Fuelling Growth - Research Report on Schlumberger Limited, Halliburton Company, National Oilwell Varco, Inc., Noble Corp. and Ensco plc

NEW YORK, February 28, 2013 /PRNewswire/ --

Today, Investors Alliance announced new research reports highlighting Schlumberger Limited (NYSE:SLB), Halliburton Company (NYSE:HAL), National Oilwell Varco, Inc. (NYSE:NOV), Noble Corp. (NYSE:NE) and Ensco plc (NYSE:ESV). Today's readers may access these reports free of charge - including full price targets, industry analysis and analyst ratings - via the links below.

Schlumberger Limited Research Report

Schlumberger was upgraded by JPMorgan analysts to "overweight," raising the stock's price target from $93 to $99. This comes after posting growth in Q4 2012 revenue driven by growth in key markets as well as typical year-end product, software and multiclient sales. The performance in international markets managed to counter the seasonal slowdowns, contract delays, and costs from mobilizations and new projects, which impacted the year over year decrease in net income for the quarter. Significant growth was posted in Latin America and Asia, particularly in revenue and operating margins, countering the 1 percent decline in Europe, CIS, and Africa due to slowdowns in the North Sea and Russia as well as contract delays in North Africa. North America meanwhile posted increases in revenue and margins thanks to deep-water drilling operations in the Gulf of Mexico. In other news, Schlumberger will be releasing its Q1 2013 results on April 19, 2013 while a 13.6 percent higher quarterly dividend of 31 cents per share will be paid out on April 12.  The Full Research Report on Schlumberger Limited - including full detailed breakdown, analyst ratings and price targets - is available to download free of charge at: [http://www.investors-alliance.com/r/full_research_report/07a1_SLB]

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Halliburton Company Research Report

Halliburton grabbed headlines after a legal counsel for British Petroleum (BP) blamed the company, BP's cement contractor, for its negligence leading to the disastrous 2010 oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico. In the trial against BP, which started this week, the oil giant claimed that Halliburton used a "bad slurry" that failed to prevent oil and gas from traveling up the well. Halliburton lawyers meanwhile defended that the blame should be put on BP and rig owner Transocean Ltd. instead for failing to "shut in" the well, and accusing the two companies of merely "passing the buck and blame" to Halliburton. In other news, the company joined several other oilfield services and driller companies to announce an increase in its quarterly dividend, with a 39 percent increase for Q1 2013 at 12.5 cents per share payable on March 27, 2013. The Full Research Report on Halliburton Company - including full detailed breakdown, analyst ratings and price targets - is available to download free of charge at: [http://www.investors-alliance.com/r/full_research_report/466f_HAL]

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National Oilwell Varco, Inc. Research Report

National Oilwell Varco just completed its acquisition of Texas-based pumping equipment company Robbins & Myers last week for $2.5 billion in cash, where shareholders of the latter will be receiving $60 cash per common share. The acquisition, National Oilwell Varco's biggest one more than four years, will allow the company to expand its services and products, now also serving industrial markets aside from the oil and gas industry. It will also help the company bolster its position as a supplier of blowout preventers, a critical safety machine that can shut a well off in case of an emergency. The news was instrumental in National Oilwell Varco's 2 percent increase in stock price to $68.10 this week. The Street rates the company as a "buy," citing performance in revenue growth, debt, earnings per share growth, net income, and valuation levels.  The Full Research Report on National Oilwell Varco, Inc. - including full detailed breakdown, analyst ratings and price targets - is available to download free of charge at: [http://www.investors-alliance.com/r/full_research_report/72e4_NOV]

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Noble Corp. Research Report

Noble has been a bright spot in the offshore drilling industry, according to analysts, thanks to its improvement in the execution of its ambitious new rig construction program by decreasing drilling downtime. With that, they see that earnings estimates would now be more achievable even after having some operational hiccups. Analysts also see the company's stock trading at a discount as a result of the previous missteps, but expects much upside. In other news, The Street rated Noble as a "buy" citing growth in revenue, net income, cash flow from operations, profit margins, as well as good debt management. The company expects further increases in its financials as customer demand increases in regions they are operating due to increased exploration and production spending beyond 2013. The Full Research Report on Noble Corp. - including full detailed breakdown, analyst ratings and price targets - is available to download free of charge at: [http://www.investors-alliance.com/r/full_research_report/336c_NE]

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Ensco plc Research Report

Ensco reported strong and better than expected Q4 2012 results due to increased utilization, rising customer demand, and new rigs joining the fleet. Adjusted profit was $1.37 a share, up 34.3 percent from $1.02 earned in the year-earlier quarter, while revenue surged 11.5% to $1,085.5 million from last year's revenue of $973.2 million. In comparison, analysts expected $1.28 in earnings per share and $1.09 billion in revenue. The company saw robust demand in the deep-water efforts in the Gulf of Mexico, while it is looking at expansion opportunities in Indonesia, Malaysia, and Australia this year. Meanwhile, the company's stock has been rated "overweight" by Barclays Capital, though the price target has been cut to $75 from $79. The Full Research Report on Ensco plc - including full detailed breakdown, analyst ratings and price targets - is available to download free of charge at: [http://www.investors-alliance.com/r/full_research_report/78d1_ESV]

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SOURCE Investors-Alliance