Delek Logistics Partners, LP (DKL) is a leading midstream energy company with a growing footprint in the prolific Permian Basin. Through strategic acquisitions and organic growth initiatives, Delek Logistics has established itself as a premier provider of crude oil, natural gas, and water infrastructure services across key regions. With a diversified asset base and a focus on operational excellence, the partnership is well-positioned to capitalize on the surging energy demands in its core markets.
Business Overview and History Delek Logistics Partners was formed in April 2012 as a Delaware limited partnership by Delek US Holdings, Inc. The partnership was created to own and operate the logistics assets that support Delek US's refining operations, providing critical gathering, pipeline, storage, and terminalling services. Delek Logistics primarily serves crude oil and natural gas customers, offering storage, wholesale marketing, and terminalling services for intermediate and refined product customers. Additionally, the partnership provides water disposal and recycling services through its owned assets and joint ventures, primarily located in the Permian Basin and select areas in the Gulf Coast region.
A significant portion of Delek Logistics' existing assets are integral to and dependent on the success of Delek Holdings' refining operations. Many of these assets are contracted exclusively to Delek Holdings, supporting its refineries in Tyler, Texas, El Dorado, Arkansas, and Big Spring, Texas. The partnership has established several long-term, fee-based commercial agreements with Delek Holdings to provide various services, ensuring a stable revenue stream.
Over the years, Delek Logistics has strategically expanded its footprint, both through acquisitions from its parent company and through third-party transactions. In August 2024, the partnership made a significant move by acquiring Permian Pipeline Holdings, LLC from a wholly-owned subsidiary of Delek Holdings. This acquisition included a 50% equity interest in Wink to Webster Holdings, LLC (W2W Holdings), which holds a 15.6% indirect interest in the Wink to Webster Pipeline, LLC joint venture. The Wink to Webster Pipeline is a long-haul crude oil pipeline system with origin points at Wink and Midland in the Permian Basin and delivery points at multiple Houston area locations.
Further expanding its presence in the Permian Basin, Delek Logistics completed the acquisition of 100% of the limited liability company interests in H2O Midstream Intermediate, LLC, H2O Midstream Permian LLC, and H2O Midstream LLC from H2O Midstream Holdings, LLC in September 2024. This strategic move brought water disposal and recycling operations in the Midland Basin under Delek Logistics' control, diversifying its customer base and expanding its service offerings in the region.
Financial Performance and Liquidity Delek Logistics has consistently delivered strong financial results, showcasing the resilience of its business model. In the most recent quarter (Q3 2024), the partnership reported record adjusted EBITDA of $106.8 million, up 9% year-over-year. This performance was driven by higher throughput volumes across its Permian Basin assets, as well as the contribution from the recently acquired H2O Midstream operations. However, revenue for Q3 2024 decreased 22.4% to $214.07 million compared to Q3 2023, primarily due to lower West Texas marketing operations revenue. Net income for Q3 2024 was $33.67 million, representing a 3.3% decrease from the prior year, mainly attributed to lower revenue and higher G&A expenses.
For the full fiscal year 2023, Delek Logistics reported revenue of $1.02 billion, net income of $126.24 million, operating cash flow of $225.32 million, and free cash flow of $124.97 million. These figures demonstrate the partnership's ability to generate consistent cash flows despite market fluctuations.
The partnership's distributable cash flow (DCF) for Q3 2024 was $62 million, with a coverage ratio of approximately 1.1x. While the DCF coverage ratio is currently below Delek Logistics' long-term target of 1.3x, management expects the ratio to steadily improve in the second half of 2025 as it realizes the benefits of its various growth initiatives.
Delek Logistics maintains a strong financial position, with approximately $780 million in liquidity following a recent equity offering. As of September 30, 2024, the partnership had $7.32 million in cash and $695.10 million available under its DKL Revolving Facility. The current ratio stood at 1.24, and the quick ratio at 1.17, indicating solid short-term liquidity. However, it's worth noting that the debt-to-equity ratio was -42.11 as of the same date, reflecting the partnership's capital structure and use of leverage.
This ample liquidity, combined with the partnership's prudent approach to capital allocation, positions Delek Logistics to fund its organic growth projects, such as the expansion of its natural gas processing capabilities in the Permian, while also pursuing accretive acquisitions.
Operational Highlights and Growth Initiatives Delek Logistics' operational performance has been underpinned by its diverse asset base and strategic focus on the Permian Basin. The partnership operates through four main reportable segments:
1. Gathering and Processing Segment: This segment includes operational assets that provide gathering, pipeline, and other transportation services primarily for crude oil and natural gas customers. In Q3 2024, this segment generated $81.53 million in net revenues and $42.38 million in EBITDA. For the first nine months of 2024, it contributed $270.05 million in net revenues and $154.82 million in EBITDA.
2. Wholesale Marketing and Terminalling Segment: This segment provides wholesale marketing and terminalling services to Delek Holdings' refining operations and independent third-party customers. In Q3 2024, it generated $106.94 million in net revenues and $20.25 million in EBITDA. For the first nine months of 2024, it contributed $361.81 million in net revenues and $75.72 million in EBITDA.
3. Storage and Transportation Segment: This segment consists of tanks, offloading facilities, trucks, and ancillary assets that provide crude oil, intermediate, and refined products transportation and storage services. In Q3 2024, it generated $25.61 million in net revenues and $7.53 million in EBITDA. For the first nine months of 2024, it contributed $98.91 million in net revenues and $42.41 million in EBITDA.
4. Investments in Pipeline Joint Ventures Segment: This segment relates to DKL's strategic investments in joint venture pipeline projects. For Q3 2024, this segment contributed $15.60 million in income from equity method investments. For the first nine months of 2024, it contributed $31.97 million.
Looking ahead, Delek Logistics is focused on several growth initiatives that are expected to drive long-term value for unitholders. The partnership has approved the final investment decision for a new natural gas processing plant adjacent to its existing Delaware Basin facility. This $90-$100 million project is designed to meet the rising demand for natural gas processing services in the region and is expected to generate approximately $40 million in annual EBITDA once completed in the first half of 2025.
Additionally, Delek Logistics has announced the dedication of 50,000 acres to its Midland Gathering System, which will support the partnership's efforts to further expand its crude oil and natural gas gathering capabilities in the Permian. In the Midland Basin, DKL expects their DPG volumes to be around $190 million by the end of 2024 and above $200 million in 2025, driven by this new acreage dedication deal.
The combination of organic growth projects and strategic acquisitions positions Delek Logistics as a premier midstream player capable of supporting the energy needs of both its sponsor, Delek US, and a growing roster of third-party customers.
Risks and Challenges While Delek Logistics' growth trajectory appears promising, the partnership is not without its risks. As with any midstream company, Delek Logistics is exposed to commodity price fluctuations, which can impact the volumes and revenues generated by its assets. The partnership's Wholesale Marketing and Terminalling segment, in particular, is exposed to commodity price risks related to the volatility of refined product prices in the West Texas market.
Additionally, the partnership's reliance on Delek US as a significant customer creates a degree of concentration risk, though the recent contract extensions and expansion of third-party business have helped to mitigate this concern. In Q3 2024, DKL closed several strategic transactions, including the amendment and extension of agreements with Delek US for up to 7 years, which should provide some stability to its cash flows.
The integration of acquired assets, such as H2O Midstream, also presents integration risks that Delek Logistics must carefully manage. Moreover, the partnership operates in a highly regulated industry, and changes in environmental or safety regulations could necessitate additional capital expenditures or operational adjustments.
Outlook and Conclusion Delek Logistics Partners has established itself as a premier midstream player in the Permian Basin, leveraging its diversified asset base and strategic growth initiatives to deliver consistent financial performance. The partnership's recent acquisitions and organic expansion projects have strengthened its competitive position and positioned it to capitalize on the robust energy demand in its core markets.
With a strong balance sheet, ample liquidity, and a focus on operational excellence, Delek Logistics is well-equipped to navigate the evolving industry landscape and continue generating long-term value for its unitholders. The partnership has raised distributions for 47 consecutive quarters, and the Board of Directors has recently approved an increase in the quarterly distribution to $1.10 per unit. Management expects to continue growing the distribution in the future, underlining their confidence in the partnership's financial strength and growth prospects.
As Delek Logistics executes on its growth strategy and further diversifies its customer base, investors may find it an attractive midstream energy investment opportunity. The partnership's focus on fee-based contracts with minimum volume commitments helps mitigate short-term price volatility, providing a degree of stability to its financial performance even as the broader midstream energy sector faces fluctuations in commodity prices.
Looking forward, Delek Logistics is excited about potential opportunities around sour gas treatment at their new gas processing plant in the Delaware Basin, with more details on this opportunity expected to be provided soon. As the partnership continues to expand its operations and capitalize on the energy needs of the Permian Basin and Gulf Coast regions, it remains well-positioned for sustained growth and value creation in the coming years.