Falling debt brightens Precision’s outlook

Article Excerpt

PRECISION DRILLING TRUST $7.13 (Toronto symbol PD.UN; Aggressive Growth Portfolio, Resource sector; Units outstanding: 275.6 million; Market cap: $2.0 billion; Price-to-sales ratio: 1.5; No dividends paid since February 2009; SI Rating: Extra Risk) provides contract-drilling services to oil and gas producers. Precision owns 351 drilling rigs, including 202 in Canada, 146 in the U.S. and three in Mexico and other countries. Precision operated an average of 193 rigs in the three months ended March 31, 2010, up 15.6% from 167 a year earlier. That’s mainly because improving oil prices have driven up drilling activity. However, the trust negotiated new rates with some of its customers before the winter drilling season started, so it was unable to take full advantage of the higher demand. As a result, its revenue fell 16.8% in the quarter, to $373.1 million from $448.4 million. Despite the lower revenue, Precision’s earnings rose 8.0%, to $62.0 million from $57.4 million. However, earnings per unit fell 21.4%, to $0.22 from…