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Natural Gas Services Group Announces a 26% Increase in Total Revenues and a 47% Increase in Net Income for the Six Months Ended June 30, 2006

August 10, 2006
  28% Increase In Total Revenue For The Three Months Ended June 30, 2006 to
                                $15.5 Million

   26% Increase In Total Revenue For The Six Months Ended June 30, 2006 to
                                $29.0 Million

     47% Increase In Net Income For The Six Months Ended June 30, 2006 to
                                 $2.9 Million

MIDLAND, Texas, Aug. 10 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Natural Gas Services Group, Inc. (Amex: NGS), a leading provider of equipment and services to the natural gas industry, announces its financial results for the second quarter and six months ended June 30, 2006.



                       Natural Gas Services Group, Inc.

    (in thousands of
     dollars, except
     per share        Second   Second              Six        Six
     amounts)         Quarter  Quarter   Change   Months     Months    Change
                       2005     2006               2005       2006

    Total Revenues    $12,031  $15,458     28 %   $23,072    $29,036     26 %
    Operating income   $2,200   $1,912    -13 %    $4,037     $4,965     23 %
    Net income         $1,070   $1,208     13 %    $1,969     $2,904     47 %
    EPS (Basic)         $0.16    $0.10    -38 %     $0.29      $0.27     -7 %
    EPS (Diluted)       $0.13    $0.10    -23 %     $0.25      $0.27      8 %
    EBITDA             $3,207   $3,711     16 %    $6,006     $8,171     36 %
    Weighted avg.
     shares
     outstanding:
    Basic               6,900   11,947              6,807     10,812
    Diluted             8,049   12,038              7,932     10,882

Revenue: Total revenue increased from $12.0 million to $15.5 million, or 28%, for the three months ended June 30, 2006, compared to the same period ended June 30, 2005. These gains were the result of a 43% increase in rental revenue and 30% higher sales revenue. These gains outweighed the corresponding $434,000, or 62%, decline in service and maintenance revenue which had been anticipated. Revenues for the comparable six-month periods increased 26%, or almost $6 million.

Operating income: Operating income decreased from $2.2 million to $1.9 million, or 13%, for the three months ended June 30, 2006, compared to the same period ended June 30, 2005, but increased 23% for the six months ending June 30, 2006 when compared to the same period in 2005. The relative decrease for the three months ending June 30, 2006 resulted from a lower overall gross margin in our sales business due to a pre-dominate mix of smaller, lower margin compressor units fabricated for sale this quarter; somewhat higher contract labor costs incurred to expedite compressor unit flow through our Tulsa facility and the second quarter 2006 comparison to our most profitable quarter of 2005.

Net Income: Net income for the second quarter ended June 30, 2006, increased 13% to $1.2 million, as compared to net income of $1.1 million for the same period in 2005. A portion of this increase is from the relative increase in higher margin compressor rental revenue as a percentage of the total revenue, from 32% of total revenue in the three months ended June 30, 2005 to 36% during the same period in 2006. Our selling, general and administrative expenses declined from 10% of total revenue in the second quarter of 2005 to 9% in the same 2006 period. We had a net interest gain this quarter when compared to the year ago quarter due to the magnitude of our invested cash balance.

EBITDA: EBITDA (see discussion of EBITDA at the end of this release) increased 16% to $3.7 million for the second quarter ended June 30, 2006, versus $3.2 million for the same period in 2005, and grew 36% for the comparable half-year periods.

Earnings per Share: Earnings per diluted share were $0.10 during the three months ending June 30, 2006 as compared to $0.13 during the same 2005 period. This comparative quarter decline is primarily due to the fact that 50% more diluted shares were outstanding when compared to last year. Comparing the first six months of 2005 versus 2006, our earnings per diluted share grew from $0.25 to $0.27 in spite of a 37% increase in diluted shares outstanding.

Steve Taylor, President and CEO of Natural Gas Services Group, Inc. said, "The top line revenue growth in our business continues to be strong even though there was a low natural gas price environment in the first and second quarters of the year. Our rental revenue continues to grow at double digit rates with strong gross margins in the low 60% range. We had very strong revenues this quarter in compressor sales, but experienced lower margins due to the margin and product mix variability inherent in this business. However, our year-to-date margins are on-track and we continue to deliver higher margins than the industry average. I am very pleased with our performance this year and look forward to finishing the year strong."

The Company has scheduled a conference call Thursday, August 10, 2006 at 9:30 a.m., Central Daylight Time, to discuss 2006 Second Quarter and Six Months Financial Results.

What: Natural Gas Services Group, Inc. 2006 Second Quarter and Six Months Financial Results Conference Call

When: Thursday, August 10, 2006 at 9:30 a.m. CDT

How: Live via phone by dialing 800-624-7038. Code: Natural Gas Services. Participants to the Conference call should call in at least 5 minutes prior to the start time.

Steve Taylor, President and CEO of Natural Gas Services Group, Inc. will be leading the call and discussing second quarter and six months financial results.

About Natural Gas Services Group, Inc. (NGS)

NGS is a leading provider of small to medium horsepower, wellhead compression equipment to the natural gas industry with a primary focus on the non-conventional gas industry, i.e., coalbed methane, gas shales and tight gas. The Company manufactures, fabricates, rents and maintains natural gas compressors that enhance the production of natural gas wells. The Company also designs and sells custom fabricated natural gas compressors to particular customer specifications and sells flare systems for gas plant and production facilities. NGS is headquartered in Midland, Texas with manufacturing facilities located in Tulsa, Oklahoma, Lewiston, Michigan and Midland, Texas and service facilities located in major gas producing basins in the U.S.

     For More Information, Contact:  Jim Drewitz, Investor Relations
                                     972-355-6070
                                     jdrewitz@comcast.net

     Or visit the Company's website at http://www.ngsgi.com

"EBITDA" reflects net income or loss before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization. EBITDA is a measure used by 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, EBITDA gives the investor information as to the cash generated from the operations of a business. However, EBITDA is not a measure of financial performance under accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America ("GAAP"), and should not be considered a substitute for other financial measures of performance. EBITDA as calculated by NGS may not be comparable to EBITDA as calculated and reported by other companies. The most comparable GAAP measure to EBITDA is net income. The reconciliation of EBITDA to net income is as follows:



    (in thousands           Three months ended         Six months ended
    of dollars)                   June 30,                  June 30,
                             2005         2006         2005         2006
    EBITDA                  $3,207       $3,711       $6,006       $8,171
      Adjustments to
       reconcile EBITDA
       to net income:
      Amortization and
       depreciation           (999)      (1,371)      (1,950)      (2,638)
      Interest expense        (509)        (423)        (931)        (923)
      Provision for
       income taxes           (629)        (709)      (1,156)      (1,706)
    Net income              $1,070       $1,208       $1,969       $2,904

This release contains forward-looking statements subject to various risks and uncertainties that could cause the Company's future plans, objectives and performance to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as "may," "will," "expect," "intend," "plan," "subject to," "anticipate," "estimate," "continue," "present value," "future," "reserves", "appears," "prospective," or other variations thereof or comparable terminology. Factors that could cause or contribute to such differences could include, but are not limited to, those relating to conditions in the natural gas industry, including the demand for natural gas and fluctuations in the price of natural gas; weaknesses in the Company's internal controls; competition among the various providers of compression services and products; changes in safety, health and environmental regulations; changes in economic or political conditions in the markets in which we operate; failure of our customers to continue to rent equipment after expiration of the primary rental term; the inherent risks associated with our operations, such as equipment defects, malfunctions and natural disasters; our inability to comply with covenants in our debt agreements and the decreased financial flexibility associated with our substantial debt; future capital requirements and availability of financing; general economic conditions; events similar to September 11, 2001; and fluctuations in interest rates. While we believe our forward-looking statements are based upon reasonable assumptions, these are factors that are difficult to predict and that are influenced by economic and other conditions beyond our control. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from the expectations reflected in the forward- looking statements include, but are not limited to, the factors described above and the other factors described under the caption "Risk Factors" in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.



                       NATURAL GAS SERVICES GROUP, INC.
                    CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
                                (in thousands)

                                           December 31, 2005    June 30, 2006
                                                                 (unaudited)
                      ASSETS
    Current Assets:
      Cash and cash equivalents                   $3,271             $1,519
      Short-term investments                         ---             33,288
      Trade accounts receivable,
       net of doubtful accounts                    6,192              6,247
      Inventory, net of allowance                 14,723             19,477
      Prepaid expenses and other                     456                281
        Total current assets                      24,642             60,812

    Rental equipment, net of
     accumulated depreciation of $7,598
     and $9,240, respectively                     41,201             50,068
    Property and equipment, net of
      accumulated depreciation of
      $2,458 and $3,087, respectively              6,424              6,674
    Goodwill, net of accumulated
     amortization $325                            10,039             10,039
    Intangibles, net of accumulated
     amortization of $326 and $490,
     respectively                                  3,978              3,814
    Other assets                                      85                 69
        Total assets                             $86,369           $131,476

           LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
    Current Liabilities:
      Current portion of long-term
       debt                                       $5,680             $4,639
      Line of credit                                 300                 57
      Accounts payable and accrued
       liabilities                                 5,124              7,546
      Deferred income                                103                ---
        Total current liabilities                 11,207             12,242

    Long-term debt, less current
     portion                                      20,225             14,533
    Subordinated notes, less current
     portion                                       2,000              1,000
    Deferred income tax payable                    7,247              7,702
        Total liabilities                         40,679             35,477
    Stockholders Equity:
    Common stock; 9,022 and 11,948
     shares issued and outstanding,
     respectively                                     90                119
    Additional paid in capital                    34,667             82,043
    Retained earnings                             10,933             13,837
         Total stockholders' equity               45,690             95,999
         Total liabilities and
          stockholders' equity                   $86,369           $131,476



                       NATURAL GAS SERVICES GROUP, INC.
                   CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED INCOME STATEMENTS
             (in thousands of dollars, except earnings per share)
                                 (unaudited)

                                     Three months ended    Six months ended
                                          June 30,             June 30,
                                       2005      2006       2005       2006
    Revenue:
      Sales, net                      $7,440    $9,636    $14,586    $17,629
      Service and maintenance income     696       262      1,160        540
      Rental income                    3,895     5,560      7,326     10,867
        Total revenue                 12,031    15,458     23,072     29,036

    Operating costs and expenses:
      Cost of sales, exclusive of
       depreciation stated
       separately below                5,577     8,402     11,199     14,121
    Cost of service and maintenance,
     exclusive of depreciation
     stated separately below             513       206        803        397
      Cost of rentals, exclusive of
       depreciation stated separately
       below                           1,550     2,193      2,757      4,273
      Selling expense                    252       325        482        627
      General and administrative
       expense                           940     1,049      1,844      2,015
      Depreciation and amortization      999     1,371      1,950      2,638
          Total operating costs and
           expenses                    9,831    13,546     19,035     24,071

    Operating income                   2,200     1,912      4,037      4,965

    Other income (expense):
      Interest expense                  (509)     (423)      (931)      (923)
      Other income (expense)               8       428         19        568
        Total other income (expense)    (501)        5       (912)      (355)

    Income before provision for
     income taxes                      1,699     1,917      3,125      4,610
      Provision for income taxes         629       709      1,156      1,706
    Net income                         1,070     1,208      1,969      2,904


        Earnings per share:
        Basic                          $0.16     $0.10      $0.29      $0.27
        Diluted                        $0.13     $0.10      $0.25      $0.27
        Weighted average shares
         outstanding:
        Basic                          6,900    11,947      6,807     10,812
        Diluted                        8,049    12,038      7,932     10,882


                       NATURAL GAS SERVICES GROUP, INC.
               CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
                          (in thousands of dollars)
                                 (unaudited)

                                                     Six Months Ended June 30,
                                                        2005           2006
    CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES:
      Net income                                      $1,969         $2,904
        Adjustments to reconcile net income
         to net cash provided by operating
         activities:
        Depreciation and amortization                  1,950          2,638
        Deferred taxes                                 1,094          1,706
        Income taxes paid                                ---           (658)
        Employee stock options expensed                  ---            146
        Amortization of debt issuance costs               32            ---
        Gross profit from sale of rental equipment       (45)          (786)
        Changes in current assets and liabilities:
        Trade and other receivables                     (192)           (55)
        Inventory and work in progress                (2,541)        (4,754)
        Prepaid expenses and other                      (151)           175
        Accounts payable and accrued liabilities       1,429          1,830
        Deferred income                                 (391)          (103)
        Other assets                                     268              5

    NET CASH PROVIDED BY OPERATING ACTIVITIES          3,422          3,048

    CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES:
      Purchase of property and equipment              (9,110)       (13,477)
      Assets acquired, net of cash                    (7,566)           ---
      Purchase of short-term investments                 ---        (38,988)
      Redemption of short-term investments               ---          5,700
      Proceeds from sale of rental equipment             211          2,680
    NET CASH USED IN INVESTING ACTIVITIES            (16,465)       (44,085)

    CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES:
      Proceeds from long-term debt                    17,286            ---
      Proceeds from line of credit                       ---            838
      Repayments of long-term debt                    (5,140)        (7,732)
      Repayments of line of credit                       ---         (1,081)
      Proceeds from exercise of stock options
       and warrants                                    1,040             97
      Proceeds from sale of stock, net of
       transaction costs                                 ---         47,163
    NET CASH PROVIDED BY FINANCING ACTIVITIES         13,186         39,285

    NET CHANGE IN CASH                                   143         (1,752)

    CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS AT BEGINNING OF
     PERIOD                                              685          3,271
    CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS AT END OF PERIOD          $828         $1,519

    SUPPLEMENTAL DISCLOSURE OF CASH FLOW
     INFORMATION:
      Interest paid                                     $887          $ 879
      Income taxes paid                                 $---          $ 658
    SUPPLEMENTAL DISCLOSURE OF NON-CASH INVESTING
     AND FINANCING ACTIVITIES:
    Assets acquired for issuance of subordinated
      debt                                            $3,000           $---
    Assets acquired for issuance of common stock      $5,120           $---
SOURCE  Natural Gas Services Group, Inc.
    -0-                             08/10/2006
    /CONTACT:  Jim Drewitz, Investor Relations, +1-972-355-6070, or
jdrewitz@comcast.net , for Natural Gas Services Group, Inc./
    /Web site:  http://www.ngsgi.com /
    (NGS)

CO:  Natural Gas Services Group, Inc.
ST:  Texas
IN:  OIL
SU:  ERN

AA-CT
-- DATH003 --
7289 08/10/2006 09:00 EDT http://www.prnewswire.com