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Verdict
Quantitative factor alignment verified for current market regime.
Quant Score
Rank
#1371
Positioning
Market Dominance
Mining
Petroleum And Natural Gas
$964M
Owen E. Kratz
Helix Energy Solutions Group, Inc. provides specialty services to offshore energy industry in Brazil, the Gulf of Mexico, North Sea, Asia Pacific, and West Africa regions. The company operates through three segments: Well Intervention, Robotics, and Production Facilities.
Headcount
2.3K
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| Stock | Rating | Score▼ | Quality | Value | Momentum | P/E | EV/EBITDA | ROE | ROA | Gross Mgn | Op Mgn | Net Mgn | Rev Growth | Div Yield | D/E | Mkt Cap | AUDIT |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
$VALE Vale S.A. | 75 | 88 | 93 | 67 | - | - | 15.8% | 6.9% | 36.6% | 22.8% | 15.9% | -8.9% | 0.0% | 0.0x | $38.7B | VS | |
$SU SUNCOR ENERGY INC | 74 | 87 | 90 | 53 | - | - | 13.1% | 6.5% | 58.3% | 18.4% | 11.0% | -3.6% | 4.9% | 29.0x | $46.0B | VS | |
$TRX TRX GOLD Corp | 72 | 83 | 77 | 96 | - | - | 10.7% | 6.1% | 41.5% | 27.8% | 11.4% | 40.0% | 0.0% | 2.0x | $104M | VS | |
$ORLA Orla Mining Ltd. | 72 | 94 | 83 | 78 | - | - | 19.6% | 15.7% | 74.8% | 47.5% | 26.2% | 47.2% | 0.0% | 0.0x | $1.7B | VS | |
$KGC KINROSS GOLD CORP | 71 | 83 | 89 | 79 | - | - | 15.1% | 9.3% | 37.8% | 31.6% | 20.0% | 21.3% | 1.3% | 21.0x | $11.4B | VS | |
$AEM AGNICO EAGLE MINES LTD | 71 | 80 | 80 | 71 | - | - | 9.4% | 6.5% | 60.5% | 36.0% | 22.9% | 25.0% | 2.0% | 6.0x | $38.9B | VS | |
$RIO RIO TINTO PLC | 70 | 76 | 84 | 64 | - | - | 20.3% | 11.2% | 23.0% | 20.1% | 23.1% | -1.3% | 11.2% | 26.0x | $93.8B | VS | |
$IAG IAMGOLD CORP | 70 | 71 | 82 | 89 | - | - | 29.9% | 17.1% | 33.7% | 57.8% | 51.9% | 65.4% | 0.0% | 34.0x | $2.5B | VS | |
$NGD New Gold Inc. /FI | 70 | 76 | 67 | 92 | - | - | 11.1% | 4.8% | 52.8% | 19.7% | 11.1% | 17.5% | 0.0% | 38.0x | $1.7B | VS | |
$PDS PRECISION DRILLING Corp | 70 | 77 | 90 | 65 | - | - | 6.6% | 3.6% | 34.4% | 11.0% | 5.9% | -10.0% | 0.0% | 52.0x | $876M | VS | |
$HLX HELIX ENERGY SOLUTIONS GROUP INC | 54 | 49 | 76 | 42 | 25.3x | 8.4x | 3.3% | 2.0% | 12.9% | 6.9% | 3.7% | 3.3% | 0.0% | 20.0x | $964M | ||
| SECTOR BENCH | - | - | - | - | - | 13.7x | 5.2x | 4.0% | 3.9% | 43.2% | 12.2% | 6.2% | 2.6% | 0.0% | 0.3x | - | REF |
HELIX ENERGY SOLUTIONS GROUP INC (HLX) receives a "Hold" rating with a composite score of 54.2/100. It ranks #1371 out of 7,333 stocks in our coverage universe and carries a 3-star rating. Ratings are driven by a 6-factor quantitative model measuring quality, value, momentum, investment, stability, and short interest.
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YOY expansion rate
Core pricing power
Operating efficiency
Bottom-line conversion
Equity capital efficiency
Asset base utilization
Financial leverage load
Direct cash return
Owen E. Kratz
Chief Executive Officer
Labor Force
2,280
49
43
52
Audit Verdict: Lower quality and stability scores may indicate governance concerns.
No recent insider transactions available for HLX
HQ Base
Houston, Texas
In-line with peers — no strong momentum signal
Trading at a discount to fundamentals — favorable entry valuation
Average quality profile
Average volatility — neutral timing signal
Moderate investment profile
Mid-range overall rating
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Relative valuation derived from Mining sector benchmarks. Model weights: EV/EBITDA (40%), P/B (35%), P/S (25%). Re-calculated daily.
Projection based on user-defined inputs. Re-calculated daily against current market data.
Reverse DCF Framework — Mauboussin Methodology
Institutional-grade Reverse DCF analysis. This model identifies the growth hurdles embedded in current market prices. When implied growth is significantly lower than historical or projected rates, a margin of safety may exist. Re-audited daily.
No analyst ratings for HLX.
View All RatingsConservative accounting — High cash conversion efficiency
Material decline in asset turnover efficiency detected
| Factor | Global | Sector | Tilt |
|---|---|---|---|
| PROFITABILITY | 49 | 51 | -2NEUTRAL |
| MOMENTUM | 42 | 42 | 0NEUTRAL |
| VALUATION | 76 | 85 | -9DRAG |
| INVESTMENT | 43 | 67 | -24DRAG |
| STABILITY | 52 | 55 | -3NEUTRAL |
| SHORT INT | 47 | 46 | +1NEUTRAL |
Global = full universe. Sector = relative to industry peers. Positive tilt indicates idiosyncratic strength.
ROE proxy 3.3% (sector 4.0%)
GM 13% vs sector 43%, OM 7% vs sector 12%
Capital turnover N/A
Rev growth 3%, 10yr history
Interest coverage N/A, Net debt/EBITDA -0.3x
Composite assessment of profitability, capital efficiency, and financial strength. Top-tier entities demonstrate sustainable cash flow generation and elite competitive moats.
Profit generated per dollar of shareholder equity
Efficiency of asset utilization
Pricing power and cost efficiency
Core business profitability
Bottom-line profitability
The Quality factor evaluates the persistence and magnitude of realized cash flows. Companies with scores >70 exhibit superior pricing power and structural financial resilience through diverse economic regimes.
Our uncertainty rating tracks the predictability of future cash flows and potential for permanent capital loss. Moderate visibility with standard industry cyclicality.
Our model assigns HELIX ENERGY SOLUTIONS GROUP INC a Hold rating, with a composite score of 54.2/100 and 3 out of 5 stars. Ranked #1371 of 7,333 stocks, HLX presents a mixed quantitative picture — neither compelling enough to initiate new positions nor weak enough to warrant selling. Investors already holding may consider maintaining their position while monitoring for changes in the factor profile.
With a quality score of 49/100, HLX shows adequate but unremarkable business quality. The company reports a return on equity of 3.3% (sector avg: 4.0%), gross margins of 12.9% (sector avg: 43.2%), net margins of 3.7% (sector avg: 6.2%). This suggests the company generates acceptable returns but may lack the competitive positioning or operational efficiency to stand out from peers.
HLX carries a solid value score of 76/100, pointing to an attractively priced stock relative to peers. Key valuation metrics include a P/E ratio of 25.25x, an EV/EBITDA of 8.41x, a P/B ratio of 0.83x. This score suggests reasonable compensation for the risks involved, with potential upside if the market recognizes the stock's underlying worth.
With an investment score of 43/100, HLX exhibits moderate growth-oriented spending. Key growth metrics include revenue growth of 3.3% vs. a sector average of 2.6% and a return on assets of 2.0% (sector: 3.9%). The company appears to be balancing growth investments with capital returns, though the pace of investment may not be enough to accelerate top-line growth meaningfully.
HLX is currently showing below-average momentum at 42/100, which may indicate weakening institutional interest or negative sentiment shifts. Revenue growth stands at 3.3% year-over-year, while a beta of 1.36 reflects its sensitivity to broader market moves. Investors should note that declining momentum can precede further price weakness, though contrarian opportunities sometimes emerge at these levels.
With a stability score of 52/100, HLX exhibits average financial resilience. Key stability metrics include a beta of 1.36 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 20.00x (sector avg: 0.3x). While the balance sheet is not a major concern, the stock is subject to typical market volatility and may experience sharper drawdowns during risk-off episodes.
The short interest score of 47/100 for HLX suggests somewhat elevated bearish positioning by institutional traders. Specific risk factors include above-average market sensitivity (beta: 1.36), elevated leverage (D/E: 20.00x), small-cap liquidity risk. With a $964M market cap (small-cap), HELIX ENERGY SOLUTIONS GROUP INC may experience above-average volatility. Investors should consider whether the short thesis has merit or if it creates a potential short-squeeze opportunity.
HELIX ENERGY SOLUTIONS GROUP INC is a small-cap company in the Mining sector, ranked #0 of 50 in its sector (100th percentile) and #1371 of 7,333 overall (81st percentile). Key comparisons include ROE of 3.3% trailing the 4.0% sector median and operating margins of 6.9% below the 12.2% sector average. This top-quartile standing reflects exceptional competitive strength relative to Mining peers.
While HLX currently exhibits a HOLD profile, superior opportunities exist within the MINING sector. Our model identifies several "Strong Buy" candidates with higher quality scores and more attractive valuations among direct industry competitors.
View Top Mining Alpha →Quant Factor Profile
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Momentum (42) is the limiting factor — improvement here would lift the composite score most.
EV/EBITDA 61% ABOVE SECTOR MEDIAN
ROE 16% BELOW SECTOR MEDIAN
Gross Margin 70% BELOW SECTOR MEDIAN
AUDIT DATA AS OF SEP 30, 2025 (Q2 FY2025)
We rate HELIX ENERGY SOLUTIONS GROUP INC (HLX) as a Hold with a composite score of 54.2/100 at a current price of $10.76. The stock presents a mixed quantitative picture — neither compelling enough to warrant new accumulation nor weak enough to justify selling for existing holders. Our factors are split, and the overall profile suggests patience is warranted.
The rating is primarily driven by strength in value (76th percentile) and stability (52th percentile), which together account for the majority of the composite score. All factors score above the 40th percentile, indicating no material weakness in the quantitative profile. We assign a No Moat rating (27/100), Medium uncertainty, and Standard capital allocation.
Key items to watch: quarterly earnings execution and sector-level competitive dynamics. Any material change in these dynamics could warrant a reassessment of our rating. The moat trend is stable, which suggests the competitive landscape is stable for now.
HELIX ENERGY SOLUTIONS GROUP INC holds a top-quartile position (#0 of 50) within the Mining sector, based on our composite quantitative scoring across quality, value, momentum, and stability factors. The composite score of 54.2/100 places it at rank #1371 in our full 7,333-stock universe. At $964M in market capitalization, HELIX ENERGY SOLUTIONS GROUP INC is a small-cap player in the Mining space, which limits certain scale advantages but may allow for more agile strategic execution.
Revenue is growing at 3%, though momentum at the 42th percentile suggests the market has not yet fully recognized this trajectory. This potential disconnect between fundamental improvement and market recognition could represent an opportunity for patient investors if the growth trend persists.
The margin cascade tells an important story: gross margins of 13% (-30.3pp vs sector) narrow to operating margins of 7% (-5.3pp vs sector) and net margins of 3.7%, yielding a gross-to-net conversion rate of 29%. This conversion rate is typical for the sector, suggesting a standard cost structure without notable efficiency advantages or disadvantages.
At a current price of $10.76, HELIX ENERGY SOLUTIONS GROUP INC appears undervalued relative to its fundamentals. Our value factor score of 76/100 reflects a composite assessment across multiple valuation metrics including price-to-earnings, price-to-book, EV/EBITDA, and price-to-sales ratios relative to both sector peers and the broader market. The stock screens as attractively priced on a majority of these measures, suggesting the market may be underappreciating the underlying fundamentals.
The stock currently trades at a P/E of 25.3x (a 84% premium to the sector median of 13.7x), EV/EBITDA of 8.4x (at a premium), P/B of 0.8x, P/S of 1.0x. The above-sector P/E multiple suggests the market is pricing in superior growth or quality, which our analysis finds only partially justified by current fundamentals.
A value factor score of 76/100 suggests the market is underpricing these fundamentals, creating a potential margin of safety for new investors.
A conservative balance sheet (20% D/E) provides financial flexibility for acquisitions, buybacks, or weathering economic downturns without dilution.
Even high-quality stocks face risks from valuation compression, competitive disruption, or macro shocks that are difficult to quantify in advance.
We assign a Medium uncertainty rating to HELIX ENERGY SOLUTIONS GROUP INC. The stock presents a balanced risk profile: elevated market sensitivity (beta of 1.36). While not risk-free, the core business fundamentals are adequate to withstand moderate economic stress, and the range of potential outcomes around our fair value estimate is manageable.
Specific risk factors that inform our assessment include: elevated market sensitivity (beta of 1.36). Each of these factors independently widens the distribution of potential outcomes, and in combination they create a risk profile that demands careful position sizing. The stability factor at the 52th percentile and quality factor at the 49th percentile provide a quantitative summary of the overall risk landscape.
Key risk mitigants include: conservative leverage (20% D/E) limits balance sheet risk. These factors partially offset the identified risks and provide downside protection in adverse scenarios. On balance, the risk-reward profile is favorable for long-term investors.
We rate HELIX ENERGY SOLUTIONS GROUP INC's capital allocation as Standard. Management has shown adequate — though not exceptional — stewardship of shareholder capital. Returns on equity stand at 3.3%, and the balance sheet is managed within acceptable parameters (D/E: 20%). Exemplary allocators typically sustain ROE above 20% and D/E below 50%; HELIX ENERGY SOLUTIONS GROUP INC falls short on at least one dimension.
There is room for improvement in optimizing the capital structure or enhancing shareholder returns. Absent a dividend, the overall capital allocation framework would benefit from either higher reinvestment returns, improved balance sheet efficiency, or increased shareholder distributions. We will monitor for signs of strategic improvement that could warrant an upgrade.
In summary, HELIX ENERGY SOLUTIONS GROUP INC receives a Hold rating with a composite score of 54.2/100 (rank #1371 of 7,333). Our quantitative framework assigns a No Moat (27/100, trend: stable), Medium uncertainty, and Standard capital allocation. The average factor score across quality, value, momentum, stability, and investment is 52/100.
Our analysis supports a neutral stance on HELIX ENERGY SOLUTIONS GROUP INC. While the quantitative profile is not weak enough to warrant selling, it lacks the multi-factor strength required for a buy recommendation. Existing holders should maintain positions and monitor for catalysts — either fundamental improvement or valuation compression — that would shift the risk-reward balance.
Analysis derived from Blank Capital Research quantitative terminal. For informational purposes only. No trade solicitation. Past performance not indicative of future results. Consult a qualified advisor.
We do not assign HELIX ENERGY SOLUTIONS GROUP INC a meaningful economic moat, scoring 27/100 on our composite assessment. Current fundamentals do not demonstrate the kind of durable competitive advantages — such as superior returns on invested capital, margin superiority, or reinvestment efficiency — that would protect the company from competitive erosion over the long term. The highest-scoring pillar, growth durability, reached only 12.9/20.
The strongest moat sources are growth durability (12.9/20) and financial resilience (9.1/20). Rev growth 3%, 10yr history. Interest coverage N/A, Net debt/EBITDA -0.3x. These pillars form the core of HELIX ENERGY SOLUTIONS GROUP INC's competitive identity and are the primary drivers of excess returns in our framework.
Areas of relative weakness include reinvestment efficiency (0/20) and economic value creation (2.4/20). Capital turnover N/A. Improvement in these areas could meaningfully widen the moat over time, while deterioration would be an early warning of competitive erosion.
Our moat trend assessment is Stable. Multi-year ROIC and operating margin trajectories show neither meaningful improvement nor deterioration, suggesting the competitive position is steady. We expect HELIX ENERGY SOLUTIONS GROUP INC's moat profile to remain largely unchanged absent a material shift in return on capital or industry dynamics.
Key profit drivers are not clearly identifiable from current fundamentals. This may reflect a company in transition, a cyclical downturn, or structural challenges in the business model. We assign a quality factor of 49/100 which further underscores our concern regarding earnings sustainability.
The margin profile shows gross margins of 13%, operating margins of 7%, net margins of 3.7%. Return metrics include ROE of 3.3% and ROA of 2.0%. Relative to the Mining sector, gross margins are 30.3 percentage points below the sector median of 43%, and ROE of 3.3% compares to a sector median of 4.0%.
The balance sheet reflects a conservatively managed balance sheet with D/E of 20%, revenue growth of 3%. The sector median D/E is 0%, putting HELIX ENERGY SOLUTIONS GROUP INC at higher leverage than the typical peer. Overall balance sheet health is adequate for the current business environment.
Above 50MA
37.18%
Net New Highs
+51081
Shares of Helix Energy Solutions Group, Inc. (NYSE: HLX) fell sharply during Tuesday’s session following weak earnings. Helix Energy posted adjusted earnings of 6 cents per share, missing market estimates of 10 cents per share. The company’s quarterly sales came in at $335.16 million versus expectations of $315.60 million. Helix Energy Solutions shares dipped 11% to $9.13 on Tuesday. Here are some other stocks moving in today's mid-day session. Gainers Janux Therapeutics, Inc. (NASDAQ: JANX) shares jumped 145% to $37.00 after the company announced updated clinical data for both of its clinical programs. Presto Automation Inc. (NASDAQ: PRST) surged 72% to $0.5657. Viking Therapeutics, Inc. (NASDAQ: VKTX) shares jumped 71.2% to $65.88 after the company announced the Phase 2 VENTURE trial successfully achieved its primary endpoint and all secondary endpoints. CXApp Inc. (NASDAQ: CXAI) gained 67% to $2.58. WeTrade Group, Inc. (NASDAQ: WETG) gained 50% to $3.36. Hims & Hers Health, Inc. (NYSE: HIMS) climbed 33.6% to $13.70 after the company reported better-than-expected fourth-quarter financial results and issued strong guidance. Biora Therapeutics, Inc. (NASDAQ: BIOR) surged 32.2% to $1.39. AdaptHealth Corp. (NASDAQ: AHCO) jumped 29.6% to $9.89 following fourth-quarter results. Codexis, Inc. (NASDAQ: CDXS) rose 29% to $4.1283. Codexis entered into exclusive licensing agreement with Roche for double-stranded DNA Ligase. Beam Therapeutics Inc. (NASDAQ: BEAM) gained 26.8% to $45.43 after the company reported fourth-quarter financial results. BigBear.ai Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: BBAI) rose 26% to $3.14. Cantor Fitzgerald analyst Yi Fu Lee maintained BigBear.ai with an Overweight and maintained $3 price target. 5E Advanced Materials, Inc. (NASDAQ: FEAM) gained 24.3% to $1.84. Earlyworks Co., Ltd (NASDAQ: ELWS) gained 24.2% to $0.7321. Earlyworks was selected as a co-creation partner for MetaMe® a meta-communication service utilizing cutting-edge technology from NTT DOCOMO, one of Japan's largest cell phone operators. The Singing Machine Company, Inc. (NASDAQ: MICS) rose 24.1% to $0.9012. SMX ...
Brent Arriaga: Good morning, everyone, and thank you for joining us today on our conference call where we will be reviewing our fourth quarter and full year 2025 earnings release. Participating on this call for Helix Energy Solutions Group, Inc. today are Owen Kratz, our CEO; Scott Sparks, our COO; Erik Staffeldt, our CFO; Kenneth Neikirk, our General Counsel; Daniel Stuart, our Vice President, Commercial; and myself. Kenneth Neikirk: During this conference call, we anticipate making certain projections and forward-looking statements based on our current expectations and assumptions as of today.
Here at Zacks, our focus is on the proven Zacks Rank system, which emphasizes earnings estimates and estimate revisions to find great stocks. Nevertheless, we are always paying attention to the latest value, growth, and momentum trends to underscore strong picks.