News Details

HOUSTON & MIDLAND, Texas--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Kinetik Holdings Inc. (NYSE: KNTK) (“Kinetik” or the “Company”) today reported record results for the quarter ended June 30, 2026 and increased its full year 2026 Adjusted EBITDA¹ guidance.

Kinetik reported net income including noncontrolling interest of $123.1 million and $118.0 million for the three and six months ended June 30, 2026, respectively. Kinetik generated Adjusted EBITDA¹ of $280.8 million and $532.0 million, Distributable Cash Flow¹ of $194.9 million and $375.8 million, and Free Cash Flow¹ of $105.2 million and $206.6 million for the three and six months ended June 30, 2026, respectively.

Highlights

• Record financial results in the second quarter of 2026, supported by outstanding operational execution, robust system performance, and commodity margin outperformance
• Final investment decision for Kings Landing II (“ KLII”), expanding system processing capacity to 2.7 Bcf/d in 2028
• ECCC Pipeline placed into service, enhancing north-to-south system connectivity, with right-of-way procurement now underway to support an anticipated expansion in 2027
• Secured incremental firm Gulf Coast market access for residue gas, commencing in 2027 and providing producer customers with premium pricing options
• Executed new residue and natural gas liquids transport agreements, strengthening egress capacity portfolio and netback pricing for Delaware North processing complexes
• Board authorization of long-lead equipment procurement for the next processing capacity expansion beyond KLII, proactively aligning supply chain with accelerating customer development plans
• Increasing full year 2026 Financial Guidance:
  • Adjusted EBITDA ¹ guidance of $1.04 billion to $1.1 billion, reflecting stronger volumes, improved margins, and operational performance
  • Capital Expenditures ² guidance of approximately $560 million (including maintenance), driven by KLII, accelerated producer development into late 2026 and early 2027, optimization projects across operations, procurement of long-lead equipment for Kinetik’s next processing capacity expansion, and right-of-way procurement for an expansion of ECCC Pipeline

CEO Commentary

“Kinetik delivered exceptional second quarter 2026 results, significantly exceeding expectations,” said Jamie Welch, Kinetik’s President & Chief Executive Officer. “Our performance during the quarter demonstrates the strength and resilience of our integrated business model, the quality and diversification of our asset footprint, and our continued strong operational performance, which enabled Kinetik to deliver the strongest financial results in Company history.”

“We advanced numerous initiatives this quarter, including reaching final investment decision (“FID”) on KLII, completing the ECCC Pipeline with right-of-way procurement beginning for an anticipated 2027 expansion, and commencing drilling operations at the Kings Landing acid gas injection (“AGI”) well. Furthermore, we have initiated procurement of long-lead equipment for the next processing plant after KLII given updated development plans and new customer commitments.”

Welch added, “The increase to our 2026 Adjusted EBITDA¹ guidance reflects not only outperformance in the first half of the year, but also an increase relative to original expectations for the remainder of the year. We now anticipate Adjusted EBITDA¹ to be between $260 million and $270 million in the third quarter and $270 million to $280 million in the fourth quarter.”

“Momentum is building across our system and is expected to be a strong tailwind into 2027. Curtailments have eased, customer activity is pulling forward, and the market increasingly recognizes the critical role the Permian Basin plays in meeting growing U.S. natural gas demand, anchored by LNG exports and data center developments. Kinetik is exceptionally well positioned to capitalize on this structural growth, reinforcing our tremendous confidence in 2027 and beyond.”

Financial Highlights

Segment Insights

The Midstream Logistics segment generated Adjusted EBITDA¹ of $204.8 million, a 35% increase year-over-year for the three months ended June 30, 2026. Kinetik processed natural gas volumes of 1.74 Bcf/d in the second quarter of 2026, flat year-over-year despite an estimated 250 MMcf/d of Waha price-related processed gas volume shut-ins. Second quarter 2026 results benefited from strong system operating performance, improved natural gas liquid (“NGL”) recoveries and condensate yields, optimization opportunities, and favorable commodity prices and spreads.

The Pipeline Transportation segment generated Adjusted EBITDA¹ of $83.0 million, a 14% decrease year-over-year for the three months ended June 30, 2026, due to the Company’s divestiture in late 2025 of its equity interest in EPIC Crude Holdings, LP (“EPIC Crude”). Permian Highway Pipeline outperformed year-over-year on lower fuel costs and higher gross margin. Additionally, Shin Oak outperformed expectations due to more robust throughput volumes.

Raising 2026 Outlook and Guidance

Kinetik is increasing its full year 2026 Adjusted EBITDA¹ guidance to be between $1.04 billion and $1.1 billion. The revised midpoint represents a 7% increase from the original 2026 guidance issued in February and an approximately 15% increase year-over-year pro forma the EPIC Crude divestiture.⁹

Updated Adjusted EBITDA¹ guidance assumes:

• Approximately 25 MMcf/d of curtailments on average for the second half of 2026;
• 2026 processed gas volume exit rate ¹⁰ of nearly 2.2 Bcf/d, an increase of approximately 20% exit-to-exit; and
• Updated full year 2026 average commodity prices ¹¹ of $78.65 per barrel for WTI, $2.83 per MMBtu for Houston Ship Channel natural gas, ($0.26) per MMBtu for Waha Hub natural gas, and $0.62 per gallon for composite NGLs.

Kinetik is also increasing its 2026 Capital Expenditures² guidance (including maintenance) to approximately $560 million to reflect:

• FID of KLII;
• Acceleration of customer development plans into late 2026 and early 2027;
• Optimization projects across operations;
• Purchase of long-lead equipment items relating to the next processing capacity expansion; and
• Right-of-way procurement for an expansion of ECCC Pipeline.

Strategic Projects & Commercial Activity

In May 2026, Kinetik reached FID on KLII. Upon completion, total Delaware North sour gas processing capacity will exceed 700 MMcf/d. Processing, amine, and residue compression equipment has been purchased. Total capital is expected to be approximately $260 million. KLII is now expected to be completed in mid-2028, earlier than previously communicated.

The ECCC Pipeline was placed into service, establishing a north-to-south connection across the western portion of Kinetik's system between Eddy and Culberson Counties. Rich gas throughput volumes on the pipeline are expected to increase throughout the balance of the year as Kings Landing I reaches full utilization. Given ECCC Pipeline utilization expectations and continued customer growth in New Mexico, Kinetik has initiated right-of-way procurement to support an expansion.

Following approval of all permitting earlier this year, the Company's acid gas injection and sour conversion project remains on schedule with site construction activities and drilling operations underway. Project in-service is expected by year-end 2026.

Kinetik continues to make progress on Diamond Volt, its 40 MW behind-the-meter power generation project at the Diamond Cryo Complex, with in-service anticipated in the second quarter of 2027.

Kinetik’s Board of Directors has also approved the purchase of long-lead equipment for a processing expansion beyond KLII, positioning the Company to keep pace with its customer growth as overall activity has continued to increase. These investments reinforce Kinetik's confidence in the long-term growth of its business.

Several commercial initiatives were recently executed that further strengthen Kinetik’s integrated Permian-to-Gulf Coast platform, address demand needs, and expand market optionality.

The Company secured firm access to additional Gulf Coast netback residue gas pricing in 2027, enhancing its integrated residue gas offering and providing its customers with premium price assurance.

Kinetik also signed residue gas and NGL transportation agreements for its Delaware North processing complexes, providing diversified market access, improving customer netbacks, and increasing operational flexibility. These agreements support continued customer growth and strengthen the outlook for Kinetik’s existing and expanding Delaware North processing capacity.

Conference Call & Webcast

Kinetik will host its second quarter 2026 results conference call on Thursday, August 6, 2026 at 8:00 am Central Time (9:00 am Eastern Time). To access a live webcast of the conference call, please visit the Investors section of Kinetik’s website at www.ir.kinetik.com. A replay of the conference call will be available on the website following the call.

Investor Presentation

An updated investor presentation will be available under Events and Presentations in the Investors section of the Company’s website at www.ir.kinetik.com. Information on the Company’s website does not constitute a portion of, and is not incorporated by reference into, this press release.

About Kinetik Holdings Inc.

Kinetik is a fully integrated, pure-play, Permian-to-Gulf Coast midstream C-corporation operating in the Delaware Basin. Kinetik is headquartered in Houston and Midland, Texas. Kinetik provides comprehensive gathering, transportation, compression, processing and treating services for companies that produce natural gas, natural gas liquids, crude oil and water. Kinetik posts announcements, operational updates, investor information and press releases on its website, www.kinetik.com.

Forward-looking statements

This news release includes certain statements that may constitute “forward-looking statements” for purposes of the federal securities laws. Forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements that refer to projections, forecasts, outlooks, guidance or other characterizations of future events or circumstances, including any underlying assumptions. The words “anticipate,” “believe,” “continue,” “could,” “estimate,” “expect,” “intends,” “may,” “might,” “plan,” “seeks,” “possible,” “potential,” “predict,” “project,” “prospects,” “guidance,” “outlook,” “should,” “would,” “will,” and similar expressions may identify forward-looking statements, but the absence of these words does not mean that a statement is not forward-looking. These statements include, but are not limited to, statements about the Company’s future business strategy and plans, expectations, and objectives for the Company’s operations, including statements about strategy, synergies, technology adoption, portfolio monetization opportunities, growth, expansion, cost reduction and other capital projects and the timing and cost thereof, future operations, financial guidance, growth opportunities, the amount and timing of future shareholder returns, the Company’s projected dividend amounts and the timing thereof, and the Company’s targeted leverage and financial profile. While forward-looking statements are based on assumptions and analyses made by us that we believe to be reasonable under the circumstances, whether actual results and developments will meet our expectations and predictions depend on a number of risks and uncertainties which could cause our actual results, performance, and financial condition to differ materially from our expectations. See Part I, Item 1A. Risk Factors in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2025 filed with the SEC on February 26, 2026. Any forward-looking statement made by us in this news release speaks only as of the date on which it is made. Factors or events that could cause our actual results to differ may emerge from time to time, and it is not possible for us to predict all of them. We undertake no obligation to publicly update any forward-looking statement whether as a result of new information, future development, or otherwise, except as may be required by law.

Additional information

Additional information follows, including a reconciliation of Adjusted EBITDA, Distributable Cash Flow, Free Cash Flow, and Net Debt (non-GAAP financial measures) to the GAAP measures.

Non-GAAP financial measures

Kinetik’s financial information includes information prepared in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP) as well as non-GAAP financial information. It is management’s intent to provide non-GAAP financial information to enhance understanding of our consolidated financial information as prepared in accordance with GAAP. Adjusted EBITDA, Distributable Cash Flow, Free Cash Flow, Dividend Coverage Ratio, Net Debt and Leverage Ratio are non-GAAP measures. This non-GAAP information should be considered by the reader in addition to, but not instead of, the financial statements prepared in accordance with GAAP and reconciliations from these results should be carefully evaluated. See “Reconciliation of GAAP to Non-GAAP Measures” elsewhere in this news release. This news release also includes certain forward-looking non-GAAP financial information. Reconciliations of these forward-looking non-GAAP measures to their most directly comparable GAAP measure are not available without unreasonable efforts. This is due to the inherent difficulty of forecasting the timing or amount of various reconciling items that would impact the most directly comparable forward-looking GAAP financial measure, that have not yet occurred, are out of Kinetik’s control and/or cannot be reasonably predicted. Accordingly, such reconciliation is excluded from this news release. Forward-looking non-GAAP financial measures provided without the most directly comparable GAAP financial measures may vary materially from the corresponding GAAP financial measures.

1. A non-GAAP financial measure. See “Non-GAAP Financial Measures” and “Reconciliation of GAAP to Non-GAAP Measures” for further details.
2. Net of contributions in aid of construction, asset disposal proceeds, and returns of invested capital from unconsolidated affiliates.
3. Dividend Coverage Ratio is Distributable Cash Flow divided by total declared dividends.
4. Net Debt is defined as total current and long-term debt, excluding deferred financing costs, less cash and cash equivalents.
5. Liquidity is calculated as cash and cash equivalents of $7.8 million plus Revolving Credit Facility availability of $1,064.4 million as of June 30, 2026.
6. Leverage Ratio is total debt less cash and cash equivalents divided by last twelve months Adjusted EBITDA, calculated per the Company’s credit agreement. The calculation includes EBITDA Adjustments for Qualified Projects, Acquisitions and Divestitures.
7. Net Debt to Adjusted EBITDA Ratio is defined as Net Debt divided by last twelve months Adjusted EBITDA.
8. 162.4 million shares, issued and outstanding shares as of June 30, 2026, is the sum of 78.9 million shares of Class A common stock and 83.4 million shares of Class C common stock.
9. 2025 Adjusted EBITDA, excluding actual Adjusted EBITDA contributions from EPIC Crude.
10. Exit rate represents average processed gas volumes during the fourth quarter of 2026.
11. Market forward pricing as of July 28, 2026.