General | Quarterly / Earnings Reports
Magellan's Crude, Pipeline Ops Ramp Up Income by Over 50%
Print
|
Magellan Midstream Partners, L.P. reported operating profit of $154.6 million for third quarter 2013 compared to $79.3 million for third quarter 2012.
Net income grew to $125.6 million for third quarter 2013 compared to $50.5 million for third quarter 2012.
Diluted net income per limited partner unit was 55 cents in third quarter 2013 versus 22 cents in the corresponding 2012 period. Diluted net income per unit excluding mark-to-market (MTM) commodity-related pricing adjustments, a non-generally accepted accounting principles (non-GAAP) financial measure, of 54 cents for third quarter 2013 was higher than the 48-cent guidance provided by management in early Aug. due to higher refined transportation revenue, lower power costs and less integrity expenses than initially expected due to timing of project work that is now scheduled for later in the year.
Distributable cash flow (DCF), a non-GAAP financial measure that represents the amount of cash generated during the period that is available to pay distributions, was $141.1 million for third quarter 2013, or 40% higher than the third-quarter 2012 DCF of $100.7 million.
Michael Mears, chief executive officer, commented: "Magellan continued its solid performance in 2013, generating significantly higher third-quarter financial results for each of our segments compared to the year-ago period. Contributions from our growing crude oil segment, driven by Longhorn pipeline's activation into crude oil service, our newly-acquired New Mexico refined products pipeline system and a more favorable pricing environment for our commodity-related activities benefited Magellan's quarterly results."
Beginning in 2013, the partnership reorganized its reporting segments to reflect strategic changes in its business, particularly its increasing crude oil activities. Historical financial results have been restated to conform to the new segment presentation. An analysis by segment comparing third quarter 2013 to third quarter 2012 is provided below based on operating margin, a non-GAAP financial measure that reflects operating profit before general and administrative (G&A) expense and depreciation and amortization:
Refined products. Refined operating margin was $146.8 million, an increase of $50.9 million. Transportation and terminals revenues increased between periods primarily due to operating results from the New Mexico pipeline system acquired on July 1, 2013 and higher weighted average tariff rates resulting from the partnership's 4.6% tariff increase in mid-2013 and deficiency payments during third quarter 2013 for committed volumes that did not ship. Operating expenses increased slightly between periods. Expenses related to the recently-acquired New Mexico pipeline system and less favorable product gains (which reduce operating expenses) in the current period were partially offset by lower environmental accruals and less asset retirements.
Product margin (a non-GAAP measure defined as product sales revenues less product purchases) increased $40.4 million between periods resulting in part from a $31.8 million favorable variance associated with the timing of MTM adjustments for New York Mercantile Exchange (NYMEX) positions used to economically hedge the partnership's commodity-related activities and other inventory adjustments. Details of these items can be found on the Distributable Cash Flow Reconciliation to Net Income schedule that accompanies this news release. The partnership's actual cash product margin, which reflects only transactions that settled during the quarter, increased between periods primarily due to higher butane blending profits as a result of more sales volume and higher blending margins.
Crude oil. Crude operating margin was $50.6 million, an increase of $28.2 million. Revenues increased significantly due to crude oil shipments on the Longhorn pipeline, which began during 2013, as well as joint venture management fees and additional condensate throughput at the partnership's Corpus Christi, Texas terminal. Operating expenses increased slightly between periods. Costs related to the operation of the Longhorn pipeline in crude oil service, including higher personnel costs, power and integrity spending, were partially offset by more favorable product overages (which reduce expenses).
Marine storage. Marine operating margin was $24.5 million, an increase of $4.9 million. Revenues increased between periods primarily due to storage fees from recently-constructed tanks and incremental throughput fees at the partnership's Galena Park, Texas terminal. Expenses declined due to lower environmental accruals in the current period partially offset by more integrity spending and higher property taxes in third quarter 2013.
Other items. Depreciation and amortization increased primarily due to recent expansion capital expenditures, and G&A expenses increased due to more personnel costs as a result of additional headcount, higher payout expectations for the partnership's annual bonus and costs related to the partnership's pending Rocky Mountain refined products pipeline system acquisition, which it expects to close in the near future.
Net interest expense was substantially unchanged as additional borrowings from the partnership's Nov. 2012 debt offering to fund capital spending was offset by higher capitalized interest for the related construction projects. As of Sept. 30, 2013, the partnership had $2.4 billion of debt outstanding and $14.2 million of cash on hand. During early Oct., the partnership received net proceeds of approximately $295.6 million from its issuance of $300 million of 30-year senior notes.
Expansion Capital Projects
Magellan continues to pursue opportunities to grow its business, and its current slate of expansion projects remains on schedule.
The Longhorn pipeline continued to add pumping capacity and averaged approximately 100,000 barrels per day (bpd) of crude oil deliveries to the Houston market during third quarter 2013. The pipeline has been capable of operating at its full 225,000-bpd capacity since mid-Oct. and is expected to average approximately 190,000 bpd during the fourth quarter. As previously announced, Magellan plans to expand the capacity of the Longhorn pipeline by 50,000 bpd to an increased capacity of 275,000 bpd, all fully committed by long-term customer agreements. Subject to regulatory approval, the operating capacity of the Longhorn pipeline is expected to reach 275,000 bpd by mid-2014.
The Double Eagle pipeline joint venture commenced condensate shipments on the eastern leg of the pipeline beginning late Oct. and on the western leg from Cooke Ranch, Texas during late Aug., with the western extension to Gardendale, Texas projected to be operational by year-end. The pipeline system is currently capable of transporting up to 100,000 bpd.
The partnership continues to make significant progress on the BridgeTex pipeline joint venture, with tank and pipeline construction currently underway and an operational date of mid-2014 still targeted.
As previously announced, the partnership acquired approximately 250 miles of refined products pipeline in Texas and New Mexico for $57 million on July 1, 2013. Acquisition of the remaining pipeline system in the Rocky Mountain region is expected to close in the near future.
The partnership plans to spend approximately $925 million during 2013 for its current slate of growth projects and its pending Rocky Mountain pipeline acquisition, with an additional $400 million of spending in 2014 to complete the expansion projects now underway.
Magellan also continues to evaluate well over $500 million of potential growth projects in earlier stages of development as well as additional acquisition opportunities, both of which have been excluded from these spending estimates.
Financial Guidance for 2013
Management is raising its 2013 DCF guidance by $10 million to $640 million and remains committed to its goal of increasing annual cash distributions by 16% for 2013 and 15% for 2014. Including actual results so far this year, net income per limited partner unit is estimated to be $2.54 for 2013, resulting in fourth-quarter guidance of 81 cents. Guidance excludes future NYMEX MTM adjustments on the partnership's commodity-related activities and expected financial results from the pending Rocky Mountain pipeline acquisition.