Dawson Geophysical Company 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.