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Navigator .(NVGS) - 2025 Q1 - Earnings Call Transcript

2025-05-15 15:00

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - In Q1 2025, the company generated record quarterly revenue of $151 million, up 13% compared to the same period last year [3][4] - Adjusted EBITDA for Q1 was $72.8 million, consistent with Q1 2024 and Q4 2024 [4][13] - Net income attributable to stockholders was $27 million, the highest quarterly net income in the last three years [15][16] - Basic earnings per share were 39 cents, with adjusted net income of $25.5 million or 37 cents per share [15][16] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - The average time charter equivalent (TCE) rate for Q1 was $30,476 per day, an 8% increase from both the previous quarter and the same period last year [5][12] - Utilization rate was 92.4%, up 3.1% compared to Q1 2024 [13] - Income from the joint venture terminal was down significantly, with throughput limited to 86,000 tonnes for the quarter [6][15] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - The company faced a challenging market environment due to reduced domestic supply and higher domestic prices, leading to a narrow arbitrage [6][10] - April utilization was weaker due to cargo cancellations, but May showed a gradual normalization in vessel utilization [10][24] - The Handysize order book remains at 9%, with 22% of global Handysize vessels over 20 years old, indicating a favorable supply picture [11][35] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company is focused on fleet renewal, having acquired three secondhand ethylene-capable vessels and sold an older vessel, Navigator Venus, for $17.5 million [7][42] - A new share repurchase program of up to $50 million has been authorized to enhance shareholder returns [38][39] - The company anticipates materially higher terminal throughput in Q2 and a widening ethylene arbitrage [41][46] Management Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed confidence in the demand fundamentals, citing continued growth in U.S. natural gas liquids production and export infrastructure [46] - The company expects Q2 terminal throughput to be significantly higher than Q1, supported by a favorable arbitrage environment [41][46] - Management noted that despite recent market volatility, the business model remains robust, allowing for continued capital returns to shareholders [45][70] Other Important Information - The company reported a strong cash position of $139 million as of March 31, 2025, despite significant capital expenditures [15][16] - The refinancing of $300 million was completed at the lowest margins ever for the company, reflecting strong support from banking partners [5][19] - The company plans to continue investing in energy and fuel-saving initiatives, which are expected to have short payback periods [23] Q&A Session Summary Question: Impact of tariffs on cargo opportunities - Management noted that while LPG trade to China was halted, alternative trades were found, benefiting the market overall [50][51] Question: Future rate expectations - Management indicated that the strong rates in Q1 were primarily due to time charters, with expectations for increased volumes in Q2 [52][54] Question: Timing for debt on terminal project - Management stated that while putting debt on the terminal project is on the list, it is not an immediate priority [56][58] Question: Buyback program deployment - Management confirmed plans to utilize the new buyback program in the near term, with a focus on returning capital to shareholders [62][63] Question: Chartering strategy amidst market volatility - Management is looking to increase the percentage cover for the next twelve months, reflecting a proactive approach to market conditions [64][65]

Navigator Gas Announces Preliminary First Quarter 2025 Results (Unaudited)

Globenewswire· 2025-05-14 20:14

Financial Performance - The company declared a cash dividend of $0.05 per share for the quarter ended March 31, 2025, totaling $3.5 million, and plans to repurchase approximately $3.3 million of its common stock [1] - Total operating revenues for the three months ended March 31, 2025, were $151.4 million, a 12.9% increase from $134.2 million for the same period in 2024 [1] - Net income attributable to stockholders was $27.0 million for the three months ended March 31, 2025, compared to $22.6 million for the same period in 2024, reflecting a 19.8% increase [1][30] - EBITDA for the quarter was $74.3 million, up from $72.8 million in the prior year [1][30] - Basic earnings per share increased to $0.39 for the three months ended March 31, 2025, compared to $0.31 for the same period in 2024 [1][30] Operational Highlights - The average daily time charter equivalent (TCE) rate across the fleet was $30,476 for the three months ended March 31, 2025, compared to $28,339 for the same period in 2024 [3][36] - Fleet utilization remained strong at 92.4% for the three months ended March 31, 2025, compared to 89.3% for the same period in 2024 [4][36] - The company had an average of 30 vessels engaged under time charters and 20 vessels on spot voyage charters during the quarter [6] Debt and Liquidity - The company increased its debt by $48.6 million to $902.1 million during the three months ended March 31, 2025 [1] - As of March 31, 2025, the company had cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash totaling $139.0 million [1][53] - The company entered into a Senior Secured Term Loan and Revolving Credit Facility for up to $300 million on May 2, 2025, to refinance existing loans and for general corporate purposes [14][55] Market Conditions - U.S. domestic ethylene prices were elevated at the beginning of the first quarter, reaching a high of $700 per metric ton in January, but fell to $450 per metric ton by the end of March 2025 [5] - The company’s share of results from the Ethylene Export Terminal showed a loss of $0.9 million for the three months ended March 31, 2025, compared to a gain of $4.4 million for the same period in 2024, primarily due to lower export volumes [10][48] Shareholder Returns - The company’s Return of Capital policy includes quarterly cash dividends and share repurchases, targeting a total return of at least 25% of net income for the applicable quarter [23][24] - A new share repurchase plan was authorized on May 13, 2025, allowing for the repurchase of up to $50 million of common stock [22]