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Suburban Propane Partners LP: Q2 FY2026 earnings call

What management said about Q2 FY2026, from the documents filed with the SEC on 7 May 2026: press release. Guidance figures: 1 new, 2 kept. The quarter’s numbers.

Key takeaways

  • Adjusted EBITDA flat for the quarter: Adjusted EBITDA was $175.3 million, unchanged from the prior year second quarter. Source
  • Gross margin slightly lower: Total gross margin was $343.7 million, down $1.6 million or 0.5% from the prior year second quarter. Source
  • East colder, West much warmer: Eastern temperatures were 2% warmer than normal and 3% colder than last year, while western temperatures were 22% warmer than normal and 17% warmer than last year. Source
  • Propane prices down 23.1%: Average propane prices, basis Mont Belvieu, Texas, decreased 23.1% compared with the prior year second quarter. Source
  • Propane unit margin up three cents: Propane unit margin rose $0.03 per gallon, or 1.7%. Excluding mark-to-market adjustments, total gross margin increased $0.5 million, mainly from that unit margin gain. Source
  • Production tax credit and insurance offsets: The $3.5 million production tax credit benefit and an insurance recovery from partial settlement of claims on the December 2022 RNG acquisition offset those cost increases. Source
  • About 200,000 MMBtu per annum added: Completion of the Upstate New York digester and Columbus gas upgrading is expected to add about 200,000 MMBtu per annum to the RNG platform. Source
  • Revolver borrowings repaid $64.3 million: Operating cash flow was used to repay $64.3 million of borrowings under the revolving credit facility during the quarter. Source

“The fiscal 2026 second quarter presented a vastly different weather pattern across our operating footprint”

Michael A. Stivala, President and Chief Executive Officer

Guidance

AreaPeriodFigureAgainst last quarter
RNG platform volume Sourceper annum, after the Upstate New York and Columbus projects are completeapproximately 200,000 MMBtu per annumNew
Quarterly distribution per Common Unit Sourcethree months ended March 28, 2026$0.325 per Common UnitKept
Annualized distribution rate Sourceannualized$1.30 per Common UnitKept

What changed from last quarter

  • New: The company recognized a $3.5 million benefit from production tax credits on Stanfield D3 injections from January 2025 through March 2026. Source
  • New: The Consolidated Leverage Ratio for the twelve months to March 28, 2026 was 4.34x, down from 4.57x in the prior release. Source

Results and growth drivers

  • Net income and per-unit earnings: Net income was $137.5 million, or $2.07 per Common Unit, compared with $137.1 million, or $2.11 per Common Unit, in the prior year second quarter. Source
  • Adjusted EBITDA flat for the quarter: Adjusted EBITDA was $175.3 million, unchanged from the prior year second quarter. Source
  • First-half Adjusted EBITDA higher: For the first half of the fiscal year, Adjusted EBITDA rose $8.4 million, or 3.4%, against the comparable prior year period. Source
  • Gross margin slightly lower: Total gross margin was $343.7 million, down $1.6 million or 0.5% from the prior year second quarter. Source

Weather, volumes and customers

  • Propane gallons flat year over year: Retail propane gallons sold were 161.6 million, flat with the prior year second quarter, as cooler eastern demand and acquisitions offset warmer western temperatures. Source
  • Overall temperatures warmer than normal: Heating degree days across all service territories were 6% warmer than normal and 1% warmer than the prior year second quarter. Source
  • East colder, West much warmer: Eastern temperatures were 2% warmer than normal and 3% colder than last year, while western temperatures were 22% warmer than normal and 17% warmer than last year. Source
  • Focus on customer base growth: Management said operating teams kept their focus on customer base growth and retention initiatives while meeting demand. Source

“Our operating personnel were well-prepared to safely and efficiently handle the surge in demand”

Michael A. Stivala, President and Chief Executive Officer

Pricing and unit margins

  • Propane prices down 23.1%: Average propane prices, basis Mont Belvieu, Texas, decreased 23.1% compared with the prior year second quarter. Source
  • Propane unit margin up three cents: Propane unit margin rose $0.03 per gallon, or 1.7%. Excluding mark-to-market adjustments, total gross margin increased $0.5 million, mainly from that unit margin gain. Source
  • Derivative mark-to-market loss: A $1.4 million unrealized loss on risk-management derivatives was booked in cost of products sold, against a $0.7 million unrealized gain a year earlier. Both were excluded from Adjusted EBITDA. Source

Costs and expenses

  • Operating and G&A expenses flat: Combined operating and general and administrative expenses were $169.5 million, flat with the prior year second quarter. Source
  • Payroll, fuel and self-insurance costs up: Payroll and benefit expenses, fuel and other vehicle costs, and accruals for self-insurance matters all increased during the quarter. Source
  • Production tax credit and insurance offsets: The $3.5 million production tax credit benefit and an insurance recovery from partial settlement of claims on the December 2022 RNG acquisition offset those cost increases. Source

“With another quarter of strong operating performance, and our capital projects in the RNG platform winding down, we utilized excess cash flows generated during the second quarter to reduce total debt by more than $64.0 million.”

Michael A. Stivala, President and Chief Executive Officer

Renewable natural gas operations

  • D3 injection improved on uptime: Average daily D3 RNG injection improved against the prior quarter and the prior year second quarter, due to higher facility uptime. Source
  • Production tax credits tied to Stanfield: The $3.5 million benefit relates to production tax credits on Stanfield D3 injections, based on the release of draft Treasury regulations. Source
  • About 200,000 MMBtu per annum added: Completion of the Upstate New York digester and Columbus gas upgrading is expected to add about 200,000 MMBtu per annum to the RNG platform. Source

Capital, debt and distributions

  • Revolver borrowings repaid $64.3 million: Operating cash flow was used to repay $64.3 million of borrowings under the revolving credit facility during the quarter. Source
  • Maintenance and growth capital spending: Three-month maintenance capital expenditures were $7.2 million, against $8.0 million a year earlier. Growth capital expenditures were $17.5 million, against $11.3 million. Source
  • Quarterly distribution held at $0.325: The Board of Supervisors declared a quarterly distribution of $0.325 per Common Unit, the same rate as the prior quarter. Source

Strategy and capital allocation

  • Disciplined approach to capital: Management said capital is allocated with discipline across core propane growth, renewable energy investment and balance sheet strength. Source

Coming up, as management said on 7 May 2026

  • Upstate New York PTCs once online: As the Upstate New York D3 production comes online, the company expects to be eligible to earn production tax credits on RNG injected there. Source
  • Distribution payable May 12: The quarterly distribution is payable May 12, 2026 to unitholders of record as of May 5, 2026. Source
  • Form 10-Q to follow: The complete consolidated financial statements are to be contained in the Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, which the partnership will file with the SEC. Source

In management's words

“We continue to take a disciplined approach to the way we allocate capital in the execution of our long-term strategic growth plan”

Michael A. Stivala, President and Chief Executive Officer

Figures management reported

FigureReported
Gross margin Source$343.7 million, down 0.5%

Risks management discussed

  • Demand: Weather swings between regions affect demand: eastern cold and storms raised heat-related demand while the West ran warm. Source
  • Operational: Stanfield RNG production is still being stabilized, and facility uptime drove the quarter's injection gain. Source
  • Regulatory: The $3.5 million production tax credit benefit was recognized under draft Treasury regulations. Source
  • External: Management cited commodity price volatility tied to the Middle East conflict as a condition it managed this quarter. Source

Earlier plans management reported on

  • On track: The two RNG projects were described as on schedule for completion in the second half of the fiscal year. Source
  • Not stated: Management tied the Stanfield improvement to capital investments and process changes made since the acquisition. 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.