ATLANTA, April 25, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- RPC, Inc. (NYSE:RES) ("RPC" or "the Company"), a leading diversified oilfield services company, announced its unaudited results for the first quarter ended March 31, 2024. * Non-GAAP and adjusted measures, including adjusted operating income, adjusted net income, adjusted earnings per share (diluted), EBITDA and adjusted EBITDA, adjusted EBITDA margin, and free cash flow are reconciled to the most comparable GAAP measures in the appendices of this earnings release. * Sequential comparisons are to 4Q:23. The Company believes quarterly sequential comparisons are most useful in assessing industry trends and RPC's recent financial results. Both sequential and year-over-year comparisons are available in the tables at the end of this earnings release. First Quarter 2024 Highlights Revenues decreased 4% sequentially to $377.8 million Net income was $27.5 million, down 32% sequentially, and diluted Earnings Per Share (EPS) was $0.13; net income margin decreased 290 basis points sequentially to 7.3% Adjusted Earnings Before Interest, Taxes, Depreciation and Amortization (EBITDA) was $63.1 million, down 21% sequentially; Adjusted EBITDA margin decreased 340 basis points sequentially to 16.7% Results reflected soft industry demand across the Company's service lines and highly competitive market dynamics The Company remained debt-free, paid $8.6 million in dividends and repurchased $9.9 million of common stock in 1Q:24 Management Commentary "Our results reflected a modestly weaker oilfield services activity environment with continued competitive pressures," stated Ben M. Palmer, RPC's President and Chief Executive Officer. "Our first quarter pressure pumping activity and utilization were below the fourth quarter. Pumping industry capacity remains high, particularly in the Permian, with bidding results and pricing conversations indicating a highly competitive market. We are optimistic that if current oil price momentum holds, our customers would steadily increase activity in the second half of 2024. Looking further out, as large E&P consolidation transactions close and non-core assets are potentially divested, development of this acreage could provide demand tailwinds." "Our financial position remained strong, with $212 million in cash and a debt-free balance sheet at the end of the first quarter. Our plans to place a new Tier 4 dual-fuel fleet in service mid-year 2024 remain on track, and we are committed to ongoing upgrades to meet customer demand for high-quality equipment. We are also committed to continue long-term strategic investments in the business and evaluating potential acquisitions to increase our scale, strengthen service lines, and grow our customer relationships. At the same time, we are steadily returning capital to our stockholders through dividends and opportunistic share buybacks," concluded Palmer. Selected Industry Data (Source: Baker Hughes, Inc., U.S. Energy Information Administration) 1Q:24 4Q:23 Change % Change 1Q:23 Change % Change U.S. rig count (avg) 623 622 1 0.2 % 760 (137) (18.0) % Oil price ($/barrel) $ 77.46 $ 78.52 $ (1.06) (1.3) % $ 75.97 $ 1.49 2.0 % Natural gas ($/Mcf) $ 2.15 $ 2.74 $ (0.59) (21.5) % $ 2.66 $ (0.51) (19.2) % 1Q:24 Consolidated Financial Results (Sequential Comparisons versus 4Q:23) Revenues were $377.8 million, down 4%. Revenues decreased primarily due to lower industry activity, which was generally consistent across pressure pumping and most other service lines. Competitive pricing also persisted and contributed to the revenue decline. Revenues for pressure pumping, the Company's largest service line, declined 5%, while all other service lines combined declined 3%. Cost of revenues, which excludes depreciation and amortization of $27.3 million, was $276.6 million, down from $279.4 million. These costs decreased during the quarter, though less than the revenue decrease given the fixed nature of some of these costs, including labor, and the timing of maintenance and repairs. Selling, general and administrative expenses were $40.1 million, up from $38.1 million. The increase in expenses is due primarily to employment costs. Interest income totaled $3.0 million, reflecting a slightly higher average cash balance. Income tax provision was $8.4 million, or 23.5% of income before income taxes. Net income and diluted EPS were $27.5 million and $0.13, respectively, down from $40.3 million and $0.19, respectively, in 4Q:23. Net income margin decreased 290 basis points sequentially to 7.3%. Adjusted EBITDA was $63.1 million, down from $79.5 million, reflecting the revenue decline and generally flat costs; adjusted EBITDA margin decreased 340 basis points sequentially to 16.7%. Non-GAAP adjustments: there were no adjustments to GAAP performance measures in 1Q:24, other than those necessary to calculate EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA (see Appendices A, B and C). Balance Sheet, Cash Flow and Capital Allocation Cash and cash equivalents were $212.2 million at the end of the 1Q:24, with no outstanding borrowings under the Company's $100 million revolving credit facility. Net cash provided by operating activities and free cash flow were $56.6 million and $3.8 million, respectively, during 1Q:24. Payment of dividends totaled $8.6 million in 1Q:24. The Board of Directors declared a regular quarterly cash dividend of $0.04 per share, payable June 10, 2024, to common stockholders of record at the close of business on May 10, 2024. Share repurchases totaled $9.9 million in 1Q:24. Buybacks under the Company's share repurchase program totaled $7.5 million during 1Q:24 (1.0 million shares). Segment Operations: Sequential Comparisons (versus 4Q:23) Technical Services performs value-added completion, production and maintenance services directly to a customer's well. These services include pressure pumping, downhole tools and services, coiled tubing, cementing, and other offerings. Revenues were $356.4 million, down 4% Operating income was $32.0 million, down 31% Results were driven primarily by lower activity levels and competitive pricing across most service lines, and the related negative leverage of fixed costs, particularly labor Support Services provides equipment for customer use or services to assist customer operations, including rental of tubulars and related tools, pipe inspection and storage services, and oilfield training services. Revenues were $21.4 million, down 9% Operating income was $3.6 million, down 29% Results were driven by lower activity in rental tools and the high fixed-cost nature of these service lines Three Months Ended March 31,  December 31, March 31,  (In thousands) 2024 2023 2023 (Unaudited) (Unaudited) (Unaudited) Revenues: Technical Services $ 356,394 $ 371,059 $ 451,991 Support Services 21,439 23,472 24,677 Total revenues $ 377,833 $ 394,531 $ 476,668 Operating income: Technical Services $ 31,956 $ 46,442 $ 103,533 Support Services 3,599 5,036 6,644 Corporate expenses (4,420) (3,880) (5,081) Pension settlement charges — — (17,375) Gain on disposition of assets, net 1,214 1,615 2,936 Total operating income $ 32,349 $ 49,213 $ 90,657 Interest expense (234) (95) (72) Interest income 2,965 2,596 1,855 Other income, net 767 839 761 Income before income taxes $ 35,847 $ 52,553 $ 93,201   Conference Call Information RPC, Inc. will hold a conference call today, April 25, 2024, at 9:00 a.m. ET to discuss the results for the quarter. Interested parties may listen in by accessing a live webcast in the investor relations section of RPC, Inc.'s website at www.RPC.net. The live conference call can also be accessed by calling (888) 440-5966, or (646) 960-0125 for international callers, and use conference ID number 9842359. For those not able to attend the live conference call, a replay will be available in the investor relations section of RPC, Inc.'s website beginning approximately two hours after the call and for a period of 90 days. About RPC RPC provides a broad range of specialized oilfield services and equipment primarily to independent and major oilfield companies engaged in the exploration, production and development of oil and gas properties throughout the United States, including the Gulf of Mexico, mid-continent, southwest, Appalachian and Rocky Mountain regions, and in selected international markets. RPC's investor website can be found at www.RPC.net. Forward Looking Statements Certain statements and information included in this press release constitute "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such forward-looking statements include statements that look forward in time or express management's beliefs, expectations or hopes. In particular, such statements include, without limitation: our optimism that if current oil price momentum holds, our customers would steadily increase activity in the second half of 2024; our belief that as large E&P consolidated transactions close and non-core assets are potentially divested, development of this acreage could provide demand tailwinds; our plans to place a new Tier 4 duel-free fleet in service mid-year 2024; and our commitment to making long-term strategic investments in the business and evaluating potential acquisitions to increase our scale, strengthen service lines, and grow our customer relationships. Risk factors that could cause such future events not to occur as expected include the following: the price of oil and natural gas and overall performance of the U.S. economy, both of which can impact capital spending by our customers and demand for our services; business interruptions due to adverse weather conditions; changes in the competitive environment of our industry; and our ability to identify and complete acquisitions. Additional factors that could cause the actual results to differ materially from management's projections, forecasts, estimates, and expectations are contained in RPC's Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2023. For information about RPC, Inc., please contact: Michael L. Schmit, Chief Financial Officer(404) Mark Chekanow, CFA, Vice President Investor Relations(404)   RPC INCORPORATED AND SUBSIDIARIES CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS (In thousands except per share data) Three Months Ended March 31,  December 31, March 31,  2024 2023 2023 (Unaudited) (Unaudited) (Unaudited) REVENUES $ 377,833 $ 394,531 $ 476,668 COSTS AND EXPENSES: