Precision Drilling(US:PDS)2025-04-24 18:00Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - Adjusted EBITDA for Q1 was $137 million, driven by strong drilling activity in Canada and steady cash flow from operations in the U.S. and Middle East [4][5] - Revenue for the quarter was $496 million, a decrease of 6% from Q1 2024 [5] - Net earnings were $35 million or $2.52 per share, marking the eleventh consecutive quarter of positive earnings [5] - Funds from operations were $110 million, with cash provided by operations at $63 million [5] - Long-term debt position net of cash was approximately $778 million, with total liquidity around $570 million [11][12] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - In the U.S., drilling activity averaged 30 rigs in Q1, a decrease of four rigs from the previous quarter, with daily operating margins at $8,360, down $7.87 from Q4 [5][6] - In Canada, drilling activity averaged 74 rigs, an increase of one rig from Q1 2024, with daily operating margins at $14,779, a decrease of $858 from the prior year [9] - Internationally, drilling activity averaged eight rigs, with average day rates at $49,419, a decrease of 6% from the prior year [9] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - U.S. drilling activity is expected to see normalized margins between $7,000 and $8,000 for Q2 [6] - Canadian market remains strong with LNG Canada's first shipments imminent, expected to drive stable Montney gas activity [19] - Internationally, contract awards have slowed, particularly in Saudi Arabia, with one rig suspended [28][92] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company aims to maintain a strong presence in key regions while managing costs effectively [6][7] - A commitment to reducing debt by $700 million between 2022 and 2027, with a target debt reduction of $100 million for 2025 [12][13] - Focus on free cash flow generation while remaining poised for emerging opportunities [15][31] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed cautious optimism regarding customer sentiment in both the U.S. and Canada, despite macroeconomic uncertainties [15][19] - Customers are closely monitoring oil prices, but drilling plans remain largely unaffected [15][25] - The company is focused on managing margins effectively and is not projecting a significant reduction in pricing [69][71] Other Important Information - Capital expenditures for Q1 were $60 million, with a full-year capital plan reduced from $225 million to $200 million [10] - The company exited the North Dakota market due to competitive pressures and is reallocating resources back to Canada [21] - The company is actively managing its cost structure to drive down operating costs throughout 2025 [8][30] Q&A Session Summary Question: Thoughts on performance model versus day rate model - Management prefers the a la carte style of base rate for rigs, with about a third of U.S. rigs under performance contracts [35][36] Question: Rationale for continuing debt reduction over stock buybacks - The company is committed to deleveraging and maintaining a strong capital structure, targeting a net debt to EBITDA ratio below one [38][40] Question: Impact of capital reduction on free cash flow - The capital reduction is not expected to impact cash flow guidance, as the company is focused on managing all cash outflows tightly [47] Question: Changes in U.S. margins post-restructuring - Margins are expected to improve as more rigs are added, despite some initial noise from rig mobilizations [49][50] Question: Rig mobilization and reactivation costs - Costs for rig mobilization or reactivation typically range from $500,000 to $1,000,000 [57][58] Question: Pricing pressures in Canada - There are ongoing pricing pressures from customers, but management expects to manage margins effectively [68][70] Question: Conversations with producers regarding capital spending - Conversations indicate that low oil prices in the U.S. and Canada could lead to increased uncertainty in capital spending plans [80][82]