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Helmerich & Payne Fiscal Fourth Quarter 2021 Results

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   |    Wednesday,November 17,2021

Helmerich & Payne, Inc. reported its fiscal fourth quarter and full year 2021 results.

Highlights:

• H&P's North America Solutions segment exited the fourth quarter of fiscal year 2021 with 127 active rigs, up 5% during the quarter, and expects its first quarter of fiscal year 2022 North America Solutions rig count to exit between 152-157, up over 20%

• Quarterly North America Solutions operating gross margins⁽¹⁾ decreased $6 million to $69 million sequentially, as revenues increased by $12 million to $293 million and expenses increased by $18 million to $224 million

• Reported a fiscal fourth quarter net loss of $(0.74) per diluted share; including select items⁽²⁾ of $(0.12) per diluted share

• During the quarter, the Company sold eight FlexRig® land rigs to ADNOC Drilling for $86.5 million and subsequently made a $100 million cornerstone investment into ADNOC Drilling's initial public offering

• H&P announced an upsized debt offering of $550 million of 2.90% senior notes due 2031 issued at our existing investment-grade⁽³⁾ credit rating with proceeds used to subsequently redeem the previous outstanding 2025 notes

• On September 1, 2021, the Board of Directors of the Company declared a quarterly cash dividend of $0.25 per share, payable on December 1, 2021 to stockholders of record at the close of business on November 23, 2021

The company reported a net loss of $79 million, or $(0.74) per diluted share, from operating revenues of $344 million for the quarter ended September 30, 2021, compared to a net loss of $56 million, or $(0.52) per diluted share, on revenues of $332 million for the quarter ended June 30, 2021. The net losses per diluted share for the fourth and third quarters of fiscal year 2021 include $(0.12) and $0.05 of after-tax losses and gains, respectively, comprised of select items⁽²⁾. For the fourth quarter of fiscal year 2021, select items⁽²⁾ were comprised of:

• $0.03 of after-tax gains pertaining to the sale of equipment
• $(0.15) of after-tax losses pertaining to a non-cash impairment for the fair market adjustments to equipment held for sale, closing costs associated with the ADNOC Drilling transactions, restructuring charges, a non-cash fair market adjustment to our equity investment and an inventory write-down

Net cash provided by operating activities was $47 million for the fourth quarter of fiscal year 2021 compared to $31 million for the third quarter of fiscal year 2021.

For fiscal year 2021, the Company reported a net loss of $326 million, or $(3.04) per diluted share, from operating revenues of $1.2 billion. The net loss per diluted share includes $(0.44) of after-tax losses comprised of select items⁽²⁾. Net cash provided by operating activities was $136 million in fiscal year 2021 compared to $539 million in fiscal year 2020.

President and CEO John Lindsay commented, "As we head towards 2022 we expect that the demand for H&P's drilling solutions will continue to improve, and capital discipline, along with the help of strong commodity prices, will strengthen the industry. I am confident we are well-positioned to deliver value in this environment.

"As contemplated, rig activity increases were more measured during our fiscal fourth quarter as we realized more rig churn among customers. Regardless, we are pleased with the 5% incremental rig count increase we experienced during the quarter and are optimistic as we look ahead to the fourth calendar quarter, where we expect to see our rig count increase sequentially at a higher pace as customers begin to reset their annual capital budgets. We are already experiencing increased rig activity with 141 rigs working in North America today. That said, we believe the market will remain disciplined, but customers' budgets will be set based on the higher commodity price environment. We expect utilization of readily available rigs to remain very high and our projected increase in rig demand will be more than we can accommodate with our current active fleet, meaning we will have to reactivate more long-idled rigs to satisfy demand.

"The tightness in the supply of readily available rigs and the sizeable costs associated with rig reactivations have begun to move contract pricing upward in the market. This will likely become even more pronounced in the coming months and we expect pricing to continue to improve as rig demand picks up heading into 2022. It is my belief H&P's new commercial models and digital technology solutions will also continue to drive economic returns higher, not only for our customers, but also for ourselves.

"International activity tends to lag the U.S.; however, we expect to see activity improve in these markets in the coming quarters as well. For example, we recently signed agreements with YPF to put four rigs to work under term contracts in Argentina commencing at different dates in fiscal 2022. Additionally, our recent transactions to sell eight rigs to the Middle East's largest⁽⁴⁾ land driller, ADNOC Drilling, and the subsequent $100 million cornerstone investment in the company's recent initial public offering, provides H&P with a unique opportunity going forward. This is just the beginning of what we look forward to being a fruitful alliance with ADNOC Drilling and represents an initial step in our international expansion plans."

Senior Vice President and CFO Mark Smith also commented, "We expect the Company's strong financial position will be bolstered by improving rig activity levels and pricing, which will give us flexibility to take advantage of additional opportunities. Looking out into fiscal 2022, we have set our initial capex budget to range between $250 and $270 million, representing a substantial sequential increase that tracks with expected activity levels.

"Just prior to our fiscal year end, the Company closed on an upsized $550 million senior notes offering. The notes' coupon of 2.90% represents a record low for a BBB⁽³⁾ rated 10-year or longer tenor from an oilfield service company. Due to the Company's already strong balance sheet, we were able to take advantage of the historically low interest rate environment, securing low cost, long-term capital and extend our refinancing horizon, which provides us greater financial agility and reduced risk."

John Lindsay concluded, “Those who have worked in this industry know it is resilient, and that it has delivered reliable, affordable energy which has been critical to global progress and prosperity. The industry has made significant progress in reducing the environmental impact of its operational emissions and will continue to do so in the future. At H&P, we are optimistic about the future, and we believe our rigs, digital technology, solid financial position, and the commitment of our people position us to lead the recovery by delivering value-added solutions and services to our customers and partners."

Segment Results for Fiscal 4Q21

North America Solutions:

This segment had an operating loss of $60.7 million compared to an operating loss of $43.7 million during the previous quarter. The increase in the operating loss was primarily due to impairments related to fair market adjustments for equipment held for sale. Absent the select items⁽²⁾ for the quarters, this segment's operating loss declined by $4.1 million on a sequential basis.

Operating gross margins⁽¹⁾ decreased by $5.8 million to $69.1 million. Throughout this fiscal year, we prudently managed our expenses and inventory levels, utilizing previously expensed consumable inventory harvested during stacking activities in 2020 rather than fully costed inventory or purchasing new inventory. However, rig activity levels have increased and remain elevated, while previously expensed inventory has been exhausted, causing the need to issue average cost inventory as well as begin purchasing additional inventory to replenish stock levels. This occurrence, along with costs associated with reactivating rigs, adversely impacted operating results during the quarter. Rig reactivation costs were $6.6 million in the fourth fiscal quarter compared to $5.9 million in the third fiscal quarter.

This segment had an operating loss of $5.7 million compared to an operating loss of $3.5 million during the previous quarter due to higher SG&A expenses associated with the ADNOC Drilling transactions. Operating gross margins⁽¹⁾ improved slightly to a negative $0.4 million from a negative $1.4 million in the previous quarter. Current quarter results included a $0.7 million foreign currency loss primarily related to our South American operations compared to a $0.6 million foreign currency loss in the third quarter of fiscal year 2021.

This segment had operating income of $4.5 million compared to operating income of $5.7 million during the previous quarter. Operating gross margins⁽¹⁾ for the quarter were $7.7 million compared to $9.2 million in the prior quarter.

Operational Outlook for Q1 of Fiscal Year 2022

North America Solutions:

• We expect North America Solutions operating gross margins⁽¹⁾ to be between $75-$85 million, which includes approximately $15 million in estimated reactivation costs
• We expect to exit the quarter at between 152-157 contracted rigs

• We expect International Solutions operating gross margins⁽¹⁾ to be between $(2)-$0 million, exclusive of any foreign exchange gains or losses

• We expect Offshore Gulf of Mexico operating gross margins⁽¹⁾ to be between $6-$8 million

Other Estimates for Fiscal Year 2022

• Gross capital expenditures are expected to be approximately $250 to $270 million; approximately 50% expected for maintenance, including tubular purchases, roughly 35% expected for skidding to walking conversions and approximately 15% for corporate and information technology. Ongoing asset sales include reimbursements for lost and damaged tubulars and sales of other used drilling equipment that offset a portion of the gross capital expenditures and are expected to total approximately $40 million in fiscal year 2022.
• Depreciation for fiscal year 2022 is expected to be approximately $405 million
• Research and development expenses for fiscal year 2022 are expected to be roughly $25 million
• General and administrative expenses for fiscal year 2022 are expected to be approximately $170 million of which roughly $45-$48 million is expected for the first fiscal quarter

Select Items Included in Net Income per Diluted Share

Fourth quarter of fiscal year 2021 net loss of $(0.74) per diluted share included $(0.12) in after-tax losses comprised of the following:

• $0.03 of after-tax gains related to the sale of equipment
• $(0.01) of non-cash after-tax losses related to fair market value adjustments to equity investments
• $(0.01) of non-cash after-tax losses related to an inventory write-down
• $(0.01) of after-tax losses related to restructuring charges
• $(0.02) of after-tax losses related to closing costs associated with the ADNOC Drilling transactions
• $(0.10) of after-tax losses related to the non-cash impairment for fair market value adjustments to equipment that is held for sale

Third quarter of fiscal year 2021 net loss of $(0.52) per diluted share included $0.05 in after-tax gains comprised of the following:

• $0.01 of non-cash after-tax gains from discontinued operations related to adjustments resulting from currency fluctuations
• $0.02 of non-cash after-tax gains related to fair market value adjustments to equity investments
• $0.05 of income tax adjustments related to certain discrete tax items
• $(0.01) of after-tax losses related to the non-cash impairment for fair market value adjustments to decommissioned rigs that are held for sale
• $(0.01) of after-tax losses related to restructuring charges
• $(0.01) of after-tax losses related to the change in the fair values of certain contingent liabilities

Fiscal year 2021 net loss of $(3.04) per diluted share included $(0.44) in after-tax losses comprised of the following:

• $0.05 of income tax adjustments related to certain discrete tax items
• $0.05 of non-cash after-tax gains related to fair market value adjustments to equity investments
• $0.10 of non-cash after-tax gains from discontinued operations related to adjustments resulting from currency fluctuations
• $0.10 of after-tax gains pertaining to the sale of an offshore platform rig and equipment
• $(0.01) of non-cash after-tax losses related to an inventory write-down
• $(0.01) of after-tax losses related to the change in the fair values of certain contingent liabilities
• $(0.02) of after-tax losses related to closing costs associated with the ADNOC Drilling transactions
• $(0.03) of after-tax losses related to restructuring charges
• $(0.17) of after-tax losses pertaining to the sale of excess drilling equipment and spares
• $(0.50) of after-tax losses related to non-cash impairment for fair market value adjustments to decommissioned rigs and equipment that are held for sale