• Star Group, L.P. Reports Fiscal 2023 Fourth Quarter Results

    Source: Nasdaq GlobeNewswire / 06 Dec 2023 16:30:00   America/New_York

    STAMFORD, Conn., Dec. 06, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Star Group, L.P. (the "Company" or "Star") (NYSE:SGU), a home energy distributor and services provider, today announced financial results for the fiscal 2023 fourth quarter and year ended September 30, 2023.

    Three Months Ended September 30, 2023 Compared to the Three Months Ended September 30, 2022
    For the fiscal 2023 fourth quarter, Star reported a 10.0 percent decrease in total revenue to $266.9 million compared with $296.6 million in the prior-year period, largely due to a decrease in selling prices and, to a lesser extent, a decline in total petroleum product demand. The volume of home heating oil and propane sold during the fiscal 2023 fourth quarter decreased by 0.6 million gallons, or 3.1 percent, to 18.8 million gallons, and the volume of motor fuel sold declined by 5.8 percent to 34.3 million gallons.

    Star’s net loss decreased by $30.3 million in the quarter, to $19.7 million, primarily due to a favorable change in the fair value of derivative instruments of $46.8 million, somewhat offset by a decrease in the Company’s income tax benefit of $14.8 million, and an increase in depreciation and amortization expense of $1.2 million.

    The Company reported a fourth quarter Adjusted EBITDA loss (a non-GAAP measure defined below) of $31.4 million, an increase of $0.7 million, reflecting the lower sales volume and an increase in operating costs of 4.6 percent, largely offset by an increase in home heating oil and propane per-gallon margins.

    “As we turn the corner on fiscal 2023, I would say the year was, in many respects, similar to the one before – as we experienced elevated oil prices and continued market volatility and, thus, high revenue but, largely due to warmer weather, lower overall product demand,” said Jeff Woosnam, Star Group’s President and Chief Executive Officer. “Notably, temperatures for the year were the third warmest in 123 years within the New York City metropolitan area. That said, we maintained our cost discipline, achieved slightly improved net customer attrition versus the prior fiscal year and completed several acquisitions that complement our existing businesses in key geographic areas. We remain focused on effectively managing working capital, controlling operating expenses, and providing the best customer service possible as we head into fiscal 2024.”

    Fiscal Year Ended September 30, 2023 Compared to Fiscal Year Ended September 30, 2022
    For fiscal 2023, Star reported nearly flat revenue year-over-year of $2.0 billion, as a decrease in total volume sold was almost totally offset by an increase in selling prices in response to higher wholesale product costs.

    The volume of home heating oil and propane sold during fiscal 2023 decreased by 36.9 million gallons, or 12.5 percent, to 259.2 million gallons, with the additional volume provided from acquisitions more than offset by the impact of warmer temperatures, net customer attrition and other factors. Temperatures in Star’s geographic areas of operation for the twelve-month period were 7.7 percent warmer than during the prior fiscal year and 16.3 percent warmer than normal, as reported by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

    Star’s net income declined by $3.4 million, to $31.9 million, primarily due to a $13.5 million decrease in Adjusted EBITDA and a $5.0 million increase in interest expense, partially offset by a $15.3 million favorable change in the fair value of derivative instruments.

    Adjusted EBITDA decreased by $13.5 million, to $96.9 million, as a decline in home heating oil and propane volume more than offset an increase in per gallon margins and an $11.4 million higher benefit recorded under the Company’s weather hedge.

    EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA (Non-GAAP Financial Measures)
    EBITDA (Earnings from continuing operations before net interest expense, income taxes, depreciation and amortization) and Adjusted EBITDA (Earnings from continuing operations before net interest expense, income taxes, depreciation and amortization, (increase) decrease in the fair value of derivatives, other income (loss), net, multiemployer pension plan withdrawal charge, gain or loss on debt redemption, goodwill impairment, and other non-cash and non-operating charges) are non-GAAP financial measures that are used as supplemental financial measures by management and external users of the Company’s financial statements, such as investors, commercial banks and research analysts, to assess Star’s position with regard to the following:

    • compliance with certain financial covenants included in our debt agreements;
    • financial performance without regard to financing methods, capital structure, income taxes or historical cost basis;
    • operating performance and return on invested capital compared to those of other companies in the retail distribution of refined petroleum products, without regard to financing methods and capital structure;
    • ability to generate cash sufficient to pay interest on our indebtedness and to make distributions to our partners; and
    • the viability of acquisitions and capital expenditure projects and the overall rates of return of alternative investment opportunities.

    The method of calculating Adjusted EBITDA may not be consistent with that of other companies, and EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA both have limitations as analytical tools and so should not be viewed in isolation but in conjunction with measurements that are computed in accordance with GAAP. Some of the limitations of EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA are as follows:

    • EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA do not reflect cash used for capital expenditures;
    • although depreciation and amortization are non-cash charges, the assets being depreciated or amortized often will have to be replaced and EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA do not reflect the cash requirements for such replacements;
    • EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA do not reflect changes in, or cash requirements for, working capital;
    • EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA do not reflect the cash necessary to make payments of interest or principal on indebtedness; and
    • EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA do not reflect the cash required to pay taxes.

    REMINDER:
    Members of Star's management team will host a webcast and conference call at 11:00 a.m. Eastern Time tomorrow, December 7, 2023. The webcast will be accessible on the company’s website, at www.stargrouplp.com, and the telephone number for the conference call is 1-888-346-3470 (or 1-412-317-5169 for international callers).

    About Star Group, L.P.
    Star Group, L.P. is a full service provider specializing in the sale of home heating products and services to residential and commercial customers to heat their homes and buildings. The Company also sells and services heating and air conditioning equipment to its home heating oil and propane customers and, to a lesser extent, provides these offerings to customers outside of its home heating oil and propane customer base. Star also sells diesel, gasoline and home heating oil on a delivery only basis. We believe Star is the nation's largest retail distributor of home heating oil based upon sales volume. Including its propane locations, Star serves customers in the more northern and eastern states within the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic U.S. regions. Additional information is available by obtaining the Company's SEC filings at www.sec.gov and by visiting Star's website at www.stargrouplp.com, where unit holders may request a hard copy of Star’s complete audited financial statements free of charge.

    Forward Looking Information
    This news release includes "forward-looking statements" which represent the Company’s expectations or beliefs concerning future events that involve risks and uncertainties, including the impact of geopolitical events on wholesale product cost volatility, the price and supply of the products that we sell, our ability to purchase sufficient quantities of product to meet our customer’s needs, rapid increases in levels of inflation, the consumption patterns of our customers, our ability to obtain satisfactory gross profit margins, the effect of weather conditions on our financial performance, our ability to obtain new customers and retain existing customers, our ability to make strategic acquisitions, the impact of litigation, natural gas conversions and electrification of heating systems, pandemic and future global health pandemics, recessionary economic conditions, future union relations and the outcome of current and future union negotiations, the impact of current and future governmental regulations, including climate change, environmental, health, and safety regulations, the ability to attract and retain employees, customer credit worthiness, counterparty credit worthiness, marketing plans, cyber-attacks, global supply chain issues, labor shortages and new technology, including alternative methods for heating and cooling residences. All statements other than statements of historical facts included in this Report including, without limitation, the statements under “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” and elsewhere herein, are forward-looking statements. Without limiting the foregoing, the words “believe,” “anticipate,” “plan,” “expect,” “seek,” “estimate,” and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. Although we believe that the expectations reflected in such forward-looking statements are reasonable, we can give no assurance that such expectations will prove to be correct. Actual results may differ materially from those projected as a result of certain risks and uncertainties. These risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, those set forth under the heading "Risk Factors" and "Business Strategy" in our Annual Report on Form 10-K (the "Form 10-K") for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2023. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from the Company’s expectations ("Cautionary Statements") are disclosed in this news release and in the Company’s Form 10-K and our Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q. All subsequent written and oral forward-looking statements attributable to the Company or persons acting on its behalf are expressly qualified in their entirety by the Cautionary Statements. Unless otherwise required by law, the Company undertakes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise after the date of this news release.

    (financials follow)

    STAR GROUP, L.P. AND SUBSIDIARIES
    CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
     
     September 30, September 30,
    (in thousands) 2023   2022 
    ASSETS   
    Current assets   
    Cash and cash equivalents$45,191  $14,620 
    Receivables, net of allowance of $8,375 and $7,755, respectively 114,079   138,252 
    Inventories 56,463   83,557 
    Fair asset value of derivative instruments 10,660   16,823 
    Prepaid expenses and other current assets 28,308   32,016 
    Assets held for sale -   2,995 
    Total current assets 254,701   288,263 
    Property and equipment, net 105,404   107,744 
    Operating lease right-of-use assets 90,643   93,435 
    Goodwill 262,103   254,110 
    Intangibles, net 76,306   84,510 
    Restricted cash 250   250 
    Captive insurance collateral 70,717   66,662 
    Deferred charges and other assets, net 15,354   17,501 
    Total assets$875,478  $912,475 
    LIABILITIES AND PARTNERS' CAPITAL   
    Current liabilities   
    Accounts payable$35,609  $49,061 
    Revolving credit facility borrowings 240   20,276 
    Fair liability value of derivative instruments 118   183 
    Current maturities of long-term debt 20,500   12,375 
    Current portion of operating lease liabilities 18,085   17,211 
    Accrued expenses and other current liabilities 115,606   125,561 
    Unearned service contract revenue 63,215   62,858 
    Customer credit balances 111,508   93,555 
    Total current liabilities 364,881   381,080 
    Long-term debt 127,327   151,709 
    Long-term operating lease liabilities 77,600   81,385 
    Deferred tax liabilities, net 25,771   25,620 
    Other long-term liabilities 16,175   14,766 
    Partners' capital   
    Common unitholders 281,862   277,177 
    General partner (4,615)  (3,656)
    Accumulated other comprehensive loss, net of taxes (13,523)  (15,606)
    Total partners' capital 263,724   257,915 
    Total liabilities and partners' capital$875,478  $912,475 
        



    STAR GROUP, L.P. AND SUBSIDIARIES
    CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
     
     Three Months
    Ended September 30,
     Twelve Months
    Ended September 30,
    (in thousands, except per unit data) 2023   2022   2023   2022 
     (unaudited) (unaudited)    
    Sales:       
    Product$188,035  $216,318  $1,650,741  $1,698,281 
    Installations and services 78,902   80,326   302,121   308,277 
    Total sales 266,937   296,644   1,952,862   2,006,558 
    Cost and expenses:       
    Cost of product 149,727   181,441   1,204,184   1,239,605 
    Cost of installations and services 66,477   67,979   277,927   282,723 
    (Increase) decrease in the fair value of derivative instruments (17,645)  29,167   1,977   17,286 
    Delivery and branch expenses 76,661   73,128   353,614   353,517 
    Depreciation and amortization expenses 9,203   8,002   32,350   32,598 
    General and administrative expenses 6,161   6,053   25,780   24,882 
    Finance charge income (658)  (1,206)  (5,515)  (4,506)
    Operating income (loss) (22,989)  (67,920)  62,545   60,453 
    Interest expense, net (2,930)  (3,050)  (15,532)  (10,472)
    Amortization of debt issuance costs (252)  (257)  (1,084)  (955)
    Income (loss) before income taxes (26,171)  (71,227)  45,929   49,026 
    Income tax expense (benefit) (6,442)  (21,234)  13,984   13,738 
    Net income (loss)$(19,729) $(49,993) $31,945  $35,288 
    General Partners' interest in net income (loss) (180)  (445)  288   281 
    Limited Partners' interest in net income (loss)$(19,549) $(49,548) $31,657  $35,007 
            
            
    Per unit data (Basic and Diluted):       
    Net income (loss) available to limited partners$(0.55) $(1.36) $0.89  $0.94 
    Dilutive impact of theoretical distribution of earnings -   -   0.08   0.09 
    Basic and diluted income (loss) per Limited Partner Unit:$(0.55) $(1.36) $0.81  $0.85 
            
    Weighted average number of Limited Partner units outstanding (Basic and Diluted) 35,603   36,332   35,694   37,384 
            



    SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION
    STAR GROUP, L.P. AND SUBSIDIARIES

    RECONCILIATION OF EBITDA AND ADJUSTED EBITDA
    (Unaudited)
     
     Three Months
    Ended September 30,
    (in thousands) 2023   2022 
    Net loss$(19,729) $(49,993)
    Plus:   
    Income tax benefit (6,442)  (21,234)
    Amortization of debt issuance costs 252   257 
    Interest expense, net 2,930   3,050 
    Depreciation and amortization 9,203   8,002 
    EBITDA (13,786)  (59,918)
    (Increase) / decrease in the fair value of derivative instruments (17,645)  29,167 
    Adjusted EBITDA (31,431)  (30,751)
    Add / (subtract)   
    Income tax benefit 6,442   21,234 
    Interest expense, net (2,930)  (3,050)
    Provision for losses on accounts receivable 1,251   147 
    Decrease in accounts receivables 24,106   49,141 
    Increase in inventories (2,757)  (1,133)
    Increase in customer credit balances 33,070   44,301 
    Change in deferred taxes 9,783   (11,018)
    Change in other operating assets and liabilities (16,591)  (3,531)
    Net cash provided by operating activities$20,943  $65,340 
    Net cash used in investing activities$(22,617) $(7,856)
    Net cash used in financing activities$(10,281) $(51,828)
        
        
    Home heating oil and propane gallons sold 18,800   19,400 
    Other petroleum products 34,300   36,400 
    Total all products 53,100   55,800 
        



    SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION
    STAR GROUP, L.P. AND SUBSIDIARIES

    RECONCILIATION OF EBITDA AND ADJUSTED EBITDA
    (Unaudited)
     
     Twelve Months
    Ended September 30,
    (in thousands) 2023   2022 
    Net income$31,945  $35,288 
    Plus:   
    Income tax expense 13,984   13,738 
    Amortization of debt issuance costs 1,084   955 
    Interest expense, net 15,532   10,472 
    Depreciation and amortization 32,350   32,598 
    EBITDA 94,895   93,051 
    (Increase) / decrease in the fair value of derivative instruments 1,977   17,286 
    Adjusted EBITDA 96,872   110,337 
    Add / (subtract)   
    Income tax expense (13,984)  (13,738)
    Interest expense, net (15,532)  (10,472)
    Provision for losses on accounts receivable 9,761   5,411 
    Decrease (increase) in accounts receivables 15,566   (43,463)
    Decrease (increase) in inventories 26,994   (21,105)
    Increase in customer credit balances 17,585   5,804 
    Change in deferred taxes (501)  (3,181)
    Change in other operating assets and liabilities (13,103)  4,314 
    Net cash provided by operating activities$123,658  $33,907 
    Net cash used in investing activities$(28,197) $(32,626)
    Net cash (used in) provided by financing activities$(64,890) $8,572 
        
        
    Home heating oil and propane gallons sold 259,200   296,100 
    Other petroleum products 139,000   150,100 
    Total all products 398,200   446,200 
        


    CONTACT:
    Star Group, L.P. 
    Investor Relations
    203/328-7310
    Chris Witty
    Darrow Associates
    646/438-9385 or cwitty@darrowir.com


    Source: Star Group, L.P.


    Primary Logo

Share on,