News & Updates
Williams Delivers Strong Third-Quarter 2025 Results
Williams Delivers Strong Third-Quarter 2025 Results
TULSA, Okla., Nov. 03 /BusinessWire/ -- Williams (NYSE:WMB) today announced its unaudited financial results for the three and nine months ended Sept. 30, 2025.Natural gas focused strategy continues to drive key financial metrics
- GAAP net income: $646 million, or $0.53 per diluted share (EPS)
- Adjusted net income: $603 million, or $0.49 per diluted share (Adj. EPS), up 14% vs. 3Q 2024
- Adjusted EBITDA: $1.920 billion, up $217 million or 13% vs. 3Q 2024
- Cash flow from operations (CFFO): $1.439 billion, up $196 million or 16% vs. 3Q 2024
- Available funds from operations (AFFO): $1.449 billion, up $163 million or 13% vs. 3Q 2024
- Dividend coverage ratio: 2.37x (AFFO basis)
Advanced key growth projects and executed strategic priorities
- Placed in service Transco's Alabama Georgia Connector and Commonwealth Energy Connector expansion projects as well as Northwest Pipeline's Stanfield South project
- Placed in service Gulf deepwater Shenandoah and Salamanca expansions
- Completed Louisiana Energy Gateway and Haynesville West expansion
- Expanded scope of Socrates by ~$400 million to $2 billion and announced two additional Power Innovation projects
- Accelerated wellhead to water strategy with Haynesville E&P sale and strategic partnership with Woodside
- Signed precedent agreements for Pine Prairie storage expansion, MountainWest's Green River West expansion and Transco's Wharton West expansion
CEO Perspective
Chad Zamarin, president and chief executive officer, made the following comments:
"Williams delivered another quarter of excellent financial results with Adjusted EBITDA up 13% over third quarter last year, reflecting the growing strength of our natural gas strategy. Expansions to our Transco and Gulf assets, as well as higher natural gas gathering and processing volumes in the Northeast and West, drove earnings growth in the quarter.
"Our teams placed critical projects into service in the Southeast, the Pacific Northwest, in Louisiana and in the deepwater Gulf, demonstrating growth and performance across our nationwide footprint. In addition, we increased our investment in the Socrates project and announced two new Power Innovation projects. Finally, we announced the sale of our South Mansfield upstream assets to JERA and a strategic partnership with Woodside Energy. The significant accomplishments achieved in the third quarter strengthen our core business and further position Williams to continue our impressive track record of growth."
Zamarin added, "Looking ahead, we are reaffirming our previously raised guidance for 2025, with an EBITDA midpoint of $7.750 billion that has been raised $350 million since original guidance was set. As we focus on finishing the year strong, we are also setting our sights to the future and Williams is incredibly well positioned to build upon the impressive growth we have delivered over the past five years. With a strong balance sheet, a solid foundation of core assets, a focused and motivated team and a growing backlog of fully contracted projects now extending beyond 2030, Williams remains uniquely positioned to benefit from the accelerating demand for natural gas."
GAAP Measures
Third-quarter 2025 net income decreased by $59 million, while year-to-date 2025 net income increased by $145 million compared to the prior year. Both comparative periods benefited from:
- Higher service revenues of $210 million and $512 million, respectively, driven by Transco's higher net rates and expansion projects, new Gulf volumes, and higher gathering and processing volumes including acquisitions,
- Favorable changes of $38 million and $265 million, respectively, in net unrealized gains/losses on commodity derivatives, and
- Higher net realized sales from upstream operations including contributions from the fourth-quarter 2024 Crowheart acquisition.
These favorable changes were unfavorably impacted by:
- The absence of third-quarter 2024 gains of $149 million from the sale of our interests in Aux Sable and $127 million associated with the Discovery Acquisition.
- Lower equity allowance for funds used during construction (equity AFUDC) associated with capital projects at our regulated natural gas pipelines,
- A $25 million write-off in third-quarter 2025 of certain compression assets in the West,
- Higher net interest expense, and
- A higher provision for income taxes, including $25 million recorded in third-quarter 2025 associated with an increase in the estimated deferred state income tax rate.
- Higher operating and administrative costs for the year-to-date period were driven by recent acquisitions and assets placed in service, partially offset by the absence of prior year charges associated with a change in payroll policy. For the quarterly period, these impacts were largely offsetting.
- The year-to-date period also reflected higher depreciation expense, while the quarterly period had little change as higher depreciation expense was offset by a one-time benefit associated with the settlement-in-principle of Transco's rate case.
Third-quarter and year-to-date 2025 cash flow from operations increased compared to the prior year primarily due to higher operating results exclusive of non-cash items. The year-to-date period was also impacted by favorable net changes to derivative collateral requirements, favorable net changes in working capital, and increased distributions from equity-method investees.
Non-GAAP Measures
Third-quarter and year-to-date 2025 Adjusted EBITDA increased by $217 million and $413 million, respectively, over the prior year, driven by the previously described increases in service revenues and net realized sales from upstream operations, partially offset by higher operating and administrative costs and lower equity AFUDC.
Third-quarter and year-to-date 2025 Adjusted Net Income improved by $75 million and $131 million, respectively, over the prior year, driven by the previously described impacts to net income, adjusted primarily to remove the effects of net unrealized gains/losses on commodity derivatives, the third-quarter 2024 gains related to Aux Sable and Discovery, the third-quarter 2025 write-off charge, and the third-quarter 2025 income tax expense associated with the increase in the estimated deferred state income tax rate, as well as the related income tax effects of such adjustments.
Third-quarter and year-to-date 2025 Available Funds From Operations (AFFO) increased by $163 million and $168 million, respectively, compared to the prior year primarily due to higher adjusted operating results exclusive of noncash items, partially offset by higher dividends and distributions paid to noncontrolling interests. The year-to-date period also benefited from higher distributions from equity-method investees.
Business Segment Results & Form 10-Q
Williams' operations are comprised of the following reportable segments: Transmission, Power & Gulf, Northeast G&P, West and Gas & NGL Marketing Services, as well as Other. For more information, see the company's third-quarter 2025 Form 10-Q.
Transmission, Power & Gulf
Third-quarter and year-to-date 2025 Modified and Adjusted EBITDA improved compared to the prior year driven by Transco's higher net rates and expansion projects, as well as new Gulf volumes, partially offset by lower equity AFUDC. Modified EBITDA for the 2024 periods was impacted by one-time acquisition costs and the unfavorable impact of a change in payroll policy, which are excluded from Adjusted EBITDA, while adjusted EBITDA for the 2025 periods reflect adjustments related to Transco's rate case and a net gain related to certain asset retirements.
Northeast G&P
Third-quarter and year-to-date 2025 Modified and Adjusted EBITDA increased compared to the prior year driven primarily by higher gathering volumes at Bradford. The year-to-date period also benefited from higher volumes at Ohio Valley Midstream and Cardinal, partially offset by the absence of Aux Sable, which was sold in third-quarter 2024.
West
Third-quarter and year-to-date 2025 Modified and Adjusted EBITDA increased compared to the prior year driven by the Louisiana Energy Gateway project coming into service, new volumes from the 2025 Rimrock and Saber acquisitions, and higher volumes in the Haynesville, partially offset by lower minimum volume commitment (MVC) revenues in the Eagle Ford. The year-to-date period also benefited from higher commodity margins. Modified EBITDA for both the quarterly and year-to-date periods was impacted by a $25 million write-off of certain compression assets in third-quarter 2025, which is excluded from Adjusted EBITDA.
Gas & NGL Marketing Services
Third-quarter 2025 Modified EBITDA increased from the prior year primarily reflecting a $36 million net favorable change in unrealized gains/losses on commodity derivatives, which is excluded from Adjusted EBITDA. Year-to-date 2025 Modified EBITDA also increased from the prior year reflecting a $230 million net favorable change in unrealized gains/losses on commodity derivatives, which is excluded from Adjusted EBITDA. Both periods reflected lower gas marketing margins partially offset by proportional EBITDA from the March 2025 investment in Cogentrix.
Other
The increases in third-quarter and year-to-date 2025 Modified and Adjusted EBITDA compared to the prior year reflects contributions from the fourth-quarter 2024 Crowheart acquisition. Year-to-date Modified EBITDA also includes a $35 million net favorable change in unrealized gains/losses on commodity derivatives, which is excluded from Adjusted EBITDA.
2025 Financial Guidance
The company continues to expect 2025 Adjusted EBITDA guidance midpoint of $7.75 billion within the range of between $7.6 billion and $7.9 billion. The company has increased its 2025 growth capex by $500 million to between $3.95 billion and $4.25 billion in connection with the recently announced decision to invest in Woodside Energy's Louisiana LNG project. Maintenance capex remains between $650 million and $750 million, excluding capital for emissions reduction and modernization initiatives. Williams continues to expect a leverage ratio midpoint for 2025 of ~3.7x and has increased the dividend by 5.3% on an annualized basis to $2.00 in 2025 from $1.90 in 2024.
Williams' Third-Quarter 2025 Materials to be Posted Shortly; Q&A Webcast Scheduled for Tomorrow
Williams' third-quarter 2025 earnings presentation will be posted at www.williams.com. The company's third-quarter 2025 earnings conference call and webcast with analysts and investors is scheduled for Tuesday, Nov. 4, at 9:30 a.m. Eastern Time (8:30 a.m. Central Time). Participants who wish to join the call by phone must register using the following link: https://register-conf.media-server.com/register/BIf717155f3c1d4f85b8cab5065ade2228
A webcast link to the conference call will be provided on Williams' Investor Relations website. A replay of the webcast will also be available on the website for at least 90 days following the event.
About Williams
Williams (NYSE: WMB) is a trusted energy industry leader committed to safely, reliably and responsibly meeting growing energy demand. We use our infrastructure to deliver one third of the nation's natural gas to where it's needed most, supplying the energy used to heat our homes, cook our food and generate low-carbon electricity. For over a century, we've been driven by a passion for doing things the right way. Today, our team of problem solvers is leading the charge into the clean energy future. Learn more at www.williams.com.
Non-GAAP Measures
This news release and accompanying materials may include certain financial measures - adjusted EBITDA, adjusted income ("earnings"), adjusted earnings per share, available funds from operations and dividend coverage ratio - that are non-GAAP financial measures as defined under the rules of the SEC.
Our segment performance measure, modified EBITDA, is defined as net income (loss) before income (loss) from discontinued operations, income tax expense, net interest expense, equity earnings from equity-method investments, other net investing income, impairments of equity investments and goodwill, depreciation and amortization expense, and accretion expense associated with asset retirement obligations for nonregulated operations. We also add our proportional ownership share (based on ownership interest) of modified EBITDA of equity-method investments, including our indirect share from interests owned by equity-method investees.
Adjusted EBITDA further excludes items of income or loss that we characterize as unrepresentative of our ongoing operations. Such items are excluded from net income to determine adjusted income and adjusted earnings per share. Management believes this measure provides investors meaningful insight into results from ongoing operations.
Available funds from operations (AFFO) is defined as cash flow from operations excluding the effect of changes in working capital and certain other changes in noncurrent assets and liabilities, reduced by preferred dividends and net distributions to noncontrolling interests. AFFO may be adjusted to exclude certain items that we characterize as unrepresentative of our ongoing operations.
This news release is accompanied by a reconciliation of these non-GAAP financial measures to their nearest GAAP financial measures. Management uses these financial measures because they are accepted financial indicators used by investors to compare company performance. In addition, management believes that these measures provide investors an enhanced perspective of the operating performance of assets and the cash that the business is generating.
Neither adjusted EBITDA, adjusted income, nor available funds from operations are intended to represent cash flows for the period, nor are they presented as an alternative to net income or cash flow from operations. They should not be considered in isolation or as substitutes for a measure of performance prepared in accordance with United States generally accepted accounting principles.
Forward-Looking Statements
The reports, filings, and other public announcements of The Williams Companies, Inc. (Williams) may contain or incorporate by reference statements that do not directly or exclusively relate to historical facts. Such statements are "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (Securities Act), and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (Exchange Act). These forward-looking statements relate to anticipated financial performance, management's plans and objectives for future operations, business prospects, outcomes of regulatory proceedings, market conditions, and other matters. We make these forward-looking statements in reliance on the safe harbor protections provided under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995.
All statements, other than statements of historical facts, included in this report that address activities, events, or developments that we expect, believe, or anticipate will exist or may occur in the future, are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements can be identified by various forms of words such as "anticipates," "believes," "seeks," "could," "may," "should," "continues," "estimates," "expects," "forecasts," "intends," "might," "goals," "objectives," "targets," "planned," "potential," "projects," "scheduled," "will," "assumes," "guidance," "outlook," "in-service date," or other similar expressions. These forward-looking statements are based on management's beliefs and assumptions and on information currently available to management and include, among others, statements regarding:
- Levels of dividends to Williams' stockholders;
- Future credit ratings of Williams and its affiliates;
- Amounts and nature of future capital expenditures;
- Expansion and growth of business and operations;
- Expected in-service dates for capital projects;
- Financial condition and liquidity;
- Business strategy;
- Cash flow from operations or results of operations;
- Rate case filings;
- Seasonality of certain business components;
- Natural gas, natural gas liquids, and crude oil prices, supply, and demand;
- Demand for services.
Forward-looking statements are based on numerous assumptions, uncertainties, and risks that could cause future events or results to be materially different from those stated or implied in this report. Many of the factors that will determine these results are beyond our ability to control or predict. Specific factors that could cause actual results to differ from results contemplated by the forward-looking statements include, among others, the following:
- Availability of supplies, market demand, and volatility of prices;
- Development and rate of adoption of alternative energy sources;
- The impact of existing and future laws and regulations, the regulatory environment, environmental matters, and litigation, as well as our ability and the ability of other energy companies with whom we conduct or seek to conduct business, to obtain necessary permits and approvals, and our ability to achieve favorable rate proceeding outcomes;
- Exposure to the credit risk of customers and counterparties;
- Our ability to acquire new businesses and assets and successfully integrate those operations and assets into existing businesses as well as successfully expand our facilities, and consummate asset sales on acceptable terms;
- The ability to successfully identify, evaluate, and timely execute our capital projects and investment opportunities;
- The strength and financial resources of our competitors and the effects of competition;
- The amount of cash distributions from and capital requirements of our investments and joint ventures in which we participate;
- The ability to effectively execute our financing plan;
- Increasing scrutiny and changing expectations from stakeholders with respect to environmental, social, and governance practices;
- The physical and financial risks associated with climate change;
- The impacts of operational and developmental hazards and unforeseen interruptions;
- The risks resulting from outbreaks or other public health crises;
- Risks associated with weather and natural phenomena, including climate conditions and physical damage to our facilities;
- Acts of terrorism, cybersecurity incidents, and related disruptions;
- Costs and funding obligations for defined benefit pension plans and other postretirement benefit plans;
- Changes in maintenance and construction costs, as well as our ability to obtain sufficient construction-related inputs, including skilled labor;
- Inflation, interest rates, tariffs on foreign-made materials and goods (including steel and steel pipes) necessary to our business, and general economic conditions (including future disruptions and volatility in the global credit markets and the impact of these events on customers and suppliers);
- Risks related to financing, including restrictions stemming from debt agreements, future changes in credit ratings as determined by nationally recognized credit rating agencies, and the availability and cost of capital;
- The ability of the members of the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries and other oil exporting nations to agree to and maintain oil price and production controls and the impact on domestic production;
- Changes in the current geopolitical situation, including the Russian invasion of Ukraine and conflicts in the Middle East;
- Changes in U.S. governmental administration and policies;
- Whether we are able to pay current and expected levels of dividends;
- Additional risks described in our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).
Given the uncertainties and risk factors that could cause our actual results to differ materially from those contained in any forward-looking statement, we caution investors not to unduly rely on our forward-looking statements. We disclaim any obligations to, and do not intend to, update the above list or announce publicly the result of any revisions to any of the forward-looking statements to reflect future events or developments.
In addition to causing our actual results to differ, the factors listed above and referred to below may cause our intentions to change from those statements of intention set forth in this report. Such changes in our intentions may also cause our results to differ. We may change our intentions, at any time and without notice, based upon changes in such factors, our assumptions, or otherwise.
Because forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties, we caution that there are important factors, in addition to those listed above, that may cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in the forward-looking statements. For a detailed discussion of those factors, see (a) Part I, Item 1A. Risk Factors in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2024, as filed with the SEC on February 25, 2025, and (b) Part II, Item 1A. Risk Factors in subsequent Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q.
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