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Friday, February 14, 2025

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February 14, 2025

U.S. Inflation is heating up again, putting pressure on Trump to cool it on tariffs

Inflation figures released on Feb. 12, 2025, will come as a disappointment to Americans who hoped President Donald Trump would be true to his word on bringing down prices “on Day One.” It will also put pressure on the new administration to be wary of policies that may heat up inflation – and that includes tariffs.

The consumer price index, which measures the change in prices paid by consumers for a representative basket of goods and services, rose unexpectedly from December to January by 0.5 per cent. It means consumers are paying around 3 per cent more on item prices than they were a year ago.

Economists had been expecting the pace of inflation to slow in January.

The news isn’t good for anyone concerned. It means inflation remains above the Federal Reserve’s long-run target of 2 per cent – making it harder for the central bank to cut rates at its next meeting on March 19. At its last meeting, the rate-setting Federal Open Market Committee kept its benchmark federal funds rate unchanged at a range of 4.25-4.50 per cent.

Following the release of the latest inflation data, markets have a stronger conviction that the Fed will again hold rates steady when it meets in March.

It also means more pain for consumers. Higher interest rates set by the Fed play a large role in determining rates for mortgages, credit cards and auto loans. If January’s rate of inflation were to continue throughout 2025, consumers would see a painful 6.2 per cent annualized inflation rate.

And although it would be churlish to link the latest jump in inflation to an administration just weeks old, it does put into focus the current slate of Trump economic policies. Economists have long warned that imposing tariffs on imports and cutting taxes does little to curb inflation – rather, they may contribute to faster price increases.

Already, China has been hit by a 10 per cent tariff on all products. Trump has also proposed a 25 per cent tariff on all steel and aluminum imports, and he mulled imposing new tariffs on Canada and Mexico – two of the United States’ largest trading partners.

I believe that if these wide-ranging tariffs come into effect, the Federal Reserve will have no choice but to keep rates elevated for the remainder of 2025.

One of the largest drivers of inflation in January was rent increases, which accounted for nearly 30% of all items increase. Rents jumped 4.6 per cent from a year earlier.

If Trump’s tariffs on Canadian imports, like lumber, take effect, Americans can expect continued price increases in the homebuilding sector. Supply and demand imbalances remain a key driver for higher prices, so fewer houses being built due to higher materials cost will likely lead to higher rents.

Consumers saw better news on new vehicle prices, which remained flat over the month and showed slight declines from a year ago.

This is even as demand for new cars increased 2.5 per cent over 2024. In January 2025, the number of new vehicles sold topped the same month a year earlier for the fifth month in a row.

But as with homebuilding, any tariffs on the import of car parts or materials will impact the auto industry. Carmakers may have breathed an immediate breath of relief when Trump delayed new tariffs on Canada and Mexico. But if deals aren’t reached by the March 1 deadline, industry analysts expect immediate impacts on top sellers.

And any higher cost of new cars will have a knock-on effect on used cars, which saw prices jump 2.2 per cent in January – it’s largest increase since May 2023.

Of course, not all inflationary pressures are in the purview of government.

The transportation sector, which includes insurance and parking fees, increased by 8% over the year. Insurance prices soared almost 12 per cent, on the back of last year’s 20.6 per cent increase in prices, while parking fees increased by almost 5 per cent as a result of more expensive repairs and more dangerous driving behaviors.

Meanwhile, with bird flu continuing to spread, egg prices rose a shocking 15.2 per cent in January, and are 53 per cent more expensive than at this time last year.

All in all, voters who cited inflation as the main reason they were backing Trump may be feeling a little uneasy – the administration is only a few weeks old, but for one reason or other, Americans are experiencing ever higher prices with little relief in sight.

The U.S. inflation rate in January came was a surprise to the market and indicates that the Federal Reserve will now be on pause for at least the next few months. This means that the spread between Canada and the U.S. interest rates is likely to widen this year.  Canadian CPI data for January will be released next week.

One would have expected the Canadian dollar to circle the drain after the release of the U.S. CPI this week, but the value of the loonie has rallied to the 70 U.S. cent level. This is likely an indication that markets are not paying close attention to the interest rate spreads between Canada and the U.S. but are speculating on the endgame of the tariff situation. The market is clearly indicating that they feel that tariffs are a negotiating ploy and not an endgame for the U.S. administration.

The market may or may not be right, but there is no question that inflation trajectories for the U.S. and Canada are completely in opposite direction. Canadian inflation rates continue to drop and are on a downward trajectory, especially as interest rates decline. On the other hand, inflation in the U.S., even without tariffs, is still climbing.

Look for the loonie to drop in the coming months on the fundamentals of the economies on both sides of the border will drive the currency lower. The installation of tariffs on Canada would only accelerate the decline in the loonie. All of the rest of the drama is just noise.

Buhler Industries going private

Buhler Industries intends to go private.

The publicly-traded Winnipeg firm, founded by the late John Buhler, will be absorbed entirely by the Turkish firm ASKO under a proposed deal.

Buhler Industries was established in 1969 when John Buhler purchased the Standard Gas Engine Works. The company produced the Farm King line of grain augers, snowblowers, mowers and other small implements. In 1982 Buhler purchased the Allied line of front-end loaders. In 2000 it purchased the Versatile tractor line from New Holland Ag, as part of the Case-New Holland merger and subsequent divestiture required by competition regulators. It operates eight manufacturing plants throughout North America.

The purchaser, ASKO, is wholly-owned by the Konukoğlu family. ASKO owns the firm Basak Traktor, which purchased 80 per cent of Buhler Industries from Russian combine manufacturer Rostselmach. Currently ASKO owns 96.7 per cent of the firm’s shares.

Following the completion of the amalgamation, the shares will be de-listed from the Toronto Stock Exchange and the company will apply to cease to be a reporting issuer under applicable Canadian securities laws.

ASKO owns firms worldwide that manufacture construction equipment, energy and technology equipment, and agricultural equipment including tractors. As well as building and marketing its own equipment, it also manufactures tractors for the German firm CLAAS.

India’s retail inflation eases to 5-month low, boosting rate cut hopes

India’s retail inflation slowed to a five-month low in January as food price inflation eased, boosting the odds of another rate cut in the South Asian economy where growth is slowing amid the escalating threat of a global trade war.

Annual retail inflation in January was at 4.31 per cent, lower than economists’ estimate of 4.6 per cent and 5.22 per cent in the previous month. Retail inflation was at 3.65 per cent in August 2024.

Food inflation eased to 6.02 per cent from 8.39 per cent in December.

Cooling inflation boosts chances of further policy easing by India’s central bank, which cut its key policy rate for the first time in nearly five years in February in a bid to boost an economy that is expected to grow at its slowest pace in four years.

The Reserve Bank of India sees inflation averaging 4.8 per cent in the current financial year that ends on March 31 and expects it to fall to 4.2 per cent next year, it said last week.

“The sharp fall in Indian headline consumer price inflation in January reinforces that the RBI will continue to loosen monetary policy over the coming months to support the economy,” said Harry Chambers, an economist at Capital Economics.

The central bank targets inflation at 4 per cent within a tolerance band of 2 percentage points on either side.

In January, vegetable prices rose 11.35 per cent year-on-year, compared with a 26.60 per cent increase in the previous month.

Prices of cereals rose 6.24 per cent against a 6.50 per cent gain in December, while those of pulses gained 2.59 per cent against 3.80 per cent. Prices of vegetables and pulses fell from the previous month.

Winter harvests have helped moderate food prices, but warmer-than-usual temperatures in March could pose risks to crops like wheat.

Core inflation, which excludes volatile items such as food and energy and is seen as a better gauge of domestic demand, quickened to 3.7 per cent in January from 3.6 per cent in the previous month, according to two economists.

Last week, RBI Governor Sanjay Malhotra said the central bank is alert to all pressures on inflation and will be watchful of the impact of rupee depreciation on local prices.

A 5 per cent depreciation in the rupee impacts domestic inflation to the extent of 30 basis points to 35 basis points, he said.

A potential trade war dragged the rupee to its lifetime low of 87.95 per U.S. dollar in February, boosting worries about higher inflation on imported goods.

U.S. President Donald Trump’s trade advisers were finalising plans on Wednesday for the reciprocal tariffs the president has vowed to impose on every country that charges duties on U.S. imports, ratcheting up fears of a widening global trade war.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi is expected to propose increased energy and defence imports during a two-day U.S. visit from Wednesday.

France raises soft wheat area estimate

France raises soft wheat area estimate but cautious on harvest outlook

France’s farm ministry on Tuesday increased its estimate of the winter soft wheat area for this year’s harvest, confirming a rebound from last year’s rain-hit planting while warning that soggy conditions could also hurt the 2025 crop.

Last year France, the European Union’s biggest grain grower, gathered its smallest soft wheat crop since the 1980s after months of heavy rain, contributing to a slump in exports.

A dry end to last autumn let growers complete most sowing for 2025, but downpours in January have kept some fields drenched.

For winter soft wheat, France’s main cereal crop, the ministry raised its area estimate for 2025 to 4.57 million hectares from 4.51 million in its initial projection in December.

The revised estimate was up 10 per cent compared with the area harvested in 2024 and 0.4 per cent above the average area of the past five years, the ministry said in a report.

For other crops, the estimated winter barley area was trimmed to 1.21 million hectares from 1.23 million projected in December, now down 2.1 per cent  from 2024 and 3.5 per cent below the five-year average, with the ministry noting some sowing was postponed in favour of spring crops.

For winter rapeseed, the expected area was lowered to 1.27 million hectares from 1.34 million, now down 4.1 per cent from last year though 6.2 per cent above the five-year average.

For durum wheat, the variety used in pasta, the area sown with winter crop was pegged at 198,000 hectares, down from 206,000 hectares forecast in December and a new 30-year low.

Wheat and rapeseed are almost exclusively winter crops in France while barley production also includes a significant portion of spring crop.

Kazakhstan says grain transit issues with Russia resolved

Kazakhstan has resolved most of its grain transit and transhipment issues with Russia, allowing grain exports to Europe and North Africa through Russia’s Baltic ports to flow unhindered, the country’s agriculture minister said on Tuesday.

Ex-Soviet neighbours Russia and Kazakhstan, both members of the Eurasian Economic Union, have been in a grain trade dispute since last year with both countries banning each other’s grain from their domestic markets.

Kazakhstan, which only has access to the inland Caspian Sea and relies on Russian ports for exports, had a record grain harvest of 26.7 million tonnes in 2024 and plans to export 6.5 million tonnes with 1.5 million tonnes going to Europe and North Africa.

Russia allowed transit of Kazakh grain through its ports last November, but on condition the grain was loaded directly from railcars into vessels without going into temporary storage, creating logistical problems for Kazakh exporters.

“Issues with grain, legumes, and oilseed crops have been resolved. The rail cars are no longer standing idle at the transshipment points as they used to. We have resolved this promptly, and exports are being shipped,” said Agriculture Minister Aidarbek Saparov.

Egypt imported 6.3 million tonnes of Russian wheat in 2024/25

Egypt, the biggest buyer of Russian wheat, imported 6.3 metric tonnes from July 2024 to January 2025, a 70 per cent increase compared to last year, analysts from rail carrier Rusagrotrans said in a report published on Monday.

Rusagrotrans said wheat exports from Russia continued at a record pace so far this season with the country, the world’s top wheat exporter, shipping 32.2 million tonnes, 1.3 per cent more than in the same period of the last season.

The acceleration precedes new export quotas on February 15 that will slow shipments. In line with the new quotas Russia can export 10.6 million tonnes of wheat before July 1, 2025.

Bangladesh, which bought 2.3 million tonnes, emerged as the second-largest buyer in the 2024/25 season, while Turkey, which introduced an import ban to protect its domestic market, slipped to third place with a 47 per cent drop in Russian wheat imports.

Algeria, which bought 1.7 million tonnes of Russian wheat, and Kenya, which bought 1.4 million tonnes, were the fourth and the fifth largest importers.

WK Kellogg forecasts upbeat 2025 profit on cost cut efforts

WK Kellogg forecast annual profit above expectations on Tuesday and reported better-than-expected earnings as the breakfast cereal maker’s efforts to clamp down on costs boosted its margins.

Battle Creek, Michigan-based WK Kellogg had announced a reorganization plan in August involving plant closures, workforce reduction and plans to streamline its supply chain by investing in modernizing its equipment and infrastructure.

The cost-cutting effort helped the company post an adjusted profit of 42 cents per share for the fourth quarter ended December 28, and beat analysts’ estimates of 26 cents per share, according to data compiled by LSEG.

The company expects full-year net adjusted earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortization (EBITDA) between $286 million and $292 million, compared with analysts’ estimate of $283.2 million.

The company has also had to raise prices to offset higher raw material costs, which have in turn led to budget-strained customers cutting back spending on packaged food such as cereal.

The cereal maker’s product pricing rose 3.8 per cent in the quarter, while volume slumped 5.6 per cent. The higher prices helped the company’s margins rise to 8.9 per cent.

WK Kellogg’s net sales fell 1.8 per cent to $640 million in the quarter, compared with analysts’ average expectation of $641.7 million.

WHO says communication with US authorities on H5N1 bird flu a ‘challenge’

A World Health Organization spokesperson said on Tuesday that communication on bird flu had become challenging since President Donald Trump announced a U.S. withdrawal from the United Nations health agency.

Asked about communication received by the WHO from Washington on the H5N1 outbreak, Christian Lindmeier told a press briefing in Geneva: “Communication is a challenge indeed. The traditional ways of contact have been cut.”

He declined to elaborate.

A U.S. outbreak of the H5N1 virus has infected nearly 70 people, mostly farm workers, since April 2024. The U.S. Department of Agriculture reported for the first time last week that a second strain of bird flu was found in dairy cattle in Nevada, a discovery that ramped up concerns about the U.S. outbreak.

Under WHO rules known as the International Health Regulations (IHR), countries have binding obligations to communicate on public health events that have the potential to cross borders. These include advising the WHO immediately of a health emergency and measures on trade and travel.

Other countries have privately voiced concern at the idea that the United States would stop communicating about emerging viruses that could become the next pandemic. “If such a big country does not report anymore, what message does it send?” said a Western diplomat in Geneva.

Argentina has also said it plans to withdraw from the WHO, citing “deep differences” regarding the agency’s management of health issues, notably the COVID-19 pandemic.

Canadian pulse exports slow down in December

Canadian pea and lentil exports slowed down in December compared to the previous month, although year-to-date movement remains solid as India remains in the market for the time being.

Canada exported 171,007 tonnes of peas in December, which was down 15 per cent from the previous month, according to Statistics Canada trade data. However, year-to-date pea exports of 1.438 million tonnes were running about 200,000 tonnes ahead of the year-ago pace.

India was the top buyer through five months, accounting for nearly half of the total pea exports at 694,391 tonnes. China, Bangladesh and the United States were also large export destinations for Canadian peas.

Canadian pea sales to India have picked up considerably over the past year after India lifted import tariffs on yellow peas in December 2023. The duty-free period has been extended several times over the past year but is set to expire once again on Feb. 28. The last extension at the end of December was made just a week ahead of expiry, although market participants are uncertain what will happen this month.

A similar Indian policy on duty-free imports of pigeon peas, a type of yellow lentil also called tur in India, was recently extended for another year to March 31, 2026. Canada does not grow pigeon peas, but yellow peas can be used as substitute.

The duty-free pea movement has cut into domestic prices in India. While that benefits consumers, farmers in the country have expressed concern and have called on the government to raise duties once again.

Canadian lentil exports were down five per cent in December compared to November, with about 253,000 tonnes moved out of the country. Crop-year-to-date exports of 1.083 million tonnes were up 27 per cent.

India was also the largest buyer of lentils so far this marketing year, accounting for 38 per cent of the total.

Canada exported about 20,000 tonnes of chickpeas in December, which was in line with the 20,400 tonnes moved the previous month. Year-to-date chickpea exports at 73,236 tonnes are running 26 per cent behind the 2023-24 pace.

Turkey and Pakistan are the top destinations for Canadian chickpeas in 2024-25, each importing around 12,600 tonnes during the first five months of the marketing year. The U.S., Italy and India round out the top five export destinations.

Early flooding has little effect on soybean oil, protein composition U.S. study suggests

While flooding substantially decreases soybean yields, it needn’t impact seed composition, including protein and oil content, a recent University of Arkansas study found.

The two-year study looked at 31 different soybean varieties, including some bred to be flood tolerant or moderately flood tolerant, and more susceptible varieties. Researchers examined the effects of four days of partial submergence on soybeans in the R1 or early flowering stage.

“Flooding research has focused on the early reproductive stage simply because it is when the stress is most pronounced and causes the greatest yield loss,” said researcher Caio Vieira in a Feb. 3 news release.

The most flood-tolerant varieties lost about 33 per cent of yield after being flooded, while the most susceptible plants lost just over half of their yield potential. However, no significant impacts on seed protein or oil content were observed across the different varieties.

Viera said temperature changes in the U.S. have allowed earlier soybean planting, while shifting rain patterns have put additional stress on soy plants.

“We’re pretty much getting the potential for flooding throughout the season. It’s been tougher,” he said.

Arkansas farmers typically plant soy from early April to mid-Mary, putting the R1 stage in late June or early July.

“It can be hit or miss,” Vieira said. “You can get a year where that period is a full-on drought, or you can get a year where that typical R1 period is completely wet with intensive rains. It’s hard, hard to predict.”

Arkansas can also see the remnants of hurricanes roll through. This happened twice in September, the news release noted.

Vieira said the study will help his team identify and incorporate flood-tolerant characteristics into future soybean genetics.

USDA trims Argentina corn, soy harvest estimates after dry weather

Argentina, a major grain supplier, will harvest less corn and soy than previously expected after hot, dry weather hurt crops, the U.S. Department of Agriculture said on Tuesday.

Grain traders have been closely monitoring dryness in Argentina because it is the world’s top exporter of soyoil and meal, the No. 3 exporter of corn, and competes with the U.S. for global grain and soy sales.

Corn production is particularly important because world inventories for 2024-25 are projected to drop to their lowest level in a decade due to robust demand and a smaller than anticipated U.S. harvest last year.

Corn and soy futures prices turned lower at the Chicago Board of Trade after USDA updated its crop estimates, as traders anticipated lower production in Argentina.

USDA pegged Argentina’s corn crop at 50 million tonnes in a monthly report, down from 51 million in January. The agency pegged soybean production at 49 million tonnes, down from 52 million last month.

Analysts surveyed by Reuters were expecting 49.5 million tonnes of corn and 50.49 million tonnes of soybeans.

“This is a valid, light cut,” said Rich Nelson, chief strategist at brokerage Allendale.

Rains benefited Argentina’s crops recently but did not reach all growing areas, and some damage was already done, analysts said. Farmers have found smaller than usual corn cobs and yellowing crop leaves in their fields at a time when they should be green.

USDA also lowered its estimate for Brazil’s corn crop to 126 million tonnes from 127 million in January.

In the U.S., estimates for corn and soy inventories were left unchanged from January.

Brazil beef, chicken exports set record for January

Beef shipments totaled 209,192 tons in January, with more than $1 billion in revenue, said beef lobby Abiec.

Chicken meat exports totaled 443,000 tons in January, an increase of 9.4% compared to the same period last year, and generated $826.4 million in revenue, according to pork and chicken lobby ABPA.

The increase (in beef volume and value of exports) occurred in practically all the main destination markets, reaching the best average since June 2023,” said Abiec.

“China, the Philippines, and other markets have maintained a significant positive flow of imports of Brazilian (chicken) products, reinforcing the positive outlook regarding the behavior of these markets throughout the year,” ABPA president Ricardo Santin said in a note.

Brazil is the world’s largest exporter of beef and chicken and home to some of the industry’s largest players.

Brazil is expected to see positive results for chicken exports in February, Santin said, with demand from Mexico expected to continue to generate business for Brazil.

Former Saskatchewan farm leader, Todd Lewis, appointed to Senate

Todd Lewis, the former president of the Agricultural Producers Association of Saskatchewan and vice president of the Canadian Federation of Agriculture was appointed to the Canadian Senate on Feb. 7. Lewis, a fourth-generation farmer, said he was encouraged to apply by the increasing role the Senate has had in the parliamentary process the last few years, particularly since the minority government was elected in 2021. Lewis is also heavily involved with his local community as municipal councillor, volunteer firefighter and board member on numerous committees.

“Ag in general, especially western Canadian ag, has been under-represented in the chamber,” said Lewis after his appointment.

 

Trump readies reciprocal tariffs as trade war fears mount

Donald Trump’s on-again/off-again trade threats continued during the week, as he announced he would impose tariffs on all steel and aluminum imports entering the U.S. beginning March 12. The move, coming less than a week after he announced a month-long delay to broad tariffs on Canada and Mexico, drew condemnation from most U.S. trade partners.

With many, including Canada, vowing retaliation, Trump’s advisors were reportedly finalizing plans of their own reciprocal tariffs — ratcheting up fears of a widening global trade war and threatening to add to already-sticky U.S. inflation.

Feeder market stalls; cold temperatures, tariff threat limit sales

The Western Canadian feeder cattle market was hard to define during the first week of February, with prices softer earlier in the week, but creeping higher by Friday, Feb. 7. Volumes were limited, as frigid temperatures in Alberta made it too cold to market cattle or operate sales barns. In addition, the threat of U.S. tariffs caused producers to hold back on sales. Although the implementation of U.S. tariffs and Canadian retaliatory measures were delayed for 30 days, it was too late to plan for the week.

Durum yields falling behind spring wheat

Average durum yields in Saskatchewan have behind spring wheat over the past decade, according to research from the University of Saskatchewan. Prior to 2015, spring wheat and durum yields in the province were relatively similar, but data over the past 10 years has seen spring wheat yields climb higher while durum held steady, with a yield gap of seven to 15 bushels per acre.

Curtis Pozniak, a University of Saskatchewan wheat breeder, believes the yield gap between Canadian Western Red Spring (CWRS) wheat and Canadian Western Amber Durum (CWAD) can be partly explained by the varieties that are used. “Farmers are adopting CWRS varieties more quickly than they are with durum,” said Pozniak, who spoke at the 2025 Durum Summit held Jan. 30 in Swift Current. “Growers that are focusing on CWRS wheat, their on-farm yield potential is increasing at a faster rate than what we see in durum wheat…. Growers of CWRS wheat are adopting the latest genetics a lot sooner than they are for durum wheat,” he added.

Canada seeks stronger EU trade ties as both regions threatened by Trump tariffs

Canada wants to deepen its economic ties with the European Union and uphold global trading rules in the face of threatened U.S. tariffs, trade minister Mary Ng told Reuters on Feb. 8 after meeting with European leaders.

The EU and Canada have benefited from a free trade agreement since 2017, which has boosted bilateral trade by 65 per cent, and set up a raw materials partnership in 2021.

“Trade agreements are one thing, and we have seen really great numbers, but what more can we be doing to help Canadian businesses enter into any of the 27 member states…and what more can we do to the same in Canada” Ng said. She said critical minerals and smaller businesses would be among the focus areas with the EU. Canada is also pushing to diversify its exports and set itself a target in 2018 of increasing non-U.S. exports by 50 per cent by 2025. Ng said the country was on track to meet or exceed the target.

Canadian premiers in Washington, D.C.

Canada’s 13 provincial and territorial premiers went to Washington, D.C. on February 12 to meet with United States lawmakers and special interest groups. Led by Ontario Premier Doug Ford, the current chair of the Council of the Federation, the premiers will try to drum up support against the tariffs President Donald Trump plans to impose on Canada.

Brazil’s Conab raises grain output forecast on bigger corn crop

Crop agency Conab on Thursday raised its forecast for total Brazilian grain supplies in the 2024/25 season to 325.71 million tonnes from 322.25 million tonnes based on expectations of a bigger corn crop.

Conab said Brazil’s total corn crop will reach 122.01 million tonnes, up almost 2.5 million tonnes from a January forecast. The revision reflected mainly better prospects for the country’s second corn crop, which is planted after soybeans are harvested in the same areas and represents about three quarters of supplies in a given year.

To date, conditions for planting of Brazil’s second corn crop are favourable, but February “will be a decisive” month for the sowing within the ideal climate window, Conab said.

Second corn sowing reached 5.3 per cent of the expected planted area in the country, way below the 19.3 per cent at this time last year, Conab said.

Overall, the agency expects Brazilian farmers to plant 16.8 million hectares (41.513 million acres) with second corn this year, an area 2.4 per cent larger than last season’s.

Conab slightly lowered Brazil’s soybean supply forecast to 166.01 million tons in the same report, citing “irreversible crop losses” in the south of the country caused by dry weather.

“Soybean cultivation has faced serious difficulties due to drought,” Conab said referring to Brazil’s southernmost state of Rio Grande do Sul, one of the country’s biggest suppliers.

Conab said some places there have benefited from occasional rains while in others rains have been scarce or irregular, damaging plants. The same goes for Mato Grosso do Sul state, according to Conab.

Strategie Grains lifts EU 2025/26 wheat output forecast

French consultancy Strategie Grains has slightly increased its wheat production forecast for the European Union in the 2025/26 season due to a larger than expected planted area in France.

The EU’s soft wheat output is now expected to reach 127.7 million tonnes, up from 127.2 million tonnes forecast last month and significantly higher than the 113.7 million tonnes projected for 2024/25.

This adjustment reflects improved planting conditions and a response to competitive market dynamics.

“As winter draws to a close, growing conditions for soft wheat and winter barley remain better than last year across the EU,” Strategie Grains said in a report.

“However, the threat of yield losses persists due to excess moisture in west Europe and lack of rain in southeast Europe,” it added.

European cereal production in 2025/26 is under close scrutiny after smaller harvests in 2024 led to tight balance sheets and reduced exports.

In another update, Strategie Grains slightly lowered its forecast for maize production in the EU for the 2025/26 season.

Maize production is now projected at 59.9 million tonnes, down from 60.3 million tonnes forecast last month but up from 58.1 million tonnes in 2024/25. The decrease is attributed to a reduction in maize acreage due to increased winter crop planting.

Strategie Grains raised its forecast for EU soft wheat shipments outside the bloc in 2024/25, mainly due to larger exports from the northeast EU countries, which supply high-quality wheat, but total exports would remain about 10 million tonnes below last season.

For 2025/26, wheat and barley shipments would rebound against the backdrop of larger harvests and reduced availability in other exporting countries.

EU maize imports in 2025/26 would remain above the 20 million tonnes threshold projected for the current season, as production is set to rise only very moderately.

Strategie Grains sees a potential small increase in EU grain prices for the remainder of 2024/25. In 2025/26, the price average for maize is forecast lower than its 2024/25 level, whilst that of soft wheat and barley would be higher.

 

Canadian dollar futures posted gains as they ended the week at 69.95 U.S. cents. The initial tariff threats on Monday pushed the dollar down close to the 68 U.S. cent level before rallying later in the week.

Wheat futures pushed higher during the past week with the nearby Chicago contract up by 21 cents per bushel while Kansas City and Minneapolis futures closed the week up by 20 and nine cents per bushel, respectively. Spring wheat cash prices in Western Canada, conversely moved lower with cash prices dropping by C$2.18 per tonne to C$8.92 per tonne. Strength in the Canadian dollar did pressure cash wheat prices during the past week. Wheat prices were also hurt by the threat of U.S. tariffs at the beginning of March.

Corn futures were up slightly this past week by posting gains of five cents per bushel. Oat futures also posted strong gains of 15 cents per bushel during the past seven days. Cash oat prices in central Saskatchewan moved up by C$10 per tonne during the past week.

Canola futures were modestly higher this week, with the nearby futures contracts gaining C$2.80 per tonne. Cash prices for canola were mixed and ranged from down 0.70 cents per tonne to up by C$1.15 per tonne during the week.

Nearby soybean futures were modestly higher and increased by 16 cents per bushel. Soybean oil futures were stronger during the past week with the nearby contract up by 0.42 cents per pound. Soybean meal futures were slightly stronger during the past week, with the nearby contract up by US$1.70 per short ton.

Cattle futures prices were moved lower last week with slaughter cattle dropping by US$4.72 per hundredweight. Feeder cattle contracts were also lower with the nearby contracts down by US$7.90 per cwt. Nearby hog futures were close to unchanged this past week with the nearby contract down by only 17 cents per cwt.

Weekly Chicago March Corn Futures

Weekly Chicago March Wheat Futures

Weekly Minneapolis March Wheat Futures

Weekly Kansas City March Wheat Futures

Weekly Chicago Soybeans March Futures

Weekly ICE Canola March Futures

 

Ukraine sold down the river

The recent pronouncements from the U.S. administration indicate that Ukraine has been thrown under the bus. It seems that the quick peace deal that the U.S. has promised involves giving Putin most of wheat he wants. The U.S. administration has indicated that they are willing to cede Ukrainian territory to Russia, limit the size and capabilities of the Ukrainian military and make sure that Ukraine never joins the NATO alliance. Ukraine has pushed back on the U.S. plan and indicates that it will continue to fight Russian aggression. The problem is that without U.S. backing, Ukraine will have great difficulty in sustaining the war even with European and Canadian support.

This is a horrible outcome for democracy and indicates that the U.S. is actively extricating itself from the international world order. By giving into Putin, it signals that larger countries can invade smaller ones without any consequence.

A resolution to the conflict, as unfair as it would be, would likely “normalize” the flow of grains and oilseeds from the Black Sea region. The resumption of “normal” exports would likely pressure global commodity prices, especially for wheat. This will increase the competitiveness of the Black Sea region as exports restrictions are lifted in the region. Keep this in mind as the situation evolves.

The real tragedy is not economic, but the loss of Ukraine’s dream of independence. Even if a peace agreement is reached, there will be no guarantee that the country won’t return to the Russian sphere of influence. Since the independence of Ukraine, meddling in Ukrainian politics has been a constant. The end game will likely be Russia conquering Ukraine by force or by installing their own puppet government. This is a sad reality for Ukraine and diaspora located in Canada and around the world.

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CALGARY, Alberta, Feb. 12, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — This news release contains “forward-looking information and statements” within the meaning of applicable securities laws. For a full disclosure of the forward-looking information and statements and the risks to which they are subject, see the “Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Information and Statements” later in this news release. This news release contains references to certain Financial Measures and Ratios, including Adjusted EBITDA (earnings before income taxes, gain on acquisition, loss on investments and other assets, gain on repurchase of unsecured senior notes, finance charges, foreign exchange, loss on asset decommissioning, gain on asset disposals and depreciation and amortization), Funds Provided by (Used in) Operations, Net Capital Spending, Working Capital and Total Long-term Financial Liabilities. These terms do not have standardized meanings prescribed under International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) and may not be comparable to similar measures used by other companies. See “Financial Measures and Ratios” later in this news release.

Financial Highlights and 2025 Capital Allocation Plans

• Revenue in the fourth quarter was $468 million, an 8% decrease from 2023 as activity increases in Canadian drilling, well servicing, and international were more than offset by lower activity and day rates in the U.S.
• Adjusted EBITDA(1) was $121 million in the quarter and included $15 million of share-based compensation charges, $4 million for rig reactivation costs and $4 million of non-recurring charges. In 2023, fourth quarter Adjusted EBITDA was $151 million and included share-based compensation charges of $13 million.
• Net earnings attributable to shareholders was $15 million or $1.06 per share in the fourth quarter compared to $147 million or $10.42 per share as net earnings in 2023 included an income tax recovery of $69 million and a gain on acquisition of $26 million.
• In 2024, we invested $217 million into our fleet and infrastructure, including multiple contracted rig upgrades and the strategic purchase of drill pipe for use in 2025. We expect to invest $225 million into our fleet and infrastructure in 2025, which may fluctuate with activity levels and customer contract upgrade opportunities.
• For the year ended December 31, 2024, we achieved our annual debt reduction and return of shareholder capital targets, reducing debt by $176 million and repurchasing $75 million of common shares while building cash by $20 million. Precision has consistently met or exceeded its capital allocation goals since implementation in 2016.
• For 2025, we expect to reduce debt by at least $100 million in 2025 and have increased our long-term debt reduction target to $700 million and extended our debt reduction period to 2027. In 2025, we plan to increase direct shareholder returns to 35% to 45% of free cash flow, before debt repayments. To the extent excess cash is generated these allocations may be increased.

Operational Highlights

• Demand for our services continues to be strong and in 2024 our Canadian and international drilling rig utilization days increased 12% and 37%, respectively, while our well servicing rig operating hours increased 26% over 2023.
• In the fourth quarter, Canada’s activity averaged 65 active drilling rigs versus 64 in the same quarter last year. Our Super Triple and Super Single rigs remain in high demand and are nearly fully utilized. Canadian revenue per utilization day was $35,675, up from $34,616 in the fourth quarter of 2023.
• Our U.S. activity has remained relatively consistent since mid-2024. We averaged 34 drilling rigs in the fourth quarter with revenue per utilization day of US$30,991 versus 45 drilling rigs at US$34,452 in 2023’s fourth quarter.
• International activity increased 6% over the same period last year while revenue per utilization day was US$49,636 compared to US$49,872 in the fourth quarter of 2023.
• Service rig operating hours in the fourth quarter totaled 59,834, representing a 6% increase over the same quarter last year partially driven by the CWC Energy Services Corp. (CWC) acquisition in November of 2023.

(1) See “FINANCIAL MEASURES AND RATIOS.”

MANAGEMENT COMMENTARY

“Through 2024 Precision demonstrated remarkable market resilience despite weaker than expected U.S. customer demand and late year customer budget exhaustion in Canada. We continued our long-term record of meeting or exceeding our capital allocation targets every year since 2016 with $176 million of debt reduction, $75 million of share buybacks, while increasing our cash balance by $20 million. In the fourth quarter, approximately $8 million of reactivation costs and non-recurring items impacted our financial results, along with slightly lower than expected Canadian customer demand. Despite these fourth quarter headwinds we continued investing in our core business lines, including purchasing approximately $18 million of drill pipe in advance of potential tariffs, investing $3 million to begin reactivating two idle Canadian Super Single rigs to meet demand in 2025, and upgrading one rig for Canadian heavy oil pad drilling opportunities.

“The outlook for Canada remains very strong given robust heavy oil activity following the startup of the Trans Mountain pipeline expansion in May 2024 and the imminent startup of LNG Canada in mid-2025. My enthusiasm is further underpinned by the pace of rig reactivations following the seasonal Christmas break and the stable winter activity we have experienced to date with 81 rigs working since mid-January. The uncertainty introduced by potential U.S. tariffs on Canadian oil and gas exports, has been tempered and we have not experienced any change in customer demand or their longer-term capital spending plans.

“In Canada, our drilling utilization days increased 12% over 2023 and our Super Triple and Super Single rigs, which represent approximately 80% of our Canadian fleet, are nearly fully utilized. Demand for our Super Triple fleet, which is the preferred rig for Montney drilling, is driven by robust condensate fundamentals and the startup of LNG Canada this year. Demand for our Super Single fleet is driven by increased activity in heavy oil targeted areas as customers are benefiting from improved commodity pricing, following the startup of Trans Mountain, and a softening Canadian dollar.

“Internationally, our drilling utilization days increased 37% in 2024 following the recertification and reactivation of four rigs in 2023. In 2024, we had eight rigs working on term contracts, five in Kuwait and three in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. The majority of these rigs are under five-year term contracts that extend into 2027 and 2028, providing predictable cash flow for the next few years.

“In our Completion and Production Services business, our well servicing operating hours increased 26% over 2023 levels following the successful integration of CWC, where we achieved significant operating synergies. Our Completion and Production Services Adjusted EBITDA increased 30% year over year, which was slightly below our expectation due to late year customer budget exhaustion impacting our activity and rental business. I am very pleased with how we have transformed our Completion and Production Services business with two strategic tuck-in acquisitions. The High Arctic and CWC acquisitions more than doubled our Completion and Production revenue and Adjusted EBITDA since 2021 and solidified Precision as the premier well service provider in Canada.

“During the year, Precision generated $482 million of cash provided by operations, allowing us to meet our capital return targets and invest $217 million into our fleet and infrastructure, which included multiple drilling rig upgrades and the strategic purchase of drill pipe for use in 2025. We expect to invest approximately $225 million in 2025, which reflects a weaker Canadian dollar and includes expected customer funded upgrades across our North American operations, including approximately $30 million in US fleet upgrades for customers targeting extended reach laterals.

“With sustained free cash flow as a key differentiator of our business, we remain focused on reducing debt and increasing direct returns to shareholders. In 2025, we expect to reduce debt by at least $100 million, reinforcing our commitment to achieving a sustained Net Debt to Adjusted EBITDA ratio(1) of below 1.0 times. As we continue to realize the benefits of lower debt levels, we have increased our long-term debt reduction target by $100 million to $700 million and extended the debt reduction period by one year to 2027. In 2025, our goal is to increase our direct capital returns to shareholders by allocating 35% to 45% of free cash flow, before debt repayments, while continuing to move towards 50% of free cash flow thereafter, with excess cash potentially used to increase these allocations.

“I would like to thank our employees for their dedication and commitment to serving our customers, and our shareholders for their continued support. With positive long-term fundamentals associated with global oil and natural gas demand and particularly the unique fundamentals driving drilling activity in our core geographic markets, I am confident we will continue to drive shareholder value,” concluded Mr. Neveu.

(1) See “FINANCIAL MEASURES AND RATIOS.”

SELECT FINANCIAL AND OPERATING INFORMATION

Financial Highlights

	For the three months ended December 31,												For the year ended December 31,
(Stated in thousands of Canadian dollars, except per share amounts)		2024				2023			% Change					2024				2023			% Change
Revenue		468,171				506,871				(7.6	)			1,902,328				1,937,854				(1.8	)
Adjusted EBITDA(1)		120,526				151,231				(20.3	)			521,221				611,118				(14.7	)
Net earnings		14,930				146,722				(89.8	)			111,330				289,244				(61.5	)
Net earnings attributable to shareholders		14,795				146,722				(89.9	)			111,195				289,244				(61.6	)
Cash provided by operations		162,791				170,255				(4.4	)			482,083				500,571				(3.7	)
Funds provided by operations(1)		120,535				145,189				(17.0	)			463,372				533,409				(13.1	)
Cash used in investing activities		61,954				57,627				7.5				202,986				214,784				(5.5	)
Capital spending by spend category(1)
Expansion and upgrade		21,565				24,459				(11.8	)			52,066				63,898				(18.5	)
Maintenance and infrastructure		37,335				54,388				(31.4	)			164,632				162,851				1.1
Proceeds on sale		(8,570	)			(3,117	)			174.9				(30,395	)			(23,841	)			27.5
Net capital spending(1)		50,330				75,730				(33.5	)			186,303				202,908				(8.2	)
Net earnings attributable to shareholders per share:
Basic		1.06				10.42				(89.8	)			7.81				21.03				(62.8	)
Diluted		1.06				9.81				(89.2	)			7.81				19.53				(60.0	)
Weighted average shares outstanding:
Basic		13,982				14,084				(0.7	)			14,229				13,754				3.5
Diluted		13,987				15,509				(9.8	)			14,234				15,287				(6.9	)

(1) See “FINANCIAL MEASURES AND RATIOS.”

Operating Highlights

	For the three months ended December 31,												For the year ended December 31,
	2024				2023				% Change				2024				2023				% Change
Contract drilling rig fleet		214				214				–				214				214				–
Drilling rig utilization days:
U.S.		3,084				4,138				(25.5	)			12,969				17,961				(27.8	)
Canada		6,018				5,909				1.8				23,685				21,156				12.0
International		736				693				6.2				2,928				2,132				37.3
Revenue per utilization day:
U.S. (US$)		30,991				34,452				(10.0	)			32,531				35,040				(7.2	)
Canada (Cdn$)		35,675				34,616				3.1				34,797				33,151				5.0
International (US$)		49,636				49,872				(0.5	)			51,227				50,840				0.8
Operating costs per utilization day:
U.S. (US$)		21,698				21,039				3.1				22,009				20,401				7.9
Canada (Cdn$)		21,116				19,191				10.0				20,424				19,225				6.2
Service rig fleet		170				183				(7.1	)			170				183				(7.1	)
Service rig operating hours		59,834				56,683				5.6				254,224				201,627				26.1

Drilling Activity

	Average for the quarter ended 2023															Average for the quarter ended 2024
	Mar. 31				June 30				Sept. 30				Dec. 31				Mar. 31				June 30				Sept. 30				Dec. 31
Average Precision active rig count(1):
U.S.		60				51				41				45				38				36				35				34
Canada		69				42				57				64				73				49				72				65
International		5				5				6				8				8				8				8				8
Total		134				98				104				117				119				93				115				107

(1) Average number of drilling rigs working or moving. 

Financial Position

(Stated in thousands of Canadian dollars, except ratios)	December 31, 2024				December 31, 2023(2)
Working capital(1)		162,592				136,872
Cash		73,771				54,182
Long-term debt		812,469				914,830
Total long-term financial liabilities(1)		888,173				995,849
Total assets		2,956,315				3,019,035
Long-term debt to long-term debt plus equity ratio (1)		0.33				0.37

(1) See “FINANCIAL MEASURES AND RATIOS.”

(2) Comparative period figures were restated due to a change in accounting policy. See “CHANGE IN ACCOUNTING POLICY.”

Summary for the three months ended December 31, 2024:

• Revenue decreased to $468 million compared with $507 million in the fourth quarter of 2023 as a result of lower U.S. activity and day rates, partially offset by higher Canadian and international activity.
• Adjusted EBITDA was $121 million in the quarter and included $15 million of share-based compensation charges, $4 million for rig reactivation costs and $4 million of non-recurring charges. In 2023, fourth quarter Adjusted EBITDA was $151 million and included share-based compensation of $13 million. Please refer to “Other Items” later in this news release for additional information on share-based compensation charges.
• Adjusted EBITDA as a percentage of revenue was 26% as compared with 30% in 2023.
• Net earnings attributable to shareholders was $15 million compared to $147 million in the same quarter last year as net earnings in 2023 included an income tax recovery of $69 million and a gain on acquisition of $26 million.
• Generated cash provided by operations of $163 million, reduced debt by $25 million through the partial redemption of our 2026 unsecured senior notes and repayment of our U.S. Real Estate Credit Facility, repurchased $25 million of common shares under our Normal Course Issuer Bid (NCIB), and ended the quarter with $74 million of cash and more than $575 million of available liquidity.
• U.S. revenue per utilization day, excluding the impact of idle but contracted rigs was US$30,813 compared with US$32,819 in 2023, a decrease of 6%. Sequentially, revenue per utilization day, excluding idle but contracted rigs, was down 6% compared with the third quarter of 2024. Fourth quarter U.S. revenue per utilization day was US$30,991 compared with US$34,452 in 2023. The decrease was primarily the result of lower fleet average day rates, idle but contracted rig revenue and recoverable costs. We recognized US$1 million of revenue from idle but contracted rigs in the quarter as compared with US$7 million in 2023.
• U.S. operating costs per utilization day increased to US$21,698 compared with US$21,039 in 2023. The increase was mainly due to higher rig operating costs and fixed costs spread over lower activity, offset by lower recoverable costs and repairs and maintenance. Sequentially, operating costs per utilization day were down 2% due to lower recoverable costs.
• Canadian revenue per utilization day was $35,675, an increase from the $34,616 realized in 2023 due to higher average day rates and recoverable costs. Sequentially, revenue per utilization day increased $3,350 due to higher boiler revenue and higher fleet-wide average day rates.
• Canadian operating costs per utilization day increased to $21,116, compared with $19,191 in 2023, resulting from higher repairs and maintenance, rig reactivation costs and impact of labour rate increases. Sequentially, daily operating costs increased $1,668 and were the result of higher labour expenses due to rate increases, recoverable expenses and repairs and maintenance.
• Internationally, fourth quarter revenue increased 6% from 2023 as we realized revenue of US$37 million versus US$35 million in the prior year. Our higher revenue was primarily the result of a 6% increase in activity, which was negatively impacted by a planned rig recertification accounting for 21 non-billable utilization days in October. International revenue per utilization day was US$49,636 compared with US$49,872 in 2023.
• Completion and Production Services revenue was $69 million, an increase of $6 million from 2023, as our fourth quarter service rig operating hours increased 6%, reflecting the successful integration of the CWC acquisition in November 2023.
• General and administrative expenses were $35 million as compared with $39 million in 2023 primarily due to lower non-recurring costs associated with our CWC acquisition in 2023, partially offset by higher share-based compensation charges.
• Net finance charges were $16 million, a decrease of $3 million compared with 2023 as a result of lower interest expense on our outstanding debt balance.
• Capital expenditures were $59 million compared with $79 million in 2023 and by spend category included $22 million for expansion and upgrades and $37 million for the maintenance of existing assets, infrastructure, and intangible assets.
• Income tax expense for the quarter was $6 million as compared with a recovery of $69 million in 2023. During the fourth quarter, we continue to not recognize deferred tax assets on certain international operating losses.

Summary for the year ended December 31, 2024:

• Revenue for the year was $1,902 million, comparable with 2023.
• Adjusted EBITDA was $521 million as compared with $611 million in 2023. Our lower Adjusted EBITDA was primarily attributed to decreased U.S. drilling results and $13 million of higher share-based compensation, partially offset by the strengthening of Canadian and international results.
• Net earnings attributable to shareholders was $111 million compared to $289 million in the prior year. Our lower current year net earnings was due to the impact of decreased U.S. drilling results, higher income tax expense of $67 million and the gain on acquisition of $26 million recognized in 2023.
• Cash provided by operations was $482 million as compared with $501 million in 2023. Funds provided by operations were $463 million, a decrease of $70 million from the comparative period.
• General and administrative costs were $132 million, an increase of $10 million from 2023 primarily due to higher share-based compensation charges.
• Net finance charges were $70 million, $14 million lower than 2023 due to our lower interest expense on our outstanding debt balance.
• Capital expenditures were $217 million in 2024, a decrease of $10 million from 2023. Capital spending by spend category included $52 million for expansion and upgrades and $165 million for the maintenance of existing assets, infrastructure, and intangible assets.
• Reduced debt by $176 million from the partial redemption of our 2026 unsecured senior notes and repayment of our Canadian and U.S. Real Estate Credit Facilities.
• Repurchased $75 million of common shares under our NCIB.

STRATEGY

Precision’s vision is to be globally recognized as the High Performance, High Value provider of land drilling services. We work toward this vision by defining and measuring our results against strategic priorities that we establish at the beginning of every year.

Below we summarize the results of our 2024 strategic priorities:

1. Concentrate organizational efforts on leveraging our scale and generating free cash flow.
   • Generated cash provided from operations of $482 million, allowing us to meet our debt reduction and share repurchase goals and build our cash balance by $20 million.
   • Increased utilization of our Super Single and tele double rigs, driving Canadian drilling activity up 12% over 2023.
   • Successfully integrated our 2023 CWC acquisition, increasing Completion and Production Services operating hours and Adjusted EBITDA 26% and 30%, respectively, year over year. Achieved our $20 million annual synergies target from the acquisition.
   • Internationally, increased our activity 37% year over year and realized US$150 million of contract drilling revenue compared to US$108 million in 2023.
2. Reduce debt by between $150 million and $200 million and allocate 25% to 35% of free cash flow before debt repayments for share repurchases.
   • Reduced debt by $176 million and ended the year with a Net Debt to Adjusted EBITDA ratio of approximately 1.4 times. On track to achieve a sustained Net Debt to Adjusted EBITDA ratio of below 1.0 times.
   • Returned $75 million to shareholders through share repurchases, achieving the midpoint of our target range.
   • Renewed our NCIB in September, allowing repurchases of up to 10% of the public float.
3. Continue to deliver operational excellence in drilling and service rig operations to strengthen our competitive position and extend market penetration of our AlphaTM and EverGreenTM products.
   • Increased our Canadian drilling rig utilization days and well service rig operating hours year over year, maintaining our position as the leading provider of high-quality and reliable services in Canada.
   • Invested $52 million in expansion and upgrade capital to enhance our drilling rigs.
   • Nearly doubled our EverGreenTM revenue year over year.
   • Continued to expand our EverGreenTM product offering on our Super Single rigs with LED mast lighting and hydrogen injection systems.

2025 Strategic Priorities

1. Maximize free cash flow through disciplined capital deployment and strict cost management.
2. Enhance shareholder returns through debt reduction and share repurchases.
   1. Reduce debt by at least $100 million in 2025 and debt by $700 million between 2022 and 2027, while remaining committed to achieving a sustained Net Debt to Adjusted EBITDA ratio of below 1.0 times.
   2. Allocate 35% to 45% of free cash flow, before debt repayments, directly to shareholders and continue moving direct shareholder capital returns toward 50% of free cash flow thereafter.
3. Grow revenue in existing service lines through contracted upgrades, optimized pricing and utilization, and opportunistic consolidating tuck-in acquisitions.

OUTLOOK

The long-term outlook for global energy demand remains positive with rising demand for all types of energy including oil and natural gas driven by economic growth, increasing demand from third-world regions, and emerging energy sources of power demand. Oil prices are constructive as OPEC+ continues to honour its production quotas, producers remain committed to returning capital to shareholders versus increasing production, and geopolitical issues continue to threaten supply. In Canada, the Trans Mountain pipeline expansion, which became operational in May of 2024, combined with the imminent startup of LNG Canada are projected to provide significant tidewater access for Canadian crude oil and natural gas, supporting additional Canadian drilling activity. In the U.S., the next wave of Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) export terminals is expected to add approximately 11 bcf/d of export capacity from 2025 to 2028, supporting additional U.S. natural gas drilling activity. Coal retirements and a build-out of artificial intelligence data centers could provide further support for natural gas drilling.

Our Canadian drilling activity continues to be robust in 2025 and we currently have 81 rigs operating and expect this activity level to continue until spring breakup. Our Super Single fleet is near full utilization as heavy oil customers are benefiting from improved commodity pricing and a weak Canadian dollar. Our Super Triple fleet, the preferred rig for Montney drilling, is also nearly fully utilized, and with the expected startup of LNG Canada in mid-2025, rig demand could exceed supply. Overall, we expect our Canadian drilling activity to be up year over year with near full utilization of our Super Series rigs, which should support day rates and increase demand for term contracts as customers secure rigs to ensure fulfillment of their development programs. The uncertainty introduced by potential U.S. tariffs on Canadian oil and gas exports, has been tempered and we have not experienced any change in customer demand or their longer-term plans.

In the U.S., we currently have 34 rigs earning revenue, which has been relatively consistent since mid-2024. Drilling activity growth remains constrained as producers continue to focus on shareholder returns rather than growth, while volatile commodity prices, customer consolidation, and drilling and completion efficiencies have restricted activity growth. If commodity prices remain stable and around today’s level, we expect drilling demand to begin to improve in the second half and gain momentum through the remainder of 2025 as new LNG export capacity is added and customers seek to maintain or possibly increase production levels.

Internationally, we have eight rigs working on term contracts, five in Kuwait and three in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. The majority of these rigs are under five-year term contracts that extend into 2027 and 2028, providing predictable cash flow for the next few years. We continue to bid our remaining idle rigs within the region and remain optimistic in our ability to secure rig reactivations.

As the premier well service provider in Canada, the outlook for this business remains positive. We expect the Trans Mountain pipeline expansion and LNG Canada to drive more service-related activity, while increased regulatory spending requirements are expected to result in more abandonment work. Customer demand should remain strong, and with continued labour constraints, we expect firm pricing into the foreseeable future.

Contracts

The following chart outlines the average number of drilling rigs under term contract by quarter as at February 12, 2025. For those quarters ending after December 31, 2024, this chart represents the minimum number of term contracts from which we will earn revenue. We expect the actual number of contracted rigs to vary in future periods as we sign additional term contracts.

As at February 12, 2025		Average for the quarter ended 2024																Average				Average for the quarter ended 2025																Average
		Mar. 31				June 30				Sept. 30				Dec. 31				2024				Mar. 31				June 30				Sept. 30				Dec. 31				2025
Average rigs under term contract:
U.S.			20				17				17				16				18				15				13				8				6				11
Canada			24				22				23				23				23				20				19				18				14				18
International			8				8				8				8				8				8				8				7				7				8
Total			52				47				48				47				49				43				40				33				27				37

SEGMENTED FINANCIAL RESULTS

Precision’s operations are reported in two segments: Contract Drilling Services, which includes our drilling rig, oilfield supply and manufacturing divisions; and Completion and Production Services, which includes our service rig, rental and camp and catering divisions.

	For the three months ended December 31,												For the year ended December 31,
(Stated in thousands of Canadian dollars)		2024			2023				% Change					2024			2023				% Change
Revenue:
Contract Drilling Services		402,610				446,503				(9.8	)			1,617,735				1,704,265				(5.1	)
Completion and Production Services		68,830				62,459				10.2				294,817				240,716				22.5
Inter-segment eliminations		(3,269	)			(2,091	)			56.3				(10,224	)			(7,127	)			43.5
		468,171				506,871				(7.6	)			1,902,328				1,937,854				(1.8	)
Adjusted EBITDA:(1)
Contract Drilling Services		125,683				162,459				(22.6	)			532,345				630,761				(15.6	)
Completion and Production Services		15,895				12,193				30.4				66,681				51,224				30.2
Corporate and Other		(21,052	)			(23,421	)			(10.1	)			(77,805	)			(70,867	)			9.8
		120,526				151,231				(20.3	)			521,221				611,118				(14.7	)

(1) See “FINANCIAL MEASURES AND RATIOS.”

SEGMENT REVIEW OF CONTRACT DRILLING SERVICES

	For the three months ended December 31,												For the year ended December 31,
(Stated in thousands of Canadian dollars, except where noted)		2024				2023			% Change					2024				2023			% Change
Revenue		402,610				446,503				(9.8	)			1,617,735				1,704,265				(5.1	)
Expenses:
Operating		264,858				270,303				(2.0	)			1,041,068				1,030,053				1.1
General and administrative		12,069				13,741				(12.2	)			44,322				43,451				2.0
Adjusted EBITDA(1)		125,683				162,459				(22.6	)			532,345				630,761				(15.6	)
Adjusted EBITDA as a percentage of revenue(1)		31.2	%			36.4	%							32.9	%			37.0	%

(1) See “FINANCIAL MEASURES AND RATIOS.”

United States onshore drilling statistics:(1)	2024								2023
	Precision				Industry(2)				Precision				Industry(2)
Average number of active land rigs for quarters ended:
March 31		38				602				60				744
June 30		36				583				51				700
September 30		35				565				41				631
December 31		34				569				45				603
Year to date average		36				580				49				670

(1) United States lower 48 operations only.

(2) Baker Hughes rig counts.

Canadian onshore drilling statistics:(1)	2024								2023
	Precision				Industry(2)				Precision				Industry(2)
Average number of active land rigs for quarters ended:
March 31		73				208				69				221
June 30		49				134				42				117
September 30		72				207				57				188
December 31		65				194				64				181
Year to date average		65				186				58				177

(1) Canadian operations only.

(2) Baker Hughes rig counts.

SEGMENT REVIEW OF COMPLETION AND PRODUCTION SERVICES

	For the three months ended December 31,												For the year ended December 31,
(Stated in thousands of Canadian dollars, except where noted)		2024				2023			% Change					2024				2023			% Change
Revenue		68,830				62,459				10.2				294,817				240,716				22.5
Expenses:
Operating		50,714				48,297				5.0				217,842				181,622				19.9
General and administrative		2,221				1,969				12.8				10,294				7,870				30.8
Adjusted EBITDA(1)		15,895				12,193				30.4				66,681				51,224				30.2
Adjusted EBITDA as a percentage of revenue(1)		23.1	%			19.5	%							22.6	%			21.3	%
Well servicing statistics:
Number of service rigs (end of period)		170				183				(7.1	)			170				183				(7.1	)
Service rig operating hours		59,834				56,683				5.6				254,224				201,627				26.1
Service rig operating hour utilization		38	%			38	%							42	%			42	%

(1) See “FINANCIAL MEASURES AND RATIOS.”

OTHER ITEMS

Share-based Incentive Compensation Plans

We have several cash and equity-settled share-based incentive plans for non-management directors, officers, and other eligible employees. Our accounting policies for each share-based incentive plan can be found in our 2023 Annual Report.

A summary of expense amounts under these plans during the reporting periods are as follows:

	For the three months ended December 31,								For the year ended December 31,
(Stated in thousands of Canadian dollars)	2024				2023				2024				2023
Cash settled share-based incentive plans		14,018				11,972				42,828				32,063
Equity settled share-based incentive plans		1,071				697				4,588				2,531
Total share-based incentive compensation plan expense		15,089				12,669				47,416				34,594
Allocated:
Operating		3,709				2,765				11,868				9,497
General and Administrative		11,380				9,904				35,548				25,097
		15,089				12,669				47,416				34,594

FINANCIAL MEASURES AND RATIOS

Non-GAAP Financial Measures
We reference certain Non-Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (Non-GAAP) measures that are not defined terms under IFRS to assess performance because we believe they provide useful supplemental information to investors.
Adjusted EBITDA	We believe Adjusted EBITDA (earnings before income taxes, gain on acquisition, loss on investments and other assets, gain on repurchase of unsecured senior notes, finance charges, foreign exchange, loss on asset decommissioning, gain on asset disposals and depreciation and amortization), as reported in our Condensed Interim Consolidated Statements of Net Earnings and our reportable operating segment disclosures, is a useful measure because it gives an indication of the results from our principal business activities prior to consideration of how our activities are financed and the impact of foreign exchange, taxation and depreciation and amortization charges. The most directly comparable financial measure is net earnings.

	For the three months ended December 31,								For the year ended December 31,
(Stated in thousands of Canadian dollars)		2024				2023				2024				2023
Adjusted EBITDA by segment:
Contract Drilling Services		125,683				162,459				532,345				630,761
Completion and Production Services		15,895				12,193				66,681				51,224
Corporate and Other		(21,052	)			(23,421	)			(77,805	)			(70,867	)
Adjusted EBITDA		120,526				151,231				521,221				611,118
Depreciation and amortization		82,210				78,734				309,314				297,557
Gain on asset disposals		(1,913	)			(8,883	)			(16,148	)			(24,469	)
Loss on asset decommissioning		—				9,592				—				9,592
Foreign exchange		1,487				(773	)			2,259				(1,667	)
Finance charges		16,281				19,468				69,753				83,414
Gain on repurchase of unsecured notes		—				—				—				(137	)
Loss on investments and other assets		1,814				735				1,484				6,810
Gain on acquisition		—				(25,761	)			—				(25,761	)
Incomes taxes		5,717				(68,603	)			43,229				(23,465	)
Net earnings		14,930				146,722				111,330				289,244
Non-controlling interests		135				—				135				—
Net earnings attributable to shareholders		14,795				146,722				111,195				289,244

Funds Provided by (Used in) Operations			We believe funds provided by (used in) operations, as reported in our Condensed Interim Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows, is a useful measure because it provides an indication of the funds our principal business activities generate prior to consideration of working capital changes, which is primarily made up of highly liquid balances. The most directly comparable financial measure is cash provided by (used in) operations.
Net Capital Spending			We believe net capital spending is a useful measure as it provides an indication of our primary investment activities. The most directly comparable financial measure is cash provided by (used in) investing activities. Net capital spending is calculated as follows:
					For the three months ended December 31,								For the year ended December 31,
(Stated in thousands of Canadian dollars)						2024				2023				2024				2023
Capital spending by spend category
Expansion and upgrade						21,565				24,459				52,066				63,898
Maintenance, infrastructure and intangibles						37,335				54,388				164,632				162,851
						58,900				78,847				216,698				226,749
Proceeds on sale of property, plant and equipment						(8,570	)			(3,117	)			(30,395	)			(23,841	)
Net capital spending						50,330				75,730				186,303				202,908
Business acquisitions						—				646				—				28,646
Proceeds from sale of investments and other assets						—				—				(3,623	)			(10,013	)
Purchase of investments and other assets						718				61				725				5,343
Receipt of finance lease payments						(208	)			(191	)			(799	)			(255	)
Changes in non-cash working capital balances						11,114				(18,619	)			20,380				(11,845	)
Cash used in investing activities						61,954				57,627				202,986				214,784

Working Capital

We define working capital as current assets less current liabilities, as reported in our Condensed Interim Consolidated Statements of Financial Position. Working capital is calculated as follows:

	December 31,				December 31,
(Stated in thousands of Canadian dollars)		2024				2023
Current assets		501,284				510,881
Current liabilities		338,692				374,009
Working capital		162,592				136,872

Total Long-term Financial Liabilities

We define total long-term financial liabilities as total non-current liabilities less deferred tax liabilities, as reported in our Condensed Interim Consolidated Statements of Financial Position. Total long-term financial liabilities is calculated as follows:

	December 31,				December 31,
(Stated in thousands of Canadian dollars)		2024				2023
Total non-current liabilities		935,624				1,069,364
Deferred tax liabilities		47,451				73,515
Total long-term financial liabilities		888,173				995,849

Non-GAAP Ratios
We reference certain additional Non-GAAP ratios that are not defined terms under IFRS to assess performance because we believe they provide useful supplemental information to investors.
Adjusted EBITDA % of Revenue			We believe Adjusted EBITDA as a percentage of consolidated revenue, as reported in our Condensed Interim Consolidated Statements of Net Earnings, provides an indication of our profitability from our principal business activities prior to consideration of how our activities are financed and the impact of foreign exchange, taxation and depreciation and amortization charges.
Long-term debt to long-term debt plus equity			We believe that long-term debt (as reported in our Condensed Interim Consolidated Statements of Financial Position) to long-term debt plus equity (total shareholders’ equity as reported in our Condensed Interim Consolidated Statements of Financial Position) provides an indication of our debt leverage.
Net Debt to Adjusted EBITDA			We believe that the Net Debt (long-term debt less cash, as reported in our Condensed Interim Consolidated Statements of Financial Position) to Adjusted EBITDA ratio provides an indication of the number of years it would take for us to repay our debt obligations.
Supplementary Financial Measures
We reference certain supplementary financial measures that are not defined terms under IFRS to assess performance because we believe they provide useful supplemental information to investors.
Capital Spending by Spend Category			We provide additional disclosure to better depict the nature of our capital spending. Our capital spending is categorized as expansion and upgrade, maintenance and infrastructure, or intangibles.

CHANGE IN ACCOUNTING POLICY

Precision adopted Classification of Liabilities as Current or Non-current andNon-current Liabilities with Covenants – Amendments to IAS 1, as issued in 2020 and 2022. These amendments apply retrospectively for annual reporting periods beginning on or after January 1, 2024 and clarify requirements for determining whether a liability should be classified as current or non-current. Due to this change in accounting policy, there was a retrospective impact on the comparative Statement of Financial Position pertaining to the Corporation’s Deferred Share Unit (DSU) plan for non-management directors which are redeemable in cash or for an equal number of common shares upon the director’s retirement. In the case of a director retiring, the director’s respective DSU liability would become payable and the Corporation would not have the right to defer settlement of the liability for at least twelve months. As such, the liability is impacted by the revised policy. The following changes were made to the Statement of Financial Position:

• As at January 1, 2023, accounts payable and accrued liabilities increased by $12 million and non-current share-based compensation liability decreased by $12 million.
• As at December 31, 2023, accounts payable and accrued liabilities increased by $8 million and non-current share-based compensation liability decreased by $8 million.

The Corporation’s other liabilities were not impacted by the amendments. The change in accounting policy will also be reflected in the Corporation’s consolidated financial statements as at and for the year ending December 31, 2024.

PARTNERSHIP

On September 26, 2024, Precision formed a strategic Partnership with two Indigenous partners to provide well servicing operations in northeast British Columbia. Precision contributed $4 million in assets to the Partnership. Profit attributable to Non-Controlling Interests (NCI) was $0.1 million in 2024.

Precision holds a controlling interest in the Partnership and the portions of the net earnings and equity not attributable to Precision’s controlling interest are shown separately as NCI in the Consolidated Statements of Net Earnings and Consolidated Statements of Financial Position.

CAUTIONARY STATEMENT REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING INFORMATION AND STATEMENTS

Certain statements contained in this release, including statements that contain words such as “could”, “should”, “can”, “anticipate”, “estimate”, “intend”, “plan”, “expect”, “believe”, “will”, “may”, “continue”, “project”, “potential” and similar expressions and statements relating to matters that are not historical facts constitute “forward-looking information” within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation and “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the “safe harbor” provisions of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 (collectively, “forward-looking information and statements”).

In particular, forward-looking information and statements include, but are not limited to, the following:

• our strategic priorities for 2025;
• our capital expenditures, free cash flow allocation and debt reduction plans for 2025 through to 2027;
• anticipated activity levels, demand for our drilling rigs, day rates and daily operating margins in 2025;
• the average number of term contracts in place for 2025;
• customer adoption of AlphaTM technologies and EverGreenTM suite of environmental solutions;
• timing and amount of synergies realized from acquired drilling and well servicing assets; and
• potential commercial opportunities and rig contract renewals.

These forward-looking information and statements are based on certain assumptions and analysis made by Precision in light of our experience and our perception of historical trends, current conditions, expected future developments and other factors we believe are appropriate under the circumstances. These include, among other things:

• our ability to react to customer spending plans as a result of changes in oil and natural gas prices;
• the status of current negotiations with our customers and vendors;
• customer focus on safety performance;
• existing term contracts are neither renewed nor terminated prematurely;
• our ability to deliver rigs to customers on a timely basis;
• the impact of an increase/decrease in capital spending; and
• the general stability of the economic and political environments in the jurisdictions where we operate.

Undue reliance should not be placed on forward-looking information and statements. Whether actual results, performance or achievements will conform to our expectations and predictions is subject to a number of known and unknown risks and uncertainties which could cause actual results to differ materially from our expectations. Such risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to:

• volatility in the price and demand for oil and natural gas;
• fluctuations in the level of oil and natural gas exploration and development activities;
• fluctuations in the demand for contract drilling, well servicing and ancillary oilfield services;
• our customers’ inability to obtain adequate credit or financing to support their drilling and production activity;
• changes in drilling and well servicing technology, which could reduce demand for certain rigs or put us at a competitive advantage;
• shortages, delays and interruptions in the delivery of equipment supplies and other key inputs;
• liquidity of the capital markets to fund customer drilling programs;
• availability of cash flow, debt and equity sources to fund our capital and operating requirements, as needed;
• the impact of weather and seasonal conditions on operations and facilities;
• competitive operating risks inherent in contract drilling, well servicing and ancillary oilfield services;
• ability to improve our rig technology to improve drilling efficiency;
• general economic, market or business conditions;
• the availability of qualified personnel and management;
• a decline in our safety performance which could result in lower demand for our services;
• changes in laws or regulations, including changes in environmental laws and regulations such as increased regulation of hydraulic fracturing or restrictions on the burning of fossil fuels and greenhouse gas emissions, which could have an adverse impact on the demand for oil and natural gas;
• terrorism, social, civil and political unrest in the foreign jurisdictions where we operate;
• fluctuations in foreign exchange, interest rates and tax rates; and
• other unforeseen conditions which could impact the use of services supplied by Precision and Precision’s ability to respond to such conditions.

Readers are cautioned that the forgoing list of risk factors is not exhaustive. Additional information on these and other factors that could affect our business, operations or financial results are included in reports on file with applicable securities regulatory authorities, including but not limited to Precision’s Annual Information Form for the year ended December 31, 2023, which may be accessed on Precision’s SEDAR+ profile at www.sedarplus.ca or under Precision’s EDGAR profile at www.sec.gov. The forward-looking information and statements contained in this release are made as of the date hereof and Precision undertakes no obligation to update publicly or revise any forward-looking statements or information, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by law.

CONDENSED INTERIM CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF FINANCIAL POSITION (UNAUDITED)

(Stated in thousands of Canadian dollars)		December 31, 2024				December 31, 2023(1)				January 1, 2023(1)
ASSETS
Current assets:
Cash		$	73,771			$	54,182			$	21,587
Accounts receivable			378,712				421,427				413,925
Inventory			43,300				35,272				35,158
Assets held for sale			5,501				—				—
Total current assets			501,284				510,881				470,670
Non-current assets:
Income tax recoverable			—				682				1,602
Deferred tax assets			6,559				73,662				455
Property, plant and equipment			2,356,173				2,338,088				2,303,338
Intangibles			12,997				17,310				19,575
Right-of-use assets			66,032				63,438				60,032
Finance lease receivables			4,806				5,003				—
Investments and other assets			8,464				9,971				20,451
Total non-current assets			2,455,031				2,508,154				2,405,453
Total assets		$	2,956,315			$	3,019,035			$	2,876,123
LIABILITIES AND EQUITY
Current liabilities:
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities		$	314,355			$	350,749			$	404,350
Income taxes payable			3,778				3,026				2,991
Current portion of lease obligations			20,559				17,386				12,698
Current portion of long-term debt			—				2,848				2,287
Total current liabilities			338,692				374,009				422,326
Non-current liabilities:
Share-based compensation			13,666				16,755				47,836
Provisions and other			7,472				7,140				7,538
Lease obligations			54,566				57,124				52,978
Long-term debt			812,469				914,830				1,085,970
Deferred tax liabilities			47,451				73,515				28,946
Total non-current liabilities			935,624				1,069,364				1,223,268
Equity:
Shareholders’ capital			2,301,729				2,365,129				2,299,533
Contributed surplus			77,557				75,086				72,555
Deficit			(900,834	)			(1,012,029	)			(1,301,273	)
Accumulated other comprehensive income			199,020				147,476				159,714
Total equity attributable to shareholders			1,677,472				1,575,662				1,230,529
Non-controlling interest			4,527				—				—
Total equity			1,681,999				1,575,662				1,230,529
Total liabilities and equity		$	2,956,315			$	3,019,035			$	2,876,123

(1) Comparative period figures were restated due to a change in accounting policy. See “CHANGE IN ACCOUNTING POLICY.”

CONDENSED INTERIM CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF NET EARNINGS (UNAUDITED)

		Three Months Ended December 31,								Year Ended December 31,
(Stated in thousands of Canadian dollars, except per share amounts)		2024				2023				2024				2023
Revenue		$	468,171			$	506,871			$	1,902,328			$	1,937,854
Expenses:
Operating			312,303				316,509				1,248,686				1,204,548
General and administrative			35,342				39,131				132,421				122,188
Earnings before income taxes, loss on investments and other assets, gain on acquisition, gain on repurchase of unsecured senior notes, finance charges, foreign exchange, loss on asset decommissioning, gain on asset disposals, and depreciation and amortization			120,526				151,231				521,221				611,118
Depreciation and amortization			82,210				78,734				309,314				297,557
Gain on asset disposals			(1,913	)			(8,883	)			(16,148	)			(24,469	)
Loss on asset decommissioning			—				9,592				—				9,592
Foreign exchange			1,487				(773	)			2,259				(1,667	)
Finance charges			16,281				19,468				69,753				83,414
Gain on repurchase of unsecured senior notes			—				—				—				(137	)
Gain on acquisition			—				(25,761	)			—				(25,761	)
Loss on investments and other assets			1,814				735				1,484				6,810
Earnings before income taxes			20,647				78,119				154,559				265,779
Income taxes:
Current			2,811				486				7,470				4,494
Deferred			2,906				(69,089	)			35,759				(27,959	)
			5,717				(68,603	)			43,229				(23,465	)
Net earnings		$	14,930			$	146,722			$	111,330			$	289,244
Attributable to:
Shareholders of Precision Drilling Corporation		$	14,795			$	146,722			$	111,195			$	289,244
Non-controlling interests		$	135			$	—			$	135			$	—
Net earnings per share attributable to shareholders:
Basic		$	1.06			$	10.42			$	7.81			$	21.03
Diluted		$	1.06			$	9.81			$	7.81			$	19.53

CONDENSED INTERIM CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (UNAUDITED)

		Three Months Ended December 31,								Year Ended December 31,
(Stated in thousands of Canadian dollars)		2024				2023				2024				2023
Net earnings		$	14,930			$	146,722			$	111,330			$	289,244
Unrealized gain (loss) on translation of assets and liabilities of operations denominated in foreign currency			89,412				(36,755	)			119,821				(33,433	)
Foreign exchange gain (loss) on net investment hedge with U.S. denominated debt			(49,744	)			22,679				(69,027	)			21,195
Tax related to net investment hedge of long-term debt			750				—				750				—
Comprehensive income		$	55,348			$	132,646			$	162,874			$	277,006
Attributable to:
Shareholders of Precision Drilling Corporation		$	55,213			$	132,646			$	162,739			$	277,006
Non-controlling interests		$	135			$	—			$	135			$	—

CONDENSED INTERIM CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS (UNAUDITED)

		Three Months Ended December 31,								Year Ended December 31,
(Stated in thousands of Canadian dollars)		2024				2023				2024				2023
Cash provided by (used in):
Operations:
Net earnings		$	14,930			$	146,722			$	111,330			$	289,244
Adjustments for:
Long-term compensation plans			4,398				(2,541	)			18,888				6,659
Depreciation and amortization			82,210				78,734				309,314				297,557
Gain on asset disposals			(1,913	)			(8,883	)			(16,148	)			(24,469	)
Loss on asset decommissioning			—				9,592				—				9,592
Foreign exchange			1,477				(853	)			2,442				(866	)
Finance charges			16,281				19,468				69,753				83,414
Income taxes			5,717				(68,603	)			43,229				(23,465	)
Other			(392	)			(9	)			(272	)			(229	)
Loss on investments and other assets			1,814				735				1,484				6,810
Gain on acquisition			—				(25,761	)			—				(25,761	)
Gain on repurchase of unsecured senior notes			—				—				—				(137	)
Income taxes paid			(1,617	)			(708	)			(6,459	)			(3,103	)
Income taxes recovered			27				17				85				24
Interest paid			(2,806	)			(3,335	)			(72,241	)			(83,037	)
Interest received			409				614				1,967				1,176
Funds provided by operations			120,535				145,189				463,372				533,409
Changes in non-cash working capital balances			42,256				25,066				18,711				(32,838	)
Cash provided by operations			162,791				170,255				482,083				500,571
Investments:
Purchase of property, plant and equipment			(58,900	)			(78,582	)			(216,647	)			(224,960	)
Purchase of intangibles			—				(265	)			(51	)			(1,789	)
Proceeds on sale of property, plant and equipment			8,570				3,117				30,395				23,841
Proceeds from sale of investments and other assets			—				—				3,623				10,013
Business acquisitions			—				(646	)			—				(28,646	)
Purchase of investments and other assets			(718	)			(61	)			(725	)			(5,343	)
Receipt of finance lease payments			208				191				799				255
Changes in non-cash working capital balances			(11,114	)			18,619				(20,380	)			11,845
Cash used in investing activities			(61,954	)			(57,627	)			(202,986	)			(214,784	)
Financing:
Issuance of long-term debt			17,078				—				27,978				162,649
Repayments of long-term debt			(41,813	)			(86,699	)			(204,319	)			(375,237	)
Repurchase of share capital			(25,023	)			(17,004	)			(75,488	)			(29,955	)
Issuance of common shares from the exercise of options			—				—				686				—
Debt amendment fees			(46	)			—				(1,363	)			—
Lease payments			(3,266	)			(3,010	)			(13,271	)			(9,423	)
Funding from non-controlling interest			—				—				4,392				—
Cash used in financing activities			(53,070	)			(106,713	)			(261,385	)			(251,966	)
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash			1,700				(798	)			1,877				(1,226	)
Increase in cash			49,467				5,117				19,589				32,595
Cash, beginning of period			24,304				49,065				54,182				21,587
Cash, end of period		$	73,771			$	54,182			$	73,771			$	54,182

CONDENSED INTERIM CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN EQUITY (UNAUDITED)

		Attributable to shareholders of the Corporation
(Stated in thousands of Canadian dollars)		Shareholders’ Capital				Contributed Surplus				Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income				Deficit				Total				Non- controlling interest				Total Equity
Balance at January 1, 2024		$	2,365,129			$	75,086			$	147,476			$	(1,012,029	)		$	1,575,662			$	—			$	1,575,662
Net earnings for the period			—				—				—				111,195				111,195				135				111,330
Other comprehensive income for the period			—				—				51,544				—				51,544				—				51,544
Share options exercised			978				(292	)			—				—				686				—				686
Settlement of Executive Performance and Restricted Share Units			21,846				(1,479	)			—				—				20,367				—				20,367
Share repurchases			(86,570	)			—				—				—				(86,570	)			—				(86,570	)
Redemption of non-management directors share units			346				(346	)			—				—				—				—				—
Share-based compensation expense			—				4,588				—				—				4,588				—				4,588
Funding from non-controlling interest			—				—				—				—				—				4,392				4,392
Balance at December 31, 2024		$	2,301,729			$	77,557			$	199,020			$	(900,834	)		$	1,677,472			$	4,527			$	1,681,999

		Attributable to shareholders of the Corporation
(Stated in thousands of Canadian dollars)		Shareholders’ Capital				Contributed Surplus				Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income				Deficit				Total				Non- controlling interest				Total Equity
Balance at January 1, 2023		$	2,299,533			$	72,555			$	159,714			$	(1,301,273	)		$	1,230,529			$	—			$	1,230,529
Net earnings for the period			—				—				—				289,244				289,244				—				289,244
Other comprehensive income for the period			—				—				(12,238	)			—				(12,238	)			—				(12,238	)
Acquisition share consideration			75,588				—				—				—				75,588				—				75,588
Settlement of Executive Performance and Restricted Share Units			19,206				—				—				—				19,206				—				19,206
Share repurchases			(29,955	)			—				—				—				(29,955	)			—				(29,955	)
Redemption of non-management directors share units			757				—				—				—				757				—				757
Share-based compensation expense			—				2,531				—				—				2,531				—				2,531
Balance at December 31, 2023		$	2,365,129			$	75,086			$	147,476			$	(1,012,029	)		$	1,575,662			$	—			$	1,575,662

2024 FOURTH QUARTER AND YEAR-END RESULTS CONFERENCE CALL AND WEBCAST

Precision Drilling Corporation has scheduled a conference call and webcast to begin promptly at 11:00 a.m. MT (1:00 p.m. ET) on Thursday, February 13, 2025.

To participate in the conference call please register at the URL link below. Once registered, you will receive a dial-in number and a unique PIN, which will allow you to ask questions.

https://register.vevent.com/register/BI9168b4c0516f4409ab4f297340994ebc

The call will also be webcast and can be accessed through the link below. A replay of the webcast call will be available on Precision’s website for 12 months.

https://edge.media-server.com/mmc/p/8hij84aa

About Precision

Precision is a leading provider of safe and environmentally responsible High Performance, High Value services to the energy industry, offering customers access to an extensive fleet of Super Series drilling rigs. Precision has commercialized an industry-leading digital technology portfolio known as Alpha™ that utilizes advanced automation software and analytics to generate efficient, predictable, and repeatable results for energy customers. Our drilling services are enhanced by our EverGreen™ suite of environmental solutions, which bolsters our commitment to reducing the environmental impact of our operations. Additionally, Precision offers well service rigs, camps and rental equipment all backed by a comprehensive mix of technical support services and skilled, experienced personnel.

Precision is headquartered in Calgary, Alberta, Canada and is listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange under the trading symbol “PD” and on the New York Stock Exchange under the trading symbol “PDS”.

Additional Information

For further information, please contact:

Lavonne Zdunich, CPA, CA

Vice President, Investor Relations

403.716.4500

800, 525 – 8th Avenue S.W.

Calgary, Alberta, Canada T2P 1G1

Website: www.precisiondrilling.com