Morgan Stanley Upgrades DT Midstream to Equal Weight with $165 Target
DT Midstream Inc. saw a price increase of 3.01% as it reached a 20-day high.
Morgan Stanley upgraded DT Midstream from Underweight to Equal Weight, setting a price target of $165. This reflects a positive outlook on the company's performance, particularly in its Midwest pipeline operations, where analysts expect EBITDA growth to exceed the long-term target of 5%-7%. The upgrade indicates renewed market confidence in midstream companies, contributing to the stock's rise despite a broader market decline.
The upgrade by Morgan Stanley suggests that DT Midstream is well-positioned for growth, with a projected one-year total return potential of 25.5%, including a 2.6% dividend yield, highlighting its strengthened market position.
Trade with 70% Backtested Accuracy
Analyst Views on DTM
About DTM
About the author

- Earnings Announcement Schedule: DT Midstream is set to release its Q1 2023 earnings report on April 30 before market open, with consensus EPS estimates at $1.13, reflecting a 6.6% year-over-year growth, indicating stability in profitability.
- Historical Performance Review: Over the past two years, DT Midstream has beaten EPS estimates 63% of the time, although it has not surpassed revenue estimates, highlighting a relative consistency in earnings forecasts while indicating a need for improvement in revenue growth.
- Expectation Revision Dynamics: In the last three months, EPS estimates have seen two upward revisions and two downward revisions, while revenue estimates have experienced no upward revisions and five downward revisions, suggesting a weakening market confidence in the company's future revenue growth.
- Project Development Outlook: DT Midstream has outlined a $3.4 billion five-year organic project backlog, showcasing a proactive strategic positioning as pipeline demand accelerates, which could lead to significant investment and expansion opportunities in the future.
- Strong Earnings Performance: DT Midstream reported a Q1 GAAP EPS of $1.27, beating expectations by $0.15, which demonstrates the company's robust profitability in the current market environment and enhances investor confidence.
- Solid Operating Earnings: Operating earnings reached $130 million, translating to $1.27 per diluted share, indicating effective management in cost control and revenue growth, which is expected to drive future shareholder returns.
- Adjusted EBITDA Growth: The quarter's adjusted EBITDA was $308 million, reflecting ongoing improvements in operational efficiency and profitability, potentially providing funding for future capital expenditures and expansion plans.
- Optimistic Market Outlook: With Morgan Stanley raising its rating on DT Midstream and identifying Targa as a top midstream pick, the market holds an optimistic view on the company's growth potential, likely attracting more investor interest.
Company Overview: DTMIDSTREAM Inc. is focused on operating in the energy sector, specifically in the midstream segment, which involves the transportation and storage of oil and gas.
Financial Performance: The company reported an operating EPS (Earnings Per Share) ranging from $4.42 to $4.82, indicating a strong financial outlook for the upcoming fiscal period.
- Share Sale: Cushing Asset Management sold all 1,357,200 shares of Hess Midstream in Q1 2026, with an estimated transaction value of $50.29 million, indicating a complete exit that reflects diminished confidence in the asset.
- Value Decline: The quarter-end value of Hess Midstream's position dropped by $46.82 million due to both the sale and stock price changes, suggesting a less optimistic market outlook that impacts its standing in Cushing's portfolio.
- Portfolio Restructuring: Cushing's top five holdings are large, diversified pipeline operators, and the concentrated asset base of Hess Midstream, which relies heavily on a single core customer (Chevron), led to its removal from the portfolio, indicating a preference for broader risk diversification.
- Market Performance: As of April 27, 2026, Hess Midstream shares were priced at $37.02, reflecting a 3.2% increase over the past year, yet underperforming the S&P 500 by 26.34 percentage points, highlighting its competitive challenges in the market.
- Rating Upgrade Impact: Morgan Stanley upgraded Antero Midstream and DT Midstream from Underweight to Equal Weight with price targets of $26 and $165 respectively, resulting in a 2.7% increase in Antero Midstream's stock and a 0.9% rise in DT Midstream's stock, indicating a renewed market confidence in midstream companies.
- Antero Midstream Growth Potential: Analysts noted that Antero Midstream is entering a multi-year growth phase driven by Antero Resources' expanding production and capital activities, with a projected one-year total return potential of 26.4%, including a 4.2% dividend yield, suggesting an optimistic outlook for capital returns.
- Strong Performance of DT Midstream: DT Midstream has shown stronger-than-expected growth in its Midwest pipeline operations, with analysts expecting its EBITDA growth to exceed the long-term target of 5%-7%, and a price target of $165 implies a 25.5% one-year total return potential, including a 2.6% dividend yield, reflecting its strengthened market position.
- WaterBridge's Competitive Edge: Morgan Stanley upgraded WaterBridge from Equal Weight to Overweight with a price target of $34, anticipating it will have the strongest EBITDA growth due to its advantageous position in the Delaware Basin and leading water infrastructure, with a one-year total return potential of 33.4%, including a 1% dividend yield, indicating a structural re-rating in its valuation.

Morgan Stanley's Target Price Increase: Morgan Stanley has raised its target price for DTMIDSTREAM, increasing it from $139.00 to $165.00.
Market Implications: This adjustment reflects a positive outlook on the company's performance and potential growth in the market.







