Energy

Earnings and Buyback Drive Halliburton to New Highs

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Halliburton Co. (NYSE: HAL) reported second-quarter 2014 results before markets opened Monday. The oil and gas services company posted adjusted diluted earnings per share (EPS) of $0.91 on revenues of $8.1 billion. In the same period a year ago, the company reported EPS of $0.73 on revenues of $7.32 billion. Second-quarter results also compare to the Thomson Reuters consensus estimates for EPS of $0.91 and $7.88 billion in revenues.

The company did not provide guidance in its earnings release, but the third-quarter consensus estimates call for EPS of $1.11 on revenues of $8.32 billion. For the full year, EPS is estimated at $3.99 on revenues of $32.22 billion.

Halliburton said that its income from operations in the eastern hemisphere, which includes its Middle East/Asia and Europe/Africa/CIS groups, grew by 26% sequentially and the company expects full-year growth in the low double-digits. In Latin America, revenue increased by 4%, but operating income declined by 39% due to late receipt of a blanket order in Mexico.

In North America revenues grew by 11% sequentially and operating income rose 31%. Halliburton said it expects North American activity levels to continue improving and that margins will approach 20% in the third quarter.

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The company’s CEO said:

We see strong, sustainable growth opportunities across the mature field, deepwater and unconventional markets. We continue to be excited about the North America market, and although there may be near-term choppiness in certain international markets, we see a strong pipeline of opportunities.

More than half of Halliburton’s revenues and almost two-thirds of its operating come from North America. The company also expects its Mexico business to improve once that country settles the remaining issues related to opening its oil and gas industry to private sector firms. Halliburton has a solid position in Mexico and expects to build on that in the future.

Halliburton also boosted its stock buyback program, adding $4.8 billion and raising the total available for buybacks to $6 billion. More than any other factor, this will push shares higher Monday.

Halliburton’s shares were up 2% in premarket trading Monday to $72.35, above the current 52-week range of $43.78 to $71.94. Thomson Reuters had a consensus analyst price target of around $76.70 before the report.

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