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Star Group, L.P. Reports Fiscal 2024 Second Quarter Results

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Star Group, L.P. reported a 9.7% decrease in revenue for the fiscal 2024 Q2 due to lower volume and selling prices. Net income increased by $6.3 million, with Adjusted EBITDA at $96.3 million. The company's net income rose by $5.8 million for the first six months of fiscal 2024 despite a 13.8% revenue decrease.

Star Group, L.P. ha riportato una diminuzione del 9,7% dei ricavi nel secondo trimestre del 2024 fiscale a causa di volumi e prezzi di vendita inferiori. Il reddito netto è aumentato di 6,3 milioni di dollari, con un EBITDA rettificato di 96,3 milioni di dollari. Il reddito netto della società è aumentato di 5,8 milioni di dollari nei primi sei mesi del 2024 fiscale, nonostante una diminuzione del 13,8% dei ricavi.
Star Group, L.P. reportó una disminución del 9.7% en ingresos para el segundo trimestre fiscal del 2024 debido a menor volumen y precios de venta. El ingreso neto aumentó en $6.3 millones, con un EBITDA ajustado de $96.3 millones. El ingreso neto de la compañía subió $5.8 millones durante los primeros seis meses del fiscal 2024 a pesar de una disminución del 13.8% en ingresos.
스타 그룹, L.P.는 2024 회계년도 2분기에 판매량과 가격이 하락하여 수익이 9.7% 감소했습니다. 순수익은 630만 달러 증가했으며, 조정된 EBITDA는 9630만 달러를 기록했습니다. 2024 회계년도 첫 6개월 동안 회사의 순수익은 수익이 13.8% 감소에도 불구하고 580만 달러 증가했습니다.
Star Group, L.P. a rapporté une baisse de 9,7% de son chiffre d'affaires pour le deuxième trimestre fiscal de 2024 en raison d'une baisse des volumes et des prix de vente. Le bénéfice net a augmenté de 6,3 millions de dollars, avec un EBITDA ajusté de 96,3 millions de dollars. Le bénéfice net de l'entreprise a augmenté de 5,8 millions de dollars pour les six premiers mois de l'exercice 2024 malgré une baisse de 13,8% du chiffre d'affaires.
Star Group, L.P. verzeichnete im zweiten Quartal des Geschäftsjahres 2024 einen Rückgang der Umsatzerlöse um 9,7%, bedingt durch niedrigere Absatzmengen und Verkaufspreise. Der Nettogewinn stieg um 6,3 Millionen Dollar, mit einem bereinigten EBITDA von 96,3 Millionen Dollar. Der Nettogewinn des Unternehmens stieg in den ersten sechs Monaten des Geschäftsjahres 2024 um 5,8 Millionen Dollar, trotz eines Umsatzrückgangs von 13,8%.
Positive
  • Net income increased by $6.3 million in the fiscal 2024 Q2.

  • The company reported an Adjusted EBITDA of $96.3 million for the fiscal 2024 Q2.

  • Star Group's net income rose by $5.8 million for the first six months of fiscal 2024.

Negative
  • Total revenue decreased by 9.7% for the fiscal 2024 Q2.

  • Revenue declined by 13.8% for the first six months of fiscal 2024.

  • A 4.0 million gallon decrease in volume sold impacted Adjusted EBITDA for the fiscal 2024 Q2.

Insights

Star Group's fiscal 2024 second quarter report shows a complex financial landscape. While total revenue declined by 9.7%, due to a decrease in volume sold and lower selling prices for petroleum products, the company managed to increase its net income by $6.3 million. The key drivers behind this income increase appear to be a favorable change in the fair value of derivative instruments and a decrease in interest expenses. This juxtaposition of declining revenue but increased net income is indicative of effective cost management strategies, such as improved per-gallon margins and expense control, which could be seen as a positive indicator of the company's operational efficiency. The reduction in Adjusted EBITDA is a concern, however, as it suggests that despite higher margins, the company is not necessarily more profitable on an operational basis and investors should be wary of potential ongoing inflationary pressures. The role of weather conditions – a colder period that did not significantly boost delivery volumes – reflects the sensitivity of Star’s business to external factors, which adds an element of unpredictability to future performance.

The reported reduction in volume sold by Star Group must be contextualized within the broader energy market dynamics. The decrease in selling prices for petroleum products tracks with a global trend of fluctuating oil prices, influenced by geopolitical tensions, supply chain disruptions and shifting energy policies. The decline in wholesale product costs by $0.3775 per gallon is a reflection of these market conditions. The company's strategic acquisitions and measures to contain net customer attrition demonstrate a proactive approach to maintaining market share. However, investors should consider the long-term stability of demand for home heating oil and propane, especially as alternative energy sources become more viable and consumer preferences evolve. The influence of weather patterns on consumption is a recurring risk factor and the increasing unpredictability of weather due to climate change could have a material impact on future sales volumes.

STAMFORD, Conn., May 01, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Star Group, L.P. (the “Company” or “Star”) (NYSE:SGU), a home energy distributor and services provider, today announced financial results for its fiscal 2024 second quarter, the three month period ended March 31, 2024.

Three Months Ended March 31, 2024 Compared to the Three Months Ended March 31, 2023
For the fiscal 2024 second quarter, Star reported a 9.7 percent decrease in total revenue to $666.0 million compared with $737.6 million in the prior-year period, reflecting a decline in volume sold and lower selling prices for petroleum products. The volume of home heating oil and propane sold during the fiscal 2024 second quarter decreased by 4.0 million gallons, or 3.3 percent, to 117.1 million gallons, as the additional volume provided from acquisitions and colder weather was more than offset by the impact of net customer attrition and other factors. Temperatures in Star’s geographic areas of operation for the three months ended March 31, 2024 were 6.9 percent colder than the three months ended March 31, 2023 but 15.2 percent warmer than normal, as reported by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Selling prices decreased largely due to a decline in wholesale product cost of $0.3775 per gallon, or 12.5 percent.

Star’s net income increased by $6.3 million in the quarter, to $68.4 million, as a favorable change in the fair value of derivative instruments of $14.8 million and a $1.2 million decrease in interest expense was only partially offset by a $5.8 million reduction in Adjusted EBITDA and a $3.6 million increase in income tax expense.

The Company reported second quarter Adjusted EBITDA (a non-GAAP measure defined below) of $96.3 million, versus $102.2 million in fiscal 2023, as higher home heating oil and propane per-gallon margins were more than offset by a 4.0 million gallon decrease in the volume of home heating oil and propane sold and a $6.4 million reduction in the Company’s weather hedge benefit compared to the prior year.

“Temperatures in the second quarter were 15.2 percent warmer than normal throughout Star’s footprint. While slightly colder than the same period last year, it was unfortunately not enough to drive higher delivery volumes. However, we were able to mute the impact on adjusted EBITDA, even with a lower weather hedge benefit and some ongoing inflationary pressures, by improving per gallon margins and employing solid expense control,” said Jeff Woosnam, Star Group’s President and Chief Executive Officer. “As previously noted, we closed on two strategic acquisitions in February on Long Island, and we were able to keep net customer attrition at modest levels during the quarter. We believe we are well prepared for the months ahead and the opportunities summer brings to further invest in our people and business development activity.”

Six Months Ended March 31, 2024 Compared to the Six Months Ended March 31, 2023
For the six months ended March 31, 2024, Star reported a 13.8 percent decrease in total revenue to $1.2 billion compared with $1.4 billion in the prior-year period, reflecting a decrease in total volume sold and a decline in selling prices in response to lower wholesale product costs. The volume of home heating oil and propane sold during the first six months of fiscal 2024 decreased by 13.0 million gallons, or 6.2 percent, to 197.3 million gallons as the additional volume provided from acquisitions was more than offset by slightly warmer temperatures, net customer attrition and other factors. Temperatures in Star’s geographic areas of operation fiscal year-to-date were 0.2 percent warmer than during the prior-year period and 14.7 percent warmer than normal, as reported by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

Star’s net income increased by $5.8 million for the first six months of fiscal 2024, to $81.4 million, primarily due to a favorable change in the fair value of derivative instruments of $13.4 million and a $2.1 million decrease in interest expense, partially offset by a $5.9 million reduction in Adjusted EBITDA, a $3.3 million higher income tax provision, and a $0.7 million increase in depreciation and amortization expense. 

Year-to-date Adjusted EBITDA decreased by $5.9 million, to $145.4 million, compared to the prior-year period as an increase in home heating oil and propane per-gallon margins and an increase in service and installation profitability was more than offset by the 13.0 million gallon decrease in home heating oil and propane volumes and a $5.0 million reduction in the Company’s weather hedge benefit.

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, May 2, 2024. The webcast will be accessible on the company’s website, at www.stargrouplp.com, and the telephone number for the conference call is 888-346-3470 (or 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
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
 
  March 31, September 30,
(in thousands)  2024   2023 
ASSETS (unaudited)  
Current assets    
Cash and cash equivalents $12,063  $45,191 
Receivables, net of allowance of $8,896 and $8,375, respectively  198,280   114,079 
Inventories  63,293   56,463 
Fair asset value of derivative instruments  222   10,660 
Weather hedge contract receivable  7,498    
Prepaid expenses and other current assets  28,574   28,308 
Total current assets  309,930   254,701 
Property and equipment, net  106,141   105,404 
Operating lease right-of-use assets  87,834   90,643 
Goodwill  268,360   262,103 
Intangibles, net  81,359   76,306 
Restricted cash  250   250 
Captive insurance collateral  72,811   70,717 
Deferred charges and other assets, net  13,067   15,354 
Total assets $939,752  $875,478 
LIABILITIES AND PARTNERS’ CAPITAL    
Current liabilities    
Accounts payable $37,597  $35,609 
Revolving credit facility borrowings  29,239   240 
Fair liability value of derivative instruments  2,189   118 
Current maturities of long-term debt  16,500   20,500 
Current portion of operating lease liabilities  18,030   18,085 
Accrued expenses and other current liabilities  147,796   115,606 
Unearned service contract revenue  72,900   63,215 
Customer credit balances  51,276   111,508 
Total current liabilities  375,527   364,881 
Long-term debt  119,189   127,327 
Long-term operating lease liabilities  74,615   77,600 
Deferred tax liabilities, net  23,207   25,771 
Other long-term liabilities  16,079   16,175 
Partners’ capital    
Common unitholders  348,382   281,862 
General partner  (4,544)  (4,615)
Accumulated other comprehensive loss, net of taxes  (12,703)  (13,523)
Total partners’ capital  331,135   263,724 
Total liabilities and partners’ capital $939,752  $875,478 


STAR GROUP, L.P. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
 
  Three Months Ended March 31, Six Months Ended March 31,
(in thousands, except per unit data – unaudited)  2024   2023   2024   2023 
         
Sales:        
Product $595,298  $669,212  $1,043,848  $1,239,141 
Installations and services  70,734   68,405   150,280   146,663 
Total sales  666,032   737,617   1,194,128   1,385,804 
Cost and expenses:        
Cost of product  389,394   466,267   692,732   885,360 
Cost of installations and services  70,592   68,311   145,699   144,854 
(Increase) decrease in the fair value of derivative instruments  (11,752)  3,022   7,278   20,658 
Delivery and branch expenses  104,085   95,942   198,449   193,878 
Depreciation and amortization expenses  7,748   7,626   16,134   15,463 
General and administrative expenses  6,887   6,698   13,908   13,554 
Finance charge income  (1,253)  (1,764)  (2,024)  (3,083)
Operating income  100,331   91,515   121,952   115,120 
Interest expense, net  (3,838)  (4,963)  (7,056)  (9,237)
Amortization of debt issuance costs  (249)  (258)  (499)  (587)
Income before income taxes  96,244   86,294   114,397   105,296 
Income tax expense  27,870   24,253   33,044   29,716 
Net income $68,374  $62,041  $81,353  $75,580 
General Partner’s interest in net income  620   562   738   684 
Limited Partners’ interest in net income $67,754  $61,479  $80,615  $74,896 
         
         
Per unit data (Basic and Diluted):        
Net income available to limited partners $1.91  $1.72  $2.27  $2.09 
Dilutive impact of theoretical distribution of earnings  0.35   0.30   0.39   0.35 
Basic and diluted income per Limited Partner Unit: $1.56  $1.42  $1.88  $1.74 
         
Weighted average number of Limited Partner units outstanding (Basic and Diluted)  35,549   35,653   35,571   35,786 


SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION
STAR GROUP, L.P. AND SUBSIDIARIES
 
RECONCILIATION OF EBITDA AND ADJUSTED EBITDA
(Unaudited)
 
  Three Months Ended March 31,
(in thousands)  2024   2023 
Net income $68,374  $62,041 
Plus:    
Income tax expense  27,870   24,253 
Amortization of debt issuance costs  249   258 
Interest expense, net  3,838   4,963 
Depreciation and amortization  7,748   7,626 
EBITDA  108,079   99,141 
(Increase) / decrease in the fair value of derivative instruments  (11,752)  3,022 
Adjusted EBITDA  96,327   102,163 
Add / (subtract)    
Income tax expense  (27,870)  (24,253)
Interest expense, net  (3,838)  (4,963)
Provision for losses on accounts receivable  3,023   3,722 
Increase in accounts receivables  (14,119)  (9,600)
Decrease in inventories  21,332   40,326 
Decrease in customer credit balances  (39,763)  (27,068)
Change in deferred taxes  (1,165)  (11,155)
Change in other operating assets and liabilities  21,202   9,736 
Net cash provided by operating activities $55,129  $78,908 
Net cash used in investing activities $(23,342) $(2,013)
Net cash used in financing activities $(39,649) $(77,401)
     
     
Home heating oil and propane gallons sold  117,100   121,100 
Other petroleum products  30,200   33,200 
Total all products  147,300   154,300 


SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION
STAR GROUP, L.P. AND SUBSIDIARIES
 
RECONCILIATION OF EBITDA AND ADJUSTED EBITDA
(Unaudited)
 
  Six Months Ended March 31,
(in thousands)  2024   2023 
Net income $81,353  $75,580 
Plus:    
Income tax expense  33,044   29,716 
Amortization of debt issuance costs  499   587 
Interest expense, net  7,056   9,237 
Depreciation and amortization  16,134   15,463 
EBITDA  138,086   130,583 
(Increase) / decrease in the fair value of derivative instruments  7,278   20,658 
Adjusted EBITDA  145,364   151,241 
Add / (subtract)    
Income tax expense  (33,044)  (29,716)
Interest expense, net  (7,056)  (9,237)
Provision for losses on accounts receivable  3,672   4,768 
Increase in accounts receivables  (87,709)  (124,764)
(Increase) decrease in inventories  (5,473)  11,609 
Decrease in customer credit balances  (61,615)  (41,768)
Change in deferred taxes  (2,756)  (12,379)
Change in other operating assets and liabilities  43,438   36,413 
Net cash used in operating activities $(5,179) $(13,833)
Net cash used in investing activities $(29,217) $(4,099)
Net cash provided by financing activities $1,268  $25,397 
     
     
Home heating oil and propane gallons sold  197,300   210,300 
Other petroleum products  62,500   68,800 
Total all products  259,800   279,100 


CONTACT: 
Star Group, L.P.Chris Witty
Investor RelationsDarrow Associates
203/328-7310646/438-9385 or cwitty@darrowir.com

FAQ

What was the revenue decline for Star Group in the fiscal 2024 Q2?

Star Group reported a 9.7% decrease in revenue for the fiscal 2024 Q2.

What was the net income increase for Star Group in the fiscal 2024 Q2?

Star Group's net income increased by $6.3 million in the fiscal 2024 Q2.

What was Star Group's Adjusted EBITDA for the fiscal 2024 Q2?

Star Group reported an Adjusted EBITDA of $96.3 million for the fiscal 2024 Q2.

How did Star Group's revenue change in the first six months of fiscal 2024?

Star Group's revenue declined by 13.8% in the first six months of fiscal 2024.

What impacted Star Group's Adjusted EBITDA in the fiscal 2024 Q2?

A 4.0 million gallon decrease in volume sold impacted Adjusted EBITDA for the fiscal 2024 Q2.

Star Group, L.P. Common Units Representing Limited Partner Interest

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