Highlights | |||||||
(in million USD, except LPS & EPS) | Q3 2024 | Q3 2023 | 9M 2024 | 9M 2023 | |||
Net Revenues | $11.6 | $11.7 | $34.6 | $24.5 | |||
Net (loss) / income | ($0.9) | $8.9 | ($1.6) | $0.9 | |||
Adjusted net (loss) / income 1 | ($0.3) | $9.2 | ($0.5) | $3.4 | |||
EBITDA1 | $4.5 | $13.5 | $14.0 | $11.9 | |||
Adjusted EBITDA1 | $5.1 | $13.8 | $15.1 | $14.4 | |||
(Loss) / Earnings per share Basic | ($0.10) | $1.00 | ($0.18) | $0.10 | |||
(Loss) / Earnings per share Diluted | ($0.10) | $0.91 | ($0.18) | $0.09 | |||
Adjusted (loss) / earnings per share Basic1 | ($0.03) | $1.03 | ($0.06) | $0.40 | |||
Adjusted (loss) / earnings per share Diluted1 | ($0.03) | $0.95 | ($0.06) | $0.35 |
1 Adjusted (loss) / earnings per share, Adjusted Net (loss) / income, EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA are non-GAAP measures. Please see the reconciliation below of Adjusted (loss) / earnings per share, Adjusted Net (loss) / Income, EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA to net (loss)/ income, the most directly comparable U.S. GAAP measure.
Other Highlights and Developments:
- Consistent Shareholder Returns: Declared a quarterly cash dividend of $0.075 per share for Q3 2024, marking the eighth consecutive quarterly distribution. Since November 2022, the Company has declared total cash dividends of $1.60 per share, amounting to $12.7 million, representing a substantial portion of United's market capitalization.
- Strategic Fleet Enhancement: Acquired a 2016-built Kamsarmax dry bulk vessel under an 18-month bareboat charter agreement with a purchase option, reinforcing our focus on fleet modernization and operational flexibility.
- Accretive Capital Management: Completed share buybacks worth approximately $0.4 million during the third quarter of 2024, demonstrating our confidence in the Company's value. Total buybacks of $0.5 million in 2024 to date.
- Robust Financing Achievements: Secured $48.3 million in aggregate financings year-to-date, facilitating key strategic initiatives, including the successful exercise of advantageous purchase options for two Panamax vessels, positioning the Company for long-term growth.
For the quarter ended September 30, 2024, the Company generated Net Revenues of $11.6 million compared to $11.7 million in the third quarter of 2023. Net Loss and Adjusted Net Loss for the quarter were $0.9 million and $0.3 million, respectively, compared to Net Income of $8.9 million and Adjusted Net Income of $9.2 million in the third quarter of 2023. Adjusted EBITDA for the quarter was $5.1 million, compared to $13.8 million for the same period of 2023. The Time Charter Equivalent rate ("TCE rate”)2 of the fleet for the third quarter of 2024 was $16,365 per day.
For the nine-month period ended September 30, 2024, the Company generated Net Revenues of $34.6 million, compared to $24.5 million in the same period of 2023. Net Loss and Adjusted Net Loss for the period were $1.6 million and $0.5 million, respectively, compared to Net Income of $0.9 million and Adjusted Net Income of $3.4 million in the respective period of 2023. Adjusted EBITDA for the first nine months of 2024 was $15.1 million, compared to $14.4 million for the same period of 2023. The TCE rate of the fleet for the first nine months of 2024 was $16,246 per day.
Cash and cash-equivalents and restricted cash as of September 30, 2024, stood at $11.4 million. Shareholders' equity at the end of the third quarter was $62.5 million, while long-term debt, finance lease liabilities and other financial liabilities, net of deferred finance costs stood at $101.1 million as of September 30, 2024. The book value of our fleet as of September 30, 2024, stood at $155.3 million, including one chartered-in Kamsarmax vessel.
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2 TCE Rate is a non-GAAP measure. Please see the reconciliation below of TCE Rate to net revenues from vessels, the most directly comparable U.S. GAAP measure.
Stamatis Tsantanis, the Company's Chairman & Chief Executive Officer, stated:
"In the third quarter of 2024, United continued to deliver value to shareholders, announcing our eighth consecutive quarterly dividend, set at $0.075 per share. This distribution represents an annualized yield of 15% per share.3 Over the past two years, we have returned $1.60 per share in dividends, prioritizing shareholder returns even amidst market challenges.
Our strategy to modernize and optimize our fleet continues to yield significant benefits. The delivery of the 2016-built M/V Nisea, coupled with the profitable sale of the M/V Oasea, which we sold for $1.4 million book profit in July, underscores our disciplined approach to fleet renewal. These transactions not only reduce the average age of our vessels but also secure high-quality charters at rates above market averages, demonstrating the strength of our commercial strategy.
While our third quarter financial results reflect a period of transition, they also highlight the robustness of our operational platform. Our adjusted EBITDA of $5.1 million and near-perfect fleet utilization of 99.9% are testaments to our operational efficiency and market adaptability. Moreover, our prudent capital management ensures that we are well-positioned to capture growth opportunities in a dry bulk market that continues to benefit from favorable supply-demand dynamics.
In the fourth quarter, based on current FFA levels, we expect to deliver a daily TCE of $15,140, also taking into account that three Panamax and two Capesize vessels are operating under fixed daily rates, leaving one Capesize and two Panamax exposed to the spot market developments. Lastly, as regards our commercial developments, the M/V Cretansea was fixed on a one-year time charter at an index-linked rate with a major commodity trading company.
Concerning the dry bulk market, we note that conditions remain favorable, with positive developments being led mainly by the Capesize sector where projected ton-mile demand exceeds projected fleet supply growth according to all forecasts. Over the next years the positive outlook for the dry bulk market is a function of low expected fleet growth owing to limited newbuilding ordering in the face of strict environmental regulations that are increasing the need for fleet renewal.
As we look ahead, our focus remains on driving sustainable growth through strategic fleet investments and diversification initiatives like our recently announced participation in an offshore project concerning the construction of an Energy Construction Vessel. This forward-looking approach ensures United is not only well-equipped to capitalize on emerging market trends but also positioned to deliver long-term value to our shareholders under changing market conditions."
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3 Based on the closing price on November 22, 2024.
Current Company Fleet:
Vessel Name | Sector | Capacity (DWT) | Year Built | Yard | Employment Type | Minimum T/C expiration | Maximum T/C expiration(1) |
Goodship | Dry Bulk / Capesize | 177,536 | 2005 | Mitsui | T/C Index Linked(2) | Oct-25 | Dec-25 |
Tradership | Dry Bulk / Capesize | 176,925 | 2006 | Namura | T/C Index Linked(2) | Jan-25 | Jun-25 |
Gloriuship | Dry Bulk / Capesize | 171,314 | 2004 | Hyundai | Spot Employment | N/A | N/A |
Nisea(3) | Dry Bulk / Kamsarmax | 82,235 | 2016 | Oshima | T/C Fixed Rate | Jul-25 | Sep-25 |
Cretansea | Dry Bulk / Kamsarmax | 81,508 | 2009 | Universal | T/C Index Linked(2) | Sep-25 | Dec-25 |
Chrisea | Dry Bulk / Panamax | 78,173 | 2013 | Shin Kurushima | T/C Index Linked(2) | May-25 | Sep-25 |
Synthesea | Dry Bulk / Panamax | 78,020 | 2015 | Sasebo | T/C Index Linked(2) | Aug-25 | Dec-25 |
Exelixsea | Dry Bulk / Panamax | 76,361 | 2011 | Oshima | T/C Index Linked(2) | Jun-25 | Oct-25 |
Total/Average age | 922,072 | 14.7 years |
(1) | The latest redelivery dates do not include any additional optional periods.
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(2) | "T/C” refers to a time charter agreement. Under these index-linked T/Cs, the Company has the option to convert the index-linked rate to fixed for a period of minimum two months, based on the prevailing FFA Rates for the selected period, and has done so for certain vessels as part of its freight hedging strategy, as described below under "Fourth Quarter 2024 TCE Rate Guidance”. |
(3) | The vessel is technically and commercially operated by the Company on the basis of an 18-month bareboat charter-in contract with the owners of the vessel, including a purchase option at the end of the bareboat charter in favour of the Company. |
Fleet Data:
Q3 2024 | Q3 2023 | 9M 2024 | 9M 2023 | |||||
Ownership days(1) | 683 | 687 | 2,139 | 1,603 | ||||
Operating days(2) | 682 | 628 | 2,045 | 1,443 | ||||
Fleet utilization(3) | 99.9% | 91.4% | 95.6% | 90.0% | ||||
TCE rate(4) | $16,365 | $16,186 | $16,246 | $15,141 | ||||
Daily Vessel Operating Expenses(5) | $6,795 | $6,668 | $6,806 | $6,894 |
(1) | Ownership days are the total number of calendar days in a period during which the vessels in a fleet have been owned or chartered. Ownership days are an indicator of the size of the Company's fleet over a period and affect both the amount of revenues and the amount of expenses that the Company recorded during a period.
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(2) | Operating days are the number of available days in a period less the aggregate number of days that the vessels are off-hire due to unforeseen circumstances. Operating days include the days that our vessels are on ballast voyages without having finalized agreements for their next employment. |
(3) | Fleet utilization is the percentage of time that the vessels are generating revenue and is determined by dividing operating days by ownership days for the relevant period.
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(4) | TCE rate is defined as the Company's net revenue less voyage expenses during a period divided by the number of the Company's operating days during the period. Voyage expenses include port charges, bunker (fuel oil and diesel oil) expenses, canal charges and other commissions. The Company includes the TCE rate, a non-GAAP measure, as it believes it provides additional meaningful information in conjunction with net revenues from vessels, the most directly comparable U.S. GAAP measure, and because it assists the Company's management in making decisions regarding the deployment and use of our vessels and because the Company believes that it provides useful information to investors regarding our financial performance. The Company's calculation of TCE rate may not be comparable to that reported by other companies. The following table reconciles the Company's net revenues from vessels to the TCE rate. |
(In thousands of U.S. Dollars, except operating days and TCE rate)
Q3 2024 | Q3 2023 | 9M 2024 | 9M 2023 | |||||
Vessel revenue, net | 11,566 | 11,682 | 34,607 | 24,514 | ||||
Less: Voyage expenses | 405 | 1,517 | 1,383 | 2,666 | ||||
Time charter equivalent revenues | 11,161 | 10,165 | 33,224 | 21,848 | ||||
Operating days | 682 | 628 | 2,045 | 1,443 | ||||
TCE rate | $16,365 | $16,186 | $16,246 | $15,141 |
(5) | Vessel operating expenses include crew costs, provisions, deck and engine stores, lubricants, insurance, maintenance and repairs. Daily Vessel Operating Expenses are calculated by dividing vessel operating expenses, excluding pre-delivery costs of acquired vessels, by ownership days for the relevant time periods. The Company's calculation of daily vessel operating expenses may not be comparable to that reported by other companies. The following table reconciles the Company's vessel operating expenses to daily vessel operating expenses. |
(In thousands of U.S. Dollars, except ownership days and Daily Vessel Operating Expenses)
Q3 2024 | Q3 2023 | 9M 2024 | 9M 2023 | |||||
Vessel operating expenses | 5,256 | 5,992 | 15,174 | 15,129 | ||||
Less: Pre-delivery expenses | 615 | 1,411 | 615 | 4,078 | ||||
Vessel operating expenses before pre-delivery expenses | 4,641 | 4,581 | 14,559 | 11,051 | ||||
Ownership days | 683 | 687 | 2,139 | 1,603 | ||||
Daily Vessel Operating Expenses | $6,795 | $6,668 | $6,806 | $6,894 |
Net (Loss) / Income to EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA Reconciliation:
(In thousands of U.S. Dollars)
Q3 2024 | Q3 2023 | 9M 2024 | 9M 2023 | |
Net (loss) / income | (894) | 8,861 | (1,562) | 947 |
Interest and finance cost, net | 1,876 | 2,001 |
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