Release Details

Midland, TX, May 13, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) --

First Quarter 2021 Highlights

• The Company continued to generate free cash flow with steady utilization
  • Cash balance increased 6.1% to $30.7 million in the first quarter of 2021 from $28.9 million at year end 2020 due to strong operating cash flow and reduced capital expenditures.
  • Utilization remained steady on both a horsepower (65.2% at March 31, 2021 vs. 65.6% at December 31, 2020) and a unit (56.5% at March 31, 2021 vs. 57.3% at December 31, 2020) basis.
• Rental revenue of $15.3 million, an increase of 4.1% when compared to the fourth quarter of 2020.
• Net loss of $394,000 ($0.03 loss per basic and diluted share) a reduction of $1.5 million when compared to the fourth quarter of 2020.
• Total Adjusted Gross Margins increased 5.5% and 9.8% from the first and fourth quarter of 2020, respectively.
• Adjusted EBITDA of $6.5 million. Please see Non-GAAP Financial Measures - Adjusted EBITDA, below.
• Entered into a new five year $20 million Credit Agreement with Texas Capital Bank, N.A. as Sole Lender and Administrative Agent.

MIDLAND, Texas May 13, 2021 - Natural Gas Services Group, Inc. (“NGS” or the “Company”) (NYSE:NGS), a leading provider of natural gas compression equipment and services to the energy industry, today announced financial results for the three months ended March 31, 2021.

Revenue: Total revenue for the three months ended March 31, 2021 increased to $18.4 million from $17.9 million for the three months ended March 31, 2020. This increase was primarily due to an increase in sales revenue resulting from higher compressor and parts sales. Rental revenue decreased 4.7% to $15.3 million in the first quarter of 2021 from $16.1 million in the first quarter of 2020 due to declines in unit utilization. As of March 31, 2021 we had 1,265 units (287,914 horsepower) rented units compared to 1,383 units (298,143 horsepower) rented units as of March 31, 2020. Sequentially, total revenue increased 8.2% in the first quarter of 2021 compared to $17.0 million in the fourth quarter of 2020 primarily due to increased compressor sales and rental revenue.

Gross Margins:   Total gross margins increased 19.1% to $2.4 million for the three months ended March 31, 2021 compared to $2.0 million for the same period in 2020.   Total adjusted gross margin, exclusive of depreciation, for the three months ended March 31, 2021, increased 5.5% to $8.6 million from $8.1 million for the same period ended March 31, 2020. This increase was primarily attributable to an increase in sales revenue and lower unabsorbed fabrication costs partially offset by slightly lower rental margins. Sequentially, total gross margin increased 49.7% to $2.4 million for the three months ended March 31, 2021 compared to $1.6 million for the three months ended December 31, 2020. Excluding depreciation, total adjusted gross margin increased 9.8% to $8.6 million during the first quarter of 2021 compared to $7.8 million during the fourth quarter of 2020. This sequential increase was primarily due to higher rental margins and, to a lesser extent, higher sales margins. Please see discussions of Non-GAAP Financial Measures - Adjusted Gross Margin, below.

Operating Loss: Operating loss for the three months ended March 31, 2021 was $369,000 compared to an operating loss of $273,000 for the three months ended March 31, 2020. Operating loss increased due to increased selling, general and administrative ("SG&A") expenses and slightly lower rental margins, partially offset by improved sales margins. SG&A expenses increased due to changes in our deferred compensation liability as we recorded an unrealized gain from a reduction in the liability during the first quarter of 2020 compared with an unrealized loss due to an increase in the liability during the first quarter of 2021. These changes resulted in incremental expense of approximately $468,000. Operating loss improved 83.5% in the first quarter of 2021 to $369,000 from $2.2 million during the fourth quarter of 2020. This sequential increase was primarily due to higher compressor sales and rental revenue as well as reduced SG&A expenses. SG&A decreased by $583,000 sequentially primarily due to a decreased compensation expense as well as a decrease in unrealized loss on deferred compensation between quarters and reduced professional fees.

Net (Loss) Income: Net loss for the three months ended March 31, 2021 was $394,000 ($(0.03) per basic and diluted shares) compared to net income of $4.1 million ($0.31 and $0.30 per basic and diluted shares, respectively) for the three months ended March 31, 2020. The decrease in net income during the first quarter of 2021 was mainly due to a $4.5 million income tax benefit realized in the first quarter of 2020 related to the CARES Act. Sequentially, net loss during the first quarter of 2021 of $394,000 ($0.03 per basic and diluted shares) compares to net loss of $1.9 million ($0.14 per basic and diluted shares) during the fourth quarter of 2020.   This sequential increase was primarily due to higher compressor sales and rental revenues as well as reduced SG&A expenses.

Adjusted EBITDA: Adjusted EBITDA increased 3.5% to $6.5 million for the three months ended March 31, 2021 from $6.3 million for the same period in 2020. This increase was attributable to higher sales margins partially offset by higher cash SG&A expenses. Sequentially, adjusted EBITDA increased 21.2% to $6.5 million for the three months ended March 31, 2021 from $5.4 million in the previous quarter.   This increase was attributable to higher rental and sales margins combined with reduced cash SG&A expenses.

Cash flows: At March 31, 2021, cash and cash equivalents were approximately $30.7 million, while working capital was $63.2 million with no outstanding debt. For the three months of 2021, cash flows from operating activities was $7.4 million, while cash flows used in investing activities was $5.0 million. Cash flows used in investing activities included $5.0 million in capital expenditures, of which $4.5 million was dedicated to rental capital expenditures.

Commenting on First Quarter 2021 results, Stephen C. Taylor, President and CEO, said:

"Our first quarter results continue to trend toward a more stable oilfield and increasing levels of activity as we move further away from the impacts of the coronavirus pandemic, including reduced demand and weak pricing for energy companies.

Our rental revenue increased 4% sequentially and was driven by increased rentals of our large horsepower units. Our sales revenues improved and gross margins across all product lines strengthened. Unit and horsepower utilization remained solid and we generated adjusted EBITDA of $6.5 million, an increase of 21% over the fourth quarter of 2020. Our operating cash flow for the quarter was $7.4 million. We are especially pleased with the progress in the quarter given the February winter storm which effectively shuttered Texas and the region for nearly two weeks.

We also announced the appointment of our new Chief Financial Officer, Micah Foster, and the closing of our new credit facility with Texas Capital Bank, strengthening our financial team and further strengthening our financial flexibility and liquidity. Our Board of Directors appointed Nigel Jenvey to replace Frank Hughes who is retiring. Nigel is a recognized authority on energy environmental issues, including two decades focused on developing carbon capture technologies. Coincident with Nigel's appointment, the Board announced its decision to transform the former Governance Committee into the Environmental, Social and Governance Committee with Nigel as the chairman, another step in support of the Company's commitment to continuous improvement in environmental, social and governance issues, including strong sponsorship for such initiatives from our Board."

Selected data: The tables below show, for the three months ended March 31, 2021 and 2020, 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.

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

Non-GAAP Financial Measure - Adjusted Gross Margin: “Adjusted Gross Margin” is defined as total revenue less cost of sales (excluding depreciation 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 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, gross margin 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:

Non-GAAP Financial Measures - Adjusted EBITDA: “Adjusted EBITDA” reflects net income or loss before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization, non-cash stock compensation expense, impairment of goodwill, increases in inventory allowance and retirement of rental equipment. 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 income (loss).

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

Conference Call Details:

Teleconference: Thursday, May 13, 2021 at 10:00 a.m. Central (11:00 a.m. Eastern).  Live via phone by dialing 877-358-7306, 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 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.

Stephen C. Taylor, President and CEO of Natural Gas Services Group, Inc. will be leading the call and discussing the financial results for the three months ended March 31, 2021.

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

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 potential impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on the Company’s business; a prolonged, substantial reduction in oil and natural gas prices which could cause a decline in the demand for NGS's products and services; the loss of market share through competition or otherwise; the introduction of competing technologies by other companies; 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 most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K, as well as the Company’s Form 10-Q for the quarterly period ended March 31, 2021, as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Source: Natural Gas Services Group, Inc.