Three more ways to profit from high oil

Article Excerpt

In addition to producers like Suncor (earlier in this issue), you can profit from rising oil and gas prices through service providers like Precision Drilling, ShawCor and Finning (also in this issue). All are leaders in their niche markets and trade at reasonable multiples to their earnings. PRECISION DRILLING CORP. $14 (Toronto symbol PD; Aggressive Growth Portfolio, Resource sector; Shares outstanding: 292.1 million; Market cap: $4.1 billion; Price-to-sales ratio: 2.0; Dividend yield: 1.7%; TSINetwork Rating: Extra Risk; www.precisiondrilling.com) provides contract drilling services to land-based oil and gas producers, mainly in North America. The company operates 330 rigs. Higher oil and gas prices have spurred demand for Precision’s drilling services. As a result, its revenue rose 12.8% in the first quarter of 2014, to $672.2 million from $595.7 million a year earlier. Earnings gained 8.8%, to $101.6 million from $93.3 million. Per-share earnings rose 6.1%, to $0.35 from $0.33, on more shares outstanding. In response to stronger-than-expected drilling activity, Precision now plans to spend…