DAWSON GEOPHYSICAL REPORTS FIRST QUARTER 2024 RESULTS

Rhea-AI Summary

Dawson Geophysical Company (NASDAQ: DWSN) reported its unaudited financial results for Q1 2024, ending March 31. The company achieved revenues of $31.6 million, a 7% increase from $29.4 million in Q1 2023, with a gross margin rising to 35% from 25%. Net income reached $5.8 million, or $0.19 per share, compared to a prior EBITDA of $2.2 million in Q1 2023. The company achieved positive EBITDA of $7.6 million. General and administrative expenses were reduced by 22% from Q4 2023. Operationally, high crew utilization contributed to improved margins. The company declared a special cash dividend of $0.32 per share, totaling $9.9 million. As of March 31, the company had $16.5 million in cash and restricted cash and $11.3 million in positive working capital. Significant developments include the release of a $5 million collateral deposit and closure of the associated revolving credit facility.

Positive

• Revenue increased by 7% to $31.6 million.
• Gross margin improved to 35% from 25%.
• Net income of $5.8 million or $0.19 per share.
• Positive EBITDA of $7.6 million.
• General and administrative expenses reduced by 22%.
• High crew utilization in Q1 improved margins and profitability.
• Special cash dividend of $0.32 per share, totaling $9.9 million.
• Company had $16.5 million in cash and restricted cash as of March 31.
• Positive working capital of $11.3 million.

Negative

• Decrease in reimbursable revenue from $7.1 million in Q1 2023 to $4.8 million in Q1 2024.
• Reduction to one crew operating in the U.S. later in the second quarter may impact future revenues.
• Special dividend payment of $9.9 million impacts liquidity.

Insights

Financial Analyst

Dawson Geophysical Company has shown a solid turnaround in its financial performance for the first quarter of 2024. A 7% increase in revenues to $31.6 million, coupled with a notable jump in gross margin from 25% to 35%, indicates a strong improvement in operational efficiency and cost management. The reduction in general and administrative expenses by 22% demonstrates effective expense control, which also contributed to the positive swing in EBITDA to $7.6 million from $2.2 million in the same quarter of the previous year.

From an investor's perspective, the net income of $5.8 million or $0.19 per share is encouraging, showing the company's ability to convert operational improvements into real earnings. The special cash dividend of $0.32 per share, amounting to $9.9 million, reflects a strong cash position and management's confidence in future cash flows.

However, the reduction in crew numbers later in the second quarter might concern some investors about the company's ability to maintain high utilization and profitability. Despite this, the release of the $5 million collateral and closure of the revolving credit facility improves the company's liquidity and financial flexibility.

Overall, the financial results suggest the company is on the right track, but continuous monitoring of crew utilization and cost control is essential for sustained improvement.

Market Research Analyst

The reported 7% revenue growth for Dawson Geophysical is noteworthy in a competitive market. The industry typically experiences fluctuations based on energy market trends and exploration activities. The increase in gross margin from 25% to 35% signifies a significant improvement in operational efficiency and cost management, which is impressive against industry benchmarks.

The decision to reduce the number of channel crews later in the second quarter, while currently seen as a cost-saving measure, may raise concerns about future project pipeline and revenue sustainability. However, the company's focus on optimizing crew utilization could mitigate this risk if managed effectively. The $0.32 special dividend demonstrates the company's commitment to returning value to shareholders, often seen as a positive signal by the market.

Investors should keep an eye on the company's ability to maintain its margins and revenue growth in upcoming quarters, especially with fewer crews in operation. The industry outlook remains cautiously optimistic, but proactive measures and adaptive strategies by Dawson will be key in navigating future challenges.

MIDLAND, Texas, May 13, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Dawson Geophysical Company (NASDAQ: DWSN) (the "Company") today reported unaudited financial results for its first quarter ended March 31, 2024.

Management Comment

Tony Clark, Dawson's President and CEO, commented, "Our new management team completed our first full quarter, delivered solid financial results, and I am confident that the Dawson team is positioned to continue to build on these results going forward. We took steps in the right direction to execute our goals of improving margins on our seismic acquisition services, reducing general and administrative expenses, and improving our operating cash flows in the first quarter. We plan on continuing to monitor our business to reduce expenses, improve client relations and plan for our future."

First Quarter Results

For the first quarter ended March 31, 2024, the Company reported revenues of $31.6 million, an increase of 7% compared to $29.4 million for the comparable quarter ended March 31, 2023. Revenue included reimbursable revenue of $4.8 million and $7.1 million for the quarters ended March 31, 2024, and March 31, 2023, respectively. Gross margin¹ for the quarter ended March 31, 2024, was 35% compared to 25% for the comparable quarter ended March 31, 2023.

We generated net income of $5.8 million or $0.19 per common share and generated positive EBITDA of $7.6 million in the quarter ended March 31, 2024, compared to EBITDA of $2.2 million in the quarter ended March 31, 2023. Our cost reduction initiatives resulted in a 22% reduction in general and administrative expenses compared to the fourth quarter of 2023.

Operations Update

The Company had two large channel crews operating throughout the majority of the first quarter in the United States and four smaller crews operating in Canada. High crew utilization in the first quarter resulted in improved margins and profitability. We expect to reduce to one crew operating in the United States later in the second quarter, but we are working to keep our crews efficiently utilized throughout the remainder of the year.

Special Cash Dividend and Liquidity

As previously reported, the Company's Board of Directors declared a special cash dividend on the Company's common stock of $0.32 per share, which was paid on May 6, 2024 to stockholders of record as of the close of business on April 22, 2024. The aggregate payment was approximately $9.9 million.

As of March 31, 2024, the Company had cash and restricted cash of $16.5 million and positive working capital of $11.3 million, inclusive of the accrued dividend payable. We had a restricted cash balance of $5 million, which was held as collateral under our revolving credit facility. On May 2, 2024, the collateral deposit of $5 million was released and the associated revolving credit facility was closed.

About Dawson

Dawson Geophysical Company is a leading provider of North American onshore seismic data acquisition services with operations throughout the continental United States and Canada. Dawson acquires and processes 2-D, 3-D and multi-component seismic data for its clients, which range from major oil and gas companies to independent oil and gas operators, as well as providers of multi-client data libraries. Dawson also provides Carbon Capture Utilization and Storage ("CCUS") seismic monitoring, which continues to grow and be an integral part of its business.  Dawson has acquired several CCUS base surveys and plans to acquire more in the future.

Non-GAAP Financial Measures

In an effort to provide investors with additional information regarding the Company's preliminary and unaudited results as determined by generally accepted accounting principles ("GAAP"), the Company has included in this press release information about the Company's EBITDA, a non-GAAP financial measure as defined by Regulation G promulgated by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. The Company defines EBITDA as net income (loss) plus interest expense, interest income, income taxes, depreciation and amortization expense and severance expenses. The Company uses EBITDA as a supplemental financial measure to assess:

• the financial performance of its assets without regard to financing methods, capital structures, taxes or historical cost basis;
• its liquidity and operating performance over time in relation to other companies that own similar assets and that the Company believes calculate EBITDA in a similar manner; and
• the ability of the Company's assets to generate cash sufficient for the Company to pay potential interest costs.

The Company also understands that such data are used by investors to assess the Company's performance. However, the term EBITDA is not defined under GAAP, and EBITDA is not a measure of operating income, operating performance or liquidity presented in accordance with GAAP.  When assessing the Company's operating performance or liquidity, investors and others should not consider this data in isolation or as a substitute for net income (loss), cash flow from operating activities or other cash flow data calculated in accordance with GAAP. In addition, the Company's EBITDA may not be comparable to EBITDA or similar titled measures utilized by other companies since such other companies may not calculate EBITDA in the same manner as the Company. Further, the results presented by EBITDA cannot be achieved without incurring the costs that the measure excludes: interest, taxes, and depreciation and amortization. A reconciliation of the Company's EBITDA to its net loss is presented in the table following the text of this press release.

Forward-Looking Statements

In accordance with the Safe Harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, the Company cautions that statements in this press release which are forward-looking and which provide other than historical information involve risks and uncertainties that may materially affect the Company's actual results of operations. Forward-looking statements generally relate to future events or the Company's future financial or operating performance and may be identified by words such as "may," "should," "expect," "intend," "will," "estimate," "anticipate," "believe," "predict," or similar words. Such forward-looking statements are based on the beliefs of management as well as assumptions made by and information currently available to management. Actual results could differ materially from those contemplated by the forward-looking statements as a result of certain factors. These factors include, but are not limited to, the Company's status as a controlled public company, which exempts the Company from certain corporate governance requirements; the limited market for the Company's shares, which could result in the delisting of the Company's shares from Nasdaq and the Company no longer being required to make filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC"); the impact of general economic, industry, market or political conditions; dependence upon energy industry spending; changes in exploration and production spending by our customers and changes in the level of oil and natural gas exploration and development; the results of operations and financial condition of our customers, particularly during extended periods of low prices for crude oil and natural gas; the volatility of oil and natural gas prices; changes in economic conditions; the severity and duration of the COVID-19 pandemic, related economic repercussions and the resulting impact on demand for oil and gas; surplus in the supply of oil and the ability of the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries and its allies, collectively known as OPEC+ to agree on and comply with supply limitations; the duration and magnitude of the unprecedented disruption in the oil and gas industry currently resulting from the impact of the foregoing factors, which is negatively impacting our business; the potential for contract delays; reductions or cancellations of service contracts; limited number of customers; credit risk related to our customers; reduced utilization; high fixed costs of operations and high capital requirements; operational challenges relating to the COVID-19 pandemic and efforts to mitigate the spread of the virus, including logistical challenges, protecting the health and well-being of our employees and remote work arrangements; industry competition; external factors affecting the Company's crews such as weather interruptions and inability to obtain land access rights of way; whether the Company enters into turnkey or day rate contracts; crew productivity; the availability of capital resources; disruptions in the global economy, including export controls and financial and economic sanctions imposed on certain industry sectors and parties as a result of the developments in Ukraine and related activities, and whether or not a future transaction or other action occurs that causes the Company to be delisted from Nasdaq and no longer be required to make filings with the SEC. A discussion of these and other factors, including risks and uncertainties, is set forth in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K that was filed with the SEC on April 1, 2024. The Company disclaims any intention or obligation to revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

 

DAWSON GEOPHYSICAL COMPANY CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS AND COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (LOSS) (unaudited and amounts in thousands, except share and per share data)
	Three Months Ended March 31,
	2024			2023
Operating revenues:				$
Fee Revenue	$	26,738			22,273
Reimbursable Revenue		4,846			7,135
		31,584			29,408
Operating costs:
Operating expenses
Fee operating expenses		17,496			16,647
Reimbursable operating expenses		4,846			7,135
		22,342			23,782
General and administrative		1,911			3,499
Depreciation and amortization		1,589			2,700
		25,842			29,981
Income (loss) from operations		5,742			(573)
Other income (expense):
Interest income		113			108
Interest expense		(46)			(17)
Other income, net		239			52
Income (loss) before income tax		6,048			(430)
Income tax (expense) benefit		(202)			17
Net income (loss)		5,846			(413)
Other comprehensive loss:
Net unrealized loss on foreign exchange rate translation		(160)			(6)
Comprehensive income (loss)	$	5,686		$	(419)
Basic income (loss) per share of common stock	$	0.19		$	(0.02)
Diluted income (loss) per share of common stock	$	0.19		$	(0.02)
Weighted average equivalent common shares outstanding		30,812,329			25,000,564
Weighted average equivalent common shares outstanding - assuming dilution		30,812,329			25,000,564

 

DAWSON GEOPHYSICAL COMPANY CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (unaudited and amounts in thousands, except share data)
		March 31,			December 31,
		2024			2023
Assets
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents		$	11,462		$	10,772
Restricted cash			5,000			5,000
Short-term investments			265			265
Accounts receivable, net			14,888			12,735
Prepaid expenses and other current assets			6,578			8,654
Total current assets			38,193			37,426
Property and equipment, net			16,290			16,508
Right-of-use assets			2,928			3,208
Intangibles, net			369			377
Total assets		$	57,780		$	57,519
Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity
Current liabilities:
Accounts payable		$	5,415		$	3,883
Accrued liabilities:
Dividend payable			9,860			—
Other			4,019			4,124
Deferred revenue			5,318			11,829
Current maturities of notes payable and finance leases			1,111			1,380
Current maturities of operating lease liabilities			1,137			1,202
Total current liabilities			26,860			22,418
Long-term liabilities:
Notes payable and finance leases, net of current maturities			1,520			1,289
Operating lease liabilities, net of current maturities			2,125			2,363
Deferred tax liabilities, net			15			15
Total long-term liabilities			3,660			3,667
Commitments and contingencies			—			—
Stockholders' equity:
Preferred stock-par value $1.00 per share; 4,000,000 shares authorized, none outstanding			—			—
Common stock-par value $0.01 per share; 35,000,000 shares authorized,
30,812,329 shares issued, and 30,812,329 shares outstanding
at March 31, 2024 and December 31, 2023			308			308
Additional paid-in capital			156,678			156,678
Accumulated deficit			(127,654)			(123,640)
Accumulated other comprehensive loss, net			(2,072)			(1,912)
Total stockholders' equity			27,260			31,434
Total liabilities and stockholders' equity		$	57,780		$	57,519

 

Reconciliation of EBITDA to Net Loss (amounts in thousands)
	Three Months Ended March 31,
	2024 US			2024 CA			2024 Consol.			2023 US			2023 CA			2023 Consol.
Net income (loss)	$	2,167		$	3,679		$	5,846		$	(2,460)		$	2,047		$	(413)
Depreciation and amortization		1,305			284			1,589			2,118			582			2,700
Severance expense		—			—			—			—			—			—
Interest (income) expense, net		(63)			(4)			(67)			(75)			(16)			(91)
Income tax expense (benefit)		202			—			202			(17)			—			(17)
EBITDA	$	3,611		$	3,959		$	7,570		$	(434)		$	2,613		$	2,179

 

Reconciliation of EBITDA to Net Cash (Used in) Provided By Operating Activities (amounts in thousands)
	Three Months Ended March 31,
	2024 US			2024 CA			2024 Consol.			2023 US			2023 CA			2023 Consol.
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities	$	1,996		$	(126)		$	1,870		$	2,578		$	(4,398)		$	(1,820)
Changes in working capital and other items		1,835			4,136			5,971			(2,794)			7,047			4,253
Non-cash adjustments to net income (loss)		(220)			(51)			(271)			(218)			(36)			(254)
EBITDA	$	3,611		$	3,959		$	7,570		$	(434)		$	2,613		$	2,179

 

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SOURCE Dawson Geophysical Company

FAQ

What were Dawson Geophysical's (DWSN) revenues for Q1 2024?

Dawson Geophysical reported revenues of $31.6 million for Q1 2024, a 7% increase from $29.4 million in Q1 2023.

What was Dawson Geophysical's (DWSN) net income for Q1 2024?

Dawson Geophysical reported a net income of $5.8 million or $0.19 per share for Q1 2024.

How much did Dawson Geophysical (DWSN) reduce general and administrative expenses in Q1 2024?

Dawson Geophysical reduced general and administrative expenses by 22% in Q1 2024 compared to Q4 2023.

What was Dawson Geophysical's (DWSN) gross margin for Q1 2024?

Dawson Geophysical's gross margin for Q1 2024 was 35%, up from 25% in Q1 2023.

What special dividend did Dawson Geophysical (DWSN) declare in Q1 2024?

Dawson Geophysical declared a special cash dividend of $0.32 per share, paid on May 6, 2024, totaling $9.9 million.

What was Dawson Geophysical's (DWSN) EBITDA for Q1 2024?

Dawson Geophysical reported positive EBITDA of $7.6 million for Q1 2024.

How did Dawson Geophysical (DWSN) perform operationally in Q1 2024?

Dawson Geophysical had high crew utilization in Q1 2024, leading to improved margins and profitability.

What is Dawson Geophysical's (DWSN) cash position as of March 31, 2024?

As of March 31, 2024, Dawson Geophysical had $16.5 million in cash and restricted cash.