Announces 9% Distribution Growth Target for 2012
TULSA, Okla. – Magellan Midstream Partners, L.P. (NYSE: MMP) today reported record quarterly operating profit of $139.8 million for fourth quarter 2011, an increase of $24.7 million, or 21%, compared to $115.1 million for fourth quarter 2010.
Net income grew 25% to a quarterly record of $110.3 million for fourth quarter 2011 compared to $88 million for fourth quarter 2010, and diluted net income per limited partner unit increased to 97 cents in fourth quarter 2011 versus 78 cents in the corresponding 2010 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, was $1.02 for fourth quarter 2011, exceeding the 93-cent guidance provided by management in early Nov.
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, increased to a quarterly record of $131.3 million for fourth quarter 2011 compared to $128.1 million during fourth quarter 2010.
“Magellan finished 2011 with strong financial results, producing record quarterly results driven by solid performance from our base business despite a weak environment for refined petroleum products demand growth. The favorable impact of higher petroleum prices on our commodity-related activities and the contributions of recently-completed growth projects significantly contributed to our growth,” said Michael Mears, chief executive officer. “We expect the favorable momentum of 2011 to continue with another record year projected for 2012 as additional expansion projects come online. Magellan’s stable business model, investment-grade balance sheet and attractive slate of growth projects provide a bright future for our company, allowing us to target 9% distribution growth for our investors in 2012.”
An analysis by segment comparing fourth quarter 2011 to fourth quarter 2010 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:
Petroleum pipeline system. Pipeline operating margin was $150.2 million, an increase of $17.4 million and a quarterly record for this segment. Transportation and terminals revenues increased between periods primarily due to the partnership’s 7% tariff increase on July 1, 2011, partially offset by 2% lower shipments. Lower gasoline demand more than offset the benefit of higher crude oil volumes in fourth quarter 2011. Operating expenses increased between periods primarily due to remediation costs for a pipeline release caused by third-party damage in the fourth quarter of 2011, higher property taxes and an accrual for a potential air emission fee.
Product margin (defined as product sales revenues less product purchases) increased $22.4 million between periods, including a $4.1 million increase associated with the timing of MTM adjustments for New York Mercantile Exchange (NYMEX) positions used to economically hedge the partnership’s commodity-related activities. 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 excludes MTM timing differences and reflects only transactions that settled during the quarter, increased between periods primarily due to higher petroleum products blending profits as a result of selling more product at higher prices.
Petroleum terminals. Terminals operating margin was $44.8 million, an increase of $7.4 million and a quarterly record for this segment. The current period primarily benefited from recently-constructed crude oil storage in Cushing, Oklahoma and new refined products tanks at the partnership’s marine terminals. Operating expenses increased due to an accrual for potential historical air emission fees and higher spending for integrity projects. Product margin increased due to the sale of additional product overages at higher prices in the current period.
Ammonia pipeline system. Ammonia operating margin was $3.3 million, an increase of $1.5 million. Revenues increased and expenses declined in the current period due to more extensive hydrostatic testing during the 2010 period, which caused the pipeline to be unavailable for shipments for part of fourth quarter 2010. As of early first quarter 2012, all segments of the ammonia pipeline system have now been tested to ensure the integrity of this pipeline system.
Other items. Depreciation and amortization increased due to recent expansion capital expenditures, and net interest expense increased in the current quarter as a result of additional borrowings to fund capital spending. As of Dec. 31, 2011, the partnership had $2.1 billion of debt outstanding and more than $200 million of cash on hand.
Annual results
The partnership also produced record annual financial results in 2011. For the year ended Dec. 31, 2011, operating profit was $522.9 million compared to $408.4 million in the corresponding 2010 timeframe. Annual net income was $413.6 million in 2011 compared to $311.6 million in 2010, and full-year diluted net income per limited partner unit was $3.66 in 2011 and $2.85 in 2010. Annual DCF was a record $460.5 million in 2011, or 1.3 times the amount needed to pay distributions related to 2011, and $399.8 million in 2010.
Expansion capital spending expectations
Management remains focused on expansion opportunities and spent $200 million during 2011 on growth capital projects. Based on the progress of expansion projects already underway, including the reversal of a portion of the partnership’s Houston-to-El Paso pipeline to crude oil service, the recently-announced Double Eagle Pipeline project with Copano Energy LLC and more than 5 million barrels of storage currently under construction, the partnership plans to spend approximately $430 million during 2012 with an additional $90 million of spending in 2013 to complete these projects. These spending estimates also include the construction of a 38-mile pipeline from the partnership’s El Paso, Texas terminal to a new locomotive fueling facility for Union Pacific Railroad (UP) near Santa Teresa, New Mexico. This project is expected to be operational by early 2014 and is supported by a 15-year transportation commitment from UP.
The partnership also continues to evaluate more than $500 million of potential growth projects in earlier stages of development, which have been excluded from these spending estimates.
Potential sale of ammonia pipeline system
Management continues to evaluate the potential sale of the partnership’s ammonia pipeline system. The partnership has entered into negotiations related to a potential sales transaction but cannot estimate the ultimate timing or completion of such a sale.
Financial guidance for 2012
Management currently expects to generate record DCF in 2012 of $480 million and is targeting annual distribution growth of 9% for 2012. Net income per limited partner unit is estimated to be $3.75 for 2012, with first-quarter guidance of 98 cents. Guidance assumes continued ownership of the ammonia pipeline system and no future NYMEX MTM adjustments on the partnership’s commodity-related activities.
Based on its current slate of active growth projects, management currently believes it will be able to achieve annual distribution growth of 8% to 10% for 2013.
Management continues to believe the large majority of the partnership’s operating margin will be generated by fee-based transportation and terminals services, with commodity-related activities contributing 15% or less of the partnership’s operating margin.
Earnings call details
An analyst call with management regarding fourth-quarter results and 2012 guidance is scheduled today at 1:30 p.m. Eastern. To participate, dial (800) 289-0463 and provide code 4406896. Investors also may listen to the call via the partnership’s website at www.magellanlp.com/webcasts.aspx.
Audio replays of the conference call will be available from 4:30 p.m. Eastern today through midnight on Feb. 13. To access the replay, dial (888) 203-1112 and provide code 4406896. The replay also will be available at www.magellanlp.com.
Non-GAAP financial measures
Management believes that investors benefit from having access to the same financial measures utilized by the partnership. As a result, this news release and supporting schedules include the non-GAAP financial measures of operating margin, product margin, DCF and net income per unit excluding MTM commodity-related pricing adjustments, which are important performance measures used by management.
Operating margin reflects operating profit before G&A expense and depreciation and amortization. This measure forms the basis of the partnership’s internal financial reporting and is used by management to evaluate the economic performance of the partnership’s operations.
Product margin, which is calculated as product sales revenues less product purchases, is used by management to evaluate the profitability of the partnership’s commodity-related activities.
DCF is important in determining the amount of cash generated from the partnership’s operations that is available for distribution to its unitholders. Management uses this measure as a basis for recommending to the board of directors the amount of cash distributions to be paid each period.
Reconciliations of operating margin to operating profit and DCF to net income accompany this news release.
The partnership uses NYMEX futures contracts to hedge against price changes of petroleum products associated with its commodity-related activities. Most of these NYMEX contracts do not qualify for hedge accounting treatment. However, because these NYMEX contracts are generally effective at hedging price changes, management believes the partnership’s profitability should be evaluated excluding the unrealized NYMEX gains and losses associated with petroleum products that will be sold in future periods. Further, because the financial guidance provided by management generally excludes future MTM commodity-related pricing adjustments, a reconciliation of actual results to those excluding these adjustments is provided for comparability to previous financial guidance.
Because the non-GAAP measures presented in this news release include adjustments specific to the partnership, they may not be comparable to similarly-titled measures of other companies.
About Magellan Midstream Partners, L.P.Magellan Midstream Partners, L.P. (NYSE: MMP) is a publicly traded partnership that primarily transports, stores and distributes petroleum products. The partnership owns the longest refined petroleum products pipeline system in the country, with access to more than 40% of the nation’s refining capacity, and can store 80 million barrels of petroleum products such as gasoline, diesel fuel and crude oil. More information is available at www.magellanlp.com.
###
Portions of this document constitute forward-looking statements as defined by federal law. Although management believes any such statements are based on reasonable assumptions, there is no assurance that actual outcomes will not be materially different. Among the key risk factors that may have a direct impact on the partnership’s results of operations and financial condition are: (1) its ability to identify growth projects or to complete identified projects on time and at expected costs; (2) price fluctuations and overall demand for refined petroleum products, crude oil and natural gas liquids; (3) changes in the partnership’s tariff rates implemented by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, the United States Surface Transportation Board and state regulatory agencies; (4) shut-downs or cutbacks at major refineries, petrochemical plants, ammonia production facilities or other businesses that use or supply the partnership’s services; (5) changes in the throughput or interruption in service on petroleum pipelines owned and operated by third parties and connected to the partnership’s petroleum terminals or petroleum pipeline system; (6) the occurrence of an operational hazard or unforeseen interruption for which the partnership is not adequately insured; (7) the treatment of the partnership as a corporation for federal or state income tax purposes or if the partnership becomes subject to significant forms of other taxation; (8) an increase in the competition the partnership’s operations encounter; (9) disruption in the debt and equity markets that negatively impacts the partnership’s ability to finance its capital spending and (10) failure of customers to meet or continue contractual obligations to the partnership. Additional information about issues that could lead to material changes in performance is contained in the partnership's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including the partnership’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended Dec. 31, 2010 and subsequent reports on Forms 10-Q and 8-K. The partnership undertakes no obligation to revise its forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances occurring after today's date.