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Bristow Group Inc.: Q3 FY2026 earnings call

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

Key takeaways

  • Revenue and net income rose: Total revenues rose to $437.9 million from $411.8 million. Net income attributable to Bristow was $27.7 million, or $0.93 per diluted share, against $21.2 million, or $0.70 in the second quarter. Source
  • Adjusted EBITDA increased: Adjusted EBITDA was $89.6 million, compared with $79.8 million. Special items of $12.1 million were added back, including $4.9 million of acquisition-related costs. Source
  • Government Services grew on BSM: Government Services revenue was $130.0 million, up $17.8 million. BSM contributed $16.9 million; the UK search and rescue contract added $1.6 million and the Irish contract fell $0.7 million. Source
  • Aircraft modification delays hit margins: Delayed modification programs for new search and rescue contracts are named as the most acute supply chain impact. Their knock-on effects reduced current Government Services margins. Source
  • Europe utilization fell: Europe revenue was $10.9 million lower on lower utilization, partly offset by lower penalties and increased rates. Source
  • Operating cash flow rose: Operating cash flow was $61.2 million against $41.1 million, on higher earnings and lower working capital use. Free cash flow was $56.0 million. Source
  • Liquidity stood at $287.3 million: Unrestricted cash was $233.4 million, and remaining ABL availability was $53.9 million, for total liquidity of $287.3 million. Source

“The business is performing well despite significant, adverse impacts from persistent industry supply chain challenges.”

Chris Bradshaw, President and CEO of Bristow Group

Guidance

AreaPeriodFigureAgainst last quarter
Offshore Energy Services revenue Sourcefull-year 2026$1,015 - $1,035 millionNarrowed from $1,010 - $1,050 million
Government Services revenue Sourcefull-year 2026$470 - $490 millionLowered from $475 - $495 million
Other Services revenue Sourcefull-year 2026$155 - $175 millionKept
Total revenues Sourcefull-year 2026$1,640 - $1,700 millionNarrowed, top end cut from $1,640 - $1,720 million
Adjusted EBITDA Sourcefull-year 2026$300 - $320 million (midpoint $310 million)Kept
Offshore Energy Services Adjusted Operating Income Sourcefull-year 2026$240 - $250 millionRaised from $235 - $245 million
Government Services Adjusted Operating Income Sourcefull-year 2026$35 - $45 millionLowered from $55 - $65 million
Other Services Adjusted Operating Income Sourcefull-year 2026$25 - $30 millionKept
Cash interest Sourcefull-year 2026~$45 millionKept
Cash taxes Sourcefull-year 2026~$30 millionNarrowed, low end up from $25 - $30 million
Maintenance capital expenditures Sourcefull-year 2026$25 - $30 millionKept

What changed from last quarter

  • Guidance lowered: The 2026 total revenue range high end was lowered to $1,700 million from $1,720 million. Source
  • Guidance lowered: The 2026 Government Services Adjusted Operating Income range was lowered to $35 - $45 million from $55 - $65 million. Source
  • Guidance raised: The 2026 Offshore Energy Services Adjusted Operating Income range was raised to $240 - $250 million from $235 - $245 million. Source
  • Guidance raised: The 2026 cash taxes estimate is now about $30 million, up from the $25 - $30 million range. Source
  • Guidance kept: The company reaffirmed the midpoint of its 2026 Adjusted EBITDA guidance, with the range narrowed to $300 - $320 million. Source
  • New: Berry Aviation, acquired in July, is now named Bristow Special Mission Inc. (BSM) and is reported within Government Services and Other Services. Source

Results and growth drivers

  • Revenue and net income rose: Total revenues rose to $437.9 million from $411.8 million. Net income attributable to Bristow was $27.7 million, or $0.93 per diluted share, against $21.2 million, or $0.70 in the second quarter. Source
  • Adjusted EBITDA increased: Adjusted EBITDA was $89.6 million, compared with $79.8 million. Special items of $12.1 million were added back, including $4.9 million of acquisition-related costs. Source
  • Operating income rose: Operating income was $47.7 million, against $39.6 million in the second quarter. Weighted average diluted shares were 29,852 thousand, against 30,011 thousand. Source

Segments and regions

  • Offshore Energy revenue slipped: Offshore Energy Services revenue was $256.0 million. The Americas rose $6.0 million on higher utilization and rates, and Africa fell $0.7 million. Source
  • Government Services grew on BSM: Government Services revenue was $130.0 million, up $17.8 million. BSM contributed $16.9 million; the UK search and rescue contract added $1.6 million and the Irish contract fell $0.7 million. Source
  • Other Services grew: Other Services revenue was $51.9 million, up $14.0 million. BSM added $9.2 million, and higher activity in Australia added $4.8 million. Source

“Through the first nine months of 2026, Bristow has paid cash dividends of more than $11 million and repurchased more than $36 million of common shares”

Chris Bradshaw, President and CEO of Bristow Group

Supply chain and aircraft availability

  • Aircraft modification delays hit margins: Delayed modification programs for new search and rescue contracts are named as the most acute supply chain impact. Their knock-on effects reduced current Government Services margins. Source
  • Penalties tied to aircraft availability: Irish Coast Guard revenue fell on higher penalties linked to aircraft availability. Penalties also rose on the Africa contracts. Source
  • Repair costs rose on timing: Government Services repairs and maintenance rose $2.4 million, with the increase tied to repair timing and lower vendor credits. Source

Costs and below-operating-income items

  • Fuel costs fell: Consolidated fuel expense fell to $29.5 million from $33.3 million. Offshore Energy Services fuel fell $3.2 million on fewer flight hours and lower global fuel prices. Source
  • Personnel costs rose with BSM: Government Services personnel costs rose $4.4 million, partly from BSM staff and partly from Irish personnel costs deferred until training ended, partly offset by lower UK costs. Source
  • Acquisition fees lifted G&A: Corporate general and administrative expenses rose $4.4 million, mainly professional services fees for the BSM acquisition. Acquisition-related costs in special items were $4.9 million. Source
  • Income tax expense rose: Income tax expense was $9.1 million, up $9.0 million. The company cited higher pre-tax income and the absence of a Nigerian tax credit used in the second quarter. Source
  • Foreign exchange losses drove other expense: Other expense, net was $1.0 million, mainly non-cash foreign exchange losses. The second quarter figure was $8.9 million, including $7.7 million of such losses. Source

“we believe positive offshore energy fundamentals and the tight supply of relevant offshore helicopters combine for more favorable industry conditions than we’ve seen in more than a dozen years.”

Chris Bradshaw, President and CEO of Bristow Group

Margins by segment

  • Offshore Energy margin rose: Offshore Energy Services Adjusted Operating Income was $68.5 million, a 27% margin against 25%. Segment operating income rose $3.2 million to $49.2 million. Source
  • Government margin improved: Government Services Adjusted Operating Income was $9.7 million, a 7% margin against 6%. The segment operating loss narrowed to $1.4 million on higher revenue, partly offset by higher operating expenses of $13.0 million. Source
  • Other Services margin widened: Other Services Adjusted Operating Income was $12.6 million, a 24% margin against 14%, on higher revenue. Source

Demand and utilization

  • Europe utilization fell: Europe revenue was $10.9 million lower on lower utilization, partly offset by lower penalties and increased rates. Source
  • Offshore flight hours declined: Offshore Energy Services flight hours fell 2.3% to 22,530. The Americas rose 6.7%, while Africa fell 2.7%. Source
  • Government and Other hours grew: Government Services flight hours rose 18.8% and Other Services rose 28.9%, lifting total flight hours to 32,781, up 4.5%. Source

Fleet and asset sales

  • Fixed wing grew, helicopters fell: Fixed wing aircraft rose to 36 from 13, while helicopters fell to 195 from 202. Owned and leased mix shifted accordingly. Source
  • Aircraft sold in sale-leaseback: The company sold one AW189 heavy helicopter under a sale-leaseback, plus two AW139s and other assets, for net gains of $1.9 million. The second quarter gain was $0.1 million. Source
  • AW189s under construction: Three AW189 heavy helicopters are under construction, all but one delivered and undergoing additional configuration. Options cover nine AW189s and five H135s. Source

Capital, cash and shareholder returns

  • Operating cash flow rose: Operating cash flow was $61.2 million against $41.1 million, on higher earnings and lower working capital use. Free cash flow was $56.0 million. Source
  • Capital spending and asset proceeds: Purchases of property and equipment were $20.8 million, including $5.1 million of maintenance spending, against $19.2 million of cash from asset sales. Source
  • Liquidity stood at $287.3 million: Unrestricted cash was $233.4 million, and remaining ABL availability was $53.9 million, for total liquidity of $287.3 million. Source
  • Shares repurchased in quarter: The company bought back 547,785 shares for $25.0 million at an average $45.64. Of the $125.0 million program authorized in February 2025, $96.0 million remained. Source

Coming up, as management said on 3 November 2026

  • BSM growth expected to accelerate: Management expects Bristow Special Missions growth to accelerate in the fourth quarter and full-year 2027. Source
  • Supply chain issues expected to stabilize: Management expects supply chain issues to stabilize during 2027, which it links to a return to historical margins on long-term government contracts. Source
  • Dividend payable November 27: A quarterly dividend of $0.125 per share was declared on October 29, payable November 27, 2026 to holders of record on November 13. Source

Figures management reported

FigureReported
Flight hours, total Source32,781 in Q3 2026 vs 31,375 in Q2 2026, up 4.5%
Flight hours, Offshore Energy Services Source22,530 in Q3 2026 vs 23,058 in Q2 2026, down 2.3%
Fuel costs, consolidated Source$29,541 thousand in Q3 2026 vs $33,328 thousand in Q2 2026
Fleet, total aircraft Source234 aircraft at September 30, 2026, vs 218 at June 30, 2026

Risks management discussed

  • Operational: Delayed aircraft modification programs for new search and rescue contracts are the most acute impact of supply chain challenges on the business. Source
  • Operational: Africa revenue fell on higher penalties, which the company tied to contract performance this quarter. Source
  • Demand: Lower utilization in Europe reduced segment revenue, which the company described as a driver of the Offshore Energy Services decline. Source

Earlier plans management reported on

  • Not stated: The second quarter release expected the acquisition to add differentiated capabilities to Government Services. The third quarter release gives no further status on that expectation.

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.