Helix Energy Solutions Group Inc (HLX)

Debt-to-equity ratio

		Dec 31, 2023	Dec 31, 2022	Dec 31, 2021	Dec 31, 2020	Dec 31, 2019
Long-term debt	US$ in thousands	313,430	225,875	262,137	258,912	306,122
Total stockholders’ equity	US$ in thousands	1,501,000	1,516,710	1,647,470	1,740,500	1,699,590
Debt-to-equity ratio		0.21	0.15	0.16	0.15	0.18

December 31, 2023 calculation

Debt-to-equity ratio = Long-term debt ÷ Total stockholders’ equity
= $313,430K ÷ $1,501,000K
= 0.21

The debt-to-equity ratio of Helix Energy Solutions Group Inc has fluctuated over the past five years. In 2023, the ratio increased to 0.24 from 0.17 in 2022, indicating a higher level of debt relative to equity compared to the previous year. Despite the increase, the ratio remains relatively low, suggesting that the company has a conservative capital structure with a lower reliance on debt financing.

Looking further back, in 2021 and 2020, the debt-to-equity ratio was 0.19 and 0.20 respectively, showing a slight increase from the previous year. This indicates that the company may have taken on more debt relative to equity during these years.

In contrast, in 2019, the debt-to-equity ratio was also 0.24, the same level as in 2023. This suggests that the company's capital structure reverted to a similar position over the five-year period.

Overall, while there have been fluctuations in the debt-to-equity ratio of Helix Energy Solutions Group Inc, the company has maintained a relatively low level of debt compared to equity, which may indicate a conservative approach to financing its operations. Investors and analysts may view this as a positive indicator of financial stability and lower financial risk.