Five months ago, I laid out the argument for why National-Oilwell Varco, Inc. (NYSE:NOV) is a “Top 10 Stock” for 2013 and beyond. Thus far, this thesis is off to a slow start as shown by National-Oilwell Varco, Inc. (NYSE:NOV)’s underperformance to both its peers in the oilfield services industry and the S&P 500:
NOV Total Return Price data by YCharts
Just last week, Zacks Equity Research downgraded National Oilwell Varco to a “strong sell” on concerns regarding the North American onshore drilling market and competition pressuring the company’s margins. Is the long-term investment thesis intact or has Zacks identified pressures that will dampen National Oilwell Varco’s prospects going forward?
Q1 2013 disappointed investors
Zacks’ bear argument is 100% correct in its assessment that National-Oilwell Varco, Inc. (NYSE:NOV)’s Q1 2013 earnings fell below analyst expectations. Everyone expected a weak quarter, but the final results were simply worse than expected. This disappointment caused many analysts to lower earnings expectations for the rest of 2013; these analysts have taken the view that the sequential decline in gross margin from 24.8% to 24.3% is a trend that will continue for the company.
Multiple positive developments
Despite the lackluster Q1 results, there have been several positive developments for National-Oilwell Varco, Inc. (NYSE:NOV) investors thus far in 2013. Here are a few:
Q1 revenue grew 23% year-over-year. This revenue increase was highlighted by a 16% increase in Rig Technology (the company’s largest segment) and a 118% increase in Distribution and Transmission (thanks in large part to the successful integration of acquisitions made during 2012).
Similarly, backlog in the company’s Rig Technology segment increased 8% sequentially and 24% year-over-year to a record $12.9 billion. This backlog figure is a strong indicator that robust growth will continue for National-Oilwell Varco, Inc. (NYSE:NOV) for the foreseeable future.
National Oilwell Varco closed its $2.5 billion acquisition of Robbins & Meyers in late February. Based on the company’s long track record of successful integration of acquisitions to supplement organic growth, there is no reason to think that this success won’t continue with this acquisition as well as those completed in the future.
In an expression of confidence in the strength of the company’s cash flow, management announced that it will double its quarterly dividend payment to $0.26 per share beginning with the dividend paid earlier this month. This represents a yield of 1.5% and demonstrates the company’s willingness to increase its dividend faster than the $0.01 increase in the quarterly dividend each year since the dividend began at $0.10 per share in 2010.
Warren Buffett’s Berkshire Hathaway Inc. (NYSE:BRK.A) recently disclosed that it has nearly doubled its holding of National Oilwell Varco to 7.5 million shares. Berkshire Hathaway Inc. (NYSE:BRK.A) also made my list of “Top 10 Stocks” based largely on the company’s uniquely consistent ability to identify and invest in “outstanding businesses with outstanding managements”; a strong vote of confidence from Berkshire Hathaway really says a lot about the long-term opportunity for National-Oilwell Varco, Inc. (NYSE:NOV).
The valuation is fantastic
With a trailing price to earnings ratio of 12 and an expected growth rate of 14%, National Oilwell Varco is trading at a PEG ratio of just 0.8. Here is how this attractive PEG ratio compares to alternative investment ideas in the oilfield services industry:
| NOV | SLB | HAL | BHI | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CAPS rating | 5 stars | 5 stars | 5 stars | 4 stars |
| Share price | $67.67 | $72.09 | $41.15 | $45.08 |
| Market capitalization (in billions) | $28.90 | $95.80 | $38.40 | $19.90 |
| TTM P/E ratio | 12.1 | 17.7 | 19.2 | 16.6 |
| Expected growth rate | 14.3% | 17.1% | 17.3% | 16.7% |
| PEG ratio | 0.8 | 1.0 | 1.1 | 1.0 |
| Dividend yield | 1.50% | 1.70% | 1.20% | 1.30% |
| Debt to equity ratio | 0.2 | 0.3 | 0.3 | 0.3 |
| Source: Motley Fool CAPS and Yahoo! Finance – 6/25/13 | ||||
This group represents a solid collection of investment options that combine reasonable valuations, high growth, rock-solid balance sheets, and even a recurring dividend payments. Despite these compelling valuations, only Halliburton Company (NYSE:HAL) has outperformed the S&P 500 this year. While this outperformance has made Halliburton the most “expensive” of this group of companies from a P/E and PEG perspective, the company trades at a very reasonable valuation given the expected growth rate of 17% going forward.
Schlumberger Limited. (NYSE:SLB) and Baker Hughes Incorporated (NYSE:BHI) are also expected to grow 17% per year over the next five years. Based on TTM P/E and PEG, both companies present opportunity for investors looking beyond the short-term volatility of the oilfield services industry and the market as a whole.
Meanwhile, National Oilwell Varco remains the most attractively valued company on this list in terms of TTM P/E, PEG, and even debt-to-equity ratios.
The long term thesis is intact
While there is valid concern regarding the recent slowdown in North American onshore drilling activity, there is no indication that there is any permanent demand reduction for onshore and offshore drilling. As a result, National Oilwell Varco, Schlumberger Limited. (NYSE:SLB), Baker Hughes Incorporated (NYSE:BHI), and Halliburton Company (NYSE:HAL) are all poised for continued success.
Despite a share price that has remained flat so far in 2013, National-Oilwell Varco, Inc. (NYSE:NOV) is doing what it has done successfully for the past decade by continuously expanding its leadership position both organically and through acquisitions. In addition to a solid position as a market leader, the stock that is very cheaply valued, has a rapidly rising dividend, and recently received a vote of support from Berkshire Hathaway. In combination, there are more reasons to be excited about the long-term opportunity of investing in National Oilwell Varco today than there were at the beginning of the year. As a result, I maintain that this stock remains a “Top 10 Stock” for the long term and not a “strong sell” as advocated by Zacks.
The article National Oilwell Varco: Strong Sell or Top 10 Stock? originally appeared on Fool.com and is written by Brian Shaw.
Brian Shaw owns shares of Berkshire Hathaway and National Oilwell Varco. The Motley Fool recommends Berkshire Hathaway, Halliburton, and National Oilwell Varco. The Motley Fool owns shares of Berkshire Hathaway and National Oilwell Varco. Brian is a member of The Motley Fool Blog Network — entries represent the personal opinion of the blogger and are not formally edited.
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