greeksoup/ stock research

International Seaways, Inc.: Q3 FY2026 earnings call

What management said about Q3 FY2026, from the documents filed with the SEC on 5 November 2026: press release. Guidance figures: 1 narrowed, 3 new, 2 kept. The quarter’s numbers.

Key takeaways

  • Record net income reported: Net income was $344 million, or $6.90 per diluted share, including a $53 million gain on sale of vessels. Source
  • Adjusted earnings near record: Adjusted net income was $291 million, or $5.84 per diluted share, excluding vessel sale gains. Source
  • Crude segment revenue rose sharply: Crude Tankers TCE revenues were $321 million, against $93 million a year earlier, on higher spot and time charter earnings. Source
  • Rates rose sharply late in quarter: Management said tanker markets were strong early in the summer and rates rose to high levels toward quarter end. Source
  • Free cash flow reached $234 million: Free cash flow was $234 million in the quarter, against $63 million a year earlier; nine-month free cash flow was $628 million. Source
  • Liquidity and cash position: Total liquidity was about $964 million at September 30, 2026, including $454 million of cash and short-term investments and $510 million undrawn revolver. Source

“We delivered record quarterly net income, reflecting both exceptional tanker market conditions and the benefits of our long-term approach to fleet investment and capital allocation.”

Lois K. Zabrocky, International Seaways President and CEO

Guidance

AreaPeriodFigureAgainst last quarter
Quarterly dividend SourceQuarter declared November 3, 2026; payable December 23, 2026$5.05 per shareKept
Share repurchase program SourceThrough end of 2028$100 millionNarrowed from $50 million, expiring end of 2026
Remaining construction installments, Bruton VLCCs SourceAs of October 31, 2026$279 million; sale leaseback financing for up to 90% of construction priceNew
LR1 newbuild deliveries SourceSecond half of 2028Four LR1 vessels, $244 million aggregate contract priceKept
Time charter rate, Bruton VLCC on the water SourceFirm period ending April 2027$95,000 per dayNew
Time charter rate, second Bruton VLCC Source12-month charter from November 2026 delivery$107,000 per dayNew
Contracted time charter revenue SourceAs of October 1, 2026, through expiry11 vessels, average duration 2.0 years, approximately $305 million

What changed from last quarter

  • Guidance raised: Share repurchase authorization increased from $50 million to $100 million and extended from end-2026 to end-2028. Source
  • Guidance kept: Quarterly dividend declared at $5.05 per share, unchanged from the prior quarter's declaration. Source
  • New: Company acquired Bruton Limited and its four newbuilding VLCCs, primarily for about three million shares and cash. Source
  • New: Company sold a 2012-built Suezmax for $74 million, net of commissions and fees. Source
  • Ended: Six-vessel LR1 newbuilding program completed with the delivery of two vessels in the third quarter. Source

Results and earnings drivers

  • Record net income reported: Net income was $344 million, or $6.90 per diluted share, including a $53 million gain on sale of vessels. Source
  • Adjusted earnings near record: Adjusted net income was $291 million, or $5.84 per diluted share, excluding vessel sale gains. Source
  • Net income up from last year: Net income was $71 million, or $1.42 per diluted share, in the third quarter of 2025. Source
  • Spot earnings and profit share drove gains: Management attributed higher TCE revenues to spot earnings up about $38,300 per day across the fleet and about $75 million more profit-sharing. Source

Segments and regions

  • Crude segment revenue rose sharply: Crude Tankers TCE revenues were $321 million, against $93 million a year earlier, on higher spot and time charter earnings. Source
  • Crude earnings per day detail: Spot earnings rose over $78,000 per day and time charter earnings rose about $274,000 per day, both reflecting higher profit-sharing. Source
  • Product Carriers revenue modestly higher: Product Carriers shipping revenues were $124 million, against $100 million a year earlier, with TCE revenues of $121 million. Source
  • Product spot earnings increase: Product Carriers TCE revenues rose on spot earnings of about $12,400 per day compared with the third quarter of 2025. Source

“Our strong cash generation and financial position provide Seaways with considerable optionality in capital allocation.”

Jeff Pribor, the Company’s CFO

Fleet and vessel transactions

  • Nine-month vessel sales detailed: Eight vessels averaging 17 years old were sold in the nine months for about $290 million, with gains of about $141 million. Source
  • Two new three-year time charters: Company entered two time charter agreements in the quarter, each with an average duration of three years. Source
  • Entire LR1 pool to trade together: All ten LR1 vessels, including the four on order, are expected to trade in the Panamax International Pool, which management says has outperformed. Source

Costs and operating expenses

  • Vessel and depreciation costs flat: Vessel expenses were $64.1 million, against $65.8 million, and depreciation was $41.3 million, against $41.2 million, year on year. Source
  • Voyage expenses rose with voyage charters: Voyage expenses were $40.6 million, against $3.9 million a year earlier, as voyage charter revenues increased. Source
  • Gains on vessel disposals recorded: Gain on disposal of vessels and other assets was $52.8 million in the quarter, against $13.7 million a year earlier. Source

“While tanker markets were already strong earlier in the summer, rates surged to remarkable levels toward the end of the quarter.”

Lois K. Zabrocky, International Seaways President and CEO

Margins and revenue mix

  • Adjusted EBITDA up sharply: Adjusted EBITDA was $345 million, against $108 million in the third quarter of 2025. Source
  • Consolidated TCE revenues increased: Consolidated TCE revenues were $443 million, against $192 million a year earlier. Source
  • Voyage charter share of revenue grew: Voyage charter revenues were $154 million, against $11 million, and time and bareboat charter revenues were $114 million, against $39 million. Source

Market conditions and rates

  • Rates rose sharply late in quarter: Management said tanker markets were strong early in the summer and rates rose to high levels toward quarter end. Source
  • Revenue days declined year on year: Company reported 5,840 revenue days in the quarter, against 6,245 in the prior-year quarter. Source

Capital, cash and shareholder returns

  • Free cash flow reached $234 million: Free cash flow was $234 million in the quarter, against $63 million a year earlier; nine-month free cash flow was $628 million. Source
  • Liquidity and cash position: Total liquidity was about $964 million at September 30, 2026, including $454 million of cash and short-term investments and $510 million undrawn revolver. Source
  • Low leverage reported: Net loan-to-value was less than 6% as of September 30, 2026, based on third-party vessel valuations. Source
  • Dividends paid over nine months: Dividends of $11.75 per share were paid in the nine months, totaling about $582 million in cash. Source
  • ECA facility drawn for deliveries: Company drew $73 million under the ECA Credit Facility and made $20 million of scheduled principal repayments in the nine months. Source

Strategy and capital allocation

  • Fleet optimization across crude and product: Management said it continues to optimize the fleet across crude and product tanker markets while keeping a healthy balance sheet. Source
  • Shares used as currency for growth: CFO said the Bruton transaction used company shares as currency for growth while keeping significant resources for future investment. Source

Coming up, as management said on 5 November 2026

  • Dividend record and payment dates: Dividend of $5.05 per share is payable December 23, 2026, to holders of record at close of business December 9, 2026. Source
  • Financing plan for 2028 LR1s: Company expects to finance the four LR1 newbuilds through long-term financing and available liquidity; no installments paid as of September 30, 2026. Source

Figures management reported

FigureReported
Revenue days Source5,840 in Q3 2026, against 6,245 in Q3 2025
Fleet size Source69 vessels (62 owned, 7 chartered in) at September 30, 2026
Spot earnings change per day SourceIncrease of approximately $38,300 per day across the fleet

Earlier plans management reported on

  • Met: Company reports a fourth consecutive quarter with a payout ratio of at least 85% of adjusted net income. Source
  • Met: Company took delivery of the final two LR1s in the third quarter, completing the six-vessel program. Source

Other quarters

Summarised with AI from the documents the company filed with the SEC. Every point is checked against the filing before it is shown: management’s own words word for word, figures against the line or table row they come from. A point that fails the check is left out. Source opens the filing at that line.