Halliburton Announces 1Q Results

Halliburton announced that net income in the first quarter of 2006 was $488m, or $0.91 per diluted share, compared to net income of $365m, or $0.72 per diluted share, in the first quarter of 2005. Net income in the first quarter of 2006 included income from discontinued operations of $7m after tax, or $0.01 per diluted share, primarily related to the operations of KBR's Production Services group, which is expected to be sold in the second quarter of 2006 with a pretax gain of approximately $100m. Net income in the first quarter of 2005 also included income from discontinued operations of $6m after tax, or $0.01 per diluted share. Income from continuing operations in the first quarter of 2006 was $481m, or $0.90 per diluted share, compared to income from continuing operations of $359m, or $0.71 per diluted share, in the first quarter of 2005. Consolidated revenue in the first quarter of 2006 was $5.2bcompared to $4.8b in the first quarter of 2005. This increase was largely attributable to higher activity in the Energy Services Group (ESG), where revenue increased 35% from the prior year first quarter to a record level of $2.9 billion. Lower revenue in KBR, primarily on government services projects in the Middle East, partially offset this increase. Consolidated operating income was $755m in the first quarter of 2006 compared to $575m in the first quarter of 2005, a 31% increase. ESG's operating income improved 42%, reflecting increased rig activity, higher utilization of assets, and increased pricing. First quarter of 2005 operating income included a $110m gain on the sale of the company's 50% interest in the Subsea 7, Inc. joint venture. KBR's operating income in the first quarter of 2006 declined compared to the prior year first quarter, primarily due to $30m in charges related to an equity method investment in an Australian railroad and reduced activities for Government and Infrastructure (G&I) operations in Iraq.