CALGARY, AB , May 15, 2025 /CNW/ - Stampede Drilling Inc. ("Stampede" or the "Corporation") (TSXV: SDI) announces today its consolidated financial and operational results for the three month period ended March 31, 2025.

The following press release should be read in conjunction with the December 31, 2024 audited consolidated financial statements prepared in accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) applicable to the preparation of interim financial statements, under International Accounting Standard 34, Interim Financial Reporting (together, "IFRS Accounting Standards"), and the annual information form ("AIF") for the year ended December 31, 2024, as well as the unaudited condensed consolidated interim financial statements and notes for the three month periods ended March 31, 2025 and 2024 and management's discussion and analysis thereon. Additional information regarding Stampede, including the AIF, is available on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca.

All amounts or dollar figures are denominated in thousands of Canadian dollars except for number of drilling rigs, operating days, or unless otherwise noted. All share amounts are presented to the nearest thousand.

Estimates and forward-looking information are based on assumptions of future events and actual results may vary from these estimates. See "Forward-Looking Information" in this press release for additional details.

FIRST QUARTER 2025 OPERATIONAL HIGHLIGHTS                                                                                                                       

• Revenue of $23,408 – a decrease of $4,091 (15%) from $27,499 in the corresponding 2024 period. The decrease was primarily due to the decreased number of operating days.
• Gross Margin ⁽¹⁾  of 34% – a decrease of 2% from 36% in the corresponding 2024 period. The decrease was primarily due to the reduction in operating days and revenue, along with an increase in repair and maintenance costs per day.
• Net Income of $1,454 – a decrease of $3,487 (71%) from $4,941 in the corresponding 2024 period. The decrease was primarily related to the decrease in operating margin, higher depreciation expense, and an increase in deferred income tax expense compared to the corresponding period of 2024.
• Adjusted EBITDA ⁽¹⁾  of $5,115 – a decrease of $2,550 (33%) from $7,665 in the corresponding 2024 period. The decrease was primarily due to customer drilling program deferrals and operator consolidation, which resulted in a reduction in operating days and operating margin.
• Free Cash Flow ⁽¹⁾ of $3,887 – a decrease of $1,264 (25%) from $5,151 in the corresponding 2024 period, primarily related to a decrease in funds from operating activities compared to the corresponding 2024 period.
• Repurchase of 1,130 common shares – In the first quarter of 2025, the Corporation repurchased and cancelled 1,130 common shares under its normal course issuer bid ("NCIB") at a weighted average price per common share of $0.14, for total consideration of $163. The total amount of common shares repurchased and cancelled during the first quarter of 2025, represents 6.4% of the total share repurchases since the inception of the Corporation's NCIB program in August 2023.                                                                                                                                                                                             

OUTLOOK  

Ongoing geopolitical challenges affecting global energy supply and demand are expected to continue to impact the volatility of commodity prices, which we anticipate continuing into 2025. However, increased tidewater access for Canadian producers from the startup of the Trans Mountain pipeline expansion during 2024 and LNG Canada planned for 2025 are anticipated to help alleviate some of these pressures.

The evolving political situations in Canada and the U.S. are causing uncertainty in the energy sector. U.S. tariffs on steel and aluminum, as well as tariffs on Canadian energy imports, have led to Canadian retaliatory tariffs on certain U.S. imports. Despite the implementation of tariffs, price volatility, and other factors, Stampede anticipates modest growth in oilfield activity in Canada, with the potential for attractive returns for its shareholders.

Stampede had 14 out of its 17 marketable rigs operational in the first quarter of 2025. Stampede anticipates building on this positive momentum into the back half of 2025. The Corporation ended 2024 with a debt to EBITDA ratio of 1.09x. Stampede continues to demonstrate prudent debt management, maintaining financial risk at manageable levels.

With the NCIB program renewed on June 3, 2024, the Corporation can further return value to shareholders through share repurchases, dependent on market conditions and growth prospects. Notably, since the inception of the Corporation's NCIB program in August 2023, the Corporation has repurchased 31,858 common shares, representing 15.9% of the Corporation's total issued and outstanding common shares, at an average price of $0.22 per share, at a cost of approximately $6,992.

FINANCIAL SUMMARY                                                                                                                                                                       

DESCRIPTION OF STAMPEDE'S BUSINESS

Stampede is an energy services company that provides premier contract drilling services in Western Canada. Stampede operates a fleet of 17 marketable telescopic double drilling rigs suited for most formations within the Western Canadian Sedimentary Basin ("WCSB"). The Corporation's head office is located in Calgary, Alberta with operations based out of Nisku, Alberta and Estevan, Saskatchewan. The Corporation's common shares trade on the TSX Venture Exchange (the "TSXV") under the symbol "SDI".

Recent Developments                                                                                                                                                                          

As previously announced, on May 5, 2025, Stampede entered into a drilling equipment purchase agreement (the "Agreement") with a private company (the "Purchaser") providing for the sale (the "Transaction") of certain drilling components (the "Equipment") from the Triple. The total consideration to be paid to Stampede is $5 million in cash, plus the transfer to Stampede of certain drilling equipment valued at approximately $290,000 (collectively, the "Purchase Price"). Stampede has retained key components of the Triple for future sale or internal deployment to minimize future capital expenditures.

The Agreement contains customary covenants, representations and warranties of and from each of the Purchaser and the Corporation, and various conditions precedent, including that each party obtain all necessary consents from its lenders and other secured parties, and that the Purchaser successfully completes a debt financing with its bank to enable it to pay the cash portion of the Purchase Price. Unless all such conditions are satisfied or waived by the party for whose benefit such conditions exist, the Transaction will not proceed. In connection with the Transaction, Stampede and the Purchaser have also agreed to indemnify one another in certain circumstances.

The Agreement may be terminated prior to the closing of the Transaction in certain circumstances, including by either the Corporation or the Purchaser if the Transaction is not consummated on or before November 30, 2025. If the Agreement is terminated, the Corporation will be entitled to retain, at no cost to it, any upgrades or other improvements that the Purchaser makes to the Equipment prior to the date of termination.

RESULTS FROM OPERATIONS FOR THE THREE MONTH PERIOD ENDED MARCH 31, 2025                                                            

• Revenue of $23,408 – a decrease of $4,091 (15%) from $27,499 in the corresponding 2024 period. The decrease was primarily driven by a 16% decrease in operating days compared to the corresponding period of 2024.
• Operating days of 805 – a decrease of 151 operating days (16%) from 956 operating days in the corresponding 2024 period. Operating days decreased due to customer consolidation and drilling program deferrals in the first quarter of 2025, resulting in lower drilling rig utilization compared to the corresponding period of 2024.
• Gross margin percentage of 34% – a decrease of 2% from 36% in the corresponding 2024 period. The gross margin decrease was primarily due to the reduction in operating days and revenue, along with an increase in repair and maintenance costs per day.
• Net income of $1,454 – a decrease of $3,487 (71%) from $4,941 in the corresponding 2024 period. The decrease was primarily related to decreased Adjusted EBITDA, along with increased depreciation costs and deferred income tax expense.
• General and administrative expenses of $3,118 – an increase of $594 (24%) from $2,524 in the corresponding 2024 period. The increase was primarily related to the increase in worker compensation insurance and credit loss allowance in the first quarter of 2025.
• Adjusted EBITDA of $5,115 – a decrease of $2,550 (33%) from $7,665 in the corresponding 2024 period. The decrease was primarily due to customer drilling program deferrals and operator consolidation resulting in a reduction in operating days and operating margin.

NON-GAAP AND OTHER FINANCIAL MEASURES                                                                                                                                 

This press release contains references to (i) adjusted EBITDA, (ii) gross margin (iii) gross margin percentage, and (iv) free cash flow. These financial measures are not measures that have any standardized meaning prescribed by IFRS Accounting Standards and are therefore referred to as non-generally accepted accounting principles ("non-GAAP") measures. The non-GAAP measures used by the Corporation may not be comparable to similar measures used by other companies.

FORWARD-LOOKING INFORMATION

Certain statements contained in this press release constitute forward-looking statements or forward-looking information (collectively, "forward-looking information"). Forward-looking information relates to future events or the Corporation's future performance. All information other than statements of historical fact is forward-looking information. The use of any of the words "anticipate", "plan", "contemplate", "continue", "estimate", "expect", "intend", "propose", "might", "may", "will", "could", "should", "believe", "predict", and "forecast" are intended to identify forward-looking information.

This press release contains forward-looking information pertaining to, among other things: the Corporation's performance; expectations associated with the Corporation's outlook, including among other things, anticipated commodity prices and the volatility thereof and potential mitigating factors; expectations about industry activities and the impacts thereof on the Corporation; market conditions and corresponding rig utilization; the Transaction, including the terms thereof; the expected closing date of the Transaction and the anticipated benefits thereof to the Corporation; the expected sources of funding for the Transaction; future projects and the anticipated benefits thereof to the Corporation; and factors impacting global energy supply.

Forward-looking information is based on certain assumptions that Stampede has made in respect thereof as at the date of this press release regarding, among other things: the Corporation's ability to fully crew and contract its rigs; the success of the measures implemented by the Corporation to ensure the safe, efficient and reliable operations at each of its drilling sites; the effectiveness of the Corporation's financial risk management policies at ensuring all payables are paid within the pre-agreed credit terms; that the Corporation has adequate access to its credit facilities to provide the necessary liquidity needed to manage fluctuations in the timing of receipt and/or disbursement of operating cash flows; expectations regarding Stampede's share price; the impact of inflation, weather conditions, and expectations regarding the duration and overall impact of the continued conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East; the ability of the Corporation to retain qualified staff; the ability of the Corporation to maintain key customers; the ability of the Corporation to obtain financing on acceptable terms; the belief that the Corporation's principal sources of liquidity will be sufficient to service its debt and fund its operations and other strategic opportunities; the ability to protect and maintain the Corporation's intellectual property; the regulatory framework regarding taxes and environmental matters in the jurisdictions in which the Corporation operates; the ability of Stampede and the Purchaser to satisfy the conditions to closing of the Transaction in a timely manner and substantially on the terms thereof; the Purchaser's ability to successfully complete its bank financing; and that there are no unforeseen events preventing the performance of the Agreement and matters ancillary thereto.

Forward-looking information is presented in this press release for the purpose of assisting investors and others in understanding certain key elements of the Corporation's financial results and business plan, as well as the objectives, strategic priorities and business outlook of the Corporation, and in obtaining a better understanding of the Corporation's anticipated operating environment. Readers are cautioned that such forward-looking information may not be appropriate for other purposes.

While Stampede believes the expectations and material factors and assumptions reflected in the forward-looking information is reasonable as of the date hereof, there can be no assurance that these expectations, factors and assumptions will prove to be correct. Forward-looking information is not a guarantee of future performance and actual results or events could differ materially from the expectations of the Corporation expressed in or implied by such forward-looking information. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking information. All forward-looking information is subject to a number of known and unknown risks and uncertainties including, but not limited to: the condition of the global economy, including trade, inflation, the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, the Middle East and other geopolitical risks, including the imposition of tariffs and other non-tariff trade barriers; the condition of the crude oil and natural gas industry and related commodity prices; other commodity prices and the potential impact on the Corporation and the industry in which the Corporation operates, including levels of exploration and development activities; the impact of increasing competition; fluctuations in operating results; the ongoing significant volatility in world markets and the resulting impact on drilling and completions programs; foreign currency exchange rates; interest rates; labour and material shortages; cyber security risks; natural catastrophes; the ability of Stampede and the Purchaser to satisfy, in a timely manner, the other conditions to the closing of the Transaction; and certain other risks and uncertainties detailed under the heading "Risks and Uncertainties" in the Corporation's annual MD&A and under the heading "Risk Factors" in the Corporation's AIF, each dated March 13, 2025, for the year ended December 31, 2024, and from time to time in Stampede's public disclosure documents available at www.sedarplus.ca.

This list of risk factors should not be construed as exhaustive. Readers are cautioned that events or circumstances could cause actual results to differ materially from those predicted, forecasted, or projected. Statements, including forward-looking information, are made as of the date of this press release and the Corporation does not undertake any obligation to update or revise any forward-looking information, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as may be required by applicable securities laws. All forward-looking information contained in this press release is expressly qualified by this cautionary statement.

SOURCE Stampede Drilling Inc.