Core Viewpoint - Oil prices have dropped by 5%, leading to significant pre-market declines in the stock prices of major U.S. energy companies [1] Group 1: Company Stock Performance - Occidental Petroleum (OXY.US) shares fell by 3.1% [1] - ConocoPhillips (COP.US) shares decreased by 2.6% [1] - Halliburton (HAL.US) stock dropped by 4.1% [1] - Schlumberger (SLB.US) shares declined by 2.9% [1] - ExxonMobil (XOM.US) saw a decrease of 1.5% in its stock price [1] - Chevron (CVX.US) shares fell by 1.7% [1]

Core Viewpoint - Corporate earnings and geopolitical concerns have influenced investor sentiment, but dividend-paying stocks remain an attractive option for consistent income in a volatile market [1] Group 1: Viper Energy (VNOM) - Viper Energy, a subsidiary of Diamondback Energy, focuses on mineral and royalty interests in oil-weighted basins, primarily the Permian in West Texas, offering a dividend yield of 5.53% [3] - Analyst Leo Mariani from Roth Capital maintains a buy rating on VNOM with a price target of $48, citing its high organic growth rate, solid and growing dividend, and strong free cash flow even at lower oil prices [4] - Viper is expected to produce 66,552 barrels of oil per day in Q4 2025, slightly above estimates, with total production of 129,424 barrels of oil equivalent per day, also above consensus [4] - A cash distribution of $0.57 per share is anticipated for Q4 2025, reflecting a 2% decline, alongside an increase in share buybacks to $95 million [5] - Viper is considered more insulated from drilling cuts due to weak oil prices, as Diamondback operates 60% of its production, allowing for scaled-back activity outside VNOM's mineral acreage [6] Group 2: SLB (SLB) - SLB, an oilfield services provider, reported better-than-expected Q4 2025 results and announced a 3.5% increase in its quarterly cash dividend to $0.295 per share, resulting in a dividend yield of 2.41% [8] - Analyst Arun Jayaram from JPMorgan reiterated a buy rating on SLB, raising the price target to $54, noting that the company's 2026 guidance aligns with consensus expectations [9] - SLB is expected to benefit from growth in international markets, particularly in Latin America, the Middle East, and Asia, while facing a modest revenue decline in Europe and Africa [10] - The company anticipates generating approximately $4.2 billion in free cash flow in 2026 and returning nearly $4.3 billion to shareholders through dividends and buybacks [12] Group 3: EOG Resources (EOG) - EOG Resources offers a quarterly dividend of $1.02 per share, resulting in an annualized dividend yield of 3.68% [14] - Analyst Gabriele Sorbara from Siebert Williams Shank reaffirmed a buy rating on EOG with a price target of $150, expecting strong Q4 results in line with estimates [15] - EOG is projected to return at least 70% of free cash flow to shareholders annually, supported by strong free cash flow generation and a robust balance sheet [16] - The company plans opportunistic buybacks, with $4 billion available under an existing authorization, estimating $457.4 million in Q4 2025 share buybacks [17]

Group 1 - SLB N.V. (NYSE:SLB) is one of the largest oil and gas production equipment providers globally, with shares increasing by 20% over the past year and year-to-date [2] - BMO Capital raised SLB's share price target to $55 from $53, maintaining an Outperform rating, citing the firm's fiscal fourth quarter earnings and positive outlook for 2026 [2] - JPMorgan also increased its price target for SLB to $54 from $43, keeping an Overweight rating, emphasizing the importance of the company's 2026 outlook in their decision [2] - Jim Cramer highlighted SLB's strong earnings performance, suggesting it could be a favorable investment following President Trump's actions in Venezuela [2] Group 2 - The article mentions that while SLB is a promising investment, there is a belief that certain AI stocks may offer higher returns with limited downside risk [3]

Market Overview - The Solid Control Drilling Waste Management Market was valued at USD 1.50 billion in 2025 and is projected to reach USD 3.23 billion by 2035, growing at a CAGR of 8.06% from 2026 to 2035 [1][5]. Market Drivers - The increase in global oil and gas drilling activities is driving the demand for effective solid control and waste management systems due to the significant amount of drilling waste produced [1]. - Companies are focusing on implementing advanced separation technology and treatment solutions to manage contaminated drilling fluids and materials safely [1]. - Environmental protection regulations are encouraging operators to adopt eco-friendly disposal methods, further boosting market demand [1]. Key Market Segmentation By Waste Type - Contaminated Oil Based Muds held a dominant market share of approximately 58% in 2025, attributed to the large volume of hazardous muds generated from oil and gas drilling operations [6]. - The Waste Lubricants segment is expected to grow at the fastest CAGR from 2026 to 2035 due to increasing drilling operations and stricter environmental regulations [6]. By Application - The Onshore segment dominated the market with around 61% share in 2025, driven by the high number of land-based drilling projects [7]. - The Offshore segment is anticipated to grow at the fastest CAGR from 2026 to 2035, fueled by increasing deepwater and offshore oil and gas exploration activities [7]. By End-Use - The Oil & Gas sector accounted for approximately 69% of the market share in 2025, due to extensive use of drilling fluids and high-volume waste generation [8]. - The Geothermal Energy segment is projected to grow at the fastest CAGR from 2026 to 2035, driven by a rising focus on renewable energy and increasing geothermal drilling projects [8]. By Service Type - Solid Control services represented about 41% of the market in 2025, as they are essential for separating solids from drilling fluids [9]. - The Waste Treatment & Disposal segment is expected to experience the fastest growth from 2026 to 2035, driven by increasing environmental regulations and sustainability initiatives [9]. Regional Insights - North America led the market with a revenue share of approximately 38% in 2025, due to extensive oil and gas drilling activities in the U.S. and Canada [11]. - The Asia Pacific region is expected to grow at the fastest CAGR of about 9.39% from 2026 to 2035, driven by rising oil and gas exploration activities and growing investments in drilling infrastructure [11]. Competitive Landscape - Key players in the market include Schlumberger, Halliburton, Baker Hughes, Weatherford International, and others [4]. - Recent developments include TWMA securing a $15 million drilling waste management contract for BP's Mediterranean project and Schlumberger partnering with Cactus Drilling to optimize drilling operations [15].

SLB has secured two contracts spanning five years from Petroleum Development Oman (PDO) to provide wellheads and artificial lift technologies for Block-6, the largest oil and gas concession in Oman. Block-6 is an onshore conventional oilfield in Oman, operated by PDO. The field is owned by the Government of Oman, PTT Public, Shell and TotalEnergies. The agreements are designed to improve production efficiency and increase recovery rates, while also supporting in-country value. Under the terms of the c ...

Global energy technology firm SLB has secured two five-year contracts from Petroleum Development Oman (PDO), strengthening its role in one of the Middle East’s most strategically important upstream provinces as Oman looks to maximize recovery from mature assets while building domestic industrial capacity. SLB told Oilprice.com that under this agreement, it will supply wellheads and artificial lift systems for operations in Block-6, Oman’s largest oil and gas concession and the backbone of the country’s ...

Core Viewpoint - SLB N.V. has demonstrated strong financial performance and stock growth, significantly outperforming broader market indices, indicating a positive outlook for the company and potential investment opportunities. Group 1: Company Overview - SLB N.V., formerly Schlumberger Limited, is a leading global oil-field services company headquartered in Houston, Texas, with a market cap of $75.7 billion [1]. Group 2: Stock Performance - SLB's stock has surged 29.2% year-to-date and approximately 20% over the past 52 weeks, significantly outperforming the S&P 500 Index's 2.1% increase in 2026 and 15.2% gains over the past year [2]. - The stock has also outperformed the Energy Select Sector SPDR Fund's (XLE) 11.4% increase in 2026 and 11.3% gains over the past 52 weeks [3]. Group 3: Financial Performance - For Q4 2025, SLB reported revenue of $9.8 billion, reflecting a year-over-year increase of about 5%. The adjusted EPS was $0.78, a 15% decrease from Q4 2024 but above consensus estimates [4]. - Analysts project SLB to deliver an EPS of $2.94 for the full fiscal 2026, showing a marginal year-over-year increase [5]. Group 4: Analyst Ratings - The stock holds a consensus "Strong Buy" rating, with 18 "Strong Buys," four "Moderate Buys," two "Holds," and one "Strong Sell" rating among 25 analysts [6]. - There has been an increase in "Strong Buy" ratings compared to the previous month, with Stifel raising its price target on SLB to $56 from $52 after the company exceeded Q4 2025 earnings expectations [7]. Group 5: Price Targets - SLB's mean price target of $53.01 indicates a 4.6% premium to current price levels, while the highest target of $82 suggests a potential upside of 61.9% [8].

Group 1: Strong Buy Ratings - Technology sector shows strong momentum with five stocks rated as "Strong Buy": Meta Platforms Inc. (META), Cisco Systems Inc. (CSCO), Fortinet Inc. (FTNT), Microchip Technology Incorporated (MCHP), and Micron Technology Inc. (MU) [1][2][3][4] - Meta Platforms Inc. has a market capitalization of approximately $1.69 trillion, while Cisco Systems Inc. is valued around $304.27 billion [2] - Fortinet Inc. has a market cap of roughly $61.77 billion, and Microchip Technology Incorporated is valued at approximately $40.42 billion [3][4] - In the industrials sector, SLB Limited (market cap about $74.19 billion) and Quanta Services Inc. (market cap around $70.2 billion) also received "Strong Buy" ratings [2][3] Group 2: Downgrades to Hold - Some large-cap companies faced downgrades to "Hold," indicating a selective market sentiment. Cummins Inc. was downgraded by Wolfe Research, and Public Storage also moved to "Hold" from "Strong Buy" [5] - These downgrades suggest that while certain sectors are favored, investors are cautious about the broader market [5]

Core Viewpoint - RBC Capital analyst Keith Mackey raised the price target on SLB to $54 from $51 while maintaining an Outperform rating, indicating confidence in the company's performance and potential for growth [1] Group 1: Financial Performance - SLB delivered Q4 results that were slightly ahead of Street expectations, showcasing its ability to exceed market forecasts [1] - Guidance for 2026 was in-line with consensus but slightly weighted toward the second half, suggesting a cautious but optimistic outlook for future performance [1] Group 2: Market Drivers - The anticipated modest upstream improvement is driven by growth in Latin America and the Middle East/Asia, highlighting key regions for SLB's future revenue generation [1] Group 3: Valuation and Cash Flow - RBC continues to see solid long-term value in SLB, supported by strong free cash flow generation and favorable EV/EBITDA valuation metrics, reinforcing the investment case for the company at current levels [1]

Core Viewpoint - American oil service companies, particularly SLB and Halliburton, are poised to rapidly expand their operations in Venezuela if conditions such as necessary permits and compliance requirements are met [2]. Group 1: Company Activities - SLB has recently met with White House officials to discuss potential investment opportunities in Venezuela, making it the only international oil service company currently operating in the country [2]. - Halliburton has expressed intentions to re-enter the Venezuelan market once commercial and legal conditions are clarified and payment certainty is established [2]. - SLB's peak annual revenue in Venezuela exceeded $1 billion over a decade ago, with a workforce of over 3,000 employees at that time [2]. Group 2: Market Context - Chevron is currently the only major U.S. oil company producing crude oil in Venezuela under its licensing framework [2]. - Analysts believe that if Venezuela's energy sector reopens to foreign investment, SLB and Halliburton are likely to be the primary beneficiaries among oil service companies [2].