NOBLE CORPORATION PLC ANNOUNCES SECOND QUARTER 2024 RESULTS
Rhea-AI Summary
Noble plc (NYSE: NE) reported strong Q2 2024 results, with Net Income of $195 million and Adjusted EBITDA of $271 million, up 48% sequentially. The company announced the acquisition of Diamond Offshore Drilling, expected to close by Q1 2025. Noble increased its Q3 dividend to $0.50 per share, the highest in the U.S. oilfield services sector. Full Year 2024 Adjusted EBITDA guidance was narrowed to $950-$1,000 million.
Contract drilling services revenue increased to $661 million, with marketed fleet utilization at 78%. The company's backlog stands at $4.2 billion as of July 31, 2024. Noble updated its 2024 guidance, increasing total revenue to $2,650-$2,750 million. The company expects continued growth in the deepwater market from late 2025 and 2026, driven by sizeable development programs.
Positive
- Net Income increased to $195 million in Q2 2024, up from $95 million in Q1 2024
- Adjusted EBITDA rose to $271 million, a 48% sequential improvement
- Contract drilling services revenue increased to $661 million from $612 million in Q1 2024
- Marketed fleet utilization improved to 78% from 72% in the previous quarter
- Quarterly dividend increased by 25% to $0.50 per share for Q3 2024
- Total backlog of $4.2 billion as of July 31, 2024
- Full Year 2024 total revenue guidance increased to $2,650-$2,750 million
Negative
- Free cash flow was negative at $(26) million due to significant working capital build
- Flat demand expected until mid-2025, potentially impacting near-term growth
News Market Reaction
On the day this news was published, NE declined 5.51%, reflecting a notable negative market reaction.
Data tracked by StockTitan Argus on the day of publication.
- Announced acquisition of Diamond Offshore Drilling, Inc. ("Diamond"), bolstering a leading position in deepwater; transaction expected to close by Q1 2025.
- Q2 Net Income of
, Diluted Earnings Per Share of$195 million , Adjusted EBITDA of$1.34 , net cash provided by operating activities of$271 million , and Free Cash Flow of$107 million .$(26) million - As previously announced, Q3 dividend increased to
per share, establishing the current highest dividend payout in$0.50 U.S. oilfield services sector. - Guidance for Full Year 2024 Adjusted EBITDA narrowed to
(from$950 -$1,000 million ).$925 -$1,025 million
Three Months Ended | ||||||
(in millions, except per share amounts) | June 30, 2024 | June 30, 2023 | March 31, | |||
Total Revenue | $ 693 | $ 639 | $ 637 | |||
Contract Drilling Services Revenue | 661 | 606 | 612 | |||
Net Income (Loss) | 195 | 66 | 95 | |||
Adjusted EBITDA* | 271 | 188 | 183 | |||
Adjusted Net Income (Loss)* | 105 | 56 | 66 | |||
Basic Earnings (Loss) Per Share | 1.37 | 0.48 | 0.67 | |||
Diluted Earnings (Loss) Per Share | 1.34 | 0.45 | 0.66 | |||
Adjusted Diluted Earnings (Loss) Per Share* | 0.72 | 0.38 | 0.45 | |||
* A Non-GAAP supporting schedule is included with the statements and schedules attached to this press release. | ||||||
Robert W. Eifler, President and Chief Executive Officer of Noble Corporation plc, stated "Our second quarter results reflect a strong earnings improvement driven by key contract startups, resulting in a
Second Quarter Results
Contract drilling services revenue for the second quarter of 2024 totaled
Balance Sheet and Capital Allocation
The Company's balance sheet as of June 30, 2024, reflected total debt principal value of
Operating Highlights and Backlog
Noble's marketed fleet of sixteen floaters was
Utilization of Noble's thirteen marketed jackups improved to
Subsequent to last quarter's earnings press release, new contracts for Noble's fleet with total contract value of approximately
- Noble Stanley Lafosse received an extension from
Murphy by the exercise of five option wells in the Gulf ofMexico , an additional scope of based on an estimated one year duration extending into February 2026.$177 million - Noble Innovator received an extension from BP in the
UK North Sea by exercise of priced options for an estimated duration of approximately 8 months at a dayrate of .$155,000 - Noble Resolve has been awarded a contract from Central European Petroleum for one well with estimated duration of 45 days offshore
Poland at a dayrate of plus mobilization and demobilization which is expected to commence in September 2024. The rig was also awarded a contract from an undisclosed operator in$140,000 Spain for a 13-well P&A scope valued at approximately (including mobilization and demobilization) that is expected to commence in Q2 2025 for an estimated 170 days.$40 million - Noble Resilient was awarded a one-well intervention contract from Harbour Energy with an estimated 30-70 day duration commencing in July 2024.
- Noble Regina Allen received an extension from TotalEnergies by the exercise of two priced option wells at
per day in$150,000 Argentina with estimated duration of 60 days.
Noble's backlog as of July 31, 2024, stands at
Outlook
For the full year 2024, Noble is updating its guidance as follows: Total revenue increases and narrows to a range of
Commenting on Noble's outlook, Mr. Eifler stated, "Deepwater fundamentals remain firm, and key indicators continue to support meaningful additional growth over the course of this cycle. Although demand has been flat over the past twelve months and appears likely to remain approximately flat into mid 2025, we expect several sizeable development programs will drive another leg of growth from late 2025 and 2026. Notwithstanding this expected moderated EBITDA trajectory throughout this transition period with continuing white space impacts, Noble has now reached a free cash flow inflection point, and we intend to continue to drive shareholder value by directing essentially all free cash flow to dividends and share repurchases."
Noble's outlook does not include any impact of its pending acquisition of Diamond.
Due to the forward-looking nature of Adjusted EBITDA, management cannot reliably predict certain of the necessary components of the most directly comparable forward-looking GAAP measure. Accordingly, the Company is unable to present a quantitative reconciliation of such forward-looking non-GAAP financial measure to the most directly comparable forward-looking GAAP financial measure without unreasonable effort. The unavailable information could have a significant effect on Noble's full year 2024 GAAP financial results.
Conference Call
Noble will host a conference call related to its second quarter 2024 results on Thursday, August 1st, 2024, at 8:00 a.m.
For additional information, visit www.noblecorp.com or email investors@noblecorp.com.
About Noble Corporation plc
Noble is a leading offshore drilling contractor for the oil and gas industry. The Company owns and operates one of the most modern, versatile, and technically advanced fleets in the offshore drilling industry. Noble and its predecessors have been engaged in the contract drilling of oil and gas wells since 1921. Noble performs, through its subsidiaries, contract drilling services with a fleet of offshore drilling units focused largely on ultra-deepwater and high specification jackup drilling opportunities in both established and emerging regions worldwide. Additional information on Noble is available at www.noblecorp.com.
Dividend Details
Dividends payable to Noble shareholders will generally be paid in
Forward-looking Statements
This communication includes "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act and Section 21E of the Exchange Act, as amended. All statements other than statements of historical facts included in this communication are forward looking statements, including those regarding future guidance, including revenue, adjusted EBITDA, the offshore drilling market and demand fundamentals, realization and timing of integration synergies, costs, the benefits or results of acquisitions or dispositions such as the acquisition of Diamond Offshore Drilling, Inc. (the "Diamond Transaction") free cash flow expectations, capital expenditure, capital additions, capital allocation expectations including planned dividends and share repurchases, contract backlog, rig demand, expected future contracts, anticipated contract start dates, major project schedules, dayrates and duration, fleet condition and utilization, realization and timing of insurance recoverables and 2024 financial guidance. Forward-looking statements involve risks, uncertainties and assumptions, and actual results may differ materially from any future results expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. When used in this communication, or in the documents incorporated by reference, the words "anticipate," "believe," "continue," "could," "estimate," "expect," "guidance," "intend," "may," "might," "on track," "plan," "possible," "potential," "predict," "project," "should," "would," "achieve," "shall," "target," "will" and similar expressions are intended to be among the statements that identify forward-looking statements. Although we believe that the expectations reflected in such forward-looking statements are reasonable, we cannot assure you that such expectations will prove to be correct. These forward-looking statements speak only as of the date of this communication and we undertake no obligation to revise or update any forward-looking statement for any reason, except as required by law. Risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, those detailed in Noble's most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K, Quarterly Reports Form 10-Q and other filings with the
NOBLE CORPORATION plc AND SUBSIDIARIES CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS (In thousands, except per share amounts) | ||||||||
Three Months Ended June 30, | Six Months Ended June 30, | |||||||
2024 | 2023 | 2024 | 2023 | |||||
Operating revenues | ||||||||
Contract drilling services | $ 660,710 | $ 606,180 | $ 1,273,135 | $ 1,181,470 | ||||
Reimbursables and other | 32,134 | 32,355 | 56,793 | 67,119 | ||||
692,844 | 638,535 | 1,329,928 | 1,248,589 | |||||
Operating costs and expenses | ||||||||
Contract drilling services | 335,854 | 362,533 | 725,721 | 724,322 | ||||
Reimbursables | 23,331 | 24,796 | 41,011 | 50,802 | ||||
Depreciation and amortization | 90,770 | 71,324 | 177,468 | 141,266 | ||||
General and administrative | 39,669 | 32,352 | 65,630 | 62,389 | ||||
Merger and integration costs | 10,618 | 22,452 | 19,949 | 34,083 | ||||
(Gain) loss on sale of operating assets, net | (17,357) | — | (17,357) | — | ||||
Hurricane losses and (recoveries), net | — | 15,934 | — | 19,478 | ||||
482,885 | 529,391 | 1,012,422 | 1,032,340 | |||||
Operating income (loss) | 209,959 | 109,144 | 317,506 | 216,249 | ||||
Other income (expense) | ||||||||
Interest expense, net of amounts capitalized | (11,996) | (14,662) | (29,540) | (31,534) | ||||
Gain (loss) on extinguishment of debt, net | — | (26,397) | — | (26,397) | ||||
Interest income and other, net | (8,183) | (2,940) | (12,918) | (914) | ||||
Income (loss) before income taxes | 189,780 | 65,145 | 275,048 | 157,404 | ||||
Income tax benefit (provision) | 5,228 | 671 | 15,441 | 16,475 | ||||
Net income (loss) | $ 195,008 | $ 65,816 | $ 290,489 | $ 173,879 | ||||
Per share data | ||||||||
Basic: | ||||||||
Net income (loss) | $ 1.37 | $ 0.48 | $ 2.04 | $ 1.27 | ||||
Diluted: | ||||||||
Net income (loss) | $ 1.34 | $ 0.45 | $ 1.99 | $ 1.19 | ||||
NOBLE CORPORATION plc AND SUBSIDIARIES CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (In thousands) (Unaudited) | ||||
June 30, 2024 | December 31, 2023 | |||
ASSETS | ||||
Current assets | ||||
Cash and cash equivalents | $ 162,852 | $ 360,794 | ||
Accounts receivable, net | 637,034 | 548,844 | ||
Prepaid expenses and other current assets | 186,979 | 152,110 | ||
Total current assets | 986,865 | 1,061,748 | ||
Intangible assets | 4,356 | 10,128 | ||
Property and equipment, at cost | 4,853,998 | 4,591,936 | ||
Accumulated depreciation | (640,185) | (467,600) | ||
Property and equipment, net | 4,213,813 | 4,124,336 | ||
Other assets | 382,100 | 311,225 | ||
Total assets | $ 5,587,134 | $ 5,507,437 | ||
LIABILITIES AND EQUITY | ||||
Current liabilities | ||||
Accounts payable | $ 340,161 | $ 395,165 | ||
Accrued payroll and related costs | 68,179 | 97,313 | ||
Other current liabilities | 228,658 | 149,202 | ||
Total current liabilities | 636,998 | 641,680 | ||
Long-term debt | 622,051 | 586,203 | ||
Other liabilities | 340,842 | 307,451 | ||
Noncurrent contract liabilities | 2,241 | 50,863 | ||
Total liabilities | 1,602,132 | 1,586,197 | ||
Commitments and contingencies | ||||
Total shareholders' equity | 3,985,002 | 3,921,240 | ||
Total liabilities and equity | $ 5,587,134 | $ 5,507,437 | ||
NOBLE CORPORATION plc AND SUBSIDIARIES CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS (In thousands) (Unaudited) | |||
Six Months Ended June 30, | |||
2024 | 2023 | ||
Cash flows from operating activities | |||
Net income (loss) | $ 290,489 | $ 173,879 | |
Adjustments to reconcile net income (loss) to net cash flow from operating activities: | |||
Depreciation and amortization | 177,468 | 141,266 | |
Amortization of intangible assets and contract liabilities, net | (42,850) | (84,737) | |
(Gain) loss on extinguishment of debt, net | — | 26,397 | |
(Gain) loss on sale of operating assets, net | (17,357) | — | |
Changes in components of working capital and other operating activities | (172,270) | (108,725) | |
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities | 235,480 | 148,080 | |
Cash flows from investing activities | |||
Capital expenditures | (307,651) | (169,530) | |
Proceeds from insurance claims | 8,528 | — | |
Proceeds from disposal of assets, net | (690) | — | |
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities | (299,813) | (169,530) | |
Cash flows from financing activities | |||
Issuance of debt | — | 600,000 | |
Borrowings on credit facilities | 35,000 | — | |
Repayments of debt | — | (673,411) | |
Debt extinguishment costs | — | (25,697) | |
Debt issuance costs | — | (24,914) | |
Warrants exercised | 282 | 102 | |
Share repurchases | — | (70,000) | |
Dividend payments | (116,581) | — | |
Taxes withheld on employee stock transactions | (53,627) | (8,355) | |
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities | (134,926) | (202,275) | |
Net increase (decrease) in cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash | (199,259) | (223,725) | |
Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash, beginning of period | 367,745 | 485,707 | |
Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash, end of period | $ 168,486 | $ 261,982 | |
NOBLE CORPORATION plc AND SUBSIDIARIES OPERATIONAL INFORMATION (Unaudited) | |||||
Average Rig Utilization (1) | |||||
Three Months Ended | Three Months Ended | Three Months Ended | |||
June 30, 2024 | March 31, 2024 | June 30, 2023 | |||
Floaters | 70 % | 64 % | 76 % | ||
Jackups | 77 % | 67 % | 62 % | ||
Total | 73 % | 65 % | 70 % | ||
Operating Days | |||||
Three Months Ended | Three Months Ended | Three Months Ended | |||
June 30, 2024 | March 31, 2024 | June 30, 2023 | |||
Floaters | 1,138 | 1,101 | 1,305 | ||
Jackups | 914 | 794 | 786 | ||
Total | 2,052 | 1,895 | 2,091 | ||
Average Dayrates | |||||
Three Months Ended | Three Months Ended | Three Months Ended | |||
June 30, 2024 | March 31, 2024 | June 30, 2023 | |||
Floaters | $ 435,677 | $ 433,608 | $ 363,167 | ||
Jackups | 155,585 | 144,187 | 128,885 | ||
Total | $ 310,962 | $ 312,502 | $ 275,066 | ||
(1) Average Rig Utilization statistics include all marketed and cold stacked rigs. |
NOBLE CORPORATION plc AND SUBSIDIARIES CALCULATION OF BASIC AND DILUTED NET INCOME/(LOSS) PER SHARE (In thousands, except per share amounts) (Unaudited) | ||||||||
The following tables presents the computation of basic and diluted income (loss) per share: | ||||||||
Three Months Ended June 30, | Six Months Ended June 30, | |||||||
2024 | 2023 | 2024 | 2023 | |||||
Numerator: | ||||||||
Net income (loss) | $ 195,008 | $ 65,816 | $ 290,489 | $ 173,879 | ||||
Denominator: | ||||||||
Weighted average shares outstanding - basic | 142,854 | 138,058 | 142,404 | 136,502 | ||||
Dilutive effect of share-based awards | 1,559 | 3,242 | 1,559 | 3,242 | ||||
Dilutive effect of warrants | 1,647 | 5,692 | 1,651 | 6,810 | ||||
Weighted average shares outstanding - diluted | 146,060 | 146,992 | 145,614 | 146,554 | ||||
Per share data | ||||||||
Basic: | ||||||||
Net income (loss) | $ 1.37 | $ 0.48 | $ 2.04 | $ 1.27 | ||||
Diluted: | ||||||||
Net income (loss) | $ 1.34 | $ 0.45 | $ 1.99 | $ 1.19 | ||||
NOBLE CORPORATION plc AND SUBSIDIARIES
NON-GAAP MEASURES AND RECONCILIATION
Certain non-GAAP measures and corresponding reconciliations to GAAP financial measures for the Company have been provided for meaningful comparisons between current results and prior operating periods. Generally, a non-GAAP financial measure is a numerical measure of a company's performance, financial position, or cash flows that excludes or includes amounts that are not normally included or excluded in the most directly comparable measure calculated and presented in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles.
The Company defines "Adjusted EBITDA" as net income (loss) adjusted for interest expense, net of amounts capitalized; interest income and other, net; income tax benefit (provision); and depreciation and amortization expense, as well as, if applicable, gain (loss) on extinguishment of debt, net; losses on economic impairments; amortization of intangible assets and contract liabilities, net; restructuring and similar charges; costs related to mergers and integrations; and certain other infrequent operational events. We believe that the Adjusted EBITDA measure provides greater transparency of our core operating performance. We prepare Adjusted Net Income (Loss) by eliminating from Net Income (Loss) the impact of a number of non-recurring items we do not consider indicative of our on-going performance. We prepare Adjusted Diluted Earnings (Loss) per Share by eliminating from Diluted Earnings per Share the impact of a number of non-recurring items we do not consider indicative of our on-going performance. Similar to Adjusted EBITDA, we believe these measures help identify underlying trends that could otherwise be masked by the effect of the non-recurring items we exclude in the measure.
The Company also discloses free cash flow as a non-GAAP liquidity measure. Free cash flow is calculated as Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities less cash paid for capital expenditures. We believe Free Cash Flow is useful to investors because it measures our ability to generate or use cash. Once business needs and obligations are met, this cash can be used to reinvest in the company for future growth or to return to shareholders through dividend payments or share repurchases. We may have certain obligations such as non-discretionary debt service that are not deducted from the measure. Such business needs, obligations, and other non-discretionary expenditures that are not deducted from Free Cash Flow would reduce cash available for other uses including return of capital.
We believe that these non-GAAP financial measures provide useful information about our financial performance, enhance the overall understanding of our past performance and future prospects, and allow for greater transparency with respect to key metrics used by our management team for financial and operational decision-making. We are presenting these non-GAAP financial measures to assist investors in seeing our financial performance through the eyes of management, and because we believe that these measures provide an additional tool for investors to use in comparing our core financial performance over multiple periods with other companies in our industry.
These non-GAAP adjusted measures should be considered in addition to, and not as a substitute for, or superior to, contract drilling revenue, contract drilling costs, contract drilling margin, average daily revenue, operating income, cash flows from operations, or other measures of financial performance prepared in accordance with GAAP. Please see the following non-GAAP Financial Measures and Reconciliations for a complete description of the adjustments.
NOBLE CORPORATION plc AND SUBSIDIARIES NON-GAAP MEASURES AND RECONCILIATION (In thousands, except per share amounts) (Unaudited)
| ||||||
Reconciliation of Adjusted EBITDA | ||||||
Three Months Ended June 30, | Three Months Ended | |||||
2024 | 2023 | March 31, 2024 | ||||
Net income (loss) | $ 195,008 | $ 65,816 | $ 95,481 | |||
Income tax (benefit) provision | (5,228) | (671) | (10,213) | |||
Interest expense, net of amounts capitalized | 11,996 | 14,662 | 17,544 | |||
Interest income and other, net | 8,183 | 2,940 | 4,735 | |||
Depreciation and amortization | 90,770 | 71,324 | 86,698 | |||
Amortization of intangible assets and contract liabilities, net | (22,497) | (31,009) | (20,353) | |||
(Gain) loss on extinguishment of debt, net | — | 26,397 | — | |||
Merger and integration costs | 10,618 | 22,452 | 9,331 | |||
(Gain) loss on sale of operating assets, net | (17,357) | — | — | |||
Hurricane losses and (recoveries), net | — | 15,934 | — | |||
Adjusted EBITDA | $ 271,493 | $ 187,845 | $ 183,223 | |||
Reconciliation of Income Tax Benefit (Provision) | ||||||
Three Months Ended June 30, | Three Months Ended | |||||
2024 | 2023 | March 31, 2024 | ||||
Income tax benefit (provision) | $ 5,228 | $ 671 | $ 10,213 | |||
Adjustments | ||||||
Amortization of intangible assets and contract liabilities, net | 101 | 3,747 | 58 | |||
Gain (loss) on sale of operating assets, net | 2,500 | — | — | |||
Discrete tax items | (63,067) | (47,601) | (18,528) | |||
Total Adjustments | (60,466) | (43,854) | (18,470) | |||
Adjusted income tax benefit (provision) | $ (55,238) | $ (43,183) | $ (8,257) | |||
NOBLE CORPORATION plc AND SUBSIDIARIES NON-GAAP MEASURES AND RECONCILIATION (In thousands, except per share amounts) (Unaudited)
| ||||||
Reconciliation of Net Income (Loss) | ||||||
Three Months Ended June 30, | Three Months Ended | |||||
2024 | 2023 | March 31, 2024 | ||||
Net income (loss) | $ 195,008 | $ 65,816 | $ 95,481 | |||
Adjustments | ||||||
Amortization of intangible assets and contract liabilities, net | (22,396) | (27,262) | (20,295) | |||
Merger and integration costs | 10,618 | 22,452 | 9,331 | |||
(Gain) loss on sale of operating assets, net | (14,857) | — | — | |||
Hurricane losses and (recoveries), net | — | 15,934 | — | |||
(Gain) loss on extinguishment of debt, net | — | 26,397 | — | |||
Discrete tax items | (63,067) | (47,601) | (18,528) | |||
Total Adjustments | (89,702) | (10,080) | (29,492) | |||
Adjusted net income (loss) | $ 105,306 | $ 55,736 | $ 65,989 | |||
Reconciliation of Diluted EPS | ||||||
Three Months Ended June 30, | Three Months Ended | |||||
2024 | 2023 | March 31, 2024 | ||||
Unadjusted diluted EPS | $ 1.34 | $ 0.45 | $ 0.66 | |||
Adjustments | ||||||
Amortization of intangible assets and contract liabilities, net | (0.15) | (0.19) | (0.14) | |||
Merger and integration costs | 0.06 | 0.15 | 0.06 | |||
(Gain) loss on sale of operating assets, net | (0.10) | — | — | |||
Hurricane losses and (recoveries), net | — | 0.11 | — | |||
(Gain) loss on extinguishment of debt, net | — | 0.18 | — | |||
Discrete tax items | (0.43) | (0.32) | (0.13) | |||
Total Adjustments | (0.62) | (0.07) | (0.21) | |||
Adjusted diluted EPS | $ 0.72 | $ 0.38 | $ 0.45 | |||
Reconciliation of Free Cash Flow | ||||||
Three Months Ended June 30, | Three Months Ended | |||||
2024 | 2023 | March 31, 2024 | ||||
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities | $ 106,791 | $ 211,160 | $ 128,689 | |||
Capital expenditures, net of proceeds from insurance claims | (132,513) | (106,796) | (166,610) | |||
Free cash flow | $ (25,722) | $ 104,364 | $ (37,921) | |||
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SOURCE Noble Corporation plc