During the first quarter of 2015, we swapped our position in Ensco (“ESV”) for Helmerich and Payne (HP) (“H&P”) because we believe they offered similar upside but H&P has less downside risk. H&P is the country’s biggest and most profitable onshore drilling contractor. At the time of our decision, H&P’s dividend yield was smaller (4.55% vs 10.37%) but it was still substantial and more secure than ESV’s dividend. Since our swap, Ensco cut its dividend exactly 80% (as of the end of the first quarter H&P yielded 4.04% vs 2.85% for ESV). We agree with ESV’s decision to cut its dividend. The market was not valuing the company based on this large dividend and there might be better ways to use those funds today such as buying back shares or purchasing distressed assets on the cheap.
H&P’s balance sheet is significantly stronger with a net cash position vs. a net debt position for ESV. We also like the supply/demand dynamics in H&P’s market. There were ~1,370 rigs drilling horizontal wells before the OPEC meeting, but only ~800 were highly-efficient AC16-drive rigs (as opposed to diesel-powered mechanical17 rigs or slightly more advanced SCR18 rigs). In other words, the total market opportunity for AC rigs was bigger than the current number of AC rigs from all suppliers. Another positive in H&P’s favor is that shale producers are migrating down the cost curve more quickly than other types of producers.
From FPA Capital Fund (Trades, Portfolio)’s First Quarter 2015 Commentary.
