PORTSMOUTH, N.H., Nov. 07, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Sprague Resources LP ("Sprague") SRLP today reported its financial results for the third quarter ended September 30, 2018.
Third Quarter 2018 Highlights
- Net sales were $618.5 million for the third quarter of 2018, compared to net sales of $491.4 million for the third quarter of 2017.
- GAAP net loss was $18.4 million for the third quarter of 2018, compared to net loss of $14.3 million for the third quarter of 2017.
- Adjusted gross margin(1) was $46.1 million for the third quarter of 2018, compared to adjusted gross margin of $48.5 million for the third quarter of 2017.
- Adjusted EBITDA(1) was $8.6 million for the third quarter of 2018, compared to adjusted EBITDA of $14.8 million for the third quarter of 2017.
"Challenging market conditions in Refined Products limited our traditional purchasing opportunities in the quarter and, combined with increased interest costs, led to lower coverage," said Mr. David Glendon, President and Chief Executive Officer. "While these headwinds are expected to persist for the remainder of 2018, we continue to see compelling growth prospects in our business and look forward to providing additional detail on our earnings conference call and webcast."
Refined Products
- Volumes in the Refined Products segment decreased 2% to 246.7 million gallons in the third quarter of 2018, compared to 251.5 million gallons in the third quarter of 2017.
- Adjusted gross margin in the Refined Products segment decreased $5.4 million, or 17%, to $26.6 million in the third quarter of 2018, compared to $32.0 million in the third quarter of 2017.
"The convergence of sulfur specifications in the Northeast heating oil markets limited blending opportunities and a less attractive distillate market to purchase and store inventory also affected results," said Mr. Glendon. "This decline was partially offset by increased volume in diesel and gasoline sales."
Natural Gas
- Natural Gas segment volumes decreased 2% to 10.7 million Bcf in the third quarter of 2018, compared to 11.0 million Bcf in the third quarter of 2017.
- Natural Gas adjusted gross margin decreased $0.2 million, or 6%, to $3.0 million for the third quarter of 2018, compared to $3.2 million for the third quarter of 2017.
"Natural Gas performance was in line with our expectations and prior year results," added Mr. Glendon.
Materials Handling
- Materials Handling adjusted gross margin increased by $3.3 million, or 29%, to $14.7 million for the third quarter of 2018, compared to $11.4 million for the third quarter of 2017.
"Materials Handling adjusted gross margin increased due to the transition of Kildair's asphalt marketing business to a storage and service contract," said Mr. Glendon. "We also saw increased asphalt activity at our Providence, RI and Newington, NH facilities following last year's capital investments."
2018 Guidance
Sprague is confirming fiscal year 2018 guidance provided in our press release dated August 8, 2018, with the exception of the following:
- Adjusted EBITDA is expected to be in the range of $110 million to $120 million.
- It is anticipated that selling, general and administrative expenses will be in the range of $81 million to $86 million.
- Maintenance capex is anticipated to be between $11 million and $14 million.
- Sprague expects to maintain the fourth quarter 2018 distribution at the current distribution level.
- The distribution coverage ratio(1) for full-year 2018 is expected to be slightly below 1.0x.
Quarterly Distribution
On October 26, 2018, the Board of Directors of Sprague's general partner, Sprague Resources GP LLC, announced a cash distribution of $0.6675 per unit for the quarter ended September 30, 2018, representing a 7% increase over the distribution declared for the quarter ended September 30, 2017. The distribution will be paid on November 13, 2018, to unitholders of record as of the close of business on November 6, 2018.
Financial Results Conference Call
Management will review Sprague's third quarter 2018 financial results in a teleconference call for analysts and investors today, November 7, 2018.
| Date and Time: | November 7, 2018 at 1:00 PM ET |
| Dial-in numbers: | (866) 516-2130 (U.S. and Canada) |
| (678) 509-7612 (International) | |
| Participation Code: | 6157579 |
The conference call may also be accessed live by a webcast available on the "Investor Relations - Calendar of Events" page of Sprague's website at www.spragueenergy.com and will be archived on the website for one year.
About Sprague Resources LP
Sprague Resources LP is a master limited partnership engaged in the purchase, storage, distribution and sale of refined petroleum products and natural gas. Sprague also provides storage and handling services for a broad range of materials.
Non-GAAP Financial Measures
EBITDA, adjusted EBITDA, adjusted gross margin, and distribution coverage ratio are measures not defined by GAAP. Sprague defines EBITDA as net income (loss) before interest, income taxes, depreciation and amortization.
We define adjusted EBITDA as EBITDA increased for unrealized hedging losses and decreased by unrealized hedging gains (in each case with respect to refined products and natural gas inventory, prepaid forward contracts and natural gas transportation contracts), changes in fair value of contingent consideration, the net impact of biofuel excise tax credits in 2017 and 2013, and commencing in the fourth quarter of 2017, adjusted for the impact of acquisition related expenses. Accordingly, adjusted EBITDA for prior periods have been revised to conform to the current presentation.
We define adjusted gross margin as net sales less cost of products sold (exclusive of depreciation and amortization) decreased by total commodity derivative gains and losses included in net income (loss) and increased by realized commodity derivative gains and losses included in net income (loss), in each case with respect to refined products and natural gas inventory, prepaid forward contracts and natural gas transportation contracts. Adjusted gross margin has no impact on reported volumes or net sales.
To manage Sprague's underlying performance, including its physical and derivative positions, management utilizes adjusted gross margin. Adjusted gross margin is also used by external users of our consolidated financial statements to assess our economic results of operations and its commodity market value reporting to lenders. EBITDA and adjusted EBITDA are used as supplemental financial measures by external users of our financial statements, such as investors, trade suppliers, research analysts and commercial banks to assess the financial performance of our assets, operations and return on capital without regard to financing methods, capital structure or historical cost basis; the ability of our assets to generate sufficient revenue, that when rendered to cash, will be available to pay interest on our indebtedness and make distributions to our equity holders; repeatable operating performance that is not distorted by non-recurring items or market volatility; and, the viability of acquisitions and capital expenditure projects.
Sprague defines the distribution coverage ratio as the ratio of distributable cash flow to the quarterly or annual distribution payable on all outstanding common and subordinated units and incentive distributions. Sprague believes that the distribution coverage ratio provides important information relating to the relationship between Sprague's financial operating performance and its cash distribution capability.
Sprague believes that investors benefit from having access to the same financial measures that are used by its management and that these measures are useful to investors because they aid in comparing its operating performance with that of other companies with similar operations. The adjusted EBITDA and adjusted gross margin and other data presented by Sprague may not be comparable to similarly titled measures at other companies because these items may be defined differently by other companies. Please see the attached reconciliations of net income to adjusted EBITDA and operating income to adjusted gross margin.
With regard to guidance, reconciliation of non-GAAP adjusted EBITDA or the distribution coverage ratio to the closest corresponding GAAP measure (expected net income (loss)) is not available without unreasonable efforts on a forward-looking basis due to the inherent difficulty and impracticality of forecasting certain amounts required by GAAP such as unrealized gains and losses on derivative hedges, which can have a significant and potentially unpredictable impact on our future GAAP financial results.
Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward Looking Statements
This press release includes forward looking statements regarding future expectations, plans, beliefs, goals and prospects for Sprague Resources LP. Sprague's statements regarding future expectations, plans, beliefs, goals, or prospects, constitute forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. Any statements that are not statements of historical fact (including statements containing the words "believes," "plans," "anticipates," "expects," "estimates" and similar expressions) should also be considered forward-looking statements. You are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date of this press release. These forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties and other factors that are difficult to predict and many of which are beyond management's control. Although Sprague believes that the assumptions underlying these statements are reasonable, investors are cautioned that such forward-looking statements are inherently uncertain and involve risks that may affect our business prospects and performance causing actual results to differ from those discussed in the foregoing release. Such risks and uncertainties include, by way of example and not of limitation: increased competition for our products or services; adverse weather conditions; changes in supply or demand for our products or services; nonperformance by major customers or suppliers; changes in operating conditions and costs; changes in the level of environmental remediation spending; potential equipment malfunction and unexpected capital expenditures; our ability to complete organic growth and acquisition projects; our ability to integrate acquired assets; potential labor issues; the legislative or regulatory environment; terminal construction/repair delays; political and economic conditions; and, the impact of security risks including terrorism, international hostilities and cyber-risk. These are not all of the important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed in forward looking statements. Other applicable risks and uncertainties have been described more fully in Sprague's most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC") on March 14, 2018 and in the Partnership's subsequent Form 10-Q, Form 8-K and other documents filed with the SEC. Sprague undertakes no obligation and does not intend to update any forward-looking statements to reflect new information or future events. Actual results may differ materially from those described in the forward-looking statements.
(Financial Tables Below)
Sprague Resources LP
Summary Financial Data
| Three Months Ended September 30, | Nine Months Ended September 30, | ||||||||||||||
| 2018 | 2017 | 2018 | 2017 | ||||||||||||
| (unaudited) | (unaudited) | (unaudited) | (unaudited) | ||||||||||||
| ($ in thousands) | |||||||||||||||
| Statements of Operations Data: | |||||||||||||||
| Net sales | $ | 618,455 | $ | 491,393 | $ | 2,691,259 | $ | 1,922,826 | |||||||
| Operating costs and expenses: | |||||||||||||||
| Cost of products sold (exclusive of depreciation and amortization) | 581,624 | 456,656 | 2,462,279 | 1,720,860 | |||||||||||
| Operating expenses | 21,047 | 16,891 | 66,537 | 50,624 | |||||||||||
| Selling, general and administrative | 16,923 | 17,559 | 63,349 | 63,472 | |||||||||||
| Depreciation and amortization | 8,343 | 6,655 | 25,146 | 19,537 | |||||||||||
| Total operating costs and expenses | 627,937 | 497,761 | 2,617,311 | 1,854,493 | |||||||||||
| Operating (loss) income | (9,482 | ) | (6,368 | ) | 73,948 | 68,333 | |||||||||
| Other income | 293 | — | 293 | 183 | |||||||||||
| Interest income | 123 | 75 | 404 | 247 | |||||||||||
| Interest expense | (9,073 | ) | (7,170 | ) | (28,369 | ) | (22,604 | ) | |||||||
| (Loss) income before income taxes | (18,139 | ) | (13,463 | ) | 46,276 | 46,159 | |||||||||
| Income tax provision | (295 | ) | (853 | ) | (2,984 | ) | (3,768 | ) | |||||||
| Net (loss) income | (18,434 | ) | (14,316 | ) | 43,292 | 42,391 | |||||||||
| Incentive distributions declared | (2,055 | ) | (1,024 | ) | (5,824 | ) | (2,620 | ) | |||||||
| Limited partners' interest in net (loss) income | $ | (20,489 | ) | $ | (15,340 | ) | $ | 37,468 | $ | 39,771 | |||||
| Net (loss) income per limited partner unit: | |||||||||||||||
| Common - basic | $ | (0.90 | ) | $ | (0.68 | ) | $ | 1.65 | $ | 1.80 | |||||
| Common - diluted | $ | (0.90 | ) | $ | (0.68 | ) | $ | 1.65 | $ | 1.78 | |||||
| Units used to compute net (loss) income per limited partner unit: | |||||||||||||||
| Common - basic | 22,727,284 | 22,543,527 | 22,726,645 | 22,093,578 | |||||||||||
| Common - diluted | 22,727,284 | 22,543,527 | 22,766,725 | 22,368,432 | |||||||||||
| Distribution declared per unit | $ | 0.6675 | $ | 0.6225 | $ | 1.9875 | $ | 1.8225 | |||||||
Sprague Resources LP
Volume, Net Sales and Adjusted Gross Margin by Segment
| Three Months Ended September 30, | Nine Months Ended September 30, | ||||||||||||||
| 2018 | 2017 | 2018 | 2017 | ||||||||||||
| (unaudited) | (unaudited) | (unaudited) | (unaudited) | ||||||||||||
| ($ and volumes in thousands) | |||||||||||||||
| Volumes: | |||||||||||||||
| Refined products (gallons) | 246,666 | 251,496 | 1,127,154 | 994,518 | |||||||||||
| Natural gas (MMBtus) | 10,705 | 10,963 | 43,287 | 44,677 | |||||||||||
| Materials handling (short tons) | 735 | 603 | 2,105 | 1,879 | |||||||||||
| Materials handling (gallons) | 137,928 | 74,214 | 335,538 | 301,896 | |||||||||||
| Net Sales: | |||||||||||||||
| Refined products | $ | 551,489 | $ | 425,492 | $ | 2,396,374 | $ | 1,638,066 | |||||||
| Natural gas | 46,908 | 49,694 | 235,263 | 235,068 | |||||||||||
| Materials handling | 14,711 | 11,395 | 42,077 | 34,118 | |||||||||||
| Other operations | 5,347 | 4,812 | 17,545 | 15,574 | |||||||||||
| Total net sales | $ | 618,455 | $ | 491,393 | $ | 2,691,259 | $ | 1,922,826 | |||||||
| Reconciliation of Operating (Loss) Income to Adjusted Gross Margin: | |||||||||||||||
| Operating (loss) income | $ | (9,482 | ) | $ | (6,368 | ) | $ | 73,948 | $ | 68,333 | |||||
| Operating costs and expenses not allocated to operating segments: | |||||||||||||||
| Operating expenses | 21,047 | 16,891 | 66,537 | 50,624 | |||||||||||
| Selling, general and administrative | 16,923 | 17,559 | 63,349 | 63,472 | |||||||||||
| Depreciation and amortization | 8,343 | 6,655 | 25,146 | 19,537 | |||||||||||
| Add/(deduct): | |||||||||||||||
| Unrealized gain (loss) on inventory | 3,281 | 13,673 | (19,309 | ) | (15,374 | ) | |||||||||
| Unrealized (loss) on prepaid forward contract | — | (667 | ) | — | (907 | ) | |||||||||
| Unrealized gain (loss) on natural gas transportation contracts | 5,939 | 760 | (4,413 | ) | (6,105 | ) | |||||||||
| Total adjusted gross margin: | $ | 46,051 | $ | 48,503 | $ | 205,258 | $ | 179,580 | |||||||
| Adjusted Gross Margin: | |||||||||||||||
| Refined products | $ | 26,646 | $ | 32,014 | $ | 111,652 | $ | 95,307 | |||||||
| Natural gas | 3,007 | 3,197 | 46,010 | 44,355 | |||||||||||
| Materials handling | 14,683 | 11,395 | 42,100 | 34,118 | |||||||||||
| Other operations | 1,715 | 1,897 | 5,496 | 5,800 | |||||||||||
| Total adjusted gross margin | $ | 46,051 | $ | 48,503 | $ | 205,258 | $ | 179,580 | |||||||
Sprague Resources LP
Reconciliation of Net Income to Non-GAAP Measures
| Three Months Ended September 30, | Nine Months Ended September 30, | ||||||||||||||
| 2018 | 2017 | 2018 | 2017 | ||||||||||||
| (unaudited) | (unaudited) | (unaudited) | (unaudited) | ||||||||||||
| ($ in thousands) | |||||||||||||||
| Reconciliation of net (loss) income to EBITDA, Adjusted EBITDA and Distributable Cash Flow: | |||||||||||||||
| Net (loss) income | $ | (18,434 | ) | $ | (14,316 | ) | $ | 43,292 | $ | 42,391 | |||||
| Add/(deduct): | |||||||||||||||
| Interest expense, net | 8,950 | 7,095 | 27,965 | 22,357 | |||||||||||
| Tax provision | 295 | 853 | 2,984 | 3,768 | |||||||||||
| Depreciation and amortization | 8,343 | 6,655 | 25,146 | 19,537 | |||||||||||
| EBITDA | $ | (846 | ) | $ | 287 | $ | 99,387 | $ | 88,053 | ||||||
| Add/(deduct): | |||||||||||||||
| Unrealized gain (loss) on inventory | 3,281 | 13,673 | (19,309 | ) | (15,374 | ) | |||||||||
| Unrealized (loss) on prepaid forward contract | — | (667 | ) | — | (907 | ) | |||||||||
| Unrealized gain (loss) on natural gas transportation contracts | 5,939 | 760 | (4,413 | ) | (6,105 | ) | |||||||||
| Biofuel tax credit | — | — | (4,022 | ) | — | ||||||||||
| Acquisition related expenses (2) | 30 | 722 | 725 | 1,707 | |||||||||||
| Other adjustments (3) | 204 | — | 595 | — | |||||||||||
| Adjusted EBITDA | $ | 8,608 | $ | 14,775 | $ | 72,963 | $ | 67,374 | |||||||
| Add/(deduct): | |||||||||||||||
| Cash interest expense, net | (7,619 | ) | (5,360 | ) | (23,960 | ) | (17,155 | ) | |||||||
| Cash taxes | (973 | ) | (723 | ) | (3,034 | ) | (2,814 | ) | |||||||
| Maintenance capital expenditures | (2,586 | ) | (4,322 | ) | (8,321 | ) | (8,535 | ) | |||||||
| Elimination of expense relating to incentive compensation and directors fees expected to be paid in common units | (335 | ) | (243 | ) | (91 | ) | 1,703 | ||||||||
| Other | (265 | ) | 159 | 39 | 897 | ||||||||||
| Distributable cash flow | $ | (3,170 | ) | $ | 4,286 | $ | 37,596 | $ | 41,470 | ||||||
| (1) | Please refer to Reconciliation of Non-GAAP Measures. | |
| (2) | Beginning in the fourth quarter of 2017, we excluded the impact of acquisition related expenses from our calculation of adjusted EBITDA. We incur expenses in connection with acquisitions and given the nature, variability of amounts, and the fact that these expenses would not have otherwise been incurred as part of our continuing operations, adjusted EBITDA excludes the impact of acquisition related expenses. Adjusted EBITDA for prior periods have been revised to conform to this presentation. | |
| (3) | Represents the change in fair value of contingent consideration related to the 2017 Coen Energy acquisition and other expense. | |
Investor Contact:
Susan Kelly Trahan
+1 800.225.1560
investorrelations@spragueenergy.com
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