Stealthgas Inc (GAS)
Description
International maritime shipping company specializing in liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) carrier transport services globally, operating a modern fleet of LPG tankers under long-term and spot charters.
Historical Reports
Financial Information
- Report Date
- 2025-04-30
- Report Period
- Full Year 2024
- Debt
- $849 million
- Debt History
- Debt reduced by about 30% from $1.241 billion in 2023 to $849 million in 2024
- Debt Trend
- Decreasing
Profit Information
- Profit
- $69.86 million
- Profit History
- Profit increased by approximately 34.5% from $51.94 million in 2023 to $69.86 million in 2024
- Profit Trend
- Increasing
Detailed Report
Stealthgas Inc. Annual 20-F Financial Report
Report Date: 2025-04-30
Period Covered: Full Year 2024
1. Executive Summary
Stealthgas Inc. reported a net income of $69.86 million for the fiscal year ended December 2024 (up 34.5% vs. 2023), driven by improved LPG charter rates and disciplined cost management. Total revenue rose to $167.26 million from $143.53 million in 2023. Debt was reduced from $1.241 billion at end-2023 to $849 million at end-2024, lowering leverage and finance charges.
2. Profit & Debt Analysis
- Profit Growth: 2024 net income of $69.86 M vs. $51.94 M in 2023 (+34.5%).
- Revenue Drivers: Higher average time-charter equivalent daily rate ($16 080/day vs. $12 334/day) and strong fleet utilization (95.4%).
- Cost Controls: Voyage expenses down 27% year-over-year due to fewer spot-charter days and lower bunker costs.
- Debt Reduction: Prepayments totaling ~$645 million across multiple facilities; net debt at $849 M vs. $1.241 B. Average interest rate ~7.5%.
3. Key Reasons for Improved Results
- Charter Rate Recovery: Demand for LPG ton-miles recovered post-pandemic, boosting rates across all size segments.
- Fleet Optimization: Deployment mix shifted to more time charters, securing stable cash flows.
- Financial Discipline: Aggressive debt repayments reduced interest burden and improved covenant headroom.
4. Pros and Cons
Pros:
- Modern fleet with strong fuel efficiency and low maintenance costs.
- Lower leverage improves financial flexibility and rating.
- High coverage of 2025 calendar days with fixed charters.
Cons: - Exposure to cyclical LPG markets and spot-rate volatility.
- Rising ESG and air-emission compliance costs (EEXI/CII, EU ETS).
- Interest rate risk on floating-rate debt not fully hedged beyond 2025.
5. Outlook and Recommendations
Maintain focus on debt paydown, secure long-term charters at favorable rates, and invest selectively in scrubber and ballast-water retrofit to meet evolving regulations. Monitor spot markets for opportunistic deployments but avoid over-commitment at low rates.
Statistics Breakdown
In FY 2024 revenue by service: time charters contributed 91.3% ($152.83 M), voyage charters 6.3% ($10.51 M), and other income 2.3% ($3.92 M). Fleet utilization was 95.4% with an average time-charter equivalent rate of $16 080/day.
Company Direction Insights
Stealthgas is on a clear path to deleverage while capitalizing on improving LPG charter markets. The modernized fleet and high utilization support cash flow stability, enabling accelerated debt repayments and potential dividend resumption. Key challenges include managing ESG compliance costs, navigating interest-rate volatility on remaining floating-rate debt, and mitigating the inherent cyclicality of LPG shipping. Future opportunities lie in extending charter coverage, exploring joint-ventures for larger vessels, and leveraging favorable finance markets to lock in long-term, fixed-rate debt.