William Restrepo
Analyst · Tudor, Pickering, Holt. Please go ahead
Thank you, Tony. And good afternoon everyone. The net loss from continuing operations of $141 million in the first quarter represented a loss of $20.16 per share. First quarter results compared to a loss of $112 million, or $16.46 per share in the fourth quarter of 2020. The fourth quarter included $162 million of pretax gains from debt exchanges and repurchases partially offset by charges of $71 million, mainly from asset impairments for a net after tax gain of $52 million or $7.40 per share. Excluding this unusual items, the net loss improved by $23 million, primarily reflecting lower depreciation and interest expense. Revenue from operations for the first quarter was $461 million, a sequential gain of 4%. Revenue improved in most of our segments, driven by increased drilling activity in the markets we serve. In the Lower 48, drilling revenue of $110 million increased by $6.2 million, or 6%, as a rig count improved by 5%. Despite some deterioration in the average pricing for a fleet, revenue per day increased by $700, reflecting a significant reduction in the number of rigs stacked on rate. Generally, stacked on rate rigs return to work as day rates increase substantially. Lower 48 average rig count at 56.2 was up sequentially by 2.6 rigs in line with our expectations. International drilling revenue at $247 million increased by 1.7 million or 1%. Despite the absence of 4 million in early termination revenue from the prior quarter. Average rig count of 64.8 increased by 2.2 rigs or 3.5% matching our expectations for the quarter. As anticipated, 8 rigs were reactivated in Saudi Arabia progressively during the first quarter. However, average rig count in the eastern hemisphere fell, reflecting mostly the contract terminations we experienced in the fourth quarter. Canada drilling revenue was $21 million, an increase of $6.2 million or 42%. Rig count increased by four rigs on the seasonal ramp up in activity. Daily revenue increased by nearly $400. Nabors drilling solutions revenue was $35.7 million, up 3.7 million or 12%, primarily driven by improved performance software and manage pressure drilling. Notably, there was continued growth of rocket with third parties and further adoption of SmartDRILL by new clients. Rig Technologies, revenue of $25.7 million increased by $1.6 million or 6% due to lower capital equipment sales and fewer rentals. Although assets certification and repair activity were favorable, federal clients deferred deliveries of new equipment. Total adjusted EBITDA for the quarter was $108 million in line with the fourth quarter, and somewhat ahead of our expectations. Sequentially, improved results in Canada and NDS offset reductions in our other segments. U.S. rolling adjusted EBITDA of $58.8 million was down by $3.4 million or 5.4%. sequentially. Lower 48 performance was in line with our expectations. As we expected daily rig margin came in at $8,466 a $1,000 impact compared to the fourth quarter. Quarter-on-quarter although rig count increased, the additional volume was more than offset by a reduction in the number of rigs working at pre pandemic rates and of rigs stacked on rate. I would like to point out that margins for the stacked on rate rigs are generally higher than the fleet average. For the second quarter, we expect daily rig margins are between $7000 and $7,500 drew mainly by the signing of renewals or new contracts with current day rates, which are lower than the average for a fleet. We forecast as six to seven rig increase for the second quarter, or an 11% to 12% sequential improvement. Our rig count in the Lower 48 currently stands at 64 rigs or about 7.8 rigs higher than the average for the first quarter. Our other markets within the U.S. drilling segment are expected to improve somewhat as compared to the first quarter, reflecting incremental recount. International adjusted EBITDA decreased by $1.9 million to $62.6 million in the first quarter, or 2.9% sequentially. The improvement in rig count was more than offset by the absence of early termination revenue that occurred in the fourth quarter. Daily gross margin for the quarter was $12,917 a $600 reduction as compared to the prior quarter. The fourth quarter included approximately $700 per day in early termination revenue. Turning to the second quarter, we expect an international rig count increase of three to four rigs, or 5% to 6% driven by units that return to work in Latin America and Saudi Arabia over the course of the prior quarter. We expect gross margin per day of approximately 12,500 reflecting a long rig move in Mexico and general strikes in Argentina. These strikes could result in a period on standby rates for some of the rigs. Current rig count in the international segment is 69 rigs, which translate into a 6.5% increase over the average of the first quarter. We believe that activity in international markets where we operate, already reflected in the fourth quarter of last year. Canada adjusted EBITDA of $9.7 million increased by $6.2 million. Rig counts at 13.7 rigs was four higher sequentially. Gross margin per day of 8160 also increased due to the higher activity level and the receipt of $3.5 million in governmental wage subsidies. In the second quarter, we expect the effects of the seasonal spring breakup to impact results, with average rig count around six rigs and daily margins between $5500 and $6000. We currently have six rigs operating in Canada. Drilling solutions adjusted EBITDA of $11.5 million was up $1.2 million in the first quarter, or 12%. On the strong performance drilling and manage pressure drilling revenue. We expect adjusted EBITDA in the second quarter to be in line with the first quarter. Rig Technologies reported negative adjusted EBITDA of $500,000 in the first quarter, a decrease of roughly $1 million. For the second quarter, the segment should once again deliver positive EBITDA and improved capital equipment sales. Now, before I turn to liquidity and cash generation, let me remind you that the mandatory convertible preferred shares will be converting next Monday May 3, approximately 668,000 common shares will be issued and a final dividend will be paid on the conversion. In the first quarter, free cash flow totaled $60 million. This compares to free cash flow of approximately $66 million in the fourth quarter. I would like to point out that in the first quarter of 2020, we delivered $8 million in free cash flow. Our EBITDA in that quarter was almost twice the EBITDA of the first quarter of 2021. This improvement in cash flow conversion as compared to a year ago reflects the stain efforts and costs and capital discipline that will continue over the years to come. As in the past, the first quarter was marked by the semi-annual interest payments and a Senior Notes of over $70 million and by approximately $25 million in several annual payments that we incur at the beginning of the year. These payments which will not recur during the remainder of the year include property and other taxes, as well as employee incentive bonuses. These outflows were offset by strong customer collections in the first quarter, including some catch up from last year end as well as by lower CapEx and higher asset sales. Our capital expenditures of $40 million in the first quarter included $7.5 million in payments related to SANAD newbuilds. Todate, we have been awarded four rigs by Saudi Aramco. During the second quarter, we expect to incur $80 million in CapEx, of which $30 million will be paid by SANAD for the new bill program. Our target remains at $200 million for the full year 2021 excluding in Kingdom newbuilds for SANAD. For this year the total payments by SANAD for the newbuilds will depend on the achievement of construction milestones by the local manufacturer. Although the local rig program has been delayed by multiple years, Saudi Aramco has now demonstrated its commitment to SANADs rig building program. Given the recent awards, and additional rig purchase orders by SANAD, we now expect SANAD's total payments for these new rigs to approach $100 million for this year assuming milestones are met. In January, SANAD distributed a combined 100 million of the excess cash it had accumulated to its partners. Half of that amount was paid to a Nabors subsidiary, and the other half to Saudi Aramco. On a consolidated basis, the payment to Saudi Aramco partially offset the free cash flow generation. As a result, the net debt reduction for the quarter was limited to $6 million. Nonetheless, with a standard distribution to Nabors and other cash regenerated, we continue to reduce our total debt. During the quarter, we retired approximately 40 million in senior notes, including convertibles, which resulted in a 30 metre reduction in our total debt as reported. We also reduce the amount of standing on a revolving credit facility by an additional $40 million. Our total debt reduction for the quarter was $70 million. At the end of the first quarter, the amount drawn in our credit facility was $633 million and our cash balances stood at $418 million. For the second quarter, we are targeting approximately $50 million in free cash flow. Although our interest payments will decrease sharply in Q2. We anticipate a reduction in customer collections, higher CapEx and lower asset sales as compared to the prior quarter. We will continue to focus on delivering industry leading drilling performance to our customers and sustained growth and market penetration in our drilling solutions business. We're continuing to push for cost and capital discipline We believe that successful implementation of these goals will support our exceptional free cash flow generation. We will continue to allocate our future cash flow to debt reduction until we reach our leverage targets. With that, I will turn the call back to Tony for his concluding remarks.