CORE LAB REPORTS FIRST QUARTER 2024 RESULTS
- Core Lab reported modest revenue growth in the first quarter of 2024, with revenue reaching $129.6 million.
- Operating income for the first quarter was $8.6 million, with GAAP EPS of $0.07.
- The Reservoir Description segment saw steady revenue growth, with operating income of $6.9 million and operating margins of 14%.
- Production Enhancement operations posted revenue of $45.4 million, with operating income of $1.6 million and operating margins of 8%.
- Core Labs continues to focus on maximizing free cash flow, reducing debt, and delivering dividends to shareholders.
- The Company's ROIC for the first quarter of 2024 was 11.6%, with a focus on generating positive free cash flow and reducing debt.
- Core Labs maintains a constructive outlook on international upstream projects for 2024, with a focus on technology investments and maximizing ROIC.
- The Company's second quarter 2024 revenue is projected to range from $130-136 million, with operating income of $14.5-17.3 million.
- EPS for the second quarter of 2024 is expected to be $0.19 to $0.23.
- Core Labs has scheduled a conference call to discuss the first quarter 2024 earnings announcement on April 25, 2024.
- Core Labs recorded non-cash stock compensation expenses and severance costs in the first quarter of 2024.
- The Company's free cash flow for the first quarter was $2.5 million, impacted by an increase in working capital.
- Core Labs' leverage ratio remained unchanged at 1.76 compared to the prior quarter-end.
- The Company's ROIC remained relatively flat compared to the prior quarter-end at 11.6%.
- Geopolitical situations in Russia-Ukraine and the Middle East continue to create volatility, potentially impacting demand for Core Lab's services.
Insights
- FIRST QUARTER REVENUE OF
, UP MODESTLY SEQUENTIALLY AND YEAR-OVER-YEAR$129.6 MILLION - FIRST QUARTER OPERATING INCOME OF
; EX-ITEMS,$8.6 MILLION , FLAT SEQUENTIALLY, UP$14.9 MILLION 3% YEAR-OVER-YEAR - FIRST QUARTER OPERATING MARGINS, EX-ITEMS, OF
12% - FIRST QUARTER GAAP EPS OF
; EX-ITEMS,$0.07 , FLAT SEQUENTIALLY AND YEAR-OVER-YEAR$0.19 - FIRST QUARTER FREE CASH FLOW OF
$2.5 MILLION - COMPANY ANNOUNCES Q2 2024 QUARTERLY DIVIDEND
Core's CEO, Larry Bruno stated, "Core Lab delivered modest revenue growth and overcame the typical sequential seasonal decline in client activity that we often experience between the fourth and first quarters. Strong demand for both our Reservoir Description laboratory services and Production Enhancement's completion diagnostic services drove the quarter. Core's investments to expand laboratory capabilities in the
Reservoir Description
Reservoir Description operations are closely correlated with trends in international and offshore activity levels, with approximately
During the first quarter of 2024, Core Laboratories continued to experience increased industry adoption of its proprietary web-enabled data management system, RAPID™. A significant milestone was achieved with the successful installation of RAPID™ by a prominent Middle Eastern National Oil Company ("NOC"). The installation, as part of a platform demonstration, rigorously tested the system's functionality and is providing the NOC with centralized, consistent, and easily accessible subsurface data in a secure format. RAPID™ empowers clients to efficiently organize, retrieve, archive and analyze vast amounts of geological, petrophysical, reservoir engineering and reservoir fluid data. The database facilitates sophisticated queries through a user-friendly interface, enhancing various predictive and Artificial Intelligence ("AI") innovations. Utilizing RAPID™ as the primary platform for subsurface data management within this NOC allows for a more robust digital environment for future AI projects. Core Lab continues its leadership position in the digitization of the oil field, bridging data analytical tools with digitally delivered and archived data.
Also during the first quarter of 2024, Core Lab was engaged to evaluate conventional cores from the North Slope region of Alaska. This project brought together Core's proprietary and patented technologies to help the client optimize their reservoir. By using a combination of drilling mud tracers from Core's Production Enhancement segment, along with proprietary laboratory technologies from Reservoir Description, Core's InvasionProfiler™ technology package allowed the operator to quantify the invasion of drilling mud filtrate. The client will use this data to refine their reservoir model with tracer-corrected fluid saturation data. A laboratory program is also under way on the recovered reservoir fluids from this project to determine the chemical and physical properties of the hydrocarbons. This comprehensive rock and fluid analytical program provides the hard data points required to define pay zones, build and de-risk reservoir models, and predict reservoir performance.
Production Enhancement
Production Enhancement operations, which are focused on complex completions in unconventional oil and gas reservoirs in the
In the first quarter of 2024, Core Lab's Production Enhancement engineers introduced new capabilities for its proprietary downhole Metal Anomaly Tool technology. The Metal Anomaly Tool ("MAT") is used when preferential alignment of perforating guns are required to ensure that casing clamps, data cables and control lines are not cut during the perforating process. The MAT technology measures magnetic fields induced during fluid flow around protrusions that surround the casing, such as those caused by clamps and lines. However, certain reservoir applications require the use of high-chromium-content well casing to mitigate corrosion, such as where CO2 or H2S are present in high concentrations. High-chromium-content casing has historically created limitations for the MAT technology, as the metallurgy attenuates the magnetic field peripheral to the casing. Core's engineers developed a proprietary solution that allows the MAT technology to identify clamps, cables and lines behind high-chromium-content casing, reducing operational risks in real time.
Also during the first quarter of 2024, Core's diagnostic technologies were employed in two mature U. S. basins to assess high-profile well completions. In the Eagle Ford, an operator needed to confirm the performance of refrac treatments in horizontal wells. The operator enlisted Core Lab to run its SpectraChem® water tracers to confirm frac fluid placement and fluid flowback from each of the twenty-one treatment stages. After the frac job, produced water samples indicated effective treatment placement and flowback from each refrac stage with one exception. The outermost toe stage demonstrated a steep production drop compared to the remainder of the re-completed lateral. Further analysis indicated there was an obstruction in the toe of the well. The operator performed a remedial procedure to remove the obstruction, and production from the toe stage reached a level of contribution commensurate with the remainder of the well. In the Permian Basin, Core's proprietary technologies were utilized to evaluate the effectiveness of a surfactant additive in horizontal well frac treatments. The objective was to determine if the surfactant would improve oil recovery in this very tight shale strata. The operator wanted to determine the efficacy of the product without having to perform long-term, multi-well, post-frac comparisons. The operator enlisted Core to run its proprietary Flow Profiler™ oil tracer diagnostics across the length of the well to compare production from treated and untreated stages. The produced oil samples indicated higher oil contributions from the surfactant-treated stages. This enabled the operator to quickly take advantage of this beneficial, and environmentally friendly, surfactant in upcoming wells.
Liquidity, Free Cash Flow and Dividend
Core continues to focus on maximizing free cash flow ("FCF"), a non-GAAP financial measure defined as cash from operations less capital expenditures. For the first quarter of 2024, cash from operations was approximately
Core expects the Company to continue generating positive free cash flow in future quarters. As of March 31, 2024, Core reduced debt by
On January 31, 2024, Core's Board of Directors ("Board") announced a quarterly cash dividend of
On April 24, 2024, the Board approved a cash dividend of
Return On Invested Capital
The Board and the Company's Executive Management continue to focus on strategies that maximize return on invested capital ("ROIC") and FCF, factors that have high correlation to total shareholder return. Core's commitment to an asset-light business model and disciplined capital stewardship promote capital efficiency and are designed to produce more predictable and superior long-term ROIC.
The Board has established an internal metric to demonstrate ROIC performance relative to the oilfield service companies listed as Core's Comp Group by Bloomberg, as the Company continues to believe superior ROIC will result in higher total shareholder return. Using Bloomberg's formula, the Company's ROIC for the first quarter of 2024 was
Industry and Core Lab Outlook and Guidance
As 2024 unfolds, Core will continue to execute its strategic plan of technology investments targeted to both solve client problems and capitalize on Core's growth opportunities. The Company will also remain focused on maximizing ROIC, generating free cash and reducing debt. Core Lab maintains its constructive outlook on international upstream projects for 2024 and anticipates sustainable activity growth in the years ahead to support crude-oil demand and energy security concerns. Year to date, crude-oil demand is performing as expected, with an increase in demand during the first three months of the year. For the short and long term, increased investment in the development of onshore and offshore crude-oil fields will be required to maintain and grow hydrocarbon production. In the near-term, crude-oil markets remain volatile due to global recession fears and the uncertainties related to on-going conflicts in
As international activity continues to expand, committed long-term upstream projects from the
Reservoir Description's second quarter 2024 revenue is projected to range from
The Company's second quarter 2024 revenue is projected to range from
The Company's second quarter 2024 guidance is based on projections for underlying operations and excludes gains and losses in foreign exchange. Second quarter 2024 guidance also assumes an effective tax rate of
Earnings Call Scheduled
The Company has scheduled a conference call to discuss Core's first quarter 2024 earnings announcement. The call will begin at 7:30 a.m. CDT / 8:30 a.m. EDT on Thursday, April 25, 2024. To listen to the call, please go to Core's website at www.corelab.com.
Core Laboratories Inc. is a leading provider of proprietary and patented reservoir description and production enhancement services and products used to optimize petroleum reservoir performance. The Company has over 70 offices in more than 50 countries and is located in every major oil-producing province in the world. This release, as well as other statements we make, includes forward-looking statements regarding the Company's future revenue, profitability, business strategies and developments, demand for the Company's products and services and for products and services of the oil and gas industry generally, made in reliance upon the safe harbor provisions of Federal securities law. The Company's outlook is subject to various important cautionary factors, including risks and uncertainties related to the oil and natural gas industry, business and general economic conditions, including inflationary pressures, the ability to achieve the benefits of the redomestication of the parent company from
The Company undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statement to reflect events or circumstances that may arise after the date of this press release, except as required by law.
Visit the Company's website at www.corelab.com. Connect with Core Lab on Facebook, LinkedIn and YouTube.
CORE LABORATORIES INC. & SUBSIDIARIES CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS (In thousands, except per share data) (Unaudited) | ||||||||||||||||
Three Months Ended | % Variance | |||||||||||||||
March 31, | December 31, | March 31, | vs. Q4-23 | vs. Q1-23 | ||||||||||||
REVENUE | $ | 129,637 | $ | 128,210 | $ | 128,356 | 1.1 % | 1.0 % | ||||||||
OPERATING EXPENSES: | ||||||||||||||||
Costs of services and product sales | 104,588 | 101,517 | 101,528 | 3.0 % | 3.0 % | |||||||||||
General and administrative expense | 11,789 | 8,665 | 16,331 | 36.1 % | (27.8) % | |||||||||||
Depreciation and amortization | 3,843 | 3,874 | 4,044 | (0.8) % | (5.0) % | |||||||||||
Other (income) expense, net | 846 | (427) | (28) | NM | NM | |||||||||||
Total operating expenses | 121,066 | 113,629 | 121,875 | 6.5 % | (0.7) % | |||||||||||
OPERATING INCOME | 8,571 | 14,581 | 6,481 | (41.2) % | 32.2 % | |||||||||||
Interest expense | 3,423 | 3,618 | 3,429 | (5.4) % | (0.2) % | |||||||||||
Income before income taxes | 5,148 | 10,963 | 3,052 | (53.0) % | 68.7 % | |||||||||||
Income tax expense | 1,658 | 8,529 | 610 | (80.6) % | 171.8 % | |||||||||||
Net income | 3,490 | 2,434 | 2,442 | 43.4 % | 42.9 % | |||||||||||
Net income attributable to non-controlling interest | 270 | 235 | 69 | NM | NM | |||||||||||
Net income attributable to Core Laboratories Inc. | $ | 3,220 | $ | 2,199 | $ | 2,373 | 46.4 % | 35.7 % | ||||||||
Diluted earnings per share | $ | 0.07 | $ | 0.05 | $ | 0.05 | 40.0 % | 40.0 % | ||||||||
Diluted earnings per share attributable to Core Laboratories Inc. | $ | 0.07 | $ | 0.05 | $ | 0.05 | 40.0 % | 40.0 % | ||||||||
Diluted weighted average common shares outstanding | 47,703 | 47,557 | 47,481 | 0.3 % | 0.5 % | |||||||||||
Effective tax rate | 32 | % | 78 | % | 20 | % | NM | NM | ||||||||
SEGMENT INFORMATION: | ||||||||||||||||
Revenue: | ||||||||||||||||
Reservoir Description | $ | 84,236 | $ | 84,628 | $ | 80,188 | (0.5) % | 5.0 % | ||||||||
Production Enhancement | 45,401 | 43,582 | 48,168 | 4.2 % | (5.7) % | |||||||||||
Consolidated | $ | 129,637 | $ | 128,210 | $ | 128,356 | 1.1 % | 1.0 % | ||||||||
Operating income: | ||||||||||||||||
Reservoir Description | $ | 6,892 | $ | 12,259 | $ | 2,471 | (43.8) % | 178.9 % | ||||||||
Production Enhancement | 1,576 | 2,195 | 3,281 | (28.2) % | (52.0) % | |||||||||||
Corporate and Other | 103 | 127 | 729 | NM | NM | |||||||||||
Consolidated | $ | 8,571 | $ | 14,581 | $ | 6,481 | (41.2) % | 32.2 % | ||||||||
"NM" means not meaningful |
CORE LABORATORIES INC. & SUBSIDIARIES CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (In thousands) (Unaudited) | ||||||||||
% Variance | ||||||||||
ASSETS: | March 31, | December 31, | vs. Q4-23 | |||||||
Cash and cash equivalents | $ | 14,913 | $ | 15,120 | (1.4) % | |||||
Accounts receivable, net | 115,092 | 109,352 | 5.2 % | |||||||
Inventories | 70,711 | 71,702 | (1.4) % | |||||||
Other current assets | 28,331 | 26,962 | 5.1 % | |||||||
Total current assets | 229,047 | 223,136 | 2.6 % | |||||||
Property, plant and equipment, net | 98,521 | 99,626 | (1.1) % | |||||||
Right of use assets | 53,636 | 53,842 | (0.4) % | |||||||
Intangibles, goodwill and other long-term assets, net | 206,746 | 209,791 | (1.5) % | |||||||
Total assets | $ | 587,950 | $ | 586,395 | 0.3 % | |||||
LIABILITIES AND EQUITY: | ||||||||||
Accounts payable | $ | 32,486 | $ | 33,506 | (3.0) % | |||||
Short-term operating lease liabilities | 10,430 | 10,175 | 2.5 % | |||||||
Other current liabilities | 42,552 | 44,416 | (4.2) % | |||||||
Total current liabilities | 85,468 | 88,097 | (3.0) % | |||||||
Long-term debt, net | 160,370 | 163,134 | (1.7) % | |||||||
Long-term operating lease liabilities | 41,481 | 42,076 | (1.4) % | |||||||
Other long-term liabilities | 63,214 | 63,281 | (0.1) % | |||||||
Total equity | 237,417 | 229,807 | 3.3 % | |||||||
Total liabilities and equity | $ | 587,950 | $ | 586,395 | 0.3 % |
CORE LABORATORIES INC. & SUBSIDIARIES CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS (In thousands) (Unaudited) | ||||||||
Three Months Ended March 31, | ||||||||
2024 | 2023 | |||||||
CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES: | ||||||||
Net income | $ | 3,490 | $ | 2,442 | ||||
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by (used in) operating activities: | ||||||||
Stock-based compensation | 4,820 | 8,984 | ||||||
Depreciation and amortization | 3,843 | 4,044 | ||||||
Deferred income taxes | 2,827 | 936 | ||||||
Accounts receivable | (6,290) | (4,024) | ||||||
Inventories | 991 | (6,897) | ||||||
Accounts payable | (551) | (7,078) | ||||||
Other adjustments to net income | (3,600) | (1,576) | ||||||
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities | 5,530 | (3,169) | ||||||
CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES: | ||||||||
Capital expenditures | (3,052) | (2,208) | ||||||
Net proceeds on life insurance policies | 805 | — | ||||||
Other investing activities | 590 | 170 | ||||||
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities | (1,657) | (2,038) | ||||||
CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES: | ||||||||
Repayment of long-term debt | (17,000) | (16,000) | ||||||
Proceeds from long-term debt | 14,000 | 24,000 | ||||||
Dividends paid | (468) | (466) | ||||||
Repurchase of common stock | (44) | (1) | ||||||
Equity related transaction costs | (549) | (1,285) | ||||||
Other financing activities | (19) | (184) | ||||||
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities | (4,080) | 6,064 | ||||||
NET CHANGE IN CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS | (207) | 857 | ||||||
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS, beginning of period | 15,120 | 15,428 | ||||||
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS, end of period | $ | 14,913 | $ | 16,285 |
Non-GAAP Information
Management believes that the exclusion of certain income and expenses enables it to evaluate more effectively the Company's operations period-over-period and to identify operating trends that could otherwise be masked by the excluded Items. For this reason, management uses certain non-GAAP measures that exclude these Items and believes that this presentation provides a clearer comparison with the results reported in prior periods. The non-GAAP financial measures should be considered in addition to, and not as a substitute for, the financial results prepared in accordance with GAAP, as more fully discussed in the Company's financial statements and filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
Reconciliation of Operating Income, Net Income and Diluted Earnings Per Share Attributable to Core Laboratories Inc. (In thousands, except per share data) (Unaudited) | ||||||||||||
Operating Income | ||||||||||||
Three Months Ended | ||||||||||||
March 31, | December 31, | March 31, | ||||||||||
GAAP reported | $ | 8,571 | $ | 14,581 | $ | 6,481 | ||||||
Stock compensation (1) | 3,458 | — | 6,515 | |||||||||
Loss on lease abandonment and assets write-down (2) | 1,809 | — | 1,656 | |||||||||
Severance costs | 824 | — | — | |||||||||
Foreign exchange losses (gains) | 285 | 468 | (144) | |||||||||
Excluding specific items | $ | 14,947 | $ | 15,049 | $ | 14,508 | ||||||
Net Income Attributable to Core Laboratories Inc. | ||||||||||||
Three Months Ended | ||||||||||||
March 31, | December 31, | March 31, | ||||||||||
GAAP reported | $ | 3,220 | $ | 2,199 | $ | 2,373 | ||||||
Stock compensation (1) | 2,766 | — | 5,212 | |||||||||
Loss on lease abandonment and assets write-down (2) | 1,447 | — | 1,325 | |||||||||
Severance costs | 659 | — | — | |||||||||
Foreign exchange losses (gains) | 229 | 374 | (114) | |||||||||
Reversal of net deferred tax liabilities and effect of higher (lower) tax rate (3) | 628 | 6,336 | — | |||||||||
Excluding specific items | $ | 8,949 | $ | 8,909 | $ | 8,796 | ||||||
Diluted Earnings Per Share Attributable to Core Laboratories Inc. | ||||||||||||
Three Months Ended | ||||||||||||
March 31, | December 31, | March 31, | ||||||||||
GAAP reported | $ | 0.07 | $ | 0.05 | $ | 0.05 | ||||||
Stock compensation (1) | 0.06 | — | 0.11 | |||||||||
Loss on lease abandonment and assets write-down (2) | 0.03 | — | 0.03 | |||||||||
Severance costs | 0.01 | — | — | |||||||||
Foreign exchange losses (gains) | 0.01 | 0.01 | — | |||||||||
Reversal of net deferred tax liabilities and effect of higher (lower) tax rate (3) | 0.01 | 0.13 | — | |||||||||
Excluding specific items | $ | 0.19 | $ | 0.19 | $ | 0.19 | ||||||
(1) Three months ended March 31, 2024 and 2023 includes the acceleration of stock compensation expense associated with employees reaching eligible retirement age. |
(2) Three months ended March 31, 2024 and 2023 include the write-down of leasehold improvements, right of use assets and/or other assets and exit costs associated with consolidation of certain facilities. |
(3) Three months ended March 31, 2024 includes the effect to reflect tax expense at a normalized rate of |
Segment Information (In thousands) (Unaudited) | ||||||||||||
Operating Income | ||||||||||||
Three Months Ended March 31, 2024 | ||||||||||||
Reservoir | Production | Corporate and | ||||||||||
GAAP reported | $ | 6,892 | $ | 1,576 | $ | 103 | ||||||
Stock compensation (1) | 2,258 | 1,200 | — | |||||||||
Loss on lease abandonment and assets write-down (2) | 1,566 | 243 | — | |||||||||
Severance costs | 467 | 357 | — | |||||||||
Foreign exchange losses (gains) | 246 | 38 | 1 | |||||||||
Excluding specific items | $ | 11,429 | $ | 3,414 | $ | 104 | ||||||
(1) Includes the acceleration of stock compensation expense associated with employees reaching eligible retirement age. | ||||||||||||
(2) Includes the write-down of leasehold improvements, right of use assets and/or other assets and exit costs associated with consolidation of certain facilities. |
Return on Invested Capital
Return on Invested Capital ("ROIC") is presented based on management's belief that this non-GAAP measure is useful information to investors and management when comparing profitability and the efficiency with which capital has been employed over time relative to other companies. The Board has established an internal metric to demonstrate ROIC performance relative to the oilfield service companies listed as Core's Comp Group by Bloomberg. ROIC is not a measure of financial performance under GAAP and should not be considered as an alternative to net income.
ROIC of
Free Cash Flow
Core uses the non-GAAP financial measure of free cash flow to evaluate its cash flows and results of operations. Free cash flow is an important measurement because it represents the cash from operations, in excess of capital expenditures, available to operate the business and fund non-discretionary obligations. Free cash flow is not a measure of operating performance under GAAP and should not be considered in isolation nor construed as an alternative consideration to operating income, net income, or cash flows from operating, investing, or financing activities, each as determined in accordance with GAAP. Free cash flow should not be considered a measure of liquidity. Moreover, since free cash flow is not a measure determined in accordance with GAAP and thus is susceptible to varying interpretations and calculations, free cash flow as presented may not be comparable to similarly titled measures presented by other companies.
Computation of Free Cash Flow (In thousands) (Unaudited) | |||||
Three Months Ended | |||||
March 31, 2024 | |||||
Net cash provided by operating activities | $ | 5,530 | |||
Capital expenditures | (3,052) | ||||
Free cash flow | $ | 2,478 |
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SOURCE Core Laboratories Inc
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