SLB (NYSE:SLB) Downgraded to “Strong Sell” Rating by Freedom Capital

Freedom Capital downgraded shares of SLB (NYSE:SLB) from a hold rating to a strong sell rating in a research report sent to investors on Tuesday,Zacks.com reports.

A number of other research analysts have also weighed in on SLB. Royal Bank Of Canada increased their price objective on SLB from $51.00 to $54.00 and gave the company an “outperform” rating in a report on Monday. The Goldman Sachs Group reiterated a “buy” rating and issued a $49.00 target price on shares of SLB in a research report on Wednesday, January 14th. Morgan Stanley reissued an “overweight” rating and set a $50.00 price target on shares of SLB in a research report on Wednesday, January 21st. Sanford C. Bernstein upped their price objective on shares of SLB from $47.60 to $52.30 and gave the company an “outperform” rating in a report on Thursday, December 11th. Finally, Bank of America raised their target price on shares of SLB from $50.00 to $55.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a report on Monday. Three research analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, seventeen have issued a Buy rating, three have assigned a Hold rating and one has issued a Sell rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of $51.92.

SLB Stock Performance

Shares of NYSE SLB traded down $1.62 during midday trading on Tuesday, reaching $49.04. The company had a trading volume of 12,049,092 shares, compared to its average volume of 23,253,258. SLB has a 1 year low of $31.11 and a 1 year high of $51.67. The business’s 50-day simple moving average is $40.71 and its 200 day simple moving average is $36.89. The company has a current ratio of 1.33, a quick ratio of 0.98 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.36. The stock has a market cap of $73.33 billion, a P/E ratio of 20.69 and a beta of 0.72.

SLB (NYSE:SLB) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Friday, January 23rd. The oil and gas company reported $0.78 earnings per share for the quarter, beating analysts’ consensus estimates of $0.74 by $0.04. The firm had revenue of $9.75 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $9.54 billion. SLB had a net margin of 9.45% and a return on equity of 17.45%. The business’s quarterly revenue was up 5.0% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period in the previous year, the company earned $0.92 earnings per share. On average, analysts forecast that SLB will post 3.38 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

SLB Increases Dividend

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, April 2nd. Stockholders of record on Wednesday, February 11th will be paid a dividend of $0.295 per share. This represents a $1.18 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 2.4%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Wednesday, February 11th. This is an increase from SLB’s previous quarterly dividend of $0.29. SLB’s dividend payout ratio is currently 48.10%.

Insider Transactions at SLB

In other news, CAO Howard Guild sold 13,268 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, January 26th. The stock was sold at an average price of $49.70, for a total value of $659,419.60. Following the completion of the sale, the chief accounting officer directly owned 22,407 shares in the company, valued at $1,113,627.90. The trade was a 37.19% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this link. Also, EVP Abdellah Merad sold 60,000 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, January 26th. The stock was sold at an average price of $49.70, for a total value of $2,982,000.00. Following the transaction, the executive vice president directly owned 140,602 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $6,987,919.40. The trade was a 29.91% decrease in their ownership of the stock. Additional details regarding this sale are available in the official SEC disclosure. Insiders have sold 260,849 shares of company stock worth $11,668,003 over the last quarter. Company insiders own 0.22% of the company’s stock.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On SLB

Several institutional investors and hedge funds have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the stock. HB Wealth Management LLC grew its position in shares of SLB by 6.1% in the fourth quarter. HB Wealth Management LLC now owns 35,443 shares of the oil and gas company’s stock valued at $1,360,000 after purchasing an additional 2,033 shares during the period. Caprock Group LLC lifted its stake in SLB by 27.4% in the 4th quarter. Caprock Group LLC now owns 78,653 shares of the oil and gas company’s stock valued at $3,040,000 after buying an additional 16,904 shares in the last quarter. Kingswood Wealth Advisors LLC boosted its holdings in SLB by 17.6% in the 4th quarter. Kingswood Wealth Advisors LLC now owns 17,629 shares of the oil and gas company’s stock worth $677,000 after buying an additional 2,643 shares during the last quarter. Ruffer LLP purchased a new stake in SLB during the 4th quarter worth approximately $44,073,000. Finally, Proathlete Wealth Management LLC acquired a new position in shares of SLB during the fourth quarter valued at approximately $51,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 81.99% of the company’s stock.

SLB News Summary

Here are the key news stories impacting SLB this week:

• Positive Sentiment: SLB won two multi‑year (five‑year) contracts from Petroleum Development Oman to supply wellheads and artificial‑lift equipment (ESPs, PCPs), supporting revenue visibility in Block‑6 and in‑country value initiatives. SLB Awarded Multi-Year Contracts to Support Oman’s Energy Development
• Positive Sentiment: Several brokerages raised targets/issued bullish notes this week (Susquehanna, BofA, BMO, RBC, JPMorgan; Argus upgraded to “strong‑buy”), lifting consensus upside expectations and providing buy‑side support. Susquehanna Boosts SLB Price Target to $58.00
• Neutral Sentiment: Analysts and commentators are re‑examining SLB’s valuation and evolving role in energy markets (contextual for medium/long‑term positioning but not an immediate catalyst). Is SLB Pricing Reflect Its Role In Evolving Energy Markets?
• Negative Sentiment: Freedom Capital downgraded SLB from “hold” to “strong sell,” creating near‑term selling pressure and increasing headline risk. Zacks: Freedom Capital Downgrade
• Negative Sentiment: Multiple senior insiders (CFO Stéphane Biguet, EVP Abdellah Merad, CAO Howard Guild, director La Chevardière, and others) disclosed significant share sales on Jan. 26; coordinated large insider disposals can be perceived negatively even if for diversification. See coverage and SEC filings for details. TipRanks: Insider Selling Wave
• Negative Sentiment: SLB’s joint venture with Aker Carbon Capture reported a loss on a carbon‑capture project, which may temper enthusiasm for the company’s energy‑transition growth narrative and near‑term earnings from CC initiatives. SLB and Aker CC venture hit by loss on carbon capture project

About SLB

SLB (NYSE: SLB), historically known as Schlumberger, is a leading global provider of technology, integrated project management and information solutions for the energy industry. Founded by Conrad and Marcel Schlumberger in 1926, the company develops and supplies products and services used across the exploration, drilling, completion and production phases of oil and gas development. Its offerings are intended to help operators characterize reservoirs, drill and complete wells, optimize production and manage field operations throughout the asset lifecycle.

SLB’s product and service portfolio spans reservoir characterization and well testing, wireline and logging services, directional drilling and drilling tools, well construction and completion technologies, production systems, and subsea equipment.