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Tidewater Inc.: Q4 FY2025 earnings call

What management said about Q4 FY2025, from the documents filed with the SEC on 2 March 2026: press release. Guidance figures: 2 raised, 1 kept. The quarter’s numbers.

Key takeaways

  • Full-year net income rose to $334.7 million: Full-year net income attributable to Tidewater was $334.7 million, or $6.64 per diluted share. The fourth quarter was $219.9 million, or $4.41 per diluted share. Source
  • Adjusted EBITDA grew about 7%: Full-year Adjusted EBITDA was $598.1 million, which management said grew by approximately 7%. Fourth-quarter Adjusted EBITDA was $143.1 million. Source
  • Up-time drove quarterly results: Management attributed the quarter's up-time gain to more time on-hire, lower repair downtime and fewer drydock days than it had anticipated. Source
  • Gross margin expanded for the year: Management said the business generated gross margin expansion, revenue growth and average day rate growth for 2025 compared with 2024. Source
  • Brazil acquisition adds 22 PSVs: Subsequent to quarter end, Tidewater announced the Wilson Sons Ultratug acquisition, a 22-vessel PSV fleet serving only the Brazilian market. Source
  • Free cash flow reached $426.0 million: Management said free cash flow was nearly $430 million for 2025, far above 2024. The reported figure was $426.0 million, and $151.2 million for the quarter. Source

“I am pleased to say that by all measures Tidewater was able to successfully navigate these challenges to deliver one of the best years in recent memory”

Quintin Kneen, Tidewater’s President and Chief Executive Officer

Guidance

AreaPeriodFigureAgainst last quarter
2026 revenue Sourcefull year 2026$1.43 to $1.48 billionRaised from $1.32 to $1.37 billion
2026 gross margin Sourcefull year 202649% to 51%Raised from 48% to 50%
Share repurchase authorization Sourcenot stated$500 millionKept

What changed from last quarter

  • Guidance raised: 2026 revenue guidance was raised from $1.32 to $1.37 billion to $1.43 to $1.48 billion. Management said the update contemplates the Wilson acquisition. Source
  • Guidance raised: 2026 gross margin guidance was raised from 48% to 50% to 49% to 51%, pro forma for the Wilson acquisition. Source
  • New: The Wilson Sons Ultratug acquisition was announced after quarter end. It covers a 22-vessel PSV fleet focused on Brazil. Source
  • New: In the fourth quarter the company completed an internal restructuring of vessel ownership, consolidating a significant portion of the fleet into one wholly-owned U.S. entity. Source

Full-year and fourth-quarter results

  • Full-year revenue rose 0.5%: Full-year 2025 revenue was $1,352.8 million, up 0.5% from 2024. The average day rate was $22,573 per day, up 6.1%. Source
  • Fourth-quarter revenue fell 2.4%: Fourth-quarter revenue was $336.8 million, against $345.1 million a year earlier, a decline of 2.4%. Source
  • Full-year net income rose to $334.7 million: Full-year net income attributable to Tidewater was $334.7 million, or $6.64 per diluted share. The fourth quarter was $219.9 million, or $4.41 per diluted share. Source
  • Adjusted EBITDA grew about 7%: Full-year Adjusted EBITDA was $598.1 million, which management said grew by approximately 7%. Fourth-quarter Adjusted EBITDA was $143.1 million. Source
  • Currency gain aided the quarter: A $2.1 million foreign exchange gain, tied by management to U.S. dollar weakening, favorably affected quarterly net income and Adjusted EBITDA. Source

Segment and regional results

  • West Africa revenue declined most: West Africa vessel revenues were $91.7 million, against $107.3 million a year earlier, the largest dollar decline among the segments. Source
  • West Africa margin narrowed: West Africa's vessel operating margin was 59.4% in the quarter, against 67.4% a year earlier. Source
  • Americas revenue rose most: Americas vessel revenues were $69.7 million, up from $60.2 million, the largest dollar gain among the segments in the quarter. Source
  • Middle East revenue increased: Middle East vessel revenues were $47.0 million, up from $40.8 million a year earlier. Source
  • Asia Pacific revenue declined: Asia Pacific vessel revenues were $42.0 million, against $51.0 million a year earlier. Source
  • Europe/Mediterranean slightly lower: Europe/Mediterranean vessel revenues were $82.4 million, against $84.1 million a year earlier. Source

“With the addition of the Wilson fleet, we have meaningfully increased the earnings and cash flow profile of the business and have gained critical mass in the largest offshore vessel market in the world.”

Quintin Kneen, Tidewater’s President and Chief Executive Officer

Fleet utilization and up-time

  • Up-time drove quarterly results: Management attributed the quarter's up-time gain to more time on-hire, lower repair downtime and fewer drydock days than it had anticipated. Source
  • Longer projects lifted utilization: Management said utilization improved because certain projects ran longer than anticipated. It also credited fleet reliability investments made over recent years. Source
  • Fleet averaged 209 vessels: Worldwide average vessels were 209 in total, against 216 a year earlier. Total-fleet utilization was 78.6%, against 77.6%. Source
  • Active-fleet utilization reached 81.7%: Active-fleet utilization was 81.7%, against 77.7% a year earlier, with 201 active vessels on average. Source
  • Eight vessels stacked on average: Eight vessels averaged stacked in the quarter, against none a year earlier. Source

Costs and margins

  • Gross margin expanded for the year: Management said the business generated gross margin expansion, revenue growth and average day rate growth for 2025 compared with 2024. Source
  • Crew costs fell for the year: Full-year crew costs were $402.3 million, against $416.3 million, or 30% of vessel revenues compared with 31%. Source
  • Repair and maintenance rose: Repair and maintenance was $103.9 million for the year, against $98.4 million, and $29.4 million in the quarter against $26.7 million. Source
  • Fuel costs eased: Fuel, lube and supplies cost $61.2 million for the year, against $65.4 million, and $15.2 million in the quarter, against $15.3 million. Source
  • G&A expense increased: General and administrative expense was $39.0 million in the quarter against $30.7 million, and $134.5 million for the year against $110.8 million. Source
  • Acquisition-related costs recorded: Acquisition, restructuring and integration related costs were $4.1 million in the quarter and $8.3 million for the year. Source

“We anticipate the substantial free cash flow of the business to continue”

Quintin Kneen, Tidewater’s President and Chief Executive Officer

Wilson acquisition and strategy

  • Brazil acquisition adds 22 PSVs: Subsequent to quarter end, Tidewater announced the Wilson Sons Ultratug acquisition, a 22-vessel PSV fleet serving only the Brazilian market. Source
  • Brazil described as largest market: Management described the Brazilian offshore vessel market as the largest in the world, and said it had long discussed entering the market more meaningfully. Source
  • Expected distinctly advantaged position: Management said it views the deal as creating a distinctly advantaged position for Tidewater on a long-term basis, citing Brazilian-built tonnage. Source
  • Fleet strategy continues: Management said the acquisition continues its strategy of bringing high-quality fleets onto the Tidewater platform. Source
  • Low leverage preserves flexibility: Management said the low leverage projected for Wilson leaves substantial financial flexibility for further capital allocation. Source

Cash flow, balance sheet and returns

  • Free cash flow reached $426.0 million: Management said free cash flow was nearly $430 million for 2025, far above 2024. The reported figure was $426.0 million, and $151.2 million for the quarter. Source
  • Operating cash flow rose for year: Net cash from operating activities was $379.1 million for the year, against $282.5 million, and $153.0 million in the quarter, against $100.0 million. Source
  • Cash rose to $578.8 million: Cash and cash equivalents were $578.8 million at year end, against $324.9 million. Long-term debt was $649.0 million, with a current portion of $5.8 million. Source
  • Debt structure reset this summer: Management said it reset the debt capital structure in summer 2025 and established a revolving credit facility. Source
  • Share count reduced in 2025: About 2.5 million shares were retired in 2025 for $98.2 million at an average price of $39.52, including shares netted for employee taxes. Source
  • Drydock spending fell: Cash paid for deferred drydocking and survey costs was $98.6 million for the year, against $133.3 million in 2024. Source

Tax benefit and pre-tax income

  • Non-cash tax benefit of $201.5 million: Management said net income was favorably affected by a $201.5 million non-cash deferred tax benefit, primarily from vessel realignment. Income tax was a $166.6 million benefit in the quarter. Source
  • Deferred tax asset rose sharply: The deferred tax asset was $200.9 million at year end, against $3.2 million a year earlier. Source
  • Pre-tax income broadly flat: Income before income taxes was $52.8 million in the quarter, against $53.0 million, and $220.2 million for the year, against $229.5 million. Source

Coming up, as management said on 2 March 2026

  • Wilson closing assumed mid-year: The 2026 guidance assumes the Wilson acquisition closes at mid-year 2026. Source

Figures management reported

FigureReported
Average day rate, fourth quarter 2025 Source$22,044 per day
Average day rate, full year 2025 Source$22,573 per day
Average total fleet vessels, fourth quarter 2025 Source209
Active-fleet utilization, fourth quarter 2025 Source81.7%
Fuel, lube and supplies cost Source$15.2 million in the quarter; $61.2 million for the year

Risks management discussed

  • Demand: Management said the pace of drilling activity through 2026 raises open questions, which bear on drilling-driven demand for vessels. Source

Earlier plans management reported on

  • Ahead: Management said fleet up-time continued to exceed its original expectations in the fourth quarter. Source
  • Met: In the prior quarter, management said it had kept the midpoint of full-year 2025 revenue and margin guidance through the year.
  • Not stated: Management said it had long discussed a more meaningful entry into Brazil, which the Wilson acquisition is intended to deliver. Source
  • Ahead: Management said day rates slightly exceeded its expectations, driven by the Middle East and Asia Pacific segments. 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.