Earnings call transcript: Nine Energy surpasses Q1 2025 expectations

Nine Energy Service reported its first-quarter 2025 earnings, exceeding Wall Street expectations with an EPS of -$0.18, compared to the forecasted -$0.24. The company also reported higher-than-expected revenue of $150.5 million, surpassing the anticipated $135.79 million. According to InvestingPro analysis, Nine Energy currently maintains a FAIR financial health score, though operating with a significant debt burden of $358.79 million. The positive results led to a slight increase in the stock price, which rose by 0.28% to $0.615 in after-hours trading, though InvestingPro data indicates the stock is currently in oversold territory.

Key Takeaways

• Nine Energy’s Q1 2025 revenue increased by 6% from Q4.
• Adjusted EBITDA rose by 17% quarter-over-quarter.
• The company is expanding its completion tools facility in Texas.
• Market share gains were noted across service lines.

Company Performance

Nine Energy Service demonstrated robust performance in Q1 2025, with a 6% increase in revenue from the prior quarter, reaching $150.5 million. The company saw significant growth in its completion tools segment, especially in the Permian Basin, and noted a 17% rise in adjusted EBITDA to $16.5 million. With a market capitalization of just $26.34 million, Nine Energy maintains stability in the U.S. land market and achieved market share gains across its service lines. For deeper insights into Nine Energy’s valuation and growth potential, InvestingPro subscribers can access comprehensive analysis and 13 additional ProTips.

Financial Highlights

• Revenue: $150.5 million, up 6% from Q4
• Adjusted EBITDA: $16.5 million, up 17% quarter-over-quarter
• Cash and cash equivalents: $17.3 million
• Total liquidity position: $53.8 million as of March 31, 2025

Earnings vs. Forecast

Nine Energy’s actual EPS of -$0.18 was better than the forecasted -$0.24, marking a positive surprise for investors. Revenue also exceeded expectations by approximately $14.67 million. This performance suggests a strong quarter for Nine Energy, continuing its trend of surpassing market expectations.

Market Reaction

Following the earnings announcement, Nine Energy’s stock experienced a modest increase of 0.28%, closing at $0.615. This movement reflects a positive investor sentiment, supported by the company’s better-than-expected financial results. The stock remains within its 52-week range, with a high of $2.065 and a low of $0.602.

Outlook & Guidance

Looking ahead, Nine Energy projects Q2 revenue between $138 million and $148 million, with expectations of a potential decline in revenue and EBITDA compared to Q1. The company remains cautious due to fluctuating oil prices, potential tariffs, and broader commodity market dynamics.

Executive Commentary

CEO Ann Fox stated, "We are trying to be cautious and conservative," emphasizing the company’s prudent approach amid market uncertainties. She also highlighted the challenges posed by tariffs, noting, "The service sector really does not have the capacity to absorb these tariffs."

Risks and Challenges

• Fluctuating oil prices could impact revenue and profitability.
• Potential tariffs may affect the wireline and coiled tubing divisions.
• Trade negotiations and commodity market dynamics present ongoing uncertainties.
• Pricing pressures, particularly in West Texas, may affect margins.

Q&A

During the earnings call, analysts inquired about pricing pressures and the impact of potential tariffs on Nine Energy’s operations. The company expressed optimism about the natural gas market, especially in Haynesville, and confirmed there are no current plans to relocate equipment.

Full transcript - Nine Energy Service Inc (NINE) Q1 2025:

Conference Operator: Greetings, and welcome to Nine Energy Service First Quarter twenty twenty five Earnings Conference Call. At this time, all participants are in a listen only mode. A question and answer session will follow the formal presentation. As a reminder, this call is being recorded. I would now like to turn the conference over to your host, Heather Schmidt, Vice President, Strategic Development and Investor Relations.

Ann Fox, President and Chief Executive Officer, Nine Energy Service: Thank you. Good morning, everyone, and welcome to the Nye Energy Service earnings conference call to discuss our results for the first quarter of twenty twenty five. With me today are Ann Fox, President and Chief Executive Officer and Guy Sierkes, Chief Financial Officer. We appreciate your participation. Some of our comments today may include forward looking statements reflecting Nine’s views about future events.

Forward looking statements are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond our control. These risks and uncertainties can cause actual results to differ materially from our current expectations. We advise listeners to review our earnings release and the risk factors discussed in our filings with the SEC. We undertake no obligation to revise or update publicly any forward looking statements for any reason. Our comments today also include non GAAP financial measures.

Additional details and a reconciliation to the most directly comparable GAAP financial measures are also included in our first quarter press release and can be found in the Investor Relations section of our website. I will now turn the call over to Ann. Thank you, Heather. Good morning, everyone. Thank you for joining us today to discuss our first quarter results for 2025.

Revenue for the quarter was $150,500,000 which was in the upper range of our original guidance of 146,000,000 to $152,000,000 and an increase of approximately 6% versus Q4. We generated adjusted EBITDA of $16,500,000 an increase of approximately 17% quarter over quarter. Incremental adjusted EBITDA margins were approximately 26%. We had a strong quarter relative to the market as we continue to execute our strategy of market share gains and cost reductions. The U.

S. Land market was relatively stable in Q1 with The U. S. Rig count remaining flat versus Q4. Despite this, we generated revenue growth within all of our service lines and generated EBITDA margins of approximately 26%, driven in large part by increased activity from our market share gains, most specifically within cementing.

Additionally, we did not have the negative impact of holiday, weather and budget exhaustion we saw in Q4, resulting in more efficient operations and less white space, most evident in our coiled tubing division, where we increased revenue by approximately 16% quarter over quarter. Pricing across service lines was mostly stable in Q1 with the exception of our wireline operations in the Northeast, where we saw the impact of lower stage pricing implemented during the bidding process in 2024. As I mentioned, our total revenue grew by approximately 6% quarter over quarter with our cementing business increasing its revenue by approximately 4% and jobs completed by approximately 11% despite a flat rig count environment and sustained low activity levels in Haynesville. Completion tool revenue for the quarter increased due to market share gains in the Permian Basin with our plug offering. Our technology continues to perform very well, and we continue to be a premier completion tool provider for The US and abroad.

Our US wireline division increased revenue by approximately 7% quarter over quarter due in large part to more efficient operations in the Northeast as budgets reset and we did not have the impact of holiday shutdowns. We have seen stage price reductions in the Northeast as we repriced work for 02/2025 bids completed during a lower natural gas price in 2024. Coiled tubing revenue increased by approximately 16% this quarter. Utilization was significantly higher in Q1 versus Q4, driving an increase in both revenue and profitability quarter over quarter. I would now like to turn the call over to Guy to walk through detailed financial information.

Conference Operator: Thank you, Anne. Before I walk through Q1 results, I want to discuss the recent refinancing of our ABL revolving credit facility. On May 1, we closed on a new asset based revolving credit facility with White Oak Commercial Finance due November 2027. The new ABL will provide us with a hundred 25,000,000 of commitments and a $50,000,000 uncommitted accordion and will will replace the company’s previous revolving credit facility. Based on our March borrowing base and excluding onetime transaction costs, the new facility provides Nine with approximately $22,000,000 of incremental covenant compliant liquidity through an increase in our borrowing base of approximately $14,400,000 as well as lowering our fixed charge coverage ratio trigger level by approximately $7,500,000 Additionally, the new ABL extends the previous maturity by approximately nine months to November 2027.

We estimate the new ABL will increase our annual cash interest expense by approximately $1,000,000 The combination of additional borrowing base availability and lower fixed charge covenant ratio trigger levels significantly increases our liquidity and financial flexibility, and we are excited about our new partnership with White Oak. A summary of the terms are contained within the company’s recent filing with the SEC, and there is a supplemental presentation that can be found in the Investor Relations section of our website. As of 03/31/2025, Nine’s cash and cash equivalents were $17,300,000 with 36,500,000.0 of availability under the previous revolving ABL credit facility, resulting in a total liquidity position of 53,800,000.0 as of 03/31/2025. At March 31, we had 47,000,000 of borrowings under the ABL credit facility. During q one, we did not sell any shares under the ATM program.

As per the terms of the indenture governing nine senior secured notes, the company is required to periodically offer to repurchase such notes with a portion of any excess cash flow. Nine did not generate any excess cash flow as defined in the indenture in the most recently ended two fiscal quarters. As a result, no excess cash flow offer will be made to note holders this month. During the first quarter, revenue totaled $150,500,000 with adjusted gross profit of $28,000,000 During the first quarter, we completed twelve forty five cementing jobs, an increase of approximately 11%. The average blended revenue per job decreased by approximately 6%.

Cementing revenue for the quarter was $57,200,000 an increase of approximately 4%. During the first quarter, we completed 7,713 wireline stages, an increase of approximately 15%. The average blended revenue per stage decreased by approximately 7%. Wireline revenue for the quarter was 29,600,000.0, an increase of approximately 7%. For completion tools, we completed 29,057 stages, an increase of approximately 14%.

Completion tool revenue was $33,900,000 an increase of approximately 2%. During the first quarter, our coiled tubing days were increased by approximately 36%, with the average blended day rate decreasing by approximately 15%. Coiled tubing revenue was $29,900,000 an increase of approximately 16%. During the first quarter, the company reported general and administrative expense of 13,300,000.0 Depreciation and amortization expense was $8,600,000 The company’s tax provision was approximately $100,000 for the first quarter of twenty twenty five. The provision for 2025 is the result of the company’s tax position in state and non U.

S. Tax jurisdictions. For the first quarter, the company reported net cash used in operating activities of 5,300,000.0 The average DSO for Q3 was fifty seven point six days. CapEx spend during Q1 was 4,300,000.0, and our full year CapEx budget remains unchanged at 15,000,000 to 25,000,000. I will now turn it back to Anne.

Ann Fox, President and Chief Executive Officer, Nine Energy Service: Thank you, guys. The recent decline in oil price in conjunction with increased costs due to tariffs has created uncertainty for the energy industry and global market. It is too early to understand the timing and totality of these impacts and what customer plans and U. S. Activity levels will look like moving forward.

Things can change quickly, and we are planning for every scenario. Commodity prices will impact activity levels, and our customers are currently in the process of evaluating plans. With the recent OPEC announcement, oil prices have fallen, and we are waiting to see the magnitude of operator reaction. We have seen supportive natural gas prices in Q1, but activity levels in the natural gas stations have remained flat thus far. We are optimistic on the long term outlook for natural gas and the positive impact it could have on Nine’s earnings.

Tariffs will directly impact Nine as well as the overall industry. We are most impacted by tariffs in our wireline division with our perforating guns and coil tubing with our reels and with some of our component parts for our tools. We have already begun having pricing conversations with our customers and are simultaneously evaluating alternative sources of materials to offset some of these cost increases. In May, we began to see some activity declines as well as pricing pressure, specifically in the Permian Basin. As previously discussed, forward looking plans are still very uncertain.

But with what we know today, we anticipate both revenue and adjusted EBITDA to decline compared to Q1 and project Q2 revenue between $138,000,000 and $148,000,000 This team has navigated uncertainty before, and we are prepared to pivot with market changes. We are ready to capitalize on any market growth in the natural gas leaver basins, and our diversity in geography and commodities remain an important differentiator for Nine. We will continue to focus on executing our strategy, the development of our technology and maintaining our service quality and execution at the website. Before we open up the call for Q and A, I wanted to mention the recent appointment of Joey Hall to the Board of Directors. As previously announced, the Board had made a strategic decision to change the composition and size of the Board.

We knew it was crucial to have an upstream and industry expert on the Board, and we are confident Joey will bring deep experience and insights to the markets we serve. He most recently served as the Executive Vice President of Operations for Pioneer Natural Resources, and we are very excited to welcome him to the Board. We will now open up the call for Q and A.

Waqar Saeed, Analyst, ATB Capital Markets: Thank you. At this time, we’ll

Conference Operator: be conducting a question and answer session. A confirmation tone will indicate your line is in the question queue. You may press star two if you like to remove your questions from the queue. For participants using speaker equipment, it may be necessary to pick up your handset before pressing the star keys. Our first question comes from Ugar Saeed with ATB Capital Markets.

Please proceed with your question.

Waqar Saeed, Analyst, ATB Capital Markets: You. Good morning. Good morning, Waqar. And my question relates to pricing pressures that you mentioned. Could you maybe provide some some details around that, you know, which business line is being the most impacted and maybe quantify some of the, you know, the magnitude of the impact?

Ann Fox, President and Chief Executive Officer, Nine Energy Service: So it’s still very early, Ricard, to try and quantify the magnitude. I would say this pricing pressure is largely related to West Texas activities. We’re seeing some pressure in the cementing division. I think it’s relative to kind of the upset with the tariffs that has occurred. Obviously, that’s, you know, not just specific to our industry, but but part of it is that where you’re having to go in and have conversations with your customers around tariff impacts.

And then the other piece is, you know, just the commodity price, what our customers are facing, and what they’re looking at. So we’ve started to see that primarily in West Texas. And I would just add to that that and I think you’ve probably heard this from so many of our peers and then just other industries at large. It’s just really too early, I think, for any of us to understand these impacts, which may be small and they may not be. I mean, obviously, we’re waiting for trade agreement announcements today with The UK.

We’ve got, you know, the administration has meetings with with the Chinese this weekend. So as you know, these things can rapidly change, and that’s that’s important. If you look at our q two guidance, we’ve debated back and forth on on really what that number looks like because the uncertainty is so strong for June, just given everything that we’re we’re waiting on to see. April was a very strong month for us. And if we had to run rate the quarter on April, we would have given stronger guidance.

May is a good month. I think what you’re seeing is a lot of companies are trying to say, hang on a second. There’s some uncertainty coming. We wanna be transparent. We don’t wanna be misleading, but nobody’s actually come off a cliff yet.

Right? And so and that cliff may not be there. It just depends what comes out of it largely depends what comes out of Washington and what happens to these commodity prices. So I don’t wanna I don’t wanna paint some picture of certainty that we don’t have. We are trying to be cautious and conservative.

Waqar Saeed, Analyst, ATB Capital Markets: Sure. And and, you know, in the oil industry, like, although between the $62 oil price and $58 oil price may not be as huge as, you know, magnitude difference. But optically for operators, it’s a big difference when you have a high, you know, $5, handle on on commodity prices or oil prices. The the current guidance that you provided, is it more kind of a low sixties guidance? Or you think it’s more of a below 60 oil price, like $50.58, 50 9 oil price staying over the next three, six months?

Ann Fox, President and Chief Executive Officer, Nine Energy Service: You know what, Waqar? I think it’s still early to say. And I think, obviously, as you said, it’s, you know, the the near term oil prices matter. Obviously, the forward strip matters. What is the certainty in the market?

What do we think is coming with global demand, global production? So I would say this is just thoughts on the q two outlook. We’re not providing any guidance going forward. And, obviously, as you know, a $50 price is very different than a $60 price. It’s very different than a $70 price.

And it’s really important to note, our customers are doing this evaluation real time themselves, right, and trying to figure out what will be their cash returns to, you know, the street, what are their production goals, how do they manage tariffs if if they stick, right, if the tariffs stick. So I think it’s way too early for me to to answer So, specifically, I can just give you the color I gave you on q two.

Waqar Saeed, Analyst, ATB Capital Markets: Sure. I appreciate that. And then you also talked about, like, tariff related impact on, you know, components that have a lot of steel, whether coiled tubing or perforating guns. You know, what is your ability to pass those extra costs over to the customer given that the customers are getting squeezed from low oil prices as well?

Ann Fox, President and Chief Executive Officer, Nine Energy Service: Well, I think, you know, you’re you’re so well versed in all things oil field service. And the service sector really at large does not have the capacity to absorb these tariffs. And so I I think most of us will be going to our customers to absorb those tariffs. They are well understood. So unlike times in the past where you may face some organic issue relative to pricing, This is this is a matter that is well publicized and very transparent.

So we are absolutely planning to pass those tariffs on. And I think, frankly, our customers understand that OFS does not have the capacity to absorb these tariffs. So we’re we’re planning to pass this on. I think that’s been received, and those conversations are ongoing. Again, as you know, even this afternoon, that aluminum and and steel tariff is in question with The UK.

So that’s just one example. So I don’t wanna be too certain about anything because at any moment, we could see something lifted or we could see something eased or we could see something become more difficult.

Waqar Saeed, Analyst, ATB Capital Markets: Sure. And then, you know, the natural gas market, whether that’s Haynesville or Euphoratia, Northeast looks much better, the outlook there. And in your commentary, in the press release, there were some comments about relocation of equipment or refocus towards that. Could you maybe highlight that? What are you thinking along those lines?

Ann Fox, President and Chief Executive Officer, Nine Energy Service: Yes. So we we, right now, are not planning to relocate any equipment. I do know you’ve heard from some of our customers. You you heard from Catera specifically that they’ll they’ll focus their CapEx on on the gas market. But right now, we are not planning to relocate.

As you know, we fought really hard when the average gas price last year was $2.19 to hang on to those gassy footprints. We’re so happy that we did because those are are really nice bright spots for us right now. We do suspect, and you kind of look at where the strip pricing is for gas. It’s a very happy place for our customers. So really excited about the gas market for us going forward.

But right now, we don’t have a plan to reallocate any assets or equipment.

Waqar Saeed, Analyst, ATB Capital Markets: K. And then just just final question on your international completion to sales. Were there any anything there in in q one?

Ann Fox, President and Chief Executive Officer, Nine Energy Service: I mean, yes. We we had international sales there, and we’re really pleased with how our multi cycle barrier valve is performing. Really pleased with our outlook for the international tool sales this year. Definitely a very bright spot as well. So so looking forward to that, as you know, we’re building a state of the art completion tools facility in Texas, and that’s gonna have every possible test capability that will help us serve the domestic market, but really will also help us meet some really tough and stringent requirements to continue to play and expand in the international market.

Waqar Saeed, Analyst, ATB Capital Markets: Great. Well, thank you very much. I appreciate the comments. Thank you so much, Waqar.

Conference Operator: Our next question comes from John Daniel with Daniel Energy Partners. Please proceed with your question. Good morning, guys. Thanks for including me in Wakar, man. He asked all the good questions.

I’m I missed some of your prepared remarks, so I apologize. But I was curious if you could speak to the plug business and just we continue to see longer laterals has us to, you know, talks about four mile laterals in the pocket and more people are testing it. Just, you know, look at one to two years. How do you see that demand playing out? And do you feel the same pricing pressure on sort of the technology offering versus the other stuff?

Ann Fox, President and Chief Executive Officer, Nine Energy Service: Well, good morning, John. We always appreciate your questions and participation. I think, you know, when you look out I’ll I’ll take the second question first. OFS seems to be it doesn’t seem to have any immunity in any segment anywhere as it relates to pricing pressure. So when pricing pressure comes or you deal with a market like this, it seems to be universally applied.

On the first question, we really love to see these long laterals. I mean, it feels like every time we start talking about you know, it was a couple of years ago, we start talking about four mile laterals. Nobody gets too excited about it because they’re sparse and few and far between, and then that continues to increase. The complexity of the completions continue to increase. As you know, the relentless focus on efficiency is there.

So we are very excited that that the technology requirements and demand will continue to go up on these frac plugs, which as you know, are absolutely critical to the overall health and production and type curve of these wells. So we’re always after a plug that does the absolute best job isolating each stage, but also can dissolve quickly and and lend to efficient operations for the customer. So we’re hyper focused on new innovations all the time as it relates to frac plugs. We love the outlook for demand, and we think that that complexity will drive right to what we do best, which is to meet the need of really difficult technology innovation. So we’re excited about it, and it’s gonna be a market mover for us for sure.

Conference Operator: Okay.

Ann Fox, President and Chief Executive Officer, Nine Energy Service: And I just there are two two, John, is that, as you know, just naturally, things like to dissolve in in high temperatures. So I think that Haynesville is also gonna be a nice basin for us moving forward over the next couple of years. So that’s exciting too.

Conference Operator: Okay. And then just a quick follow-up. As the the international tool sales sort of accelerate over time, do you see any opportunities for that to be a pull through for your other services? Is there is it a realistic distance that you have?

Ann Fox, President and Chief Executive Officer, Nine Energy Service: Okay. Nope. I’ll be really clear about that. We have, at our size and scale, no interest in proliferating any, what I’ll call, bricks and mortar heavy equipment or, you know, human assets on the ground. So we are absolutely going after that international market from a product perspective and a technology perspective.

And one of our number one goals is to expand our offering for the conventional wellbore. Okay. So we’re always happy to tap the unconventionals, but we’re actively working on that. And we have, what we would say in Massachusetts, a wicked smart Norwegian team of engineers over in Norway working on those tools. So very excited about that.

Those guys are really second to none. So it’s it’s something we don’t often talk about, but they’re actively working on it.

Conference Operator: Well, good. Well, thank you very much, and Joey’s a good guest. Congratulations.

Ann Fox, President and Chief Executive Officer, Nine Energy Service: Yes. He’s an he’s an incredible guest. So thank you so much. We feel extremely happy to have him join our board. Thank you.

You bet. You bet. Bye bye.

Conference Operator: We have reached the end of the question and answer session. I’d now like to turn the call back over to Anne Fox for closing comments.

Ann Fox, President and Chief Executive Officer, Nine Energy Service: Thank you for your participation in the call today. I wanna thank our employees, our EMT partners, and investors. Thank you.

Conference Operator: This concludes today’s conference. You may disconnect your lines at this time, and we thank you for your participation.

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