Williams Partners L.P.
(
WPZ
) registered fourth-quarter 2012 earnings of 42 cents per
limited-partner unit, missing the Zacks Consensus Estimate of 52
cents. Earnings also deteriorated 60% from the year-ago profit
level of $1.05.
Full-year 2012 earnings decreased 48.8% year over year to $1.89
per unit and lagged the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $2.03.
Lower natural gas liquid (NGL) margins in the partnership's
business during the fourth quarter of 2012 led to the
year-over-year deterioration. Higher costs related to developing
new businesses purchased earlier in the year were also
responsible for the fall in earnings.
Quarterly total revenue decreased 9.6% year over year to $1,849.0
million and failed to meet the Zacks Consensus Estimate of
$1,872.0 million. Full-year 2012 revenue came in at $7,351
million, down 4.7% on an annualized basis. The results surpassed
the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $6,607 million.
(The reported figures have been recast to include the results of
the olefins business, which was acquired from
Williams Companies Inc.
(
WMB
) in the fourth quarter of 2012.)
Notably, Williams Partners' distributable cash flow (DCF)
attributable to partnership operations in 2012 was $1.49 billion
against $1.65 billion recorded in the year-ago period. Recently,
the partnership increased its quarterly cash distribution by 8.5%
year over year to 82.75 cents per unit.
Segment Performance
Consolidated adjusted segment profit was $449.0 million, down
approximately 17.2% from the year-ago level of $542.0 million.
Gas Pipeline
: The segment reported profits of $195.0 million, up 10.8% year
over year. The reversal of project feasibility costs of 3
expansion projects from expense to capital, as well as higher
revenue from expansion projects led to the growth.
Midstream Gas & Liquids
: The segment's profits decreased 32.4% year over year to $246.0
million. The underperformance was mainly due to the rapid decline
in NGL prices that lowered the NGL as well as marketing margins.
Again, higher expenses associated with its recent acquisitions
also contributed to the downside.
However, the segment's fee-based revenues grew 5% year over year
on higher volumes in the partnership's Susquehanna Supply Hub
area and Ohio Valley Midstream area of the Marcellus Shale.
Guidance
Recently, Williams Partners lowered its outlook for adjusted
segment profit and distributable cash flow in 2013 and 2014 to
reflect the significantly lower commodity margin assumptions.
Williams Partners has adjusted its 2013 DCF expectations to $1.8
billion for 2013 and $2.5 billion for 2014.
Total adjusted segment profit will likely be in the range of
$1,625-$2,050 million for 2013 and $2,300-$2,850 million for
2014.
The capital expenditure is estimated at $3,550 million to $3,950
million for 2013 and $1,950 million to $2,350 million for 2014.
In Conclusion
Williams Partners is an energy master limited partnership engaged
in gathering, transportation, treating and processing of natural
gas as well as fractionation and storage of NGLs. The general
partner of the partnership is owned and managed by Williams
Companies Inc.
Williams Partners retains a Zacks Rank #3, which is equivalent to
a short-term Hold rating. However, there are other stocks in the
oil and gas sector -
Access Midstream Partners, L.P.
(
ACMP
) and
Lehigh Gas Partners LP
(
LGP
) - which hold a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) and are expected to
perform better.
ACCESS MIDSTRM (ACMP): Free Stock Analysis
Report
LEHIGH GAS PTNR (LGP): Free Stock Analysis
Report
WILLIAMS COS (WMB): Free Stock Analysis
Report
WILLIAMS PTNRS (WPZ): Free Stock Analysis
Report
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