Ultrapar (UGPA3.SA) has reported a remarkable improvement in its performance for the fourth quarter of 2023, marking record results in its main businesses— Ipiranga, Ultragaz, and Ultracargo. The company not only achieved its lowest financial leverage in 15 years but also reclaimed its investment-grade rating.
The period witnessed Ultrapar's net income surging by 37% and a significant reduction in net debt by nearly BRL 1 billion. The earnings call also shed light on the company's expansion plans, including the construction of a new liquid bulk terminal and the strengthening of its ESG commitments.
Key Takeaways
- Ultrapar's main businesses, Ipiranga, Ultragaz, and Ultracargo, saw record EBITDA growth in 2023.
- The company achieved the lowest financial leverage in 15 years and regained its investment-grade rating.
- Net income increased by 37%, and net debt decreased by nearly BRL 1 billion.
- Ipiranga's network expanded with 147 new service stations, reaching a total of 5,877.
- The company announced an exclusive partnership with Krispy Kreme for its AmPm stores in Brazil.
- Ultrapar's investment plan for 2024 is set at BRL 2.670 billion, focusing on expansion and infrastructure.
Company Outlook
- Ultrapar anticipates higher profitability in the first quarter of 2024 compared to the previous year, albeit similar to 2023 levels due to increased inventory.
- Expansion plans include a focus on branding stations and enhancing logistics infrastructure.
- Ultracargo will be investing in constructing a railway branch and a new terminal to support volume expansion and margin improvement.
Bearish Highlights
- Ipiranga's SG&A expenses rose by 36% in the fourth quarter of 2022, influenced by various one-off expenses.
- The profitability forecast for the first quarter of 2024 suggests a plateau near 2023 levels, indicating a moderated growth outlook.
Bullish Highlights
- Ultragaz reported a 41% growth in EBITDA, while Ultracargo saw a 24% increase, and Ipiranga's EBITDA grew by 68% in 2023.
- The company's leverage position is comfortable, and it continues to generate cash, enabling further investments and expansion.
- Executives are optimistic about the fuel distribution market, supported by economic growth and tax reforms.
Misses
- Specific details on future capital allocation or market expectations were not provided, leaving some uncertainty about the company's strategic directions.
- Challenges such as fuel falsification and the impact of inventory levels on margins were acknowledged without detailed mitigation strategies.
Q&A Highlights
- Executives discussed Ipiranga's mid and long-term plans, focusing on logistics, distribution, competitiveness, supply, and brand improvement.
- Approximately BRL 800 million in tax credits were utilized in 2023.
- Updates on Ultracargo's long-term expansion and market entry projects are expected in 2024.
Ultrapar's latest earnings call has showcased the company's robust growth trajectory and strategic investments aimed at expanding its market presence and enhancing operational efficiency. The company's focus on infrastructure development and commitment to ESG goals underscore its long-term vision.
While it faces some industry challenges, Ultrapar's optimistic outlook for its diverse business units and the broader fuel distribution market signals a continued path to profitability and growth.
InvestingPro Insights
Ultrapar has demonstrated a strong performance with its latest earnings report, but what do the numbers say about its financial health and market position? Here are some insights from InvestingPro that provide a deeper look into the company's valuation and stability:
- Ultrapar's market capitalization stands at $6.69 billion, reflecting the company's substantial size within the Oil, Gas & Consumable Fuels industry. This size is complemented by its history of maintaining dividend payments for 20 consecutive years, signaling a potential for consistent shareholder returns.
- The company's P/E ratio of 13.83 suggests that it is trading at a low price relative to its near-term earnings growth, which could indicate an attractive valuation for investors looking for growth at a reasonable price. This is further supported by a PEG ratio of 0.26 for the last twelve months as of Q3 2023, implying that the company's earnings growth could be undervalued.
- With a price sitting at 93.3% of its 52-week high and a large price uptick over the last six months, Ultrapar appears to be in a strong market position. These metrics are particularly relevant for investors seeking companies with a positive momentum in share price.
InvestingPro Tips for Ultrapar suggest that analysts are optimistic about the company's future, with two analysts having revised their earnings upwards for the upcoming period. Additionally, the company operates with a moderate level of debt, which gives it financial flexibility. For those interested in further analysis and tips, there are 13 additional InvestingPro Tips available for Ultrapar at https://www.investing.com/pro/UGP.
To gain full access to these insights and more, readers can use the coupon code PRONEWS24 to get an additional 10% off a yearly or biyearly Pro and Pro+ subscription. This offer is a valuable opportunity for investors who wish to stay ahead with in-depth analysis and real-time data.
Full transcript - Ultrapar Participacoes S.A. (UGP) Q4 2023:
Operator: Good morning. Thanks for waiting. We would like to welcome everyone to the conference call of Ultrapar's Fourth Quarter 2023 results. There is also a simultaneous webcast that may be accessed through the Ultrapar's website at ri.ultra.com.br and MZiQ platform. This presentation will be made by Rodrigo Pizzinatto, Ultrapar's Chief Financial Officer and Investor Relations Officer. During the Q&A session, we'll have also have Mr. Marcos Lutz, Ultrapar's CEO; the CEOs of Ultragaz and Ipiranga, Mr. Tabajara Bertelli and Mr. Leonardo Linden. And also the CFO of Ultracargo, Mr. Andre Zaia. We would like to let you know that this event is being recorded and all participants will be in listen-only mode during the company's presentation. After Ultrapar's remarks, we will start our Q&A session. At that time, for the instructions will be given to you. We would like to remind you that all participants in the webcast may submit their questions through our website questions that will be answered during the Q&A session. The replay of this call will be available for seven days once it's completed. Before moving on, we would like to let you know that forward-looking statements that are made during this conference are under the Safe Harbor of the Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1996. Forward-looking statements are based on the beliefs and assumptions of Ultrapar management and on information currently available to the company. They involve risks, uncertainties, and assumptions because they relate to future events. Therefore, they depend on circumstances that may or may not occur in the future. Investors should understand that general economic conditions, industry conditions and other operating factors can also affect the future results of Ultrapar and can cause results to differ materially from those expressed in such forward-looking statements. Let me now turn it over to Mr. Rodrigo Pizzinatto. He is going to start by giving us the presentation. So, please move on.
Rodrigo Pizzinatto: Good morning, everyone. It is a pleasure to be here once more to talk about Ultrapar results. I will start with a brief retrospective of 2023. Last year, we had significant improvements in the company even with an environment of volatility and uncertainties. Ipiranga, Ultragaz and Ultracargo, our three main businesses reached record results. The strong operating cash generation allowed the company to achieve the lowest financial leverage level of the last 15 years and contributed to the recovery of our investment-grade rating by Standard & Poor's. We completed the acquisition of Stella and NEOgás by Ultragaz and the acquisitions of Opla and Rondonópolis by Ultracargo. We also announced the construction of the first liquid bulk terminal in this [Indiscernible] state. Additionally, we obtained the approval of the antitrust authority for the partnership between Ultragaz and Supergasbras for sharing operating assets. And we also continue our ESG journey, making public commitments to the 2030 goals. I will now go through our earnings presentation for the fourth quarter and the year of 2023. And on the Slide number 2, I remind you that both the earnings release and this presentation consider Ultrapar's data from continuing operations in 2023. As for 2022, the company's data is presented in the pro forma view, considering the sum of continuing and discontinued operations unless otherwise indicated. Moving on to Slide 3 with Ultrapar's consolidated results. As you can see in the chart in the upper left side, our recurring EBITDA from continuing operations totaled BRL1.66 billion in the fourth quarter of 2023, 122% higher year-over-year. This increase is due to the higher EBITDA of the three main businesses, particularly Ipiranga results that I will detail in the next slides. Looking at the year's results, our recurring EBITDA from continuing operations totaled BRL5,615 billion, a 55% growth over 2022 with record results registered at the Ipiranga, Ultragaz, and Ultracargo. Ultrapar's net income was of BRL2.1 billion in 2023, 37% higher than that of 2022 due to the EBITDA growth and the lower level of net financial expenses. These effects were partially offset by the lower recognition of extraordinary tax credits, BRL108 million below the level of 2022. Our Board of Directors, as we have already announced, approved the additional distribution of BRL440 million in dividends, equivalent to BRL0.40 per share. It will be paid as from March 15 in addition to the payment made in August last year, totally -- totaling a distribution of BRL713 million in 2023. Investments from continuing operations totaled BRL1,949 billion in 2023, 11% above 2022 due to higher investment at Ipiranga, Ultragaz, and Ultracargo. We had a robust operating cash generation of BRL3.8 billion in 2023, BRL1.8 billion above the cash generation of 2022. This increase is due to the higher EBITDA and the lower investment in working capital due to the decreases in fuel prices throughout 2023. These effects were partially offset by the BRL1.6 billion reduction in the draft discount line. If we exclude this reduction, the operating cash generation in 2023 would have been of BRL5.5 billion. You can also see in the chart in the lower right side, the recovery of the company's profitability in the last five years measured by ROIC. And moving now to Slide 4 to talk about our liability management. We ended the year with a net debt of BRL6.1 billion, a reduction of nearly BRL1 billion in relation to September 2023. This reduction was a consequence of the greater operating cash generation despite the concentration of investments in the fourth quarter last year and the reduction of BRL135 million net debt dress discount balance in the quarter. Our financial leverage was reduced in the last 12 months and went from 1.7 times to 1.1 times in December 2023, the lowest level in the last 15 years, as I have already mentioned. The decrease is due to the higher EBITDA with cash generation and consequent reduction in the net debt. And I'd like to point out that the numbers of net debt for the fourth quarter still do not include paying receivables of BRL924 million related to the sales of Oxiteno and Extrafarma. You can also see at the bottom of this slide, a table with the total amount of trade discount and vendor lines as well as pending receivables from the sales of Oxiteno and Extrafarma. The net debt of December 2023, adding the dress discount vendor and divestment receivables would be BRL6.5 billion, which is BRL2.2 billion lower than the balance of December 2022. And moving now to Slide number 5 to talk about another excellent quarter for Ultragaz. The volume of LPG sold in the fourth quarter was 2% lower year-over-year due to the 5% reduction in the bottled segment on the back of lower market demand, attenuated by an increase of 3% in the bulk segment, mainly reflecting higher sales to industries. In 2023, the volume mobility sold was 2% higher year-over-year as a result of the 6% growth in the bulk segment due to greater sales to industry, while the bottle segment remained stable. Ultragaz SG&A in the fourth quarter was 3% lower than that of the fourth quarter of 2022 due to lower expenses with personnel and with the expansion and productivity projects. Ultragaz EBITDA totaled BRL106 million in the quarter, 11% above the fourth quarter of 2022. If we look for the year, Ultragaz EBITDA was BRL1.648 billion in 2023, a growth of 41% over 2022. Both annual and quarterly growth are explained by the initiatives to increase efficiency and productivity implemented in the last quarters by better sales mix and by inflation pass-through. And for this first quarter, we expect the continuity of the good results with profitability levels similar to those seen in the fourth quarter of 2023. And moving now to Slide 6 to talk about another great quarter of Ultracargo. The company's average installed capacity was 1.067 million cubic meters in the first quarter of 2023, a growth of 12% over the fourth quarter of 2022 due to the capacity additions coming from Opla, Vila do Conde, and Rondonópolis throughout the third quarter of 2023. These capacity additions still had no mature impact on this quarter's results and should begin to gradually contribute in the upcoming months as operations ramp up. The cubic meters sold grew by 16% year-over-year, mainly due to greater handling of use in Santos, Vila do Conde, and Itaqui and the start-up of operations in Opla and Rondonópolis. Ultracargo's net revenues was BRL257 million in the fourth quarter of 202, 13% higher than that of the fourth quarter of 2022. In 2023, Ultracargo's net revenues was BRL1.016 billion, a 17% growth over 2022. The growth in both compressors reflects their higher cubic meters sold and spot sales. Combined costs and expenses were 6% above that of the fourth quarter of 2022 as a consequence of two main factors; higher personnel expenses, mainly collective bargaining agreement and variable compensation in line with the results progression and higher depreciation costs due to the capacity additions. Ultracargo's EBITDA totaled BRL155 million in the quarter, 19% higher than that of the fourth quarter of 2022 due to greater capacity of occupancy with profitability gains, through spot sales and productivity and efficiency gains, despite higher expenses. EBITDA margin was 60% in the fourth quarter of 2023, 3 percentage points above that of the fourth quarter of 2022. For the year 2023, Ultracargo's EBITDA totaled BRL631 million, a 24% growth over 2022 for the same reasons that I just mentioned. EBITDA margin was 62%, 3 percentage points above that of 2022. And for the first quarter, we expect Ultracargo's good operating performance to continue with levels close to those seen in the first quarter of 2022. And moving now to Slide 10, let's talk about Ipiranga's results. Volumes sold in the quarter increased by 1% over the fourth quarter of 2022, with a 1% growth in both Otto cycle and diesel. For the year 2023, Ipiranga sales volume remained stable year-over-year with an increase of 2% in the Otto cycle and a drop of 1% in diesel. We ended the fourth quarter of 2023 with a network of 5,877 service stations, 61 more than in September 2026. A total of 147 new service stations were added to the network with an average volume contribution of 301 cubic meters per month. On the other hand, 86 service stations were closed with an average volume contribution of 143 cubic meters per month. We concluded in September the legacy management process of service stations that in the last two years registered a net service station closing of 1,227 service stations. At the end of this process, we have now a more robust and healthier method. And besides that, we ended the quarter with 1,540 AmPm stores with same-store sales growth of 8% in the fourth quarter of 2013. I take this opportunity to draw your attention to a partnership that AmPm and Krispy Kreme has just established. We will have exclusivity to sell Krispy Kreme products in our convenience stores in Brazil, which is aligned with the strategy of associating AmPm with iconic brands. Ipiranga's SG&A increased by 36% over the fourth quarter of 2022 due to four main factors; higher personnel expenses, mainly collected by gaining agreement and variable compensation, in line with the results progression; one-off expenses related to the conclusion of the service station closing process of the legacy network; higher marketing expenses; and the one-off positive net back of credits and provisions of BRL69 million registered in the fourth quarter of 2022. The other operating results line totaled a negative BRL131 million in the quarter, or worsening of BRL22 million over the fourth quarter of 2022. As a result of higher costs with carbon tax credits, attenuated by the higher constitution of extemporaneous tax credits. The line of results from disposal of assets totaled BRL40 million due to the sale of six real estate assets. Ipiranga's EBITDA totaled BRL1.767 billion in the quarter. The recurring EBITDA totaled BRL1.170 billion in the quarter, 270% above that year-over-year. The higher EBITDA mainly reflects the continued normalization of the commercial environment in the fourth quarter of 2023 compared to the higher supply of products and inventory losses in the fourth quarter of 2022. These effects were partially offset by higher expenses in the fourth quarter of 2022. For the year 2023, Ipiranga's EBITDA totaled BRL4.354 billion. Recurring EBITDA totaled BRL3.6 billion, a growth of 68% over 2022, reflecting the normalization of the commercial environment, partially offset by higher expenses. For the first quarter, with the continuation of the normalized commercial environment, we expect profitability levels higher than those of the first quarter last year. However, given the current scenario of higher inventory levels, we expect profitability levels getting close to the ones we saw in 2023. And to conclude this presentation, moving on to Slide number 8, let's talk about the investment plan we just released yesterday. In 2023, the main variation in relation to the plan was Ipiranga, the greater allocation to expansion with higher investments made to brand service station and to increase our logistics infrastructure was more than offset by divestments, such as the Rondonópolis base and the sale of assets besides the postponement of some investments. The investment plan for 2024 totaled BRL2.670 billion, which is more than BRL700 million above the investment plan in 2023. The allocation of investments to expansion is the main highlight of growth, 47% above that of 2023. At Ipiranga, investments will be mainly directed towards branding stations and expanding logistics infrastructure. At Ultragaz, the investment focus mainly on new customers in the box segment of revitalizing an opening point of sale, on optimizing operations due to the consortium with Supergasbras and on expanding into new energy solutions following the acquisitions of NEOgás and Stella. At Ultracargo, investments will be mainly focused on the construction of the railway branch at Opla on increasing the store capacity of Itaqui, Santos and Rondonópolis and on building the Palmer terminal in the state of [Indiscernible]. The portion of the investments from maintenance will be directed to sustaining the businesses and mean includes investments in assets, maintenance, renewal of service stations and points of sale, operational safety, and information technology. And with that, I now conclude my presentation. I appreciate most more your interest and attention, and let's now move on to the Q&A session in which we are available to answer your questions. Thank you very much.
Operator: Thank you. We are going to start now the question-and-answer session, and it's open for investors and analysts only. [Operator Instructions] The first question comes from Monique Greco, Itau BBA. Please unmute your microphone.
Monique Greco: Hello. Good morning. First, congratulations on the results and everything that you've done throughout the year of 2023. I would like to ask you a question. I have two questions actually. First, for Ipiranga, we can clearly see through your data, the inflection point of that change from closing down stations to opening stations. There were nearly 60 -- you reduced your units, you closed down units in 60%. So, tell us more about your strategy of branding, what kind of let's say, response you've got from the point of sales? And how does it interact with the CapEx plan you have for 2024 because there was a reduction over the numbers from 2023. So, we're really wondering how it's all ordinated with your branding strategy for the year. Secondly, a question to Ultragaz. How much of the EBITDA of Ultragaz in 2023 came from the other business? Stella, NEOgás, Biomethane, could you please tell us the breakdown of all these businesses in 2023? And what do you expect to get results from them in upcoming years? Thank you.
Leonardo Linden: Good morning. This is Linden speaking. Thank you for your question. Concerning the strategy of branding, it's not changing. We cannot separate branding and closing down of stations. We are going to maintain the guidelines that we have been sharing with you for a while, making appropriate selective investments with quality, to improve the quality of our network at large, and we are going to maintain the investments in 2024, just adding businesses that we think make sense that can really add value. So it's not going to change compared to previous years when we talk about branding specifically. About the question concerning ultra-gas, You've talked about all the different energy options for 2023. It's negligible what it has added to the results of the company, but we wanted to keep on expanding in the upcoming years. Nothing very significant for 2024, but we just expect it to be much more relevant in upcoming years.
Monique Greco: Great. Thank you.
Operator: The next question comes from Thiago Duarte, BTG (LON:BTG). Thiago, please unmute your microphone.
Thiago Duarte: Hello. Good morning. Thank you very much for the opportunity. I have two questions. First, could you please share with us the information about the expansion of Ultracargo? Rodrigo has provided some details about the CapEx and how it's going to be used in 2024 and very much aligned with what you've discussed in the Ultra Day and your understanding as a holding. We can see an interiorization of the platform of the assets in Ultracargo and in private entities. But I understand that the dynamic of the business is somewhat different compared to the main basis of Ultracargo, which is storage by the shores, by the coasts. And the dynamic of profitability of these assets is somewhat different when we think about going more inland rather than being limited by the coasts. So tell us a bit more about profitability and payback of the marginal investments you've made. Also competitively speaking, what is your reference to try to really have an improved profitability? I don't know if you are using ROIC or TIER, what is exactly you are analyzing to think about generating growth at Ultracargo in line with the CapEx investments? Now, from a broader perspective and thinking about the holding and based on the retrospective, description that Rodrigo made, I think there has been an important element, which was margin expansion. So Ipiranga on the second half of the year, Ultragaz and Ultracargo, you've got margin expansion that impacted profit and all your results. So thinking about the beginning of 2024, the margins seem to be aligned with what you had experienced in 2023, but they don't seem to be expanding as much as before. So really thinking about growth from now on, would it make sense to anticipate growth of Ultrapar in your three business units resulting more from increased volume, each business, its own characteristics, of course, where do you expect to have an expansion of profit from now on, considering the very high level of margins that all the three units have already achieved? Thank you.
Marcos Lutz: This is Marcos speaking. I'm going to start by answering the second question. Ultra, our holding, cannot be simplified by giving you a simple direct answer. So we just don't want margins, we just want volume. No, we have to see the businesses differently. Ultragaz has some segments where we can get expansion of volume, going into different regions with different results. The go-to market produces different margins. We have increased volume in areas where we could obtain also margin expansion. But there are some segments which tend to be more static. And we are also building paths towards new business lines where we can expand in volume. And we can see a potential ahead. In Ipiranga, there is improved margin, but maybe we can have a normalized margin, something that we've been saying for a while. The margin in the industry, it's not something that we think it's fair. Something that really pays back the investments of investors. Therefore, we can see space and opportunity to expand further. Ultracargo would probably need to make investments to increase its capacity, its volume. And it's starting to embedding technology, logistic knowledge, added services. We want to really offer a complete asset. We are not going to reproduce the model that we used to have at the coast operations. We want to offer more integrated service lines. Said it all, speaking of margins, this is a simplification, isn't it? It's an oversimplification. If you improve efficiency in a number of things, you improve margin. And there are a number of things that end up influencing it all. In distribution, specifically fuel distribution, the new model that has been in place of having distributors selling their own products has brought new technology, knowledge, and dynamics. What is bought from Petrobras, not 100% of the demand. So we have created a trading model, so to speak, a sophisticated trading model of supply, of managing the demand, the offer, requiring logistic rearrangements. It brings margins, but in all cases, it also brings more volatility. And this is something that we have to understand.
Rodrigo Pizzinatto: Well, Thiago, let me emphasize that the investments that we have made are not just inland in the countryside areas. We are also strengthening our maritime terminals. It has really improved the results of Ultracargo and the expansions they have better return on investment rates. In the countryside area, as you said, the dynamic is really different. We are speaking about providing logistic solutions. We are speaking about connections with the railway system. It's not only tanking, really. It is a dynamic of using more of the assets. But in terms of profitability of static tanking, we have a ramp up curve. And this is going to give us a profitability according to the standards that we have set at Ultracargo.
Thiago Duarte: Thank you for your comments. Of the 635 million that is going to be used in expansion, how much of that is involving the maritime operations? How much of that is inland?
Marcos Lutz: 60% countryside, 40% coast operations.
Thiago Duarte: Great. Thank you.
Operator: Our next question comes from Luiz Carvalho, UBS. Please unmute your microphone.
Luiz Carvalho: Hello. Thank you very much for taking my question. And I have two questions. The first one, which is a question that I constantly ask about capital allocation. Now you've got to a level of leverage that is very comfortable, close to one time. The company is generating cash. And I would like to know how we can anticipate things in 2024. We've seen some assets available in the market, assets that might have some level of synergy and alignment with the company strategy, but I would like to see the perspectives for the future, especially in terms of portfolio diversification or if you have excess cash, would you go more aggressive and then work with investors?
Marcos Lutz: Now, concerning field distribution, I don't want necessarily to speak only about Ipiranga, Let's hear, I would like to hear about the market. In the past 10 years, we've seen a number of initiatives that had somewhat masked the market, involving carriers and so on. And now talking with distributors and resellers, I think the market seems to be more favorable because the GDP has been increasing maybe, or because there is better coordination of the initiatives, just focusing on more profitability in terms of volume. So maybe Linden can tell us more about his expectations about the market and margins for 2024. Thank you.
Leonardo Linden: I wouldn't be able to tell you anything that you would like probably. We do have a strategy, but I cannot tell you anything about future capital allocation. The company has a balanced position that provides additional movements. We constantly analyze possibilities of capital allocation in other verticals and we also consider that, if there is no capital allocation required, we can maybe share more dividends. I wouldn't be able to tell you more than that.
Marcos Lutz: What I can tell you is that we have discipline in the use of our cash because we know how hard it is to generate cash during daily operations, loading trucks and ships and delivering. We are not simply allocate capital for no specific reason. We really do it accordingly and looking for businesses of quality that are aligned with our initiatives. If nothing shows up as a potential opportunity, we would share additional dividends.
Leonardo Linden: Linden speaking. Concerning the expectations for the market, I am optimistic, but carefully. I think you were right. There are factors that are somewhat standardizing the market, so to speak. What Marcus has just said about the opening of the market for imports, for international players, it brings a favorable dynamics to the market combined with the supply by Petrobras. I think it brings positive elements to the market, also tax simplification, not in all products. We still have more to cover, but it has improved already. The level of competitiveness will always be high. This is something we are knowledgeable of. We know we have to work by improving our efficiencies to ensure appropriate competitiveness. But there are also challenges, of course. Margins will always suffer the impact of arbitration, of inventory levels in the country, and we have to be able to deal with them. In Brazil, there is also the chronic problem of the falsification of fuel of the regular fuel market. But I would say that I am optimistic, but always with care. Business normalization, anticipates really a more stable environment for fuel distribution.
Luiz Carvalho: Great, thank you.
Operator: The next question comes from Gabriel Barra, Citi. Please unmute your microphone.
Gabriel Barra: Hello, thank you very much for taking my question. I have two questions. First, I'd like to understand the margins of the first quarter. So, better than the first quarter last year, but very similar to the average of the year, which was 155 per cubic meter, 160 per cubic meter. When we see the situation of the first quarter, we've seen the market trying to capture some gains in inventory levels because of increased in tax. But the fourth quarter, there was a loss of inventory levels. The market had an over demand because of some of the strategies of traders, which tried to carry over the inventory levels to better price scenario in the first quarter of the year. I would like to hear more about that. I don't know if that gain of margin is part of this number or if it's not. Was the fourth quarter very good in trading? And this is not there because of its recurrence. Please tell us more about this dynamic because this is something which is not clear to me. Secondly, I'd like to talk about your tax credit, BRL 560 million in the fourth quarter. I know it also includes internal tests that you run in the end of the year. And this is going to be done in the end of this year as well. But I would like to know how much space and credit you still have to use in upcoming tests. And there is another situation that is also being brought to the courts in terms of judicialization. So tell us more about this number. What else can we expect to be monetized in upcoming years? Thank you.
Rodrigo Pizzinatto: Good morning. I'm going to start with the second question about tax credits. We've defined a methodology of having annual analysis based on the forecast of profitability, which is very conservative. And it's a five-year perspective. Based on this conservative forecast, we account for the extraterrestrials elements or not. We still have got a balance of about BRL 1 billion. And the amount that is brought to the courts is close to the total number of records. Now, concerning our first question, we are here sharing with you our earnings release, and I just focus everything on the sentence that I used. If you go back there, you will see how we think it, right? This was shared during my presentation.
Gabriel Barra: Thank you. One last point, and I apologize if I insist, but I want to understand more about trading. Could you explain how it has influenced the results of the fourth quarter? Did it have any more relevant impact that we should not consider to be present from now on? I don't know if you can talk about that. If you can, that would be most helpful.
Leonardo Linden: This is Linden speaking. There was nothing extraordinary of trading in the fourth quarter. Good supply activity improves results, but this is part of field distribution businesses. There was nothing extraordinary. This is the work that we've been doing, the natural evolution of our supply, something that we've been discussing in our interactions. So it's just life as it is. There was nothing extraordinary.
Gabriel Barra: Great. Thank you very much and congratulations on the excellent results.
Operator: The next question comes from Bruno Montanari, Morgan Stanley (NYSE:MS). Please unmute your microphone.
Bruno Montanari: Good morning. Thank you very much for taking the questions. I have one question and some follow-up. The first question, I guess, to Linden. I think everyone has just been focusing at Ipiranga to improve profitability of the business. And I recall you telling us all the points for attention, all of them being addressed. So now let me pick your brain. Looking in the mid and long-term of Ipiranga, what would be the next steps? What else can be done to improve further the results of the company from now on? Second question about tax credits as well. Can you give us some color about the cash effect of these recoveries during 2023? We can go back to the explanatory notes, which was BRL 900. Just to see whether you had really used that throughout the year. And one last question for Ultracargo. There's been a significant growth of CapEx for 2024. What can we expect for 2025-2026? Do you think there will be some years where you'll be investing more than the average? Or should we expect that in 2025 you'll be expecting at the same levels as you used to in previous years? Thank you.
Leonardo Linden: Well, Bruno, I'm going to be consistent with the pillars that we've been discussing for a while. We still see opportunities. And when we look back to the four pillars, as I've mentioned in previous occasions, in logistics and distribution, we anticipate is still a path to be taken to release some value. So improvement of processes, optimization of exchanges, optimization of our basic operations. I think there are a number of ongoing initiatives at Ipiranga, which are structural initiatives, and this is why they take longer than the others to be effectively reached and to reach the level that makes sense. Now, speaking of the other three pillars, competitiveness, supply, and brand. There is always room for improvement. We have progressed significantly. We've caught up to the level that we needed, and they provided short-term results, but there is always room to evolve. We've seen a change to Ipiranga brand. There are other initiatives in place. We've been working qualitatively. If we look at the profile of sales and the volume of Ipiranga, the premium product in our sales mix has been increased. So I think there are a number of open fronts of action that can bring enhanced efficiency. Once again, logistics and distribution are the areas where we can see more room for improvement.
Rodrigo Pizzinatto: Bruno, let me answer your two other questions about the use of tax credits in 2023. We used close to BRL 800 million in the year. About the question of Ultracargo, just to give you some more information, Ultracargo expands based on long-term projects. In Brazil, there is a clear shortage of logistic infrastructure. And there, we can see the major potential of expansion in opening new markets, such as going, for example, more inland. As the projects become a reality, you know a Ultracargo terminal tends to be contracted right from its inception. Then we make investments and tell you. We will let you know as the projects become a reality in 2024. We have the expansions that I've already mentioned in my presentation that will be completed during the year. And the more the projects get mature and completed, we will let you know.
Bruno Montanari: Great. Thank you.
Operator: If there are no further questions, I would like to hand it back to Rodrigo Pizzinatto for his closing remarks.
Rodrigo Pizzinatto: Thank you all very much for your attention this morning and hope to see you all in May.
Operator: With that, we conclude our conference call. Thank you all very much for being part of that. Have a great day.
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