Helmerich & Payne Shares Fall 4% as Unexpected Quarterly Loss Offsets Revenue Beat

Core Insights - Helmerich & Payne Inc. reported an unexpected fourth-quarter loss, leading to a more than 4% decline in share price despite stronger-than-expected revenue [1] Financial Performance - The company posted an adjusted loss of $0.01 per share for the quarter ended September 30, 2025, missing analyst expectations of $0.21 in earnings [2] - Revenue for the quarter totaled $1.01 billion, exceeding the consensus estimate of $968.58 million [2] - The consolidated net loss amounted to $57 million, or $0.58 per share, primarily due to $56 million in non-recurring charges [2] Segment Performance - North America Solutions generated operating income of $118 million, a decrease from $158 million in the prior quarter, with direct margins of $242 million, equating to $18,620 per day [3] - The International Solutions division recorded an operating loss of $75 million, although this was an improvement from the previous quarter's loss of $167 million [3] Future Outlook - For fiscal 2026, Helmerich & Payne projected gross capital expenditures between $280 million and $320 million, which is below the levels of 2025 [4] - The company repaid $210 million of its $400 million term loan by the end of October and anticipates retiring the remaining balance by the end of the third fiscal quarter of 2026 [4] - For the first quarter of fiscal 2026, the firm expects North America Solutions direct margins to be between $225 million and $250 million, with an average contracted rig count of 138 to 144 rigs [4]