Core Financial Performance - Western Midstream Partners, LP reported a net income attributable to limited partners of $333.8 million for Q2 2025, equating to $0.87 per common unit (diluted) [2][7] - The company achieved an Adjusted EBITDA of $617.9 million, marking the highest quarterly Adjusted EBITDA in its history [6][7] - Cash flows from operating activities totaled $564.0 million, with Free Cash Flow amounting to $388.4 million for the second quarter [2][7] Distribution and Cash Flow - A per-unit distribution of $0.910 will be paid on August 14, 2025, consistent with the prior quarter, resulting in an annualized distribution of $3.64 [4][7] - After distributions, the Free Cash Flow for Q2 2025 was $33.1 million [4] Operational Highlights - Natural gas throughput averaged 5.3 Bcf/d, a 3% increase from the previous quarter [5][8] - Crude oil and NGLs throughput averaged 532 MBbls/d, reflecting a 6% sequential increase [5][8] - Produced water throughput averaged 1,217 MBbls/d, representing a 4% increase from the prior quarter [5][8] Strategic Initiatives - The company announced the acquisition of Aris Water Solutions, Inc. for an enterprise value of approximately $2.0 billion, expected to enhance its position in midstream water services [6][9] - A new 300 MMcf/d cryogenic natural-gas processing train, North Loving Train II, has been sanctioned to increase processing capacity in West Texas [6][9] Guidance and Future Outlook - Western Midstream reaffirmed its 2025 financial guidance ranges for Adjusted EBITDA ($2.350 billion to $2.550 billion), capital expenditures ($625 million to $775 million), and Free Cash Flow ($1.275 billion to $1.475 billion) [7][10] - The impact of the Aris acquisition will be incorporated into the 2026 guidance projections, to be announced in February 2026 [10]

Core Viewpoint - Western Midstream Partners, LP ("WES") is acquiring Aris Water Solutions, Inc. ("Aris") in a transaction valued at approximately $1.5 billion, which includes both equity and cash components [1][2]. Transaction Details - The acquisition involves Aris shareholders receiving 0.625 common units of WES for each Aris share, with an option for $25.00 per share in cash, subject to proration, with a maximum cash consideration of $415 million [1][9]. - The total enterprise value of the transaction is approximately $2.0 billion before transaction costs [1]. - The transaction is expected to close in the fourth quarter of 2025, pending regulatory and shareholder approvals [2]. Strategic Rationale - The merger is aimed at creating a leading produced-water gathering, disposal, and recycling business, enhancing WES's ability to meet customer needs in the Delaware Basin [5][6]. - The integration of Aris's assets will expand WES's footprint into Lea and Eddy Counties, New Mexico, unlocking new throughput opportunities across its natural gas, crude oil, and produced water businesses [3][6]. - The combined infrastructure will create a fully integrated produced-water value chain, enhancing WES's competitive position in the market [6]. Financial Implications - The transaction is expected to be accretive to WES's 2026 Free Cash Flow per unit and represents an approximate 7.5x multiple on consensus 2026 EBITDA, including estimated cost synergies [6]. - WES is targeting $40 million in estimated annualized cost synergies from the acquisition [6]. Operational Enhancements - Aris's full-cycle water infrastructure includes approximately 790 miles of produced-water pipeline and significant handling and recycling capacities, which will complement WES's existing operations [3]. - The acquisition will diversify WES's customer base through Aris's long-term contracts and minimum-volume commitments with investment-grade counterparties [6][7]. Leadership Commentary - WES's CEO expressed excitement about the strategic combination, emphasizing the alignment with WES's strategy of acquiring high-quality midstream assets [4]. - Aris's CEO highlighted the transaction as a significant milestone, positioning the combined entity as a premier midstream water-solutions provider [8].

Core Insights - Western Midstream (WES) is expected to report quarterly earnings of $0.82 per share, reflecting a year-over-year decline of 15.5% [1] - Revenue projections stand at $941.48 million, indicating a 4% increase from the same quarter last year [1] - Over the past month, the consensus EPS estimate has been adjusted downward by 0.5%, indicating a reassessment by analysts [1][2] Earnings Estimates - Changes in earnings estimates are crucial for predicting investor reactions to stock performance [2] - Analysts typically use consensus earnings and revenue estimates as indicators of quarterly business performance [3] Throughput Estimates - Analysts predict various throughput metrics for Western Midstream's natural gas and crude oil assets, with specific estimates for different basins [4][5][6][7][8][9][10] - For example, 'Throughput for produced-water assets per day - Delaware Basin' is projected to reach 1,207.88 thousand barrels, up from 1,102.00 thousand barrels in the same quarter last year [7] - The consensus for 'Throughput for crude-oil and NGLs assets per day - Delaware Basin' is 263.08 thousand barrels, compared to 241.00 thousand barrels reported last year [8] Market Performance - Shares of Western Midstream have shown a return of +3.3% over the past month, outperforming the Zacks S&P 500 composite's +1% change [10] - WES holds a Zacks Rank 4 (Sell), suggesting it may lag behind overall market performance in the near future [10]

Core Viewpoint - Western Midstream is set to report its earnings on August 6, 2025, with expectations of a decline in EPS and moderate revenue growth compared to the previous year [2][3]. Financial Performance - The stock closed at $40.49, reflecting a -1.68% change from the previous day, underperforming the S&P 500's loss of 0.13% [1] - Over the past month, the stock has increased by 6.74%, outperforming the Oils-Energy sector's gain of 4.18% and the S&P 500's gain of 3.39% [1]. Earnings Estimates - The expected EPS for the upcoming quarter is $0.82, which is a decrease of 15.46% from the same quarter last year [2]. - For the entire fiscal year, the Zacks Consensus Estimates predict an EPS of $3.33, down 17.16% year-over-year, with revenue expected to reach $3.8 billion, indicating a growth of 5.33% [3]. Analyst Sentiment - Recent adjustments to analyst estimates indicate evolving short-term business trends, with positive revisions reflecting optimism about the company's profitability [3]. - The Zacks Consensus EPS estimate has decreased by 2.16% in the past month, and the company currently holds a Zacks Rank of 4 (Sell) [5]. Valuation Metrics - Western Midstream is trading at a Forward P/E ratio of 12.39, which is lower than the industry average Forward P/E of 20.97, suggesting a valuation discount [6]. Industry Context - The Oil and Gas - Refining and Marketing - Master Limited Partnerships industry is currently ranked 196 out of over 250 industries, placing it in the bottom 21% [6].

Core Insights - Energy Transfer and Western Midstream Partners are significant players in the master limited partnership (MLP) sector, providing stable cash flows and high distribution yields of 7.5% and over 9% respectively [1][2] Company Operations - Energy Transfer operates a diversified midstream network, handling various commodities including natural gas, NGLs, crude oil, and refined products, with 90% of its earnings being fee-based [5] - Western Midstream focuses on the Delaware, DJ, and Powder River basins, primarily gathering, treating, processing, and transporting natural gas, NGLs, and crude oil, generating fee-based income secured by long-term contracts [4] Customer and Ownership Structure - Occidental Petroleum is a major customer of Western Midstream, holding a 44.8% direct interest in the MLP, while Energy Transfer does not rely on a single significant customer and controls two other MLPs, enhancing its income and growth profile [6] Financial Position - Energy Transfer is in a strong financial position with a leverage ratio in the lower half of its target range of 4.0-4.5 times and generates cash to cover its payout by more than two times [7] - Western Midstream also maintains a solid financial position with a leverage ratio below 3.0x and expects to generate sufficient free cash flow to cover capital expenditures [8] Growth Prospects - Energy Transfer plans to invest $5 billion in growth capital projects this year, including a new natural gas pipeline and gas processing plants, which are expected to drive earnings growth in 2026-2027 [9][10] - Western Midstream anticipates capital spending between $625 million and $775 million in 2025, with 65% allocated to growth initiatives, aiming for mid-single-digit cash flow and distribution growth [12] Investment Appeal - Both companies offer high-yielding distributions supported by stable cash flows, but Energy Transfer's greater diversification reduces risk and enhances growth potential, making it a more attractive option for sustainable income [13]

Core Viewpoint - Western Midstream Partners, LP announced a quarterly cash distribution of $0.910 per unit for Q2 2025, maintaining the same level as the previous quarter [1] Group 1: Financial Performance - The second-quarter distribution is annualized at $3.64 per unit, payable on August 14, 2025, to unitholders of record by August 1, 2025 [1] - The Partnership plans to report its Q2 2025 results after market close on August 6, 2025, with a conference call scheduled for August 7, 2025, at 9:00 a.m. Central [2][3] Group 2: Company Overview - Western Midstream Partners, LP is a master limited partnership focused on developing, acquiring, owning, and operating midstream assets across Texas, New Mexico, Colorado, Utah, and Wyoming [4] - The company engages in gathering, compressing, treating, processing, and transporting natural gas, as well as handling condensate, natural-gas liquids, crude oil, and produced water [4] - A significant portion of WES's cash flows is secured through fee-based contracts, reducing direct exposure to commodity price volatility [4]

Group 1 - The article discusses a comparison between MPLX LP and Western Midstream to determine which MLP is a better investment choice [1] - The author, Roberts Berzins, has over a decade of experience in financial management and has contributed to the development of financial strategies for top-tier corporates [1] - Berzins has also worked on institutionalizing the REIT framework in Latvia to enhance the liquidity of pan-Baltic capital markets [1] Group 2 - The article does not provide any specific financial data or performance metrics for MPLX LP or Western Midstream [1] - There is no mention of any recent events or news that could impact the performance of these companies [1]

Core Viewpoint - The U.S. stock market has been volatile in 2025, but Western Midstream Partners (WES) stands out with a robust 9.4% yield supported by a durable and inflation-resistant business model [1] Business Model - Western Midstream has a vast infrastructure across major oil and gas basins, including over 14,000 miles of pipeline, enabling it to process, transport, and store various energy products [3] - The company operates predominantly on a fee-based model, with approximately 95% of natural gas contracts and 100% of liquids contracts being fee-based, providing low exposure to commodity price fluctuations [4] Geopolitical Context - The ongoing geopolitical tensions, particularly the war in Ukraine, have led to a significant reduction in the EU's reliance on Russian pipeline gas, dropping from over 40% in 2021 to about 11% in 2024, while U.S. LNG exports to the EU surged from 26% in 2021 to 70% in the first half of 2025 [5] - Western Midstream's infrastructure in the Permian basin and Rocky Mountains positions it as a key player in the U.S. natural gas system, benefiting from these geopolitical shifts [6] Financial Performance - In Q1, Western Midstream reported $594 million in adjusted EBITDA and $399 million in free cash flow, with a cash balance of $2.4 billion and guidance for free cash flows between $1.275 billion and $1.475 billion for 2025 [7] - The company had a dividend coverage ratio of 1.6 times in Q1, indicating net income was 60% higher than dividends distributed, and it increased its quarterly dividend by 4% for 2025 [8] Business Expansion - Western Midstream completed its North Loving natural gas processing plant ahead of schedule, increasing processing capacity in West Texas by approximately 13% or 250 million cubic feet per day [10] - The company is also developing the Pathfinder pipeline, expected to transport 800,000 barrels per day of produced water, with a long-term agreement already in place with Occidental Petroleum, reducing execution risk [11] Valuation - Trading at an enterprise-value-to-EBITDA ratio of 9.8, Western Midstream appears discounted compared to peers, despite concerns over business concentration risk, as Occidental Petroleum accounted for nearly 60% of total revenues in 2024 [12] - The market may be overestimating the risks associated with Occidental, which is financially healthy and holds a 44.8% ownership stake in Western Midstream [12] Investment Appeal - Western Midstream offers a unique combination of a 9% yield, inflation protection, and exposure to a strong U.S. energy sector, making it an attractive investment option [13]

Company Performance - Western Midstream (WES) closed at $40.14, reflecting a +1.7% change from the previous day's closing price, outperforming the S&P 500 which gained 0.14% [1] - Over the past month, WES shares appreciated by 1.65%, underperforming the Oils-Energy sector's gain of 2.89% and the S&P 500's gain of 3.97% [2] Earnings Expectations - The upcoming earnings report for Western Midstream is anticipated to show an EPS of $0.83, a decrease of 14.43% from the same quarter last year, with revenue expected to be $920.79 million, indicating a 1.67% growth year-over-year [3] - Full-year Zacks Consensus Estimates project earnings of $3.4 per share and revenue of $3.77 billion, representing year-over-year changes of -15.42% and +4.44%, respectively [4] Analyst Estimates and Valuation - Recent adjustments to analyst estimates for Western Midstream are crucial as they reflect short-term business trends, with positive revisions indicating optimism about the business outlook [4] - The Zacks Rank system, which includes estimate changes, currently ranks Western Midstream at 3 (Hold), with a consensus EPS projection having moved 0.1% higher in the past 30 days [6] - WES is currently traded at a Forward P/E ratio of 11.61, which is a discount compared to the industry average Forward P/E of 20.31 [7] Industry Context - The Oil and Gas - Refining and Marketing - Master Limited Partnerships industry, to which Western Midstream belongs, has a Zacks Industry Rank of 162, placing it in the bottom 35% of over 250 industries [7] - Research indicates that the top 50% rated industries outperform the bottom half by a factor of 2 to 1 [8]

Core Viewpoint - Midstream operators are positioned to benefit from increasing demand for natural gas driven by artificial intelligence, data centers, and LNG exports, while providing reliable cash flow and high distribution yields. Group 1: Energy Transfer - Energy Transfer offers a yield of 7.4%, supported by strong distributable cash flow, with approximately 90% of EBITDA derived from fee-based contracts, many of which are take-or-pay [2][4] - The company is increasing its capital expenditures from $3 billion in 2024 to $5 billion this year to capitalize on growing power demand and LNG exports [3] - Energy Transfer has signed a supply agreement with Cloudburst for a data center project in Texas and is seeing progress on the Lake Charles LNG project, enhancing its growth prospects [4] Group 2: Enterprise Products Partners - Enterprise Products Partners has a yield of 6.8% and has increased its payout for 26 consecutive years, with about 85% of cash flow coming from fee-based contracts [5][6] - The company is pursuing $7.6 billion in growth projects, with $6 billion expected to go live this year, and has increased its spending on these projects from $3.9 billion last year to $4.5 billion this year [6] Group 3: Western Midstream - Western Midstream offers a yield of 9.4% and maintains a strong balance sheet with a leverage ratio below 3, supported by cost-of-service contracts and minimum volume commitments [7][8] - The company aims for mid-single-digit annual distribution increases while investing in expansion opportunities, notably the Pathfinder produced-water system, which is projected to cost over $450 million [8] Group 4: MPLX - MPLX has a yield of 7.5% and has achieved double-digit distribution growth for three consecutive years, with its distribution covered 1.5 times by cash flow [9][10] - The company is increasing its expansion capex to $1.7 billion in 2025, driven by demand for natural gas and NGLs, and is enhancing its infrastructure through full ownership of the BANGL pipeline and a joint venture with Oneok [10][11] Group 5: Kinder Morgan - Kinder Morgan has the lowest yield at 4.1% but controls about 40% of U.S. natural gas flow, with 80% of cash flow from volumetric fee-based contracts [13][15] - The company's project backlog has surged to $8.8 billion, primarily focused on power demand related to AI and LNG facilities, with expected EBITDA yields of 16.7% on new spending [14][15] - Kinder Morgan has improved its balance sheet, reducing leverage from 5.1 in 2017 to 4 in 2024, positioning itself well for future growth amid rising natural gas export demand [15]