WaterBridge Expects 7% Growth in Water Handling Volumes for 2026
Written by Emily J. Thompson, Senior Investment Analyst
Updated: Mar 16 2026
0mins
Should l Buy WBI?
The company said, "WaterBridge's 2026 plan reflects its continued commitment to responsible growth, allocating capital to high-return, minimum volume commitment-driven organic growth projects. Based on current expectations of activity levels and our contract portfolio, the Company expects its full year produced water handling volumes to average approximately 2,500 to 2,700 MBbl/d, representing approximately 7% annual volume growth. 2026 capital expenditures are expected to be approximately $430 to $490 million, primarily driven by growth capital expenditures associated with the Speedway Pipeline project's first and second phases, additional commercial projects schedule for construction in the second half of 2026, and late year construction capital associated with the previously announced 10-year commercial agreement with Devon Energy that includes a 7.5-year MVC, commencing on April 1, 2027, for the transportation and handling of Devon produced water volumes generated in Eddy and Lea counties, New Mexico. "Based on the high demand and positive customer reception to the first phase of the Speedway Pipeline project, WaterBridge is looking forward to developing incremental projects associated with the second phase of the project as early as the second half of 2026. As always, we will continue to prioritize capital allocation to high-return, organic growth projects to support our customers and their produced water takeaway needs in Eddy and Lea counties," said Jason Long, CEO. WaterBridge anticipates delivering full year 2026 Adjusted EBITDA of $420 to $460 million, representing approximately 9% annual growth, driven by incremental volume increases from its bpx Kraken project and the first phase of the Speedway Pipeline, which is anticipated to come online mid-year 2026."
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Analyst Views on WBI
Wall Street analysts forecast WBI stock price to rise
9 Analyst Rating
4 Buy
5 Hold
0 Sell
Moderate Buy
Current: 26.620
Low
23.00
Averages
28.00
High
32.00
Current: 26.620
Low
23.00
Averages
28.00
High
32.00
About WBI
Waterbridge Infrastructure LLC is an integrated, pure-play water infrastructure company with operations predominantly in the Delaware Basin, the oil and natural gas basin in North America, with additional assets in the Eagle Ford and Arkoma Basins. The Company operates a water infrastructure network in the United States, through which it provides water management solutions to oil and natural gas exploration and production companies under long-term contracts, which include gathering, transporting, recycling and handling produced water. It also operates two energy waste management facilities for the disposal of non-hazardous waste resulting from oil and gas exploration and production activities, branded under Desert Environmental. The Company's infrastructure network includes approximately 2,500 miles of pipelines and 201 produced water handling facilities with approximately 4.7 million barrels per calendar day (bpd) of produced water handling capacity.
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.
WaterBridge (WBI) Q4 2025 Earnings Call Transcript
See More
WaterBridge Infrastructure Reports Q4 Loss Narrowing with Positive Outlook
- Improved Financial Performance: WaterBridge Infrastructure reported a net loss of $13.58 million in Q4, narrowing from a $18.68 million loss in Q3, indicating progress in cost control and operational efficiency.
- Adjusted EBITDA Stability: The adjusted EBITDA for Q4 was $103.84 million, slightly down from $105.7 million in Q3, yet maintaining a 50% EBITDA margin, demonstrating stable profitability amidst fluctuating revenues.
- Sustained Water Handling Growth: The company anticipates produced water handling volumes to average between 2,500 to 2,700 MBbl/d in fiscal 2026, representing approximately 7% annual growth, which is expected to drive revenue growth and enhance market competitiveness.
- Positive Market Reaction: In pre-market trading on the NYSE, WaterBridge shares gained around 1.7%, trading at $25.78, reflecting investor confidence in the company's future growth prospects.
See More
WaterBridge Infrastructure Q4 Revenue Exceeds Expectations
- Revenue Growth: WaterBridge Infrastructure reported Q4 revenue of $208.88 million, reflecting a 1.7% year-over-year increase and surpassing market expectations by $3.46 million, indicating robust performance in the water handling sector.
- Increased Handling Volumes: The company achieved produced water handling volumes of 2.6 million barrels per day, up 1% from the third quarter, showcasing its success in expanding capacity and optimizing operational efficiency.
- Adjusted EBITDA Performance: The adjusted EBITDA for Q4 stood at $103.8 million, with an EBITDA margin of 50%, highlighting strong cost control and profitability, which enhances investor confidence.
- Future Outlook: The company provided full-year 2026 adjusted EBITDA guidance of $420 to $460 million, primarily driven by large-scale capital projects, and announced an inaugural quarterly cash dividend of $0.05 per share for Q1 2026, further attracting investor interest.
See More
WaterBridge Infrastructure LLC Declares Quarterly Dividend
- Quarterly Dividend Announcement: WaterBridge Infrastructure LLC has declared a quarterly dividend of $0.05 per share, reflecting the company's ongoing performance in maintaining stable cash flow and profitability, which enhances investor confidence.
- Dividend Payment Timeline: The dividend will be payable on March 19, with a record date of March 5 and an ex-dividend date also on March 5, ensuring that eligible shareholders receive their dividends promptly, thereby increasing shareholder return expectations.
- Investor Attention: According to Seeking Alpha's Quant Rating, WaterBridge Infrastructure LLC's dividend performance is gaining attention, indicating market recognition of its financial health, which may attract more long-term investors.
- Historical Financial Data: The company's historical earnings data shows that WaterBridge Infrastructure LLC has maintained stable profit growth over the past fiscal year, strengthening its market position in the infrastructure investment sector.
See More
WaterBridge Launches Open Season for Speedway Phase II Pipeline Project
- Project Launch: WaterBridge Infrastructure LLC initiated the open season for the Speedway Phase II Pipeline project on February 23, 2026, which will run until April 20, 2026, to solicit commitments for the construction of a large-diameter gathering and transportation pipeline.
- Increased Capacity: The pipeline is expected to provide an additional throughput capacity of 500,000 barrels per day, complementing the previously announced Speedway Pipeline's capacity of 500,000 bpd, addressing the growing demand for produced water handling in Eddy and Lea counties, New Mexico.
- Market Demand Response: President Michael Reitz emphasized that this project is a crucial step in expanding the company's capacity to meet the growing need for responsible produced water handling solutions in the Northern Delaware Basin through large-scale infrastructure projects.
- Industry Leadership: As the operator of the largest produced water infrastructure network in the U.S., WaterBridge provides water management solutions to oil and gas exploration and production companies under long-term contracts, further solidifying its leadership position in the water midstream sector.
See More
Horizon Kinetics Acquires 6.35M Shares of WaterBridge Infrastructure Worth $160.26M
- New Investment Disclosure: Horizon Kinetics Asset Management disclosed an acquisition of approximately 6.35 million shares of WaterBridge Infrastructure LLC valued at $160.26 million in a recent SEC filing, representing 1.95% of its $8.2 billion reportable holdings, indicating confidence in the company.
- Portfolio Diversification: As of quarter-end, the fund held 329 U.S. equity positions, with top holdings including Texas Pacific Land ($3.27 billion) and GBTC ($1.27 billion), reflecting a broad strategy in the energy and asset management sectors.
- Post-IPO Performance: In its first reported quarter as a public company, WaterBridge achieved pro forma revenue of $205.5 million, an 8% quarter-over-quarter increase driven by produced water volumes reaching 2.5 million barrels per day, showcasing strong growth potential in water management infrastructure.
- Improved Financial Position: The company utilized its IPO and a subsequent $1.425 billion senior notes offering to refinance legacy debt, extend maturities, and boost liquidity to $547 million, enhancing its financial stability and capacity for future growth.
See More
WaterBridge (WBI) Q4 2025 Earnings Call Transcript
See More
WaterBridge Infrastructure Reports Q4 Loss Narrowing with Positive Outlook
- Improved Financial Performance: WaterBridge Infrastructure reported a net loss of $13.58 million in Q4, narrowing from a $18.68 million loss in Q3, indicating progress in cost control and operational efficiency.
- Adjusted EBITDA Stability: The adjusted EBITDA for Q4 was $103.84 million, slightly down from $105.7 million in Q3, yet maintaining a 50% EBITDA margin, demonstrating stable profitability amidst fluctuating revenues.
- Sustained Water Handling Growth: The company anticipates produced water handling volumes to average between 2,500 to 2,700 MBbl/d in fiscal 2026, representing approximately 7% annual growth, which is expected to drive revenue growth and enhance market competitiveness.
- Positive Market Reaction: In pre-market trading on the NYSE, WaterBridge shares gained around 1.7%, trading at $25.78, reflecting investor confidence in the company's future growth prospects.
See More
WaterBridge Infrastructure Q4 Revenue Exceeds Expectations
- Revenue Growth: WaterBridge Infrastructure reported Q4 revenue of $208.88 million, reflecting a 1.7% year-over-year increase and surpassing market expectations by $3.46 million, indicating robust performance in the water handling sector.
- Increased Handling Volumes: The company achieved produced water handling volumes of 2.6 million barrels per day, up 1% from the third quarter, showcasing its success in expanding capacity and optimizing operational efficiency.
- Adjusted EBITDA Performance: The adjusted EBITDA for Q4 stood at $103.8 million, with an EBITDA margin of 50%, highlighting strong cost control and profitability, which enhances investor confidence.
- Future Outlook: The company provided full-year 2026 adjusted EBITDA guidance of $420 to $460 million, primarily driven by large-scale capital projects, and announced an inaugural quarterly cash dividend of $0.05 per share for Q1 2026, further attracting investor interest.
See More
WaterBridge Infrastructure LLC Declares Quarterly Dividend
- Quarterly Dividend Announcement: WaterBridge Infrastructure LLC has declared a quarterly dividend of $0.05 per share, reflecting the company's ongoing performance in maintaining stable cash flow and profitability, which enhances investor confidence.
- Dividend Payment Timeline: The dividend will be payable on March 19, with a record date of March 5 and an ex-dividend date also on March 5, ensuring that eligible shareholders receive their dividends promptly, thereby increasing shareholder return expectations.
- Investor Attention: According to Seeking Alpha's Quant Rating, WaterBridge Infrastructure LLC's dividend performance is gaining attention, indicating market recognition of its financial health, which may attract more long-term investors.
- Historical Financial Data: The company's historical earnings data shows that WaterBridge Infrastructure LLC has maintained stable profit growth over the past fiscal year, strengthening its market position in the infrastructure investment sector.
See More
WaterBridge Launches Open Season for Speedway Phase II Pipeline Project
- Project Launch: WaterBridge Infrastructure LLC initiated the open season for the Speedway Phase II Pipeline project on February 23, 2026, which will run until April 20, 2026, to solicit commitments for the construction of a large-diameter gathering and transportation pipeline.
- Increased Capacity: The pipeline is expected to provide an additional throughput capacity of 500,000 barrels per day, complementing the previously announced Speedway Pipeline's capacity of 500,000 bpd, addressing the growing demand for produced water handling in Eddy and Lea counties, New Mexico.
- Market Demand Response: President Michael Reitz emphasized that this project is a crucial step in expanding the company's capacity to meet the growing need for responsible produced water handling solutions in the Northern Delaware Basin through large-scale infrastructure projects.
- Industry Leadership: As the operator of the largest produced water infrastructure network in the U.S., WaterBridge provides water management solutions to oil and gas exploration and production companies under long-term contracts, further solidifying its leadership position in the water midstream sector.
See More
Horizon Kinetics Acquires 6.35M Shares of WaterBridge Infrastructure Worth $160.26M
- New Investment Disclosure: Horizon Kinetics Asset Management disclosed an acquisition of approximately 6.35 million shares of WaterBridge Infrastructure LLC valued at $160.26 million in a recent SEC filing, representing 1.95% of its $8.2 billion reportable holdings, indicating confidence in the company.
- Portfolio Diversification: As of quarter-end, the fund held 329 U.S. equity positions, with top holdings including Texas Pacific Land ($3.27 billion) and GBTC ($1.27 billion), reflecting a broad strategy in the energy and asset management sectors.
- Post-IPO Performance: In its first reported quarter as a public company, WaterBridge achieved pro forma revenue of $205.5 million, an 8% quarter-over-quarter increase driven by produced water volumes reaching 2.5 million barrels per day, showcasing strong growth potential in water management infrastructure.
- Improved Financial Position: The company utilized its IPO and a subsequent $1.425 billion senior notes offering to refinance legacy debt, extend maturities, and boost liquidity to $547 million, enhancing its financial stability and capacity for future growth.
See More
