Patterson-UTI Energy Reports Financial Results for the Quarter Ended December 31, 2024

HOUSTON, TEXAS / ACCESS Newswire / February 5, 2025 / PATTERSON-UTI ENERGY, INC. (NASDAQ:PTEN) today reported financial results for the quarter ended December 31, 2024.

Fourth Quarter 2024 Financial Results

• Total revenue of $1.2 billion

• Net loss attributable to common stockholders of $52 million, or $0.13 per share

  • Includes $3 million in merger and integration expenses

• Adjusted EBITDA of $225 million

  • Excludes merger and integration expenses

Other Key Items

• Full year 2024 Cash from Operations of $1.2 billion, Full Year Adjusted Free Cash Flow of $523 million

• Subsequent to the close of the quarter, finalized a new 5-year, $500 million unsecured revolving credit facility that expires in January 2030

• Returned $52 million to shareholders in the fourth quarter and $417 million to shareholders for the year

  • Used $20 million to repurchase 2.6 million shares in the fourth quarter; for the full year used $290 million for share repurchases

• $759 million in remaining share repurchase authorization as of December 31, 2024

• Declared a quarterly dividend on its common stock of $0.08 per share, payable on March 17, 2025 to holders of record as of March 3, 2025

Management Commentary

"We are proud of our success during 2024 in leveraging our differentiated operating footprint to deliver high-end drilling and completion services and products to our customers, resulting in significant free cash flow for our investors," said Andy Hendricks, Chief Executive Officer. "In this phase of shale development, we believe Patterson-UTI holds a sustainable operational advantage over much of the competition. Our experience across multiple oilfield service markets allows us to integrate operations, drive efficiencies, and position the company to deliver strong financial returns through the cycle. Our results in 2024 demonstrate the durable cash conversion potential of Patterson-UTI, and we are excited to build on that in the years ahead."

"During the fourth quarter, adjusted gross profit per day in U.S. Contract Drilling remained strong, highlighting the value we create with our Tier-1 rigs for both our customers and investors. Our Completion Services team did an outstanding job optimizing calendar white space and controlling costs, which partially offset the impact of several of our largest customers reducing sequential completion activity after reaching their annual production targets. Our Drilling Products segment was relatively steady in 2024 compared to the prior year. New product technology and superior performance of our drill bits and other downhole tools led to the resilience of our drilling products business throughout the year."

"As we look ahead to the remainder of 2025, we expect the U.S. shale drilling market will remain relatively steady," concluded Mr. Hendricks. "Oil activity appears to be stable, supported by prevailing commodity prices. Meanwhile, the natural gas market is showing signs of balancing, and we anticipate natural gas-directed drilling and completion activity could start to increase later this year. In this activity environment, we are focused on several key initiatives, including capturing value through efficiencies created by our integrated commercial strategies across both our drilling and completion businesses, as well as prudently managing costs. We expect to achieve another year of strong free cash flow in 2025, and we will remain diligent with our capital allocation. We are confident in our ability to improve returns over the next several years, even if U.S. onshore activity remains steady near current levels."

"We are pleased with how we have positioned the company for the future and remain committed to a balanced approach to capital allocation," said Andy Smith, Chief Financial Officer. "For 2025, we expect capital expenditures to be approximately $600 million as we continue to strategically invest in technology across all our businesses to build on our competitive advantage. We also remain committed to return at least 50% of our adjusted free cash flow to investors through dividends and share repurchases. Our strong balance sheet and durable cash conversion profile was key to securing a new 5-year, $500 million unsecured revolving credit facility, reflecting the strength of our franchise and our financial relationships."

Drilling Services

During the fourth quarter, Drilling Services revenue totaled $408 million. Drilling Services adjusted gross profit was $163 million during the quarter compared to $171 million during the prior quarter.

Within the Drilling Services segment for the fourth quarter, U.S. Contract Drilling revenue was $339 million, and adjusted gross profit was $151 million. U.S. operating days totaled 9,617. The average rig revenue per operating day in U.S. Contract Drilling was $35,290 in the quarter, and the adjusted gross profit per operating day in U.S. Contract Drilling was $15,720. Adjusted gross profit per operating day was driven by the strong performance our team delivered with our Tier-1 rig fleet, as customers continue to recognize the value that leveraging our high-quality assets and process brings to their operations.

As of December 31, 2024, the Company had term contracts for drilling rigs in the United States providing for future dayrate drilling revenue of approximately $426 million. Based on contracts currently in place, the Company expects an average of 64 rigs operating under term contracts during the first quarter of 2025 and an average of 40 rigs operating under term contracts over the four quarters ending December 31, 2025.

For the fourth quarter, other Drilling Services revenue, which primarily includes International Contract Drilling and Directional Drilling, was $69 million, with adjusted gross profit of $12 million.

Completion Services

Fourth quarter Completion Services revenue totaled $651 million, with adjusted gross profit of $95 million. During the quarter, although several long-term dedicated customers reduced sequential completion activity after meeting their annual production targets, our commercial team successfully secured work with several new customers, partially offsetting the slowdown from larger customers.

In our Completion Services segment, we benefited from greater wellsite integration of our ancillary services across a larger proportion of our active fleets, with notable gains in our proppant sourcing and logistics services. We anticipate further growth in wellsite integration revenue as more customers look to enhance returns by leveraging the efficiencies created by our wellsite integration strategy.

We continue to advance the deployment of our 100% natural gas-powered Emerald™ line of completion equipment. By the end of 2024, we operated over 155,000 Emerald™ horsepower and expect to surpass 200,000 horsepower by mid-2025, including introducing new direct-drive technology into our fleet this year. Currently, approximately 80% of our active fleet is capable of being powered by natural gas, with that proportion expected to increase in 2025.

Drilling Products

Fourth quarter Drilling Products revenue totaled $87 million, with adjusted gross profit of $37 million. Operating costs during the quarter were impacted by a $3 million non-cash charge associated with the step up to fair value of our drill bits in accordance with purchase accounting, which impacted the segment adjusted gross profit. This non-cash charge was $2 million higher than we recorded during the prior quarter.

In 2024, U.S. revenue in our Drilling Products segment was down less than 5% compared to 2023, significantly outperforming the percentage decline in the industry rig count. This highlights the resiliency of our drilling products business, which is driven by advanced technology and a focus on customer service.

Other

During the fourth quarter, Other revenue totaled $16 million, with adjusted gross profit totaling $7 million during the quarter.

Outlook

Within the Drilling Services segment, we expect U.S. Contract Drilling to operate an average of 106 rigs in the first quarter, with adjusted gross profit per operating day of approximately $15,250. Aside from U.S. Contract Drilling, we expect other Drilling Services adjusted gross profit will be flat in the first quarter compared to the prior quarter.

In our Completion Services segment, we expect a seasonal uptick in activity during the first quarter as customer budgets reset with the start of the new year. This recovery will be partially offset by inefficiencies early in the quarter as crews restarted following the extended slowdown in the fourth quarter. We expect first quarter Completion Services adjusted gross profit of approximately $100 million. We expect equipment that can be powered by natural gas will remain effectively sold out into the second quarter.

In our Drilling Products segment for the first quarter, we expect a relatively flat adjusted gross profit compared to the fourth quarter. We expect International revenue for our drill bits and downhole tools to increase in 2025 as we continue to expand to new geographies.

For the first quarter, Other revenue and adjusted gross profit is expected to be roughly flat with the prior quarter.

For the first quarter, we expect selling, general and administrative expense of approximately $67 million, and depreciation, depletion, amortization, and impairment expense of approximately $235 million.

For 2025, we expect capital expenditures of roughly $600 million, with each of our segments budgeting for lower capital expenditures compared to 2024.

For purposes of the shareholder return target, the Company defines adjusted free cash flow as net cash provided by operating activities less capital expenditures plus proceeds from the sale of assets. The shareholder return target, including the amount and timing of any dividend payments and/or share repurchases are subject to the discretion of the Company's Board of Directors and will depend upon business conditions, results of operations, financial condition, terms of the Company's debt agreements and other factors.

All references to "per share" in this press release are diluted earnings per common share as defined within Accounting Standards Codification Topic 260.

Fourth Quarter Earnings Conference Call

The Company's quarterly conference call to discuss the operating results for the quarter ended December 31, 2024, is scheduled for February 6, 2025, at 9:00 a.m. Central Time. The dial-in information for participants is (800) 715-9871 (Domestic) and (646) 307-1963 (International). The conference ID for both numbers is 3030069. The call is also being webcast and can be accessed through the Investor Relations section of the Company's website at investor.patenergy.com. A replay of the conference call will be on the Company's website for two weeks.

About Patterson-UTI

Patterson-UTI is a leading provider of drilling and completion services to oil and natural gas exploration and production companies in the United States and other select countries, including contract drilling services, integrated well completion services and directional drilling services in the United States, and specialized bit solutions in the United States, Middle East and many other regions around the world. For more information, visit www.patenergy.com.

Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements which are protected as forward-looking statements under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 that are not limited to historical facts, but reflect Patterson-UTI's current beliefs, expectations or intentions regarding future events. Words such as "anticipate," "believe," "budgeted," "continue," "could," "estimate," "expect," "intend," "may," "plan," "potential," "predict," "project," "pursue," "should," "strategy," "target," or "will," and similar expressions are intended to identify such forward-looking statements. The statements in this press release that are not historical statements, including statements regarding Patterson-UTI's future expectations, beliefs, plans, objectives, financial conditions, assumptions or future events or performance that are not historical facts, are forward-looking statements within the meaning of the federal securities laws. These statements are subject to numerous risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond Patterson-UTI's control, which could cause actual results to differ materially from the results expressed or implied by the statements. These risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to: adverse oil and natural gas industry conditions, including the impact of commodity price volatility on industry outlook; global economic conditions, including inflationary pressures and risks of economic downturns or recessions in the United States and elsewhere; volatility in customer spending and in oil and natural gas prices that could adversely affect demand for Patterson-UTI's services and their associated effect on rates; excess supply of drilling and completions equipment, including as a result of reactivation, improvement or construction; competition and demand for Patterson-UTI's services; the impact of the ongoing Ukraine/Russia and Middle East conflicts and instability in other international regions; strength and financial resources of competitors; utilization, margins and planned capital expenditures; ability to obtain insurance coverage on commercially reasonable terms and liabilities from operational risks for which Patterson-UTI does not have and receive full indemnification or insurance; operating hazards attendant to the oil and natural gas business; failure by customers to pay or satisfy their contractual obligations (particularly with respect to fixed-term contracts); the ability to realize backlog; specialization of methods, equipment and services and new technologies, including the ability to develop and obtain satisfactory returns from new technology and the risk of obsolescence of existing technologies; the ability to attract and retain management and field personnel; loss of key customers; shortages, delays in delivery, and interruptions in supply, of equipment and materials; cybersecurity events; difficulty in building and deploying new equipment; complications with the design or implementation of Patterson-UTI's new enterprise resource planning system; governmental regulation, including climate legislation, regulation and other related risks; environmental, social and governance practices, including the perception thereof; environmental risks and ability to satisfy future environmental costs; technology-related disputes; legal proceedings and actions by governmental or other regulatory agencies; changes to tax, tariff and import/export regulations and sanctions by the United States or other countries; the ability to effectively identify and enter new markets or pursue strategic acquisitions; public health crises, pandemics and epidemics; weather; operating costs; expansion and development trends of the oil and natural gas industry; financial flexibility, including availability of capital and the ability to repay indebtedness when due; adverse credit and equity market conditions; our return of capital to stockholders, including timing and amounts (including any plans or commitments in respect thereof) of any dividends and share repurchases; stock price volatility; and compliance with covenants under Patterson-UTI's debt agreements.

Additional information concerning factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements is contained from time to time in Patterson-UTI's SEC filings. Patterson-UTI's filings may be obtained by contacting Patterson-UTI or the SEC or through Patterson-UTI's website at http://www.patenergy.com or through the SEC's Electronic Data Gathering and Analysis Retrieval System (EDGAR) at http://www.sec.gov. Patterson-UTI undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statement.

PATTERSON-UTI ENERGY, INC.
Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets
(unaudited, in thousands)

PATTERSON-UTI ENERGY, INC.
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations
(unaudited, in thousands, except per share data)

PATTERSON-UTI ENERGY, INC.
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows
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PATTERSON-UTI ENERGY, INC.
Additional Financial and Operating Data
(unaudited, dollars in thousands)

1. Adjusted gross profit is defined as revenues less direct operating costs (excluding depreciation, depletion, amortization and impairment expense, which does not include impairment of goodwill). See Non-GAAP Financial Measures below for a reconciliation of GAAP gross profit to adjusted gross profit by segment.

PATTERSON-UTI ENERGY, INC.
Non-GAAP Financial Measures
Adjusted EBITDA
(unaudited, dollars in thousands)

1. Adjusted earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization ("Adjusted EBITDA") is not defined by accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America ("GAAP"). We define Adjusted EBITDA as net income (loss) plus income tax expense (benefit), net interest expense, depreciation, depletion, amortization and impairment expense (including impairment of goodwill) and merger and integration expense. We present Adjusted EBITDA as a supplemental disclosure because we believe it provides to both management and investors additional information with respect to the performance of our fundamental business activities and a comparison of the results of our operations from period to period and against our peers without regard to our financing methods or capital structure. We exclude the items listed above from net income (loss) in arriving at Adjusted EBITDA because these amounts can vary substantially from company to company within our industry depending upon accounting methods and book values of assets, capital structures and the method by which the assets were acquired. Adjusted EBITDA should not be construed as an alternative to the GAAP measure of net income (loss). Our computations of Adjusted EBITDA may not be the same as similarly titled measures of other companies.

PATTERSON-UTI ENERGY, INC.
Non-GAAP Financial Measures
Adjusted Free Cash Flow
(unaudited, dollars in thousands)

1. We define adjusted free cash flow as net cash provided by operating activities less capital expenditures, plus proceeds from disposal of assets. We present adjusted free cash flow as a supplemental disclosure because we believe that it is an important liquidity measure 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, that could be available for financing cash flows, such as dividend payments, share repurchases and/or repurchases of long-term indebtedness. Our computations of adjusted free cash flow may not be the same as similarly titled measures of other companies. Adjusted free cash flow is not intended to represent our 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 flows from operations reported in accordance with GAAP.

PATTERSON-UTI ENERGY, INC.
Non-GAAP Financial Measures
Adjusted Gross Profit
(unaudited, dollars in thousands)

1. We define "Adjusted gross profit" as revenues less direct operating costs (excluding depreciation, depletion, amortization and impairment expense, which does not include impairment of goodwill). Adjusted gross profit is included as a supplemental disclosure because it is a useful indicator of our operating performance.

PATTERSON-UTI ENERGY, INC.
Non-GAAP Financial Measures
Drilling Services Adjusted Gross Profit
(unaudited, dollars in thousands)