2016-11-17

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TULSA, Okla., Nov. 17, 2016 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Helmerich & Payne, Inc. (NYSE:HP) reported a net loss of $57 million (negative $0.54 per diluted share) from operating revenues of $1.6 billion for its fiscal year ended September 30, 2016, compared to net income of $420 million1 ($3.85 per diluted share) from operating revenues of $3.2 billion for its prior fiscal year ended September 30, 2015.  Included in net income (loss) per diluted share for fiscal 2016 and fiscal 2015 are approximately $0.54 and $0.86, respectively, in after-tax income related to a combination of select items as described in a separate section of this press release.  Select items, among others, include long-term contract early termination compensation, lawsuit settlement charges, losses from the impairment of a position in the Company’s portfolio of marketable securities, and abandonment charges.

Net loss for the fourth fiscal quarter of 2016 was $73 million (negative $0.68 per diluted share) from operating revenues of $332 million.  Included in net loss per diluted share corresponding to this year’s fourth fiscal quarter are approximately $0.35 in after-tax losses related to a combination of select items as described in a separate section of this press release.

President and CEO John Lindsay commented, “It is good to deliver better than expected quarterly operational results in the midst of an improving U.S. land market.  Our goal is to safely provide performance driven drilling services, and as we think about the future, it is helpful to properly frame where the Company is today.

“Our AC drive FlexRig®* fleet is positioned to take market share in a strong or moderate U.S. land market recovery.  We are uniquely leveraged to provide E&P companies the rig of choice, particularly those drilling more challenging horizontal wells.  The design of our FlexRig fleet allows for a broad range of rig upgrades providing a family of solutions for our customers.

“An example of H&P’s industry leading capability is our current fleet of AC drive FlexRigs that have 7,500 psi circulating systems and multi-well pad drilling capability.  These rigs meet the general criteria of what some industry followers have identified as ‘super-spec’ rigs, which is a subset of AC drive rigs with 1,500 horsepower drawworks ratings.   We have approximately 80 of these rigs in our U.S. land fleet, and if demand remains high we could upgrade additional FlexRigs and have approximately 120 of these rigs by the end of our 2017 second fiscal quarter.  The current industry capacity for additional super-spec rigs appears to be limited, which positions H&P very well for future expansion in this space.  In the event of a significant market improvement for super-spec rigs, we have the capability of providing a total of approximately 270 rigs to the market without requiring new build rigs, by solely relying upon upgrades where needed to our current FlexRig3 and FlexRig5 fleet.

“In addition to having what we strongly believe is the best fleet for the more technically challenging shale wells, we have the people, the systems and the operational support structures to drive top performance and reliability for our customers.  We have accumulated more than 1,800 rig years of AC drive operational experience.  Our expertise designing, building and now upgrading the fleet provides great optionality for the customer and has resulted in H&P having the largest and most capable fleet of AC drive rigs in the industry.  We remain committed to further expand our competitive advantages through technology and the scale of our operations in order to continue to add value to our customers and shareholders.”

Operating Segment Results

Segment operating loss for the Company’s U.S. land operations was $70 million for the fourth quarter of fiscal 2016, compared with segment operating income of $34 million for last year’s fourth fiscal quarter and $26 million for this year’s third fiscal quarter.  As compared to the third quarter of fiscal 2016, the decrease in segment operating income was primarily attributable to a decline in early termination revenues and to charges of $38.1 million for abandonments (non-cash) related to the decommissioning of used drilling equipment, $18.8 million for an accrued lawsuit settlement liability, and $4.5 million corresponding to an adjustment (non-cash) to the self-insurance reserve for worker’s compensation claims.  The abandonment charge is included with depreciation and the other two charges are included in direct operating expenses in the segment during the fourth quarter.  The number of quarterly revenue days increased sequentially by approximately 6% to 7,955 days.  Excluding the impact of $10,790 and $3,744 per day of revenues from early contract terminations during the third and fourth fiscal quarters, respectively, the average rig revenue per day decreased sequentially by $280 to $24,404.  Excluding the impact of $363 per day of employee severance expense during the third fiscal quarter and of $2,923 per day of lawsuit settlement and self-insurance reserve charges during the fourth quarter, the average rig expense per day decreased sequentially by $91 to $13,326.  Thus, the corresponding average rig margin per day decreased sequentially by $189 to $11,078.  Rig utilization for the segment was 25% for this year’s fourth fiscal quarter, compared with 43% and 24% for last year’s fourth fiscal quarter and this year’s third fiscal quarter, respectively.  At September 30, 2016, the Company’s U.S. land segment had approximately 95 contracted rigs generating revenue (including 72 under long-term contracts) and 253 idle rigs.  The 95 contracted rigs included 91 rigs generating revenue days.

Segment operating income for the Company’s offshore operations was $2.6 million for the fourth quarter of fiscal 2016, compared with $12.6 million1 for last year’s fourth fiscal quarter and $2.1 million for this year’s third fiscal quarter.  The sequential increase in operating income was attributable to a higher average rig margin per day and a slight increase in revenue days in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2016.  Excluding the impact of $1,236 per day of employee severance expense during the third fiscal quarter and of $752 per day corresponding to an adjustment to a self-insurance reserve for worker’s compensation claims during the fourth quarter, the average rig margin per day increased sequentially from $7,981 to $9,070, and quarterly revenue days increased from 637 days to 644 days during the fourth fiscal quarter.

The Company’s international land operations reported segment operating loss of $0.2 million for this year’s fourth fiscal quarter, compared with an operating loss of $47.2 million1 for last year’s fourth fiscal quarter and an operating loss of $5.0 million for this year’s third fiscal quarter.  The sequential improvement in operating results was attributable to a higher average daily rig margin and an increase in rig revenue days. Excluding the impact of $924 per day of employee severance expense during the third fiscal quarter, the average rig margin per day increased sequentially from $9,461 to $10,619 during the fourth fiscal quarter.  The number of quarterly revenue days increased sequentially by approximately 8% to 1,372 days.

Drilling Operations Outlook for the First Quarter of Fiscal 2017

In the U.S. land segment, the Company expects revenue days (activity) to increase by roughly 20% during the first fiscal quarter of 2017 as compared to the fourth fiscal quarter of 2016.  Excluding any impact from early termination revenue, the average rig revenue per day is expected to be roughly $23,500, and the average rig expense per day is expected to be roughly $14,200.  As of today, the U.S. land segment has approximately 105 contracted rigs that are generating revenue (including 72 under term contracts) and 243 idle rigs.  The 105 contracted rigs include 102 rigs generating revenue days.

In the offshore segment, the Company expects revenue days to be unchanged during the first fiscal quarter of 2017 as compared to the fourth fiscal quarter of 2016.  The average rig margin per day is expected to be approximately $11,250 during the first quarter of fiscal 2017.

In the international land segment, the Company expects revenue days to decrease by approximately 5% during the first fiscal quarter of 2017 as compared to the fourth fiscal quarter of 2016.  Excluding any impact from early termination revenue, the average rig margin per day is expected to be roughly $8,000 during the first quarter of fiscal 2017.

Capital Expenditures and Other Estimates for Fiscal 2017

The Company’s capital expenditures for fiscal 2017 are expected to be roughly $200 million.  Depreciation expense is expected to decrease to approximately $525 million, and general and administrative expenses are expected to decrease to approximately $140 million for fiscal 2017.

Select Items Included in Net Income (or Loss) per Diluted Share

Included in net loss per diluted share for fiscal 2016 are select items totaling approximately $0.54 in after-tax income comprised of the following:  $1.29 of after-tax income from long-term contract early termination compensation from customers (which favorably impacted net income by approximately $139 million); $0.06 of after-tax gains related to the sale of used drilling equipment; $0.03 of after-tax losses related to an adjustment to the self-insurance reserve for worker’s compensation claims; $0.04 of after-tax losses from impairment charges related to used drilling equipment; $0.04 of after-tax losses in general and administrative expenses from employer 401K plan matching contributions related to employee work force reductions; $0.05 of after-tax losses from employee severance expense; $0.05 of after-tax losses related to currency exchange losses; $0.11 of after-tax losses from accrued charges related to a lawsuit settlement agreement; $0.15 of after-tax losses from the impairment of a position in the Company’s portfolio of marketable securities; $0.23 of after-tax losses from abandonment charges related to the decommissioning of used drilling equipment; $0.04 of losses from discontinued operations; and a negative impact of $0.07 related to adjustments to the Internal Revenue Code Section 199 deduction for domestic production activities.

Included in net income per diluted share for fiscal 2015 are select items totaling approximately $0.86 in after-tax income comprised of the following:  $1.30 of after-tax income from long-term contract early termination compensation from customers (which favorably impacted net income by approximately $141 million); $0.07 of after-tax gains related to the sale of used drilling equipment; $0.03 of after-tax losses related to an allowance for doubtful accounts; $0.23 of after-tax losses from impairment charges for certain (SCR) land rigs; and $0.25 of after-tax losses from abandonment charges related to the decommissioning of certain (SCR) land rigs and other used drilling equipment.

Included in net loss per diluted share corresponding to the fourth quarter of fiscal 2016 are select items totaling approximately $0.35 in after-tax losses comprised of the following:  $0.18 of after-tax income from long-term contract early termination compensation from customers; $0.01 of after-tax gains related to the sale of used drilling equipment; $0.03 of after-tax losses related to an adjustment to the self-insurance reserve for worker’s compensation claims; $0.11 of after-tax losses from accrued charges related to a lawsuit settlement agreement; $0.15 of after-tax losses from the impairment of a position in the Company’s portfolio of marketable securities; $0.23 of after-tax losses from abandonment charges related to the decommissioning of used drilling equipment; and a negative impact of $0.02 related to adjustments to the Internal Revenue Code Section 199 deduction for domestic production activities.

About Helmerich & Payne, Inc.

Helmerich & Payne, Inc. is primarily a contract drilling company.  As of November 17, 2016, the Company’s existing fleet includes 348 land rigs in the U.S., 38 international land rigs, and nine offshore platform rigs.  In addition, the Company is scheduled to deliver two new H&P-designed and operated FlexRigs during the calendar year, both under long-term contracts with customers.  Upon completion of these commitments, the Company’s global fleet is expected to have a total of 388 land rigs, including 373 AC drive FlexRigs.

Forward-Looking Statements

This release includes “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the Securities Act of 1933 and the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, and such statements are based on current expectations and assumptions that are subject to risks and uncertainties.  All statements other than statements of historical facts included in this release, including, without limitation, statements regarding the registrant’s future financial position, operations outlook, business strategy, budgets, projected costs and plans and objectives of management for future operations, are forward-looking statements.  For information regarding risks and uncertainties associated with the Company’s business, please refer to the “Risk Factors” and “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of  Operations” sections of the Company’s SEC filings, including but not limited to its annual report on Form 10-K and quarterly reports on Form 10-Q.  As a result of these factors, Helmerich & Payne, Inc.’s actual results may differ materially from those indicated or implied by such forward-looking statements.  We undertake no duty to update or revise our forward-looking statements based on changes in internal estimates, expectations or otherwise, except as required by law.

*FlexRig® is a registered trademark of Helmerich & Payne, Inc.

1 Value(s) adjusted due to previously announced elimination of legacy one-month lag period between the Company’s U.S. fiscal year and its foreign subsidiaries’ fiscal years. The footnoted item(s) in this release now reflects the period-specific effects of this change.

HELMERICH & PAYNE, INC.

Unaudited

(in thousands, except per share data)

Three Months Ended

Fiscal Year Ended

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF

June 30

September 30

September 30

2016

2016

2015

2016

2015

OPERATIONS

(As adjusted)

(As adjusted)

Operating Revenues:

Drilling – U.S. Land

$

285,028

$

238,346

$

420,393

$

1,242,462

$

2,523,518

Drilling – Offshore

30,492

31,904

52,280

138,601

241,666

Drilling – International Land

47,983

58,365

78,069

229,894

382,331

Other

2,983

3,093

3,058

13,275

14,187

$

366,486

$

331,708

$

553,800

$

1,624,232

$

3,161,702

Operating costs and expenses:

Operating costs, excluding depreciation

186,146

214,404

326,274

898,805

1,703,476

Depreciation

138,690

176,251

174,594

598,587

608,039

Asset impairment charge

6,250



39,242

6,250

39,242

General and administrative

46,496

33,802

37,728

146,183

134,712

Research and development

2,707

2,328

3,760

10,269

16,104

Income from asset sales

(547

)

(2,076

)

(3,015

)

(9,896

)

(11,834

)

379,742

424,709

578,583

1,650,198

2,489,739

Operating income (loss)

(13,256

)

(93,001

)

(24,783

)

(25,966

)

671,963

Other income (expense):

Interest and dividend income

778

856

1,393

3,166

5,840

Interest expense

(6,407

)

(6,261

)

(5,697

)

(22,913

)

(15,023

)

Loss on investment securities



(25,989

)



(25,989

)



Other

534

(1,891

)

(989

)

(965

)

(901

)

(5,095

)

(33,285

)

(5,293

)

(46,701

)

(10,084

)

Income (loss) from continuing operations before income taxes

(18,351

)

(126,286

)

(30,076

)

(72,667

)

661,879

Income tax provision

2,842

(53,417

)

(2,486

)

(19,677

)

241,405

Income (loss) from continuing operations

(21,193

)

(72,869

)

(27,590

)

(52,990

)

420,474

Income (loss) from discontinued operations, before income taxes

2,193

119

(6

)

2,360

(124

)

Income tax provision

2,200

85



6,198

77

Income (loss) from discontinued operations

(7

)

34

(6

)

(3,838

)

(47

)

NET INCOME (LOSS)

$

(21,200

)

$

(72,835

)

$

(27,596

)

$

(56,828

)

$

420,427

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