TULSA, Okla.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Helmerich & Payne, Inc. (NYSE:HP):
Operating and Financial Highlights for the Quarter Ended March 31, 2026
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H&P announced consolidated revenue of $932 million, reflecting solid performance despite a dynamic macro environment.
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Consolidated net loss of $(59) million, or $(0.59) per share, which includes the impact of a non-cash impairment charge of $26 million. Adjusted for this and other non-recurring one-time items, adjusted earnings(1) were $(38) million, or $(0.38) per share.
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Consolidated adjusted EBITDA(2) totaled $178 million.
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Expanding deployment of FlexRobotics™ Technology to support growing customer demand.
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North America Solutions (NAS) reported operating income of $111 million and maintained industry‑leading performance with direct margin(3) of $215 million, or $17,628 on a per day basis. The activity outlook continues to strengthen, with clear signs of ongoing improvement.
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International Solutions reported an operating loss of approximately $(100) million and delivered approximately $11.5 million in direct margin(3), maintaining operational continuity despite the conflict in the Middle East.
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Offshore reported operating income of approximately $14 million and generated direct margin(3) of $27 million, exceeding guidance midpoint expectations.
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In early April the Company completed the sale of Utica Square, with after-tax proceeds exceeding the $100 million divestiture target.
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Retired the term loan facility ahead of schedule, reducing post-acquisition debt by $400 million and making significant progress toward deleveraging goals.
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Approximately $25 million was returned to shareholders through the Company’s ongoing dividend program.
Management Commentary
“H&P delivered solid operational performance during the second quarter, reflecting the resilience of our core business and the disciplined execution of our teams,” said President and CEO Trey Adams.
“Regarding the conflict in the Middle East, our primary focus has been on the safety and security of our people in the region. I am pleased to report that our teams have remained focused and safe. We continue to closely monitor developments in the region and despite a fluid environment, our team has done an exceptional job in maintaining continuity of operations, including the planned reactivation of rigs in the region, supported by strong local leadership and the dedication of our people in the region.”
“Turning our attention to the current macro environment, the Middle East conflict has exposed the fragility of the energy complex, and we believe has fundamentally changed the outlook for oil and gas within a matter of months.”
“As a result, customer sentiment in our North America Solutions segment continues to show signs of improvement and we remain optimistic that current crude prices will translate into higher activity. Additionally, we are very encouraged to be advancing the rollout of our FlexRobotics™ Technology to four additional rigs,” Adams said.
“The uptick in Middle East activity that was underway prior to the conflict is now less well defined. Despite that uncertainty, we continue to have constructive dialogue with our partners in the region and remain optimistic that more rigs could go back to work this year.”
“Our Offshore Solutions segment continues to demonstrate its strategic value, supported by long‑term contracts that provide earnings stability through market cycles. We are seeing strong momentum in multi‑year extensions, highlighted by a recent five‑year renewal with bp in the Caspian Sea,” he said.
Senior Vice President and CFO Kevin Vann added, “We were also pleased to announce the closing of the sale of Utica Square, with after‑tax proceeds exceeding our previously communicated $100 million divestiture target. This enabled the retirement of the remaining term‑loan balance, ahead of schedule. This transaction accelerates deleveraging plans and sharpens our focus on core drilling solutions. Our next priority is addressing the $350 million bond maturing in calendar 2027, supported by strong free cash flow generation and the improving North American market environment.”
Adams concluded, “As Kevin Vann prepares to depart the organization, I want to express that it has been an honor to work with him. The stability provided during the KCA Deutag transaction, as well as his substantial contributions to our financial function and balance sheet, have been invaluable. Everyone at H&P sincerely appreciates your service and extends their best wishes for your retirement."
“I am excited to work with Todd Scruggs on navigating the company through this next chapter, energized by the opportunities ahead and the strength of the team advancing our strategy. With a customer‑centric focus, technology leadership and accelerating Western and Eastern Hemisphere growth, we are well positioned to deliver durable, long‑term value for all stakeholders.”
Operating Segment Results for the Second Quarter of Fiscal Year 2026
North America Solutions: Realized operating income of $111 million, compared with $36 million in the previous quarter, which included a $98 million one-time impairment. Direct margin(3) was $215 million, versus $239 million previously, and on a per-day basis averaged approximately $17,628 with 136 rigs active for the second fiscal quarter. These results demonstrate the durability of our fleet and our continued ability to generate leading margins through the cycle.
We continued to see meaningful commercial momentum across the U.S. land market, with several new contracts and extensions across multiple basins. Combined with the expanded deployment of FlexRoboticsTM, these developments underscore the strength of our offering and the opportunities ahead.
International Solutions: Recorded an operating loss of approximately $(100) million, compared with a loss of approximately $(55) million in the prior quarter. Excluding the $26 million one-time impairment, the operating loss was $74 million. Direct margin(3) totaled approximately $11.5 million, down from roughly $29 million last quarter. This was primarily led by the impacts of the conflict in the Middle East. Specifically during the quarter, we were able to utilize our in-house engineering and aftermarket capabilities to reactivate the rigs in Saudi Arabia, leveraging in-country equipment and circumventing supply chain constraints. This move enhances returns and importantly avoided delays for our customers. However, it did lead to more costs being classified as OPEX, which had an impact on our direct margins(3).
Across our international portfolio, commercial activity was strong. In Argentina, we secured a mix of new contracts and extensions, while in Oman, a series of contract extensions reinforces our position in the region. Collectively, these wins demonstrate the depth of our global relationships and the durability of our commercial pipeline.
Offshore Solutions: Reported operating income of approximately $14 million, compared with $16 million in the previous quarter, which included a $2 million one-time impairment. Direct margin(3) exceeded the midpoint of guidance at approximately $27 million versus $31 million last quarter, demonstrating the segment’s ability to generate stable cash flow.
During the quarter, H&P was awarded a long-term offshore operations and maintenance contract renewal by bp in the Caspian Sea, offshore Azerbaijan. The contract renewal has a firm duration of five years, with three one-year extension options. If all option periods are exercised, the contract revenue could exceed $1 billion.
Select Items (4) Included in Net Loss per Diluted Share
Second quarter of fiscal year 2026 net loss of $(0.59) per diluted share included a net impact of $(0.21) per share in after-tax gains and losses comprised of the following:
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$0.11 of non-cash after-tax gain related to investment securities
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$(0.01) of after-tax loss related to International asset abandonment
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$(0.02) of after-tax loss related to acquisition transaction and integration costs
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$(0.03) of after-tax loss related to restructuring charges
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$(0.03) of non-cash after-tax loss related to the change in actuarial assumptions on estimated liabilities
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$(0.23) of non-cash after-tax loss related to impairment
First quarter of fiscal year 2026 net loss of $(0.98) per diluted share included a net impact of $(0.83) per share in after-tax losses comprised of the following:
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$0.01 of non-cash after-tax gain related to the change in actuarial assumptions on estimated liabilities
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$0.01 of non-cash after-tax gain related to investment securities
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$(0.02) of after-tax loss related to restructuring charges
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$(0.03) of after-tax loss related to transaction and integration costs
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$(0.80) of non-cash after-tax loss related to impairment
Operational Outlook for the Third Quarter of Fiscal Year 2026
The guidance below represents our expectations as of the date of this release.
Conference Call
A conference call will be held at 11 a.m. (ET), Thursday, May 7, 2026 with Trey Adams, President and CEO, Kevin Vann, Senior Vice President and CFO, and other management team members to discuss the Company’s second quarter fiscal year 2026 results. Dial-in information for the conference call is (800)-715-9871 for domestic callers or (646)-307-1963 for international callers. The call access code is 86079. Participants can listen to the live webcast of the conference call and access the accompanying earnings presentation by visiting our website at www.hpinc.com. Navigate to the “Investors” section, click on “News and Events – Events & Presentations,” and select the event to access the webcast and materials.
About Helmerich & Payne, Inc.
Founded in 1920, Helmerich & Payne, Inc. (H&P) (NYSE: HP) is committed to delivering industry leading levels of drilling productivity and reliability. H&P operates with the highest level of integrity, safety and innovation to deliver superior results for its customers and returns for shareholders. Through its subsidiaries, the Company designs, fabricates and operates high-performance drilling rigs in conventional and unconventional plays around the world. H&P also develops and implements advanced automation, directional drilling and survey management technologies. As of May 6, 2026, H&P's fleet includes 202 land rigs in the United States, 130 international land rigs and 4 offshore platform rigs, plus operating 30 offshore labor contracts. For more information, see H&P online at www.hpinc.com.
Forward-Looking Statements
This release includes “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the Securities Act of 1933 and the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, and such statements are based on current expectations and assumptions that are subject to risks and uncertainties. All statements other than statements of historical facts included in this release, including, without limitation, outlook for fiscal 2026, the Company’s business strategy, future financial position, operations outlook, future cash flow, future use of generated cash flow, dividend amounts and timing, amounts of any future dividends, investments, active rig count projections, projected costs and plans, objectives of management for future operations, contract terms, financing and funding, debt reduction plans, capex spending and budgets, outlook for domestic and international markets, future commodity prices, and future customer activity and relationships are forward-looking statements. For information regarding risks and uncertainties associated with the Company’s business, please refer to the “Risk Factors” and “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” sections and other disclosures in the Company’s SEC filings, including but not limited to its annual report on Form 10‑K and quarterly reports on Form 10‑Q. As a result of these factors, Helmerich & Payne, Inc.’s actual results may differ materially from those indicated or implied by such forward-looking statements. Investors are cautioned not to put undue reliance on such statements. We undertake no duty to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, changes in internal estimates, expectations or otherwise, except as required under applicable securities laws.
Helmerich & Payne uses its Investor Relations website as a channel of distribution for material company information. Such information is routinely posted and accessible on its Investor Relations website at www.hpinc.com. Information on our website is not part of this release.
Note Regarding Trademarks. Helmerich & Payne, Inc. owns or has rights to the use of trademarks, service marks and trade names that it uses in conjunction with the operation of its business. Some of the trademarks that appear in this release or otherwise used by H&P include FlexRig and FlexRobotics, which may be registered or trademarked in the United States and other jurisdictions.
(1) Adjusted net income, which is considered a non-GAAP metric, is defined as net income (loss), excluding the impact of 'select items' which management defines as certain items that do not reflect the ongoing performance of our core business operations. Adjusted net income is included as supplemental disclosure as management uses it to assess and understand current operational performance, especially in analyzing historical trends which are used in forecasting future period results. For this reason, we believe this measure will be useful information to investors. The presence of non-GAAP metrics is not intended to suggest that such measures should be considered as a substitute for certain GAAP metrics and, given that not all companies define adjusted net income the same way, this financial measure may not be comparable to similarly titled metrics disclosed by other companies. See Non-GAAP Measurements for a reconciliation of net income (loss) to adjusted net income.
(2) Adjusted EBITDA is considered to be a non-GAAP metric. Adjusted EBITDA is defined as net income (loss) before taxes, depreciation and amortization, gains and losses on asset sales, other income and expense - which includes interest income and interest expense, and excludes the impact of 'select items' which management defines as certain items that do not reflect the ongoing performance of our core business operations. Adjusted EBITDA is included as supplemental disclosure as management uses it to assess and understand current operational performance, especially in analyzing historical trends which are used in forecasting future period results. For this reason, we believe this measure will be useful to information to investors. The presence of non-GAAP metrics is not intended to suggest that such measures should be considered as a substitute for certain GAAP metrics and, given that not all companies define Adjusted EBITDA the same way, this financial measure may not be comparable to similarly titled metrics disclosed by other companies. See Non-GAAP Measurements for a reconciliation of net income to Adjusted EBITDA.
(3) Direct margin, which is considered a non-GAAP metric, is defined as operating revenues (less reimbursements) less direct operating expenses (less reimbursements) and is included as a supplemental disclosure. We believe it is useful in assessing and understanding our current operational performance, especially in making comparisons over time. See Non-GAAP Measurements for a reconciliation of segment operating income (loss) to direct margin. Expected direct margin for the first quarter of fiscal 2026 is provided on a non-GAAP basis only because certain information necessary to calculate the most comparable GAAP measure is unavailable due to the uncertainty and inherent difficulty of predicting the occurrence and the future financial statement impact of certain items. Therefore, as a result of the uncertainty and variability of the nature and amount of future items and adjustments, which could be significant, we are unable to provide a reconciliation of expected direct margin to the most comparable GAAP measure without unreasonable effort.
(4) Select items are considered non-GAAP metrics and are included as a supplemental disclosure as the Company believes identifying and excluding select items is useful in assessing and understanding current operational performance, especially in making comparisons over time involving previous and subsequent periods and/or forecasting future periods results. Select items are excluded as they are deemed to be outside the Company's core business operations. See Non-GAAP Measurements.
(5) Does not include 21 rigs that have either suspended operations or have been notified to suspend operations in Saudi Arabia
Segment operating income (loss) for all segments is a non-GAAP financial measure of the Company’s performance, as it excludes gain on reimbursement of drilling equipment, other gain (loss) on sale of assets, corporate selling, general and administrative costs, corporate depreciation, corporate acquisition transaction and integration costs, corporate asset impairment charges, and corporate restructuring charges. The Company considers segment operating income (loss) to be an important supplemental measure of operating performance for presenting trends in the Company’s core businesses. This measure is used by the Company to facilitate period-to-period comparisons in operating performance of the Company’s reportable segments in the aggregate by eliminating items that affect comparability between periods. The Company believes that segment operating income (loss) is useful to investors because it provides a means to evaluate the operating performance of the segments and the Company on an ongoing basis using criteria that are used by our internal decision makers. Additionally, it highlights operating trends and aids analytical comparisons. However, segment operating income (loss) has limitations and should not be used as an alternative to operating income or loss, a performance measure determined in accordance with GAAP, as it excludes certain costs that may affect the Company’s operating performance in future periods.
The following table reconciles operating income (loss) per the information above to income (loss) before income taxes as reported on the Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations:
NON-GAAP MEASUREMENTS
NON-GAAP RECONCILIATION OF SELECT ITEMS AND ADJUSTED NET LOSS(**)
NON-GAAP RECONCILIATION OF DIRECT MARGIN
Direct margin is considered a non-GAAP metric. We define "direct margin" as operating revenues (less reimbursements) less direct operating expenses (less reimbursements). Direct margin is included as a supplemental disclosure because we believe it is useful in assessing and understanding our current operational performance, especially in making comparisons over time. Direct margin is not a substitute for financial measures prepared in accordance with GAAP and should therefore be considered only as supplemental to such GAAP financial measures.
The following table reconciles direct margin to segment operating income (loss), which we believe is the financial measure calculated and presented in accordance with GAAP that is most directly comparable to direct margin.
NON-GAAP RECONCILIATION OF ADJUSTED EBITDA
Adjusted EBITDA and 'Select Items' are considered to be non-GAAP metrics. Adjusted EBITDA is defined as net income (loss) before taxes, depreciation and amortization, gains and losses on asset sales, other income and expense - which includes interest income and interest expense, and excludes the impact of 'select items' which management defines as certain items that do not reflect the ongoing performance of our core business operations. These metrics are included as supplemental disclosures as management uses them to assess and understand current operational performance, especially in analyzing historical trends which are used in forecasting future period results. For this reason, we believe this measure will be useful to information to investors. The presence of non-GAAP metrics is not intended to suggest that such measures should be considered as a substitute for certain GAAP metrics and, given that not all companies define Adjusted EBITDA the same way, this financial measure may not be comparable to similarly titled metrics disclosed by other companies.
The following table reconciles adjusted EBITDA to net income (loss), which we believe is the financial measure calculated and presented in accordance with GAAP that is most directly comparable to direct margin.