AM
Antero Midstream Corp (AM)·Q3 2025 Earnings Summary
Executive Summary
- Q3 2025 delivered solid operational growth and cash generation: revenue $294.8M, Adjusted EBITDA $281.2M, Free Cash Flow after dividends $77.8M, leverage down to 2.7x .
- Versus S&P Global consensus, AM beat on revenue and Adjusted EBITDA but missed on EPS: revenue $294.8M vs $291.5M*, EBITDA $281.2M vs $279.1M*, GAAP EPS $0.24 vs $0.2513*, Adjusted/Normalized EPS $0.27 vs $0.2921*; top-line strength and volume growth offset by non-cash amortization and depreciation .
- No new FY2025 guidance changes in Q3; the Q2 update raised Net Income/Adj. Net Income/Adj. EBITDA by $10M and lifted FCF before/after dividends by $25M; dividend held at $0.90 annualized (Q3 declared $0.225) .
- Strategic catalysts: completed integrated water system across the liquids-rich Marcellus corridor, bond refinancing of 2027 notes to 2033 at 5.75%, and optionality tied to AI datacenter and in-basin demand (including behind-the-meter exploration) .
What Went Well and What Went Wrong
What Went Well
- Volumes up year-over-year: low-pressure gathering +5%, compression +5%, JV processing +6%, and freshwater +30%, underscoring throughput strength and infrastructure utilization .
- Free Cash Flow after dividends nearly doubled YoY to $77.8M, supporting $41M of share repurchases and continued deleveraging to 2.7x; “nearly doubling from last year” enabled debt reduction and buybacks per CFO .
- Strategic execution: integrated water system completed across the liquids-rich corridor; CEO: “world-class integrated water system” with record completion efficiency, reinforcing service quality and growth readiness .
What Went Wrong
- EPS missed consensus on both GAAP ($0.24 vs $0.2513*) and Adjusted ($0.27 vs $0.2921*), impacted by non-cash amortization ($17.7M) and depreciation ($34.5M) and modest facility idling and impairment charges .
- Freshwater volumes declined sequentially (92 MBbl/d in Q3 vs 98 MBbl/d in Q2), reflecting completion cadence with one crew despite yoy strength .
- Net income margin contracted sequentially as higher depreciation and mix effects weighed on GAAP EPS, despite EBITDA resilience (EBITDA margin %: 73.5–74.5% last three quarters*) *.
Financial Results
Segment breakdown (Q3 2025):
KPIs (average daily volumes):
Vs. Wall Street estimates (S&P Global):
Values with asterisk (*) retrieved from S&P Global.
Guidance Changes
Earnings Call Themes & Trends
Management Commentary
- CEO: “Fresh water delivery volumes increased by 30% year-over-year… highlighting the deliverability, consistency, and importance of Antero Midstream’s world-class integrated water system” .
- CFO: “Free Cash Flow after dividends nearly doubling from last year… allowed us to reduce absolute debt while returning incremental capital to shareholders” .
- CFO: “Credit rating upgrade… refinance nearest-term debt maturity out to 2033 at an attractive coupon… leaves AM with no near-term maturities” .
- CFO (call): “Leverage down to 2.7x… refinancing extended maturity to 2033 at the same 5.75% coupon; over $870M of liquidity” .
- CEO (call): “First dry gas Marcellus pad in over a decade on existing underutilized midstream capacity… proof of concept for future in-basin demand growth from data centers and power generation” .
Q&A Highlights
- In-basin demand and behind-the-meter power: AR/AM exploring options at Sherwood; multi-party hurdles remain, no near-term announcements expected .
- Underutilized assets optionality: ~150,000 acres with available HP/compression capacity from Crestwood (2022) and Summit (2024) bolt-ons; potential for low capital intensity growth .
- Connectivity for 10 undeveloped AR locations: ~$1M per well for LP and water; incremental capex “maybe $10M” total .
- Capital allocation: balanced approach (~50/50) between share repurchases and debt reduction going forward .
- Dry gas pad proof-of-concept: capital intensity could decline if development shifts into regions with existing infrastructure; optionality aligns with in-basin demand and commodity curves .
Estimates Context
- Q3 2025 vs S&P Global consensus: revenue beat ($294.8M vs $291.5M*), Adjusted EBITDA beat ($281.2M vs $279.1M*), GAAP EPS miss ($0.24 vs $0.2513*), Adjusted/Normalized EPS miss ($0.27 vs $0.2921*) .
- Potential estimate implications: stronger throughput and segment revenue may support top-line and EBITDA revisions; EPS modeling should reflect recurring amortization of customer relationships ($17.7M) and depreciation ($34.5M), plus facility idling and minor impairment .
Values with asterisk (*) retrieved from S&P Global.
Key Takeaways for Investors
- Operational momentum continues with yoy volume growth and >100% JV processing utilization; infrastructure is positioned for incremental demand .
- Cash generation accelerating: FCF after dividends $77.8M and leverage at 2.7x, creating room for continued buybacks and debt reduction .
- Capital returns remain a focus: Q3 dividend $0.225 and $41M in repurchases; ~$385M authorization remaining supports ongoing return of capital .
- Balance sheet improved: credit upgrade and 2033 notes reduce near-term refinancing risk, sustaining liquidity and lowering financing friction .
- Strategic optionality: integrated water system completed; dry gas pad proof-of-concept leverages underutilized assets; potential to benefit from AI datacenter and regional power demand .
- Near-term modeling: expect top-line/EBITDA resilience; incorporate non-cash amortization/depreciation in EPS forecasts to avoid overestimating GAAP EPS vs normalized benchmarks .
- Watch catalysts: execution on behind-the-meter initiatives, AR leasing/acquisitions (~$260M) adding ~80 locations, and any 2026 program updates could drive estimate and multiple expansion .
Additional Q3 2025 disclosures
- Return of capital release: declared Q3 dividend ($0.225) and repurchased
2.3M shares ($41.3M) . - Bond press release: priced $650M 5.75% senior notes due 2033, proceeds used to redeem 2027 notes .