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Helix Energy Solutions Group (HLX)
NYSE:HLX

Helix Energy (HLX) AI Stock Analysis

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Helix Energy

(NYSE:HLX)

Rating:71Outperform
Price Target:
$7.50
▲(5.78%Upside)
Helix Energy's overall stock score reflects a balanced view of its strengths and challenges. Strong financial performance and cash flow stability are offset by technical weaknesses and geopolitical uncertainties impacting future earnings. The company's strategic focus on liquidity and contract renewals offers resilience in a volatile market.
Positive Factors
Financial Performance
The company has zero net debt and is expected to take advantage of the share price weakness.
Growth Potential
The company is positioned for future growth with potential upside from the UK North Sea, strong offshore wind demand growth, and pricing in Subsea Robotics.
Operational Strength
Strong contract coverage and rising earnings suggest continued operational strength despite recent stock performance.
Negative Factors
Earnings Outlook
A strong 1Q result was overshadowed by a surprisingly weak 2025 outlook.
Market Challenges
An increasingly punitive tax regime in the UK, recent operator consolidation and the sharp drop in oil prices led to a perfect storm in the UK North Sea and it tanked Helix's guidance.
Revenue Reduction
Recent M&A activity and softer oil prices/market uncertainty appear to have piled on to cause activity to shift to the right - leading to a $70 million reduction in revenues.

Helix Energy (HLX) vs. SPDR S&P 500 ETF (SPY)

Helix Energy Business Overview & Revenue Model

Company DescriptionHelix Energy Solutions Group, Inc. (HLX) is a leading international offshore energy services company that provides specialty services to the offshore energy industry, with a focus on well intervention and robotics operations. The company operates primarily in the Gulf of Mexico, Brazil, the North Sea, and West Africa, offering innovative solutions to meet the evolving needs of its clients in the oil and gas sector.
How the Company Makes MoneyHelix Energy Solutions generates revenue through its two main segments: Well Intervention and Robotics. The Well Intervention segment provides services such as subsea intervention, well decommissioning, and well abandonment, which are essential for maintaining and enhancing the production of oil and gas wells. This segment's revenues are primarily driven by contracts with oil and gas operators for these specialized services. The Robotics segment offers remotely operated vehicles (ROVs), trenching, and cable laying services, which support subsea construction and maintenance activities. Helix's revenue streams are significantly influenced by its long-term contracts with major energy companies, market demand for offshore well services, and the company's technological advancements, which enhance operational efficiency and effectiveness.

Helix Energy Earnings Call Summary

Earnings Call Date:Apr 23, 2025
(Q1-2025)
|
% Change Since: 7.26%|
Next Earnings Date:Jul 23, 2025
Earnings Call Sentiment Neutral
The earnings call presented a mix of positive achievements and significant challenges. While the company showcased strong first-quarter results, robust cash positions, and new contracts, the negative impact from the North Sea operations and geopolitical uncertainties have led to a downgrade in revenue and EBITDA guidance. Overall, the sentiment is cautious, reflecting both optimism in certain areas and significant concerns in others.
Q1-2025 Updates
Positive Updates
Strong First-Quarter Results
Helix Energy Solutions reported revenues of $278 million, gross profit of $28 million, net income of $3 million, and adjusted EBITDA of $52 million. The company had positive operating cash flow of $16 million and free cash flow of $12 million.
Robust Cash Position
The company ended the quarter with cash and cash equivalents of $370 million and liquidity of $405 million, with negative net debt of $59 million.
New Contracts and Renewals
Helix commenced operations with Q7000 in Brazil on a 400-day contract with Shell and Siem Helix 2 started a new three-year contract with Petrobras at higher rates. The company also signed a large trenching contract for the Hornsea Free Wind Farm in the UK for over 300 days in 2026.
Positive Outlook for Renewables
The renewables and trenching outlook is robust with numerous contracted works for 2025, 2026, and 2027, with strong tender activity as far out as 2032.
Negative Updates
Significant Impact from North Sea Operations
The UK North Sea well intervention market is significantly weaker due to regulatory environment, low oil prices, and operator M&A, leading to the stacking of the Seawell vessel. This has resulted in a substantial negative impact on EBITDA guidance for 2025.
Geopolitical and Market Uncertainty
The company is facing challenges due to geopolitical developments, including tariff hikes and OPEC production increases, resulting in lower oil prices and increased market risks.
Revenue and EBITDA Guidance Downgrade
Revenue guidance has been adjusted to approximately $1.3 billion with a decrease due to the stacking of the Seawell. EBITDA guidance has been revised to approximately $275 million, plus or minus 10%, largely due to the North Sea issues.
Company Guidance
During the Q1 2025 earnings call, Helix Energy Solutions Group provided guidance indicating a challenging market environment due to external factors such as tariff hikes and increased oil production by OPEC, leading to volatile oil prices. The company reported Q1 revenues of $278 million, a gross profit of $28 million, and a net income of $3 million, with adjusted EBITDA at $52 million. Despite these challenges, Helix maintains a strong liquidity position with $370 million in cash and cash equivalents and $405 million in liquidity. The company's backlog stands at approximately $1.4 billion, and they forecast generating between $100 million and $160 million in free cash flow for 2025. However, they have adjusted their annual revenue guidance to a range of $1.25 billion to $1.41 billion and an EBITDA estimate of approximately $275 million, reflecting the decision to stack the Seawell vessel due to reduced activity in the North Sea. The company is focusing on cost reduction strategies while maintaining its robust balance sheet to navigate the current market uncertainties.

Helix Energy Financial Statement Overview

Summary
Helix Energy demonstrates a strong recovery with improved profitability and robust revenue growth. The income statement shows significant improvements in margins and revenue, while the balance sheet remains stable with manageable leverage. Strong cash flow generation supports financial flexibility, although increasing liabilities require monitoring.
Income Statement
78
Positive
Helix Energy's income statement shows a strong recovery trajectory with increasing revenue and profitability. The gross profit margin has improved significantly, reaching approximately 16.98% in TTM, up from 5.80% in 2022, indicating better cost management. Net profit margin improved markedly from negative figures in previous years to 6.34% in TTM, showcasing substantial profitability enhancement. The EBIT and EBITDA margins have also shown a positive trend, reflecting operational efficiency. Revenue growth has been robust, with a 54.33% increase from 2022 to 2023, and continued improvement into 2024 and 2025. Overall, the income statement reflects a positive growth trajectory and improved profitability.
Balance Sheet
70
Positive
The balance sheet of Helix Energy demonstrates a stable financial position with a solid equity base. The debt-to-equity ratio remains reasonable at approximately 0.42 in TTM, indicating manageable leverage levels. Although stockholders' equity has remained relatively stable, the equity ratio of about 58.64% in TTM reflects a solid capital structure. Return on equity (ROE) has improved significantly, from negative in prior years to around 5.50% in TTM, aligning with the company's profit recovery. However, the total liabilities have shown a gradual increase, which could be a potential risk if not managed carefully.
Cash Flow
82
Very Positive
Helix Energy's cash flow statements highlight strong cash generation capabilities. The operating cash flow to net income ratio stands at approximately 1.62 in TTM, indicating efficient conversion of income into cash. The free cash flow to net income ratio of about 1.34 suggests solid free cash flow generation, supporting financial flexibility. Notably, the free cash flow growth rate from 2023 to 2024 was 22.48%, reflecting successful cash management. The company has maintained positive free cash flow, which supports strategic investments and debt servicing. Overall, the cash flow position is strong, underpinning financial stability.
Breakdown
TTMDec 2024Dec 2023Dec 2022Dec 2021Dec 2020
Income StatementTotal Revenue
1.34B1.36B1.29B873.10M674.73M733.55M
Gross Profit
227.55M219.56M200.36M50.62M15.39M79.91M
EBIT
136.88M127.44M105.93M-26.14M-48.06M-107.23M
EBITDA
271.03M253.17M192.99M87.68M94.36M164.45M
Net Income Common Stockholders
85.00M55.64M-10.84M-87.78M-61.68M22.17M
Balance SheetCash, Cash Equivalents and Short-Term Investments
369.99M368.03M332.19M186.60M253.51M291.32M
Total Assets
2.64B2.60B2.56B2.39B2.33B2.50B
Total Debt
655.80M661.12M540.57M469.68M410.95M502.17M
Net Debt
285.81M293.09M208.38M283.07M157.43M210.85M
Total Liabilities
1.09B1.08B1.06B872.63M678.56M757.78M
Stockholders Equity
1.55B1.52B1.50B1.52B1.65B1.74B
Cash FlowFree Cash Flow
113.69M162.72M132.87M17.60M131.79M78.56M
Operating Cash Flow
137.88M186.03M152.46M51.11M140.12M98.80M
Investing Cash Flow
-24.09M-22.84M-18.66M-138.29M-8.27M-19.28M
Financing Cash Flow
-66.97M-125.31M25.11M-44.84M-96.00M-52.58M

Helix Energy Technical Analysis

Technical Analysis Sentiment
Neutral
Last Price7.09
Price Trends
50DMA
6.59
Positive
100DMA
7.44
Negative
200DMA
8.74
Negative
Market Momentum
MACD
0.05
Negative
RSI
63.10
Neutral
STOCH
83.55
Negative
Evaluating momentum and price trends is crucial in stock analysis to make informed investment decisions. For HLX, the sentiment is Neutral. The current price of 7.09 is above the 20-day moving average (MA) of 6.49, above the 50-day MA of 6.59, and below the 200-day MA of 8.74, indicating a neutral trend. The MACD of 0.05 indicates Negative momentum. The RSI at 63.10 is Neutral, neither overbought nor oversold. The STOCH value of 83.55 is Negative, not indicating any strong overbought or oversold conditions. Overall, these indicators collectively point to a Neutral sentiment for HLX.

Helix Energy Peers Comparison

Overall Rating
UnderperformOutperform
Sector (58)
Financial Indicators
Name
Overall Rating
Market Cap
P/E Ratio
ROE
Dividend Yield
Revenue Growth
EPS Growth
RERES
75
Outperform
$1.09B14.067.06%3.23%-9.78%-49.45%
74
Outperform
$1.09B16.704.91%10.48%
HLHLX
71
Outperform
$1.05B12.915.64%0.34%
OIOII
71
Outperform
$2.08B11.8426.17%10.04%68.14%
69
Neutral
$1.08B26.004.51%3.13%-4.91%-46.51%
MRMRC
68
Neutral
$1.11B41.188.29%-9.84%-111.71%
58
Neutral
$7.37B3.39-4.49%10.01%0.82%-49.15%
* Energy Sector Average
Performance Comparison
Ticker
Company Name
Price
Change
% Change
HLX
Helix Energy
7.09
-3.45
-32.73%
MRC
MRC Global
13.23
0.77
6.18%
OII
Oceaneering International
21.15
-0.49
-2.26%
RES
RPC
4.95
-1.21
-19.64%
XPRO
Expro Group Holdings
9.77
-11.37
-53.78%
WTTR
Select Energy Services
9.28
-0.93
-9.11%

Helix Energy Corporate Events

Executive/Board ChangesShareholder MeetingsStock Buyback
Helix Energy Holds Annual Shareholders Meeting
Neutral
May 14, 2025

On May 14, 2025, Helix Energy Solutions Group, Inc. held its Annual Meeting of Shareholders, where three proposals were voted upon. T. Mitch Little and John V. Lovoi were elected as Class I directors, KPMG LLP was ratified as the independent accounting firm for 2025, and the 2024 executive compensation was approved. Additionally, the company completed a $30 million share repurchase during the second quarter of 2025 as part of its ongoing repurchase program initiated in February 2023.

The most recent analyst rating on (HLX) stock is a Buy with a $14.00 price target. To see the full list of analyst forecasts on Helix Energy stock, see the HLX Stock Forecast page.

Financial Disclosures
Helix Energy Reports Q1 2025 Financial Results
Negative
Apr 24, 2025

On April 23, 2025, Helix Energy Solutions Group reported its financial results for the first quarter of 2025, showing a net income of $3.1 million, a decrease from the previous quarter’s $20.1 million. The company faced challenges from a seasonal slowdown in the North Sea and Gulf of America, as well as market disruptions from OPEC+ production increases and U.S. tariffs. Despite these challenges, Helix maintained a strong balance sheet and expects to generate meaningful free cash flow in 2025.

Glossary
BuyA stock rated as a "Buy" is expected to perform better than the overall market or a specific benchmark over the near-to-medium term. This rating suggests the stock is likely to deliver higher returns compared to other stocks in the same sector or market index. Note: This is not investment advice; please consult a financial advisor before making investment decisions.
HoldA stock rated as a "Hold" is expected to perform in line with the overall market or a specific benchmark. This rating indicates that the stock is neither particularly compelling nor unfavorable for investment. Note: This is not investment advice; please consult a financial advisor before making investment decisions.
SellA stock rated as a "Sell" is expected to perform worse than the overall market or a specific benchmark over the near-to-medium term. This rating suggests the stock may deliver lower returns compared to other stocks in the same sector or market index. Note: This is not investment advice; please consult a financial advisor before making investment decisions.

Disclaimer

This AI Analyst Stock Report is automatically generated by our AI systems using advanced algorithms and publicly available financial, technical, and market data. While the information provided aims to be accurate and insightful, it is intended for informational purposes only and should not be considered financial advice. Any content created by an AI (Artificial Intelligence) system may contain inaccuracies and/or contain errors. Investing in stocks carries inherent risks, and past performance is not indicative of future results. This report does not account for your personal financial circumstances, objectives, or risk tolerance. Always conduct your own research or consult with a qualified financial advisor before making investment decisions. The analysis and recommendations provided are based on historical and current data and may not fully reflect future market conditions or unexpected developments. Neither the creators of this report nor its affiliated entities guarantee the accuracy, completeness, or reliability of the information presented. Use this report at your own discretion and risk.