Precision goes global

Article Excerpt

PRECISION DRILLING CORP. $10 (Toronto symbol PD; Aggressive Growth Portfolio, Resource sector; Shares outstanding: 276.9 million; Market cap: $2.8 billion; Price-to-sales ratio: 1.4; Dividend yield: 2.0%; TSINetwork Rating: Extra Risk; www.precisiondrilling.com) provides contract-drilling services to land-based oil and gas producers, mainly in North America. As of June 30, 2013, it had 324 rigs in service. Wet weather in Western Canada and low gas prices have hurt demand for Precision’s rigs. In the second quarter of 2013, its revenue fell 0.8%, to $378.9 million from $382.0 million a year earlier. However, demand for the company’s Super Series rigs, which can reach deeper pockets of oil and gas, remains strong. Thanks to these new rigs, Precision’s average daily revenue rose 7.9% in Canada and 3.0% in the U.S. The company also continues to benefit from its international expansion. In the latest quarter, it operated nine rigs in Mexico and northern Iraq. A year ago, it had just four overseas rigs. Due to…