EDGAR 10-K Filing

Company CIK: 1599617
Filing Year: 2025
Filename: 1599617_10-K_2025_0000950170-25-021784.json

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ITEM 1. BUSINESS
ITEM 1.	BUSINESS
Overview
DNOW Inc., (“DNOW” or the “Company”), headquartered in Houston, Texas, was incorporated in Delaware on November 22, 2013. On June 2, 2014, DNOW stock began regular trading on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker symbol “DNOW”. We are a distributor to the oil and gas, energy transition and industrial markets with a legacy of over 160 years. We operate primarily under the DNOW brand along with several affiliated brands operating in local, regional or international markets that are tied to prior acquisitions. Through a network of approximately 165 locations and approximately 2,575 employees worldwide, our operating locations utilize a complementary suite of technology, systems, order and fulfillment processes and sourcing and procurement channels to provide products and services to a variety of customers operating in the energy and industrial markets. Additionally, through our DigitalNOW® platform, customers can leverage technology across applications to solve a wide array of complex operational and product sourcing challenges to assist in maximizing their return on assets.
Our product and service offerings are consumed throughout the energy industry - from upstream drilling and completion, exploration and production (“E&P”), midstream transmission, gas and crude oil processing infrastructure development to downstream petroleum refining and petrochemicals - as well as in other industries, such as chemical processing, mining, water/wastewater, food and beverage, gas utilities and the evolution of energy transition markets inclusive of greenhouse gas reduction and emissions capture and storage, renewable fuels such as biofuels and renewable natural gas ("RNG"), wind, solar, production of hydrogen as a fuel to power equipment and select industrial markets. The energy and industrial distribution end markets we serve are inclusive of engineering and construction firms that perform capital and maintenance projects for their clients. We also provide supply chain and materials management solutions to the same markets where we sell products.
Our global product offering includes pipe, manual and automated valves, fittings, flanges, gaskets, fasteners, electrical, instrumentation, artificial lift, pumping solutions and modular process, production, measurement, automation, control equipment, and consumable maintenance, repair and operating (“MRO”) supplies. We also offer sourcing, procurement, warehouse and inventory management solutions as part of our supply chain and materials management offering. We have developed expertise in providing application systems, work processes, parts integration, optimization solutions and after-sales support that provide more efficient and productive solutions for our customers.
Our solutions include outsourcing portions or entire functions of our customers’ procurement, warehouse and inventory management, logistics, point of issue technology, project management, business process and performance metrics reporting. These solutions allow us to leverage the infrastructure of our SAP™ Enterprise Resource Planning (“ERP”) system and other technologies to streamline our customers’ purchasing process, from requisition to procurement to payment, by digitally managing workflow, improving approval routing and providing robust reporting functionality.
We support land and offshore operations for the major oil and gas producing regions through our network of locations. Our key markets include the United States ("U.S."), Canada, the United Kingdom ("UK"), Norway, Australia, the Netherlands, Singapore and the Middle East area with the ability to provide products through an export model to operators with operations in Southeast Asia and West Africa. Products sold through our locations support brownfield and greenfield expansion upstream capital projects, midstream infrastructure and transmission and MRO consumables used in day-to-day production. We provide downstream energy and industrial
products for petroleum refining, chemical processing, liquefied natural gas (“LNG”) terminals, power generation, gas utilities serviced by a combination of customer on-site locations and off-site service locations in combination with our digital offerings.
Our supplier network consists of thousands of vendors in approximately 30 countries. From our operations, we sell to customers operating in approximately 80 countries. The supplies and equipment stocked by each of our locations are customized to meet varied and changing local customer demands. The breadth, scale and availability of our product offering enhances our value proposition to our customers, suppliers and shareholders.
We employ advanced information technologies, including a common ERP platform across most of our business, to provide complete procurement, warehouse and inventory management and logistics coordination to our customers around the globe. Having a common ERP platform allows immediate visibility into our inventory assets, operations and financials worldwide, enhancing decision making and efficiency.
U.S., Canada and International Operations
Demand for our products is driven primarily by the level of oil and gas drilling, completions, servicing, production, transmission, refining and petrochemical activities. It is also influenced by the global supply and demand for energy, the economy in general and geopolitics. Several factors drive spending, such as investment in energy infrastructure, the North American conventional and shale plays, Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (“OPEC”) and non-OPEC supply and investments, market expectations of future developments in the oil, natural gas, liquids, refined products, petrochemical, plant maintenance and other industrial, manufacturing and energy sectors.
We primarily have operations in the U.S. and Canada, complemented with a number of strategic international operations, through acquisitions and organic investments, in Australia, England, Kuwait, the Netherlands, Norway, Scotland, Singapore and the United Arab Emirates (“UAE”).
Summary of Reportable Segments
We operate through three reportable segments: United States (“U.S.”), Canada and International. The segment data included in our Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations (“MD&A”) are presented on a basis consistent with our internal management reporting. Segment information appearing in Note 17 “Business Segments” of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Part IV, Item 15 of this Form 10-K) is also presented on this basis.
United States
We have approximately 110 locations in the U.S., which are geographically positioned to best serve the upstream, midstream, downstream and renewable energy and industrial markets.
We offer higher value solutions in key product lines in the U.S. which broaden and deepen our customer relationships and related product line value. Examples of these include pumps, valves and valve actuation, process and production equipment, fluid transfer products, measurement, automation and controls, spoolable and coated steel-pipe and composite pipe, along with many other products required by our customers, which enable them to focus on their core business while we manage varying degrees of their supply chain. We also provide additional value to our customers through the engineering, design, construction, assembly, fabrication and optimization of products and equipment essential to the safe and efficient production, transportation and processing of oil and gas and produced water.
Canada
We have a network of approximately 40 locations in the Canadian oilfield, predominantly in the oil rich provinces of Alberta, Saskatchewan, and Manitoba. Our Canada segment primarily serves energy exploration, production, mining and drilling businesses, offering customers many of the same products and value-added solutions that we perform in the U.S. In Canada, we also provide training for, and supervise the installation of, jointed and spoolable composite pipe. This product line is supported by inventory, as well as product and installation expertise to serve our customers.
International
We serve the needs of our international customers from approximately 15 locations outside the U.S. and Canada, which are strategically located in major oil and gas development areas. Our approach in these markets and the products we offer is similar to our strategy in the U.S. and Canada, with the addition of the distribution of electrical products in the UK, Australia and international export markets. Our long legacy of operating in select international regions provides a competitive advantage as few of our competitors have a presence in most of the global energy producing areas.
In the third quarter of 2024, we began a plan to restructure operations in the International segment to optimize efficiencies and to improve operating margins. For the year ended December 31, 2024, the Company recognized $9 million in charges, including approximately $6 million of foreign currency translation losses included in impairment and other charges, approximately $2 million of inventory write-downs included in cost of products and $1 million of other exit costs included in warehousing, selling and administrative. We could incur additional non-cash foreign currency translation losses as we complete the International restructuring; however, we do not expect the remaining restructuring related liabilities to be material.
Distribution Industry Overview
The distribution industry is highly fragmented, comprised of large companies with global reach and numerous small, local and regional competitors. Distribution companies act both as supply stores and supply chain management providers for their customers. Distributors deliver value to their customers by serving as a supply chain partner by managing vendor networks and aggregating, carrying and distributing a wide range of product inventory from numerous vendors in locations close to the end-user. As a distributor to the energy and industrial markets, we offer a wide array of products and supply chain services.
We offer our products, services and supply chain solutions across the energy value chain, from onshore and offshore drilling of oil and gas, to the exploration and production of oil and gas, the separation, transfer, and disposal of produced water, to the midstream gathering, processing and transmission of oil, gas, water, natural gas liquids (“NGLs”), LNG, and refined petroleum products, to the downstream refining of oil, and the manufacturing of petrochemicals and specialty chemicals. We provide products and services to the energy evolution and new energy markets driven by the public's desire to reduce greenhouse gas levels and emissions, and to replace higher sources of greenhouse gas emitting forms of energy with lower emitting alternative forms to produce energy. In addition, we provide our products, services and supply chain solutions to non-oil and gas end markets such as mining and minerals, municipal water and wastewater and industrial manufacturing.
We provide drilling products, MRO consumables, safety and original equipment manufacturer (“OEM”) equipment for land drilling rigs, workover rigs and initial offshore drilling rig load outs. Once rigs are contracted, commissioned and deployed, we seek to replace material and inventory consumed during drilling operations. We couple the sale of products with supply chain services in the form of inventory planning, inventory management and warehouse management. We provide a full suite of process and production equipment, pumps and compressor packages, artificial lift, steel, fiberglass and composite pipe, valves and fittings (“PVF”), instrumentation and measurement, and safety and personal protective equipment (“PPE”) in the exploration, production, separation, storage and gathering of oil and gas, as well as the separation, removal, storage and transfer of produced water.
To minimize carbon based effluent emissions, we provide vapor recovery systems to capture and transfer gas and volatile organic compounds during the separation and storage of oil, gas and produced water from operating reservoirs. For produced water, we provide fluid movement products which help our customers dispose of produced water in an environmentally safe manner. For oil streams, we provide products that measure the quality and quantity of oil and gas through the separation process and prior to distribution to the midstream sector. We offer a variety of fluid movement solutions ranging from standard to engineered pump packages and a wide variety of American Society of Mechanical Engineers (“ASME”) fabricated process and production equipment to remove water and contaminants prior to the midstream transfer of oil, NGLs and other refined products within the midstream sector. For gas processing and gas conditioning, we offer a full suite of PVF and ASME coded fabricated process equipment to efficiently and economically process and condition gas for transfer to end markets. Many of the terminals and tank farms used in the midstream space to facilitate the storage and distribution of oil, gas, NGLs, LNG, and other hydrocarbon-based fluids utilize our products. Across many of the process industries where we provide valves, we offer low emission stem packing options to help reduce emissions. We provide PVF, pumps, safety, PPE, supply chain and safety services to the refining, petrochemical, chemical and industrial industries. Our products are consumed from industrial customer’s daily MRO expenditures, customer capital projects in the form of existing plant expansions, new plant facilities, as well as planned and unplanned maintenance of processing units.
Our Distribution Channels
We offer a diverse range of products across the energy and industrial markets in the U.S., Canada and internationally. There are thousands of manufacturers of the products used in the markets in which we operate and customers demand a high level of service, responsiveness and availability across a broad set of products and vendors. These market dynamics make us an essential element in the value chain for our customers. Our product offering is aligned to meet the needs of our customer base.
Energy Centers
Energy centers are brick and mortar supply store operations that are a combination of larger, more regionalized stores known as supercenters with numerous smaller stores located in strategic geographical areas to service customers and maintain customer proximity by providing products to multiple upstream, midstream, downstream, industrial and energy transition customers from a single location. These branches serve repeat account and walk-in retail customers. Products are inventoried in branch locations based on local market needs and are delivered or available for pick-up as needed. These branches serve a geographical radius and provide delivery of products and solutions. A number of locations that service these same customers provide a complementary and expanded set of supply chain services in conjunction with the sale of products.
The distribution channel includes sales and operations professionals trained in the products, applications and customer service required to support customers as they drill, explore, produce, transport and refine oil and gas and other products. The primary product offering includes line pipe, valves, fabrication, valve actuation, fittings and flanges, pumps, OEM equipment, electrical products, mill supplies, tools, safety supplies, PPE, applied products and applications, such as artificial lift systems, coatings and miscellaneous expendable items. We couple the sale of products with supply chain services in the form of inventory planning, inventory management and warehouse management. Supply chain services can be customized to a customer’s requirements and guided by a strategic framework to reduce direct material expenditures and supply chain costs, improve maintenance productivity, reduce inventory-related working capital, streamline time to revenue and manage the risk of material availability affecting business continuity.
Process Solutions
Process Solutions has a team of distribution experts, technical professionals and licensed engineers who provide expertise related to pumps, compressors, fluid movement packages, fabricated liquid and gas measurement systems and process and production equipment. Process Solutions distributes OEM equipment including pumps, generator sets, air compressors, dryers, blowers, mixers and valves. Within our process and production equipment category, we produce customer lease automatic custody transfer (“LACT”) units, Zero2TM EcoVaporTM and Sulfur SentinelTM units to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. These LACT units are associated with routine flaring originating from low pressure storage tanks and renewable fuels such as biogas and landfill gas marketed as RNG facilities, gas meter runs, ASME code vessels in the form of separators, heater treaters, gas conditioning systems, towers, reactors, condensate stabilizers, slug catchers and pressurized bullet tanks, pig launchers and receivers and water transfer and disposal units. After-market services include rental mobile pumping units, machining and other repair services from a team of field mechanics located throughout the central U.S.
Process Solutions serves the upstream, midstream and downstream oil and gas markets as well as the municipal water, industrial, mining, power generation and general industries. Process Solutions also provides modular oil and gas wellsite facility solutions, also known as tank battery solutions, that positively impact our operator customers by enabling them to design a modular tank battery that allows flexibility and scalability for current and future production, while expediting revenue generation by reducing the time to complete a tank battery and getting oil and gas into the pipeline earlier. This solution saves our customers time and expense related to well hookup and tank battery commissioning and reduces field incident exposures due to a reduced labor requirement for facility construction. Our EcoVaporTM branded vapor recovery systems provide our customers the ability to reduce their scope 1 emissions by enabling customers to retain and sell residual flash gas commonly found in storage tanks resulting in reduced flaring and a decrease in greenhouse gas emissions.
Customers
Our primary customers are companies active in the upstream, midstream and downstream sectors of the energy industry, including drilling contractors, well servicing companies, independent and national oil and gas companies, midstream operators, refineries, petrochemical, chemical, utilities, RNG facilities and other downstream energy processors. We also serve a diverse range of industrial and manufacturing companies across a broad spectrum of industries and end markets. We partner with our customers to continually meet or exceed their expectations and add value as a supply chain partner in the locations where they operate. Our products provide an essential need to our customers’ operations, yet represent only a small fraction of their total project or facility cost. As a result, our customers seek suppliers with established qualifications and an operational history to deliver high quality and reliable products that meet their requirements in a timely manner.
As customers increasingly aggregate purchases to improve efficiency and reduce costs, they partner with large distributors who can meet their needs for products in multiple locations around the world. Customers can procure products through our direct branch model or through our digital e-commerce channels, such as https://shop.dnow.com, and our mobile application on smart devices. We believe we could benefit from consolidation among our customers, particularly in the U.S. and Canada where we have a broad footprint, as the resulting companies seek quality-focused global distributors as their source for products and related solutions.
The Company had one customer in the U.S. segment that represented approximately 10% of total revenues.
Competition
The distribution companies serving the energy and industrial end markets are both numerous and competitive. This industry is highly fragmented, comprised of large distributors, each with many locations and with online e-commerce sites, who aggregate and distribute several product lines, and includes numerous smaller regional and local companies, many of which operate from a single location and either aggregate and distribute several product lines or focus on a single product line. While some large distributors compete in both markets, most companies focus on either the energy or industrial end market. Some of our suppliers also sell directly to end-users.
Seasonal Nature of the Company’s Business
A portion of our business has experienced seasonal trends, to some degree, which have varied by geographic region. In the U.S., activity has historically been higher during the summer and fall months. In Canada, E&P activities have declined in the spring due to seasonal thaws and regulatory restrictions limiting the ability of drilling rigs and transportation to operate effectively and safely during these periods.
Human Capital Resources
At December 31, 2024, we had approximately 2,575 employees, of which approximately 180 were temporary employees. We offer market-competitive benefits for employees and opportunities for growth and advancement. We place a strong emphasis on employee growth and development and provide opportunities for valued contribution and innovation. Our ethos determines how we act and interact, what we value, what we tolerate, how we treat one another, our customers and communities and the drive to continue to surpass expectations.
Training and Development Programs
The acquired skills, knowledge and capabilities of our people are central to our success. To maintain and acquire talented employees in the marketplace, we invest in employee development programs that incorporate training courses and programs, including a growing online learning platform, which provides our employees an opportunity for professional development.
We recognize that the advancement and empowerment of our workforce drives a better quality of work and life for our employees, ultimately resulting in the delivery of exceptional service to our customers. As such, we have designed a wide range of professional and leadership development programs focused on helping our employees reach their career goals.
Recognizing Employees
Recognition of individual achievements and contributions is an important part of our culture. Our Customer Priority One program encourages customers, peers and leaders to recognize our employees, customers or vendors who exemplify the Company’s commitment to customer service to cultivate a culture of inspiring one another to be their best. We award Milestone Service Awards to employees for their years of service and dedication of time to our Company, which recognize employees at each five-year service anniversary.
Workforce Diversity and Inclusion
We believe that a diverse and inclusive workplace is a key driver of innovation, creativity and overall success. We are committed to advancing an inclusive environment where diversity is appreciated and encouraged and all employees have a sense of belonging throughout our organization. We recognize the opportunity to drive diversity in our workforce through talent acquisition and retention because we know that one of our greatest strengths is the diverse perspectives of our team members. We appreciate that having a team with a broad range of experience, cultural characteristics and varying perspectives fortifies our brand. Our efforts are rooted in the belief that every individual, regardless of their background, should have the opportunity to thrive and contribute to our shared goals. We recognize that embracing diversity means respecting and valuing the unique perspectives, experiences, and talents that each team member brings to our organization. We believe in advocating for diversity within our workforce by employing women and men of varying cultures, nationalities and backgrounds to work together to achieve a common goal.
To find the best employees, we must have a diverse pipeline of talent. We commit to advancing an inclusive environment where diversity is encouraged. We create a culture where all employees can strive to be their best, to achieve company goals and to deliver superior service to our customers. As of December 31, 2024, our U.S. workforce was comprised of approximately 25% female and approximately 33% racial minorities.
We recognize that we are an integral part of the communities in which we operate. By directly engaging people in the communities we serve, we create a transparent dialogue to try to listen and learn from alternative views in how we conduct our business.
Workforce Health and Safety
Safety is at the center of our actions. We act with high priority on health and safety in our workplace and in the communities where we operate. Our safety culture is driven by our health, safety and environment (“HSE”) training catalog and through our HSE management system beginning with our HSE Policy Statement, which sets the tone for our company’s commitment to safety. A one-page, top-level document, expressly approved by our senior management team, the HSE Policy Statement outlines our expectations for all employees, vendors, customers, contractors, subcontractors and third parties. This HSE Policy Statement, combined with our HSE guiding principles, corporate policies and procedures and our business level HSE policies and procedures, makes up our management system, which is overseen both with corporate supervision and field level management to ensure emphasis is consistent on proper and safe behaviors.
Sustainability
We can assist in reducing emissions of greenhouse gases in our operations by creating a more efficient supply chain. An efficient supply chain can help reduce the carbon footprint of deliveries to our supercenters and branches and ultimately to our customers. Use of our regional supercenters allow us to aggregate products across multiple suppliers and customers, which, in turn, prevents each customer from separately creating duplicative supply chains that require fuel for deliveries and resources to manage. Many of the products we distribute are used by our customers to aid their efforts to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions. We continually seek opportunities to expand our portfolio of products we offer to customers to aid in reducing their scope 1 emissions. We offer our customers a variety of scope 1 emission reducing products like sealless pumps and industrial air compressors that are used to replace methane gas pneumatic systems with compressed air pneumatic systems. In addition, we offer an expanding suite of emissions reduction technology through our EcoVapor branded product line that reduces the venting and flaring of greenhouse gas, targeting the oil and gas and the growing RNG markets.
As a distributor, we perform minimal manufacturing operations. We do not utilize large amounts of water. Our energy inputs are primarily electricity for lighting, heating and office and warehouse equipment, natural gas for heating and gasoline for company sales and delivery vehicles. We strive to make our operations more efficient, and in turn try to work to reduce use of these resources and resulting emissions. We have recycling programs to try and reduce waste from used cardboard, office paper and other recyclables. However, recycling programs are sometimes limited by the unavailability of users, haulers or purchasers for recyclable materials at reasonable costs.
We are a distributor of products that contain and control the movement of gases and fluids in an efficient and sustainable manner. The products we sell are designed by the manufacturers of those products to prevent and minimize accidental leaks of hydrocarbons. Additionally, we offer product lines that further aid in the mitigation of environmental impact. Examples of such products include: domestically produced goods; low emission rated valves; steel piping products produced from recycled scrap; glass reinforced epoxy piping systems; vapor recovery units that capture volatile organic compounds in an effort to limit and reduce emissions to the atmosphere; produced water transfer and water injection packages that dispose of produced water in an environmentally safe manner; and pipe produced using wind power, recycled water and wood pellet inputs. Additional examples of products we offer our customers to help reduce their scope 1 emissions may be found in our annual sustainability report.
Environmental Matters
We are subject to a variety of federal, state, local, foreign and provincial environmental, health and safety laws, regulations and permitting requirements, including those governing the discharge of pollutants or hazardous substances into the air, soil or water, the generation, handling, use, management, storage and disposal of, or exposure to, hazardous substances and wastes, the responsibility to investigate, remediate, monitor and clean up contamination and occupational health and safety. Fines and penalties may be imposed for non-compliance with applicable environmental, health and safety requirements and the failure to have or to comply with the terms and conditions of required permits. Historically, the costs to comply with environmental and health and safety requirements have not been material to our financial position, results of operations or cash flows. We are not aware of any pending environmental compliance or remediation matters that, in the opinion of management, are reasonably likely to have a material effect on our business, financial position or results of operations or cash flows.
Available Information
Our website address is www.dnow.com. The information found on our website is not part of this or any other report we file with, or furnish to, the SEC and is expressly not incorporated by reference into this document. Our Annual Reports on Form 10-K, Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, Current Reports on Form 8-K, proxy statements and any amendments to these reports filed or furnished pursuant to Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 are available on our website, free of charge, as soon as reasonably practicable after such reports are filed with, or furnished to, the SEC. Alternatively, you may access these reports at the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov.

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ITEM 1A. RISK FACTORS
ITEM 1A.	RISK FACTORS
You should carefully consider each of the following risks in addition to all other information contained or incorporated herein. These risks relate principally to our business and the industry in which we operate or to the securities markets generally and ownership of our common stock. Our business, prospects, financial condition, results of operations or cash flows could be materially and adversely affected by any of these risks, and, as a result, the trading price of our common stock could decline. This information should be read in conjunction with Item 7, Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations, Item 7A, Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk and the consolidated financial statements and related notes included in this Form 10-K.
Risks Relating to Our Business
Decreased capital and other expenditures in the energy industry, which can result from decreased oil and natural gas prices, among other things, can adversely impact our customers’ demand for our products and our revenue.
A large portion of our revenue depends upon the level of capital and operating expenditures in the oil and natural gas industry, including capital and other expenditures in connection with exploration, drilling, production, gathering, transportation, refining and processing operations. Demand for the products we distribute is particularly sensitive to the level of exploration, development and production activity of, and the corresponding capital and other expenditures by, oil and natural gas companies. In addition, after a well is drilled, there can be a lag between when the well is drilled and when it is completed, which causes a delay in the demand for some of our products. Oil and natural gas prices have been extremely volatile since 2014. Continued volatility and weakness in oil or natural gas prices could depress levels of exploration, development and production activity and, therefore, could lead to a decrease in our customers’ capital and other expenditures.
The willingness of oil and gas operators to make capital and operating expenditures to explore for and produce oil and natural gas and the willingness of oilfield service companies to invest in capital and operating equipment will continue to be influenced by numerous factors over which we have no control, including:
•the ability of the members of the OPEC and certain non-OPEC countries, to maintain price stability through voluntary production limits, the level of production by other non-OPEC countries, such as the United States, and worldwide demand for oil and gas;
•the level of production from known reserves;
•the cost of exploring for and producing oil and gas;
•limits on access to capital and investor demands for capital discipline;
•the level of drilling activity and drilling rig day rates;
•worldwide economic activity;
•national government political requirements;
•changes in governmental regulations;
•the impact of public health crises, such as new virus strains that result in the return of lockdowns or other government restrictions, on worldwide demand for oil and gas;
•the development of alternate energy sources; and
•environmental regulations.
If there is a significant reduction in demand for drilling services, in cash flows of drilling contractors, well servicing companies or production companies, or in drilling or well servicing rig utilization rates, then demand for our products will decline.
Volatile oil and gas prices affect demand for our products.
Demand for our products is largely determined by current and anticipated oil and natural gas prices, and the related spending and level of activity by our customers, including spending on production and the level of drilling activities. Volatility or weakness in oil or natural gas prices (or the perception that oil or natural gas prices will decrease) affects the spending pattern of our customers, and may result in the drilling of fewer new wells or lower production spending on existing wells. This, in turn, could result in lower demand for our products. Any sustained decrease in capital expenditures in the oil and natural gas industry could have a material adverse effect on us.
Prices for oil and natural gas are subject to large fluctuations in response to relatively minor changes in the supply of and demand for oil and natural gas, market uncertainty and a variety of other factors that are beyond our control. Any such reduction in operating budgets, reduction in activity and/or pricing pressures, would adversely affect our revenue and operating performance.
Many factors affect the supply of and demand for energy and, therefore, influence oil and natural gas prices, including:
•the level of domestic and worldwide oil and natural gas production and inventories;
•the level of drilling activity and the availability of attractive oil and natural gas field prospects, which governmental actions may affect, such as regulatory actions or legislation, or other restrictions on drilling, including those related to environmental concerns (e.g., a temporary moratorium on deepwater drilling in the Gulf of Mexico following a rig accident or oil spill);
•the discovery rate of new oil and natural gas reserves and the expected cost of developing new reserves;
•the actual cost of finding and producing oil and natural gas;
•depletion rates;
•domestic and worldwide refinery over capacity or under capacity and utilization rates;
•the availability of transportation infrastructure and refining capacity;
•increases in the cost of products that the oil and gas industry uses, such as those that we provide, which may result from increases in the cost of raw materials such as steel;
•shifts in end-customer preferences toward fuel efficiency and the use of natural gas;
•the economic or political attractiveness of alternative fuels, such as coal, hydrocarbon, battery power, wind, solar energy and biomass-based fuels;
•increases in oil and natural gas prices or historically high oil and natural gas prices, which could lower demand for oil and natural gas products;
•worldwide economic activity including growth in non-Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development countries, including China and India;
•increased interest rates and the cost of capital;
•national government policies, including government policies that could nationalize or expropriate oil and natural gas, E&P, refining or transportation assets;
•the ability of OPEC and non-OPEC countries to set and maintain production levels and prices for oil;
•the level of production by non-OPEC countries;
•the impact of armed hostilities, or the threat or perception of armed hostilities;
•public health crises, such as the emergence of any new virus strains that result in the return of lockdowns or other government restrictions;
•environmental regulation;
•import duties and tariffs;
•technological advances;
•global weather conditions and natural disasters;
•currency fluctuations; and
•tax policies.
Oil and natural gas prices have been and are expected to remain volatile. U.S. rig count decreased from 621 rigs on January 5, 2024 to 589 rigs on December 27, 2024. U.S. rig count averaged 599 rigs in 2024. U.S. rig count at January 24, 2025 was 576 rigs. The price for West Texas Intermediate crude was $73.79 per barrel at January 2, 2025, $70.62 per barrel on January 2, 2024 and $76.87 per barrel on January 3, 2023. Even though the prices as of the beginning of January for the last three years have been relatively stable, prices have historically been very volatile, and this historical volatility has caused oil and natural gas companies to change their strategies and expenditure levels from year to year. We have experienced in the past, and we will likely experience in the future, significant fluctuations in operating results based on these changes.
General economic and geopolitical conditions may adversely affect our business.
U.S. and global general economic conditions affect many aspects of our business, including demand for the products we distribute and the pricing and availability of supplies. General economic conditions and predictions regarding future economic conditions also affect our forecasts. A decrease in demand for the products we distribute or other adverse effects resulting from an economic downturn may cause us to fail to achieve our anticipated financial results. General economic factors beyond our control that affect our business and customers include public health crises, interest rates, recession, inflation, deflation, customer credit availability, consumer credit availability, consumer debt levels, performance of housing markets, energy costs, tariffs, tax rates and policy, unemployment rates, commencement or escalation of war or hostilities, the threat or possibility of war, terrorism or other global or national unrest, political or financial instability, and other matters that influence our customers’ spending. Increasing volatility in financial markets may cause these factors to change with a greater degree of frequency or increase in magnitude. In addition, worldwide economic conditions could have an adverse effect on our business, prospects, operating results, financial condition and cash flows.
Our business may be materially adversely affected by any negative impact on the global economy and capital markets resulting from military conflicts or other geopolitical tensions. The extent and duration of military conflicts, sanctions, trade controls and resulting market disruptions are impossible to predict, but could be substantial.
If our product costs became subject to significant future inflationary pressures, then we may not be able to fully offset these higher costs through price increases.
Inflationary pressures and supply chain disruptions could result in further increases to our operating and capital costs that are not fixed. Additionally, these economic variables could lead to a renegotiation of contracts and/or supply agreements, among others. These economic variables are beyond our control and may adversely impact our business, financial condition, results of operations and future cash flows.
We may be unable to compete successfully with other companies in our industry.
We sell products in very competitive markets. In some cases, we compete with large companies with substantial resources. In other cases, we compete with smaller regional companies that may increasingly be willing to provide similar products at lower prices. Certain of these competitors may have greater financial, technical and marketing resources than us, and may be in a better competitive position. The following competitive actions can each adversely affect our revenues and earnings:
•price changes;
•vendors with better terms;
•consolidation in the industry;
•investments in technology and fulfillment; and
•improvements in availability and delivery.
We could experience a material adverse effect to the extent that our competitors are successful in reducing our customers’ purchases of products from us. Competition could also cause us to lower our prices, which could reduce our margins and profitability. Furthermore, consolidation in our industry could heighten the impacts of the competition on our business and results of operations discussed above, particularly if consolidation results in competitors with stronger financial and strategic resources, and could also result in increases to the prices we are required to pay for acquisitions we may make in the future. In addition, certain foreign jurisdictions and government-owned petroleum companies located in some of the countries in which we operate have adopted policies or regulations which may give local nationals in these countries competitive advantages. Competition in our industry could lead to lower revenues and earnings.
Demand for our sales of the products we distribute could decrease if the manufacturers of those products were to instead sell a substantial amount of goods directly to our customers in the sectors we serve.
Historically, users of pipes, valves and fittings and related products have purchased certain amounts of these products through distributors and not directly from manufacturers. If customers were to purchase the products that we sell directly from manufacturers, or if manufacturers sought to increase their efforts to sell directly to end-users, we could experience a significant decrease in profitability. These or other developments that remove us from, or limit our role in, the distribution chain, may harm our competitive position in the marketplace and reduce our sales and earnings and adversely affect our business.
We may need additional capital in the future, and it may not be available on acceptable terms, or at all.
We may require more capital in the future to:
•fund our operations (including, but not limited to, working capital requirements such as inventory);
•finance investments in equipment and infrastructure needed to maintain and expand our distribution capabilities;
•enhance and expand the range of products we offer; and
•respond to potential strategic opportunities, such as investments, acquisitions and international expansion.
We can give no assurance that additional financing will be available on terms favorable to us, or at all. The terms of available financing may place limits on our financial and operating flexibility. If adequate funds are not available on acceptable terms, we may be forced to reduce our operations or delay, limit or abandon expansion opportunities. Moreover, even if we are able to continue our operations, the failure to obtain additional financing could reduce our competitiveness.
We do not have long-term contracts or agreements with many of our customers. The contracts and agreements that we do have generally do not commit our customers to any minimum purchase volume. The loss of a significant customer may have a material adverse effect on us.
Given the nature of our business, and consistent with industry practice, we do not have long-term contracts with many of our customers. In addition, our contracts generally do not commit our customers to any minimum purchase volume. Therefore, a significant number of our customers may terminate their relationships with us or reduce their purchasing volume at any time. Furthermore, the long-term customer contracts that we do have are generally terminable without cause on short notice. The products that we may sell to any particular customer depend in large part on the size of that customer’s capital expenditure budget in a particular year and on the results of competitive bids for major projects. Consequently, a customer that accounts for a significant portion of our sales in one fiscal year may represent an immaterial portion of our sales in subsequent fiscal years. The loss of a significant customer, or a substantial decrease in a significant customer’s orders, may have an adverse effect on our sales and revenue.
In addition, we are subject to customer audit clauses in many of our multi-year contracts. If we are not able to provide the proper documentation or support for invoices per the contract terms, we may be subject to negotiated settlements with our major customers.
Changes in our customer and product mix could cause our product margin to fluctuate or affect our competitive position.
From time to time, we may experience changes in our customer mix or in our product mix. Changes in our customer mix may result from business acquisitions, geographic expansion, daily selling activities within current geographic markets and targeted selling activities to new customer segments. Changes in our product mix may result from business acquisitions, marketing activities to existing customers and needs communicated to us from existing and prospective customers. If customers begin to require more lower-margin products from us, our business, results of operations and financial condition may suffer.
Customer credit risks could result in losses.
The concentration of our customers in the energy industry may impact our overall exposure to credit risk as customers may be similarly affected by prolonged changes in economic and industry conditions. Further, laws in some jurisdictions in which we operate could make collection difficult or time consuming. We perform ongoing credit evaluations of our customers and do not generally require collateral in support of our trade receivables. While we maintain reserves for expected credit losses, we cannot assure these reserves will be sufficient to meet write-offs of uncollectible receivables or that our losses from such receivables will be consistent with our expectations.
We may be unable to successfully execute or effectively integrate acquisitions.
One of our key operating strategies is to selectively pursue acquisitions, including large scale acquisitions, to continue to grow and increase profitability. However, acquisitions, particularly of a significant scale, involve numerous risks and uncertainties, including intense competition for suitable acquisition targets, the potential unavailability of financial resources necessary to consummate acquisitions in the future, increased leverage due to additional debt financing that may be required to complete an acquisition, dilution of our stockholders’ net current book value per share if we issue additional equity securities to finance an acquisition, difficulties in identifying suitable acquisition targets or in completing any transactions identified on sufficiently favorable terms, assumption of undisclosed or unknown liabilities and the need to obtain regulatory or other governmental approvals that may be necessary to complete acquisitions. In addition, any future acquisitions may entail significant transaction costs and risks associated with entry into new markets.
Even when acquisitions are completed, integration of acquired entities can involve significant difficulties, such as:
•failure to achieve cost savings or other financial or operating objectives with respect to an acquisition;
•complications and issues resulting from the integration/conversion of ERP systems;
•strain on the operational and managerial controls and procedures of our business, and the need to modify systems or to add management resources;
•difficulties in the integration and retention of customers or personnel and the integration and effective deployment of operations or technologies;
•amortization of acquired assets, which would reduce future reported earnings;
•possible adverse short-term effects on our cash flows or operating results;
•diversion of management’s attention from the ongoing operations of our business;
•integrating personnel with different organizational cultures;
•coordinating sales and marketing functions;
•failure to obtain and retain key personnel of an acquired business; and
•assumption of known or unknown material liabilities or regulatory non-compliance issues.
Failure to manage these acquisition risks could have an adverse effect on us.
We are a holding company and depend upon our subsidiaries for our cash flow.
We are a holding company. Our subsidiaries conduct all of our operations and own substantially all of our assets. Consequently, our cash flow and our ability to meet our obligations or to make other distributions in the future will depend upon the cash flow of our subsidiaries and our subsidiaries’ payment of funds to us in the form of dividends, tax sharing payments or otherwise.
The ability of our subsidiaries to make any payments to us will depend on their earnings, the terms of their current and future indebtedness, tax considerations and legal and contractual restrictions on the ability to make distributions.
Our subsidiaries are separate and distinct legal entities. Any right that we have to receive any assets of or distributions from any of our subsidiaries upon the bankruptcy, dissolution, liquidation or reorganization, or to realize proceeds from the sale of their assets, will be junior to the claims of that subsidiary’s creditors, including trade creditors and holders of debt that the subsidiary issued.
If we lose any of our key personnel, we may be unable to effectively manage our business or continue our growth.
Our future performance depends to a significant degree upon the continued contributions of our management team and our ability to attract, hire, train and retain qualified managerial, sales and marketing personnel. In particular, we rely on our sales and marketing teams to create innovative ways to generate demand for the products we distribute. The loss or unavailability to us of any member of our management team or a key sales or marketing employee could have a material adverse effect on us to the extent we are unable to timely find adequate replacements. We face competition for these professionals from our competitors, our customers and other companies operating in our industry. We may be unsuccessful in attracting, hiring, training and retaining qualified personnel.
Interruptions in the proper functioning of our information systems could disrupt operations and cause increases in costs or decreases in revenues.
The proper functioning of our information systems is critical to the successful operation of our business. We depend on our information management systems to process orders, track credit risk, manage inventory and monitor accounts receivable collections. Our information systems also allow us to efficiently purchase products from our vendors and ship products to our customers on a timely basis, maintain cost-effective operations and provide superior service to our customers. However, our information systems could be vulnerable to natural disasters, power losses, telecommunication failures, security breaches and other problems. If critical information systems fail or are otherwise unavailable, our ability to procure products to sell, process and ship customer orders, identify business opportunities, maintain proper levels of inventories, collect accounts receivable and pay accounts payable and expenses could be adversely affected. Our ability to integrate our systems with our customers’ systems would also be significantly affected. If our information systems are damaged or fail to function properly, we may incur substantial costs to repair or replace them, and may experience loss of critical data and interruptions or delays in our ability to manage inventories or process transactions, which could result in lost sales, inability to process purchase orders and/or a potential loss of customer loyalty, which could adversely affect our results of operations. We maintain information systems controls designed to protect against, among other things, unauthorized
program changes and unauthorized access to data on our information systems. If our information systems controls do not function properly, we face increased risks of unexpected errors and unreliable financial data or theft of proprietary Company information.
The loss of third-party transportation providers upon whom we depend, or conditions negatively affecting the transportation industry, could increase our costs or cause a disruption in our operations.
We depend upon third-party transportation providers for delivery of products to our customers. Strikes, slowdowns, transportation disruptions or other conditions in the transportation industry, including, but not limited to, shortages of truck drivers, disruptions in rail service, increases in fuel prices and adverse weather conditions, could increase our costs and disrupt our operations and our ability to service our customers on a timely basis. We cannot predict to what extent increases or anticipated increases in fuel prices may impact our costs or cause a disruption in our operations going forward.
Adverse weather events or natural disasters could negatively affect local economies and disrupt operations.
Certain areas in which we operate are susceptible to adverse weather conditions or natural disasters, such as hurricanes, tornadoes, floods and earthquakes. These events can disrupt our operations, result in damage to our properties and negatively affect the local economies in which we operate. Additionally, we may experience communication disruptions with our customers, vendors and employees. These events can cause physical damage to our locations and require us to close locations. Additionally, our sales orders and shipments can experience a temporary decline immediately following these events.
We cannot predict whether or to what extent damage caused by these events will affect our operations or the economies in regions where we operate. These adverse events could result in disruption of our purchasing or distribution capabilities, interruption of our business that exceeds our insurance coverage, our inability to collect from customers and increased operating costs. Our business or results of operations may be adversely affected by these and other negative effects of these events.
The occurrence of cyber incidents, or a deficiency in our cybersecurity, could negatively impact our business by causing a disruption to our operations, a compromise or corruption of our confidential information or damage to our Company’s image, all of which could negatively impact our financial results.
A cyber incident is any adverse event that threatens the confidentiality, integrity, or availability of our information resources. More specifically, a cyber incident is an intentional attack or an unintentional event that can include gaining unauthorized access to systems to disrupt operations, corrupt data or steal confidential information. As our reliance on technology has increased, so have the risks posed to our systems, both internal and those we have outsourced. In addition, the rapid evolution and increased adoption of artificial intelligence technologies may intensify our cybersecurity risks. Our four primary risks that could directly result from the occurrence of a cyber incident include operational interruption, damage to our Company’s image, financial loss and private data exposure.
We have implemented solutions, processes, and procedures to help mitigate this risk, but these measures, as well as our organization’s increased awareness of our risk of a cyber incident, do not guarantee that our financial results will not be negatively impacted by such an incident. Our security measures may be undermined due to the rapid evolution and increased adoption of artificial intelligence and machine learning technologies, actions of outside parties, employee error, internal or external malfeasance, or otherwise, and, as a result, an unauthorized party may obtain access to our data systems and misappropriate business and personal information. Our systems are subject to repeated attempts by third parties to access information or to disrupt our systems. Such disruptions or misappropriations and the resulting repercussions, including reputational damage and legal claims or proceedings, may adversely affect our results of operations, cash flows and financial condition, and the trading price of our common stock.
Privacy concerns relating to our personal and business information being potentially breached could damage our reputation and deter current and potential users or customers from using our products and services.
We have security measures and controls to protect personal and business information and continue to make investments to secure access to our information technology network. These measures may be undermined, however, due to the actions of outside parties, employee error, internal or external malfeasance, or otherwise, and, as a result, an unauthorized party may obtain access to our data systems and misappropriate business and personal information. Because the techniques used to obtain unauthorized access, disable or degrade service, or sabotage systems change frequently and may not immediately produce signs of intrusion, we may be unable to anticipate these techniques, timely discover or counter them, or implement adequate preventative measures. Any such breach or unauthorized access could result in significant legal and financial exposure, damage to our reputation, and potentially have an adverse effect on our business and results of operations.
We have goodwill recorded on our balance sheet. If our goodwill becomes impaired, we may be required to recognize charges that would reduce our income.
As of December 31, 2024, we had $230 million of goodwill recorded on our balance sheet. Under generally accepted accounting principles in the U.S., goodwill is not amortized, but must be reviewed for possible impairment annually, or more often in certain circumstances where events indicate that the asset values are not recoverable. These reviews could result in an earnings charge for impairment, which would reduce our net income even though there would be no impact on our underlying cash flow.
Risks Relating to Our Supply Chain and International Trade Policies
We may experience unexpected supply shortages.
We distribute products from a wide variety of manufacturers and suppliers. Nevertheless, in the future we may have difficulty obtaining the products we need from suppliers and manufacturers as a result of unexpected demand or production difficulties that might extend lead times. Also, products may not be available to us in quantities sufficient to meet our customer demand. Our inability to obtain products from suppliers and manufacturers in sufficient quantities, or at all, could adversely affect our product offerings and our business.
We may experience cost increases from suppliers, which we may be unable to pass on to our customers.
In the future, we may face supply cost increases due to, among other things, unexpected increases in demand for supplies, decreases in production of supplies or increases in the cost of raw materials or transportation, or trade wars. Any inability to pass supply price increases on to our customers could have a material adverse effect on us. In addition, if supply costs increase, our customers may elect to purchase smaller amounts of products or may purchase products from other distributors. While we may be able to work with our customers to reduce the effects of unforeseen price increases because of our relationships with them, we may not be able to reduce the effects of the cost increases. In addition, to the extent that competition leads to reduced purchases of products from us or a reduction of our prices, and these reductions occur concurrently with increases in the prices for selected commodities which we use in our operations, the adverse effects described above would likely be exacerbated and could result in a prolonged downturn in profitability.
We do not have contracts with most of our suppliers. The loss of a significant supplier would require us to rely more heavily on our other existing suppliers or to develop relationships with new suppliers. Such a loss may have an adverse effect on our product offerings and our business.
Given the nature of our business, and consistent with industry practice, we do not have contracts with most of our suppliers. We generally make our purchases through purchase orders. Therefore, most of our suppliers have the ability to terminate their relationships with us at any time. Although we believe there are numerous manufacturers with the capacity to supply the products we distribute, the loss of one or more of our major suppliers could have an adverse effect on our product offerings and our business. Such a loss would require us to rely more heavily on our other existing suppliers or develop relationships with new suppliers, which may cause us to pay higher prices for products due to, among other things, a loss of volume discount benefits currently obtained from our major suppliers.
Changes in our credit profile may affect our relationship with our suppliers, which could have a material adverse effect on our liquidity.
Changes in our credit profile may affect the way our suppliers view our ability to make payments and may induce them to shorten the payment terms of their invoices. Given the large dollar amounts and volume of our purchases from suppliers, a change in payment terms may have a material adverse effect on our liquidity and our ability to make payments to our suppliers and, consequently, may have a material adverse effect on us.
Price reductions by suppliers of products that we sell could cause the value of our inventory to decline. Also, these price reductions could cause our customers to demand lower sales prices for these products, possibly decreasing our margins and profitability on sales to the extent that we purchased our inventory of these products at the higher prices prior to supplier price reductions.
The value of our inventory could decline as a result of manufacturer price reductions with respect to products that we sell. There is no assurance that a substantial decline in product prices would not result in a write-down of our inventory value. Such a write-down could have an adverse effect on our financial condition. Also, decreases in the market prices of products that we sell could cause customers to demand lower sales prices from us. These price reductions could reduce our margins and profitability on sales with respect to the lower-priced products. Reductions in our margins and profitability on sales could have a material adverse effect on us.
A substantial decrease in the price of steel could significantly lower our product margin or cash flow.
We distribute many products manufactured from steel. As a result, the price and supply of steel can affect our business and, in particular, our pipe product category. When steel prices are lower, the prices that we charge customers for products may decline, which affects our product margin and cash flow. At times pricing and availability of steel can be volatile due to numerous factors beyond our control, including general domestic and international economic conditions, labor costs, sales levels, competition, consolidation of steel producers, fluctuations in and the costs of raw materials necessary to produce steel, steel manufacturers’ plant utilization levels and capacities, import duties and tariffs and currency exchange rates. Increases in manufacturing capacity for steel-related products could put pressure on the prices we receive for such products. When steel prices decline, customer demands for lower prices and our competitors’ responses to those demands could result in lower sales prices and, consequently, lower product margin and cash flow.
If steel prices rise, we may be unable to pass along the cost increases to our customers.
We maintain inventories of steel products to accommodate the lead time requirements of our customers. Accordingly, we purchase steel products in an effort to maintain our inventory at levels that we believe to be appropriate to satisfy the anticipated needs of our customers based upon historic buying practices, contracts with customers and market conditions. Our commitments to purchase steel products are generally at prevailing market prices in effect at the time we place our orders. If steel prices increase between the time we order steel products and the time of delivery of the products to us, our suppliers may impose surcharges that require us to pay for increases in steel prices during the period. Demand for the products we distribute, the actions of our competitors and other factors will influence whether we will be able to pass on steel cost increases and surcharges to our customers, and we may be unsuccessful in doing so.
If existing tariffs and duties on imports of line pipe or certain of the other products that we sell are lifted, the U.S. market could see an increased supply of less expensive products, which could adversely affect our business and results of operations.
U.S. law currently imposes tariffs and duties on imports of certain pipe and steel products that we sell. If these tariffs and duties are lifted or reduced, our U.S. customers may decide to purchase these less expensive imported products rather than the higher-cost products in our existing inventory, which could materially and adversely affect our business and results of operations. The increased supply of these less expensive imported products could also drive down prices on our domestic or other alternate products that compete with the imported products, which could adversely affect our margins, decrease the value of our inventory and result in a longer holding period for some of our inventory.
Changes in trade policies, including the imposition or elimination of additional tariffs and duties, could negatively impact our business, financial condition and results of operations.
The U.S. government has continued to impose Section 232 tariffs, Section 301 tariffs and various dumping duties on steel and aluminum and a broad range of other products imported into the U.S. Changes in tariffs and duties affect our material input costs. These tariffs and duties are subject to change. If these tariffs or duties were removed or adjusted down, it could drive down the costs of certain products and affect our inventory value which could affect our margin negatively. In addition, there could be additional trade actions or rate increases imposed by the U.S. and these could also result in additional retaliatory actions by the U.S.’ trade partners. Given that we procure significant materials that we resell directly or indirectly from outside of the U.S., potential changes in U.S. trade policy could increase the cost or limit the availability of such raw materials, which could hurt our competitive position and adversely impact our business, financial condition and results of operations. In addition, we sell a significant proportion of our products to customers outside of the U.S. Retaliatory actions by other countries could result in increases in the price of our products, which could limit demand for such products, hurt our global competitive position and have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations. While tariffs and other retaliatory trade measures imposed by other countries on U.S. goods have not yet had a significant impact on our business or results of operations, we cannot predict further developments, and such existing or future tariffs could have a material adverse effect on our results of operations, financial position and cash flows.
Risks Relating to Legal and Regulatory Matters
We are subject to strict environmental, health and safety laws and regulations that may lead to significant liabilities and have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.
We are subject to a variety of federal, state, local, foreign and provincial environmental, health and safety laws, regulations and permitting requirements, including those governing the discharge of pollutants or hazardous substances into the air, soil or water, the generation, handling, use, management, storage and disposal of, or exposure to, hazardous substances and wastes (including greenhouse gas ("GHG") emissions), the responsibility to investigate and clean up contamination and occupational health and safety. Regulations and courts may impose fines and penalties for non-compliance with applicable environmental, health and safety requirements and the failure to have or to comply with the terms and conditions of required permits. Our failure to comply with
applicable environmental, health and safety requirements could result in fines, penalties, enforcement actions, third-party claims for property damage and personal injury, requirements to clean up property or to pay for the costs of cleanup or regulatory or judicial orders requiring corrective measures, including the installation of pollution control equipment or remedial actions. Certain laws and regulations, such as the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (also known as “CERCLA” or the “U.S. federal Superfund law”) or its state and foreign equivalents, may impose the obligation to investigate and remediate contamination at a facility on current and former owners or operators or on persons who may have sent waste to that facility for disposal. These laws and regulations may impose liability without regard to fault or to the legality of the activities giving rise to the contamination.
Moreover, we may incur liabilities in connection with environmental conditions currently unknown to us relating to our existing, prior or future owned or leased sites or operations or those of predecessor companies whose liabilities we may have assumed or acquired. We believe that indemnities contained in certain of our acquisition agreements may cover certain environmental conditions existing at the time of the acquisition, subject to certain terms, limitations and conditions. However, if these indemnification provisions terminate or if the indemnifying parties do not fulfill their indemnification obligations, we may be subject to liability with respect to the environmental matters that those indemnification provisions address. In addition, environmental, health and safety laws and regulations applicable to our business and the business of our customers, including laws regulating the energy industry, and the interpretation or enforcement of these laws and regulations, are constantly evolving. It is impossible to predict accurately the effect that changes in these laws and regulations, or their interpretation or enforcement, may have on us.
Existing or future laws, regulations, court orders or other public- or private-sector initiatives to limit greenhouse gas emissions or relating to climate change may reduce demand for our products and services and the physical effects of climate change could damage our assets or facilities, adversely impacting our business, results of operations, and financial condition.
Continuing political and social attention to the issue of climate change has resulted in both existing and proposed international agreements and national, regional, and local legislation and regulatory measures to limit GHG emissions. The implementation of these agreements, including the Paris Agreement, the Europe Climate Law, and other existing or future regulatory mandates, may adversely affect the demand for our products and services, impose taxes on us or our customers, require us or our customers to reduce GHG emissions from our technologies or operations, or accelerate the obsolescence of our products or services.
There is also increased focus by our customers, investors and other stakeholders on climate change, sustainability, and energy transition matters. Actions to address these concerns or negative perceptions of our industry or fossil fuel products and their relationship to the environment have led to initiatives to conserve energy and promote the use of alternative energy sources, which may reduce the demand for and production of oil and gas in areas of the world where our customers operate, and thus reduce future demand for our products and services.
We and our suppliers also may be subject to physical risks associated with climate change, such as increased severity and frequency of extreme weather events and more frequent short-term business disruptions as a result of severe weather such as flooding, storms, droughts, fires, snowstorms and other climatic events, which could impair our ability to effectively deliver products and services to our customers or to keep our operating costs aligned with expectations or cause destruction to our assets or facilities. While we carry insurance coverage standard within our industry to protect us against many of these risks, the potential physical effects of climate change are uncertain, and we may not carry adequate coverage to protect all of our assets or facilities from climate-related events. If any of these risks were realized, we could experience interruptions in supply or increases in costs that might result in our being unable to meet customer demand for our products and services, damage our relationships with our customers and reduce our market share, all of which could adversely affect our results of operations and financial condition.
We may not have adequate insurance for potential liabilities, including liabilities arising from litigation.
In the ordinary course of business, we have, and in the future may, become the subject of various claims, lawsuits and administrative proceedings seeking damages or other remedies concerning our commercial operations, the products we distribute, employees and other matters, including potential claims by individuals alleging exposure to hazardous materials as a result of the products we distribute or our operations. Some of these claims may relate to the activities of businesses that we have acquired, even though these activities may have occurred prior to our acquisition of the businesses. The products we distribute are sold primarily for use in the energy industry, which is subject to inherent risks that could result in death, personal injury, property damage, pollution, release of hazardous substances or loss of production. In addition, defects in the products we distribute could result in death, personal injury, property damage, pollution, release of hazardous substances or damage to equipment and facilities. Actual or claimed defects in the products we distribute may give rise to claims against us for losses and expose us to claims for damages.
We maintain insurance to cover certain of our potential losses, and we are subject to various self-retentions, deductibles and caps under our insurance. We face the following risks with respect to our insurance coverage:
•we may not be able to continue to obtain insurance on commercially reasonable terms;
•we may incur losses from interruption of our business that exceed our insurance coverage;
•we may be faced with types of liabilities that will not be covered by our insurance;
•our insurance carriers may not be able to meet their obligations under the policies; or
•the dollar amount of any liabilities may exceed our policy limits.
Even a partially uninsured claim, if successful and of significant size, could have a material adverse effect on us. Finally, even in cases where we maintain insurance coverage, our insurers may raise various objections and exceptions to coverage that could make uncertain the timing and amount of any possible insurance recovery.
Due to our position as a distributor, we are subject to personal injury, product liability and environmental claims involving allegedly defective products.
Our customers use certain products we distribute in potentially hazardous applications that can result in personal injury, product liability and environmental claims. A catastrophic occurrence at a location where end-users use the products we distribute may result in us being named as a defendant in lawsuits asserting potentially large claims, even though we did not manufacture the products. Applicable law may render us liable for damages without regard to negligence or fault. In particular, certain environmental laws provide for joint and several and strict liability for remediation of spills and releases of hazardous substances. Certain of these risks are reduced by the fact that we are a distributor of products that third-party manufacturers produce, and, thus, in certain circumstances, we may have third-party warranty or other claims against the manufacturer of products alleged to have been defective. However, there is no assurance that these claims could fully protect us or that the manufacturer would be able financially to provide protection. There is no assurance that our insurance coverage will be adequate to cover the underlying claims. Our insurance does not provide coverage for all liabilities (including liability for certain events involving pollution or other environmental claims).
We face risks associated with conducting business in markets outside of the U.S. and Canada.
We currently conduct business in countries outside of the U.S. and Canada. We could be materially and adversely affected by economic, legal, political and regulatory developments in the countries in which we do business in the future or in which we expand our business, particularly those countries which have historically experienced a high degree of political or economic instability. Examples of risks inherent in conducting business in markets outside of the U.S. and Canada include:
•changes in the political and economic conditions in the countries in which we operate, including civil uprisings and terrorist acts;
•unexpected changes in regulatory requirements;
•changes in tariffs;
•the adoption of foreign or domestic laws limiting exports to or imports from certain foreign countries;
•fluctuations in currency exchange rates and the value of the U.S. dollar;
•restrictions on repatriation of earnings;
•expropriation of property without fair compensation;
•governmental actions that result in the deprivation of contract or proprietary rights; and
•the acceptance of business practices which are not consistent with or are antithetical to prevailing business practices we are accustomed to in North America including export compliance and anti-bribery practices and governmental sanctions.
If we begin doing business in a foreign country in which we do not presently operate, we may also face difficulties in operations and diversion of management time in connection with establishing our business there.
We are subject to U.S. and other anti-corruption laws, trade controls, economic sanctions, and similar laws and regulations, including those in the jurisdictions where we operate. Our failure to comply with these laws and regulations could subject us to civil, criminal and administrative penalties and harm our reputation.
Doing business on a worldwide basis requires us to comply with the laws and regulations of the U.S. government and various foreign jurisdictions. These laws and regulations place restrictions on our operations, trade practices, partners and investment decisions. In particular, our operations are subject to U.S. and foreign anti-corruption and trade control laws and regulations, such as the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (“FCPA”), export controls and economic sanctions programs, including those administered by the U.S. Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (“OFAC”). As a result of doing business in foreign countries and with foreign partners, we are exposed to a heightened risk of violating anti-corruption and trade control laws and sanctions regulations.
The FCPA prohibits us from providing anything of value to foreign officials for the purposes of obtaining or retaining business or securing any improper business advantage. It also requires us to keep books and records that accurately and fairly reflect the Company’s transactions. As part of our business, we may deal with state-owned business enterprises, the employees of which are considered foreign officials for purposes of the FCPA. In addition, the United Kingdom Bribery Act (the “Bribery Act”) extends beyond bribery of foreign public officials and also apply to transactions with individuals that a government does not employ. The provisions of the Bribery Act are also more onerous than the FCPA in a number of other respects, including jurisdiction, non-exemption of facilitation payments and penalties. Some of the international locations in which we operate lack a developed legal system and have higher than normal levels of corruption. Our continued expansion outside the U.S., including in developing countries, and our development of new partnerships and joint venture relationships worldwide, could increase the risk of FCPA, OFAC or Bribery Act violations in the future.
Economic sanctions programs restrict our business dealings with certain sanctioned countries, persons and entities. In addition, because we act as a distributor, we face the risk that our customers might further distribute our products to a sanctioned person or entity, or an ultimate end-user in a sanctioned country, which might subject us to an investigation concerning compliance with the OFAC or other sanctions regulations.
Violations of anti-corruption and trade control laws and sanctions regulations are punishable by civil penalties, including fines, denial of export privileges, injunctions, asset seizures, debarment from government contracts and revocations or restrictions of licenses, as well as criminal fines and imprisonment. We have established policies and procedures designed to assist our compliance with applicable U.S. and international anti-corruption and trade control laws and regulations, including the FCPA, the Bribery Act and trade controls and sanctions programs administered by the OFAC, and have trained our employees to comply with these laws and regulations. However, there can be no assurance that all of our employees, consultants, agents or other associated persons will not take actions in violation of our policies and these laws and regulations, and that our policies and procedures will effectively prevent us from violating these regulations in every transaction in which we may engage or provide a defense to any alleged violation. In particular, we may be held liable for the actions that our local, strategic or joint venture partners take inside or outside of the U.S., even though our partners may not be subject to these laws. Such a violation, even if our policies prohibit it, could have a material adverse effect on our reputation, business, financial condition and results of operations. In addition, various state and municipal governments, universities and other investors maintain prohibitions or restrictions on investments in companies that do business with sanctioned countries, persons and entities, which could adversely affect the market for our common stock and other securities.
Compliance with and changes in laws and regulations in the countries in which we operate could have a significant financial impact and effect how and where we conduct our operations.
We have operations in the U.S. and in other countries that can be impacted by expected and unexpected changes in the business and legal environments in the countries in which we operate. Compliance with and changes in laws, regulations, and other legal and business issues could impact our ability to manage our costs and to meet our earnings goals. Compliance related matters could also limit our ability to do business in certain countries. Changes that could have a significant cost to us include new legislation, new regulations, or a differing interpretation of existing laws and regulations, changes in tax law or tax rates, the unfavorable resolution of tax assessments or audits by various taxing authorities, the expansion of currency exchange controls, export controls or additional restrictions on doing business in countries subject to sanctions in which we operate or intend to operate.
Risks Relating to Our Common Stock
The market price of our shares may fluctuate widely.
The market price of our common stock may fluctuate widely, depending upon many factors, some of which may be beyond our control, including:
•our competitors’ significant acquisitions or dispositions;
•the failure of our operating results to meet the estimates of securities analysts or the expectations of our stockholders;
•changes in earnings estimates by securities analysts or our ability to meet our earnings guidance;
•the operating and stock price performance of other comparable companies;
•overall market fluctuations and general economic conditions; and
•the other factors described in these “Risk Factors” and elsewhere in this Form 10-K.
Stock markets in general have also experienced volatility that has often been unrelated to the operating performance of a particular company. These broad market fluctuations could negatively affect the trading price of our common stock.
Your percentage ownership in us may be diluted in the future.
As with any publicly traded company, your percentage ownership in us may be diluted in the future because of equity issuances for acquisitions, capital market transactions or otherwise, including, without limitation, equity awards that we expect will be granted to our directors, officers and employees.
We cannot assure you that we will pay dividends on our common stock.
We do not currently pay dividends on our common stock. We currently intend to retain our future earnings to support the growth and development of our business. The payment of future cash dividends, if any, will be at the discretion of our Board of Directors and will depend upon, among other things, our financial condition, results of operations, capital requirements and development expenditures, future business prospects and any restrictions imposed by future debt instruments.
Certain provisions in our corporate documents and Delaware law may prevent or delay an acquisition of our company, even if that change may be considered beneficial by some of our stockholders.
The existence of some provisions of our certificate of incorporation and bylaws and Delaware law could discourage, delay or prevent a change in control of us that a stockholder may consider favorable. These include provisions:
•providing our Board of Directors with the right to issue preferred stock without stockholder approval;
•prohibiting stockholders from taking action by written consent;
•restricting the ability of our stockholders to call a special meeting;
•providing that the number of directors will be filled by the Board of Directors and vacancies on the Board of Directors, including those resulting from an enlargement of the Board of Directors, will be filled by the Board of Directors;
•requiring cause and an affirmative vote of at least 80 percent of the voting power of the then-outstanding voting stock to remove directors;
•requiring the affirmative vote of at least 80 percent of the voting power of the then-outstanding voting stock to amend certain provisions of our certificate of incorporation and bylaws; and
•establishing advance notice requirements for nominations of candidates for election to our Board of Directors or for stockholder proposals.
In addition, we are subject to Section 203 of the Delaware General Corporation Law (the “DGCL”) which may have an anti-takeover effect with respect to transactions not approved in advance by our Board of Directors, including discouraging takeover attempts that could have resulted in a premium over the market price for shares of our common stock.
We believe these provisions protect our stockholders from coercive or otherwise unfair takeover tactics by requiring potential acquirers to negotiate with our Board of Directors and by providing our Board of Directors with more time to assess any acquisition proposal. These provisions are not intended to make our company immune from takeovers. However, these provisions apply even if the offer may be considered beneficial by some stockholders and could delay or prevent an acquisition that our Board of Directors determines is not in the best interests of our company and our stockholders.

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ITEM 1B. UNRESOLVED STAFF COMMENTS
ITEM 1B.	UNRESOLVED STAFF COMMENTS
None.

---

ITEM 2. PROPERTIES
ITEM 2.	PROPERTIES
As of December 31, 2024, our three reporting segments, the United States, Canada and International, had approximately 110 locations, 40 locations and 15 locations, respectively. International countries include: Australia, England, Kuwait, the Netherlands, Norway, Scotland, Singapore and UAE. Our properties are comprised of offices, supercenters and branches, approximately 85% of which are leased. One owned facility is pledged as collateral under our senior secured revolving credit facility discussed in Note 11 “Debt” of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Part IV, Item 15 of this Form 10-K); none of our owned facilities are subject to mortgages.

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ITEM 3. LEGAL PROCEEDINGS
ITEM 3.	LEGAL PROCEEDINGS
We have various claims, lawsuits and administrative proceedings that are pending or threatened, all arising in the ordinary course of business, with respect to commercial, product liability and employee matters. Although no assurance can be given with respect to the outcome of these or any other pending legal and administrative proceedings and the effect such outcomes may have, we believe any ultimate liability resulting from the outcome of such claims, lawsuits or administrative proceedings will not have a material adverse effect on our consolidated financial position, results of operations or cash flows. See Note 14 “Commitments and Contingencies” of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Part IV, Item 15 of this Form 10-K) for additional information.

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ITEM 4. MINE SAFETY DISCLOSURE
ITEM 4.	MINE SAFETY DISCLOSURES
Not Applicable.
PART II

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ITEM 5. MARKET FOR REGISTRANT'S COMMON EQUITY
ITEM 5.	MARKET FOR REGISTRANT’S COMMON EQUITY, RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS AND ISSUER PURCHASES OF EQUITY SECURITIES
Quarterly Common Stock Prices and Cash Dividends Per Share
DNOW Inc. common stock is traded on the New York Stock Exchange (“NYSE”) under the ticker symbol “DNOW”.
Our Board of Directors has not declared any dividends during 2022, 2023 or 2024 and currently has no intention to declare dividends.
As of January 31, 2025, there were 1,663 holders of record of our common stock. Many stockholders choose to own shares through brokerage accounts and other intermediaries rather than as holders of record (excluding individual participants in securities positions listing) so the actual number of stockholders is unknown but likely significantly higher.
The information relating to our equity compensation plans required by Item 5. “Market for Registrant’s Common Equity, Related Stockholder Matters and Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities” is incorporated by reference to such information as set forth in Item 12. “Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management and Related Stockholder Matters” contained herein.
The following table presents a summary of share repurchases made during the three months ended December 31, 2024:
Period
Total number of shares purchased
Average price paid per share (1)
Total number of shares purchased as part of publicly announced program (2)
Approximate dollar value of shares that may yet be purchased under the program (1)(2) (in millions)
October 1 - 31, 2024
181,022
$
12.34
181,022
$
November 1 - 30, 2024
263,207
$
14.72
263,207
$
-
December 1 - 31, 2024
-
$
-
-
$
-
Total
444,229
$
13.75
444,229
(1)Excludes 1% excise tax on share repurchases.
(2)On August 3, 2022, the Company’s Board of Directors approved a share repurchase program, under which the Company is authorized to purchase up to $80 million of its outstanding common stock through December 31, 2024.
Performance Graph
The graph below compares the cumulative five year total return provided shareholders on DNOW Inc.'s common stock relative to the cumulative total returns of the S&P Midcap 400 index and the PHLX Oil Service Sector index. An investment of $100 (with reinvestment of all dividends) is assumed to have been made in our common stock and in each index on December 31, 2019 and its relative performance is tracked through December 31, 2024.
*$100 invested on 12/31/19 in stock or index, including reinvestment of dividends.
Fiscal year ending December 31.
Copyright© 2025 Standard & Poor's, a division of S&P Global. All rights reserved.
12/19
12/20
12/21
12/22
12/23
12/24
DNOW Inc.
$
$
$
$
$
$
S&P Midcap 400
$
$
$
$
$
$
PHLX Oil Service Sector
$
$
$
$
$
$
The stock price performance included in this graph is not necessarily indicative of future stock price performance.
This information shall not be deemed to be ‘‘soliciting material’’ or to be ‘‘filed’’ with the Commission or subject to Regulation 14A (17 CFR 240.14a-1-240.14a-104), other than as provided in Item 201(e) of Regulation S-K, or to the liabilities of section 18 of the Exchange Act (15 U.S.C. 78r).

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ITEM 6. SELECTED FINANCIAL DATA
ITEM 6.	RESERVED
Not applicable.

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ITEM 7. MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS
ITEM 7.	MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
Basis of Presentation
The accompanying consolidated financial information include the accounts of the Company and its consolidated subsidiaries. All significant intercompany transactions and accounts have been eliminated. Variable interest entities for which the Company is the primary beneficiary are fully consolidated with the equity held by the outside stockholders and their portion of net income (loss) reflected as noncontrolling interest in the accompanying consolidated financial statements.
General Overview
We are a distributor to the oil and gas, energy transition and industrial markets with a legacy of over 160 years. We operate primarily under the DNOW brand along with several affiliated brands operating in local, regional or international markets that are tied to prior acquisitions. Through our network of approximately 165 locations and approximately 2,575 employees worldwide, we stock and sell a comprehensive offering of energy products as well as a selection of products for industrial applications. Our product and service offerings are consumed throughout the energy industry - from upstream drilling and completion, E&P, midstream transmission, gas and crude oil processing infrastructure development to downstream petroleum refining and petrochemicals - as well as in other industries, such as chemical processing, mining, water/wastewater, food and beverage, gas utilities and the evolution of energy transition markets inclusive of greenhouse gas reduction and emissions capture and storage, renewable fuels such as biofuels, RNG, wind, solar, production of hydrogen as a fuel to power equipment and select industrial markets. The energy and industrial distribution end markets we serve are inclusive of engineering and construction firms that perform capital and maintenance projects for their clients. We also provide supply chain and materials management solutions to the same markets where we sell products.
Our global product offering includes pipe, manual and automated valves, fittings, flanges, gaskets, fasteners, electrical, instrumentation, artificial lift, pumping solutions and modular process, production, measurement, automation, control equipment and consumable MRO supplies. We also offer sourcing, procurement, warehouse and inventory management solutions as part of our supply chain and materials management offering. We have developed expertise in providing application systems, work processes, parts integration, optimization solutions and after-sales support that provide more efficient and productive solutions for our customers.
Our solutions include outsourcing portions or entire functions of our customers’ procurement, warehouse and inventory management, logistics, point of issue technology, project management, business process and performance metrics reporting. These solutions allow us to leverage the infrastructure of our SAP™ ERP system and other technologies to streamline our customers’ purchasing process, from requisition to procurement to payment, by digitally managing workflow, improving approval routing and providing robust reporting functionality.
We support land and offshore operations for the major oil and gas producing regions around the world through our network of locations. Our key markets include the U.S., Canada, UK, Norway, Australia, the Netherlands, Singapore and the Middle East area with the ability to provide products through an export model to operators with operations in Southeast Asia and West Africa. Products sold through our locations support brownfield and greenfield expansion upstream capital projects, midstream infrastructure and transmission and MRO consumables used in day-to-day production. We provide downstream energy and industrial products for petroleum refining, chemical processing, LNG terminals, power generation, gas utilities serviced by a combination of customer on-site locations and off-site service locations in combination with our digital offerings.
Our supplier network consists of thousands of vendors in approximately 30 countries. From our operations, we sell to customers operating in approximately 80 countries. The supplies and equipment stocked by each of our locations are customized to meet varied and changing local customer demands. The breadth, scale and availability of our product offering enhances our value proposition to our customers, suppliers and shareholders.
We employ advanced information technologies, including a common ERP platform across most of our business, to provide complete procurement, warehouse and inventory management and logistics coordination to our customers around the globe. Having a common ERP platform allows immediate visibility into our inventory assets, operations and financials worldwide, enhancing decision making and efficiency.
Our revenue and operating results are related to the level of worldwide oil and gas drilling and production activities and the profitability and cash flow of oil and gas companies and drilling contractors, which in turn are affected by current and anticipated prices of oil and gas. Oil and gas prices have been and are likely to continue to be volatile. See Item 1A. “Risk Factors.” We conduct our operations through three business segments: U.S., Canada and International. See Item 1. “Business-Summary of Reportable Segments” for a discussion of each of these business segments.
Unless indicated otherwise, results of operations data are presented in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States (“GAAP”). In an effort to provide investors with additional information regarding our results as determined by GAAP, we may disclose non-GAAP financial measures. The primary non-GAAP financial measure we focus on is earnings before interest,
taxes, depreciation and amortization, excluding other costs (“EBITDA excluding other costs”), and EBITDA excluding other costs as a percentage of revenue. This financial measure excludes the impact of certain amounts and is not calculated in accordance with GAAP. See “Non-GAAP Financial Measures and Reconciliations” in Results of Operations for an explanation of our use of non-GAAP financial measures and reconciliations to the corresponding measures calculated in accordance with GAAP.
Operating Environment Overview
Our results are dependent on, among other factors, the level of worldwide oil and gas drilling and completions, well remediation activity, crude oil and natural gas prices, capital spending by oilfield service companies and drilling contractors, and the worldwide oil and gas inventory levels. Key industry indicators for the past three years include the following:
%
%
2024 v
2024 v
2024*
2023*
2022*
Active Drilling Rigs:
U.S.
(13.1
%)
(16.9
%)
Canada
6.2
%
6.8
%
International
0.0
%
11.4
%
Worldwide
1,735
1,814
(4.4
%)
1,748
(0.7
%)
West Texas Intermediate Crude Prices (per barrel)
$
76.55
$
77.64
(1.4
%)
$
94.79
(19.2
%)
Natural Gas Prices ($/MMBtu)
$
2.19
$
2.54
(13.8
%)
$
6.42
(65.9
%)
Hot-Rolled Coil Prices (steel) ($/short ton)
$
781.00
$
887.47
(12.0
%)
$
1,097.24
(28.8
%)
U.S. Wells Completed
11,731
12,847
(8.7
%)
13,102
(10.5
%)
* Averages for the years indicated, except for U.S. Wells Completed. See sources on following page.
The following table details the U.S., Canadian, and international rig activity and West Texas Intermediate (“WTI”) oil prices for the past nine quarters ended December 31, 2024:
Sources: Rig count: Baker Hughes, Inc. (www.bakerhughes.com); West Texas Intermediate Crude and Natural Gas Prices: Department of Energy, Energy Information Administration (www.eia.gov); Hot-Rolled Coil Prices: SteelBenchmarker™ Hot Roll Coil USA (www.steelbenchmarker.com); U.S. Wells Completed: Department of Energy, Energy Information Administration (www.eia.gov) (As revised).
The worldwide average rig count declined 4.4% (from 1,814 rigs to 1,735 rigs) and the U.S. declined 13.1% (from 689 rigs to 599 rigs) in 2024 compared to 2023. The average price of WTI crude declined 1.4% (from $77.64 per barrel to $76.55 per barrel), and natural gas prices declined 13.8% (from $2.54 per MMBtu to $2.19 per MMBtu) in 2024 compared to 2023. The average price of Hot-Rolled Coil declined 12.0% (from $887.47 per short ton to $781.00 per short ton) in 2024 compared to 2023. U.S. Wells Completed declined 8.7% (from 12,847 completion count to 11,731 completion count) in 2024 compared to 2023.
U.S. rig count at January 24, 2025 was 576 rigs, down 23 rigs from the 2024 average. The price for WTI crude was $74.97 per barrel at January 24, 2025, down 2.1% from the 2024 average. The price for natural gas was $3.84 per MMBtu at January 24, 2025, up 75.3% from the 2024 average. The price for Hot-Rolled Coil was $710.00 per short ton at January 27, 2025, down 9.1% from the 2024 average. As released on February 11, 2025, U.S. Wells Completed for January 2025 was 927, down 5.2% on an annualized basis compared to 2024.
Executive Summary
For the year ended December 31, 2024, the Company generated net income attributable to DNOW Inc. of $81 million, or $0.74 per fully diluted share on $2,373 million in revenue. Net income attributable to DNOW Inc. declined for the year ended December 31, 2024, by $166 million when compared to the corresponding period of 2023. Revenue increased for the year ended December 31, 2024, by $52 million, or 2.2%, when compared to the corresponding period of 2023. For the year ended December 31, 2024, operating profit was $113 million compared to $140 million for the corresponding period of 2023.
Outlook
Our outlook for the Company remains tied to crude oil and natural gas commodity prices, global oil and gas drilling and completions activity, oil and gas spending, and global demand for oil, its refined petroleum products, crude oil, natural gas liquids and natural gas production and decline rates. Crude oil and natural gas prices as well as crude oil and natural gas storage levels are primary catalysts for determining customer activity. In recent years, oil prices have remained volatile and economic and geopolitical uncertainty continues to drive commodity price volatility globally. Despite lower North American rig count resulting from enhancements in technology leading to increased rig efficiencies, we maintain a constructive outlook for our market. Amid these dynamics, we will continue to support our customers, optimize our operations, advance our strategic goals and manage the Company based on market conditions.
We see the evolution in energy transition investments to reduce atmospheric carbon, source carbon capture, storage and new energy streams as an opportunity for DNOW to supply many of the current products and services we provide, as well as an opportunity to partner and source from new suppliers to expand our offering and to meet our customers’ needs for their energy evolution investments. A number of our larger customers are leading the investments in energy evolution projects where we expect to continue to support them while expanding our product and solution offerings to meet their changing requirements. Part of our growth strategy is to expand our revenues by targeting new customers in non-oil and gas end markets, in addition to servicing those customers that will play a part in the future of the evolving mix of traditional and new sources of energy.
Results of Operations
Consolidated Results
Years Ended December 31, 2024 and December 31, 2023
The results of operations are presented before consideration of the noncontrolling interest. A summary of the Company’s revenue and operating profit by segment in 2024 and 2023 follows (in millions):
Year Ended December 31,
Variance
$
Revenue:
United States
$
1,880
$
1,749
$
Canada
(29
)
International
(50
)
Total revenue
$
2,373
$
2,321
$
Operating profit:
United States
$
$
$
(9
)
Canada
(8
)
International
(10
)
Total operating profit
$
$
$
(27
)
United States
Revenue was $1,880 million for the year ended December 31, 2024, an increase of $131 million or 7.5% compared to the year ended December 31, 2023. The increase in the period was primarily driven by incremental revenue from acquisitions completed in 2024 partially offset by a decline in U.S. rigs and completions.
Operating profit was $95 million for the year ended December 31, 2024, a decline of $9 million compared to operating profit of $104 million for the year ended December 31, 2023. Operating profit decreased primarily due to an increase in expenses related to acquisitions completed in 2024, partially offset by the increase in revenue discussed above.
Canada
Revenue was $253 million for the year ended December 31, 2024, a decline of $29 million or 10.3% compared to the year ended December 31, 2023. The decrease was due to lower project related activity as well as an unfavorable foreign exchange rate impact.
Our Canadian revenue was approximately 11% of total revenue in 2024, compared to 12% in 2023. We are subject to fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates relative to the U.S. dollar. Our Canadian revenue is favorably impacted as the U.S. dollar weakens relative to the Canadian dollar, and unfavorably impacted as the U.S. dollar strengthens relative to the Canadian dollar. Our Canadian segment revenue was unfavorably impacted by approximately $4 million due to changes in foreign currency exchange rates over the prior year.
Operating profit was $13 million for the year ended December 31, 2024, a decline of $8 million compared to operating profit of $21 million for the year ended December 31, 2023. Operating profit decreased primarily due to the decline in revenue discussed above.
International
Revenue was $240 million for the year ended December 31, 2024, a decline of $50 million or 17.2% compared to the year ended December 31, 2023. The decrease was primarily driven by weaker project activity.
Our international revenue was approximately 10% of total revenue in 2024, compared to 12% in 2023. We are subject to fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates relative to the U.S. dollar. Our international revenue is favorably impacted as the U.S. dollar weakens relative to other foreign currencies, and unfavorably impacted as the U.S. dollar strengthens relative to other foreign currencies. Our international segment revenue was favorably impacted by approximately $2 million due to changes in foreign currency exchange rates over the prior year.
Operating profit was $5 million for the year ended December 31, 2024, a decline of $10 million compared to operating profit of $15 million for the year ended December 31, 2023. For the year ended December 31, 2024, operating profit decreased primarily due to an increase in expense of $9 million related to the restructuring plan in the International segment and revenue decline discussed above.
Cost of products
Cost of products was $1,838 million for the year ended December 31, 2024 compared to $1,786 million for the year ended December 31, 2023, an increase of $52 million. The increase was primarily due to the increase in revenue in the period. Cost of products includes the cost of inventory sold and related items, such as vendor consideration, inventory allowances, amortization of intangibles and inbound and outbound freight.
Warehousing, selling and administrative expenses
Warehousing, selling and administrative expenses were $416 million for the year ended December 31, 2024 compared to $395 million for the year ended December 31, 2023, an increase of $21 million. The increase was primarily driven by an increase in expenses related to acquisitions completed in 2024. Warehousing, selling and administrative expenses include branch location, distribution center and regional expenses (including costs such as compensation, benefits and rent) as well as depreciation and corporate general selling and administrative expenses.
Impairment and other charges
Impairment and other charges were $6 million for the year ended December 31, 2024 compared to nil for the year ended December 31, 2023. For the year ended December 31, 2024, the Company recognized approximately $6 million of foreign currency translation losses as a result of substantially completing the liquidation of certain foreign subsidiaries in the International segment.
Other income (expense)
Other income was $1 million for the year ended December 31, 2024 compared to other expense of $2 million for the year ended December 31, 2023. For the year ended December 31, 2024, other income improvement was primarily attributable to an increase in interest income.
Provision (benefit) for income taxes
The effective tax rate for the years ended December 31, 2024, and December 31, 2023 was 28.1% and (79.7%), respectively. In general, the effective tax rate differs from the U.S. statutory rate due to recurring items, such as differing tax rates on income earned in foreign jurisdictions, nondeductible expenses and state income taxes. For the year ended December 31, 2024, the effective tax rate was also impacted by foreign currency translation losses and other charges incurred as a result of substantially completing the liquidation of certain foreign subsidiaries with no associated tax benefit, foreign tax credits expiring unused in the period, and the change in valuation allowance recorded against deferred tax assets. For the year ended December 31, 2023, the effective tax rate benefit was primarily driven by a $148 million deferred tax benefit from the release of the valuation allowance against certain U.S. and non-U.S. deferred tax assets and the recognition of tax expense from earnings in Canada and the United Kingdom.
Consolidated Results
Years Ended December 31, 2023 and December 31, 2022
For discussion related to the results of operations and changes in financial condition for the year ended December 31, 2023 compared to the year ended December 31, 2022 refer to Part II, Item 7. Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations in our 2023 Form 10-K, which was filed with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission on February 15, 2024.
Non-GAAP Financial Measures and Reconciliations
In an effort to provide investors with additional information regarding our results of operations as determined by GAAP, we disclose non-GAAP financial measures. The primary non-GAAP financial measure we disclose is earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization, excluding other costs (“EBITDA excluding other costs”) and EBITDA excluding other costs as of percentage of revenue. This financial measure excludes the impact of certain amounts and is not calculated in accordance with GAAP. A reconciliation of this non-GAAP financial measure, to its most comparable GAAP financial measure, is included below.
We use EBITDA excluding other costs internally to evaluate and manage the Company’s operations because we believe it provides useful supplemental information regarding the Company’s ongoing operating performance. We have chosen to provide this information to investors to enable them to perform more meaningful comparisons of operating results.
The following table sets forth the reconciliations of EBITDA excluding other costs to the most comparable GAAP financial measures (in millions):
Year Ended December 31,
As a % of revenue
As a % of revenue
As a % of revenue
GAAP net income attributable to DNOW Inc. (1)
$
3.4
%
$
10.6
%
$
6.0
%
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interest
Interest expense (income), net
(6
)
(4
)
(1
)
Income tax provision (benefit)
(110
)
Depreciation and amortization
Other costs:
Stock-based compensation
Other (2)
EBITDA excluding other costs
$
7.4
%
$
7.9
%
$
8.2
%
(1)We believe that net income (loss) attributable to DNOW Inc. is the financial measure calculated and presented in accordance with GAAP that is most directly comparable to EBITDA excluding other costs. EBITDA excluding other costs measures the Company’s operating performance without regard to certain expenses. EBITDA excluding other costs is not a presentation made in accordance with GAAP and the Company’s computation of EBITDA excluding other costs may vary from others in the industry. EBITDA excluding other costs has important limitations as an analytical tool and should not be considered in isolation or as a substitute for analysis of the Company’s results as reported under GAAP.
(2)Other includes certain income and expenses not included in stock-based compensation.
For the year ended December 31, 2024, Other included International restructuring charges of $9 million of which approximately $6 million of foreign currency translation losses included in impairment and other charges, approximately $2 million of inventory write-downs included in cost of products and $1 million of other exit costs included in warehousing, selling and administrative. Additionally, Other also included transaction-related charges of approximately $12 million, of which approximately $5 million were included in cost of products and approximately $7 million included in warehousing, selling and administrative. Transaction-related charges include transaction costs, inventory fair value step-up, retention bonus accruals and integration expenses associated with acquisitions.
For the year ended December 31, 2023, Other of $9 million included approximately $5 million (included in warehousing, selling and administrative) related to legal fees for litigation matters that were not ordinary or routine to the operations of the business where the Company is seeking damages and approximately $3 million (included in warehousing, selling and administrative) related to separation and transaction-related charges; as well as approximately $1 million (included in other income and expense) related to settlements of the plan assets and benefit obligations of the Company's defined benefit pension plans.
For the year ended December 31, 2022, Other included approximately $10 million (included in impairment and other charges) related to the reclassification of accumulated foreign currency translation losses due to the substantial liquidation of certain foreign subsidiaries; as well as, approximately $10 million (included in warehousing, selling and administrative), of which approximately $5 million related to legal fees for litigation matters that were not ordinary or routine to the operations of the business where the Company is seeking damages and approximately $5 million related to separation and transaction-related charges; partially offset by a benefit of approximately $13 million (included in other income) related to the decrease of contingent consideration liability.
Liquidity and Capital Resources
We assess liquidity in terms of our ability to generate cash to fund operating, investing and financing activities. We expect resources to be available to reinvest in existing businesses, strategic acquisitions and capital expenditures to meet short and long-term objectives. We believe that cash on hand, cash generated from expected results of operations and amounts available under our revolving credit facility will be sufficient to fund operations, anticipated working capital needs and other cash requirements, including capital expenditures and our share repurchase program.
At December 31, 2024 and 2023, we had cash and cash equivalents of $256 million and $299 million, respectively. As of December 31, 2024, $93 million of our cash and cash equivalents were maintained in the accounts of our various foreign subsidiaries. For the year ended December 31, 2024, we repatriated $9 million from our foreign subsidiaries. The Company makes a determination each period concerning its intent and ability to indefinitely reinvest the cash held by its foreign subsidiaries. The Company has not recorded deferred income taxes on undistributed foreign earnings that it considers to be indefinitely reinvested. The Company makes a determination each period whether to indefinitely reinvest these earnings. If, as a result of these reassessments, the Company distributes these earnings in the future, additional tax liabilities offset by any available foreign tax credits may result.
We maintain a $500 million five-year senior secured revolving credit facility that will mature on December 14, 2026. Availability under the revolving credit facility is determined by a borrowing base comprised of eligible receivables, eligible inventory and certain cash deposits in the U.S. and Canada. As of December 31, 2024, we had no borrowings against our revolving credit facility and had approximately $433 million in availability (as defined in the Credit Agreement) resulting in the excess availability (as defined in the Credit Agreement) of 99%, subject to certain restrictions. Availability excluding certain cash deposits was approximately $300 million. Borrowings that result in the excess availability dropping below the greater of 10% of the borrowing base or $40 million are conditioned upon compliance with or waiver of a minimum fixed charge ratio (as defined in the Credit Agreement). The credit facility contains usual and customary affirmative and negative covenants for credit facilities of this type including financial covenants. As of December 31, 2024, we were in compliance with all covenants. We continuously monitor compliance with debt covenants. A default, if not waived or amended, would prevent us from taking certain actions, such as incurring additional debt.
See Note 13 “Leases” of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Part IV, Item 15 of this Form 10-K) for additional information on our obligations and timing of expected future lease payments.
We are often party to certain transactions that require off-balance sheet arrangements such as standby letters of credit and performance bonds and guarantees that are not reflected in our consolidated balance sheets. These arrangements are made in our normal course of business and they are not reasonably likely to have a current or future material adverse effect on our financial condition, results of operations, liquidity or cash flows.
In connection with acquisitions in 2024, the Company is committed to total future retention payments of up to $13 million payable in 2026 and 2027. Payments are due to various employees if non-financial post combination service conditions are met pursuant to the terms and conditions of the retention agreements.
The following table summarizes our net cash flows provided by (used in) operating activities, investing activities and financing activities for the periods presented (in millions):
Year Ended December 31,
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities
$
$
$
-
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities
(304
)
(48
)
(87
)
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities
(33
)
(55
)
(10
)
Fiscal Year 2024 Compared to Fiscal Year 2023
Net cash provided by operating activities was $298 million in 2024 compared to $188 million in 2023. Cash provided in 2024 was primarily driven by $82 million of net income, plus $97 million of reconciling adjustments, primarily depreciation and amortization, stock-based compensation and deferred income taxes, and a net decrease of $119 million in working capital. The improvement in 2024 was primarily driven by improved inventory efficiency and better collections on our receivables compared to 2023.
Net cash used in investing activities was $304 million in 2024 compared to $48 million in 2023. Cash used primarily related to business acquisitions of $299 million, net of cash acquired, in 2024 compared to $32 million, net of cash acquired, in 2023.
Net cash used in financing activities was $33 million in 2024 compared to $55 million in 2023. Cash used primarily related to the Company's payment of approximately $23 million for share repurchases in 2024 compared to $50 million in 2023.
Effect of the Change in Exchange Rates
For the year ended December 31, 2024, the effect of the change in exchange rates on cash flows was $4 million unfavorable compared to $2 million favorable for the years ended December 31, 2023.
For discussion related to the cash flows for the year ended December 31, 2023 compared to the year ended December 31, 2022 refer to Part II, Item 7. Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations in our 2023 Form 10-K, which was filed with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission on February 15, 2024.
Capital Spending
We intend to pursue additional acquisition candidates, but the timing, size or success of any acquisition effort and the related potential capital commitments cannot be predicted. We continue to expect to fund future cash acquisitions primarily with cash on hand, cash flow from operations and the usage of the available portion of the revolving credit facility. We expect capital expenditures for fiscal year 2025 to approximate $20 million, primarily related to purchases of property, plant and equipment. We will continue to maintain capital discipline and monitor market dynamics, and we may adjust our capital expenditures accordingly.
Share Repurchase Program
On August 3, 2022, the Company’s Board of Directors approved a share repurchase program, under which the Company is authorized to purchase up to $80 million of its outstanding common stock through December 31, 2024. The Company has fully utilized this $80 million repurchase program as of December 31, 2024. For the year ended December 31, 2024, we repurchased 1,823,249 shares of our common stock for a total of $23 million. On January 24, 2025, the Company’s Board of Directors authorized a new share repurchase program to purchase up to $160 million of its outstanding common stock. We expect to fund share repurchases primarily with cash on hand, cash flow from operations and the usage of the available portion of the revolving credit facility. The timing and amount of any repurchases will be made at our discretion, taking into account a number of factors, including market conditions. The share repurchase program does not obligate the Company to repurchase shares and may be suspended or discontinued at any time at our discretion. All shares repurchased shall be retired pursuant to the terms of the share repurchase program.
Critical Accounting Estimates
In preparing the financial statements, the Company makes assumptions, estimates and judgments that affect the amounts reported. The Company periodically evaluates its estimates and judgments that are most critical in nature, which are related to allowance for credit losses, inventory reserves, goodwill, purchase price allocation of acquisitions and income taxes. Its estimates are based on historical experience and on its future expectations that the Company believes are reasonable. The combination of these factors forms the basis for making judgments about the carrying values of assets and liabilities that are not readily apparent from other sources. Actual results are likely to differ from our current estimates and those differences may be material.
Allowance for Credit Losses
Accounts receivable consist of balances due from customers and are reported net of the allowance for credit losses, which represents their estimated net realizable value. These receivables are generally trade receivables due in one year or less or expected to be billed and collected in one year or less. The Company measures the allowance for credit losses on trade receivables based on an evaluation of accounts receivable aging, and where applicable, specific reserves on an individual customer basis. The estimated allowance for credit losses reflects the Company’s immediate recognition of current expected credit losses by incorporating accounts receivable aging, and the related historical loss experience, as adjusted for current and expected future market conditions that are reasonably available. Judgments in the estimate of allowance for credit losses include global economic and business conditions, oil and gas industry and market conditions, customers’ financial conditions and account receivables past due. Results of operations can be affected by adjustments to the allowance due to actual write-offs that differ from estimated amounts. At December 31, 2024 and 2023, allowance for credit losses totaled $15 million and $26 million, or 3.7% and 6.3% of gross accounts receivable, respectively.
Inventory Reserves
Inventories consist primarily of oilfield and industrial finished goods and work in process. Work in process primarily consists of inventory and labor related to customer specific engineered equipment. Finished goods are stated at the lower of cost or net realizable value and using average cost methods. Allowances for excess and obsolete inventories are determined based on the Company’s historical usage of inventory on hand as well as its future expectations. The Company’s estimated carrying value of inventory therefore depends upon demand driven by oil and gas spending activity, which depends in turn upon oil, gas and steel prices, the general outlook for economic growth worldwide, available financing for the Company’s customers, political stability in major oil and gas producing areas and the potential obsolescence of various inventory items the Company stocks, among other factors. At December 31, 2024 and 2023, inventory reserves totaled $17 million and $21 million, or 4.6% and 5.4% of gross inventory, respectively. Changes in our estimates can be material under different market conditions.
Goodwill
Generally accepted accounting principles require the Company to test goodwill for impairment at least annually or more frequently whenever events or circumstances occur indicating that it might be impaired. Impairment of goodwill is tested at the reporting unit level which is defined as an operating segment or one level below that constitutes a business for which financial information is available and is regularly reviewed by management. We perform the goodwill impairment testing annually in the fourth quarter of each fiscal year, and more frequently on an interim basis, when an event occurs or changes in circumstances indicate that the fair value of a reporting unit may have declined below its carrying value. We use either a qualitative assessment or a quantitative assessment. If the qualitative assessment indicates it is more-likely-than-not that the fair value of a reporting unit is less than its carrying value, a quantitative assessment is performed. Events or circumstances which could indicate a probable impairment include, but are not limited to, a significant reduction in worldwide oil and gas prices or drilling; a significant reduction in profitability or cash flow of oil and gas companies or drilling contractors; a significant reduction in worldwide well completion and remediation activity; a significant reduction in capital investment by other oilfield service companies; or a significant increase in worldwide inventories of oil or gas.
The Company has recorded $230 million of goodwill as of December 31, 2024. We performed the qualitative assessment described above for the annual goodwill impairment test in 2024 and concluded it was more likely than not that the fair value of each of its reporting units was greater than its carrying amount. Accordingly, no further testing was required.
Purchase Price Allocation of Acquisitions
The Company allocates the fair value of the purchase price consideration of an acquired business to its identifiable assets and liabilities based on estimated fair values. The excess of the purchase price over the fair value of the acquired assets and liabilities, if any, is recorded as goodwill. The Company uses all available information to estimate fair values including quoted market prices, the carrying value of acquired assets, and widely accepted valuation techniques such as discounted cash flows, multi-period excess earnings and relief from royalty. The Company engages third-party valuation advisors to assist in fair value determination of inventories, identifiable intangible assets and any other significant assets or liabilities when appropriate. The judgments made in determining the estimated fair value assigned to each class of assets acquired and liabilities assumed, as well as asset lives, could materially impact the Company’s results of operations.
Income Taxes
The Company is a U.S. registered company and is subject to income taxes in the U.S. The Company operates through various subsidiaries in a number of countries throughout the world. Income taxes are based upon the tax laws and rates of the countries in which the Company operates and earns income.
The Company’s annual tax provision is based on taxable income, statutory rates, and the interpretation of the tax laws in the various jurisdictions in which the Company operates. Changes in tax laws, regulations and treaties, foreign currency exchange restrictions or the Company’s level of operations or profitability in each jurisdiction could impact the tax liability in any given year.
The Company determined the provision for income taxes under the asset and liability approach, which requires the recognition of deferred tax assets and liabilities for the expected future tax consequences of events that have been included in the financial statements. Under this method, deferred tax assets and liabilities are determined on the basis of the differences between the financial statement and tax bases of assets and liabilities using enacted tax rates in effect for the year in which the differences are expected to reverse. The effect of a change in tax rates on deferred tax assets and liabilities is recognized in income in the period that includes the enactment date.
Deferred income taxes arise from temporary differences between the tax basis of assets and liabilities and their reported amounts in the financial statements, which will result in taxable or deductible amounts in the future. The Company recognizes deferred tax assets to the extent that the Company believes these assets are more-likely-than-not to be realized, recording a valuation allowance against the gross carrying value of the deferred tax assets to reduce the net recorded amount to the expected realizable amount. If the Company determines that it would be able to realize its deferred tax assets in the future in excess of their net recorded amount, the Company would make an adjustment to the deferred tax asset valuation allowance, which would reduce the provision for income taxes. In evaluating the Company’s ability to recover deferred tax assets within the jurisdiction from which they arise, the Company considers all available positive and negative evidence, including scheduled reversals of deferred tax liabilities, projected future taxable income, tax-planning strategies and results of operations.
As of December 31, 2024, the Company has recognized a valuation allowance of $21 million on certain identified deferred tax assets in the U.S. and non-U.S. jurisdictions where management believes that it is not more-likely-than-not that the Company would be able to realize the benefits of those specific deferred tax assets. The change during the year in the valuation allowance was a reduction of $3 million in the U.S. and $1 million in other foreign jurisdictions primarily due to substantially completing the liquidation of certain foreign subsidiaries. The Company will continue to monitor the need for a valuation allowance against its deferred tax assets and record adjustments as appropriate in future periods. See Note 10 “Income Taxes” of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Part IV, Item 15 of this Form 10-K) for additional information.
The Company records unrecognized tax benefits as liabilities in accordance with ASC 740 and adjusts these liabilities when judgment changes as a result of the evaluation of new information not previously available in jurisdictions of operation. The Company records uncertain tax positions in accordance with ASC 740 on the basis of a two-step process whereby (1) the Company determines whether it is more-likely-than-not that the tax positions will be sustained on the basis of the technical merits of the position and (2) for those tax positions that meet the more-likely-than-not recognition threshold, the Company recognizes the largest amount of tax benefit that is more than 50 percent likely to be realized upon ultimate settlement with the related tax authority. The annual tax provision includes the impact of income tax provisions and benefits for changes to liabilities that the Company considers appropriate, as well as related interest.
The Company is subject to audits by federal, state and foreign jurisdictions which may result in proposed assessments. Because of the complexity of some of these uncertainties, the ultimate resolution may result in a payment that is materially different from the current estimate of the unrecognized tax benefit liabilities. The Company reviews these liabilities quarterly and to the extent audits or other events result in an adjustment to the liability accrued for a prior year, the effect will be recognized in the period of the event.
As of December 31, 2024, the Company has an immaterial amount of undistributed foreign earnings that may be subject to taxation upon a future distribution. The Company has not recorded deferred income taxes on undistributed foreign earnings that it considers to be indefinitely reinvested. The Company makes a determination each period whether to indefinitely reinvest these earnings. If, as a result of these reassessments, the Company distributes these earnings in the future, additional tax liabilities may result, offset by any available foreign tax credits.
Recently Issued Accounting Standards
In November 2024, the Financial Accounting Standards Board issued Accounting Standards Update ("ASU") 2024-03, Income Statement-Reporting Comprehensive Income-Expense Disaggregation Disclosures (Subtopic 220-40), which requires more detailed information related to types of expenses in commonly presented captions in income statements. ASU 2024-03 is effective for annual periods beginning after December 15, 2026, and interim periods within fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2027, with early adoption permitted. The Company will not early adopt, and is currently assessing the impact of ASU 2024-03 in its consolidated financial statements and its disclosures. The Company does not expect the adoption of this standard to have a material impact in its consolidated statements.
In December 2023, the FASB issued ASU 2023-09, Income Taxes (Topic 740), which requires public companies to expand the income tax disclosures. The ASU requires entities to disclose more detailed information in their effective tax rate reconciliation and their cash taxes paid both in the U.S., state and foreign jurisdictions. ASU 2023-09 is effective for annual periods beginning after December 15, 2024, with early adoption permitted for annual financial statements that have not yet been issued. The Company will not early adopt, and is currently assessing the impact of ASU 2023-09 in its consolidated financial statements and in its disclosures. The Company does not expect the adoption of this standard to have a material impact in its consolidated statements.
Recently Adopted Accounting Standards
In November 2023, the Financial Accounting Standards Board issued Accounting Standards Update ("ASU") 2023-07, Segment Reporting (Topic 280), which requires enhanced segment disclosures primarily focusing on significant segment expense disclosures for both interim and annual periods. On January 1, 2024, the Company adopted this standard using modified retrospective transition method. See Note 17 “Business Segments” of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Part IV, Item 15 of this Form 10-K) for additional information.

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ITEM 7A. QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK
ITEM 7A.	QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK
We are exposed to certain market risks that are inherent in our financial instruments and arise from changes in interest rates and foreign currency exchange rates. We may enter into derivative financial instrument transactions to manage or reduce market risk but do not enter into derivative financial instrument transactions for speculative purposes. We do not currently have any material outstanding derivative instruments. See Note 15 “Derivative Financial Instruments” of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Part IV, Item 15 of this Form 10-K) for additional information.
A discussion of our primary market risk exposure in financial instruments is presented below.
Foreign Currency Exchange Rate Risk
We have operations in foreign countries and transact business globally in multiple currencies. Our net assets as well as our revenues and costs and expenses denominated in foreign currencies, expose us to the risk of fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates against the U.S. dollar. Because we operate globally and approximately one-fourth of our 2024 net sales were outside the U.S., foreign currency exchange rates can impact our financial position, results of operations and competitive position. We are a net receiver of foreign currencies, and therefore, benefit from a weakening of the U.S. dollar and are adversely affected by a strengthening of the U.S. dollar relative to the foreign currency. As of December 31, 2024, our most significant foreign currency exposure was to the Canadian dollar, followed by the British pound and the Australian dollar.
The financial statements of foreign subsidiaries are translated into their U.S. dollar equivalents at end-of-period exchange rates for assets and liabilities, while revenue, costs and expenses are translated at average monthly exchange rates. Translation gains and losses are components of other comprehensive income (loss) as reported in the consolidated statements of comprehensive income (loss). Upon complete or substantially complete liquidation of a foreign subsidiary, the accumulated foreign currency translation gains and losses relating to the foreign subsidiary are reclassified into earnings, reflected in impairment and other charges in the consolidated statements of operations. During 2024, we reported a net foreign currency translation loss of $8 million, after the reclassification of accumulated foreign currency translation losses of approximately $6 million related to the substantial liquidation of certain foreign subsidiaries.
Foreign currency exchange rate fluctuations generally do not materially affect our earnings since the functional currency is typically the local currency; however, our operations also have net assets not denominated in their functional currency, which exposes us to changes in foreign currency exchange rates that impact our net income as foreign currency transaction gains and losses. Foreign currency transaction gains and losses arising from fluctuations in currency exchange rates on transactions denominated in currencies other than the functional currency are recognized in the consolidated statements of operations as a component of other income (expense). For the years ended December 31, 2024, 2023 and 2022, we reported a net foreign currency transaction loss of $1 million, $1 million and $2 million, respectively. Gains and losses are primarily due to exchange rate fluctuations related to monetary asset balances denominated in currencies other than the functional currency and fair value adjustments to economically hedged positions as a result of changes in foreign currency exchange rates.
Some of our revenues for our foreign operations are denominated in U.S. dollars, and therefore, changes in foreign currency exchange rates impact earnings to the extent that costs associated with those U.S. dollar revenues are denominated in the local currency. Similarly, some of our revenues for our foreign operations are denominated in foreign currencies, but have associated U.S. dollar costs, which also give rise to foreign currency exchange rate exposure. In order to mitigate those risks, we may utilize foreign currency forward contracts to better match the currency of the revenues and the associated costs. Although we may utilize foreign currency forward contracts to economically hedge certain foreign currency denominated balances or transactions, we do not currently hedge the net investments in our foreign operations. The counterparties to our forward contracts are major financial institutions. The credit ratings and concentration of risk of these financial institutions are monitored by us on a continuing basis. In the event that the counterparties fail to meet the terms of a foreign currency contract, our exposure is limited to the foreign currency rate differential.
The average foreign exchange rate for 2024 compared to the average for 2023 remained flat compared to the U.S. dollar based on the aggregated weighted average revenue of our foreign-currency denominated foreign operations. The Canadian dollar and Australian dollar decreased in relation to the U.S. dollar by 1% while the British pound increased in relation to the U.S dollar by approximately 3%.
We utilized a sensitivity analysis to measure the potential impact on earnings based on a hypothetical 10% change in foreign currency rates. A 10% change from the levels experienced during 2024 of the U.S. dollar relative to foreign currencies that affected the Company would have resulted in $1 million change in net income for 2024.
Commodity Steel Pricing
Our business is sensitive to steel prices, which can impact our product pricing, with steel tubular prices generally having the highest degree of sensitivity. While we cannot predict steel prices, we mitigate this risk by managing our inventory levels, including maintaining sufficient quantity on hand to meet demand, while limiting the risk of overstocking.

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ITEM 8. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND SUPPLEMENTARY DATA
ITEM 8.	FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND SUPPLEMENTARY DATA
Attached hereto and a part of this report are financial statements and supplementary data listed in Item 15. “Exhibits, Financial Statement Schedules.”

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ITEM 9. CHANGES IN AND DISAGREEMENTS WITH ACCOUNTANTS
ITEM 9.	CHANGES IN AND DISAGREEMENTS WITH ACCOUNTANTS ON ACCOUNTING AND FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE
None.

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ITEM 9A. CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES
ITEM 9A.	CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES
We maintain disclosure controls and procedures designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed in reports we file or submit under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the Exchange Act of 1934), is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in SEC rules and forms, and that such information is accumulated and communicated to management, including our principal executive and principal financial officers, as appropriate, to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure. As of December 31, 2024, with the participation of management, our President and Chief Executive Officer and our Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer carried out an evaluation, pursuant to Rule 13a-15(b) of the Exchange Act of 1934, of the effectiveness of our disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rule 13a-15(e) of the Exchange Act of 1934). Based upon that evaluation, our President and Chief Executive Officer and our Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer concluded that our disclosure controls and procedures were operating effectively as of December 31, 2024.
Management’s Annual Report on Internal Control Over Financial Reporting
Pursuant to Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 and as defined in Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f) under the Exchange Act, management is required to provide the following report on our internal control over financial reporting:
•Management is responsible for establishing and maintaining adequate internal control over financial reporting.
•Management has evaluated the system of internal control using the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission 2013 framework (“COSO 2013 framework”). Management has selected the COSO 2013 framework for its evaluation as it is a control framework recognized by the SEC and the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board that is free from bias, permits reasonably consistent qualitative and quantitative measurement of our internal controls, is sufficiently complete so that relevant controls are not omitted and is relevant to an evaluation of internal controls over financial reporting.
•Based on management’s evaluation under this framework, management has concluded that our internal controls over financial reporting were effective as of December 31, 2024. There are no material weaknesses in our internal control over financial reporting that have been identified by management.
•In accordance with guidance issued by the Securities and Exchange Commission, companies are permitted to exclude acquisitions from their assessment of internal control over financial reporting for a period not to exceed one year from the date of acquisition. During 2024, the Company completed the acquisitions of Whitco Supply, LLC and Trojan Rentals, LLC, which represented approximately 12.5% of our consolidated revenues for the year ended December 31, 2024 and 11.7% of consolidated assets as of December 31, 2024. For purposes of determining the effectiveness of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting, as disclosed in this report, management has excluded the internal controls of these acquired entities from its evaluation.
There have been no changes in our internal control over financial reporting, as defined in Rule 13a-15(f) of the Act, in the quarterly period ended December 31, 2024, that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting, other than increasing certain evidential matter, including documentation, in support of business combinations.
Pursuant to section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer have provided certain certifications to the Securities and Exchange Commission. These certifications are included herein as Exhibits 31.1 and 31.2.
The report from Ernst & Young LLP on its audit of the effectiveness of the Company's internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2024 is included in this annual report and is incorporated herein by reference.

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ITEM 9B. OTHER INFORMATION
ITEM 9B.	OTHER INFORMATION
Insider Trading Arrangements and Policies
During the three months ended December 31, 2024, no director or officer of the Company adopted or terminated a “Rule 10b5-1 trading arrangement” or “non-Rule 10b5-1 trading arrangement,” as each term is defined in Item 408(a) of Regulation S-K.

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ITEM 10. DIRECTORS, EXECUTIVE OFFICERS AND CORPORATE GOVERNANCE
ITEM 10.	DIRECTORS, EXECUTIVE OFFICERS AND CORPORATE GOVERNANCE
Incorporated by reference to the definitive Proxy Statement for the 2025 Annual Meeting of Stockholders.

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ITEM 11. EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION
ITEM 11.	EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION
Incorporated by reference to the definitive Proxy Statement for the 2025 Annual Meeting of Stockholders.

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ITEM 12. SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS
ITEM 12.	SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT AND RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS
Incorporated by reference to the definitive Proxy Statement for the 2025 Annual Meeting of Stockholders.
Securities Authorized for Issuance Under Equity Compensation Plans.
The following table sets forth information as of our fiscal year ended December 31, 2024, with respect to compensation plans under which our common stock may be issued:
Plan Category
Number of securities to be issued upon exercise of outstanding options, warrants and rights (1)
Weighted-average exercise price of outstanding options, warrants and rights
Number of securities remaining available for future issuance under equity compensation plans (2)
Equity compensation plans
approved by security holders
1,888,025
$
11.16
6,434,283
Equity compensation plans
not approved by security holders
-
-
-
Total
1,888,025
$
11.16
6,434,283
(1)Includes 836,747 shares of issuable performance-based awards if specific targets are met, and 149,732 shares of RSU which have no exercise price. Therefore these shares are excluded for purposes of determining the weighted-average exercise prices of outstanding options, warrants and rights.
(2)Includes 6,434,283 shares issuable pursuant to the 2024 Plan in the form of stock options, restricted awards, RSUs, performance stock awards, or any combination of the foregoing.

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ITEM 13. CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS
ITEM 13.	CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS, AND DIRECTOR INDEPENDENCE
Incorporated by reference to the definitive Proxy Statement for the 2025 Annual Meeting of Stockholders.

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ITEM 14. PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTING FEES AND SERVICES
ITEM 14.	PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTING FEES AND SERVICES
Incorporated by reference to the definitive Proxy Statement for the 2025 Annual Meeting of Stockholders.
PART IV

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ITEM 15. EXHIBITS, FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULES
ITEM 15.	EXHIBITS, FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULES
(1) Financial Statements and Exhibits
The following financial statements are presented in response to Part II, Item 8:
Page
REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM
Auditor Name: Ernst & Young LLP
Auditor Location: Houston, Texas
Auditor ID: 42
Consolidated Balance Sheets
Consolidated Statements of Operations
Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows
Consolidated Statements of Stockholders’ Equity
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
(2) Financial Statement Schedule
All schedules are omitted because they are not applicable, not required or the information is included in the financial statements or notes thereto.
(3) Exhibits
3.1
DNOW Inc. Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation (6)
3.2
DNOW Inc. Amended and Restated Bylaws (8)
4.1
Description of the Registrant’s Securities Registered Pursuant to Section 12 of the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934
10.1
Form of Employment Agreement for Executive Officers (1)
10.2
NOW Inc. 2014 Incentive Compensation Plan (2)
10.3
Form of Nonqualified Stock Option Agreement (4)
10.4
Form of Restricted Stock Award Agreement (3 year cliff vest) (3)
10.5
Form of Performance Award Agreement (3)
10.6
Form of Amendment to Employment Agreement for Executive Officers (4)
10.7
Credit Agreement dated as of April 30, 2018, among the Borrowers, the lenders that are parties thereto and Wells Fargo Bank, National Association as administrative agent, an issuing lender and swing lender (5)
10.8
Employment Agreement between NOW Inc. and Chief Executive Officer David Cherechinsky (7)
10.9
Employment Agreement between NOW Inc. and Chief Financial Officer Mark Johnson (7)
10.10
First Amendment to Credit Agreement, and First Amendment to US Guaranty and Security Agreement, dated as of December 14, 2021, among the Borrowers, the lenders party thereto and Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as administrative agent, an issuing lender and swing lender (9)
10.11
First Amendment to Credit Agreement, and First Amendment to US Guaranty and Security Agreement, dated as of December 14, 2021, among the Borrowers, the lenders party thereto and Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as administrative agent, an issuing lender and swing lender (10)
10.12
Second Amendment to Credit Agreement, among the Borrowers, the lenders party thereto and Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as administrative agent, an issuing lender and swing lender (11)
10.13
DNOW Inc. 2024 Omnibus Incentive Plan (12)
21.1
Subsidiaries of the Registrant
23.1
Consent of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
24.1
Power of Attorney (included on signature page hereto)
31.1
Certification of Chief Executive Officer pursuant to Rule 13a-14a and Rule 15d-14(a) of the Securities and Exchange Act, as amended
31.2
Certification of Chief Financial Officer pursuant to Rule 13a-14a and Rule 15d-14(a) of the Securities and Exchange Act, as amended
32.1
Certification of Chief Executive Officer Pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
32.2
Certification of Chief Financial Officer Pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
97.1
DNOW Incentive Based Compensation Recoupment Policy
101.INS
Inline XBRL Instance Document - The instance document does not appear in the interactive data file because its XBRL tags are embedded within the Inline XBRL document
101.SCH
Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Schema Document
101.CAL
Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Calculation Linkbase Document
101.DEF
Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Definition Linkbase Document
101.LAB
Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Label Linkbase Document
101.PRE
Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Presentation Linkbase Document
Cover Page Interactive Data File (embedded within the Inline XBRL document)
_________________________________________
(1)Filed as an Exhibit to our Current Report on Form 8-K filed on May 30, 2014
(2)Filed as an Exhibit to our Amendment No. 1 to Form 10, as amended, Registration Statement filed on April 8, 2014
(3)Filed as an Exhibit to our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q filed on May 7, 2015
(4)Filed as an Exhibit to our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q filed on November 2, 2016
(5)Filed as an Exhibit to our Current Report on Form 8-K filed on May 1, 2018
(6)Filed as an Exhibit to our Current Report on Form 8-K filed on January 9, 2024
(7)Filed as an Exhibit to our Current Report on Form 8-K filed on June 2, 2020
(8)Filed as an Exhibit to our Current Report on Form 8-K filed on January 9, 2024
(9)Filed as an Exhibit to our Current Report on Form 8-K filed on December 17, 2021
(10)Filed as an Exhibit to our Current Report on Form 8-K/A filed on February 4, 2022
(11)Filed as an Exhibit to our Current Report on Form 8-K filed on January 3, 2023
(12)Filed as an Exhibit to Registration Statement on Form S-8 filed on May 24, 2024