Delek US Holdings Reports Fourth Quarter 2023 Results and 2024 Capital Program

Fourth Quarter

Net loss of $164.9 million or $2.57 per share, adjusted net loss of $93.2 million or $1.46 per share, adjusted EBITDA of $60.6 million
Returned $35.4 million to shareholders through dividends and share buybacks
Reduced debt by $38.2 million
Refining delivered record total throughput rate
Logistics achieved another record quarter
Increased regular quarterly dividend to $0.245 per share in February

Full-Year 2023

Net income of $19.8 million or $0.30 per share, adjusted net income of $196.6 million or $2.98 per share, adjusted EBITDA of $949.7 million
Returned $145.7 million to shareholders through dividends and share buybacks
Reduced debt by $453.9 million
Successfully executed major turnaround at Tyler Refinery and ran refining system at record total throughput
Significantly grew logistics gathering and processing volumes
Delivered one of Delek’s safest years

2024 Capital Program

2024 capital expenditures are estimated to be approximately $330 million, including $220 million for refining and $70 million for logistics

BRENTWOOD, Tenn., Feb. 27, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — Delek US Holdings, Inc. (NYSE:DK) (“Delek US”, “Company”) today announced financial results for its fourth quarter ended December 31, 2023.

“During the fourth quarter, we operated well, achieving record total throughput in refining,” said Avigal Soreq, President and Chief Executive Officer of Delek US. “The market environment was less than favorable, but we remained focused on what we could control.”

“Our employees delivered a strong performance in 2023, successfully managing both opportunities and challenges to drive results,” Soreq added. “Throughout the year, we made strategic investments to strengthen our foundation. We focused on people, processes, and equipment to support safe and reliable operations. At the same time, we drove long-term shareholder value and improved our financial strength by returning $146 million of capital to shareholders and reducing our net debt by $435 million during the year.”

“Our guiding principles in 2024 are focused execution and a disciplined approach to capital allocation. The strategic initiatives we started in 2023 are gaining momentum and delivering results,” Soreq continued. “We are making significant progress towards unlocking value intrinsic in our business and continue to focus on our stakeholders as we advance this initiative. For 2024, we estimate our capital program to be lower than 2023 at approximately $330 million. The capital program reflects our dedication to maintaining safe and reliable operations, enhancing our portfolio with strategic growth projects, and delivering shareholder value while maintaining our financial strength and flexibility. We believe we are well positioned from both an operational and financial standpoint to deliver competitive returns,” Soreq concluded.

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Refining Segment

The refining segment Adjusted EBITDA was $(10.4) million in the fourth quarter 2023 compared with $170.9 million in the same quarter last year, which reflects other inventory impacts of $48.6 million and $193.6 million for fourth quarter 2023 and 2022, respectively. The decrease over 2022 is primarily due to lower refining crack spreads, partially offset by higher sales volume. During the fourth quarter 2023, Delek US’s benchmark crack spreads were down an average of 50.7% from prior-year levels.

Logistics Segment

The logistics segment Adjusted EBITDA in the fourth quarter 2023 was $99.4 million compared with $90.6 million in the prior year quarter. The increase over last year’s fourth quarter was driven by strong contributions from the Midland Gathering and Delaware Gathering systems in addition to annual rate increases.

Retail Segment

For the fourth quarter 2023, Adjusted EBITDA for the retail segment was $9.3 million compared with $7.8 million in the prior-year period. The increase was primarily driven by higher inside store margins and total retail fuel gallons sold.

Corporate and Other Activity

Adjusted EBITDA from Corporate, Other and Eliminations was a loss of $(37.7) million in the fourth quarter 2023 compared with a loss of $(59.5) million in the prior-year period. The improvement was driven by lower general and administrative costs, primarily related to employee benefit expenses.

Shareholder Distributions

On February 20, 2024, the Board of Directors approved the regular quarterly dividend of $0.245 per share that will be paid on March 8, 2024 to shareholders of record on March 1, 2024.

Liquidity

As of December 31, 2023, Delek US had a cash balance of $822.2 million and total consolidated long-term debt of $2,599.8 million, resulting in net debt of $1,777.6 million. As of December 31, 2023, Delek Logistics Partners, LP (NYSE:DKL) (“Delek Logistics”) had $3.8 million of cash and $1,703.8 million of total long-term debt, which are included in the consolidated amounts on Delek US’ balance sheet. Excluding Delek Logistics, Delek US had $818.4 million in cash and $896.0 million of long-term debt, or a $77.6 million net debt position.

Capital Program

The Delek US 2024 Capital Program is forecasted to be approximately $330 million, with $255 million for sustaining and regulatory capital and $75 million for growth capital. The 2024 Capital Program compares with the 2023 Capital Program of $372 million, which includes $17 million of insurance proceeds, growth capital partially funded by producers, as well as other reimbursements. Excluding these proceeds, 2023 capital expenditures were $389 million.

For 2024, in the Refining segment, Delek US plans to invest $220 million, with 93% of the capital dedicated towards sustaining and regulatory projects and 7% for projects focused on improving the efficiency and yield of Delek refineries. Most of Refining’s capital expenditures are for the Krotz Spring Refinery major turnaround scheduled during the fourth quarter of 2024, as well as projects at Big Spring Refinery to improve capture rates. 

In the Logistics segment, the company expects the capital program to be approximately $70 million. This includes approximately $20 million of sustaining and regulatory capital, and $50 million of growth capital. Growth capital is to advance new connections in both the Midland and Delaware gathering systems, enabling continued volume growth at the partnership.

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The Retail segment capital expenditures are expected to be approximately $15 million. Funds are dedicated to maintaining Delek’s 250 convenience stores, including interior rebranding and reimaging initiatives.

The Corporate and Other segment includes approximately $25 million of capital expenditures, which is primarily to fund IT improvements. 

Fourth Quarter 2023 Results | Conference Call Information

Delek US will hold a conference call to discuss its fourth quarter 2023 results on Tuesday, February 27, 2024 at 10:00 a.m. Central Time. Investors will have the opportunity to listen to the conference call live by going to www.DelekUS.com and clicking on the Investor Relations tab. Participants are encouraged to register at least 15 minutes early to download and install any necessary software. Presentation materials accompanying the call will be available on the investor relations tab of the Delek US website approximately ten minutes prior to the start of the call. For those who cannot listen to the live broadcast, the online replay will be available on the website for 90 days.

Investors may also wish to listen to Delek Logistics’ (NYSE:DKL) fourth quarter 2023 earnings conference call that will be held on Tuesday February 27, 2024 at 11:30 a.m. Central Time and review Delek Logistics’ earnings press release. Market trends and information disclosed by Delek Logistics may be relevant to the logistics segment reported by Delek US. Both a replay of the conference call and press release for Delek Logistics will be available online at www.deleklogistics.com.

About Delek US Holdings, Inc.

Delek US Holdings, Inc. is a diversified downstream energy company with assets in petroleum refining, logistics, pipelines, renewable fuels and convenience store retailing. The refining assets consist primarily of refineries operated in Tyler and Big Spring, Texas, El Dorado, Arkansas and Krotz Springs, Louisiana with a combined nameplate crude throughput capacity of 302,000 barrels per day. Pipeline assets include an ownership interest in the 650-mile Wink to Webster long-haul crude oil pipeline. The convenience store retail segment operates approximately 250 convenience stores in West Texas and New Mexico.

The logistics operations include Delek Logistics Partners, LP (NYSE:DKL). Delek Logistics Partners, LP is a growth-oriented master limited partnership focused on owning and operating midstream energy infrastructure assets. Delek US Holdings, Inc. and its subsidiaries owned approximately 78.7% (including the general partner interest) of Delek Logistics Partners, LP at December 31, 2023.

Safe Harbor Provisions Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements that are based upon current expectations and involve a number of risks and uncertainties. Statements concerning current estimates, expectations and projections about future results, performance, prospects, opportunities, plans, actions and events and other statements, concerns, or matters that are not historical facts are “forward-looking statements,” as that term is defined under the federal securities laws. These statements contain words such as “possible,” “believe,” “should,” “could,” “would,” “predict,” “plan,” “estimate,” “intend,” “may,” “anticipate,” “will,” “if”, “potential,” “expect” or similar expressions, as well as statements in the future tense. These forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements regarding throughput at the Company’s refineries; crude oil prices, discounts and quality and our ability to benefit therefrom; cost reductions; growth; scheduled turnaround activity; projected capital expenditures and investments into our business; the performance and execution of our midstream growth initiatives, including the Permian Gathering System, the Red River joint venture and the Wink to Webster long-haul crude oil pipeline, and the flexibility, benefits and the expected returns therefrom; projected benefits of the Delaware Gathering Acquisition, renewable identification numbers (“RINs”) waivers and tax credits and the value and benefit therefrom; cash and liquidity; emissions reductions; opportunities and anticipated performance and financial position.

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Investors are cautioned that the following important factors, among others, may affect these forward-looking statements. These factors include, but are not limited to: uncertainty related to timing and amount of future share repurchases and dividend payments; risks and uncertainties with respect to the quantities and costs of crude oil we are able to obtain and the price of the refined petroleum products we ultimately sell, uncertainties regarding future decisions by the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (“OPEC”) regarding production and pricing disputes between OPEC members and Russia; risks and uncertainties related to the integration by Delek Logistics of the Delaware Gathering business following its acquisition; Delek US’ ability to realize cost reductions; risks related to Delek US’ exposure to Permian Basin crude oil, such as supply, pricing, gathering, production and transportation capacity; gains and losses from derivative instruments; risks associated with acquisitions and dispositions; acquired assets may suffer a diminishment in fair value as a result of which we may need to record a write-down or impairment in carrying value of the asset; the possibility of litigation challenging renewable fuel standard waivers; changes in the scope, costs, and/or timing of capital and maintenance projects; the ability to grow the Permian Gathering System; the ability of the Red River joint venture to complete the expansion project to increase the Red River pipeline capacity; the ability of the joint venture to construct the Wink to Webster long haul crude oil pipeline; operating hazards inherent in transporting, storing and processing crude oil and intermediate and finished petroleum products; our competitive position and the effects of competition; the projected growth of the industries in which we operate; general economic and business conditions affecting the geographic areas in which we operate; and other risks described in Delek US’ filings with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”), including risks disclosed in our Annual Report on Form 10-K, Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q and other filings and reports with the SEC.

Forward-looking statements should not be read as a guarantee of future performance or results and will not be accurate indications of the times at, or by, which such performance or results will be achieved.  Forward-looking information is based on information available at the time and/or management’s good faith belief with respect to future events, and is subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual performance or results to differ materially from those expressed in the statements. Delek US undertakes no obligation to update or revise any such forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances that occur, or which Delek US becomes aware of, after the date hereof, except as required by applicable law or regulation.

Non-GAAP Disclosures:

Our management uses certain “non-GAAP” operational measures to evaluate our operating segment performance and non-GAAP financial measures to evaluate past performance and prospects for the future to supplement our financial information presented in accordance with United States (“U.S.”) Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (“GAAP”). These financial and operational non-GAAP measures are important factors in assessing our operating results and profitability and include:

Adjusting items – certain identified infrequently occurring items, non-cash items, and items that are not attributable to or indicative of our on-going operations or that may obscure our underlying results and trends;
Adjusted net income (loss) – calculated as net income (loss) attributable to Delek US adjusted for relevant Adjusting items recorded during the period;
Adjusted net income (loss) per share – calculated as Adjusted net income (loss) divided by weighted average shares outstanding, assuming dilution, as adjusted for any anti-dilutive instruments that may not be permitted for consideration in GAAP earnings per share calculations but that nonetheless favorably impact dilution;
Earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization (“EBITDA”) – calculated as net income (loss) attributable to Delek US adjusted to add back interest expense, income tax expense, depreciation and amortization;
Adjusted EBITDA – calculated as EBITDA adjusted for the relevant identified Adjusting items in Adjusted net income (loss) that do not relate to interest expense, income tax expense, depreciation or amortization, and adjusted to include income (loss) attributable to non-controlling interests;
Refining margin – calculated as gross margin (which we define as sales minus cost of sales) adjusted for operating expenses and depreciation and amortization included in cost of sales;
Adjusted refining margin – calculated as refining margin adjusted for other inventory impacts, net inventory LCM valuation loss (benefit) and unrealized hedging (gain) loss;
Refining production margin – calculated based on the regional market sales price of refined products produced, less allocated transportation, Renewable Fuel Standard volume obligation and associated feedstock costs. This measure reflects the economics of each refinery exclusive of the financial impact of inventory price risk mitigation programs and marketing uplift strategies;
Refining production margin per throughput barrel – calculated as refining production margin divided by our average refining throughput in barrels per day (excluding purchased barrels) multiplied by 1,000 and multiplied by the number of days in the period; and
Net debt – calculated as long-term debt including both current and non-current portions (the most comparable GAAP measure) less cash and cash equivalents as of a specific balance sheet date.

We believe these non-GAAP operational and financial measures are useful to investors, lenders, ratings agencies and analysts to assess our ongoing performance because, when reconciled to their most comparable GAAP financial measure, they provide improved relevant comparability between periods, to peers or to market metrics through the inclusion of retroactive regulatory or other adjustments as if they had occurred in the prior periods they relate to, or through the exclusion of certain items that we believe are not indicative of our core operating performance and that may obscure our underlying results and trends. “Net debt,” also a non-GAAP financial measure, is an important measure to monitor leverage and evaluate the balance sheet.

Non-GAAP measures have important limitations as analytical tools, because they exclude some, but not all, items that affect net earnings and operating income. These measures should not be considered substitutes for their most directly comparable U.S. GAAP financial measures. Additionally, because Adjusted net income or loss, Adjusted net income or loss per share, EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA, Adjusted Refining Margin and Refining Production Margin or any of our other identified non-GAAP measures may be defined differently by other companies in its industry, Delek US’ definition may not be comparable to similarly titled measures of other companies. See the accompanying tables in this earnings release for a reconciliation of these non-GAAP measures to the most directly comparable GAAP measures.

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Significant Transactions During the Quarter Impacting Results:

Restructuring Costs

In 2022, we announced that we are progressing a business transformation focused on enterprise-wide opportunities to improve the efficiency of our cost structure. For the fourth quarter 2023, we recorded restructuring costs totaling $31.4 million ($24.3 million after-tax) associated with our business transformation. The fourth quarter 2023 included a $23.1 million impairment related to leased crude oil tanks in Canada that were not needed to support the future growth of our business. Restructuring costs of $23.1 million are recorded in asset impairment, $7.1 million are recorded in general and administrative expenses and $1.2 million are included in cost of materials and other in our consolidated statements of income.

Other Inventory Impact

“Other inventory impact” is primarily calculated by multiplying the number of barrels sold during the period by the difference between current period weighted average purchase cost per barrel directly related to our refineries and per barrel cost of materials and other for the period recognized on a FIFO basis directly related to our refineries. It assumes no beginning or ending inventory, so that the current period average purchase cost per barrel is a reasonable estimate of our market purchase cost for the current period, without giving effect to any build or draw on beginning inventory. These amounts are based on management estimates using a methodology including these assumptions. However, this analysis provides management with a means to compare hypothetical refining margins to current period average crack spreads, as well as provides a means to better compare our results to peers.

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