Weatherford Receives Credit Rating Upgrades from Moody’s, S&P, and Fitch

Positive

Credit rating upgrades from all three major rating agencies (Moody’s, S&P, and Fitch)

Positive outlook from Moody’s indicates potential for further upgrades

Demonstrated consistent profitability and robust cash flow generation

Successful debt reduction and enhanced balance sheet flexibility

Improved operational performance and margins relative to peers

Negative

Expected lower oil and gas exploration and production activity noted by S&P

Credit rating upgrades from all three major agencies signal Weatherford’s significantly improved financial health, reducing borrowing costs and enhancing investor confidence.
These synchronized rating upgrades from all three major agencies represent a significant positive development for Weatherford. Moody’s upgrade to Ba2 from Ba3 with a Positive Outlook, S&P’s improvement to BB from BB- with a Stable Outlook, and Fitch’s identical upgrade to BB from BB- with Stable Outlook collectively validate the company’s financial transformation.

The rating actions highlight several crucial strengths: conservative financial management, declining debt levels, consistent free cash flow generation, and improved credit metrics. S&P specifically noted the company’s ability to maintain these metrics despite anticipated lower E&P activity, indicating resilience in challenging market conditions.

These upgrades carry tangible benefits for Weatherford. The company will likely see reduced borrowing costs on future debt issuances, improved access to capital markets, and enhanced credibility with investors and customers. The upgrades also suggest the company has substantial financial flexibility to weather industry downturns while potentially pursuing strategic growth opportunities.

What’s particularly notable is Moody’s Positive Outlook, suggesting the potential for additional upgrades if current financial trajectories continue. These ratings remain in the non-investment grade category (Ba2/BB are two notches below investment grade), but the consistent upward momentum indicates Weatherford is steadily advancing toward investment-grade status, which would further expand its investor base and reduce capital costs.

09/22/2025 – 05:58 PM

HOUSTON, Sept. 22, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Weatherford International plc (NASDAQ: WFRD) (“Weatherford” or the “Company”) today announced that Moody’s Investor Services, S&P Global Ratings, and Fitch Ratings have recently upgraded the Company’s ratings, underscoring the progress Weatherford has made in strengthening its financial profile, operational performance, and balance sheet flexibility.

Moody’s Investors Service upgraded Weatherford’s Corporate Family Rating to ‘Ba2’ from ‘Ba3’ with a Positive Outlook. The rating upgrade reflects the Company’s conservative financial policies, declining debt, and Moody’s expectation that the Company will continue to generate positive free cash flow and improve its credit metrics.
S&P Global Ratings upgraded Weatherford’s issuer credit rating to ‘BB’ from ‘BB-’ with a Stable Outlook. The rating upgrade reflects S&P’s expectation that the Company’s credit metrics will support the rating over the next 12 months despite lower oil and gas exploration and production (E&P) activity.
Fitch Ratings upgraded Weatherford’s Issuer Default Rating to ‘BB’ from ‘BB-’ with a Stable Outlook. The rating upgrade reflects Fitch’s expectation of continued margin improvement relative to peers, significant diversification, size and scale, enhanced liquidity, and balanced capital allocation strategy.

Girish Saligram, President and Chief Executive Officer of Weatherford, commented, “Receiving upgrades from Moody’s, S&P, and Fitch is a clear validation of the significant progress Weatherford has made in recent years. These actions recognize the resilience of our business model, our disciplined approach to capital allocation, and our ability to generate consistent profitability and robust cash flow. We remain focused on maintaining a strong balance sheet, enhancing liquidity, and building long-term value for all stakeholders.”

About Weatherford

Weatherford delivers innovative energy services that integrate proven technologies with advanced digitalization to create sustainable offerings for maximized value and return on investment. Our world-class experts partner with customers to optimize their resources and realize the full potential of their assets. Operators choose us for strategic solutions that add efficiency, flexibility, and responsibility to any energy operation. The Company conducts business in approximately 75 countries and has approximately 17,300 team members representing more than 110 nationalities and 310 operating locations.

What credit rating upgrades did Weatherford (WFRD) receive in September 2025?

Weatherford received upgrades from three agencies: Moody’s (to ‘Ba2’ from ‘Ba3’), S&P (to ‘BB’ from ‘BB-‘), and Fitch (to ‘BB’ from ‘BB-‘). Moody’s assigned a Positive Outlook, while S&P and Fitch maintained Stable Outlooks.

Why did rating agencies upgrade Weatherford’s credit ratings?

The upgrades reflect Weatherford’s strengthened financial profile, conservative financial policies, debt reduction, positive free cash flow generation, improved operational performance, enhanced liquidity, and balanced capital allocation strategy.

What is the significance of Moody’s Positive Outlook for Weatherford?

Moody’s Positive Outlook suggests potential for further rating upgrades and reflects their expectation that Weatherford will continue to generate positive free cash flow and improve its credit metrics.

What challenges did the rating agencies identify for Weatherford?

S&P noted that Weatherford faces lower oil and gas exploration and production (E&P) activity, but expects the company’s credit metrics to remain supportive of the rating over the next 12 months.

How has Weatherford improved its financial position?

Weatherford has demonstrated consistent profitability, robust cash flow generation, debt reduction, enhanced balance sheet flexibility, and improved operational margins relative to peers, while maintaining disciplined capital allocation.