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Natural Gas Services Group Announces Diluted EPS of $0.13/Share for the 2nd Quarter of 2010

August 5, 2010
Total Revenues, Income and Earnings show Sequential Increases

MIDLAND, Texas, Aug 05, 2010 /PRNewswire via COMTEX/ --

Natural Gas Services Group, Inc. (NYSE: 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, 2010.

Natural Gas Services Group Inc. Financial Results:

Revenue: Ourtotal revenue decreased from $16.8 million to $11.9 million, or 29%, for the three months ended June 30, 2010, compared to the same period ended June 30, 2009. This was mainly the result of decreased compressor sales and compressor rental revenue due to the economic slowdown and depressed natural gas industry. Sales revenue decreased 61%, rental revenue decreased 17% while service and maintenance revenue increased 16%. Total revenues for the comparable six months decreased 36%, to $23.5 million from $36.8 million which was mainly the result of a 72% decrease in our sales revenue, a decrease in rental revenue of 20% and service and maintenance revenue decrease of 13%. Compared to the first quarter of 2010, total revenue increased from $11.5 million to $11.9 million, or 3%. This was mainly the result of increased revenues from compressor rentals, flares, rebuilds and parts sales.

Operating income: Operating income declined 48% to $2.4 million for the three months ended June 30, 2010 compared to $4.6 million in the same period for 2009, while the six months ended June 30, 2010 compared to the same period in 2009 showed a decline from $10.7 million to $4.6 million, or 57%. Operating income increased 7% to $2.4 million for the current quarter as compared to $2.2 million in the first quarter and rose to 20% of revenue, up from 19% in the first quarter. The decline in revenues over the past year impacted these margins, as did the fact that the semi-variable SG&A and depreciation expenses are costs that tend to hold steady.

Net income: Ournet income decreased 48% to $1.5 million for the three months ended June 30, 2010 as compared to net income of $2.9 million for the same period in 2009. Net income for the first six months of 2010 decreased 57% to $2.9 million, when compared to net income of $6.7 million for the same period in 2009. This was mainly the result of decreased third party unit sales. Net income increased 13% to $1.5 million in the current quarter when compared to $1.3 million in the first quarter of this year.

Earnings per share: Ourearnings per diluted share was $0.13 for the three months ending June 30, 2010 as compared to $0.24 for the same 2009 period, a 46% decrease. Comparing the six months of 2009 versus 2010, our earnings per diluted share fell from $0.55 to $0.24, or 56%. In looking at the sequential quarters, diluted earnings per share were up to 13 cents in the current quarter from 11 cents achieved in the first quarter of the year.

EBITDA: Our EBITDAdecreased(see discussion of EBITDA at the end of this release) 29% to $5.4 million for the second quarter ended June 30, 2010, versus $7.5 million for the same period in 2009. EBITDA decreased 37% to $10.4 million for the six months ended June 30, 2010 versus $16.5 million for the same period ended June 30, 2009. When compared to the prior quarter of 2010, EBITDA increased 6% in the current quarter to $5.4 million compared to $5.1 million in the prior quarter.

Cash flow: At June 30, 2010, we had cash and cash equivalents of $23.8 million, working capital of $43.0 million, and total debt of $5.0 million, of which $3.9 million was classified as current. We had positive net cash flow from operating activities of $15 million during first six months of 2010.

Selected data: The table below shows our revenues, net income, and gross margin exclusive of depreciation, and gross margin for the quarters and six month periods ended June 30, 2010 and 2009. Gross margin is the difference between revenue and cost of sales, exclusive of depreciation.


                        Three months ended                 Six months ended
                        ------------------                 ----------------
                             June 30,                          June 30,
                             --------                          --------
                             In thousands of dollars, except per share
                                               data)
                             ------------------------------------------
                         2009            2010             2009            2010
                         ----                            ----            ----
    Sales              $4,599          $1,779          $11,528          $3,241
    Rental             11,969           9,902           24,757          19,777
    Service and
     maintenance          189             220              497             433
                          ---             ---              ---             ---
    Total Revenue      16,757          11,901           36,782          23,451
    Gross margin (1)    9,220           6,820           19,812          13,421
    Net Income         $2,872          $1,544           $6,669          $2,908
    Earnings per share
     (diluted)          $0.24           $0.13            $0.55           $0.24


(1) For a reconciliation of gross margin to its most directly comparable financial measure calculated and presented in accordance with GAAP, please read "Non-GAAP Financial Measures" in this report.

Rental fleet: As of June 30, 2010, we had 1,806 natural gas compressors in our rental fleet totaling 230,212 horsepower, as compared to 1,771 natural gas compressors totaling 223,041 horsepower at June 30, 2009. As of June 30, 2009, we had 1,345 natural gas compressors rented compared to 1,227 at June 30, 2010, resulting in a current quarter-end utilization of 68%.

Stephen Taylor, President and CEO of Natural Gas Services Group, commented, "We are generally happy with these results because of the quarter-to-quarter improvement in all major financial measures, especially our margins and earnings, but we continue to compete in a difficult market. Our customers remain very conservative from an activity perspective and while I am reluctant to say we have turned a corner, we do anticipate higher levels of activity into 2011, progress, however, will be hard won."

Non GAAP Measures: "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 performance 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.

Gross margin is defined as total revenue less cost of sales (excluding depreciation and amortization expense). Gross margin is included as a supplemental disclosure because it is a primary measure used by our management as it represents the results of revenue and cost of sales (excluding depreciation and amortization expense), which are key components of our operations. Depreciation expense is a necessary element of our costs and our ability to generate revenue and selling, general and administrative expense is a necessary cost to support our operations and required corporate activities. Management uses this non-GAAP measure as a supplemental measure to other GAAP results to provide a more complete understanding of our performance. As an indicator of our operating performance, gross margin should not be considered an alternative to, or more meaningful than, net income as determined in accordance with GAAP. Our gross margin may not be comparable to a similarly titled measure of another company because other entities may not calculate gross margin in the same manner.

The reconciliation of net income to EBITDA and gross margin is as follows:


    (in thousands
     of dollars)        Three months ended        Six months ended
                        ------------------        ----------------
                             June 30,                 June 30,
                             --------                 --------
                         2009            2010     2009              2010
                         ----                    ----              ----
    Net income         $2,872          $1,544   $6,669            $2,908
       Interest
        expense           154              53      314               127
       Provision for
        income taxes    1,546             862    3,599             1,630

       Depreciation
        and
        amortization    2,935           2,905    5,893             5,779
                        -----           -----    -----             -----
    EBITDA             $7,507          $5,364  $16,475           $10,444
       Other operating
        expenses        1,654           1,522    3,231             3,020
       Other expense
        (income)           59             (66)     106               (43)
                          ---             ---      ---               ---
    Gross margin       $9,220          $6,820  $19,812           $13,421
                       ======          ======  =======           =======


Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements: Except for historical information contained herein, the statements in this release are forward-looking and made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties, which may cause NGS's actual results in future periods to differ materially from forecasted results. Those risks include, among other things, the loss of market share through competition or otherwise; the introduction of competing technologies by other companies; a prolonged, substantial reduction in oil and gas prices which could cause a decline in the demand for NGS's products and services; and new governmental safety, health and environmental regulations which could require NGS to make significant capital expenditures. The forward-looking statements included in this press release are only made as of the date of this press release, and NGS undertakes no obligation to publicly update such forward-looking statements to reflect subsequent events or circumstances. A discussion of these factors is included in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Conference Call Details:

Teleconference: Thursday, August 5, 2010 at 9:30 a.m. Central (10:30 a.m. Eastern). Live via phone by dialing 800-624-7038, pass code "Natural Gas Services". All attendees and participants to the conference call should arrange to call in at least 5 minutes prior to the start time.

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

Webcast Replay: For those unable to attend the live teleconference, a Webcast replay of the call will be available within 2 hours at the NGS website at www.ngsgi.com under the Investor Relations section and will remain accessible for 30 days.

Stephen Taylor, President and CEO of Natural Gas Services Group, Inc. will be leading the call and discussing the financial results for the three and six months ended June 30, 2010.

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:  Kimberly Huckaba, Investor Relations
                                    (432) 262-2700
                                    Kim.Huckaba@ngsgi.com
                                     www.ngsgi.com




                       NATURAL GAS SERVICES GROUP, INC.
                                BALANCE SHEETS
                   (in thousands, except per share amounts)
                                 (unaudited)

                                                     December
                                                        31,   June 30,
                                                    --------- --------
                                                         2009        2010
                                                         ----        ----
                         ASSETS
    Current Assets:
      Cash and cash equivalents                       $23,017     $23,833
      Trade accounts receivable, net of allowance
       for doubtful accounts of $363 and                7,314       3,214
                                 $146, respectively
      Inventory, net of allowance for obsolescence
       of $345 and $353, respectively                  24,037      23,316
      Prepaid income taxes                              1,556       2,674
      Prepaid expenses and other                          279         347
                                                          ---         ---
         Total current assets                          56,203      53,384

     Rental equipment, net of accumulated
      depreciation of $34,008 and $38,930,
      respectively                                    110,263     110,881
     Property and equipment, net of accumulated
      depreciation of $7,210 and $7,234,
      respectively                                      7,626       7,162
    Goodwill, net of accumulated amortization of
     $325, both periods                                10,039      10,039
    Intangibles, net of accumulated amortization
     of $1,497 and $1,627, respectively                 2,721       2,591
    Other assets                                           19          26
                                                          ---         ---
         Total assets                                $186,871    $184,083
                                                     ========    ========

          LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY

    Current Liabilities:
      Current portion of long-term debt                $3,378      $3,378
       Line of credit                                   7,000         500
      Accounts payable                                  2,239       1,692
     Accrued liabilities                                1,485       2,176
      Current income tax liability                      1,708       2,475
      Deferred income                                      90         172
                                                          ---         ---
         Total current liabilities                     15,900      10,393

    Long -term debt, less current portion               2,817       1,127
    Deferred income tax payable                        25,498      26,361
    Other long term liabilities                           558         551
                                                          ---         ---
         Total liabilities                             44,773      38,432
                                                       ------      ------


    Stockholders' equity:
      Preferred stock, 5,000 shares authorized, no
       shares issued or outstanding                         -           -
       Common stock, 30,000 shares authorized, par
        value $0.01;12,101 and 12,105 shares issued
        and outstanding, respectively                     121         121
      Additional paid-in capital                       84,570      85,214
      Retained earnings                                57,407      60,316
                                                       ------      ------
         Total stockholders' equity                   142,098     145,651
                                                      -------     -------
         Total liabilities and stockholders' equity  $186,871    $184,083
                                                     ========    ========





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

                           Three months
                                  ended           Six months ended
                                June 30,          ----------------
                                                      June 30,
                                                      --------
                                2009             2010         2009      2010
                                ----             ----         ----      ----
    Revenue:
    Sales, net             $4,599           $1,779      $11,528    $3,241
    Rental income          11,969            9,902       24,757    19,777
    Service and
     maintenance
     income                   189              220          497       433
                              ---              ---          ---       ---
       Total revenue       16,757           11,901       36,782    23,451
                           ------           ------       ------    ------

    Operating costs
     and expenses:
    Cost of sales,
     exclusive of
     depreciation
     stated
     separately
     below                3,253       1,137     7,782 2,128
    Cost of
     rentals,
     exclusive of
     depreciation
     stated
     separately
     below                4,152       3,792     8,841 7,596
    Cost of service
     and
     maintenance,
     exclusive of
     depreciation
     stated
     separately
     below                  132         152       347   306
    Selling,
     general, and
     administrative
     expense                1,654            1,522        3,231     3,020
    Depreciation
     and
     amortization           2,935            2,905        5,893     5,779
                            -----            -----        -----     -----
          Total operating
           costs and
           expenses        12,126            9,508       26,094    18,829
                           ------            -----       ------    ------

    Operating
     income                 4,631            2,394       10,688     4,622

    Other income
     (expense):
    Interest
     expense                 (154)             (53)        (314)     (127)
    Other income
     (expense)                (59)              66         (106)       43
                              ---              ---         ----       ---
       Total other
        income
        (expense)            (213)              13         (420)      (84)
                             ----              ---         ----       ---

    Income before
     provision for
     income taxes           4,418            2,406       10,268     4,538

    Provision for
     income taxes           1,546              862        3,599     1,630


    Net income             $2,872           $1,544       $6,669    $2,908
                           ======           ======       ======    ======


          Earnings per
           share:
          Basic and
           Diluted          $0.24            $0.13        $0.55     $0.24
          Weighted
           average shares
           outstanding:
          Basic            12,095           12,104       12,094    12,103
          Diluted          12,099           12,205       12,102    12,203







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

                                                      Six months Ended
                                                      ----------------
                                                          June 30,
                                                          --------
                                                     2009                2010
                                                     ----                ----
    CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES:
       Net income                                  $6,669              $2,908
           Adjustments to reconcile net income to
            net cash provided by operating
            activities:
            Depreciation and amortization           5,893               5,779
            Deferred taxes                          3,599                 863
            Employee stock options expense            299                 592
            Gain on disposal of assets                (44)                (36)
       Changes in current assets and
        liabilities:
            Trade accounts receivables, net         5,522               4,100
            Inventory, net                          4,800                 946
            Prepaid income taxes and prepaid
             expenses                                (701)             (1,186)
            Accounts payable and accrued
             liabilities                           (9,283)                144
            Current income tax liability             (100)                767
            Deferred income                           243                  82
            Other                                       -                  (7)
    NET CASH PROVIDED BY OPERATING
     ACTIVITIES                                    16,897              14,954
                                                   ------              ------

    CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES:
            Purchase of property and equipment     (7,235)             (6,030)
            Redemption of short-term investments    2,300                   -
            Proceeds from sale of property and
             equipment                                135                  36
                                                      ---                 ---
    NET CASH USED IN INVESTING ACTIVITIES          (4,800)             (5,994)
                                                   ------              ------

    CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES:
            Proceeds from other long-term
             liabilities, net                         121                  (7)
            Repayments of long-term debt           (1,689)             (1,690)
            Repayments of line of credit                -              (6,500)
            Proceeds from exercise of stock
             options                                    9                  53
                                                      ---                 ---
    NET CASH USED IN FINANCING ACTIVITIES          (1,559)             (8,144)
                                                   ------              ------

    NET CHANGE IN CASH                             10,538                 816

    CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS AT BEGINNING
     OF PERIOD                                      1,149              23,017
                                                    -----              ------
    CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS AT END OF
     PERIOD                                       $11,687             $23,833
                                                  =======             =======
    SUPPLEMENTAL DISCLOSURE OF CASH FLOW
     INFORMATION:
       Interest paid                                 $322                $157
       Income taxes paid                             $658              $1,118
    NON-CASH TRANSACTIONS:
    Transfer of rental equipment to
     inventory                                     $1,286                $225






SOURCE Natural Gas Services Group, Inc.