Core Viewpoint - Western Midstream Partners, LP (WES) is acquiring Aris Water Solutions, Inc. (Aris), with preliminary results indicating significant interest from Aris securityholders in the merger consideration options available [1][2]. Merger Consideration Details - Aris securityholders can choose from three forms of merger consideration: (i) 0.625 WES Common Units, (ii) a combination of $7.00 in cash and 0.450 WES Common Units, or (iii) $25.00 in cash, with the total cash consideration capped at $415.0 million [2][3]. - Approximately 26.6 million WES Common Units will be issued, and $415.0 million in cash will be distributed to Aris securityholders as part of the merger consideration [3][4]. Election Results - As of the election deadline, holders of 9,589,105 shares of Aris Class A Common Stock and 4,289,350 Aris OpCo Stapled Units opted for the Common Unit Election Consideration [6]. - Holders of 1,901,249 shares of Aris Class A Common Stock and 9,304,608 Aris OpCo Stapled Units selected the Mixed Election Consideration [6]. - A total of 21,247,291 shares of Aris Class A Common Stock and 12,873,151 Aris OpCo Stapled Units were elected for the Cash Election Consideration [6]. Additional Information - The final certified results of the election process will be available shortly before the transaction closes, and the final allocation of the merger consideration will be calculated according to the Merger Agreement [4][5]. - No fractional WES Common Units will be issued; instead, cash will be provided for any fractional amounts [4].

Core Viewpoint - Western Midstream is set to report its financial results, with expectations of earnings growth and revenue increase compared to the previous year [2][3]. Financial Performance - In the latest trading session, Western Midstream closed at $37.97, reflecting a -1.66% change from the previous day, underperforming the S&P 500's gain of 0.37% [1] - Over the past month, shares of Western Midstream have appreciated by 1.5%, lagging behind the Oils-Energy sector's gain of 2.31% and the S&P 500's gain of 4.26% [1] - The upcoming earnings report is projected to show earnings of $0.87 per share, representing a year-over-year growth of 17.57%, with revenue expected to be $954.2 million, indicating an 8.02% increase from the same quarter last year [2] - For the entire year, the Zacks Consensus Estimates forecast earnings of $3.4 per share and revenue of $3.76 billion, reflecting changes of -15.42% and +4.27% respectively compared to the previous year [3] Analyst Estimates - Recent changes to analyst estimates for Western Midstream are significant as they indicate the evolving business trends, with upward revisions suggesting analysts' positive outlook on the company's operations and profitability [4] - The Zacks Rank system, which incorporates estimate changes, currently ranks Western Midstream at 3 (Hold), with a consensus EPS projection moving 1.34% higher in the past 30 days [6] Valuation Metrics - Western Midstream is trading at a Forward P/E ratio of 11.35, which is a discount compared to the industry average Forward P/E of 17.84 [7] - The Oil and Gas - Refining and Marketing - Master Limited Partnerships industry, to which Western Midstream belongs, has a Zacks Industry Rank of 170, placing it within the bottom 32% of over 250 industries [7]

Group 1: Company Overview - Western Midstream Partners, LP (NYSE:WES) is a Texas-based midstream energy company with assets in Texas, New Mexico, and the Rocky Mountains, incorporated in 2007 and focused on improving lives through efficient energy delivery [4] Group 2: Financial Performance - The company has a solid dividend yield of over 9%, making it an attractive distribution play, particularly in the Delaware Basin [2] - Eagle Global Advisors LLC trimmed its stake in Western Midstream Partners by 18.8%, now holding 1,925,950 shares, reflecting an ownership of 0.51% and an investment of $74,534,000 [1] Group 3: Strategic Moves - Western Midstream Partners recently entered the water infrastructure market through the acquisition of Aris Water Solutions for $1.5 billion, expected to enhance offerings and contribute to free cash flow in the coming year [3] - The company is well-positioned to benefit from the surging demand for energy needs and data centers [3]

Core Insights - Investors are increasingly turning to dividend-yielding stocks during market turbulence and uncertainty, favoring companies with high free cash flows that offer substantial dividend payouts [1] Company Ratings and Performance - **Delek Logistics Partners, LP (NYSE: DKL)**: - Dividend Yield: 9.80% - Mizuho analyst Gabriel Moreen maintained a Neutral rating and raised the price target from $44 to $45 on Aug. 29, 2025, with a 70% accuracy rate [7] - Raymond James analyst Justin Jenkins maintained an Outperform rating and increased the price target from $44 to $46 on Jan. 28, 2025, with a 78% accuracy rate [7] - Recent News: Reported weaker-than-expected quarterly results on Aug. 6 [7] - **Western Midstream Partners, LP (NYSE: WES)**: - Dividend Yield: 9.23% - Mizuho analyst Gabriel Moreen maintained an Outperform rating and raised the price target from $44 to $46 on Aug. 29, 2025, with a 70% accuracy rate [7] - Morgan Stanley analyst Robert Kad maintained an Underweight rating and reduced the price target from $41 to $39 on Aug. 26, 2025, with a 70% accuracy rate [7] - Recent News: Reported upbeat quarterly earnings on Aug. 6 [7] - **Hess Midstream LP (NYSE: HESM)**: - Dividend Yield: 8.09% - Citigroup analyst Spiro Dounis downgraded the stock from Buy to Neutral and cut the price target from $42 to $41 on Sept. 11, 2025, with a 75% accuracy rate [7] - JP Morgan analyst Jeremy Tonet maintained a Neutral rating and increased the price target from $44 to $46 on Aug. 22, 2025, with a 66% accuracy rate [7] - Recent News: Upgraded FY25 gas gathering volumes guidance on Sept. 18 [7]

Core Insights - Investors are increasingly turning to dividend-yielding stocks during market turbulence and uncertainty, favoring companies with high free cash flows that offer substantial dividend payouts [1] Company Ratings and Performance - **Delek Logistics Partners, LP (NYSE: DKL)**: - Dividend Yield: 9.80% - Mizuho analyst Gabriel Moreen maintained a Neutral rating and raised the price target from $44 to $45 on Aug. 29, 2025, with a 70% accuracy rate [7] - Raymond James analyst Justin Jenkins maintained an Outperform rating and increased the price target from $44 to $46 on Jan. 28, 2025, with a 78% accuracy rate [7] - Recent News: Reported weaker-than-expected quarterly results on Aug. 6 [7] - **Western Midstream Partners, LP (NYSE: WES)**: - Dividend Yield: 9.23% - Mizuho analyst Gabriel Moreen maintained an Outperform rating and raised the price target from $44 to $46 on Aug. 29, 2025, with a 70% accuracy rate [7] - Morgan Stanley analyst Robert Kad maintained an Underweight rating and reduced the price target from $41 to $39 on Aug. 26, 2025, with a 70% accuracy rate [7] - Recent News: Reported upbeat quarterly earnings on Aug. 6 [7] - **Hess Midstream LP (NYSE: HESM)**: - Dividend Yield: 8.09% - Citigroup analyst Spiro Dounis downgraded the stock from Buy to Neutral and cut the price target from $42 to $41 on Sept. 11, 2025, with a 75% accuracy rate [7] - JP Morgan analyst Jeremy Tonet maintained a Neutral rating and increased the price target from $44 to $46 on Aug. 22, 2025, with a 66% accuracy rate [7] - Recent News: Upgraded FY25 gas gathering volumes guidance on Sept. 18 [7]

Core Points - Western Midstream Partners, LP (WES) is acquiring Aris Water Solutions, Inc. (Aris) [1] - The deadline for Aris securityholders to elect their preferred form of merger consideration is set for 5:00 p.m. New York time on October 7, 2025 [1]

Core Viewpoint - Western Midstream Partners, LP (WES) is set to acquire Aris Water Solutions, Inc. (Aris), with the election deadline for Aris securityholders to choose their merger consideration established for October 7, 2025, and the transaction expected to close on October 15, 2025, pending stockholder approval and customary closing conditions [2][5]. Group 1: Transaction Details - The merger consideration options for Aris securityholders include: (i) 0.625 WES common units, (ii) a combination of $7.00 in cash and 0.450 WES common units, or (iii) $25.00 in cash, with the total cash consideration capped at $415.0 million [5][6]. - Aris securityholders who do not submit a completed election form by the deadline will automatically be deemed to have chosen the common unit election consideration [6]. - The expiration of the waiting period under the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act on September 26, 2025, is a significant milestone for the transaction [9]. Group 2: Company Profiles - Western Midstream Partners, LP is a master limited partnership focused on developing, acquiring, owning, and operating midstream assets across several states, including Texas and New Mexico, with a business model that minimizes exposure to commodity price volatility through fee-based contracts [10]. - Aris Water Solutions, Inc. specializes in environmental infrastructure and solutions, providing full-cycle water handling and recycling services aimed at enhancing sustainability for energy companies, particularly in the Permian Basin [12].

Group 1 - The article discusses the investment positions held by the analyst in various companies, specifically WES, EPD, KMI, and OKE, indicating a beneficial long position through stock ownership, options, or other derivatives [1] - It emphasizes that the opinions expressed in the article are solely those of the analyst and not influenced by any external compensation [1] - The article clarifies that there is no business relationship with any of the companies mentioned, ensuring an unbiased perspective [1] Group 2 - The article notes that past performance of investments is not indicative of future results, highlighting the inherent uncertainty in investment outcomes [2] - It states that no specific recommendations or advice are provided regarding the suitability of investments for individual investors [2] - The article mentions that the analysts contributing to Seeking Alpha may not be licensed or certified, which could affect the reliability of the opinions expressed [2]

Core Viewpoint - Investing in leading pipeline master limited partnerships (MLPs) can generate significant monthly dividend income, with a suggested investment of $50,000 in each of three companies potentially yielding $1,000 per month in total distributions. Group 1: Industry Overview - The pipeline sector operates similarly to a toll road business, where energy prices have minimal direct impact on operational results and cash flows [2] - Current favorable market conditions and attractive historical valuations make this an opportune time to invest in pipeline stocks for high yields [2] Group 2: Energy Transfer - A $50,000 investment in Energy Transfer (ET) yields approximately $3,800 annually, translating to over $315 monthly [4] - The company's distribution is well-supported by a robust distributable cash flow coverage ratio of 1.7 times [4] - Energy Transfer has improved its balance sheet, reducing leverage to the low end of its targeted range [5] - About 90% of Energy Transfer's 2025 EBITDA is expected from fee-based contracts, minimizing energy price risk [6] - The company anticipates a distribution growth of 3% to 5% annually [7] Group 3: Enterprise Products Partners - A $50,000 investment in Enterprise Products Partners (EPD) generates about $3,450 annually, or over $287 monthly [8] - The company has consistently increased its distribution for 27 consecutive years, with a coverage ratio of 1.6 times and leverage of 3.1 times [9] - Approximately 80% of Enterprise's business relies on fee-based contracts, often with take-or-pay provisions [10] - The company raised its distribution by 3.8% year over year last quarter, indicating potential for future increases [10] Group 4: Western Midstream Partners - Investing $50,000 in Western Midstream Partners (WES) yields about $4,750 annually, or approximately $400 monthly [11] - The company's distribution is well-covered by cash flows, with leverage below 3 times [12] - Western Midstream primarily serves its parent company, Occidental Petroleum, providing strong visibility into cash flows [12] - The company is expanding its produced water business through acquisitions and organic projects, including a $2 billion deal for Aris Water Solutions [13] - Western Midstream aims to grow its distribution by mid to low single-digit percentages [13] Group 5: Conclusion - Energy Transfer, Enterprise Products Partners, and Western Midstream are attractive pipeline stocks with solid balance sheets, positioned for continued distribution growth [14]

Core Viewpoint - The proposed sale of Aris Water Solutions, Inc. to Western Midstream Partners, LP is under investigation by former Louisiana Attorney General Charles C. Foti, Jr. and Kahn Swick & Foti, LLC, focusing on the terms of the transaction and its implications for shareholders [1]. Summary by Relevant Sections - **Transaction Details**: Aris shareholders can choose to receive either 0.625 WES common units, $25.00 in cash (without interest), or a combination of both for each share of Aris common stock held [1].