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On Tuesday, UBS analyst Brian Reynolds confirmed a Buy rating on Enterprise Products Partners (NYSE:EPD), currently trading at $33.50 with a market capitalization of $72.7 billion, maintaining a consistent price target of $40.00. According to InvestingPro data, the stock is trading near its 52-week high of $34.63. Reynolds modified the first-quarter 2025 earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization (EBITDA) forecast for the company to $2,589 million, down from the previous $2,666 million estimate. The adjustment reflects the impact of downtime at the company’s PDH 1 facility due to mechanical issues and increased Waha prices, which have reduced marketing opportunities. These factors were somewhat balanced by the benefits of colder weather on propane demand and a robust seasonal performance from long-haul volumes. Despite the forecast adjustment, InvestingPro analysis shows the company maintains a strong financial health rating and boasts an impressive 27-year streak of consecutive dividend increases, currently offering a 6.35% yield.
Reynolds noted that the consensus estimate for the company’s first-quarter EBITDA stands at $2,556 million. A detailed breakdown of the operating margins for the company’s various segments was provided, with the NGL Pipeline & Services segment expected to generate $1,526 million, a slight decrease from $1,548 million in the fourth quarter of 2024. The Crude Pipeline & Services operating margin is projected to be $418 million, marginally up from $417 million in the previous quarter.
The Natural Gas Pipeline & Services segment’s operating margin is estimated at $321 million, a small decline from $323 million in the fourth quarter of 2024. Petrochemical & Refined Products are anticipated to see an increase in operating margin to $358 million, compared to $348 million in the prior quarter. Reynolds also mentioned that weaker quarter-over-quarter octane spreads could pose a minor challenge for the company.
In other recent news, Enterprise Products Partners reported fourth-quarter earnings that surpassed analyst estimates, with net income reaching $1.63 billion, or $0.74 per common unit. This performance outpaced the expected earnings of $0.71 per unit, although revenue slightly missed the consensus estimate, coming in at $14.2 billion compared to the anticipated $14.24 billion. Despite this, the company achieved record volumes in several segments, including natural gas processing and NGL pipeline volumes, contributing to a total gross operating margin increase to $2.63 billion. For the full year 2024, Enterprise Products reported a net income of $5.97 billion, demonstrating growth from the previous year.
Additionally, Citi analysts raised Enterprise Products’ stock target to $37, maintaining a Buy rating. This adjustment follows the company’s strong fourth-quarter performance and an upward revision of its EBITDA estimate for 2025 to approximately $10.4 billion. Analysts at Citi highlighted the potential for Enterprise Products to generate over $1 billion in excess cash flow by 2026, which could be used for stock buybacks. This outlook is supported by the company’s strategic growth projects and management’s guidance for mid-single-digit growth.
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