Summary
Enterprise Products Partners L.P. (EPD) reported its fourth quarter and full-year 2015 financial results on January 28, 2016. For the fourth quarter, the company reported net income attributable to limited partners of $684.8 million, or $0.34 per unit, largely in line with the prior year's $659.8 million, or $0.34 per unit. Full-year 2015 net income attributable to limited partners was $2,521.2 million, or $1.26 per unit, a decrease from $2,787.4 million, or $1.47 per unit, in 2014. The company highlighted a slight decrease in total revenues and operating income for the full year 2015 compared to 2014, reflecting the challenging market environment. Despite the overall revenue decline, the company showcased resilience in its segment performance, particularly in NGL Pipelines & Services and Crude Oil Pipelines & Services, which saw increases in gross operating margin. Significant growth was observed in NGL pipeline volumes and marine terminal activity, driven by export demand. The company also announced management's recommendation for a 5.2% increase in cash distributions for 2016, targeting $1.61 per unit, and expects this growth to be supported by approximately $6.0 billion in new projects coming online. This forward-looking statement on distribution growth aims to provide investors with visibility amidst a period of uncertainty for some midstream peers.
Key Highlights
- 1Fourth quarter 2015 net income attributable to limited partners was $684.8 million, or $0.34 per unit, flat year-over-year.
- 2Full-year 2015 net income attributable to limited partners decreased to $2,521.2 million ($1.26 per unit) from $2,787.4 million ($1.47 per unit) in 2014.
- 3Total revenues for the full year 2015 decreased to $27,027.9 million from $47,951.2 million in 2014.
- 4Gross operating margin in NGL Pipelines & Services increased 4% to $730 million in Q4 2015, driven by higher NGL marketing volumes and NGL pipeline and storage growth.
- 5Crude Oil Pipelines & Services segment gross operating margin increased 13% to $258 million in Q4 2015, benefiting from the EFS Midstream acquisition and contributions from the Seaway Crude Pipeline.
- 6Management plans to recommend a 5.2% increase in cash distributions for 2016, to $1.61 per unit, representing a growth of $0.08 per unit compared to 2015.
- 7Approximately $6.0 billion of new projects are expected to begin commercial operations and generate cash flow in 2016, supporting the planned distribution growth.