Helmerich & Payne, Inc. Announces Fiscal Second Quarter Results

TULSA, Okla.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Helmerich & Payne, Inc. (NYSE: HP) reported net income of $164 million, or $1.55 per diluted share, from operating revenues of $769 million for the quarter ended March 31, 2023, compared to net income of $97 million, or $0.91 per diluted share, from operating revenues of $720 million for the quarter ended December 31, 2022. The net income per diluted share for the second and first quarters of fiscal 2023 include $0.29 and $(0.20) of after-tax gain and losses, respectively, comprised of select items(1). For the second quarter of fiscal year 2023, select items were comprised of:

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• $0.29 of after-tax gains pertaining to non-cash fair market adjustments to our equity investments

Net cash provided by operating activities was $141 million for the second quarter of fiscal year 2023, which included $114 million in tax payments compared to net cash provided by operating activities of $185 million for the first quarter of fiscal year 2023, which included $22 million in net tax refunds.

President and CEO John Lindsay commented, "H&P delivered another outstanding quarter and executed on a goal we set a year ago to generate 50%(4) direct margins in our NAS segment. The reason for setting that goal was to generate double digit returns that exceed our double digit cost of capital. With this milestone accomplished, our focus now turns to maintaining those levels of returns going forward.

"The past two decades demonstrate that even during upcycles, a certain amount of rig count variability exists, and we are witnessing that today. The macro-outlook has been challenged by political and economic insecurities in the global crude oil market and in the U.S. natural gas market. Volatility in both of these commodity markets has caused some uncertainty which has negatively impacted near-term rig demand. We see these events as shorter-term transitory issues and remain optimistic in the outlook which favors growing global demand for crude oil and natural gas over the long-term.

"H&P intends to remain firm on pricing; favoring returns over market share. That said, the juxtaposition of reduced rig activity and increased contractual churn caused by a weak natural gas market, along with our determined approach regarding fiscal discipline, necessitates a reduction in our forward rig count projections. Nevertheless, our super-spec FlexRig® fleet utilization remains high, and we are committed to sustaining this level of margin performance going forward, believing this path is in the best interest of all our stakeholders. Moreover, from our vantage point, activity in the crude oil market may create the opportunity for the Company to put rigs back into service this summer due to expected industry rig churn and perhaps again later in the calendar year as part of the recent trend of customers contracting additional rigs late in the calendar year as their new fiscal budgets are established.

"Maintaining fiscal discipline goes hand-in-hand with our customer-centric approach. By utilizing our FlexRig® fleet, technology, people and processes, we are able to consistently deliver the outcomes our customers desire, enhance their economic returns, and be compensated appropriately for the value we provide. We continue to develop new commercial models that not only demonstrate the value we create, but also expand collaborative efforts between H&P and its customers.

"On the international front, H&P's potential for longer-term growth prospects remains in focus. During the quarter, we moved our first super-spec rig into our Middle East hub and sent another to Australia. While initially small in terms of rig count, we believe this early progress portends more to come. Along those lines, we still plan to export more super-spec rigs to the Middle East during the back half of the year after undergoing region specific modifications, including conversions to walking systems. Operations in Argentina and Colombia remain relatively steady and are now providing solid financial contributions."

Senior Vice President and CFO Mark Smith also commented, "Several adverse macro issues, such as recessionary concerns, volatile commodity prices, and even anxiety over the financial health of the U.S. regional banking industry have commanded the market's attention this past quarter. We believe this coupled with a lower outlook for rig activity in fiscal 2023 has distracted from the more tangible value the Company has created this past year through higher margins and increased financial and shareholder returns. Accordingly, we have followed through on our capital allocation strategy regarding opportunistic share repurchases and repurchased shares during the second fiscal quarter, buying approximately 2.5 million shares for approximately $107 million. While the amount of share repurchases year-to-date surpasses the $100 million mark, we still have ample cash available to conduct additional repurchases or take advantage of other investment opportunities.

"As mentioned in the previous quarter, expectations can often change quickly, and as such our rig count expectations for the remainder of fiscal 2023 have been revised lower. Our current view is that those activity revisions are far less impactful to our projected cash flow generation than a degradation in our direct margins would be if we attempt to maintain activity levels by lowering pricing. Consequently, we remain confident in our financial plans going forward, keeping our capital allocation strategy unchanged and executing on the fiscal 2023 supplemental shareholder plan."

John Lindsay concluded, “From the perspective of my 36-year career at H&P, we are working more closely with our customers than at any other time, and our collaborations are primarily focused on value added performance rather than the daily cost of the drilling rig. That is due in large part to those customers realizing the near- and long-term benefits of having H&P as their drilling solution provider coupled with our relentless focus on delivering value. All of this is driven by H&P employees utilizing our rig assets and technologies to consistently strive to deliver the desired outcomes for our customers."

Operating Segment Results for the Second Quarter of Fiscal Year 2023

North America Solutions:

This segment had operating income of $182.1 million compared to operating income of $145.3 million during the previous quarter. The increase in operating income reflects more of our older term contracts continuing to reprice at higher contract economics which has improved the overall level of pricing across the fleet.

Direct margins(2) increased by $35.9 million to $296.2 million as both revenues and expenses increased sequentially. Quarterly operating results were impacted by the costs associated with reactivating rigs; $5.2 million in the second fiscal quarter compared to $8.6 million in the previous quarter.

International Solutions:

This segment had operating income of $4.0 million compared to operating income of $1.6 million during the previous quarter. Absent an impairment charge of $8.1 million during the first quarter of fiscal 2023, the decline in operating income was mainly driven by higher expenses associated with rig mobilizations.

Direct margins(2) during the second fiscal quarter were $8.6 million compared to $13.8 million during the previous quarter.

Offshore Gulf of Mexico:

This segment had operating income of $6.7 million compared to operating income of $6.7 million during the previous quarter. Direct margins(2) for the quarter were $9.3 million compared to $9.5 million in the prior quarter.

Operational Outlook for the Third Quarter of Fiscal Year 2023

North America Solutions:

• We expect North America Solutions direct margins(2) to be between $265-$285 million with an average active rig count of 163-167 rigs during the quarter
• We expect to exit the quarter between approximately 155-160 contracted rigs

International Solutions:

• We expect International Solutions direct margins(2) to be between $4-$7 million, exclusive of any foreign exchange gains or losses

Offshore Gulf of Mexico:

• We expect Offshore Gulf of Mexico direct margins(2) to be between $5.5-$7.5 million

Other Estimates for Fiscal Year 2023

• Gross capital expenditures are now expected to be approximately $400 to $450 million, exclusive of ongoing asset sales that 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 $65 million in fiscal year 2023
• Depreciation for fiscal year 2023 is still expected to be approximately $400 million
• Research and development expenses for fiscal year 2023 are now expected to be roughly $30 million
• General and administrative expenses for fiscal year 2023 are now expected to be approximately $205 million
• Cash taxes for fiscal year 2023 are now expected to be approximately $175-$225 million, of which a net $92 million has been paid through March 31, 2023

Select Items(1) Included in Net Income per Diluted Share

Second quarter of fiscal year 2023 net income of $1.55 per diluted share included $0.29 in after-tax gains comprised of the following:

• $0.29 of non-cash after-tax gains related to fair market value adjustments to equity investments

First quarter of fiscal year 2023 net income of $0.91 per diluted share included $(0.20) in after-tax losses comprised of the following:

• $(0.09) of non-cash after-tax losses pertaining to an impairment for fair market adjustments to decommissioned rigs and equipment that are held for sale
• $(0.11) of non-cash after-tax losses related to fair market value adjustments to equity investments

Conference Call

A conference call will be held on Thursday, April 27, 2023 at 11:00 a.m. (ET) with John Lindsay, President and CEO, Mark Smith, Senior Vice President and CFO, and Dave Wilson, Vice President of Investor Relations, to discuss the Company’s second quarter fiscal year 2023 results. Dial-in information for the conference call is (877) 830-2598 for domestic callers or (785) 424-1745 for international callers. The call access code is ‘Helmerich’. You may also listen to the conference call that will be broadcast live over the Internet by logging on to the Company’s website at http://www.helmerichpayne.com and accessing the corresponding link through the investor relations section by clicking on “Investors” and then clicking on “News and Events - Events & Presentations” to find the event and the link to the webcast.

About Helmerich & Payne, Inc.

Founded in 1920, Helmerich & Payne, Inc. (H&P) (NYSE: HP) is committed to delivering industry leading levels of drilling productivity and reliability. H&P operates with the highest level of integrity, safety and innovation to deliver superior results for its customers and returns for shareholders. Through its subsidiaries, the Company designs, fabricates and operates high-performance drilling rigs in conventional and unconventional plays around the world. H&P also develops and implements advanced automation, directional drilling and survey management technologies. At March 31, 2023, H&P's fleet included 233 land rigs in the United States, 22 international land rigs and seven offshore platform rigs. For more information, see H&P online at www.helmerichpayne.com.

Forward-Looking Statements

This release includes “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the Securities Act of 1933 and the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, and such statements are based on current expectations and assumptions that are subject to risks and uncertainties. All statements other than statements of historical facts included in this release, including, without limitation, statements regarding the registrant’s business strategy, future financial position, operations outlook, future cash flow, future use of generated cash flow, dividend amounts and timing, supplemental shareholder return plans and amounts of any future dividends, share repurchases, investments, active rig count projections, budgets, projected costs and plans, objectives of management for future operations, contract terms, financing and funding, capex spending, outlook for international markets, and actions by customers are forward-looking statements. For information regarding risks and uncertainties associated with the Company’s business, please refer to the “Risk Factors” and “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” sections of the Company’s SEC filings, including but not limited to its annual report on Form 10‑K and quarterly reports on Form 10‑Q. As a result of these factors, Helmerich & Payne, Inc.’s actual results may differ materially from those indicated or implied by such forward-looking statements. Investors are cautioned not to put undue reliance on such statements. We undertake no duty to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information changes in internal estimates, expectations or otherwise, except as required under applicable securities laws.

Helmerich & Payne uses its Investor Relations website as a channel of distribution for material company information. Such information is routinely posted and accessible on its Investor Relations website at www.helmerichpayne.com. Information on our website is not part of this release.

Note Regarding Trademarks. Helmerich & Payne, Inc. owns or has rights to the use of trademarks, service marks and trade names that it uses in conjunction with the operation of its business. Some of the trademarks that appear in this release or otherwise used by H&P include FlexRig, which may be registered or trademarked in the United States and other jurisdictions.

(1) Select items are considered non-GAAP metrics and are included as a supplemental disclosure as the Company believes identifying and excluding select items is useful in assessing and understanding current operational performance, especially in making comparisons over time involving previous and subsequent periods and/or forecasting future periods results. Select items are excluded as they are deemed to be outside the Company's core business operations. See Non-GAAP Measurements.

(2) Direct margin, which is considered a non-GAAP metric, is defined as operating revenues (less reimbursements) less direct operating expenses (less reimbursements) and is included as a supplemental disclosure. We believe it is useful in assessing and understanding our current operational performance, especially in making comparisons over time. See Non-GAAP Measurements for a reconciliation of segment operating income(loss) to direct margin. Expected direct margin for the third quarter of fiscal 2023 is provided on a non-GAAP basis only because certain information necessary to calculate the cost comparable GAAP measure is unavailable due to the uncertainty and inherent difficulty of predicting the occurrence and the future financial statement impact of certain items. Therefore, as a result of the uncertainty and variability of the nature and amount of future items and adjustments, which could be significant, we are unable to provide a reconciliation of expected direct margin to the most comparable GAAP measure without unreasonable effort.

(3) During the second fiscal quarter H&P repurchased approximately 2.5 million shares for approximately $107 million; fiscal year to date the Company has repurchased approximately 3.4 million shares for approximately $146 million

(4) The NAS segment direct margin percentage for the fiscal second quarter, a non-GAAP metric, is calculated by dividing the direct margin for the segment ($296.2 million) by segment revenues ($675.8 million) less reimbursements ($77.4 million).

Segment reconciliation amounts were as follows:

Segment operating income (loss) for all segments is a non-GAAP financial measure of the Company’s performance, as it excludes gain on sale of assets, corporate selling, general and administrative expenses, corporate restructuring charges, and corporate depreciation. The Company considers segment operating income (loss) to be an important supplemental measure of operating performance for presenting trends in the Company’s core businesses. This measure is used by the Company to facilitate period-to-period comparisons in operating performance of the Company’s reportable segments in the aggregate by eliminating items that affect comparability between periods. The Company believes that segment operating income (loss) is useful to investors because it provides a means to evaluate the operating performance of the segments and the Company on an ongoing basis using criteria that are used by our internal decision makers. Additionally, it highlights operating trends and aids analytical comparisons. However, segment operating income has limitations and should not be used as an alternative to operating income or loss, a performance measure determined in accordance with GAAP, as it excludes certain costs that may affect the Company’s operating performance in future periods.

The following table reconciles operating income (loss) per the information above to income (loss) from continuing operations before income taxes as reported on the Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations:

NON-GAAP RECONCILIATION OF DIRECT MARGIN

Direct margin is considered a non-GAAP metric. We define "direct margin" as operating revenues less direct operating expenses. Direct margin is included as a supplemental disclosure because we believe it is useful in assessing and understanding our current operational performance, especially in making comparisons over time. Direct margin is not a substitute for financial measures prepared in accordance with GAAP and should therefore be considered only as supplemental to such GAAP financial measures.

The following table reconciles direct margin to segment operating income (loss), which we believe is the financial measure calculated and presented in accordance with GAAP that is most directly comparable to direct margin..