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Tidewater Inc.: Q3 FY2025 earnings call

What management said about Q3 FY2025, from the documents filed with the SEC on 10 November 2025: press release. Guidance figures: 1 raised, 1 lowered, 2 new. The quarter’s numbers.

Key takeaways

  • Revenue flat year on year: The company reported third quarter revenue of $341.1 million, up 0.2% from $340.4 million a year earlier. Nine-month revenue was $1,016.0 million against $1,000.8 million. Source
  • Net loss on debt refinancing charge: The company reported a net loss of $0.8 million, or $0.02 per diluted share, against net income of $46.4 million a year earlier. The loss included a $27.1 million loss on early extinguishment of debt tied to the July 2025 refinancing. Source
  • Vessel up-time ahead of estimates: Management said the quarter came in above its expectations because vessel up-time across the fleet exceeded initial estimates. Source
  • West Africa and North Sea softened: Average day rates softened modestly, driven by the North Sea and West Africa. West Africa vessel revenue fell to $82.0 million from $95.3 million a year earlier, and West Africa operating profit fell to $25.4 million from $43.5 million. Source
  • Activity spread across support work: Management said production support, offshore construction support, and subsea and EPCI activities supported sequential active utilization gains in all but one operating segment. Source
  • Average day rate up 2.3%: The average day rate was $22,798 per day, up $523 per day, or 2.3%, from the third quarter of 2024. The second-quarter 2025 average was $23,166. Source
  • Gross margin 48.0%: Vessel operating margin was 48.0%, against 50.3% in the second quarter of 2025 and 47.2% in the third quarter of 2024. Vessel operating costs were $176.1 million. Source
  • Contract coverage for 2025: Management said 99% of full-year 2025 revenue guidance was covered by completed and contracted revenue as of the release date. Source
  • Drilling uncertainty in 2026: Management said the factors that shaped the market in 2025 continue into 2026, leaving the pace of offshore drilling activity hard to predict. Visibility into drilling projects in the back half of 2026 remains somewhat unclear. Source
  • Free cash flow $82.7 million: Net cash from operating activities was $72.1 million and free cash flow was $82.7 million, against $97.5 million in the second quarter of 2025. Source
  • Vessel up-time as strategic focus: Management said the company made great strides in vessel up-time this year, which it linked to operational effectiveness and fleet earnings capability. Source

“The third quarter of 2025 came in above our expectations as vessel up-time across the fleet exceeded our initial estimates, delivering revenue of $341.1 million and gross margin of 48.0%.”

Quintin Kneen, President and Chief Executive Officer

Guidance

AreaPeriodFigureAgainst last quarter
Revenue Sourcefull year 2025$1.33 to $1.35 billionLowered from $1.32 to $1.38 billion
Gross margin Sourcefull year 202549% to 50%Raised from 48% to 50%
Revenue Sourcefull year 2026$1.32 to $1.37 billionNew
Gross margin Sourcefull year 202648% to 50%New

What changed from last quarter

  • Guidance lowered: 2025 revenue guidance narrowed to $1.33 to $1.35 billion from $1.32 to $1.38 billion. Source
  • Guidance raised: 2025 gross margin guidance narrowed to 49% to 50% from 48% to 50%. Source
  • New guidance: 2026 revenue and gross margin guidance initiated. Source

Results and growth drivers

  • Revenue flat year on year: The company reported third quarter revenue of $341.1 million, up 0.2% from $340.4 million a year earlier. Nine-month revenue was $1,016.0 million against $1,000.8 million. Source
  • Net loss on debt refinancing charge: The company reported a net loss of $0.8 million, or $0.02 per diluted share, against net income of $46.4 million a year earlier. The loss included a $27.1 million loss on early extinguishment of debt tied to the July 2025 refinancing. Source
  • Adjusted EBITDA of $137.9 million: Adjusted EBITDA was $137.9 million, compared with $142.6 million in the third quarter of 2024 and $163.0 million in the second quarter of 2025. A $1.3 million foreign exchange gain favorably affected net income and Adjusted EBITDA. Source
  • Vessel up-time ahead of estimates: Management said the quarter came in above its expectations because vessel up-time across the fleet exceeded initial estimates. Source

Segments and regions

  • West Africa and North Sea softened: Average day rates softened modestly, driven by the North Sea and West Africa. West Africa vessel revenue fell to $82.0 million from $95.3 million a year earlier, and West Africa operating profit fell to $25.4 million from $43.5 million. Source
  • Americas revenue and margin rose: Americas vessel revenue was $76.9 million, up from $64.6 million, and Americas vessel operating profit rose to $24.7 million from $13.3 million. Vessel operating margin in the segment was 53.7%, up from 43.5%. Source
  • Middle East operating profit improved: Middle East vessel revenue was $42.0 million, up from $36.9 million, and operating profit was $5.0 million against a $0.9 million loss a year earlier. Source
  • Europe/Mediterranean revenue fell: Europe/Mediterranean vessel revenue was $83.7 million, against $99.3 million in the second quarter. Operating profit was $11.4 million, down from $29.2 million in the second quarter of 2025. Source
  • Asia Pacific revenue fell: Asia Pacific vessel revenue was $53.8 million, down from $56.3 million a year earlier. Operating profit was $15.3 million, flat with the prior year. Source

“Accordingly, we are initiating full-year 2026 revenue guidance of $1.32 to $1.37 billion and full-year 2026 margin guidance of 48% to 50%.”

Quintin Kneen, President and Chief Executive Officer

Products and customers

  • Activity spread across support work: Management said production support, offshore construction support, and subsea and EPCI activities supported sequential active utilization gains in all but one operating segment. Source
  • Day rates up in other segments: Management said the company saw meaningful day rate increases in its other reporting segments, while North Sea and West Africa softened. Source
  • Fleet count and utilization: Worldwide average active vessels were 206, down from 216 a year earlier. Worldwide active utilization was 78.5%, against 76.2% in the third quarter of 2024. Source

Costs, margins and pricing

  • Average day rate up 2.3%: The average day rate was $22,798 per day, up $523 per day, or 2.3%, from the third quarter of 2024. The second-quarter 2025 average was $23,166. Source
  • Gross margin 48.0%: Vessel operating margin was 48.0%, against 50.3% in the second quarter of 2025 and 47.2% in the third quarter of 2024. Vessel operating costs were $176.1 million. Source
  • Corporate and G&A costs rose: General and administrative expense was $35.3 million, against $28.5 million a year earlier. Acquisition, restructuring and integration related costs were $4.0 million in the quarter. Source
  • Foreign exchange gain: The company reported a $1.3 million foreign exchange gain in the quarter, tied to the weaker U.S. dollar. Income tax expense was $21.7 million. Source

Demand and the order book

  • Contract coverage for 2025: Management said 99% of full-year 2025 revenue guidance was covered by completed and contracted revenue as of the release date. Source
  • Drilling uncertainty in 2026: Management said the factors that shaped the market in 2025 continue into 2026, leaving the pace of offshore drilling activity hard to predict. Visibility into drilling projects in the back half of 2026 remains somewhat unclear. Source

Capital, cash and shareholder returns

  • Free cash flow $82.7 million: Net cash from operating activities was $72.1 million and free cash flow was $82.7 million, against $97.5 million in the second quarter of 2025. Source
  • Debt refinanced in July: Management said the July 2025 refinancing established a long-term, unsecured debt structure. The $650.0 million senior notes were issued in July and proceeds went largely to redeem the Nordic bonds and term loan.
  • No repurchases in quarter: The cash flow statement shows no purchase of common stock in the third quarter. Nine-month repurchases were $90.1 million, and the outstanding share count fell to 49.56 million from 51.46 million at December 31, 2024. Source
  • $500 million repurchase authorization: The outstanding share repurchase authorization is $500 million, as stated in the release. Source
  • Revolver undrawn: The $250.0 million revolving credit facility entered into with the refinancing was undrawn as of the August 2025 release, which management said would allow it to reduce cash on hand.

Strategy and investment

  • Vessel up-time as strategic focus: Management said the company made great strides in vessel up-time this year, which it linked to operational effectiveness and fleet earnings capability. Source
  • Fleet investment supports earnings: Management credited substantial investments in the fleet over the past few years for supporting the quarter's active utilization. Source
  • Four demand drivers cited: Management named production support, offshore construction support, subsea and EPCI support, drilling support, and renewable energy projects as the activities that drive the business. Source

People and leadership

  • Operational staff credited: Management thanked onshore and offshore staff for their focus on operational excellence behind the vessel up-time results. Source
  • Workforce size in prior release: The August 2025 release said the company had more than 7,700 offshore and onshore staff.

Risks management discussed

  • Demand: Management said the pace and order of magnitude of offshore drilling activity is hard to anticipate, and drilling remains critical to day rates and utilization. Source
  • Demand: Average day rates softened in the North Sea and West Africa during the quarter. Source
  • Financial: The $27.1 million loss on early extinguishment of debt associated with the July 2025 refinancing reduced net income in the quarter. Source

Earlier plans management reported on

  • Met: Management said the midpoint of 2025 revenue and margin guidance was kept through the year. Source
  • On track: Management described the softening in North Sea and West Africa day rates as consistent with its expectations. 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.