Q2 2026 Trican Well Service Ltd Earnings Call

July 29, 2026

Speaker #1: Thank you for standing by. My name is Tina, and I will be your conference operator today. At this time, I would like to welcome everyone to the Trican Well Service second quarter 2026 results call.

Operator: Thank you for standing by. My name is Tina, and I will be your conference operator today. At this time, I would like to welcome everyone to the Trican Well Service Q2 2026 Results Call. All lines have been placed on mute to prevent any background noise. After the speaker's remarks, there will be a question and answer session. To ask a question, simply press star 1 on your telephone keypad. To withdraw your question, press star 1 again. It is now my pleasure to turn the call over to Brad Fedora. Please go ahead.

Speaker #1: All lines have been placed on mute. To prevent any background noise, after the speaker's remarks there will be a question-and-answer session. To ask a question, simply press star 1 on your telephone keypad.

Operator: To ask a question, simply press star one on your telephone keypad. To withdraw your question, press star one again. It is now my pleasure to turn the call over to Brad Fedora. Please go ahead.

Speaker #1: To withdraw your question, press star 1 again. It is now my pleasure to turn the call over to Brad Fedora. Please go ahead.

Speaker #2: Good morning, everyone. Thanks for joining us. We'll start off with Scott Matson, our Chief Financial Officer. He'll give an overview of the quarter, and then I will provide some comments with respect to the quarter, the current operating conditions, and our outlook for the near future.

Brad Fedora: Good morning, everyone. Thanks for joining us. We'll start off with Scott Matson, our Chief Financial Officer. He'll give an overview of the quarter, and then I will provide some comments with respect to the quarter, the current operating conditions, and our outlook for the near future. Then we'll open up the call for questions. As usual, we have several members from our executive team in the room today and are available to answer any questions anyone may have. I'll now turn over the call to Scott.

Speaker #2: And then we'll open up the call for questions. As usual, we have several members from our executive team in the room today, and are available to answer any questions anyone may have.

Brad Fedora: Then we'll open up the call for questions. As usual, we have several members from our executive team in the room today and are available to answer any questions anyone may have. I'll now turn over the call to Scott.

Speaker #2: I'll now turn over the call to Scott.

Speaker #3: Thanks, Brad. So, before we begin, I'd like to remind everyone that this conference call may contain forward-looking statements and other information based on current expectations or results for the company.

Scott Matson: Thanks, Brad. Before we begin, I'd like to remind everyone that this conference call may contain forward-looking statements and other information based on current expectations or results for the company. Certain material factors or assumptions that were applied in drawing conclusions or making projections are reflected in the forward-looking information section of our MD&A for Q2 2026. A number of business risks and uncertainties could cause actual results to differ materially from these forward-looking statements and our financial outlook. Please refer to our 2025 annual information form for the year ended 31 December 2025 for a more complete description of business risks and uncertainties facing Trican. The document is available both on our website and on SEDAR. During this call, we will refer to several common industry terms and use certain non-GAAP measures, which are more fully described in our Q4 2025 MD&A.

Speaker #3: Certain material factors or assumptions that were applied in drawing conclusions or making projections are reflected in the forward-looking information section of our MD&A for Q2 2026.

Speaker #3: A number of business risks and uncertainties could cause actual results to differ materially from these forward-looking statements, and our financial outlook please refer to our 2025 annual information form for the year-ended December 31, 2025, for a more complete description of business risks and uncertainties facing TRICAN.

Speaker #3: The document is available both on our website and on CDAR. During this call, we will refer to several common industry terms and use certain non-GAAP measures, which are more fully described in our Q4 2025 MD&A.

Speaker #3: Our quarterly results were released after the close of market last night and are available both on SEDAR and on our website. So with that, a brief summary of the quarter.

Scott Matson: Our quarterly results were released after close of market last night and are available both on SEDAR and on our website. With that, a brief summary of the quarter. My comments will draw comparisons to Q2 of last year, and I will provide some comments about our current activity levels and expectations going forward as well. Before getting into the details of the quarter, it is important to recognize that Q2 of 2025 was an exceptionally strong period for Trican. During that time, there was significant concern across the industry regarding operators' abilities to secure sufficient water resources to support planned frack programs heading into the fall. In addition, Alberta and British Columbia experienced an active wildfire season, with operators anticipating access challenges at completion locations as we moved into Q3.

Speaker #3: My comments will draw comparisons to the second quarter of last year, and I will provide some comments about our current activity levels and expectations going forward as well.

Speaker #3: And before getting into the details of the quarter, it's important to recognize that Q2 of 2025 was an exceptionally strong period for TRICAN. During that time, there was significant concern across the industry regarding operators' abilities to secure sufficient water resources to support planned fract programs, heading into the fall.

Speaker #3: And in addition, Alberta and British Columbia experienced an active wildfire season, with operators anticipating access challenges at completion locations as we moved into Q3.

Speaker #3: Both of these items resulted in demand for available service capacity being pulled forward into Q2. As a result, Trican benefited from an unusually strong activity level throughout Q2 '25, culminating in a very, very busy June.

Scott Matson: Both of these items had resulted in demand for available service capacity being pulled forward into Q2. As a result, Trican benefited from an unusually strong activity level throughout Q2 2025, culminating in a very, very busy June. In contrast, Q2 of 2026 reflected a more typical spring break-up period, with reduced operating activity and lower equipment utilization across much of our business lines. While the acquisition of Iron Horse in August 2025 expanded our service offering and increased our operation scale, the contribution reflected its seasonally weaker Q2 operating profile, with seasonal softness further weighing on profitability. With that, overall revenues for the quarter came in at CAD 214.6 million, compared to the CAD 213.8 million we generated in Q2 of 2025.

Speaker #3: In contrast, Q2 of 2026 reflected a more typical spring breakup period, with reduced operating activity and lower equipment utilization across much of our business lines.

Speaker #3: While the acquisition of Iron Horse in August of 2025 expanded our service offering and increased our operations scale, the contribution reflected its seasonally weaker second-quarter operating profile, with seasonal softness further weighing on profitability.

Speaker #3: So with that, overall revenues for the quarter came in at $214.6 million, compared to the $213.8 million we generated in Q2 of 2025. Again, lower activity and utilization levels throughout breakup, together with the wet weather conditions in certain operating areas during June, were largely offset by the contribution from Iron Horse, resulting in revenues that were broadly consistent with last year.

Scott Matson: Activity and utilization levels throughout breakup, together with the wet weather conditions in certain operating areas during June, were largely offset by the contribution from Iron Horse, resulting in revenues that were broadly consistent with last year. Adjusted EBITDA for the quarter was CAD 22.6 million or 11% of revenue, compared to the adjusted EBITDA of CAD 44.9 million or 21% of revenue in Q2 of 2025. This was driven by lower activity and utilization levels, compounded by continued pricing pressure across our service lines as recovering the full impact of freight, fuel, and other operating cost increases remains challenging in a very competitive environment. Adjusted EBITDAS for the quarter came in at CAD 25.2 million or 12% of revenue, compared to the CAD 47.3 million or 22% of revenue in Q2 of last year.

Speaker #3: Adjusted EBITDA for the quarter was $22.6 million, or 11% of revenue, compared to adjusted EBITDA of $44.9 million, or 21% of revenue, in Q2 2025.

Speaker #3: This was driven by lower activity, again in utilization levels, and compounded by continued pricing pressure across our service lines, as recovering the full impact of freight, fuel, and other operating cost increases remains challenging in a very competitive environment.

Speaker #3: Adjusted EBITDAs for the quarter came in at $25.2 million, or 12% of revenue, compared to the $47.3 million, or 22% of revenue in Q2 of last year, to arrive at EBITDAs we add back the effects of our cash settled share-based comp, recognizing the quarter to more clearly show the results of operations and remove some of the mark-to-market impact of movements in our share price between the operating dates.

Scott Matson: To arrive at EBITDAS, we add back the effects of our cash-settled share-based comp recognized in the quarter to more clearly show the results of operations and remove some of the mark-to-market impact of movements in our share price between the operating dates. On a consolidated basis, this resulted in a loss of CAD 2.3 million during the quarter. This translates to CAD 0.01 per share on both a basic and fully diluted basis, compared to earnings of CAD 19.5 million or CAD 0.11 per share on a basic and fully diluted basis in Q2 of last year. Net earnings and earnings per share were also impacted by higher depreciation and amortization costs with Iron Horse, technology initiative expenses, and some higher share-based comp costs.

Speaker #3: On a consolidated basis, this resulted in a loss of $2.3 million during the quarter, which translates to $0.01 per share on both a fully basic and fully diluted basis, compared to earnings of $19.5 million, or $0.11 per share on a basic and fully diluted basis in Q2 of last year.

Speaker #3: Net earnings and earnings per share were also impacted by higher depreciation and amortization costs, as well as Iron Horse Technology Initiative expenses and some higher share-based compensation costs.

Speaker #3: While profitability was below prior year, we continued to be encouraged by the underlying customer activity levels, our market position, and ability to generate free cash flow and further strengthen the balance sheet.

Scott Matson: While profitability was below prior year, we continue to be encouraged by the underlying customer activity levels, our market position, and ability to generate free cash flow and further strengthen the balance sheet. We generated free cash flow of CAD 13 million during the quarter. Again, our definition of free cash flow is essentially EBITDA less non-discretionary cash expenditures. You can see more details on this in the non-GAAP measures section of our MD&A. CapEx for the quarter totaled CAD 20.8 million, split between maintenance capital of CAD 9.5 million and upgrade capital of CAD 11.3 million. Our upgrade capital is dedicated primarily to the electrification of our fourth set of ancillary frack support equipment, construction of Canada's first 100% natural gas-fueled continuous heavy-duty hydraulic fracturing fleet, and ongoing investments to maintain the productive capability of our active equipment.

Speaker #3: We generated free cash flow of $13 million during the quarter. Again, our definition of free cash flow is essentially EBITDA less non-discretionary cash expenditures.

Speaker #3: You can see more details on this in the non-GAAP measures section of our MD&A. CapEx for the quarter totaled $20.8 million, split between maintenance capital of $9.5 million and upgrade capital of $11.3 million. Our upgrade capital was dedicated primarily to the electrification of our fourth set of ancillary fract support equipment, construction of Canada's first 100% natural gas-fueled continuous heavy-duty hydraulic fracturing fleet, and ongoing investments to maintain the productive capability of our active equipment.

Speaker #3: We continue to maintain a very strong balance sheet, exiting the quarter with positive non-cash working capital of $81 million and a cash balance of $15.4 million, with no outstanding debt.

Scott Matson: We continue to maintain a very strong balance sheet, exiting the quarter with positive non-cash working capital of CAD 81 million and a cash balance of CAD 15.4 million with no outstanding debt. During the quarter, we harvested significant working capital as receivables were collected following an active winter season and inventory levels reduced accordingly. Those proceeds were used to repay our outstanding borrowings and further strengthen our balance sheet. With respect to our return of capital strategy, we repurchased and canceled 885,000 shares under our NCIB program during the quarter at a weighted average cost of CAD 7.28 per share. Subsequent to quarter end, we repurchased and canceled 305,000 shares and will continue to be active with our buyback program when market prices are at levels that provide for a favorable investment opportunity.

Speaker #3: During the quarter, we harvested significant working capital, as receivables were collected following an active winter season and inventory levels reduced accordingly. Gross proceeds were used to repay our outstanding borrowings and further strengthen our balance sheet.

Speaker #3: With respect to our return of capital strategy, we repurchased and canceled $885 million shares under our $8585,000 shares under our NCMB program during the quarter, at a weighted average cost of $7.28 per share.

Speaker #3: Subsequent to quarter-end, we've repurchased and canceled $305,000 shares and will continue to be active with our buyback program when market prices are at levels that provide for a favorable investment opportunity.

Speaker #3: As noted in our press release, the board of directors approved a dividend of $5.50 per share, reflecting approximately $11.5 million in aggregate return to shareholders. This distribution is scheduled to be made on September 30, 2026, to shareholders of record as of the close of business on September 15, 2026.

Scott Matson: As noted in our press release, the board of directors approved a dividend of CAD 0.055 per share, reflecting approximately CAD 11.5 million in aggregate return to shareholders. This distribution is scheduled to be made on 30 September 2026 to shareholders of record as of the close of business on 15 September 2026. I would note that the dividends are designated as eligible dividends for Canadian tax purposes. With that, I'll turn things back to Brad.

Speaker #3: And I would note that the dividends are designated as eligible dividends for Canadian tax purposes. So with that, I'll turn things back to Brad.

Speaker #2: Okay. Thanks. I'll make a few comments about the quarter and just how we're viewing the world, which really hasn't changed much since our last call.

Brad Fedora: Okay, thanks. I'll make a few comments about the quarter and just how we're viewing the world, which really hasn't changed much since our last call. Obviously, Q2 came in a little lower than expected. I really caution you, we don't get too fussed by Q2 results, and I would caution you not to extrapolate Q2 into the rest of the year, as it just isn't relevant. If you go back to our call from Q1, at that time, we talked about Q2 is really dependent on June and how wet it is. As it turned out, June was the wettest June on record in history and is the second wettest month ever in the history of Central Alberta. That has a huge impact on our operations, don't worry about Q2.

Speaker #2: Obviously, Q2 came in a little lower than expected. I really caution you: we don't get too fussed by Q2 results, and I would caution you not to extrapolate Q2 into the rest of the year, as it just isn't relevant.

Speaker #2: If you go back to our call from Q1, at that time we talked about Q2 being really dependent on June and how wet it is.

Speaker #2: As it turned out, June was the wettest June on record in history, and the second wettest month ever in the history of Central Alberta.

Speaker #2: So, that has a huge impact on our operations. And so, don't worry about Q2; it's not a quarter that is indicative of how the rest of the year is going to go.

Brad Fedora: It's not a quarter that is indicative of how the rest of the year is going to go. It stands out in particular to last year, which was unusually good. A bunch of work had been pulled forward due to fears for forest fires and water access. Again, I wouldn't get too fussed by how Q2 shook out. We don't go to work at any price. This equipment has a certain number of hours of life and we're not afraid to say, No, that's not good enough, and we'll save those hours for a different customer at a different time at a more attractive return. I would say the market overall feels good. Customers are still very focused on technology and efficiency, particularly the opportunity to burn natural gas versus diesel. At these fuel prices, this is becoming more and more important every day.

Speaker #2: It stands out in particular compared to last year, which was unusually good. A bunch of work had been pulled forward due to fears of forest fires and water access, so again, I wouldn't get too fussed by how Q2 shook out.

Speaker #2: And we don't go to work at any price. This equipment has a certain number of hours of life, and we're not afraid to say, "Nope, that's not good enough," and we'll save those hours for a different customer at a different time, at a more attractive return.

Speaker #2: So I would say the market overall feels good. Customers are still very focused on technology and efficiency, particularly the opportunity to burn natural gas versus diesel.

Speaker #2: And at these fuel prices, this is becoming more and more important every day. The arbitrage between natural gas prices and diesel has never been higher.

Brad Fedora: The arbitrage between natural gas prices and diesel has never been higher. You're buying gas at CAD 3 a GJ. It's like buying diesel at CAD 0.12 a liter, not the CAD 2 a liter that we're currently paying throughout the basin. All of the investments that we've made over the past few years have all been generally focused towards getting our equipment to run on natural gas versus diesel, and that stuff is really starting to pay off. Wells like Duvernay, as an example, in Duvernay play, burning natural gas versus diesel can save CAD 200,000 a day in fuel costs. All of those investments that we made, turning our backside equipment to electric, replacing our diesel-burning frac pumps, replacing them with natural gas engines, that stuff is all really paying off, and is becoming basically the standard for the industry. The oil work is obviously going well.

Speaker #2: You're buying gas at $3 a GJ. It's like buying diesel at $0.12 a liter, not the $2 a liter that we're currently paying throughout the Basin.

Speaker #2: So all of the investments that we've made over the past few years have all been generally focused towards getting our equipment to run on natural gas versus diesel.

Speaker #2: And that stuff is really starting to pay off. When wells like Duvernay, as an example, in the Duvernay Play, burning natural gas versus diesel can save $200,000 a day in fuel costs.

Speaker #2: So all of those investments that we've made turning our equipment, our backside equipment to electric, replacing our diesel-burning natural gas pumps with or our diesel-burning fract pumps replacing them with natural gas engines, those are that stuff is all really paying off and is becoming basically the standard for the industry.

Speaker #2: The oil work is obviously going well. I think you'll see Iron Horse really perform well in the second half of this year. We've got good oil pricing, but we had a lot of volatility in Q2, and so it really didn't shake through from an activity perspective.

Brad Fedora: I think you'll see Iron Horse really perform well in H2 of this year. We've got good oil pricing, we had a lot of volatility in Q2, it really didn't shake through from an activity perspective. I think you'll see that division really perform well in H2. We're still focused Montney, Duvernay, and the shallower oil plays, nothing's changed from a strategy perspective. In the TRICAN Deep Frac division, where we're making the natural gas investments, everything's going very well. We're viewed as a tactical leader in the industry. Wells are getting longer, more stages, more sand in the wells. That means longer time on location. Now almost 30% of our work is in the Duvernay, which is a very pressure pumping intensive play.

Speaker #2: But I think you'll see that division really perform well in the second half. We're still focused on Montney, Duvernay, and the shallower oil play, so nothing's changed from a strategy perspective.

Speaker #2: In the Trican Deep Frac division, where we're making the natural gas investments, everything's going very well. We're viewed as a technical leader in the industry.

Speaker #2: Wells are getting longer, with more stages and more sand in the wells. That means longer time on location. And now, almost 30% of our work is in the Duvernay, which is a very pressure-pumping-intensive play.

Speaker #2: And in a couple of years ago, we built sort of customized equipment just for the Duvernay Play, given the pumping pressures and durations. And so that is bearing fruit with lower maintenance costs, lower downtime, and the ability to take less equipment onto locations because we're not having to take a bunch of spare equipment for breakdowns.

Brad Fedora: A couple of years ago, we built sort of customized equipment just for the Duvernay play, given the pumping pressures and durations. That is bearing fruit with lower maintenance costs, lower downtime, and the ability to take less equipment onto locations because we're not having to take a bunch of spare equipment for breakdowns. There's this trend in sand consumption or placement continues. I think post-COVID in 2021, the basin consumed about four and a half million tons of sand. This year, it's going to be eight and a half to nine million tons, there's lots of forecasts for it to grow as high as 12 to 15 million tons per year. We've been making investments in our last mile logistics. We expect that to basically run at 100% utilization for the foreseeable future.

Speaker #2: There's this trend in sand consumption or placement that continues. I think post-COVID, in 2021, the basin consumed about 4.5 million tons of sand. This year, it's going to be 8.5 to 9 million tons.

Speaker #2: And there are lots of forecasts for it to grow as high as 12 to 15 million tons per year. So, we've been making investments in our last-mile logistics.

Speaker #2: And we expect that to basically run at 100% utilization for the foreseeable future. And efficient logistics are absolutely critical for success on a pad.

Brad Fedora: Efficient logistics are absolutely critical for success on a pad. I think we do the best job of this in the basin. We have one of the largest sand truck fleets in Western Canada, and our customers really value that service offering. We received our first 100% natural gas Cat engine, and it's been in the field now for a while, performing very well, actually a little bit better than expected. Those new frac pumps with those engines will replace two of our conventional pumps. We'll have less people, less equipment, ability to pump at higher pressures for longer. When you combine those 100% natural gas pumps with the electric backside equipment, we're basically almost consuming 100% natural gas on location, giving savings of up to CAD 200,000 a day. It's a huge win for the operator. It's great for maintenance. It's lower footprint on location.

Speaker #2: I think we do the best job of this in the Basin. We have one of the largest sand truck fleets in Western Canada, and our customers really value that service offering.

Speaker #2: We received our first 100% natural gas CAT engine, and it's been in the field now for a while. It's performing very well—actually, a little bit better than expected.

Speaker #2: Those new fract pumps with those engines will replace two of a conventional pumps. So we'll have less people, less equipment, ability to pump at higher pressures for longer, and when you combine those 100% natural gas pumps with the electric backside equipment, we're basically almost consuming 100% natural gas on location giving savings of up to $200,000 a day.

Speaker #2: So it's a huge win for the operator. It's great for maintenance. It's lower footprint on location. It's a win-win for both us and our customers.

Brad Fedora: It's a win-win for both us and our customers. We expect the full fleet to be operational in Q4 of this year. The pumps sort of come out one at a time, once you work the kinks out of the first one. We'll have a 10-pump fleet of those 100% natural gas engines in Q4 operating. We expect to receive our first natural gas-fueled semi-truck for hauling sand in August of this year. We've been working with customers on how we're going to get fuel infrastructure built in the field. They have a very long range, currently, we'll operate those in the Grande Prairie area in Northwest Alberta. Running CNG in a semi-truck is about a 60% reduction in fuel costs and lower maintenance. Again, it's going to be a win for us on fuel expenses.

Speaker #2: We expect the full fleet to be operational in Q4 of this year. The pumps sort of come out one at a time, once you work the kinks out of the first one.

Speaker #2: And so we'll have that in the we'll have a 10-pump fleet of those 100% natural gas engines in Q4 operating. We have we expect to receive our first natural gas-fueled truck semi-truck for hauling sand in August of this customers on how we're going to get fuel infrastructure built in the field.

Speaker #2: They have a very, very long range. So, currently, we'll operate those in the Grande Prairie area in northwest Alberta. And running CNG in a semi-trailer or semi-truck is about a 60% reduction in fuel costs and lower maintenance.

Speaker #2: So again, it's going to be a win for us on fuel expenses. In the Iron Horse division, their Q2 went pretty much as usual.

Brad Fedora: In the Iron Horse division, their Q2 went pretty much as usual. I think there was a lot of chatter on the boards about why our EBITDA didn't go up given the Iron Horse division. I just want to remind everybody that Iron Horse experience is a traditional breakup. They're not additive to EBITDA in Q2. They're negative to flat at best. That's not an addition. You'll really see the impact of that division in Q3 and Q4 of this year. Their customers are messaging higher activity levels as long as oil prices stay high. Obviously, we've got crack spreads over CAD 70, there's lots incentive for people to develop their oil plays right now. They're experiencing the same issues as the other frac division with higher intensity on a per well basis. The stages and sand volumes are growing, but that just means more time on location.

Speaker #2: I think there was a lot of chatter on the boards about why our EBITDA didn't go up given the Iron Horse division. I just want to remind everybody that the Iron Horse experience is a traditional breakup.

Speaker #2: They're not additive to EBITDA in Q2. They're negative to flat at best, so that's not an addition. You'll really see the impact of that division in Q3 and Q4 of this year.

Speaker #2: Their customers are messaging higher activity levels. As long as oil prices stay high—obviously, we've got crack spreads over $70—so there's lots of incentive for people to develop their oil plays right now.

Speaker #2: And they're experiencing the same issues as the other frac division, with higher intensity on a per-well basis. The stages and sand volumes are growing, which just means more time on location.

Speaker #2: So that's good for us in the long term. The Cement division continues to operate really well. We're growing our market share in areas where we weren't currently present, which is northeast Alberta and the heavy oil oil sands area.

Brad Fedora: That's good for us in the long term. The cement division continues to operate really well. We're growing our market share in areas where we weren't currently present, which is Northeast Alberta in the heavy oil sands area. They had a great Q2 from an activity revenue perspective, unfortunately, their costs are going up just as high as the activity is. They had a good activity quarter, but it's sort of as expected EBITDA quarter. We're working on electrification in that division as well, we expect that we'll have our first hybrid cement unit delivered in Q4 of this year, and that basically plugs right into the rig for power, reduces hydraulics, less breakdowns, less R&M, less fuel costs. That's, again, it's a win for us. We continue to outperform our competitors in this space.

Speaker #2: They had a great Q2 from an activity revenue perspective, but unfortunately, their costs are going up just as high as the activity is. So, they had a good activity quarter, but it's sort of an as-expected EBITDA quarter.

Speaker #2: We're working on electrification in that division as well, and we expect that we'll have our first hybrid cement unit delivered in Q4 of this year.

Speaker #2: And that basically plugs right into the rig for power. It reduces hydraulics, less breakdowns, less R&M, less fuel costs. So that's—again, it's a win for us.

Speaker #2: And we continue to perform and outperform our competitors in this space. We have basically a 50% market share in the Montney and the Duvernay, and we just recently completed the longest well in history for Canada, just over 9,600 meters.

Brad Fedora: We have basically a 50% market share in the Montney and the Duvernay, and we just recently completed the longest well in the history for Canada, just over 9,600 meters. I think that was for Paramount. Everything's going very well in that division. We're making investments in our bulk blending plants to reduce blending errors, dust exposure to our staff. We expect that to transfer into higher quality of service for our customers. On the coil side, everything is going well there as well. As these wells get longer and we work on technology to get our coil out to an extended reach, we continue to spend more time on location with our coil. Those jobs get bigger. We're seeing that division grow year-over-year. Just the investments we've made in our coil string inventory to deal with these longer wells is really starting to pay off.

Speaker #2: I think that was for Paramount. So everything's going very well in that division. We're making investments in our bulk blending plants to reduce blending errors, dust exposure to our staff.

Speaker #2: We expect that to transfer into higher quality of service for our customers. On the coil side, everything is going well there as well.

Speaker #2: As these wells get longer, and we work on technology to get our coil out to an extended reach, we continue to spend more time on location with our coil.

Speaker #2: Those jobs get bigger. We're seeing that division grow year over year. And just the investments we've made in our coil string inventory to deal with these longer wells is really starting to pay off.

Speaker #2: So I'll just touch on the outlook now. I don't think anything's changed. Q3, the second half of this year, and Q3 and Q4—they all look good.

Brad Fedora: I'll just touch on the outlook now. Nothing's changed. Q3, the second half of this year, and Q3 and Q4, they all look good, the trends for this industry in Canada. There's no other place we'd rather be. You're going to have weather impacts, whether it's Q2, in and around the winter. Don't get fussed over the sort of very, very short-term hiccups that do not transfer into any long-term impacts on the business. Again, I would refer you back to our Q1 comments about June, when we have a record rain month. There's no way around it. That's going to impact our operations, but it doesn't impact the year or any long-term perspectives on the business. We are experiencing cost inflation due to oil prices. As diesel prices go up, it goes through everything from groceries to cement products.

Speaker #2: The trends for this industry in Canada—there’s no other place we’d rather be. Whether you’re going to have weather impacts, whether it’s Q2 and in and around the winter, don’t get fussed over these sort of very, very short-term hiccups that do not transfer into any long-term impacts on the business.

Speaker #2: Again, I would refer you back to our Q1 comments about June, when we had a record rainfall month. There's no way around it—that's going to impact our operations. But it doesn't impact the year or any long-term perspectives on the business.

Speaker #2: We are experiencing cost inflation due to oil prices. As diesel prices go up, it just goes through everything from groceries to cement products.

Speaker #2: And so we're working hard to get our prices up to offset those cost increases. But that's always a challenge, and it always will be. You don't always get the cooperation from your competitors that you would hope you would get.

Brad Fedora: We're working hard to get our prices up to offset those cost increases. That's always a challenge. It always will be. You don't always get the cooperation from your competitors that you would hope you would get. I would say generally, our customers understand the issues that we're dealing with and are working with us to make sure that these cost increases don't have long-term impacts on our margins. We still view Western Canada as a great place. We're expecting increasing activity for all the reasons that we've referred to before. The oil egress has really increased. The LNG is going well. We expect this to be a growth basin for years to come. The five areas of growth that we're counting on is increased activity in the industry, market share growth, just due to the fact that we have industry-leading and most technically advanced equipment.

Speaker #2: But I would say generally, our customers understand the issues that we're dealing with and are working with us to make sure that these cost increases don't have long-term impacts on our margins.

Speaker #2: We still view Western Canada as a great place. We're expecting increasing activity for all the reasons that we've referred to before. The oil egress has really increased.

Speaker #2: The LNG is going well. We expect this to be a growth basin for years to come. The five areas of growth that we're counting on is increased activity in the industry, market share growth just due to the fact that we have industry-leading and most technically advanced equipment, well-intensity growth, meaning more sand, more stages, just means more time on location for us.

Brad Fedora: Well intensity growth, meaning more sand, more stages, just means more time on location for us. Our cement and coil expansion as those businesses are getting increased focus from the new people in place that are running those divisions. Lastly, our last-mile logistics. As these sand volumes grow, we expect that we're going to grow our last-mile logistics trucking fleet. We're an industry leader in efficiency in that space, so we'll continue to rely on that as we go forward. I don't think anything will change. I think you'll see the Duvernay grow in significance, but the bulk of the activity will be split between the Duvernay, the Montney, and the Deep Basin in general. Just on to value for shareholders long term and return of capital. As Scott mentioned, we're debt-free. We completed the Iron Horse acquisition.

Speaker #2: And our cement and coil expansion, as those businesses are getting increased focus from the new people in place that are running those divisions. And lastly, our last mile logistics.

Speaker #2: As these sand volumes grow, we expect that we're going to grow our last-mile logistics fleet and trucking fleet. We're an industry leader in efficiency in that space.

Speaker #2: So, we'll continue to rely on that as we go forward, and I don't think anything will change. I think you'll see the Duvernay grow in significance, but the bulk of the activity will be split between the Duvernay, the Montney, and the Deep Basin in general.

Speaker #2: So just on to value for shareholders long-term and return of capital. As Scott mentioned, we're debt-free. We completed the Iron Horse acquisition, and we paid all that debt off.

Brad Fedora: We paid all that debt off ahead of schedule. Now we're sitting here with a completely clean balance sheet and a little bit of positive cash. That will enable us to go on the hunt for attractive acquisitions and lean in a little harder on our NCIB. As everybody knows, we subscribe to a diversified return on capital strategy, which is a combination of a sustainable dividend, the NCIB, and M&A opportunities when they represent good value. We're always measuring the cost of buying our own shares with the cost of making acquisitions, or theoretically, what those acquisitions would cost. We move cash around to what we think is the best, lowest cost alternatives. In the past, it was buying our own shares back. We actually are fairly excited about various M&A opportunities that seem to be available in the current market.

Speaker #2: Ahead of schedule. And so now we're sitting here with a completely clean balance sheet and a little bit of positive cash. So that will enable us to go on the hunt for attractive acquisitions.

Speaker #2: And lean in a little harder on their NCIB. As everybody knows, we subscribe to a diversified return of capital strategy, which is a combination of a sustainable dividend, the NCIB, and M&A opportunities when they represent good value.

Speaker #2: We're always measuring the cost of buying our own shares with the cost of making acquisitions, or theoretically what those acquisitions would cost. And so we move cash around to what we think is the best, lowest-cost alternative. In the past, it was buying our own shares back, but we actually are fairly excited about various M&A opportunities that seem to be available in the current market.

Speaker #2: We'll work through those. We'll be diligent. And if we find a good deal, we'll certainly act on it. We have more than enough capacity to act on any acquisitions that we feel will be additive to our company.

Brad Fedora: We'll work through those. We'll be diligent, if we find a good deal, we'll certainly act on it. We have more than enough capacity to act on any acquisitions that we feel will be additive to our company. Long term, we're still sort of expecting that approximately 50% of our free cash will get returned to shareholders in one form or another, and that'll vary from year to year just based on opportunities that are available versus our NCIB. We're not afraid to use our bank lines to buy our stock, to make acquisitions, just as we did in the past and as we did with the Iron Horse transaction. Nothing's changed.

Speaker #2: Long-term, we're still sort of expecting that approximately 50% of our free cash will get returned to shareholders in one form or another. And that'll vary from year to year, just based on opportunities that are available.

Speaker #2: And versus our NCIB. So we're not afraid to use our bank lines to buy our stock, to make acquisitions, just as we did in the past and as we did with the Iron Horse transaction.

Speaker #2: So, nothing's changed. Our priorities are to build a resilient, sustainable, and technically differentiated company, and to invest in high-quality growth and upgrading opportunities to ensure a good service offering for our customers.

Brad Fedora: Our priorities are build a resistant, sustainable and technically differentiated company, invest in high quality growth and upgrading opportunities to ensure a good service offering for our customers. Provide a consistent return of capital to our shareholders through the dividend and NCIB when appropriate. We feel really good about what the next six months and the next five years brings. We're the largest, most technically advanced pressure pumper in the market with the best balance sheet, and we're operating in a basin that has arguably the most upside when you compare Western Canada to all the various plays in North America. We feel really good about the business, and we're looking forward to showing you. I think I'll stop there, we'll go to questions.

Speaker #2: And provide a consistent return of capital to our shareholders through the dividend and NCIB when appropriate. We feel really good about what the next six months and the next five years bring.

Speaker #2: We're the largest, most technically advanced pressure pumper in the market with the best balance sheet. And we're operating in a basin that has arguably the most upside when you compare Western Canada to all the various plays in North America.

Speaker #2: So we feel really good about the business. And we're looking forward to showing you. So I think I'll stop there. And we'll go to questions.

Speaker #1: As a reminder, to ask a question, simply press star one on your telephone keypad. Our first question comes from the line of Aaron McNeil with TD Cowen.

Operator: As a reminder, to ask a question, simply press star one on your telephone keypad. Our first question comes from the line of Aaron MacNeil with TD Cowen. Please go ahead.

Speaker #1: Please go ahead.

Speaker #3: Hey, morning all. Thanks for taking my questions. Brad, I'm hoping you can give us maybe a bit more detail on the activity outlook for Q3, given your comments on the second quarter.

Aaron MacNeil: Good morning, all. Thanks for taking my questions. Brad, I am hoping you can give us maybe a bit more detail on the activity outlook for Q3, given your comments on Q2 and Q3 is often your best quarter of the year. I guess, just to clarify, are you expecting that some of the Q2 activity, as a result of rain, was deferred into Q3 or Q4? Are we setting up for maybe an outsized H2 in your view?

Speaker #3: And the third quarter is often your best quarter of the year. So I guess, just to clarify, are you expecting that some of the Q2 activity, as a result of rain, was deferred into Q3 or Q4?

Speaker #3: Are we setting up for maybe an outsized second half in your view?

Speaker #2: Yeah, it's too early to make those predictions, but the answer to that is yes, depending on the division. And Iron Horse is a good example.

Brad Fedora: Yeah, it is too early to make those predictions. The answer to that is yes, depending on the division. Iron Horse is a good example. You take activity out of Q2 and move it into Q3, it is pretty much just a one-for-one timing change. Depending on the other divisions, you may get it or you may not, based on the fact that we are busy, we cannot get to everything now. You might end up losing a bit of work here and there just due to availability and the fact that sometimes customers just are not willing to wait. I do not want to make predictions on an outsized Q3. We think Q3 is going great. You made a comment about it is typically our best quarter of the year. What we have seen now is Q3, Q4, and Q1 are all pretty similar.

Speaker #2: If you take activity out of Q2 and move it into Q3, it's pretty much just a one-for-one timing change, depending on the other divisions. You may get it, or you may not, based on the fact that we're busy.

Speaker #2: We can't get to everything now, and so you might end up losing a bit of work here and there just due to availability and the fact that sometimes customers just aren't willing to wait.

Speaker #2: So I don't want to make predictions on an outsized Q3. I mean, we think Q3 is going great. You made a comment about it being typically our best quarter of the year.

Speaker #2: What we've seen now is Q3, Q4, and Q1 are all pretty similar. And I think last year we had a bunch of work bump out of September and move into Q4, which kind of level-loaded those two quarters.

Brad Fedora: I think last year, we had a bunch of work bump out in September and it moved into Q4, which level loaded those two quarters. Hopefully it stays like that. It is really helpful from a staffing perspective if we can keep the workload level for most of the year. Breakup is breakup, there is nothing you can do about it. From an efficiency or cost efficiency perspective, you do not want to staff up for short periods of time. Whenever possible, we are trying to build a book of business that is fairly consistent from 1 July to 31 March, because it allows us to, as you have seen, we are typically the most profitable pressure pumper in North America from a margin perspective.

Speaker #2: So hopefully that stays like that. It's really helpful from a staffing perspective. If we can kind of keep the workload level for most of the year, breakup is breakup.

Speaker #2: There’s nothing you can do about it. But from an efficiency or cost-efficiency perspective, you don’t want to staff up for short periods of time.

Speaker #2: And so whenever possible, we're trying to build a book of business that's fairly consistent from sort of July 1 to March 31, because it allows us to—as you've seen—we're typically the most profitable pressure pumper in North America from a margin perspective.

Speaker #2: So, and that's one of the reasons why we're not afraid to put a lot of work into trying to manipulate our book of business to allow us to run as efficiently as possible, and not disappoint customers from a timing perspective.

Brad Fedora: That is one of the reasons why is we are not afraid to put a lot of work trying to manipulate our book of business to allow us to run as efficiently as possible and not disappoint customers from a timing perspective.

Speaker #3: Okay, yeah, that's fair. You also mentioned in the disclosures some sustained pricing pressure. I think last quarter on the conference call, you had sort of hoped that it had hit a trough.

Aaron MacNeil: Okay. Yeah, that's fair. You also mentioned in the disclosure some sustained pricing pressure. I think last quarter on the conference call, you had hoped that it had hit a trough. What's your latest views on prevailing pricing, given that the H2 looks pretty decent and what's your ability to push through the higher diesel prices and other inflationary pressures?

Speaker #3: What's sort of your latest views on prevailing pricing given that the back half looks pretty decent and what's your ability to sort of push through the higher diesel prices and other inflationary pressures?

Speaker #2: No, I think that comment was accurate. I think that was the trough. What's not coming through in our financial results is the loss of sand.

Brad Fedora: I think that comment was accurate. I think that was the trough. What's not coming through in our financial results is the loss of sand. As you know, one of the trends is for our customers supply their own sand, we've lost that margin. Just due to competitive pressures, you can't always recover that with corkage and things like that. What you haven't seen in the financial results is just how much work we've done in the background to offset that EBITDA loss over the last couple of years. Even though pricing is maybe moving up, it might not be obvious because it's getting offset with the loss of sand margin at the same time. I think that comment is valid. I think pricing has bottomed out in the H1 of the year, it just gets better from here.

Speaker #2: As you know, one of the trends is for our customers to supply their own sand. And so we've lost that margin. And just due to competitive pressures, you can't always recover that with corkage and things like that.

Speaker #2: What you haven't seen in the financial results is just how much work we've done in the background to offset that EBITDA loss over the last couple of years.

Speaker #2: And so, even though pricing may be moving up, it might not be obvious because it's getting offset by the loss of sand margin at the same time.

Speaker #2: But I think that comment is valid. I think pricing has bottomed out in the first half of the year, and it just gets better from here.

Speaker #3: Okay, great. Thanks for the time. I'll turn it back.

Aaron MacNeil: Okay, great. Thanks for the time. I'll turn it back.

Speaker #1: Your next question comes from the line of Keith McKay with RBC. Please go ahead.

Operator: Your next question comes from the line of Keith Mackey with RBC. Please go ahead.

Speaker #4: Hey, thanks, and good morning. I know it's early, but can you just sort of talk through what you might be thinking for 2027 capital expenditures?

Keith Mackey: Hey, thanks, good morning. I know it's early, can you just sort of talk through what you might be thinking for 2027 capital expenditures? You've got the CAD 122 million budget for 2026, including the first 100% net gas fleet. How should we roughly be thinking about the big pieces for 2027 at this stage of the year?

Speaker #4: You've got the $122 million budget for 2026, including the first 100% net gas fleet. How should we roughly be thinking about the big pieces for 2027 at this stage of the year?

Speaker #2: If I was building your model, I would probably just hold it flat from year to year—kind of a redo. If that equipment performs as well as we think it will, we will build more of it.

Brad Fedora: If I was building your model, I would probably just hold it flat from year to year. Kind of a redo. If that equipment performs as well as we think it will, we'll build more of it, because so far, the performance of those new 3520 engines from Cat has been really good.

Speaker #2: Because so far, the performance of that those new 3520 engines from CAT has been really good. I would just do a I would do a repeat on CAPEX.

Keith Mackey: Yeah.

Brad Fedora: I would do a repeat on CapEx.

Keith Mackey: Yeah. Got it.

Speaker #2: We're a long way from board approval on CAPEX, but that's probably a good placeholder.

Brad Fedora: We're a long ways from a board approval on CapEx, but that's probably a good placeholder.

Speaker #4: Okay, perfect. Can you just speak to maybe the pricing or the margin uplift you're able to get from that equipment? You mentioned a lot of gas savings for your customers.

Keith Mackey: Okay, perfect. Can you just speak to maybe the pricing or the margin uplift you're able to get from that equipment. You mentioned a lot of gas savings for your customers from being able to burn natural gas. Are you at the stage where you can share in a lot of those savings, or do you still see the market as balanced to slightly oversupplied given the amount of pressure pumping equipment that is out there? I know one of your peers announced a little while ago that they're also bringing a 100% gas fleet to Canada. What are you seeing on that front?

Speaker #4: From being able to burn natural gas, are you at the stage where you can share in a lot of those savings, or do you still see the market as balanced to slightly oversupplied given the amount of pressure pumping equipment that is out there?

Speaker #4: I know one of your peers announced a little while ago that they're also bringing a 100% gas fleet to Canada. So, what are you seeing on that front?

Speaker #2: Yeah. So the overall, the market's balanced, but the 100% natural gas assets and the electric and cellular equipment is not that equipment availability is not balanced.

Brad Fedora: Yeah. Overall the market's balanced, but the 100% natural gas assets and the electric ancillary equipment, that equipment availability is not balanced. There's only a couple of spreads in the basin, we're the only ones with electric ancillary equipment like blenders and things. The fuel savings, when you look at today's diesel pricing and today's gas prices, it's significant. It's as high as CAD 3,500 an hour. Right? I don't want to say how much of that we're going to capture, but it's fair to say we're going to split it. That fuel savings changes every day as diesel prices change. Certainly, no customers are expecting to get the entire savings. They understand we have to get a return on our equipment. What exactly that split is going to be, we never disclose that.

Speaker #2: There's only a couple of spreads in the basin. We're the only ones with electric and cellular equipment, like blenders and things. So the fuel savings, when you look at today's diesel pricing and today's gas prices, are significant.

Speaker #2: It's as high as $3,500 an hour, right? So, we're going to—I don't want to say how much of that we're going to capture, but it's fair to say we're going to split it.

Speaker #2: And that fuel savings changes every day as diesel prices change. But we certainly know customers are expecting to see savings. They understand we have to get a return on our equipment.

Speaker #2: So, what exactly that split is going to be, we never disclose that.

Speaker #4: Got it. Thanks for the color.

Keith Mackey: Got it. Thanks for color.

Speaker #1: And your next question comes from Tim Malachuk with ATB Capital Markets. Please go ahead.

Operator: Your next question comes from Tim Monachello with ATB for Mark. Please go ahead.

Speaker #4: Thanks. Hey, thanks. Most of my questions have been asked already, but maybe you could just dive into what your whitespace looks like through the back half of the year and the visibility that you have for equipment utilization, and what your customers are telling you on the leading edge in terms of activity levels over the next few months.

Tim Monachello: Hey. Hey, thanks. Most of my question's been asked already, but maybe you could just dive into what your white space looks like through the back half of the year and the visibility that you have for equipment utilization and what your customers are telling you on the leading edge in terms of activity levels over the next few months.

Tim Monachello (ATB Cormark Capital M: Hey. Hey, thanks. Most of my question's been asked already, but maybe you could just dive into what your white space looks like through the back half of the year and the visibility that you have for equipment utilization and what your customers are telling you on the leading edge in terms of activity levels over the next few months.

Speaker #2: Yeah. There's always whitespace. If you never have whitespace, you're not charging enough. I would say the street estimates—we feel really comfortable with them.

Brad Fedora: Yeah. There's always white space. If you don't have white space, you're not charging enough. I would say the street estimates, we feel really comfortable with them. That's probably about the best way I could summarize activity levels. When we look at consensus estimates, they look very reasonable.

Speaker #2: So, that's probably the best way I could summarize activity levels. When we look at consensus estimates, they look very, very reasonable.

Speaker #4: Okay, that's helpful. And then, in terms of market supply and demand, when your competitors talked about how the Canadian market is pretty optimistic long-term, like you are, but also said that they don't think the market's ready to absorb net equipment additions.

Tim Monachello: Okay. That's helpful. In terms of market supply-demand, one of your competitors talked about how the Canadian market, pretty optimistic long term like you are, but also said that they don't think that the market's ready to absorb net equipment additions. When you bring in that 100% nat gas spread, do you expect that to be incremental to activity for Trican? Do you think that's going to be displacing a tier 2 fleet, either within your business or outside?

Tim Monachello (ATB Cormark Capital M: Okay. That's helpful. In terms of market supply-demand, one of your competitors talked about how the Canadian market, pretty optimistic long term like you are, but also said that they don't think that the market's ready to absorb net equipment additions. When you bring in that 100% nat gas spread, do you expect that to be incremental to activity for Trican? Do you think that's going to be displacing a tier 2 fleet, either within your business or outside?

Speaker #4: So, when you bring in that 100% net gas spread, do you expect that to be incremental to activity for Trican? Do you think that's going to be displacing a tier-two fleet, either within your business or outside?

Speaker #2: Well, we hope it displaces somebody's Tier 2 fleet—hopefully not ours. We expect five times as much demand for that equipment as we have availability.

Brad Fedora: Well, we hope it displaces somebody's tier 2 fleet, hopefully not ours. We expect five times as much demand for that equipment as we have availability.

Speaker #2: So, somebody's fleet is going to get displaced.

Tim Monachello: Okay.

Tim Monachello (ATB Cormark Capital M: Okay.

Brad Fedora: Somebody's fleet's going to get displaced.

Speaker #4: Okay, got it. And is pricing in the back half increasing enough to offset the cost inflation, or do you think there'll be a drag?

Tim Monachello: Okay, got it. Is pricing in the H2 increasing enough to offset the cost inflation? Do you think there'll be a drag, maybe even temporarily, just on margins, just given the pace of cost inflation versus price increases?

Tim Monachello (ATB Cormark Capital M: Okay, got it. Is pricing in the H2 increasing enough to offset the cost inflation? Do you think there'll be a drag, maybe even temporarily, just on margins, just given the pace of cost inflation versus price increases?

Speaker #4: Maybe even temporarily, just on margins, given the pace of growth?

Speaker #2: I wouldn't say—I would say it's a net zero so far. We're pretty much—our price increases are just offsetting a lot of the inflation that resulted from the oil price spike in, I guess it was March.

Brad Fedora: I would say it's a net zero so far.

Tim Monachello: I appreciate that.

Tim Monachello (ATB Cormark Capital M: I appreciate that.

Brad Fedora: Pretty much our price increases are just offsetting a lot of the inflation that resulted from the oil price spike in, I guess it was March. That was more significant than we actually expected. We've been playing a bit of catch up there.

Speaker #2: That was more significant than we actually expected, so we've been playing a bit of catch-up there.

Speaker #4: Okay, understood. I appreciate it. I'll turn it back. Thanks.

Tim Monachello: Okay. Understood. I appreciate it. I'll turn it back. Thanks.

Tim Monachello (ATB Cormark Capital M: Okay. Understood. I appreciate it. I'll turn it back. Thanks.

Speaker #2: Okay.

Speaker #1: Once again, to ask a question, simply press star one on your telephone keypad. Our next question comes from the line of Colby Sasso with Daniel Energy Partners.

Brad Fedora: Okay.

Operator: Once again, to ask a question, simply press star one on your telephone keypad. Our next question comes from the line of Colby Sasso with Daniel Energy Partners. Please go ahead.

Speaker #1: Please go ahead.

Speaker #4: Hi. Thanks for having me on. Cost of sales for the quarter rose to 94%, up from 81% in Q2 '25. And it was noted that that was primarily due to, driven by the Iron Horse Integration cost.

Colby Sasso: Hi. Thanks for having me on. Cost of sales for the quarter rose to 94%, up from 81% in Q2 2025. It was noted that it was primarily driven by the Iron Horse integration cost. Going forward, are we to expect lower 80s run rates for total cost of sales, or is Q2 going to be seasonally a little bit higher? Just what are your thoughts around that going forward?

Speaker #4: Going forward, are we expected—or are we to expect—lower 80s run rates for total cost of sales, or is Q2 going to be seasonally a little bit higher?

Speaker #4: And just, what are your thoughts around that, looking ahead going forward?

Speaker #2: Yeah, I'll turn this over to Scott, but remember, Q2 in Canada is in no way similar to the other quarters. The sales are always lower.

Brad Fedora: Yeah. I will turn this over to Scott, but remember, Q2 in Canada is in no way similar to the other quarters. The sales are always lower, the discounts are higher, and we run a relatively high fixed cost business. You got to watch your percentages and your ratios there. When you look at Q2, it is not indicative of the other three quarters. It is not like in the US where it is pretty flat. There is a huge down dip in activity in Q2 for the most part. It is way lower. That down dip is way lower than it used to be. It is still down.

Speaker #2: The discounts are higher, and we run a relatively high fixed-cost business, so you just have to watch your percentages and your ratios there.

Speaker #2: When you look at Q2, it's not indicative of the other three quarters. It's not like in the States, where it's pretty flat. There's a huge downturn in activity in Q2 for the most part.

Speaker #2: And it's way lower. That down dip is way lower than it used to be, but it's still down. And when you have a high fixed cost business, that impacts your percentages significantly.

Speaker #4: Yeah. The only thing I would add is I think your premise is correct: you'll see a higher-than-expected percentage in Q2. It'll moderate as we go into Q1.

Scott Matson: Yeah. The only thing I would add is, I think your premise is correct, that you will see a higher than expected percentage in Q2. It will moderate as we go through Q3, Q4, and Q1. It will normalize out to kind of what we have seen historically.

Speaker #4: And it'll normalize out, kind of what we've seen historically.

Speaker #3: Perfect. And then on your call last quarter, you noted that you had just started work on your first wet sand completion. I just wanted to get an update on how the well went, and if you've seen any more interest in wet sand, and what any thoughts around wet sand are.

Colby Sasso: Perfect. Then, on your call last quarter, you noted that you had just started work on your first wet sand completion. I just wanted to get an update on how the well went and if you have seen any more interest in wet sand, and what any thoughts around wet sand are.

Speaker #2: Yeah, there's lots of interest in wet sand. I mean, the market's sort of split in two. With respect to wet sand, there's the local, sort of gravel pit wet sand.

Brad Fedora: Yeah, there's lots of interest in wet sand. The market's sort of split in two with respect to wet sand. There's the local sort of gravel pit wet sand, which is very low quality. I don't think you're going to see that really take off. Then there's the wet sand that's coming from the actual professional frac sand mines. What we're seeing there is, you're sort of skipping the last couple of stages of sorting and drying. You still have very high-quality sand, but just maybe not as refined and certainly not as dry. What we're hopeful about wet sand going forward is it's a lot nicer to handle on location. You don't get all the dust. From a staff perspective, it's a nicer product to deal with. It's really early days on wet sand. I would say we're basically indifferent, right?

Speaker #2: Which is very low quality, and I don't think you're going to see that really take off. And then there's the wet sand that's coming from the actual professional frac sand mines.

Speaker #2: And what we're seeing there is you're sort of skipping the last couple of stages of sorting and drying, and so you still have very high-quality sand.

Speaker #2: But just maybe not as refined, and certainly not as dry. What we love, and what we're hopeful about with wet sand going forward, is that it's a lot nicer to handle on location.

Speaker #2: You don't get all the dust, and so from a stack perspective, it's certainly a nicer product to deal with. It's really early days on wet sand.

Speaker #2: And I would say we're basically indifferent, and it's going to increase some trucking because the sand's heavier since it's wet. And so we're sort of looking at this as, look, the customers can choose whatever sand you want.

Brad Fedora: It's going to increase some trucking, because the sand's heavier because it's wet. We're sort of looking at this as, look, the customers choose whatever sand you want. The nice thing about wet sand is it's cheaper, they're probably going to pump more of it. That's good for us. More time on location and more trucking. If the customers are happy, great. We want their returns to be as high as possible so that they get busier. It's really early days. It's not like in Texas where you have really high-quality, wet sort of local sand available, sort of immediately adjacent to the field activity. In Canada, it's lumpy. There's a few sand mines spread around the basin, but you can have very long trucking distances, which can make wet sand uneconomic.

Speaker #2: The nice thing about wet sand is it's cheaper. So they're probably going to pump more of it. That's good for us—more time on location and more trucking.

Speaker #2: And if the customers are happy, great. We want their returns to be as high as possible so that they get busier. But it's really, really early days.

Speaker #2: It's not like in Texas where you had really high quality wet sort of local sand available sort of immediately adjacent to the activities. To the field activity.

Speaker #2: In Canada, it's much more—it's lumpy. There are a few sand mines spread around the basin, but you can have very long trucking distances, which can make wet sand uneconomic.

Speaker #2: So, comparing wet sand in Canada to Texas, I wouldn't do that if I were you.

Brad Fedora: Comparing wet sand in Canada to Texas, I wouldn't do that if I were you.

Speaker #3: Perfect. Thank you for the color. I'll turn it back.

Colby Sasso: Perfect. Thank you for the color. I'll turn it back.

Speaker #2: Okay. Thanks.

Brad Fedora: Okay. Thanks.

Speaker #1: And with no further questions in the queue, I will now hand the call back over to Brad Fedora for closing remarks.

Operator: With no further questions in queue, I will now hand the call back over to Brad Fedora for closing remarks.

Speaker #2: Okay, thanks for your time, everybody. We appreciate it. The management team here is available all day, so if there are any follow-on questions, please call us, and we'd be happy to answer any questions that you have.

Brad Fedora: Okay. Thanks for your time, everybody. We appreciate it. The management team here is available all day, so if there's any follow-on questions please call us and we'd be happy to answer any questions that you have. Thanks again.

Speaker #2: Thanks again.

Operator: Thank you again for joining us today. This does conclude today's conference call. You may now disconnect.

Q2 2026 Trican Well Service Ltd Earnings Call

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