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Westlake Chemical Partners LP: Q4 FY2025 earnings call

What management said about Q4 FY2025, from the documents filed with the SEC on 24 February 2026: press release. The quarter’s numbers.

Key takeaways

  • Fourth-quarter net income near flat: The company reported fourth-quarter 2025 net income attributable to the Partnership of $14.5 million, or $0.41 per limited partner unit, against $15.0 million in fourth quarter 2024. Source
  • Full-year net income down on turnaround: Full-year 2025 net income attributable to the Partnership was $48.7 million, or $1.38 per unit, down $13.7 million, which the company attributed to the Petro 1 turnaround. Source
  • Most ethylene sold to Westlake: Under the Ethylene Sales Agreement, 95% of OpCo's ethylene production is sold to Westlake at a cash margin of $0.10 per pound, net of operating costs, maintenance capital expenditures and turnaround reserves. Source
  • Gross profit down on higher cost of sales: Cost of sales rose to $226.2 million from $191.5 million, leaving gross profit at $96.8 million against $98.6 million on total net sales of $323.0 million. Source
  • Quarterly distribution of $0.4714 declared: The board approved a $0.4714 per unit distribution for the fourth quarter of 2025, paid February 23, 2026, the company's 46th consecutive quarterly distribution. Source
  • Coverage ratio expected to improve in 2026: Management expects higher production and sales volume to improve the coverage ratio in 2026, as is typical in years following turnarounds. Source

“The Partnership ended 2025 with our highest quarterly coverage ratio since the fourth quarter of 2022 due to solid production and sales volume and shifts in the timing of capital spending throughout the year,”

Jean-Marc Gilson, President and Chief Executive Officer

Results and growth drivers

  • Fourth-quarter net income near flat: The company reported fourth-quarter 2025 net income attributable to the Partnership of $14.5 million, or $0.41 per limited partner unit, against $15.0 million in fourth quarter 2024. Source
  • Full-year net income down on turnaround: Full-year 2025 net income attributable to the Partnership was $48.7 million, or $1.38 per unit, down $13.7 million, which the company attributed to the Petro 1 turnaround. Source
  • Fourth-quarter net income level with third quarter: Fourth-quarter net income was relatively in line with third-quarter 2025 net income of $14.7 million, the company said. Source

Segments and regions

  • Partnership holds 22.8% of OpCo: The Partnership is headquartered in Houston and owns a 22.8% interest in Westlake Chemical OpCo LP. Source
  • Three ethylene plants and a pipeline: OpCo's assets are three ethylene production facilities in Calvert City, Kentucky, and Lake Charles, Louisiana, plus an ethylene pipeline. Source
  • Partnership formed by Westlake Corporation: The company describes the Partnership as a limited partnership formed by Westlake Corporation to operate, acquire and develop ethylene production facilities and other qualified assets. Source

“Looking ahead to 2026, the Partnership is positioned for increased production and sales volume with no planned turnarounds following the completion of the Petro 1 turnaround in 2025.”

Jean-Marc Gilson, President and Chief Executive Officer

Products and customers

  • Most ethylene sold to Westlake: Under the Ethylene Sales Agreement, 95% of OpCo's ethylene production is sold to Westlake at a cash margin of $0.10 per pound, net of operating costs, maintenance capital expenditures and turnaround reserves. Source
  • Westlake sales up, third-party sales down: Net sales to Westlake were $296.9 million in the fourth quarter against $260.3 million a year earlier; third-party co-product and ethylene sales were $26.2 million against $29.8 million. Source
  • Ethylene agreement renewed through 2027: The third-quarter release said the Ethylene Sales Agreement was renewed through 2027 at existing terms; this release does not report a further change.

Costs, margins and pricing

  • Gross profit down on higher cost of sales: Cost of sales rose to $226.2 million from $191.5 million, leaving gross profit at $96.8 million against $98.6 million on total net sales of $323.0 million. Source
  • Interest and overhead costs: Interest expense to Westlake was $5.5 million against $5.8 million a year earlier; selling, general and administrative expenses were $7.1 million against $6.6 million. Source
  • EBITDA up for quarter, down for year: EBITDA was $124.5 million in the fourth quarter against $120.8 million, and $450.0 million for the full year against $507.6 million. Source

Demand, volumes and turnaround

  • Volumes back to nameplate after turnaround: The third-quarter release said production returned to nameplate capacity after the planned Petro 1 turnaround completed in the first half of 2025.
  • No turnarounds planned for 2026: For 2026 the company said the Partnership is positioned for increased production and sales volume, with no turnarounds planned after the 2025 Petro 1 work. Source
  • Solid volume credited for coverage: Management credited solid production and sales volume, and timing of capital spending, for the highest quarterly coverage ratio since the fourth quarter of 2022. Source

Capital, cash and returns to shareholders

  • Fourth-quarter operating cash flow higher: Fourth-quarter operating cash flow was $120.4 million, up $15.2 million from the third quarter, mainly on more favorable working capital changes. Source
  • Full-year operating cash flow lower: Full-year operating cash flow was $280.5 million, down $204.5 million, which the company attributed mainly to Petro 1 turnaround cash spending and lower net income. Source
  • Fourth-quarter coverage ratio at 1.13x: Fourth-quarter MLP distributable cash flow was $18.8 million, up $3.8 million on the prior year, which the company attributed mainly to lower maintenance capital expenditures. Source
  • Quarterly distribution of $0.4714 declared: The board approved a $0.4714 per unit distribution for the fourth quarter of 2025, paid February 23, 2026, the company's 46th consecutive quarterly distribution. Source
  • Trailing coverage rose to 0.80x: Trailing twelve-month coverage of declared distributions was 0.80x at year end, up from 0.75x at the end of the third quarter. Source
  • Capital additions up year on year: Additions to property, plant and equipment were $78.8 million in 2025 against $49.0 million in 2024, according to the cash flow statement. Source

Strategy and contract basis

  • Coverage ratio expected to improve in 2026: Management expects higher production and sales volume to improve the coverage ratio in 2026, as is typical in years following turnarounds. Source
  • Agreement designed for stable cash flows: The company said the Ethylene Sales Agreement with Westlake is designed to provide stable and predictable cash flows to the Partnership. Source
  • Non-GAAP measures defined: The company defines MLP distributable cash flow net of Westlake's noncontrolling interest in OpCo and incentive distribution rights payments, and it excludes working capital changes. Source

Coming up, as management said on 24 February 2026

  • Coverage ratio improvement expected in 2026: Management expects the higher production and sales volume to improve the coverage ratio in 2026, as is typical after turnarounds. Source

Risks management discussed

  • Financial: Operating cash flow fell year on year partly because of less favorable working capital changes, the company said. Source
  • Financial: Trailing twelve-month coverage of declared distributions was below 1.0x at year end, at 0.80x. Source
  • Operational: Quarterly distributable cash flow depends on the timing of maintenance capital spending, which the company said shifted earlier in the year. Source

Earlier plans management reported on

  • Met: The company stated that the Petro 1 turnaround was completed in the second quarter of 2025. Source
  • Not stated: The company expects its coverage ratio to improve in 2026, as is typical after turnarounds; no status is given. 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.