Ferrellgas Partners, L.P. Reports Third Quarter Fiscal 2024 Results


LIBERTY, Mo., June 19, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Ferrellgas Partners, L.P. (OTC: FGPR) (“Ferrellgas” or the “Company”) today reported financial results for its third fiscal quarter ended April 30, 2024.

Adjusted EBITDA, a non-GAAP financial measure, decreased by $21.6 million, or 17%, to $104.0 million in the third fiscal quarter compared to $125.6 million in the prior year quarter. The decreases in both Adjusted EBITDA and net earnings attributable to Ferrellgas Partners, L.P. were primarily driven by a $19.6 million decrease in gross profit noted below, which primarily related to warmer than normal weather and $5.0 million related to higher medical claims realized under the company’s self-insured medical plan.

In sharing fiscal third quarter results, Tamria Zertuche, President and Chief Executive Officer of Ferrellgas commented, “Regarding our retail business, we have taken positive steps over the last four years to create balance across the different customers segments in our business. Our focus has been on growing our weather agnostic customer base, by customer type and geographic location. We have made great progress in the areas of Autogas, Tank Exchange, and Industrial Customer segments. However, the extended, unseasonably warm heating season negatively impacted demand volumes attributed to the heating segments of our business. In the areas of the country where we have the most customer density, the weather patterns we experienced were 10% warmer than the prior year quarter. We did see some business closings and the effects of inflation, which contributed to a decrease in retail customers in some areas of our national footprint when compared to the prior year period. We will be able to re-deploy these assets related to closed businesses for gallon growth occurring in future periods. Our experienced operations professionals appropriately responded to the weather anomaly - they managed expenses in all areas of operations, including driving fleet expenses down by over 8% when compared to prior year.” 

The $71.6 million decrease in revenue was partially offset by a decrease of $52.0 million in cost of product as compared to the prior year period. Gross profit decreased by $19.6 million, or 7%, for the third fiscal quarter compared to the prior year period. Gallons sold for the third fiscal quarter of 2024 decreased 24.6 million, or 11%, as the trend of above average temperatures continued for much of the United States.

Margin per gallon for the Company increased 4% for the third fiscal quarter of 2024 compared to the prior year period. The favorable increase was primarily due to segment mix, our Platinum Plus fixed cost program for residential customers and national account pricing improvement.

Operating income per gallon decreased 10% for the third fiscal quarter of fiscal 2024 compared to the prior year period. We recognized net earnings attributable to Ferrellgas Partners, L.P. of $52.8 million and $72.4 million in the third fiscal quarter of fiscal 2024 and 2023, respectively.

As previously announced, on April 9, 2024, the Company made a cash distribution in the aggregate amount of $99.9 million to holders of record of the Class B units as of March 25, 2024. The total distributions paid to date of approximately $250.0 million were discretionary and made possible by the Company’s continued strong performance.

The warmer than normal temperatures and continued focus on strategic initiatives drove a 19% increase during the third fiscal quarter in Blue Rhino’s EBITDA compared to the prior year period. Consumer demand surged as the warmer weather prompted an early kick-off to the grilling season. Additionally, Blue Rhino tank usage increased in areas where the electric grid failed due to the heat. We leveraged our national footprint, supply contacts, and our experienced labor force, executing well against higher-than-normal demand in our tank exchange business.

As grilling season arrives, consumers now have even more convenient options to get a Blue Rhino tank. To date, we have installed over 500 self-service kiosks which allow consumers to purchase a propane cylinder 24 hours a day. Home delivery service is also available in 19 markets with plans to expand. More than 50% of these home delivery purchases are from repeat customers. Additionally, Blue Rhino decreased capital expense by nearly $8.0 million in fiscal year 2024 due to supply chain improvements and inventory turn improvements. Blue Rhino recently onboarded two major accounts which added approximately 5,500 tank exchange selling locations to increase total selling locations to over 68,000, an increase of 12% compared to the prior year period.

Investing in technology is one of our key strategic initiatives. We’ve reduced costs over $1.2 million in fiscal 2024 installing tank monitors. Tank monitoring and telematics technology ensure our customers have a ready supply of propane in addition to improving the efficiency of our delivery efforts. The Company’s new credit processing platform, a seamless payment process for our customers, is on track to deliver annual, recurring savings to the company as our payment processor charges us a lower interchange fee on debit card payments. Work also continues on our previously announced enterprise resource planning system implementation.

As an active member of the National Propane Gas Association (“NPGA”), several key recent regulatory actions benefited us and others in the propane industry. The NPGA successfully led a coalition to oppose the Environmental Protection Agency (“EPA”) proposal to sunset Energy Star labels on all gas appliances. As a result, the EPA instead proposed to increase the efficiency level of the Energy Star certification for residential furnaces. On another front, the NPGA worked with Congress to preserve propane’s inclusion and eligibility for several programs in the Federal Aviation Administration Reauthorization Act, which provides financing to airports to purchase alternative fuel vehicles and propane-powered generators. Additional efforts continue as the NPGA seeks to promote the use of propane and favorable legislation at both the federal and state levels.

On Wednesday, June 19, 2024, the Company will conduct a live teleconference on the Internet at https://edge.media-server.com/mmc/p/kmjvaheb to discuss the results of operations for the third fiscal quarter ended April 30, 2024. The live webcast of the teleconference will begin at 8:30 a.m. Central Time (9:30 a.m. Eastern Time). Questions may be submitted via the investor relations e-mail box at InvestorRelations@ferrellgas.com or through the webcast portal to be answered during live Q&A.

About Ferrellgas

Ferrellgas Partners, L.P., through its operating partnership, Ferrellgas, L.P., and subsidiaries, serves propane customers in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico. Its Blue Rhino propane exchange brand is sold at over 68,000 locations nationwide. Blue Rhino is proudly celebrating its 30th birthday this year with an exclusive sweepstakes, prizes, and more. Ferrellgas employees indirectly own 1.1 million Class A Units of the partnership, through an employee stock ownership plan. Ferrellgas Partners, L.P. filed an Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended July 31, 2023, with the Securities and Exchange Commission on September 29, 2023. Investors can request a hard copy of this filing free of charge and obtain more information about the partnership online at www.ferrellgas.com.

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

Statements included in this release concerning current estimates, expectations, projections about future results, performance, prospects, opportunities, plans, actions and events and other statements, concerns, or matters that are not historical facts are forward-looking statements as defined under federal securities laws. These statements often use words such as “anticipate,” “believe,” “intend,” “plan,” “projection,” “forecast,” “strategy,” “position,” “continue,” “estimate,” “expect,” “may,” “will,” or the negative of those terms or other variations of them or comparable terminology. A variety of known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors could cause results, performance, and expectations to differ materially from anticipated results, performance, and expectations, including the effect of weather conditions on the demand for propane; the prices of wholesale propane, motor fuel and crude oil; disruptions to the supply of propane; competition from other industry participants and other energy sources; energy efficiency and technology advances; significant delays in the collection of accounts or notes receivable; customer, counterparty, supplier or vendor defaults; changes in demand for, and production of, hydrocarbon products; inherent operating and litigation risks in gathering, transporting, handling and storing propane; costs of complying with, or liabilities imposed under, environmental, health and safety laws; the impact of pending and future legal proceedings; the interruption, disruption, failure or malfunction of our information technology systems including due to cyber-attack; economic and political instability, particularly in areas of the world tied to the energy industry, including the ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine; disruptions in the capital and credit markets; and access to available capital to meet our operating and debt-service requirements. These risks, uncertainties, and other factors also include those discussed in the Annual Report on Form 10-K of Ferrellgas Partners, L.P., Ferrellgas, L.P., Ferrellgas Partners Finance Corp., and Ferrellgas Finance Corp. for the fiscal year ended July 31, 2023, and in other documents filed from time to time by these entities with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Given these risks and uncertainties, you are cautioned not to place undue reliance on such forward-looking statements. The forward-looking statements included in this release are made only as of the date hereof. Ferrellgas disclaims any intention or obligation to update publicly or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except to the extent required by law.

FERRELLGAS PARTNERS, L.P. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
(in thousands, except unit data)
 
(unaudited)
       
ASSETS April 30, 2024 July 31, 2023
       
Current assets:      
Cash and cash equivalents (including $10,783 and $11,126 of restricted cash at April 30, 2024 and July 31, 2023, respectively) $73,645  $137,347 
Accounts and notes receivable, net  178,163   159,379 
Inventories  91,275   98,104 
Price risk management asset  5,398   11,966 
Prepaid expenses and other current assets  28,270   29,135 
Total current assets  376,751   435,931 
       
Property, plant and equipment, net  622,524   615,174 
Goodwill, net  257,006   257,006 
Intangible assets (net of accumulated amortization of $356,519 and $349,614 at April 30, 2024 and July 31, 2023, respectively)  114,531   106,615 
Operating lease right-of-use assets  56,040   57,839 
Other assets, net  60,840   58,838 
Total assets $1,487,692  $1,531,403 
       
       
LIABILITIES, MEZZANINE AND EQUITY (DEFICIT)      
       
Current liabilities:      
Accounts payable $47,742  $35,115 
Current portion of long-term debt  2,620   2,597 
Current operating lease liabilities  24,098   24,600 
Other current liabilities  153,945   197,030 
Total current liabilities  228,405   259,342 
       
Long-term debt  1,459,856   1,456,184 
Operating lease liabilities  33,387   34,235 
Other liabilities  28,741   29,084 
       
Contingencies and commitments      
       
Mezzanine equity:      
Senior preferred units, net of issue discount and offering costs (700,000 units outstanding at April 30, 2024 and July 31, 2023)  651,349   651,349 
       
Equity (Deficit):      
Limited partner unitholders      
Class A (4,857,605 Units outstanding at April 30, 2024 and July 31, 2023)  (1,221,021)  (1,205,103)
Class B (1,300,000 Units outstanding at April 30, 2024 and July 31,2023)  383,012   383,012 
General partner Unitholder (49,496 Units outstanding at April 30, 2024 and July 31, 2023)  (69,716)  (70,566)
Accumulated other comprehensive income  1,018   1,059 
Total Ferrellgas Partners, L.P. deficit  (906,707)  (891,598)
Noncontrolling interest  (7,339)  (7,193)
Total deficit  (914,046)  (898,791)
Total liabilities, mezzanine and deficit $1,487,692  $1,531,403 


FERRELLGAS PARTNERS, L.P. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
 
(in thousands, except per unit data)
(unaudited)
                   
  Three months ended  Nine months ended  Twelve months ended
  April 30,  April 30,  April 30, 
  2024  2023  2024  2023  2024  2023 
Revenues:                  
Propane and other gas liquids sales $490,057  $559,047  $1,413,200  $1,596,777  $1,733,315  $1,962,237 
Other  25,717   28,300   83,464   87,802   105,235   109,895 
Total revenues  515,774   587,347   1,496,664   1,684,579   1,838,550   2,072,132 
                   
Cost of sales:                  
Propane and other gas liquids sales  240,281   291,826   690,299   852,399   841,257   1,059,694 
Other  3,195   3,673   11,366   12,692   14,587   14,858 
                   
Gross profit   272,298   291,848   794,999   819,488   982,706   997,580 
                   
Operating expense - personnel, vehicle, plant & other  150,629   147,477   454,913   434,572   597,861   562,757 
Operating expense - equipment lease expense  5,275   5,861   15,994   17,471   21,775   23,078 
Depreciation and amortization expense  25,340   23,753   74,179   69,453   98,096   94,044 
General and administrative expense  13,305   16,213   43,321   54,161   59,898   67,620 
Non-cash employee stock ownership plan compensation charge  880   767   2,500   2,212   3,223   2,946 
Loss on asset sales and disposals  130   958   1,847   2,928   4,610   2,876 
                   
Operating income  76,739   96,819   202,245   238,691   197,243   244,259 
                   
Interest expense  (24,685)  (24,297)  (73,205)  (72,483)  (98,434)  (98,077)
Other income, net  1,324   852   3,509   1,865   4,269   2,292 
                   
Earnings before income tax expense  53,378   73,374   132,549   168,073   103,078   148,474 
                   
Income tax expense  240   367   711   888   804   1,044 
                   
Net earnings  53,138   73,007   131,838   167,185   102,274   147,430 
                   
Net earnings attributable to noncontrolling interest (1)  372   580   839   1,203   376   840 
                   
Net earnings attributable to Ferrellgas Partners, L.P. $52,766  $72,427  $130,999  $165,982  $101,898  $146,590 
                   
Class A unitholders' interest in net (loss) earnings $(63,802) $6,115  $(18,853) $16,608  $(25,290) $(18,830)
                   
Net (loss) earnings per unitholders' interest                  
Basic and diluted net (loss) earnings per Class A Unit $(13.13) $1.26  $(3.88) $3.42  $(5.21) $(3.88)
Weighted average Class A Units outstanding - basic and diluted  4,858   4,858   4,858   4,858   4,858   4,858 

(1) Amounts allocated to the general partner for its 1.0101% interest (excluding the economic interest attributable to the preferred unitholders) in the operating partnership, Ferrellgas, L.P.

Supplemental Data and Reconciliation of Non-GAAP Items:
                   
  Three months ended  Nine months ended  Twelve months ended
  April 30,  April 30,  April 30, 
  2024  2023  2024  2023  2024  2023 
Net earnings attributable to Ferrellgas Partners, L.P. $52,766  $72,427  $130,999  $165,982  $101,898  $146,590 
Income tax expense  240   367   711   888   804   1,044 
Interest expense  24,685   24,297   73,205   72,483   98,434   98,077 
Depreciation and amortization expense  25,340   23,753   74,179   69,453   98,096   94,044 
EBITDA  103,031   120,844   279,094   308,806   299,232   339,755 
Non-cash employee stock ownership plan compensation charge  880   767   2,500   2,212   3,223   2,946 
Loss on asset sales and disposal  130   958   1,847   2,928   4,610   2,876 
Other income, net  (1,324)  (852)  (3,509)  (1,865)  (4,269)  (2,292)
Severance costs           644   -   676 
Legal fees and settlements related to non-core businesses  323   3,295   1,480   17,274   5,957   20,577 
Business transformation costs (1)  591      1,556      3,644    
Net earnings attributable to noncontrolling interest (2)  372   580   839   1,203   376   840 
Adjusted EBITDA (3)  104,003   125,592   283,807   331,202   312,773   365,378 
Net cash interest expense (4)  (21,240)  (21,426)  (63,411)  (64,297)  (85,809)  (91,270)
Maintenance capital expenditures (5)  (5,383)  (5,208)  (13,952)  (15,415)  (18,706)  (19,318)
Cash paid for income taxes  (136)  (217)  (495)  (713)  (874)  (1,081)
Proceeds from certain asset sales  589   591   1,969   2,079   2,042   2,824 
Distributable cash flow attributable to equity investors (6)  77,833   99,332   207,918   252,856   209,426   256,533 
Less: Distributions accrued or paid to preferred unitholders  16,045   15,590   48,546   48,063   64,797   64,313 
Distributable cash flow attributable to general partner and non-controlling interest  (1,557)  (1,986)  (4,159)  (5,056)  (4,190)  (5,130)
Distributable cash flow attributable to Class A and B Unitholders (7)  60,231   81,756   155,213   199,737   140,439   187,090 
Less: Distributions paid to Class A and B Unitholders (8)  99,996   49,998   99,996   49,998   99,996   99,996 
Distributable cash flow (shortage) excess (9) $(39,765) $31,758  $55,217  $149,739  $40,443  $87,094 
                   
Propane gallons sales                  
Retail - Sales to End Users  162,282   182,937   479,776   514,995   566,924   609,427 
Wholesale - Sales to Resellers  47,102   51,015   152,845   155,829   202,906   203,390 
Total propane gallons sales  209,384   233,952   632,621   670,824   769,830   812,817 
                   

(1) Non-recurring costs included in “Operating, general and administrative expense” primarily related to the implementation of an ERP system as part of our business transformation initiatives.

(2) Amounts allocated to the general partner for its 1.0101% interest (excluding the economic interest attributable to the preferred unitholders) in the operating partnership, Ferrellgas, L.P.

(3) Adjusted EBITDA is calculated as net earnings attributable to Ferrellgas Partners, L.P., plus the sum of the following: income tax expense, interest expense, depreciation and amortization expense, non-cash employee stock ownership plan compensation charge, loss on asset sales and disposals, other income, net, severance costs, legal fees and settlements related to non-core businesses, business transformation costs, and net earnings attributable to noncontrolling interest. Management believes the presentation of this measure is relevant and useful because it allows investors to view the partnership's performance in a manner similar to the method management uses, adjusted for items management believes make it easier to compare its results with other companies that have different financing and capital structures. Adjusted EBITDA, as management defines it, may not be comparable to similarly titled measurements used by other companies. Items added into our calculation of Adjusted EBITDA that will not occur on a continuing basis may have associated cash payments. Adjusted EBITDA should be viewed in conjunction with measurements that are computed in accordance with GAAP.

(4) Net cash interest expense is the sum of interest expense less non-cash interest expense and other income, net.

(5) Maintenance capital expenditures include capitalized expenditures for betterment and replacement of property, plant and equipment, and may from time to time include the purchase of assets that are typically leased.

(6) Distributable cash flow attributable to equity investors is calculated as Adjusted EBITDA minus net cash interest expense, maintenance capital expenditures and cash paid for income taxes plus proceeds from certain asset sales. Management considers distributable cash flow attributable to equity investors a meaningful measure of the partnership’s ability to declare and pay quarterly distributions to equity investors, including holders of the operating partnership’s Preferred Units. Distributable cash flow attributable to equity investors, as management defines it, may not be comparable to similarly titled measurements used by other companies. Items added into our calculation of distributable cash flow attributable to equity investors that will not occur on a continuing basis may have associated cash payments. Distributable cash flow attributable to equity investors should be viewed in conjunction with measurements that are computed in accordance with GAAP.

(7) Distributable cash flow attributable to Class A and B Unitholders is calculated as Distributable cash flow attributable to equity investors minus distributions accrued or paid on the Preferred Units and distributable cash flow attributable to general partner and noncontrolling interest. Management considers distributable cash flow attributable to Class A and B Unitholders a meaningful measure of the partnership’s ability to declare and pay quarterly distributions to Class A and B Unitholders. Distributable cash flow attributable to Class A and B Unitholders, as management defines it, may not be comparable to similarly titled measurements used by other companies. Items added to our calculation of distributable cash flow attributable to Class A and B Unitholders that will not occur on a continuing basis may have associated cash payments. Distributable cash flow attributable to Class A and B Unitholders should be viewed in conjunction with measurements that are computed in accordance with GAAP.

(8) The Company did not pay any distributions to Class A Unitholders during any of the periods in fiscal 2024 or fiscal 2023.

(9) Distributable cash flow (shortage) excess is calculated as Distributable cash flow attributable to Class A and B Unitholders minus Distributions paid to Class A and B Unitholders. Distributable cash flow excess, if any, is retained to establish reserves, to reduce debt, to fund capital expenditures and for other partnership purposes, and any shortage is funded from previously established reserves, cash on hand or borrowings under our Credit Facility. Management considers Distributable cash flow (shortage) excess a meaningful measure of the partnership’s ability to effectuate those purposes. Distributable cash flow (shortage) excess, as management defines it, may not be comparable to similarly titled measurements used by other companies. Items added into our calculation of distributable cash flow excess that will not occur on a continuing basis may have associated cash payments. Distributable cash flow excess should be viewed in conjunction with measurements that are computed in accordance with GAAP.

 

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