Helix Energy CEO Owen Kratz Announces Retirement After Nearly 40 Years of Leadership
Written by Emily J. Thompson, Senior Investment Analyst
Updated: Dec 17 2025
0mins
Should l Buy HLX?
Source: Businesswire
- Leadership Change: Helix Energy Solutions Group CEO Owen Kratz announces his retirement, concluding an illustrious career that began in 1984, during which he transformed the company from a small diving firm into a global industry leader.
- Succession Planning: Kratz will remain as CEO until a successor is appointed by the Board, ensuring leadership continuity and a smooth transition, reflecting the company's commitment to stable management.
- Industry Contributions: Kratz has successfully navigated Helix through multiple business cycles, driving innovation and growth in the offshore energy services sector, thereby enhancing value for shareholders and clients.
- Future Outlook: Kratz expresses confidence in Helix's future, noting the company's strong balance sheet that positions it to seize growth opportunities and continue driving value creation.
Trade with 70% Backtested Accuracy
Stop guessing "Should I Buy HLX?" and start using high-conviction signals backed by rigorous historical data.
Sign up today to access powerful investing tools and make smarter, data-driven decisions.
Analyst Views on HLX
Wall Street analysts forecast HLX stock price to rise over the next 12 months. According to Wall Street analysts, the average 1-year price target for HLX is 12.00 USD with a low forecast of 12.00 USD and a high forecast of 12.00 USD. However, analyst price targets are subjective and often lag stock prices, so investors should focus on the objective reasons behind analyst rating changes, which better reflect the company's fundamentals.
1 Analyst Rating
1 Buy
0 Hold
0 Sell
Moderate Buy
Current: 8.310
Low
12.00
Averages
12.00
High
12.00
Current: 8.310
Low
12.00
Averages
12.00
High
12.00
About HLX
Helix Energy Solutions Group, Inc. is an international offshore energy services company that provides specialty services to the offshore energy industry, with a focus on well intervention, robotics and full-field decommissioning operations. Its segments include Well Intervention, Robotics, Shallow Water Abandonment and Production Facilities. Well Intervention segment provides services that enable its customers to safely access subsea offshore wells for the purpose of performing production enhancement or decommissioning operations. Robotics segment provides trenching, seabed clearance, offshore construction and inspection, repair and maintenance services to both the offshore oil and gas and renewable energy markets globally. Shallow Water Abandonment segment provides services in support of the upstream and midstream sectors on the Gulf of Mexico shelf.
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.
Leadership Change: Owen Kratz, the president and CEO of Helix Energy Solutions Group, has announced his intention to retire, while planning to remain in his role until a successor is appointed.
Company Performance: Helix Energy Solutions Group has presented at the TD Cowen 2nd Annual Energy Conference and reported a Q3 2025 earnings call, indicating a strong performance in robotics and operations in Brazil.
See More

- Leadership Change: Helix Energy Solutions Group CEO Owen Kratz announces his retirement, concluding an illustrious career that began in 1984, during which he transformed the company from a small diving firm into a global industry leader.
- Succession Planning: Kratz will remain as CEO until a successor is appointed by the Board, ensuring leadership continuity and a smooth transition, reflecting the company's commitment to stable management.
- Industry Contributions: Kratz has successfully navigated Helix through multiple business cycles, driving innovation and growth in the offshore energy services sector, thereby enhancing value for shareholders and clients.
- Future Outlook: Kratz expresses confidence in Helix's future, noting the company's strong balance sheet that positions it to seize growth opportunities and continue driving value creation.
See More

- Leadership Transition: Helix Energy Solutions CEO Owen Kratz has announced his retirement, intending to continue in his role until a successor is appointed by the Board, ensuring leadership continuity and a smooth transition.
- Industry Contributions: Since joining Helix in 1984, Kratz has transformed the company from a small diving firm into a global leader in offshore energy services, successfully navigating multiple business cycles and delivering value to shareholders.
- Future Outlook: Kratz stated that Helix is well-positioned with a strong balance sheet that affords opportunities for future growth, expressing confidence in the company's role in the global energy transition.
- Succession Planning: The Board and Kratz have long discussed succession planning, focusing on selecting a strong next CEO with proven global business leadership experience to ensure the company's continued development.
See More
- Charitable Support: Helix Wireless served as the presenting sponsor for the New York Jets' 50/50 raffle, raising over $15,000 for Hope House For Our Families, significantly enhancing the company's community impact.
- Community Engagement: This raffle not only provided crucial funding for Hope House but also elevated Helix Wireless's brand image in New Jersey, showcasing its commitment to social responsibility.
- Strategic Partnership: As the official IoT partner of the New York Jets, Helix Wireless further solidified its collaboration with the sports industry through this event, enhancing its competitive position in the market.
- Long-term Impact: The funds will support Hope House in aiding affected families, and Helix Wireless's involvement not only assists the community but also establishes a positive corporate image that promotes future business growth.
See More

- 52 Week Range: HLX's stock has a 52-week low of $5.52 and a high of $10.965, with the last trade recorded at $6.85.
- Market Analysis: The article mentions other energy stocks that have recently crossed above their 200-day moving average.
- Author's Perspective: The views expressed in the article are solely those of the author and do not necessarily represent Nasdaq, Inc.
- Stock Performance Context: The information provided gives context to HLX's current stock performance within the broader energy market.
See More
- Event Participation: Helix Energy Solutions Group will participate in the Daniel Energy Partners Executive Series on December 3, 2025, at Nasdaq MarketSite in New York, showcasing its expertise in offshore energy services.
- Industry Engagement: The company will also attend the Capital One Securities 20th Annual Energy Conference on December 9, 2025, at the Omni Royal Orleans Hotel in New Orleans, further strengthening its connections within the industry.
- Investor Information: Any investor presentations provided during these events will be publicly available and can be accessed through Helix's website, ensuring transparency and attracting potential investors.
- Company Background: Headquartered in Houston, Texas, Helix focuses on specialty services for the offshore energy industry, supporting global energy transition by maximizing production of existing oil and gas reserves and facilitating renewable energy developments.
See More







