Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - In Q3 2024, the company reported a profit of $40.3 million, or $0.18 per share, with an adjusted profit of $42.5 million, or $0.19 per share, reflecting a decrease of $37.8 million compared to the previous quarter due to lower time charter earnings [4][5] - Time charter earnings fell from $283 million in the previous quarter to $248 million in Q3 2024 [4] - Operating expenses increased by $3.1 million from the previous quarter, attributed to a decrease in supply rates and costs related to ship management changes [5] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - The company achieved daily rates of $34,300 for VLCCs, $35,100 for Suezmax, and $31,400 for LR2/Aframax fleets in Q3 2024 [3] - For Q4 2024, 75% of VLCC days are booked at $83,300 per day, 75% of Suezmax days at $60,600, and 51% of LR2/Aframax days at $42,200 [3] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - Oil in transit has reached record highs, with export volumes growing, particularly from the Americas and the Atlantic Basin [10] - Year-on-year, Middle Eastern producers' exports increased by 1.2 to 1.3 million barrels per day in October [10] - The company noted logistical challenges in trading sanctioned export oil, particularly affecting Lukoil and Rosneft [10] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company is optimistic about the tanker market, citing a return to a VLCC-centric trade pattern driven by strong export numbers from Brazil, Guyana, and Canada [12][20] - The order book for tankers is increasing, but the company believes that effective fleet growth will remain muted due to the aging fleet and limited new builds [18][20] - The company aims to focus on VLCCs, which have shown better economic returns compared to other classes [55] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed excitement about the current market developments and the potential for sustained high rates due to limited fleet growth and strong demand for compliant oil [20] - The company anticipates a prolonged period of tightness in the shipping market, with firm refining margins and high utilization rates [20] - Management acknowledged the volatility of the market but noted that key fundamentals are supportive of continued strength [66] Other Important Information - The company has a strong liquidity position with $819 million in cash and cash equivalents and no meaningful debt maturities until 2030 [6] - The average cash-based breakeven rates for the next 12 months are estimated at approximately $26,000 for VLCCs, $23,300 for Suezmax, and $23,600 for LR2 tankers [8] Q&A Session Summary Question: Is the company looking to deleverage the balance sheet while maintaining dividends? - Management indicated that they are not particularly comfortable with low loan-to-value ratios and have been conservative in their financial analysis, focusing on cash generation rather than actively reducing debt [24][25] Question: How do older ships become less efficient without being scrapped? - Management explained that older ships face high insurance costs and limited trading options, making them less efficient in the compliant oil market, which could lead to a gradual reduction in their effective fleet presence without actual scrapping [28][29] Question: What is the outlook for the dark fleet and its impact on the market? - Management noted an increase in vessels sitting idle and discussed potential solutions for recycling sanctioned vessels, indicating that the dark fleet's dynamics are complex and evolving [36][37] Question: How does the current market environment affect vessel demand? - Management highlighted that while there is currently no contango, modest contango could support trade lanes and enhance vessel demand, particularly as oil prices remain firm [41][42] Question: What is the company's view on floating storage demand? - Management clarified that current floating storage is more related to logistics and weather rather than commercial viability, contrasting it with the high demand seen during COVID [61][62] Question: How does the company view Q1 2026 compared to Q4 2025? - Management expressed optimism for Q1 2026, citing strong fundamentals and a tight physical shipping market, although they acknowledged the inherent volatility of the market [66]

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - The company reported a net result of $75.3 million for Q2, which is an improvement compared to Q1, indicating a resilient market performance [3][4] - The dividend payout ratio remains at 80% of net profit, consistent with the company's dividend policy [4][17] - The net asset value (NAV) is approximately NOK 67 million, with a narrowing gap to the current trading price of NOK 61 [12][13] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - The company operates around 130 product tankers and manages about 80 additional vessels for other owners, totaling over 200 vessels in operation [6][7] - The company is primarily exposed to the spot market, with approximately 85% to 90% of its operations in this segment, which has been beneficial in the recent market environment [7] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - The order book for product tankers is reported to be around 19% to 20% of the existing fleet, but the effective order book is closer to 13% to 14% when accounting for LR2 ships that primarily serve the crude market [29][30] - The market is currently undersupplied, with expectations for fleet growth of at least 5% per year to maintain balance [31][32] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company aims to maintain an average fleet age below 10 years, currently at 9.4 years, to ensure competitiveness and compliance with environmental regulations [10][11] - The company is focusing on consolidation within the industry rather than acquiring individual assets, preferring to return capital to shareholders when attractive opportunities are not present [21][22] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - The management expressed optimism about the current market conditions, noting that Q3 has started strong, with various factors contributing to a stable outlook [40][41] - The geopolitical situation, including the ongoing Ukraine war and issues in the Red Sea, is viewed as having a neutral impact on the product tanker market [25][26] Other Important Information - The company has established a joint venture with Cargill, named Seascale Energy, to optimize fuel procurement amidst changing energy dynamics [8] - The company has a revolving credit facility of approximately $700 million, which is seen as a standard business practice to enhance financial flexibility [19][20] Q&A Session Summary Question: What is the company's outlook for Q3 and 2026? - The company noted that Q3 has started strong, with various positive factors influencing the market, and does not foresee significant vulnerabilities [40][41] Question: Is the company optimizing the age of its fleet by selling older vessels? - Yes, the company has been actively selling older ships and plans to continue this strategy [44] Question: What is the motivation for acquiring new builds? - The company is currently not looking to order new builds due to high costs and long delivery times, preferring to focus on fleet modernization through secondhand tonnage [46][48] Question: What impact would it have if it becomes safe to sail through the Suez Canal and the Red Sea? - The company believes it would have a neutral impact on the product tanker market, as volume lost during the diversion would not significantly change [49][50]