Archrock, Inc. (NYSE: AROC) ('Archrock' or the 'Company') today reported results for the fourth quarter and full year 2019 and provided 2020 financial guidance.
Fourth Quarter and Full Year 2019 Results
Achieved record net income and adjusted EBITDA for the full year 2019.
Net income for the fourth quarter was $46.0 million compared to $13.0 million in the fourth quarter of 2018.
Adjusted EBITDA (a non-GAAP measure defined below) for the fourth quarter of 2019 was $112.5 million compared to $97.6 million in the fourth quarter of 2018.
Previously declared quarterly dividend of $0.145 per common share for the fourth quarter of 2019 was 10% higher compared to the fourth quarter of 2018.
Dividend coverage was 2.8x for 2019; the leverage ratio was 4.2x at year end.
Fourth quarter 2019 net income of $46.0 million included a non-cash benefit from the release of a deferred tax asset valuation allowance of $39.6 million and a non-cash long-lived asset impairment of $25.8 million. Full year 2019 net income was $97.3 million compared to $29.2 million in 2018.
Adjusted EBITDA for the fourth quarter of 2019 was $112.5 million, up 15% compared to the fourth quarter of 2018. Full year adjusted EBITDA of $416.5 million was up 18% compared to 2018. Results for the fourth quarter and full year 2019 include $6.4 million and $16.0 million, respectively, in gains related to the sale of compression and other assets.
Management Commentary and Outlook
'Archrock's solid operational momentum continued through the end of 2019 as we delivered a sequential increase in utilization and gross margin in our contract operations segment during the fourth quarter,' said Brad Childers, Archrock's President and Chief Executive Officer. 'We performed well against our 2019 annual targets and remain on track to meet our three-year capital allocation objectives. This includes dividend growth of between 10% and 15%, dividend coverage above 2.0x, as well as leverage below 4.0x in 2020.'
'I am proud of our team for achieving several milestones in 2019,' continued Childers. 'We completed an accretive acquisition, reduced the age of our fleet, drove substantial profitability improvements and advanced our leverage reduction while eliminating our need for external financing for at least five years. Together, these successes enhance our position as the leader in U.S. natural gas compression.'
'U.S. natural gas production is expected to reach record levels for the fourth year in a row in 2020, although the annual growth rate is expected to decelerate. Against this backdrop, we expect consistent demand for our natural gas compression services, particularly for the large horsepower class where we strategically focus and deploy capital.'
'Our production-oriented business, aggressive cost management and customer commitments provide us with good visibility into our outlook in the coming year, even as industry activity moderates. Archrock's 2020 plan aligns investment with the market environment and highlights our focus on free cash flow generation. Our fleet is highly competitive and our business has proved resilient through prior commodity cycles. This, combined with the Company's solid financial position, gives me confidence in our ability to achieve differentiated performance within the compression industry and broader energy landscape today, and well into the future,' concluded Childers.
Contract Operations
For the fourth quarter of 2019, contract operations segment revenue totaled $204.4 million, reflecting an increase of 16% compared to $176.4 million in the fourth quarter of 2018. Gross margin was $128.4 million, up $23.5 million or 22% from the fourth quarter of 2018, reflecting a gross margin percentage of 63% compared to 59% in the prior year quarter. Total operating horsepower at the end of the fourth quarter of 2019 was 3.9 million, up from 3.5 million at the end of the prior year quarter, reflecting an 11% increase. Utilization at the end of the fourth quarter of 2019 remained consistent with the fourth quarter of 2018 at 89%.
For the full year 2019, contract operations segment revenue totaled $771.5 million, reflecting an increase of 15% compared to $672.5 million for the full year 2018. Gross margin was $474.3 million, up $74.8 million or 19% as compared to the prior year, reflecting a gross margin percentage of 61% compared to 59% in the prior year.
Aftermarket Services
For the fourth quarter of 2019, aftermarket services segment revenue totaled $41.6 million compared to $56.8 million in the fourth quarter of 2018 due to continued customer deferral of maintenance activities. Gross margin of $6.3 million was down from $8.6 million during the fourth quarter of 2018. Gross margin percentage of 15% was consistent with the prior year as we continued to optimize our cost structure and prioritize high-margin business within our aftermarket services operations.
For the full year 2019, aftermarket services segment revenue totaled $193.9 million for 2019 compared to $231.9 million in 2018. Gross margin was $35.0 million, down $5.6 million from 2018; however, 2019 gross margin percentage increased year-over-year to 18% from 17%.
Balance Sheet
Long-term debt as of December 31, 2019 was $1.84 billion compared to $1.83 billion as of September 30, 2019. The Company's leverage ratio as of December 31, 2019 was 4.2x compared to 4.3x as of September 30, 2019. Our available liquidity as of December 31, 2019 was $669.7 million compared to $246.3 million as of September 30, 2019.
We amended our $1.25 billion asset-based revolving credit facility on November 8, 2019. The amendment extends the maturity date of our credit facility to November 2024 provided we refinance or repay our 2022 notes before June 3, 2022.
On December 20, 2019, we completed a private offering of $500 million of 6.25% senior unsecured notes due 2028. Net proceeds were used to repay outstanding borrowings under our revolving credit facility.
Quarterly Dividend
Archrock's Board of Directors recently declared a quarterly dividend of $0.145 per share of common stock, or $0.580 per share on an annualized basis, unchanged sequentially and up 10% as compared to the fourth quarter 2018. Dividend coverage in the fourth quarter of 2019 was 2.9x. The dividend was paid on February 14, 2020 to stockholders of record at the close of business on February 7, 2020.
Conference Call Details
Archrock will host a conference call on Thursday, February 20, 2020, to discuss its fourth quarter 2019 financial and operating results and 2020 guidance. The call will begin at 12:00 p.m. Eastern Time. To listen to the call via a live webcast, please visit Archrock's website at www.archrock.com. The call will also be available by dialing 1-877-407-0784 in the United States and Canada, or 1-201-689-8560 for international calls. Please call approximately 15 minutes prior to the scheduled start time and reference Archrock.
A replay of the conference call will be available on Archrock's website for approximately seven days. Also, a replay may be accessed by dialing 1-844-512-2921 in the United States and Canada, or 1-412-317-6671 for international calls. The access code is 13697797.
About Archrock
Archrock is an energy infrastructure company with a pure-play focus on midstream natural gas compression. Archrock is the leading provider of natural gas compression services to customers in the oil and natural gas industry throughout the U.S. and a leading supplier of aftermarket services to customers that own compression equipment in the U.S. Archrock is headquartered in Houston, Texas, with approximately 1,700 employees.
Forward-Looking Statements
All statements in this release (and oral statements made regarding the subjects of this release) other than historical facts are forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. These forward-looking statements rely on a number of assumptions concerning future events and are subject to a number of uncertainties and factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from such statements, many of which are outside the control of Archrock, Inc. Forward-looking information includes, but is not limited to statements regarding: our ability to achieve the expected synergies and other benefits of the Elite Compression acquisition; guidance or estimates related to Archrock's results of operations or of financial condition; fundamentals of Archrock's industry, including the attractiveness of returns and valuation, stability of cash flows, demand dynamics and overall outlook, and Archrock's ability to realize the benefits thereof; Archrock's expectations regarding future economic and market conditions and trends; Archrock's operational and financial strategies, including planned growth, coverage and leverage reduction strategies, Archrock's ability to successfully effect those strategies and the expected results therefrom; Archrock's financial and operational outlook; demand and growth opportunities for Archrock's services; structural and process improvement initiatives, the expected timing thereof, Archrock's ability to successfully effect those initiatives and the expected results therefrom; the operational and financial synergies provided by Archrock's size and statements regarding Archrock's dividend policy.
While Archrock believes that the assumptions concerning future events are reasonable, it cautions that there are inherent difficulties in predicting certain important factors that could impact the future performance or results of its business. The factors that could cause results to differ materially from those indicated by such forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to: changes in customer, employee or supplier relationships; local, regional and national economic and financial market conditions and the impact they may have on Archrock and its customers; changes in tax laws; conditions in the oil and gas industry, including a sustained decrease in the level of supply or demand for oil or natural gas or a sustained decrease in the price of oil or natural gas; changes in economic conditions in key operating markets; the financial condition of Archrock's customers; the failure of any customer to perform its contractual obligations; changes in safety, health, environmental and other regulations and the effectiveness of Archrock's control environment, including the identification of control deficiencies.
These forward-looking statements are also affected by the risk factors, forward-looking statements and challenges and uncertainties described in Archrock's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2018, and those set forth from time to time in Archrock's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, which are available at www.archrock.com. Except as required by law, Archrock expressly disclaims any intention or obligation to revise or update any forward-looking statements whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.
Contact:
Tel: 281-836-8360
ARCHROCK, INC. 
