10:51 DJS Ensco's Net Jumped 54%; National-Oilwell Earnings More than Doubl 10:51 DJS Ensco's Net Jumped 54%; National-Oilwell Earnings More than Doubled
NEW YORK -(Dow Jones)- Ensco International Inc. said Wednesday its second-quarter net income jumped 54%, but the energy-services company warned that results the rest of the year will suffer from low oil prices. Meanwhile, National-Oilwell Inc., which makes oil and natural-gas drilling equipment, said second-quarter earnings more than doubled from a year earlier. Ensco (ESV) posted net income of $80.6 million, or 57 cents a diluted share, compared with year-ago net of $52.2 million, or 37 cents a share. The results were about in line with estimates for earnings of 56 cents a share. Revenue soared 20% to $234 million. The Dallas-based company warned that earnings in the second half of the year will be hurt by low oil prices. Ensco is not alone in that situation as all oil-services companies have been sensitive to changes in oil prices. The companies provide the drilling rigs, drill bits, surveys and other support for the oil business, depend on the capital spending of oil and natural-gas producers for their revenue. And with oil prices languishing below previous expectations, their cash flow has been hurt, and some have curtailed spending plans. Shares of oil-related companies have been weak since October, when the price of oil began falling from its then-level of $21 a barrel to below $12 a barrel last month. Also, the Asian economic crisis, as well as warm winter weather, have contributed to a glut of oil in global markets. Houston-based National-Oilwell (NOI) had net of $23.8 million, or 46 cents a share on revenue of $294.8 million, up from $11 million, or 21 cents a share on revenue of $234 million in last year's period. That latest results were four cents a share better than the First Call forecast. The company said demand for offshore and land equipment is "strong" and reported a backlog of $260 million as of June 30, compared with $84 million a year ago. Copyright (c) 1998 Dow Jones & Company, Inc. All Rights Reserved. (:ESV) (:NOI) 07/15 10:51a CDT |