Patterson-UTI Energy, Inc. (PTEN)
NASDAQEnergyOil & Gas DrillingSnapshot 2026-11-05
$9.95-6.57%
Close 2026-11-05 · 1-day change
NASDAQEnergyOil & Gas DrillingSnapshot 2026-11-05
QuarterlyIQ Insights · PTEN
How strong the business is — where it ranks within its sector on capital efficiency and cash generation, and how well management has been executing.
How this business ranks within energy on a research-validated quality screen. As of 2026-11-05.
The screen ranks PTEN against its sector on four durable signals: share dilution, return on capital, free-cash-flow yield, and FCF margin. Historically the highest-quality names tended toward better typical outcomes and fewer bad years over multi-year holds (strongest at three years, modest at one), and that pattern showed up even before the price moved. It characterizes business quality, not price direction.
Each leg is a sector-relative percentile (higher is better); 4 of 4 legs were available for this name. The composite is built from these four; the raw value follows each percentile for context.
A forward quality tilt, not a price prediction, and context for your own research rather than a recommendation. Not investment advice.
How management runs the business: capital, margins, balance sheet, and how reliably they guide and deliver.
Each factor is a parallel diagnostic with a clear read of what it shows and how names like it have historically fared. Never aggregated into a single score.
Operating income rose in 2 of the last 3 quarter-over-quarter moves. Historically, Energy names rated neutral grew net income 56% of the time over the next year (vs 57% for the rest of the cohort, n=2345).
Not investment advice. Scores describe historical and current data; they are not forecasts of future returns. Consult a licensed advisor before making investment decisions.
A guidance track record builds as the company issues and delivers on guidance.
Priorities management has stated in recent disclosures, with status and evidence drawn from earnings calls, filings, and press releases.
We continue to evaluate a range of capital-allocation opportunities, including high-return strategic investments, additional cash returns to shareholders, and debt reduction.
Stated in 4 of 4 supplied quarters. Management reported: “Importantly, even as we fund working capital and capital investments that strengthen earnings power over time, we still expect full-year 2026 free cash flow to more than cover our 2026 dividend payments, and we expect free cash flow to improve in 2027.”” “Over the past two years, we have returned approximately two-thirds of our adjusted free cash flow to investors through dividends and share repurchases, and we remain committed to returning at least 50% of our adjusted free cash flow to our shareholders.””
“We continue to evaluate a range of capital-allocation opportunities, including high-return strategic investments, additional cash returns to shareholders, and debt reduction.”
“Importantly, even as we fund working capital and capital investments that strengthen earnings power over time, we still expect full-year 2026 free cash flow to more than cover our 2026 dividend payme…”
“As we continue to assess the outlook for the company under a new commodity price scenario, our corporate priorities remain unchanged; invest in equipment and digital technology that we believe will e…”
“Over the past two years, we have returned approximately two-thirds of our adjusted free cash flow to investors through dividends and share repurchases, and we remain committed to returning at least 5…”
Consistent with our update during the second quarter, total capital expenditures, net of asset sales, are still expected to be approximately $600 million in 2026.
Stated in 3 of 4 supplied quarters. Management reported: “Consistent with our update during the second quarter, total capital expenditures, net of asset sales, are still expected to be approximately $600 million in 2026.” “We continue to expect full-year 2026 capital expenditures to be less than $500 million, net of asset sales.”
While we increased our capital expenditure budget during the second quarter, our strategy remains focused on high-return, 100% natural gas, Emerald investments and disciplined fleet management.
Stated in 3 of 4 supplied quarters. Management reported: “While we increased our capital expenditure budget during the second quarter, our strategy remains focused on high-return, 100% natural gas, Emerald investments and disciplined fleet management.” “We continue to prioritize equipment and technology investments that improve demand for our drilling and completion businesses and help manage costs.”
“Activity is ramping faster than we initially expected, and we are moving decisively to capture opportunities that should create meaningful long-term value for Patterson-UTI,” said Andy Smith, Chief…
Adjusted gross profit is included as a supplemental disclosure because it is a useful indicator of our operating performance.
Over the trailing year it converted 12.22x of net income into operating cash flow. Historically, Energy names rated robust grew net income 57% of the time over the next year (vs 39% for the rest of the cohort, n=993).
Most sensitive to long-term interest rates.
Not enough signal to read sensitivity to the US dollar, real (inflation-adjusted) rates, the broad stock market, Fed net liquidity (low R² over the window).
12 material management or governance events in the past 24 months, led by capital-allocation actions. Historically, Energy names rated neutral grew net income 58% of the time over the next year (vs 57% for the rest of the cohort, n=2203).
Not investment advice. As of 2026-11-05.
“Consistent with our update during the second quarter, total capital expenditures, net of asset sales, are still expected to be approximately $600 million in 2026.”
“As we continue to assess the outlook for the company under a new commodity price scenario, our corporate priorities remain unchanged; invest in equipment and digital technology that we believe will e…”
“We continue to expect full-year 2026 capital expenditures to be less than $500 million, net of asset sales.”
“While we increased our capital expenditure budget during the second quarter, our strategy remains focused on high-return, 100% natural gas, Emerald investments and disciplined fleet management.”
“We continue to prioritize equipment and technology investments that improve demand for our drilling and completion businesses and help manage costs.”
“We will continue to redirect capital in our completions business to high-grade our fleet over the next year.”