CALGARY, Alberta, Aug. 06, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — South Bow Corp. ((TSX &, NYSE:SOBO) (South Bow or the Company) reports its second-quarter 2025 financial and operational results. Unless otherwise noted, all financial figures in this news release are in U.S. dollars.
Highlights
Safety and operational performance
- Recorded average throughput of approximately 544,000 barrels per day (bbl/d) on the Keystone Pipeline in the second quarter of 2025, and approximately 760,000 bbl/d on the U.S. Gulf Coast segment of the Keystone Pipeline System. South Bow is currently delivering its contractual Keystone Pipeline throughput commitments of 585,000 bbl/d.
- Throughput on the Keystone Pipeline and the U.S. Gulf segment of the Keystone Pipeline System averaged approximately 578,000 bbl/d and approximately 744,000 bbl/d, respectively, in the first half of 2025.
- Progressed the Blackrod Connection Project, completing construction of the 150,000-barrel crude oil storage tank at the project’s terminal facility. South Bow remains on schedule to finish the facilities by late 2025 and be ready for in-service in early 2026. Associated cash flows are expected to increase throughout the second half of 2026 and into 2027.
- Completed cleanup and reclamation of the Milepost 171 (MP-171) incident site near Fort Ransom, N.D. in early June, and advanced remedial actions, with four in-line inspection runs and eight integrity digs completed to date. See “Milepost 171 incident” of this news release for additional details.
Financial performance
- Delivered stable financial results, driven by South Bow’s strong commercial underpinnings.
- Generated revenue of $524 million and net income of $96 million ($0.46/share).
- Recorded normalized earnings before interest, income taxes, depreciation, and amortization (normalized EBITDA)1 of $250 million, representing a 6% decrease from the first quarter of 2025 due to expected lower Marketing contributions.
- Delivered distributable cash flow1 2 of $167 million.
- Maintained total long-term debt and net debt1 outstanding of $5.8 billion and $4.9 billion, respectively, during the second quarter of 2025. The Company’s net debt-to-normalized EBITDA ratio1 was 4.6 times as of June 30, 2025.
Returns to shareholders
- Declared dividends totalling $104 million or $0.50/share to shareholders during the second quarter of 2025.
- South Bow’s board of directors approved a quarterly dividend of $0.50/share, payable on Oct. 15, 2025, to shareholders of record at the close of business on Sept. 29, 2025. The dividends will be designated as eligible dividends for Canadian income tax purposes.
Spinoff activities
- Implemented South Bow’s new enterprise resource planning system in early April, while continuing to streamline internal processes to better align with long-term business needs. South Bow expects to implement its new supervisory control and data acquisition (SCADA) system in the third quarter of 2025, substantially exiting the Transition Services Agreement (TSA) with TC Energy Corporation (TC Energy), within one year of the spinoff transaction (the Spinoff).
South Bow’s unaudited consolidated interim financial statements and notes (the financial statements), and management’s discussion and analysis (MD&A) as at and for the three and six months ended June 30, 2025 (the Q2 2025 MD&A) are available on South Bow’s website at www.southbow.com, under South Bow’s SEDAR+ profile at www.sedarplus.ca, and in South Bow’s filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) at www.sec.gov. The disclosure under the section “Specified Financial Measures” in the Q2 2025 MD&A is incorporated by reference into this news release.
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1 Non-GAAP financial measure or non-GAAP ratio that do not have standardized meanings under generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP) and may not be comparable to measures presented by other entities. See “Specified financial measures” of this news release.
2 In the second quarter of 2025, South Bow modified the definition of distributable cash flow. Comparative measures have been restated to reflect these changes. See “Specified financial measures” of this news release.
Financial and operational results
| $ millions, unless otherwise noted | Three Months Ended | Six Months Ended | ||||||
| March 31, 2025 | June 30, 2025 |
June 30, 2024 |
June 30, 2025 |
June 30, 2024 |
||||
| FINANCIAL RESULTS | ||||||||
| Revenue | 498 | 524 | 554 | 1,022 | 1,098 | |||
| Income from equity investments | 13 | 13 | 13 | 26 | 25 | |||
| Net income | 88 | 96 | 88 | 184 | 200 | |||
| Per share 1 | 0.42 | 0.46 | 0.42 | 0.88 | 0.96 | |||
| Normalized net income 2 | 98 | 87 | 71 | 185 | 185 | |||
| Per share 1 2 | 0.47 | 0.42 | 0.34 | 0.89 | 0.89 | |||
| Normalized EBITDA 2 | 266 | 250 | 241 | 516 | 539 | |||
| Keystone Pipeline System | 235 | 234 | 243 | 469 | 520 | |||
| Marketing | 16 | (1 | ) | (13 | ) | 15 | (4 | ) |
| Intra-Alberta & Other | 15 | 17 | 11 | 32 | 23 | |||
| Distributable cash flow 2 3 | 157 | 167 | 90 | 324 | 276 | |||
| Dividends declared | 104 | 104 | — | 208 | — | |||
| Per share 1 | 0.50 | 0.50 | — | 1.00 | — | |||
| Capital expenditures 4 | 32 | 34 | 20 | 66 | 32 | |||
| Total long-term debt 5 | 5,719 | 5,774 | 5,905 | 5,774 | 5,905 | |||
| Net debt 2 6 | 4,910 | 4,903 | 5,578 | 4,903 | 5,578 | |||
| Net debt-to-normalized EBITDA (ratio) 2 7 | 4.6 | 4.6 | 5.0 | 4.6 | 5.0 | |||
| Common shares outstanding, weighted average diluted (millions) 8 | 208.7 | 208.8 | 207.6 | 208.7 | 207.6 | |||
| Common shares outstanding (millions) 8 | 208.2 | 208.2 | 207.6 | 208.2 | 207.6 | |||
| OPERATIONAL RESULTS | ||||||||
| Keystone Pipeline System Operating Factor (SOF) (%) 9 | 98 | 93 | 94 | 95 | 95 | |||
| Keystone Pipeline throughput (Mbbl/d) | 613 | 544 | 623 | 578 | 633 | |||
| U.S. Gulf Coast segment of Keystone Pipeline System throughput (Mbbl/d) 10 | 726 | 760 | 802 | 744 | 790 | |||
| Marketlink throughput (Mbbl/d) | 549 | 625 | 622 | 588 | 602 | |||
- Per share amounts, with the exception of dividends, are based on weighted average diluted common shares outstanding.
- Non-GAAP financial measure or non-GAAP ratio that do not have standardized meanings and may not be comparable to measures presented by other entities. See “Specified financial measures” of this news release.
- In the second quarter of 2025, South Bow modified the definition of distributable cash flow. Comparative measures have been restated to reflect these changes. See “Specified financial measures” of this news release.
- Capital expenditures per the investing activities of the consolidated statements of cash flows of the financial statements.
- Total long-term debt at June 30, 2025 and March 31, 2025 includes the Company’s senior unsecured notes and junior subordinated notes. Total long-term debt at June 30, 2024 includes the Company’s long-term debt to affiliates of TC Energy.
- Includes 50% equity treatment of South Bow’s junior subordinated notes.
- South Bow expects that its net debt-to-normalized EBITDA ratio will increase modestly through the course of 2025 as the Company continues to invest in the Blackrod Connection Project and incur one-time separation costs of approximately $30 million to $40 million associated with the Spinoff. Consistent with the Company’s outlook on leverage, South Bow anticipates exiting 2025 with a net debt-to-normalized EBITDA ratio of approximately 4.8 times and that the Company will begin reducing its leverage once the Blackrod Connection Project starts generating cash flow in 2026.
- The common shares issued on Oct. 1, 2024 have been used for comparative periods, as the Company had no common shares outstanding prior to the Spinoff. For periods prior to Oct. 1, 2024, it is assumed there were no dilutive equity instruments, as there were no equity awards of South Bow outstanding prior to the Spinoff.
- SOF measures South Bow’s ability to deliver crude oil at the planned maximum rate of the Keystone Pipeline.
- Comprises throughput originating in Hardisty, Alta. transported on the Keystone Pipeline, and throughput originating in Cushing, Okla. transported on Marketlink for destination in the U.S. Gulf Coast.
Milepost 171 incident
- On April 8, 2025, South Bow responded to an oil release at MP-171 of the Keystone Pipeline near Fort Ransom, N.D. while working closely with regulators, local officials, landowners, and the surrounding community. The pipeline was operating within its design pressure at the time of the incident. With the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA)’s approval, South Bow safely restarted the pipeline on April 15, 2025, and has since delivered on its contractual throughput commitments of 585,000 bbl/d.
- PHMSA issued a Corrective Action Order (CAO) requiring South Bow to undertake corrective actions, including operating under pressure restrictions for specific segments of the pipeline. The CAO also requires the completion of an independent third-party root cause failure analysis (RCFA), along with mechanical and metallurgical testing.
- The mechanical and metallurgical analysis determined that the failure was caused by an axial fatigue crack that originated from the interior of the pipe, near the long-seam weld. Both the pipe and welds met industry standards for design, materials, and mechanical properties.
- The findings of the mechanical and metallurgical testing will be incorporated into the RCFA, which is anticipated to be completed by the end of the third quarter of 2025.
- In early June, South Bow successfully completed the cleanup and reclamation of the incident site. The costs related to the incident, estimated at approximately $58 million, are largely expected to be recovered through the Company’s insurance policies and include long-term environmental site monitoring.
- South Bow advanced remedial actions, with four in-line inspection runs and eight integrity digs completed to date. Preliminary results indicate no injurious issues. South Bow’s remedial work plan will incorporate the RCFA’s findings and recommendations.
- South Bow’s integrity program is extensive, continuously and proactively incorporating new learnings and technologies to ensure the long-term safety and reliability of the Company’s assets. South Bow will continue working closely with its regulators, suppliers, and industry experts to determine the failure mechanism, implement remedial actions, and ensure the continued safe operations of the pipeline.
Outlook
Market outlook
- Western Canadian Sedimentary Basin crude oil pipeline egress capacity continues to exceed crude oil supply. As a result, the demand for uncommitted capacity on South Bow’s Keystone Pipeline is expected to remain low in the near term. Additionally, changing global trade policies, including tariffs, have created economic and geopolitical uncertainty, resulting in volatility in commodity prices and pricing differentials.
2025 guidance
- South Bow’s guidance aims to inform readers about Management’s expectations for 2025 financial and operational results. Readers are cautioned that these estimates may not be suitable for any other purpose. See “Forward-looking information and statements” of this news release for additional information regarding factors that could cause actual events to be significantly different from those expected.
South Bow’s 2025 annual guidance is outlined below:
| $ millions, except percentages | 2025 Guidance 1 2 (May 2025) |
2025 Guidance 2 (August 2025) |
2025 YTD Actuals |
| Normalized EBITDA 3 | 1,010 +1% / -2% | 1,010 +1% / -2% | 516 |
| Interest expense | 325 +/- 2% | 325 +/- 2% | 164 |
| Effective tax rate (%) | 23% – 24% | 23% – 24% | 23% |
| Distributable cash flow 3 4 | 535 +/- 3% | 590 +/- 3% | 324 |
| Capital expenditures | |||
| Growth 5 | 110 +/- 3% | 110 +/- 3% | 75 |
| Maintenance 5 6 | 65 +/- 3% | 55 +/- 3% | 21 |
- See South Bow’s May 15, 2025 news release “South Bow Reports First-quarter 2025 Results and Declares Dividend”, available on South Bow’s website at www.southbow.com, under South Bow’s SEDAR+ profile at www.sedarplus.ca, and in South Bow’s filings with the SEC at www.sec.gov.
- Assumes average foreign exchange rate of C$/U.S.$1.4286.
- See “Outlook and Guidance” of the Q2 2025 MD&A for historical normalized EBITDA and distributable cash flow, which information is incorporated by reference into this news release.
- In the second quarter of 2025, South Bow modified the definition of distributable cash flow to no longer adjust income (loss) before income taxes for interest income and other. The May 2025 guidance set forth in the table above reflects the previous definition of distributable cash flow, and as such, readers are advised that the May 2025 and August 2025 distributable cash flow guidance values above are not directly comparable. See “Specified financial measures” of this news release.
- Supplementary financial measure. See “Specified Financial Measures” of the Q2 2025 MD&A, which information is incorporated by reference into this news release.
- Maintenance capital expenditures are generally recoverable through South Bow’s tolling arrangements.
- South Bow is reaffirming its outlook for normalized EBITDA of approximately $1.01 billion in 2025, within a range of +1% to -2%, underpinned by the Company’s highly contracted cash flows and structural demand for services. Approximately 90% of South Bow’s normalized EBITDA is secured through committed arrangements, which carry minimal commodity price or volumetric risk.
- Normalized EBITDA for the third quarter of 2025 is expected to be relatively unchanged from second-quarter 2025 normalized EBITDA of $250 million. South Bow expects that Marketing losses anticipated to be realized in the third quarter will be offset by normalized EBITDA associated with maintenance capital expenditures for system integrity projects. South Bow maintains its forecast of normalized EBITDA for the Marketing segment to be approximately $30 million lower in 2025 compared to 2024.
- South Bow is revising its outlook for distributable cash flow to $590 million, within a range of 3%, primarily due to lower expected current taxes resulting from changes in U.S. tax legislation, and to reflect the Company’s modified definition of distributable cash flow to no longer adjust income (loss) before income taxes for interest income and other. See “Specified financial measures” of this news release.
- South Bow is revising its outlook for maintenance capital expenditures to $55 million, within a range of 3%, to prioritize the Company’s remedial actions relating to the MP-171 incident.
- South Bow is revising its expectations for one-time separation costs associated with the Spinoff to approximately $30 million to $40 million in 2025, down from $40 million to $50 million, reflecting lower-than-expected costs in establishing the Company’s capabilities.
Capital allocation priorities
- South Bow takes a disciplined approach to capital allocation to preserve optionality and maximize total shareholder returns over the long term. The Company’s capital allocation priorities are built on a foundation of financial strength and supported by South Bow’s stable, predictable cash flows. South Bow’s capital allocation priorities include:
- paying a sustainable base dividend;
- strengthening the Company’s investment-grade financial position; and
- leveraging existing infrastructure within South Bow’s strategic corridor to offer customers competitive connections and enhanced optionality.
Investor day
South Bow will hold its inaugural investor day on Nov. 19, 2025 in New York City. The webcasted event will include presentations from South Bow’s senior leadership on the Company’s long-term strategy, capital allocation priorities, and growth outlook.
Conference call and webcast details
South Bow’s senior leadership will host a conference call and webcast to discuss the Company’s second-quarter 2025 results on Aug. 7, 2025 at 8 a.m. MT (10 a.m. ET).
| Date | Aug. 7, 2025 |
| Time | 8 a.m. MT (10 a.m. ET) |
| Conference call link | https://register-conf.media-server.com/register/BI5bf19c78c2b34999aabccc02e536a8f7 |
| Webcast link | https://edge.media-server.com/mmc/p/yghz5jhj |
Register ahead of time to receive a unique PIN to access the conference call via telephone. Once registered, participants can dial into the conference call from their telephone via the unique PIN or click on the “Call Me” option to receive an automated call directly on their telephone.
Visit www.southbow.com/investors for the replay following the event.
Specified financial measures
Non-GAAP financial measures
In this news release, South Bow references certain non-GAAP financial measures and non-GAAP ratios that do not have standardized meanings under GAAP and may not be comparable to similar measures presented by other entities. These non-GAAP financial measures and non-GAAP ratios include or exclude adjustments to the composition of the most directly comparable GAAP measures. Management considers these non-GAAP financial measures and non-GAAP ratios to be important in evaluating and understanding the operational performance and liquidity of South Bow. These non-GAAP financial measures and non-GAAP ratios should not be considered in isolation or as a substitute for financial information or measures of performance presented in accordance with GAAP.
South Bow’s non-GAAP financial measures and non-GAAP ratios used in this news release include:
- normalized EBITDA;
- segment normalized EBITDA;
- normalized net income;
- normalized net income per share;
- distributable cash flow;
- net debt; and
- net debt-to-normalized EBITDA ratio.
These non-GAAP financial measures and non-GAAP ratios are further described below, with a reconciliation to their most directly comparable GAAP measure.
Normalizing items
Normalized measures are, or include, non-GAAP financial measures and non-GAAP ratios and include normalized EBITDA, segment normalized EBITDA, normalized net income, normalized net income per share, distributable cash flow, and net debt-to-normalized EBITDA ratio. Management uses these normalized measures to assess the financial performance of South Bow’s operations and compare period-over-period results. During certain reporting periods, the Company may incur costs that are not indicative of core operations or results. These normalized measures represent income (loss), adjusted for specific normalizing items that are believed to be significant; however, are not reflective of South Bow’s underlying operations in the period.
These specific normalizing items include gains or losses on sales of assets or assets held for sale, unrealized fair value adjustments related to risk management activities, tariff charges, acquisition, integration, and restructuring costs, and other charges, including but not limited to, impairment, contractual costs, and settlements.
South Bow excludes the unrealized fair value adjustments related to risk management activities, as these represent the changes in the fair value of derivatives, but do not accurately reflect the gains and losses that will be realized at settlement and impact income. Therefore, South Bow does not consider these items reflective of the Company’s underlying operations, despite providing effective economic hedges. Realized gains and losses on grade financial contracts are adjusted to improve comparability, as they settle in a subsequent period to the underlying …