Company Description
NOV Inc. (NYSE: NOV) is an energy technology company that delivers technology-driven solutions to empower the global energy industry. According to the company’s public statements, NOV has been active for more than 150 years, developing innovations that help customers safely and efficiently produce abundant energy while working to minimize environmental impact. The company describes its role as powering "the industry that powers the world."
NOV is classified in the Oil and Gas Field Machinery and Equipment Manufacturing industry within the broader manufacturing sector. The company designs, manufactures, and provides equipment and components used in energy and industrial markets. NOV’s technology and equipment are used in applications such as drilling, production, and related industrial operations, including offshore and onshore environments. Its offerings support oil and gas development, natural gas infrastructure, and a range of industrial projects where reliable energy and process systems are critical.
NOV reports its business through segments that include Energy Products and Services and Energy Equipment. Energy Products and Services generates revenue from shorter-cycle consumable products and capital equipment offerings that support drilling and well operations. Energy Equipment focuses on capital equipment and systems, including offshore production-related equipment and other large-scale infrastructure solutions, often delivered from a growing backlog of orders. These segments reflect NOV’s mix of consumable tools, digital technologies, and long-cycle capital equipment.
Core business activities and technologies
Based on recent company disclosures, NOV is involved in:
- Drilling technologies and tools, including downhole drilling and completions technologies, drilling motors, drill bits, friction reduction tools, and liner hanger and cementing tools used in unconventional and conventional wells.
- Rig automation and digital solutions, such as NOVOS™ process automation, Multi Machine Control (MMC), Max™ Platform services, remote drilling monitoring, and edge-to-cloud systems that use real-time data, smart alarms, and AI-driven insights to improve drilling performance and operational efficiency.
- Offshore production and subsea systems, including flexible riser and flowline systems, Active Heated flexible riser technology to address flow assurance challenges in deepwater environments, and APL™ Submerged Swivel and Yoke (SSY) systems that support floating LNG projects and enable continuous gas transfer.
- Process and gas systems, such as monoethylene glycol (MEG) reclamation and recovery systems for offshore and gas infrastructure projects in regions like the Black Sea and Eastern Mediterranean.
- Composite and piping solutions, including composite piping systems, underground diesel storage solutions, and specialized pipe products used for produced water infrastructure and backup power at data center facilities.
- Well intervention and coiled tubing equipment, including coiled tubing units, nitrogen converters, pressure control equipment, injector heads, monitoring systems, and lift frames for well intervention operations.
These activities show NOV’s focus on technologies that enhance drilling performance, improve safety, support complex offshore and onshore projects, and enable customers to operate in demanding environments.
Digital, AI, and edge computing initiatives
NOV is active in digitalization and AI-enabled operations. The company highlights:
- Use of Max Platform and related digital services to provide real-time insights, standardized data aggregation, and remote drilling monitoring.
- Deployment of rig automation and robotic systems, such as ATOM™ RTX robotic technology and Red Zone Manager™ safety systems, to reduce manual work in hazardous areas and improve consistency.
- A collaboration with Armada, an edge infrastructure and AI company, to launch Beacon, a compact edge device integrated with Armada Edge Platform and NOV’s edge infrastructure. This ruggedized edge computing platform is deployed at industrial sites, including offshore rigs and well sites, to process sensor, video, and control data close to the source and enable AI-driven use cases like predictive maintenance, safety monitoring, and operational optimization.
Through these initiatives, NOV positions its digital and automation technologies as tools that help customers reduce downtime, enhance safety, and optimize operations in remote and harsh environments.
Energy transition and adjacent markets
NOV states that the energy industry depends on its expertise and technology to improve oilfield operations and assist in efforts to advance the energy transition toward a more sustainable future. The company’s equipment and systems support natural gas developments, offshore wind projects, and infrastructure for data centers and other industrial users that require reliable power and process systems.
NOV has also engaged with advanced nuclear power through its former advanced nuclear development company, Shepherd Power. NOV announced the sale of Shepherd Power to Natura Resources, a developer of advanced molten salt small modular reactor (SMR) technology, in a stock-for-stock transaction. In connection with this transaction, NOV became an investor in Natura and signed a memorandum of understanding to provide manufacturing, supply chain, and project management expertise to support scaled deployment of Natura’s advanced nuclear reactors. This collaboration is intended to align Natura’s molten salt reactor design with NOV’s manufacturing footprint and procurement capabilities, particularly for data center and industrial markets.
Operational performance and segment dynamics
In recent quarters, NOV has reported financial results that reflect its exposure to global energy and industrial activity. The company has noted:
- Demand for offshore production equipment and natural gas development projects, with bookings and backlog in its Energy Equipment segment supporting long-term revenue.
- Variability in shorter-cycle products tied to global drilling activity, affecting Energy Products and Services revenues and margins.
- Impacts from tariffs, inflationary pressures, and shifts in sales mix, which the company has addressed through cost control initiatives, facility consolidations, and supply chain adjustments.
- Strong free cash flow generation in certain periods, and capital returns to shareholders through share repurchases and dividends, as disclosed in its earnings releases.
These disclosures illustrate how NOV’s performance is influenced by offshore investment cycles, onshore drilling activity, and broader macroeconomic conditions in energy and industrial markets.
Corporate governance and leadership
NOV is a publicly traded company listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol NOV. The company has reported governance developments through its SEC filings. For example, an 8-K filing disclosed that the board increased its size and appointed the company’s President and Chief Operating Officer, Jose A. Bayardo, to the board as part of a long-term succession plan. Another 8-K reported that Clay C. Williams, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, informed the board of his intention to resign from the board and retire from the company, and that Mr. Bayardo would become Chairman, President, and Chief Executive Officer on a specified effective date, with Mr. Williams continuing in an advisory capacity until his retirement date.
These filings indicate an emphasis on succession planning and leadership continuity, with the board documenting changes in executive roles and related compensation adjustments through formal SEC disclosures.
Dividends and capital allocation
NOV’s board has declared regular quarterly cash dividends, as noted in multiple press releases. The company has also reported share repurchases and other capital returns to shareholders. These actions are part of its capital allocation approach, which includes returning capital while investing in technology, manufacturing capabilities, and strategic collaborations such as its relationship with Natura Resources and digital partnerships.
Industry role
Within the oil and gas field machinery and equipment manufacturing industry, NOV positions itself as a global provider of equipment, components, and technology that support drilling, production, and energy infrastructure projects. Its activities span offshore and onshore oil and gas, natural gas developments, offshore wind vessel equipment, data center infrastructure, and emerging areas like advanced nuclear power supply chains and edge AI for industrial operations. Across these areas, NOV emphasizes safety, efficiency, and environmental considerations in the design and deployment of its technologies.