STEALTHGAS INC. REPORTS FOURTH QUARTER AND TWELVE MONTHS 2023 FINANCIAL AND OPERATING RESULTS
ATHENS, GREECE, February 21, 2024. 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 fourth quarter and twelve months ended December 31, 2023.
OPERATIONAL AND FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS
- All-time record Net Income of $51.9 million for the twelve-month period, a 51% increase compared to last year, corresponding to a basic EPS of $1.38. Strong profitability continued for the fourth quarter with Net Income of $8.9 million for the three-month period corresponding to a basic EPS of $0.25.
- Further increased period coverage. About 66% of fleet days for 2024 are secured on period charters, with total fleet employment days for all subsequent periods generating over $200 million (excl. JV vessels) in contracted revenues.
- Repurchased 2.01 million shares during the fourth quarter. To date, 3.9 million shares have been repurchased, more than 10% of the outstanding shares, for a total of $19.1 million under our $25 million share repurchase program.
- Massively reduced debt during 2023 by $153.6 million from $277.1 million as of December 31, 2022, net of deferred finance charges, to $123.5 million as of December 31, 2023.
- Maintaining ample cash and cash equivalents (incl. restricted cash) of $83.8 million as of December 31, 2023 enabling the Company to further reduce debt.
- Took successful delivery of the Medium Gas Carrier (MGC) newbuildings Eco Oracle and Eco Wizard in January 2024.