Grant Prideco, Inc. (NYSE: GRP) announced that its fourth quarter 2005 net income increased by 174% to $78.4 million ($0.59 per diluted share) on record revenues of $388.7 million. Net income included $4.9 million ($0.04 per diluted share) from the reversal of a deferred tax valuation reserve. These results compare to net income of $28.6 million ($0.23 per diluted share) on revenues of $283.1 million in last year's fourth quarter. Each of the Company's operating segments reported significantly improved results, reflecting the continued strong market activity. The Company's backlog increased to a record $813.6 million at December 31, 2005 up from $742.5 million as of the end of the previous quarter.


For the year, the Company reported net income of $189.0 million ($1.45 per diluted share) on revenues of $1.35 billion compared to 2004 income from continuing operations of $64.8 million ($0.51 per diluted share) on revenues of $945.6 million. The 2005 year to date results includes refinancing charges of $57.1 million ($0.30 per diluted share) related to the Company's comprehensive debt restructuring program.


Operating Income Margins Increased to 24%


Consolidated revenues increased by $105.6 million, or 37%, compared to last year's fourth quarter as the worldwide rig count increased 18% during the same period. Consolidated operating income margins increased to 24% from 20% for the same period. This increase is primarily due to pricing gains and a favorable product mix at the Company's Tubular Technology and Services segment and overhead efficiencies in the Drill Bits segment.


Gross profit margins decreased slightly primarily due to a shift in product mix at the Drilling Products and Services segment; however, other operating expenses (sales and marketing, general and administrative and research and engineering) were reduced to 18% of revenues from 23% for the same period. This improvement primarily reflects reductions in sales and marketing expenses at certain foreign locations at the Company's Drill Bits segment and overhead cost focus at Tubular Technology and Services.


Other Items


Interest expense decreased by $5.8 million reflecting lower year-over-year debt balances due to significant free cash flow generated during 2005 and a reduction in the average interest of approximately 3.25%. Equity income from the Company's unconsolidated affiliates increased to $24.4 million from $2.7 million, which primarily reflects increased earnings at Voest-Alpine Tubulars (VAT). VAT is benefiting from increased volume and pricing improvements for seamless OCTG products and reflects an unusually large Middle East order during the quarter. In addition, losses from the Company's IntelliServ operation, previously accounted for as an equity investment, are now included in operating income. Other expense decreased by $1.7 million primarily due to decreased foreign exchange losses.


The Company's effective tax rate was 27.2% for the fourth quarter (31.1% for the full year) as compared to 32.6% in prior year's fourth quarter. The decrease from last year's fourth quarter is primarily due to a $4.9 million reversal of a deferred tax valuation reserve. The valuation reserve was reduced due to higher expected foreign source income which is expected to enable the Company to utilize additional foreign tax credit carryforwards.


The Company's debt to book capitalization was 18.4% at December 31, 2005. Netting the cash balance of $28.2 million brings the net debt to book capitalization to 16.1%.


Acquisition


During the fourth quarter, the Company purchased the remaining 30% interest in one of its Chinese operations, Grant Prideco Jiangsu (GPJ) (formerly known as Jiangsu Shuguang Grant Prideco Tubular Limited (JSG)) for approximately $10.5 million. The acquisition was accretive to fourth quarter earnings by $0.02 per share.


SEGMENT RESULTS


Drilling Products and Services


Revenues for the Drilling Products and Services segment were a record $173.0 million during the quarter, which represents a 36% increase over last year's fourth quarter. This reflects increased revenues across all of this segment's product lines, including drill pipe, tool joints and drill collars. Drill pipe footage sold increased by 30% and drill pipe production was operating at substantially full capacity by year end. Operating income increased to $49.6 million, compared to $39.5 million for the same period last year. Operating income margins decreased slightly to 29% from 31% in last year's fourth quarter due to a shift in product mix to smaller-diameter drill pipe and a lower percentage of premium product sales. Backlog for this segment increased to a record $656.6 million at December 31, 2005.


Drill Bits


Revenues for the Drill Bits segment increased by 25% to a record $114.4 million. This improvement mainly reflects an 18% increase in the worldwide rig count and improved pricing. The largest increases occurred in the international markets, coupled with incremental sales related to the Corion acquisition in July 2005. Operating income margins increased to 27% from 21% in last year's fourth quarter primarily due to a retrenchment from lower margin foreign operations. During the quarter, ReedHycalog introduced its new Raptor(TM) cutters for use in fixed-cutter drill bits. Raptor cutters are the latest generation Thermostable PDC cutters that are more heat and abrasion resistant than the previously highest grade PDC material.


Tubular Technology and Services


Revenues for the Tubular Technology and Services segment increased by 58% to a record $101.3 million. Operating income margins almost doubled to 28% from 15% in last year's fourth quarter. These increases were primarily due to strong market activity reflecting increased volumes and pricing improvements across all of this segment's product lines. Backlog declined by $8.7 million during the quarter due to the delivery of early year bookings at TCA and an effort to reduce lead times at the U.S. Premium threading facilities.


Corporate/Other


Corporate/Other expenses for the fourth quarter of 2005 increased to $15.7 million from $12.0 million for the same period last year. This increase is primarily due to start-up costs associated with IntelliServ, which the Company began consolidating after its acquisition in September 2005.


CEO COMMENTS


Chairman and CEO, Michael McShane commented, "We are pleased to report record results for the quarter and for the year. Continued strong drilling activity, along with internal efficiencies, has resulted in operating income margins of at least 27% in each of our three operating segments. On the technology front, we introduced the Raptor(TM) fixed cutter during the quarter, which early results indicate is delivering significant improvements in drilling efficiency for our customers, and we received our first commitment on our IntelliServ(TM) drillpipe telemetry system shortly after the end of the year.


"Our backlog increased another 10% from last quarter to $813.6 million, and we have strong earnings momentum as we move into 2006. We are currently forecasting that the average rig count will increase approximately 8% to 10% from last year. This activity increase, combined with improved pricing leads us to forecast that our 2006 earnings will be in the range of $2.40 to $2.60 per diluted share. This forecast includes $0.02 per diluted share from the expensing of stock options in accordance with the new accounting rules being adopted in 2006."


Grant Prideco (http://www.grantprideco.com ), headquartered in Houston, Texas, is the world leader in drill stem technology development and drill pipe manufacturing, sales and service; a global leader in drill bit technology, manufacturing, sales and service; and a leading provider of high-performance engineered connections and premium tubular products and services.


Conference Call


Grant Prideco's conference call to discuss fourth quarter financial results is scheduled for Wednesday, February 8, 2006 at 9:00 a.m. EST, (8:00 a.m. CST, 6:00 a.m. PST) and is accessible by dialing (800) 374-1805. For further information on the call or the webcast, please visit the Company's website at http://www.grantprideco.com or see the Company's press release announcing the earnings conference call dated January 20, 2006.


To the extent not provided in the call, reconciliations of any non-GAAP financial measures discussed in the call will be available on the Investor Relations page of Grant Prideco's website.


This press release contains, and statements made during our conference call relating to this press release may contain, forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 concerning, among other things, Grant Prideco's prospects for its operations and future demand for its products and services, all of which are subject to certain risks, uncertainties and assumptions. These risks, uncertainties and assumptions, which are more fully described in Grant Prideco, Inc.'s Annual Report on Form 10-K and Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, include the impact of changes in oil and natural gas prices and worldwide and domestic economic conditions on drilling activity and demand for and pricing of Grant Prideco's products, expectations for modestly improving demand for our drill stem products, increased competition in the Company's premium connection markets, expectations relating to Grant Prideco's ability to maintain and increase pricing in its various product lines, expectations that we will be able to pass through raw material price increases to our customers, foreign currency issues and unexpected changes in exchange rates, impact of geo-political and other events affecting international markets and trade, Grant Prideco's ability to remain on the leading edge of technology in its products and successfully introduce and integrate new products and processes, the impact of international and domestic trade laws, unforeseen or unexpected litigation or claims, manufacturing difficulties and disruptions, and Grant Prideco's assumptions relating thereto. Should one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialize, or should the assumptions prove incorrect, actual results may vary in material respects from those currently anticipated and reflected in Grant Prideco's forward-looking statements. The results included herein are unaudited and subject to completion of testing from the independent auditors.


GRANT PRIDECO, INC.


STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS


(In thousands, except per share data)


Three Months Ended Twelve Months Ended


December 31, December 31,


2005 2004 2005 2004


(Unaudited) (Unaudited) (Unaudited)


Revenues $388,726 $283,130 $1,349,997 $945,643


Operating Expenses:


Cost of sales 226,855 161,893 776,486 560,807


Sales and marketing 35,951 35,295 137,133 128,585


General and


administrative 25,506 24,736 99,732 85,071


Research and


engineering 7,776 5,170 25,693 20,473


Other charges --- --- --- 9,035


296,088 227,094 1,039,044 803,971


Operating Income 92,638 56,036 310,953 141,672


Interest Expense (4,770) (10,547) (29,148) (41,889)


Other Income


(Expense), Net (1,858) (3,573) 5,655 398


Equity Income in


Unconsolidated


Affiliates 24,410 2,690 58,259 4,600


Refinancing Charges --- --- (57,086) ---


Income From Continuing


Operations Before


Income Taxes and


Minority Interests 110,420 44,606 288,633 104,781


Income Tax Provision (30,034) (14,520) (89,680) (34,745)


Income from Continuing


Operations Before


Minority Interests 80,386 30,086 198,953 70,036


Minority Interests (1,990) (1,136) (9,949) (5,243)


Income from Continuing


Operations 78,396 28,950 189,004 64,793


Loss from Discontinued


Operations, Net of


Tax --- (305) --- (9,527)


Net Income $78,396 $28,645 $189,004 $55,266


Basic Net Income


Per Share:


Income from


continuing


operations $0.60 $0.23 $1.49 $0.53


Loss from


discontinued


operations --- --- --- (0.08)


Net income $0.60 $0.23 $1.49 $0.45


Basic weighted


average shares


outstanding 129,881 124,669 127,236 123,325


Diluted Net Income


Per Share:


Income from


continuing


operations $0.59 $0.23 $1.45 $0.51


Loss from


discontinued


operations --- --- --- (0.07)


Net income $0.59 $0.23 $1.45 $0.44


Diluted weighted


average shares


outstanding 132,724 127,614 130,467 126,091


Cash Flow Data:


Depreciation and


amortization $12,676 $11,442 $46,632 $43,220


Cash provided by


operating


activities 68,987 36,134 194,676 113,170


Cash used in


investing


activities (19,557) (9,050) (69,672) (45,381)


Cash used in


financing


activities (44,671) (14,919) (144,180) (39,890)


Capital


expenditures (A) 9,177 8,350 29,501 37,879


December 31, December 31,


2005 2004


Balance Sheet Data: (Unaudited)


Total assets $1,540,284 $1,344,466


Total debt 224,529 381,954


Total liabilities 544,129 638,925


Stockholders' equity 996,155 705,541


Backlog at Period Ended $813,582 $291,916


(A) Capital expenditures for property, plant, and equipment excludes


acquisitions of businesses.


GRANT PRIDECO, INC.


SUPPLEMENTAL QUARTERLY FINANCIAL INFORMATION


(In thousands)


Three Months Ended Twelve Months Ended


December 31, December 31,


2005 2004 2005 2004


(Unaudited) (Unaudited) (Unaudited)


Revenues:


Drilling Products and


Services $173,021 $127,229 $598,900 $390,617


Drill Bits 114,380 91,583 398,227 326,918


Tubular Technology and


Services 101,325 64,318 352,870 226,233


Corporate and Other --- --- --- 1,875


$388,726 $283,130 $1,349,997 $945,643


Operating Income (Loss):


Drilling Products and


Services $49,622 $39,526 $176,181 $90,637


Drill Bits 30,691 18,840 98,616 70,542


Tubular Technology and


Services 28,047 9,672 88,286 20,884


Corporate and Other (15,722) (12,002) (52,130) (40,391)


$92,638 $56,036 $310,953 $141,672


Depreciation and Amortization:


Drilling Products and


Services $3,538 $3,715 $13,884 $15,109


Drill Bits 4,362 3,447 15,939 12,121


Tubular Technology and


Services 2,855 3,379 11,667 12,751


Corporate and Other 1,921 901 5,142 3,239


$12,676 $11,442 $46,632 $43,220


Capital Expenditures for


Property, Plant and


Equipment:


Drilling Products and


Services $2,424 $1,135 $10,456 $8,808


Drill Bits 1,337 4,871 6,224 18,794


Tubular Technology and


Services 3,191 917 7,775 4,986


Corporate and Other 2,225 1,427 5,046 5,291


$9,177 $8,350 $29,501 $37,879


OTHER INFORMATION AT


DECEMBER 31, 2005:


Total Cash $28,164


Total Debt $224,529


Total Stockholders' Equity 996,155


Total Book


Capitalization $1,220,684


Debt to Book Capitalization 18.4%


Net Debt (Net of Cash)


to Book Capitalization 16.1%