NE
Nine Energy Service, Inc. (NINE)·Q2 2025 Earnings Summary
Executive Summary
- Revenue was $147.3M, near the high end of guidance ($138–$148M), with net loss of $(10.4)M and adjusted EBITDA of $14.1M; revenue benefitted from stronger natural-gas basins and international tool sales while Permian pricing pressure weighed on earnings .
- Versus Wall Street consensus, Nine beat revenue by ~$4.3M, missed EPS by ~$0.03, and came in below consensus EBITDA; management guided Q3 revenue down to $135–$145M and expects Q3 adjusted EBITDA below Q2 as pricing/activity declines are fully realized .
- Segment performance was mixed: Completion Tools +~9% q/q to $37.0M and Wireline +~11% q/q to $33.0M, offset by Cementing down ~9% to $52.2M and Coiled Tubing down ~16% to $25.1M, reflecting Permian softness .
- Strategic catalysts: continued international tools expansion (+~20% H1 YoY), remedial wireline share gains, and construction of a new 30K+ sq. ft. completion tools testing facility (opening next year) to strengthen technology differentiation .
What Went Well and What Went Wrong
What Went Well
- Completion Tools revenue grew ~9% q/q to $37.0M, supported by international sales and gas-levered basins (Haynesville, Northeast) .
- Wireline revenue grew ~11% q/q to $33.0M on more efficient Northeast operations and remedial wireline share gains; “our remedial wireline push… diversified the topline from ups and downs of pump-down work” .
- H1 2025 international tools revenue +~20% YoY, with traction in the Middle East and Argentina (plugs and MPDV valves) .
What Went Wrong
- Oil price declines (WTI fell below $60 for first time in four years) and tariffs drove activity reductions and pricing pressure, especially in the Permian (historically ~40% of revenue), compressing earnings despite revenue resilience .
- Cementing and Coiled Tubing revenues declined (Cementing ~$52.2M, ~9% down; Coiled Tubing ~$25.1M, ~16% down q/q) amid Permian weakness and calendar whitespace .
- Q3 outlook: management expects both revenue and adjusted EBITDA to be down sequentially, citing full-quarter impact of Q2 pricing/activity cuts and additional potential private-operator pullbacks .
Financial Results
Segment revenue and q/q change (Q2 2025):
KPIs (Q2 2025):
Guidance Changes
Earnings Call Themes & Trends
Management Commentary
- “Despite significant rig declines in the US land market throughout Q2, our revenue came in at the upper end of our original guidance.” — Ann Fox
- “Following the announcement of US imposed tariffs in April, we saw WTI prices decline in Q2, falling below $60 for the first time in four years… pricing pressure across service lines negatively impacted revenue and earnings.” — Ann Fox .
- “In Q3 we will see full quarter realizations of activity and pricing declines… anticipate Q3 revenue and earnings will be down compared to Q2.” — Ann Fox .
- “Project Q3 revenue between $135,000,000 and $145,000,000.” — Ann Fox (prepared remarks) .
- “We’re seeing traction internationally with plugs and MPDV valves… nice big volume orders.” — Ann Fox (Q&A) .
- “This [new completion tool facility] will be… the largest data-centric completion tool assessment facility in the US.” — Ann Fox .
Q&A Highlights
- Private operator sensitivity: management expects private operators to react more quickly to commodity price weakness; no specific Q4 visibility, with some customers indicating increased activity in Q1 (Permian) .
- International traction: first-half international revenue +~20% YoY; strongest in Middle East and Argentina; products include plugs and MPDV valves; full-year 2025 international expected up YoY, but lumpy .
- Gas-market setup: management views Haynesville/Northeast competitive dynamics as “kinder” than Permian and believes natural gas demand will remain strong, aiding margins and activity .
- Remedial wireline strategy: multi-year initiative to diversify away from pump-down cyclicality; leadership with deep expertise cited as driver of share gains .
- Testing facility specifics: ~30K sq. ft., multiple test wells, drill-out capability, flowback loop, pressure/temperature testing, customer data access; opening next year in Jacksboro .
Estimates Context
Values retrieved from S&P Global.*
Interpretation:
- Revenue beat likely reflects efficiency gains in gas-levered basins (Northeast/Haynesville) and international tools strength; EPS/EBITDA miss tied to Permian pricing pressure and lower commodity backdrop in Q2 .
Key Takeaways for Investors
- Mix resilience: Gas-levered basins and international tools offset Permian softness, enabling revenue near top of guidance despite macro headwinds .
- Near-term caution: Q3 revenue guided to $135–$145M with adjusted EBITDA down vs Q2 as pricing/activity cuts roll through; expect calendar whitespace and potential private-operator pullbacks .
- Strategic differentiation: Building a large-scale completion tool testing facility and growing international tools (plugs/MPDV) should enhance product validation, accelerate iteration, and support pricing over time .
- Wireline diversification: Remedial wireline share gains reduce pump-down cyclicality, supporting margin stability, particularly in Northeast markets .
- Liquidity intact: $65.5M total liquidity at 6/30 with new ABL capacity; capex guidance maintained ($15–$25M) indicating disciplined spend amid uncertain demand .
- Estimate resets: Expect consensus to move down for Q3 on revenue and earnings given explicit guidance; watch for 2026 sentiment shifts tied to natural-gas demand and incremental activity in Q1 .
- Trading setup: Heading into Q3, narrative skews defensive; upside catalysts include natural-gas price strength, international orders, and remedial wireline wins; downside risks centered on Permian pricing and further rate declines .
Financial Data Cross-Checks and Non-GAAP Notes
- Company-reported EBITDA vs Adjusted EBITDA: Q2 EBITDA $12.2M and Adjusted EBITDA $14.1M; adjustments include stock-based compensation, cash awards, restructuring, and revaluation of contingent liabilities .
- Adjusted Gross Profit excludes D&A; Q2 Adjusted Gross Profit $25.8M vs Gross Profit $17.3M .
- Liquidity/cash flow: Q2 net cash from operations $10.1M; capex $6.1M; revolver availability $51.3M; cash $14.2M; total liquidity $65.5M .
Appendix: Additional Q2 2025 Press Releases and Prior Quarters
- Q2 2025 earnings release timing notice .
- Q1 2025 results: revenue $150.5M, net loss $(7.1)M, adjusted EBITDA $16.5M; noted Permian pricing pressure and expected Q2 sequential decline; closed $125M ABL .
- Q4 2024 results: revenue $141.4M, net loss $(8.8)M, adjusted EBITDA $14.1M; tech innovation and market share gains highlighted .