Star Group LP (SGU) Q4 2024 Earnings Call Highlights: Strategic Acquisitions and Profit Growth ...

In This Article:

  • Total Revenue: Fell modestly due to slightly lower volumes and selling prices.

  • Adjusted EBITDA: Increased by $14.7 million to $111.6 million for the full year.

  • Home Heating Oil and Propane Volume: Decreased by 6 million gallons or 2% to 253 million gallons for the full year.

  • Product Gross Profit: Increased by $21 million or 5% to $468 million for the full year.

  • Net Service and Installation Gross Profit: Increased by $10 million to $34 million for the full year.

  • Delivery, Branch, and G&A Expenses: Increased by $15 million to $395 million for the full year.

  • Net Income: Rose by $3 million to $35 million for the full year.

  • Net Customer Attrition: 4.2% in fiscal 2024, up slightly year-over-year.

  • Acquisitions: Completed five transactions, adding over 20,000 customers and 23 million gallons of volume annually.

  • Weather Hedge Benefit: $7.5 million in fiscal 2024, compared to $12.5 million in fiscal 2023.

Release Date: December 05, 2024

For the complete transcript of the earnings call, please refer to the full earnings call transcript.

Positive Points

  • Full-year adjusted EBITDA increased by $14.7 million compared to fiscal 2023, driven by higher margins in home heating oil and propane, as well as improved service and installation profitability.

  • Star Group LP completed five acquisitions during fiscal 2024, adding over 20,000 customers and 23 million gallons of heating oil and propane volume annually.

  • The company has an active pipeline of acquisition opportunities and recently completed a credit facility, providing additional liquidity for future acquisitions.

  • Product gross profit increased by $21 million or 5% for the full year, due to higher margins in home heating oil and propane.

  • Net income rose by $3 million to $35 million, supported by an increase in adjusted EBITDA and a decrease in net interest expense.

Negative Points

  • Total revenue fell modestly due to slightly lower volumes and selling prices, impacted by warmer than normal temperatures.

  • Net customer attrition increased slightly to 4.2% in fiscal 2024, influenced by lower real estate activity and lack of major weather events.

  • Home heating oil and propane volume decreased by 6 million gallons or 2% for the full year, despite additional volume from acquisitions.

  • Delivery, branch, and G&A expenses increased by $15 million to $395 million, partly due to recent acquisitions.

  • The company recorded a $5 million increase in expense related to a reduction in the weather hedge benefit compared to fiscal 2023.

Q & A Highlights

Q: What are your expectations for the upcoming heating season based on weather forecasts? A: Jeffrey Woosnam, President and CEO, mentioned that while long-term weather forecasts are unreliable, the first two months of fiscal 2025 have been milder than normal. November was about 20% milder than usual, but December is starting more favorably. They plan for normal conditions without making strong predictions.