Tidewater(US:TDW)2025-08-05 14:00Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - Revenue for Q2 2025 was $341.4 million, exceeding expectations due to higher average day rates and improved utilization, with a gross margin of 50.1% for the third consecutive quarter [7][40] - Free cash flow generated in Q2 was $98 million, marking the second highest quarterly figure since the offshore recovery began, bringing the total for 2025 to over $192 million [8][9] - Net income for the quarter was $72.9 million, or $1.46 per share, with adjusted EBITDA at $163 million [39][41] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - Average day rates reached a record of $23,166, outperforming expectations by over $1,300 per day, driven by fleet contracts and favorable foreign exchange rates [8][40] - The Americas and Europe & Mediterranean regions saw revenue increases of 28% and 27% respectively, while Africa experienced a 22% revenue decrease [45] - Gross margin improved in the Americas by 14 percentage points and in Europe & Mediterranean by 10 percentage points, while declines were noted in APAC and Africa regions [46][47] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - The offshore vessel market is experiencing a period of uncertainty, particularly in the near term, with expectations of a rebound in drilling activity in the latter half of 2025 [15][16] - Vessel supply remains tight, with no newbuild announcements in 2025, and the number of newbuilds on order is less than 3% of the global fleet [18] - The Caribbean and South America are showing strong demand, while the North Sea and West Africa are expected to see a softening in demand [34][35] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company is focused on a long-term capital allocation strategy that prioritizes M&A opportunities alongside a newly announced $500 million share repurchase program [10][13] - The new debt capital structure enhances financial flexibility, allowing for increased shareholder returns while maintaining a conservative leverage profile [20][24] - The company remains optimistic about future M&A transactions, with a focus on value creation for shareholders [12][72] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed confidence in the long-term cash flow generation capabilities of the business despite near-term uncertainties [19][52] - The outlook for the second half of 2025 has softened slightly compared to previous expectations, particularly regarding utilization improvements [78] - Management remains optimistic about the demand recovery in 2026, with expectations of increased drilling and subsea construction projects [66][72] Other Important Information - The company successfully refinanced $650 million in unsecured bonds, establishing a more suitable debt capital structure [9][20] - The firm backlog and options represent $585 million of revenue for the remainder of 2025, with 73% of available days captured in firm backlog [30] - The company incurred $5.2 million in capital expenditures related to various projects, projecting total capital expenditures of $37 million for the year [50] Q&A Session Summary Question: Update on M&A opportunities - Management noted that discussions have become more constructive, with a growing awareness of market volatility, making transactions more feasible [56][70] Question: Outlook for drilling demand in 2026 - Management indicated a positive outlook for 2026, with an uptick in tendering activity and contracts supporting drilling and subsea construction [62][66] Question: Changes in second half expectations - Management acknowledged that second half expectations have come down slightly, particularly regarding utilization improvements [78]