USA: Superior Energy Services Net Income Reaches USD 93.9 Million

Superior Energy Services, Inc. today announced net income of $93.9 million, or $0.59 per diluted share, on revenue of $1,179.7 million for the third quarter of 2012.

Non-GAAP adjusted earnings was $95.3 million, or $0.60 per diluted share, which excludes $2.3 million of pre-tax loss on the partial prepayment of the Company’s $300 million 6.875% senior notes due 2014 during the third quarter.

These results are compared with net income from continuing operations of $54.8 million, or $0.67 per diluted share, and net income of $59.6 million, or $0.73 per diluted share, on revenue of $537.0 million for the third quarter of 2011. Non-GAAP adjusted earnings from continuing operations was $51.1 million, or $0.63 per diluted share, for the third quarter of 2011.

For the nine months ended September 30, 2012, the Company’s net income from continuing operations was $306.9 million, or $2.07 per diluted share, and net income was $289.7 million, or $1.95 per diluted share, on revenue of $3,389.8 million.

For the nine months ended September 30, 2011, the Company’s net income from continuing operations was $106.1 million, or $1.31 per diluted share, and net income was $123.2 million, or $1.52 per diluted share, on revenue of $1,401.9 million.

David Dunlap, CEO of Superior, commented, “As previously announced, our results were impacted by a contracting market for U.S. land completion and intervention services, hurricane-related downtime in the Gulf of Mexico and delays on the completion of an arctic containment system for a customer in Alaska. The contraction in the U.S. land market has been at a slightly faster pace than what we predicted, which has resulted in lower utilization for services such as pressure pumping, coiled tubing and fluid management. As a result, our U.S. land revenue declined 11% from the second quarter of 2012.

 “International revenue increased 7% sequentially in part due to completion tools product sales in Asia Pacific and incremental service growth in Latin America as we continue to make good progress on our international expansion efforts. We anticipate increases in international revenue growth during the fourth quarter as we commence snubbing contracts in Thailand and Saudi Arabia as well as pumping service work in Latin America.

 “The income from operations as a percentage of revenue (‘operating margin’) for U.S. land completion and intervention services was at or near our expectations, while the operating margin in the Drilling and Products Services segment was at 32%, the highest margin since the fourth quarter of 2008.”

 Geographic Breakdown

For the third quarter of 2012, U.S. land revenue was approximately $787.6 million, Gulf of Mexico revenue was approximately $189.4 million and international revenue was approximately $202.7 million.

 Subsea and Well Enhancement Segment

Third quarter 2012 revenue in the Subsea and Well Enhancement Segment, which includes all of the legacy operations of Complete Production Services that were acquired in February 2012, was $984.8 million, as compared with $373.6 million in the third quarter of 2011 and $1,045.2 million in the second quarter of 2012, or a 6% sequential decrease.

U.S. land revenue was $702.6 million, which represents an 11% sequential decline primarily due to lower demand for pressure pumping, coiled tubing and fluid management services. Gulf of Mexico revenue increased 16% sequentially to $127.8 million primarily due to an increase in platform decommissioning services. International revenue increased 9% sequentially to $154.4 million primarily due to increased product sales of completion tools in Asia Pacific and additional service activity in Latin America.

 Drilling Products and Services Segment

Third quarter 2012 revenue for the Drilling Products and Services Segment was $194.9 million, as compared with $163.5 million in the third quarter of 2011, or a 19% year-over-year improvement, and $198.2 million in the second quarter of 2012, or a 2% sequential decline.

U.S. land revenue decreased 5% sequentially to $85.0 million due to small declines in demand for premium drill pipe and bottom hole assemblies in dry gas basins. Gulf of Mexico revenue increased 1% sequentially to $61.6 million due to increased rentals of bottom hole assemblies and premium drill pipe. International revenue increased 1% to $48.3 million due to increased demand for accommodations and bottom hole assemblies.

 2012 Earnings Guidance Update

The Company anticipates fourth quarter earnings from continuing operations to be in a range of $0.48 and $0.52 per diluted share, resulting in a 2012 non-GAAP adjusted earnings from continuing operations range of between $2.62 and $2.66 per diluted share

Mr. Dunlap commented, “We anticipate the rate of activity decline in the U.S. will ease from third quarter levels as we believe the market has already absorbed the steepest reductions in customer activity and associated rig count changes. In the Gulf of Mexico, we think activity levels will experience typical seasonal declines. We believe the international momentum we are building will serve us well in the fourth quarter and beyond.”

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Press Release, October 25, 2012; Image: superiorenergy