Superior Raises Medium-Term Growth Outlook; Announces Q1 2026 Results
All dollar amounts are in USD unless otherwise noted and changes in performance are relative to comparable period of 2025 unless otherwise noted
- Superior is increasing its expected 2027 Adjusted EBITDA growth rate to 5% from 2% reflecting the signing of multiple new agreements to provide delivered energy to hyperscale data center projects; Superior continues to expect 2% growth in 2026 Adjusted EBITDA
-
Certarus is also commissioning a new CNG supply hub in
Utah and has been awarded a contract to serve as the primary natural gas supply for a hyperscale data center project in the area -
Adjusted EBITDA(1) in
North American Propane was$214.6 million in the first quarter of 2026, generating modest growth compared to a strong Q1 2025 -
Adjusted EBITDA in CNG was
$38.4 million , a decrease consistent with management’s expectations; CNG is well positioned for future growth -
Adjusted EBTDA per share(1) of
$0.91 increased 2% primarily because of the company’s share repurchase program -
The company has repurchased approximately 34 million common shares, representing approximately 14% of its outstanding common shares since
November 2024 . While management continues to view the company’s shares as exceptional value, Superior is strategically shifting capital allocation priorities from share repurchases to accretive investments in Certarus’ growing data center business, as its pipeline of opportunities continues to expand
(1) Adjusted EBITDA, Adjusted EBTDA per share and Free Cash Flow per share are Non-GAAP Financial Measures. See “Non-GAAP Financial Measures and Ratios” section below.
The results for the quarter saw modest growth in propane with an anticipated temporary decline in the CNG business.
“We’re pleased with our first quarter performance, which reflects the commitment of our teams across
The company also announced revised guidance, following the signing of multiple new agreements to provide delivered energy to hyperscale data center projects. In addition, Certarus announced plans to open a new hub in
“In CNG, we are seeing unprecedented growth in the total addressable market for delivered energy across North America,” continued MacDonald. “The more than
Segmented Information
|
Three Months Ended |
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|
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(millions of dollars) |
2026 |
2025 |
||
|
|
158.7 |
163.6 |
||
|
Canadian Propane Adjusted EBITDA(1) |
55.9 |
49.1 |
||
|
CNG Adjusted EBITDA(1) |
38.4 |
55.1 |
||
|
Adjusted EBITDA from Operations(1) |
253.0 |
267.8 |
||
|
Corporate Operating Costs(1) |
(7.1) |
(7.3) |
||
|
Adjusted EBITDA(1) |
245.9 |
260.5 |
||
|
(1) Adjusted EBITDA from operations, Corporate Operating Costs and Adjusted EBITDA are Non-GAAP Financial Measures. See “Non-GAAP Financial Measures and Ratios” section below. |
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Financial Overview |
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|
|
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|
Three Months Ended |
|||||
|
|
|
|||||
|
(millions of dollars, except per share amounts) |
|
2026 |
|
2025 |
||
|
Revenue |
|
897.4 |
|
1,008.4 |
||
|
Gross Profit |
|
492.4 |
|
498.9 |
||
|
Net earnings for the period |
|
126.9 |
|
146.4 |
||
|
Net earnings for the period attributable to Superior per share, basic and diluted |
$ |
0.50 |
$ |
0.54 |
||
|
Adjusted Net earnings per share(1)(2) |
$ |
0.68 |
$ |
0.67 |
||
|
Adjusted EBITDA from operations(1) |
|
253.0 |
|
267.8 |
||
|
Adjusted EBITDA(1) |
|
245.9 |
|
260.5 |
||
|
Adjusted EBITDA per share(1)(3) |
$ |
1.00 |
$ |
0.98 |
||
|
Adjusted EBTDA per share(1)(3) |
$ |
0.91 |
$ |
0.89 |
||
|
Free Cash Flow per share(1)(2) |
$ |
0.87 |
$ |
0.94 |
||
|
|
|
|
|
|
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Cash dividends declared per share on common shares |
C$ |
0.045 |
C$ |
0.045 |
||
|
(1) Adjusted EBITDA from operations, Adjusted EBITDA, Adjusted EBTDA per share, Adjusted Net Earnings (loss) per share and Free Cash Flow per share are Non-GAAP Financial Measures. See “Non-GAAP Financial Measures and Ratios” section below. |
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(2) The basic weighted average number of outstanding shares for the three months ended |
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(3) The diluted weighted average number of outstanding shares for the three months ended |
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Updated Outlook
-
Given CNG’s growing data center business, Superior plans to invest an additional
$70 million of capital in 2026, bringing total expected capital expenditures in 2026 from approximately$160 million to$230 million . Recently announced data center work is expected to begin contributing to EBITDA in 2027; as a result, the company is making no changes to its 2026 EBITDA guidance, however is modestly increasing its expected EBITDA growth from 2026 to 2027 to approximately 5% based on the recently signed data center contracts - 2027 capital allocation decisions remain under consideration, however the assumptions underlying the previously disclosed compound annual free cash flow growth rate of 20-25% from 2024 to 2027 have changed given the anticipated capital expenditures related to recently awarded data center contracts. As a result, the company is withdrawing its previous free cash flow growth rate guidance for the 2024-2027 timeframe as management views the most attractive use of capital to be reinvestment in CNG
- Additional key assumptions for the above forward-looking information can be found under the “Financial Outlook” section in Superior’s 2026 First Quarter MD&A
Propane Distribution Results and Superior Delivers (changes in performance are relative to the same period of 2025)
-
Q1 Adjusted EBITDA(1) across propane operations increased
$1.9 million , or 1%, driven by a more efficient cost structure and favourable currency, offset by lower volumes -
Superior Delivers contributed
$12.0 million to Adjusted EBITDA(1) in Q1 and remains on track to contribute$50 million during 2026, with the largest contribution expected in Q4, and to contribute at least$75 million in 2028 - Within the Cost-to-Serve pillar, the scheduling optimization tool remains the focus and is expected to contribute to EBITDA growth in 2026, primarily during the peak delivery season that begins later in the year
- Within the Wholesale Advantage pillar, the company continues to optimize propane procurement which is expected to contribute to EBITDA growth this year
CNG Results (changes in performance are relative to the same period in 2025)
-
Q1 Adjusted EBITDA(1) decreased 30% to
$38.4 million driven by lower ancillary revenue from utility winter standby services and reduced wellsite pricing from the year-ago period - Q1 volumes of 9,382,000 MMBtu increased 6%, a new record for the division. Volume growth was driven by business expansion with industrial power, industrial mining, and wellsite customers
- In Q1, operating costs per MMBtu increased 2% primarily due to increased use of third-party trucking services partially offset by reduced repair and maintenance costs
-
In May, Certarus announced it is commissioning a new CNG supply hub in
Utah and has been awarded a contract to serve as the primary natural gas supply for a hyperscale data center project in the area. Operations at itsUtah facility, along with gas supply to the data center, are expected to commence this month - From the beginning of the year through today’s release, Certarus has secured four new gas supply agreements for prime power generation at new data center and related cloud infrastructure manufacturing facilities. The project pipeline continues to expand with demand growing at a faster rate than available power and fuel
Common Share Repurchases
-
For the quarter ended
March 31, 2026 , Superior repurchased 2% of the outstanding common shares, or 4.2 million shares forC$29.6 million at a volume weighted average cost of approximatelyC$7.03 per common share -
Since
November 2024 , the company has repurchased approximately 34 million shares or 14% of its outstanding common shares for approximatelyC$233 million at an average price belowC$7.00 -
As at
March 31, 2026 , Superior has 214.6 million common shares issued and outstanding compared to 232.2 million onMarch 31, 2025 - While management continues to view the company’s shares as exceptional value, Superior is strategically shifting capital allocation priorities from share repurchases to accretive investments in Certarus’ growing data center business
Quarterly Dividend
-
Superior is declaring a quarterly common share dividend of
C$0.045 per share, payable to shareholders of record as ofJune 30, 2026 . The common share dividend will be payable onJuly 15, 2026
Debt, Leverage and the Preferred Shares Outstanding
- The Company’s Q1 2026 leverage ratio of 3.9x increased modestly from 3.7x at Q1 2025, but declined from 4.0x in Q4 2025, reflecting seasonally lower net debt balances, partially offset by lower Adjusted EBITDA
- Given the increased capital investment and EBITDA growth related to CNG, the company expects to achieve a leverage ratio of approximately 3.9x by the end of 2026 and continues to expect 3.5x by the end of 2027
- If the company were to redeem its preferred shares using incremental debt, its 2027 targeted leverage ratio would increase by approximately 0.5x
- Superior remains committed to reducing leverage towards 3.0x over time to preserve financial flexibility and support future growth
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(1) Adjusted EBITDA and Leverage Ratio are Non-GAAP Financial Measures. See “Non-GAAP Financial Measures and Ratios” section below. |
MD&A and Financial Statements
Superior’s MD&A and the unaudited condensed Consolidated Financial Statements as at and for the quarter ended
2026 First Quarter Conference Call
A conference call and webcast to discuss the 2026 first quarter financial results will be held at
About
Superior is a North American distributor and marketer of propane, compressed natural gas (“CNG”), hydrogen and related products and services, and transports renewable natural gas (“RNG”) from production facilities to natural gas distribution networks. The company is headquartered in
Forward-Looking Information
This news release contains information or statements that are or may be “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities laws. When used in this presentation, the words “may”, “will”, “should”, “expect”, “plan”, “anticipate”, “believe”, “estimate”, “predict”, “forecast”, “project”, “intend”, “target”, “potential”, “continue” or the negative of these terms or terminology of a similar nature as they relate to Superior or an affiliate/subsidiary of Superior are intended to identify forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements in this news release include, without limitation, information and statements relating to: Superior’s future financial position, the anticipated initiatives, impact of, and our ability to successfully execute on the Superior Delivers transformation, expected 2026 Adjusted EBITDA growth, expected Adjusted EBITDA growth from 2026 to 2027, expected 2026 Adjusted EBITDA of
Forward-looking information is provided to provide information about management’s expectations and plans for the future and may not be appropriate for other purposes. Forward-looking information herein is based on various assumptions, and expectations that Superior believes are reasonable in the circumstances, including the assumptions referenced in this press release as well as assumptions about our ability to execute on the goals and targets of the Superior Delivers transformation, including
The forward-looking information is also subject to the risks and uncertainties set forth below. By its very nature, forward-looking information involves numerous assumptions, risks and uncertainties, both general and specific. Should one or more of these risks and uncertainties materialize or should underlying assumptions prove incorrect, as many important factors are beyond our control, Superior’s actual performance and financial results may vary materially from those estimates and expectations contemplated, expressed or implied in the forward-looking information. These risks and uncertainties include the success and of, and timing to achieve, the initiatives being pursued pursuant to the Superior Delivers program, ongoing capital requirements of the businesses, anticipated completion and related timing of data center projects serviced by the CNG business, anticipated timing of operations commencing at a new CNG supply hub, weather differing materially from the five year average weather, market conditions, demand and competition for CNG in jurisdictions where CNG operates, economic activity in the oil and gas sector, commodity prices, risks relating to incorrect assessments of value when making acquisitions, failure to realize expected cost-savings and synergies from acquisitions, increases in debt service charges, the loss of key personnel, fluctuations in foreign currency and exchange rates, fluctuations in commodity prices, increasing rates of inflation, inadequate insurance coverage, liability for cash taxes, counterparty risk, compliance with environmental laws and regulations, reduced customer demand, operational risks involving our facilities and equipment, force majeure, labour relations matters, our ability to access external sources of debt and equity capital, and the risks identified in (i) our 2026 Q1 MD&A under the heading “Risk Factors” and (ii) Superior’s most recent Annual Information Form. The preceding list of assumptions, risks and uncertainties is not exhaustive.
When relying on our forward-looking information to make decisions with respect to Superior, investors and others should carefully consider the preceding factors, other uncertainties and potential events. Any forward-looking information is provided as of the date of this document and, except as required by law, Superior does not undertake to update or revise such information to reflect new information, subsequent or otherwise. For the reasons set forth above, investors should not place undue reliance on forward-looking information.
The estimates and targets regarding Superior’s future financial performance, including, but not limited to, estimated target of incremental Adjusted EBITDA of $75+ million from the Superior Delivers transformation by 2028, are provided herein to assist readers in understanding Superior’s estimated and targeted financial results, and such information may not be appropriate for other purposes. Superior and its management believe that such information has been prepared based on assumptions that are reasonable in the circumstances, reflecting management’s best estimates and judgements, and represents, to the best of management’s knowledge and opinion, Superior’s estimated and targeted financial results. However, because this information is highly subjective, it should not be relied on as necessarily indicative of future results.
Non-GAAP Financial Measures and Ratios
Throughout this news release, Superior has identified specific terms, including ratios, that it uses that are not standardized measures under International Financial Reporting Standards (“Non-GAAP Financial Measures”) and therefore may not be comparable to similar financial measures disclosed by other issuers. Information to reconcile these Non-GAAP Financial Measures to the most directly comparable financial measures in Superior’s condensed consolidated financial statements as at and for the three months ended
Adjusted EBITDA is consistent with the Segment profit (loss) disclosed in Note 18 Reportable Segment Information of the Financial Statements. Adjusted EBITDA from operations is the sum of
Adjusted EBTDA is calculated as Adjusted EBITDA less interest on borrowings and interest on lease liability. Adjusted EBTDA per share is calculated by dividing Adjusted EBTDA by the weighted average outstanding shares assuming the exchange of the issued and outstanding preferred shares into common shares.
Corporate Operating Costs are defined as Corporate Segment profit (loss) disclosed in Note 18 Reportable Segment Information of the condensed consolidated financial statements for the quarter ended
Capital Expenditures are inclusive of purchases of property, plant and equipment and intangible assets and lease additions.
Leverage Ratio is determined by dividing Superior’s Net Debt (
Free Cash Flow per share for Q1 2026 is calculated as Segment Profit (Loss) (
Adjusted Net Earnings for Q1 2026 is calculated as segment profit for the period (
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