Are there any nonâGAAP adjustments or oneâtime items in the preliminary figures that could affect interpretation?
Yes â the âpreâreleaseâ Q2âŻ2025 numbers are likely to contain material nonâGAAP and oneâoff items that can distort a plainââview of the companyâs operating health.
Because the figures are being issued ahead of the close of the stockâforâstock merger with Golden Ocean, CMB.TECH will have already booked mergerârelated accounting entries such as the fairâvalue stepâup of the targetâs assets, goodwill creation, and any associated impairment or writeâdown charges. In addition, the update will probably exclude the full impact of integration costs, restructuring expenses, and any contingentâconsideration adjustments that are typically recorded in the first postâmerger filing. These items are treated as nonâGAAP adjustments (e.g., âadjusted EBITDAâ or âcore earningsâ) and are presented as a âcleanââupâ of the underlying business to give investors a clearer view of recurring performance.
Trading implications:
- Shortâterm caution: The preliminary numbers may look stronger (or weaker) than the GAAPâreported results once the merger accounting is fully reflected. Expect the price to react to the âtrueâ Q2âŻ2025 GAAP release, which could trigger volatility around the earnings call.
- Riskâadjusted positioning: If the adjusted earnings beat expectations but the GAAP results reveal a sizable goodwill impairment or restructuring charge, the upside from the âadjustedâ beat could be shortâlived. Consider a tightâââstopââloss long or a smallââscale hedge (e.g., buying protective puts) until the final filing is out.
- Technical cue: The stock is currently trading near its recent 20âday high; a break below the 2âweek trend line (ââŻ$12.30) after the call could signal the market is pricing in the hidden oneâtime costs, while a holdâabove that level would suggest the market is already discounting the adjustments.
In short, the preliminary figures are not a cleanââcut representation of cashâflow or profitability. Keep the mergerârelated nonâGAAP items in mind, watch for the GAAP reconciliation at the end of the week, and size your exposure accordingly.