Valaris has reported first quarter 2025 results.
President and Chief Executive Officer Anton Dibowitz said, 'I’d like to thank the entire Valaris team for delivering another quarter of strong operational and financial performance. We continued our track record of providing safe and efficient operations for our customers, delivering revenue efficiency of 96% as well as meaningful EBITDA and free cash flow during the quarter.'
Dibowitz added, 'We are also successfully executing our commercial strategy by securing attractive, long-term contracts for our high-specification fleet. The recent award for drillship VALARIS DS-10 offshore West Africa enhances our presence in a key deepwater region. Additionally, since the beginning of the year, we’ve had meaningful contracting success across our shallow-water fleet, including contracts for jackups in the Middle East, the North Sea, Australia and Trinidad. We remain actively engaged with customers for additional contracting opportunities in 2026 and beyond.'
Dibowitz concluded, 'While macroeconomic uncertainty has increased recently, we expect offshore production will continue to play a vital role in meeting the world's energy needs and will be an important part of our customers' portfolios going forward. Given our high-quality fleet and operational performance, we believe Valaris is well positioned to secure additional contracts which, paired with our prudent fleet management, will further support our earnings and cash flow.'
Financial and Operational Highlights
- Total operating revenues of $621 million, with revenue efficiency of 96%;
- Net loss of $39 million, inclusive of $167 million of discrete tax expense;
- Adjusted EBITDA of $181 million;
- Generated $156 million of cash from operating activities and $74 million of Adjusted Free Cash Flow;
- Secured approximately $1.0 billion of new contract backlog since February's fleet status report, increasing total backlog by nearly 20% to more than $4.2 billion;
- Recognized by the International Association of Drilling Contractors ("IADC") North Sea Chapter with its 2024 Best Safety Performance Award for Jackup Rigs; and
- Sold semisubmersibles VALARIS DPS-3, DPS-5 and DPS-6 for recycling in April.
First Quarter Review
Net loss of $39 million compared to net income of $131 million in the fourth quarter 2024. Net loss included tax expense of $194 million, which is further described below, compared to a tax benefit of $7 million in the fourth quarter. Adjusted EBITDA increased to $181 million from $142 million in the fourth quarter primarily due to higher revenues for the floater fleet.
Revenues exclusive of reimbursable items increased to $578 million from $548 million in the fourth quarter 2024 primarily due to more operating days and higher average daily revenue for the floater fleet.
Exclusive of reimbursable items, contract drilling expense decreased to $374 million from $381 million in the fourth quarter 2024 primarily due to a non-cash accrual associated with a legal matter in the fourth quarter, partially offset by higher costs for the floater fleet associated with more operating days.
First quarter 2025 included an $8 million loss on impairment related to our decision to retire semisubmersibles VALARIS DPS-3, DPS-5 and DPS-6 during the quarter. General and administrative expense decreased to $24 million from $27 million in the fourth quarter 2024 primarily due to lower professional fees.
Other income increased to $11 million from $5 million in the fourth quarter 2024 primarily due to a gain on the sale of assets, including jackup VALARIS 75, partially offset by foreign currency exchange losses compared to gains in the fourth quarter.
Tax expense was $194 million compared to tax benefit of $7 million in the fourth quarter 2024. The first quarter 2025 tax provision included $167 million of discrete tax expense, which was primarily attributable to the establishment of a valuation allowance on deferred tax assets in a certain operating jurisdiction in connection with our decision to retire three semisubmersibles during the quarter. The fourth quarter tax provision included $16 million of discrete tax benefit, which was primarily attributable to changes in liabilities for unrecognized tax benefits associated with tax positions taken in prior years. Adjusted for discrete tax items, tax expense increased to $27 million from $9 million in the fourth quarter.
Capital expenditures decreased to $100 million from $112 million in the fourth quarter 2024 primarily due to VALARIS DS-4 undergoing a shipyard upgrade project during the fourth quarter as well as lower maintenance capital expenditures in the first quarter.
Cash and cash equivalents and restricted cash increased to $454 million as of March 31, 2025, from $381 million as of December 31, 2024. The increase was primarily due to cash flow from operations and asset sales, partially offset by capital expenditures.
First Quarter Segment Review
Floaters
Revenues exclusive of reimbursable items increased to $356 million from $328 million in the fourth quarter 2024 due to more operating days and higher average daily revenue. The increase in operating days was primarily due to VALARIS DS-4 commencing a new contract offshore Brazil late in the fourth quarter, partially offset by VALARIS DS-12 completing a contract offshore Egypt in the first quarter. The increase in average daily revenue was primarily driven by VALARIS DS-15 commencing a new higher day rate contract offshore Brazil late in the fourth quarter.
Exclusive of reimbursable items, contract drilling expense decreased to $204 million from $211 million in the fourth quarter 2024. The decrease was primarily due to a non-cash accrual associated with a legal matter in the fourth quarter, partially offset by higher expense for VALARIS DS-4 following the rig's return to work as costs were capitalized during its shipyard upgrade project during the fourth quarter.
Jackups
Revenues exclusive of reimbursable items decreased to $186 million from $188 million in the fourth quarter 2024 primarily due to fewer operating days, including for planned repairs on VALARIS 249, partially offset by higher average daily revenues.
Exclusive of reimbursable items, contract drilling expense increased to $117 million from $114 million in the fourth quarter 2024 primarily due to an increase in repair costs associated with VALARIS 249.
ARO Drilling
Revenues decreased to $135 million from $136 million in the fourth quarter 2024. Contract drilling expense increased to $86 million from $82 million in the fourth quarter primarily due to higher bareboat charter expense.
Other
Revenues exclusive of reimbursable items increased to $36 million from $33 million in the fourth quarter 2024 primarily due to higher bareboat charter revenue from rigs leased to ARO, reflecting fewer out of service days for planned maintenance. Exclusive of reimbursable items, contract drilling expense decreased to $16 million from $18 million in the fourth quarter primarily due to lower survey costs associated with rigs leased to ARO.
Source: Valaris
