On Thursday, Piper Sandler maintained its Overweight rating on Solaris Oilfield Infrastructure (NYSE: NYSE:SOI) stock with a steady price target of $11.00. The firm's stance comes in the wake of Solaris Oilfield's recent acquisition of Mobile Energy Rentals (MER), a move seen as a strategic expansion into the mobile power generation market. This sector is anticipated to experience significant growth due to the increasing demand for micro-grids and data centers.
The acquisition, announced on Wednesday, is viewed as a growth opportunity for Solaris Oilfield in contrast to the generally challenging North American land oilfield services industry, which has been struggling with unit count issues. MER, which currently operates with 153MW of mobile power generation capacity, has plans to expand its capacity to 478MW by the end of the third quarter of 2025.
The initial purchase price was set at a multiple of 4 times, and considering future equipment acquisitions and the associated EBITDA, the multiple is projected to be around 3.8 times. Following the announcement of the acquisition, Solaris Oilfield's stock experienced a significant surge, closing 37% higher on the day of the announcement.
The transaction is in line with the trend of smaller cap oil service companies seeking acquisitions that could be transformative and tap into a broader market. With MER's acquisition, Solaris Oilfield positions itself to capitalize on the expected rapid expansion of the mobile power generation business in the coming years.
In other recent news, Solaris Oilfield Infrastructure reported significant developments. The company recently expanded its portfolio through the acquisition of Mobile Energy Rentals, a strategic move that was announced in a live broadcast and is subject to customary terms and conditions. Financial details of the transaction were not disclosed, but the acquisition is expected to complement Solaris' existing services.
Solaris Oilfield Infrastructure also announced its Q1 2024 financial results, revealing a revenue of $68 million, adjusted EBITDA of $23 million, and free cash flow of $14 million.
Despite a projected flat North American land activity in the upcoming second quarter and a 5-10% decrease in frac crews, the company plans to capitalize on industry trends such as consolidation, efficiency, and electrification.
The company maintains a consistent history of stable and growing dividends, with plans to utilize its robust cash flow for dividends, share repurchases, and debt reduction.
These recent developments reflect Solaris' ongoing commitment to maximize return on capital for its shareholders, as it continues to navigate the complex landscape of the oil and gas industry.
InvestingPro Insights
In light of Piper Sandler's maintained Overweight rating on Solaris Oilfield Infrastructure (NYSE: SOI), recent market data from InvestingPro provides additional context worth considering. The company's market capitalization stands at a solid $499.97M, reflecting investor confidence. With a price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio of 16.29 and a slight adjustment in the last twelve months as of Q1 2024 to 16.43, the valuation is indicative of the market's view on the company's earnings potential. Notably, the company has seen a robust one-week price total return of 30.88%, which is a testament to the positive market reaction following the acquisition news.
InvestingPro Tips suggest that the stock may be in overbought territory based on the RSI, yet it's important to note that Solaris Oilfield has demonstrated a strong return over the last month and three months, with respective returns of 33.65% and 30.78%. Furthermore, the company has been able to maintain dividend payments for seven consecutive years, which is a sign of financial stability and commitment to shareholder value. With a dividend yield of 4.23%, it offers an attractive income component for investors. For those interested in deeper analysis, InvestingPro offers additional tips on the company's performance and outlook. Use coupon code PRONEWS24 to get up to 10% off a yearly Pro and a yearly or biyearly Pro+ subscription, and discover the 12 additional InvestingPro Tips that can guide your investment decisions.
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