RBC Capital Maintains Hold Rating on Western Midstream (WES)

Core Viewpoint - Western Midstream Partners, LP (NYSE:WES) is recognized as one of the best pipeline and MLP stocks to buy in 2026, indicating strong market confidence in its future performance [1]. Group 1: Ratings and Price Targets - RBC Capital's Elvira Scotto reiterated a Hold rating on WES with a price target of $42 as of January 28, 2026, while Morgan Stanley maintained a Sell rating with a price target of $41 [2]. Group 2: Financial Performance - Western Midstream Partners declared a quarterly cash distribution of $0.91 per unit for Q4 2025, consistent with the previous quarter's payout, with eligibility for shareholders as of February 2, 2026, for payment on February 13, 2026 [3]. Group 3: Strategic Developments - The company announced renegotiations on key natural gas contracts in the Delaware Basin with Occidental and ConocoPhillips, transitioning to simplified, fixed-fee arrangements. Occidental will transfer 15.3 million WES common units, valued at approximately $610 million, back to the partnership for redemption, aiming to solidify revenue through the late 2030s and diversify its customer base [4]. Group 4: Company Overview - Founded in 2007, Western Midstream Partners, LP is a master limited partnership focused on the gathering, processing, and transportation of natural gas, crude oil, and NGLs across major U.S. basins, utilizing fee-based contracts, and is headquartered in Texas [5].