By (Reuters) -U.S. pipeline operator Kinder Morgan (NYSE:KMI) fell short of Wall Street estimates for third-quarter profit on Wednesday, weighed down by weaker commodity prices and lower crude volumes.
The company also projected annual adjusted core profit to be 2% below its forecast, compared to previous expectations of in line or within 1-2% below.
Kinder Morgan cited lower-than-expected commodity prices and start-up delays at its renewable natural gas facilities for the latest forecast.
Shares of the company, whose pipelines move about 40% of total U.S. natural gas production, fell 1.5% in extended trade.
U.S. WTI crude oil prices declined about 8.1% during the reported quarter from a year earlier on concerns over demand and ample supplies.
Crude and condensate volumes fell 4% from the year-ago quarter, while natural gas transport rose 2%.
At its products pipelines unit, which includes refined products, adjusted core profit decreased about 11.5% to $277 million.
The company said the Gulf Coast Express Pipeline, which it operates and holds a stake in, has green-lighted an about $455 million expansion project that would raise natural gas deliveries by 570 million cubic feet per day from the Permian Basin to South Texas markets.
The Houston, Texas-based company posted an adjusted profit of 25 cents per share for the three months ended Sept. 30, compared with analysts’ estimates of 27 cents, according to estimates compiled by LSEG.
