The Williams Company Fundamental Analysis.
Resume of The Williams Company Fundamental Analysis. Established in 1908 and based in Oklahoma, The Williams Companies, Inc. is a leading energy infrastructure company in North America. The company specializes in the discovery, production, gathering, processing, and transportation of natural gas and natural gas liquids. With an extensive network exceeding 33,000 miles of pipelines, Williams stands as one of the largest natural gas transporters in the United States by volume. Its operations, including gas wells, pipelines, and midstream services, are primarily located in the Northwest, Rocky Mountains, Gulf Coast, and Eastern Seaboard regions.
Operational Structure.
On August 10, 2018, Williams Companies finalized a significant merger with its midstream subsidiary, Williams Partners, L.P., valued at $10.5 billion. Presently, Williams Companies operates through five key segments: Atlantic-Gulf, West, Northeast G&P, Sequent, and Others.
Transmission & Gulf of Mexico: Transco is the core of this segment. It is the largest and most rapidly expanding natural gas pipeline system in the country, and the Northwest Pipeline. The Transco pipeline, along with major expansion ventures like Atlantic Sunrise, plays a crucial role in the company’s growth. Additionally, this segment encompasses natural gas gathering and processing and crude oil handling assets in the Gulf Coast area, including interests in Gulfstar One and Gulfstream. In 2022, this segment contributed 27% to the total revenues.
West: The West segment includes interstate natural gas pipelines and various gathering and processing assets in the Western United States, along with NGL pipelines, and NGL fractionation and storage operations. It represented 14% of the company’s total sales in 2022.
Northeast G&P: This segment primarily involves gathering and processing assets in the Marcellus and Utica shale regions, handling about one-third of the natural gas production from these areas.
Sequent: Representing Williams’ latest addition, this unit emerged from the acquisition of Sequent Energy Management, a wholesale gas trading business.
Others: Comprising minor business ventures and corporate activities, this segment covers additional aspects of Williams’ operations.
Overall, The Williams Companies, Inc. showcases a diversified and robust presence in the North American energy infrastructure landscape.
PER VS PEERS.
SHARE PRICE VS FAIR VALUE.
PRICE TARGET.
FUTURE GROWTH FORECAST.
REASONS TO BUY.
Energy Infrastructure Sector.
The energy infrastructure sector in North America is poised for growth, especially with the increasing development of shale plays. This trend presents lucrative opportunities for pipeline companies like Williams, which stands to gain economically from this expansion.
Natural Gas Supply.
Williams is well-positioned to benefit from the growth in the nation’s natural gas supply, particularly through its major value-adding projects like Transco. Transco, is the largest gas transmission system in the country and a key project for Williams. It should significantly contribute to the company’s growth through both existing and planned expansion projects.
Financial Strenght.
Financially, Williams Companies is a very solid company. The company’s debt profile is good, with a $4.5 billion revolver set to mature in 2023. Additionally, Williams offers its shareholders an appealing dividend with a yield of around 5%. The company also underscores its commitment to shareholder value through a $1.5 billion share repurchase program.
Deepwater Transportation Business.
The company’s deepwater transportation business is another thriving area. Williams’ deepwater portfolio, which includes a 3,500-mile long network of natural gas and oil gathering and transmission pipelines, plays a vital role in the company’s future cash flow. This importance is underlined by the fact that many of these projects are supported by national oil companies and integrated majors, which typically focus on long-term investments. Moreover, a significant portion of these projects have received approval in recent years, making them less likely to be halted or canceled abruptly.