NGL Energy Partners Q1 2026 Earnings Call Transcript

Quartr
Provided by Quartr
August 7, 2025

Key Takeaways

  • Positive Sentiment: During the first quarter, NGL closed on the sale of its RAC marketing business, Limestone Ranch interest and majority of its wholesale propane operations, using proceeds to fully pay down its ABL facility and reduce overall leverage.
  • Neutral Sentiment: The company reaffirmed its full-year adjusted EBITDA guidance of $615 million to $625 million and said it will reassess after the second quarter, leaving open the possibility to raise forecasts if results stay strong.
  • Positive Sentiment: Water Solutions delivered a 13.8% year-over-year increase in adjusted EBITDA to $142.9 million driven by higher disposal volumes (~12.4% growth) and lower operating costs per barrel, with 90% of volumes secured by acreage dedications and MVCs.
  • Negative Sentiment: The Crude Oil Logistics segment saw adjusted EBITDA decline to $9.6 million from $18.6 million year-over-year due to lower DJ Basin production and softer crude prices, although July volumes on Grand Mesa rose about 25% sequentially.
  • Positive Sentiment: NGL opportunistically repurchased $19 million of its 2.032% notes at a discount, paid $72 million of ABL debt, and bought back 12% of Class D preferred units plus 3.5% of common units to enhance returns and strengthen the balance sheet.
AI Generated. May Contain Errors.
Earnings Conference Call
NGL Energy Partners Q1 2026
00:00 / 00:00

There are 4 speakers on the call.

Operator

Greetings. Welcome to the NGL Energy Partners 1Q26 earnings call. At this time, all participants are in a listen-only mode. A question-and-answer session will follow the formal presentation. If anyone should require operator assistance during the conference, please press star zero on your telephone keypad. Please note this conference is being recorded. I will now turn the conference over to your host, Brad Cooper. You may begin.

Speaker 3

Good afternoon, and thank you to everyone for joining us on the call today. Our comments today will include plans, forecasts, and estimates that are forward-looking statements under the U.S. securities law. These comments are subject to assumptions, risks, and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ from the forward-looking statements. Please take note of the cautionary language and risk factors provided in our presentation materials and our other public disclosure materials. During the first quarter, we closed on the sale of our rack marketing business, the interest in the Limestone Ranch, and a majority of the wholesale propane business that included 17 terminals. As discussed on previous calls, we will continue to look for opportunities to shrink the remaining footprint of the Liquids segment with further asset sales. We used a portion of the proceeds to completely pay down the ABL during the quarter.

Speaker 3

We did end the quarter with a small ABL balance, but this is expected as we began our butane build within the Liquids segment. In addition to paying down the ABL, we opportunistically attacked other pieces of the capital structure with the proceeds. Mike will elaborate on these efforts during his prepared remarks. We continue to execute on our multi-year strategy of right-sizing the asset footprint, paying down debt, and reducing overall leverage of the company. Let's get into the quarterly results. Consolidated adjusted EBITDA for the quarter came in at $144 million versus $138.6 million in the prior year's first quarter, or approximately 4% higher than the prior year's first quarter. This increase was primarily driven by the performance of our Water Solutions business segment. We are reaffirming our full-year adjusted EBITDA guidance of $615 to $625 million.

Speaker 3

Our Water segment continues to perform above our expectations thus far, and we will reevaluate our full-year guidance after the second quarter closes. Water Solutions adjusted EBITDA was $142.9 million in the first quarter, versus $125.6 million in the prior first quarter, a 13.8% increase. Fiscal water disposal volumes were 2.77 million barrels per day in the first quarter, versus 2.47 million barrels per day in the prior year's first quarter, a 12.4% increase. Total volumes we were paid to dispose, that includes deficiency volumes, were 3.1 million barrels per day in the first quarter, versus 2.6 million barrels per day in the prior year's first quarter. Total volumes we were paid to dispose of were up approximately 18% first quarter of fiscal 2026 over first quarter of fiscal 2025.

Speaker 3

The increase in EBITDA was primarily driven by higher disposal revenues due to an increase in produced water volumes processed from contracted customers, as well as higher water pipeline revenue due to the LEX II pipeline commencing operations during the quarter ended December 31, 2024. Operating expenses for the quarter on a per barrel basis were lower by $0.02 when compared to the same quarter of the previous year. For the first quarter, our operating expenses in Water Solutions were $0.22 per barrel. With the current market sentiment and oil price uncertainty, we have not seen any drop-off in activity from our customers in the core of the basin. We have continuous conversations with the producers to monitor activity levels and the impacts the macro backdrop could have on our Water Solutions segment.

Speaker 3

As highlighted in our earnings call presentation, we are well positioned with 90% of our volumes committed through acreage dedications and MVCs. Recall, 80% of our total volumes are with investment-grade counterparties. Crude Oil Logistics adjusted EBITDA was $9.6 million in the first quarter of fiscal 2026, versus $18.6 million in the prior year's first quarter. During the quarter, volumes on the Grand Mesa pipeline averaged approximately 55,000 barrels per day compared to 63,000 barrels per day for the first quarter of 2025. The decrease was due primarily to reduced sales as a result of lower production on acreage dedicated to us in the DJ Basin and lower crude oil prices. As we have previously discussed on these calls, we have been anticipating an increase in volumes on the Grand Mesa system for a while now.

Speaker 3

For the month of July, volumes were approximately 25% higher than June volumes, so we anticipate stronger quarters ahead for the Crude Oil Logistics segment. Liquids Logistics adjusted EBITDA was $2.9 million in the first quarter, versus $5.7 million in the prior first quarter. This is adjusted for the previously announced asset sales that closed in the quarter. The primary EBITDA contributor of the Liquids Logistics segment going forward will be our butane blending business, and recall that a majority of the EBITDA from this segment occurs in the back half of the fiscal year. With that, I would now like to turn the call over to our CEO, Mike Krimbill.

Speaker 1

Thanks, Brad. Good afternoon. I have just some brief comments. With respect to the first quarter results, as Brad said, we have exceeded our expectations. Water Solutions experienced a strong quarter and continues to reduce its cost per barrel. We expect strength in the back half of the year from our Crude Oil Logistics segment as volumes on Grand Mesa ramp up. The remaining Liquids Logistics business generates enough adjusted EBITDA to cover our corporate costs. If our results continue to exceed expectations, we will consider raising guidance at the time of our second quarter earnings call in early November. Now, as you can see from our first quarter actions, we are exercising an opportunistic strategy with regards to the use of our free cash flow.

Speaker 1

Cash is being used to purchase and repay debt and equity that provides the highest return and greatest benefit to the partnership while considering liquidity and leverage. These opportunities may change as the markets continue to move. First, during the quarter, we purchased $19 million of our outstanding 2032 notes at a discount as our bond prices temporarily declined due to the tariff announcement in early April. We paid off $72 million of debt that was outstanding on our ABL at March 31. We then repurchased 70,000 units, or approximately 12% of our outstanding Class D preferred units. The successful refinancing in February last year and the full payment of the preferred and arrearages allows us to purchase any of our preferred classes B, C, and D in the open market or call them at our discretion.

Speaker 1

We have a couple of years to redeem the Class D preferred, so we are beginning that process now and anticipate additional purchases this fiscal year. Finally, under the board-authorized common unit repurchase plan, we have purchased a total of approximately 4.7 million common units at an average price of $4.30 per unit. This represents approximately 3.5% of the outstanding common units. In conclusion, as we move forward, the balance sheet remains a priority, but we are very focused on growing our adjusted EBITDA as it reduces leverage and provides additional cash for the balance sheet improvement. With that, operator, let's open up the line for Q&A.

Operator

Certainly. At this time, we will be conducting a question-and-answer session. If you would like to ask a question, please press star one on your telephone keypad. A confirmation tone will indicate your line is in the question queue. You may press star two if you would like to remove your question from the queue. For participants using speaker equipment, it may be necessary to pick up your handset before pressing the star keys. One moment, please, while we poll for questions. Your first question for today is from Nevin Mathew with JPMorgan Chase & Co.

Operator

Hi, this is Nevin on for Tariq. I know you just mentioned that you'd be remaining opportunistic with capital allocation. Just going forward, do you expect further common unit repurchases, or would you consider this quarter more as a one-off and you'll be remaining more concentrated on the Class Ds?

Speaker 3

This is Brad. I think we'll continue to be opportunistic. If the unit prices kind of hang out in the same level they've been this last quarter, I think you'll see us nibble at that. If the bonds trade down based on some macro event, we'll nibble at those and we'll continue to attack the Class D preferred units. I don't think we're going to set a path right now in terms of what we're just going to go after solely. It'll be a little bit of each at these levels.

Speaker 3

Got it. Thank you.

Operator

Your next question is from Derrick Whitfield with Texas Capital.

Operator

Good afternoon, guys, and congrats on the opportunistic purchases.

Speaker 3

Thanks, Derek.

Speaker 3

With respect to the produced water volumes for the quarter, they were a little bit lighter than what we were expecting. Just wanted to see if you could add some color to perhaps some of the moving parts for the quarter itself.

Speaker 3

Doug, you want to take kind of Q1's water volume question?

Speaker 3

Sure. They were quite a bit close to where we were expecting. In June, there were recycling jobs that ramped up, which we're now seeing, you know, those volumes on the takeaway side this quarter. We felt pretty good about the volumes in Q1. We came in about 79,000 barrels a day over budget for the quarter, over our internal budget. We felt those were pretty solid. We see that continuing for the balance of the year based on our customer forecast at this time.

Speaker 3

Very good. Then.

Speaker 3

Hey, Doug.

Speaker 3

Please, go ahead.

Speaker 3

Derrick, let me add to that. When we look at volumes, we see the physical volumes we moved. Then we see the, we call it financial volumes under MVCs we get paid for that physically didn't move. What we do not record in the quarter are additional MVC volumes we will get paid for next quarter. You're not seeing all the volumes that the system is actually, I'll say, receiving. You won't see until next quarter when we, you know, when we settle up on an MVC.

Speaker 3

Got it. That makes sense. Maybe just higher level, wanted to get your thoughts on the ERIS acquisition by Western. I mean, from our perspective, while we look at it and question the timing from a value recognition perspective, it definitely supports the Delaware water thesis that we have for your business and the revaluing of that pore space over time.

Speaker 1

I'll start. Doug, you may have some thoughts too. I think we congratulate ERIS for getting a premium price for their business. That's a price we would never have paid. Our model is a little different too, as we do not focus on recycling. There are some other companies out there that do a great job who's really focused on that business. Doug, you got any other thoughts?

Speaker 1

Yes, I think it's great for the industry. Great sign. Consolidation has been positive in the Delaware for even on the producer side. Once the consolidation happens, you start to build and continue to build more of a foundation of an asset base, be it whether the producer side or the midstream side. We welcome seeing consolidation, which also includes fewer parties at the ballgame. The remaining groups that are out there, I think a couple more of them are looking to be consolidated. Over time, this will come down to a few parties in the midstream water business, and it will then eliminate the spending of CapEx on duplicate assets, duplicating the existing other competitor assets, which I think is good for the industry. Larger diameter pipes, more centralized operation of a larger contiguous area of assets, I think that's just good for the industry.

Speaker 1

When it's good for the producers, the producers become more efficient, drill more wells, and create more water.

Speaker 3

Perfect. Thanks for your time and color, guys.

Speaker 1

Thanks, Derek.

Operator

We have reached the end of the question-and-answer session, and I will now turn the call over to Brad Cooper for closing remarks.

Speaker 3

Thanks, everyone, for your interest in NGL. We look forward to catching up with everyone in early November during our second quarter call for fiscal 2026.

Operator

This concludes today's conference, and you may disconnect your lines at this time. Thank you for your participation.

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