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Ranger Energy Services, Inc.: Q3 FY2026 earnings call

What management said about Q3 FY2026, from the documents filed with the SEC on 9 November 2026: press release. Guidance figures: 3 new, 1 kept. The quarter’s numbers.

Key takeaways

  • Revenue fell sequentially, rose on AWS: Revenue was $162.8 million, down $13.7 million from the second quarter and up $33.9 million from the third quarter of 2025, with the year-over-year increase mainly from AWS. Source
  • Adjusted EBITDA fell $8.5 million: Adjusted EBITDA was $20.1 million, a 12.3% margin, down $8.5 million from the second quarter and up $3.3 million from the third quarter of 2025. Source
  • Segment Adjusted EBITDA fell on lower hours: Segment Adjusted EBITDA was $18.4 million, down from $20.6 million, mainly on lower rig hours and higher costs, most significantly employee-related expenses. Source
  • Employee medical costs rose $1.5 million: Management cited inflationary costs across several categories, the largest being an incremental $1.5 million in employee medical costs quarter over quarter. Source
  • Customer budgets moderated activity: Customers managed budgets more closely, which moderated activity and left idle capacity across the rig fleet, reducing revenue and rig hours. Source
  • Free cash flow $20.0 million in quarter: Free cash flow was $20.0 million for the quarter and $18.3 million for the first nine months, compared with $25.8 million a year earlier. Source
  • Coil tubing position after STEP assets: Management said that with the STEP assets Ranger is positioned as the second largest coil tubing provider in the lower 48 market. Source

“This quarter we faced unexpectedly softer activity, some pricing challenges and margin degradation from increased inflationary costs across several categories”

Stuart Bodden, Ranger’s Chief Executive Officer

Guidance

AreaPeriodFigureAgainst last quarter
Coil tubing EBITDA contribution (STEP assets) Source2027over $10 millionNew
Contracted ECHO hybrid electric rig fleet Sourceby end of 202724 rigsNew
Wireline Services margin Sourcefourth quarter of 2026mid-single-digit marginsNew
Annual EBITDA goal Sourceannual, going forward$100 million
Quarterly cash dividend Sourcepayable December 4, 2026$0.06 per shareKept

What changed from last quarter

  • New guidance: A mid-single-digit margin level for Wireline was given for the fourth quarter; the prior quarter gave no margin figure for the segment. Source
  • New guidance: A 2027 EBITDA contribution of over $10 million from the STEP coil tubing assets was first stated in this release. Source
  • New: The company completed the acquisition of STEP Energy Services’ US coil tubing assets on October 8, 2026. Source
  • New: Four additional ECHO rigs were awarded in the quarter, taking the contracted fleet to 24 rigs, up from three rigs noted in the prior quarter. Source
  • New: Certain AWS-acquired service lines are being reorganized to improve focus, utilization and profitability. Source
  • New: Customer payment terms moved to 90 days, which the company cited as a driver of higher receivables and contract assets. Source
  • New: The company repaid its revolving credit facility borrowings from the AWS acquisition and exited the quarter with zero net debt. Source

Results and growth drivers

  • Revenue fell sequentially, rose on AWS: Revenue was $162.8 million, down $13.7 million from the second quarter and up $33.9 million from the third quarter of 2025, with the year-over-year increase mainly from AWS. Source
  • Net income and EPS fell sequentially: Net income was $2.5 million, or $0.10 per diluted share, compared with $6.9 million, or $0.29, in the second quarter of 2026. Source
  • Adjusted EBITDA fell $8.5 million: Adjusted EBITDA was $20.1 million, a 12.3% margin, down $8.5 million from the second quarter and up $3.3 million from the third quarter of 2025. Source

High Specification Rigs segment

  • Rig revenue and hours eased: Segment revenue was $110.5 million, down $2.9 million from the second quarter. Rig hours fell 2% sequentially to 143,500 and rose 29% year over year. Source
  • Segment Adjusted EBITDA fell on lower hours: Segment Adjusted EBITDA was $18.4 million, down from $20.6 million, mainly on lower rig hours and higher costs, most significantly employee-related expenses. Source
  • Competitor discounts tested pricing discipline: Smaller competitors cut prices to win back share, and some budget-constrained customers took those savings; management kept pricing discipline. Source

“Ranger is building a differentiated oil field services platform positioned to drive earnings growth in 2027.”

Stuart Bodden, Ranger’s Chief Executive Officer

Processing Solutions and Ancillary Services

  • Segment revenue fell 10% sequentially: Segment revenue was $40.0 million, down $4.5 million from the second quarter and up $9.2 million from the prior year, with lower Transportation, Coil and Tubing Inspection and Rentals activity. Source
  • Acquired AWS lines below expectations: Transportation, Mixing Plants and Tubing Inspection lines acquired through AWS were below management's expectations, and those operations are being reorganized. Source
  • Torrent one-time charges weighed on segment: One-time charges in the Torrent service line affected segment results; segment Adjusted EBITDA was $6.8 million, down from $10.0 million. Source
  • Rentals and Plugging and Abandonment held up: The legacy Rentals and Plugging and Abandonment service lines continued to perform well during the quarter. Source

Wireline Services segment

  • Revenue and stages fell on work gaps: Segment revenue was $12.3 million, down $6.3 million from the second quarter. Completed stages fell to 700 from 2,560 as customer work schedules left gaps. Source
  • Segment swung to operating loss: Segment operating loss was $1.4 million, compared with $1.0 million of operating income in the second quarter. Segment Adjusted EBITDA was $0.2 million. Source
  • Cost reductions matched lower activity: Timely cost reductions were made to manage the expected drop in activity, which the company said reflects a more responsive cost structure. Source

“We have spent considerable time with the team evaluating options to improve utilization and margins and have already taken action.”

Stuart Bodden, Ranger’s Chief Executive Officer

Costs, margins and pricing

  • Employee medical costs rose $1.5 million: Management cited inflationary costs across several categories, the largest being an incremental $1.5 million in employee medical costs quarter over quarter. Source
  • General and administrative costs rose slightly: G&A was $7.7 million, compared with $7.6 million in the second quarter; both quarters included expenses for the AWS integration and the STEP acquisition. Source
  • Employee and fuel costs drove decrease: The sequential Adjusted EBITDA decline reflected activity declines across segments, plus increased costs, most significantly employee-related costs and fuel. Source

Demand and customer spending

  • Customer budgets moderated activity: Customers managed budgets more closely, which moderated activity and left idle capacity across the rig fleet, reducing revenue and rig hours. Source
  • Operator consolidation drove share gains: Management said Ranger gained market share through operator consolidation over the past two years, which set up the competitor pricing response. Source
  • ECHO efficiency seen lowering customer costs: Management expects ECHO efficiency gains, once solidified, to lower overall service costs for customers. Source

Cash, balance sheet and capital returns

  • Zero net debt at quarter end: Revolver borrowings were repaid, no borrowings were outstanding, and total liquidity was $76.2 million at September 30, 2026. Source
  • Free cash flow $20.0 million in quarter: Free cash flow was $20.0 million for the quarter and $18.3 million for the first nine months, compared with $25.8 million a year earlier. Source
  • Buybacks since 2023 total 4,783,900 shares: Repurchases under the 2023 program total 4,783,900 shares for $54.1 million, at an average price of $11.31 per share. Source
  • ECHO rig construction drove capex: About $16.8 million of year-to-date capex is ECHO rig construction payments; third-quarter purchases of property and equipment were $10.5 million. Source

Strategy and ECHO fleet growth

  • Coil tubing position after STEP assets: Management said that with the STEP assets Ranger is positioned as the second largest coil tubing provider in the lower 48 market. Source
  • ECHO customer feedback positive: Customer feedback on the ECHO hybrid electric rigs is positive, citing operational efficiency and enhanced safety. The build program is ahead of schedule. Source
  • More growth paths entering 2027: Management said Ranger enters 2027 with more growth paths, citing the ECHO fleet, the expanded coil tubing platform, reorganized Ancillary lines and Wireline. Source

Coming up, as management said on 9 November 2026

  • Dividend record date November 20: The $0.06 dividend is payable December 4, 2026, to holders of record at the close of business on November 20, 2026. Source
  • More ECHO rig commitments possible: Management said current customer discussions point to additional ECHO rig commitments yet to come. Source
  • Pricing expected to pay off next year: Management expects its pricing discipline to pay off as the market normalizes and customer budgets reset in 2027. Source

Figures management reported

FigureReported
Production volumes: rig hours (High Specification Rigs) Source143,500 rig hours, down from 146,800
Production volumes: completed stages (Wireline) Source700 completed stages
Realized price: hourly rig rate Source$770 per hour
Capital expenditure (cash purchases of property and equipment) Source$35.2 million year to date
Unit cost: cost of services as a share of revenue Source85% of revenue
Shareholder returns: quarterly repurchases Source142,100 shares, $2.2 million net of tax, average $15.74
Shareholder returns: year-to-date share of free cash flow Source$11.7 million, 64% of YTD free cash flow

Risks management discussed

  • Demand: Customers tightening budgets reduced activity, with lower rig hours and revenue in the quarter. Source
  • External: Smaller displaced competitors are cutting prices to regain lost share, and some customers are taking those savings. Source
  • Operational: Inflationary costs rose across several categories, led by an incremental $1.5 million in employee medical costs quarter over quarter. Source
  • Financial: Receivables and contract assets grew under the 90-day customer payment terms, reducing free cash flow compared with the prior year. Source

Earlier plans management reported on

  • Ahead: Management said the ECHO build program is running ahead of schedule. Source
  • Not stated: Management reinforced its commitment to returning capital to shareholders each quarter; no status was given. Source
  • Met: Management said the Wireline segment performed as expected, with activity lower because customer programs paused. 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.