Natural Gas Services Group, Inc. Reports Year End and Fourth Quarter 2021 Earning

Midland, TX, March 17, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Natural Gas Services Group, Inc. (NYSE:NGS) (the "Company" or "NGS"), a leading provider of gas compression equipment and services to the natural gas and oil industry, announces its financial results for the three months and full year ended December 31, 2021. Financial results contained herein reflect the unaudited consolidated financial statements included in the Company's Form 10-K that will be filed on or about March 18, 2022.

2021 Highlights

• NGS generated strong cash flow in 2021   
  • The Company's cash balance as of December 31, 2021 was $22.9 million, a decrease from $28.9 million on December 31, 2020, a result of our capital expenditure program of $25.7 million and our stock repurchase program.
  • Full-year cash flow from operating activities was $28.5 million, a decrease of approximately 13% when compared to $32.6 million in 2020. This decrease was primarily driven by increased mobilization and commissioning expenses driven by newly set units and increased repair and maintenance costs.
• Rental fleet utilization increased on both a horsepower (71.2% at year-end 2021 vs. 65.6% at year-end 2020) and unit basis (62.0% at year-end 2021 vs. 57.3% at year-end 2020).
• 2021 rental revenue was $63.6 million, an increase of 4.6% when compared to 2020 rental revenue of $60.8 million.
• GAAP net loss for the year ended December 31, 2021 was $9.2 million or $(0.70) per basic and diluted share, a decrease of $11.0 million or $(0.84) per basic and diluted share, primarily due to increased commissioning and operating expenses as well as non-cash charges.
• Adjusted EBITDA for the year ended December 31, 2021 was $18.7 million compared to 2020 Adjusted EBITDA of $24.9 million. Please see Non-GAAP Financial Measures - Adjusted EBITDA, below.
• During 2021, the Company repurchased 737,405 shares, approximately 5.6% of our shares outstanding, for approximately $7.9 million.

“Natural Gas Services Group experienced a steady increase in activity in 2021 as the deployment of new compression units grew throughout the year," said Stephen C. Taylor, Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer. "That growth resulted in a 6% increase in total revenue and a 5% increase in rental revenues but also resulted in higher mobilization, commissioning and start-up costs which had an impact on our annual margins and income. New equipment installations (and associated expenses), the majority of which were large horsepower units, accelerated throughout the year; in total we installed 46,750 horsepower in 2021, approximately 16% of our total utilized horsepower at year-end. Increased maintenance costs, which we believe should moderate in the coming year, and fleet retirements (a non-cash expense) also had an impact on our earnings. Overall, the growth in installed horsepower and utilization should contribute meaningfully to continued growth in the coming year."

Financial and Operating Details for the Three and Twelve Months Ended December 31, 2021

Revenue: Total revenue increased by 6.4% to $72.4 million for the year ended December 31, 2021 compared to $68.1 million for year ended in December 31, 2020.  This increase was primarily due to a 4.6% increase in rental revenue to $63.6 million from $60.8 million during the same periods. In addition, sales revenues increased by 21.7% to $6.9 million in 2021 compared to $5.7 million in 2020. Total revenues increased 6.1% to $18.0 million for the three months ended December 31, 2021 from $17.0 million for the three months ended December 31, 2020. This increase was primarily related to a $1.7 million increase in rental revenues driven by new-set activity. Total revenues decreased 1.2% to $18.0 million for the three months ended December 31, 2021 from $18.2 million for the three months ended September 30, 2021. This decrease was primarily related to a $0.3 million decrease in sales of parts and rebuilds.

Operating Loss: The Company posted an operating loss for the year ended December 31, 2021 of $12.4 million, compared to an operating loss of $3.6 million for the year ended December 31, 2020. This increase in operating loss is primarily due to an $8.1 million increase in costs of rentals, including non-cash charges. As noted above, the company experienced a high level of new-set activity during the year. Upon initial installation, these units require oil, anti-freeze and other start-up materials and labor in addition to normal operating expenses. In many cases, especially with large horsepower units, these mobilization, commissioning and start-up costs exceeded initial revenue. In addition, we experienced higher than normal repair and maintenance needs for our rental fleet during the year, a result of one-time maintenance requirements as well as maintenance that had been deferred from the prior year due to customer requests, staffing and COVID-19 concerns. Increased labor and hiring costs in addition to the onset of inflationary pressures also drove costs higher. Finally, our operating loss included a charge of $3.1 million for the non-cash retirement of rental equipment and $208,000 in parts obsolescence charges. We annually review our rental fleet to determine which units are no longer of the type, configuration, make or model that our customers are demanding or that are not cost efficient to refurbish, maintain and/or operate. As a result of this review, we determined 263 units should be retired from our rental fleet. The operating loss for the three months ended December 31, 2021 was $8.2 million compared to $2.2 million for the three months ended December 31, 2020. The increase in the fourth quarter operating loss was primarily driven by a $4.4 million increase in costs of rentals, a $2.8 million increase in non-cash retirement of rental equipment charges and a $0.8 million higher loss on sales, partially offset by higher revenues. Sequentially, total operating losses for the three months ended December 31, 2021 increased by $6.6 million from $1.6 million for the three months ended September 30, 2021.

Gross Margins: Total gross margins decreased to $2.3 million for the year ended December 31, 2021 from $8.0 million for the year ended December 31, 2020.  Total adjusted gross margin, exclusive of depreciation, for the year ended December 31, 2021, decreased $5.6 million to $27.1 million from $32.6 million for the same period ended December 31, 2020. Total gross margins decreased $3.5 million to $(1.9) million for the three months ended December 31, 2021 from $1.6 million for the three months ended December 31, 2020. Total adjusted gross margin, exclusive of depreciation, for the three months ended December 31, 2021, decreased $3.5 million to $4.3 million from $7.8 million for the three months ended December 31, 2020. Sequentially, total gross margins decreased to $(1.9) million for the three months ended December 31, 2021 from $1.3 million for the three months ended September 30, 2021. Total adjusted gross margins decreased $3.2 million to $4.3 million from $7.5 million for the three months ended September 30, 2021. All of these declines are primarily attributable to increased costs of rental mobilization, commissioning, start-up and maintenance costs. Please see discussions of Non-GAAP Financial Measures - Adjusted Gross Margin, below.

Net Income (Loss): The Company reported a net loss of $9.2 million for the year ended December 31, 2021 compared to net income of $1.8 million for the year ended December 31, 2020. The increase in 2021 annual net loss, when compared to the full year 2020 results, is primarily due to our increased operating loss, as discussed above, and a decrease in income tax benefit of $2.2 million. For the three months ended December 31, 2021, the Company reported a net loss of $5.6 million compared to a net loss of $1.9 million for the three months ended December 31, 2020. The increased net loss was primarily attributable to an increased operating loss, as discussed above. Sequentially, the Company's net loss increased $4.4 million primarily due to increased operating losses as well as non-cash charges of $3.1 million and $208,000 for retirement of rental equipment and inventory allowance write-downs, respectively.

Earnings per share: For the year ended December 31, 2021, the Company reported loss per basic and diluted share of $0.70, compared to income per basic and diluted share of $0.14 for the year ended December 31, 2020. For the three months ended December 31, 2021, the Company reported net loss per basic and diluted share of $0.42 compared to a net loss per basic and diluted share of $0.14 for the three months ended December 31, 2020 and $0.04 for the three months ended September 30, 2021. When adjusting for non-cash charges related to rental equipment retirements and inventory obsolescence, the Company reported adjusted loss per basic and diluted share of $0.45 and $0.18 for the year and three months ended December 31, 2021, respectively.

Adjusted EBITDA: Adjusted EBITDA decreased $6.2 million to $18.7 million for the year ended December 31, 2021 compared to $24.9 million for the year ended December 31, 2020.  This reduction was primarily attributed to decreased rental adjusted gross margin. Adjusted EBITDA decreased to $2.3 million for the three months ended December 31, 2021, as compared to $5.4 million for the three months ended December 31, 2020 due to a decrease in rental adjusted gross margin. Sequentially, Adjusted EBITDA decreased $3.0 million from $5.4 million for the three months ended September 30, 2021 due primarily to decreased rental adjusted gross margin. Please see discussion of Non-GAAP Financial Measures - Adjusted EBITDA, below.

Cash flow: At December 31, 2021, cash and cash equivalents were approximately $22.9 million, while working capital was $44.8 million with no outstanding bank borrowings. Cash flow from operating activities was $28.5 million for the year ended December 31, 2021, while cash flow used in investing activities (consisting of our capital expenditures) was $25.7 million during 2021.  Cash flow used in financing activities was $8.8 million for the year ended December 31, 2021 which included $7.9 million of common stock repurchases.

Selected data: The tables below show, for the three months and year ended December 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 and amortization.

(1)           For a reconciliation of adjusted gross margin to its most directly comparable financial measure calculated and presented in accordance 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 and amortization 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 and amortization 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, operating income 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, an increase in inventory allowance and write-off 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 (loss) income.

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

Conference Call Details:

Teleconference: Thursday, March 17, 2022 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 and year ended December 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 flare 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 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 and social initiatives which could require NGS to make significant capital expenditures or reduce our customers' demand for our products and services. Any 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 filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.