WMB 10-K Analysis: $5B Power Pivot, 243% FCF Payout, and the EBITDA Illusion
Williams Companies reported record Modified EBITDA of $7.7 billion in FY2025 while free cash flow collapsed 58% to $1 billion. The 10-K reveals the company's data center power contracts are 10-12.5 years — half the 20-year duration management cited — with zero quantified return metrics in the filing. Meanwhile, $965 million in equity-method JV income inflates the preferred EBITDA by 15%, creating a 17% valuation gap. At a 243% FCF payout ratio, WMB's 3.3% dividend yield is funded by debt, not cash flow.