Halliburton (NYSE: HAL) reported Q1 EPS of $0.31, $0.07 better than the analyst estimate of $0.24. Revenue for the quarter came in at $5.04 billion versus the consensus estimate of $5.01 billion.

COVID-19 Pandemic and Market Conditions Update

The COVID-19 pandemic and related economic repercussions have created significant volatility, uncertainty, and turmoil in the oil and gas industry. Oil demand has significantly deteriorated as a result of the virus outbreak and corresponding preventative measures taken around the world to mitigate the spread of the virus. In the midst of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries and other oil producing nations (OPEC+) were unable to reach an agreement on production levels for crude oil, at which point Saudi Arabia and Russia initiated efforts to aggressively increase production. The convergence of these events created the unprecedented dual impact of a global oil demand decline coupled with the risk of a substantial increase in supply. While OPEC+ agreed in April to cut production, downward pressure on commodity prices has remained and could continue for the foreseeable future.

These events have negatively affected and are expected to continue to negatively affect Halliburton’s business. Demand for the Company’s products and services is declining as its customers revise their capital budgets downwards and adjust their operations in response to lower oil prices. In addition, Halliburton is facing logistical challenges, including border closures, travel restrictions and an inability to commute to certain facilities and job sites, as the Company provides services and products to its customers. The Company is also experiencing inefficiencies surrounding stay-at-home orders and remote work arrangements.

Given the dynamic nature of these events, Halliburton cannot reasonably estimate the period of time that the COVID-19 pandemic and related market conditions will persist, the extent of the impact they will have on the Company’s business, liquidity, consolidated results of operations and consolidated financial condition, or the pace of any subsequent recovery. The financial results for the first quarter of 2020 reflect some of the reduced activity experienced towards the latter part of the quarter in various locations around the world. For the remainder of 2020, the Company expects a further decline in revenue and profitability, particularly in North America.

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