TULSA, Okla.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The Board of Directors of Helmerich & Payne, Inc. (NYSE: HP) announced today that Chief Executive Officer (CEO) John Lindsay will retire as CEO and director following the Annual Meeting of Stockholders on March 4, 2026. The Board has appointed Raymond John "Trey†Adams, President, to succeed Lindsay as CEO, effective following the Annual Meeting and has nominated Adams to stand for election to the Board at the Annual Meeting. Lindsay will continue serving as a senior advisor ...

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - The company generated quarterly revenues of over $1 billion, marking the third consecutive quarter above the billion-dollar mark [18] - Total direct operating costs for the fourth quarter were $715 million, down from $735 million in the previous quarter [18] - The net loss for the fourth quarter was $0.58 per diluted share, an improvement from a net loss of $1.64 in the previous quarter [18] - For the full year, the earnings per share were a net loss of $1.66 [19] - Operating cash flow for the fourth quarter was $207 million, totaling $543 million for the full year [20] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - North America Solutions averaged 141 contracted rigs during the fourth quarter, with a direct margin of $242 million, above the midpoint of guidance [21][22] - The International Solutions segment ended the fourth quarter with 61 rigs working, generating approximately $30 million in direct margins [23] - The Offshore Solutions segment generated a direct margin of approximately $35 million during the quarter, exceeding guidance [25] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - The company anticipates oil prices to remain rangebound between the upper $50s and mid-$60s in the first half of 2026 [9] - The utilization rates of rigs that have been idled for less than 12 months remain strong at over 80% [12] - The average first quarter operating rig count for the International Solutions segment is expected to be approximately 57 to 63 rigs [24] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company is focused on optimizing its financial position to continue paying down its term loan and generating free cash flow [26] - There is a commitment to nurturing leadership and promoting talent within the organization to prepare for future growth [10] - The company plans to maintain its long-standing base dividend of approximately $100 million in 2026 [30] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed optimism about the market stabilizing and the expanded footprint offering new opportunities [9] - The company is encouraged by the resilience of its business and the positive long-term prospects in the oil and gas industry [5] - Management expects further margin improvement throughout fiscal year 2026, despite some initial costs related to rig reactivations [38] Other Important Information - The company has made significant progress on deleveraging, having paid off $210 million on its term loan [17] - Capital expenditures for the fourth quarter were $64 million, with full-year 2025 totaling $426 million [19] - The company operates in six countries and has a blue-chip customer base supported by strong contractual coverage [9] Q&A Session Summary Question: International rig count and margins - Management is focused on the phased approach to reactivations in Saudi Arabia and expects to finish by mid-2026, with further growth anticipated in the region [36][38] Question: North America revenue and operating expenses - The North America Solutions market is expected to remain consistent as long as commodity prices and demand are intact, with a focus on longer and more complex wells [44] Question: CapEx guidance and reactivation costs - The $230 million-$250 million CapEx includes all rig reactivation costs, with more capital costs than operating costs impacting margins [62] Question: Maintenance CapEx for U.S. vs. international rigs - Maintenance CapEx is approximately $1 million per domestic rig and $1.3 million-$1.5 million per international rig [70] Question: International activity levels and unconventional drilling - The company is actively engaged in discussions about unconventional drilling in regions like Algeria and Libya, with a positive outlook for future growth [80]

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - The company generated quarterly revenues of just over $1 billion, with total direct operating costs at $702 million and general and administrative expenses approximately $81 million for the quarter [16][17]. - Gross capital expenditures for the second quarter were $159 million, aligning with expectations, while cash flow from operations was $56 million, negatively impacted by nonrecurring transaction-related costs and working capital challenges [18][27]. - The company maintains cash and short-term investments of $196 million, with an undrawn credit facility of $950 million, ensuring adequate liquidity for operations and debt repayment [27]. Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - In the North America Solutions segment, the average contracted rig count was 149, with revenues of $600 million, unchanged from the first quarter, and a direct margin of approximately $266 million, slightly stronger than the previous quarter [19][20]. - The International Solutions segment ended the quarter with 76 rigs working and a contracted drilling backlog of approximately $4 billion, generating a direct margin of $27 million, significantly impacted by rig suspensions in Saudi Arabia [20][22]. - The Offshore Solutions segment generated $26 million in direct margins, with a current backlog of $2.5 billion, benefiting from the KCAD acquisition [12][20]. Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - The company expects softer oil prices to lower the industry rig count as market volatility overrides potential incremental demand, with over 50% of customers preferring performance-based contracts [8][19]. - The average rig count in the North American Solutions segment is projected to range between 143 and 149 for the third quarter, with a revenue backlog of approximately $700 million [21][22]. Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company aims to execute its international growth strategy following the KCAD acquisition, which has positioned it as a global leader with the largest active rig count in the industry [5][6]. - The focus is on enhancing value and performance for customers and shareholders by prioritizing safety, drilling efficiency, and reliability [13][14]. - The company plans to realign cost structures, secure value-added synergies, and reduce debt on its balance sheet while remaining optimistic about scaling in prolific oil and gas regions [14][27]. Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management acknowledges headwinds from OPEC production increases and US tariff initiatives, but remains bullish about the long-term outlook for oil and gas markets, expecting demand to continue increasing [7][8]. - The company is focused on integrating operations and minimizing costs while addressing challenges in Saudi operations, with expectations for improvement in results as integration progresses [11][20]. - Management emphasizes the importance of performance-based contracts and technology solutions in driving efficiency and reliability for customers [9][22]. Other Important Information - The company is capturing synergies post-acquisition and has identified additional cost savings exceeding the original $25 million target by 2026 [26]. - The projected depreciation expense for the full year is around $595 million, with general and administrative expenses expected to be approximately $280 million [25][26]. Q&A Session Summary Question: What is the current state of the Saudi market regarding rig suspensions? - Management indicated uncertainty about the completion of the suspension cycle but noted that historically, rigs have returned to work after suspensions [30][32]. Question: How will the dynamics of rig suspensions and legacy HP rigs affect fiscal Q4? - Management expects a positive inflection in margins for Q4 as legacy HP rigs come online, offsetting the impact of suspensions [34][36]. Question: What is the expected contribution from the eight rigs in Saudi Arabia? - The anticipated contribution is around $25 million annually, with potential for this number to increase due to operational synergies [42][44]. Question: Will there be pressure on day rates in the domestic market due to rig count declines? - Management acknowledged the potential for pricing concessions but emphasized the importance of maintaining margins through performance-based contracts [52][102]. Question: Are there plans to relocate land rigs from Saudi Arabia to other markets? - Management confirmed that relocating rigs to neighboring countries is a possibility if they do not return to work [87][88]. Question: Is there potential for an increase in performance-based contracts? - While the current adoption rate is stable, management is actively pushing for more performance-based contracts as a means to provide value to customers [89][92].