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DALLAS - USA Compression Partners, LP (NYSE: USAC) has announced the appointment of Chris Wauson as its new Chief Operating Officer (COO), effective April 5, 2025. Wauson, who is presently serving as the Regional Vice President of Operations, brings over 25 years of experience in the natural gas compression industry to his new role. The appointment comes as the company maintains strong financial health, with InvestingPro data showing a market capitalization of $2.9 billion and robust revenue growth of 12.3% over the last twelve months.
Wauson’s career began in 1999 at Hanover and has included significant positions at Alcoa, Valerus Compression, and CDM Resource Management, where he rose to the position of Senior Vice President of Operations. Following USA Compression’s acquisition of CDM in 2018, Wauson has been instrumental in expanding the company’s operations in the Permian Basin, turning it into the largest source of revenue for the firm. The company’s operational excellence is reflected in its impressive 67.5% gross profit margin and EBITDA of $567.5 million for the last twelve months.
Clint Green, CEO of USA Compression, praised Wauson’s appointment, highlighting his leadership skills and comprehensive industry experience as key assets that will strengthen the company’s operational capabilities and contribute to its long-term growth.
Wauson will be relocating with his family to the company’s headquarters in Dallas, where he will oversee all operational and commercial activities of USA Compression.
USA Compression Partners, LP is recognized as one of the nation’s leading independent providers of natural gas compression services. It maintains a vast compression fleet horsepower and serves a diverse customer base, including producers, processors, gatherers, and transporters of natural gas and crude oil. The company specializes in midstream natural gas compression services for large-scale gathering systems, processing facilities, and transportation applications. According to InvestingPro, the company has maintained dividend payments for 8 consecutive years, currently offering an attractive 8.3% dividend yield. Two analysts have recently revised their earnings upwards for the upcoming period, with the company expected to remain profitable this year. For detailed analysis and additional insights, investors can access the comprehensive Pro Research Report available on InvestingPro, covering this and 1,400+ other top US stocks.
This leadership transition is part of USA Compression’s ongoing strategy to leverage its experienced team to drive operational excellence and support its position in the natural gas compression services industry. The information regarding Chris Wauson’s appointment is based on a press release statement from USA Compression Partners, LP.
In other recent news, USA Compression Partners, LP announced an upgrade in its credit ratings by Moody’s, reflecting increased profitability and improved credit metrics. Moody’s raised the Corporate Family Rating to Ba3 from B1, noting the company’s strong operating performance and favorable industry conditions. Additionally, S&P Global revised its outlook for USA Compression to stable from positive, following a conservative earnings guidance for 2025, which projects EBITDA growth of 2%-4%. The company’s leverage is expected to remain between 4.4x and 4.6x due to these revised growth expectations.
Citi analyst Douglas Irwin adjusted the price target for USA Compression to $27, maintaining a Neutral rating due to anticipated growth in the company’s backlog, which is expected to enhance cash flow starting in 2026. Meanwhile, Raymond James analyst James Rollyson increased the price target to $30, retaining an Outperform rating after the company showed strong performance in the fourth quarter. The strategic deployment of large horsepower units and favorable market conditions, particularly in the Permian Basin, contributed to this positive assessment.
In organizational news, USA Compression appointed Julie A. McEwen as Vice President and Controller, effective March 2025, with no changes to her compensation package. This appointment follows standard corporate governance practices and was disclosed in compliance with SEC regulations. These developments highlight USA Compression’s strategic moves and market positioning in response to evolving industry dynamics.
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