HOUSTON, April 30, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Archrock, Inc. (NYSE:AROC) ("Archrock"," the "Company," "we," "us," "our") today reported results for the first quarter 2024. First Quarter 2024 Highlights Revenue for the first quarter of 2024 was $268.5 million compared to $229.8 million in the first quarter of 2023. Net income for the first quarter of 2024 was $40.5 million compared to $16.5 million in the first quarter of 2023. Adjusted EBITDA (a non-GAAP measure defined below) for the first quarter of 2024 was $131.0 million compared to $97.2 million in the first quarter of 2023. Leverage ratio at the end of the first quarter of 2024 was 3.2x compared to 4.1x at the end of the first quarter of 2023. Declared a quarterly dividend of $0.165 per common share for the first quarter of 2024, 10% higher compared to the first quarter of 2023, resulting in dividend coverage of 3.2x. Raised 2024 Adjusted EBITDA guidance to a range of $510 million to $540 million from $500 million to $530 million. Management Commentary and Outlook "Momentum in Archrock's earnings power is carrying into 2024, reflecting our excellent operating execution, high-quality asset base and innovative processes and technology," said Brad Childers, Archrock's President and Chief Executive Officer. "We continued to deliver meaningful growth in quarterly revenue, gross margin and adjusted EBITDA. In addition, strong cash flow is funding high-return investment in our fleet and increased return of capital to investors, while we also continue to maintain a sector-leading balance sheet and excellent financial flexibility. "As we look to the balance of 2024, we expect to sustain historically high levels of utilization, pricing and profitability. Confidence in our business and the opportunity-rich market are enabling us to raise the midpoint of our Adjusted EBITDA guidance for the full year. "Expanding on the favorable and durable macro environment, strong oil prices are driving sustainable compression demand in our key associated gas markets, led by the Permian Basin. In addition, Archrock as well as producers, midstreamers and others in the compression industry continue to demonstrate prudent capital discipline. Longer term, we believe natural gas has tremendous potential to meet growing energy needs, particularly for LNG exports and domestic power generation and we are excited to be a crucial part of the value chain to provide cleaner, affordable and reliable energy to the U.S. and the world," concluded Childers. First Quarter 2024 Financial Results Archrock's first quarter 2024 net income of $40.5 million included a non-cash long-lived and other asset impairment of $2.6 million. Archrock's first quarter 2023 net income of $16.5 million included a non-cash long-lived and other asset impairment of $2.6 million and restructuring charges of $1.0 million. Adjusted EBITDA for the first quarter of 2024 and 2023 included $2.4 million and $3.6 million, respectively, in net gains related to the sale of compression and other assets. Contract Operations For the first quarter of 2024, contract operations segment revenue totaled $223.1 million, an increase of 19% compared to $187.7 million in the first quarter of 2023. Gross margin (a non-GAAP measure defined below) was $145.3 million for the first quarter of 2024, up 34% from $108.3 million in the first quarter of 2023. Gross margin percentage was 65% for the first quarter of 2024, compared to 58% in the first quarter of 2023. Total operating horsepower at the end of the first quarter of 2024 was 3.6 million compared to 3.5 million at the end of the first quarter of 2023. Utilization at the end of the first quarter of 2024 was 95%, compared to 94% at the end of the first quarter of 2023. On a sequential basis, first quarter 2024 exit utilization was down slightly as we took delivery of new build units totaling 19,500 horsepower in March 2024 that were included in total available horsepower but not reflected in total operating horsepower as the units did not begin generating revenue until April 2024. Aftermarket Services For the first quarter of 2024, aftermarket services segment revenue totaled $45.4 million, compared to $42.1 million in the first quarter of 2023. Gross margin of $10.4 million for the first quarter of 2024 increased 27% compared to $8.2 million in the first quarter of 2023. Gross margin percentage was 23% for the first quarter of 2024, compared to 19% for the first quarter of 2023. Balance Sheet Long-term debt was $1.6 billion at March 31, 2024 and our available liquidity totaled $477.7 million. Our leverage ratio was 3.2x, compared to 4.1x as of March 31, 2023. Shareholder Returns Quarterly Dividend Our Board of Directors recently declared a quarterly dividend of $0.165 per share of common stock, or $0.66 per share on an annualized basis. Dividend coverage in the first quarter of 2024 was 3.2x. The first quarter 2024 dividend will be paid on May 14, 2024 to stockholders of record at the close of business on May 7, 2024. Share Repurchase Program During the quarter ended March 31, 2024, Archrock repurchased 82,972 common shares at an average price of $14.83 per share, for an aggregate of approximately $1.2 million. Through March 31, 2024, the Company has repurchased 833,346 common shares at an average price of $12.11 per share for an aggregate of $10.1 million.   The Board of Directors approved an extension of the Company's share repurchase program ("Share Repurchase Program") upon expiry of the previous authorization on April 27, 2024, for an additional 24-month period. In connection with the extension, the Board of Directors replenished the amount of shares authorized for repurchase under the Share Repurchase Program, resulting in available capacity of $50 million. 2024 Annual Guidance Archrock is providing updated annual guidance as listed below. All figures are in thousands, except percentages and ratios:                     Full Year 2024 Guidance         Low     High   Net income (1)    $ 144,000   $ 174,000   Adjusted EBITDA(2)     510,000     540,000   Cash available for dividend(3)(4)     300,000     320,000                   Segment               Contract operations revenue   $ 890,000   $ 915,000   Contract operations gross margin percentage     65 %   66 % Aftermarket services revenue   $ 175,000   $ 185,000   Aftermarket services gross margin percentage     20 %   21 %                 Selling, general and administrative   $ 124,000   $ 120,000                   Capital expenditures               Growth capital expenditures   $ 190,000   $ 190,000   Maintenance capital expenditures     80,000     85,000   Other capital expenditures     20,000     25,000   (1)   2024 annual guidance for net income includes $3.0 million of long-lived and other asset impairment as of March 31, 2024, but does not include the impact of any such future costs, because due to its nature, it cannot be accurately forecasted. Long-lived and other asset impairment does not impact Adjusted EBITDA or cash available for dividend, however it is a reconciling item between these measures and net income. Long-lived and other asset impairment for the years 2023 and 2022 was $12.0 million and $21.4 million, respectively.(2)   Management believes Adjusted EBITDA provides useful information to investors because this non-GAAP measure, when viewed with our GAAP results and accompanying reconciliations, provides a more complete understanding of our performance than GAAP results alone. Management uses this non-GAAP measure as a supplemental measure to review current period operating performance, comparability measure and performance measure for period-to-period comparisons.(3)   Management uses cash available for dividend as a supplemental performance measure to compute the coverage ratio of estimated cash flows to planned dividends.(4)   A forward-looking estimate of cash provided by operating activities is not provided because certain items necessary to estimate cash provided by operating activities, including changes in assets and liabilities, are not estimable at this time. Changes in assets and liabilities were $(28.0) million and $(24.5) million for 2023 and 2022, respectively. Summary Metrics (in thousands, except percentages, per share amounts and ratios)                           Three Months Ended       March 31,    December 31,    March 31,           2024      2023      2023   Net income   $ 40,532   $ 33,002   $ 16,485   Adjusted EBITDA   $ 131,024   $ 120,263   $ 97,199                         Contract operations revenue   $ 223,051   $ 213,022   $ 187,745   Contract operations gross margin   $ 145,308   $ 137,062   $ 108,263   Contract operations gross margin percentage     65 %     64 %     58 %                       Aftermarket services revenue   $ 45,437   $ 46,571   $ 42,089   Aftermarket services gross margin   $ 10,437   $ 10,239   $ 8,181   Aftermarket services gross margin percentage     23 %     22 %     19 %                       Selling, general, and administrative   $ 31,665   $ 33,007   $ 26,425                         Net cash provided by operating activities   $ 137,702   $ 71,719   $ 87,856   Cash available for dividend   $ 82,026   $ 71,484   $ 46,247   Cash available for dividend coverage     3.2 x   2.8 x   2.0 x                       Free cash flow   $ 51,779   $ 47,385   $ 30,190   Free cash flow after dividend   $ 25,779   $ 23,195   $ 6,338                         Total available horsepower (at period end)     3,780     3,759     3,729   Total operating horsepower (at period end)     3,593     3,607     3,504   Horsepower utilization spot (at period end)     95.0 %     96.0 %     94.0 % Conference Call Details Archrock will host a conference call on Wednesday, May 1, 2024, to discuss first quarter 2024 financial results. The call will begin at 12:00 p.m. Eastern Time. To listen to the call via a live webcast, please visit Archrock's website at www.archrock.com. The call will also be available by dialing 1 (800) 715-9871 in the United States or 1 (646) 307-1963 for international calls. The access code is 4749623. A replay of the webcast will be available on Archrock's website for 90 days following the event. ***** Adjusted EBITDA, a non-GAAP measure, is defined as net income (loss) excluding interest expense, income taxes, depreciation and amortization, long-lived and other asset impairment, unrealized change in fair value of investment in unconsolidated affiliate, restructuring charges, non-cash stock-based compensation expense, amortization of capitalized implementation costs and other items. A reconciliation of Adjusted EBITDA to net income, the most directly comparable GAAP measure, and a reconciliation of our full year 2024 Adjusted EBITDA guidance to net income appear below. Gross margin, a non–GAAP measure, is defined as revenue less cost of sales (excluding depreciation and amortization). Gross margin percentage is defined as gross margin divided by revenue. A reconciliation of gross margin to net income, the most directly comparable GAAP measure, appears below. Cash available for dividend, a non-GAAP measure, is defined as net income (loss) excluding interest expense, income taxes, depreciation and amortization, long-lived and other asset impairment, unrealized change in fair value of investment in unconsolidated affiliate, restructuring charges, non-cash stock-based compensation expense, amortization of capitalized implementation costs and other items, less maintenance capital expenditures, other capital expenditures, cash taxes and cash interest expense. Reconciliations of cash available for dividend to net income and net cash provided by operating activities, the most directly comparable GAAP measures, and a reconciliation of our updated full year 2024 cash available for dividend guidance to net income appear below. Free cash flow, a non-GAAP measure, is defined as net cash provided by operating activities plus net cash provided by (used in) investing activities. A reconciliation of free cash flow to net cash provided by operating activities, the most directly comparable GAAP measure, appears below. Free cash flow after dividend, a non-GAAP measure, is defined as net cash provided by operating activities plus net cash provided by (used in) investing activities less dividends paid to stockholders. A reconciliation of free cash flow after dividend to net cash provided by operating activities, the most directly comparable GAAP measure, appears below. About Archrock Archrock is an energy infrastructure company with a primary focus on midstream natural gas compression and a commitment to helping its customers produce, compress and transport natural gas in a safe and environmentally responsible way. Headquartered in Houston, Texas, Archrock is a premier provider of natural gas compression services to customers in the energy industry throughout the U.S. and a leading supplier of aftermarket services to customers that own compression equipment. For more information on how Archrock embodies its purpose, WE POWER A CLEANER AMERICA, visit www.archrock.com. Forward-Looking Statements All statements in this release (and oral statements made regarding the subjects of this release) other than historical facts are forward–looking statements within the meaning of Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. These forward–looking statements rely on a number of assumptions concerning future events and are subject to a number of uncertainties and factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from such statements, many of which are outside the control of Archrock, Inc. Forward–looking information includes, but is not limited to statements regarding: guidance or estimates related to Archrock's results of operations or of financial condition; fundamentals of Archrock's industry, including the attractiveness of returns and valuation, stability of cash flows, demand dynamics and overall outlook, and Archrock's ability to realize the benefits thereof; Archrock's expectations regarding future economic, geopolitical and market conditions and trends; Archrock's operational and financial strategies, including planned growth, coverage and leverage reduction strategies, Archrock's ability to successfully effect those strategies, and the expected results therefrom; Archrock's financial and operational outlook; demand and growth opportunities for Archrock's services; structural and process improvement initiatives, the expected timing thereof, Archrock's ability to successfully effect those initiatives and the expected results therefrom; the operational and financial synergies provided by Archrock's size; and statements regarding Archrock's dividend policy. While Archrock believes that the assumptions concerning future events are reasonable, it cautions that there are inherent difficulties in predicting certain important factors that could impact the future performance or results of its business. The factors that could cause results to differ materially from those indicated by such forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to: risks related to pandemics and other public health crises; an increase in inflation; ongoing international conflicts and tensions; risks related to our operations; competitive pressures; inability to make acquisitions on economically acceptable terms; uncertainty to pay dividends in the future; risks related to a substantial amount of debt and our debt agreements; inability to access the capital and credit markets or borrow on affordable terms to obtain additional capital; inability to fund purchases of additional compression equipment; vulnerability to interest rate increases; uncertainty relating to the phasing out of London Interbank Offered Rate; erosion of the financial condition of our customers; risks related to the loss of our most significant customers; uncertainty of the renewals for our contract operations service agreements; risks related to losing management or operational personnel; dependence on particular suppliers and vulnerability to product shortages and price increases; information technology and cybersecurity risks; tax-related risks; legal and regulatory risks, including climate-related and environmental, social and governance risks. These forward-looking statements are also affected by the risk factors, forward-looking statements and challenges and uncertainties described in Archrock's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2023, Archrock's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2024 and those set forth from time to time in Archrock's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, which are available at www.archrock.com. Except as required by law, Archrock expressly disclaims any intention or obligation to revise or update any forward-looking statements whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. SOURCE: Archrock, Inc. For information, contact: Megan RepineVP of Investor Archrock, Inc.Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations(in thousands, except per share amounts)                         Three Months Ended     March 31,    December 31,    March 31,         2024      2023      2023 Revenue:                   Contract operations   $ 223,051     $ 213,022     $ 187,745   Aftermarket services     45,437       46,571       42,089   Total revenue     268,488       259,593       229,834                       Cost of sales (excluding depreciation and amortization):                      Contract operations     77,743       75,960       79,482   Aftermarket services     35,000       36,332       33,908   Total cost of sales (excluding depreciation and amortization)     112,743       112,292       113,390                       Selling, general and administrative     31,665       33,007       26,425   Depreciation and amortization     42,835       42,695       40,181   Long-lived and other asset impairment