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Tidewater Inc.: Q3 FY2026 earnings call

What management said about Q3 FY2026, from the documents filed with the SEC on 9 November 2026: press release. Guidance figures: 1 raised, 1 lowered, 1 narrowed, 2 new. The quarter’s numbers.

Key takeaways

  • Revenue and day rate both rose: Revenue was $360.4 million, up 5.3% on the second quarter. The average day rate was $23,775 per day, up $837 or 3.7% sequentially. Source
  • 2026 guidance narrowed and lowered: Full-year 2026 revenue range is $1.43 to $1.44 billion, from $1.42 to $1.47 billion. Gross margin range is 47.5% to 48.5%, from 49% to 50%. Source
  • 2027 guidance first issued: Management initiated full-year 2027 guidance, with revenue of $1.70 to $1.75 billion and margin of 51% to 53%. Source
  • Gross margin held at 46.8%: Gross margin, shown as vessel operating margin, was 46.8%, the same as the second quarter and below 48.0% a year earlier. Management said it exceeded expectations by a full point. Source
  • Middle East conflict costs stay elevated: Management said conflict-related operating costs remain elevated and are now expected to affect the fourth quarter, compared with its earlier expectation of declining costs. Source
  • Leading edge day rates jumped: The weighted average term contract day rate reached $27,373, up 12.5% on the second quarter. Management said the pace of new term contract day rate acceleration continued. Source
  • WSUT acquisition closed: The company closed its all-cash acquisition of Wilson Sons Ultratug Offshore, which management said materially expands its presence in Brazil. Source
  • Free cash flow reached $90.9 million: Operating cash flow was $75.2 million and free cash flow $90.9 million, against $64.4 million of free cash flow in the second quarter. Source

“Third quarter 2026 revenue and gross margin nicely exceeded our expectations driven by continued strength in day rates and utilization, with revenue for the quarter coming in at $360.4 million.”

Quintin Kneen, President and Chief Executive Officer

Guidance

AreaPeriodFigureAgainst last quarter
2026 revenue Sourcefull year 2026$1.43 to $1.44 billionNarrowed from $1.42 to $1.47 billion
2026 gross margin Sourcefull year 202647.5% to 48.5%Lowered from 49% to 50%
2027 revenue Sourcefull year 2027$1.70 to $1.75 billionNew
2027 gross margin Sourcefull year 202751% to 53%New
Middle East conflict-related costs Sourcefull year 2026$19.8 million, of which $8.7 million billable to customersRaised from $13.1 million, of which $7.6 million billable
Share repurchase authorization Sourceoutstanding at filing, after repurchases since last earnings release$475 million

What changed from last quarter

  • Guidance lowered: 2026 revenue range narrowed to $1.43 to $1.44 billion, with the top end lowered from $1.47 billion. Source
  • Guidance lowered: 2026 gross margin guidance lowered to 47.5% to 48.5% from 49% to 50%. Source
  • New guidance: 2027 revenue and margin guidance initiated. Source
  • Guidance raised: Estimated 2026 Middle East conflict-related costs raised to $19.8 million from $13.1 million. Source
  • New: WSUT acquisition closed in the third quarter. The prior release had described it as previously announced and expected to close around September 1, 2026. Source

Results and day rate growth

  • Revenue and day rate both rose: Revenue was $360.4 million, up 5.3% on the second quarter. The average day rate was $23,775 per day, up $837 or 3.7% sequentially. Source
  • Net income and Adjusted EBITDA rose: Net income was $17.5 million, or $0.35 per diluted share, against a net loss of $(0.8) million a year earlier. Adjusted EBITDA was $140.1 million, against $135.5 million in the second quarter. Source
  • Day rate gains were broad-based: Management said the sequential day rate increase reached nearly all vessel classes, following earlier quarterly improvements in 2026. Source
  • Nine-month results: Nine-month revenue was $1,028.9 million, against $1,016.0 million a year earlier. Nine-month net income was $45.3 million, or $0.91 per diluted share, against $114.8 million. Source
  • 2026 guidance narrowed and lowered: Full-year 2026 revenue range is $1.43 to $1.44 billion, from $1.42 to $1.47 billion. Gross margin range is 47.5% to 48.5%, from 49% to 50%. Source
  • 2027 guidance first issued: Management initiated full-year 2027 guidance, with revenue of $1.70 to $1.75 billion and margin of 51% to 53%. Source

Segments and regions

  • Europe/Mediterranean grew most: Europe/Mediterranean vessel revenue reached $121.5 million from $112.1 million, with vessel operating margin at 53.8% against 50.3% in the second quarter. Source
  • Americas revenue climbed on PSVs: Americas vessel revenue was $72.0 million from $54.0 million. PSV below 900 revenue rose to $36.6 million from $21.6 million, and segment margin was 42.1%. Source
  • Asia Pacific and West Africa declined: Asia Pacific vessel revenue was $44.5 million, from $47.9 million. West Africa was $73.0 million, from $77.3 million, with margin at 50.8% against 53.5%. Source
  • Middle East revenue eased slightly: Middle East vessel revenue was $46.4 million, against $48.5 million, with segment margin at 34.7% against 37.6%. Source

“Broad-based confidence in the offshore cycle continues to improve and we believe that the coming years should provide for a durable set of factors that should allow us to continue to drive earnings and cash flow growth.”

Quintin Kneen, President and Chief Executive Officer

Costs and margins

  • Gross margin held at 46.8%: Gross margin, shown as vessel operating margin, was 46.8%, the same as the second quarter and below 48.0% a year earlier. Management said it exceeded expectations by a full point. Source
  • Vessel operating costs rose with crew: Vessel operating costs were $190.2 million against $180.7 million in the second quarter. Crew costs rose to $110.8 million, and total costs were 53% of vessel revenue. Source
  • G&A rose on acquisition costs: General and administrative expense was $43.8 million, against $34.8 million in the second quarter. Acquisition, restructuring and integration costs were $10.2 million, against $2.7 million. Source
  • Middle East conflict costs stay elevated: Management said conflict-related operating costs remain elevated and are now expected to affect the fourth quarter, compared with its earlier expectation of declining costs. Source

Demand and contract rates

  • Leading edge day rates jumped: The weighted average term contract day rate reached $27,373, up 12.5% on the second quarter. Management said the pace of new term contract day rate acceleration continued. Source
  • Activity progressed as anticipated: Management said activity has largely progressed as anticipated this year, even with the Middle East conflict continuing. Source
  • Demand drivers named: Management named drilling support, subsea and EPCI support, and production support as the activities expected to keep driving vessel demand over the next year. Source
  • Tight vessel supply noted: Management said the early benefit of a strengthening market shows in recent leading edge day rates, against a tight offshore vessel supply backdrop. Source

“As such, we are initiating full-year 2027 revenue guidance of $1.70 to $1.75 billion and full-year 2027 margin guidance of 51% to 53%.”

Quintin Kneen, President and Chief Executive Officer

WSUT acquisition and integration

  • WSUT acquisition closed: The company closed its all-cash acquisition of Wilson Sons Ultratug Offshore, which management said materially expands its presence in Brazil. Source
  • Integration moving along well: Management said integration is moving along well, with substantial integration into the Tidewater platform expected by the start of 2027. Source
  • Acquisition expenses to date: Management put year-to-date WSUT acquisition-related expenses at approximately $14.4 million. Source

Cash flow and capital returns

  • Free cash flow reached $90.9 million: Operating cash flow was $75.2 million and free cash flow $90.9 million, against $64.4 million of free cash flow in the second quarter. Source
  • Cash balance fell after acquisition: Cash and cash equivalents were $390.8 million at September 30, from $613.5 million at June 30. Acquisitions, net of cash acquired, used $273.0 million in the quarter. Source
  • Long-term debt rose: Long-term debt was $803.6 million, from $647.5 million at June 30. The Wilson acquisition added $214.9 million of assumed debt, a non-cash item. Source
  • Buybacks continued under authorization: About $25 million of shares were repurchased since the last earnings release, and the authorization stands at $475 million, down from $500 million. Source

Fleet, utilization and drydocking

  • Active fleet count rose: Active vessels rose to 207 from 200 in the second quarter, and stacked vessels fell to 5 from 6. Source
  • Utilization eased across fleet: Total fleet utilization was 77.4%, down from 79.2%. Active fleet utilization was 79.2%, down from 81.4%. Source
  • Drydock payments rose: Cash paid for deferred drydocking and survey costs was $28.2 million, against $23.3 million in the second quarter. 20 vessels commenced drydocks in the quarter. Source

Coming up, as management said on 9 November 2026

  • WSUT integration completes by 2027: Management expects to substantially integrate WSUT into the Tidewater platform by the start of 2027. Source
  • Fourth-quarter conflict cost impact: Management expects Middle East conflict-related operating costs to affect the fourth quarter. Source

Figures management reported

FigureReported
Average day rate per vessel day Source$23,775 per day
Utilization, total fleet Source77.4%
Average vessels, total fleet Source212
Fuel, lube and supplies cost Source$19.8 million
Vessel operating costs as percent of vessel revenues Source53%

Risks management discussed

  • Operational: Conflict-related costs include a portion that the company is not contractually permitted to bill back to customers. Source
  • Financial: Acquisition-related expenses for WSUT have been incurred year to date while integration continues. Source

Earlier plans management reported on

  • On track: Management said realized day rates continued the pace of quarterly improvements through 2026. Source
  • Ahead: Management said gross margin exceeded its expectations for the quarter. Source
  • On track: Management said integration efforts are moving along well and making good progress. Source
  • Met: Management said activity largely progressed as anticipated this year. 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.