Western Midstream Partners LP logo

Western Midstream Partners LP(WES)

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EXPLORE ADVISORIES AND THEIR HISTORY
QUALITY SIGNAL
3-STAR RATING
PASS
LAST CLOSE
$39.85
11/06/2026
(24-hour delay)

Advisory History & Simulated Performance *

*as per simulation (see disclosures)
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  • BUY Advisory
  • SELL Advisory (Profit)
  • SELL Advisory (Loss)
  • Profit
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Upturn Stock price based on last close iconStock price based on last close
Simulated performance—not actual client returns. Excludes advisory subscription fees, trading commissions, and taxes, which would reduce returns. Results depend on calculation assumptions and do not guarantee future outcomes. See Disclosures for full methodology, assumptions, and limitations.

Advisory Performance History (Simulated)Advisory Performance History info

Simulated performance—not actual client returns. Excludes advisory subscription fees, trading commissions, and taxes, which would reduce returns. Results depend on calculation assumptions and do not guarantee future outcomes. See Disclosures for full methodology, assumptions, and limitations.

Upturn Advisory & Investor View for WES

11/06/2026: WES (3-star) is currently NOT-A-BUY. Pass it for now.

Western Midstream Partners LP is a specialized midstream energy company providing essential gathering, processing, and transportation services to oil and gas producers, primarily in the Permian and DJ basins. The partnership benefits from a stable, fee-based business model and a close operational relationship with its sponsor, Occidental Petroleum. Its primary growth opportunity lies in optimizing its existing asset footprint and expanding high-demand services like water management. However, investors face risks from commodity price cycles, sector-wide regulatory scrutiny, and high leverage. Overall, WES is well-suited for dividend-focused investors seeking exposure to North American energy infrastructure through a mature, income-generating model.

How to Read the Upturn Advisory

The Upturn Star Rating and the current BUY, SELL, or PASS advisory are generated by Upturn’s AI advisory engine based on proprietary signal analysis, price behavior, advisory history, and historical signal performance.

Company fundamentals, valuation, risks, and news provide supporting context about the business.

Investor Fit

Investor styleFitWhy
Growth investorMixed fitThe company offers moderate growth potential through operational optimization rather than rapid expansion.
Momentum investorStrong fit while signal remains positiveStrong price trends in the energy sector can make WES attractive to momentum strategies.
Value investorStrong fitWES is often viewed as a value play due to its stable dividend yield and established infrastructure assets.
Dividend investorStrong fitThe partnership is structured to provide consistent income through regular quarterly distributions.
Low-risk investorMixed fitWhile distributions are stable, exposure to energy commodity cycles introduces inherent market volatility.

Risk Profile

Risk factorLevelWhy it matters
Price volatilityMedium / highEnergy sector sentiment and commodity price swings can lead to significant stock price fluctuations.
Valuation riskMediumReturns depend on the market's assessment of long-term demand for oil and gas infrastructure.
Competition riskMediumMajor pipeline operators compete for volume in the same high-demand basins.
Business qualityStrongThe company operates essential, long-lived assets that are difficult to replicate.
Dividend incomeMedium / highDistributions are dependent on cash flow stability and capital allocation decisions.
Execution riskMediumSuccessfully integrating projects and managing operational costs is critical to maintaining margins.

Price Behavior

Rolling Over
PRICE PATH

Rolling Over

The price momentum is slowing down and beginning to turn downward.

Smooth
PRICE STABILITY

Smooth

The stock has moved along a generally orderly path with only modest fluctuations.

Analysis of Past Performance

Type Stock
Historic Profit 44.03%
Avg. Invested days 82
Today’s Advisory PASS
Upturn Advisory Rating upturn star rating icon
Upturn Advisory Performance Upturn Advisory Performance icon 3.0
Stock Returns Performance Upturn Returns Performance icon 3.0
Upturn Profits based on simulation icon Profits based on simulation
Upturn last close icon Last Close 11/06/2026

Upturn Scorecard

Upturn Star Rating

★★★★★
WES receives a 4-star rating, supported by strong unit economics, solid company fundamentals, solid quantitative characteristics, and solid analyst coverage. The rating is constrained by weak price momentum.

Company Fundamentals

★★★★★
WES has solid overall fundamentals (4 stars), with solid financial health, moderate growth momentum, and solid ownership. In FY2025 versus FY2024, strong cash generation (FCF margin 38.1%) and strong profitability (net margin 30.4%) are partially offset by negative earnings growth (-25.7%), moderate revenue growth (+6.6%).

Financial Health Rating

★★★★★
WES's financial health is supported by strong cash strength, including free-cash-flow generation of $1.5B (38.1% of revenue). Liquidity is moderate (3 stars), which helps explain the 4-star overall score.

Growth Momentum Score

★★★★★
Free-cash-flow growth is WES's strongest growth driver at +14.9% FY2025 versus FY2024 (solid, 4 stars). By comparison, while earnings growth (-25.7%, negative) holds the profile back, so recent growth is not broad-based across the business.

Ownership

★★★★★
Institutional ownership is 43.9% and approximately 63.4% of outstanding shares are publicly tradable, supporting liquidity and institutional participation. Insider ownership of 36.59% supports management-shareholder alignment.

Top 5 Institutional Investors

ALPS Advisors Inc 8.86%
Amvescap Plc. 5.84%
Morgan Stanley - Brokerage Accounts 5.14%
Blackstone Inc 2.51%
MIRAE ASSET GLOBAL ETFS HOLDINGS Ltd. 2.09%

Unit Economics (Per $1K Revenue)

★★★★★
WES generates approximately $685 of gross profit, $413 of operating income, and $381 of free cash flow for every $1,000 of revenue. Based on FY2025 results. Strong margins and strong cash conversion support the rating, although capital efficiency remains moderate.

Economic Dimensions

★★★★★
Effective Tax Rate: 1.23%

Quantitative Style Profile

★★★★★
WES has a high-quality, large-cap, liquid, relatively low-volatility profile. Weak momentum is the primary drawback.

Style Classification

Quality Focused

Value-OrientedQuality TiltLow VolatilityLarge / Mega Cap StabilityHighly Liquid / Institution-Friendly

Key Highlights

Company Size Large-Cap Stock
Market Capitalization 16.47B USD
Price to earnings Ratio 12.98
1Y Target Price 49.54
Price to earnings Ratio 12.98
1Y Target Price 49.54
Volume (30-day avg) 1.4M shares
Beta 0.71
52 Weeks Range 35.35 - 49.07
Updated Date 11/08/2026
52 Weeks Range 35.35 - 49.07
Updated Date 11/08/2026
Dividends yield (FY) -
Basic EPS (TTM) 3.07

How Company Makes Money

Business areaWhat it includesRetail investor read
Fee-Based ServicesLong-term contracts for gathering, processing, and transporting natural gas and liquids.WES earns money by charging producers to use its pipelines and facilities, similar to a toll road.
Geography: Permian/Delaware BasinInfrastructure in one of the most productive shale plays in the US.The company's profitability is closely tied to the amount of oil and gas extracted in the Texas and New Mexico regions.

Analyzing Revenue: Products, Geography and Growth

Revenue by Products

Product revenue - Year on Year

Earnings Date

Report Date 2026-11-04
When After Market
Estimate 0.89
Actual 0.78

Profitability

Profit Margin 29%
Operating Margin (TTM) 41.67%

Management Effectiveness

Return on Assets (TTM) 7.49%
Return on Equity (TTM) 34.11%

Valuation

Trailing PE 12.98
Forward PE 9.81
Enterprise Value 25.66B
Price to Sales(TTM) 3.8
Enterprise Value 25.66B
Price to Sales(TTM) 3.8
Enterprise Value to Revenue 5.61
Enterprise Value to EBITDA 9.88
Shares Outstanding 413.22M
Shares Floating 261.80M
Shares Outstanding 413.22M
Shares Floating 261.80M
Percent Insiders 36.59
Percent Institutions 43.85

Financial Metrics

🧭 Investment Snapshot

Total Revenue (Scale)

Information icon Total money earned from selling products or services before any costs. It is needed to understand the scale of the business and its ability to generate income.

Net Income (Profit)

Information icon Final profit after all expenses, interest, and taxes are deducted. It is needed to determine the overall profitability available to shareholders.

Free Cash Flow (Cash Strength)

Information icon Cash remaining after operating activities and capital expenditures, showing cash available for growth. It is needed to evaluate the company’s ability to invest, pay dividends, or reduce debt.

📈 Growth & Strength

Operating Income (Core Profit)

Information icon Profit from core operations after deducting all operating expenses. It is needed to measure how efficiently the company runs its primary business activities.

EBITDA (Cash Earnings)

Information icon Earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization, indicating operating cash potential. It is needed to compare operating performance across companies without accounting or financing differences.

Gross Profit (Unit Profitability)

Information icon Revenue minus cost of revenue, showing profit after direct production costs. It is needed to evaluate core business profitability before overhead expenses.

🛡️ Financial Safety

Cash (Liquidity Buffer)

Information icon Total cash and cash equivalents on hand. It is needed to evaluate immediate liquidity and financial flexibility.

Total Debt (Leverage Risk)

Information icon Total debt including both short-term and long-term components. It is needed to assess the company’s leverage and financial risk.

Net Working Capital (Short-Term Health)

Information icon Current assets minus current liabilities, indicating short-term liquidity strength. It is needed to assess whether the company can meet its short-term obligations.

🧱 Balance Sheet Strength

Stockholder Equity (Net Worth)

Information icon Total equity value held by shareholders. It is needed to understand the net worth of the company from the owners’ perspective.

Total Assets (Asset Base)

Information icon The full value of everything the company owns, including cash, inventory, equipment, and investments. It is needed to understand the resource base used to generate revenue.

Income Before Tax (Pre-Tax Earnings)

Information icon Income before provision for income taxes. It is needed to analyze profitability independent of tax structures.

⚙️ Cost & Drag Factors

Cost of Revenue (Production Cost)

Information icon Direct costs required to produce and deliver the products or services sold. It is needed to assess efficiency in production and service delivery.

Total Operating Expenses (Operating Cost)

Information icon Indirect costs of running the business such as salaries, marketing, and administration. It is needed to understand how much it costs to sustain ongoing business operations.

Income Tax Expense (Tax Drag)

Information icon Amount of taxes paid or payable to the government. It is needed to evaluate the impact of taxation on overall profitability.

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