On Thursday, Barclays reaffirmed its Overweight rating and $12.00 price target for Patterson-UTI Energy (NASDAQ:PTEN), following the company's financial performance report. Patterson-UTI Energy disclosed an adjusted EBITDA of $275 million, which was slightly below the expectations of both Barclays and the consensus, by 4% and 3%, respectively. Despite this, the company's revenue saw a marginal quarter-over-quarter increase of 1%, reaching $1,357 million, which surpassed Barclays and consensus estimates by 6% and 5%.
However, the company experienced a decline in EBITDA margins, which fell 373 basis points quarter-over-quarter to 20.3%, approximately 200 basis points below the anticipated figures by Barclays and the consensus. The free cash flow (FCF) generated by Patterson-UTI Energy amounted to $116 million, aligning closely with the projections by Barclays and the consensus, which were $111 million and $104 million, respectively.
Throughout the quarter, Patterson-UTI Energy demonstrated its commitment to shareholder returns by distributing $71 million, bringing the total for the year to date to $366 million. The company also indicated that, including the scheduled dividend payment in December, it is on track to meet its goal of returning at least $400 million to shareholders within the current year. This announcement underscores the company's dedication to providing value to its investors despite the mixed financial results.
In other recent news, Patterson-UTI Energy's subsidiary has finalized a joint venture agreement with ADNOC Drilling's subsidiary, marking its entry into the Middle East market. The joint venture, Turnwell Industries LLC, will drill and complete 144 unconventional wells for Abu Dhabi National Oil Company. The company has also reported a stable average of 107 operating rigs in the United States for August 2024.
In financial highlights, Patterson-UTI Energy's Q2 2024 earnings report revealed a total revenue of $1.348 billion, a net income of $11 million, and an adjusted EBITDA of $324 million. However, the company expects a slight decline in third-quarter gross profit for Completion Services.
JPMorgan and ATB Capital Markets have revised their price targets for Patterson-UTI Energy to $12.00 and $11.00 respectively, while maintaining their ratings. The company also disclosed an agreement to retain James M. Holcomb, the Executive Vice President and Chief Business Officer, through 2026, with a transition to an advisory role planned until 2030.
InvestingPro Insights
To complement the analysis of Patterson-UTI Energy's recent financial performance, InvestingPro data provides additional context. The company's market capitalization stands at $3.07 billion, with a P/E ratio of 23.5. Notably, Patterson-UTI Energy has demonstrated strong revenue growth, with a 77.86% increase over the last twelve months as of Q2 2024, reaching $5.45 billion.
InvestingPro Tips highlight that management has been aggressively buying back shares, which aligns with the company's commitment to shareholder returns mentioned in the article. Additionally, Patterson-UTI Energy has maintained dividend payments for 21 consecutive years, reinforcing its dedication to providing consistent value to investors. This is particularly relevant given the company's statement about meeting its goal of returning at least $400 million to shareholders this year.
The stock is currently trading near its 52-week low, which may be of interest to investors considering the company's continued profitability and Barclays' Overweight rating. For those seeking a more comprehensive analysis, InvestingPro offers 6 additional tips that could provide further insights into Patterson-UTI Energy's financial health and market position.
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