Michael A. Kuglin
Thanks, Mike, and good morning, everyone. I will start by focusing on our full year results, then give some color to the fourth quarter at the end of my remarks. To be consistent with previous reporting, I am excluding the impact of unrealized noncash mark-to-market adjustments on our commodity hedges, which resulted in an unrealized gain of $2.4 million in fiscal 2025 compared to an unrealized loss of $14.6 million in the prior year, along with certain other noncash items we have identified in the reconciliation of net income to adjusted EBITDA in the press release. Including these items, net income for fiscal 2025 was $128.4 million or $1.97 per common unit compared to $107.7 million or $1.68 per common unit in the prior year. Adjusted EBITDA for fiscal 2025 was $278 million, an increase of $28 million or 11.2% compared to the prior year. Retail propane gallons sold in fiscal 2025 were 400.5 million gallons, an increase of 5.9% compared to the prior year. The volume increase was driven by sustained widespread cold temperatures during the most critical months for heat-related demand, increased demand for backup power generation, and other applications in the aftermath of Hurricanes Helene and Milton, continued growth in our counter-seasonal national accounts business, and incremental volumes from our recent propane acquisitions. With respect to the weather, average temperatures for fiscal 2025 were 9% warmer than normal and 4% cooler than the prior year. During January and February, average temperatures were comparable to normal and 13% colder than the same period last year. From a commodity perspective, average wholesale propane prices for fiscal 2025 were 79¢ per gallon, basis month billed, which was 5.8% higher than the prior year. According to the most recent report from the Energy Information Administration, US propane inventories at the end of last week were at 106 million barrels, which was 6% higher than a year ago and 13% higher than historical averages for this time of year. Given the strength in inventories, wholesale propane prices have trended down from the end of the fiscal year and are currently in the 60¢ range, compared to the 80¢ range at the same time last year. Excluding the impact of the mark-to-market adjustments on our commodity hedges that I mentioned earlier, total gross margin of $866.4 million in fiscal 2025 increased $46.8 million or 5.7% compared to the prior year, primarily due to higher propane volumes sold and higher propane unit margins. Excluding the impact of the unrealized mark-to-market adjustments, propane unit margins for fiscal 2025 increased 2¢ per gallon or 1%, with margin expansion experienced across all customer categories. In our RNG operations, average daily RNG injection for the fiscal year was approximately 13% lower compared to the prior year, primarily due to downtime experienced during several operational improvement projects designed to enhance future RNG production, as well as multiple power outages and extremely cold ambient air temperatures in the Arizona area during the winter that impacted anaerobic digestion. While we remain focused on executing controllable operational improvements, revenues at the Stanfield facility continue to face headwinds from lower prices for both California LCFS credits and federal D3 RINs. California LCFS credit prices remain depressed relative to historical levels, though average prices for fiscal 2025 increased 2.5% compared to the prior year. We are encouraged to see the finalization of amendments to the LCFS program implemented by CARB, made effective as of July 1, 2025, with accelerated carbon reduction targets aimed to create a better balance in the LCFS credit bank. Since the amendments were finalized in June 2025, LCFS credit prices have increased over 30%. Conversely, average federal D3 RIN prices for fiscal 2025 decreased 25% compared to the prior year. With respect to expenses, combined operating and G&A expenses increased $23.7 million or 4.2% compared to the prior year. The increase was primarily due to higher payroll and benefit-related expenses, overtime, and other variable operating costs to support increased activities associated with incremental customer demand, as well as higher variable compensation expense associated with the increase in earnings and costs related to the technology initiative that Mike mentioned earlier. Net interest expense of $76.3 million for fiscal 2025 increased $1.7 million compared to the prior year, due to higher average outstanding borrowings under our revolving credit facility, partially offset by lower benchmark interest rates. Total capital spending for fiscal 2025 of $72 million was $12.5 million higher than the prior year, primarily due to advancing construction efforts at our RNG facilities in Columbus, Ohio, and Upstate New York. For fiscal 2026, capital spending for our propane operations is expected to be consistent with historical levels, which is between $40 million and $45 million, and CapEx for the RNG projects is expected to range between $30 million to $50 million, with the spending concentrated in the first half of the fiscal year. We expect the capital spending at our RNG facility in Upstate New York to qualify for investment tax credits under the Inflation Reduction Act at a rate of 30%, which equates to a range of $7 million to $9 million in tax credits that could be earned and monetized on the assets placed into service. Turning to our results for the fourth quarter of 2025, consistent with the seasonality of our business, we typically report a net loss in the fourth quarter. With that said, excluding the effects of certain noncash items in both years, we reported a net loss of $35.7 million for the fourth quarter, or 54¢ per common unit, which is flat compared to the prior year. Adjusted EBITDA for the fourth quarter was $700,000, which was also essentially flat compared to the prior year. Retail propane gallons sold during the fourth quarter increased 1.8% compared to the prior year. Total gross margin increased $5.3 million or 4% compared to the prior year, primarily due to higher volumes sold and higher unit margins. Combined operating and G&A expenses increased $5.8 million or 4.5%, primarily due to higher volume-related variable operating costs, higher variable compensation, and costs related to our technology initiative. Excluded from adjusted EBITDA for the fourth quarter of 2025 is an impairment charge of approximately $6 million to fully write down the carrying value of our investment in an early-stage energy technology company, as well as income with the reversal of the earn-out reserve associated with the RNG acquisition. The earn-out was contingent upon the acquired assets achieving certain EBITDA thresholds over a certain period. During the fourth quarter, we determined that the contingent consideration would not be earned. These noncash items were reported within OtherNet's statement of operations. Turning to our balance sheet, during the fiscal year, we utilized a combination of cash flows from operating activities and net proceeds of $23.5 million from the issuance of common units under the ATM program to fund a propane acquisition for a total consideration of $53 million, growth capital expenditures of $25.5 million for advancing construction activities at our RNG production facilities, and repayment of outstanding borrowings under our revolving credit facility of $1.8 million. With the improvement in earnings and debt reduction, the consolidated leverage ratio for fiscal 2025 improved to 4.29 times. We have more than ample borrowing capacity under our revolver to support the completion of our planned capital expansion projects, as well as our ongoing strategic growth initiatives. As we continue to focus on the execution of our long-term strategic goals, we also stay focused on maintaining a strong balance sheet. With that, I will turn it back to Mike.