Home / News & Events / RELEASE DETAILS

Release Details

Natural Gas Services Group Reports First Quarter Financial Results

May 8, 2003

First Quarter Revenue from Core Leasing Business Advances 40%,
Gross Margin Improves to 52% from 38% in First Quarter Last Year

MIDLAND, Texas — Natural Gas Services Group, Inc. (NGSG) (Amex: NGS, NGS.WS), a provider of equipment and services to the natural gas and oil industry, today announced financial results for the first quarter ended March 31, 2003.

Total first quarter revenue was $2,343,745 versus $2,690,396 in 2002. Revenue from the Company's core leasing business increased to $1,401,163 versus $999,517 in the same quarter of 2002, while equipment sales declined to $565,272 from $1,349,017 a year ago. First quarter service revenue increased to $377,310 from $341,862.

Wayne Vinson, president and CEO, said, “The 40% increase in first quarter leasing revenue is consistent with the growth trends we are seeing in this segment of our business, and also reflects our determined efforts to expand our core leasing programs. As we reported in the fourth quarter, equipment sales, which can fluctuate considerably from quarter to quarter, have been impacted by the slowdown in the economy and by reductions in capital spending. Fortunately, current economic conditions are fueling increased demand for rental equipment, as is evident by the high utilization rate of our lease fleet.”

On the strength of the gross margins generated by NGSG's leasing business, total first quarter gross margins increased to 52% from 38% in the first quarter last year. First quarter EBITDA (see discussion of EBITDA at the end of this release) increased 3% to $717,788 versus $696,503 in the same period a year ago, while net income available to common shareholders increased 67% to $86,873, or .02 cents per diluted share, from $51,991, or .01 cent per diluted share, in 2002.

NGSG's lease fleet grew by 13% during the first quarter. This growth was driven in part by the January 1, 2003, acquisition of 28 compressor packages from Hy-Bon Engineering Company, as well as internal production. The Company ended the quarter with 347 compressor packages in its rental fleet, up from 308 units at end of fiscal 2002.

Cash used in operating activities during the first quarter increased to $133,361 compared with $77,807 used in operating activities during the first quarter of last year.

NGSG 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 on NGSG, please visit the Company's website at www.ngsgi.com.

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 NGSG'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 NGSG's products and services; and new governmental safety, health and environmental regulations which could require NGSG 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 NGSG 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.
Consolidated Income Statement (unaudited)
 
Three months ended March 31,
2003
2002
Revenue:  
Sales
$565,272
$1,349,017

Service and maintenance income

377,310
341,862
Leasing income
1,401,163
999,517
 
2,343,745
2,690,396
Cost of revenue:
 

Cost of sales

433,173
1,065,152
Cost of service and maintenance
335,301
333,148
Cost of leasing
360,917
282,535
 
1,129,391
1,680,835
Gross Margin
1,214,354
1,009,561
Operating Costs:

Selling expense

138,947
124,667

General and Administrative expense

380,166
273,541

Amortization & depreciation

361,966
254,404
 
881,079
652,612
Operating income
333,275
356,949
 

Interest expense

(154,083)
(257,360)

Equity in earnings of joint venture

-
83,452

Other income

22,547
1,698
Income before income taxes
201,739
184,739
Provision for income tax
83,856
88,563
Net income
117,883
96,176

Preferred dividends

31,010
44,185

Net income available to common shareholders

$ 86,873
$51,991

Earnings per share:

 

Basic

$0.02
$0.02

Diluted

$0.02
$0.01

Weighted average Shares:

 

Basic

4,857,632
3,357,632
Diluted
5,059,456
3,798,176
 
    March 31, 2003
ASSETS
Current assets:
   
Cash and cash equivalents
 
$1,611,244
Accounts receivable- trade
 
981,398
Lease receivable- net
 
100,143
Inventory
 
2,204,467
Prepaid expenses
 
45,038
Total current assets
 
4,942,290
 
Property plant and equipment, net
 
18,443,470
Goodwill, net
 
2,589,655
Patents, net
 
134,555
Lease receivable net
 
87,198
Other assets
 
113,423
Total assets
 
$ 26,310,591
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
Current liabilities:
 
Current portion of long term debt and capital lease
 
$ 2,224,133
Accounts payable
 
848,809
Unearned income
 
423,946
Total current liabilities
 
3,496,888
 
Long term portion, less current portion and capital lease
 
7,110,375
Subordinated notes, net
 
1,360,626
Deferred income tax payable
 
1,254,856
Total liabilities
 
13,222,745
SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY
Preferred stock
 
3,817
Common stock
 
48,576
Paid in capital
 
10,968,733
Retained earnings
 
2,066,720
Shareholders' equity
 
13,087,846
Total liabilities and shareholders' equity
 
$ 26,310,591
 
Natural Gas Services, Inc.

“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 an 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 NGSG 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 March 31,
 
2003
2002
EBITDA
$ 717,788
$ 696,503
Adjustments to reconcile EBITDA to net income:
   
Amortization and depreciation
(361,966)
(254,404)
Interest expense
(154,083)
(257,360)
Provision for income tax
(83,856)
(88,563)

Net income

$ 117,883
$ 96,176

CONTACTS:

Natural Gas Services Group, Inc.
Wayne Vinson or Wallace Sparkman
915-563-3974

Pfeiffer High Public Relations, Inc.
Geoff High
303-393-7044