While I like all 3 of the companies: ESV, MRL, UTI and have owned them all at different times over the last couple of years, I believe that the safest plays at this time are with the industry leaders. RON, WFT, SLB, HAL, BHI are probably the best bets from a conservative speculative angle. Shallow water drillers, while having greater potential % gains, also offer a much greater risk, IMO. If you are convinced that oil will return to the $18 range that a few "experts" still have as a target for 1999, then I agree that the first group will outperform the "leaders".
At this time, I lean toward WFT as the "best" play from my risk/reward angle. At the same time, I will probably be buying into MRL, ESV and UTI if they continue to slide south another 15% to 20%.
FWIW,
Michael
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