UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM 6-K
REPORT OFFOREIGN PRIVATE ISSUER
PURSUANT TO RULE 13a-16 OR 15d-16
UNDER THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
For the month of May 2024
Commission File Number 001-36797
STEALTHGAS INC.
(Translation of registrant's name into English)
331 KifissiasAvenue Erithrea 14561 Athens, Greece
(Address of principal executive office)
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant files or will file annual reports
under cover of Form 20-F or Form 40-F.
Form 20-FForm 40-F
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Financial and Operating Results for the three months ended March 31, 2024
The press release issued by StealthGas Inc. (the "Company") on May 22, 2024
announcing its financial and operating results for the three monthsended March
31, 2024, is attached hereto as Exhibit 99.1.
EXHIBIT INDEX
99.1 StealthGas Inc. Press Release dated May 22, 2024
****
Thisreport
on Form 6-K
(other than the section of exhibit 99.1 hereto entitled "CEO Harry Vafias
Commented") is hereby incorporated by reference into the Company's
RegistrationStatement
on Form F-3 (Reg. No. 333-143804) and
Registration Statements on
Form S-8 (Reg. Nos. 333-144240,
333-207168
and
333-278984).
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SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the
registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf bythe
undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.
Date: May 23, 2024
STEALTHGAS INC.
By: /s/ Harry Vafias
Name: Harry Vafias
Title: Chief Executive Officer
Exhibit 99.1
STEALTHGAS INC. REPORTS FIRST QUARTER 2024 FINANCIAL AND OPERATING RESULTS
ATHENS, GREECE, May 22, 2024.
STEALTHGAS INC. (NASDAQ: GASS), a ship-owning company serving the liquefied
petroleum gas (LPG) sector of theinternational shipping industry, announced
today its unaudited financial and operating results for the first quarter
ended March 31, 2024.
OPERATIONAL AND FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS
. All-time
record quarterly Net Income of $17.7 million for the firstquarter of 2024, a 5.4%
increase compared to last year's first quarter, corresponding to a basic EPS of $0.49.
. Revenues increased by 9.2% compared to the same period of last year to $41.6 million. Voyage and operatingexpenses
decreased by 22.7% and Income from operations increased by 80.0% compared to the same period of last year.
. Further increased period coverage. About 73% of fleet days for remainder of 2024 are secured on period charters,with total
fleet employment days for all subsequent periods generating over $180 million (excl. JV vessels) in contracted revenues.
. Continued to repay debt, making $32.0 million in debt repayments during
the first quarter and$53.3 million so far during the second quarter.
. Maintaining ample cash and cash equivalents (incl. restricted cash) of $83.6
million as of March 31,2024 enabling the Company to further reduce debt.
First Quarter 2024 Results:
. Revenues
for the three months ended March 31, 2024 amounted to $41.6 million compared torevenues of $38.1 million for the
three months ended March 31, 2023, an increase of $3.5 million, or 9.2%, while the number of vessels in our fleet
declined to 27 vessels at the end of Q1 2024 from 32 vessels at the end of Q1 2023.The vessels remaining in the fleet
earned higher revenues compared to the same period in the prior year mainly due to improved market conditions.
. Voyage expenses and vessels
'
operating expenses
for the three months endedMarch 31, 2024 were $2.9 million and $11.5 million, respectively, compared to $4.0 million
and $14.5 million, respectively, for the three months ended March 31, 2023. The $1.1 million, or 28%, decrease
in voyageexpenses was the result of the reduction in spot market days, while the $3.0 million, or 21%, decrease in
vessels' operating expenses was mainly due to the decrease in the average number of owned vessels in our fleet.
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. Drydocking costs
for the three months ended March 31, 2024 and 2023 were nil and $1.1
million,respectively. No vessels were drydocked during the first quarter
of 2024, while drydocking expenses during the first quarter of 2023
mainly relate to the drydocking of one vessel and preparation of others.
. Management fees
for the three months ended March 31, 2024 and 2023 were $1.1 million and$1.2 million, respectively.
The change is attributed to the decrease in the average number of owned vessels in our fleet.
. General and
administrative expenses
for the three months ended March 31, 2024 and 2023 were$2.2 million and $0.8 million, respectively.
The change is mainly attributed to the increase in stock-based compensation expense.
. Depreciation
for the three months ended March 31, 2024 and 2023 was $6.5 million and$6.6 million,
respectively, slightly decreased due to the lower average number of vessels owned
compared to the same period in 2023, partly offset by the depreciation attributable
to the two new 40,000 cbm LPG carriers acquired in the firstquarter of 2024.
. Interest and finance costs
for the three months ended March 31, 2024 and 2023 were $3.2 millionand $2.6 million,
respectively. The $0.6 million, or 23%, increase from the same period of last year
is mostly due to the reduction of income from closing of interest rate swap positions
as a result of debt prepayments and due to theincrease in variable interest rates.
. Interest income
for the three months ended March 31, 2024 and 2023 was $0.8 million and$1.0 million, respectively.
The decrease is mainly attributed to decreases in time deposits over the corresponding period.
. Equity earnings in joint ventures
for the three months ended March 31, 2024 and 2023 was a gain of$2.6
million and $8.8 million, respectively. The $6.2 million decrease from
the same period of last year is mainly due to the profitable sale of a
vessel during the first quarter of 2023 by one of the joint ventures.
. As a result of the above, for the three months
ended March 31, 2024 the Company reported
net income
of $17.7 million, compared to net income of $16.8 million for the three
months ended March 31, 2023, an increase of $0.9 million, or 5%. The
weighted average number of shares
outstanding, basic, for the three monthsended March 31, 2024
and 2023 was 35.1 million and 38.0 million, respectively.
. Earnings per share, basic,
for the three months ended March 31, 2024 amounted to $0.49 compared
toearnings per share of $0.44 for the same period of last year.
. Adjusted net income
1
was $19.1 millioncorresponding
to an Adjusted EPS
1
of $0.53 for the three months ended March 31, 2024 compared to Adjusted net income of
$17.3 million corresponding to an Adjusted EPS of $0.45 for thesame period of last year.
. EBITDA
1
for the three months ended March 31,2024 amounted to $26.6 million.
Reconciliations of Adjusted Net Income, EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA
1
to Net Income are
set forth below.
. An average of 27.04 vessels were owned by the Company during the three months
ended March 31, 2024 comparedto 32.26 vessels for the same period of 2023.
Fleet Update Since Previous Announcement
The Company announced the conclusion of the following chartering arrangements
(of three or more months duration):
. A three years time charter extension for its 2014 built LPG carrier Eco Elysium, until May 2027.
. A twelve months time charter extension for its 2014 built LPG carrier Eco Stream,
until Jun 2025 with acharterer's option to extend for a further twelve months.
. A twelve months time charter extension for its 2016 built LPG carrier Eco Nical, until Apr 2025.
. A six months time charter for its 2011 built LPG carrier Gas Elixir, until Oct 2024.
. A three months time charter for its 2018 built LPG carrier Eco Arctic, until
Jul 2024 with a charterer'soption to extend for a further three months.
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.
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As of May 2024, the Company has total contracted revenues of approximately
$180 million.
For the remainder of the year 2024 the Company has circa 73% of fleet days
secured under period contracts, and 30% for the year 2025.
In addition, the following charter arrangements were concluded for the joint
venture vessels:
. A twelve months time charter extension for the 2015 built LPG carrier Eco Lucidity, until Apr 2025.
. A six months time charter for the 2008 built LPG carrier Gas Defiance, until Dec 2024.
The previously announced sale of the joint venture vessel Eco Ethereal was
concluded in late April 2024 and the Company received a $24 million
interimdistribution from the joint venture.
CEO Harry Vafias Commented
Today we announce yet another record breaking quarter. Profits of $17.7
million for the first quarter of 2024 are an all time high for our company in
the20 years since its inception. These exceptional results were mainly driven
by higher revenues and reduced expenses, and the two MGC vessels that were
added to the fleet immediately started producing results. The reduced share
count as aresult of the share buybacks further enhances the bottom line on an
earnings per share basis. In the current quarter we have so far repaid over
$53 million of debt and now have 23 unencumbered vessels and a debt ratio
below 15%. We continue tobenefit from the positive market backdrop and we look
forward to continue rewarding our shareholders' trust with more positive
quarters.
Conference Call details:
On May 22, 2024 at 11:00am ET, the company's management will host a conference
call to discuss the results and the company's operations and outlook.
Conference callparticipants should
pre-register
using the below link to receive the
dial-in
numbers and a personal PIN, which are required to access the conference call.
Online Registration:
https://register.vevent.com/register/BIfef0702d7f65423ca8c51fdafd4f6556
Slides and audio webcast:
There will also be a live andthen 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.
StealthGas Inc. is a ship-owningcompany serving the liquefied petroleum gas
(LPG) sector of the international shipping industry. StealthGas Inc. has a
fleet of 32 LPG carriers, including five Joint Venture vessels in the water.
These LPG vessels have a total capacity of 354,188cubic meters (cbm).
StealthGas Inc.'s shares are listed on the Nasdaq Global Select Market and
trade under the symbol "GASS."
Visit ourwebsite at
www.stealthgas.com
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Forward-Looking Statements
Matters discussed in this release may constitute forward-looking statements.
Forward-looking statements reflect our current views with respect to future
eventsand financial performance and may include statements concerning plans,
objectives, goals, strategies, future events or performance and underlying
assumptions and other statements, including those related to future revenues
and profitability, whichare 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 examinationof 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 tosignificant 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 factorsthat,
in our view, could cause actual results to differ materially from those
discussed in the forward-looking statements include the strength of world
economies and currencies, general market conditions, including changes in
charter hire rates andvessel 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 bunkerprices, 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 andinternational political
conditions, the conflict in Ukraine and related sanctions, the conflict in
Israel and Gaza, potential disruption of shipping routes due to ongoing
attacks by Houthis in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden or accidents andpolitical
events or acts by terrorists.
Risks and uncertainties are further described in reports filed by STEALTHGAS
INC. with the U.S. Securities andExchange Commission.
Fleet List
For information onour fleet and further information:
Visit our website at
www.stealthgas.com
Company Contact:
Konstantinos Sistovaris
Investor Relations
STEALTHGAS INC.
00-30-210-6250-001
E-mail:
info@stealthgas.com
Fleet Data:
The following key indicators highlight theCompany's operating performance
during the periods ended March 31, 2023 and March 31, 2024.
FLEET DATA Q1 2023 Q1 2024
Average number of vessels (1) 32.26 27.04
Period end number of owned vessels in fleet 32 27
Total calendar days for fleet (2) 2,903 2,461
Total voyage days for fleet (3) 2,871 2,439
Fleet utilization (4) 98.9 % 99.1 %
Total charter days for fleet (5) 2,625 2,232
Total spot market days for fleet (6) 246 207
Fleet operational utilization (7) 97.3 % 97.7 %
1) Average number of vessels
is the number of owned vessels that constituted our fleet for the relevantperiod, 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.
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2) Total calendar days
for fleet are the total days the vessels we operated were in our possession for therelevant 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 forthe 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 generatingvoyage 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 bareboatcharters for the relevant period.
6) Total spot market charter days
for fleet are the number of voyage days the vessels operated on spotmarket charters for the relevant period.
7) Fleet operational utilization
is the percentage of time that our vessels generated revenue, and isdetermined by dividing
voyage days excluding commercially idle days by fleet calendar days for the relevant period.
Reconciliationof Adjusted Net Income, EBITDA, adjusted EBITDA and adjusted EPS:
Adjusted net income represents net income before gain/loss on derivatives
excludingswap interest paid/received, impairment loss, net gain/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 incomebefore interest and finance costs, interest income,
depreciation, impairment loss, net gain/loss on sale of vessels, share based
compensation and gain/loss on derivatives.
Adjusted EPS represents Adjusted net income divided by the weighted average
number of shares. EBITDA, adjusted EBITDA, adjusted net income and adjusted
EPSare 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 AdjustedEBITDA, 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
ourfinancial 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.
(Expressed in United States Dollars, Three Months Period Ended
except number of shares) March 31,
2023 2024
Net Income--Adjusted Net Income
Net income 16,816,191 17,729,716
Plus/(Less) loss/(gain) on derivatives 62,314 (99,286 )
Plus swap interest received 193,318 208,127
Plus/(Less) net loss/(gain) on sale of vessels, net 23,354 (46,384 )
Plus impairment loss 57,319 --
Plus share based compensation 175,569 1,345,409
Adjusted Net Income 17,328,065 19,137,582
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Net income--EBITDA
Net income 16,816,191 17,729,716
Plus interest and finance costs 2,622,686 3,169,061
Less interest income (1,040,944 ) (753,396 )
Plus depreciation 6,578,366 6,492,376
EBITDA 24,976,299 26,637,757
Net income--Adjusted EBITDA
Net income 16,816,191 17,729,716
Plus/(Less) loss/(gain) on derivatives 62,314 (99,286 )
Plus/(Less) net loss/(gain) on sale of vessels, net 23,354 (46,384 )
Plus impairment loss 57,319 --
Plus share based compensation 175,569 1,345,409
Plus interest and finance costs 2,622,686 3,169,061
Less interest income (1,040,944 ) (753,396 )
Plus depreciation 6,578,366 6,492,376
Adjusted EBITDA 25,294,855 27,837,496
EPS--Adjusted EPS
Net income 16,816,191 17,729,716
Adjusted net income 17,328,065 19,137,582
Weighted average number of shares, basic 38,030,309 35,119,500
EPS--Basic 0.44 0.49
Adjusted EPS--Basic 0.45 0.53
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StealthGas Inc.
Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income
(Expressed in United States Dollars, except for number of shares)
For The Three Months Ended March 31,
2023 2024
Revenues
Revenues 38,062,170 41,563,908
Expenses
Voyage expenses 3,518,691 2,345,200
Voyage expenses--related party 473,682 513,247
Vessels' operating expenses 14,288,781 11,235,359
Vessels' operating expenses--related party 257,500 241,500
Drydocking costs 1,090,042 --
Management fees--related party 1,234,120 1,053,719
General and administrative expenses 808,929 2,213,853
Depreciation 6,578,366 6,492,376
Impairment loss 57,319 --
Net loss/(gain) on sale of vessels 23,354 (46,384 )
Total expenses 28,330,784 24,048,870
Income from operations 9,731,386 17,515,038
Other (expenses)/income
Interest and finance costs (2,622,686 ) (3,169,061 )
(Loss)/gain on derivatives (62,314 ) 99,286
Interest income 1,040,944 753,396
Foreign exchange loss (104,326 ) (49,044 )
Other expenses, net (1,748,382 ) (2,365,423 )
Income before equity in earnings of investees 7,983,004 15,149,615
Equity earnings in joint ventures 8,833,187 2,580,101
Net Income 16,816,191 17,729,716
Earnings per share
- Basic 0.44 0.49
-Diluted 0.44 0.49
Weighted average number of shares
- Basic 38,030,309 35,119,500
- Diluted 38,030,309 35,247,529
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StealthGas Inc.
Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets
(Expressed in United States Dollars)
December 31, March 31,
2023 2024
Assets
Current assets
Cash and cash equivalents 77,202,843 77,085,417
Receivable from related parties -- 448,610
Trade and other receivables 4,506,741 4,484,464
Other current assets 130,589 1,396
Claims receivable 55,475 55,475
Inventories 1,979,683 1,872,655
Advances and prepayments 1,409,418 1,569,161
Restricted cash 659,137 --
Assets held for sale 34,879,925 --
Total current assets 120,823,811 85,517,178
Non current assets
Advances for vessel acquisitions 23,414,570 --
Operating lease 99,379 74,634
right-of-use
assets
Vessels, net 504,295,083 617,632,086
Other receivables 48,040 105,460
Restricted cash 5,893,721 6,550,540
Investments in joint ventures 39,671,603 42,251,704
Deferred finance charges 1,105,790 --
Fair value of derivatives 1,858,677 804,150
Total non current assets 576,386,863 667,418,574
Total assets 697,210,674 752,935,752
Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity
Current liabilities
Payable to related parties 955,567 --
Trade accounts payable 9,953,137 9,479,109
Accrued liabilities 5,681,144 5,921,347
Operating lease liabilities 71,173 74,634
Deferred income 5,386,126 7,339,669
Current portion of long-term debt 16,624,473 15,185,485
Total current liabilities 38,671,620 38,000,244
Non current liabilities
Operating lease liabilities 28,206 --
Deferred income 1,928,712 663,769
Long-term debt 106,918,176 145,442,266
Total non current liabilities 108,875,094 146,106,035
Total liabilities 147,546,713 184,106,279
Commitments and contingencies
Stockholders' equity
Capital stock 453,434 454,684
Treasury stock (44,453,836 ) (44,792,012 )
Additional 446,938,868 448,639,277
paid-in
capital
Retained earnings 145,993,681 163,723,397
Accumulated other comprehensive income 731,814 804,127
Total stockholders' equity 549,663,961 568,829,473
Total liabilities and stockholders' equity 697,210,674 752,935,752
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StealthGas Inc.
Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows
(Expressed in United States Dollars)
For The Three Months Ended March 31,
2023 2024
Cash flows from operating activities
Net income for the period 16,816,191 17,729,716
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
Depreciation 6,578,366 6,492,376
Amortization of deferred finance charges 329,383 258,295
Non-cash 23,189 24,745
lease expense
Share based compensation 175,569 1,345,409
Change in fair value of derivatives 385,655 108,840
Proceeds from disposal of interest rate swaps -- 1,018,000
Equity earnings in joint ventures (8,833,187 ) (2,580,101 )
Impairment loss 57,319 --
Loss/(Gain) on sale of vessels 23,354 (46,384 )
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:
(Increase)/decrease in
Trade and other receivables 1,799,807 (35,143 )
Other current assets 183,299 129,193
Inventories 762,634 353,756
Changes in operating lease liabilities (23,189 ) (24,745 )
Advances and prepayments (19,504 ) (159,743 )
Increase/(decrease) in
Balances with related parties (214,731 ) (1,390,625 )
Trade accounts payable 2,060,374 (475,368 )
Accrued liabilities 118,849 240,202
Deferred income (545,247 ) 688,600
Net cash provided by operating activities 19,678,131 23,677,023
Cash flows from investing activities
Insurance proceeds 126,666 --
Proceeds from sale of vessels, net 9,416,242 34,679,584
Acquisition and improvement of vessels (71,729 ) (96,413,470 )
Advances to joint ventures -- (1,705 )
Maturity in short term investments 15,000,000 --
Net cash provided by/(used in) investing activities 24,471,179 (61,735,591 )
Cash flows from financing activities
Proceeds from exercise of stock options -- 356,250
Stock repurchase -- (338,176 )
Deferred finance charges paid (215,833 ) (22,167 )
Advances from/(to) joint ventures 2,698 (11,848 )
Loan repayments (32,021,772 ) (32,045,235 )
Proceeds from long-term debt -- 70,000,000
Net cash (used in)/provided by financing activities (32,234,907 ) 37,938,824
Net increase/(decrease) in cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash 11,914,403 (119,744 )
Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash at beginning of period 69,154,944 83,755,701
Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash at end of period 81,069,347 83,635,957
Cash breakdown
Cash and cash equivalents 69,827,552 77,085,417
Restricted cash, current 1,802,116 --
Restricted cash, non current 9,439,679 6,550,540
Total cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash shown in the statements of cashflows 81,069,347 83,635,957
{graphic omitted}