Baker Hughes(US:BKR)2025-07-23 14:30Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - Adjusted EBITDA rose to $1,210 million, reflecting a 170 basis point year-over-year improvement in margins, driven by structural cost actions and stronger operational execution [7][36] - GAAP diluted earnings per share were $0.71, while adjusted earnings per share were $0.63, up 11% year-over-year [37] - Free cash flow generated was $239 million, with a total of $423 million returned to shareholders, including $196 million in share repurchases [10][38] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - Oilfield Services and Equipment (OFSE) revenue was $3,600 million, up 3% sequentially, with EBITDA margins expanding 90 basis points to 18.7% [41] - Industrial and Energy Technology (IET) revenue increased by 5% year-over-year to $3,300 million, with a 190 basis point margin expansion to 17.8% [40] - IET orders totaled $3,500 million in the quarter, with a year-to-date total of $6,700 million, indicating strong momentum [39][72] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - The company booked $1 billion in new energy orders during the quarter, bringing year-to-date bookings to $1.25 billion, matching the total for the previous year [22] - Gas infrastructure equipment orders totaled $2.9 billion over the past six quarters, reflecting strong demand for natural gas solutions [24][25] - LNG demand increased by 5% year-over-year, with significant contracting activity expected to continue [26] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company announced three strategic transactions to enhance portfolio optimization, including a joint venture and acquisitions aimed at higher growth opportunities [11][44] - Focus remains on executing a disciplined capital allocation strategy to maximize long-term shareholder value while advancing in new energy and industrial markets [12][45] - The company is positioned to capitalize on emerging trends in distributed power solutions, particularly for data centers, with a target of $1.5 billion in data center-related awards [30][33] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed confidence in achieving the full-year order guidance range of $12.5 billion to $14.5 billion for IET, supported by strong momentum in power solutions and new energy [10][72] - The macro environment remains uncertain, but long-term fundamentals for energy demand are strong, driven by population growth and urbanization [20][21] - The company anticipates continued growth in natural gas demand, with expectations for a 20% increase by 2040 [24] Other Important Information - The company ended the quarter with cash of $3.1 billion and a net debt to EBITDA ratio of 0.6 times, indicating a strong balance sheet [38] - The company is committed to returning 60% to 80% of free cash flow to shareholders, reinforcing its focus on shareholder returns [38] Q&A Session Summary Question: Can you unpack the drivers of the margin performance? - Management highlighted that OFSE EBITDA margins expanded by 90 basis points due to stronger revenue and cost efficiency initiatives, while IET margins increased by 190 basis points despite tariff-related headwinds [62][65] Question: Can you expand on the IET order performance this quarter? - Management noted that IET bookings reached $3.5 billion, driven by strength in non-LNG markets, gas infrastructure, and data centers, with expectations for continued strength in LNG orders in the second half [70][72] Question: What is the net impact from the three transactions announced? - The transactions are expected to have a modest benefit to segment margins, with a net EBITDA impact of just over $100 million anticipated for 2026 [80][82]