investorscraft@gmail.com

Stock Analysis & ValuationHess Midstream LP (HESM)

Previous Close
$35.47
Sector Valuation Confidence Level
Low
Valuation methodValue, $Upside, %
Artificial intelligence (AI)58.5465
Intrinsic value (DCF)15.77-56
Graham-Dodd Methodn/a
Graham Formula46.2830

Strategic Investment Analysis

Company Overview

Hess Midstream LP (NYSE: HESM) is a leading midstream energy company specializing in the ownership, development, and operation of critical infrastructure for oil and gas transportation, processing, and storage. Headquartered in Houston, Texas, Hess Midstream operates across three key segments: Gathering, Processing and Storage, and Terminaling and Export. The company's extensive network includes over 1,350 miles of natural gas and NGL gathering pipelines, 550 miles of crude oil gathering pipelines, and strategic processing facilities like the Tioga Gas Plant in North Dakota. Hess Midstream plays a pivotal role in the Bakken shale region, providing essential midstream services to producers, including Hess Corporation, its primary customer. With a market capitalization exceeding $8.2 billion, the company is well-positioned in the energy sector, benefiting from stable fee-based contracts and long-term growth opportunities in North American energy infrastructure. Hess Midstream's focus on operational efficiency and strategic asset expansion makes it a key player in the midstream energy landscape.

Investment Summary

Hess Midstream LP presents a compelling investment case due to its stable cash flows, long-term contracts, and strategic positioning in the Bakken shale play. The company's fee-based revenue model reduces exposure to commodity price volatility, providing predictable earnings. With a strong dividend yield (~6.5%) and a disciplined capital expenditure program, HESM is attractive for income-focused investors. However, risks include concentration risk with Hess Corporation as its primary customer and potential regulatory challenges in the midstream sector. The company's moderate leverage (total debt of ~$3.47B) and solid operating cash flow ($940M in FY 2023) support its financial stability, but investors should monitor energy transition trends impacting long-term demand for fossil fuel infrastructure.

Competitive Analysis

Hess Midstream's competitive advantage lies in its strategic asset footprint in the Bakken region, where it operates as a critical service provider for Hess Corporation and third-party producers. The company benefits from long-term, fee-based contracts that ensure revenue stability, with approximately 90% of its EBITDA under minimum volume commitments. Its vertically integrated midstream system—spanning gathering, processing, and terminaling—provides operational synergies and cost efficiencies. Compared to peers, HESM's focus on the Bakken offers regional specialization but also exposes it to basin-specific risks. The company's partnership with Hess Corporation ensures steady volumes, though this customer concentration could be a vulnerability if Hess reduces production. HESM's competitive positioning is further strengthened by its scalable infrastructure, which allows for incremental expansions with relatively low capital intensity. However, larger diversified midstream players like Enterprise Products Partners (EPD) or Energy Transfer (ET) may offer more geographic diversification, reducing basin-specific risks. HESM's disciplined growth strategy and strong sponsor backing provide stability, but its smaller scale limits its ability to compete for large-scale projects outside its core region.

Major Competitors

  • Enterprise Products Partners LP (EPD): Enterprise Products Partners is a diversified midstream giant with extensive pipeline networks, storage facilities, and export terminals across North America. Its scale and diversification reduce basin-specific risks, unlike HESM's Bakken focus. EPD's strong balance sheet and investment-grade credit rating give it an advantage in financing large projects. However, HESM's regional specialization allows for deeper operational efficiencies in the Bakken.
  • Energy Transfer LP (ET): Energy Transfer operates one of the largest midstream networks in the U.S., with assets spanning crude oil, NGLs, and natural gas. Its national footprint provides revenue diversification, but its higher leverage profile contrasts with HESM's more conservative financial approach. ET's aggressive growth strategy may offer higher upside, while HESM's stable Bakken-focused model appeals to risk-averse investors.
  • MPLX LP (MPLX): MPLX, backed by Marathon Petroleum, has a strong presence in key shale plays, including the Permian and Marcellus. Its integrated logistics network provides competitive advantages, but HESM's pure-play Bakken focus allows for tighter cost control. MPLX's larger scale enables more significant capital projects, though HESM's targeted growth may deliver higher returns on invested capital.
  • Western Midstream Partners LP (WES): Western Midstream focuses on natural gas, crude oil, and water-related midstream services, primarily in the Permian and DJ Basin. Like HESM, WES relies heavily on its sponsor (Occidental Petroleum) for volumes, creating similar customer concentration risks. HESM's Bakken assets are more oil-weighted, while WES has greater exposure to natural gas markets.
HomeMenuAccount