is progressing as expected. Source
  • Met: Management said the Solitude stake was acquired as previously announced. Source
  • Not stated: Management reaffirmed the 2026 Adjusted EBITDA, Distributable Cash Flow and Free Cash Flow 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.