Antero Midstream Announces Fourth Quarter 2022 Results and 2023 Capital Budget and Guidance

DENVER, Feb. 15, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Antero Midstream Corporation (NYSE: AM) ("Antero Midstream" or the "Company") today announced its fourth quarter 2022 financial and operational results and 2023 capital budget and guidance. The relevant consolidated financial statements are included in Antero Midstream's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2022.

Fourth Quarter 2022 Highlights:

• Net Income was $83 million, or $0.17 per diluted share, a 6% per share increase compared to the prior year quarter
• Adjusted Net Income was $96 million, or $0.20 per share (non-GAAP measure)
• Adjusted EBITDA was $231 million, a 9% increase compared to the prior year quarter (non-GAAP measure)
• Capital expenditures were $63 million, a 22% decrease compared to the prior year quarter
• Free Cash Flow after dividends was $8 million compared to a $19 million deficit in the prior year quarter (non-GAAP measure)
• Acquired bolt-on compression assets for $10 million in the Utica Shale

Full Year 2022 Highlights:

• Net Income was $326 million, or $0.68 per diluted share
• Adjusted EBITDA was $884 million, at the high end of the guidance range of $850 to $890 million (non-GAAP measure)
• Capital expenditures were $265 million, below the guidance range of $275 to $300 million
• Generated a Return on Invested Capital of 17% (non-GAAP measure)

2023 Capital Budget and Guidance Highlights:

• Forecasting mid-to-high single digit annual throughput growth in 2023 compared to 2022
• Servicing 75 to 80 wells with Antero Midstream's fresh water delivery systems
• Net Income of $340 to $380 million, representing GAAP earnings of $0.73 to $0.81 per share
• Adjusted EBITDA of $930 to $970 million, a 7% increase compared to 2022 at the midpoint (non-GAAP measure)
• Capital budget of $195 to $215 million, a 23% decrease compared to 2022 at the midpoint
• Free Cash Flow after dividends of $90 to $120 million assuming an annualized dividend of $0.90 per share (non-GAAP measures)

Paul Rady, Chairman and CEO said, "Antero Midstream delivered an exceptional year in 2022 both financially and operationally. Despite the inflationary environment, we were able to deliver capital expenditures below the guidance range and Adjusted EBITDA at the high end of the guidance range. On the operational front, we delivered asset uptime availability of over 99%, which allowed us to deliver a return on invested capital of 17% in 2022."

Mr. Rady added, "In addition, we expanded our asset base in 2022 through attractive bolt-on acquisitions. This further solidified our position as the critical first link to the global export markets for LNG and LPG, extended our underlying dedicated inventory to over 20 years, and enhanced Antero Midstream's Free Cash Flow profile. This strategy positions us well to deliver on our 2023 budget and long-term outlook."

Brendan Krueger, CFO of Antero Midstream, said "Antero Midstream is uniquely positioned in the midstream sector with an expanding Free Cash Flow profile expected in 2023, driven by a combination of mid-to-high single digit EBITDA growth and more than a 20% reduction in capital investments year-over-year. In 2023, we expect to allocate the significant Free Cash Flow after dividends to reduce absolute debt and leverage to below 3.5x by year-end. This will further de-risk Antero Midstream's business model and maintain our trajectory towards our 3.0x target or less in 2024."

For a discussion of the non-GAAP financial measures, including Adjusted EBITDA, Adjusted Net Income, Leverage, Free Cash Flow after dividends, and Return on Invested Capital please see "Non-GAAP Financial Measures."

Veolia Lawsuit Update

In the first quarter of 2023, Antero Midstream received a favorable judgement for approximately $309 million in damages, which includes pre-judgment interest.  The judgment remains subject to appeal and applicable post-judgment proceedings. Antero Midstream's 2023 guidance detailed below does not include any impact from the $309 million in awarded damages.

2023 Capital Budget and Guidance

Antero Midstream is forecasting Net Income of $340 to $380 million and Adjusted Net Income (adjusted for amortization of customer relationships and effective tax rate impact) of $395 to $435 million. The Company is forecasting Adjusted EBITDA of $930 to $970 million and a capital budget of $195 to $215 million.  Antero Midstream is forecasting mid-to-high single digit low pressure gathering growth in 2023 compared to 2022. This growth is driven by organic production growth on Antero Midstream's legacy assets and full year contribution from the bolt-on acquisitions completed in 2022.  The Company's guidance includes four quarterly low pressure gathering rebates expected to be earned by Antero Resources totaling $48 million, which conclude at the end of 2023.  Antero Midstream's 2023 guidance includes approximately $125 to $135 million of combined distributions from its interests in the processing and fractionation joint venture with MPLX, LP (the "Joint Venture") and in Stonewall Gathering LLC. This results in Free Cash Flow before dividends of $515 to $555 million and Free Cash Flow after dividends of $90 to $120 million for 2023, assuming an annualized dividend of $0.90 per share.

During 2022, Antero Midstream completed the core infrastructure buildout in the liquids-rich fairway in the Marcellus Shale supporting the growth from Antero Resources drilling partnership with QL Capital Partners. With the completion of these trunklines and additional compression, Antero Midstream's budget is expected to decline by $60 million year-over-year at the midpoint of the guidance range, or 23%.  The midpoint of the 2023 capital budget includes approximately $130 million of investment in gathering and compression infrastructure for low pressure gathering connections, expansion of a compressor station, and the construction of an additional compressor station that will be placed in service in 2024 in the liquids-rich midstream corridor.  Antero Midstream has budgeted an investment of $75 million for fresh water delivery and wastewater blending and pipeline infrastructure in 2023.  The Company is forecasting an immaterial capital investment in the Joint Venture in 2023.

Antero Midstream expects to invest approximately 55% to 60% of its full year capital budget in the second and third quarter during the summer months that are more favorable for infrastructure buildout. Over 90% of Antero Midstream's 2023 capital budget is focused in the Marcellus Shale and the remaining capital is focused in the Utica Shale.

The following is a summary of Antero Midstream's 2023 guidance ($ in millions):

Acquisition of Utica Shale Compression Assets

In December of 2022, Antero Midstream acquired four compressor stations from EnLink Midstream LLC (NYSE: ENLC) with approximately 380 MMcf/d of total capacity in the Utica Shale for $10 million. The compressor stations are interconnected with Antero Midstream's low pressure and high pressure gathering systems and service Antero Resources' production. Current throughput is approximately 100 MMcf/d, resulting in 280 MMcf/d of excess capacity for future growth. 

Fourth Quarter 2022 Financial Results

Low pressure gathering volumes for the fourth quarter of 2022 averaged 3,070 MMcf/d, a 4% increase as compared to the prior year quarter.  Low pressure gathering volumes subject to the growth incentive fee were in excess of the threshold of 2,900 MMcf/d, resulting in a $12 million rebate to Antero Resources. Compression volumes for the fourth quarter of 2022 averaged 2,945 MMcf/d, a 4% increase compared to the prior year quarter.  High pressure gathering volumes averaged 2,762 MMcf/d, a 5% decrease compared to the prior year quarter. Fresh water delivery volumes averaged 111 MBbl/d during the quarter, a 39% increase compared to the fourth quarter of 2021.

Gross processing volumes from the Joint Venture averaged 1,473 MMcf/d for the fourth quarter of 2022, a 4% decrease compared to the prior year quarter.  Joint Venture processing capacity was 92% utilized during the quarter based on nameplate processing capacity of 1.6 Bcf/d.  Gross Joint Venture fractionation volumes averaged 36 MBbl/d, a 3% decrease compared to the prior year quarter. Joint Venture fractionation capacity was 90% utilized during the quarter based on nameplate fractionation capacity of 40 MBbl/d.

For the three months ended December 31, 2022, revenues were $242 million, comprised of $182 million from the Gathering and Processing segment and $60 million from the Water Handling segment, net of $18 million of amortization of customer relationships.  Water Handling revenues include $26 million from wastewater handling and high rate water transfer services.

Direct operating expenses for the Gathering and Processing and Water Handling segments were $19 million and $29 million, respectively, for a total of $48 million. Water Handling operating expenses include $24 million from wastewater handling and high rate water transfer services. General and administrative expenses excluding equity-based compensation were $9 million during the fourth quarter of 2022.  Total operating expenses during the fourth quarter of 2022 included $6 million of equity-based compensation expense and $34 million of depreciation. 

Net Income was $83 million, or $0.17 per diluted share.  Net Income adjusted for amortization of customer relationships, impairment expense, loss on early extinguishment of debt and gain on asset sale, net of tax effects of reconciling items, or Adjusted Net Income, was $96 million. Adjusted Net Income was $0.20 per share.

The following table reconciles Net Income to Adjusted Net Income (in thousands):

Adjusted EBITDA was $231 million, a 9% increase compared to the prior year quarter. Interest expense was $52 million, an 18% increase compared to the prior year quarter. Capital expenditures were $63 million, a 22% decrease compared to the prior year quarter.  Free Cash Flow before dividends was $116 million, a 31% increase compared to the prior year quarter. Free Cash Flow after dividends was $8 million compared to a $19 million deficit in the prior year quarter. This represented the second consecutive quarter of Free Cash Flow generation after dividends.

The following table reconciles Net Income to Adjusted EBITDA and Free Cash Flow before and after dividends (in thousands):

The following table reconciles net cash provided by operating activities to Free Cash Flow before and after dividends (in thousands):

Fourth Quarter 2022 Operating Update

Gathering and Processing — During the fourth quarter of 2022, Antero Midstream connected 271 wells to its gathering system, including 253 wells from acquisitions and 18 wells on its legacy assets.

Water Handling— Antero Midstream's water delivery systems serviced 22 well completions during the fourth quarter of 2022. For the full year, the Company's water delivery systems serviced 76 well completions.

Capital Investments

Accrued capital expenditures were $63 million during the fourth quarter of 2022. The company invested $37 million in gathering and compression and $26 million in water infrastructure primarily in the liquids-rich midstream corridor of the Marcellus Shale.

Conference Call

A conference call is scheduled on Thursday, February 16, 2023 at 10:00 am MT to discuss the financial and operational results.  A brief Q&A session for security analysts will immediately follow the discussion of the results.  To participate in the call, dial in at 877-407-9126 (U.S.), or 201-493-6751 (International) and reference "Antero Midstream".  A telephone replay of the call will be available until Thursday, February 23, 2023 at 10:00 am MT at 877-660-6853 (U.S.) or 201-612-7415 (International) using the conference ID: 13734440. To access the live webcast and view the related earnings conference call presentation, visit Antero Midstream's website at www.anteromidstream.com.  The webcast will be archived for replay until Thursday, February 23, 2023 at 10:00 am MT.

Presentation

An updated presentation will be posted to the Company's website before the conference call. The presentation can be found at www.anteromidstream.com on the homepage. Information on the Company's website does not constitute a portion of, and is not incorporated by reference into this press release.

Non-GAAP Financial Measures and Definitions

Antero Midstream uses certain non-GAAP financial measures. Antero Midstream defines Adjusted Net Income as Net Income plus amortization of customer relationships, impairment expense, and loss on early extinguishment of debt, excluding (gain) on asset sale, net of tax effect of reconciling items. Antero Midstream uses Adjusted Net Income to assess the operating performance of its assets. Antero Midstream defines Adjusted EBITDA as Net Income plus interest expense, net, income tax expense, amortization of customer relationships, depreciation expense, impairment expense, loss on early extinguishment of debt, (gain) on asset sale, accretion of asset retirement obligations, loss on settlement of asset retirement obligations and loss on early extinguishment of debt and equity-based compensation expense, excluding equity in earnings of unconsolidated affiliates, plus distributions from unconsolidated affiliates.

Antero Midstream uses Adjusted EBITDA to assess:

• the financial performance of Antero Midstream's assets, without regard to financing methods, capital structure or historical cost basis;
• its operating performance and return on capital as compared to other publicly traded companies in the midstream energy sector, without regard to financing or capital structure; and
• the viability of acquisitions and other capital expenditure projects.

Antero Midstream defines Free Cash Flow before dividends as Adjusted EBITDA less interest expense, net and accrual-based capital expenditures. Capital expenditures include additions to gathering systems and facilities, additions to water handling systems, and investments in unconsolidated affiliates. Capital expenditures exclude acquisitions. Free Cash Flow after dividends is defined as Free Cash Flow before dividends less accrual-based dividends declared for the quarter. Antero Midstream uses Free Cash Flow before and after dividends as a performance metric to compare the cash generating performance of Antero Midstream from period to period. 

Adjusted EBITDA, Adjusted Net Income, and Free Cash Flow before and after dividends are non-GAAP financial measures.  The GAAP measure most directly comparable to these measures is Net Income. Such non-GAAP financial measures should not be considered as alternatives to the GAAP measures of Net Income and cash flows provided by (used in) operating activities.  The presentations of such measures are not made in accordance with GAAP and have important limitations as analytical tools because they include some, but not all, items that affect Net Income and cash flows provided by (used in) operating activities.  You should not consider any or all such measures in isolation or as a substitute for analyses of results as reported under GAAP.  Antero Midstream's definitions of such measures may not be comparable to similarly titled measures of other companies.

The following table reconciles cash paid for capital expenditures and accrued capital expenditures during the period (in thousands):

Antero Midstream defines Net Debt as consolidated total debt, excluding unamortized debt premiums and debt issuance costs, less cash and cash equivalents. Antero Midstream views Net Debt as an important indicator in evaluating Antero Midstream's financial leverage. Antero Midstream defines leverage as Net Debt divided by Adjusted EBITDA for the last twelve months. The GAAP measure most directly comparable to Net Debt is total debt, excluding unamortized debt premiums and debt issuance costs.

The following table reconciles consolidated total debt to consolidated net debt, excluding debt premiums and issuance costs, ("Net Debt") as used in this release (in thousands):

Antero Midstream defines Return on Invested Capital as earnings before interest and income taxes excluding amortization of customer relationships, impairment expense, (gain) on asset sale, loss on settlement of asset retirement obligations, and the tax-effects of such amounts, divided by average total liabilities and stockholders' equity, excluding current liabilities, intangible assets and impairment of property and equipment in order to derive an operating asset driven Return on Invested Capital calculation.

The following table reconciles Return on Invested Capital for the last twelve months as used in this release (in thousands):

Antero Midstream has not included a reconciliation of Adjusted Net Income, Adjusted EBITDA and Free Cash Flow before and after dividends to the nearest GAAP financial measures for 2023 because it cannot do so without unreasonable effort and any attempt to do so would be inherently imprecise. Antero Midstream is able to forecast the following reconciling items between such measures and Net Income (in millions):

Antero Midstream Corporation is a Delaware corporation that owns, operates and develops midstream gathering, compression, processing and fractionation assets located in the Appalachian Basin, as well as integrated water assets that primarily service Antero Resources Corporation's properties.

This release includes "forward-looking statements." Such forward-looking statements are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties, many of which are not under Antero Midstream's control. All statements, except for statements of historical fact, made in this release regarding activities, events or developments Antero Midstream expects, believes or anticipates will or may occur in the future, such as statements regarding Antero Midstream's ability to realize the benefits of the Marcellus bolt-on acquisition, including the anticipated capital avoidance and synergies, Antero Midstream's ability to execute its business plan and return capital to its stockholders, information regarding Antero Midstream's return of capital policy, information regarding long-term financial and operating outlooks for Antero Midstream and Antero Resources, information regarding Antero Resources' expected future growth and its ability to meet its drilling and development plan and the participation level of Antero Resources' drilling partner, the impact on demand for Antero Midstream's services as a result of incremental production by Antero Resources, and expectations regarding the amount and timing of litigation awards are forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. All forward-looking statements speak only as of the date of this release. Although Antero Midstream believes that the plans, intentions and expectations reflected in or suggested by the forward-looking statements are reasonable, there is no assurance that these plans, intentions or expectations will be achieved. Therefore, actual outcomes and results could materially differ from what is expressed, implied or forecast in such statements. Except as required by law, Antero Midstream expressly disclaims any obligation to and does not intend to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements.

Antero Midstream cautions you that these forward-looking statements are subject to all of the risks and uncertainties incident to our business, most of which are difficult to predict and many of which are beyond Antero Midstream's control. These risks include, but are not limited to, commodity price volatility, inflation, supply chain disruptions, environmental risks, Antero Resources' drilling and completion and other operating risks, regulatory changes, the uncertainty inherent in projecting Antero Resources' future rates of production, cash flows and access to capital, the timing of development expenditures, impacts of geopolitical events and world health events, including the COVID-19 pandemic, cybersecurity risk, our ability to achieve our greenhouse gas reduction targets and the costs associated therewith, the state of markets for and availability of verified quality carbon offsets and the other risks described under the heading "Item 1A. Risk Factors" in Antero Midstream's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2022.

SOURCE Antero Midstream Corporation