Nabors Announces Third Quarter 2025 Results

HAMILTON, Bermuda, Oct. 28, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Nabors Industries Ltd. ("Nabors" or the "Company") (NYSE:NBR) today reported third quarter 2025 operating revenues of $818 million, compared to operating revenues of $833 million in the second quarter. Net income attributable to Nabors' shareholders for the quarter was $274 million, compared to a net loss of $31 million in the second quarter. This equates to earnings per diluted share of $16.85, compared to a loss per diluted share of $2.71 in the second quarter. The third quarter included a one-time, after-tax gain on the disposition of Quail Tools of $314 million, or $20.52 per diluted share. Third-quarter adjusted EBITDA was $236 million, compared to $248 million in the previous quarter.

3Q 2025 Highlights

• Nabors completed the sale of Quail Tools to Superior Energy Services ("Superior") for consideration totaling $625 million, inclusive of a working capital adjustment. The Company collected $375 million in cash at closing during the third quarter. Early in the fourth quarter, Superior repaid a $250 million seller financing note in full. Inclusive of this receipt, Nabors' reported net debt of $1,920 million at September 30, 2025 would have been $1,670 million. Nabors has already utilized a portion of the sale proceeds to fully repay the outstanding borrowings under its revolving credit facility and to redeem $150 million of its notes due in 2027. These actions have materially reduced Nabors gross debt and significantly strengthened the Company's leverage metrics.
• The Company successfully deployed the first-of-its-kind PACE-X Ultra™ rig for Caturus Energy in South Texas. This upgraded version of an existing PACE-X rig significantly enhances performance and extends operational capabilities. The rig supports Caturus Energy's commitment to safely and efficiently ramp production, particularly with long-lateral, high-pressure wells in the Eagle Ford and Austin Chalk formations. On its first two wells, the rig outperformed the well plans and its rate of penetration was faster than Nabors' average in South Texas.
• The SANAD drilling joint venture with Saudi Aramco deployed one newbuild rig in the Kingdom. The number of newbuild deployments now totals 13. One more rig is scheduled to commence operating in the fourth quarter. Four are scheduled for 2026.
• Nabors continued the integration of the remaining Parker Wellbore businesses acquired in March. The Adjusted EBITDA contribution from these businesses increased by more than 70% sequentially, with stronger drilling activity in the international and U.S. markets. This growth includes the realization of further cost synergies during the quarter, reinforcing progress toward the $40 million synergy target for 2025.

Anthony G. Petrello, Nabors Chairman, CEO and President, commented, "The sale of Quail Tools is a transformative event for Nabors. We have already used a portion of the proceeds to reduce our gross debt by approximately $330 million. The balance of the proceeds is targeted for additional debt reduction. Once that is completed, the expected decrease to our gross debt will exceed 20%, compared to the level as of June 30, 2025. With that, our annual interest expense should decline by approximately $45 million, translating into a dollar-for-dollar improvement in adjusted free cash flow.

"In addition to these financial benefits, the structure of the divestiture means we effectively sold equity to fund the Parker acquisition at approximately $130 per share, a very significant premium to the current stock price. And we are retaining businesses from the acquisition that we expect to generate adjusted EBITDA of $70 million in 2026. That's a material contribution to our consolidated total.

"Nabors' third quarter results, without the contribution from Quail Tools, improved over the second quarter. This performance demonstrated the strength of our International drilling segment. As planned, we deployed additional rigs in the Eastern Hemisphere markets, including SANAD's 13^th newbuild in Saudi Arabia. Daily drilling margins in the International business continued to improve, and are on the verge of exceeding the $18,000 mark.

"Results in our Drilling Solutions ("NDS") segment reflect the sale of Quail Tools in August. Excluding the contributions of Quail Tools in the second and third quarters, NDS's adjusted EBITDA increased sequentially. This is a significant achievement in the current Lower 48 market environment.

"In U.S. Drilling, our Offshore and Alaska operations continued to perform well. The adjusted EBITDA contribution from these two businesses exceeded our previous guidance."

Segment Results

International Drilling adjusted EBITDA totaled $127.6 million, compared to $117.7 million in the second quarter. Average rig count increased by more than three rigs, reflecting the recent startup of rigs in India, Kuwait and Saudi Arabia. Daily adjusted gross margin for the third quarter improved to $17,931, driven primarily by the high-margin additions and operational improvements in Saudi Arabia.

The U.S. Drilling segment reported third quarter adjusted EBITDA of $94.2 million, compared to $101.8 million in the previous quarter. Moderating industry demand drove lower rig count and daily margin in the Lower 48, leading to this sequential decline.

Drilling Solutions adjusted EBITDA was $60.7 million, compared to $76.5 million in the second quarter. The segment's third quarter results include the contribution from Quail Tools, through the sale to Superior on August 20. The second quarter results reflected a full quarter from Quail. EBITDA from Quail in the third quarter was $20.3 million compared to $37.0 million in the second quarter. Excluding Quail from both quarters' figures, Drilling Solutions adjusted EBITDA grew slightly.

Rig Technologies adjusted EBITDA was $3.8 million, compared to $5.2 million in the prior quarter. A slowdown in aftermarket revenue across markets contributed to the sequential decrease in adjusted EBITDA.

Adjusted Free Cash Flow

In the third quarter, consolidated adjusted free cash flow was $6 million. This compares to adjusted free cash flow of $41 million in the prior quarter. Several factors impacted the third quarter performance. Collections in Mexico were substantially below expectations. The sale of Quail Tools during the quarter resulted in adjusted free cash flow from that operation that was lower than estimated. Lower capital spending during the third quarter partially offset these results.

Miguel Rodriguez, Nabors CFO, stated, "Our overall results for the third quarter exceeded our expectations, after adjusting for the effect of selling Quail Tools during the quarter. The International drilling segment was primarily responsible for this outperformance, as recent rig deployments and operational improvements contributed to the sequential growth. The very robust top line and adjusted EBITDA progression in the segment translated to an impressive 44% fall through. In the Drilling Solutions segment, several business lines improved. After considering the Quail transaction, adjusted EBITDA in NDS increased slightly. Our U.S. Drilling business exceeded our forecast, mainly due to better performance in Alaska.

"Adjusted free cash flow in the third quarter reflected a contribution from Quail for just over half of the quarter. We are disappointed with the level of improvement in collections from our main client in Mexico. There is progress being made by our customer, although it is very slow paced. This delay represents a timing factor in our adjusted free cash flow estimates.

"The Quail transaction materially improves our financial strength. We have already taken decisive actions to reduce the Company's gross debt, paying down the balance on the revolver and redeeming $150 million of the 2027 notes. With the repayment of the seller note, our net debt is now at its lowest level in more than a decade. In addition to reducing our interest expense, we also expect our improved financial position to favorably impact the cost of future financing. With the remaining cash proceeds from the sale, we are steadfast on improving our capital structure and strengthening our balance sheet."

Outlook

Nabors expects the following metrics for the fourth quarter of 2025:

U.S. Drilling               

• Lower 48 average rig count of 57 - 59 rigs
• Lower 48 daily adjusted gross margin of approximately $13,000
• Alaska and Gulf of America combined adjusted EBITDA of approximately $25 million

International

• Average rig count of approximately 91 rigs
• Daily adjusted gross margin of approximately $18,100 - $18,200

Drilling Solutions

• Adjusted EBITDA of approximately $39 million

Rig Technologies

• Adjusted EBITDA of $5 - $6 million

Capital Expenditures

• Capital expenditures of $180 - $190 million, including $90 - $95 million for the newbuilds in Saudi Arabia

Adjusted Free Cash Flow

• Adjusted free cash flow should be approximately $10 million

Mr. Petrello concluded, "The substantial value realized with the Quail transaction has produced a stronger, more durable capital structure for the Company. With this considerable improvement, we have already seen benefits, notably in our financing costs.  

"As we look to the future, with international growth opportunities and potential volatility in the Lower 48 market, our geographic diversification now augmented by our sturdier balance sheet will serve us well."

About Nabors Industries

Nabors Industries (NYSE:NBR) is a leading provider of advanced technology for the energy industry. With presence in more than 20 countries, Nabors has established a global network of people, technology and equipment to deploy solutions that deliver safe, efficient and responsible energy production. By leveraging its core competencies, particularly in drilling, engineering, automation, data science and manufacturing, Nabors aims to innovate the future of energy and enable the transition to a lower-carbon world. Learn more about Nabors and its energy technology leadership: www.nabors.com.

Forward-looking Statements

The information included in this press release includes forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Securities Act of 1933 and the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. Such forward-looking statements are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties, as disclosed by Nabors from time to time in its filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. As a result of these factors, Nabors' actual results may differ materially from those indicated or implied by such forward-looking statements. The forward-looking statements contained in this press release reflect management's estimates and beliefs as of the date of this press release. Nabors does not undertake to update these forward-looking statements. 

Non-GAAP Disclaimer

This press release presents certain "non-GAAP" financial measures. The components of these non-GAAP measures are computed by using amounts that are determined in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America ("GAAP"). Adjusted operating income (loss) represents income (loss) before income taxes, interest expense, investment income (loss), gain on disposition of Quail Tools, gain on bargain purchase, and other, net. Adjusted EBITDA is computed similarly, but also excludes depreciation and amortization expenses. In addition, adjusted EBITDA and adjusted operating income (loss) exclude certain cash expenses that the Company is obligated to make. Net debt is calculated as total debt minus the sum of cash, cash equivalents and short-term investments.

Adjusted free cash flow represents net cash provided by operating activities less cash used for capital expenditures, net of proceeds from sales of assets, and before cash paid for acquisition-related costs. Management believes that adjusted free cash flow is an important liquidity measure for the company and that it is useful to investors and management as a measure of the company's ability to generate cash flow, after reinvesting in the company for future growth, that could be available for paying down debt or other financing cash flows, such as dividends to shareholders. Adjusted free cash flow does not represent the residual cash flow available for discretionary expenditures. Adjusted free cash flow is a non-GAAP financial measure that should be considered in addition to, not as a substitute for or superior to, cash flow from operations reported in accordance with GAAP.

Each of these non-GAAP measures has limitations and therefore should not be used in isolation or as a substitute for the amounts reported in accordance with GAAP. However, management evaluates the performance of its operating segments and the consolidated Company based on several criteria, including Adjusted EBITDA, adjusted operating income (loss), net debt, and adjusted free cash flow, because it believes that these financial measures accurately reflect the Company's ongoing profitability, performance and liquidity. Securities analysts and investors also use these measures as some of the metrics on which they analyze the Company's performance. Other companies in this industry may compute these measures differently. Reconciliations of consolidated adjusted EBITDA and adjusted operating income (loss) to income (loss) from continuing operations before income taxes, net debt to total debt, and adjusted free cash flow to net cash provided by operations, which are their nearest comparable GAAP financial measures, are included in the tables at the end of this press release. We do not provide a forward-looking reconciliation of our outlook for Segment Adjusted EBITDA, Segment Gross Margin or Adjusted Free Cash Flow, as the amount and significance of items required to develop meaningful comparable GAAP financial measures cannot be estimated at this time without unreasonable efforts. These special items could be meaningful.

Investor Contacts:  William C. Conroy, CFA, Vice President of Corporate Development & Investor Relations, +1 281-775-2423 or via e-mail [email protected], or Kara K. Peak, Director of Corporate Development & Investor Relations, +1 281-775-4954 or via email [email protected]. To request investor materials, contact Nabors' corporate headquarters in Hamilton, Bermuda at +441-292-1510 or via e-mail [email protected]

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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SOURCE Nabors Industries Ltd.