OREANDA-NEWS. Superior Drilling Products, Inc. (NYSE MKT:SDPI) (“SDP” or the “Company”), a designer and manufacturer of drilling tool technologies, today reported financial results for the first quarter ended March 31, 2016. 

First Quarter 2016 Revenue Review

Revenue for the quarter was $1.44 million, down $2.63 million, or 65%, from the prior-year period as demand for contract services, which is primarily the refurbishment of drill bits for the Company's largest exclusive customer, was down $1.36 million, or 74%.  Tool revenue from the sale, rental and repair of the Company’s drilling tools was $954 thousand, down $1.28 million, or 57%, compared with the prior-year period.  Although SDP’s tool offerings provide improved efficiencies and lower costs for the development of oil & gas wells, it is still subject to the conditions of the industry.  The U.S. drill rig count in the first quarter of 2016 was at its lowest level since records were established in the 1940’s. 

When compared with the trailing fourth quarter, revenue decreased $1.29 million, or 47%.  Contract services revenue was down approximately 50% to $490 thousand, while tool revenue was down $806 thousand, or 46%.

Troy Meier, Chairman and CEO of Superior Drilling Products, noted, "During the quarter, our energies have been focused on expanding our channels to market, adopting our drill string solutions to meet customer needs and working on addressing our long term debt and cash requirements.  We have taken out more costs, even as we transform our business to support our new market channel partners.

“Over the last couple of months, we have been at a number of sites training regional sales teams of a major oil field services company, who will be packaging our Strider™ Drill String Oscillation System with its other drill string tools so they can present their customers a more comprehensive offering.  The sales materials and performance data we are providing proves the economic value of the Strider.  In addition, we are adopting new tool sizes to meet their customers’ needs based on the basins in which they are operating and their drilling techniques.  We expect revenue from these sales to build in the second half of the year.”  

Mr. Meier added, “Separately today, we announced a distribution agreement with Drilling Tools International (“DTI”) to market our Drill-N-Ream® well bore conditioning systems with the first stage of the agreement including an initial commitment by DTI to purchase a minimum operating fleet during the second and third quarters of 2016.  Established in 1984, DTI is a leading provider of drilling tools to the world's most prominent oilfield service and exploration companies, both onshore and offshore.  DTI will now have exclusive rights to include the Drill-N-Ream in their arsenal of offerings serving the North American onshore and offshore markets, excluding the Rocky Mountain region.

“We believe our drilling tools, which create efficiencies and reduce development costs, are what the oil and gas industry needs in order to operate in today’s lower commodity price environment.”

The Company’s monthly average tool runs were 29 in the first quarter compared with 62 in the prior-year period and 52 in the trailing fourth quarter.  Average revenue per run was $9,900, down from $11,100 in the prior-year period due to pricing pressure and reduced lateral lengths driven by basin diversification.  Average revenue per run in the trailing fourth quarter was $10,400.  These measures are non-GAAP metrics the Company uses to measure its operating performance.

First Quarter 2016 Operating Results

Cost of revenue was $1.02 million, down from $1.92 million in the prior-year period.  As a percent of sales, cost of revenue was 71% compared with 47% in the prior-year period.  Higher cost of revenue as a percent of sales was from lower absorption of fixed costs.  The Company is maintaining an operational staffing level necessary to meet expected demand resulting from the new channel partner agreements.  Cost of revenue was $1.6 million, or 58% of sales, in the trailing fourth quarter.

Selling, general and administrative expense, including research and engineering (SG&A) was $1.29 million, down $767 thousand from the prior-year’s first quarter.  Compared with the trailing fourth quarter, SG&A was essentially unchanged.     

Depreciation and amortization (D&A) increased slightly to $1.23 million, up from $1.15 million in the prior-year period.  The moderate increase over the prior-year period reflects the Company’s investment in growing its rental tool fleet to serve anticipated demand from market channel partners.  

Adjusted EBITDA, or earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization and non-cash stock compensation expense, was a loss of $553 thousand.  The loss was greater than both the prior-year and trailing periods, which are shown on the accompanying tables.  The Company believes that when used in conjunction with measures prepared in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”), adjusted EBITDA, which is a non-GAAP measure, helps in the understanding of its operating performance.  See the attached tables for important disclosures regarding SDP’s use of adjusted EBITDA, as well as a reconciliation of net income to adjusted EBITDA.

Net loss was $2.24 million, or $0.13 per share, while adjusted net loss, a non-GAAP measure, was $1.72 million, or $0.10 per share.  Both measures were down from the prior-year and trailing periods, respectively, which are shown on the accompanying tables.   Adjusted net loss for the first quarter of 2016 excludes an $87 thousand gain on the sale of assets and intangible asset amortization expense of $612 thousand.  See attached tables for a reconciliation of GAAP net loss to adjusted net loss.

Balance Sheet Update

Cash used in operations was $345 thousand.  Cash on hand at the end of the quarter was $767 thousand.  Total debt as of March 31, 2016 was $20.25 million, of which $9.5 million was associated with the purchase of the remaining rights to the Drill-N-Ream, or the Hard Rock note.  Debt, net of cash, was $19.48 million, and increased by $526 thousand from December 31, 2015.    

As previously announced on March 8, 2016, during the first quarter of 2016 SDP secured a $3 million credit facility, comprised of a two-year, $2.5 million revolving credit facility allowing up to an 85% advance on eligible accounts receivable, and a $0.5 million asset-based term loan amortized over five years.  As of March 31, 2016 a total of $243 thousand was drawn on the credit facility.  The Company and its lenders executed a second amendment to the lending agreement to extend the period in which covenant requirements must be met on May 12, 2016.

Christopher D. Cashion, Chief Financial Officer, commented, “We have measurably reduced our cash outlays from cost reductions and the use of equity in lieu of cash for compensation.  Our new $0.5 million term loan has helped to address our growth capital needs while the accounts receivable revolver provides for working capital.  Our cash balance declined in the quarter as sales decreased considerably with a 36% drop in the U.S. land rig count from 698 at the beginning of the quarter to 450 at end of the quarter.  Currently, we are in ongoing discussions with the holders of the remaining $9.5 million Hard Rock note regarding the restructuring of the upcoming July 2016, $1.5 million principle repayment and the term of the loan.  We are considering various options to include the conversion of debt to equity.  We also believe we have sufficient options available to provide the cash required to address the opportunities we have to increase our tool rental and sales revenue.”

Capital expenditures for the quarter were $146 thousand compared with $223 thousand and $383 thousand in the prior-year and trailing periods, respectively.  Capital expenditures in 2017 are expected to be approximately $600 thousand to $650 thousand, lower than the Company’s previous plan of approximately $1.5 million.  Reduced capital expenditures reflect the Company’s adjustment to the more severe than anticipated U. S. drilling rig count decline during the first four months of 2016. 

Outlook

Mr. Meier concluded, “Unlike most in our industry, we have unique prospects in this challenging market because of growing recognition of the value of our tools.  To ensure success, we are adjusting our business model as we focus on our strengths:  tool design, bottom hole assembly knowledge, production engineering expertise and efficient manufacturing processes.  The DTI agreement is a major step forward in this transformation process.  While the near term is tough, we expect to manage through this, grow revenue and create more drilling tool technologies.”