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Noble Corp. plc: Q3 FY2025 earnings call

What management said about Q3 FY2025, from the documents filed with the SEC on 27 October 2025: press release. Guidance figures: 1 kept. The quarter’s numbers.

Key takeaways

  • Contract drilling revenue fell sequentially: Contract drilling services revenue was $757 million, down from $812 million in Q2 and $764 million a year earlier. Total revenue was $798 million. Source
  • Marketed rig utilization fell to 65%: Utilization of the 35 marketed rigs was 65% in Q3, against 73% in Q2. Including cold-stacked rigs, total average utilization was 61%, against 67%. Source
  • Backlog reached $7.0 billion: Backlog as of October 27, 2025 was $7.0 billion, after about $740 million of new contract value since the August fleet status report. Source
  • Free cash flow of $139 million: Net cash from operating activities was $277 million, and free cash flow was $139 million. Net disposal proceeds in the quarter totaled $87 million. Source
  • Earnings lower in H1 2026: Management anticipates a moderately lower earnings and cash flow profile in H1 2026 than in H2 2025, citing an improving market foundation. Source

“We achieved solid operational performance and cash flow in the third quarter, while several key contract awards have enabled Noble to expand backlog compared to prior quarter and year ago levels.”

Robert W. Eifler, President and Chief Executive Officer

Guidance

AreaPeriodFigureAgainst last quarter
Total revenue SourceFull year 2025$3,225 to $3,275 million
Adjusted EBITDA SourceFull year 2025$1,100 to $1,125 million
Capital expenditures (net of reimbursements) SourceFull year 2025$425 to $450 million
Quarterly cash dividend SourceQ4 2025, payable December 18, 2025$0.50 per shareKept

What changed from last quarter

  • New: Two-year bp extensions in the U.S. Gulf for Noble BlackLion and Noble BlackHornet, valued at $310 million per rig excluding MPD, each with a one-year priced option. Source
  • New: Noble Reacher, previously an accommodation and intervention unit and listed as held for sale in the prior quarter, was sold in October for $27.5 million. Source

Results and revenue drivers

  • Contract drilling revenue fell sequentially: Contract drilling services revenue was $757 million, down from $812 million in Q2 and $764 million a year earlier. Total revenue was $798 million. Source
  • Net loss against prior-quarter profit: Net loss was $21 million, or $0.13 per diluted share, against $43 million of net income in Q2. Adjusted diluted EPS was $0.19, against $0.13 in Q2. Source
  • Adjusted EBITDA down from Q2: Adjusted EBITDA was $254 million, down from $282 million in Q2 2025 and $291 million in Q3 2024. Source

Rig utilization and dayrates

  • Marketed rig utilization fell to 65%: Utilization of the 35 marketed rigs was 65% in Q3, against 73% in Q2. Including cold-stacked rigs, total average utilization was 61%, against 67%. Source
  • Jackup utilization eased to 60%: Utilization of the eleven marketed jackups was 60% in Q3, against 63% in Q2. Including cold-stacked rigs, the jackup figure was 54%, down from 61%. Source
  • Tier-1 drillship dayrates held steady: Recent Tier-1 drillship fixtures stayed in the low to mid $400,000s. Average floater dayrate was $423,489 in Q3, against $400,802 in Q2; average jackup dayrate was $202,982. Source

“Our recent backlog expansion and constructive customer dialogue continue to support the formation of a deepwater utilization recovery by late 2026 or early 2027.”

Robert W. Eifler, President and Chief Executive Officer

Backlog and new contracts

  • Backlog reached $7.0 billion: Backlog as of October 27, 2025 was $7.0 billion, after about $740 million of new contract value since the August fleet status report. Source
  • Rig years of backlog added in 2025: Backlog additions since last quarter added over four rig years, bringing 2025 additions to 22 rig years, against more than 18 years at Q2. Source
  • Ghana and North Sea awards: Venturer received one Ghana exploration well at a $450,000 dayrate. Resolute received a one-year Eni North Sea contract at $125,000, starting December 2025. Source

Costs, impairment and depreciation

  • Contract drilling costs declined sequentially: Contract drilling services costs were $480 million, down from $502 million in Q2. A year earlier they were $434 million. Source
  • Impairment excluded from adjusted results: A loss on impairment of $60.7 million was recorded in Q3 and excluded from Adjusted EBITDA and Adjusted net income. Merger and integration costs were $2.1 million. Source
  • Depreciation rose year over year: Depreciation and amortization was $147 million, against $110 million a year earlier and $147 million in Q2. Source

Cash flow and balance sheet

  • Free cash flow of $139 million: Net cash from operating activities was $277 million, and free cash flow was $139 million. Net disposal proceeds in the quarter totaled $87 million. Source
  • Debt and cash position at quarter end: Total debt principal was $2 billion and cash was $478 million at September 30, 2025, up from $338 million at June 30. Source
  • Future returns subject to board approval: Future quarterly dividends and other shareholder returns depend on Board approval, among other factors, according to the release. Source

Market, asset sales and 2026

  • Harsh-environment jackup dayrates stable: North Sea harsh-environment jackup leading-edge dayrates stayed stable, across a limited number of contract fixtures. Source
  • Earnings lower in H1 2026: Management anticipates a moderately lower earnings and cash flow profile in H1 2026 than in H2 2025, citing an improving market foundation. Source
  • Globetrotter II still held for sale: Noble Globetrotter II remains held for sale at the release date. Source

Coming up, as management said on 27 October 2025

  • Interceptor Norway scope from August 2026: Noble Interceptor's 150-day accommodation scope in Norway starts August 2026, with total contract value of $38.7 million including mobilization and demobilization. Source
  • Suriname well option in early 2026: Petronas exercised an option for one additional well for Noble Developer in Suriname, scheduled for early 2026. Source

Figures management reported

FigureReported
Average rig utilization, total Source61% in Q3 2025; 67% in Q2 2025; 76% in Q3 2024
Operating days, total Source2,115 in Q3 2025; 2,429 in Q2 2025; 2,409 in Q3 2024
Average dayrate, total Source$358,126 per day in Q3 2025; $333,960 in Q2 2025; $315,295 in Q3 2024
Capital expenditures Source$137.7 million in Q3 2025; $116.6 million in Q2 2025
Shareholder capital returns, 2025 to date Source$340 million

Risks management discussed

  • Demand: Floater contracting declined; 67% of the twenty-four marketed floaters were contracted in Q3, against 78% in Q2. Source
  • External: Management described the energy environment as capital disciplined, in relation to customer spending. Source

Earlier plans management reported on

  • Not stated: Management said Noble remains committed to its dividend program, aiming for a durable cash yield through the cycle. Source
  • Met: Sales announced earlier closed in the third quarter, with combined net proceeds of $87 million. Source

Other quarters

Summarised with AI from the documents the company filed with the SEC. Every point is checked against the filing before it is shown: management’s own words word for word, figures against the line or table row they come from. A point that fails the check is left out. Source opens the filing at that line.