Delek US - Q2 2023
August 7, 2023
Transcript
Operator (participant)
Good morning, welcome to the Delek US Second Quarter Earnings Conference Call. All participants will be in listen-only mode. Should you need assistance, please signal a conference specialist by pressing the star key followed by 0. After today's presentation, there will be an opportunity to ask questions. To ask a question, you may press star, then 1 on your telephone keypad. To withdraw your question, please press star, then 2. Please note, this event is being recorded. I would now like to turn the conference over to Rosy Zuklic, Vice President of Investor Relations. Please go ahead.
Rosy Zuklic (VP of Investor Relations)
Good morning, welcome to the Delek US Second Quarter Earnings Conference Call. Participants on today's call will include Avigal Soreq, President and CEO, Joseph Israel, EVP Operations, Reuven Spiegel, EVP and Chief Financial Officer, Mark Hobbs, EVP Corporate Development. Today's presentation material can be found on the Investor Relations section of the Delek US website. Slide two contains our safe harbor statement regarding forward-looking statements. We'll be making forward-looking statement during today's call. These statements involve risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results to differ materially from today's comments. Factors that could cause actual results to differ are included here, as well as in our SEC filings. The company assumes no obligation to update any forward-looking statements. I will now turn the call over to Avigal for opening remarks.
Avigal Soreq (President and CEO)
Good morning, and thank you for joining us today. During the second quarter, we delivered solid financial results. Our team executed well and stayed focused on our key objectives. We continued to do what we said we would do. We kept our commitment to return value to shareholders. We target a dividend that is competitive and sustainable. Giving the market outlook, our share buyback program give us the ability to further reward our investors in the near and mid-term. Year to date, we have returned $95 million towards dividend and share, and share buybacks. Since June of last year, to the end of this week, we have returned close to $275 million to investors. We also recognize there is a value in a strong balance sheet and financial flexibility. We continue to improve the efficiency of our cost structure.
G&A improving the quarter. OpEx will follow. I'm pleased with our progress. Rosy will give more details in the financial section. Turning to the operation during the quarter, we ran well through most of our system. Improving the safety and reliability of our refining system is fundamental. During the quarter, we made steps in the right direction. We continue to make good progress. Our Refining segment reflects strong contribution for our wholesale and asphalt businesses, driven by local market demand. In addition, our wholesale business benefited from higher location differentials. We see this trend continuing. From a macro standpoint, in the month of July, our benchmark U.S. Gulf Coast crack spread improved by approximately $5 per barrel, which further improve our outlook for the year. Crude is also a good story for us.
We see the heavy light differential continue to compress, which is favorable for our configuration, as our system is fully balanced at 95% light with no excess naphtha. With the growth we see in the Permian production, we expect to be favorable in the Midland differential. Our Logistics segment delivered strong results with Adjusted EBITDA of $91 million this quarter. Our prime acreage is outperforming the Permian Basin. We now forecast around $100 million a quarter from this segment, starting in Q4 of this year. Retail also posted a solid quarter. This was driven by higher fuel volume, increased average margin, and higher inside store sales. Our team continued to successfully advance our strategy. I want to thank each and every team member for their contribution.
There is still value to unlock as we continue to execute on our strategic initiative. Now, I would like to turn the call over to Joseph, who will provide additional color on our operation.
Joseph Israel (Executive VP, Operations)
Thank you, Avigal. In the second quarter, our team safely processed 295,000 barrels per day of total throughput. Supported by favorable market conditions in our markets, the refining system generated $201 million of Adjusted EBITDA. In Tyler, our throughput in the second quarter was approximately 77,000 barrels per day. Production margin in the quarter was $13.87 per barrel. Operating expenses were $3.78 per barrel. In the third quarter, the estimated total throughput in Tyler is in the 74,000-78,000 barrels per day range. In El Dorado, total throughput in the quarter was approximately 73,000 barrels per day, and short of our guidance, mainly due to a third-party transformer failure, which led to a power outage-related shutdown.
Our production margin was $6.06 per barrel, including an unfavorable impact of approximately $1.50 per barrel due to the power outage. Operating expenses were $5 per barrel. Estimated throughput for the third quarter is in the 76,000-80,000 barrels per day range. In Big Spring, total throughput for the quarter was approximately 62,000 barrels per day, approximately 8,000 barrels per day under our guidance, mostly due to unplanned diesel hydrotreater catalyst change and vacuum unit maintenance. Production margin was $11.55 per barrel, including an estimated unfavorable $4.30 per barrel impact from the unplanned events. Operating expenses in Big Spring were $8.91 per barrel, including approximately $0.50 per barrel of the unplanned maintenance activities.
To support safe and reliable operations in Big Spring, we are investing this year in mechanical integrity and sustaining regulatory items. In the second quarter, approximately $2.30 per barrel of our reported operating expense were related to that important initiative. Our planned cost going forward is approximately $1 per barrel through the third and fourth quarter of this year. The estimated third quarter throughput in Big Spring is in the 64,000-70,000 barrels per day range. In Krotz Springs, total throughput was approximately 83,000 barrels per day. Our production margin was $6.21 per barrel, and operating expenses were $4.74 per barrel. Planned throughput in the third quarter is in the 78,000-82,000 barrels per day range.
Compared with the first quarter, the system benefited mainly from the improved gasoline crack spreads and reduced RVO cost in the second quarter, while jet fuel and NGL crack spreads provided some headwinds. Strong asphalt and wholesale marketing added $82 million to our second quarter Refining segment earnings, outside of our reported margins at each of the refineries and their associated capture rates. Approximately $30 million of that added value was generated in Krotz Springs, driven by light cycle oil, high sulfur diesel, and alkylate sales. $14 million were generated by Tyler Wholesale Marketing. Approximately $27 million were generated in El Dorado and close to $11 million in Big Spring, both driven by asphalt and wholesale marketing. Overall, estimated system throughput in the third quarter is in the 292,000-310,000 barrels per day range.
We continue to focus on safety, reliability, and environmental compliance as our top priorities, and we expect margin capture and cost performance to follow. With regards to DKL, as mentioned by Avigal, we are clearly beneficiaries of the strong Permian Basin growth, also at the logistics business level. The Midland Gathering System volumes have more than doubled from a year ago, and our team has demonstrated solid operations and growth, which are well reflected in the financial results. I will now turn the call over to Rosy for the financial variance.
Rosy Zuklic (VP of Investor Relations)
Thanks, Joseph. I'll start on slide 5 of our presentation material. For the second quarter of 2023, Delek US had a net loss of $8 million, or $0.13 per share. Adjusted net income was $65 million, or $1 per share, and Adjusted EBITDA was $259 million. Cash flow from operations was $95 million. On slide 6, we provide a waterfall of our adjusted EBITDA by segment from the first quarter to the second quarter of 2023. The decrease was primarily from lower results in refining, largely reflecting the decrease in crack spreads. The Gulf Coast 5-3-2 crack averaged $25.54 for the quarter, down from $32.55 in the first quarter.
Strong performance from our wholesale and asphalt businesses, as well as draws on inventory at quarter end, partly offset the lower cracks. Retail improved versus last quarter as crude prices fell, improving pricing at the retail level. Volumes were higher, consistent with the season. Moving to slide 7 to discuss cash flow. We drew $43 million in cash during the quarter, ending the second quarter with $822 million in cash. The $95 million in operating activities includes approximately $80 million of cash outflows for the inventory draws executed late in the quarter. The timing of the inventory draws is the primary reason net debt increased this quarter. We received the cash for these sales in July. Investing activities of $58 million is mainly for capital expenditures. Financing activities of $81 million primarily reflects return to shareholders.
This includes $40 million in buybacks, $15 million in dividends, and $10 million in distribution payments. On slide 8, we show capital expenditures. Year to date, we have spent $253 million. We estimate the full year to remain at approximately $350 million. Net debt is broken out between Delek and Delek Logistics on slide 9. During the quarter, consolidated net debt increased by $79 million. The last slide covers outlook items for the third quarter of 2023. In addition to the throughput guidance Joseph provided, we expect operating expenses to be between $210 million and $220 million. This includes $10 million-$15 million related to the mechanical integrity work at the Big Spring refinery.
G&A to be between $65 million and $70 million, D&A to be between $85 million and $90 million. We expect net interest expense to be between $80 million and $85 million. Before we open the line for questions, a comment on our cost initiative efforts. Second quarter G&A, as reflected on the income statement, is $75.8 million. This includes $4.3 million of restructuring costs. Excluding this one-time expense, adjusted G&A for second quarter was in line with the first quarter of 2023. As provided in the guidance, we expect third quarter G&A to be lower, in the range of $65 million-$70 million, and now expect fourth quarter 2023 to be approximately $65 million. We are on track to meet our annual run rate cost savings of $90 million-$100 million as we exit 2024.
We will now open the line for questions.
Operator (participant)
We will now begin the question-and-answer session. To ask a question, you may press Star, then one on your telephone keypad. If you are using a speakerphone, please pick up your handset before pressing the keys. To withdraw your question, please press Star then two. At this time, we will pause momentarily to assemble our roster. Our first question comes from Manav Gupta with UBS. Please go ahead.
Manav Gupta (Senior Equity Analyst)
Good morning, guys. My only question here is, the other inventory impacts was a big number, about $96 billion. Can you help us understand all the components that went into that $96 billion other inventory number? Thank you.
Avigal Soreq (President and CEO)
Hey, Manav. Good morning. How are you? It's Avigal. Thanks for joining us today.
Manav Gupta (Senior Equity Analyst)
Thank you, sir.
Avigal Soreq (President and CEO)
Yeah, Manav, you know that we are working at, at FIFO, and the whole point of the inventory is to bring us back to LIFO. When we are showing the Adjusted EBITDA $260 million, that's the way to compare ourselves to our peers. That's the headline here, right? The headline is, we are FIFO. We want to go back to LIFO to be comparable. That's what we actually did on the adjustment. Simple and easy.
Manav Gupta (Senior Equity Analyst)
Just to be clear, no other adjustments, just from FIFO to LIFO?
Avigal Soreq (President and CEO)
Correct.
Manav Gupta (Senior Equity Analyst)
Thank you so much for taking my question.
Avigal Soreq (President and CEO)
Thanks.
Operator (participant)
The next question is from Matthew Blair with Tudor, Pickering, Holt. Please go ahead.
Matthew Blair (Managing Director)
Hey, good morning. Is there any update to the some of the parts efforts? Is the goal still to get the DKL debt off the DK balance sheet? Are there some smaller things you can do in, in the meantime, is there any update on the timing of all of this?
Avigal Soreq (President and CEO)
Yeah, Matt, Matt, thank you for joining us today. I will start, and I will let Mark Hobbs, who's sitting here with me, to follow. Just to give you a kind of high-level comments, we are extremely focused on some of the parts, some of the management compensation related to some of the parts, and we are very well aware for the inherent value of our asset, mainly logistics, retail, but also W2W and the biodiesel plant we have. We are actively working to execute the plan. I would like to Mark to-
Mark Hobbs (EVP Corporate Development)
Yeah, sure, Avigal, and, and thanks for the question, Matt. You know, as, as we've said in the past, and, and this is still the case, you know, we continue to, to believe that our current share price does not fully reflect the, the value of our respective business segments. In evaluating the sum of the parts, you know, we've analyzed and looked at all the options that are available to us, and we do believe that there's a clear path on the actions that we need to take, and we are working hard to execute on that plan. We're not in a position to announce anything, you know, at this time, but I can tell you that we're working hard on the initiative, and it's complicated. It takes time.
We're not gonna rush into anything, across unlocking the value across any of our business segments, as we've talked about in the past. We are committed to unlocking the value. We're committed to doing what's in the best interest of all of our stakeholders. When you think about, whether it's across, you know, midstream, retail, Wink to Webster, all the things that we've discussed in the past, you know, all of those things are, are, are things that we're evaluating. As I said, you know, we do have a, a clear path forward that we're working on. I'll leave it at that.
Matthew Blair (Managing Director)
Okay, sounds good. The trading and supply contribution of $115 million in Q2 seemed quite large, especially relative to the loss in Q1. Could you talk about what drove that gain? You know, for example, was the wholesale side, was that, was that due to better, like, retail fundamentals? Then the asphalt contribution, was that due to just the falling crude price in the quarter? Could you also talk about how that's trending in Q3? Finally, would you say that this is your regular business operations, or does it involve, you know, taking some risk on your side? Thank you.
Avigal Soreq (President and CEO)
Yeah. So very comprehensive question. I will try to give you as much clarity as we possibly can. I think Joseph did a great job on his prepared remarks of giving some color around $82 million of the 114, and actually outlined it by asset and by and by business stream. All of those assets, we see them as a core business, so assets that support the, the refinery, so it's very well something that it's repeatable. But now, Joseph, got into that area very, very well, and I will let him have some comments on that as well. Please, Joseph.
Joseph Israel (Executive VP, Operations)
Yeah, Matt, we, we mentioned the numbers per site in our prepared remarks. Let me add to you some information as we are making progress with visibility here and transparency. So, we move around 210,000 barrels per day of light products through our rack. In a typical quarter, we make $45 million-$50 million of contribution coming from the wholesale marketing. Obviously, different things create some volatility, ups and downs. This quarter was really good. At $60 million of the 82 was wholesale related. Most of it is really just the location advantage that we have in the markets we operate in. And then on the asphalt side, we do have 750,000 tons per year type of asphalt.
Approximately 75% of it is in, is in the El Dorado, driven by Oklahoma, Arkansas, POP-type type of pricing. 25% left is more of a Big Spring. In a good quarter, obviously in the season, we're making approximately $20 million of contribution. In the off-season, the way our transfer price work, it's probably around $5 million of positive contribution. This will give you a good start for the modeling efforts. I hope you all see it's real. The numbers outside the 82 are more inventories and derivatives type of numbers. Did I answer your question, Matt?
Matthew Blair (Managing Director)
Got it. Thank you very much.
Joseph Israel (Executive VP, Operations)
Thank you.
Matthew Blair (Managing Director)
Yes. Thank you, Joseph.
Operator (participant)
The next question is from Neil Mehta with Goldman Sachs. Please go ahead.
Nicolette Slusser (Equity Research Associate)
Hi, this is Nicolette Slusser on for Neil Mehta. Thanks for taking the time. The first question here is on the more macro side of things. Just any views you can share on the current product market and any additional thoughts around Midland spreads and where differentials may be trending? Thank you.
Avigal Soreq (President and CEO)
Yes, Nicolette, first of all, thanks so much for joining us today. We see the trend, positive, right? We see diesel at close to a five-year low. We see gasoline at five-year low. We see demand pick up. We see the recession field that was very well during the first half of the year, fading out just a little bit. That's also improved the crack spread for the right, for the right way. We see heavy turnaround season coming Q3, that we are not, that we are not Q3 and Q4, that we are not, that we are not part of this, as you're very well aware. So it seems that we see the heavy light differentials compressing, which is obviously going our way.
It seems, it seems that from, it's a good day to be refiners, those days. We see the trends, they continue. We see strong crack spread, we are very positive around it. Around Midland differentials, I think when the market, the market is a bit, underestimate the production and what can it make to differentials. At some point, I'm sure that we'll see that movement and will widening the Midland differential. We see production coming up, which is a positive. We see that on our own acreage. Obviously, in our own acreage, we were more than doubling versus last year. Generally speaking, we see the acreage, the, the Midland production coming up, it's a very positive news for us as well.
We are well-positioned, our configuration is good for this time being, and the demand looks solid and the inventory looks low. Overall, very, very constructive.
Nicolette Slusser (Equity Research Associate)
That's very helpful color. Thank you. Then the follow-up here is, is unrelated, but just wanted to ask about shareholder returns and the $25 million of share repurchases seen here subsequent to quarter end. Can you share any thoughts around the buyback cadence and what you may be seeing from either the macro or in the current share price that is contributing to the repurchase levels?
Avigal Soreq (President and CEO)
Nicolette, I will give more a broader view around capital allocation. you know, we see a dividend, first of all, competitive and sustainable through the cycle, and we are planning to maintain it and to hold it, or if we have opportunity in the future, even to upgrade that. That's something we are looking pretty consistently. obviously, we gave guidance for buyback, and if there are opportunities, we'll absolutely executing on them. we have also a balanced approach between buyback and the dividend and the debt reduction. again, we are seeing a constructive 2023, which allow us to have a good return to investors in all the three ways that I mentioned.
Nicolette Slusser (Equity Research Associate)
Great, thank you.
Operator (participant)
The next question is from Doug Leggate with Bank of America. Please go ahead.
Doug Leggate (Managing Director, Head of Global Oil and Gas Equity Research)
Thanks. Good morning, everyone.
Avigal Soreq (President and CEO)
Good morning.
Doug Leggate (Managing Director, Head of Global Oil and Gas Equity Research)
Avigal or, or, or Joe, I'm not sure who wants to take this, but Joe, you, you've been there now for, I guess you've been there for about four months now. You've had, obviously a pretty good chance to take a look at the operations by asset. I just wonder if you could share your high-level thoughts on what, what you might do differently going forward. What have you seen that provides margin opportunities, cost reduction opportunities, or maybe even portfolio high-grading opportunities, any color you could offer from your observations? I've got a follow-up piece.
Avigal Soreq (President and CEO)
Doug, that's a great question for Joseph. He's excited about it. Thanks for joining us today. Please, Joseph.
Joseph Israel (Executive VP, Operations)
Thank you, Doug. I'll take the operations angle of it. So we spoke about the two events in Big Spring this quarter, right? We made the appropriate repairs, and we moved on. I think more importantly, we have shifted gears with a much more proactive reliability approach here, and we are fully, fully focused on three key aspects of our operations: people, processes, and the equipment. With regards to people, we were able to fill key positions in the past couple of months with really strong industry talent, and, and with more people around, we understand what good looks like. The foundation is very sound to really build on it, right? Procedures, training, very important, especially with young force, workforce, and really lastly, equipment.
In our prepared remarks, we discussed the $2.3 per barrel spent in 2Q under mechanical integrity. Most of the scope has been around inspections and and eliminations of bad actors, really to mitigate our risk. The plan is to continue in this second half of 2023, with approximately $1 per barrel of budget to knock the high priority items out really off the list. When you look back, Delek has gone through a similar program in El Dorado in the past with really good results. El Dorado really runs well these days. In KSR, mechanical availability has trended up in the past couple of years, and you can see high rates more consistently.
I personally ran Big Spring as a chief operating officer 15 years ago under a different company, and, and I know what Big Spring and its workforce are capable of. Take everything together, Doug, I'm very confident about our direction here, and I'm sure reliability and capture will follow.
Doug Leggate (Managing Director, Head of Global Oil and Gas Equity Research)
I appreciate the color, Joseph. Thanks so much. My follow-up, this might actually be for, for Rosy, but whoever wants to try and tackle it. The trading, the supply and trading contribution has already been addressed, you know, by a number of, of my peers. But I want to ask about the July movement. I mean, are, on a go-forward basis, is there a different level, a different magnitude that we should be thinking about? Or do you, do you consider what's happened here recently, including July, to be more one-off in nature? Just how, how should we think about that going forward?
Avigal Soreq (President and CEO)
Hey, Doug, it's Avigal. Joseph was trying to give some highlights around going, how to look at it going forward. Most of the assets over, over there are sustainable and drawing from a niche market. I'm sure that once you read the Joseph answer, it will make perfectly sense, and if not, I'm sure Rosy will be allowed to follow up.
Joseph Israel (Executive VP, Operations)
Yeah, we want you guys to understand 2Q results. We want you to be able to model them going forward. Rosy, Rosy has all the tools to support you there.
Doug Leggate (Managing Director, Head of Global Oil and Gas Equity Research)
All right. Okay, I'll follow up. Thanks, guys.
Operator (participant)
The next question is from Ryan Todd with Piper Sandler. Please go ahead.
Ryan Todd (Managing Director, Senior Research Analyst)
Good, thanks. Maybe a question on CapEx to start. I know 2023 CapEx is front-end loaded because of the turnaround work, but are you still on pace to hit your $350 million target for 2023? I know it's a little early, but as you look forward to 2024, how are you thinking about the puts and takes in terms of what the 2024 budget may look like?
Avigal Soreq (President and CEO)
Yeah. Ryan, thanks for the question. We said that the 350 is the number that we are at. Then for 2024 numbers, it's a bit early to talk about it. We're obviously just starting budget season now, so I'm sure that we will be able to disclose the data on in the process. Thanks for the great question.
Ryan Todd (Managing Director, Senior Research Analyst)
Okay. Thanks. I guess one on the expense side, you know, operating expense and corporate expense were both lower than we expected this quarter. I know you talked some about the G&A trends expected to the end of the year. OpEx back, back up a little higher on guidance in 3Q. I mean, can you talk about directionally, what you saw in second quarter, you know, the trend on operating expenses going forward, and how all of this fits within the context of your cost reduction and efficiency goals? How, how far along are you on hitting those targets?
Nicolette Slusser (Equity Research Associate)
Yeah, absolutely. Reuven here, the CFO, will give some highlights around the, what we call internally, zero-based budget. Then maybe Joseph will add some comments around OpEx. Please, Reuven.
Reuven Spiegel (Executive VP and CFO)
Thank you, and thank you for the question. During the discovery process, we looked at DK and DKL, and we challenged the organization structure, organization structures and how we can streamline them by using technology implementation, too many functions, various operation initiatives such as stream and system improvement, heater health and maintenance and reliability. In addition to that, we worked on optimizing our transportation segment, trucking specifically, and we divided the execution to three stages as some of the projects require more preparation and technology implementation and execution time. Phase I was executed in June with most of the impact on the G&A. We're working on execution on phase II in the fourth quarter and phase III in the first half of 2024.
For 2023, as Rosy said in her prepared remarks, we expect to achieve approximately $46 million in cost savings, a split of 40%-60% between G&A and operations. Those initiatives, plus the one planned for the first half of 2024, will put us on track for a run rate of approximately $100 million savings.
Joseph Israel (Executive VP, Operations)
Great. I'll take it from the OpEx and the sites level. $5.43 per barrel might be competitive when you look at the peers, but it's really not acceptable for us. We find our run rate closer to the $4.75-$5 per barrel type of range for our entire system. Obviously, in 2Q, the elephant in the room was Big Spring. I wanna make sure we all know how to model that going forward. $0.50 per barrel related to the outage is a non-recurring, and then the $2.30 per barrel related to the mechanical integrity, non-recurring. You take those from the $8.90 that we reported, and we are at approximately $6. $6 is still $1 per barrel higher than the run rate in Big Spring.
Most of it is really just the low throughput and the inefficiencies around it, right? You cannot bring down variable cost as efficiently, you cannot turn down heaters, et cetera. $5 per barrel in Big Spring run rate. El Dorado, also with the outage type of works, was approximately $1 per barrel higher than the run rate. KSR in Tyler had a good quarter in the range.
Ryan Todd (Managing Director, Senior Research Analyst)
As you think about the 3Q guidance, are you implying that those are still relatively elevated in the third quarter, or is there anything else driving the OpEx guidance there?
Joseph Israel (Executive VP, Operations)
Yeah, we mentioned $1 per barrel left in Big Spring for the second half. Take the $5 in Big Spring, add $1, $6 there is probably a good way to go. The rest of the system, yeah, should be in the run rate.
Ryan Todd (Managing Director, Senior Research Analyst)
Okay. Thank you.
Joseph Israel (Executive VP, Operations)
Thank you.
Avigal Soreq (President and CEO)
Thank you.
Operator (participant)
The next question is from Roger Read with Wells Fargo. Please go ahead.
Roger Read (Senior Energy Analyst)
Yeah, good morning.
Avigal Soreq (President and CEO)
Hey, Roger.
Roger Read (Senior Energy Analyst)
I think continue down the road on the, the cost savings, but maybe thinking even the next steps, if it's not too premature to, to ask. You know, obviously you want to get your costs under control, you want to run well, but have you started to look at or consider, you know, something on the optimization side? I know feedstock-wise, there's not as much flexibility for you, given inland units and pipelines in a lot of cases. To the extent you could do something on the feedstock side or anything you can do on sort of the yield or commerciality side, I was just curious how that's starting to shape up.
Avigal Soreq (President and CEO)
Yeah, Roger, we obviously, once we announce something and executing something, we are thinking about the next step. We have, we have other plans coming up, but that we are not, we are not gonna give numbers and timelines for that just yet. We have a few other other initiatives that we are working extremely diligently in order to be able to share with you guys. Once we, we feel that it's mature, like the Zero-based budget process was, before it's mature, we will come back to you with another another leg of initiatives, the numbers, and be more diligent around it and specific. The answer is yes, and we'll come back to you when it's ready. Joseph, you want to add to that?
Joseph Israel (Executive VP, Operations)
Correcting our reliability, Roger Read, is definitely our best project, right? We are doing it, and we feel good about it. For the 2024 CapEx, we will bring some great ideas. We have several projects that are 50% and up in IRR and return. Most of them are refining related, like prior units and liquid recovery type of upside for our plants. We do have those optimization projects lined up for us in the next year to two years to execute.
Roger Read (Senior Energy Analyst)
Okay, that's helpful. Thanks. I think my other question is along the lines of increasing the dividend, yet if we looked at sort of the cash flow statement balance sheet this quarter, it didn't really maybe I should say, really, it didn't, to me, necessarily justify an increase in the dividend. I'm just curious, Avigal, what, you know, what's going on behind the numbers that, that provides the confidence to raise the dividend here?
Avigal Soreq (President and CEO)
I will start, and then I will let Reuven follow. We see a very strong cash, cash flow environment. We see our performance coming very well. We see the cash, cash flow has a, can dance just a little bit because of timing of a product, receivable and payable. It's nothing that that we are looking on the too much. It's just minor tweaks in few days. It doesn't need to change the, our view on the business, which is, it isn't. That's the reason we are feel confident, very confident around the business and around the ability to increase dividend. Reuven, you-
Reuven Spiegel (Executive VP and CFO)
Well, just one add-on. The, you know, the June 30th is a cutoff date. With the inventory draw of $82 million in the last couple of days of the quarter, we had the $82 million already coming in July, so that kind of made us determine that there should not be any change in our policy.
Roger Read (Senior Energy Analyst)
Okay, cash flows are stronger than what they look like in terms of the cutoff there?
Reuven Spiegel (Executive VP and CFO)
Correct.
Avigal Soreq (President and CEO)
Correct.
Roger Read (Senior Energy Analyst)
Okay, appreciate that. Thank you.
Avigal Soreq (President and CEO)
Thank you, Roger.
Operator (participant)
The next question is from Paul Cheng with Scotiabank. Please go ahead.
Paul Cheng (Managing Director and Senior Equity Analyst)
Hi, good morning.
Avigal Soreq (President and CEO)
Morning, Paul.
Paul Cheng (Managing Director and Senior Equity Analyst)
I think that, two questions. One, we're short, with all your cost reduction, initiative and all that, so when we're looking at what you brand as the corporate, Adjusted EBITDA, on a, maybe then looking out by 2024, what will be the tie-off normal one way that we should assume, in, in that line?
Avigal Soreq (President and CEO)
Hey, Paul Cheng, it's Avigal. Good morning. Thank you for joining us today. If we are looking on the G&A basis, if you remember, like two quarters ago, we gave a guidance is that we're gonna be 70 or lower for exiting the year. Now we upgrade the guidance, and we are seeing a better number. We're probably gonna come back to you next quarter with some more tighter guidance for 2024. In terms of G&A, it's a bit early. We see that we want to see that all the projects that we are lining up are actually materialized the way we wanted, and then we're probably gonna give you more tight guidance for G&A for 2024.
Paul Cheng (Managing Director and Senior Equity Analyst)
Okay. Second one is also real short. Have you made a decision or that when that you will make a decision on the [RD], whether you're going to make the investment there in the Paramount Refinery in California? Also that one of your peers recently decided to get out from the inventory arrangement with their vendor, and because they're saying that the cost or the financing cost is much higher, and then they will be able to do better by themselves. Have the company consider whether you should continue that to have that inventory management arrangement from the outside?
Avigal Soreq (President and CEO)
Yes. Let me answer the first, first and the second, second. In terms of, Bakersfield and the, and the renewable diesel over there, it's obviously a, a free option, and we are obviously looking on that. At this point, we didn't make any decision, and we didn't make any decision, but once there is a decision around that, we'll obviously let you know. At this point, it's not a major item on our list. It's a free option. If, opportunity presents itself, we'll definitely, we'll definitely be there. Around the intermediate, agreement, we obviously improve our situation by moving from one vendor to another. We are looking on the capital allocation extensively, and if we'll, assume that, that we have a better ways, we'll, we'll act around it.
Obviously, that agreement is, shorter, and the reason shorter, it's part of that is to allow us flexibility in the future if we choose to.
Paul Cheng (Managing Director and Senior Equity Analyst)
Hey, Avigal, that, for the option on the, on, on the Bakersfield facility, is there a timeline in terms of when you have to make a decision or that you lose the option or you separate? Can you remind us?
Avigal Soreq (President and CEO)
Yeah, there is no, there is no, timeline for that. The option is exist, and there, there is no real timeline for us to make a decision. It's more, when the opportunity presents itself, if we find it, constructive, and, and beneficial for shareholders, we do it. Vice versa.
Paul Cheng (Managing Director and Senior Equity Analyst)
All right, will do. Thank you.
Avigal Soreq (President and CEO)
Yes.
Reuven Spiegel (Executive VP and CFO)
Thank you.
Operator (participant)
The next question is from Jason Gabelman with Cowen. Please go ahead.
Avigal Soreq (President and CEO)
Hey, Jason. Thanks.
Jason Gabelman (Managing Director, Energy Equity Research)
Hey, morning. I just wanted to clarify something on Paul's question. Is, is the Bakersfield renewable diesel asset, is that up and running? Because I thought there was the, the kind of option is once it's up and running. Just to clarify that.
Avigal Soreq (President and CEO)
No, it's not.
Jason Gabelman (Managing Director, Energy Equity Research)
Okay.
Avigal Soreq (President and CEO)
There's still a planning.
Jason Gabelman (Managing Director, Energy Equity Research)
Yeah. All right, thanks. My questions, the first one is going back to the trading supply and other line item, and I appreciate all the color and the run rate guidance forward is helpful, but I guess if I look last year, you know, 1Q 2022 was over negative $100 million. Each quarter versus kind of the $60 million positive run rate you would expect. I, I was hoping you could elaborate on what drove that massive delta between the expected run rate and what you reported, in the first half of 2022 and, and even in 1Q 2023. That, that'd be helpful. Thanks.
Avigal Soreq (President and CEO)
We changed few, few ways. We are showing DKTS in the last year and a half or so. I think that the guidance that Joseph gave going forward is more gonna be allow you to model that better going forward versus looking on the past. In the past, it had different objectives around the entities, when we streamline processes, we made it a bit more clear. That's part of the reasoning that Joseph gave a much more clear guidance around it. We can all feel comfortable with around the asset, there is a big part of that is sustainable.
Jason Gabelman (Managing Director, Energy Equity Research)
Okay, if I understand what you're saying, there were other activities within that bucket that you're no longer engaging in to the same extent you were over the past year and a half. Is that fair?
Avigal Soreq (President and CEO)
That's fair. Mm-hmm.
Jason Gabelman (Managing Director, Energy Equity Research)
Okay. Thanks. My follow-up is just on the strategic reorg. Mark, thanks for the color. Should we expect an update before the end of the year? Is that a reasonable expectation for the market?
Avigal Soreq (President and CEO)
You know, I said that in my remark earlier, that the executive compensation has a big component around the some of the parts. You understand that everyone motivation is around it, and everyone focuses around it, but we are gonna make the right transaction for the company, and we try to balance between fast and, and the right transaction. We're on the same boat. We, we want it. We have the right incentive in place to make everyone wants it. We have the right plan in place to make it work. We just need to make sure that that's what we committed, and that's what we want to happen. It's a big decision. We're gonna, we're gonna make it right.
Jason Gabelman (Managing Director, Energy Equity Research)
Okay. Thanks for that.
Operator (participant)
This concludes our question and answer session. I would like to turn the conference back over to Avigal Soreq for any closing remarks.
Avigal Soreq (President and CEO)
Yeah, thank you. I want to take my friends around the table here, the executive team, all of Delek employees, that had a very good quarter, very proud of safe and reliable operation. Our ability to be safe and reliable is key, and I'm very proud of the great progress that the operation team is doing this quarter. I want to thank the board of directors for the support and for you, shareholders, for the great support. Delek is up for a great journey, and we are all very excited, and we'll talk soon in the next quarter. Thank you so much.
Operator (participant)
The conference is now concluded. Thank you for attending today's presentation. You may now disconnect.