MPLX LP (MPLX): history, ownership, mission, how it works & makes money

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MPLX LP (MPLX) Information


A Brief History of MPLX

Company Overview

MPLX LP is a master limited partnership formed in 2012. It primarily focuses on the transportation and storage of crude oil and refined products, as well as the gathering and processing of natural gas and natural gas liquids (NGLs).

Recent Financial Performance

As of September 30, 2024, MPLX reported a net income attributable to MPLX LP of $1,037 million, compared to $918 million for the same period in 2023, reflecting an increase of $119 million. The total revenues and other income for the third quarter of 2024 were $2,972 million, up from $2,912 million year-over-year, marking a growth of $60 million.

Financial Metric Q3 2024 Q3 2023 Variance
Net Income Attributable to MPLX LP $1,037 million $918 million $119 million
Total Revenues and Other Income $2,972 million $2,912 million $60 million
Adjusted EBITDA $1,714 million $1,596 million $118 million
Cash Distributions Declared $980 million $876 million $104 million

Capital Expenditures and Investments

In the first nine months of 2024, MPLX's capital expenditures totaled $720 million, compared to $668 million in the same period of 2023. The company also made significant investments in unconsolidated affiliates, amounting to $103 million in 2024, a substantial increase from $23 million in 2023.

Acquisitions and Expansions

MPLX completed the Utica Midstream Acquisition in the first quarter of 2024, contributing an additional $30 million in revenue. Additionally, the consolidation of the MarkWest Torñado GP, L.L.C. in December 2023 added approximately $93 million in incremental revenues.

Debt and Financing

As of September 30, 2024, MPLX had outstanding debt of $21,494 million, compared to $19,377 million as of December 31, 2023. The company issued $1.65 billion in Senior Notes during 2024, which contributed to its financing strategies.

Debt Metrics September 30, 2024 December 31, 2023
Outstanding Debt $21,494 million $19,377 million
Cash and Cash Equivalents $2,426 million $1,048 million

Market Trends and Future Outlook

MPLX's ability to adapt to market fluctuations is evidenced by its performance amid changing oil and gas prices. The pricing for natural gas NYMEX HH was reported at $2.23 per MMBtu in Q3 2024, down from $2.66 per MMBtu in Q3 2023, while C2 + NGL pricing was stable around $0.67 per gallon.

Looking ahead, MPLX expects to continue leveraging its pipeline and processing assets to enhance operational efficiency and drive revenue growth.



A Who Owns MPLX LP (MPLX)

Ownership Structure

MPLX LP is a publicly traded master limited partnership (MLP) primarily owned by Marathon Petroleum Corporation (MPC). As of September 30, 2024, the ownership breakdown is as follows:

Ownership Type Units Owned Percentage Ownership
Common Units - Public 355 million 34.8%
Common Units - MPC 619 million 60.8%
Series A Preferred Units 6 million 0.6%
Series B Preferred Units
Non-controlling Interests

Preferred Units

MPLX has Series A preferred units, with approximately 6 million remaining outstanding as of September 30, 2024. The Series B preferred units were redeemed on February 15, 2023, with a final distribution of $21 million paid to unitholders.

Recent Financial Performance

For the third quarter of 2024, MPLX declared a total cash distribution of $974 million, translating to $0.9565 per common unit, which is a notable increase from $0.8500 per common unit in the previous quarter. The allocation of distributions for the three months ended September 30, 2024, is detailed below:

Distribution Type Amount (in millions)
Common Unitholders $974
Series A Preferred Units $6
Total Distribution Declared $980

Unit Repurchase Program

MPLX has an ongoing unit repurchase program authorized for up to $1 billion. As of September 30, 2024, the company had repurchased a total of 5.5 million common units at an average cost of $41.32 per unit.

Market Capitalization and Valuation

As of September 30, 2024, MPLX LP had approximately 1,018 million common units outstanding, contributing to a market capitalization of around $43.5 billion, based on a recent trading price range.

Summary of Key Financial Metrics

Key financial metrics for MPLX for the nine months ended September 30, 2024, are as follows:

Metric Value
Net Income $3.218 billion
Adjusted EBITDA $5.002 billion
Distributions to Unitholders $2.623 billion
Cash Flow from Operations $4.271 billion

Equity Method Investments

MPLX also holds investments in various joint ventures and partnerships, which contribute to its overall financial performance. As of September 30, 2024, the carrying value of equity method investments was approximately $4.558 billion.



MPLX LP (MPLX) Mission Statement

Mission Statement Overview

MPLX LP is committed to providing safe, reliable, and environmentally responsible midstream services, focusing on the transportation, storage, and processing of natural gas and natural gas liquids. The company aims to create value for its unitholders while supporting the communities it serves and adhering to the highest standards of operational excellence.

Financial Performance

As of September 30, 2024, MPLX reported a net income attributable to MPLX LP of $1,037 million for the third quarter, compared to $918 million in the same period of the previous year. For the nine months ended September 30, 2024, the net income attributable to MPLX LP was $3,218 million, up from $2,794 million in 2023.

Financial Metric Q3 2024 Q3 2023 9M 2024 9M 2023
Net Income (in millions) $1,037 $918 $3,218 $2,794
Adjusted EBITDA (in millions) $1,714 $1,596 $5,002 $4,646
Distributions Declared (in millions) $980 $876 $2,727 $2,479

Capital Expenditures

MPLX's capital investment plan for 2024 includes a total capital expenditure of $1.1 billion, which consists of $950 million for growth capital and $150 million for maintenance capital. This investment is aimed at expanding and enhancing existing operations, as well as meeting regulatory requirements.

Capital Expenditure Type 2024 (in millions) 2023 (in millions)
Growth Capital Expenditures $950 $555
Maintenance Capital Expenditures $150 $113
Total Capital Expenditures $1,100 $668

Liquidity and Debt Management

As of September 30, 2024, MPLX reported total liquidity of $5.926 billion, which includes $2.426 billion in cash and cash equivalents. The company’s total long-term debt stood at $19.250 billion, with a significant portion of its borrowings consisting of fixed-rate senior notes.

Debt and Liquidity Metrics Amount (in millions)
Cash and Cash Equivalents $2,426
Total Long-term Debt $19,250
Credit Facilities Available $2,000

Environmental Commitment

MPLX is dedicated to maintaining a strong environmental stewardship program, adhering to federal, state, and local regulations concerning emissions and waste management. The company has allocated $15 million for environmental remediation efforts as of September 30, 2024.

Operational Highlights

For the three months ended September 30, 2024, MPLX processed a total of 7,168 million cubic feet of natural gas per day, showcasing its operational capacity and efficiency.

Operational Metrics Q3 2024 Q3 2023
Natural Gas Processed (in mcf/d) 7,168 6,397
C2 + NGLs Fractionated (in mbpd) 595 565

Conclusion

MPLX LP continues to strengthen its position in the midstream sector through strategic investments, a robust financial framework, and a commitment to environmental sustainability.



How MPLX LP (MPLX) Works

Business Segments

MPLX operates through two primary segments: Logistics & Storage (L&S) and Gathering & Processing (G&P).

  • Logistics & Storage (L&S): This segment is responsible for gathering, transporting, storing, and distributing crude oil, refined products, and other hydrocarbon-based products. It also includes refining logistics and terminal operations.
  • Gathering & Processing (G&P): This segment focuses on gathering, processing, and transporting natural gas, as well as transporting, fractionating, storing, and marketing natural gas liquids (NGLs).

Financial Performance

As of September 30, 2024, MPLX reported the following financial highlights:

Financial Metric Three Months Ended September 30, 2024 Three Months Ended September 30, 2023 Variance Nine Months Ended September 30, 2024 Nine Months Ended September 30, 2023 Variance
Total Revenues and Other Income $2,972 million $2,912 million $60 million $8,870 million $8,315 million $555 million
Net Income $1,047 million $928 million $119 million $3,248 million $2,822 million $426 million
Adjusted EBITDA $1,714 million $1,596 million $118 million $5,002 million $4,646 million $356 million
Distributable Cash Flow (DCF) $1,446 million $1,373 million $73 million $4,220 million $3,956 million $264 million

Capital Expenditures

MPLX's capital expenditures for growth and maintenance are significant due to the capital-intensive nature of its operations.

Type of Capital Expenditure Nine Months Ended September 30, 2024 Nine Months Ended September 30, 2023
Growth Capital Expenditures $675 million $516 million
Maintenance Capital Expenditures $151 million $113 million
Total Capital Expenditures $793 million $608 million

Debt and Liquidity

As of September 30, 2024, MPLX has a significant amount of outstanding debt:

Debt Type Carrying Value (in millions) Fair Value (in millions)
Outstanding Debt $22,209 million $21,494 million

MPLX's credit ratings as of September 30, 2024, are as follows:

Rating Agency Rating Outlook
Moody's Baa2 Stable
Standard & Poor's BBB Stable
Fitch BBB Stable

Distributions

MPLX declared the following cash distributions:

Distribution Type Three Months Ended September 30, 2024 Three Months Ended September 30, 2023
Common Unitholder Distributions $974 million $851 million
Series A Preferred Unit Distributions $6 million $25 million
Series B Preferred Unit Distributions $0 million $5 million

Pricing Information

Pricing for key commodities as of September 30, 2024:

Commodity Price
Natural Gas NYMEX HH ($ per MMBtu) $2.23
C2 + NGL Pricing ($ per gallon) $0.67

Equity Method Investments

MPLX's income from equity method investments for the three months ended September 30, 2024:

Investment Income (Loss) (in millions)
BANGL, LLC ($3)
Illinois Extension Pipeline Company, L.L.C. $15
LOOP LLC $3
MarEn Bakken Company LLC $23
WPC Parent, LLC $16
Other $26
Total Income from Equity Method Investments $149


How MPLX LP (MPLX) Makes Money

Business Segments

MPLX operates through two primary segments: Logistics & Storage (L&S) and Gathering & Processing (G&P).

Logistics & Storage (L&S)

The L&S segment is responsible for gathering, transporting, storing, and distributing crude oil, refined products, and other hydrocarbon-based products. This segment also includes refining logistics and fuels distribution.

In the third quarter of 2024, the L&S segment reported:

Item Q3 2024 (in millions) Q3 2023 (in millions)
Service Revenue $1,158 $1,130
Rental Income $223 $216
Product Related Revenue $5 $6
Total Segment Revenue $1,617 $1,591

Gathering & Processing (G&P)

The G&P segment focuses on gathering, processing, and transporting natural gas, as well as transporting, fractionating, storing, and marketing natural gas liquids (NGLs).

For the third quarter of 2024, the G&P segment reported:

Item Q3 2024 (in millions) Q3 2023 (in millions)
Service Revenue $709 $641
Product Sales $433 $478
Total Segment Revenue $1,191 $1,274

Revenue Growth

Total revenues and other income for MPLX in the third quarter of 2024 reached $2.972 billion, an increase from $2.912 billion in the same quarter of 2023. The revenue growth was attributed to:

  • Higher pipeline tariff rates
  • Consolidation of MarkWest Torñado GP, L.L.C.
  • Acquisition of additional ownership in the Utica basin

Cost Structure

In the third quarter of 2024, MPLX's total costs and expenses were $1.697 billion, compared to $1.758 billion in Q3 2023. Key cost components included:

  • Cost of Revenues: $404 million (Q3 2024) vs. $367 million (Q3 2023)
  • Purchased Product Costs: $403 million (Q3 2024) vs. $474 million (Q3 2023)
  • Depreciation and Amortization: $322 million (Q3 2024) vs. $301 million (Q3 2023)

Net Income and Adjusted EBITDA

Net income attributable to MPLX LP for the third quarter of 2024 was $1.037 billion, compared to $918 million in Q3 2023. Adjusted EBITDA attributable to MPLX LP for the same period was $1.714 billion, up from $1.596 billion in Q3 2023.

Distributions to Unitholders

On October 29, 2024, MPLX declared a cash distribution of $974 million, or $0.9565 per common unit. This distribution is a significant increase from the $851 million declared in Q3 2023.

Distribution Type Q3 2024 (in millions) Q3 2023 (in millions)
Common Unitholder Distributions $974 $851
Series A Preferred Distributions $6 $25
Series B Preferred Distributions $0 $0
Total Cash Distributions $980 $876

Capital Expenditures

MPLX's capital expenditures for the first nine months of 2024 totaled $793 million, including:

  • Growth Capital Expenditures: $675 million
  • Maintenance Capital Expenditures: $118 million

These investments are focused on expanding processing capacity in key regions such as the Marcellus and Permian basins.

Equity Method Investments

Income from equity method investments for the third quarter of 2024 was $149 million, down from $159 million in Q3 2023. This reflects the performance of various joint ventures in which MPLX holds stakes.

Financial Position

As of September 30, 2024, MPLX had total assets of approximately $28.124 billion, with total liabilities of $22.209 billion. The partnership's cash and cash equivalents stood at $2.426 billion.

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Resources:

  1. MPLX LP (MPLX) Financial Statements – Access the full quarterly financial statements for Q3 2024 to get an in-depth view of MPLX LP (MPLX)' financial performance, including balance sheets, income statements, and cash flow statements.
  2. SEC Filings – View MPLX LP (MPLX)' latest filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) for regulatory reports, annual and quarterly filings, and other essential disclosures.