On Friday, Citi initiated coverage on USA Compression Partners LP (NYSE:USAC) stock, a firm specializing in natural gas compression services, with a Neutral rating and a price target of $23.00. The new coverage highlights the company's focus on improving its balance sheet, with particular attention to leverage and preferred units.
USA Compression Partners' leverage is projected to remain just above its targeted range of 3.75-4.25 times by the end of 2024, with the possibility of reaching the lower end of that range by 2027. The assessment by Citi indicates that the company's financial leverage is a central concern, but it is on a trajectory of improvement.
The second key area for USAC is the management of its Class A Preferred units. Citi anticipates that these units will continue to convert over time, which might create a slight pressure on the stock in the near term. However, the potential for increased trading liquidity due to these conversions is seen as a positive factor by the analyst.
The report suggests that until USA Compression Partners achieves its leverage targets and resolves the issues related to its preferred units, the potential for enhanced capital returns or additional investment in growth opportunities is likely to be limited. This strategic prioritization is expected to influence the company's actions in the near future.
Citi's neutral stance reflects a cautious optimism, acknowledging the company's progress while also recognizing the financial objectives that USA Compression Partners still needs to meet. The $23.00 price target is indicative of Citi's expectations for the stock's performance, considering these factors.
In other recent news, USA Compression Partners has reported record-breaking financial results for the second quarter of 2024, with historic highs in revenues, adjusted gross margin, and adjusted EBITDA.
The company also achieved an impressive period-end utilization of 95%, with large horsepower units over 1,000 horsepower being almost fully utilized at 99%.
Despite these robust results and the anticipation of ongoing market tightness, Mizuho Securities has maintained a cautious outlook for USA Compression Partners, highlighting a contrast between the company's conservative approach and the aggressive expansion tactics of its peers.
The company's management expects the supportive market dynamics to aid future price increases and improvements in profitability metrics. Mizuho, however, has lowered its price target for USA Compression Partners from $26.00 to $25.00, while maintaining a Neutral rating on the stock. The company's second quarter net income was reported at $31.2 million, with operating income at $77.4 million.
In the face of these developments, USA Compression Partners has revised its financial guidance for the full year 2024, with increased net income and adjusted EBITDA ranges. The company plans to deploy 30,000 to 50,000 horsepower of uncontracted fleet assets for the remainder of 2024, indicating a continued growth expectation in the natural gas compression market.
InvestingPro Insights
In light of Citi's recent initiation of coverage on USA Compression Partners LP (NYSE:USAC), InvestingPro data and tips offer additional context for investors. The company is currently trading at a high earnings multiple with a P/E ratio of 41.06, which is elevated compared to the industry average. This could suggest that investors are expecting higher future earnings growth. Additionally, USAC pays a significant dividend to shareholders, boasting a dividend yield of 9.49%, which is particularly attractive for income-focused investors.
Another key InvestingPro Tip is that USA Compression Partners is trading near its 52-week low, which might indicate a potential entry point for investors looking for value opportunities. Moreover, the company has maintained dividend payments for 7 consecutive years, reinforcing its commitment to shareholder returns. For investors seeking more insights, there are 10 InvestingPro Tips available on the platform, including predictions about the company's profitability this year and its performance over the last five years.
From a financial standpoint, USAC's revenue growth has been robust, with an increase of 17.18% over the last twelve months as of Q2 2024. This growth is supported by a solid gross profit margin of 67.18%, which speaks to the efficiency of the company's operations. With a market capitalization of $2.59 billion, USA Compression Partners is a significant player in the natural gas compression services industry. The InvestingPro Fair Value estimate of $20.55 suggests that the stock may be slightly overvalued at its previous close price of $22.14.
These insights from InvestingPro could be beneficial for investors who are weighing Citi's neutral rating and price target against the backdrop of the company's financial health and market performance.
This article was generated with the support of AI and reviewed by an editor. For more information see our T&C.