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Seadrill Ltd.: Q2 FY2026 earnings call

What management said about Q2 FY2026, from the documents filed with the SEC on 10 August 2026: press release. Guidance figures: 2 raised, 1 kept. The quarter’s numbers.

Key takeaways

  • Net income turned positive: Net income was $29 million, against a net loss of $7 million in the prior quarter. Adjusted EBITDA was $144 million, up from $97 million. Source
  • Revenue rose to $449 million: Total operating revenues were $449 million, up from $358 million in the first quarter. Source
  • Backlog stood at $2.9 billion: Contract backlog was about $2.9 billion as of August 10, 2026, against $3.1 billion as of May 11, after about $200 million of awards added since the May fleet status report. Source
  • Operating expenses rose $43 million: Total operating expenses were $377 million, against $334 million, mainly reflecting higher operating activity for West Jupiter and West Capella. Source
  • Free cash flow stayed negative: Free Cash Flow was negative $43 million, against negative $35 million. Operating cash use was $18 million and drilling additions were $25 million. Source
  • Net debt rose to $390 million: Gross principal debt was $750 million and cash $360 million, leaving net debt of $390 million, against $296 million at March 31. Source
  • Senior notes refinanced into 2034: The 2030 senior notes were refinanced with maturity into 2034. The revolving credit facility rose to $300 million from $225 million and matures in 2031. Source
  • Buyback extended through 2026: The share repurchase program was extended through December 31, 2026, and about $20 million of shares were repurchased in the quarter. Source

“We achieved 96% Economic utilization (4) , meaningfully enhanced our contract coverage in the U.S. Gulf and increased our full-year revenue and EBITDA guidance,”

Samir Ali, President and Chief Executive Officer

Guidance

AreaPeriodFigureAgainst last quarter
Total operating revenues SourceFull year 2026$1.50 - $1.55 billionRaised from $1.43 - $1.48 billion
Adjusted EBITDA SourceFull year 2026$420 - $450 millionRaised from $370 - $420 million
Capital Expenditure and Long-Term Maintenance SourceFull year 2026$200 - $240 millionKept

What changed from last quarter

  • Guidance raised: Full-year 2026 total operating revenues range raised from $1.43 - $1.48 billion to $1.50 - $1.55 billion. Source
  • Guidance raised: Full-year 2026 Adjusted EBITDA range raised from $370 - $420 million to $420 - $450 million. Source
  • New: Senior notes due 2030 refinanced with maturity into 2034; revolving credit facility raised to $300 million from $225 million, maturing 2031. Source
  • New: Share repurchase program extended through December 31, 2026. Source
  • New: West Vela awarded a one-year U.S. Gulf contract commencing June 2027. Source

Results and growth drivers

  • Net income turned positive: Net income was $29 million, against a net loss of $7 million in the prior quarter. Adjusted EBITDA was $144 million, up from $97 million. Source
  • Revenue rose to $449 million: Total operating revenues were $449 million, up from $358 million in the first quarter. Source
  • Contract revenues and EPS rose: Contract revenues were $355 million against $277 million. Diluted EPS was $0.47, against a loss of $0.11 per share. Source

Fleet operations and utilization

  • Operating days drove fleet revenue: Operating-day gains came from West Jupiter and West Capella, with a higher fleet-wide dayrate. West Tellus had fewer operating days. Source
  • Management cited 96% utilization: Management cited 96% economic utilization. The company defines the measure as dayrate revenue earned, excluding bonuses, against contractual dayrate. The contract table reports 95.5%. Source
  • Receivables rose on new contracts: Accounts receivable reached $311 million at June 30, up from $214 million at March 31, mainly from the start of the two rigs' contracts and collection timing. Source

“Demand for our high specification fleet continues to strengthen and contract coverage is improving as we enter a period where our strategic decisions are enabling us to capture the upside in the market.”

Samir Ali, President and Chief Executive Officer

Contracts and order book

  • West Vela won U.S. Gulf work: A one-year U.S. Gulf contract starting June 2027 adds about $161 million of backlog, excluding additional services. Source
  • West Capella extended in Malaysia: The Malaysia extension adds an estimated 75 days and about $26 million of backlog, committing West Capella into August 2027. Source
  • Backlog stood at $2.9 billion: Contract backlog was about $2.9 billion as of August 10, 2026, against $3.1 billion as of May 11, after about $200 million of awards added since the May fleet status report. Source

Costs, margins and non-operating items

  • Operating expenses rose $43 million: Total operating expenses were $377 million, against $334 million, mainly reflecting higher operating activity for West Jupiter and West Capella. Source
  • Depreciation rose, tax fell: Depreciation and amortization was $72 million, against $71 million. Income tax expense was $12 million, against $23 million. Source
  • Non-operating net expense rose: Total financial and other non-operating items, net, were $31 million of expense, against $8 million in the first quarter. Source
  • Adjusted EBITDA margin widened: Adjusted EBITDA margin excluding reimbursables was 33.5%, against 27.9% in the first quarter. Source

Cash flow and balance sheet

  • Free cash flow stayed negative: Free Cash Flow was negative $43 million, against negative $35 million. Operating cash use was $18 million and drilling additions were $25 million. Source
  • Cash inflows partly offset receivables: Cash inflows from the refinancing and lump-sum mobilization revenue were partly offset by higher receivables and the timing of collections. Source
  • Net debt rose to $390 million: Gross principal debt was $750 million and cash $360 million, leaving net debt of $390 million, against $296 million at March 31. Source

Debt refinancing and cash items

  • Senior notes refinanced into 2034: The 2030 senior notes were refinanced with maturity into 2034. The revolving credit facility rose to $300 million from $225 million and matures in 2031. Source
  • Accelerated interest and legal payment: Second-quarter cash outflows included a $20 million accelerated interest payment on the note redemption, a $16 million final legal payment, and share repurchases. Source
  • Six-month bond refinancing cash flows: Six-month cash flows show $700 million of senior bond proceeds, $575 million of secured bond repayment, and a $25 million make-whole premium paid. Source

Capital spending and shareholder returns

  • Capital and maintenance spend $57 million: Capital additions and long-term maintenance totaled $57 million in the quarter, within the full-year range of $200 - $240 million that was maintained. Source
  • Buyback extended through 2026: The share repurchase program was extended through December 31, 2026, and about $20 million of shares were repurchased in the quarter. Source
  • Six-month buybacks totaled $17 million: The six-month cash flow statement shows $17 million of shares repurchased; the documents do not explain the gap to the quarter's approximately $20 million. Source

Coming up, as management said on 10 August 2026

  • West Tellus mobilization revenue due Q3: Lump-sum mobilization revenue for West Tellus is expected in the third quarter, after contract preparation costs paid in the second quarter. Source
  • Sevan Louisiana committed into August: The Sevan Louisiana continuation commits the rig in the U.S. Gulf into August 2026. Source
  • Buyback program runs to year-end: The share repurchase program is extended through December 31, 2026. Source

Figures management reported

FigureReported
Average rigs on contract Source10 (prior quarter 9)
Average contractual dayrate Source$360 thousand (prior quarter $343 thousand)
Economic utilization Source95.5% (prior quarter 94.6%)
Capital additions and long-term maintenance Source$57 million (full-year range $200 - $240 million)
Share repurchases Sourceapproximately $20 million in the second quarter

Risks management discussed

  • Operational: Fewer operating days for West Tellus reduced fleet activity in the quarter. Source
  • Financial: Receivables rose with new contract starts and the timing of collections across the rest of the fleet, which management named as a cash flow factor. Source
  • Regulatory: A legacy legal judgment tied to the Sonadrill joint venture required a $16 million final payment in the quarter. Source

Earlier plans management reported on

  • Ahead: The first-quarter release said the two projects were completed ahead of schedule and on budget.
  • Not stated: The first-quarter release expected this collection in the second quarter. The second-quarter release cites lump-sum mobilization revenue among cash inflows.
  • Not stated: The first-quarter release said recent achievements enhanced visibility toward higher earnings and Free Cash Flow. Second-quarter Free Cash Flow was negative $43 million.

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.