← Targa Resources overview

Targa Resources vs TC Energy: why the prices moved differently

Weekly · monthly · quarterly news summaries, side by side in time

Targa Resources Inc (TRGP)

Q3 2026
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Targa's record Q2, Exxon deal, and dividend hike drive bullish outlook

  • Record Q2 earnings and raised guidance Targa reported record second-quarter adjusted EBITDA of $1.603 billion, up 38% from a year earlier and 25% above estimates. Full-year 2026 guidance is near the top of its $5.7–$5.9 billion range.

    This is the core new financial result that beat expectations and lifted the outlook.

  • 20-year ExxonMobil Permian agreement A new 20-year fee-based agreement with ExxonMobil secures Permian volumes through 2046. It adds three Delaware Basin plants (about 825 MMcf/day) and the Bull Run II pipeline, supporting long-term growth.

    This major contract win is a key new driver of future volumes and revenue.

  • Analyst upgrades and shareholder returns Analysts upgraded Targa with price targets of $345–$350, citing peer-leading EBITDA growth. Shareholders got a 25% dividend increase to $1.25 and $80 million in buybacks.

    Upgrades and higher capital returns directly boost investor sentiment and stock appeal.

  • Rising costs and lower gas prices Growth capital spending rose to about $5 billion for 2026, and lower natural gas prices trimmed gathering margins. Marketing income can also be uneven, potentially pressuring cash flow.

    These are the main counterweights that could temper the bullish outlook.

August 2026
▲3▼1

Targa's record Q2, Exxon deal, and dividend hike drive bullish outlook

  • Record Q2 earnings and raised guidance Targa reported record second-quarter adjusted EBITDA of $1.603 billion, up 38% from a year earlier and 25% above estimates. Full-year 2026 guidance is near the top of its $5.7–$5.9 billion range.

    This is the core new financial result that beat expectations and lifted the outlook.

  • 20-year ExxonMobil Permian agreement A new 20-year fee-based agreement with ExxonMobil secures Permian volumes through 2046. It adds three Delaware Basin plants (about 825 MMcf/day) and the Bull Run II pipeline, supporting long-term growth.

    This major contract win is a key new driver of future volumes and revenue.

  • Analyst upgrades and shareholder returns Analysts upgraded Targa with price targets of $345–$350, citing peer-leading EBITDA growth. Shareholders got a 25% dividend increase to $1.25 and $80 million in buybacks.

    Upgrades and higher capital returns directly boost investor sentiment and stock appeal.

  • Rising costs and lower gas prices Growth capital spending rose to about $5 billion for 2026, and lower natural gas prices trimmed gathering margins. Marketing income can also be uneven, potentially pressuring cash flow.

    These are the main counterweights that could temper the bullish outlook.

Latest
▲3

Targa's ExxonMobil Permian deal and record quarter lift outlook and targets

  • ExxonMobil 20-year Permian deal drives growth Targa signed a 20-year fee-based agreement with ExxonMobil covering Permian gas processing and downstream volumes, including three new Delaware plants (~825 MMcf/day) and the Bull Run II pipeline. Long-term committed volumes make future cash flow more predictable, which is why analysts raised targets.

    The ExxonMobil deal is the main new force behind the stock's rise and repeated analyst target hikes.

  • Record quarter and raised full-year outlook Targa reported record Q2 adjusted EBITDA of $1.60 billion, up 38% from a year earlier, with Permian gas volumes adding over 450 MMcf/d and record NGL pipeline, fractionation and LPG export volumes. Management now expects full-year results near the top of guidance, signaling the business is running stronger than expected.

    The record quarter and raised guidance are the fundamental earnings news that supports the higher stock price.

  • Analyst upgrades and higher price targets TD Cowen upgraded Targa to Buy and lifted its target to $350, and Truist raised its target to $345, both citing the ExxonMobil deal and peer-leading EBITDA growth. Higher targets from professional analysts can pull in buyers and support the share price.

    The upgrade and target hikes are new, specific events that directly reflect and reinforce the bullish case.

  • Rising spending and lumpy marketing income are the counterweight Targa raised 2026 growth capital spending to about $5 billion for the new Delaware plants and Bull Run II, and management warned marketing gains can be lumpy while lower gas prices trimmed gathering margins. Bigger spending and uneven income can pressure cash flow and temper the upside.

    This is the real counterweight: higher costs and less predictable margins that could slow the positive story.

▲4

Targa's record Q2, Exxon deal and Permian growth drive bullish outlook

  • Record Q2 earnings and raised guidance Targa reported Q2 adjusted EBITDA of $1.603 billion, up 38% year-over-year, and now expects full-year 2026 EBITDA near the top of its $5.7–$5.9 billion range. Earnings per share beat estimates by 25%. This shows the business is growing faster than expected, which supports a higher stock price.

    Directly answers why TRGP is moving: strong financial results and raised outlook.

  • 20-year ExxonMobil agreements secure long-term volumes Targa signed 20-year fee-based midstream deals with ExxonMobil, dedicating acreage in the Permian through 2046. It will add three new processing plants (825 million cubic feet per day) by 2028. This locks in steady, fee-based revenue for decades, reducing risk and supporting growth.

    Major new contract that underpins future cash flows and growth.

  • Permian gas infrastructure expansion cycle Citi analysts say the Permian is entering a multi-year expansion for natural gas infrastructure, driven by LNG exports and AI data center power demand. Targa is well-positioned with its ExxonMobil partnership. This trend should increase volumes and demand for Targa's services.

    Highlights a broad industry tailwind that benefits Targa's business.

  • Increased dividend and share buybacks Targa raised its quarterly dividend by 25% to $1.25 per share and repurchased about $80 million of stock in Q2. Returning more cash to shareholders signals confidence and can attract income-focused investors, supporting the share price.

    Shows shareholder-friendly capital returns, a key driver for investor sentiment.

TC Energy Corp (TRP)

Q3 2026
▲4

TC Energy lifts outlook, sells Mexico pipeline, advances Coastal GasLink Phase 2

  • Strong Q2 and raised 2026 EBITDA guidance TC Energy beat second-quarter profit estimates and now expects full-year comparable EBITDA at the top of its $11.6–$11.8 billion range. It also sanctioned about $3 billion of new gas pipeline projects in 2026, including $500 million approved in the quarter. Higher earnings and new growth work support the stock.

    This is the period's core earnings and growth news that directly lifts investor expectations for TRP.

  • CEO raises long-term North American gas demand forecast Management now sees North American natural gas demand growing by 51 billion cubic feet a day by 2035, up from 40 billion a year ago, driven by data centers, electrification and coal-to-gas switching. More demand means more need for TC Energy's pipelines and future expansion projects.

    It explains the long-term demand backdrop that underpins TRP's growth story and pipeline expansions.

  • Sells Guadalajara-Manzanillo pipeline for C$560 million TC Energy agreed to sell its Mexican Guadalajara-Manzanillo pipeline to ESENTIA affiliates for about C$560 million and will redeploy the cash into North American growth projects. The sale trims non-core assets and funds higher-return opportunities, though the price versus lost income was not disclosed.

    It is a new capital-recycling move that shifts money toward growth and supports the investment case.

  • Coastal GasLink Phase 2 proceeds after LNG Canada approval LNG Canada's positive final investment decision satisfied conditions for TC Energy's Coastal GasLink Phase 2, which will nearly double capacity on the existing route. LNG Canada leads construction, limiting TC Energy's cost and schedule exposure, and ties the company to future LNG export volumes.

    It is a major new project confirmation that adds long-term contracted growth with limited capital risk.

August 2026
▲4

TC Energy lifts outlook, sells Mexico pipeline, advances Coastal GasLink Phase 2

  • Strong Q2 and raised 2026 EBITDA guidance TC Energy beat second-quarter profit estimates and now expects full-year comparable EBITDA at the top of its $11.6–$11.8 billion range. It also sanctioned about $3 billion of new gas pipeline projects in 2026, including $500 million approved in the quarter. Higher earnings and new growth work support the stock.

    This is the period's core earnings and growth news that directly lifts investor expectations for TRP.

  • CEO raises long-term North American gas demand forecast Management now sees North American natural gas demand growing by 51 billion cubic feet a day by 2035, up from 40 billion a year ago, driven by data centers, electrification and coal-to-gas switching. More demand means more need for TC Energy's pipelines and future expansion projects.

    It explains the long-term demand backdrop that underpins TRP's growth story and pipeline expansions.

  • Sells Guadalajara-Manzanillo pipeline for C$560 million TC Energy agreed to sell its Mexican Guadalajara-Manzanillo pipeline to ESENTIA affiliates for about C$560 million and will redeploy the cash into North American growth projects. The sale trims non-core assets and funds higher-return opportunities, though the price versus lost income was not disclosed.

    It is a new capital-recycling move that shifts money toward growth and supports the investment case.

  • Coastal GasLink Phase 2 proceeds after LNG Canada approval LNG Canada's positive final investment decision satisfied conditions for TC Energy's Coastal GasLink Phase 2, which will nearly double capacity on the existing route. LNG Canada leads construction, limiting TC Energy's cost and schedule exposure, and ties the company to future LNG export volumes.

    It is a major new project confirmation that adds long-term contracted growth with limited capital risk.

Latest
▲4

TC Energy lifts outlook, sells Mexico pipeline, advances Coastal GasLink Phase 2

  • Strong Q2 and raised 2026 EBITDA guidance TC Energy beat second-quarter profit estimates and now expects full-year comparable EBITDA at the top of its $11.6–$11.8 billion range. It also sanctioned about $3 billion of new gas pipeline projects in 2026, including $500 million approved in the quarter. Higher earnings and new growth work support the stock.

    This is the period's core earnings and growth news that directly lifts investor expectations for TRP.

  • CEO raises long-term North American gas demand forecast Management now sees North American natural gas demand growing by 51 billion cubic feet a day by 2035, up from 40 billion a year ago, driven by data centers, electrification and coal-to-gas switching. More demand means more need for TC Energy's pipelines and future expansion projects.

    It explains the long-term demand backdrop that underpins TRP's growth story and pipeline expansions.

  • Sells Guadalajara-Manzanillo pipeline for C$560 million TC Energy agreed to sell its Mexican Guadalajara-Manzanillo pipeline to ESENTIA affiliates for about C$560 million and will redeploy the cash into North American growth projects. The sale trims non-core assets and funds higher-return opportunities, though the price versus lost income was not disclosed.

    It is a new capital-recycling move that shifts money toward growth and supports the investment case.

  • Coastal GasLink Phase 2 proceeds after LNG Canada approval LNG Canada's positive final investment decision satisfied conditions for TC Energy's Coastal GasLink Phase 2, which will nearly double capacity on the existing route. LNG Canada leads construction, limiting TC Energy's cost and schedule exposure, and ties the company to future LNG export volumes.

    It is a major new project confirmation that adds long-term contracted growth with limited capital risk.