Financial Performance - Golar LNG Limited (GLNG) reported first-quarter 2025 earnings of 38 cents per share, surpassing the Zacks Consensus Estimate of 29 cents, but showing a year-over-year decline [1] - Revenues for the quarter were $62.5 million, missing the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $66.5 million, and reflecting a 3.8% decline year over year [1] - Adjusted EBITDA was $40.9 million, which represents a 36% decline compared to the previous year [4] Financing Activities - In March 2025, GLNG signed finance lease agreements valued at approximately $1.2 billion with a consortium of Chinese leasing companies, with completion expected by the end of Q2 2025 [2] - The sale and leaseback facility has a tenure of 12 years and features a 17-year amortization profile, with quarterly repayment installments throughout the lease period [3] - Upon completion and repayment of the existing debt facility, Gimi MS Corporation is expected to generate net proceeds of nearly $530 million, of which GLNG anticipates receiving about 70%, equating to approximately $371 million [3][4] Cash Position and Debt - As of March 31, 2025, GLNG had cash and cash equivalents of $521.43 million, down from $566.38 million at the end of the previous quarter [5] - The company's share of contractual debt increased by 24% to $1.49 billion at the end of the reported quarter [5] Dividend Declaration - GLNG's board of directors approved a first-quarter 2025 dividend of 25 cents per share, scheduled to be paid on or around June 10, 2025, to shareholders of record as of June 3, 2025 [5] Industry Comparison - In the same industry, Vista Energy S.A.B. de CV reported adjusted earnings per share of 79 cents, missing the Zacks Consensus Estimate of 82 cents, but showing an increase from 49 cents in the prior year [8] - Eni S.p.A reported adjusted earnings from continuing operations of 92 cents per American Depository Receipt, beating the Zacks Consensus Estimate of 91 cents, but declining from $1.04 in the year-ago quarter [9]

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - The company reported total operating revenues of $63 million for Q1 2025, with FLNG tariffs reaching $73 million during the quarter [36] - Total EBITDA for Q1 was $41 million, driven largely by lower Brent and TTF prices, with a twelve-month EBITDA of $218 million [37] - The net income for the quarter was $13 million, consistent with the previous quarter, including $32 million of non-cash items [38] - The company declared a dividend of $0.25 per share, equating to approximately $105 million annually [38] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - The Hilli FLNG maintained a 100% operational uptime and has delivered 132 cargoes since 2018, producing over 9.2 million tonnes of LNG [5][6] - The Gimi FLNG is in the final stage of commissioning, with a contractual EBITDA of $151 million based on 90% capacity utilization [7] - The Mark II FLNG conversion is progressing well, with a projected delivery by the end of 2027 [9] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - The company has a market cap of approximately $4 billion and total net debt of under $100 million, with a net debt to EBITDA ratio of around 2.8x [5] - The LNG market is expected to grow significantly, with the U.S. being the largest producer, holding a 23% market share [21] Company Strategy and Development Direction - Golar LNG aims to transform into a market-leading infrastructure company with a focus on FLNG services, supported by a backlog of over $17 billion in EBITDA [11][72] - The company is targeting opportunities with competitive wellhead gas to secure attractive base tariffs with commodity upside participation [30] - The strategic focus includes risk mitigation in Argentina through regulatory frameworks and long-term contracts [19][20] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed confidence in the company's growth potential, citing a strong backlog and favorable market conditions for LNG [60][67] - The board is open to exploring strategic alternatives if the share price does not reflect the company's value over time [90][94] Other Important Information - The company has fully exited LNG shipping with the sale of Golar Arctic and its equity stake in Avenir LNG [4] - The company is in discussions for potential new FLNG units and is ramping up shipyard activity to safeguard construction timelines [30][79] Q&A Session Summary Question: Could you touch on the overall commercial strategy for offtake on the Argentina projects? - The strategy involves a mix of Brent, JKM, and TTF linked volumes, with some left for spot sales, targeting high-paying countries near Argentina [76] Question: Is there any additional upside on the Argentina contracts for excess production? - The contracts are for full capacity, with no additional upside for excess production, similar to the Gimi contract [78] Question: When do you start thinking about ordering long lead items for another new build? - For conversions, the timeline is approximately three years, while new builds take about four years [79] Question: What is the JV's breakeven price for the commodity exposure? - The breakeven is assumed to start at $7.5, with upside from $8, and Golar is liable for 10% of the required investments for infrastructure [81][82] Question: Is the company considering strategic alternatives if the share price remains low? - The board is focused on creating value for shareholders and will consider options if the share price does not reflect the company's value over time [90][94] Question: Can you clarify any remaining CapEx associated with Gimi? - No material payments are expected in the second quarter, with revenues from Gimi to start contributing to the P&L upon commencement of operations [95]

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - The company achieved total operating revenues of $63 million in Q1 2025, with FLNG tariffs reaching $73 million for the quarter [34] - Total EBITDA for Q1 was $41 million, driven largely by lower Brent and TTF prices, with a twelve-month EBITDA of $218 million [35] - The net income for the quarter was $13 million, consistent with the previous quarter, including $32 million of non-cash items [36] - The company maintains a strong liquidity position with approximately $680 million in cash at the end of the quarter [36] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - The Hilli FLNG unit maintained a 100% operational uptime and has delivered 132 cargoes since 2018, producing over 9.2 million tonnes of LNG [4][5] - The Gimi FLNG is in the final stages of commissioning, with a contractual EBITDA of $151 million based on 90% capacity utilization [6] - The Mark II FLNG conversion is progressing well, with a projected delivery by the end of 2027 [8][9] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - The global LNG market is projected to grow significantly, with the U.S. being the largest producer, holding a 23% market share [21] - The delivered price of U.S. export projects is above $10 per MMBtu, while Golar's contracts in Argentina have a gross tariff of around $2.45 per MMBtu [22][24] Company Strategy and Development Direction - Golar LNG is focused on becoming a market-leading infrastructure company with a significant backlog of contracts, currently standing at $17 billion [11][69] - The company aims to secure additional FLNG units and is in discussions for potential projects with competitive wellhead gas [29] - The strategic focus includes risk mitigation through regulatory frameworks and maintaining a strong position in the LNG market [19][20] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed confidence in the company's growth potential, citing a robust backlog and favorable market conditions for LNG [66] - The company anticipates significant additional EBITDA contributions from commodity price increases, with a focus on long-term contracts [15][17] - Management highlighted the importance of maintaining a strong team and innovative approaches to capture market opportunities [59][62] Other Important Information - The company declared a dividend of $0.25 per share for the quarter, with a record date of June 3 and payment scheduled for June 10 [36] - Golar has fully exited LNG shipping with the sale of Golar Arctic and its equity stake in Avenir LNG [3] Q&A Session Summary Question: Could you touch on the overall commercial strategy for offtake on the Argentina projects? - The strategy involves a mix of Brent, JKM, and TTF linked volumes, with some left for spot sales, targeting high-paying countries near Argentina [74] Question: Is there any additional upside on the base charter rate for excess production similar to the Gimi contract? - No, the charter for the Argentina project is for full capacity, with earnings above 90% captured through the shareholding in Southern Energy [76] Question: When do we start thinking about ordering the long lead items for another new build? - For Mark I and II, the conversion time is approximately three years, while Mark III would take about four years [77] Question: How do we think about the JV's breakeven price for the commodity exposure? - The breakeven is assumed to start at $7.5, with upside from $8, and Golar is liable for 10% of the required investments by CESA [78] Question: Is the company currently considering strategic alternatives if the share price stays low? - The focus remains on running the business, but the board will consider options if the share price does not reflect the company's value over time [84][90] Question: Can you clarify around any remaining CapEx associated with Gimi? - No material payments are expected in the second quarter, with revenues from Gimi to start contributing to the P&L upon commencement of operations [92]

Financial Performance & Backlog - Golar reported total operating revenues of $63 million in Q1 2025[68] - Adjusted EBITDA for Q1 2025 was $41 million[68] - Golar's Adjusted EBITDA backlog is approximately $17 billion, before commodity upside and inflationary adjustments[70, 88, 89] - Golar's share of contractual debt is $1495 million and Total Golar Cash is $678 million, resulting in Adjusted Net Debt of $817 million[68] FLNG Operations & Projects - FLNG Hilli has produced over 92 million tons of LNG since commercial operation date (COD)[10] - FLNG Gimi's COD is expected in Q2 2025, activating $151 million of annual Adjusted EBITDA to Golar[20] - Total spend to date on MKII FLNG is approximately $07 billion, fully equity funded, with project delivery scheduled for Q4 2027[25] Argentina & SESA Contracts - Golar has secured approximately $14 billion+ in Adjusted EBITDA backlog from Argentina contracts[32] - Golar's 10% shareholding in Southern Energy S A (SESA) adds approximately $28 million in annual Adjusted EBITDA commodity exposure per $1/MMBtu change in LNG FOB prices[38] - Commodity upside in Adjusted EBITDA of $70 million per year for every $1/MMBtu achieved FOB prices are above $8/MMBtu[35]

Core Insights - Golar LNG Limited has maintained a strong operational track record with FLNG Hilli, having offloaded 132 cargoes and produced over 9 million tons of LNG since operations began [2] - The company has concluded a Final Investment Decision (FID) for a 20-year redeployment of FLNG Hilli to Southern Energy in Argentina, which is expected to significantly enhance its earnings visibility [2][10] - Golar's financial performance for Q1 2025 shows a net income of $8 million and an Adjusted EBITDA of $41 million, indicating a decline compared to the previous year [7][22] Financial Performance - Q1 2025 net income attributable to Golar was $8 million, a decrease of 85% from $55.2 million in Q1 2024 [22] - Total operating revenues for Q1 2025 were $62.5 million, down 4% from $65.0 million in Q1 2024 [22] - Golar's share of contractual debt increased by 24% year-over-year to $1.495 billion as of March 31, 2025 [22] Operational Developments - FLNG Gimi is in the final stages of commissioning, with the Commercial Operations Date (COD) expected in Q2 2025, which will unlock approximately $3 billion in Adjusted EBITDA backlog for Golar [4][7] - The MKII FLNG conversion project is on schedule for a Q4 2027 delivery, with $0.7 billion already spent on the conversion [8][10] - Golar has signed definitive agreements for a 20-year charter for the MKII FLNG, which, combined with FLNG Hilli, will create one of the largest FLNG development projects globally with a capacity of 5.95 million tons per annum [7][11] Strategic Agreements - The two FLNG agreements with Southern Energy are projected to add $13.7 billion in Adjusted EBITDA backlog over 20 years, with inflationary adjustments and commodity-linked tariff upside [11][12] - Golar's 10% equity stake in SESA provides additional commodity exposure, equating to approximately $28 million in annual exposure for every $1/MMBtu change in achieved FOB prices [13][14] - The charter agreements are subject to strong legal protections under Argentina's Large Investments Incentive Scheme (RIGI), ensuring regulatory stability and security of exports [16][20] Debt and Financing - A $1.2 billion debt facility to refinance FLNG Gimi was signed with a consortium of Chinese leasing companies, expected to generate net proceeds of approximately $530 million for Golar [6] - Golar is exploring alternatives for asset-level financing for MKII FLNG following the secured FID [9] - As of March 31, 2025, Golar's total cash was $678 million, with a net debt position of $817 million after accounting for cash [28][39]

Group 1 - The company specializes in deep-dive equity research focused on the global shipping industry, providing actionable insights and real-time market analysis [1] - The research covers various segments of the shipping industry, including tankers, containerships, dry bulk, and LNG, aiming to uncover value that may be overlooked by others [1] - The company is trusted by top hedge funds, asset managers, and serious individual investors, offering tools for smarter investment in maritime equities [1] Group 2 - The analyst has a beneficial long position in the shares of GLNG, indicating a personal investment interest in the company [3] - The analyst's contributions are aimed at enhancing expertise in the shipping sector, reflecting a commitment to providing informed analysis [2]

Core Viewpoint - The article emphasizes the importance of identifying sustainable trends in short-term investing, highlighting that while price momentum can be profitable, it requires solid fundamentals to maintain that momentum [1][2]. Group 1: Stock Performance - Golar LNG (GLNG) has shown a solid price increase of 4.2% over the past 12 weeks, indicating investor confidence in its potential upside [4]. - Over the last four weeks, GLNG's price has increased by 26%, suggesting that the upward trend is still intact [5]. - Currently, GLNG is trading at 90.8% of its 52-week high-low range, indicating a potential breakout [6]. Group 2: Fundamental Strength - GLNG holds a Zacks Rank 1 (Strong Buy), placing it in the top 5% of over 4,000 ranked stocks based on earnings estimate revisions and EPS surprises, which are critical for near-term price movements [6][7]. - The Average Broker Recommendation for GLNG is also 1 (Strong Buy), reflecting strong optimism from the brokerage community regarding its near-term price performance [7]. Group 3: Investment Strategy - The "Recent Price Strength" screen is a useful tool for identifying stocks like GLNG that have sufficient fundamental strength to sustain their recent uptrends [3][8]. - The article suggests that investors should consider other stocks that pass through this screening process, as there are multiple options available that fit the criteria for potential investment [8].

Core Viewpoint - Golar LNG Limited has announced the Final Investment Decision for a 20-year re-deployment charter of the FLNG Hilli and signed agreements for a 20-year charter for the MKII FLNG, both to be operated offshore Argentina, which is expected to significantly enhance the company's earnings backlog and commodity exposure [1][2][4]. Group 1: Charter Agreements - The two FLNG agreements are projected to contribute US$ 13.7 billion in earnings backlog over 20 years, before adjustments based on US-CPI and commodity-linked tariff upside [2]. - For every US$ 1/mmbtu increase above US$ 8/mmbtu, Golar will gain approximately US$ 100 million when both FLNGs are operational [2]. - SESA has the option to reduce the term of the agreement to 12 years for FLNG Hilli and 15 years for MKII FLNG, subject to a 3-year notice and payment of a fee [2]. Group 2: Commodity Linked Tariff - Golar will receive 25% of realized FOB prices above a threshold of US$ 8/mmbtu, with no cap on the upside for gas prices [3]. - A mechanism allows for partial reduction of charter hire if FOB prices fall below US$ 7.5/mmbtu, down to a floor of US$ 6/mmbtu, with a maximum accumulated discount capped at US$ 210 million [3]. - Any outstanding discounted charter hire amounts will be repaid through additional upside sharing if FOB prices exceed US$ 7.5/mmbtu [3]. Group 3: Project Support and Infrastructure - The project has received full support from the National and Provincial Governments in Argentina, including a 30-year LNG export authorization and qualification for the Incentive Regime for Large Investments [5]. - The FLNGs will be located offshore in the Gulf of San Matias, monetizing gas from the Vaca Muerta formation, which is the world's second-largest shale gas resource [6]. - SESA plans to construct a dedicated pipeline from Vaca Muerta to the Gulf of San Matias to ensure gas supply to the FLNGs, enhancing operational efficiencies [6]. Group 4: Company and Market Position - Golar LNG Limited is a leading maritime LNG infrastructure company, recognized for pioneering floating LNG projects and is the only proven provider of FLNG as a service [10]. - The partnership with leading Argentinian gas producers positions Golar to benefit from the vast resources of the Vaca Muerta formation, contributing to Argentina's LNG export capabilities [7].

Group 1 - Golar LNG will release its 1st Quarter 2025 results before NASDAQ opens on May 21, 2025 [1] - A webcast presentation will take place at 1:00 P.M (London Time) on the same day [1] - The presentation will be available for download from the Investor Relations section of the company's website [1] Group 2 - Participants are encouraged to join the conference call via the listen-only live webcast link [2] - Sell-side analysts wishing to ask questions during the Q&A session should access the event through the conference call [2] - It is recommended to connect 10 minutes prior to the call start, with a limit of two questions per participant [2] Group 3 - Instructions for accessing the listen-only live webcast are available on the company's website [3] - A sound card is required to listen to the conference call from the web, but no special plug-ins are needed [3] - A "Help" link is provided for users experiencing issues accessing the webcast [3] Group 4 - Conference call participants must register to obtain dial-in and passcode details to avoid wait times [4] - Participants can either dial in using provided numbers and their unique PIN or select the "Call me" option for instant connection [4] - A registration link is available for participants [4] Group 5 - Presentation materials can be downloaded from the company's website to view while listening to the conference [5] - A replay of the event audio will be available for a limited time on the company's website for those unable to listen live [5] - This information is subject to disclosure requirements under the Norwegian Securities Trading Act [5]

Core Points - Golar LNG Limited announced the successful offload of its first full LNG cargo from FLNG Gimi to the LNG carrier British Sponsor, marking the entry of Mauritania and Senegal into the international gas market [1] - This event triggers the final pre-Commercial Operations Date milestone bonus payment to Golar, as per the commercial reset agreement made in August 2024 [1] - The commissioning is on track for a Q2 2025 Commercial Operations Date, which will initiate a 20-year Lease and Operate Agreement, unlocking approximately $3 billion of Adjusted EBITDA backlog for Golar [1] Financial Implications - The commencement of the Commercial Operations Date will lead to the recognition of contractual payments that include both capital and operating elements in Golar's balance sheet and income statement [1]