ProPetro Holding Corp. (NYSE:PUMP) reported third-quarter net income per share of 33 cents, missing the Zacks Consensus Estimate of 48 cents and below the year-ago period's bottom-line figure of 53 cents. The underperformance stems from tepid demand for the company’s services as clients – the upstream energy players – take a cautious approach to capital spending amid depressed oil and gas prices.
ProPetro’s revenues of $541.8 million improved 24.8% year over year and came above the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $509 million, driven by impressive operating efficiency and contribution from Pioneer Natural Resources’ (NYSE:PXD) pressure pumping assets in the Permian Basin.
Adjusted EBITDA in the third quarter amounted to $131.9 million, increasing from $103.4 million a year ago.
Pressure Pumping Division
ProPetro, through its Pressure Pumping division, provides hydraulic fracturing, cementing and acidizing functions. The business accounted for 97.6% of the company's total revenues in the quarter under review.
Costs & Expenses
ProPetro reported cost of services of $396.9 million in third-quarter 2019, 24% higher than the year-ago quarter. Meanwhile, general and administrative expenses came in at $27.6 million, up from $12.8 million in the year-ago period.
Balance Sheet & Capital Expenditure
As of Sep 30, ProPetro had cash and cash equivalents of $109.2 million while its long-term debt was $130 million – for a negative net cash position. The company’s debt-to-capitalization ratio was 12.1%. ProPetro also has $64.3 million available under the revolving credit facility.Capital expenditure for the three months reached $87 million, up 17.3% compared to the third quarter of 2018. Payments toward the new-build DuraStim hydraulic fracturing fleets accounted for the rise in outlay.
Guidance & Electric Fracking Foray
ProPetro expects an average of 18-20 effective fleets in the fourth quarter, down from 25.1 in the third quarter of 2019. The fall in utilization is due to slowdown in customer spending, seasonality and a general lack of demand.
Importantly, the company is making its foray in the electric fracking technology and plans to employ one such DuraStim fleet by late 2019/early 2020 and two more subsequently in 2020. The 36,000 horsepower DuraStim fleets – boasting of fuel efficiency and lower costs – will be deployed under dedicated agreements with existing clients.
During the third quarter, ProPetro also added a unit to its cementing fleet, which brought the cementing fleet count to 23.
Zacks Rank & Stock Picks
ProPetro currently carries a Zacks Rank #5 (Strong Sell). Meanwhile, investors interested in the energy space could look at some better options like Murphy USA Inc. (NYSE:MUSA) and Phillips 66 (NYSE:PSX) that carry a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) and Zacks Rank #2 (Buy), respectively.
You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.
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Murphy USA Inc. (MUSA): Free Stock Analysis Report
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Pioneer Natural Resources Company (PXD): Free Stock Analysis Report
ProPetro Holding Corp. (PUMP): Free Stock Analysis Report
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