MPLX LP Reports Fourth-Quarter and Full-Year 2021 Financial Results

FINDLAY, Ohio, Feb. 2, 2022 /PRNewswire/ --

• Reported fourth quarter net income attributable to MPLX of $830 million and full-year net income of $3.1 billion
• Reported fourth quarter adjusted EBITDA attributable to MPLX of $1.4 billion and full-year adjusted EBITDA of $5.6 billion
• Generated $4.9 billion in net cash provided by operating activities for the full-year 2021 and returned $4.2 billion in capital to unitholders
• Announced 2022 MPLX capital spending outlook of $900 million

MPLX LP (NYSE: MPLX) today reported fourth-quarter 2021 net income attributable to MPLX of $830 million, compared to $691 million for the fourth quarter of 2020. Adjusted earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization (EBITDA) attributable to MPLX was $1,445 million, compared with $1,355 million in the fourth quarter of 2020.

The Logistics and Storage (L&S) segment income from operations was $750 million for the fourth quarter of 2021, compared with $662 million for the fourth quarter of 2020. Segment adjusted EBITDA for the fourth quarter of 2021 was $934 million, compared with $884 million for the fourth quarter of 2020.

The Gathering and Processing (G&P) segment income from operations was $306 million for the fourth quarter of 2021, compared with $258 million for the fourth quarter of 2020. Segment adjusted EBITDA for the fourth quarter of 2021 was $511 million, compared with $471 million for the fourth quarter of 2020. 

During the quarter, MPLX generated $1,240 million in net cash provided by operating activities, $1,207 million of distributable cash flow, and excess cash flow of $361 million. MPLX announced a fourth quarter 2021 distribution of $0.705 per common unit, resulting in coverage of 1.64x for the quarter.  Leverage was 3.7x.   MPLX generated $4,911 million in net cash provided by operating activities, $4,785 million of distributable cash flow, and excess cash flow of $1,429 million for the full year 2021.

"In 2021, our focus on strict capital discipline and lowering the cost structure as well as solid operational performance contributed to strong cash generation," said Michael J. Hennigan, MPLX chairman, president, and chief executive officer. "This year MPLX returned approximately $4.2 billion of capital to unitholders through both distributions and unit repurchases."

Financial Highlights

Segment Results

Logistics & Storage

L&S segment income from operations for the fourth quarter of 2021 increased by $88 million compared to the same period in 2020, while segment adjusted EBITDA for the fourth quarter of 2021 increased by $50 million compared to the same period in 2020. Results for the quarter benefited from higher revenue offset partially by higher operating expenses.

Total pipeline throughputs were 5.6 million barrels per day (bpd) in the fourth quarter, 18% higher than the same quarter of 2020. The average tariff rate was $0.87 per barrel for the quarter, a decrease of 3% versus the same quarter of 2020. Terminal throughput was 2.9 million bpd for the quarter, an increase of 11% versus the same quarter of 2020.

Gathering & Processing

G&P segment income from operations for the fourth quarter of 2021 increased by $48 million compared to the fourth quarter of 2020. Adjusted EBITDA for the fourth quarter of 2021 increased by $40 million compared to the same period in 2020 as a result of higher natural gas liquids prices. These benefits were partially offset by lower processed and fractionated volumes.

In the fourth quarter of 2021:

• Gathered volumes averaged 5.4 billion cubic feet per day (bcf/d), a 3% increase from the fourth quarter of 2020.
• Processed volumes averaged 8.5 bcf/d, a 2% decrease versus the fourth quarter of 2020.
• Fractionated volumes averaged 549 thousand bpd, a 6% decrease versus the fourth quarter of 2020.

In the Marcellus: 

• Gathered volumes averaged 1.4 bcf/d in the fourth quarter, a 7% increase versus the fourth quarter of 2020.
• Processed volumes averaged 5.6 bcf/d in the fourth quarter, a 2% decrease versus the fourth quarter of 2020.
• Fractionated volumes averaged 485 thousand bpd in the fourth quarter, a 1% decrease versus the fourth quarter of 2020.

Strategic Update

MPLX's capital spending outlook for 2022 is $900 million, which includes approximately $700 million of growth capital, $140 million of maintenance capital and $60 million for repayment of MPLX's share of the Bakken Pipeline joint venture's debt due in 2022.  The capital spending plan focuses on expansions and de-bottlenecking of MPLX's existing assets.  MPLX continues to evaluate opportunities to expand its logistics footprint to meet the needs of today and participate in an energy-diverse future.

Financial Position and Liquidity

As of December 31, 2021, MPLX had $13 million in cash and $3.2 billion available on its bank revolving credit facility. The company's leverage ratio was 3.7x.

The partnership repurchased $165 million of common units held by the public in the fourth quarter of 2021. As of December 31, 2021, MPLX had approximately $337 million remaining available under the current $1 billion board authorization.

MPLX remains committed to maintaining an investment-grade credit profile.

Conference Call

At 9:30 a.m. ET today, MPLX will hold a conference call and webcast to discuss the reported results and provide an update on operations. Interested parties may listen by visiting MPLX's website at www.mplx.com. A replay of the webcast will be available on MPLX's website for two weeks. Financial information, including this earnings release and other investor-related materials, will also be available online prior to the conference call and webcast at www.mplx.com.

About MPLX LP

MPLX is a diversified, large-cap master limited partnership that owns and operates midstream energy infrastructure and logistics assets and provides fuels distribution services. MPLX's assets include a network of crude oil and refined product pipelines; an inland marine business; light-product terminals; storage caverns; refinery tanks, docks, loading racks, and associated piping; and crude and light-product marine terminals. The company also owns crude oil and natural gas gathering systems and pipelines as well as natural gas and NGL processing and fractionation facilities in key U.S. supply basins. More information is available at www.MPLX.com

Investor Relations Contact: (419) 421-2071
Kristina Kazarian, Vice President
Jamie Madere, Manager
Isaac Feeney, Analyst

Media Contact: (419) 421-3312
Jamal Kheiry, Communications Manager

Non-GAAP references

In addition to our financial information presented in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP), management utilizes additional non-GAAP measures to facilitate comparisons of past performance and future periods. This press release and supporting schedules include the non-GAAP measures adjusted EBITDA; consolidated debt to last twelve months adjusted EBITDA, which we refer to as our leverage ratio; distributable cash flow (DCF); distribution coverage ratio; and free cash flow (FCF) and excess/deficit cash flow. The amount of adjusted EBITDA and DCF generated is considered by the board of directors of our general partner in approving the Partnership's cash distribution. Adjusted EBITDA and DCF should not be considered separately from or as a substitute for net income, income from operations, or cash flow as reflected in our financial statements. The GAAP measures most directly comparable to adjusted EBITDA and DCF are net income and net cash provided by operating activities. We define Adjusted EBITDA as net income adjusted for (i) depreciation and amortization; (ii) provision/benefit for income taxes; (iii) amortization of deferred financing costs; (iv) gain/loss on extinguishment of debt; (v) non-cash equity-based compensation; (vi) impairment expense; (vii) net interest and other financial costs; (viii) income/loss from equity method investments; (ix) distributions and adjustments related to equity method investments; (x) unrealized derivative gains/losses; (xi) acquisition costs; (xii) noncontrolling interest and (xiii) other adjustments as deemed necessary. In general, we define DCF as adjusted EBITDA adjusted for (i) deferred revenue impacts; (ii) sales-type lease payments, net of income; (iii) net interest and other financial costs; (iv) net maintenance capital expenditures; (v) equity method investment capital expenditures paid out; and (vi) other adjustments as deemed necessary.

The Partnership makes a distinction between realized and unrealized gains and losses on derivatives. During the period when a derivative contract is outstanding, changes in the fair value of the derivative are recorded as an unrealized gain or loss. When a derivative contract matures or is settled, the previously recorded unrealized gain or loss is reversed and the realized gain or loss of the contract is recorded.

Adjusted EBITDA is a financial performance measure used by management, industry analysts, investors, lenders, and rating agencies to assess the financial performance and operating results of our ongoing business operations. Additionally, we believe adjusted EBITDA provides useful information to investors for trending, analyzing and benchmarking our operating results from period to period as compared to other companies that may have different financing and capital structures.

DCF is a financial performance measure used by management as a key component in the determination of cash distributions paid to unitholders. We believe DCF is an important financial measure for unitholders as an indicator of cash return on investment and to evaluate whether the partnership is generating sufficient cash flow to support quarterly distributions. In addition, DCF is commonly used by the investment community because the market value of publicly traded partnerships is based, in part, on DCF and cash distributions paid to unitholders.

FCF and excess/deficit cash flow are financial performance measures used by management in the allocation of capital and to assess financial performance. We believe that unitholders may use this metric to analyze our ability to manage leverage and return capital. We define FCF as net cash provided by operating activities adjusted for (i) net cash used in investing activities; (ii) cash contributions from MPC; (iii) cash contributions from noncontrolling interests and (iv) cash distributions to noncontrolling interests. We define excess/deficit cash flow as FCF less base distributions to common and preferred unitholders.

Distribution coverage ratio is a financial performance measure used by management to reflect the relationship between the partnership's financial operating performance and cash distribution capability. We define the distribution coverage ratio as the ratio of DCF attributable to GP and LP unitholders to total GP and LP distributions declared.

Leverage ratio is a liquidity measure used by management, industry analysts, investors, lenders and rating agencies to analyze our ability to incur and service debt and fund capital expenditures.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements regarding MPLX LP (MPLX). These forward-looking statements may relate to, among other things, MPLX's expectations, estimates and projections concerning its business and operations, financial priorities, including with respect to positive free cash flow and distribution coverage, strategic plans, capital return plans, operating cost and capital expenditure reduction objectives, and environmental, social and governance goals. You can identify forward-looking statements by words such as "anticipate," "believe," "commitment," "could," "design," "estimate," "expect," "forecast," "goal," "guidance," "imply," "intend," "may," "objective," "opportunity," "outlook," "plan," "policy," "position," "potential," "predict," "priority," "project," "proposition," "prospective," "pursue," "seek," "should," "strategy," "target," "will," "would" or other similar expressions that convey the uncertainty of future events or outcomes. MPLX cautions that these statements are based on management's current knowledge and expectations and are subject to certain risks and uncertainties, many of which are outside of the control of MPLX, that could cause actual results and events to differ materially from the statements made herein. Factors that could cause MPLX's actual results to differ materially from those implied in the forward-looking statements include but are not limited to: general economic, political or regulatory developments, including inflation, changes in governmental policies relating to refined petroleum products, crude oil, natural gas or NGLs, or taxation; the magnitude, duration and extent of future resurgences of the COVID-19 pandemic and its effects, including the continuation or re-imposition of travel restrictions, business and school closures, increased remote work, stay at home orders and other actions taken by individuals, government and the private sector to stem the spread of the virus; the adequacy of capital resources and liquidity, including the availability of sufficient free cash flow from operations to pay distributions and to fund future unit repurchases; the ability to access debt markets on commercially reasonable terms or at all; the timing and extent of changes in commodity prices and demand for crude oil, refined products, feedstocks or other hydrocarbon-based products; changes to the expected construction costs and timing of projects and planned investments, the availability of desirable strategic initiatives for the Alaska logistics and storage operations or other portfolio assets and the ability to obtain regulatory and other approvals with respect thereto; accidents or other unscheduled shutdowns affecting our machinery, pipelines, processing, fractionation and treating facilities or equipment, means of transportation, or those of our suppliers or customers; the suspension, reduction or termination of MPC's obligations under MPLX's commercial agreements; other risk factors inherent to MPLX's industry; the impact of adverse market conditions or other similar risks to those identified herein affecting MPC; and the factors set forth under the heading "Risk Factors" in MPLX's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended Dec. 31, 2020, and in other filings with Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).

Any forward-looking statement speaks only as of the date of the applicable communication and we undertake no obligation to update any forward-looking statement except to the extent required by applicable law.

Copies of MPLX's Annual Report on Form 10-K, Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q and other SEC filings are available on the SEC's website, MPLX's website at https://ir.mplx.com or by contacting MPLX's Investor Relations office. Copies of MPC's Annual Report on Form 10-K, Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q and other SEC filings are available on the SEC's website, MPC's website at https://www.marathonpetroleum.com/Investors/ or by contacting MPC's Investor Relations office.