Superior Energy Services Q1 2010 Results

Superior Energy Services, Inc. (NYSE:SPN) announced net income of $21.5 million and diluted earnings per share of $0.27 on revenue of $364.5 million for the first quarter of 2010, as compared with net income of $56.8 million, or $0.72 diluted earnings per share on revenue of $437.1 million for the first quarter of 2009.

Terence Hall, Chairman and CEO of Superior, commented, "While our earnings are below year-ago levels, our financial and operational results are much improved from the fourth quarter of 2009, which is encouraging, especially since the first quarter is typically a seasonally weak period. The biggest factors driving the results were increased utilization of production-related services in the domestic land markets and higher demand for drilling products and services in the Gulf of Mexico, domestic land and international market areas."

The company also reaffirms its previously announced full-year 2010 earnings guidance of $1.50 to $1.70 earnings per share.

Geographic Breakdown
For the first quarter of 2010, Gulf of Mexico revenue was approximately $162.7 million, a 56% increase from the fourth quarter of 2009 ("sequential"); domestic land revenue was approximately $92.6 million, a sequential increase of 27%; and international revenue was approximately $109.2 million, a sequential increase of 25%.

Subsea and Well Enhancement Segment
First quarter revenue for the Subsea and Well Enhancement Segment was $232.8 million, a 19% decrease from the first quarter of 2009 ("year-over-year") and a 60% increase sequentially. The first quarter of 2010 included $19.7 million in revenue from the recently acquired Hallin Marine and from oil and gas production and production-handling fees from the recently acquired Bullwinkle platform and related oil and gas assets. Revenue in the fourth quarter of 2009 was reduced by $68.7 million due to the cost adjustments related to the wreck removal project.

Segment revenue benefitted sequentially from increased demand for coiled tubing and cased hole wireline in the domestic land and Gulf of Mexico market areas, increased revenue from the wreck removal project and increased demand for hydraulic workover and snubbing services in international markets.

Income from operations was $23.7 million, or 10% of segment revenue as compared with $61.7 million, or 21% of segment revenue, in the first quarter of 2009, and a loss from operations of $176.6 million in the fourth quarter of 2009. The fourth quarter loss from operations includes $125.0 million in special charges and $68.7 million for total cost adjustments made to the wreck removal project. Excluding those charges, fourth quarter of 2009 income from operations would have been $17.1 million, or 8% of adjusted segment revenue.

Drilling Products and Services Segment
First quarter revenue for the Drilling Products and Services Segment was $114.3 million, 9% lower year-over-year and 17% higher sequentially. Income from operations was $23.9 million, or 21% of segment revenue, as compared with $35.3 million, or 28% of segment revenue in the first quarter of 2009, and $13.8 million, or 14% of segment revenue in the fourth quarter of 2009. The primary factors driving the higher sequential revenue were increased rentals of specialty tubulars and accommodations in the Gulf of Mexico, increased rentals of accommodations and stabilization equipment in the domestic land markets, and increased demand for drill pipe, specialty tubulars and ancillary equipment internationally in Brazil, the North Sea and Colombia.

Marine Segment
Marine Segment revenue was $17.5 million, a 24% decrease year-over-year and an 18% decrease sequentially. Loss from operations was $4.0 million, as compared with income from operations of $2.8 million, or 12% of segment revenue in the first quarter of 2009, and a loss from operations of $2.9 million in the fourth quarter of 2009.

The company was without the services of both of its 265-foot class liftboats during the period. In addition, dayrates across most liftboat classes decreased sequentially. Average daily revenue in the first quarter was approximately $194,000, inclusive of subsistence revenue, as compared with approximately $257,000 per day in the first quarter of 2009 and approximately $230,000 in the fourth quarter of 2009. The decline was primarily due to the absence of the Company's 265-foot class liftboats which earn the highest dayrates in the fleet. Average fleet utilization was 47% as compared with 48% in the first quarter of 2009 and 45% in the fourth quarter of 2009.