Topic: How To Invest

Hi Pat: I currently own Ensign Energy Services Inc, and have for a number of years. What is your view on this stock? Thanks.

Article Excerpt

Ensign Energy Services Inc., $18.27, symbol ESI on Toronto (Shares outstanding: 153.2 million; Market cap: $2.8 billion; www.ensignenergy.com), is an oilfield-service company that operates in North America and overseas. Ensign drills and services crude-oil and natural-gas wells. It also rents equipment to oilfield operators. In the three months ended December 31, 2010, Ensign’s revenue jumped 45%, to $404 million from $278.7 million a year earlier. Earnings per shares rose 80%, to $0.27 from $0.15. Cash flow per share rose 52.6%, to $0.58 from $0.38. The gains came from a strong rebound in demand for the company’s services. Ensign holds cash of $89.5 million, or $0.56 a share, and is debt free. Ensign needs rising oil and gas prices to post higher results. However, the company’s outlook is positive. Ensign is adding rigs to take advantage of recovering demand. The stock trades at 7.6 times this year’s forecast cash flow of $2.40 a share, and yields 2.1%. Ensign is okay for…