Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - The company reported a 35% year-over-year increase in rental revenue and a 7% sequential increase, driven by higher rented horsepower and selected rate increases [11] - Adjusted EBITDA for Q3 2024 was 5 million, or 40.7 million [32] - Adjusted gross margin percentage for rental revenue was 61.3%, compared to 59.3% in the previous quarter and 51.4% in Q3 2023 [11][32] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - The company had approximately 476,000 horsepower rented by the end of Q3 2024, representing a 19% year-over-year increase [23] - Large horsepower units increased to approximately 333,000 horsepower, a 32% increase from Q3 2023, with 70% of rented horsepower now in large units [24][25] - Monthly rental revenue per average horsepower was 65 million and 67 million to $69 million [12][38] - The company is mindful of costs and looking to improve efficiencies while reallocating cash flow to growth initiatives [39] - Management remains optimistic about the company's position in the large horsepower compression market and expects to capture an increasing share [44] Other Important Information - The company has made recent additions to its management team, including a new Chief Financial Officer and a Director with substantial experience in rental equipment [27][29] - Accounts receivable decreased significantly, indicating improved cash flow management [20][35] Q&A Session Summary Question: Thoughts on margin profile beyond 2024 - Management is pleased with the current margin levels and expects them to remain stable, with potential for modestly higher margins as higher horsepower units are introduced [48][50] Question: Utilization rates and large horsepower - High horsepower units are effectively 100% utilized, while the focus is on increasing utilization of smaller units [51][52] Question: Demand environment and CapEx decisions - The company is focusing on contracts for 2026 and is seeing strong demand for incremental compression [55][56] Question: Pricing environment - There is a positive upward bias on pricing, although the rate of increase has slowed compared to previous years [57] Question: Customer count decline - The slight decline in customer count is not a strategic decision and is not seen as a material issue [64] Question: CapEx dedicated to electric units - About 40% of the new horsepower will be electric motor driven [65] Question: Future leverage and cash flow - Management expects leverage to increase on an absolute basis but remains confident in the earnings power of the business [67][68] Question: Changes in customer behavior based on oil prices - Management indicated that changes in customer behavior could occur if WTI prices drop significantly [70] Question: Utilization of smaller horsepower units - The company is reviewing opportunities to reduce unutilized small and medium units, with some potentially being sold or scrapped [73][74] Question: CapEx deployment timing - There is typically a lag of about three quarters from initial capital expenditure to unit deployment [76]
Natural Gas Services (NGS) - 2024 Q3 - Earnings Call Transcript