
Factors that Affected Weatherford’s 4Q17 Performance
By Alex ChamberlinUpdated
Weatherford International’s geographic performance
Revenues from Weatherford International’s (WFT) Western Hemisphere increased 3.1% from 4Q16 to 4Q17. WFT’s Eastern Hemisphere region saw robust revenue growth of ~9.0% during the same period.
The Western Hemisphere segment represents the previous North America and Latin America segments, while the Eastern Hemisphere segment represents the prior MENA/Asia-Pacific segment and Europe/SSA/Russia segment as well as land drilling rig operations.
WFT’s Western Hemisphere region’s operating loss decreased to $35.0 million in 4Q17 compared to its $74.0 million operating loss in 4Q16. However, WFT’s operating loss in the Eastern Hemisphere deepened further to $49.0 million from its $42.0 million operating loss in 4Q16.
WFT comprises 3.1% of the SPDR S&P Oil & Gas Equipment & Services ETF (XES). XES declined 26.0% in the past year compared to a 34.0% decrease in WFT’s stock price during the same period.
Weatherford’s segment-wise performance
All of WFT’s Product and Service Line segments saw revenue growth from 4Q16 to 4Q17. WFT’s Completion segment saw the highest revenue growth of 10.8%, followed by Drilling and Evaluation (increase of 7.1%), Well Construction (increase of 5.9%, and Production (increase of 1.5%.
Positive factors that affected Weatherford’s 4Q17 performance
- increased activity from contract deliveries and sales in the Eastern Hemisphere
- recovery of upstream activity levels in North America
- growth in Completions activity in North America
- realization of savings from cost reduction measures
- market share gains in land markets in the Middle East, Russia, and Continental Europe
Negative factors that affected Weatherford’s 4Q17 performance
- lower upstream activity in Venezuela
- the adverse effect of a change in accounting for revenue with WFT’s customers in Venezuela
- lower margins on year-end product sales out of existing inventory
- continued weakness in offshore markets in the Eastern Hemisphere
Next, we’ll discuss Weatherford International’s returns.