Why Patterson-UTI (PTEN) Could Beat Earnings Estimates Again

Looking for a stock that might be in a good position to beat earnings at its next report? Consider Patterson-UTI Energy Inc. (PTEN), a firm in the Oil & Gas drilling industry, which could be a great candidate for another beat.

This company has seen a nice streak of beating earnings estimates, especially when looking at the previous two reports. In fact, in these reports, PTEN has beaten estimates by at least 65% in both cases, suggesting it has a nice short-term history of crushing expectations.

Earnings in Focus

Two quarters ago, PTEN expected to earn 31 cents per share, while it actually produced earnings of 51 cents per share, a beat of 64.5%. Meanwhile, for the most recent quarter, the company looked to deliver earnings of 22 cents a share, when it actually saw earnings of 28 cents per share instead, representing a 27.3% positive surprise.

Thanks in part to this history, recent estimates have been moving higher for Patterson-UTI. In fact, the Earnings ESP for PTEN is positive, which is a great sign of a coming beat.

After all, the Zacks Earnings ESP compares the most accurate estimate to the broad consensus, looking to find stocks that have seen big revisions as of late, suggesting that analysts have recently become more bullish on the company’s earnings prospects. This is the case for PTEN, as the firm currently has a Zacks Earnings ESP of 10.35%, so another beat could be around the corner.

This is particularly true when you consider that PTEN has a great Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy), which can be a harbinger of outperformance and a signal for a strong earnings profile. And when you add this solid Zacks Rank to a positive Earnings ESP, a positive earnings surprise happens nearly 70% of the time, so it seems pretty likely that PTEN could see another beat at its next report, especially if recent trends are any guide.

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