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Natural Gas Services Group Announces Fourth Quarter and Year End Financial Results

February 24, 2005

36% Increase in Revenue for the Three Months to $4.7 Million;

25% Increase in Revenue for the Twelve Months to $15.9 Million

MIDLAND, Texas, Feb. 24 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Natural Gas Services Group, Inc. (Amex: NGS), a leading provider of gas compression, flare equipment and services to the natural gas and oil industry, announces its financial results for the fourth quarter and twelve months ended December 31, 2004.


                       Natural Gas Services Group, Inc.

                    Fourth     Fourth             Twelve       Twelve
                    Quarter    Quarter  Change    Months       Months   Change
                      2004       2003              2004         2003

    Revenues      $4,737,669  $3,485,406  36%  $15,958,199  $12,749,522    25%

    Net Income       663,459     489,692  35%    3,374,028    1,307,133   158%
    EPS (Basic)        $0.11       $0.09  22%        $0.59        $0.24   147%
    EPS (Diluted)      $0.09       $0.09   0%        $0.52        $0.23   126%
    Gross Profit   2,689,529   1,858,709  45%    9,006,704    6,692,926    36%
    EBITDA        $1,980,262  $1,231,857  60%   $7,795,697   $4,396,771    77%
    Weighted avg.
     shares
     outstanding:
    Basic          6,077,368   5,051,851         5,591,313    4,946,922
    Diluted        7,049,140   5,386,928         6,382,777    5,252,531

Revenue for the fourth quarter ended December 31, 2004, increased 36% to $4,737,669 as compared to $3,485,406 for the same period in 2003. Revenue for the twelve months ended December 31, 2004 increased 25% to $15,958,199 as compared to $12,749,522 for the same period in 2003. The increase in revenue during the fourth quarter and twelve months reflects a significant increase in revenue from the rental of natural gas compressor units and a slight increase in service and maintenance revenue.

Net income for the fourth quarter ended December 31, 2004 increased 35% to $663,459 ($0.11 per diluted share), as compared to the same period in 2003 of $489,691 ($.09 per diluted share). Net income for the twelve months ended December 31, 2004 increased 158% to $3,374,028 ($0.52 per diluted share), as compared to $1,307,133 ($0.23 per diluted share) for the same period in 2003. This increase included life insurance proceeds on Mr. Wayne L. Vinson, our former President and C.E.O. who passed away on March 15, 2004. Excluding these proceeds we had a 43% increase in net income for the twelve months.

NGS's rental fleet grew by 46% during the twelve months ended December 31, 2004. We ended the year with 585 compressor packages in our rental fleet, up from 399 units at December 31, 2003. We anticipate adding 250-300 rental units this year at a cost of approximately $16-18 million and expect rental revenue to grow by approximately 30-35%.

"2004 was a year of tremendous significance and change for NGS," said Wallace Sparkman, previous Interim President and current Chairman of the Board of Directors. "We lost a good friend and President of the Company when Wayne Vinson passed away in March. We converted our Series A Preferred Stock into common stock for a savings of approximately $100,000 in dividends. We also completed a private common stock placement for $5 million and entered into an agreement to purchase Screw Compression Systems, a private manufacturer of natural gas compressors. We expect this acquisition to increase NGS's sales and leasing revenue by more than $20 million in 2005. We experienced record revenue, income, earnings per share and hit a new high for the number of compressor packages in our rental fleet. Our success in 2004 is a testament to the hard work, dedication and customer service attitude of our employees."

Steve Taylor, President and CEO of Natural Gas Services Group, Inc. said, "During 2004, we continued to grow and create positive momentum. Looking forward, we believe that our revenue and operational profits will continue to grow vigorously driven by a robust natural gas market, continuing strong end- use demand and the acquisition and effective integration of Screw Compression Systems. We are moving confidently into 2005 with a strong balance sheet, a healthy backlog and a platform for growth."

    Here are some key indicators comparing year end 2004 to year end 2003:

       Leasing revenue up 48% to $10.5 million.
       Services and Maintenance revenue up 6% to $1.9 million.
       Gross Margin up from 52% to 56% of revenue, or $9 million.
       Operating income up 46% to $3.9 million.
       EBITDA up 77% to $7.7 million.

The Company has scheduled a conference call Thursday, February 24 at 3:15 PM Central Standard Time to discuss 2004 financial results.

What: Natural Gas Services 2004 Fourth Quarter and Year-End Financial Results Conference Call

When: Thursday, February 24, 2005 - 3:15 PM Central Standard Time

How: Live via phone by dialing 800-936-4602. Code: Natural Gas Services. Participants to the Conference call should call in at least 5 minutes prior to the start time.

About Natural Gas Services Group, Inc. (NGS)

NGS manufactures, fabricates, sells, leases and services natural gas compressors that enhance the production of oil and gas wells. The Company also manufactures and sells flare systems and flare ignition systems for plant and production facilities.

     For More Information, Contact:         Wallace Sparkman, Chairman or
                                            Stephen Taylor, President/CEO
                                            800-580-1828
                                            Jim Drewitz, Investor Relations
                                            jdrewitz@comcast.net
                                            972-355-6070

"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 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:


                          Three months ended        Twelve months ended
                             December 31,              December 31,
                           2004        2003         2004          2003
    EBITDA              $1,980,262  $1,231,857   $7,795,697    $4,396,771
    Adjustments to
     reconcile EBITDA
     to net income:
    Amortization and
     depreciation         (693,413)   (490,599)  (2,444,264)   (1,725,717)
    Interest expense      (257,403)   (166,362)    (837,486)     (667,122)
    Provision for
     income tax           (365,987)    (85,204)  (1,139,919)     (696,799)
    Net income            $663,459    $489,691   $3,374,028    $1,307,133

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-KSB filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.



                       Natural Gas Services Group, Inc.

                                BALANCE SHEET

                              DECEMBER 31, 2004

                                    ASSETS

    CURRENT ASSETS:
      Cash and cash equivalents                               $685,187
      Trade accounts receivable, net of doubtful
       accounts of $25,000                                   1,998,965
      Inventory                                              4,469,606
      Prepaid expenses and other                               141,140
        Total current assets                                 7,294,898

    LEASE EQUIPMENT, net of accumulated depreciation
     of $4,820,774                                          27,734,030
    PROPERTY AND EQUIPMENT, net of accumulated
     depreciation of $1,446,141                              3,134,167
    GOODWILL, net of accumulated amortization of $325,192    2,589,655
    PATENTS, net of accumulated amortization of $164,907        86,457
    RESTRICTED CASH                                          2,000,000
    OTHER ASSETS                                               416,269
        Total assets                                       $43,255,476

                     LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY

    CURRENT LIABILITIES:
      Current portion of long-term debt and capital lease   $3,728,048
      Line of credit                                           549,856
      Accounts payable and accrued liabilities               2,354,612
      Deferred income                                           22,128
        Total current liabilities                            6,654,644

    LONG-TERM DEBT AND CAPITAL LEASE, less current
     portion                                                 9,290,209
    SUBORDINATED NOTES, net of discount of $89,962           1,449,299
    DEFERRED TAX LIABILITY                                   2,958,000
    COMMITMENTS
    STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY:
      Preferred stock, 5,000,000 shares authorized,
       no shares issued                                            ---
      Common stock, 30,000,000 shares authorized,
       par value $0.01; 6,104,269 shares issued and
       outstanding                                              61,042
      Additional paid-in capital                            16,355,492
      Retained earnings                                      6,486,790
        Total stockholders' equity                          22,903,324
        Total liabilities and stockholders' equity         $43,255,476



                       Natural Gas Services Group, Inc.

                      CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME

                                                     FOR THE YEARS ENDED
                                                        DECEMBER 31,
                                                     2004           2003
    REVENUE:
      Sales, net                                  $3,593,376     $3,865,045
      Service and maintenance income               1,873,905      1,773,256
      Leasing income and interest                 10,490,918      7,111,221
        Total revenue                             15,958,199     12,749,522

    COSTS OF REVENUE:
      Cost of sales                                2,556,573      2,859,572
      Cost of service                              1,357,016      1,243,499
      Cost of leasing                              3,037,906      1,953,525
        Total costs of revenue                     6,951,495      6,056,596

    GROSS PROFIT                                   9,006,704      6,692,926

    OPERATING EXPENSES:
      Selling expenses                               875,289        678,777
      General and administrative                   1,776,630      1,613,076
      Depreciation and amortization                2,444,264      1,725,717
        Total operating expenses                   5,096,183      4,017,570

    INCOME FROM OPERATIONS                         3,910,521      2,675,356

    OTHER INCOME (EXPENSE):
      Interest expense                              (837,486)      (667,122)
      Other income (expense)                       1,440,912         (4,302)
        Total other income (expense)                 603,426       (671,424)

    INCOME BEFORE PROVISION FOR INCOME TAXES       4,513,947      2,003,932

    PROVISION FOR INCOME TAXES:
      Current                                         20,000         25,000
      Deferred                                     1,119,919        671,799
        Total income tax expense                   1,139,919        696,799


    NET INCOME                                     3,374,028      1,307,133

    PREFERRED DIVIDENDS                               53,277        120,941

    NET INCOME AVAILABLE TO COMMON STOCKHOLDERS   $3,320,751     $1,186,192

    NET INCOME PER COMMON SHARE:
      Basic                                            $0.59          $0.24
      Diluted                                          $0.52          $0.23

    WEIGHTED AVERAGE COMMON SHARES OUTSTANDING:
      Basic                                        5,591,313      4,946,922
      Diluted                                      6,382,777      5,252,531



                       Natural Gas Services Group, Inc.

                    CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

                                                     FOR THE YEARS ENDED
                                                         DECEMBER 31,
                                                     2004           2003
    CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES:
      Net income                                  $3,374,028     $1,307,133
      Adjustments to reconcile net income to
       net cash provided by operating activities:
        Depreciation and amortization              2,444,264      1,725,717
        Deferred taxes                             1,119,919        671,799
        Amortization of debt issuance costs           64,956         64,956
        Loss on disposal of assets                    71,341         18,615
        Changes in current assets:
          Trade and other receivables             (1,182,369)      (391,498)
          Inventory                               (1,915,367)    (1,078,445)
          Prepaid expenses and other                 (34,110)        66,272
        Changes in current liabilities:
          Accounts payable and accrued
           liabilities                             1,283,960        542,790
          Deferred income                           (185,087)       173,678
        Other changes                               (344,341)       (76,597)
            Net cash provided by operating
             activities                            4,697,194      3,024,420

    CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES:
      Purchase of property and equipment         (11,595,811)    (7,881,720)
      Proceeds from sale of property
       and equipment                                  50,123        119,500
      Increase in restricted cash                 (2,000,000)           ---
      Distribution from equity method investment         ---        107,774
      Decrease in lease receivable                       ---        210,512
            Net cash used in investing
             activities                          (13,545,688)    (7,443,934)

    CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES:
      Net proceeds from lines of credit              549,856        300,000
      Proceeds from long-term debt                 6,592,012      3,478,568
      Repayments of long-term debt                (2,588,522)    (2,013,546)
      Repayment of line of credit                   (300,000)           ---
      Dividends on preferred stock                   (53,277)      (120,941)
      Proceeds from sale of stock and exercise
       of stock options and warrants,
       net of transaction costs                    5,157,410        237,997
            Net cash provided by financing
             activities                            9,357,479      1,882,078

    NET CHANGE IN CASH                               508,985     (2,537,436)

    CASH, beginning of year                          176,202      2,713,638

    CASH, end of year                               $685,187       $176,202

    SUPPLEMENTAL DISCLOSURES OF CASH FLOW
     INFORMATION:
      Interest paid                                 $775,429       $667,122
      Income taxes paid                              $31,300        $35,292
SOURCE  Natural Gas Services Group, Inc.
    -0-                             02/24/2005
    /CONTACT:  Wallace Sparkman, Chairman, or Stephen Taylor, President-CEO,
both of Natural Gas Services Group, Inc., +1-800-580-1828; or Jim Drewitz,
Investor Relations, +1-972-355-6070, or jdrewitz@comcast.net , for Natural Gas
Services Group, Inc./
    (NGS)

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

GN-CJ
-- DATH016 --
0556 02/24/2005 09:15 EST http://www.prnewswire.com