Core Viewpoint - Halliburton Company (HAL) is expected to report second-quarter earnings on July 22, with a consensus estimate of 56 cents per share and revenues of $5.4 billion, reflecting a challenging operating environment primarily due to North American market pressures and declining margins in its Drilling & Evaluation division [1][8]. Group 1: Q1 Performance and Trends - In the first quarter, Halliburton met the consensus estimate with an adjusted net income of 60 cents per share and revenues of $5.4 billion, surpassing the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $5.3 billion [2]. - Over the last four quarters, Halliburton has beaten the Zacks Consensus Estimate once and matched it three times, with the second-quarter estimate indicating a 30% year-over-year decline in earnings and a 6.7% decrease in revenues [3]. Group 2: Factors Influencing Q2 Performance - The North American business is under pressure due to weaker commodity prices and customer uncertainty, with expected sales of $2.3 billion, representing a 6.6% year-over-year decline [4]. - The projected gross profit for the second quarter is $846.8 million, down nearly 25% from the previous year, attributed to a significant margin decline in the Drilling & Evaluation division, with an estimated operating margin of 13.8%, down 280 basis points [5]. Group 3: Strategic Developments - Halliburton's shift towards digitalization and integrated services is gaining traction, particularly with the Zeus IQ platform, which enhances automation and efficiency in hydraulic fracturing, potentially stabilizing revenues and improving client relationships [6][8].

Core Insights - Core Laboratories Inc. (CLB) is expected to report second-quarter 2025 results on July 23, with a consensus estimate of 18 cents per share profit and revenues of $129.3 million [1][9] - The company has faced challenges in its previous quarter, with adjusted earnings of 14 cents per share, missing the consensus estimate by one cent, primarily due to poor performance in the Reservoir Description segment [2][3] Financial Performance - CLB's earnings have missed the Zacks Consensus Estimate in two of the last four quarters, with an average negative surprise of 1.6% [3] - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Q2 2025 indicates an 18.2% year-over-year decline in earnings and a 1% decline in revenues compared to the previous year [3] Revenue Breakdown - Revenues from the Reservoir Description segment are expected to decrease by 0.7% year-over-year to $85.7 million, influenced by global economic uncertainties and geopolitical risks [5] - The Production Enhancement segment's revenues are projected to decline by 1.6% year-over-year to $43.6 million, impacted by recent tariff announcements [5] Cost and Expense Analysis - Total operating expenses for Q2 are anticipated to be $115.1 million, reflecting a 0.4% increase from the previous year [6] - Costs associated with services and product sales are expected to rise from $102.9 million to $104.8 million [6] Future Outlook - Despite current challenges, CLB expects steady international project activity in the upcoming quarter, with long-term commitments in various regions including South Atlantic Margin, North and West Africa, Norway, the Middle East, and parts of Asia Pacific [7] Earnings Prediction Model - The current model does not predict an earnings beat for CLB, as the Earnings ESP is 0.00% and the Zacks Rank is 5 (Strong Sell) [10][11]

Investment Rating - The report maintains a selective and defensive bias, preferring gas over oil in the North American Energy sector [5][7]. Core Insights - WTI oil prices have increased approximately 20% in June due to geopolitical risks and a tight crude market, but prices are expected to trend lower in the second half of 2025 unless there are significant supply disruptions [4][28]. - The report emphasizes a preference for US natural gas over oil, with EQT identified as a top pick in the Exploration & Production (E&P) sector [7][9]. - Refining margins have improved significantly, with a 30% quarter-over-quarter increase, leading to 2Q EBITDA estimates that are about 10% above consensus [7][10]. Summary by Sector US Majors - The US Majors provide exposure to higher oil prices while maintaining resilience if prices decline, supported by strong balance sheets and integrated operations [9]. - Estimated free cash flow (FCF) yields for XOM and CVX are projected at 7% and 8% respectively at a WTI price of $65 [9]. US Exploration & Production (E&P) - The report retains a defensive stance, favoring US gas over oil, with a median FCF yield forecast of 9% for gas at $4.40 Henry Hub [9]. - Positive rate of change is a focus for oil producers, with OW-rated DVN and PR highlighted [9]. Canadian Producers - Large-cap Canadian oil sands operators are expected to perform in line with US peers, with a forecasted median shareholder return yield of 9% at $65 WTI [9]. Energy Services & Equipment (ESE) - Preference is given to international and offshore upstream exposure, gas over oil, and non-upstream exposure, with BKR and SLB identified as key stocks [9]. Refining & Marketing - Refining margins are expected to benefit from summer demand, with key stock picks including VLO and DINO [10]. Midstream Energy Infrastructure - Midstream remains misvalued, with a recommendation to wait for a better entry point before deploying new capital [13]. High Yield Energy (Credit) - The sector is currently underperforming, with a recommendation to focus on gas-levered and balanced commodity exposure over oil-levered credits [13].

Core Viewpoint - Baytex Energy reported quarterly earnings of $0.06 per share, missing the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $0.10 per share, and compared to a loss of $0.01 per share a year ago, indicating a significant earnings surprise of -40% [1] Financial Performance - The company posted revenues of $695.95 million for the quarter ended March 2025, surpassing the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 7.24%, but down from $730.06 million year-over-year [2] - Over the last four quarters, Baytex has surpassed consensus revenue estimates four times, but has only exceeded consensus EPS estimates once [2] Stock Performance - Baytex shares have declined approximately 36.4% since the beginning of the year, while the S&P 500 has only declined by -3.3% [3] - The current Zacks Rank for Baytex is 4 (Sell), indicating expectations of underperformance in the near future [6] Earnings Outlook - The current consensus EPS estimate for the upcoming quarter is $0.09 on revenues of $652.96 million, and for the current fiscal year, it is $0.33 on revenues of $2.64 billion [7] - The trend for estimate revisions ahead of the earnings release has been unfavorable, which may impact future stock performance [6] Industry Context - The Oil and Gas - Exploration and Production - Canadian industry is currently in the bottom 40% of the Zacks industry rankings, suggesting potential challenges for companies within this sector [8]