CEO Harry Vafias Commented
We continued operating in a firm market that underpinned yet another quarter of high profitability. So far for the first six months of 2023 we have reported
the strongest performance on record, with an EPS of $0.71. During the second quarter we further divested assets in a rising market and will continue to diversify the fleet with the timely addition of bigger sized vessels. We were also highly focused
on reducing debt, repaying $105million during the quarter alone, thus greatly reducing our interest rate expenses. At the same time our Board authorised us to repurchase shares, which we started doing late in the previous quarter. Up to now we have
repurchased over 1million common shares and will continue. We are in the fortunate position where we can deleverage, diversify, repurchase stock and maintain strong liquidity concurrently. Despite any seasonal fluctuations the market remains
relatively firm and we expect an upturn in the winter months that are approaching. We remain positive for the medium-term outlook of the LPG shipping market.
Conference Call details:
On August 18, 2023 at
11:00 am ET, the companys management will host a conference call to discuss the results and the companys operations and outlook.
Conference
call participants should pre-register using the below link to receive the dial-in numbers and a personal PIN, which are required to access the conference call.
Online Registration: https://register.vevent.com/register/BI05865c475c6741a6b32fe9d9e6b9ab20
Slides and audio webcast:
There will also be a live and
then archived webcast of the conference call, through the STEALTHGAS INC. website (www.stealthgas.com). Participants to the live webcast should register on the website approximately 10 minutes prior to the start of the webcast.
About STEALTHGAS INC.
SteatlhGas Inc. is a ship-owning
company serving the liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) sector of the international shipping industry. SteatlhGas Inc. has a fleet of 32 LPG carriers, including five Joint Venture vessels in the water, and three 40,000 cbm newbuilding Medium Gas Carriers
(one owned through Joint Venture) to be delivered by the end of Q1 2024. These LPG vessels have a total capacity of 397,747 cubic meters (cbm). StealthGas Inc.s shares are listed on the Nasdaq Global Select Market and trade under the symbol
GASS. Visit our website at www.stealthgas.com
Forward-Looking Statements
Matters discussed in this release may constitute forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements reflect our current views with respect to future events
and financial performance and may include statements concerning plans, objectives, goals, strategies, future events or performance, and underlying assumptions and other statements, which are other than statements of historical facts. The
forward-looking statements in this release are based upon various assumptions, many of which are based, in turn, upon further assumptions, including without limitation, managements examination of historical operating trends, data contained in
our records and other data available from third parties. Although STEALTHGAS INC. believes that these assumptions were reasonable when made, because these assumptions are inherently subject to significant uncertainties and contingencies which are
difficult or impossible to predict and are beyond our control, STEALTHGAS INC. cannot assure you that it will achieve or accomplish these expectations, beliefs or projections. Important factors that, in our view, could cause actual results to differ
materially from those discussed in the forward-looking statements include any lingering impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and efforts throughout the world to contain its spread, the strength of world economies
and currencies, general market conditions, including changes in charter hire rates and vessel values, charter counterparty performance,