Natural Gas Services Group, Inc. Reports Full Year and Fourth Quarter 2023 Earnings

Midland, Texas, April 01, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) --

Natural Gas Services Group, Inc. (NYSE:NGS) (the "Company" or "NGS"), a leading provider of gas compression equipment, technology and services to the energy industry, announces its financial results for the three months and full year ended December 31, 2023. Financial results contained herein reflect the consolidated financial statements included in the Company's Form 10-K that will be filed on April 1, 2024.

2023 Full Year and Fourth Quarter Highlights

• Full year 2023 rental revenue increased 43% to $106.2 million; fourth quarter 2023 rental revenue increased 54% year over year to $31.6 million
• Full year 2023 GAAP net income was $4.7 million or $0.39 per basic share and $0.38 per diluted share
• Full year 2023 Adjusted EBITDA¹ increased 57.0% to $45.8 million; fourth quarter 2023 Adjusted EBITDA¹ increased 110% year over year to $16.3 million
• Rental fleet utilization increased on both a horsepower basis (80.8% at year-end 2023 vs. 74.8% at year-end 2022) and a unit basis (66.5% at year-end 2023 vs. 65.3% at year-end 2022)

“Our fourth quarter of 2023 was the best quarter of the year in what was a historic year for the Company. I would like to thank our Chairman, Steve Taylor, and the entire NGS team, for their hard work and dedication in driving these results for our shareholders,” said Justin Jacobs, Chief Executive Officer. “We finished the year with approximately 420,000 of rented horsepower while generating adjusted EBITDA of $45.8 million all while maintaining a prudent level of leverage. I’m excited about the coming years for NGS to generate even more earnings from our existing assets as well as expanding the size of our fleet.”

Financial and Operating Details for the Three and Twelve Months Ended December 31, 2023

Revenue: Total revenue increased by 43% to $121.2 million for the year ended December 31, 2023, compared to $84.8 million for year ended in December 31, 2022. This increase was primarily due to a 43% increase in rental revenue to $106.2 million from $74.5 million during the same period. In addition, sales revenues increased by 4% to $8.9 million in 2023 compared to $8.6 million in 2022. Total revenue increased 61% to $36.2 million for the three months ended December 31, 2023, from $22.5 million for the three months ended December 31, 2022. This increase was primarily related to a $11.1 million increase in rental revenue driven by new unit set activity, rental rate increases, and surcharges. Total revenue increased 15% to $36.2 million for the three months ended December 31, 2023 from $31.4 million for the three months ended September 30, 2023. This increase was primarily related to a $3.9 million or 14% increase in rental revenue.

Gross Margin: Total gross margin increased to $32.9 million for the year ended December 31, 2023, from $14.9 million for the year ended December 31, 2022. Total adjusted gross margin, exclusive of depreciation, increased to $58.7 million for the year ended December 31, 2023, from $38.5 million for the same period ended December 31, 2022. Total gross margin increased to $13.3 million for the three months ended December 31, 2023, from $4.9 million for the three months ended December 31, 2022. Total adjusted gross margin, exclusive of depreciation, increased to $20.3 million for the three months ended December 31, 2023, from $10.7 million for the three months ended December 31, 2022. Sequentially, total gross margin increased to $13.3 million for the three months ended December 31, 2023 from $7.9 million for the three months ended September 30, 2023. Sequentially, total adjusted gross margin increased to $20.3 million for the three months ended December 31, 2023, from $14.6 million for the three months ended September 30, 2023. All of these increases are primarily attributable to increased rental revenues in excess of increased costs of rentals. Please see discussions of Non-GAAP Financial Measures - Adjusted Gross Margin, below.

Operating Income: The Company posted operating income for the year ended December 31, 2023, of $10.5 million, compared to operating income of $0.4 million for the year ended December 31, 2022. This improvement in operating income is primarily due to an increase in gross margin of $17.9 million driven by increased rental revenues. The improvement in the fourth quarter of 2023 versus 2022 operating income was primarily driven by a $6.9 million increase in rental gross margin. Sequentially, total operating income for the three months ended December 31, 2023 was $4.4 million compared to $4.9 million for the three months ended September 30, 2023. This decrease was due to an inventory allowance of $4.0 million related to our decision to cease new unit fabrication at our Midland, Texas fabrication facility.

Net Income (Loss): The Company reported net income of $4.7 million for the year ended December 31, 2023, compared to a net loss of $0.6 million for the year ended December 31, 2022. The improvement in 2023 annual net income, when compared to the full year 2022 results, is primarily due to our increased operating income, as discussed above, partially offset by an increase of $1.3 million in income tax expense in 2023. For the three months ended December 31, 2023, the Company reported net income of $1.7 million compared to a net loss of $0.8 million for the three months ended December 31, 2022. The improvement in net income was primarily attributable to an increase in operating income, as discussed above. Sequentially, the Company's net income decreased $0.5 million to $1.7 million from $2.2 million primarily due to the inventory allowance of $4.0 million offset by higher rental and sales gross margins.

Earnings (loss) per share: For the year ended December 31, 2023, the Company reported earnings per basic share of $0.39 and per diluted share of $0.38, compared to loss per basic and diluted share of $0.05 for the year ended December 31, 2022. For the three months ended December 31, 2023, the Company reported earnings per basic and diluted share of $0.14 compared to a net loss per basic and diluted share of $0.06 for the three months ended December 31, 2022, and earnings per basic and diluted share of $0.18 for the three months ended September 30, 2023.

Adjusted EBITDA¹: Adjusted EBITDA increased $16.6 million to $45.8 million for the year ended December 31, 2023, compared to $29.2 million for the year ended December 31, 2022. This increase was primarily due to increased rental adjusted gross margin. Adjusted EBITDA increased to $16.3 million for the three months ended December 31, 2023, as compared to $7.8 million for the three months ended December 31, 2022, primarily due to an increase in rental adjusted gross margin (including higher than expected adjusted gross margin percentage) but also from an increase in sales adjusted gross margin. Sequentially, Adjusted EBITDA increased to $16.3 million from $11.8 million for the three months ended September 30, 2023, primarily due to an increase in rental adjusted gross margin (including higher than expected adjusted gross margin percentage) but also from an increase in sales adjusted gross margin. Please see discussion of Non-GAAP Financial Measures - Adjusted EBITDA, below.

Cash flow: At December 31, 2023, cash and cash equivalents were approximately $2.7 million, while working capital was $43.6 million with $164.0 million of outstanding bank borrowings. Cash flow from operating activities was $18.0 million for the year ended December 31, 2023. A significant build in accounts receivable materially reduced cash flow from operations; we expect this build to reduce over the course of 2024. Cash flow used in investing activities (consisting of our capital expenditures) was $153.9 million during 2023. Cash flow provided by financing activities was $135.2 million for the year ended December 31, 2023, which included $139.0 million of net borrowings under our revolving credit facility.

2024 Outlook

NGS’s full year 2024 Outlook is as follows:

	FY 2024 Outlook
Adjusted EBITDA	$58 million - $65 million
New Unit Capital Expenditures	$40 million - $50 million
Target Return on Invested Capital	At least 20%

Our current outlook for 2024 Fiscal Year Adjusted EBITDA is a range of $58 million to $65 million, a material increase from our previously announced outlook. The low end of this range reflects our current view as to the approximate amount of fourth quarter 2023 Adjusted EBITDA that is “run-rate” or likely to recur, then annualized for a full year number.

After a substantial capital expenditure program in 2023, we have a lower but still significant amount of capital expenditures for new units in 2024. Of the total current expected range of $40 million to $50 million, approximately $15 million relates to holdover from the 2023 new unit plan that will be completed and installed in 2024; the balance is the 2024 new unit plan that is expected to be completed and installed in late 2024 and/or early 2025. We are reviewing our capital plans to see if we will further increase new unit capital expenditures in 2024 although no decision has been made. Overall, our target is to generate at least a 20% return on growth capital expenditures.

Selected data: The tables below show, for the three months and year ended December 31, 2023 and 2022 revenues and percentage of total revenues, along with our gross margin and adjusted gross margin (exclusive of depreciation and amortization), as well as, related percentages of revenue for each of our product lines. Adjusted gross margin is the difference between revenue and cost of sales, exclusive of depreciation and amortization.

	Revenue
	Three Months Ended December 31,												Year Ended December 31,
		2023						2022						2023						2022
	(in thousands)
Rental	$	31,626		87	%		$	20,561		91	%		$	106,159		88	%		$	74,465		88	%
Sales		2,921		8	%			1,297		6	%			8,921		7	%			8,568		10	%
Aftermarket services		1,674		5	%			662		4	%			6,087		5	%			1,792		2	%
Total	$	36,221					$	22,520					$	121,167					$	84,825

Revenue
	Three Months Ended December 31,						Three Months Ended September 30,
		2023						2023
	(in thousands)
Rental		31,626		87	%			27,705		88	%
Sales	$	2,921		8	%			1,413		5	%
Aftermarket services		1,674		5	%			2,251		7	%
Total	$	36,221					$	31,369

	Gross Margin
	Three Months Ended December 31,													Year Ended December 31,
		2023						2022							2023							2022
	(in thousands)
Rental	$	12,368		39	%		$	5,488			27	%		$	31,775			30	%		$	13,472		18	%
Sales		553		19	%			(909	)		(70)        %				(258	)		(3)        %				643		8	%
Aftermarket services		419		25	%			288			44	%			1,340			22	%			802		45	%
Total	$	13,340		37	%		$	4,867			22	%		$	32,857			27	%		$	14,917		18	%

	Gross Margin
	Three Months Ended December 31,						Three Months Ended September 30,
		2023						2023
	(in thousands)
Rental	$	12,368		39	%		$	7,683			28	%
Sales		553		19	%			(156	)		(11)        %
Aftermarket services		419		25	%			373			17	%
Total	$	13,340		37	%		$	7,900			25	%

        

	Adjusted Gross Margin (2)
	Three Months Ended December 31,													Year Ended December 31,
		2023						2022							2023						2022
	(in thousands)
Rental	$	19,199		61	%		$	11,271			55	%		$	57,282		54	%		$	36,715		49	%
Sales		620		21	%			(842	)		(65)        %				2		—	%			918		11	%
Aftermarket services		440		26	%			298			45	%			1,429		23	%			835		47	%
Total	$	20,259		56	%		$	10,727			48	%		$	58,713		48	%		$	38,468		45	%

	Adjusted Gross Margin (2)
	Three Months Ended December 31,						Three Months Ended September 30,
		2023						2022
	(in thousands)
Rental	$	19,199		61	%		$	14,243			51	%
Sales		620		21	%			(92	)		(7)        %
Aftermarket services		440		26	%			405			18	%
Total	$	20,259		56	%		$	14,556			46	%

(2)        For a reconciliation of adjusted gross margin to its most directly comparable financial measure calculated and presented in accordance GAAP, please read "Non-GAAP Financial Measures - Adjusted Gross Margin" below.

Non-GAAP Financial Measure - Adjusted Gross Margin: We define “Adjusted Gross Margin” as total revenue less cost of sales (excluding depreciation and amortization expense). Adjusted gross margin is included as a supplemental disclosure because it is a primary measure used by management as it represents the results of revenue and cost of sales (excluding depreciation and amortization expense), which are key operating components. Adjusted gross margin differs from gross margin in that gross margin includes depreciation expense. We believe adjusted gross margin is important because it focuses on the current operating performance of our operations and excludes the impact of the prior historical costs of the assets acquired or constructed that are utilized in those operations. Depreciation expense reflects the systematic allocation of historical property and equipment values over the estimated useful lives.

Adjusted gross margin has certain material limitations associated with its use as compared to gross margin. Depreciation expense is a necessary element of our costs and our ability to generate revenue. Management uses this non-GAAP measure as a supplemental measure to other GAAP results to provide a more complete understanding of the company's performance. As an indicator of operating performance, adjusted gross margin should not be considered an alternative to, or more meaningful than, operating income as determined in accordance with GAAP. Adjusted Gross margin may not be comparable to a similarly titled measure of another company because other entities may not calculate adjusted gross margin in the same manner.

The following table calculates gross margin, the most directly comparable GAAP financial measure, and reconciles it to adjusted gross margin:

	Three months ended December 31,								Year ended December 31,
	(in thousands)								(in thousands)
		2023				2022				2023				2022
Total revenue	$	36,221			$	22,520			$	121,167			$	84,825
Costs of revenue, exclusive of depreciation and amortization		(15,962	)			(11,793	)			(62,454	)			(46,357	)
Depreciation allocable to costs of revenue		(6,919	)			(5,860	)			(25,856	)			(23,551	)
Gross margin		13,340				4,867				32,857				14,917
Depreciation allocable to costs of revenue		6,919				5,860				25,856				23,551
Adjusted Gross Margin	$	20,259			$	10,727			$	58,713			$	38,468

	Three months ended December 31,				Three months ended September 30,
	(in thousands)
		2023				2023
Total revenue	$	36,221			$	31,369
Costs of revenue, exclusive of depreciation and amortization		(15,962	)			(16,813	)
Depreciation allocable to costs of revenue		(6,919	)			(6,656	)
Gross margin		13,340				7,900
Depreciation allocable to costs of revenue		6,919				6,656
Adjusted Gross Margin	$	20,259			$	14,556

(1) Non-GAAP Financial Measures - Adjusted EBITDA: “Adjusted EBITDA” reflects net income or loss before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization, non-recurring severance expenses, non-cash stock compensation expense, an increase in inventory allowance and write-off and retirement of rental equipment and assets. Adjusted EBITDA is a measure used by management, analysts and investors as an indicator of operating cash flow since it excludes the impact of movements in working capital items, non-cash charges and financing costs. Therefore, Adjusted EBITDA gives the investor information as to the cash generated from the operations of a business. However, Adjusted EBITDA is not a measure of financial performance under accounting principles (GAAP) and should not be considered a substitute for other financial measures of performance. Adjusted EBITDA as calculated by NGS may not be comparable to Adjusted EBITDA as calculated and reported by other companies. The most comparable GAAP measure to Adjusted EBITDA is net (loss) income.

The following table reconciles our net (loss) income, the most directly comparable GAAP financial measure, to Adjusted EBITDA:

	Three months ended December 31,							Year ended December 31,
	(in thousands)							(in thousands)
		2023			2022				2023			2022
Net income (loss)	$	1,702		$	(756	)		$	4,747		$	(569	)
Interest expense		2,297			291				4,082			364
Income tax expense		431			240				1,873			528
Depreciation and amortization		7,160			5,997				26,550			24,116
Impairment expense		—			—				779			—
Inventory allowance		3,965			83				3,965			83
Retirement of rental equipment		505			196				505			196
Severance expenses		—			1,130				1,224			2,537
Stock compensation expense		228			573				2,054			1,910
Adjusted EBITDA	$	16,288		$	7,754			$	45,779		$	29,165

	Three months ended December 31,			Three months ended September 30,
	(in thousands)
		2023			2023
Net income (loss)	$	1,702		$	2,171
Interest expense		2,297			1,600
Income tax expense		431			1,046
Depreciation and amortization		7,160			6,807
Impairment expense		—			—
Inventory allowance		3,965			—
Retirement of rental equipment		505			—
Severance expenses		—			—
Stock compensation expense		228			209
Adjusted EBITDA	$	16,288		$	11,833

Conference Call Details:

Teleconference: Tuesday, April 2, 2024 at 7:30 a.m. Central (8:30 a.m. Eastern).  Live via phone by dialing 800-550-9745, conference ID 167298.  All attendees and participants to the conference call should arrange to call in at least 5 minutes prior to the start time. Please note that using the provided dial-in number is necessary for participation in the Q&A portion of the call.

Live Webcast: The webcast will be available in listen only mode via our website www.ngsgi.com, investor relations section.

Webcast Reply: For those unable to attend or participate, a replay of the conference call will be available within 24 hours on the NGS website at www.ngsgi.com.

About Natural Gas Services Group, Inc. (NGS): NGS is a leading provider of gas compression equipment, technology and services to the energy industry. The Company manufactures, fabricates, rents, sells and maintains natural gas compressors for oil and natural gas production and plant facilities. NGS is headquartered in Midland, Texas, with a fabrication facility located in Tulsa, Oklahoma and a rebuild shop located in Midland, Texas, as well as service facilities located in major oil and natural gas producing basins in the U.S. Additional information can be found at www.ngsgi.com.

Forward-Looking Statements

Certain statements herein (and oral statements made regarding the subjects of this release) constitute “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the federal securities laws. Words such as “may,” “might,” “should,” “believe,” “expect,” “anticipate,” “estimate,” “continue,” “predict,” “forecast,” “project,” “plan,” “intend” or similar expressions, or statements regarding intent, belief, or current expectations, are forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are based upon current estimates and assumptions.

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 the Company. Forward–looking information includes, but is not limited to statements regarding: guidance or estimates related to EBITDA growth, projected capital expenditures; returns on invested capital, fundamentals of the compression industry and related oil and gas industry, valuations, compressor demand assumptions and overall industry outlook, and the ability of the Company to capitalize on any potential opportunities.
While the Company believes that the assumptions concerning future events are reasonable, investors are cautioned that there are inherent difficulties in predicting certain important factors that could impact the future performance or results of its business. Some of these factors that could cause results to differ materially from those indicated by such forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to: (i) achieving increased utilization of assets, including rental fleet utilization and unlocking other non-cash balance sheet assets; (ii) failure of projected organic growth due to adverse changes in the oil and gas industry, including depressed oil and gas prices, oppressive environmental regulations and competition; (iii) inability to finance capital expenditures; (iv) adverse changes in customer, employee or supplier relationships; (v) adverse regional and national economic and financial market conditions, including in our key operating areas; (vi) impacts of world events, including pandemics; the financial condition of the Company’s customers and failure of significant customers to perform their contractual obligations; (vii) the Company’s ability to economically develop and deploy new technologies and services, including technology to comply with health and environmental laws and regulations; and (viii) failure to achieve accretive financial results in connection with any acquisitions the Company may make.

In addition, these forward-looking statements are subject to other various risks and uncertainties, including without limitation those set forth in the Company’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2023. Thus, actual results could be materially different. The Company expressly disclaims any obligation to update or alter statements whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by law.

For More Information, Contact:	Investor Relations
	[phone] [e-mail]
	www.ngsgi.com

NATURAL GAS SERVICES GROUP, INC. CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (in thousands) (unaudited)
	December 31,
		2023				2022
ASSETS
Current Assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	$	2,746			$	3,372
Trade accounts receivable, net of allowance for doubtful accounts of $823 and $338, respectively		39,186				14,668
Inventory, net of allowance for obsolescence of $2,836 and $0, respectively		21,639				23,414
Federal income tax receivable		11,538				11,538
Prepaid expenses and other		1,162				1,155
Total current assets		76,271				54,147
Long-term inventory, net of allowance for obsolescence of $1,168 and $120, respectively		701				1,557
Rental equipment, net of accumulated depreciation of $191,745 and $177,729, respectively		373,649				246,450
Property and equipment, net of accumulated depreciation of $17,649 and $16,981, respectively		20,550				22,176
Intangibles, net of accumulated amortization of $2,384 and $2,259, respectively		775				900
Other assets		6,783				3,016
Total assets	$	478,729			$	328,246
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
Current Liabilities:
Accounts payable	$	17,628			$	6,481
Accrued liabilities		15,085				23,918
Total current liabilities		32,713				30,399
Credit facility		164,000				25,000
Deferred income tax liability		41,636				39,798
Other long-term liabilities		4,486				2,973
Total liabilities		242,835				98,170
Commitments and contingencies
Stockholders’ Equity:
Preferred stock, 5,000 shares authorized, no shares issued or outstanding		—				—
Common stock, 30,000 shares authorized, par value $0.01; 13,688 and 13,519 shares issued, respectively		137				135
Additional paid-in capital		116,480				115,411
Retained earnings		134,281				129,534
Treasury shares, at cost, 1,310 shares		(15,004	)			(15,004	)
Total stockholders' equity		235,894				230,076
Total liabilities and stockholders' equity	$	478,729			$	328,246

NATURAL GAS SERVICES GROUP, INC. CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS (in thousands, except per share amounts) (unaudited)
	For the Years Ended December 31,
		2023				2022
Revenue:
Rental income	$	106,159			$	74,465
Sales		8,921				8,568
Aftermarket services		6,087				1,792
Total revenue		121,167				84,825
Operating costs and expenses:
Cost of rentals, exclusive of depreciation stated separately below		48,877				37,750
Cost of sales, exclusive of depreciation stated separately below		8,919				7,650
Cost of aftermarket services, exclusive of depreciation stated separately below		4,658				957
Selling, general and administrative expenses		16,457				13,642
Depreciation and amortization		26,550				24,116
Impairment expense		779				—
Inventory allowance		3,965				83
Retirement of rental equipment		505				196
Total operating costs and expenses		110,710				84,394
Operating income		10,457				431
Other income (expense):
Interest expense		(4,082	)			(364	)
Other income (expense)		245				(108	)
Total other income, net		(3,837	)			(472	)
Income (loss) before income taxes:		6,620				(41	)
Provision for income taxes:
Current		(35	)			(17	)
Deferred		(1,838	)			(511	)
Total income tax expense		(1,873	)			(528	)
Net income	$	4,747			$	(569	)
Earnings (loss) per share:
Basic	$	0.39			$	(0.05	)
Diluted	$	0.38			$	(0.05	)
Weighted average shares outstanding:
Basic		12,316				12,305
Diluted		12,383				12,305

NATURAL GAS SERVICES GROUP, INC. CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS (in thousands, except per share amounts) (unaudited)
	For the Years Ended December 31,
		2023				2022
CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES:
Net income (loss)	$	4,747			$	(569	)
Adjustments to reconcile net income (loss) to net cash provided by operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization		26,550				24,116
Amortization of debt issuance costs		425				48
Deferred taxes		1,838				511
Gain on disposal of assets		(481	)			(250	)
Impairment expense		779				—
Retirement of rental equipment		505				196
Provision for credit losses		492				—
Inventory allowance		3,965				83
Stock-based compensation		2,054				1,910
Loss on company owned life insurance		235				389
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:
Trade accounts receivables		(25,010	)			(4,279	)
Inventory		(669	)			(4,143	)
Prepaid income taxes and prepaid expenses		(7	)			(250	)
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities		2,436				10,033
Deferred income		—
Other		174				(31	)
NET CASH PROVIDED BY OPERATING ACTIVITIES		18,033				27,764
CASH FLOWS USED IN INVESTING ACTIVITIES:
Purchase of rental equipment, property and other equipment		(153,943	)			(65,122	)
Purchase of company owned life insurance		(422	)			(329	)
Proceeds from sale of property and equipment		477				372
NET CASH USED IN INVESTING ACTIVITIES		(153,888	)			(65,079	)
CASH FLOWS USED IN FINANCING ACTIVITIES:
Proceeds from line of credit		139,000				25,000
Proceeds of other long-term liabilities		—				(3	)
Payments of other long term liabilities		(95	)			—
Payments of debt issuance costs		(2,693	)			(77	)
Purchase of treasury shares						(6,660	)
Taxes paid related to net share settlement of equity awards		(983	)			(515	)
NET CASH PROVIDED BY FINANCING ACTIVITIES		135,229				17,745
NET CHANGE IN CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS		(626	)			(19,570	)
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS AT BEGINNING OF PERIOD		3,372				22,942
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS AT END OF PERIOD	$	2,746			$	3,372
SUPPLEMENTAL DISCLOSURE OF CASH FLOW INFORMATION:
Interest paid	$	7,053			$	276
NON-CASH TRANSACTIONS
Transfer of rental equipment to inventory	$	665			$	—
Right of use asset acquired through a finance lease		1,146				—
Right of use asset acquired through an operating lease	$	63			$	229

Investor Relations
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432-262-2700

Source: Natural Gas Services Group, Inc.

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