Tidewater Inc., a leading provider of offshore service vessels to the energy industry, saw its stock plunge in after-hours trading on Wednesday following the release of its third-quarter earnings report. The company's shares fell by 6.08% in extended trading after missing Wall Street's expectations for both earnings and revenue.

For the third quarter, Tidewater reported earnings per share (EPS) of $0.87, significantly lower than the consensus analyst estimate of $1.09. The company's revenue for the quarter came in at $340.4 million, missing the expected $345.55 million. While Tidewater's revenue grew by 13.75% compared to the same period last year, the company's earnings fell short of expectations.

The disappointing earnings results likely fueled the after-hours sell-off in Tidewater's stock. Investors often react quickly to earnings surprises, especially negative ones, in after-hours or pre-market trading sessions. A company missing earnings estimates can be seen as a sign of slowing growth or operational challenges, prompting traders to adjust their positions accordingly.