Murphy USA Inc. Reports First Quarter 2015 Results

El Dorado, Arkansas, May 4, 2015 – Murphy USA Inc. (NYSE: MUSA), a leading marketer of retail motor fuel products and convenience merchandise, today announced financial results for the first quarter ended March  31, 2015. 

Key First Quarter 2015 highlights

Three-month results

For the three month period ended March 31,  2015, the Company reported net income of $22.9 million or $0.50 per diluted share on revenues of $3.0 billion.  Net income was $9.6 million, or $0.21 per diluted share, for the comparable period in 2014 on revenues of $4.2 billion.  Average retail fuel prices for the first quarter 2015 (including taxes) were $2.10 per gallon versus $3.23 per gallon in the same period of 2014.  Income from continuing operations was $22.9 million or $0.50 per diluted share in Q1 2015 compared to $8.8 million and $0.19 per diluted share in the same period in 2014.    The increase in earnings reflects higher retail fuel margins and volumes, higher RIN sales proceeds and lower product supply and wholesale contribution.  The first quarter of 2014 contained an after-tax benefit of $10.9 million from a LIFO decrement in that period.  There was no income from discontinued operations in the current quarter while the 2014 quarter contained the final adjustments to working capital from the sale of the Hankinson plant which resulted in a gain of $0.8 million ($0.02 per diluted share), net of tax.    

“The first quarter of 2015 got off to a strong start as retail fuel volume and margin momentum carried over from Q4 of last year,”  said President and CEO Andrew Clyde.  “Merchandise sales and margins also remain robust while low gas prices have led consumers to upgrade their product choices. While fuel prices have increased in recent months, we continue to benefit from our exposure to elevated RIN prices and our low cost business model positions us to take advantage of future price volatility.” said Mr. Clyde.

Adjusted EBITDA (this non-GAAP measure is described and reconciled to the corresponding GAAP measure in the Supplemental Disclosure section of this release) was $62.7 million for the three month period ended March 31,  2015, compared to $43.2 million for the same period in 2014. 

Quarterly retail fuel sales increased 5.8% to 962.7 million gallons sold in 2015 compared to 910.1 million gallons sold in 2014.    Retail fuel gallons sold on an APSM basis increased 1.0% to 253,663 gallons.  Retail fuel margins (before credit card expenses) increased 3.2 cents per gallon (cpg) to 10.0 cpg in the 2015 quarter compared to 6.8 cpg in the 2014 period.  Product supply and wholesale margin dollars excluding Renewable Identification Numbers (RINs) decreased to a loss of $1.1 million in the 2015 period compared to income of $29.8 million in the first quarter of 2014, which included a benefit of $17.8 million related to a LIFO decrement in the 2014 quarter.  Income generated from the sale of RINs increased to $37.6 million in the first quarter of 2015 from  $17.6 million in the 2014 period as 54 million RINs were sold at an average price of $0.70 per RIN in the current period. 

Quarterly merchandise revenues rose $21.4 million to $524.1 million from  $502.7 million in the 2014 period.  Merchandise unit margins held constant at 14.0%.  For the current quarter, total non-tobacco sales dollars increased 11.7% with the largest increases shown in dispensed beverages, alternative snacks and lottery/lotto while margin dollars increased 8.1%.    On an APSM basis, merchandise sales decreased 0.5%  as tobacco products fell 2.4%,  mostly offset by a 6.7% increase in non-tobacco sales.    Quarterly merchandise margin dollars on an APSM basis were  flat overall with tobacco margin dollars down 2.1%, offset by an increase in non-tobacco margin dollars of 3.2%.     

Station and other operating expenses held relatively flat at $122.2 million for the current quarter, compared to $122.5 million for the same period in 2014.  Retail costs on an APSM basis declined 4.6% period over period, primarily due to reduced credit card fees associated with lower retail fuel prices.  Excluding credit card expenses, station operating expenses on an APSM basis increased only 0.1%.  Selling, general and administrative (SG&A) expenses increased $3.4 million to $31.5 million due primarily to higher professional services fees for ongoing projects.     

The Company’s ethanol plant in Hereford, Texas, generated an operating loss of $0.6 million for the first quarter of 2015 compared to a  net gain of $1.2 million in  Q1 2014 reflecting lower market crush spreads.  Plant production increased 30% to 22.3 million gallons and yield increased 6.8% to 2.82 gallons per bushel for the quarter.      

Interest expense decreased by $0.8 million in the first quarter 2015 compared to the prior year quarter due to the repayment in May 2014 of a $150 million term loan under our credit facilities.   

Capital expenditures for the quarter ended March 31,  2015, increased $8.8 million to $32.5 million from $23.7 million in 2014.  Current capital expenditures include $22.4 million for retail growth and $8.4 million spent on retail maintenance items. 

Station Openings

During the first quarter of 2015, Murphy USA opened five retail locations.  Through early May 2015, the Company has opened an additional three sites.   With the addition of all these stores, Murphy USA has 1,271 total locations in operation that include 1,062 Murphy USA sites and 209 Murphy Express sites.  We also have 16 sites currently under construction that will add to our network in the near future. 

Cash Flow and Financial Resources

For the quarter ended March 31,  2015, cash flow provided by operating activities decreased $78.4 million to  $34.4 million due primarily to prior year liquidations of inventory.  Cash flows required by investing activities in the first quarter of 2015 increased $9.4 million to $32.5 million, consisting primarily of property additions.  Cash flows used in financing activities increased $27.3 million to $42.4 million in the first quarter of 2015 due to the share repurchase program currently being executed as announced in late 2014.  Free cash flow (this non-GAAP measure is described and reconciled to the corresponding GAAP measure in the Supplemental Disclosure section of this release) for the period was $2.2 million compared to $89.1 million in the prior year period.  The large decrease was due to no repeat of inventory liquidations that occurred in 2014, reduction of income taxes payable as well as higher capital expenditures in Q1 2015.

Cash and cash equivalents on hand at  March 31,  2015 totaled $287.7 million and there were no borrowings under the asset-based loan facility, which was put in place with an initial borrowing base limit of $450.0 million in mid-August 2014.  Using March 31,  2015  information, the borrowing base was recalculated at $239.3 million in April 2015 and remains undrawn.  Total debt at March 31,  2015 of $488.9 million (net of unamortized debt discount and debt issuance costs)  consisted primarily of the $500.0 million in senior unsecured notes due in 2023.     

"While Q1 is historically a low period for new retail site openings, we filled the real estate and development pipeline to accelerate growth in the second half of the year," said Mr. Clyde.  "At the same time, we demonstrated significant progress and results with the improvements at Hereford. We also delivered on our commitment to return value to our shareholders with the ongoing share repurchase program. Our balance sheet continues to support our capital allocation priorities of organic growth and shareholder returns."

Earnings Call Information

The Company will host a conference call on May 5,  2015, at 10:00 a.m. Central time to discuss first quarter 2015 results.  The conference call number is  1 (877) 291-1367 and the conference number is 19244028. A live audio webcast of the conference call and the earnings and investor related materials, including reconciliations of any non-GAAP financial measures to GAAP financial measures and any other applicable disclosures, will be available on that same day on the investor section of the Murphy USA website (http://ir.corporate.murphyusa.com).  Online replays of the earnings call will be available through Murphy USA’s web site and a recording of the call will be available through May 11,  2015, by dialing 1(855) 859-2056 and referencing conference number 19244028.  

Forward-Looking Statements

Certain statements in this news release contain or may suggest “forward-looking” information (as defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995) that involve risk and uncertainties, including, but not limited to anticipated store openings, fuel margins, merchandise margins, sales of RINs and trends in our operations.  Such statements are based upon the current beliefs and expectations of the company’s management and are subject to significant risks and uncertainties.  Actual future results may differ materially from historical results or current expectations depending upon factors including, but not limited to: our ability to continue

to maintain a good business relationship with Walmart; successful execution of our growth strategy, including our ability to realize the anticipated benefits from such growth initiatives, and the timely completion of construction associated with our newly planned stores which may be impacted  by the financial health of third parties; our ability to effectively manage our inventory, disruptions in our supply chain and our ability to control costs; the impact of any systems failures, cybersecurity and/or security breaches, including any security breach that results in theft, transfer or unauthorized disclosure of customer, employee or company information or our compliance with information security and privacy laws and regulations in the event of such an incident; successful execution of our information technology strategy; future tobacco or e-cigarette legislation and any other efforts that make purchasing tobacco products more costly or difficult could hurt our revenues and impact gross margins; efficient and proper allocation of our capital resources; compliance with debt covenants; availability and cost of credit; and changes in interest rates.  Our SEC reports, including our Annual Report on our Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2014 (filed February 27,  2015)  and, when available, our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the three months ended March 31, 2015 contain other information on these and other factors that could affect our financial results and cause actual results to differ materially from any forward-looking information we may provide.  The company undertakes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements to reflect subsequent events, new information or future circumstances. 

Contact: Investors/Media

Tammy L. Taylor (870) 881-6853, Sr. Manager Investor Relations and Corporate Communications

taylotl@murphyusa.com

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Consolidated Statements of Income

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Segment Operating Results

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Consolidated Balance Sheets

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Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows

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Supplemental Disclosure Regarding Non-GAAP Financial Information 

The following table sets forth the Company’s Adjusted EBITDA for the three months ended March 31,  2015 and 2014.  EBITDA means net income (loss) plus net interest expense, plus income tax expense, depreciation and amortization, and Adjusted EBITDA adds back (i) other non-cash items (e.g., impairment of properties and accretion of asset retirement obligations) and (ii) other items that management does not consider to be meaningful in assessing our operating performance (e.g., (income) from discontinued operations, gain (loss) on sale of assets and other non-operating expense (income)).  EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA are not measures that are prepared in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP).

We use this Adjusted EBITDA in our operational and financial decision-making, believing that such measure is useful to eliminate certain items in order to focus on what we deem to be a more reliable indicator of ongoing operating performance and our ability to generate cash flow from operations.    Adjusted EBITDA is also used by many of our investors, research analysts, investment bankers, and lenders to assess our operating performance.  However, non-GAAP measures are not a substitute for GAAP disclosures, and Adjusted EBITDA may be prepared differently by us than by other companies using similarly titled non-GAAP measures.

The reconciliation of net income to EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA is as follows:

The Company also considers Free Cash Flow in the operation of its business.  Free cash flow is defined as net cash provided by operating activities in a period minus payments for property and equipment made in that period.  Free cash flow is also considered a non-GAAP financial measure.  Management believes, however, that free cash flow, which measures our ability to generate additional cash from our business operations, is an important financial measure for us in evaluating the Company’s performance.  Free cash flow should be considered in addition to, rather than as a substitute for consolidated net income as a measure of our performance and net cash provided by operating activities as a measure of our liquidity. 

Numerous methods may exist to calculate a company’s free cash flow.  As a result, the method used by our management to calculate our free cash flow may differ from the methods other companies use to calculate their free cash flow.  The following table provides a reconciliation of free cash flow, a non-GAAP financial measure, to net cash provided by operating activities, which we believe to be the GAAP financial measure most directly comparable to free cash flow: