Nordic American Tankers Faces Rough Seas: Q1 Revenue Misses Estimates Amid Fleet Expansion
Written by Emily J. Thompson, Senior Investment Analyst
Updated: May 29 2024
0mins
Source: Benzinga
- Nordic American Tankers Limited Financials: NAT reported lower-than-expected first-quarter net voyage revenue of $60.572 million, missing the consensus of $76.562 million.
- Financial Performance: The company's average time charter equivalent (TCE) for its fleet was $33,570 per day per ship in the quarter, with a significant decrease in net operating income and adjusted EBITDA compared to the previous year.
- Cash Flow and Debt: Operating cash flow for the quarter was $37.589 million, and NAT's net debt stood at $228 million, translating to $11.4 million per ship based on 20 vessels as of March-end.
- Dividend Declaration: Nordic American Tankers declared a dividend per share of $0.12, payable on July 18 to shareholders of record as of June 28.
- Future Fleet Expansion: The company plans to add new vessels to its Suezmax fleet in the coming years, with 6 in 2024, 23 in 2025, and 38 in 2026. Additionally, there are new build orders for 2027 and 2028.
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Analyst Views on NAT
Wall Street analysts forecast NAT stock price to fall
1 Analyst Rating
0 Buy
1 Hold
0 Sell
Hold
Current: 5.500
Low
3.00
Averages
3.00
High
3.00
Current: 5.500
Low
3.00
Averages
3.00
High
3.00
About NAT
Nordic American Tankers Limited is an international tanker company focusing solely on owning, operating, and chartering of Suezmax tankers. The Company has a fleet of approximately 20 Suezmax crude oil tankers. Its Suezmax vessels have a carrying capacity of one million barrels of oil. The Company's tankers operating in the spot market are chartered for a single voyage. The vessels in the Company's fleet are homogenous and interchangeable as they have the same freight capacity and ability to transport the same type of cargo. Its vessels include Nordic Pollux, Nordic Apollo, Nordic Luna, Nordic Castor, Nordic Freedom, Nordic Sprinter, Nordic Skier, Nordic Vega, Nordic Light, Nordic Cross, Nordic Breeze, Nordic Zenith, Nordic Star, Nordic Space, Nordic Aquarius, Nordic Cygnus, Nordic Tellus, Nordic Hunter and Nordic Harrier.
About the author

Emily J. Thompson
Emily J. Thompson, a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) with 12 years in investment research, graduated with honors from the Wharton School. Specializing in industrial and technology stocks, she provides in-depth analysis for Intellectia’s earnings and market brief reports.
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- Rate Decline: Crude tanker rates in the European and Atlantic markets have retreated to pre-war levels, primarily due to tankers that would have returned to the Mideast Gulf now populating more liquid markets, leading to increased supply.
- Black Sea-Mediterranean Route: The Suezmax route from the Black Sea to the Mediterranean surged from WS200 ($24.08/ton) before the war to WS475 ($57.19/ton), but has plummeted nearly 50% in just two days to WS230 ($27.69/ton), indicating significant market volatility.
- Impact on U.S. Market: Suezmax rates from the U.S. Gulf Coast and Guyana have dropped to their lowest since the war began, reflecting a trend of tonnage shifting away from the Mideast Gulf, which further depresses rates.
- Aframax Rate Plunge: European Aframax rates have also seen a sharp decline, with the Ceyhan-origin cross Mediterranean route ending on April 20 at WS270, down significantly from WS655 on March 30, highlighting the market's weakness.
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- Strong Market Demand: Amid increasing geopolitical uncertainty, Nordic American Tankers (NAT) reports a rise in demand for its transportation services, with major clients including Exxon, Shell, BP, Total, and Equinor, which account for over 50% of its business.
- Charter Contract Signed: NAT has secured a one-year time charter with a major customer at a rate of approximately $75,000 per day, while its operating costs are only $10,000 per day, significantly enhancing the company's profitability.
- Fleet Adjustment Strategy: In the current robust market environment, NAT has improved its financial flexibility and strengthened its overall position by selling some vessels built between 2003 and 2005 at favorable prices.
- Safety First Principle: NAT emphasizes that its top priority is the safety of its crew and states that the company remains apolitical, focusing on restoring normal business operations based on trust and integrity.
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