TULSA, Okla. – Magellan Midstream Partners, L.P. (NYSE: MMP) today reported net income of $252.1 million for fourth quarter 2014 compared to $190.0 million for fourth quarter 2013. 

Diluted net income per limited partner unit was $1.10 in fourth quarter 2014 and 83 cents in fourth quarter 2013. 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 93 cents for fourth quarter 2014, similar to the 92-cent guidance provided by management in Oct. 2014.  

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 $248.1 million for fourth quarter 2014 compared to $236.6 million for fourth quarter 2013.  

“Magellan closed out 2014 with a strong quarter, generating higher financial results from each of our segments compared to the year-ago period, increasing annual cash distributions to our investors by 20% and solidifying 2014 as a record year for our company,” said Michael Mears, chief executive officer. “Demand for Magellan’s fee-based transportation and terminals services remains solid, and our disciplined, predominantly fee-based business model should serve us well in the current energy environment. Magellan enters the new year in strong financial standing with an investment-grade balance sheet and the goal of growing annual cash distributions to our investors by 15% for 2015 and at least 10% for 2016.” 

An analysis by segment comparing fourth quarter 2014 to fourth quarter 2013 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 products operating margin was $252.0 million, an increase of $42.8 million. Transportation and terminals revenue increased $13.6 million between periods due to slightly higher refined products pipeline volumes, additional fees for leased storage, increased throughput for the partnership’s ammonia pipeline system and independent refined products terminals and operating results from the Rocky Mountain pipeline system acquired in Nov. 2013. 

Operating expenses increased between periods primarily due to operating costs related to the Rocky Mountain pipeline system, acquired in late 2013. Otherwise, higher personnel costs and less favorable product overages (which reduce operating expenses) were mainly offset by lower asset integrity spending due to timing of project work. 

Product margin (a non-GAAP measure defined as product sales revenue less cost of product sales) increased $35.0 million between periods primarily due to a $44.7 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 (plus an additional $8.6 million of commodity-related adjustments not associated with the Refined products segment) 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, decreased between periods primarily due to lower sales volumes for the partnership’s butane blending activities in the current period.  

Crude oil. Crude oil operating margin was $88.8 million, an increase of $26.1 million. Transportation and terminals revenue increased $19.3 million primarily due to increased crude oil shipments on the Longhorn pipeline, which averaged approximately 250,000 barrels per day (bpd) during fourth quarter 2014 compared to approximately 185,000 bpd during fourth quarter 2013, and contribution from the 40-mile Houston crude oil pipeline that Magellan acquired in Nov. 2014. Earnings of non-controlled entities increased $14.1 million due to the late Sept. 2014 start-up of BridgeTex pipeline, which is owned 50% by Magellan. Operating expenses increased $10.1 million between periods due to higher power costs associated with increased volumes, additional personnel costs and less favorable product overages (which reduce operating expenses). 

Marine storage. Marine storage operating margin was $31.3 million, an increase of $7.7 million. Revenue increased primarily due to higher average storage rates and the one-time benefit from a customer buying out of its remaining storage contract in 2014. This tank has subsequently been leased to a new customer. Operating expenses declined between periods due to the timing of asset integrity spending. 

Other items. Depreciation and amortization increased due to recent expansion capital expenditures, and higher G&A expenses reflect additional personnel costs in part due to increased headcount and higher benefits accruals. Other expense increased $8.6 million related to a non-cash MTM pricing adjustment for hedged crude oil tank bottom inventory owned by the partnership. Net interest expense increased due to less interest capitalized for construction projects in the current period. As of Dec. 31, 2014, the partnership had $2.9 billion of debt outstanding, including $296.9 million outstanding under its commercial paper program.  

Annual results 

The partnership produced record annual financial results in 2014. For the year ended Dec. 31, 2014, net income was $839.5 million compared to $582.2 million in 2013 primarily related to increased shipments on the Longhorn pipeline, which began transporting crude oil in increasing quantities beginning in April 2013, strong demand for refined products, which benefited Magellan’s refined products pipeline system, and higher profitability from the partnership’s butane blending activities. Full-year diluted net income per limited partner unit was $3.69 in 2014 and $2.56 in 2013. Annual DCF was a record $880.5 million in 2014, or 1.5 times the amount needed to pay distributions related to 2014, compared to $669.7 million in 2013. 

Expansion capital projects 

Magellan remains focused on expansion opportunities, making significant progress on its current slate of projects with a record $703 million spent during 2014 on organic growth construction projects. Further, the partnership spent $75 million to acquire 40 miles of crude oil pipeline in the Houston area. Based on the progress of expansion projects already underway, including a number of new smaller projects, the partnership currently plans to spend approximately $650 million in 2015 with additional spending of $100 million in 2016 to complete its current construction projects.  

The BridgeTex pipeline began commercial service during late Sept. 2014, delivering crude oil from West Texas to the Houston Gulf Coast area. The pipeline is capable of transporting up to 300,000 bpd and averaged nearly 200,000 bpd during fourth quarter 2014. For DCF purposes, operating results of the BridgeTex pipeline will initially benefit Magellan beginning in 2015 due to the timing of the pipeline’s start-up and cash distribution payments from the joint venture to Magellan, which will be paid in arrears on a quarterly basis. 

Right-of-way, permitting work and contractor selection continue for the partnership’s Little Rock pipeline project, with construction expected to commence in mid-2015.  The Little Rock pipeline is expected to be operational in early 2016. 

Site preparation and contractor selection continue for the partnership’s condensate splitter in Corpus Christi, Texas, with construction expected to commence in mid-2015.  The splitter is expected to be operational during the second half of 2016. 

Although the open season continues for the Saddlehorn pipeline, Magellan is in the process of obtaining permits and right-of-way and has secured an 80-acre tract of land to serve as the pipeline origin. As previously announced, Magellan has received binding commitments from Noble Energy, Inc. and a wholly owned subsidiary of Anadarko Petroleum Corporation. In addition, Magellan has entered into a letter of intent with Anadarko for potential equity ownership in the Saddlehorn pipeline and is in advanced discussions with an additional strategic party for possible equity ownership in the project. The equity option held by Saddle Butte Pipeline II, LLC has expired. 

In addition, Magellan continues to evaluate well in excess of $500 million of potential growth projects in earlier stages of development as well as possible acquisitions, both of which have been excluded from the partnership’s spending estimates. Further, the future spending estimates do not currently include spending for the Saddlehorn pipeline because the ownership structure has not yet been finalized. The total projected cost for the Saddlehorn pipeline is approximately $1 billion, and Magellan is expected to serve as construction manager and pipeline operator. 

Financial guidance for 2015  

Management remains committed to its goal of increasing annual cash distributions by 15% for 2015 and currently expects to generate annual DCF of $840 million in 2015, resulting in 1.2 times the amount needed to pay cash distributions for 2015. Current DCF guidance assumes an average crude oil price of approximately $50 per barrel for 2015, with each $1 change in the price of crude oil estimated to impact Magellan’s 2015 financial results by approximately $2 million, primarily related to the partnership’s butane blending activities and the value of its pipeline product overages. 

Net income per limited partner unit is estimated to be $2.95 for 2015, with first-quarter guidance of 80 cents. Guidance excludes future NYMEX MTM adjustments on the partnership’s commodity-related activities.  

Management is targeting annual distribution growth of at least 10% for 2016. Distribution growth guidance specific to 2016 has not been provided previously. 

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 2015 guidance is scheduled today at 1:30 p.m. Eastern. To join the conference call, dial (888) 430-8694 and provide code 8069780. 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. 11. To access the replay, dial (888) 203-1112 and provide code 8069780. 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, adjusted EBITDA, 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 revenue less cost of product sales, is used by management to evaluate the profitability of the partnership’s commodity-related activities. 

Adjusted EBITDA is an important measure utilized by management and the investment community to assess the financial results of an entity. 

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 performance measure as a basis for recommending to the board of directors the amount of cash distributions to be paid each period and for determining the payouts under the partnership’s equity-based incentive plan. 

Reconciliations of operating margin to operating profit and adjusted EBITDA 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 and its crude oil tank bottom inventory. 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 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 refined petroleum products and crude oil. The partnership owns the longest refined petroleum products pipeline system in the country, with access to nearly 50% of the nation’s refining capacity, and can store more than 90 million barrels of petroleum products such as gasoline, diesel fuel and crude oil. More information is available at www.magellanlp.com. 

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