Enterprise Reports Results for Fourth Quarter 2023
HOUSTON–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Enterprise Products Partners L.P. (“Enterprise”) (NYSE: EPD) today announced its financial results for the three months and year ended December 31, 2023.
Fourth Quarter and Year End 2023 Financial Highlights
|
|
Three Months Ended December 31, |
Year Ended December 31, |
||||||
|
($ in millions, except per unit amounts) |
|
2023 |
|
2022 |
|
2023 |
|
2022 |
|
Operating income |
$ |
1,921 |
$ |
1,765 |
$ |
6,929 |
$ |
6,907 |
|
Net income |
$ |
1,602 |
$ |
1,452 |
$ |
5,657 |
$ |
5,615 |
|
Fully diluted earnings per common unit |
$ |
0.72 |
$ |
0.65 |
$ |
2.52 |
$ |
2.50 |
|
Total gross operating margin (1) |
$ |
2,548 |
$ |
2,368 |
$ |
9,395 |
$ |
9,309 |
|
Adjusted EBITDA (1) |
$ |
2,499 |
$ |
2,376 |
$ |
9,318 |
$ |
9,309 |
|
Adjusted CFFO (1) |
$ |
2,215 |
$ |
2,097 |
$ |
8,124 |
$ |
8,093 |
|
Adjusted FCF (1) |
$ |
1,218 |
$ |
1,407 |
$ |
4,811 |
$ |
2,983 |
|
DCF (1) |
$ |
2,059 |
$ |
2,028 |
$ |
7,601 |
$ |
7,751 |
|
Operational DCF (1) |
$ |
2,024 |
$ |
1,926 |
$ |
7,538 |
$ |
7,629 |
|
(1) |
Total gross operating margin, adjusted earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization (“Adjusted EBITDA”), Adjusted cash flow provided by operating activities (“Adjusted CFFO”), Adjusted Free Cash Flow (“Adjusted FCF”), Distributable Cash Flow (“DCF”) and Operational Distributable Cash Flow (“Operational DCF”) are non-generally accepted accounting principle (“non-GAAP”) financial measures that are defined and reconciled later in this press release. |
Year End 2023 Results
Enterprise reported net income attributable to common unitholders of $5.5 billion, or $2.52 per common unit on a fully diluted basis, for 2023 compared to $5.5 billion, or $2.50 per common unit on a fully diluted basis, for 2022.
Operational DCF was $7.5 billion for 2023 compared to $7.6 billion for 2022. DCF provided 1.7 times coverage of the distributions declared with respect to 2023. Enterprise retained $3.2 billion of DCF in 2023 to reinvest in the partnership, repurchase partnership common units, and reduce debt. Distributions declared with regard to 2023 increased 5.3 percent compared to those declared for 2022 and marked Enterprise’s 25th consecutive year of distribution growth.
Adjusted CFFO was $8.1 billion for both 2023 and 2022. Adjusted FCF was $4.8 billion for 2023 compared to $3.0 billion for 2022. For 2023, Enterprise’s payout ratio of declared distributions to common unitholders and partnership unit buybacks was 56 percent of Adjusted CFFO and 94 percent of Adjusted FCF for 2023.
“Enterprise’s 2023 earnings demonstrated the value and resiliency of our diversified, fee-based midstream businesses,” said Jim Teague, co-chief executive officer of Enterprise’s general partner. “Despite significantly lower commodity prices and natural gas processing margins in 2023 compared to 2022, Enterprise generated comparable earnings per common unit on a fully diluted basis, Adjusted EBITDA, Adjusted CFFO and Operational DCF in 2023 to our record setting year in 2022. During 2023, the partnership benefited from a 9 percent increase in total equivalent pipeline volumes to 12.2 million barrels per day, a 20 percent increase in marine terminal volumes to 2.1 million barrels per day, a 16 percent increase in NGL fractionation volumes to 1.6 million barrels per day, and a 13 percent increase in fee-based natural gas processing volumes to 5.8 million cubic feet per day. We also benefited from another year of strong demand for octane in the international gasoline markets. As we embark on a new year, we recognize and are grateful for the tireless effort and contribution of our employees that enabled us to achieve exemplary performance again in 2023.”
“During 2023, we completed construction on $3.5 billion of capital growth projects. Our two new natural gas processing plants in the Permian Basin and 12th NGL fractionator in Chambers County, which we placed into service during the second half of 2023, were essentially full soon after operations began. While construction of our PDH 2 facility was completed and commercial operations began in the third quarter, we incurred downtime to address process and mechanical issues and as a result this plant did not contribute significantly to earnings in 2023. Most of these issues have been rectified and we expect higher utilization rates in 2024. We begin 2024 with $6.8 billion of major organic growth projects under construction, of which $1.1 billion is for the Texas Western Products System and two natural gas processing plants in the Permian Basin, scheduled to be completed in 2024. These projects provide visibility to new sources of cash flow for the partnership for this year and beyond,” stated Teague.
“The world is currently experiencing the most geopolitical volatility and uncertainty since World War II. Financial markets have gone from a decade of essentially ‘free’ money to a period with one of the most rapid increases in interest rates in decades. These actions have resulted in record amounts of government debt and deficits, and above-trend inflation exacerbated by the combination of a continuing flood of government stimulus and abnormally low unemployment due to demographic shifts in the workforce. The United States, deficits and all, is arguably in the strongest position of any developed country. The bedrock of this strength is our access to abundant natural resources, including energy. Our energy security and low cost of energy supplies is the lubricant for our economic growth and prosperity. It also underwrites our geopolitical strength. We believe Enterprise’s asset footprint and financial strength will serve and facilitate the efforts of our customers who provide that energy security, economic development and U.S. jobs,” said Teague.
Fourth Quarter and Year End 2023 Volume Highlights
|
|
Three Months Ended December 31, |
Year Ended December 31, |
||
|
|
2023 |
2022 |
2023 |
2022 |
|
NGL, crude oil, refined products & petrochemical pipeline volumes (million BPD) |
7.8 |
6.9 |
7.3 |
6.7 |
|
Marine terminal volumes (million BPD) |
2.3 |
1.7 |
2.1 |
1.7 |
|
Natural gas pipeline volumes (TBtus/d) |
18.7 |
17.6 |
18.4 |
17.1 |
|
NGL fractionation volumes (million BPD) |
1.6 |
1.3 |
1.6 |
1.3 |
|
Propylene plant production volumes (MBPD) |
102 |
89 |
101 |
101 |
|
Fee-based natural gas processing volumes (Bcf/d) |
6.2 |
5.4 |
5.8 |
5.2 |
|
Equity NGL-equivalent production volumes (MBPD) |
185 |
173 |
175 |
182 |
As used in this press release, “NGL” means natural gas liquids, “LPG” means liquefied petroleum gas, “BPD” means barrels per day, “MBPD” means thousand barrels per day, “MMcf/d” means million cubic feet per day, “Bcf/d” means billion cubic feet per day, “BBtus/d” means billion British thermal units per day and “TBtus/d” means trillion British thermal units per day.
- Gross operating margin, operating income and net income attributable to common unitholders for the fourth quarter of 2023 included $15 million of net non-cash, mark-to-market (“MTM”) gains on financial instruments used in our commodity hedging activities, compared to $32 million of net MTM losses for the fourth quarter of 2022. For the years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022, the partnership had net MTM losses of $33 million and $78 million, respectively.
- Enterprise increased its cash distribution 5.1 percent to $0.515 per common unit with respect to the fourth quarter of 2023, compared to the distribution declared with respect to the fourth quarter of 2022. The distribution will be paid on February 14, 2024, to common unit holders of record as of the close of business on January 31, 2024.
- DCF for the fourth quarter of 2023 was $2.1 billion, which provided 1.8 times coverage of the $0.515 per common unit cash distribution. Enterprise retained $932 million of DCF in the fourth quarter of 2023.
- Adjusted CFFO was $2.2 billion for the fourth quarter of 2023 compared to $2.1 billion for the fourth quarter of 2022. Adjusted FCF was $1.2 billion for the fourth quarter of 2023 compared to $1.4 billion for the fourth quarter of 2022.
- Capital investments were $1.0 billion in the fourth quarter of 2023, which included $823 million of growth capital expenditures, $65 million for the acquisition of the Wilson natural gas storage facility, which previously was under lease and $129 million of sustaining capital expenditures. For the year ended December 31, 2023, capital investments were $3.3 billion, including $2.9 billion of growth capital expenditures and $413 million of sustaining capital expenditures.
- Enterprise repurchased approximately $96 million of its common units on the open market in the fourth quarter of 2023, bringing the total amount of common unit buybacks to $187 million in 2023. Including these purchases, the partnership has utilized 46 percent of its authorized $2.0 billion common unit buyback program.
“Enterprise finished 2023 with a strong fourth quarter,” said Teague. “We handled record equivalent pipeline volumes of 12.7 million BPD, marine terminal volumes of 2.3 million BPD and NGL fractionation volumes of 1.6 million BPD. Gross operating margin from these fee-based businesses, along with improved margins in our propylene and octane enhancement businesses more than offset weaker natural gas processing margins and resulted in record net income, total gross operating margin, Adjusted EBITDA and cash flow metrics. We increased our cash distribution for the fourth quarter of 2023 by 5.1 percent compared to the same quarter in 2022, and DCF provided 1.8 times coverage of the distribution.”
Review of Fourth Quarter 2023 Results
Enterprise reported total gross operating margin of $2.5 billion for the fourth quarter of 2023 compared to $2.4 billion for the fourth quarter of 2022. Below is a detailed review of each business segment’s performance for the fourth quarter of 2023.
NGL Pipelines & Services – Gross operating margin from the NGL Pipelines & Services segment was $1.4 billion for the fourth quarter of 2023 compared to $1.3 billion for the fourth quarter of 2022.
Gross operating margin from Enterprise’s natural gas processing and related NGL marketing business was $371 million for the fourth quarter of 2023 compared to $459 million for the fourth quarter of 2022.
Gross operating margin from NGL marketing activities decreased a net $56 million for the fourth quarter of 2023 compared to the fourth quarter of 2022, primarily due to lower average sales margins and sales volumes, partially offset by an increase in non-cash, MTM earnings.
The partnership’s Rocky Mountain gas processing facilities reported a net $17 million decrease in gross operating margin for the fourth quarter of 2023 compared to the fourth quarter of 2022, primarily due to lower average processing margins, including the impact of hedging activities, which more than offset the benefit associated with a 9 MBPD increase in equity NGL-equivalent volumes.
Enterprise’s gas processing facilities in the Permian reported an $8 million decrease in gross operating margin for the fourth quarter of 2023 compared to the fourth quarter of 2022, primarily due to higher utility and other operating costs and lower average processing margins, including the impact of hedging activities. These decreases were partially offset by an increase in fee-based processing volumes, which increased 506 MMcf/d this quarter compared to the fourth quarter of 2022, primarily due to processing volumes from the partnership’s Poseidon and Mentone 2 natural gas processing plant, which were placed into service in July 2023 and October 2023, respectively.
Total fee-based natural gas processing volumes were a record 6.2 Bcf/d for the fourth quarter of 2023 compared to 5.4 Bcf/d for the fourth quarter of 2022. Equity NGL-equivalent production volumes were 185 MBPD this quarter compared to 173 MBPD for the fourth quarter of 2022.
Gross operating margin from the partnership’s NGL pipelines and storage business increased $133 million, or 21 percent, to a record $779 million for the fourth quarter of 2023 compared to $646 million for the fourth quarter of 2022. NGL pipeline transportation volumes increased to a record 4.3 million BPD in the fourth quarter of 2023 from 3.9 million BPD in the fourth quarter of 2022. NGL marine terminal volumes increased 23 percent to a record 922 MBPD for the fourth quarter of 2023 from 751 MBPD in the same quarter of 2022.
Gross operating margin from the partnership’s eastern ethane pipelines, which includes the ATEX and Aegis pipelines, increased a combined $22 million for the fourth quarter of 2023 compared to the fourth quarter of 2022, primarily due to higher average transportation fees and a 41 MBPD increase in transportation volumes.
A number of Enterprise’s NGL pipelines, including the Mid-America and Seminole NGL Pipeline Systems, Shin Oak NGL Pipeline and Chaparral NGL Pipeline, serve the Permian Basin and Rocky Mountain regions. On a combined basis, these pipelines reported a $23 million increase in gross operating margin for the fourth quarter of 2023 compared to the fourth quarter of 2022, primarily due to higher average transportation fees and a 101 MBPD, net to our interest, increase in transportation volumes.
The Enterprise Hydrocarbons Terminal (“EHT”) had a $22 million increase in gross operating margin for the fourth quarter of 2023 compared to the fourth quarter of 2022, primarily due to a 126 MBPD increase in LPG export volumes and higher average loading fees. The partnership’s Morgan’s Point Ethane Export Terminal reported a $15 million increase in gross operating margin, primarily attributable to a 45 MBPD increase in export volumes and higher average loading fees. For the fourth quarter of 2023, the associated Houston Ship Channel Pipeline System reported a $13 million increase in gross operating margin, primarily due to a 174 MBPD increase in transportation volumes and higher average transportation fees compared to the fourth quarter of 2022.
Enterprise’s Chambers County storage facility reported a $15 million increase in gross operating margin for the fourth quarter of 2023 compared to the fourth quarter of 2022 primarily due to higher storage revenues.
Enterprise’s NGL fractionation business reported a $41 million increase in gross operating margin to $230 million for the fourth quarter of 2023 compared to $189 million for the fourth quarter of 2022. Total NGL fractionation volumes were a record 1.6 million BPD in the fourth quarter of 2023 compared to 1.3 million BPD for the fourth quarter of 2022.
Gross operating margin from Enterprise’s NGL fractionation complex in Chambers County, Texas increased $38 million for the fourth quarter of 2023 compared to the same quarter in 2022, primarily due to a 229 MBPD, net to our interest, increase in fractionation volumes. The increase in NGL fractionation volumes was primarily due to contributions from the 12th NGL fractionator at the complex, which began service in July 2023.
Crude Oil Pipelines & Services – Gross operating margin from the Crude Oil Pipelines & Services segment increased to $456 million for the fourth quarter of 2023 compared to $418 million for the fourth quarter of 2022. Included in gross operating margin for the fourth quarter of 2023 and 2022 are non-cash, MTM gains of $22 million and $8 million, respectively. Total crude oil pipeline transportation volumes increased to a record 2.6 million BPD, and total crude oil marine terminal volumes increased to a record 1 million BPD for the fourth quarter of 2023 compared to the same quarter of last year.
Enterprise’s Midland-to-ECHO Pipeline System, including related marketing activities, had a $34 million increase in gross operating margin for the fourth quarter of 2023 compared to the fourth quarter of 2022. This increase was primarily due to a 160 MBPD, net to our interest, increase in transportation volumes and higher average transportation fees and related margins from marketing activities, partially offset by lower other revenues and higher operating costs.
Gross operating margin from our Texas in-basin crude oil pipelines, terminals, and other marketing activities (excluding the results of our Midland-to-ECHO System and Seaway) increased a combined $9 million, primarily due to higher sales volumes, higher non-cash, MTM earnings and higher transportation revenues, partially offset by lower average sales margins. Transportation volumes on these systems increased a combined 53 MBPD, net to our interest, for the fourth quarter of 2023 compared to the same quarter of 2022.
Natural Gas Pipelines & Services – Gross operating margin from the Natural Gas Pipelines & Services segment was $286 million for the fourth quarter of 2023 compared to $315 million for the fourth quarter of 2022. Total natural gas transportation volumes increased 6 percent to a record 18.7 TBtus/d this quarter compared to 17.6 TBtus/d for the same quarter of 2022.
On a combined basis, gross operating margin from the partnership’s Jonah Gathering System, Piceance Basin Gathering System, and San Juan Gathering System in the Rocky Mountains decreased $14 million for the fourth quarter of 2023 compared to the fourth quarter of 2022, primarily due to lower average gathering fees and an aggregate 96 BBtus/d decrease in gathering volumes from these systems.
Gross operating margin from Enterprise’s natural gas marketing business decreased $39 million for the fourth quarter of 2023 compared to the same quarter of 2022, primarily due to lower average sales margins.
Enterprise’s Permian Basin natural gas gathering systems reported a combined $12 million increase in gross operating margin for the fourth quarter of 2023 compared to the fourth quarter of 2022. The Delaware Basin Gathering System benefited from higher average gathering fees and a 178 BBtus/d increase in gathering volumes. The Midland Basin Gathering System reported a 413 BBtus/d increase in gathering volumes. Both systems had higher operating costs in the quarter compared to the same quarter in 2022.
Petrochemical & Refined Products Services – Gross operating margin for the Petrochemical & Refined Products Services segment increased 30 percent, or $100 million to $439 million for the fourth quarter of 2023. Total segment pipeline transportation volumes were 899 MBPD for the fourth quarter this year compared to 740 MBPD for the fourth quarter of 2022. Total refined products and petrochemicals marine terminal volumes increased to 352 MBPD this quarter compared to 215 MBPD for the same quarter of 2022.
Gross operating margin from the partnership’s propylene production and related activities increased $66 million for the fourth quarter of 2023 compared to the fourth quarter of 2022. Total propylene production volumes were 102 MBPD, net to our interest, this quarter compared to 89 MBPD, net to our interest, for the fourth quarter of 2022. The increase in gross operating margin was primarily due to higher propylene sales volumes and average margins, and higher propylene processing revenues from Enterprise’s Chambers County propylene production facilities. PDH 2 operated at an approximately 20 percent utilization rate during the fourth quarter of 2023 and contributed 5 MBPD of propylene production.
The partnership’s octane enhancement and related operations business reported a $15 million increase in gross operating margin for the fourth quarter of 2023 compared to the fourth quarter of 2022, primarily due to higher average sales margins as a result of the strong demand for octane in the international gasoline markets.
Enterprise’s refined products pipelines and related activities reported a $13 million increase in gross operating margin for the fourth quarter of 2023 compared to the fourth quarter of 2022. Contributing to the quarterly increase in gross operating margin were higher average transportation fees and lower operating costs on Enterprise’s TE Products Pipeline System. Overall, transportation volumes on our TE Products Pipeline System increased 98 MBPD for the fourth quarter of 2023 compared to the same quarter last year. Also contributing to the quarterly increase in gross operating margin were higher storage and other revenues, and lower operating costs at Enterprise’s Beaumont marine terminals. Partially offsetting these increases were lower sales volumes and average margins and lower earnings from MTM activity from refined products marketing activities.
Capitalization
Total debt principal outstanding at December 31, 2023 was $29.0 billion, including $2.3 billion of junior subordinated notes to which the nationally recognized debt rating agencies ascribe partial equity content. At December 31, 2023, Enterprise had consolidated liquidity of approximately $3.9 billion, comprised of available borrowing capacity under its revolving credit facilities and unrestricted cash on hand.
Capital Investments
Total capital investments in the fourth quarter of 2023 were $1.0 billion, which included $129 million of sustaining capital expenditures and $65 million for the acquisition of the Wilson natural gas storage facility. For the year 2023, Enterprise’s capital investments totaled $3.3 billion, which included $413 million of sustaining capital expenditures.
Our current expectation for growth capital investments in 2024 is approximately $3.25 billion to $3.75 billion. We estimate sustaining capital expenditures for 2024 will be approximately $550 million, which includes capital expenditures associated with scheduled turnarounds for our PDH 1 plant, iBDH facility, and high-purity isobutylene production facility. These turnarounds typically do not occur annually, but rather in three-to-four year cycles.
2023 K-1 Tax Packages
The timing of the availability of Enterprise’s K-1 tax packages for 2023 is dependent upon actions of the U.S. Congress and the Biden administration with regard to the passage, or not, of the recently proposed H.R. 7024 legislation that includes changes in tax law which would be applied retroactively to the 2023 tax year. As currently written, certain provisions in H.R. 7024 would lower Enterprise’s taxable income for 2023 compared to existing tax law. Barring any changes in tax law, Enterprise’s K-1 tax packages, including all information to fiduciaries for common units owned in tax exempt accounts, could be made available online through our website at www.enterpriseproducts.com on or before February 29, 2024 and the mailing of the tax packages would be completed by March 8, 2024. Should Congress and the Biden administration’s consideration of H.R. 7024 impact this timeline, we will issue a press release to update our investors on the timing of the availability of the K-1 tax packages.
Conference Call to Discuss Fourth Quarter 2023 Earnings
Today, Enterprise will host a conference call to discuss fourth quarter 2023 earnings. The call will be broadcast live over the Internet beginning at 9:00 a.m. CT and may be accessed by visiting the partnership’s website at www.enterpriseproducts.com.
Use of Non-GAAP Financial Measures
This press release and accompanying schedules include the non-GAAP financial measures of total gross operating margin, Adjusted CFFO, FCF, Adjusted FCF, DCF, Operational DCF and Adjusted EBITDA. The accompanying schedules provide definitions of these non-GAAP financial measures and reconciliations to their most directly comparable financial measure calculated and presented in accordance with GAAP. Our non-GAAP financial measures should not be considered as alternatives to GAAP measures such as net income, operating income, net cash flow provided by operating activities or any other measure of financial performance calculated and presented in accordance with GAAP. Our non-GAAP financial measures may not be comparable to similarly titled measures of other companies because they may not calculate such measures in the same manner as we do.
Company Information and Use of Forward-Lookin
Contacts
Randy Burkhalter, Vice President, Investor Relations, (713) 381-6812
Rick Rainey, Vice President, Media Relations, (713) 381-3635
