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DORIAN LPG LTD. (LPG)·Q4 2025 Earnings Summary
Executive Summary
- Q4 FY25 revenue and earnings significantly contracted year over year and missed Wall Street consensus: revenue $75.9M vs $79.0M consensus; adjusted EPS $0.25 vs $0.45; adjusted EBITDA $36.6M vs $40.4M, driven by lower spot rates and a heavy drydock schedule, partly offset by lower bunker costs . EPS, revenue, and EBITDA consensus from S&P Global; values marked with * are from S&P Global.
- Sequentially, results softened vs Q3 on revenue ($80.7M → $75.9M) and adjusted EBITDA ($45.2M → $36.6M) as the quarter absorbed weaker February freight and drydock OpEx .
- Forward indicators improved: management has fixed ~79% of June-quarter pool days at roughly $42,000/day and highlighted constructive 2025 supply-demand with limited newbuild deliveries and rising ton-miles from trade re-routing amid tariffs .
- Capital returns continue but moderated: irregular dividend of $0.50/sh in May (down from $0.70 in Feb), reflecting balanced capital allocation given drydock cadence and market volatility; Board decisions are dynamic with improving rate outlook into June-quarter noted on the call .
What Went Well and What Went Wrong
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What Went Well
- Forward bookings and rate setup into June-quarter: “we have fixed 79% of the pool’s available days in the quarter at a TCE of roughly $42,000 per day,” signaling a better near-term pricing environment .
- Liquidity and leverage: cash of ~$317M at March 31; debt ~$557.4M; debt-to-cap 34.8% and net debt-to-cap ~15%, supporting flexibility for dividends, debt amortization, and vessel progress payments .
- Strategic optionality and efficiency: ongoing installation of energy-saving devices; 16 scrubber-fitted and 4 dual-fuel LPG vessels; second vessel upgraded to carry ammonia (third planned in 4QCY25), enhancing commercial optionality as ammonia markets develop .
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What Went Wrong
- Freight rate pressure and TCE decline: fleet TCE fell 44% YoY to $35,324/day as spot rates were weaker in February; Baltic benchmark averaged $51,715 vs $68,429 YoY; revenue fell 46% YoY .
- Cost headwinds from drydocking: daily OpEx rose to $12,671 including ~$1,017/day non-capitalizable drydock costs; non-capitalizable drydock OpEx totaled ~$3.2M in the quarter, pressuring margins .
- Derivatives swung negative: unrealized loss of ~$2.6M vs prior-year gain, reducing adjusted results; realized derivative gains also fell YoY .
Financial Results
Key P&L metrics (actuals; USD):
Margins (S&P Global)*:
Q4 FY25 vs estimates (S&P Global)*:
Year-over-year (Q4 FY25 vs Q4 FY24):
KPIs and balance sheet:
Note: Values marked with * were retrieved from S&P Global.
Guidance Changes
Earnings Call Themes & Trends
Management Commentary
- CEO tone and capital returns: “Our dividend of $0.50 per share…reflects our commitment to returning capital to shareholders…in a volatile geopolitical and economic environment and with a heavy drydocking schedule, we achieved good results in our financial year 2025.”
- Market setup and outlook: “Increased production in the U.S. and the Middle East and U.S. terminal expansion, combined with just 9 new buildings for the rest of the year will support a balanced freight market and healthy earnings for 2025.”
- CFO on liquidity and leverage: “With the debt balance at quarter end of $557.4 million, our debt to total book capitalization stood at 34.8% and net debt to total capitalization at 15%…we have a comfortable measure of financial flexibility.”
- Commercial read-through: “We currently estimate that we have fixed 79% of the pool’s available days in the quarter at a TCE of roughly $42,000 per day.”
- Energy transition: “We have now completed the second VLGC vessel upgrade to carry ammonia cargo…once this last vessel is completed, four VLGC vessels…will be able to carry ammonia cargoes…”
Q&A Highlights
- Spot rate strength and trade re-routing: Management cited persistent U.S.→India/SE Asia flows and longer routes around the Cape supporting ton-miles; despite tariff gyrations, demand destruction in China has not materialized materially, underpinning recent rate firmness .
- Dividend policy flexibility: The $0.50/sh decision preceded tariff developments; Board will reassess with evolving rate environment, balancing results, cash forecasts, and investment needs .
- Forward visibility: Bookings at ~79% coverage for June quarter at ~$42k/day provide near-term revenue visibility, though actual realized rates can vary with loading dates and COA pricing .
Estimates Context
- Q4 FY25 missed S&P Global consensus on all three key lines: revenue $75.9M vs $79.0M*, adjusted EPS $0.25 vs $0.45*, and EBITDA $36.6M vs $40.5M* . Values marked with * were retrieved from S&P Global.
- Sequential estimate context: Q3 FY25 also trailed S&P consensus on EPS/EBITDA (actual adjusted EPS $0.43 vs ~$0.61*; EBITDA $45.2M vs ~$50.1*) amid softer TCE and rising drydock OpEx . Values marked with * were retrieved from S&P Global.
- Drivers of the Q4 miss: materially lower TCE (down 44% YoY) cut revenue; heavier non-capitalizable drydock expenses and lower realized derivative gains pressured EBITDA; unrealized derivative losses also reduced GAAP earnings .
Key Takeaways for Investors
- Near-term setup constructive despite Q4 miss: 79% of June-quarter days fixed at ~$42k/day and ton-mile tailwinds from trade re-routing support revenue trajectory into Q1 FY26 .
- Capital returns remain a priority within a disciplined framework: $0.50/sh irregular dividend in May balanced against a heavy FY26 drydock slate (~$12M cash, excl. off-hire) and two ~$12M newbuild progress payments in Sep/Dec 2025 .
- Balance sheet provides optionality: ~$317M cash and manageable leverage (debt/book cap 34.8%; net debt/cap ~15%) enable flexibility across dividends, debt reduction, and fleet investment/renewal .
- Watch operating cost normalization: Drydock-related OpEx inflated Q4 daily OpEx to $12,671; excluding drydock costs, underlying OpEx was ~$11,001/day, offering scope for margin recovery as drydock cadence eases .
- Macro sensitivities remain high: U.S.-China tariff path and PDH/steam cracker economics in Asia are key swing factors; management sees upside from inefficient trade flows and potential continued competitiveness of U.S. LPG .
- Regulatory alignment and optionality: Fleet efficiency upgrades and ammonia capability expansion enhance employability into emerging low-carbon cargo flows and support compliance under evolving IMO frameworks .
- Trading implication: Given the miss vs consensus and dividend step-down vs prior quarter, stock reaction hinges on confidence in forward TCE realization (~$42k/day), tariff de-escalation durability, and evidence of cost normalization in coming quarters .
Note: Values marked with * were retrieved from S&P Global.