WALTHAM, Mass.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Global Partners LP (NYSE: GLP) today reported financial results for the fourth quarter and full year ended December 31, 2023.
CEO Commentary
“2023 was a transformational year for Global, as we completed the strategic acquisition of 25 liquid energy terminals from Motiva Enterprises and completed the first acquisition in our retail joint venture with ExxonMobil,” said Eric Slifka, the Partnership’s President and Chief Executive Officer. “The Motiva transaction creates an exciting opportunity for our supply, storage, terminalling and retail networks in some of the fastest-growing regions of the country. The acquisition nearly doubles our terminal storage capacity, supported by a 25-year take-or-pay throughput agreement with Motiva that includes minimum annual revenue commitments.
“On the retail side, our joint venture acquisition with ExxonMobil of 64 convenience and fueling facilities in Greater Houston enables us to apply our operational and management expertise in one of the nation’s largest cities,” Slifka said. “With these two deals, our market diversification and growth potential have never been stronger.
“We capped the year with a solid fourth-quarter performance, highlighted by higher retail fuel margins compared with the fourth quarter of 2022,” Slifka said. “Our ability to deliver strong performance in a less volatile market environment demonstrates the value of our integrated asset base, diverse portfolio of liquid energy products and the operational skill of our exceptional team.”
Fourth-Quarter 2023 Financial Highlights
Net income was $55.3 million, or $1.41 per diluted common limited partner unit, for the fourth quarter of 2023 compared with net income of $57.5 million, or $1.54 per diluted common limited partner unit, in the same period of 2022.
Earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization (EBITDA) was $110.9 million in the fourth quarter of 2023 compared with $105.3 million in the same period of 2022.
Adjusted EBITDA was $112.1 million in the fourth quarter of 2023 versus $106.9 million in the same period of 2022.
Distributable cash flow (DCF) was $59.4 million in the fourth quarter of 2023 compared with $57.3 million in the same period of 2022.
Adjusted DCF was $58.8 million in the fourth quarter of 2023 compared with $57.3 million in 2022.
Gross profit in the fourth quarter of 2023 was $280.4 million compared with $281.6 million in the same period of 2022.
Combined product margin, which is gross profit adjusted for depreciation allocated to cost of sales, was $305.7 million in the fourth quarter of 2023 compared with $303.8 million in the same period of 2022.
Combined product margin, EBITDA, adjusted EBITDA, DCF and adjusted DCF are non-GAAP (Generally Accepted Accounting Principles) financial measures, which are explained in greater detail below under “Use of Non-GAAP Financial Measures.” Please refer to Financial Reconciliations included in this news release for reconciliations of these non-GAAP financial measures to their most directly comparable GAAP financial measures for the three and twelve months ended December 31, 2023, and 2022.
GDSO segment product margin was $245.4 million in the fourth quarter of 2023 compared with $223.2 million in the same period of 2022. Product margin from gasoline distribution increased to $177.8 million from approximately $156.0 million in the year-earlier period, primarily due to higher fuel margins (cents per gallon). Product margin from station operations totaled $67.6 million compared with $67.2 million in the fourth quarter of 2022.
Wholesale segment product margin was $51.9 million in the fourth quarter of 2023 compared with $70.7 million in the same period of 2022. The decrease is primarily due to less favorable market conditions in distillates, partially offset by more favorable market conditions in gasoline and residual oil.
Commercial segment product margin was $8.4 million in the fourth quarter of 2023 compared with $9.9 million in the same period of 2022, primarily due to less favorable market conditions in bunkering.
Total sales were $4.4 billion in the fourth quarters of 2023 and 2022. Wholesale segment sales were $2.7 billion in the fourth quarter of 2023 compared with $2.6 billion in the same period of 2022. GDSO segment sales were $1.4 billion in the fourth quarter of 2023 versus $1.5 billion in the same period of 2022. Commercial segment sales were $0.3 billion in the fourth quarters of 2023 and 2022.
Total volume was 1.6 billion gallons in the fourth quarter of 2023 compared with 1.4 billion gallons in the same period of 2022. Wholesale segment volume was 1.1 billion gallons in the fourth quarter of 2023 compared with 860.1 million gallons in the same period of 2022. GDSO volume was 404.9 million gallons in the fourth quarter of 2023 compared with 419.3 million gallons in the same period of 2022. Commercial segment volume was 110.7 million gallons in the fourth quarter of 2023 compared with 100.6 million gallons in the same period of 2022.
Recent Developments
- In January 2024, Global completed its private offering of $450 million in aggregate principal amount of 8.250% senior unsecured notes due 2032. Global used the net proceeds from the offering to repay a portion of the borrowings outstanding under its credit agreement and for general corporate purposes.
- In December 2023, Global completed its acquisition of 25 liquid energy terminals from Motiva Enterprises LLC (“Motiva”) for $313.2 million in cash, including inventory. The transaction is underpinned by a 25-year take-or-pay throughput agreement with Motiva, the anchor tenant at the terminals, that includes minimum annual revenue commitments.
- Global announced a cash distribution of $0.7000 per unit ($2.80 per unit on an annualized basis) on all of its outstanding common units from October 1, 2023 through December 31, 2023. The distribution was paid on February 14, 2024 to unitholders of record as of the close of business on February 8, 2024.
Business Outlook
“We begin 2024 with a strong balance sheet and cash flows that position us to continue to execute on our strategic priorities,” Slifka concluded.
About Global Partners LP
With approximately 1,700 locations primarily in the Northeast, Global Partners is one of the largest independent owners, suppliers and operators of gasoline stations and convenience stores. Global also owns, controls or has access to a large terminal network—with strategic rail and/or marine assets—spanning from Maine to Florida and into the U.S. Gulf states, through which it distributes gasoline, distillates, residual oil and renewable fuels to wholesalers, retailers and commercial customers. In addition, Global engages in the transportation of petroleum products and renewable fuels by rail from the mid-continental U.S. and Canada. Global, a master limited partnership, trades on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker symbol “GLP.” For additional information, visit www.globalp.com.
