Helix Energy Solutions Group, Inc. ("Helix") (NYSE: HLX) reported net income of $15.6 million, or $0.10 per diluted share, for the third quarter 2023 compared to $7.1 million, or $0.05 per diluted share, for the second quarter 2023 and a net loss of $18.8 million, or $(0.12) per diluted share, for the third quarter 2022. Helix reported adjusted EBITDA1 of $96.4 million for the third quarter 2023 compared to $71.3 million for the second quarter 2023 and $52.6 million for the third quarter 2022.
Helix reported net income of $17.5 million, or $0.11 per diluted share for the nine months ended September 30, 2023 compared to a net loss of $90.5 million, or $(0.60) per diluted share, for the nine months ended September 30, 2022. Adjusted EBITDA for the nine months ended September 30, 2023 was $202.8 million compared to $71.9 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2022. The table below summarizes our results of operations:
Summary of Results ($ in thousands, except per share amounts, unaudited) | |||||||||||||||||||
| Three Months Ended | Nine Months Ended | ||||||||||||||||||
| 9/30/2023 | 9/30/2022 | 6/30/2023 | 9/30/2023 | 9/30/2022 | |||||||||||||||
| Revenues | $ | 395,670 | $ | 272,547 | $ | 308,817 | $ | 954,571 | $ | 585,284 | |||||||||
| Gross Profit | $ | 80,545 | $ | 39,215 | $ | 55,349 | $ | 151,078 | $ | 19,252 | |||||||||
20 | % | 14 | % | 18 | % | 16 | % | 3 | % | ||||||||||
| Net Income (Loss) | $ | 15,560 | $ | (18,763 | ) | $ | 7,100 | $ | 17,495 | $ | (90,493 | ) | |||||||
| Basic Earnings (Loss) Per Share | $ | 0.10 | $ | (0.12 | ) | $ | 0.05 | $ | 0.12 | $ | (0.60 | ) | |||||||
| Diluted Earnings (Loss) Per Share | $ | 0.10 | $ | (0.12 | ) | $ | 0.05 | $ | 0.11 | $ | (0.60 | ) | |||||||
| Adjusted EBITDA1 | $ | 96,385 | $ | 52,568 | $ | 71,292 | $ | 202,771 | $ | 71,853 | |||||||||
| Cash and Cash Equivalents2 | $ | 168,370 | $ | 162,268 | $ | 182,651 | $ | 168,370 | $ | 162,268 | |||||||||
| Net Debt1 | $ | 58,887 | $ | 98,807 | $ | 78,317 | $ | 58,887 | $ | 98,807 | |||||||||
| Cash Flows from Operating Activities | $ | 31,611 | $ | 24,650 | $ | 31,501 | $ | 57,720 | $ | 1,396 | |||||||||
| Free Cash Flow1 | $ | 23,366 | $ | 21,847 | $ | 30,246 | $ | 41,920 | $ | (3,594 | ) | ||||||||
| 1 | Adjusted EBITDA, Net Debt and Free Cash Flow are non-GAAP measures; see reconciliations below |
| 2 | Excludes restricted cash of $2.5 million as of 9/30/22 |
Owen Kratz, President and Chief Executive Officer of Helix, stated, “The efforts of our team are paying off, and with the improving market, we achieved our highest quarterly revenue and EBITDA since 2014, with sequential improvements realized in all of our business segments. Our third quarter results benefitted from seasonally strong utilization in the North Sea and Gulf of Mexico. Our Well Intervention segment saw a significant increase in activity with the Q7000 working a full quarter and the Q4000 completing dry dock activities at the end of July. Our Robotics segment continues to perform at high levels with strong trenching activities in Europe and Asia Pacific. Our Shallow Water Abandonment segment is performing well, and we enhanced our competitive position with the acquisition of five additional P&A systems during the third quarter. We expect to finish 2023 with strong seasonally adjusted performance, establishing a solid foundation for further improvements in 2024.”
Segment Information, Operational and Financial Highlights ($ in thousands, unaudited) | |||||||||||||||||||
| Three Months Ended | Nine Months Ended | ||||||||||||||||||
| 9/30/2023 | 9/30/2022 | 6/30/2023 | 9/30/2023 | 9/30/2022 | |||||||||||||||
| Revenues: | |||||||||||||||||||
| Well Intervention | $ | 225,367 | $ | 143,925 | $ | 154,221 | $ | 522,026 | $ | 356,583 | |||||||||
| Robotics | 75,646 | 56,182 | 70,050 | 194,918 | 143,383 | ||||||||||||||
| Shallow Water Abandonment1 | 87,272 | 67,401 | 76,306 | 212,959 | 67,401 | ||||||||||||||
| Production Facilities | 24,469 | 18,448 | 23,128 | 68,502 | 54,420 | ||||||||||||||
| Intercompany Eliminations | (17,084 | ) | (13,409 | ) | (14,888 | ) | (43,834 | ) | (36,503 | ) | |||||||||
| Total | $ | 395,670 | $ | 272,547 | $ | 308,817 | $ | 954,571 | $ | 585,284 | |||||||||
| Income (Loss) from Operations: | |||||||||||||||||||
| Well Intervention | $ | 16,120 | $ | (1,304 | ) | $ | 3,380 | $ | 11,357 | $ | (55,610 | ) | |||||||
| Robotics | 20,665 | 11,708 | 17,467 | 43,226 | 22,854 | ||||||||||||||
| Shallow Water Abandonment1 | 27,624 | 16,320 | 19,762 | 54,208 | 16,320 | ||||||||||||||
| Production Facilities | 8,886 | 6,068 | 7,774 | 21,817 | 17,964 | ||||||||||||||
| Change in Fair Value of Contingent Consideration | (16,499 | ) | - | (10,828 | ) | (31,319 | ) | - | |||||||||||
| Corporate / Other / Eliminations | (20,568 | ) | (20,566 | ) | (17,350 | ) | (51,159 | ) | (41,255 | ) | |||||||||
| Total | $ | 36,228 | $ | 12,226 | $ | 20,205 | $ | 48,130 | $ | (39,727 | ) | ||||||||
| 1 Shallow Water Abandonment includes the results of Helix Alliance beginning July 1, 2022, the date of acquisition | |||||||||||||||||||
Segment Results
Well Intervention
Well Intervention revenues increased $71.1 million, or 46%, during the third quarter 2023 compared to the prior quarter primarily due to higher revenues on the Q4000 and Q7000 and higher rates in the North Sea. Revenues increased on the Q4000 in the Gulf of Mexico due to higher utilization as the vessel recommenced operations late July after undergoing its regulatory dry dock during most of the prior quarter. The Q7000 was in operations throughout the quarter, achieving 88% utilization, whereas during the prior quarter the vessel recognized revenue over 27 days following its paid transit and mobilization to New Zealand during which all revenues were deferred. North Sea revenues benefitted from improving rates in the third quarter. Overall Well Intervention vessel utilization increased to 92% during the third quarter 2023 compared to 84% during the prior quarter. Well Intervention operating income increased $12.7 million during the third quarter 2023 compared to the prior quarter. The improvement in operating results was primarily due to higher revenues during the third quarter.
Well Intervention revenues increased $81.4 million, or 57%, during the third quarter 2023 compared to the third quarter 2022. The increase was primarily due to higher revenues on the Q7000 and higher rates in the North Sea and in Brazil.During the third quarter 2023, the Q7000 operated throughout the quarter, achieving 88% utilization at higher rates, compared to being utilized 59% during the third quarter 2022 following scheduled regulatory maintenance. North Sea revenues improved during the third quarter 2023 with higher day rates and a stronger British pound compared to the third quarter 2022, and revenues in Brazil increased primarily due to higher rates as both Siem Helix vessels commenced long-term contracts with improved day rates at the end of 2022. Overall Well Intervention vessel utilization increased to 92% during the third quarter 2023 compared to 87% during the third quarter 2022. Well Intervention generated operating income of $16.1 million during the third quarter 2023 compared to operating losses of $1.3 million during the third quarter 2022. The improvement in operating results was primarily due to higher revenues during 2023.
Robotics
Robotics revenues increased $5.6 million, or 8%, during the third quarter 2023 compared to the prior quarter. The increase in revenues was due to seasonally higher vessel days and ROV utilization during the third quarter 2023 compared to the prior quarter. Chartered vessel activity increased to 506 days compared to 435 days, and vessel utilization increased to 97% during the third quarter 2023 compared to 96% during the prior quarter. Vessel days included 92 spot vessel days during the third quarter 2023 compared to 113 spot vessel days during the prior quarter. ROV and trencher utilization increased to 67% during the third quarter 2023 compared to 58% during the prior quarter. Integrated vessel trenching days increased to 276 days during the third quarter 2023 compared to 194 days during the prior quarter. The i-Plough trencher and the IROV boulder grab were idle during the third quarter 2023, whereas during the second quarter 2023 the i-Plough had 58 days of utilization as a stand-alone trencher performing site clearance on a third-party vessel and the IROV had 83 days of utilization performing seabed clearance operations on the U.S. east coast. Robotics operating income increased $3.2 million during the third quarter 2023 compared to the prior quarter due to higher revenues.
Robotics revenues increased $19.5 million, or 35%, during the third quarter 2023 compared to the third quarter 2022 due to higher chartered vessel and ROV activities and rates during the current year. Chartered vessel days increased to 506 days during the third quarter 2023 compared to 376 days during the third quarter 2022. Vessel days included 92 spot vessel days during the third quarter 2023 compared to 100 spot vessel days during the third quarter 2022. Chartered vessel utilization declined slightly to 97% during the third quarter 2023 compared to 98% in the prior year. ROV and trencher utilization increased to 67% during the third quarter 2023 compared to 66% during the third quarter 2022, and the third quarter 2023 included 276 days of integrated vessel trenching compared to 176 days during the third quarter 2022. Robotics operating income increased $9.0 million during the third quarter 2023 compared to the third quarter 2022 primarily due to higher revenues.
Shallow Water Abandonment
Shallow Water Abandonment revenues increased $11.0 million, or 14%, during the third quarter 2023 compared to the previous quarter. The increase in revenues reflected higher vessel activity and higher rates, offset partially by lower system utilization. Overall vessel utilization was 89% during the third quarter 2023 compared to 78% during the prior quarter. Plug and Abandonment and Coiled Tubing systems achieved 1,531 days of utilization, or 74%, during the third quarter 2023 compared to 1,554 days of utilization, or 81%, during the prior quarter. Utilization in the third quarter includes the acquisition of five P&A systems in September. The Epic Hedron heavy lift barge achieved a full quarter of utilization during the third quarter 2023 compared to 72 days, or 79%, during the prior quarter. Shallow Water Abandonment operating income increased $7.9 million during the third quarter 2023 compared to the prior quarter primarily due to higher revenue during the third quarter.
Shallow Water Abandonment revenues increased $19.9 million, or 29%, during the third quarter 2023 compared to the third quarter 2022. The increase in revenues reflected higher vessel and system utilization and rates in the third quarter 2023. Overall vessel utilization was 89% during the third quarter 2023 compared to 80% during the third quarter 2022. Plug and Abandonment and Coiled Tubing systems achieved 1,531 days of utilization, or 74%, during the third quarter 2023 compared to 1,077 days of utilization, or 59%, during the third quarter 2022. The Epic Hedron heavy lift barge achieved a full quarter of utilization during the third quarter 2023 compared to 38 days, or 41%, during the third quarter 2022. Shallow Water Abandonment operating income increased $11.3 million during the third quarter 2023 compared to the third quarter 2022 due to higher revenue in 2023.
Production Facilities
Production Facilities revenues increased $1.3 million, or 6%, during the third quarter 2023 compared to the prior quarter due to higher oil and gas prices, offset in part by lower oil and gas production due to the Thunder Hawk wells being shut-in at the end of the third quarter. Production Facilities operating income increased $1.1 million during the third quarter 2023 compared to the prior quarter due to higher revenues.
Production Facilities revenues increased $6.0 million, or 33%, during the third quarter 2023 compared to the third quarter 2022 primarily due to higher oil and gas production, offset in part by lower oil and gas prices during the current year. Production Facilities operating income increased $2.8 million during the third quarter 2023 due primarily to higher revenues.
Selling, General and Administrative and Other
Selling, General and Administrative
Selling, general and administrative expenses were $27.8 million, or 7.0% of revenue, during the third quarter 2023 compared to $24.0 million, or 7.8% of revenue, during the prior quarter. The increase during the third quarter was primarily due to higher compensation costs compared to the prior quarter.
Change in Fair Value of Contingent Consideration
Change in fair value of contingent consideration related to our acquisition of Alliance was $16.5 million during the third quarter 2023 and reflects an increase in the fair value of the estimated earn-out payable in 2024.
Other Income and Expenses
Other expense, net was $8.3 million during the third quarter 2023 compared to $5.7 million during the prior quarter. Other expense, net during the third quarter 2023 primarily includes foreign currency losses related to the approximate 4% depreciation of the British pound primarily on U.S. dollar denominated intercompany debt in our U.K. entities.
Cash Flows
Operating cash flows were $31.6 million during the third quarter 2023 compared to $31.5 million during the prior quarter and $24.7 million during the third quarter 2022. Operating cash flows during the third quarter 2023 benefited from higher operating income and lower regulatory certification costs compared to the prior quarter, but that increase was offset by higher working capital outflows during the third quarter. Operating cash flows during the third quarter 2023 increased compared to the prior year due to higher operating income offset in part by higher regulatory certification costs and working capital outflows in 2023. Cash paid for regulatory recertifications for our vessels and systems, which are included in operating cash flows, were $17.9 million during the third quarter 2023 compared to $24.2 million during the prior quarter and $9.9 million during the third quarter 2022.
Capital expenditures, which are included in investing cash flows, totaled $8.2 million during the third quarter 2023 compared to $1.3 million during the prior quarter and $2.8 million during the third quarter 2022.
Free Cash Flow was $23.4 million during the third quarter 2023 compared to $30.2 million during the prior quarter and $21.8 million during the third quarter 2022. (Free Cash Flow is a non-GAAP measure. See reconciliation below.)
Share Repurchases
Share repurchases pursuant to our share repurchase program during the third quarter 2023 totaled approximately 174,000 Helix common shares for approximately $1.9 million, an average purchase price of $11.08 per share. Year to date share repurchases totaled approximately 1.6 million Helix common shares for approximately $12.0 million, an average purchase price of $7.57 per share.
Financial Condition and Liquidity
Cash and cash equivalents were $168.4 million at September 30, 2023. Available capacity under our ABL facility at September 30, 2023 was $110.2 million, resulting in total liquidity of $278.6 million. During the third quarter 2023, we cash-settled at maturity for $30.4 million the remaining 2023 convertible senior notes. At September 30, 2023 we had $227.3 million of remaining long-term debt and Net Debt of $58.9 million. (Net Debt is a non-GAAP measure. See reconciliation below.)
Conference Call Information
Further details are provided in the presentation for Helix’s quarterly teleconference to review its third quarter 2023 results (see the "For the Investor" page of Helix's website, www.helixesg.com). The teleconference, scheduled for Tuesday, October 24, 2023, at 9:00 a.m. Central Time, will be audio webcast live from the "For the Investor" page of Helix’s website. Investors and other interested parties wishing to participate in the teleconference may join by dialing 1-877-283-6519 for participants in the United States and 1-312-429-1275 for international participants. The passcode is "Staffeldt." A replay of the webcast will be available on the "For the Investor" page of Helix's website by selecting the "Audio Archives" link beginning approximately two hours after the completion of the event.
About Helix
Helix Energy Solutions Group, Inc., headquartered in Houston, Texas, is an international offshore energy services company that provides specialty services to the offshore energy industry, with a focus on well intervention, robotics and full field decommissioning operations. Our services are centered on a three-legged business model well positioned for a global energy transition by maximizing production of existing oil and gas reserves, decommissioning end-of-life oil and gas fields and supporting renewable energy developments. For more information about Helix, please visit our website at www.helixesg.com.
Non-GAAP Financial Measures
Management evaluates operating performance and financial condition using certain non-GAAP measures, primarily EBITDA, Adjusted EBITDA, Free Cash Flow and Net Debt. We define EBITDA as earnings before income taxes, net interest expense, gains or losses on extinguishment of long-term debt, gains and losses on equity investments, net other income or expense, and depreciation and amortization expense. Non-cash impairment losses on goodwill and other long-lived assets are also added back if applicable. To arrive at our measure of Adjusted EBITDA, we exclude the gain or loss on disposition of assets, acquisition and integration costs, the change in fair value of the contingent consideration and the general provision (release) for current expected credit losses, if any. We define Free Cash Flow as cash flows from operating activities less capital expenditures, net of proceeds from sale of assets. Net Debt is calculated as long-term debt including current maturities of long-term debt less cash and cash equivalents and restricted cash.
We use EBITDA, Adjusted EBITDA, Free Cash Flow and Net Debt to monitor and facilitate internal evaluation of the performance of our business operations, to facilitate external comparison of our business results to those of others in our industry, to analyze and evaluate financial and
