USAC
EnergyUSA Compression Partners, LP · Oil & Gas Equipment & Services · $4B
What is USA Compression Partners, LP?
USA Compression Partners, LP is a midstream energy partnership focused on natural gas compression services. Operating one of the largest compression fleets in the country, it plays a critical infrastructure role connecting producers to processing and gathering networks.
USA Compression generates revenue by providing compression services under fee-based contracts to oil and gas producers, processors, gatherers, and transporters. Rather than owning commodity reserves, the company earns fees for keeping natural gas moving through midstream infrastructure — centralized gathering systems and processing facilities. This service-oriented model ties revenue to volumes and contracted horsepower rather than commodity price swings, offering a degree of cash flow predictability relative to upstream energy peers.
The partnership was formed in 2013 and is headquartered in Dallas, Texas.
- Natural gas compression services for midstream infrastructure
- Fleet-based horsepower deployment to gathering systems
- Compression solutions for processing and treating facilities
- Service contracts with producers, gatherers, and transporters
Is USAC a Good Stock to Buy?
UQS Score rates USAC as Good overall, reflecting a balanced but nuanced profile across its five pillars.
The Quality and Growth pillars both register as Good, suggesting the partnership generates reasonably consistent cash flows and has demonstrated expansion in its contracted fleet. The Valuation pillar also lands in Good territory, indicating the units are not obviously stretched relative to fundamentals.
The Moat and Risk pillars both score Weak — the compression services market is competitive, and the partnership carries a meaningful debt load typical of capital-intensive midstream MLPs, which warrants attention from income-focused investors.
See the exact pillar breakdown and full financial metrics by signing up for a UQS Pro account. Sign up free →
Past performance does not guarantee future results. UQS Score is based on fundamental data and is not a buy/sell recommendation.
Does USAC pay dividends?
Yes — USA Compression Partners, LP pays a dividend.
USAC pays a regular distribution, as is common for master limited partnerships structured to return cash to unitholders. The partnership's fee-based revenue model supports this cadence. Investors drawn to midstream MLPs often prioritize distribution consistency, though the elevated debt load flagged in the Risk pillar is worth monitoring alongside any income thesis.
When does USAC report earnings?
USA Compression Partners reports earnings on a quarterly cadence, consistent with US-listed partnerships.
Results have generally reflected the contracted nature of the business, with fleet utilization and horsepower growth serving as key operational indicators. Revenue trends tend to track contracted volumes rather than spot commodity prices.
For the most recent quarter's results and guidance, visit USA Compression Partners' investor relations page directly.
USAC Price History
+175.0% over 5Y
Monthly close, adjusted for stock splits and dividend reinvestment.
What if I invested in USA Compression Partners, LP?
Based on USA Compression Partners, LP's historical closing prices, adjusted for stock splits and dividend reinvestment. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is for informational purposes only and is not financial advice.
USAC Long-term Outlook
The Good Growth pillar suggests the partnership has room to expand its contracted fleet as natural gas infrastructure demand persists across US basins. However, the Weak Risk pillar signals that leverage and interest rate sensitivity could constrain distribution growth or capital deployment. The Weak Moat pillar means competitive pricing pressure from other compression providers remains a structural headwind. Investors should weigh the infrastructure tailwinds against balance sheet constraints when forming a long-term view.
Growth drivers
- Rising natural gas gathering and processing volumes in key US basins
- Expansion of contracted horsepower through new customer agreements
- Growing midstream infrastructure buildout supporting compression demand
Key risks
- High leverage typical of MLP structures amplified by rising interest rates
- Competitive compression market limiting pricing power
- Customer concentration and contract renewal risk in midstream services
USAC vs Peers
USAC operates in a competitive midstream and energy services landscape alongside several peers offering adjacent or overlapping services.
TerraVest is a Canadian industrial manufacturer serving energy and agriculture markets, with a broader product mix beyond pure compression services.
CES Energy Solutions focuses on production and drilling chemical technologies, competing in the oilfield services space rather than compression infrastructure.
Cactus specializes in wellhead and pressure control equipment, serving upstream producers at the wellsite rather than midstream gathering networks.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does USA Compression Partners do?
USA Compression Partners provides natural gas compression services to midstream energy infrastructure. It deploys large compression fleets under fee-based contracts to help producers, gatherers, and processors move natural gas through gathering systems and processing facilities. The company earns fees based on contracted horsepower rather than commodity prices.
Does USAC pay dividends?
Yes, USAC pays a regular distribution to unitholders, structured as is typical for master limited partnerships. The fee-based revenue model supports this income-oriented payout. Investors should review the partnership's most recent filings for current distribution levels and coverage ratios.
When does USAC report earnings?
USA Compression Partners reports on a quarterly cadence, in line with standard US-listed partnership reporting schedules. For exact dates and upcoming earnings releases, check the investor relations section of the company's official website.
Is USAC a good stock to buy?
UQS Score rates USAC as Good overall. The Quality, Growth, and Valuation pillars are constructive, but the Weak Moat and Weak Risk pillars highlight competitive and leverage concerns. Whether it fits your portfolio depends on your income goals and risk tolerance. The full pillar breakdown is available to UQS Pro members.
Is USAC overvalued?
The UQS Valuation pillar for USAC is rated Good, suggesting the units are not obviously expensive relative to fundamentals. Midstream MLPs are often evaluated on distribution yield and coverage rather than traditional equity multiples. View the complete valuation metrics with a UQS Pro account.
How does USAC compare to its competitors?
USAC is one of the largest pure-play natural gas compression providers by fleet horsepower. Peers like Cactus focus on wellhead equipment, while CES Energy Solutions operates in production chemicals — making direct comparisons nuanced. USAC's scale in compression infrastructure is a relative differentiator within its niche.
What is USAC's market cap bracket?
USAC is classified as a mid-cap partnership. This places it in a range where institutional coverage exists but liquidity can be more variable than large-cap energy companies. Mid-cap MLPs often carry both growth potential and elevated sensitivity to credit market conditions.
Who founded USA Compression Partners?
USA Compression Partners was formed as a Delaware limited partnership in 2013. The company's founding history and leadership background are publicly available through its SEC filings and investor relations materials.
Is USAC a long-term quality investment?
As a long-term quality indicator, USAC's Good overall UQS Score reflects a mixed picture. Strong Quality and Growth signals are offset by Weak Moat and Risk scores, meaning durability of competitive position and balance sheet resilience are areas to monitor over a multi-year horizon. Pro members can access the full longitudinal analysis.
What is the main competitive advantage of USA Compression Partners?
USAC's primary advantage is its scale — operating one of the largest natural gas compression fleets in the US gives it operational reach and the ability to serve large infrastructure customers. However, the UQS Moat pillar rates this advantage as Weak, reflecting that compression services remain a competitive, commoditized market.
What sector does USAC belong to?
USAC operates in the Energy sector, specifically within midstream energy services. It is structured as a master limited partnership, which distinguishes it from corporate-structure energy companies in terms of tax treatment, distribution policy, and investor reporting requirements.
Is USAC a growth stock or value stock?
USAC sits closer to an income and value profile than a pure growth play. The Growth pillar is rated Good, suggesting fleet expansion is ongoing, but the partnership's MLP structure and regular distributions make it more attractive to income-oriented investors. The Good Valuation pillar adds to the value-leaning case.
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Pro Analysis
USAC — Score History
| Date | UQS | Quality | Moat | Growth | Risk | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| May 22, 2026 | 49.2 | 67.1 | 24.0 | 66.1 | 12.6 | 75.4 | +0.1 |
| May 21, 2026 | 49.1 | 67.1 | 24.0 | 66.1 | 12.6 | 75.0 | -0.2 |
| May 14, 2026 | 49.3 | 67.1 | 24.0 | 66.1 | 12.6 | 76.3 | -0.2 |
| May 12, 2026 | 49.5 | 67.1 | 24.0 | 66.1 | 12.6 | 77.6 | -0.6 |
| May 7, 2026 | 50.1 | 54.5 | 24.0 | 66.1 | 36.2 | 78.9 | +0.2 |
| May 3, 2026 | 49.9 | 54.5 | 24.0 | 66.1 | 36.2 | 77.8 | -0.1 |
| Apr 26, 2026 | 50.0 | 54.5 | 24.0 | 66.1 | 36.2 | 78.0 | -0.2 |
| Apr 22, 2026 | 50.2 | 54.5 | 24.0 | 66.1 | 36.2 | 79.3 | -4.7 |
| Apr 20, 2026 | 54.9 | 64.2 | 24.0 | 77.8 | 36.2 | 79.3 | -0.2 |
| Apr 19, 2026 | 55.1 | 64.2 | 24.0 | 77.8 | 36.2 | 80.4 | +0.1 |
USAC — Pillar Breakdown
Quality
— 67.1/100 (25%)USA Compression Partners, LP shows solid profitability with healthy returns on capital and reasonable margins.
How effectively capital is deployed to generate returns.
Profitability relative to shareholders' equity.
Ability to convert revenue into operating profit.
Bottom-line profit as a share of revenue.
Asset productivity — how much gross profit each dollar of assets generates.
Free cash flow relative to market value.
Growth
— 66.1/100 (20%)USA Compression Partners, LP demonstrates healthy growth trends across revenue and earnings.
Revenue trajectory over the last twelve months.
Compound annual revenue growth rate over 3 years.
Year-over-year earnings per share growth.
Analyst consensus for future revenue growth.
Analyst consensus for future earnings growth.
Risk
— 12.6/100 (15%)USA Compression Partners, LP presents elevated risk with concerns around leverage or financial stability.
Debt levels relative to earnings capacity.
Total debt relative to shareholder equity.
Short-term liquidity — ability to pay near-term obligations.
Earnings capacity relative to interest payments.
Valuation
— 75.8/100 (15%)USA Compression Partners, LP appears attractively valued relative to its earnings, cash flows, and sector peers.
Inverse of forward P/E — higher yield means cheaper stock.
How many years of FCF the market cap represents.
P/E relative to earnings growth — lower is more attractive.
Enterprise value multiple relative to sector median.
Moat
— 24/100 (25%)USA Compression Partners, LP operates in a highly competitive environment with limited sustainable advantages. The Moat pillar evaluates competitive advantages across five dimensions: Switching Costs, Network Effects, Cost Advantage, Intangible Assets, and Scale & Ecosystem. Sign in to customize moat ratings for USAC.
Score Composition
Financial Data
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How is the USAC UQS Score Calculated?
The UQS (Unified Quality Score) for USA Compression Partners, LP is calculated using a proprietary 6-pillar framework with 29 financial metrics. Each pillar evaluates a different dimension on a 0–100 scale, then combines into a single weighted score. Scoring thresholds are calibrated per sector. Momentum is an optional Pro toggle — without it, you get the 5-pillar / 25-metric core shown below.
Quality (25%) measures profitability and capital efficiency — ROIC, ROE, margins, GP/Assets, and FCF Yield.
Moat (25%) assesses USA Compression Partners, LP's competitive advantages across switching costs, network effects, cost advantages, intangible assets, and ecosystem scale.
Growth (20%) tracks revenue trajectory and earnings momentum, combining historical results with analyst forward estimates.
Risk (15%) is inversely scored — lower leverage and strong balance sheet health result in higher scores.
Valuation (15%) measures whether USA Compression Partners, LP is fairly priced using earnings yield, price-to-FCF, PEG ratio, and EV/EBITDA relative to sector peers.
Six investor-inspired presets are available, each with different pillar weights: Balanced, Buffett, Munger, Lynch, Cathie Wood, and Graham. The public score shown here uses the Balanced preset. Learn more in our FAQ.