TULSA, Okla., May 4, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Magellan Midstream Partners, L.P. (NYSE: MMP) today reported net income of $207.1 million for first quarter 2016 compared to $183.6 million for first quarter 2015. The 2016 results include a $26.9 million non-cash gain related to the transfer of the partnership's 50% interest in Osage Pipe Line Company, LLC (Osage).

Distributable cash flow (DCF), a non-generally accepted accounting principles (non-GAAP) financial measure that represents the amount of cash generated during the period that is available to pay distributions, was $205.3 million for first quarter 2016 compared to $233.1 million for first quarter 2015. The decline between periods was due to reduced contributions from the partnership's commodity-related activities resulting from the lower petroleum pricing environment and timing of maintenance capital spending within the calendar year.

Diluted net income per limited partner unit was 91 cents in first quarter 2016 and 81 cents in first quarter 2015. Diluted net income per unit excluding mark-to-market (MTM) commodity-related pricing adjustments, a non-GAAP financial measure, was 87 cents for first quarter 2016, or 75 cents excluding the 12-cent favorable impact of the non-cash gain. These results exceeded the 70-cent guidance provided by management in early Feb. primarily due to higher refined products and crude oil transportation revenues.  

"Magellan's assets continue to generate solid financial results despite the overall lower commodity price environment, emphasizing the stability and consistency of our conservative, fee-based business model," said Michael Mears, chief executive officer. "We remain committed to our disciplined financial policy, our focus on operational safety and our execution on strategic growth projects to benefit Magellan's future."

An analysis by segment comparing first quarter 2016 to first quarter 2015 is provided below based on operating margin, a non-GAAP financial measure that reflects operating profit before general and administrative (G&A) expense and depreciation and amortization:

Refined products. Refined products operating margin was $170.9 million, a decrease of $12.5 million. Transportation and terminals revenue increased $4.1 million between periods primarily due to higher average tariffs from the partnership's 4.6% tariff increase in mid-2015. Operating expenses increased $11.8 million due to less favorable product overages (which reduce operating expenses), higher environmental accruals, more product handling costs related to the receipt of off-spec product in the current period and increased asset retirement expense.

Product margin (a non-GAAP measure defined as product sales revenue less cost of product sales) decreased $4.9 million between periods as lower commodity prices were primarily offset by the gains recognized from changes in the New York Mercantile Exchange (NYMEX) positions used to economically hedge the partnership's commodity-related activities. Details of these MTM commodity-related and other inventory adjustments can be found on the Distributable Cash Flow Reconciliation to Net Income schedule that accompanies this news release. The partnership's cash product margin, which reflects only transactions that settled during the quarter, also decreased between periods primarily due to lower commodity prices.

Crude oil. Crude oil operating margin was $100.7 million, an increase of $16.0 million. Transportation and terminals revenue increased $10.8 million primarily due to higher average rates and more shipments on the partnership's Longhorn pipeline system and new leased storage contracts. Overall crude oil shipments declined and average rate per barrel increased due to fewer barrels moving under the partnership's lower-priced Houston distribution system tariff structure to their ultimate destination. Instead, customers utilized space available on the partnership's capacity lease for shipments from BridgeTex pipeline or the longer-haul committed tariffs for Longhorn pipeline movements. Earnings of non-controlled entities increased $8.1 million due to higher shipments on the BridgeTex and Double Eagle pipeline systems, which are owned 50% by Magellan. Operating expenses increased $3.0 million between periods due to higher product handling costs related to the receipt of off-spec product and increased personnel costs, partially offset by more favorable product overages.

Marine storage. Marine storage operating margin was unchanged between periods at $27.9 million. Increased revenues from higher average storage rates were offset by more asset integrity spending in the current period due to timing of tank maintenance work.

Other items. Depreciation and amortization increased primarily due to recent expansion capital expenditures, and G&A expense was higher primarily due to additional headcount and increased payout expectations for the partnership's equity-based incentive compensation program. Other income increased $2.5 million related to a favorable non-cash MTM adjustment for hedged crude oil tank bottom inventory owned by the partnership. As discussed previously, the 2016 results include a $26.9 million non-cash gain related to the transfer of the partnership's 50% interest in Osage to an affiliate of HollyFrontier Corporation in exchange for long-term refined products commercial agreements from this customer.

Net interest expense increased due to additional borrowings to finance expansion capital spending, partially offset by more interest capitalized for construction projects in the current period. As of March 31, 2016, the partnership had $3.8 billion of debt outstanding, with no borrowings outstanding under its commercial paper program or revolving credit facility and $210.0 million of cash on hand.

Expansion capital projects

Magellan continues to pursue expansion opportunities, including organic growth construction projects and acquisitions. Based on the progress of expansion projects already underway, the partnership expects to spend $800 million in 2016 and $150 million thereafter to complete its current slate of construction projects. The new estimates include spending for additional storage along the partnership's refined products pipeline system and new crude oil storage capabilities, primarily at its East Houston terminal.

The partnership is making significant progress on its current growth projects. Construction of the Little Rock pipeline is substantially complete, with operations expected to begin in early July. Regarding the Saddlehorn pipeline, all pipe has been installed with hydrostatic testing underway for the Platteville-to-Cushing segment, which is expected to begin linefill in early third quarter and be fully operational during Sept. For the Carr-to-Platteville segment of the Saddlehorn pipeline, right-of-way acquisition and permitting work are in the final stages and pipe production is complete with installation expected to begin in June. The Carr-to-Platteville segment is still expected to be operational by the end of 2016. Construction is nearing completion for Magellan's Corpus Christi condensate splitter, with testing to commence during the third quarter and commercial operations to begin in the fourth quarter of 2016.

Magellan also continues to evaluate well in excess of $500 million of potential growth projects in earlier stages of development and acquisition opportunities, all of which have been excluded from the partnership's spending estimates at this time. Examples of potential opportunities include multiple options to increase Magellan's Gulf Coast marine capabilities, including additional storage in the Houston Ship Channel area and further development of its Seabrook Logistics joint venture, as well as the potential development of a joint venture refined petroleum products pipeline between Corpus Christi and Brownsville, Texas.

Financial guidance for 2016

Management is increasing its 2016 DCF guidance by $10 million to $910 million, resulting in 1.2 times the amount needed to pay cash distributions for 2016. The higher DCF guidance primarily reflects solid financial results to date and higher commodity prices than initially expected for the year. Management remains committed to its goal of increasing annual cash distributions by 10% for 2016 and at least 8% for 2017 while maintaining distribution coverage of at least 1.2 times each year.

Including actual results generated during the first quarter, net income per limited partner unit is estimated to be $3.37 for 2016, with second-quarter guidance of 72 cents. Guidance excludes future MTM adjustments on the partnership's commodity-related activities.

Earnings call details

An analyst call with management to discuss first-quarter results and 2016 guidance is scheduled today at 1:30 p.m. Eastern. To join the conference call, dial (800) 524-8950 and provide code 2140161. Investors also may listen to the call via the partnership's website at www.magellanlp.com/webcasts.aspx.

Audio replays of the conference call will be available from 4:30 p.m. Eastern today through midnight on May 10. To access the replay, dial (888) 203-1112 and provide code 2140161. The replay also will be available at www.magellanlp.com.

Non-GAAP financial measures

Management believes that investors benefit from having access to the same financial measures utilized by the partnership. As a result, this news release and supporting schedules include the non-GAAP financial measures of operating margin, product margin, adjusted EBITDA, DCF, net income per unit excluding MTM commodity-related pricing adjustments and net income per unit excluding MTM commodity-related pricing adjustments and the non-cash gain related to the Osage transfer, which are important performance measures used by management.

Operating margin reflects operating profit before G&A expense and depreciation and amortization. This measure forms the basis of the partnership's internal financial reporting and is used by management to evaluate the economic performance of the partnership's operations.

Product margin, which is calculated as product sales revenue less cost of product sales, is used by management to evaluate the profitability of the partnership's commodity-related activities.

Adjusted EBITDA is an important measure utilized by management and the investment community to assess the financial results of an entity.

DCF is important in determining the amount of cash generated from the partnership's operations that is available for distribution to its unitholders. Management uses this performance measure as a basis for recommending to the board of directors the amount of cash distributions to be paid each period and for determining the payouts under the partnership's equity-based incentive plan.

Reconciliations of operating margin to operating profit and adjusted EBITDA and DCF to net income accompany this news release.

The partnership uses NYMEX futures contracts to hedge against price changes of petroleum products associated with its commodity-related activities and its crude oil tank bottom inventory. Most of these NYMEX contracts do not qualify for hedge accounting treatment. However, because these NYMEX contracts are generally effective at hedging price changes, management believes the partnership's profitability should be evaluated excluding the unrealized NYMEX gains and losses associated with petroleum products that will be sold in future periods. Further, because the financial guidance provided by management excludes future MTM commodity-related pricing adjustments, a reconciliation of actual results to those excluding these adjustments is provided for comparability to previous financial guidance.

Because the non-GAAP measures presented in this news release include adjustments specific to the partnership, they may not be comparable to similarly-titled measures of other companies.

About Magellan Midstream Partners, L.P.

Magellan Midstream Partners, L.P. (NYSE: MMP) is a publicly traded partnership that primarily transports, stores and distributes refined petroleum products and crude oil. The partnership owns the longest refined petroleum products pipeline system in the country, with access to nearly 50% of the nation's refining capacity, and can store more than 95 million barrels of petroleum products such as gasoline, diesel fuel and crude oil. More information is available at www.magellanlp.com.

Forward-Looking Statement Disclaimer

Portions of this document constitute forward-looking statements as defined by federal law. Forward-looking statements can be identified by words such as: plan, goal, believe, estimate, expect, future, may, will and similar references to future periods. Although management of Magellan Midstream Partners, L.P. believes any such statements are based on reasonable assumptions, actual outcomes may be materially different. Among the key risk factors that may have a direct impact on the partnership's results of operations and financial condition are: (1) its ability to identify growth projects and to complete identified projects on time and at expected costs; (2) price fluctuations and changes in demand for refined petroleum products, crude oil and natural gas liquids, or changes in demand for transportation or storage of those commodities through its existing or planned facilities; (3) changes in the partnership's tariff rates or other terms imposed by state or federal regulatory agencies; (4) shut-downs or cutbacks at refineries or other businesses that use or supply the partnership's services; (5) changes in the throughput or interruption in service on pipelines owned and operated by third parties and connected to the partnership's terminals or pipelines; (6) the occurrence of operational hazards or unforeseen interruptions; (7) the treatment of the partnership as a corporation for federal or state income tax purposes or if the partnership becomes subject to significant forms of other taxation; (8) an increase in the competition the partnership's operations encounter; (9) disruption in the debt and equity markets that negatively impacts the partnership's ability to finance its capital spending; and (10) failure of customers to meet or continue contractual obligations to the partnership. Additional information about issues that could lead to material changes in performance is contained in the partnership's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including the partnership's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended Dec. 31, 2015 and subsequent reports on Form 8-K. Forward-looking statements made by the partnership in this release are based only on information currently known, and the partnership undertakes no obligation to revise its forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances learned of or occurring after today's date.

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SOURCE Magellan Midstream Partners, L.P.