STEALTHGAS INC. Reports First Quarter 2022 Financial and Operating Results

ATHENS, Greece, May 26, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- STEALTHGAS INC. (NASDAQ: GASS), a ship-owning company serving the liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) sector of the international shipping industry, announced today its unaudited financial and operating results for the first quarter ended March 31, 2022.

OPERATIONAL AND FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS¹

• About 59% of fleet days are secured on period charters for the remainder of 2022, with total fleet employment days for all subsequent periods generating approximately $70 million (excl. JV vessels) in contracted revenues.
   
• A decrease of $1.5 million in voyage revenues compared to Q1 21’, as a result of having 35 vessels at the end of Q1 22’ compared to 42 vessels at the end of Q1 21’, including the spin-off of the four tanker vessels.
   
• A decrease of $7.4 million in voyage expenses, operating expenses and depreciation in aggregate compared to Q1 21’.
   
• Sale in Q2 22’ of our 5,000 cbm LPG vessel, the Gas Monarch (1997 built), for further trading to unaffiliated third party. Impairment charge of $0.5 million in Q1 22’ as a result of the sale.
   
• Net Income of $7.6 million for Q1 22’ corresponding to an EPS of $0.20.
   
• Adjusted Net Income¹ of $8.8 million for Q1 22’ corresponding to an Adjusted EPS¹ of $0.23.
   
• Total cash, including restricted cash, of $82.4 million as of March 31, 2022 compared to $45.7 million as of December 31, 2021.

First Quarter 2022 Results:

• Revenues for the three months ended March 31, 2022 amounted to $35.9 million, a decrease of $1.5 million, or 4.0%, compared to revenues of $37.4 million for the three months ended March 31, 2021, mainly due to a decline in revenues stemming from the spin-off of our 4 tanker vessels which were accounted for in SteatlhGas’ financials up to December 3, 2021, the spin-off completion date, partially offset by the 11.3% increase of our time charter revenues generated from our LPG vessels.
• Voyage expenses and vessels’ operating expenses for the three months ended March 31, 2022 were $4.2 million and $12.9 million, respectively, compared to $6.9 million and $15.1 million, respectively, for the three months ended March 31, 2021. The $2.7 million decrease in voyage expenses is attributed to the fewer number of vessels in the spot market. Overall, spot days were reduced by 65%. On the other hand there was a rise of daily bunker costs by almost $2,044 (62.3%). The $2.2 million decrease in vessels’ operating expenses compared to the same period of 2021 is due to fewer vessels in the fleet, along with a further increase of our crew costs due to the COVID-19 pandemic by $0.2 million.
• Drydocking costs for the three months ended March 31, 2022 and 2021 were $0.4 million and $0.6 million, respectively. Drydocking expenses during the first quarter of 2022 relate to the drydocking of one vessel compared to the drydocking of one vessel and to the drydocking preparation of four vessels in the same period of last year.
• Depreciation for the three months ended March 31, 2022 and 2021 was $7.0 million and $9.5 million, respectively, as the number of our vessels declined following the spin-off of our four tanker vessels.
• Impairment loss for the three months ended March 31, 2022 was $0.5 million, relating to one vessel, for which the Company entered into agreement to sell it to third parties.
• Loss on sale of vessels for the three months of ended March 31, 2022 was $0.4 million mainly relating to one of the two vessels sold during the quarter.
• Interest and finance costs for the three months ended March 31, 2022 and 2021, were $2.4 million and $3.1 million, respectively. The $0.7 million decrease from the same period of last year is mostly due to the decline of debt outstanding and reductions in margins due to refinancing of certain loans.
• Equity earnings in joint ventures for the three months ended March 31, 2022 and 2021 was a gain of $1.7 million and $1.1 million, respectively. The $0.6 million increase from the same period of last year is mainly due to increased voyage revenues of the vessels in our joint venture arrangements.
• As a result of the above, for the three months ended March 31, 2022, the Company reported net income of $7.6 million, compared to net income of $0.8 million for the three months ended March 31, 2021. The weighted average number of shares outstanding for the three months ended March 31, 2022 and 2021 was 37.9 million and 37.9 million, respectively.
• Earnings per share, basic and diluted, for the three months ended March 31, 2022 amounted to $0.20 compared to earnings per share of $0.02 for the same period of last year.
• Adjusted net income was $8.8 million corresponding to an Adjusted EPS of $0.23 for the three months ended March 31, 2022 compared to Adjusted net income of $0.6 million corresponding to an Adjusted EPS of $0.02 for the same period of last year.
• EBITDA for the three months ended March 31, 2022 amounted to $17.0 million. Reconciliations of Adjusted Net Income, EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA to Net Income are set forth below.
• An average of 36.5 vessels were owned by the Company during the three months ended March 31, 2022 compared to 41.6 vessels for the same period of 2021.
• As of March 31, 2022, cash and cash equivalents amounted to $70.4 million and total debt amounted to $299.8 million.

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¹ EBITDA, Adjusted EBITDA, Adjusted Net Income and Adjusted EPS are non-GAAP measures. Refer to the reconciliation of these measures to the most directly comparable financial measure in accordance with GAAP set forth later in this release.

Fleet Update Since Previous Announcement

The Company announced the conclusion of the following chartering arrangements:  

• A one-year time charter for its 2015 built LPG carrier the Eco Green, to an Oil Major up until May 2023.

• An eleven months’ time charter for its 2017 built LPG carrier the Eco Ice, to an international LPG trader up until March 2023.
  
  
• A six months’ time charter for its 2009 built LPG carrier the Gas Astrid, to an international trading house until October 2022 with a charterer’s option to extend a further six months.

• A six months’ time charter for its 2016 built LPG carrier the Eco Nical, to an international trading house until October 2022 with a charterer’s option to extend a further six months.

• A three months’ time charter extension for its 2020 built LPG carrier the Eco Alice, to an international trading house up until July 2022.

• A two months’ time charter for its 2014 built LPG carrier the Eco Stream, to an international trading house until July 2022.

• A one months’ time charter extension for its 2003 built LPG carrier the Gas Prodigy, to an international LPG trader until May 2022.

• A one month time charter for its 2017 built LPG carrier the Eco Freeze, to an international LPG trader until May 2022.

With these charters, the Company has total contracted revenues of approximately $70 million.

For the remainder of the year 2022, the Company has about 59% of fleet days secured under period contracts.

Board Chairman Michael Jolliffe Commented

Following the strategic decision to become a pure player in the broader LPG market, this was the first quarter that the Stealthgas fleet consisted of only LPG carriers of various sizes. During the first quarter the improving LPG market continued its upward trend and we managed to capitalise, posting improved profits of $7.6 million, one of the best quarterly results in many years. On an adjusted basis our EPS for the quarter was $0.23. We also managed to contain cost pressures particularly related to crew and bunker prices that continue to push our cost base.

That being said, we continue to operate in a challenging geopolitical environment with the war in Ukraine and the COVID-19 pandemic, particularly with regards to the situation in China, still ongoing creating more uncertainty for the future. Now we can also add economic uncertainty as a result of high inflationary pressures and rising interest rates. How all this will affect the LPG shipping market and whether we will be able to benefit from any change in trade patterns remains to be determined, as this is a market that is still seeking direction.

Going forward we cannot predict our market’s reality especially in such turbulent times; however, our sizeable fleet, our market’s strong fundamentals, LPG rates improvement in the first quarter of 2022 along with our healthy capital structure are the strong points upon which we will rely no matter any potential market disturbances we might need to face.

Conference Call details:

On May 26, 2022 at 11:00 am ET, the company’s management will host a conference call to discuss the results and the company’s operations and outlook.

Participants should dial into the call 10 minutes before the scheduled time using the following numbers: +1 8778709135 (US Toll Free Dial In) or 08002796619 (UK Toll Free Dial In).
Access Code: 8495800

In case of any problems with the above numbers, please dial +1 6467413167 (US Toll Dial In), +44 (0) 2071 928338 (Standard International Dial In).
Access Code: 8495800

Slides and audio webcast:
There will also be a live and then archived webcast of the conference call, through the STEALTHGAS INC. website (www.stealthgas.com). Participants to the live webcast should register on the website approximately 10 minutes prior to the start of the webcast.

About STEALTHGAS INC.

SteatlhGas Inc. is a ship-owning company serving the liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) sector of the international shipping industry. SteatlhGas Inc. has a fleet of 41 LPG carriers, including seven Joint Venture vessels on the water and one Joint Venture 40,000 cbm newbuilding Medium Gas Carrier on order to be delivered mid- 2023. These LPG vessels have a total capacity of 424,408 cubic meters (cbm). StealthGas Inc.’s shares are listed on the Nasdaq Global Select Market and trade under the symbol “GASS.”
Visit our website at www.stealthgas.com

Forward-Looking Statements

Matters discussed in this release may constitute forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements reflect our current views with respect to future events and financial performance and may include statements concerning plans, objectives, goals, strategies, future events or performance, or impact or duration of the COVID-19 pandemic and underlying assumptions and other statements, which are other than statements of historical facts. The forward-looking statements in this release are based upon various assumptions, many of which are based, in turn, upon further assumptions, including without limitation, management’s examination of historical operating trends, data contained in our records and other data available from third parties. Although STEALTHGAS INC. believes that these assumptions were reasonable when made, because these assumptions are inherently subject to significant uncertainties and contingencies which are difficult or impossible to predict and are beyond our control, STEALTHGAS INC. cannot assure you that it will achieve or accomplish these expectations, beliefs or projections. Important factors that, in our view, could cause actual results to differ materially from those discussed in the forward-looking statements include the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and efforts throughout the world to contain its spread, the strength of world economies and currencies, general market conditions, including changes in charter hire rates and vessel values, charter counterparty performance, changes in demand that may affect attitudes of time charterers to scheduled and unscheduled drydockings, shipyard performance, changes in STEALTHGAS INC’s operating expenses, including bunker prices, drydocking and insurance costs, ability to obtain financing and comply with covenants in our financing arrangements, or actions taken by regulatory authorities, potential liability from pending or future litigation, domestic and international political conditions, the conflict in Ukraine and related sanctions, potential disruption of shipping routes due to accidents and political events or acts by terrorists.

Risks and uncertainties are further described in reports filed by STEALTHGAS INC. with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.

Fleet List        
For information on our fleet and further information:
Visit our website at www.stealthgas.com

Company Contact:
Konstantinos Sistovaris
STEALTHGAS INC.
00-30-210-6250-001

Fleet Data:
The following key indicators highlight the Company’s operating performance during the periods ended March 31, 2021 and March 31, 2022.

1) Average number of vessels is the number of owned vessels that constituted our fleet for the relevant period, as measured by the sum of the number of days each vessel was a part of our fleet during the period divided by the number of calendar days in that period.
2) Total calendar days for fleet are the total days the vessels we operated were in our possession for the relevant period including off-hire days associated with major repairs, drydockings or special or intermediate surveys.
3) Total voyage days for fleet reflect the total days the vessels we operated were in our possession for the relevant period net of off-hire days associated with major repairs, drydockings or special or intermediate surveys.
4) Fleet utilization is the percentage of time that our vessels were available for revenue generating voyage days, and is determined by dividing voyage days by fleet calendar days for the relevant period.
5) Total charter days for fleet are the number of voyage days the vessels operated on time or bareboat charters for the relevant period.
6) Total spot market charter days for fleet are the number of voyage days the vessels operated on spot market charters for the relevant period.
7) Fleet operational utilization is the percentage of time that our vessels generated revenue, and is determined by dividing voyage days excluding commercially idle days by fleet calendar days for the relevant period.

Reconciliation of Adjusted Net Income, EBITDA, adjusted EBITDA and adjusted EPS:

Adjusted net income represents net income before loss/gain on derivatives excluding swap interest paid/received, impairment loss, net loss on sale of vessels and share based compensation. EBITDA represents net income before interest and finance costs, interest income and depreciation. Adjusted EBITDA represents net income before interest and finance costs, interest income, depreciation, impairment loss, net loss on sale of vessels, share based compensation and loss/gain on derivatives.

Adjusted EPS represents Adjusted net income divided by the weighted average number of shares. EBITDA, adjusted EBITDA, adjusted net income and adjusted EPS are not recognized measurements under U.S. GAAP. Our calculation of EBITDA, adjusted EBITDA, adjusted net income and adjusted EPS may not be comparable to that reported by other companies in the shipping or other industries. In evaluating Adjusted EBITDA, Adjusted net income and Adjusted EPS, you should be aware that in the future we may incur expenses that are the same as or similar to some of the adjustments in this presentation.

EBITDA, adjusted EBITDA, adjusted net income and adjusted EPS are included herein because they are a basis, upon which we and our investors assess our financial performance. They allow us to present our performance from period to period on a comparable basis and provide investors with a means of better evaluating and understanding our operating performance.

StealthGas Inc.
Unaudited Consolidated Statements of Income
(Expressed in United States Dollars, except for number of shares)

StealthGas Inc.
Unaudited Consolidated Balance Sheets
(Expressed in United States Dollars)

StealthGas Inc.
Unaudited Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows
(Expressed in United States Dollars)