Cool Company (CLCO) Q2 2025 Earnings Call August 28, 2025 08:00 AM ET Company ParticipantsRichard Tyrrell - CEOJohn Boots - CFOLiam Burke - Managing DirectorConference Call ParticipantsAlexander Bidwell - Associate AnalystFrode Morkedal - Senior Equity AnalystPetter Haugen - Equity Research AnalystOperatorLadies and gentlemen, thank you for standing by, and welcome to The Cool Company Limited Second Quarter twenty twenty five Earnings Conference Call. At this time, all participants are in a listen only mode ...

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - Total operating revenue for Q2 2025 remained steady at $85,500,000, consistent with the previous quarter [20] - Adjusted EBITDA increased to $56,500,000 from $53,400,000 in Q1 2025, reflecting a modest year-on-year growth [3][21] - Average Time Charter Equivalent (TCE) slightly decreased to $69,900 per day from $70,600 in Q1 2025 [20][21] - Net income for Q2 was CHF 11,900,000, an increase of CHF 2,800,000 compared to Q1 [23] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - The delivery of new vessels, Cool Tiger and Gale Saga, contributed positively to EBITDA despite a challenging market [4] - The company has completed nine drydocks, with four including performance upgrades, leading to a decrease in average vessel operating expenses to $15,900 per day [23][24] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - LNG supply is projected to increase by 2339% compared to 2024 volumes by 2026 and 2028, indicating a positive outlook for the LNG market [6] - Year-over-year storage levels stood at 76%, down from 90% in the previous year, affecting U.S. supply flow to Europe [7] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company aims to maintain a disciplined approach to asset acquisitions, focusing on transactions that enhance long-term value [29] - The backlog of charters is expected to provide a healthy foundation against market volatility, with 50% of days covered until 2027 [19][29] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management noted that while the immediate market backdrop is challenging, the macro picture remains positive, with expectations of a more balanced market by 2027 [12][29] - The company is optimistic about the gradual recovery of rates and the potential for increased demand as older steam turbine vessels exit the market [55][56] Other Important Information - The company has repurchased approximately 859,000 shares at an average price of $5.77 per share, reducing the total share count by 1.6% [28] - The average interest cost stands at around 5.6%, with approximately 75% of total notional debt hedged or fixed [25] Q&A Session Summary Question: Impact of recent liquefaction activity on charter market sentiment - Management indicated that recent positive news has started to focus attention on long-term shipping needs, although it is still early days [34] Question: Potential asset acquisitions - Management stated that they are always looking for acquisition opportunities but have nothing concrete at this time [35][36] Question: Return on investment for vessel upgrades - Management confirmed satisfaction with the returns from vessel upgrades, noting an investment of around $10,000,000 with current returns of $5,000 per day [42] Question: Scheduling of drydocking based on chartering environment - Management clarified that scheduling has not changed significantly, and they are pleased to have completed dry docks during a low-rate environment [44] Question: Status of LNG E upgrades - Four out of five upgrades have been completed, with the last one scheduled for Q4, and the total CapEx spend is approximately $10,000,000 per upgrade [50] Question: Shift in demand from Europe to Asia - Management discussed the complexities of demand shifts, noting that while macro factors may take time, the exit of older vessels could help balance the market [54][55] Question: Metrics within the three-year variable charter - Management confirmed that the charter is tied to an index with a floor of $20,000,000 and a ceiling of $100,000,000 [61][62]

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - Total operating revenue for Q2 2025 remained steady at $85,500,000, with adjusted EBITDA increasing to $56,500,000 from $53,400,000 in Q1 2025 [3][20] - Average Time Charter Equivalent (TCE) was slightly down at $69,900 per day compared to $70,600 in Q1 2025 [3][21] - Net income for Q2 2025 was CHF 11,900,000, an increase of CHF 2,800,000 compared to Q1 2025 [23] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - The delivery of the Cool Tiger and Gale Saga contributed positively to EBITDA, despite challenges in the market [4] - The company has completed nine drydocks, with four including performance upgrades, leading to a decrease in average vessel operating expenses to $15,900 per day [23][24] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - LNG supply is projected to increase by 2339% compared to 2024 volumes by 2026 and 2028, indicating a positive outlook for the LNG market [6][9] - Year-over-year storage levels were at 76%, down from 90% in the previous year, affecting supply dynamics [6][7] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company remains disciplined in seeking asset acquisitions that enhance long-term value through active management [29] - The backlog provides a healthy foundation against market volatility, with 50% of days covered until 2027 [19][29] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management noted that the current market is challenging, but there are signs of gradual recovery in rates [12][13] - The exit of older steam turbine vessels is expected to help balance the market, with a gradual increase in rates anticipated [53][54] Other Important Information - The company has repurchased approximately 859,000 shares at an average price of $5.77 per share, reducing the total share count by 1.6% [28] - The company has entered into additional interest rate swap agreements, hedging approximately 75% of total notional debt [25] Q&A Session Summary Question: Impact of recent liquefaction activity on charter market sentiment - Management indicated that recent positive news is starting to focus attention on long-term shipping needs, although it is still early days [34] Question: Potential asset acquisitions - Management stated they are always looking for acquisition opportunities but have nothing concrete at this time [35][36] Question: Return on investment for vessel upgrades - Management confirmed a good return on the $10,000,000 investment, currently generating $5,000 per day, with potential for more in the future [42] Question: Scheduling of drydocking based on chartering environment - Management noted that they did not change scheduling significantly, as they aimed to complete drydocks when opportunity costs were low [44] Question: Status of LNG E upgrades - Four out of five upgrades are completed, with limited incremental costs remaining [48] Question: Shift in demand from Europe to Asia - Management highlighted that the balance could shift based on various factors, including outages and storage refilling in Europe [52] Question: Metrics within the three-year variable charter - Management confirmed the charter is tied to an index with a floor of $20,000,000 and a ceiling of $100,000,000 [60][61] Question: Upside from upgrades - Management indicated that the upside is typically shared, with current guidance at $5,000 per day, potentially increasing as charterers recognize savings [64] Question: Plans for vessels coming off contracts in 2026 - Management mentioned a range of options for fixing vessels, with a more robust market expected for longer-term charters [68]

Financial Performance - The company achieved an average TCE of $69,900 per day in 2Q25 [7] - Total operating revenues remained steady at $85.5 million in 2Q25 [7, 11] - Adjusted EBITDA increased to $56.5 million for 2Q25 [7, 11] - Net income for 2Q25 was $11.9 million, including unrealized mark-to-market losses on interest rate swaps of $3.6 million [7, 8] Backlog and Charters - The company's backlog is approximately $1.54 billion, with $0.9 billion being firm [7] - The average charter term is 4.3 years, with the longest charter extending to 2041 [10] - As of June 30, 2025, the company has ~$907 million of firm and floating backlog, averaging ~2.4 years per vessel [30] Market Outlook and Strategy - LNG supply is expected to increase by 23% from 2024 levels by the end of 2026 and by 39% by the end of 2028 [13] - The company has repurchased 858,689 shares at an average price of $5.77 per share as of August 22, 2025 [7, 8] - The company has ~$25 million in cumulative interest rate swap gains since inception in mid-2022 [43]

Group 1 - The analyst has been involved in fundamental analysis of publicly listed companies since 2020, including Covestro, Signify, Alibaba, Verizon, and China Mobile [1] - The analyst's background as an accountant at a Big-4 accounting firm provides expertise in analyzing annual reports and financial information [1] - The ability to assess whether a stock is undervalued or overvalued is crucial for making informed long-term investment decisions [1] Group 2 - The analyst is open to suggestions for interesting companies to analyze, indicating a flexible approach to investment research [1]

Core Viewpoint - Comfort Systems USA Inc. has significantly benefited from the AI data center boom, achieving a remarkable 1,300% gain over the past five years, positioning itself as a leader in the HVAC industry with a market capitalization of $25 billion [2][5]. Company Performance - The company reported a 20% year-over-year increase in sales, with gross margins rising from 20.1% to 23.5% [9]. - Earnings per share (EPS) reached $6.53, nearly double the figure from the previous year [10]. - The backlog of orders exceeded $8 billion for the first time, growing from $6.89 billion to $8.12 billion between Q1 and Q2, and up from $5.77 billion a year ago, indicating a growth of over 40% [10][11]. Market Trends - The data center cooling market is projected to become a $42 billion industry by 2032, with a compound annual growth rate of 12.4% [4][5]. - Comfort Systems USA is leveraging its expertise in mechanical, electrical, and plumbing (MEP) systems to provide innovative HVAC solutions tailored for AI data centers [5][6]. Strategic Advantages - The company employs Modular Construction techniques, allowing for off-site fabrication of critical components, which reduces costs and lead times while enhancing safety and quality control [6]. - Immersion Cooling technology is another key offering, enabling precise temperature management for densely packed servers, thus improving energy efficiency [7]. Analyst Insights - Following a strong earnings report, analysts have set a 12-month price target of $635.60, with a high forecast of $810.00, suggesting potential upside of at least 15% [8][12]. - The stock has shown a strong uptrend, supported by a Golden Cross signal and increased trading volume post-earnings [13].

Market Overview - The stock market shows positive momentum with the Dow up +265 points (+0.62%), S&P 500 up +42 points (+0.70%), Nasdaq up +213 points (+0.97%), and Russell 2000 up +18 points (+0.87%) [1] - Bond yields remain stable with the 10-year yield at +4.35% and the 2-year yield at +3.85% [2] - Oil prices are stable, with WTI at $65 per barrel and ICE Brent crude at $67 [2] Housing Market - The Case-Shiller Home Price Index reports a +2.7% year-over-year increase in home prices, which is below the expected +4% growth [3] - New York City leads in price growth at +7.9%, followed by Chicago at +6.0% and Detroit at +5.5%, while Tampa shows a decline of -2.2% [4] - Thirty-year fixed mortgage rates were in the mid-6% range for most of April, with expectations of further challenges as rates approach 7% [4] Federal Reserve Insights - Fed Chair Jerome Powell is scheduled to testify before the House Financial Services Committee regarding the economy's health and potential interest rate cuts [5] - Powell's previous statements indicate a steady Fed funds rate of 4.25-4.50% for the fourth consecutive meeting, with no significant changes expected in his upcoming appearances [6] Consumer Confidence - The June Consumer Confidence index is anticipated to rise to a consensus of 99.5, following a previous increase to 98.0, after a significant drop to 85.7 due to "Liberation Day" tariffs [7] - Historical data shows Consumer Confidence peaked at nearly 140 in 2018 and fell below 30 during the 2009 financial crisis [8]

Economic Overview - Inflation is cooling at a faster rate than expected, with the consumer price index (CPI) rising only 0.1% sequentially in May, lower than the consensus estimate of 0.2% [3][9] - Year-over-year, CPI increased 2.4%, aligning with analysts' expectations, while core CPI rose 0.1% sequentially and 2.8% year-over-year, both lower than expected [3][4] Consumer Discretionary Stocks - Positive sentiment in the market suggests investing in consumer discretionary stocks such as Carnival Corporation & plc (CCL), Fox Corporation (FOX), Netflix, Inc. (NFLX), and Interface, Inc. (TILE) [2][8] - These stocks have seen positive earnings estimate revisions in the last 60 days, with each carrying a Zacks Rank 2 (Buy) [2] Company-Specific Insights Carnival Corporation & plc - Carnival Corporation operates as the largest cruise operator globally, carrying nearly half of the global cruise guests [10] - The expected earnings growth rate for the current year is 31.7%, with the Zacks Consensus Estimate for current-year earnings improving by 1.1% over the last 60 days [10] Fox Corporation - Fox Corporation produces and distributes news, sports, and entertainment content, with brands including FOX News and FOX Sports [11] - The expected earnings growth rate for the current year is 32.4%, with the Zacks Consensus Estimate for current-year earnings improving by 1.1% over the past 60 days [11] Netflix, Inc. - Netflix is a pioneer in the streaming space, aggressively building its portfolio of original shows to maintain its leading position [12] - The expected earnings growth rate for the current year is 27.7%, with the Zacks Consensus Estimate for current-year earnings improving by 3.3% over the past 60 days [12] Interface, Inc. - Interface is the world's largest manufacturer of modular carpets, committed to sustainability while enhancing shareholder value [13] - The expected earnings growth rate for the current year is 8.2%, with the Zacks Consensus Estimate for current-year earnings improving by 2.6% over the past 60 days [13]

Core Viewpoint - Primo Brands Corporation's stock has faced pressure due to poor spring weather affecting bottled water sales, particularly in the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic regions [1] Group 1: Sales Performance - Bottled water sales have declined, with a reported 3.7% year-over-year decrease in retail volumes for Primo Brands in May [3] - Poland Spring, a key brand, experienced an 8.4% drop in sales, attributed to record rainfall in May, which was the third-wettest since 1895 with 6.6 inches of precipitation [4] - The Northeast and Mid-Atlantic regions saw sharp declines in sales, with year-over-year changes of -18.6% and -9.3%, respectively [5] Group 2: Future Outlook - Analyst Peter T. Galbo anticipates a rebound in demand as summer heat arrives, particularly for brands like Poland Spring and Deer Park [2] - A new summer weather tracker will be introduced to monitor weather trends, as the second and third quarters account for approximately 53% of annual sales [2] - NOAA forecasts indicate higher-than-normal temperatures across much of the U.S., which could positively impact sales for brands like Deer Park, Ozarka, Arrowhead, and Zephyrhills [5] Group 3: Weather Impact - The recent cooler and wetter weather has negatively impacted demand, especially over the Memorial Day weekend [1] - Heavier rainfall is expected in parts of the South and Upper Midwest, which may affect sales for Ozarka and Ice Mountain, while drier conditions in the West could benefit Arrowhead [6]

Company Performance - Oracle reported better-than-expected Q4 results, with earnings of $1.70 per share compared to expectations of $1.64, and year-ago earnings of $1.63 per share [3] - Revenues reached $15.9 billion, surpassing the Zacks consensus of $15.5 billion, marking an 11% year-over-year increase [3] - Shares of Oracle increased by 7% in late trading following the earnings report [3] Cloud Services Growth - Cloud services and licensed support grew by 14% in the quarter, indicating strong demand [4] - Oracle's CEO, Safra Catz, projected significantly higher revenue growth rates for cloud infrastructure in 2026, with expectations of over 70% growth in the current fiscal year as Oracle caters to AI companies [4]