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Bristow Group Inc. (VTOL)·Q3 2025 Earnings Summary
Executive Summary
- Q3 2025 revenue was $386.3m and diluted EPS was $1.72; Adjusted EBITDA rose to $67.1m, continuing sequential improvement from Q2 and Q1. Management tightened FY25/FY26 guidance ranges and reiterated a 2026 adjusted EBITDA midpoint implying roughly 27% YoY growth versus 2025 midpoint .
- Offshore Energy Services (OES) softened sequentially on lower Europe/Africa utilization, partly offset by Americas; Government Services and Other Services strengthened, aided by Irish Coast Guard ramp and Australia activity. Vendor credits materially helped repairs and maintenance costs this quarter .
- Revenue modestly missed Wall Street consensus by ~$13.7m (estimate $400.0m vs actual $386.3m); EPS consensus was not available. The miss was driven by supply-chain constraints impacting aircraft availability and utilization, and fewer aircraft on contract in the North Sea and U.S. [functions.GetEstimates]* .
- Guidance was tightened: FY25 adjusted EBITDA to $240–$250m and FY26 to $295–$325m; OES adjusted operating income expected ~$200m in FY25 and $225–$235m in FY26. Management framed 2026 as an inflection year as government contracts reach full run-rate; free cash flow in 2026 is guided at ~$140m midpoint (after ~$100m capex) .
- Key potential stock catalysts: continued government contract ramp, confirmation of vendor credits cadence and supply-chain normalization, 2026 FCF realization, and clarity on North Sea fleet replacements and Brazil/Africa aircraft deployments .
What Went Well and What Went Wrong
What Went Well
- Government Services improved: revenues +$8.4m QoQ; adjusted operating income +$4.8m QoQ as an additional Irish Coast Guard base commenced operations .
- Adjusted EBITDA up $6.4m QoQ to $67.1m, supported by revenue growth and lower G&A; management reaffirmed strong 2026 growth outlook (~27% YoY adj. EBITDA midpoint) .
- Management highlighted vendor credits as a positive offset on maintenance costs this quarter, citing credits tied to asset purchases, OEM performance/delays, and long-term maintenance contract incentives. Quote: “We benefited more materially from such credits this quarter… and continue to value our strong relationships with our OEM” .
What Went Wrong
- OES revenues and adjusted operating income fell $2.4m QoQ on lower utilization in Europe and Africa, only partially offset by higher Americas utilization .
- Supply-chain challenges persisted across models (S-92 improvement but AW189 now impacted), affecting aftermarket parts and new delivery timing; fewer aircraft were on contract in the North Sea and U.S. .
- Revenue missed consensus (~$400.0m) by ~$13.7m; management attributed pressure to aircraft availability constraints and pockets of softer activity (North Sea); EPS consensus was unavailable [functions.GetEstimates]* .
Financial Results
Consolidated P&L vs Prior Quarters and Estimates
Note: Prior-year revenue for Q3 2024 was $365.1m (YoY +5.8%). EPS YoY not available in the current documents reviewed .
Segment Breakdown (Sequential)
KPIs (Flight Hours by Segment)
Guidance Changes
Earnings Call Themes & Trends
Management Commentary
- CEO on outlook and capacity: “Adjusted EBITDA of $67.1 million in Q3 2025… deep water projects are favorably positioned… supply remains tight with ~24-month manufacturing lead times” .
- CFO on guidance and drivers: “We are tightening our 2025 adjusted EBITDA range to $240–$250m… and 2026 to $295–$325m… OES adjusted operating income approximately $200m in 2025, and $225–$235m in 2026” .
- CFO on vendor credits: “We benefited more materially from such credits this quarter… credits tied to asset purchases… OEM performance and delays… incentives on long-term maintenance contracts” .
- CEO on regional trends: “Brazil… continues to have some of the best growth prospects… Africa… continued demand… Caribbean still growing… U.S. mostly stable… North Sea softer” .
- CEO on capex/FCF: “Total CapEx in 2026 about $100 million… approximately $140 million of free cash flow in 2026 at the midpoint of guidance” .
Q&A Highlights
- OES guidance/utilization: Tightening impacted midpoint by ~2%; drivers included persistent supply-chain impacts on availability and fewer aircraft on contract in North Sea/U.S. near-term; longer-term OES outlook remains constructive .
- Deliveries/supply-chain bottlenecks: 5 government aircraft delivered (2 AW189 to IRCG; 3 AW139 to UKSAR2G) undergoing final mods; 7 OES AW189 on order for Brazil/Africa/North Sea; aftermarket delays and OEM component sourcing challenges persist .
- Capex/FCF: 2026 capex ~$100m (growth ~$80m, maintenance ~$20m); FCF ~$140m at guidance midpoint .
- AAM timelines: Norway test arena progressing; first certifications expected in 2026, but no contribution assumed; earliest deliveries likely 2027–2028 .
- Asset transactions/tax: Sale-leaseback on a new UKSAR aircraft drove proceeds; one older asset sold; one-time tax benefit from releasing valuation allowance in Australia; go-forward tax rate to normalize and be somewhat north of U.S. rate .
Estimates Context
- Q3 2025 revenue missed Wall Street consensus: Actual $386.3m vs S&P Global consensus $400.0m (miss ~$13.7m). EPS consensus was not provided via S&P Global for Q3 2025; diluted EPS actual was $1.72 [functions.GetEstimates]* .
- Implications: Consensus models may need to reflect lingering supply-chain constraints and utilization softness in Europe/Africa/North Sea, partially offset by Americas strength and Government Services ramp; cost tailwinds from vendor credits could temper margin headwinds .
Values retrieved from S&P Global*
Key Takeaways for Investors
- Sequential momentum intact despite a revenue miss: Government and Other Services offset OES softness; adjusted EBITDA improved and guidance was tightened rather than reduced materially—signal of control over costs and visibility .
- 2026 is the pivot year: Government contracts reaching full run-rate, ~$140m FCF at guidance midpoint, and tightened adj. EBITDA range support a capital return/deleveraging narrative (accelerated UKSAR debt prepayments already underway) .
- Watch supply-chain normalization and vendor credits: Credits provided meaningful R&M relief; sustainability of credits and parts availability are key to margin trajectory and aircraft utilization .
- OES mix shifts matter: Growth markets (Brazil/Africa/Caribbean) are seeing net aircraft inflows, while North Sea remains mature; replacement of S-92 with AW189 on long-term contracts can be value accretive even without market growth .
- Near-term modeling: Expect conservative utilization in Europe/Africa/North Sea; incorporate Government Services ramp and continued Australia strength in Other Services; maintain cautious FX assumptions (GBP/USD sensitivity highlighted historically) .
- Optionality in AAM: Norway test arena advances operational learnings; earliest potential commercial deliveries likely 2027–2028—no impact to 2026 guidance, limiting near-term execution risk .
- Balance sheet/liquidity supportive: $245.5m unrestricted cash and $313.4m total liquidity as of Q3; continued deleveraging and capex discipline underpin 2026 FCF conversion .
Additional Data and Notes
- One-time tax benefit in Q3 from releasing Australian valuation allowance boosted net income; management guided toward a normalized, multi-jurisdiction tax rate going forward .
- Disposals: Net gains of $8.2m from sale/disposition of two AW139 medium helicopters in Q3; continued active portfolio management including sale-leasebacks .
Source Documents
- Q3 2025 8-K/press release: consolidated financials, segment details, guidance .
- Q3 2025 earnings call transcript: outlook, supply-chain, deliveries, capex/FCF, regional trends, vendor credits .
- Prior quarters: Q2 2025 press release/8-K and Q1 2025 press release for trend analysis .
- AAM Norway Test Arena press release (Aug 8, 2025) .