Release Date: November 15, 2024
For the complete transcript of the earnings call, please refer to the full earnings call transcript.
Positive Points
- Natural Gas Services Group Inc (NGS, Financial) reported a 35% increase in rental revenue year over year, driven by higher rented horsepower and selected rate increases.
- The company achieved a 54% increase in adjusted EBITDA compared to last year's third quarter, reflecting strong financial performance.
- NGS increased its 2024 adjusted EBITDA outlook from $64 million to $68 million to a range of $67 million to $69 million, indicating confidence in future growth.
- The company is focusing on fleet optimization and expansion, with a 19% increase in rented horsepower year over year, particularly in large horsepower units.
- NGS is leveraging strong customer relationships and innovative compression technology to drive growth, with significant opportunities for expansion in the coming years.
Negative Points
- Natural gas prices remain weak, impacting demand for NGS's small compression fleet.
- The company faces potential incremental costs related to labor and unit set activities during the holiday season, which could affect short-term expenses.
- NGS's accounts receivable balance, although improved, remains higher than desired, indicating room for further improvement in cash conversion.
- The company anticipates increased leverage in 2025 due to higher growth capital expenditures, which may impact financial flexibility.
- NGS's customer count declined slightly from 73 to 69, though the company attributes this to normal fluctuations rather than a strategic decision.
Q & A Highlights
Q: How are you thinking about the margin profile beyond 2024 in the rental business?
A: Justin Jacobs, CEO: We are pleased with the third quarter margin of 61.3%. As we continue to integrate more large horsepower units, we expect a modest increase in margins, especially in the latter half of 2025.
Q: Can you provide some color on the utilization rates for large versus smaller horsepower units?
A: Justin Jacobs, CEO: Our high horsepower units are effectively 100% utilized, with any downtime being minimal. The unutilized horsepower is mostly in the small and medium categories, which we aim to address as a medium-term initiative.
Q: Could you elaborate on the demand environment and the decision to ramp up CapEx?
A: Justin Jacobs, CEO: We are focusing on 2026 for new unit contracts, driven by strong demand from larger customers. We see continued strong demand for incremental compression, which justifies our increased CapEx.
Q: How is the pricing environment looking year over year?
A: Justin Jacobs, CEO: While the rate of price increases has slowed, we still see a positive upward bias on pricing. We've been able to capture some pricing adjustments in our utilized fleet, driven by increased costs.
Q: What are the potential incremental costs you mentioned for Q4?
A: Justin Jacobs, CEO: Potential costs relate to the holiday season and possible weather challenges. We are prepared to incur short-term expenses to ensure we meet customer expectations, especially if additional labor is needed.
Q: Can you explain the decline in customer count from 73 to 69?
A: Justin Jacobs, CEO: The decline is not significant and not due to any strategic decision. Customer count may fluctuate, but it is not a material driver for us.
Q: How much of next year's CapEx will be dedicated to electric units?
A: Justin Jacobs, CEO: Approximately 40% of the horsepower, focusing on the second half of 2024 into 2025, will be dedicated to electric units.
Q: What are your thoughts on leverage and cash flow for 2025?
A: Justin Jacobs, CEO: We expect leverage to increase modestly. We are currently budgeting for 2025 and focusing on set activity, which will determine EBITDA for the year. All contracted units are expected to be set by the end of 2025.
For the complete transcript of the earnings call, please refer to the full earnings call transcript.
