greeksoup/ stock research

Valaris Ltd.: Q4 FY2025 earnings call

What management said about Q4 FY2025, from the documents filed with the SEC on 19 February 2026: press release. Guidance figures: 4 new. The quarter’s numbers.

Key takeaways

  • Net income lifted by tax benefit: Net income was $717 million against $187 million in the third quarter, including a $680 million tax benefit as recorded in the statement of operations. Source
  • Adjusted EBITDA fell to $97 million: Adjusted EBITDA was $97 million against $163 million in the third quarter, while revenue exclusive of reimbursable items was $502 million against $556 million. Source
  • Floater revenue fell on idle drillships: Floater revenue exclusive of reimbursable items was $255 million against $293 million, mainly because drillships DS-15 and DS-18 finished contracts without immediate follow-on work. Source
  • Backlog rose to $4.7 billion: Total contract backlog was $4,672.3 million at February 17, 2026, against $4,450.3 million at October 23, 2025, after nearly $900 million of new contracts. Source
  • Drillship awards for DS-7 and DS-9: Contract awards were recently announced for drillships DS-7 and DS-9. Management expects all ten active drillships to be working as 2027 begins. Source
  • Cash fell to $599 million: Cash and cash equivalents fell to $599 million from $663 million, due to capital expenditures and share repurchases, partly offset by operating cash flow. Source

“We delivered revenue efficiency of 98% for the quarter and 96% for full year 2025, marking our fifth consecutive year of revenue efficiency at or above 96%.”

Anton Dibowitz, President and Chief Executive Officer

Guidance

AreaPeriodFigureAgainst last quarter
Total operating revenues SourceFY 2026$2,125 - 2,205 millionNew
Adjusted EBITDA SourceFY 2026$485 - 565 millionNew
Capital expenditures SourceFY 2026$425 - 475 millionNew
Upfront payments from customers SourceFY 2026approximately $110 millionNew

What changed from last quarter

  • New guidance: Full-year 2026 financial guidance was given for revenue, Adjusted EBITDA, capital expenditures and customer upfront payments. The prior release contained no such guidance. Source
  • New: Valaris announced an all-stock transaction with Transocean Ltd. earlier in February 2026; the release describes the combination as pending. Source
  • New: Jackups VALARIS 102 and 145 were sold for recycling, and semisubmersible VALARIS DPS-1 was classified as held for sale with the intent to recycle. Source
  • Ended: Valaris cancelled its fourth quarter 2025 earnings call and does not plan future earnings calls or guidance updates, citing the pending Transocean combination. Source

Fourth quarter results

  • Net income lifted by tax benefit: Net income was $717 million against $187 million in the third quarter, including a $680 million tax benefit as recorded in the statement of operations. Source
  • Adjusted EBITDA fell to $97 million: Adjusted EBITDA was $97 million against $163 million in the third quarter, while revenue exclusive of reimbursable items was $502 million against $556 million. Source
  • Valuation allowance change drove tax benefit: The tax benefit reflects changes in deferred tax asset valuation allowances in certain operating jurisdictions, plus a $7 million discrete benefit primarily tied to rig impairments. Source
  • Rig impairment and smaller asset gain: A $20 million impairment was recorded mainly on DPS-1 as held for sale. The gain on sale of assets was $1 million, against $90 million in the third quarter. Source

Segment results by fleet type

  • Floater revenue fell on idle drillships: Floater revenue exclusive of reimbursable items was $255 million against $293 million, mainly because drillships DS-15 and DS-18 finished contracts without immediate follow-on work. Source
  • Floater Adjusted EBITDA roughly halved: Floaters Adjusted EBITDA was $58 million against $106 million, while semisubmersibles posted a $2 million loss against $11 million income in the third quarter. Source
  • Jackup revenue eased on VALARIS 247 sale: Jackup revenue exclusive of reimbursable items was $209 million against $217 million, mainly from the sale of VALARIS 247, which contributed one month of revenue in the third quarter. Source
  • ARO revenue hit by shipyard downtime: ARO Drilling revenue was $140 million against $157 million, as VALARIS 116 and 250 spent more time out of service on planned shipyard projects. Source

“We expect that our financial results will improve meaningfully across the year as our currently idle drillships return to work.”

Chris Weber, Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer

Contracts, backlog and utilization

  • Backlog rose to $4.7 billion: Total contract backlog was $4,672.3 million at February 17, 2026, against $4,450.3 million at October 23, 2025, after nearly $900 million of new contracts. Source
  • Drillship awards for DS-7 and DS-9: Contract awards were recently announced for drillships DS-7 and DS-9. Management expects all ten active drillships to be working as 2027 begins. Source
  • Most 2026 revenue already contracted: About 97% of full-year 2026 revenue at the midpoint of the revenue guidance range is secured by firm contracts, according to management. Source
  • Drillship active-fleet utilization dipped: Active-fleet utilization for drillships was 58% in the fourth quarter, down from 63% in the third quarter. Source

Costs, depreciation and tax

  • Contract drilling costs rose: Contract drilling expenses rose to $380 million from $368 million, on higher repair costs for planned maintenance and higher mobilization expenses. Source
  • Depreciation rose with new assets: Depreciation rose to $41 million from $37 million, as new assets entered service after shipyard projects. Source
  • General and administrative costs flat: General and administrative expenses were $27 million, in line with the third quarter. Source
  • Tax expense before one-off items: Excluding the valuation allowance and discrete items, tax expense was $18 million, against $29 million in the third quarter. Source

“We believe the outlook for the offshore drilling industry remains positive, with customers continuing to emphasize the need for sustained upstream investment to help ensure secure, reliable and affordable energy supply.”

Anton Dibowitz, President and Chief Executive Officer

Cash flow and balance sheet

  • Cash fell to $599 million: Cash and cash equivalents fell to $599 million from $663 million, due to capital expenditures and share repurchases, partly offset by operating cash flow. Source
  • Fourth quarter operating cash flow lower: Net cash from operating activities was $72 million in the fourth quarter, against $198 million in the third quarter. Source
  • Full-year operating cash flow reported: Net cash provided by operating activities was $546 million for the year ended December 31, 2025, against $355 million in 2024. Source
  • Long-term debt broadly unchanged: Long-term debt was $1,086 million at December 31, 2025, against $1,085 million at September 30, 2025. Source

Fleet status and 2026 capex

  • Total stacked fleet fell to 10: Total stacked fleet was 10 rigs at December 31, 2025, against 12 at September 30, 2025. Source
  • About $260 million of 2026 capex: About $260 million of the 2026 capital expenditure guidance is for maintenance and upgrade work, including deferred maintenance for drillships returning from idle periods. Source
  • Active fleet declined by one rig: Active fleet was 28 rigs at December 31, 2025, down from 29 at September 30, 2025. Source

Coming up, as management said on 19 February 2026

  • Drillships DS-15 and DS-18 start contracts: Both drillships are scheduled to commence new contracts in the second half of 2026. Source
  • ARO upgrades before bareboat charters: Jackups VALARIS 116 and 250 are to receive contract-specific upgrades before continuing long-term bareboat charters with ARO. Source
  • Managed Pressure Drilling drillship upgrades: Three drillships are being upgraded with Managed Pressure Drilling systems, two of which will use the advanced CML design. Source

Figures management reported

FigureReported
Operating days, Valaris total Source2,855 in Q4 2025 (3,114 in Q3 2025)
Average daily revenue, Valaris total Source$177,000 in Q4 2025 (Q3 2025: $176,000)
Average daily revenue, drillships Source$434,000 in Q4 2025 (Q3 2025: $425,000)
Capital expenditures Source$106 million in Q4 2025 (Q3 2025: $70 million); $343.5 million for 2025
Share repurchases Source$25 million in Q4 2025; $100 million for 2025

Risks management discussed

  • Demand: Drillships DS-15 and DS-18 finished contracts without immediate follow-on work, leaving them idle in the fourth quarter. Source
  • Financial: Higher accruals for certain claims added to contract drilling expenses in the fourth quarter. Source

Earlier plans management reported on

  • Met: Management said open drillship capacity was addressed earlier this year, before the recent DS-7 and DS-9 contract awards. 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.