SLB Sees Unusually High Options Volume (NYSE:SLB)

SLB Limited (NYSE:SLB) saw unusually large options trading activity on Monday. Stock investors acquired 33,012 call options on the stock. This is an increase of approximately 59% compared to the average daily volume of 20,758 call options.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On SLB

Several institutional investors and hedge funds have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the stock. First Eagle Investment Management LLC lifted its position in shares of SLB by 1.9% during the second quarter. First Eagle Investment Management LLC now owns 28,913,733 shares of the oil and gas company’s stock valued at $1,344,199,000 after buying an additional 537,566 shares during the last quarter. California State Teachers Retirement System grew its position in shares of SLB by 2,891.7% in the 2nd quarter. California State Teachers Retirement System now owns 145,176,833 shares of the oil and gas company’s stock worth $6,749,271,000 after buying an additional 140,324,172 shares during the last quarter. Ameritas Advisory Services LLC raised its stake in shares of SLB by 3.0% during the 2nd quarter. Ameritas Advisory Services LLC now owns 11,850 shares of the oil and gas company’s stock worth $551,000 after acquiring an additional 342 shares in the last quarter. Wedmont Private Capital raised its stake in shares of SLB by 9.6% during the 2nd quarter. Wedmont Private Capital now owns 15,375 shares of the oil and gas company’s stock worth $734,000 after acquiring an additional 1,353 shares in the last quarter. Finally, HB Wealth Management LLC lifted its position in SLB by 22.7% during the second quarter. HB Wealth Management LLC now owns 50,839 shares of the oil and gas company’s stock valued at $2,364,000 after acquiring an additional 9,420 shares during the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 81.99% of the company’s stock.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

A number of brokerages have issued reports on SLB. Susquehanna increased their price objective on shares of SLB from $55.00 to $62.00 and gave the company a “positive” rating in a report on Monday, July 27th. Wolfe Research assumed coverage on shares of SLB in a research note on Wednesday, July 8th. They set an “outperform” rating and a $62.00 target price for the company. TD Cowen lifted their price target on shares of SLB from $62.00 to $64.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a report on Monday, July 27th. Raymond James Financial decreased their price target on shares of SLB from $62.00 to $61.00 and set an “outperform” rating on the stock in a research note on Friday, July 10th. Finally, Evercore restated an “outperform” rating and set a $66.00 price objective on shares of SLB in a research report on Monday, July 27th. Two investment analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, eighteen have assigned a Buy rating, one has given a Hold rating and two have given a Sell rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the company currently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average target price of $61.35.

SLB Stock Performance

Shares of NYSE:SLB opened at $53.31 on Wednesday. The company has a current ratio of 1.44, a quick ratio of 1.05 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.41. SLB has a 12 month low of $31.64 and a 12 month high of $58.82. The company has a market capitalization of $79.12 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 25.75, a PEG ratio of 3.56 and a beta of 0.73. The firm’s 50-day moving average is $49.31 and its 200 day moving average is $51.31.

SLB (NYSE:SLB) last released its earnings results on Saturday, July 25th. The oil and gas company reported $0.55 earnings per share for the quarter, topping analysts’ consensus estimates of $0.51 by $0.04. The business had revenue of $8.97 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $8.67 billion. SLB had a return on equity of 14.05% and a net margin of 8.53%.The business’s revenue was up 5.0% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter last year, the firm posted $0.74 earnings per share. Research analysts predict that SLB will post 2.5 EPS for the current year.

SLB Announces Dividend

The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, October 8th. Shareholders of record on Wednesday, September 2nd will be issued a dividend of $0.295 per share. The ex-dividend date is Wednesday, September 2nd. This represents a $1.18 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 2.2%. SLB’s dividend payout ratio is currently 57.00%.

Key Headlines Impacting SLB

Here are the key news stories impacting SLB this week:

• Positive Sentiment: SLB secured access to valuable Venezuelan oilfield data through a contract with state-run PDVSA. The information could support future reservoir evaluation and technology projects in a country with the world’s largest crude reserves, though regulatory and geopolitical risks remain. Reuters: SLB gains access to Venezuela oilfield data through contract
• Positive Sentiment: SLB was selected as strategic reservoir partner for Harbour Energy’s Havstjerne carbon storage project in Norway’s North Sea. The company will provide technology and engineering services during the concept and front-end engineering and design phases, strengthening its position in carbon-management markets. SLB Selected as Strategic Reservoir Partner for the Havstjerne Carbon Storage Project
• Positive Sentiment: The company launched its ExaCT electrical downhole coiled-tubing control system, which provides real-time electrical communication, power and telemetry. SLB says the technology can improve intervention precision, reservoir access and operational visibility, potentially supporting future product adoption. SLB Launches ExaCT Electrical Downhole CT Control System
• Neutral Sentiment: Unusually heavy call-option activity indicates increased speculative interest, but options volume does not guarantee sustained buying or a change in fundamentals. SLB options trading activity
• Negative Sentiment: SLB shares underperformed during the latest session even as the broader market advanced. Coverage characterized the move as a market and positioning issue rather than citing a new deterioration in operations. Investors may also be assessing valuation after the stock’s strong recovery and the company’s earnings outlook.

SLB Company Profile

SLB (NYSE: SLB), historically known as Schlumberger, is a leading global provider of technology, integrated project management and information solutions for the energy industry. Founded by Conrad and Marcel Schlumberger in 1926, the company develops and supplies products and services used across the exploration, drilling, completion and production phases of oil and gas development. Its offerings are intended to help operators characterize reservoirs, drill and complete wells, optimize production and manage field operations throughout the asset lifecycle.

SLB’s product and service portfolio spans reservoir characterization and well testing, wireline and logging services, directional drilling and drilling tools, well construction and completion technologies, production systems, and subsea equipment.