The market expects Schlumberger (SLB) to deliver a year-over-year decline in earnings on lower revenues when it reports results for the quarter ended March 2025. This widely-known consensus outlook is important in assessing the company's earnings picture, but a powerful factor that might influence its near-term stock price is how the actual results compare to these estimates.The stock might move higher if these key numbers top expectations in the upcoming earnings report, which is expected to be released on ...

Industry Overview - The Zacks Oil and Gas - Field Services industry is facing a challenging outlook due to a volatile pricing environment for commodities, driven by rising trade tensions and strict capital management by upstream energy firms, which is diminishing the demand for oilfield services [1][4] - Companies in this sector must navigate the evolving landscape of energy transition to succeed, as failing to meet energy transition objectives could adversely impact their cash flow [1][6] - The industry comprises companies providing support services to exploration and production players, including manufacturing, repairing, and maintaining wells, drilling equipment, and seismic testing [3] Current Trends - The demand for oilfield services is closely tied to exploration and production activities, making companies like SLB and Halliburton susceptible to the uncertainties caused by volatile oil and gas prices, particularly due to the US-China trade war [4] - There has been a slowdown in drilling activities as upstream players prioritize stockholder returns over boosting output, leading to lower demand for oilfield services [5] - Companies must efficiently tackle the decarbonization of oil and gas operations while adopting low-carbon technologies to navigate the energy transition successfully [6] Industry Performance - The Zacks Oil and Gas - Field Services industry currently holds a Zacks Industry Rank of 149, placing it in the bottom 40% of over 250 Zacks industries, indicating a bearish outlook [7][8] - Over the past year, the industry has declined by 27.1%, significantly underperforming the S&P 500, which rose by 4.7%, and the broader Zacks Oil - Energy sector, which declined by 15.2% [10] Valuation Metrics - The industry is currently trading at an EV/EBITDA ratio of 5.45X, compared to the S&P 500's 15.53X and the sector's 4.14X, indicating a lower valuation relative to the broader market [13] - Historically, the industry has traded as high as 12.87X and as low as 1.10X over the past five years, with a median of 8.24X [13] Company Insights - Archrock's acquisition of Total Operations and Production Services significantly expands its capacity and improves margins, positioning it as a leader in electrified natural gas compression [15] - Baker Hughes has a diverse business portfolio across natural gas, LNG, and clean energy, which secures steady earnings despite operational volatility, and is expanding its global presence [18] - SLB's diversified portfolio and leadership in digital technology position it for sustained growth, even as upstream investments moderate [20] - Halliburton is focusing on key growth areas that could contribute $2.5 to $3 billion in annual revenues within the next three to five years, despite industry challenges [21]

SLB (SLB) , a global oilfield services firm, has announced a collaboration with the British energy giant Shell plc (SHEL) . Under this partnership, SLB will deploy the Petrel subsurface software across Shell’s global asset base. The Petrel subsurface software, developed by SLB, is a powerful tool for exploration and production that enables its users to analyze subsurface data and gain more information about the reservoir.The software will be aimed at enhancing Shell’s digital competencies. The adoption of t ...

Core Insights - SLB has secured a significant drilling contract from Woodside Energy for the ultra-deepwater Trion development offshore Mexico, involving the drilling of 18 ultra-deepwater wells over three years with AI-enabled capabilities to enhance operational efficiency and well quality [1][2] Group 1: Contract Details - The contract includes an integrated services approach, covering digital directional drilling services, logging while drilling (LWD), surface logging, cementing, drilling and completion fluids, completions, and wireline services, with water depths reaching up to 2,500 meters [2] - SLB's expertise in ultra-deepwater drilling and advanced AI-driven technologies will ensure safe, efficient, and reliable development of the Trion wells, with a focus on local talent and supply chains in Mexico to meet project timelines [3] Group 2: Operational Efficiency - SLB's Performance Live digital service delivery centers will manage operations, optimizing drilling performance through real-time data analytics and AI-driven automation, aiming to minimize downtime and enhance precision in well construction [4] Group 3: Strategic Importance - The contract is a crucial step in advancing the Trion project's drilling phase, reinforcing SLB's strategic presence in Mexico's offshore energy sector, with first production expected in 2028 [6]

Core Insights - The article discusses Schlumberger's strategic growth prospects, capital returns to shareholders, and attractive valuation, despite the stock declining by 3.5% since the last coverage [2]. Group 1: Company Overview - Schlumberger is highlighted for its focus on strategic growth and capital returns to shareholders, indicating a commitment to enhancing shareholder value [2]. Group 2: Market Performance - The stock of Schlumberger has experienced a decline of 3.5% since the last analysis, suggesting that the market has not yet aligned with the positive growth thesis presented [2].

Group 1 - The focus is on growth and dividend income as a strategy for retirement planning [1] - The portfolio is structured to generate monthly dividend income that grows through reinvestment and annual increases [1] - The author holds long positions in several major companies including XOM, NVDA, AMZN, META, and GOOGL [1]

Company Performance - Schlumberger's stock closed at $39.08, reflecting a -1.86% change from the previous session, underperforming the S&P 500's daily loss of 1.22% [1] - Over the last month, Schlumberger's shares decreased by 0.85%, outperforming the Oils-Energy sector's loss of 3.38% and the S&P 500's loss of 2.31% [1] Upcoming Earnings - The upcoming earnings disclosure is anticipated, with projected earnings per share (EPS) of $0.74, indicating a 1.33% decrease from the same quarter last year [2] - Revenue is expected to be $8.63 billion, reflecting a 0.84% decline from the same quarter last year [2] Annual Estimates - For the annual period, earnings are estimated at $3.38 per share and revenue at $38.63 billion, showing shifts of -0.88% and +6.45% respectively from the previous year [3] - Recent changes in analyst estimates suggest evolving short-term business trends, with positive revisions indicating analyst optimism regarding the company's profitability [3] Valuation Metrics - Schlumberger's Forward P/E ratio is currently 11.78, which is a discount compared to its industry's Forward P/E of 13.9 [6] - The PEG ratio stands at 9.42, significantly lower than the average PEG ratio of 1.66 for the Oil and Gas - Field Services industry [6] Industry Context - The Oil and Gas - Field Services industry is part of the Oils-Energy sector, holding a Zacks Industry Rank of 140, placing it in the bottom 45% of over 250 industries [7] - Research indicates that the top 50% rated industries outperform the bottom half by a factor of 2 to 1 [7]

Group 1 - The article emphasizes a favorable risk versus reward perspective for potential investments, particularly highlighting the methodology that attracts successful investors [1] - There is an indication of a potential long position in SLB, suggesting a positive outlook on the stock's future performance [1] Group 2 - The disclosures mention that past performance does not guarantee future results, indicating a cautious approach to investment recommendations [2] - The article clarifies that no specific investment advice is being provided, and the views expressed may not represent the entire platform's stance [2]

Group 1 - Oil prices have maintained the $70 per barrel mark for WTI, with Brent crude slightly higher, indicating a stable market environment in early 2025 [1] - The Oil Volatility Index (OVX) has shown a decrease, reflecting a level of calmness in the energy sector [1] Group 2 - The article emphasizes the importance of analyzing macro drivers of various asset classes, including stocks, bonds, commodities, currencies, and crypto [1]

Core Viewpoint - SLB is undergoing a significant internal reorganization, including workforce reduction, to enhance operational efficiency and financial stability amid concerns of an oversupplied oil market [1][5]. Group 1: Restructuring Initiatives - SLB is establishing a new performance function led by a chief performance officer, integrating various operational aspects such as security and global business services [2]. - The company has incurred $237 million in severance costs in 2024 due to restructuring efforts, with personnel updates expected by the end of the quarter [3]. - As of February 2024, SLB employed approximately 111,000 people, indicating a substantial workforce that may be impacted by the ongoing reorganization [3]. Group 2: Market Conditions and Strategic Moves - The restructuring reflects a strategic response to potential oversupply in the oil market and a cautious spending approach by industry players [5]. - SLB continues to operate in Russia despite U.S. sanctions, although revenues from this region are declining, highlighting the geopolitical challenges faced by the company [4]. - The proactive restructuring aims to optimize efficiency and align with shifting business conditions, enhancing value for stakeholders [4].