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Noble Corp. plc: Q4 FY2025 earnings call

What management said about Q4 FY2025, from the documents filed with the SEC on 11 February 2026: press release. Guidance figures: 4 new, 1 kept. The quarter’s numbers.

Key takeaways

  • Fourth quarter revenue declined sequentially: Contract drilling services revenue was $705 million, down from $757 million in the third quarter. Total revenue was $764 million, against $798 million in the prior quarter. Source
  • Full year Adjusted EBITDA in upper half: Management said full year 2025 Adjusted EBITDA reached the upper half of the original guidance range. The reconciliation shows $1,106.6 million for the year. Full year net income was $216.7 million. Source
  • Floater contracted share declined: The 24-floater fleet was 62% contracted, down from 67%, mainly on contract rollovers for BlackRhino and Ocean Apex. Floater utilization was 59%, against 65% in the third quarter. Source
  • About $1.3 billion in new awards: Since the October fleet status report, new contracts with total value over $1.3 billion were added, lifting backlog to $7.5 billion as of February 11, 2026. Source
  • 2027 backlog exceeds 2026 backlog: Management said 2027 backlog already exceeds current-year backlog, which it described as a unique circumstance supporting a meaningful earnings inflection. Source
  • Free cash flow was $35 million: Operating cash flow was $187 million and capital expenditures were $152 million, including $18 million for the BOPs service agreement termination. Full-year free cash flow was $454 million. Source
  • Five jackups sold for $360 million: Divestiture of five jackups was completed for $360 million. The Noble Resolve jackup sale is estimated to close in Q3 2026. Source

“Solid fourth quarter performance brought our full year 2025 Adjusted EBITDA to the upper half of the original guidance range and contributed to another year of strong free cash flow.”

Robert W. Eifler, President and Chief Executive Officer of Noble

Guidance

AreaPeriodFigureAgainst last quarter
Total revenue Sourcefull year 2026$2,800 to $3,000 millionNew
Adjusted EBITDA Sourcefull year 2026$940 to $1,020 millionNew
Capital expenditures Sourcefull year 2026$590 to $640 millionNew
Quarterly dividend Sourcefirst quarter 2026$0.50 per shareKept
Jackup contracted utilization Sourceby early third quarter 2026100%New

What changed from last quarter

  • New guidance: Full year 2026 guidance issued for total revenue, Adjusted EBITDA and capital expenditures. The prior release gave 2025 guidance only. Source
  • New: Divestiture of five jackups completed for $360 million. A sixth jackup, Noble Resolve, has a divestiture estimated to close in Q3 2026. Source

Results and growth drivers

  • Fourth quarter revenue declined sequentially: Contract drilling services revenue was $705 million, down from $757 million in the third quarter. Total revenue was $764 million, against $798 million in the prior quarter. Source
  • Net income rose, Adjusted EBITDA fell: Net income was $87 million, against a $21 million loss in the third quarter. Adjusted EBITDA was $232 million, down from $254 million. Source
  • Full year Adjusted EBITDA in upper half: Management said full year 2025 Adjusted EBITDA reached the upper half of the original guidance range. The reconciliation shows $1,106.6 million for the year. Full year net income was $216.7 million. Source
  • Adjusted diluted EPS fell to $0.09: Adjusted diluted EPS was $0.09, against $0.19 in the third quarter and $0.56 a year earlier. Full year adjusted diluted EPS was $0.67. Source

Fleet utilization and dayrates

  • Floater contracted share declined: The 24-floater fleet was 62% contracted, down from 67%, mainly on contract rollovers for BlackRhino and Ocean Apex. Floater utilization was 59%, against 65% in the third quarter. Source
  • Jackup utilization rose to 68%: Jackup utilization was 68% in the fourth quarter, up from 60% in the prior quarter. Total average rig utilization was 62%, against 61% in the third quarter. Source
  • Drillship and 6th generation dayrates: Recent Tier-1 drillship fixtures were in the +/- $400,000 range. 6th generation floater fixtures were between the low $300,000s and low $400,000s per day. Source

“While 2026 is anticipated to be a transitional year from an earnings perspective, the foundation for a meaningful inflection is becoming increasingly tangible, supported by the unique circumstance of our 2027 backlog now already eclipsing current year backlog.”

Robert W. Eifler, President and Chief Executive Officer of Noble

Contract awards and backlog

  • About $1.3 billion in new awards: Since the October fleet status report, new contracts with total value over $1.3 billion were added, lifting backlog to $7.5 billion as of February 11, 2026. Source
  • 2027 backlog exceeds 2026 backlog: Management said 2027 backlog already exceeds current-year backlog, which it described as a unique circumstance supporting a meaningful earnings inflection. Source
  • Aker BP three-year Norway award: Noble GreatWhite won a three-year Aker BP contract in Norway valued at $473 million including mobilization, excluding integrated services fees and bonus potential. Source
  • Guyana drillships extended to 2029: Two rig years were added under the Guyana Commercial Enabling Agreement, spread evenly across four drillships, extending each to February 2029. Source
  • Nigeria two-year ExxonMobil award: Noble Gerry de Souza won a two-year ExxonMobil Nigeria contract valued at $292 million, with three years of optional extensions, starting mid-2026. Source
  • South America eleven-well contract: Noble Endeavor won an 11-well contract with an undisclosed operator in South America at $300,000 a day, plus mobilization fees and possible performance revenue. Source

Costs and impairment

  • Contract drilling costs eased: Contract drilling services costs were $471 million, down from $480 million in the third quarter. Reimbursables costs were $45.7 million. Source
  • Depreciation and interest rose for year: Full year depreciation and amortization was $585.5 million against $428.6 million, and net interest expense was $162.4 million against $94.2 million. Source
  • Contract termination and impairment charges: Costs of $14.5 million were incurred in connection with a contract termination. Loss on impairment was $22.0 million in the fourth quarter and $82.7 million for the year. Source

“Recent improvement in our contract coverage, coupled with ongoing customer dialogue, indicate a likelihood of a tightening market as we progress through this year.”

Robert W. Eifler, President and Chief Executive Officer of Noble

Margins and adjusted earnings

  • Adjusted net income declined: Adjusted net income was $14.4 million, against $30.2 million in the third quarter and $90.9 million a year earlier. Source
  • Tax benefit lifted quarter net income: The quarter recorded an income tax benefit of $72.8 million, against a $27.8 million provision a year earlier. Discrete tax items of $111.9 million were excluded from adjusted results. Source
  • Full-year diluted EPS $1.35: Full-year diluted EPS was $1.35 against $2.96 in 2024. Full-year net income was $216.7 million against $448.4 million. Source

Cash flow, balance sheet and returns

  • Free cash flow was $35 million: Operating cash flow was $187 million and capital expenditures were $152 million, including $18 million for the BOPs service agreement termination. Full-year free cash flow was $454 million. Source
  • Debt and cash at year end: Total debt principal was $2 billion and cash and equivalents $471 million at December 31, 2025, against $247 million a year earlier. Source
  • 2025 buybacks and dividends: Share repurchases in 2025 totaled $20 million and dividends paid were $318 million. Cumulative capital returned since Q4 2022 is about $1.3 billion. Source

Fleet divestitures and strategy

  • Five jackups sold for $360 million: Divestiture of five jackups was completed for $360 million. The Noble Resolve jackup sale is estimated to close in Q3 2026. Source
  • Fleet and balance sheet sharpened: The CEO said the company has continued to sharpen and high-grade its fleet posture and balance sheet, creating a platform of optimal focus, scale and financial strength. Source

Coming up, as management said on 11 February 2026

  • Noble Resolve sale closing: The sale of Noble Resolve is estimated to close in Q3 2026. Source
  • BlackRhino Gulf well starts March: Noble BlackRhino starts a one-well contract with Beacon Offshore Energy in the US Gulf in March 2026, with an option for an additional well. Source
  • Developer Trinidad start Q1 2027: Noble Developer's three-well bp Trinidad contract is scheduled to start in Q1 2027 at $375,000 a day. Source
  • Dividend payment date: The $0.50 first quarter 2026 dividend is expected to be paid March 19, 2026, to holders of record March 4, 2026. Source

Figures management reported

FigureReported
Average rig utilization, total (Q4 2025) Source62%
Average dayrate, total (Q4 2025) Source$343,777
Operating days, total (Q4 2025) Source2,052
Capital expenditures (2025) Source$519.5 million
Share repurchases (2025) Source$20 million
Dividends paid (2025) Source$318 million

Risks management discussed

  • Demand: Floater contract coverage fell on rollovers. Four currently idle rigs are targeted for renewed utilization from recent backlog additions. Source
  • Financial: Future dividends and other shareholder returns depend on Board approval and may be modified as market conditions dictate. Source

Earlier plans management reported on

  • Met: Management said full year 2025 Adjusted EBITDA reached the upper half of the original guidance range. Source
  • Not stated: Five jackup divestitures are completed. The sixth, Noble Resolve, is estimated to close in Q3 2026. 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.