Nine Energy Services (NYSE: NINE) reported Q1 EPS of ($0.28), $0.43 better than the analyst estimate of ($0.71). Revenue for the quarter came in at $66.63 million versus the consensus estimate of $67.77 million.

“While overall market activity improved quarter over quarter, we saw a much slower start in January versus last year, coupled with weather-related shut-downs in February,” said Ann Fox, President and Chief Executive Officer, Nine Energy Service. “Despite EIA reported completed wells decreasing approximately 3% in Q1 versus Q4, Nine’s revenue increased by approximately 8%, driven mostly by strong activity increases in cementing and completion tools. Pricing has stabilized across service lines but remains extremely depressed. We have begun to feel some tightness, specifically in the labor market, but any potential pricing leverage will depend significantly on the timing and pace of rig and frac crew additions.”

“Our team once again saw an opportunity to purchase additional bonds on the open market at a significant discount to par, lowering our annual cash interest expense, and reducing our overall debt outstanding. During Q1, the Company repurchased $26.3 million par value of bonds for $8.4 million of cash. To date, Nine has repurchased approximately $79.7 million of bonds for $22.9 million leaving $320.3 million of bonds outstanding and an undrawn ABL.”

“We continue to make progress with the commercialization of our new dissolvable plug technology across all basins with our total number of Stinger Dissolvable plugs sold increasing by over 80% quarter over quarter. During the quarter, we also began running trials for our new Scorpion Pincer Composite plug, which is approximately 35% shorter than our current offering.”

“While we continue to see improvements in the market, we are still anticipating a challenging environment in 2021. That said, we expect Q2 to be better sequentially than Q1 with double-digit sequential revenue increases, followed by sequential revenue increases in Q3 over Q2.”

For earnings history and earnings-related data on Nine Energy Services (NINE) click here.