Williams Companies Inc (WMB) News & EventsWMBNews & EventsWilliams Companies Inc

Williams to Acquire Momentum Midstream for Up to $5.5B

Williams has agreed to acquire Momentum Midstream in a strategic Haynesville growth transaction valued at up to $5.5B, further expanding the company's fully integrated natural gas infrastructure platform in one of the nation's most important supply basins serving growing Gulf Coast LNG, power and industrial demand. Under the agreement, Williams will acquire 100% of Momentum Midstream for total consideration of up to $5.5B, comprising approximately $3.5B of cash and debt consideration and roughly $2B of Williams equity. Momentum's Haynesville platform adds more than 4,000 miles of pipe and over 1 million dedicated acres within four key gathering areas with a combined capacity of 6 Bcf/d, multiple processing and treating facilities and three take-or-pay pipelines capable of transporting 4.05 Bcf/d, serving the Haynesville and key demand markets. The acquisition is valued at an implied valuation of approximately 8.5x projected 2027 EBITDA and is expected to be accretive to both available funds from operations (AFFO) per share and earnings per share. Predictable, fee-based cash flows, supported by fixed-fee earnings, take-or-pay contracts and a high-quality customer base, underpin the transaction's long-term value. The acquisition and the announced pipeline projects deepen Williams' exposure to long-term natural gas demand growth, including Gulf Coast LNG demand projected to increase by approximately 20 Bcf/d over the next 10 years. By combining Momentum's complementary footprint with Williams' existing infrastructure, the transaction enhances basin connectivity, broadens customer reach and creates additional opportunities to serve LNG, industrial and power demand, including future Transco expansions.

Major Averages Decline Amid Rising Geopolitical Tensions

The major averages were broadly lower as rising geopolitical tensions and another bout of semiconductor selling weigh on risk sentiment. President Donald Trump said he was reinstating a blockade on Iranian shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, even going so far in a social media post as to call the U.S. the "Guardian of the Hormuz Strait." Oil prices surged after the news, reviving concerns that higher energy costs could complicate the inflation outlook.Meanwhile, this week marks the unofficial start of second-quarter earnings season, with major U.S. banks set to report over the next several days. Investors also have an eye on upcoming June CPI and retail sales data, along with congressional testimony from Federal Reserve Chair Kevin Warsh.Get caught up quickly on the top news and calls moving stocks with these five Top Five lists.1. STOCK NEWS:Appleis suing OpenAI, accusing the ChatGPT maker and its hardware chief Tang Tan of engaging in a coordinated effort to steal secret trade information about upcoming products,MGM Resortshas been in talks over a potential deal with Barry Diller's People Incorporatedafter the media mogul offered to acquire the casino giant,Williamsin its Power Innovation joint venture from BlackstoneFirst HawaiianTriCo Bancsharesin an all-stock transactionShellSprng Energy to Aditya Birla Renewables for $1.8B2. WALL STREET CALLS:Shopifyto Buy from Hold at JefferiesBofAPapa John'sto Underperform, says management turnover raises uncertaintyAmerican Expressto Overweight from Neutral at JPMorganTravelersto Sell from Hold at TD CowenDeckers Outdoorto Buy from Hold at Jefferies3. AROUND THE WEB:Multiple states, including California, are expected to file suit today to challenge the Paramountand Warner Bros.deal, sources told CNBC's David FaberGoogleis expanding sales of its AI TPUs to external cloud providers as a lower-cost, more reliable alternative to NvidiaGPUs, intensifying competition even as Nvidia remains the dominant supplier of AI infrastructure, Information reportsDisney'slive-action "Moana" was set to collect $43M at the domestic box office from Thursday to Sunday, but originally the company had been aiming for $60M or more, NY Times reportsAT&Twill pay $184.1M to settle a lawsuit accusing the company of shortchanging 300,000 employees out of pension payments, Reuters reportsSK HynixCEO Kawk Noh-jung said he believes the global memory industry is heading into its "worst year" during its supply shortage in 2027, with the demand for memory continuing to exceed the company's ability to produce it, Reuters says4. MOVERS:Q32 Biohigher after reporting 36-week topline results from itsConmedgains afterthe company is weighing its options amid takeover interest from private equity firmsZoomInfoincreases afterOn Semifalls after TD Cowenon the stockIonis Pharmaceuticals (IONS) lower afterin its Phase 1-2 ASCEND study5. EARNINGS/GUIDANCE:Hillman Solutionsand backed its guidance for FY26LogProstyle, with EPS lower year-over-yearASMLon July 15TSMCon July 16JPMorgan Chaseon July 14INDEXES:Near midday, the Dow was down 0.20%, or 106.78, to 52,530.23, the Nasdaq was down 1.03%, or 270.88, to 26,010.73, and the S&P 500 was down 0.46%, or 34.47, to 7,540.92.