Full-Time
Helicopter transport and SAR services.
No salary listed
Lake Charles, LA, USA
In Person
Must meet all requirements to travel internationally.
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Bristow Group provides vertical flight solutions, operating a large fleet of helicopters and fixed-wing aircraft to support offshore energy work worldwide. Its main services include transporting personnel to and from offshore facilities and providing search and rescue, along with fixed-wing transport and UAV services. Revenue comes from long-term contracts with oil and gas companies and government entities, and the business includes a significant government services segment. The goal is to deliver reliable, mission-critical aviation services across offshore exploration and production while expanding government and regional capabilities through stable contracts and broad offerings.
Company Size
1,001-5,000
Company Stage
IPO
Headquarters
Houston, Texas
Founded
1948
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Bristow Group reported mixed second-quarter results, with revenue of $411.8 million beating analyst estimates of $408 million, but GAAP earnings per share of $0.70 missing expectations of $0.85. The helicopter services company cited supply chain disruptions and cost pressures in its Government Services segment as key challenges. CEO Chris Bradshaw pointed to elevated transition costs and delays in aircraft deliveries and modifications that hurt profitability. CFO Jennifer Whalen noted higher operating expenses and delayed fuel cost recovery weighed on margins. The company's adjusted EBITDA of $79.81 million exceeded analyst estimates of $72.1 million. Full-year EBITDA guidance remained at $310 million at the midpoint, in line with expectations. Operating margin declined to 8.5% from 9.6% in the prior-year quarter. The market reacted negatively to the results.
Bristow Group reported second-quarter revenue of $411.8 million, beating analyst estimates of $408 million and marking 9.4% year-on-year growth. The helicopter services provider issued full-year revenue guidance of $1.68 billion at the midpoint, 2.6% above analyst expectations. However, the company's GAAP profit of $0.70 per share fell 17.6% short of consensus estimates of $0.85. Adjusted EBITDA reached $79.81 million, exceeding analyst forecasts of $72.1 million by 10.7%. Bristow Group recently completed its acquisition of Berry Aviation, which adds special mission capabilities and strengthens relationships with US defence and government customers. The company operates helicopters that transport workers to offshore oil and gas platforms and conduct search and rescue operations.
Bristow Group reported second quarter 2026 net income of $21.2 million, or $0.70 per diluted share, on total revenues of $411.8 million. This compared to net income of $13.1 million, or $0.44 per diluted share, in the first quarter on revenues of $388.7 million. Adjusted EBITDA for the quarter was $79.8 million, up from $59.3 million in the preceding quarter. The company affirmed its 2026 adjusted EBITDA guidance range of $295-325 million. On 13 July 2026, Bristow completed its acquisition of Berry Aviation for $105 million in an all-cash transaction. The acquisition expands Bristow's government services capabilities, adding special missions and intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance operations. Bristow declared a dividend of $0.125 per share, payable on 28 August 2026.
Bristow Group Q2 2026: revenue climbs, acquires Berry Aviation. A solid quarter for Bristow Group amidst acquisition. Sometimes, a company's earnings report lands with a thud; other times, it hits like an exhilarating energy shot. This time around, Bristow Group served Investors Hangout, LLC an intriguing cocktail of robust numbers and strategic moves. Q2 2026 saw the company reaching new heights, not solely due to increased revenues but thanks to the completion of their acquisition of Berry Aviation, which now broadens their Government Services portfolio. Financial highlights: A closer look. The details you shouldn't gloss over? Bristow's revenue rose to $411.8 million this quarter - from $388.7 million the previous quarter. Net income saw a similar upward trajectory, reaching $21.2 million or $0.70 per diluted share compared to $13.1 million or $0.44 per diluted share in Q1. Adjusted EBITDA didn't shy away either, climbing to $79.8 million from $59.3 million. "The conviction in this outlook is a testament to the complementary nature of Bristow's business segments," said Chris Bradshaw, President and CEO. While the financials are music to investors' ears, what's making me sit up is how the company has proven its ability to navigate through ongoing macroeconomic uncertainties, including supply chain hiccups and burgeoning fuel costs. Government and offshore Services: A balanced act. Government Services: riding high on new ventures. Revenues from Government Services reached $112.2 million, up from $107.9 million. Nevertheless, operating income took a hit, dipping to a $2.1 million loss from a previous gain. This change is due to escalating operating expenses, including higher personnel and transition costs as new bases in the UK came online. It may not be pretty, but it's part of the growth pains. Bristow's strategy to counterbalance these costs hinges on the newly acquired Berry Aviation. With their special missions and ISR operations, Berry Aviation provides Bristow a sturdy platform for growth in Government Services. A $105 million all-cash acquisition of Berry Aviation is no nickel-and-dime affair; it's a calculated wager on a burgeoning sector. Offshore Energy Services: steady but not flashy. Offshore Energy Services raked in $261.6 million - nudging past the prior quarter's $254.3 million. Unlike Government Services, they kept more of those dollars as operating income shot to $46 million from $35.7 million. Thanks to a fortuitous mix of higher revenues, reduced operating expenses, and lower G&A costs, margins have expanded to 18%, a four-point jump from the previous quarter. Other segments: A surprise package. One of the pleasant surprises in this quarter's results was the $11.4 million bump in revenues for Other Services, mainly due to seasonal spikes and elevated fuel prices. Operating income clocked $2.9 million from a $1.3 million loss last time - it's as if someone finally found the clutch and shifted gears. Outlook and strategic moves. The company confirmed its 2026 Adjusted EBITDA outlook between $295 to $325 million, reinforcing investor faith despite an unpredictable backdrop of economic challenges. You know what they say - better the devil you know, and Bristow seems comfortably familiar with these devils. Looking forward, they're also painting a promising picture with updated segment guidance and a maintained dividend at $0.125 per share. For a company still riding the turbulence of global aviation disruption, this shows a solid backbone and a keen sense of navigating financial skies. Final thoughts. Bristow Group isn't just another outfit trying to scrape by in a frenetic market; they are strategists, maneuvering their resources and acquisitions with precision. Between their fortified offshore activity and expanded governmental service capabilities, they're not shy about reaching for bigger skies. As Investors Hangout, LLC transition to future quarters, keep your eyes peeled on their ability to digest this latest acquisition and stubbornly weather industry storms. All things considered, Bristow feels like a stock worth hovering over.
HI Uplift: Bristow predicts megatrends to spark new govt contracts. by Mike Stones 20 July 2026 Bristow Group forecasts increased defence expenditure - one of the three megatrends it says are shaping the helicopter industry - will lead to more government contracts. The flight path to potential profit was set out by Jennifer Whalen, senior vice president and chief financial officer, Bristow Group at our Helicopter Investor conference last month. The trend is likely to lead to the greater outsourcing of government services such as search and rescue (SAR), according to the operator. The two other trends Bristow thinks will help grow its business are the prioritisation of energy security and the electrification of transportation. The operator has already won major SAR contracts from the UK government and the Republic of Ireland. It's a trend that will be repeated elsewhere in Europe as countries look to balance their budgets in the face of more investment in military hardware, Bristow hopes. "European countries have made some pretty big commitments to NATO, which has spurred a lot of activity [aimed at cutting costs]," Whalen told our conference. "We have had inbounds [contacts] from several different countries around being able to commercialise their search and rescue services. They've seen what's happened in the UK and Ireland and other countries. It's an easier way to offload the need for capital expenditures." Fleet of 216 aircraft The operator certainly has the airborne assets to service more government contracts and support for the offshore oil and gas industry. Bristow operates a fleet of 216 aircraft, of which about 200 are helicopters. "We've got a fleet of planes for a small airline that we have in Australia that makes up the difference. The most relevant aircraft here are the S-92, the AW189 and AW139," says Whalen. In March, the operator also took delivery of two Airbus H160 medium helicopters, leased from Milestone, for deployment in the Nigerian oil and gas industry. A further three H160s will follow. Bristow's search for government contracts stems from about 2020 when it merged with the Era Group. In a bid to diversify its revenue streams away from supporting the oil and gas industry, the operator spent a few years bidding on new contracts that were already in the civilian commercial market. "We did win pretty much every major government SAR contract that's come up in the past few years," said Whalen. Revealing the scale of the investment cycle, Whalen added: "We spent $300m in the past couple of years putting helicopters into place for these. But they are 10-year contracts that have very nice cash flows, nice returns." It was those steady revenues that the chief financial officer credits with enabling Bristow to pay its first dividend since combining with the Era Group. "It was really based on these cash flows. If we were [solely] an oil and gas company, we wouldn't have been talking about issuing a dividend, but because we have these very stable cash flows, we're able to do that." 'Increase defence spending' Further evidence of the financial potential of government services comes from Christopher Bradshaw, president, CEO and director of Bristow. "We're seeing a lot of conversations - particularly out of Europe right now - as those countries have committed to increase their defence spending, usually tied to percentages of GDP," he said in May. "They're looking for ways to balance their overall budgets. One of the ways they could do that, as they're spending more money on tanks and missiles, is potentially outsourcing some of the civilian services like the coast guards. So, we're having conversations with more countries, again, particularly in Europe about potentially outsourcing their civilian services, which could be a source of growth for our core search and rescue business." Government contracts are not confined to Europe. A rise in US defence spending has also created opportunities in aviation - rotary wing as well as fixed wing and drones - for military contracts flying missions such as aerial surveillance. "The US has a huge market in outsourced aviation services. Many companies, particularly smaller aviation companies, do ISAR- [International Search and Rescue] type work, intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance work and MRO [maintenance, repair and overhaul] work." But the US Coast Guard is unlikely to relinquish its SAR responsibilities, noted Whalen. 'Search and rescue teams' Returning to MRO services, Bristow expects fresh opportunities in Europe. "Because of the large commitments [European governments] have had to make to NATO, they're likely going to need public-private partnerships with companies," the CFO explained. "That could include doing MRO, helping with asset acquisition, training pilots. Bristow has done some pilot training for some different governments in Europe over the past several years. Those are capital-light - we can use the aircraft that we already have and that may apply with our search and rescue teams." Some of Bristow's competitors already offer MRO services to European governments, she noted. "We think that there will likely be more of that over the next few years as these governments are having to write checks and trying to figure out how to do that and not having the capability to do that internally." On ISAR missions, Bristow already does some ISAR work over the English Channel for the UK government related to monitoring immigration. "I think there's going to be more and more demand for those types of services." Energy security is another megatrend that Bristow believes will boost its business. Conflict in the Middle East is leading to "a big focus on energy security", both in that region and around the world, said Whalen. "I think there will be, for the larger oil companies, probably some additional investment in some of these other areas based on what's happening... So we have some tailwinds from that. Not only us, but our competitors as well. Increased defence spending should rise all boats." 'Shock absorber' Bristow's offshore energy business still accounts for about two-thirds of its revenue and the company is still keen to diversify by developing other sources of revenue. Whalen believes diversified revenues will act as a "shock absorber" when the next (inevitable) downturn occurs in the volatile oil and gas industry. It will help Bristow and others avoid "the chaos" that happened 12-or so years ago. Bristow also identifies the electrification of transportation as a key trend after investing in the sector since 2017. The operator has partnered with eVTOL developers such as Vertical Aerospace, Eve Air Mobility, Electra, BETA Technologies and Elroy Air. (Bristow has agreed to purchase up to 100 VX4 aircraft from Vertical - 50 firm pre-orders plus options for 50 more). "I think when you talk about defence/government/military, that's probably going to be adopted earlier than it will in the commercial market, but it may be operated by commercial companies," said Whalen. So, while the peace dividend - or the economic benefit a country gets when a conflict ends - may be closing for governments worldwide, those clouds could bring a golden lining for operators like Bristow in the form of new government contracts. Helicopter Investor News HI Uplift Dashboard: Helicopters for sale Multi engines Total for sale/lease: 237 - one more than last week Percentage for sale/lease: 2.28% Absorption rate: 3.19 months Total fleet: 10,402 - 17 less than last week. Single engine Total for sale/lease: 415 - five more than last week Percentage for sale/lease: 3.03% Absorption rate: 3.92 months Total fleet: 13,691 - 13 less than last week.