STAMFORD, Conn., Dec. 12, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Star Group, L.P. (the "Company" or "Star") (NYSE:SGU), a home energy distributor and services provider, today announced it has entered into a definitive agreement to purchase a home energy distributor, located within the Company’s existing operating footprint, for approximately $68 million before working capital adjustments. Star anticipates closing on the transaction within the next 45 days, subject to compliance with governmental reporting requirements. A ...

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - Total revenue decreased modestly due to slightly lower volumes and selling prices, while full year adjusted EBITDA increased by $14.7 million compared to fiscal 2023, driven by higher home heating oil and propane margins and improved service and installation profitability [8][18] - Net customer attrition rose to 4.2% in fiscal 2024, slightly up year-over-year, despite improvements in internal customer satisfaction indicators [9][28] - The net loss for the quarter increased by $15 million to $35 million, primarily due to an unfavorable non-cash change in the fair value of derivative instruments [16] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - Home heating oil and propane volume for Q4 decreased by 300,000 gallons, or about 1.5%, to 18.5 million gallons, with acquisitions offset by net customer attrition [14] - Product gross profit increased by $4 million, or roughly 10%, to $42 million, largely due to higher margins [15] - For the full year, home heating oil and propane volume decreased by 6 million gallons, or 2%, to 253 million gallons, with product gross profit increasing by approximately $21 million, or 5%, to $468 million [17][18] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - Temperatures in the operational areas were 15% warmer than normal but roughly flat year-over-year, impacting customer demand [7][17] - The company recorded a weather hedge benefit of $7.5 million in fiscal 2024, down from $12.5 million in fiscal 2023, contributing to increased expenses [17] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The acquisition program is a key growth strategy, with five transactions completed in fiscal 2024, adding over 20,000 customers and 23 million gallons of heating oil and propane volume annually [11] - The company has a strong acquisition pipeline with several opportunities currently under review, indicating optimism for future growth [30] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management noted the challenges posed by a mild winter and lower real estate activity affecting customer additions, but expressed confidence in the company's ability to provide superior service [10][12] - The management remains focused on cost containment and operational efficiency, which contributed to improved EBITDA results [8] Other Important Information - The company completed a credit facility that includes a $400 million revolver and a $210 million term loan, enhancing liquidity for acquisitions and corporate purposes [12] Q&A Session Summary Question: What does the weather forecasting indicate for the upcoming heating season? - Management indicated that the first two months of fiscal 2025 have been milder than normal, with November being about 20% more mild than usual, but they refrain from making strong predictions [26] Question: How is customer retention currently? - Management reported that customer losses and churn rates have improved, but lower market activity, particularly in real estate, impacted customer gain rates [28] Question: What is the outlook for the acquisition environment? - Management expressed optimism about the acquisition pipeline, having closed five acquisitions in 2024 and currently reviewing several opportunities [30]

Core Viewpoint - Disney's spending on Star Wars productions has reached $2.9 billion, largely driven by the budget of the new series "The Acolyte," which has faced significant backlash and low audience ratings despite initial viewership success [2][10]. Financial Overview - The total cost of Disney's Star Wars productions in the UK has increased to $2.9 billion, with "The Acolyte" alone accounting for $207.8 million in costs as of September 2023 [2][10][8]. - In 2022, Disney spent $141.7 million on UK Star Wars productions, bringing the cumulative total to $2.7 billion before the release of "The Acolyte" [10]. - The production budget for "The Acolyte" in 2023 was $192 million, contributing to the overall increase in spending [10]. Audience Reception - "The Acolyte" premiered on June 4, 2023, generating 4.8 million views on its launch day, making it the biggest series premiere on Disney+ for the year [7]. - The show received an audience score of 50% on Rotten Tomatoes shortly after its launch, which plummeted to 18% due to overwhelmingly negative reviews [5]. - The critics' score on Rotten Tomatoes was more favorable at 78%, indicating a disparity between critic and audience reception [6]. Production Insights - Disney's filming of "The Acolyte" in the UK allows the company to benefit from the Audio-Visual Expenditure Credit (AVEC), which provides a cash reimbursement of up to 25.5% of production costs [13]. - The production faced budget overruns after filming began, leading to concerns about its financial viability [8]. Employment and Economic Impact - Disney's investments in UK productions have supported over 32,000 jobs, with a total of $218.3 million spent on wages and social security payments for Star Wars productions [18]. - The UK government’s reimbursement to studios comes from taxpayer money, highlighting the financial implications of such productions on the national budget [16].

EXHIBIT 99.1 Star Group, L.P. Reports Fiscal 2024 Fourth Quarter Results STAMFORD, Conn., Dec. 04, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Star Group, L.P. (the "Company" or "Star") (NYSE:SGU), a home energy distributor and services provider, today announced financial results for its fiscal 2024 fourth quarter and year ended September 30, 2024. Three Months Ended September 30, 2024 Compared to the Three Months Ended September 30, 2023 For the fiscal 2024 fourth quarter, Star reported a 10.0 percent decrease in total reven ...

STAMFORD, Conn., Dec. 04, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Star Group, L.P. (the "Company" or "Star") (NYSE:SGU), a home energy distributor and services provider, today announced financial results for its fiscal 2024 fourth quarter and year ended September 30, 2024. Three Months Ended September 30, 2024 Compared to the Three Months Ended September 30, 2023For the fiscal 2024 fourth quarter, Star reported a 10.0 percent decrease in total revenue to $240.3 million compared with $266.9 million in the prior-year period ...

UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION Washington, DC 20549 Title of each class Trading Symbol(s) Name of each exchange on which registered Common Units SGU New York Stock Exchange Common Unit Purchase Rights N/A New York Stock Exchange Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act: None FORM 10-K (Mark One) ☒ ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 or 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 For the fiscal year ended September 30, 2024 OR ☐ TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 O ...

Analyst’s Disclosure: I/we have a beneficial long position in the shares of EIF:CA either through stock ownership, options, or other derivatives. I wrote this article myself, and it expresses my own opinions. I am not receiving compensation for it (other than from Seeking Alpha). I have no business relationship with any company whose stock is mentioned in this article. While this article may sound like financial advice, please observe that the author is not a CFA or in any way licensed to give financial adv ...

Company Overview - Star Group, L.P. is a leading provider of home heating products and services, catering to both residential and commercial customers [3] - The company specializes in the sale and servicing of heating and air conditioning equipment, primarily for home heating oil and propane customers, and also offers diesel and gasoline on a delivery-only basis [3] - Star Group is recognized as the largest retail distributor of home heating oil in the U.S. based on sales volume, serving customers mainly in the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic regions [3] Upcoming Financial Results - Star Group will release its fiscal 2024 fourth quarter results after the market closes on December 4, 2024 [1] - A webcast and conference call will be held on December 5, 2024, at 11:00 a.m. Eastern Time to discuss the financial results for the three and twelve months ended September 30, 2024 [1][2]

Miami, FL, Nov. 26, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Blue Star Foods Corp., (“Blue Star,” the “Company,” “we,” “our” or “us”) (NASDAQ: BSFC), an integrated Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) sustainable seafood company with a focus on Recirculatory Aquaculture Systems (RAS), today announced a stock buyback program to repurchase up to $1.5 million of the Company's common stock. Under the program, the Company is authorized to repurchase its shares from time to time in the open market. The timing and amount o ...

Also wins awards for Universal ITO, Most Adaptable Partner, and Outstanding Service in the Americas Region based on the voice of customersSANTA CLARA, Calif. and PUNE, India, Nov. 25, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Persistent Systems (BSE: 533179) and (NSE: PERSISTENT), a global pioneer in Digital Engineering and Enterprise Modernization, has been recognized with the prestigious 2024 ISG Star of Excellence™ Overall Award for superior customer experience, presented by Information Services Group, a leading global techn ...