International To Drive Schlumberger’s Future
Over the last 52 weeks, Schlumberger Limited. (NYSE:SLB) has hovered between its high and its low. At a a respective 19.7x and 13.7x past and forward earnings, the stock is neither expensive nor cheap. But when you look at future growth prospects of 16.5% annually over the next 5 years, it becomes clear that a bet on Schlumberger Limited. (NYSE:SLB) is a bet on a bullish oil & gas future. Analysts, accordingly, rate the stock around a “buy” with a consensus rating of “1” out of “5” where “1” is a “buy”.
Compared to Baker Hughes Incorporated (NYSE:BHI), Schlumberger Limited. (NYSE:SLB) generates a greater amount of business as a percent of revenue (70%+ versus 44%) from markets abroad, which enables it to have a greater growth curve. In my view, this tailwind will hedge against industry-wide uncertainty from consumers. During the third quarter, revenue grew 1.5% sequentially, which was driven by a 3.1% rate from abroad. Perhaps more importantly, international margin expansion of 73 bps helped to offset domestic margin compress of 209 bps.
As strong of a growth investment Schlumberger Limited. (NYSE:SLB) is, I still believe that Halliburton Company (NYSE:HAL) is even better. Not only is Halliburton cheaper at a PEG ratio of 0.6x, it has had more consistent and greater positive earnings surprises. Furthermore, Halliburton Company (NYSE:HAL) is forecasted for greater annual EPS growth of 17.2% over the next half decade. This wouldn’t be so big of a deal if Schlumberger didn’t lack the momentum to make up the difference. Unfortunately, the oil well service provider has only grown EPS by 3.1% annually over the past 5 years–nearly 650 bps less than Halliburton Company (NYSE:HAL). While it may have the economic moat to secure a premium, it won’t necessarily drive outperformance against a rising competitor.
Weak Performance Weighs On Baker Hughes’s Downside
Over the last 5 quarters, Baker Hughes Incorporated (NYSE:BHI) has underperformed expectations by an average of 8%. This is especially troubling, since analysts are expecting double-digit EPS growth while Baker Hughes Incorporated (NYSE:BHI)’s EPS has slid 11.3% annually over the past 5 years. Although shares are decently cheap at 13.3x past earnings, poor performance won’t take multiples any higher given the intense competition.
According to management, there are multiple headwinds keeping down earnings. Pressure pumping, for example, is challenged by industry imbalance that puts pressure on margins and profitability. Furthermore, customers are delaying activity due to over-leveraged balance sheets and commodity volatility. A customer bankruptcy in Europe and tax costs from a customer in Latin America further strain business potential.The closure of a British chemical manufacturing facility only adds to the list of corporate woes.
However, there are also multiple reasons why you should still buy the stock. Canadian activity has picked up to offset broad weakness in North America. In addition, international business is starting to represent a larger amount of business for Baker Hughes Incorporated (NYSE:BHI). In the third quarter, international’s top-line rose 7% y-o-y while margins increased 80 bps yo-yo. While activity declined in Europe, the Middle East and Asia Pacific has driven excellent returns–partially through completion sales in Saudi Arabia.
Conclusion & Stock Fundamentals
Despite recent double-digit gains in value, I still find oilfield service stocks tremendously undervalued. With the S&P trading at over 17x, the industry is heavily discounted despite facing several strong catalysts: (1) greater fracking demand, (2) a positive swing in the macroeconomy, and (3) greater efficiency per rig. Schlumberger Limited. (NYSE:SLB) is somewhat expensive at 19.2x past earnings, but it is forecasted for around 17% annual EPS growth. And Halliburton Company (NYSE:HAL) is an easy steal at 14.9x past earnings. Its very immediate growth isn’t even fully factored into the stock price, as evidenced by the PEG ratio of 0.9x. The one risk is technical: it is up around 60% from the 52-week low, which is nearly 30,000 bps greater than Schlumberger’s return. However, the momentum is likely to continue unabated, in my view, due to improving trends in managing guar prices and clearing up excess capacity in oil basins. Even Baker Hughes Incorporated (NYSE:BHI) is reasonably priced at 15.6x past earnings, and it has risen “only” 23.3% from the 52-week low, the lowest.
The article Why I Love Oilfield Service Stocks originally appeared on Fool.com and is written by David Gould.
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