On Tuesday, Citi reiterated its Buy rating on shares of Hess Midstream Partners LP (NYSE:HESM) with a steady price target of $38.00. The firm anticipates a second-quarter EBITDA of $278 million for Hess (NYSE:HES) Midstream, slightly above the company's guided midpoint of $275 million.
The expected increase in operating expenses is predicted to balance out the benefits of volume growth, leading to a roughly unchanged EBITDA from the previous quarter. Hess Midstream has forecasted maintenance costs at the Tioga Gas Plant and higher seasonal operating expenses for the period.
The company has also provided guidance on expected production volumes, projecting a 2Q Bakken production of 195,000 to 200,000 barrels of oil equivalent per day (boe/d), which marks an increase from the ~190,000 boe/d produced in the first quarter. This estimate suggests a sequential growth of approximately 3-5%. Corresponding data from the Energy Information Administration (EIA) indicates a similar growth trajectory for the Bakken region overall.
While it might be premature for Hess Midstream to revise its full-year guidance, even with a potential second-quarter outperformance, Citi notes that the current EBITDA guidance midpoint of $1.15 billion implies nearly 10% growth in the second half of 2024. Still, Citi does not rule out the possibility of Hess Midstream narrowing its guidance range, as has been the company's practice in previous years.
Following the completion of a $100 million buyback, Citi estimates a distribution increase of around 3%, which aligns with Hess Midstream's stated capital allocation strategy. This strategy emphasizes consistent returns to shareholders through a combination of distribution growth and share repurchases.
"In other recent news, Hess Midstream LP has been active in financial maneuvers and has reported mixed Q1 results. The company announced the launch of a public offering of 10 million Class A shares through an affiliate of Global Infrastructure Partners, with J.P. Morgan serving as the bookrunning manager.
Moreover, Hess Midstream Operations LP, a subsidiary, has priced $600 million in senior unsecured notes to pay down existing debt, an increase from an initially planned $500 million offering due to investor demand.
In terms of earnings, Hess Midstream reported a Q1 EPS of $0.59, falling short of analyst expectations by $0.05. Still, the company's revenue for the quarter was $355.6 million, slightly exceeding the consensus estimate of $351.86 million. The company's net income for the quarter stood at $161.9 million, a significant increase from the $142.2 million reported in the same quarter last year.
These developments are part of the company's ongoing efforts to manage its financial health and growth. Hess Midstream has reaffirmed its full-year 2024 guidance, targeting a net income range of $670 to $720 million, and adjusted free cash flow of $685 to $735 million. The company continues to aim for at least 5% annual distribution growth per Class A share through 2026."
InvestingPro Insights
As Hess Midstream Partners LP (NYSE:HESM) navigates through its quarterly performance, it is noteworthy that the company has a strong track record of rewarding its shareholders.
With a resilient dividend policy, HESM has raised its dividend for 7 consecutive years and has maintained these payments for 8 consecutive years, which is a testament to its commitment to shareholder returns. The company's significant dividend yield of 7.02% as of the last twelve months leading up to Q1 2024 is particularly attractive to investors looking for income.
On the valuation front, HESM is trading at a high Price / Earnings (P/E) ratio of 16.59, which may suggest optimism in the company's future earnings potential. The P/E ratio adjusted for the last twelve months as of Q1 2024 stands at 23.8, indicating that investors are willing to pay a premium for the company's earnings. Moreover, Price / Book ratio during the same period is 20.51, which could reflect the market's valuation of the company's assets relative to its equity.
For those interested in further insights, there are 12 additional InvestingPro Tips available for Hess Midstream Partners, which can be found at https://www.investing.com/pro/HESM. Readers looking to access these exclusive tips and more in-depth analysis can use the coupon code PRONEWS24 to get up to 10% off a yearly Pro and a yearly or biyearly Pro+ subscription.
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