Trecora Resources Reports Second Quarter 2018 Results

SUGAR LAND, Texas, Aug. 1, 2018 /PRNewswire/ — Trecora Resources (NYSE: TREC) a leading provider of high purity specialty hydrocarbons and waxes, today announced financial results for the second quarter ended June 30, 2018.

“Second quarter results reflect improved execution and continued strong demand at Trecora Chemical while South Hampton Resources endured several customer-based production disruptions that impacted sales volume in the quarter,” said Simon Upfill-Brown, president and CEO. “Reduced operating leverage resulting from lower volume, combined with higher operating expenses, including non-recurring expenses related to the commissioning of the Advanced Reformer, pressured reported margins in the quarter; however, we expect those headwinds to lessen over the balance of the year. In addition, we are continuing price leadership efforts to mitigate the pressures in many parts of our business, including higher feedstock costs.

“We have taken many positive steps in recent months to enhance our production capabilities and improve our organizational structure as we focus on operational execution and build a platform for growth,” continued Upfill-Brown. “We have taken a methodical approach to change with an emphasis on safety, and I am pleased with our progress, but we have more work to do. Recent executive appointments will help reinforce our operational transformation, and a renewed focus on driving value and volume will solidify our competitive position in the marketplace.

“Having recently completed our multi-year capital building campaign with the safe and successful commissioning of our Advanced Reformer, we expect to leverage a strong competitive position, new, advanced production facilities and a supportive market to drive revenue and significantly grow adjusted EBITDA,” concluded Upfill-Brown. “In addition, with no large capital projects on the horizon, we expect annual cash capital requirements to decline to a range of $6 – $8 million per year allowing incremental cash generated by the business to reduce leverage and strengthen our balance sheet. I am confident we are well positioned to deliver reliable production for customers and solid returns to shareholders.”

Subsequent Events
On July 31, 2018, the Company took advantage of a strong credit market to amend and extend its Credit Facility.  As a result, the Company extended its debt maturity to July 2023, increased the size of its Revolving Facility to $75 million from $60 million, lowered its borrowing costs and received less restrictive covenants from lenders.

Second Quarter 2018 Financial Results
Total revenue in the second quarter was $68.1 million, compared with $62.1 million in the second quarter of 2017, an increase of 9.6%. The increase in reported revenue was driven by a 17.0% increase in the average sales price of petrochemical products, partially offset by a 5.3% decline in petrochemical sales volume, in each case, compared with the second quarter of 2017. The higher average sales price was offset by a 34% year-over-year increase in the average per-gallon cost of petrochemical feedstock, which is the basis for the formula pricing for about 65% of the Company’s petrochemical product sales. Since formula pricing is based upon prior month feedstock averages, sales price increases tend to lag behind higher feedstock costs resulting in lower  margins in the period.  

Gross profit in the second quarter was $8.1 million, or 12.0% of total revenues, compared with $11.1 million, or 17.9% of total revenues, in the second quarter of 2017. Operating income for the second quarter was $3.4 million, compared with operating income of $5.2 million for the second quarter of 2017.

Net income for the second quarter was $2.2 million, or $0.09 per diluted share¹, compared with $0.8 million, or $0.03 per diluted share, for the second quarter of 2017. Adjusted net income for the quarter was $2.0 million, or $0.08 per diluted share. Reported net income in the second quarter of 2018 reflected equity in earnings of AMAK of $0.2 million, or an estimated $0.01 per diluted share on an after-tax basis. Net income in the second quarter of 2017 reflected an equity in losses for AMAK of $3.3 million, or an estimated impact of $(0.09) per diluted share on an after-tax basis. Net income margin for the second quarter was 3.3% as compared to 1.3% for the second quarter of 2017.

Adjusted EBITDA in the quarter was $6.2 million, representing a 9.1% margin, compared with Adjusted EBITDA of $8.4 million, representing a 13.5% margin for the same period a year ago.

South Hampton Resources (Specialty Petrochemical Segment)
Petrochemical volume in the second quarter was 19.7 million gallons, compared with 20.8 million gallons in the second quarter of 2017. Prime product volume in the second quarter of 2018 was 16.1 million gallons, compared with 16.3 million gallons in the second quarter of 2017. Byproduct volume, which is sold at significantly lower margins than prime products, decreased 35.4% sequentially and 19.8% year-over-year, to 3.6 million gallons. Margins were compressed due to higher feedstock costs and higher operating expenses including higher costs for labor, maintenance and freight.  Some of the increase in costs were non-recurring expenses related to the commissioning of the Advanced Reformer.  Byproduct margins were higher compared to the second quarter of 2017.  Net income margin for the second quarter was 5.1% as compared to 8.5% for the second quarter of 2017.

International volume represented 21.5% of total petrochemical volume during the quarter, down from 24.9% sequentially and 22.1% from the second quarter of 2017.

Trecora Chemical (Specialty Wax Segment)
In the second quarter, TC generated revenues of $10.3 million, up 7.9% from $9.5 million in the second quarter of 2017.  TC revenue included $7.4 million of wax product sales, up 14.2%, and $2.9 million of custom processing fees, down 5.8%, when compared with the second quarter of 2017.  Strong wax sales driven by enhanced sales mix as well as greater sales volume was partially offset by lower custom processing revenues. Net income margin for the second quarter was (4.9%) as compared to (2.8%) for the second quarter of 2017.

EBITDA in the second quarter was $1.1 million, compared with $0.8 million in the second quarter of 2017.  

Al Masane Al Kobra Mining Company (AMAK)
Trecora reported equity in earnings of AMAK of approximately $0.2 million and AMAK net loss of approximately $0.3 million during the second quarter of 2018.
AMAK generated net income before depreciation and amortization of $8.0 million compared to a net loss before depreciation and amortization of $3.3 million in the second quarter of 2017.  

Year-to-Date 2018 Results 
Total revenue for the six months ended June 30, 2018 was $139.8 million, compared with revenue of $117.7 million in the first six months of 2017.

Gross profit for the first six months of 2018 was $18.3 million, compared with $21.7 million in the same period in 2017. Gross profit margin in the first six months of 2018 was 13.1%, compared with 18.5% in the same period in 2017.

Net income for the first six months of 2018 was $4.6 million, compared with $2.3 million in the same period of 2017. Diluted EPS was $0.18, compared with $0.09 in the same period of 2017. Net income in the first half of 2018 was positively affected by equity in earnings of AMAK of $0.5 million, or $0.01 per diluted share on an after tax basis. In the first half of 2017, net income was negatively affected by equity in losses of AMAK of $4.3 million, or $(0.11) per diluted share on an after-tax basis. Net income margin for the first half of 2018 was 3.3% as compared to 2.0% for the first half of 2017.

Adjusted EBITDA for the first six months of 2018 was $13.4 million, compared with $15.7 million in the same period in 2017. Adjusted EBITDA margin in the first six months of 2018 was 9.6%, compared with 13.4% in the same period of 2017.

South Hampton Resources (Specialty Petrochemical Segment)
Petrochemical volume in the first half was 43.0 million gallons, compared with 38.2 million gallons in the first half of 2017. Prime product volume in the first half of 2018 was 33.7 million gallons, compared with 30.2 million gallons in the first half of 2017. Byproduct volume, which is sold at lower margins, was up 16.4% year-over-year to 9.3 million gallons.  Margins were compressed due to higher feedstock costs and higher operating expenses including higher costs for labor, maintenance and freight.  Some of the increase in costs were non-recurring expenses related to the commissioning of the Advanced Reformer. Net income margin for the first half of 2018 was 6.6% as compared to 8.6% for the first half of 2017.

International volume represented 23.4% of total petrochemical volume during the first half of 2018.

Trecora Chemical (Specialty Wax Segment)
In the first half of 2018, TC generated revenues of $19.9 million, up 3.6% from $19.2 million for the first half of 2017. Net income margin for the first half of 2018 was (8.5%) as compared to (2.9%) for the first half of 2017.

Earnings Call
Tomorrow’s conference call and presentation slides will be simulcast live on the Internet, and can be accessed on the investor relations section of the Company’s website at http://www.trecora.com or at http://public.viavid.com/index.php?id=130127. A replay of the call will also be available through the same link.

To participate via telephone, callers should dial in five to ten minutes prior to the 10:00 am Eastern start time; domestic callers (U.S. and Canada) should call 1-888-394-8218 or 1-323-794-2588 if calling internationally, using the conference ID 7223033. To listen to the playback, please call 1-844-512-2921 if calling within the United States or 1-412-317-6671 if calling internationally. Use pin number 7223033 for the replay.

Use of Non-GAAP Measures
The Company reports its financial results in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”). This press release contains the non-GAAP measures: EBITDA, Adjusted EBITDA, Adjusted EBITDA Margin, and Adjusted Net Income. We define EBITDA as net income plus interest expense including derivative gains and losses, income taxes, depreciation and amortization.  We define Adjusted EBITDA as EBITDA plus share-based compensation, plus or minus equity in AMAK’s earnings and losses or gains from equity issuances and plus or minus gains or losses on acquisitions.  We define Adjusted Net Income as net income plus or minus tax effected equity in AMAK’s earnings and losses and plus or minus tax effected gains or losses on acquisitions.  These measures are not measures of financial performance or liquidity under U.S. GAAP and should be considered in addition to, not as a substitute for, net income (loss), nor as an indicator of cash flows reported in accordance with U.S. GAAP. These measures are used as supplemental financial measures by management and external users of our financial statements such as investors, banks, research analysts and others.  We believe that these non-GAAP measures are useful as they exclude transactions not related to our core cash operating activities.

Forward-Looking Statements
Statements in this press release that are not historical facts are forward looking statements as defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements are based upon our belief, as well as, assumptions made by and information currently available to us. Because such statements are based upon expectations as to future economic performance and are not statements of fact, actual results may differ from those projected. These risks, as well as others, are discussed in greater detail in Trecora Resources’ filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including Trecora Resources’ Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2017, and the Company’s subsequent Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q. All forward-looking statements included in this press release are based upon information available to the Company as of the date of this press release.

About Trecora Resources (TREC)
TREC owns and operates a facility located in southeast Texas, just north of Beaumont, which specializes in high purity hydrocarbons and other petrochemical manufacturing. TREC also owns and operates a leading manufacturer of specialty polyethylene waxes and provider of custom processing services located in the heart of the Petrochemical complex in Pasadena, Texas. In addition, the Company is the original developer and a 33.4% owner of Al Masane Al Kobra Mining Co., a Saudi Arabian joint stock company.

Investor Relations Contact:
Jean Marie Young
The Piacente Group, Inc.
212-481-2050
trecora@tpg-ir.com