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Did Analyst Upgrade Just Shift Hess Midstream Stock Investment Narrative?

Simply Wall St·10/24/2026 23:33:39
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  • Hess Midstream recently drew attention after Raymond James raised its rating to outperform, while energy peers moved higher on stronger oil prices following geopolitical headlines.
  • The upgrade highlights Hess Midstream’s fee based midstream model and its exposure to Bakken volumes at a moment when supply risk is back in focus.
  • This article explores how Hess Midstream’s fee based Bakken infrastructure story interacts with the Raymond James upgrade to reshape its investment narrative.

Scan fee based energy infrastructure beyond Hess Midstream by reviewing the hand picked 42 power grid technology and infrastructure stocks, which could also be sensitive to shifting oil and supply risk headlines.

Hess Midstream Investment Narrative Recap

For Hess Midstream, the big picture rests on a fee based model in the Bakken that turns contracted volumes and a lighter capital budget into higher adjusted free cash flow. An investor needs to be comfortable with a business that leans on Chevron’s plan to keep Bakken output steady and on long dated minimum volume commitments that gradually step down.

The Raymond James upgrade and oil price move do not change the key near term swing factor, which is how fully its gathering and processing assets stay utilized as MVC coverage starts to taper after 2028. The biggest ongoing risk remains concentrated exposure to Chevron and to weather or operational disruptions that can temporarily hit throughput.

With no fresh company announcements around the time of the rating change, the most relevant reference point is management’s earlier guidance for 2026 adjusted free cash flow of US$910 million to US$960 million, supported by lower planned capex of about US$100 million to US$105 million. That framework underpins the story of a capital lighter period with more cash available after spending.

This earlier plan matters when you read the upgrade alongside a sector wide move on higher oil prices. The Hess Midstream thesis still leans on fee based contracts, high minimum volume coverage through 2028 and management’s stated intention to grow distributions at least 5% a year. Management has also indicated a plan to use excess cash for buybacks and debt reduction, and this sits alongside expectations for revenue and earnings declines over the next three years.

Hess Midstream's current analyst framework points to revenues of US$1.4b and earnings of US$437.1 million by 2029, based on an assumed yearly revenue decline of 3.5% and an earnings increase of about US$62 million from US$375.0 million today.

Uncover why Hess Midstream's fair value indicates a 15% potential upside to its current price, which could narrow quickly.

NYSE:HESM 1-Year Stock Price Chart
NYSE:HESM 1-Year Stock Price Chart

Exploring Other Perspectives

Two fair value estimates from the Simply Wall St Community span roughly US$35 to US$85 per unit for Hess Midstream, which shows how far opinions can stretch among private forecasters. Set that against concentration risk around Chevron’s Bakken plan and shifting minimum volume commitments, and you have plenty of reason to compare multiple viewpoints before acting.

Explore another Hess Midstream fair value estimate, including one that suggests as much as 179% potential upside from the current price.

Reach Your Own Conclusion

Disagree with existing narratives? Extraordinary investment returns rarely come from following the herd, so go with your instincts.

Looking for more investment ideas beyond Hess Midstream?

Once you have formed a view on Hess Midstream, it can help to cross check your thinking against other opportunities with different risk and income profiles using the Simply Wall St Screener.