Summit Midstream Corporation Reports Fourth Quarter and Full-Year 2024 Financial and Operating Results & Provides Full-Year 2025 Guidance

HOUSTON, March 10, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Summit Midstream Corporation (NYSE: SMC) ("Summit", "SMC" or the "Company") announced today its financial and operating results for fourth quarter and full-year 2024 and provided full-year 2025 financial guidance.

Highlights

• Fourth quarter 2024 net loss of $24.8 million, adjusted EBITDA of $46.2 million, cash flow available for distributions ("Distributable Cash Flow" or "DCF") of $22.1 million and free cash flow ("FCF") of $6.6 million
• Reduced total leverage to 3.9x¹ at year-end 2024
• Successfully closed value- and credit-accretive acquisition of Tall Oak Midstream III
• Connected 23 wells during the fourth quarter, resulting in 156 wells connected in 2024
• Active customer base with over 100 DUCs behind our systems and 125 to 185 wells expected in 2025
• Closed the value- and credit-accretive bolt on acquisition of Moonrise Midstream in the DJ Basin on March 10, 2025
• Reinstated cash dividend on the Series A Preferred Stock beginning March 15, 2025
• Provided 2025 full-year financial guidance range² of $245 million to $280 million in adjusted EBITDA and total capital expenditures of $65 million to $75 million

Management Commentary

Heath Deneke, President, Chief Executive Officer and Chairman, commented, "2024 was an eventful and pivotal year for Summit. We executed on several key strategic milestones, including the sale of our Northeast business that accelerated de-levering and created additional financial flexibility with the refinancing of an upsized $500 million credit facility and new Second Lien Secured notes. With the support of our unitholders, we then successfully converted the Company from an MLP to a Corporation which expanded our investor base and significantly increased our trading liquidity. In December, we closed on the value- and credit-accretive acquisition of Tall Oak Midstream in the Arkoma, which increased the company's natural gas exposure in a supply basin that is very well positioned to help meet growing Gulf Coast natural gas demand. The transaction also further enhanced the balance sheet and helped drive leverage down to 3.9x as of year-end 2024. Our operational and financial results in 2024 remained in line with expectations, driven by steady well connections, active producer engagement, and continued optimization of our asset base. As we look ahead to 2025, Summit is well positioned to continue to execute on its corporate strategy with a strong balance sheet and ample liquidity to continue advancing our growth initiatives and maximizing value for our shareholders. The recently announced bolt-on acquisition of the Moonrise gathering and processing system in the DJ Basin is another example of Summit executing on its strategy to consolidate synergistic and high free cash flow generating assets around our operating footprint. The Moonrise transaction is both value- and credit- accretive and importantly expands our operational capacity and flexibility to help meet the volumetric growth we are expecting in the coming years from our existing customer base in the DJ Basin. At the mid-point of our 2025 financial guidance range we expect to generate over $260 million in adjusted EBITDA which translates to more than $100 million of levered free cash flow, after growth and maintenance capital expenditures, that we plan to utilize to continue to de-lever the balance sheet towards our long term 3.5x leverage target.  Additionally, we approved paying the quarterly Series A corporate preferred dividend in cash beginning on March 15, 2025, a necessary first step as we continue to work towards our plans to resume a common stock dividend for our shareholders in the future."

Fourth Quarter 2024 Business Highlights

SMC's average daily natural gas throughput on its wholly owned operated systems increased 10.5% to 737 MMcf/d, while liquids volumes declined 2.9% to 68 Mbbl/d, relative to the third quarter of 2024. Double E pipeline transported average 613 MMcf/d and contributed $7.8 million in adjusted EBITDA, net to SMC, for the fourth quarter of 2024.

Natural gas price-driven segments:

• Natural gas price-driven segments generated $24.6 million in combined segment adjusted EBITDA, a 22.5% increase relative to the third quarter and combined capital expenditures of $0.7 million in the fourth quarter of 2024.
• Mid-Con segment adjusted EBITDA totaled $12.8 million, an increase of $5.6 million relative to the third quarter of 2024, primarily due the acquisition of Tall Oak Midstream III that closed in December 2024 and an increase in volume throughput. Volume throughput on the system increased by 29% primarily due to incremental volume throughput from the Tall Oak assets, 27 new well connections in 2024 from our anchor customer in the Barnett, and the resumption of production that was temporarily shut-in in the Barnett. Currently, that Barnett customer has resumed flowing all its previously shut-in volume to-date in 2025. There are currently two rigs running, including one in the Barnett and one in the Arkoma, with 15 DUCs behind the system.
• Piceance segment adjusted EBITDA totaled $11.8 million, a decrease of $1.0 million from the third quarter of 2024, primarily due to a 2.5% decrease in volume throughput, an increase in operating expenses and no new wells connected to the system during the quarter.

Oil price-driven segments:

• Oil price-driven segments generated $31.0 million of combined segment adjusted EBITDA, representing a 6.9% decrease relative to the third quarter of 2024, and had combined capital expenditures of $14.9 million.
• Rockies segment adjusted EBITDA totaled $23.2 million, a decrease of $1.6 million relative to the third quarter of 2024, primarily due to a 2.9% decrease in liquids volume throughput and lower freshwater sales, partially offset by a 2.3% increase in natural gas volume throughput. There were 23 new wells connected during the quarter, including six in the DJ Basin and 17 in the Williston Basin, all of which came online in December 2024, resulting in limited contribution to volume or adjusted EBITDA during the fourth quarter. There are currently three rigs running and approximately 98 DUCs behind the systems.
• Permian segment adjusted EBITDA totaled $7.8 million, a decrease of $0.7 million from the third quarter of 2024, primarily due to a 7.2% decrease in volumes shipped on the Double E Pipeline leading to a decrease in proportionate adjusted EBITDA from our Double E joint venture.

The following table presents average daily throughput by reportable segment for the periods indicated:

The following table presents adjusted EBITDA by reportable segment for the periods indicated:

Capital Expenditures

Capital expenditures totaled $15.8 million in the fourth quarter of 2024, inclusive of maintenance capital expenditures of $4.3 million. Capital expenditures in the fourth quarter of 2024 were primarily related to pad connections and the previously announced optimization project in the Rockies segment.

2025 Guidance

SMC is releasing guidance for 2025, which is summarized in the table below. These projections are subject to risks and uncertainties as described in the "Forward-Looking Statements" section at the end of this release. These projections are also inclusive of a partial year contribution from Moonrise Midstream that closed on March 10, 2025.

Our guidance range is anchored by recent drilling and completion schedules provided by our customers and is reflective of the current commodity price environment. We have taken a consistent approach to our 2025 guidance range that we did with our 2024 guidance range. If our producer customers hit their production targets and timing of planned well connects, we would expect to be near the high end of our 2025 guidance range. The midpoint of our guidance range reflects a conservative, yet appropriate, level of risking to the most recent drill schedules and volume forecasts provided by our customers. The low end of our guidance range reflects additional delays to customer drilling and completion schedules and planned well connects.

We expect approximately 125 to 185 well connections in 2025. Of the expected well connections in 2025, approximately 25% are natural gas-oriented wells and approximately 75% are crude oil-oriented wells. Customers are currently running five rigs behind our systems, with more than 100 DUCs, providing line of sight to the 2025 estimated well connections and associated volume growth.

We expect our natural gas gathering system throughput to range from 900 MMcf/d to 965 MMcf/d. Double E existing take-or-pay contracts of 1,020 MMcf/d will contractually increase to 1,090 MMcf/d beginning in May 2024. Liquids volumes are expected to range from 65 Mbbl/d to 75 Mbbl/d.

The midpoint of our guidance range assumes strip commodity prices as of February 6, 2025 and the high- and low-end sensitizes those prices by plus and minus 10%, respectively.

Adjusted EBITDA is expected to range from $245 million to $280 million. Our 2025 capital expenditure guidance of $65 million to $75 million, excluding Double E, includes capital reimbursements related to specific development projects with certain customers. Our full year 2025 growth capex guidance range is primarily related to new pad connections in the Rockies and Mid-Con segments and integration capital related to the acquisition of Tall Oak Midstream and Moonrise Midstream. Included in this range is approximately $15 million to $20 million of maintenance capex. Double E capital expenditures for 2025 are expected to be approximately $5 million, net to SMC, primarily related to a new plant connection. Summit's capital efficient operations are expected to generate a significant amount of free cash flow in 2025 resulting in further debt reduction and improved financial metrics.

Capital & Liquidity

As of December 31, 2024, SMC had $22.8 million in unrestricted cash on hand and $305 million drawn under its $500 million ABL Revolver with $194.2 million of borrowing availability, after accounting for $0.8 million of issued, but undrawn letters of credit. Subsequent to quarter end, SMC executed a $250 million add-on to its existing 8.625% Senior Secured Second Lien Notes due 2029 at 103.375% of par, with proceeds used to repay a portion of the outstanding borrowings under the ABL Revolver. After giving effect to the transaction, SMC had $55.0 million drawn under its $500 million ABL Revolver with $444.2 million of borrowing availability, after accounting for $0.8 million of issued, but undrawn letters of credit. As of December 31, 2024, SMC's gross availability based on the borrowing base calculation in the credit agreement was $532 million, which is $32 million greater than the $500 million of lender commitments to the ABL Revolver. As of December 31, 2024 and including the pro forma impacts of the additional 2029 Secured Notes and Moonrise acquisition, SMC was in compliance with all financial covenants, including interest coverage of 2.8x relative to a minimum interest coverage covenant of 2.0x and first lien leverage ratio of 0.4x relative to a maximum first lien leverage ratio of 2.5x. As of December 31, 2024, SMC reported a total leverage ratio of approximately 3.9x, excluding the potential earnout liability in connection with the Tall Oak Acquisition.

As of December 31, 2024, the Permian Transmission Credit Facility balance was $129.3 million, a reduction of $4.0 million relative to the September 30, 2024 balance of $133.3 million due to scheduled mandatory amortization. Summit Midstream Permian has $2.5 million of cash-on-hand as of December 31, 2024. The Permian Transmission Term Loan remains non-recourse to SMC.

MVC Shortfall Payments

SMC billed its customers $5.4 million in the fourth quarter of 2024 related to MVC shortfalls. For those customers that do not have MVC shortfall credit banking mechanisms in their gathering agreements, the MVC shortfall payments are accounted for as gathering revenue in the period in which they are earned. In the fourth quarter of 2024, SMC recognized $5.4 million of gathering revenue associated with MVC shortfall payments. SMC had no adjustments to MVC shortfall payments in the fourth quarter of 2024. SMC's MVC shortfall payment mechanisms contributed $5.4 million of total adjusted EBITDA in the fourth quarter of 2024.

Quarterly Dividend 

The board of directors of Summit Midstream Corporation continued to suspend cash dividends payable on its common stock for the period ended December 31, 2024. The board of directors of Summit Midstream Corporation reinstated cash dividends on its Series A fixed-to-floating rate cumulative redeemable perpetual preferred shares (the "Series A Preferred Stock") for the period ended March 14, 2025. The dividend will be paid on March 15, 2025. All unpaid dividends on the Series A Preferred Stock from prior periods remain accrued.

Fourth Quarter 2024 Earnings Call Information

SMC will host a conference call at 10:00 a.m. Eastern on March 11, 2025, to discuss its quarterly operating and financial results. The call can be accessed via teleconference at:  Q4 2024 Summit Midstream Corporation Earnings Conference Call (https://register.vevent.com/register/BIeaabb92b8f374b959ff8248ff80d2df0). Once registration is completed, participants will receive a dial-in number along with a personalized PIN to access the call. While not required, it is recommended that participants join 10 minutes prior to the event start. The conference call, live webcast and archive of the call can be accessed through the Investors section of SMC's website at www.summitmidstream.com.

Use of Non-GAAP Financial Measures

We report financial results in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles ("GAAP"). We also present adjusted EBITDA, segment adjusted EBITDA, Distributable Cash Flow, and Free Cash Flow, non-GAAP financial measures.

Adjusted EBITDA

We define adjusted EBITDA as net income or loss, plus interest expense, income tax expense, depreciation and amortization, our proportional adjusted EBITDA for equity method investees, adjustments related to MVC shortfall payments, adjustments related to capital reimbursement activity, unit-based and noncash compensation, impairments, items of income or loss that we characterize as unrepresentative of our ongoing operations and other noncash expenses or losses, income tax benefit, income (loss) from equity method investees and other noncash income or gains. Because adjusted EBITDA may be defined differently by other entities in our industry, our definition of this non-GAAP financial measure may not be comparable to similarly titled measures of other entities, thereby diminishing its utility.

Management uses adjusted EBITDA in making financial, operating and planning decisions and in evaluating our financial performance. Furthermore, management believes that adjusted EBITDA may provide external users of our financial statements, such as investors, commercial banks, research analysts and others, with additional meaningful comparisons between current results and results of prior periods as they are expected to be reflective of our core ongoing business.

Adjusted EBITDA is used as a supplemental financial measure to assess:

• the ability of our assets to generate cash sufficient to make future potential cash dividends and support our indebtedness;
• the financial performance of our assets without regard to financing methods, capital structure or historical cost basis;
• our operating performance and return on capital as compared to those of other entities in the midstream energy sector, without regard to financing or capital structure;
• the attractiveness of capital projects and acquisitions and the overall rates of return on alternative investment opportunities; and
• the financial performance of our assets without regard to (i) income or loss from equity method investees, (ii) the impact of the timing of MVC shortfall payments under our gathering agreements or (iii) the timing of impairments or other income or expense items that we characterize as unrepresentative of our ongoing operations.

Adjusted EBITDA has limitations as an analytical tool and investors should not consider it in isolation or as a substitute for analysis of our results as reported under GAAP. For example:

• certain items excluded from adjusted EBITDA are significant components in understanding and assessing an entity's financial performance, such as an entity's cost of capital and tax structure;
• adjusted EBITDA does not reflect our cash expenditures or future requirements for capital expenditures or contractual commitments;
• adjusted EBITDA does not reflect changes in, or cash requirements for, our working capital needs; and
• although depreciation and amortization are noncash charges, the assets being depreciated and amortized will often have to be replaced in the future, and adjusted EBITDA does not reflect any cash requirements for such replacements.

We compensate for the limitations of adjusted EBITDA as an analytical tool by reviewing the comparable GAAP financial measures, understanding the differences between the financial measures and incorporating these data points into our decision-making process.

Distributable Cash Flow

We define Distributable Cash Flow as adjusted EBITDA, as defined above, less cash interest paid, cash paid for taxes, net interest expense accrued and paid on the senior notes, and maintenance capital expenditures.

Free Cash Flow

We define free cash flow as distributable cash flow attributable to common and preferred shareholders less growth capital expenditures, less investments in equity method investees, less dividends to common and preferred shareholders. Free cash flow excludes proceeds from asset sales and cash consideration paid for acquisitions. 

We do not provide the GAAP financial measures of net income or loss or net cash provided by operating activities on a forward-looking basis because we are unable to predict, without unreasonable effort, certain components thereof including, but not limited to, (i) income or loss from equity method investees and (ii) asset impairments. These items are inherently uncertain and depend on various factors, many of which are beyond our control. As such, any associated estimate and its impact on our GAAP performance and cash flow measures could vary materially based on a variety of acceptable management assumptions.

About Summit Midstream Corporation

SMC is a value-driven corporation focused on developing, owning and operating midstream energy infrastructure assets that are strategically located in the core producing areas of unconventional resource basins, primarily shale formations, in the continental United States. SMC provides natural gas, crude oil and produced water gathering, processing and transportation services pursuant to primarily long-term, fee-based agreements with customers and counterparties in five unconventional resource basins: (i) the Williston Basin, which includes the Bakken and Three Forks shale formations in North Dakota; (ii) the Denver-Julesburg Basin, which includes the Niobrara and Codell shale formations in Colorado and Wyoming; (iii) the Fort Worth Basin, which includes the Barnett Shale formation in Texas; (iv) the Arkoma Basin, which includes the Woodford and Caney shale formations in Oklahoma; and (v) the Piceance Basin, which includes the Mesaverde formation as well as the Mancos and Niobrara shale formations in Colorado. SMC has an equity method investment in Double E Pipeline, LLC, which provides interstate natural gas transportation service from multiple receipt points in the Delaware Basin to various delivery points in and around the Waha Hub in Texas. SMC is headquartered in Houston, Texas.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release includes certain statements concerning expectations for the future that are forward-looking within the meaning of the federal securities laws. Forward-looking statements include, without limitation, any statement that may project, indicate or imply future results, events, performance or achievements and may contain the words "expect," "intend," "plan," "anticipate," "estimate," "believe," "will be," "will continue," "will likely result," and similar expressions, or future conditional verbs such as "may," "will," "should," "would" and "could," including, but not limited to, statements regarding the Issuer's plans to issue the Additional Notes, the expected timing of the closing of the Offering, the intended use of the net proceeds therefrom and other aspects of the Offering and the Additional Notes. In addition, any statement concerning future financial performance (including future revenues, earnings or growth rates), ongoing business strategies and possible actions taken by SMC or its subsidiaries are also forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements also contain known and unknown risks and uncertainties (many of which are difficult to predict and beyond management's control) that may cause SMC's actual results in future periods to differ materially from anticipated or projected results. An extensive list of specific material risks and uncertainties affecting SMC is contained in its Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarterly period ended September 30, 2024, which the Company filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC") on November 12, 2024, as amended and updated from time to time, including by the Company's Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on January 7, 2025. Any forward-looking statements in this press release are made as of the date of this press release and SMC undertakes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements to reflect new information or events.

SOURCE Summit Midstream Corporation