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Patterson UTI Energy Inc.: Q4 FY2025 earnings call

What management said about Q4 FY2025, from the documents filed with the SEC on 5 February 2026: press release. Guidance figures: 1 raised, 6 new, 2 kept. The quarter’s numbers.

Key takeaways

  • Fourth quarter revenue near $1.2 billion: Fourth quarter revenue was $1,150.8 million, against $1,176.0 million in the third quarter and $1,162.1 million a year earlier. Source
  • Adjusted EBITDA rose from third quarter: Adjusted EBITDA was $221.1 million, compared with $218.7 million in the third quarter and $225.4 million in the fourth quarter of 2024. Source
  • Full-year cash flow and free cash flow: Cash from operations was $961.2 million and adjusted free cash flow $416.3 million for 2025, against $1,175.5 million and $523.0 million in 2024. Source
  • Drilling Services revenue fell from third quarter: Drilling Services revenue was $360.8 million, with adjusted gross profit of $132.4 million and adjusted EBITDA of $128.0 million. Third quarter revenue was $380.2 million. Source
  • Completion Services adjusted EBITDA increased: Completion Services revenue was $701.6 million and adjusted gross profit $110.9 million. Adjusted EBITDA rose to $107.3 million from $102.3 million, and the segment recorded a $3.6 million operating loss. Source
  • Completions capital shifts to fleet quality: Completions capital will be redirected to high-grade the fleet over the next year, and fewer fleets are likely in operation as lower-quality diesel assets are idled. Source

“The results for 2025 highlight the margin resilience of our diversified drilling and completion operations and the effectiveness of our team in executing our strategic objectives.”

Andy Hendricks, Chief Executive Officer

Guidance

AreaPeriodFigureAgainst last quarter
Drilling Services average U.S. rig count Sourcefirst quarter 2026low-to-mid 90sNew
Drilling Services adjusted gross profit Sourcefirst quarter 2026decline by less than 5% from the fourth quarterNew
Completion Services adjusted gross profit Sourcefirst quarter 2026approximately $95 millionNew
Other adjusted gross profit Sourcefirst quarter 2026roughly flat compared to the fourth quarterNew
Selling, general and administrative expense Sourcefirst quarter 2026approximately $65 millionNew
Depreciation, depletion, amortization and impairment expense Sourcefirst quarter 2026approximately $225 millionNew
Capital expenditures, net of asset sales Sourcefull year 2026less than $500 million, net of asset salesKept
Quarterly dividend per share Sourcequarterly$0.10 per shareRaised from $0.08
Return of adjusted free cash flow to shareholders Sourceannualat least 50% of adjusted free cash flowKept
Completion Services hydraulic horsepower deployedfirst quarter 2026roughly 2 million HHP

What changed from last quarter

  • New: Drilling Products opened a manufacturing facility in Saudi Arabia in the fourth quarter and now makes drill bits in country. Source

Results and growth drivers

  • Fourth quarter revenue near $1.2 billion: Fourth quarter revenue was $1,150.8 million, against $1,176.0 million in the third quarter and $1,162.1 million a year earlier. Source
  • Net loss narrowed from third quarter: Net loss attributable to common stockholders was $9.1 million, or $(0.02) per diluted share, against $36.4 million, or $(0.10), in the third quarter. Source
  • Adjusted EBITDA rose from third quarter: Adjusted EBITDA was $221.1 million, compared with $218.7 million in the third quarter and $225.4 million in the fourth quarter of 2024. Source
  • Full-year revenue and net loss: Full-year 2025 revenue was $4,826.6 million, against $5,377.9 million in 2024. Net loss attributable to common stockholders was $93.6 million, against $968.0 million, which included an $885.2 million goodwill impairment. Source
  • Full-year cash flow and free cash flow: Cash from operations was $961.2 million and adjusted free cash flow $416.3 million for 2025, against $1,175.5 million and $523.0 million in 2024. Source

Segments and regions

  • Drilling Services revenue fell from third quarter: Drilling Services revenue was $360.8 million, with adjusted gross profit of $132.4 million and adjusted EBITDA of $128.0 million. Third quarter revenue was $380.2 million. Source
  • Completion Services adjusted EBITDA increased: Completion Services revenue was $701.6 million and adjusted gross profit $110.9 million. Adjusted EBITDA rose to $107.3 million from $102.3 million, and the segment recorded a $3.6 million operating loss. Source
  • Completion EBITDA higher in second half: Management said Completion Services adjusted EBITDA was higher in the second half of 2025 than the first half, reflecting fleet quality and investments in technology and cost structure. Source
  • Drilling Products revenue and gross profit: Drilling Products revenue was $83.8 million, with adjusted gross profit of $34.2 million, against $85.9 million and $35.6 million in the third quarter. Source
  • U.S. revenue per rig near record levels: Revenue per industry rig in the United States remained near company record levels. Management cited revenue growth in several key markets, including Latin America and Asia-Pacific. Source
  • Other segment small and includes working interests: Other revenue was $4.7 million, with adjusted gross profit of $1.5 million. The segment includes oil and natural gas working interests; its oilfield rentals business was divested in April 2025. Source

“Oil prices have been resilient, despite increased OPEC+ supply and a subdued global economic growth forecast.”

Andy Hendricks, Chief Executive Officer

Products, technology and fleet plans

  • Cortex automation on nearly all rigs: Nearly all rigs now carry the proprietary Cortex automation applications, and new automation software is being developed to further differentiate operations. Source
  • Performance-based agreements progressing: Performance-based agreements are progressing, with customers increasingly seeking drilling contractors that can improve operational efficiency. Source
  • Eos completions platform launched: The eos Completions Digital Platform launched in the fourth quarter, with real-time visualization and controls. Revenue-generating agreements are in place for Vertex frac automation. Source
  • Bifurcation expected among service providers: Management expects a continued bifurcation among service providers as well designs grow more complex, and said its rig quality and operating platform position it favorably. Source
  • Completions capital shifts to fleet quality: Completions capital will be redirected to high-grade the fleet over the next year, and fewer fleets are likely in operation as lower-quality diesel assets are idled. Source
  • Digital platform aims to cut costs: Management said the digital and automation platform lowers operating and maintenance costs while giving customers more consistent service quality. Source

Costs and margins

  • U.S. drilling cost cuts offset revenue decline: Cost reduction measures in U.S. contract drilling mostly offset the revenue decrease during the quarter. Source
  • Holiday downtime kept fleets busy: Holiday downtime was minimal. The commercial team scheduled frac work to keep fleets near full utilization where dedicated customers took extended breaks. Source
  • Depreciation and SG&A eased: Depreciation, depletion, amortization and impairment was $220.9 million, against $225.6 million in the third quarter. Selling, general and administrative expense was $62.1 million. Source
  • Third quarter legal accrual absent: The third quarter included a $20.0 million legal accrual and settlement. The fourth quarter had none, and other operating income was $3.9 million. Source

“we have returned approximately two-thirds of our adjusted free cash flow to investors through dividends and share repurchases”

Andy Smith, Chief Financial Officer

Demand and activity

  • U.S. drilling and completion activity steady: Management said U.S. drilling and completion activity has held relatively steady as 2026 began. Source
  • Completion activity and pricing steady: Completion activity and pricing were steady against the third quarter, as most customers kept activity consistent. Source
  • LNG exports seen as tailwind: Management said growing LNG exports and rising domestic demand remain a long-term tailwind for drilling and completion activity in natural gas basins. Source

Capital and shareholder returns

  • Cash balance higher year over year: Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash was $420.6 million at December 31, 2025, against $241.3 million a year earlier. Long-term debt, net, was $1,221.0 million. Source
  • Diluted share count declined: Weighted average diluted shares were 379.2 million in the fourth quarter, down from 382.8 million in the third quarter and 389.5 million a year earlier. Source
  • No senior note maturities until 2028: The January 2026 presentation noted no senior note maturities until 2028 and investment grade ratings at all three major rating agencies.

Coming up, as management said on 5 February 2026

  • Dividend record and payment dates: Dividend payment date is March 16, 2026, with holders of record as of March 2, 2026. Source
  • Eos and Vertex growth expected in 2026: Management expects eos and Vertex to have growth potential in 2026, citing early results in more efficient completion operations. Source

Figures management reported

FigureReported
Capital expenditure Source$589,029 thousand (full year 2025); $138,513 thousand (fourth quarter 2025)
Shareholder returns Source$122,453 thousand dividends paid; $69,636 thousand treasury stock purchases (full year 2025)
Operating days, U.S. contract drilling Source8,596 (fourth quarter 2025)
Average rigs working Source93 (fourth quarter 2025)

Risks management discussed

  • Demand: International Drilling Products revenue dipped as sales in the Middle East came in below expectations. Source
  • External: Management cited a challenging commodity environment as the backdrop for continued cost control. Source
  • Operational: Activity is expected to decline slightly in the first quarter, with winter weather cited as an impact. Source

Earlier plans management reported on

  • Met: Management said the company delivered on its objective for free cash flow generation at all points in the cycle in 2025. Source
  • Ahead: The January 2026 presentation said fourth quarter 2025 cost controls exceeded expectations.
  • Not stated: The January 2026 presentation expected fourth quarter 2025 adjusted free cash flow to be the strongest quarter of 2025. The fourth quarter release does not state the result.

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.