Diamond S Shipping Inc. (DSSI) Tops Q4 EPS by 16c, Revenues Beat

Diamond S Shipping Inc. (NYSE: DSSI) reported Q4 EPS of ($0.71), $0.16 better than the analyst estimate of ($0.87). Revenue for the quarter came in at $90.04 million versus the consensus estimate of $74.23 million.

Highlights for the Fourth Quarter and Recent Events

• Reported net loss attributable to Diamond S of $57.8 million, or net loss of $1.45 basic and diluted earnings per share, and Adjusted EBITDA (see Non-GAAP Measures section below) of $8.0 million. The reported net loss includes a loss on vessel sales, related to the sale of the Aias and Amoureux, and a cancelled scrubber installation, which, in aggregate, was $29.6 million. Excluding the loss on vessel sales and the cost of the cancelled scrubber project, the net loss was $28.2 million, or $0.71 per share.
• Agreed to sell two Suezmax vessels, the Aias and the Amoureux, which were delivered to buyers in January and February 2021 respectively. The sale of the vessels generated approximately $20 million in net proceeds before settlement of working capital.
• Net debt at December 31, 2020 was $594.4 million, implying a net debt to asset value leverage ratio of approximately 44% based on broker valuations as of December 2020. At quarter end, total free liquidity available to the Company above bank minimum cash requirements was $108.1 million.

Craig H. Stevenson Jr., President and CEO of Diamond S, commented: “Although near-term market conditions will likely remain challenging, the positive long-term market dynamic remains unchanged. In fact, the permanent closures of certain refineries will result in increased tanker demand for product tankers once conditions normalize. Overall tanker demand is expected to gradually increase over the course of 2021 and eventually return to pre-pandemic levels next year as product demand recovers and inventory levels normalize. Diamond S will be well-positioned to create value for our shareholders as the recovery unfolds. Our recent sale of two Suezmax vessels highlights the disconnect between the tangible market value of our fleet and our current market capitalization. These sales also add to our strong liquidity position, reduce our interest expense and are consistent with our historical approach to managing our balance sheet conservatively.”

Outlook

We expect the tanker market to remain under pressure for the remainder of the first half of 2021. Demand for crude oil and refined products, while recovering from trough levels in Q2 2020, is expected to average about 96 million barrels per day, or 4 million barrels per day lower than pre-pandemic levels in 2021, according to OPEC. In the short term, however, tanker supply appears to be higher than current demand levels as improvements in consumption are being offset by draws in inventory.

We believe in the longer-term fundamentals of the tanker industry. Tanker supply remains balanced based on pre-pandemic demand levels, and the number of vessels on order nearly matches the number of vessels that might be expected to be scrapped, based on the average useful life of a vessel. We expect conditions to normalize and then gradually improve over the next 12 to 18 months.

As of March 5, 2021, approximately 81% of Crude Fleet revenue days operating in the spot market in the first quarter have been fixed at an average rate of approximately $9,200 per day. In the Product Fleet, 83% of revenue days operating in the spot market have been fixed at an average rate of approximately $8,800 per day in the first quarter of 2021. The Product Fleet includes a weighted average blend of MR2 vessels, fixed on 85% of revenue days at an average rate of $9,100 per day, and MR1 vessels, fixed on 72% of first quarter revenue days at an average rate of $6,700 per day.

We continue to monitor the effects of the COVID-19 virus on our business. The shipping industry is not only affected by the reduced economic activity caused by the global pandemic, but our direct operations face travel restrictions and health protocols that differ across every port that we are called to perform our services or to maintain the condition of our vessels. Our crews stand at the forefront of these challenges with the added health procedures to get on board and extending their contracted time aboard the vessel to ensure safe relief from the next crew. While the Company has faced increased costs in order to support the safe transition of our crews and the logistics for delivery of services and materials to vessels, we remain dedicated to ensure our crews are healthy and safe while operating our vessels and transitioning to and from our vessels.

For earnings history and earnings-related data on Diamond S Shipping Inc. (DSSI) click here.

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