Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - The company reported a profit of approximately $40 million for Q1 2025, but excluding capital gains, the net income would have been a loss of $6 million [3] - Liquidity at the end of March was $345 million, with a contract backlog nearing $3 billion, having added roughly $1 billion in the first quarter [4] - Capital expenditures (CapEx) remained at $2.2 billion, with equity on total assets at 31.9% [4] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - In the tanker segment, average earnings were $40,000 per day in Q1, increasing to approximately $43,000 per day in Q2 [7] - The bulkers experienced weaker performance in Q1, with Newcastlemaxes earning $18,000 per day, but improving to $24,000 in Q2 [8] - Chemical tankers are primarily under long-term contracts, with earnings on the spot market around $20,000 per day [28] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - The tanker market is expected to remain positive due to a flat growth forecast in ton miles for crude oil and a historically low order book [22] - The dry bulk market is anticipated to improve in the second half of the year, with positive trends in iron ore trade from Brazil [36] - The container market is cautious due to tariffs and geopolitical issues, with a high order book of around 30% [27] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The proposed merger with Golden Ocean aims to create a leading diversified maritime group, increasing the fleet to 250 vessels and enhancing the contract backlog [10] - The company is focusing on diversification and decarbonization, with significant contracts signed for ammonia-powered vessels [5] - The strategy includes a strong emphasis on decarbonization, aligning with regulatory changes such as MEPC 83 [14] Management Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed optimism about the tanker and dry bulk markets despite current challenges, citing an aging fleet and low order book as positive indicators [30][24] - The company is confident that the merger with Golden Ocean will enhance financial stability and support ongoing investments in hydrogen and ammonia projects [82] - Management highlighted the importance of modern, efficient vessels to outperform competitors in a commoditized market [90] Other Important Information - The company decided not to declare a dividend for Q1 2025, focusing on growth and investment opportunities [6] - The fleet currently consists of 113 vessels, with plans to grow to approximately 150 vessels by the end of 2026 [6] Q&A Session Summary Question: Can you discuss the ammonia solution and the status of your ammonia-powered ships? - Management highlighted the positive outlook for ammonia as a fuel choice, with ongoing discussions for retrofitting existing vessels and new builds [52][54] Question: Is the pro forma free cash flow including debt repayments? - Yes, it includes debt repayments and indicates a strong cash flow generation even in bearish scenarios [57][58] Question: What are the plans to improve revenue in the dry bulk sector? - The company is focusing on building modern vessels and leveraging the scale from the Golden Ocean merger to enhance revenue opportunities [91][92] Question: Why was no dividend declared despite industry peers paying dividends? - The company has a discretionary dividend policy, prioritizing growth and investment opportunities over immediate dividend payouts [95][96]
Euronav NV(CMBT) - 2025 Q1 - Earnings Call Transcript