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Helmerich & Payne (HP) Incurs Narrower-Than-Expected Q3 Loss
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Helmerich & Payne Inc. (HP - Free Report) reported fiscal third-quarter 2020 adjusted loss of 34 cents per share, narrower than the Zacks Consensus Estimate of 67 cents. The outperformance reflects better than expected results from the key North America Solutions segment as lower costs helped prop up average rig margins.
However, the bottom line loss compared unfavorably with the year-ago adjusted earnings of 40 cents due to steep decline in activity.
Operating revenues of $317.4 million topped the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $304 million but decreased 53.9% from the year-ago level.
Helmerich Payne, Inc. Price, Consensus and EPS Surprise
North America Solutions: During the quarter, operating revenues of $254.4 million were down 57.7% year over year as revenue days fell 59.2% to 8,101. Moreover, rig utilization dropped to 32% from the prior-year’s 62%.
However, the average rig margin per day improved 13.1% from the prior-year quarter to $12,563 as daily rig revenue edged up, while rig expense ticked down. The segment’s operating loss came in at $25.2 million, significantly narrower than the year-earlier loss of $147 million. Apart from margin gains, results were helped by the adverse impact of asset impairment charges in the fiscal third quarter of 2019.
Offshore Gulf of Mexico: Revenues of $37.5 million were essentially flat from the year-ago quarter. While revenue days declined 16.7% to 455 and rig utilization fell to 63% from the prior-year’s 75%, average rig revenue per day was up 25.3% year over year.
Meanwhile, higher average rig expenses per day and restructuring charges resulted in the segment’s operating profit to fall 40.7% from the prior-year period to $3 million.
International Solutions: The segment operations generated revenues of $22.5 million, down from $46.3 million in the prior-year quarter on lower revenue days and average rig revenue per day. Rig utilization decreased to 34% (from 51% a year ago).
The average rig margin per day was negative at $1.9 million, compared to a profit of $8 million in the year-ago quarter. Consequently, the segment’s bottom line came in at a loss of $9.5 million, widening from the year-ago loss of $5 million.
Capital Expenditure & Balance Sheet
In the reported quarter, Helmerich & Payne spent $26.6 million on capital programs. As of Jun 30, 2020, the company had $426.2 million in cash and cash equivalents while long-term debt was $480.3 million (debt-to-capitalization of 12.4%).
Guidance
This Tulsa, OK-based company anticipates operating gross margins in the North America Solutions segment to be between $38 and $48 million inclusive of approximately $12 million of contract early termination compensation in the fiscal fourth quarter. The company sees around 58-63 contracted rigs by Sep 30, 2020.
Coming to the Offshore Gulf of Mexico segment, Helmerich & Payne envisions operating gross margins within $5-7 million for the fiscal fourth quarter and operating income of $2 million.
Additionally, International Solutions operating gross margins are forecast to be between break even and a loss of $2 million for the current quarter.
For the current fiscal year, Helmerich & Payne estimates capital outlay within $150-$165 million.
In addition to the cost containment initiatives announced previously, the oil and gas contract driller expects to lower its cost structure by a further $25 million annually. This brings the total yearly savings to more than $75 million.
Zacks Rank & Key Picks
Helmerich & Payne holds a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold).
Meanwhile, investors interested in the energy space could look at some better options like Bonanza Creek Energy, Inc. , USA Compression Partners, LP (USAC - Free Report) and Chevron (CVX - Free Report) . Bonanza Creek and USA Compression Partners sport a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy), while Chevron carries a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy).
Over 30 days, San Ramon, CA-based Chevron has seen the Zacks Consensus Estimate for 2020 increase 196.3%.
Bonanza Creek Energy has an excellent earnings surprise history having surpassed estimates in each of the last four quarters, the average being 8.7%.
USA Compression Partners has a 100% track of outperforming estimates over the last four quarters at an average rate of 162.5%.
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Helmerich & Payne (HP) Incurs Narrower-Than-Expected Q3 Loss
Helmerich & Payne Inc. (HP - Free Report) reported fiscal third-quarter 2020 adjusted loss of 34 cents per share, narrower than the Zacks Consensus Estimate of 67 cents. The outperformance reflects better than expected results from the key North America Solutions segment as lower costs helped prop up average rig margins.
However, the bottom line loss compared unfavorably with the year-ago adjusted earnings of 40 cents due to steep decline in activity.
Operating revenues of $317.4 million topped the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $304 million but decreased 53.9% from the year-ago level.
Helmerich Payne, Inc. Price, Consensus and EPS Surprise
Helmerich Payne, Inc. price-consensus-eps-surprise-chart | Helmerich Payne, Inc. Quote
Segmental Performance
North America Solutions: During the quarter, operating revenues of $254.4 million were down 57.7% year over year as revenue days fell 59.2% to 8,101. Moreover, rig utilization dropped to 32% from the prior-year’s 62%.
However, the average rig margin per day improved 13.1% from the prior-year quarter to $12,563 as daily rig revenue edged up, while rig expense ticked down. The segment’s operating loss came in at $25.2 million, significantly narrower than the year-earlier loss of $147 million. Apart from margin gains, results were helped by the adverse impact of asset impairment charges in the fiscal third quarter of 2019.
Offshore Gulf of Mexico: Revenues of $37.5 million were essentially flat from the year-ago quarter. While revenue days declined 16.7% to 455 and rig utilization fell to 63% from the prior-year’s 75%, average rig revenue per day was up 25.3% year over year.
Meanwhile, higher average rig expenses per day and restructuring charges resulted in the segment’s operating profit to fall 40.7% from the prior-year period to $3 million.
International Solutions: The segment operations generated revenues of $22.5 million, down from $46.3 million in the prior-year quarter on lower revenue days and average rig revenue per day. Rig utilization decreased to 34% (from 51% a year ago).
The average rig margin per day was negative at $1.9 million, compared to a profit of $8 million in the year-ago quarter. Consequently, the segment’s bottom line came in at a loss of $9.5 million, widening from the year-ago loss of $5 million.
Capital Expenditure & Balance Sheet
In the reported quarter, Helmerich & Payne spent $26.6 million on capital programs. As of Jun 30, 2020, the company had $426.2 million in cash and cash equivalents while long-term debt was $480.3 million (debt-to-capitalization of 12.4%).
Guidance
This Tulsa, OK-based company anticipates operating gross margins in the North America Solutions segment to be between $38 and $48 million inclusive of approximately $12 million of contract early termination compensation in the fiscal fourth quarter. The company sees around 58-63 contracted rigs by Sep 30, 2020.
Coming to the Offshore Gulf of Mexico segment, Helmerich & Payne envisions operating gross margins within $5-7 million for the fiscal fourth quarter and operating income of $2 million.
Additionally, International Solutions operating gross margins are forecast to be between break even and a loss of $2 million for the current quarter.
For the current fiscal year, Helmerich & Payne estimates capital outlay within $150-$165 million.
In addition to the cost containment initiatives announced previously, the oil and gas contract driller expects to lower its cost structure by a further $25 million annually. This brings the total yearly savings to more than $75 million.
Zacks Rank & Key Picks
Helmerich & Payne holds a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold).
Meanwhile, investors interested in the energy space could look at some better options like Bonanza Creek Energy, Inc. , USA Compression Partners, LP (USAC - Free Report) and Chevron (CVX - Free Report) . Bonanza Creek and USA Compression Partners sport a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy), while Chevron carries a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy).
You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.
Over 30 days, San Ramon, CA-based Chevron has seen the Zacks Consensus Estimate for 2020 increase 196.3%.
Bonanza Creek Energy has an excellent earnings surprise history having surpassed estimates in each of the last four quarters, the average being 8.7%.
USA Compression Partners has a 100% track of outperforming estimates over the last four quarters at an average rate of 162.5%.
Today's Best Stocks from Zacks
Would you like to see the updated picks from our best market-beating strategies? From 2017 through 2019, while the S&P 500 gained an impressive +53.6%, five of our strategies returned +65.8%, +97.1%, +118.0%, +175.7% and even +186.7%.
This outperformance has not just been a recent phenomenon. From 2000 – 2019, while the S&P averaged +6.0% per year, our top strategies averaged up to +54.7% per year.
See their latest picks free >>