USA Compression Partners, LP USAC reported fourth-quarter 2023 adjusted net profit of 10 cents per common unit, which lagged the Zacks Consensus Estimate of 12 cents due to higher total costs and other expenses. However, the metric improved significantly from the year-ago quarter's adjusted net loss of 4 cents per share. This was backed by a net income worth $12.8 million compared with $8.4 million a year ago.

Revenues of $225 million were up 18.4% from the year-ago quarter’s level and beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $222 million.

Adjusted EBITDA increased 22.7% to $138.6 million and came ahead of our estimate of $131.7 million. Distributable cash flow increased from $60.6 million in the prior-year quarter to $79.9 million.

USAC reported operating cash flow of $91.6 million in the fourth quarter, up from the prior-year quarter’s $82.1 million. Gross operating margin of 67.5% marked an increase from the year-ago period’s 65.3%.

The company’s revenue-generating capacity increased 7.6% to 3.41 million horsepower year over year. However, the figure was lower than our estimate of 3.44 million horsepower. Further, the average monthly revenue per horsepower rose to $19.52 from $17.81 in the fourth quarter of 2022.

Meanwhile, USA Compression’s average quarterly horsepower utilization rate came in at 94.1%, up from 91.3% a year ago.

USA Compression Partners, LP Price, Consensus and EPS Surprise

USA Compression Partners, LP price-consensus-eps-surprise-chart | USA Compression Partners, LP Quote

DCF, Cost, Capex & Balance Sheet

USAC’s distributable cash flow available to limited partners totaled $79.9 million (providing 1.48x distribution coverage), up 31.8% from the year-ago level.

Notably, on Jan 11, it announced fourth-quarter cash distribution of 52.50 cents per unit ($2.10 on an annualized basis). The distribution was paid on Feb 2, 2024, to common unitholders of record as of Jan 23, 2024.

It reported $156.5 million in costs and expenses, up 9.1% from the year-ago quarter’s $143.4 million.

It spent $90.1 million on growth capex. Maintenance capex amounted to $6.6 million.

As of Dec 31, 2023, USA Compression had a net long-term debt of $2.3 billion.

Guidance

For 2024, USAC anticipates distributable cash flow in the $310-$330 million range. Management expects adjusted EBITDA in the band of $555-$575 million.

The company also anticipates 2024 net income in the $95-$115 million range.

Zacks Rank and Other Key Picks

Currently, USAC carries a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy).

Investors interested in the energy sector might look at some other top-ranked stocks like Subsea 7 S.A. SUBCY and Energy Transfer LP ET, both sporting a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy), and Repsol, S.A. REPYY, carrying a Zacks Rank #2 at present. You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.