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Kodiak Gas Services, Inc.: Q1 FY2026 earnings call

What management said about Q1 FY2026, from the documents filed with the SEC on 11 May 2026: press release. Guidance figures: 1 raised, 6 new. The quarter’s numbers.

Key takeaways

  • Adjusted EBITDA rose 7.0%: Adjusted EBITDA was $190.1 million, up 7.0% from first quarter 2025, with an adjusted EBITDA percentage of 55.0%. Source
  • Adjusted diluted EPS reached $0.59: Adjusted net income was $52.0 million, or $0.59 per adjusted diluted share, against $0.35 in first quarter 2025, excluding the debt loss and transaction expenses and their tax effects. Source
  • Contract Services revenue up 6.2%: Contract Services revenue was $307.0 million, up 6.2%, and adjusted gross margin was $216.7 million, or 70.6% of total revenues, up 10.7% from a year earlier. Source
  • Distributed Power acquisition closed: Kodiak closed its acquisition of Distributed Power Solutions, LLC on April 1, 2026, and procured over 260 MW of additional power generation capacity. Source
  • Capacity to exceed 650 MW: Equipment orders announced with the results are expected to lift power generation capacity to over 650 MW. Management also cites over two gigawatts by decade end. Source
  • Management constructive on gas demand: Management said it remains constructive on U.S. natural gas demand, with rising demand driving the need for more compression infrastructure. Source
  • Growth capex rose to $85.6 million: Growth capital expenditures were $85.6 million, including $18.0 million for power generation capacity, against $56.0 million a year earlier; maintenance capex was $17.8 million. Source

“Kodiak is off to a fantastic start in 2026, with record contract services revenue and adjusted gross margin percentage driving record quarterly adjusted EBITDA.”

Mickey McKee, Kodiak's President and Chief Executive Officer

Guidance

AreaPeriodFigureAgainst last quarter
Adjusted EBITDA Sourcefull year 2026$820 million to $860 millionRaised
Discretionary cash flow Sourcefull year 2026$520 million to $570 million
Compression Infrastructure revenue Sourcefull year 2026$1,250 million to $1,280 million
Compression Infrastructure adjusted gross margin percentage Sourcefull year 202668.5% to 70.0%
Power Infrastructure revenue Sourcefull year 2026$95 million to $125 millionNew
Power Infrastructure adjusted gross margin percentage Sourcefull year 202660.0% to 70.0%New
Other Services revenue Sourcefull year 2026$125 million to $160 million
Other Services adjusted gross margin percentage Sourcefull year 202613.0% to 16.0%
Maintenance capital expenditures Sourcefull year 2026$80 million to $90 million
Growth capital expenditures, Compression Infrastructure Sourcefull year 2026$245 million to $275 million
Growth capital expenditures, Power Infrastructure Sourcefull year 2026$400 million to $500 millionNew
Total growth capital expenditures Sourcefull year 2026$645 million to $775 million
Other capital expenditures Sourcefull year 2026$45 million to $55 million
Total growth and other capital expenditures Sourcefull year 2026$690 million to $830 million
Power generation capacity growth Sourcethrough 2030300 to 500 MWs per yearNew
Power generation capacity Sourcenot statedover 650 MWNew
Power capacity delivery Source202661 MWsNew

What changed from last quarter

  • Guidance raised: Full-year 2026 adjusted EBITDA guidance was raised to $820 million to $860 million. Source
  • New: Distributed Power Solutions acquisition closed on April 1, 2026, with over 260 MW of generation capacity procured. Source
  • New: Contract Services segment is to be renamed Compression Infrastructure. Source
  • New: A new Power Infrastructure segment is to be created, holding most DPS assets, revenues and expenses. Source
  • New: A 20,700 horsepower purchase-leaseback transaction was completed in the Permian Basin. Source
  • New: $1 billion of senior unsecured notes were issued, after a $750 million offering was launched in March. Source
  • Ended: Senior notes due 2029 were refinanced, with a $36.5 million loss on extinguishment of debt recorded. Source

Results and growth drivers

  • Adjusted EBITDA rose 7.0%: Adjusted EBITDA was $190.1 million, up 7.0% from first quarter 2025, with an adjusted EBITDA percentage of 55.0%. Source
  • Net income included debt extinguishment loss: Net income attributable to common shareholders was $17.8 million, or $0.20 per diluted share, after a $36.5 million loss on debt extinguishment and $8.3 million of transaction expenses. Source
  • Adjusted diluted EPS reached $0.59: Adjusted net income was $52.0 million, or $0.59 per adjusted diluted share, against $0.35 in first quarter 2025, excluding the debt loss and transaction expenses and their tax effects. Source
  • Discretionary cash flow up 9.0%: Discretionary cash flow was $126.5 million, up 9.0% from first quarter 2025, while net cash provided by operating activities was $71.2 million. Source

Segment results

  • Contract Services revenue up 6.2%: Contract Services revenue was $307.0 million, up 6.2%, and adjusted gross margin was $216.7 million, or 70.6% of total revenues, up 10.7% from a year earlier. Source
  • Contract gross margin up 18.3%: Contract Services gross margin, after depreciation and amortization, was $148.0 million, or 48.2% of revenue, up from $125.2 million a year earlier. Source
  • Other Services revenue down 4.7%: Other Services revenue was $38.8 million, down 4.7%; its gross margin was $6.2 million, up 12.7%, equal to an adjusted gross margin of 15.9% of revenue. Source

“Our contract compression business continues to outperform expectations, and our new power business has tremendous growth potential,”

Mickey McKee, Kodiak's President and Chief Executive Officer

Power business and capacity

  • Distributed Power acquisition closed: Kodiak closed its acquisition of Distributed Power Solutions, LLC on April 1, 2026, and procured over 260 MW of additional power generation capacity. Source
  • Capacity to exceed 650 MW: Equipment orders announced with the results are expected to lift power generation capacity to over 650 MW. Management also cites over two gigawatts by decade end. Source
  • Delivery schedule for new units: Of the new capacity, 61 MW is expected to be delivered in 2026, with the remainder delivered over 2027 through 2029. Source
  • Growth of 300 to 500 MW a year: Management expects annual power capacity growth of 300 to 500 MW per year through 2030. Source

Customers and fleet operations

  • Permian purchase-leaseback completed: During the quarter the company completed a 20,700 horsepower purchase-leaseback with a leading oil and gas producer in the Permian Basin. Source
  • Fleet utilization at 98.0%: Fleet utilization was 98.0%, up from 96.9% a year earlier, with revenue-generating horsepower of 4,389,412 at March 31, 2026. Source
  • Compression unit count lower: Fleet compression units were 4,670 at March 31, 2026, down from 4,941 a year earlier, while fleet horsepower rose to 4,477,398 from 4,422,914. Source

“Given the overwhelming demand, we are actively working to scale our power offerings”

Mickey McKee, Kodiak's President and Chief Executive Officer

Costs and expenses

  • SG&A higher than a year earlier: Selling, general and administrative expense was $46.1 million, up from $32.3 million in first quarter 2025 and $38.9 million in the fourth quarter of 2025. Source
  • Cost of operations declined: Contract Services cost of operations was $90.3 million and Other Services cost of operations was $32.6 million, both below first quarter 2025 levels. Source
  • Interest and debt extinguishment loss: Interest expense was $48.7 million, and the loss on extinguishment of debt was $36.5 million, with no such loss in the periods shown. Source

Demand and market

  • Management constructive on gas demand: Management said it remains constructive on U.S. natural gas demand, with rising demand driving the need for more compression infrastructure. Source
  • Data center developers engaged: Since closing DPS, management said it has been actively engaged with numerous data center developers on the scope and scale of their distributed power needs. Source
  • Commercial pipeline and equipment progress: Management described a commercial pipeline and said it has made progress on securing the equipment needed to serve it. Source

Capital, cash and debt

  • Growth capex rose to $85.6 million: Growth capital expenditures were $85.6 million, including $18.0 million for power generation capacity, against $56.0 million a year earlier; maintenance capex was $17.8 million. Source
  • Free cash flow was $37.0 million: Free cash flow was $37.0 million, compared with $47.2 million in first quarter 2025, after growth and other capital spending and $3.5 million of asset sale proceeds. Source
  • Total debt at $2.8 billion: Total debt was $2.8 billion at March 31, 2026, and $1.5 billion was available on the ABL Facility; the credit agreement leverage ratio was 3.6x. Source
  • $1 billion notes issued after launch: A $750 million senior notes offering launched in March was followed by $1 billion of senior unsecured notes issued, which management said reduced the weighted average borrowing rate. Source
  • Dividends paid; no buybacks: Dividends paid were $42.6 million, up from $36.4 million; no common shares were repurchased, compared with $10.0 million in the prior-year quarter. Source
  • Cash balance rose: Cash and cash equivalents rose to $94.4 million from $3.2 million at December 31, 2025, with net financing inflows of $134.9 million. Source

Strategy and guidance basis

  • Go-forward segment structure: Guidance uses the go-forward structure, with Contract Services renamed Compression Infrastructure and a new Power Infrastructure segment for most DPS assets. Source
  • DPS in guidance for three quarters: Full-year 2026 guidance includes three quarters of the DPS financial impact, given the April 1, 2026 closing date. Source
  • Power capex within growth plan: Power Infrastructure growth capital expenditures are guided to $400 million to $500 million within total growth capex of $645 million to $775 million. Source

Coming up, as management said on 11 May 2026

  • Power capacity deployment talks: Management said it is in advanced discussions with customers to deploy the new capacity under long-term contracts. Source

Figures management reported

FigureReported
Capital plan SourceTotal growth and other capital expenditures of $690 million to $830 million for full year 2026

Risks management discussed

  • Operational: Management cited historically long lead times for new large horsepower compression while the market remains tight. Source
  • Financial: Discretionary cash flow guidance assumes no change to Secured Overnight Financing Rate futures. Source

Earlier plans management reported on

  • Not stated: Management said Kodiak is well positioned to deliver on its growth targets in the coming years. Source
  • Ahead: Management said the contract compression business continues to outperform expectations. Source

Other quarters

Summarised with AI from the documents the company filed with the SEC. Every point is checked against the filing before it is shown: management’s own words word for word, figures against the line or table row they come from. A point that fails the check is left out. Source opens the filing at that line.