Montauk Renewables Announces First Quarter 2024 Results

PITTSBURGH, May 09, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Montauk Renewables, Inc. (“Montauk” or “the Company”) (NASDAQ: MNTK), a renewable energy company specializing in the management, recovery, and conversion of biogas into renewable natural gas (“RNG”), today announced financial results for the first quarter ended March 31, 2024.

First Quarter Financial Highlights:

• Revenues of $38.8 million, increased 102.5% compared to the first quarter of 2023

• Net Income of $1.9 million, increased 148.8% compared to the first quarter of 2023

• Non-GAAP Adjusted EBITDA of $9.5 million, increased 212.7% compared to the first quarter of 2023

• RNG production of 1.4 million MMBtu, increased 4.4% compared to the first quarter of 2023

• RINs Sold of 7.9 million, increase of 167.5% compared to the first quarter of 2023

Our profitability is highly dependent on the market price of Environmental Attributes, including the market price for RINs. As we self-market a significant portion of our RINs, a strategic decision not to commit to transfer available RINs during a period will impact our operating revenue and operating profit. We made a strategic determination to not transfer all available D3 RINs generated and available for transfer during the first quarter of 2024. As of result of this strategic decision, we have approximately 3,351 RINs in inventory from 2024 RNG production. In April 2024, we signed a second feedstock supply agreement which includes additional access to hog spaces with this individual feedstock supplier. When added to the first feedstock supply agreement, which was signed in the fourth quarter of 2023, we believe we are on pace to target the 120 thousand hog spaces which will provide sufficient feedstock under our Duke Energy REC agreement. Additionally, in the first quarter of 2024, we successfully commissioned the last expansion of our Pico digestion capacity project. With the increased digestion capacity, we produced approximately 39% more MMBtu during the first quarter of 2024 compared to the first quarter of 2023.

First Quarter Financial Results

Total revenues in the first quarter of 2024 were $38.8 million, an increase of $19.6 million (102.5%) compared to $19.2 million in the first quarter of 2023. The increase is primarily related to an increase in self-monetized RINs in the first quarter of 2024 as a result of our strategic decision in the first quarter of 2023 to not self-market a significant amount of RINs from 2023 RNG production due to 2023 D3 RIN index price volatility. Additionally, an increase in realized RIN pricing of 61.7% during the first quarter of 2024 as compared to the first quarter of 2023 contributed to the increase in revenues. Our RNG Operating and maintenance expenses in the first quarter of 2024 were $12.1 million, an increase of $0.8 million (7.0%) compared to $11.3 million in the first quarter of 2023. The primary driver of this increase was related to timing of preventative maintenance expenses at our Rumpke and Atascocita facilities. Our Renewable Electricity Generation operating and maintenance expenses in the first quarter of 2024 were $2.3 million, a decrease of $0.6 million (19.9%) compared to $2.9 million in the first quarter of 2023, primarily due to the reversal of our asset retirement obligation liability related to the sale of our Security facility. Total general and administrative expenses in the first quarter of 2024 were $9.4 million, flat as compared to $9.5 million in the first quarter of 2023. Operating income in the first quarter of 2024 was $2.4 million, an increase of $16.5 million (116.7%) compared to an operating loss of $14.2 million in the first quarter of 2023. Net income in the first quarter of 2024 was $1.9 million, an increase of $5.6 million (148.8%) compared to a net loss of $3.8 million in the first quarter of 2023.

First Quarter Operational Results

We produced approximately 1.4 million Metric Million British Thermal Units (“MMBtu”) of RNG in the first quarter of 2024, an increase of less than 0.1 million compared to 1.4 million in the first quarter of 2023. We want to highlight that our Pico facility produced 9 MMBtu more in the first quarter of 2024 as compared to the first quarter of 2023 related to the commissioning our digestion expansion project. We produced approximately 54 thousand megawatt hours (“MWh”) in Renewable Electricity in the first quarter of 2024, an increase of 8 thousand MWh compared to 46 thousand MWh produced in the first quarter of 2023. Our Security facility produced approximately 3 thousand MWh more in the first quarter of 2024 compared to the first quarter of 2023 as a result of prior period engine maintenance. Our Bowerman facility produced approximately 3 thousand MWh more in the first quarter of 2024 compared to the first quarter of 2023 primarily related to timing of preventative engine maintenance.

Reaffirmed 2024 Full Year Outlook

• RNG revenues are expected to range between $195 and $215 million

• RNG production volumes are expected to range between 5.8 and 6.1 million MMBtu

• Renewable Electricity revenues are expected to range between $18.0 and $19.0 million

• Renewable Electricity production volumes are expected to range between 190 and 200 thousand MWh

Conference Call Information

The Company will host a conference call today at 5:00 p.m. ET to discuss results. Access for the conference call will be available via the following link:

• https://register.vevent.com/register/BI3c6a9f48d8c5414099325fc910abf8c7

Please register for the conference call and webcast using the above link in advance of the call start time. The webcast platform will register your name and organization as well as provide dial-ins numbers and a unique access pin. The conference call will be broadcast live and be available for replay at https://edge.media-server.com/mmc/p/txdbnngi/ and on the Company’s website at https://ir.montaukrenewables.com after 8:00 p.m. Eastern time on the same day through May, 9, 2025.

Use of Non-GAAP Financial Measures

This press release and the accompanying tables include references to EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA, which are Non-GAAP financial measures. We present EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA because we believe the measures assist investors in analyzing our performance across reporting periods on a consistent basis by excluding items that we do not believe are indicative of our core operating performance.

In addition, EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA are financial measurements of performance that management and the board of directors use in their financial and operational decision-making and in the determination of certain compensation programs. EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA are supplemental performance measures that are not required by or presented in accordance with GAAP. EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA should not be considered alternatives to net (loss) income or any other performance measure derived in accordance with GAAP, or as an alternative to cash flows from operating activities or a measure of our liquidity or profitability.

About Montauk Renewables, Inc.

Montauk Renewables, Inc. (NASDAQ: MNTK) is a renewable energy company specializing in the management, recovery and conversion of biogas into RNG. The Company captures methane, preventing it from being released into the atmosphere, and converts it into either RNG or electrical power for the electrical grid (“Renewable Electricity”). The Company, headquartered in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, has more than 30 years of experience in the development, operation and management of landfill methane-fueled renewable energy projects. The Company has current operations at 14 operating projects and on going development projects located in California, Idaho, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Texas. The Company sells RNG and Renewable Electricity, taking advantage of Environmental Attribute premiums available under federal and state policies that incentivize their use. For more information, visit https://ir.montaukrenewables.com 

Company Contact:
John Ciroli
Chief Legal Officer (CLO) & Secretary
[email protected] 
(412) 747-8700

Investor Relations Contact:
Georg Venturatos
Gateway Investor Relations
[email protected]
(949) 574-3860

Safe Harbor Statement

This release contains “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of U.S. federal securities laws that involve substantial risks and uncertainties. All statements other than statements of historical or current fact included in this report are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements refer to our current expectations and projections relating to our financial condition, results of operations, plans, objectives, strategies, future performance, and business. Forward-looking statements may include words such as “anticipate,” “assume,” “believe,” “can have,” “contemplate,” “continue,” “strive,” “aim,” “could,” “design,” “due,” “estimate,” “expect,” “forecast,” “goal,” “intend,” “likely,” “may,” “might,” “objective,” “plan,” “predict,” “project,” “potential,” “seek,” “should,” “target,” “will,” “would,” and other words and terms of similar meaning in connection with any discussion of the timing or nature of future operational performance or other events. For example, all statements we make relating to our future results of operations, financial condition, expectations and plans, including expected benefits of the Pico digestion capacity increase, the Montauk Ag project in North Carolina, the Second Apex RNG Facility, the Blue Granite RNG Facility, the Bowerman RNG Facility, the delivery of biogenic carbon dioxide volumes to European Energy, the resolution of gas collection issues at the McCarty facility, the mitigation of wellfield extraction environmental factors at the Rumpke facility, and weather-related anomalies are forward-looking statements. All forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results to differ materially from those that we expect and, therefore, you should not unduly rely on such statements. The risks and uncertainties that could cause those actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements include but are not limited to: our ability to develop and operate new renewable energy projects, including with livestock farms, and related challenges associated with new projects, such as identifying suitable locations and potential delays in acquisition financing, construction, and development; reduction or elimination of government economic incentives to the renewable energy market; the inability to complete strategic development opportunities; widespread manmade, natural and other disasters (including severe weather events), health emergencies, dislocations, geopolitical instabilities or events, terrorist activities, international hostilities, government shutdowns, political elections, security breaches, cyberattacks or other extraordinary events that impact general economic conditions, financial markets and/or our business and operating results; continued inflation could raise our operating costs or increase the construction costs of our existing or new projects; rising interest rates could increase the borrowing costs of future indebtedness; the potential failure to attract and retain qualified personnel of the Company or a possible increased reliance on third-party contractors as a result, and the potential unenforecability of non-compete clauses with our employees; the length of development and optimization cycles for new projects, including the design and construction processes for our renewable energy projects; dependence on third parties for the manufacture of products and services and our landfill operations; the quantity, quality and consistency of our feedstock volumes from both landfill and livestock farm operations; reliance on interconnections with and access to electric utility distribution and transmission facilities and gas transportation pipelines for our Renewable Natural Gas and Renewable Electricity Generation segments; our projects not producing expected levels of output; potential benefits associated with the combustion-based oxygen removal condensate neutralization technology; concentration of revenues from a small number of customers and projects; our outstanding indebtedness and restrictions under our credit facility; our ability to extend our fuel supply agreements prior to expiration; our ability to meet milestone requirements under our power purchase agreements; existing regulations and changes to regulations and policies that effect our operations; expected benefits from the extension of the Production Tax Credit and other tax credit benefits under the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022; decline in public acceptance and support of renewable energy development and projects, or our inability to appropriately address environmental, social and governance targets, goals, commitments or concerns, including climate-related disclosures; our expectations regarding Environmental Attribute volume requirements and prices and commodity prices; our expectations regarding the period during which we qualify as an emerging growth company under the Jumpstart Our Business Startups Act (“JOBS Act”); our expectations regarding future capital expenditures, including for the maintenance of facilities; our expectations regarding the use of net operating losses before expiration; our expectations regarding more attractive carbon intensity scores by regulatory agencies for our livestock farm projects; market volatility and fluctuations in commodity prices and the market prices of Environmental Attributes and the impact of any related hedging activity; regulatory changes in federal, state and international environmental attribute programs and the need to obtain and maintain regulatory permits, approvals, and consents; profitability of our planned livestock farm projects; sustained demand for renewable energy; potential liabilities from contamination and environmental conditions; potential exposure to costs and liabilities due to extensive environmental, health and safety laws; impacts of climate change, changing weather patterns and conditions, and natural disasters; failure of our information technology and data security systems; increased competition in our markets; continuing to keep up with technology innovations; concentrated stock ownership by a few stockholders and related control over the outcome of all matters subject to a stockholder vote; and other risks and uncertainties detailed in the section titled “Risk Factors” in our latest Annual Report on Form 10-K and as otherwise disclosed in our filings with the SEC.

We make many of our forward-looking statements based on our operating budgets and forecasts, which are based upon detailed assumptions. While we believe that our assumptions are reasonable, we caution that it is very difficult to predict the impact of known factors, and it is impossible for us to anticipate all factors that could affect our actual results. All forward-looking statements attributable to us are expressly qualified in their entirety by these cautionary statements as well as others made in our Securities and Exchange Commission filings and public communications. You should evaluate all forward-looking statements made by us in the context of these risks and uncertainties. The forward-looking statements included herein are made only as of the date hereof. We undertake no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statement as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise, except as required by law.