Precision Drilling (NYSE: PDS) reported Q3 EPS of ($0.10), $0.05 worse than the analyst estimate of ($0.05). Revenue for the quarter came in at $165 million versus the consensus estimate of $308.31 million.

Precision Drilling announces 2020 third quarter financial results:

• Revenue of $165 million was a decrease of 56% compared with the third quarter of 2019.
• Net loss of $28 million or negative $0.10 per diluted share compared with a net loss of $4 million or negative $0.01 per diluted share in 2019.
• Earnings before income taxes, gain on repurchase of unsecured senior notes, finance charges, foreign exchange, impairment reversal, gain on asset disposals and depreciation and amortization (Adjusted EBITDA, see “NON-GAAP MEASURES”) of $48 million as compared with $98 million in the third quarter of 2019.
• Generated cash and funds provided by operations (see “NON-GAAP MEASURES”) of $42 million and $27 million, respectively.
• Third quarter ending cash balance was $178 million, an increase of $3 million from June 30, 2020.
• Third quarter capital expenditures were $3 million.
• Reduced our unsecured senior notes balance by $159 million, recognizing a gain on repurchase of $28 million, and drew $123 million under our Senior Credit Facility. Our debt reduction included the full retirement of our 6.50% unsecured senior notes due 2021.
• Subsequent to September 30, 2020, we repurchased and cancelled US$14 million of our 7.75% unsecured senior notes due 2023, recognizing a gain on repurchase of $5 million.
• Recognized restructuring charges of $2 million and the Canadian government’s Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy (CEWS) program assistance of $8 million.

Precision’s President and CEO, Kevin Neveu stated:

“Precision’s third quarter results reflect better than expected financial performance as we generated $48 million in Adjusted EBITDA and $42 million in cash provided by operations, with results driven by excellent field performance and cost control throughout the organization. We accelerated debt reduction during the quarter and executed further debt repurchases in October, reducing debt by approximately $125 million year to date, reaching the mid-point of our 2020 targeted debt reduction range. Since 2018, Precision has reduced debt levels by over $500 million and remains on track to reach our long-term debt reduction target of $700 million by the end of 2022. We have retired the balance of our 2021 unsecured senior notes, utilizing our revolver to lower interest costs and create flexibility for future debt reduction, while preserving a strong liquidity position. These actions position us with increased financial strength with no maturities until late 2023, further enhancing our ability to persevere through a prolonged market downturn and capture value in a market recovery.”

“Our global scale, High Performance Super Triple rig fleet and stringent cost management drove strong third quarter market share and field margins in all of our core geographies. We have executed on key structural changes within Precision, including fixed cost and spending reductions and exiting underperforming business lines, all of which will reduce total 2020 cash outflows by up to $150 million. We expect to meet our targeted annualized fixed cost reductions of 35%, which includes normalized general and administrative expense savings of over $30 million and have positioned the business to sustain these savings in an increasing activity environment. A notable highlight is the success of our recently implemented SAP cloud platform, which has automated several administrative functions throughout the organization. This system has enabled significant and permanent cost savings and remains a major driver of the long-term structural cost improvements we have implemented. We believe our core business lines and lean cost structure position us well for the inevitable recovery, further promoting our operational leverage and strong cash flow generation capabilities.”

“Precision reinforced our digital leadership position during the quarter by not only increasing utilization of the Alpha suite of technologies on our Super Series rigs, but also through leveraging repeatable and proven field results to enhance our value proposition to existing Alpha customers and engaging in Alpha discussions with over a dozen new customer accounts. Precision currently has 39 Alpha-Rigs throughout North America, which are fully digitally enabled, pad-walking AC Super Triples equipped with AlphaAutomation and a platform to deploy AlphaApps and AlphaAnalytics. To date, these rigs have drilled approximately 1,700 wells in both the U.S. and Canada and have been fully commercialized in numerous basins for more than one year. We remain excited about our growing AlphaApps and AlphaAnalytics portfolio, which have further enhanced the value creation abilities of our Alpha-Rigs. To date we have 18 AlphaApps, six of which are commercial, generating over 1,650 App-days this year. We believe Precision’s Alpha technology is the industry’s leading digital platform which enables our customers to sustainably lower their drilling costs, critically important in this depressed commodity price environment. For Precision, Alpha is easily scalable across our standardized AC Super Triple fleet as industry activity levels improve.”

“In the U.S, we have seen rig counts improve from third quarter lows back to 25 rigs running today and expect additional rig deployments to occur into year-end. In Canada, the seasonal activity recovery to date has been largely led by deeper, gas and liquid-rich plays and is expected to continue into the winter season with a modestly improved outlook with 26 rigs running today. Internationally, Precision has six contracted rigs operating in Kuwait and Saudi Arabia, which will continue to generate excellent operational results for our customers and stable cash flow for Precision. We remain optimistic about re-contracting opportunities for additional rigs in Kuwait in the near term.”

“We remain on track to deliver on our 2020 strategic priorities, including our long-term deleveraging targets, while ensuring we preserve strong liquidity. We believe our assets, people, technology and cost focus will be primary vehicles for continuing our strong cash generation into 2021 while we remain ideally positioned for the inevitable industry rebound,” concluded Mr. Neveu.

IMPACT OF COVID-19

In March 2020, the Novel Coronavirus (“COVID-19”) outbreak was declared a pandemic by the World Health Organization. Governments worldwide, including those countries in which Precision operates, have enacted emergency measures to combat the spread of the virus. These measures, which include the implementation of travel bans, self-imposed quarantine periods and social distancing, have caused a material disruption to businesses globally resulting in an economic slowdown and decreased demand for oil. Governments and central banks have reacted with significant monetary and fiscal interventions designed to stabilize economic conditions; however, the long-term success of these interventions is not yet determinable.

As a result of the decrease in demand, worldwide inventories of oil have increased significantly. However, voluntary production restraint from national oil companies and governments of oil-producing nations along with curtailments in the U.S. and Canada have shifted global oil markets from a position of over supply to inventory draws. The situation remains dynamic and the ultimate duration and magnitude of the impact on the economy and the financial effect on Precision remains unknown at this time.

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