Australia Forms Working Group to Secure Urea Supplies Amid Middle East Conflict
Written by Emily J. Thompson, Senior Investment Analyst
Updated: Apr 12 2026
0mins
Source: Yahoo Finance
- Urea Supply Crisis: Agriculture Minister Julie Collins confirmed that approximately 60% of Australia’s urea imports pass through the Strait of Hormuz, and despite the April 8 ceasefire, the supply chain remains under significant pressure, potentially impacting agricultural production.
- Production Gap Risk: The first major domestic urea source, the A$6.5 billion Perdaman plant, is not expected to begin production until mid-2027, leading to an uncertain long-term urea supply outlook, which is projected to raise living costs with grocery prices expected to increase by 3% to 4%.
- Policy Adjustments: Infrastructure Minister Catherine King noted that the government is bracing for long-term economic effects from the Iran conflict and has launched a A$20 million “Every Little Bit Helps” campaign to encourage fuel conservation.
- Accelerated Strategic Shift: To mitigate future risks, the government is accelerating its transition towards electrification and the production of sustainable aviation fuel, although the economy remains tethered to the bottleneck at the Strait of Hormuz, facing stagflationary pressures.
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Analyst Views on WES
Wall Street analysts forecast WES stock price to fall
4 Analyst Rating
0 Buy
4 Hold
0 Sell
Hold
Current: 43.900
Low
39.00
Averages
40.50
High
42.00
Current: 43.900
Low
39.00
Averages
40.50
High
42.00
About WES
Western Midstream Partners, LP acquires, owns, develops and operates midstream assets. It is engaged in the business of gathering, compressing, treating, processing, and transporting natural gas, gathering, stabilizing, and transporting condensate, natural gas liquids (NGLs), and crude oil, and gathering and disposing of produced water. Its core assets provide services for customers in the Delaware Basin in West Texas and New Mexico, and the DJ Basin in northeastern Colorado, and the Powder River Basin in Northeast Wyoming. Additional assets and investments are in South Texas, Utah, and Southwest Wyoming. In its capacity as a natural gas processor, the Company also buys and sells natural gas, NGLs, and condensate on its behalf and its customers under certain gas processing contracts. Its subsidiaries include Western Midstream Operating GP, LLC, Western Midstream Services, LLC, Western Midstream Services Holdings, LLC, Western Midstream Operating, LP, and Aris Water Solutions, Inc.
About the author
Emily J. Thompson
Emily J. Thompson, a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) with 12 years in investment research, graduated with honors from the Wharton School. Specializing in industrial and technology stocks, she provides in-depth analysis for Intellectia’s earnings and market brief reports.
Lazard Hires Brian McCabe to Lead North America Energy Banking
- Executive Change: Lazard is set to hire Brian McCabe from JPMorgan Chase to lead its North America energy investment banking practice, with his official start expected in the coming months, indicating the firm's strategic focus on the energy sector.
- Industry Expertise: McCabe, a veteran oil and gas dealmaker specializing in mergers and acquisitions involving pipeline and midstream companies, brings extensive experience from his senior role at JPMorgan, which is anticipated to create new growth opportunities for Lazard.
- Market Demand: With a surge in demand for energy infrastructure, particularly to support artificial intelligence, Lazard aims to enhance its competitive position in the rapidly evolving energy market through this executive recruitment.
- Strategic Expansion: This personnel move aligns with Lazard's recent hiring of former Western Midstream Partners CEO Michael Ure as a senior adviser to its energy division, reflecting the company's ongoing investment and expansion intentions in the energy sector.
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- Consistent Dividend Growth: Enterprise Products Partners (EPD) has increased its dividend for 27 consecutive years, currently yielding 5.8% and achieving a 2.8% increase in the first quarter, showcasing its resilience and appeal in uncertain markets.
- High Yield Appeal: Western Midstream Partners (WES) leads with an 8.5% dividend yield, and its strong first-quarter results indicate adjusted EBITDA will approach the high end of $2.6 billion to $2.7 billion guidance, reflecting its growth potential in the market.
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- Gas and Oil Production Growth: Despite WAHA-driven constraints, natural gas throughput increased by 3%, while crude oil and NGL throughput reached a record 272,000 barrels per day, indicating strong momentum and sustained market demand in the Delaware Basin.
- Strategic Acquisition Plans: The company announced the $1.6 billion acquisition of Brazos Delaware II, adding approximately 470,000 dedicated acres, which increases total dedicated acreage in the Delaware Basin by nearly 50%, while also enhancing natural gas processing capacity by 460 million cubic feet per day, further strengthening its competitive edge.
- Distribution Policy and Future Outlook: The first-quarter distribution was $0.93 per unit, up 2.2% sequentially, with expectations for annual distributions to reach at least $3.70, demonstrating a commitment to aligning distribution strategy with EBITDA growth while maintaining capital discipline for long-term financial health.
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- Investor Conference Participation: The company plans to participate in several investor conferences during the second and third quarters of 2026, providing opportunities for direct communication with investors and enhancing market understanding of its business strategy and financial health.
- Midstream Asset Overview: Western Midstream focuses on developing and operating midstream assets across Texas, New Mexico, Colorado, Utah, and Wyoming, engaging in various activities including gathering, processing, and transporting natural gas, which solidifies its significant position in the energy market.
- Cash Flow Protection Strategy: A substantial majority of the company's cash flows are protected from direct exposure to commodity price volatility through fee-based contracts, a strategy that will help maintain financial stability in uncertain market conditions.
See More
Western Midstream Partners Announces Upcoming Investor Conferences
- Post-Earnings Interview: Western Midstream Partners will release a post-earnings interview before market open, featuring insights from CEO Oscar K. Brown and VP Jon Greenberg regarding the acquisition of Brazos Delaware II, LLC, which is expected to bolster investor confidence in the company's future growth.
- Investor Conference Schedule: The company plans to participate in several investor conferences, including TPH & Co. Hotter 'N Hell 2026 in Houston on May 13 and the 23rd Annual Energy Infrastructure CEO & Investor Conference in Florida on May 19-20, aiming to enhance market visibility and attract potential investors.
- Midstream Asset Operations: Western Midstream focuses on developing, acquiring, and operating midstream assets, with operations including gathering, compressing, treating, and transporting natural gas, ensuring that a substantial majority of its cash flows are protected from direct exposure to commodity price volatility through fee-based contracts.
- Market Positioning Advantage: With midstream assets located in Texas, New Mexico, Colorado, Utah, and Wyoming, the company leverages its diversified service offerings and stable cash flows to maintain a favorable market position within the industry.
See More
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- Rating Upgrade: Stifel upgraded Western Midstream Partners from Hold to Buy with a price target increase from $42 to $46, reflecting optimism about the company's future performance following stronger-than-expected Q1 earnings.
- Earnings Outlook: While the company did not raise guidance, it is expected to achieve the high end of its adjusted EBITDA guidance range of $2.5B to $2.7B, demonstrating resilience and profitability in the current market environment.
- Acquisition Impact: The $1.6B Brazos acquisition is projected to contribute $100M to EBITDA in 2026 and at least $200M in 2027, further strengthening the company's financial performance and market position.
- Production Activity Discussions: The company is in discussions with producers about increasing activity, which is expected to positively impact performance in the second half of 2026 or more significantly in 2027, particularly with a producer in the Powder River Basin accelerating activity to bring on volumes in 2027.
See More
Lazard Hires Brian McCabe to Lead North America Energy Banking
- Executive Change: Lazard is set to hire Brian McCabe from JPMorgan Chase to lead its North America energy investment banking practice, with his official start expected in the coming months, indicating the firm's strategic focus on the energy sector.
- Industry Expertise: McCabe, a veteran oil and gas dealmaker specializing in mergers and acquisitions involving pipeline and midstream companies, brings extensive experience from his senior role at JPMorgan, which is anticipated to create new growth opportunities for Lazard.
- Market Demand: With a surge in demand for energy infrastructure, particularly to support artificial intelligence, Lazard aims to enhance its competitive position in the rapidly evolving energy market through this executive recruitment.
- Strategic Expansion: This personnel move aligns with Lazard's recent hiring of former Western Midstream Partners CEO Michael Ure as a senior adviser to its energy division, reflecting the company's ongoing investment and expansion intentions in the energy sector.
See More
Top High-Yield MLP Stocks to Buy Now
- Energy Transition Potential: Energy Transfer (ET) currently offers a 6.9% dividend yield with plans to grow distributions by 3% to 5% in the coming years, and its 8.5x enterprise value to EBITDA ratio highlights its attractiveness and growth potential in the energy sector.
- Consistent Dividend Growth: Enterprise Products Partners (EPD) has increased its dividend for 27 consecutive years, currently yielding 5.8% and achieving a 2.8% increase in the first quarter, showcasing its resilience and appeal in uncertain markets.
- High Yield Appeal: Western Midstream Partners (WES) leads with an 8.5% dividend yield, and its strong first-quarter results indicate adjusted EBITDA will approach the high end of $2.6 billion to $2.7 billion guidance, reflecting its growth potential in the market.
- Acquisition Strengthens Position: Western Midstream's recent $1.6 billion acquisition of Brazos in the Permian region is expected to add $200 million in EBITDA by 2027, further solidifying its market position and enhancing future growth prospects.
See More
Western Midstream Partners Reports Record Q1 2026 Earnings Driven by Acquisitions and Cost Reductions
- Record Performance: Western Midstream reported an adjusted EBITDA of $683 million for Q1 2026, a 15% year-over-year increase, driven by the full contribution from the Aris acquisition, throughput growth across all product lines, and ongoing cost reductions, highlighting the company's robust market position.
- Gas and Oil Production Growth: Despite WAHA-driven constraints, natural gas throughput increased by 3%, while crude oil and NGL throughput reached a record 272,000 barrels per day, indicating strong momentum and sustained market demand in the Delaware Basin.
- Strategic Acquisition Plans: The company announced the $1.6 billion acquisition of Brazos Delaware II, adding approximately 470,000 dedicated acres, which increases total dedicated acreage in the Delaware Basin by nearly 50%, while also enhancing natural gas processing capacity by 460 million cubic feet per day, further strengthening its competitive edge.
- Distribution Policy and Future Outlook: The first-quarter distribution was $0.93 per unit, up 2.2% sequentially, with expectations for annual distributions to reach at least $3.70, demonstrating a commitment to aligning distribution strategy with EBITDA growth while maintaining capital discipline for long-term financial health.
See More
Western Midstream Partners Announces Earnings Insights and Upcoming Investor Conferences
- Earnings Insights: Western Midstream Partners will release a post-earnings interview before market open, featuring CEO Oscar K. Brown and VP Jon Greenberg, who will provide additional insights on Q1 2026 results and the acquisition of Brazos Delaware II, LLC, which is expected to bolster investor confidence in future growth.
- Investor Conference Participation: The company plans to participate in several investor conferences during the second and third quarters of 2026, providing opportunities for direct communication with investors and enhancing market understanding of its business strategy and financial health.
- Midstream Asset Overview: Western Midstream focuses on developing and operating midstream assets across Texas, New Mexico, Colorado, Utah, and Wyoming, engaging in various activities including gathering, processing, and transporting natural gas, which solidifies its significant position in the energy market.
- Cash Flow Protection Strategy: A substantial majority of the company's cash flows are protected from direct exposure to commodity price volatility through fee-based contracts, a strategy that will help maintain financial stability in uncertain market conditions.
See More
Western Midstream Partners Announces Upcoming Investor Conferences
- Post-Earnings Interview: Western Midstream Partners will release a post-earnings interview before market open, featuring insights from CEO Oscar K. Brown and VP Jon Greenberg regarding the acquisition of Brazos Delaware II, LLC, which is expected to bolster investor confidence in the company's future growth.
- Investor Conference Schedule: The company plans to participate in several investor conferences, including TPH & Co. Hotter 'N Hell 2026 in Houston on May 13 and the 23rd Annual Energy Infrastructure CEO & Investor Conference in Florida on May 19-20, aiming to enhance market visibility and attract potential investors.
- Midstream Asset Operations: Western Midstream focuses on developing, acquiring, and operating midstream assets, with operations including gathering, compressing, treating, and transporting natural gas, ensuring that a substantial majority of its cash flows are protected from direct exposure to commodity price volatility through fee-based contracts.
- Market Positioning Advantage: With midstream assets located in Texas, New Mexico, Colorado, Utah, and Wyoming, the company leverages its diversified service offerings and stable cash flows to maintain a favorable market position within the industry.
See More
Western Midstream Partners Upgraded to Buy by Stifel with $46 Target
- Rating Upgrade: Stifel upgraded Western Midstream Partners from Hold to Buy with a price target increase from $42 to $46, reflecting optimism about the company's future performance following stronger-than-expected Q1 earnings.
- Earnings Outlook: While the company did not raise guidance, it is expected to achieve the high end of its adjusted EBITDA guidance range of $2.5B to $2.7B, demonstrating resilience and profitability in the current market environment.
- Acquisition Impact: The $1.6B Brazos acquisition is projected to contribute $100M to EBITDA in 2026 and at least $200M in 2027, further strengthening the company's financial performance and market position.
- Production Activity Discussions: The company is in discussions with producers about increasing activity, which is expected to positively impact performance in the second half of 2026 or more significantly in 2027, particularly with a producer in the Powder River Basin accelerating activity to bring on volumes in 2027.
See More
