Weatherford Reports First Quarter Results of $0.57 Per Diluted Share

24 Apr 2006
          Sequential Earnings Up 24% for Second Consecutive Quarter

HOUSTON, April 24 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Weatherford International Ltd. (NYSE: WFT) today reported first quarter 2006 net income of $203.3 million from continuing operations or $0.57 per diluted share. First quarter diluted earnings per share from continuing operations improved 24 percent over fourth quarter 2005 diluted earnings per share of $0.46 excluding the gain on sale of Universal common stock and exit and restructuring charges associated with the Precision acquisition.

(Logo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/19990308/WEATHERFORDLOGO )

Revenues for the first quarter were $1,536.0 million and represented a 79 percent increase over the $857.7 million reported last year. Operating income was $307.4 million for the quarter, nearly 2.5 times 2005 first quarter operating income before charges. First quarter diluted earnings per share from continuing operations of $0.57 increased 97 percent from first quarter 2005 diluted earnings per share of $0.29 before charges.

On a sequential basis, first quarter revenues improved 5 percent above the record levels posted in the fourth quarter of 2005. Revenues increased 12 percent in North America doubling the 6 percent sequential improvement in rig count. The strong performance in this region more than offset a slight decline in Eastern Hemisphere revenues.

The company's first quarter operating income reached record levels as it increased 25 percent sequentially, and company-wide margins improved 320 basis points. Incremental operating margins were 82 percent. All divisions posted improvements in profitability. The strong increase in profitability was the combined result of better absorption, product mix and pricing improvements.

Evaluation, Drilling & Intervention Services

Revenues for the quarter were $916.7 million, 9 percent above the prior quarter and 96 percent above the same quarter in the prior year. Geographically, all regions excluding Asia Pacific, posted sequential revenue improvements. Canada reported the highest increase at 25 percent, followed by Latin America and the U.S. improving 13 percent and 7 percent, respectively.

Operating income of $257.1 million was 135 percent higher than the same quarter in the prior year and 23 percent higher than the preceding quarter. Incremental operating margins were 62 percent. Activity increases in North America and a strong performance by all of the divisional product lines contributed to the very strong incremental margins.

Production Systems

First quarter revenues of $510.0 million were 37 percent higher than the first quarter of 2005 and slightly lower than the prior quarter. Canadian and U.S. revenues improved 13 percent and 5 percent over the prior quarter, respectively. Revenues in the Eastern Hemisphere declined slightly from previous highs due to lower sales in Russia and West Africa.

The current quarter's operating income of $88.9 million improved 73 percent as compared to the same quarter in the prior year and 3 percent as compared to the fourth quarter of 2005. Productivity gains resulted in operating income margin improvements of 80 basis points sequentially and 350 basis points over the same quarter in the prior year.

Other Operations

Other Operations includes the company's pipeline services and contract drilling businesses. Sequential revenues and operating income in the first quarter improved 4 percent and 292 percent respectively.

Reclassifications and Non-GAAP

Reclassifications have been made to the company's reporting of certain expenses. All prior periods have been restated to conform with the current presentation and are included for reference. In addition, Non-GAAP performance measures and corresponding reconciliations to GAAP financial measures have been provided for meaningful comparisons between current results and results in prior operating periods.

Conference Call

The company will host a conference call with financial analysts to discuss the 2006 first quarter results on April 24, 2006 at 9:00 a.m. (CDT). The company invites investors to listen to a play back of the conference call at the company's website, http://www.weatherford.com in the "investor relations" section.

Weatherford is one of the largest global providers of innovative mechanical solutions, technology and services for the drilling and production sectors of the oil and gas industry. Weatherford operates in over 100 countries and employs approximately 29,000 people worldwide.

    Contact:
     Lisa W. Rodriguez
     (713) 693-4746
     Chief Financial Officer

     Andrew P. Becnel
     (713) 693-4136
     Vice President - Finance

This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 concerning, among other things, Weatherford's prospects for its operations which are subject to certain risks, uncertainties and assumptions. These risks and uncertainties, which are more fully described in Weatherford International Ltd.'s reports and registration statements filed with the SEC, include the impact of oil and natural gas prices and worldwide economic conditions on drilling activity, the demand for and pricing of Weatherford's products and services, domestic and international economic and regulatory conditions and changes in tax and other laws affecting our business. Should one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialize, or should the assumptions prove incorrect, actual results may vary in material aspects from those currently anticipated.





                        Weatherford International Ltd.
                 Consolidated Condensed Statements of Income
                     (In 000's, Except Per Share Amounts)

                                            Three Months
                                               Ended
                        3/31/2006 12/31/2005  9/30/2005  6/30/2005  3/31/2005

    Net Revenues:
        Evaluation,
         Drilling &
         Intervention
         Services        $916,689   $837,832   $609,547   $514,022   $466,981
        Completion &
         Production
         Systems          510,023    518,358    429,591    403,873    371,062
        Other Operations  109,299    105,220     37,678     19,400     19,663
                        1,536,011  1,461,410  1,076,816    937,295    857,706

    Operating Income
     (Expense):
        Evaluation,
         Drilling &
         Intervention
         Services         257,134    208,632    139,396    122,180    109,196
        Completion &
         Production
         Systems           88,868     86,181     65,803     57,549     51,413
        Other Operations   17,422      4,446      5,879       (909)     3,400
        Research and
         Development      (36,443)   (35,300)   (27,140)   (23,903)   (21,019)
        Equity in
         Earnings           2,634      3,313      2,991      2,822      1,301
        Corporate
         Expenses         (22,256)   (21,039)   (19,159)   (17,330)   (16,889)
        Exit Costs and
         Restructuring
         Charges              ---    (16,977)   (97,258)       ---     (2,737)
                          307,359    229,256     70,512    140,409    124,665

    Other Income
     (Expense):
        Debt Redemption
         Expense              ---        ---     (4,733)       ---        ---
        Debt Redemption
         Expense of
         Unconsolidated
         Affiliate            ---        ---        ---        ---     (4,025)
        Gain on Sale of
         Universal Common
         Stock                ---    115,456        ---        ---        ---
        Other, Net         (2,119)     6,333     10,966      3,432      1,799
        Interest Expense,
         Net              (18,988)   (23,301)   (17,197)   (14,979)   (13,658)
    Income from
     Continuing
     Operations Before
     Income Taxes         286,252    327,744     59,548    128,862    108,781
    Provision for Income
     Taxes                (82,935)   (83,994)   (12,249)   (34,137)   (28,346)
    Income from
     Continuing
     Operations           203,317    243,750     47,299     94,725     80,435
    Income from
     Discontinued
     Operation, Net of
     Taxes                    ---        ---        587        463        161
    Net Income           $203,317   $243,750    $47,886    $95,188    $80,596

    Basic Earnings Per
     Share:
      Income from
       Continuing
       Operations           $0.58      $0.70      $0.16      $0.34      $0.29
      Income from
       Discontinued
       Operation             0.00       0.00       0.00       0.00       0.00
      Net Income            $0.58      $0.70      $0.16      $0.34      $0.29

    Diluted Earnings Per
     Share:
      Income from
       Continuing
       Operations           $0.57      $0.69      $0.15      $0.32      $0.27
      Income from
       Discontinued
       Operation             0.00       0.00       0.00       0.00       0.00
      Net Income            $0.57      $0.69      $0.15      $0.32      $0.27

    Weighted Average
     Shares Outstanding:
      Basic               349,160    346,874    300,972    277,872    275,626
      Diluted             358,326    355,630    311,788    307,026    304,732



                        Weatherford International Ltd.
                           Supplemental Information
                                  (In 000's)

                                             Three Months
                                                 Ended
                       3/31/2006  12/31/2005   9/30/2005  6/30/2005  3/31/2005

    Geographic Revenues:
      Eastern
       Hemisphere       $451,482    $478,796    $373,485   $357,920   $298,347
      United States      542,803     508,517     410,725    372,247    317,720
      Canada             379,631     316,985     188,787    124,459    161,265
      Latin America      162,095     157,112     103,819     82,669     80,374
                      $1,536,011  $1,461,410  $1,076,816   $937,295   $857,706

    Depreciation and
     Amortization:
      Evaluation,
       Drilling &
       Intervention
       Services          $81,446     $79,088     $57,181    $48,131    $47,854
      Completion &
       Production
       Systems            20,967      19,505      19,174     18,816     18,742
      Other Operations    10,411      10,839       3,615      1,639      1,816
      Research and
       Development         1,896       1,744       1,431      1,168      1,142
      Other                  783         773         549        563        568
                        $115,503    $111,949     $81,950    $70,317    $70,122

    Research and
     Development:
      Evaluation,
       Drilling &
       Intervention
       Services          $21,963     $21,612     $14,624    $11,312     $9,361
      Completion &
       Production
       Systems            14,056      13,170      12,255     12,189     11,214
      Other
       Operations            424         518         261        402        444
                         $36,443     $35,300     $27,140    $23,903    $21,019


We report our financial results in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP). However, Weatherford's management believes that certain non-GAAP performance measures and ratios may provide users of this financial information additional meaningful comparisons between current results and results in prior operating periods. One such non-GAAP financial measure we may present from time to time is operating income or income from continuing operations excluding certain charges or amounts. This adjusted income amount is not a measure of financial performance under GAAP. Accordingly, it should not be considered as a substitute for operating income, net income or other income data prepared in accordance with GAAP. See the table below for supplemental financial data and corresponding reconciliations to GAAP financial measures for the three months ended December 31, 2005, September 30, 2005 and March 31, 2005. Non-GAAP financial measures should be viewed in addition to, and not as an alternative for, the Company's reported results prepared in accordance with GAAP.


                        Weatherford International Ltd.
            Reconciliation of GAAP to Non-GAAP Financial Measures
                                 (Unaudited)
                    (In thousands, except per share data)

                                  For the three months ended December 31, 2005
                                            Items impacting  Non-GAAP Adjusted
                                    GAAP      the period*        Earnings
     Operating Income             $229,256      $16,977          $246,233

     Other Income (Expense), Net    98,488     (115,456)          (16,968)

     Income from Continuing
      Operations Before
      Income Taxes                 327,744      (98,479)          229,265

     Provision for Income Taxes    (83,994)      18,650           (65,344)

     Income from Continuing
      Operations                  $243,750     $(79,829)         $163,921

     Diluted Earnings Per Share
      from Continuing Operations     $0.69                          $0.46

     Diluted Weighted Average
      Shares Outstanding           355,630                        355,630

     *  Exit costs, restructuring charges and tax expense associated with the
        Precision acquisition and related activities and the gain on sale of
        shares of Universal Compression Holdings, Inc., with no related income
        tax effects.



                                 For the three months ended September 30, 2005
                                            Items impacting  Non-GAAP Adjusted
                                    GAAP      the period*        Earnings
     Operating Income              $70,512      $97,258          $167,770

     Other Income (Expense), Net   (10,964)       4,733            (6,231)

     Income from Continuing
      Operations Before
      Income Taxes                  59,548      101,991           161,539

     Provision for Income Taxes    (12,249)     (31,740)          (43,989)

     Income from Continuing
      Operations                   $47,299      $70,251          $117,550

     Diluted Earnings Per Share
      from Continuing Operations     $0.15                          $0.37

     Diluted Weighted Average
      Shares Outstanding **        311,788                        323,510

     *  Exit costs and restructuring charges associated with the Precision
        acquisition and debt redemption expense incurred with the settlement
        of the Zero Coupon Convertible Debentures.

     ** The effect of our Zero Coupon Convertible Debentures is anti dilutive
        for GAAP purposes, however, after adjusting for non-GAAP items, the
        effect of the Zero Coupon Convertible Debentures is dilutive.



                                    For the three months ended March 31, 2005
                                            Items impacting  Non-GAAP Adjusted
                                    GAAP      the period*        Earnings
     Operating Income             $124,665       $2,737          $127,402

     Other Income (Expense), Net   (15,884)       4,025           (11,859)

     Income from Continuing
      Operations Before
      Income Taxes                 108,781        6,762           115,543

     Provision for Income Taxes    (28,346)        (712)          (29,058)

     Income from Continuing
      Operations                   $80,435       $6,050           $86,485

     Diluted Earnings Per Share
      from Continuing Operations     $0.27                          $0.29

     Diluted Weighted Average
      Shares Outstanding           304,732                        304,732

     *  Exit and debt restructuring costs primarily related to our equity
        investment in Universal Compression Holdings, Inc.

SOURCE Weatherford International Ltd.

/CONTACT: Lisa W. Rodriguez, Chief Financial Officer, +1-713-693-4746, or Andrew P. Becnel, Vice President - Finance, +1-713-693-4136, both of Weatherford International Ltd./ /Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/19990308/WEATHERFORDLOGO PRN Photo Desk, photodesk@prnewswire.com / /Web site: http://www.weatherford.com / (WFT)