tiprankstipranks
Trending News
More News >
Suburban Propane Partners L.P. (SPH)
NYSE:SPH
US Market
Advertisement

Suburban Propane (SPH) AI Stock Analysis

Compare
705 Followers

Top Page

SPH

Suburban Propane

(NYSE:SPH)

Select Model
Select Model
Select Model
Neutral 64 (OpenAI - 4o)
Rating:64Neutral
Price Target:
$20.00
▲(7.76% Upside)
Suburban Propane's overall score reflects a stable financial position with strong cash flow generation and a reasonable valuation. However, high leverage, declining revenue, and recent net losses pose challenges. The technical analysis suggests a neutral market position, while the earnings call provides a balanced view of strategic successes and financial difficulties.
Positive Factors
Strong Cash Flow Generation
The company's ability to generate strong cash flow highlights its operational efficiency and financial health, providing a solid foundation for future investments and debt reduction.
Successful Debt Reduction
Reducing debt improves the company's leverage profile, enhancing financial stability and flexibility, which is crucial for long-term strategic growth and resilience.
Operational Improvements in RNG Facilities
Enhancements in RNG facilities indicate a focus on sustainable energy solutions, potentially increasing revenue streams and aligning with industry trends towards renewable energy.
Negative Factors
Decline in RNG Injection and Revenue
Declining RNG injection and revenue suggest operational challenges and market pressures, which could hinder growth in the renewable energy segment, impacting future profitability.
Net Loss in the Third Quarter
Sustained net losses indicate financial challenges that may affect the company's ability to invest in growth opportunities and maintain shareholder returns in the long term.
Challenges in Agricultural Segment
Weather-related challenges in the agricultural segment can lead to unpredictable revenue streams, affecting the stability and predictability of the company's core business operations.

Suburban Propane (SPH) vs. SPDR S&P 500 ETF (SPY)

Suburban Propane Business Overview & Revenue Model

Company DescriptionSuburban Propane Partners, L.P., through its subsidiaries, engages in the retail marketing and distribution of propane, fuel oil, and refined fuels. The company operates in four segments: Propane, Fuel Oil and Refined Fuels, Natural Gas and Electricity, and All Other. The Propane segment is involved in the retail distribution of propane to residential, commercial, industrial, and agricultural customers, as well as in the wholesale distribution to industrial end users. It offers propane primarily for space heating, water heating, cooking, and clothes drying in the residential and commercial markets; for use as a motor fuel in internal combustion engines to power over-the-road vehicles, forklifts, and stationary engines, as well as to fire furnaces, as a cutting gas to the industrial customers, and in other process applications; and for tobacco curing, crop drying, poultry brooding, and weed control in the agricultural markets. The Fuel Oil and Refined Fuels segment engages in the retail distribution of fuel oil, diesel, kerosene, and gasoline to residential and commercial customers for use primarily as a source of heat in homes and buildings. The Natural Gas and Electricity segment markets natural gas and electricity to residential and commercial customers in the deregulated energy markets in New York and Pennsylvania. The All Other segment sells, installs, and services a range of home comfort equipment, including whole-house heating products, air cleaners, humidifiers, and space heaters. As of September 25, 2021, the company served approximately 1.0 million residential, commercial, industrial, and agricultural customers through 700 locations in 41 states primarily in the east and west coast regions of the United States, as well as portions of the Midwest region of the United States and Alaska. Suburban Energy Services Group LLC serves as a general partner of Suburban Propane Partners, L.P. The company was founded in 1945 and is headquartered in Whippany, New Jersey.
How the Company Makes MoneySuburban Propane generates revenue primarily through the sale of propane and related services. The company earns money by delivering propane to residential and commercial customers, charging for both the fuel itself and the delivery service. Additionally, Suburban Propane offers propane tank installation and maintenance services, which contribute to its revenue streams. The company also benefits from contracts with various commercial clients, including agricultural businesses and industrial operations. Seasonal demand for propane, particularly during winter months for heating purposes, significantly affects revenue. Furthermore, strategic partnerships with suppliers and investments in renewable energy sources, such as propane from biofuels, may also enhance its earnings potential.

Suburban Propane Earnings Call Summary

Earnings Call Date:Aug 07, 2025
(Q3-2025)
|
% Change Since: |
Next Earnings Date:Nov 13, 2025
Earnings Call Sentiment Neutral
The earnings call highlighted strong counter-seasonal performance, successful debt reduction, and positive impacts from strategic acquisitions despite challenging weather conditions. However, the company faced a net loss and declines in RNG injection and revenue, with additional challenges in the agricultural segment and interest expenses. The overall sentiment is balanced between positive strategic outcomes and current financial challenges.
Q3-2025 Updates
Positive Updates
Solid Counter-Seasonal Performance
Despite unseasonably warm temperatures, Suburban Propane delivered a solid counter-seasonal performance with propane volumes slightly up compared to the prior year.
Successful Debt Reduction
During the quarter, Suburban Propane used excess cash flows and proceeds from the ATM equity sales program to reduce outstanding debt by $69 million, improving the leverage profile.
Positive Impact from Propane Acquisition
The strategic propane acquisition in New Mexico, closed during the first fiscal quarter, positively impacted volumes contributing to a 6.6% increase in overall volumes compared to the last year.
Strong Cash Flow Generation
Strong cash flow generation in the fiscal third quarter was noted, with effective receivables collection contributing to this performance.
Distribution Coverage and Dividend Declaration
Suburban announced a quarterly distribution of $0.325 per common unit, with a healthy distribution coverage of 2.16x for the trailing 12 months ended June 2025.
Operational Improvements in RNG Facilities
Operational improvements at the Stanfield facility and developments at Columbus, Ohio and Upstate New York RNG facilities are expected to enhance long-term performance and increase RNG sales.
LCFS Credit Price Increase
Following amendments to the LCFS program, credit prices increased 30% since the amendments were finalized.
M&A Strategy and Pipeline
Suburban continues to evaluate M&A opportunities strategically to grow the core propane business and diversify the platform.
Negative Updates
Decline in RNG Injection and Revenue
Average daily RNG injection declined slightly due to operational improvement projects and power outages, with revenues facing headwinds from lower prices for environmental attributes.
Net Loss in the Third Quarter
The net loss for the third quarter was $10.8 million, or $0.17 per common unit, compared to a net loss of $8 million or $0.12 per common unit in the prior year.
Depressed Federal D3 RIN Prices
Average federal D3 RIN prices were down 21% year-over-year, impacting revenues at the Stanfield facility.
Challenges in Agricultural Segment
Propane volumes were impacted by softness in resale activities in the Agricultural segment due to unusually wet conditions.
Marginal Increase in Interest Expense
Net interest expense of $18.9 million for the third quarter was marginally higher than the prior year due to higher average outstanding borrowings.
Company Guidance
During Suburban Propane Partners' third quarter earnings call for fiscal 2025, the company reported a net loss of $10.8 million, or $0.17 per common unit, compared to a net loss of $8 million, or $0.12 per common unit, in the prior year. Adjusted EBITDA remained steady at $27 million, with retail propane gallons sold reaching 71.9 million, consistent with the previous year. The company experienced a 4.7% increase in average wholesale propane prices compared to the prior year. Additionally, cash flow generation was strong, enabling a $69 million reduction in outstanding debt, improving the consolidated leverage ratio to 4.33x from 4.54x. The company maintained its quarterly distribution at $0.325 per common unit, equating to an annualized rate of $1.30 per common unit. Despite challenges, including higher customer tank inventories and operational downtime in renewable natural gas (RNG) operations, strategic acquisitions and customer base growth contributed to performance stability. The company remains focused on operational improvements and strategic growth in both core propane and renewable energy sectors.

Suburban Propane Financial Statement Overview

Summary
Suburban Propane presents a stable financial position with strong operational cash flows and decent profitability margins. However, the company faces challenges with high leverage and a declining revenue trend. The focus on operational efficiency is a positive sign, but the company needs to address revenue growth to improve its financial outlook.
Income Statement
65
Positive
The income statement shows a mixed performance. The TTM gross profit margin is approximately 4.35%, which is relatively low. The TTM net profit margin is around 7.19%, indicating moderate profitability. Revenue has shown a declining trend over the years, but the company managed to improve its EBIT and EBITDA margins in the TTM period to 18.27% and 22.25%, respectively, suggesting a focus on cost control and operational efficiency.
Balance Sheet
58
Neutral
The balance sheet reflects a challenging position with a high debt-to-equity ratio calculated at approximately 0.25, indicating significant leverage. The equity ratio stands at roughly 22.85%, reflecting a moderate level of equity financing. The return on equity (ROE) for the TTM is about 12.68%, indicating decent returns for shareholders despite the high leverage.
Cash Flow
70
Positive
Cash flow analysis reveals a solid performance with a strong operating cash flow to net income ratio of 2.63 for the TTM, indicating efficient cash generation from operations. The free cash flow to net income ratio is 1.59, highlighting effective capital expenditure management. However, free cash flow growth has been volatile, which could pose risks to future cash availability.
BreakdownTTMDec 2024Dec 2023Dec 2022Dec 2021Dec 2020
Income Statement
Total Revenue1.43B1.33B1.43B1.50B1.29B1.11B
Gross Profit722.73M804.98M361.00M789.34M803.28M724.95M
EBITDA246.15M216.47M260.39M259.64M296.59M252.13M
Net Income97.12M74.17M123.75M139.71M122.79M60.76M
Balance Sheet
Total Assets2.31B2.27B2.27B2.10B2.05B2.05B
Cash, Cash Equivalents and Short-Term Investments4.63M3.22M3.51M4.10M5.81M3.14M
Total Debt1.35B1.35B1.33B1.21B1.25B1.33B
Total Liabilities1.67B1.73B1.72B1.61B1.63B1.68B
Stockholders Equity646.11M547.06M546.36M-12.60M-17.58M-25.78M
Cash Flow
Free Cash Flow104.32M101.16M180.29M176.19M196.70M176.86M
Operating Cash Flow181.21M160.59M225.24M220.55M226.55M209.35M
Investing Cash Flow-136.58M-81.64M-170.64M-94.44M-34.08M-53.24M
Financing Cash Flow-51.48M-72.50M-44.63M-127.82M-189.81M-155.41M

Suburban Propane Technical Analysis

Technical Analysis Sentiment
Positive
Last Price18.56
Price Trends
50DMA
18.40
Positive
100DMA
18.42
Positive
200DMA
18.81
Negative
Market Momentum
MACD
0.04
Negative
RSI
51.66
Neutral
STOCH
68.02
Neutral
Evaluating momentum and price trends is crucial in stock analysis to make informed investment decisions. For SPH, the sentiment is Positive. The current price of 18.56 is above the 20-day moving average (MA) of 18.51, above the 50-day MA of 18.40, and below the 200-day MA of 18.81, indicating a neutral trend. The MACD of 0.04 indicates Negative momentum. The RSI at 51.66 is Neutral, neither overbought nor oversold. The STOCH value of 68.02 is Neutral, not indicating any strong overbought or oversold conditions. Overall, these indicators collectively point to a Positive sentiment for SPH.

Suburban Propane Risk Analysis

Suburban Propane disclosed 51 risk factors in its most recent earnings report. Suburban Propane reported the most risks in the "Finance & Corporate" category.
Finance & Corporate - Financial and accounting risks. Risks related to the execution of corporate activity and strategy
Latest Risks Added 0 New Risks

Suburban Propane Peers Comparison

Overall Rating
UnderperformOutperform
Sector (66)
Financial Indicators
Name
Overall Rating
Market Cap
P/E Ratio
ROE
Dividend Yield
Revenue Growth
EPS Growth
71
Outperform
1.83B17.267.08%4.39%8.40%17.90%
71
Outperform
234.60M17.2210.88%3.62%12.04%5.89%
70
Outperform
3.16B23.528.60%1.98%19.02%20.13%
64
Neutral
$1.22B12.6015.50%7.00%6.29%-1.67%
48
Neutral
600.41M-0.55-13.27%4.44%-15.57%-423.86%
42
Neutral
1.87B-571.82-1.21%
66
Neutral
$17.65B18.105.60%3.62%6.62%11.55%
* Utilities Sector Average
Performance Comparison
Ticker
Company Name
Price
Change
% Change
SPH
Suburban Propane
18.56
1.77
10.54%
CPK
Chesapeake Utilities
134.08
12.54
10.32%
NWN
Northwest Gas
44.65
5.74
14.75%
RGCO
Rgc Resources
22.72
1.01
4.65%
NFE
New Fortress Energy
2.11
-6.98
-76.79%
CTRI
Centuri Holdings, Inc.
21.10
4.95
30.65%

Suburban Propane Corporate Events

Dividends
Suburban Propane Announces Quarterly Distribution
Neutral
Jul 24, 2025

On July 24, 2025, Suburban Propane Partners, L.P. announced a quarterly distribution of $0.325 per Common Unit for the fiscal third quarter, equating to an annualized rate of $1.30 per Common Unit. The distribution is payable on August 12, 2025, to unitholders of record as of August 5, 2025. The announcement also highlighted that all distributions to foreign investors are subject to U.S. federal income tax withholding due to their connection with a U.S. trade or business. This decision reflects the company’s ongoing commitment to providing returns to its investors while complying with regulatory requirements.

The most recent analyst rating on (SPH) stock is a Sell with a $17.00 price target. To see the full list of analyst forecasts on Suburban Propane stock, see the SPH Stock Forecast page.

Financial Disclosures
Suburban Propane Schedules Q3 2025 Results Call
Neutral
Jul 23, 2025

On July 23, 2025, Suburban Propane Partners, L.P. announced its Fiscal 2025 Third Quarter Results Conference Call, scheduled for August 7, 2025. The call will discuss the company’s third-quarter results and business outlook, providing insights for analysts, investors, and stakeholders.

The most recent analyst rating on (SPH) stock is a Sell with a $17.00 price target. To see the full list of analyst forecasts on Suburban Propane stock, see the SPH Stock Forecast page.

Glossary
BuyA stock rated as a "Buy" is expected to perform better than the overall market or a specific benchmark over the near-to-medium term. This rating suggests the stock is likely to deliver higher returns compared to other stocks in the same sector or market index. Note: This is not investment advice; please consult a financial advisor before making investment decisions.
HoldA stock rated as a "Hold" is expected to perform in line with the overall market or a specific benchmark. This rating indicates that the stock is neither particularly compelling nor unfavorable for investment. Note: This is not investment advice; please consult a financial advisor before making investment decisions.
SellA stock rated as a "Sell" is expected to perform worse than the overall market or a specific benchmark over the near-to-medium term. This rating suggests the stock may deliver lower returns compared to other stocks in the same sector or market index. Note: This is not investment advice; please consult a financial advisor before making investment decisions.

Disclaimer

This AI Analyst Stock Report is automatically generated by our AI systems using advanced algorithms and publicly available financial, technical, and market data. While the information provided aims to be accurate and insightful, it is intended for informational purposes only and should not be considered financial advice. Any content created by an AI (Artificial Intelligence) system may contain inaccuracies and/or contain errors. Investing in stocks carries inherent risks, and past performance is not indicative of future results. This report does not account for your personal financial circumstances, objectives, or risk tolerance. Always conduct your own research or consult with a qualified financial advisor before making investment decisions. The analysis and recommendations provided are based on historical and current data and may not fully reflect future market conditions or unexpected developments. Neither the creators of this report nor its affiliated entities guarantee the accuracy, completeness, or reliability of the information presented. Use this report at your own discretion and risk.Date of analysis: Sep 24, 2025