PTEN
EnergyPatterson-UTI Energy, Inc. · Oil & Gas Drilling · $5B
What is Patterson-UTI Energy, Inc.?
Patterson-UTI Energy is a Houston-based oilfield services company providing contract drilling, pressure pumping, and directional drilling to oil and gas operators across the United States and internationally. Founded in 1993, it operates one of the larger land-based drilling fleets in North America.
The company earns revenue by deploying drilling rigs and completion services to upstream oil and gas operators on a contract basis. Its three segments — Contract Drilling, Pressure Pumping, and Directional Drilling — cover the full well lifecycle from spudding to completion. Key operating regions include west Texas, Appalachia, the Rockies, Oklahoma, and South Texas. The company also holds non-operating working interests in oil and gas assets and provides electrical controls and automation technology to energy and industrial customers.
Patterson-UTI Energy was founded in 1993 and is headquartered in Houston, Texas.
- Land-based contract drilling rigs across major U.S. basins
- Hydraulic fracturing and pressure pumping completion services
- Directional drilling and measurement-while-drilling technology
- Downhole motor supply, rental, and wellbore optimization software
- Electrical controls and automation for energy and marine industries
Is PTEN a Good Stock to Buy?
UQS Score rates PTEN as Below Average overall, reflecting meaningful structural challenges across several key pillars.
The Valuation pillar registers as Attractive, suggesting the market may already be pricing in much of the downside risk — a potential entry consideration for contrarian-minded investors. The Growth and Risk pillars both land at Neutral, indicating the business is neither accelerating nor in acute financial distress at this time.
Both the Quality and Moat pillars score Weak, pointing to thin competitive differentiation and below-average business durability relative to sector peers — a meaningful concern for long-term holders.
Pro members can view the complete pillar breakdown and underlying financial metrics to assess whether PTEN's Attractive valuation offsets its quality and moat weaknesses. Sign up free →
Past performance does not guarantee future results. UQS Score is based on fundamental data and is not a buy/sell recommendation.
Does PTEN pay dividends?
Yes — Patterson-UTI Energy, Inc. pays a dividend.
Patterson-UTI Energy pays a regular dividend, which is notable for an oilfield services company operating in a cyclical sector. The dividend reflects management's intent to return capital to shareholders even through commodity cycles. Investors should weigh the sustainability of the payout against the company's Weak Quality pillar, as earnings in contract drilling can be volatile with oil and gas activity levels.
When does PTEN report earnings?
Patterson-UTI Energy reports earnings on a quarterly cadence, consistent with standard practice for U.S.-listed equities.
Results tend to track closely with rig count activity and oil and gas operator spending, making quarterly swings common in this sector. The Neutral Growth pillar suggests the business is not in a pronounced expansion or contraction phase at present.
For the most recent quarter's results and guidance, visit Patterson-UTI Energy's investor relations page directly.
PTEN Price History
+45.7% over 5Y
Monthly close, adjusted for stock splits and dividend reinvestment.
What if I invested in Patterson-UTI Energy, Inc.?
Based on Patterson-UTI Energy, Inc.'s historical closing prices, adjusted for stock splits and dividend reinvestment. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is for informational purposes only and is not financial advice.
PTEN Long-term Outlook
The fundamental outlook for PTEN is shaped by its Neutral Growth profile and Neutral Risk standing, suggesting a business that is stable but not positioned for outsized expansion in the near term. The Attractive Valuation pillar indicates the stock may offer a margin of safety relative to intrinsic value, though the Weak Quality and Moat pillars temper enthusiasm about durable compounding. Oilfield services companies remain highly sensitive to upstream capital expenditure cycles, and any pullback in operator spending could pressure contract drilling utilization.
Growth drivers
- Recovery or expansion in U.S. land rig count driven by sustained oil prices
- Cross-selling pressure pumping and directional drilling alongside contract rigs
- International contract drilling expansion, including Colombia operations
Key risks
- High sensitivity to oil and gas operator capital spending cycles
- Weak moat leaves pricing power vulnerable in a competitive services market
- Commodity price downturns can rapidly erode contract drilling demand and margins
PTEN vs Peers
PTEN competes in the oilfield contract drilling and services space alongside several established players, each with distinct operational profiles.
Helmerich & Payne focuses heavily on premium AC-drive rigs and has built a reputation for technological differentiation in U.S. land drilling.
Seadrill operates offshore rather than onshore, targeting deepwater and harsh-environment drilling contracts globally — a structurally different market from PTEN's land-based focus.
Transocean is one of the largest offshore drilling contractors in the world, competing for ultra-deepwater contracts rather than the onshore basins where PTEN operates.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Patterson-UTI Energy do?
Patterson-UTI Energy provides onshore contract drilling, pressure pumping, and directional drilling services to oil and gas operators, primarily in the United States. The company deploys land-based drilling rigs across major basins including west Texas, Appalachia, and the Rockies, and also holds non-operating interests in oil and gas assets.
Does PTEN pay dividends?
Yes, Patterson-UTI Energy pays a regular dividend. This is relatively uncommon among mid-cap oilfield services companies and reflects a commitment to returning capital to shareholders. However, given the cyclical nature of contract drilling, investors should monitor whether the payout remains sustainable through commodity downturns.
When does PTEN report earnings?
Patterson-UTI Energy follows a standard quarterly earnings cadence for U.S.-listed companies. Specific dates are not covered by our data source — check the company's investor relations page for the current earnings calendar and most recent results.
Is PTEN a good stock to buy?
The UQS Score rates PTEN as Below Average overall. The Valuation pillar is Attractive, which may interest value-oriented investors, but the Weak Quality and Moat pillars indicate structural concerns. Whether those trade-offs suit your portfolio depends on your risk tolerance and investment horizon. Pro members can access the full pillar breakdown for deeper context.
Is PTEN overvalued?
Based on the UQS Valuation pillar, PTEN currently registers as Attractive — meaning the stock does not appear overvalued relative to the scoring model's assessment. That said, Attractive valuation in a cyclical, low-moat business does not guarantee upside. The full valuation metrics are available to Pro members.
How does PTEN compare to its competitors?
PTEN operates in U.S. onshore drilling, which distinguishes it from offshore-focused peers like Transocean and Seadrill. Its closest land-drilling peer is Helmerich & Payne, which competes directly for the same operator contracts. PTEN's Below Average UQS Score suggests it may lag peers on quality and moat metrics — see the competitor comparison section for more detail.
What is PTEN's market cap bracket?
Patterson-UTI Energy is classified as a mid-cap company. This places it in a segment of the market that can offer more liquidity than small-caps while still carrying meaningful sensitivity to sector cycles and commodity prices.
Who founded Patterson-UTI Energy?
Patterson-UTI Energy was founded in 1993. Detailed founding history, including the names of original founders, is publicly available through the company's official corporate history and SEC filings.
Is PTEN a long-term buy?
As a long-term quality indicator, PTEN's Below Average UQS Score — driven by Weak Quality and Moat pillars — raises questions about durable competitive advantage over a multi-year horizon. The Neutral Risk and Attractive Valuation pillars offer some balance. Long-term investors should weigh the cyclical nature of oilfield services carefully before committing.
What is the main competitive advantage of Patterson-UTI Energy?
Patterson-UTI's scale across multiple service lines — drilling, pressure pumping, and directional drilling — allows it to offer bundled solutions to operators. However, the UQS Moat pillar scores Weak, suggesting this breadth has not translated into a durable pricing or cost advantage relative to sector peers.
What sector does PTEN belong to?
Patterson-UTI Energy operates in the Energy sector, specifically within oilfield services. The company's revenues are closely tied to upstream oil and gas operator activity, making it highly sensitive to commodity price cycles and drilling budgets.
Unlock Full PTEN Analysis
Sign in to unlock the detailed analysis behind the UQS Score.
- ✓See the exact UQS Score and all five pillar scores
- ✓Access underlying financial metrics driving each pillar
- ✓Compare PTEN against sector peers on quality and moat
- ✓View the complete valuation breakdown and risk indicators
- ✓Track score changes as new earnings data is released
Pro Analysis
PTEN — Score History
| Date | UQS | Quality | Moat | Growth | Risk | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| May 22, 2026 | 35.2 | 12.3 | 15.0 | 43.8 | 71.4 | 59.1 | +3.4 |
| May 7, 2026 | 31.8 | 16.1 | 15.0 | 47.6 | 55.7 | 41.2 | 0.0 |
| May 3, 2026 | 31.8 | 16.1 | 15.0 | 47.6 | 55.7 | 41.0 | 0.0 |
| May 1, 2026 | 31.8 | 16.1 | 15.0 | 47.6 | 55.7 | 41.4 | +0.1 |
| Apr 26, 2026 | 31.7 | 16.1 | 15.0 | 47.5 | 55.7 | 40.6 | -5.7 |
| Apr 23, 2026 | 37.4 | 16.1 | 15.0 | 37.7 | 55.7 | 91.7 | 0.0 |
| Apr 22, 2026 | 37.4 | 16.1 | 15.0 | 37.6 | 55.7 | 91.7 | -2.0 |
| Apr 19, 2026 | 39.4 | 18.9 | 15.0 | 44.2 | 55.7 | 91.7 | +0.1 |
| Apr 18, 2026 | 39.3 | 18.9 | 15.0 | 43.9 | 55.7 | 90.9 | -1.1 |
| Apr 14, 2026 | 40.4 | 18.9 | 15.0 | 43.9 | 55.7 | 98.6 | -0.1 |
PTEN — Pillar Breakdown
Quality
— 12.3/100 (25%)Patterson-UTI Energy, Inc. currently shows below-average quality metrics, suggesting challenges with profitability.
How effectively capital is deployed to generate returns.
Profitability relative to shareholders' equity.
Ability to convert revenue into operating profit.
Bottom-line profit as a share of revenue.
Asset productivity — how much gross profit each dollar of assets generates.
Free cash flow relative to market value.
Growth
— 44.2/100 (20%)Patterson-UTI Energy, Inc. shows steady but unspectacular growth, typical for mature companies.
Revenue trajectory over the last twelve months.
Compound annual revenue growth rate over 3 years.
Year-over-year earnings per share growth.
Analyst consensus for future revenue growth.
Analyst consensus for future earnings growth.
Risk
— 71.4/100 (15%)Patterson-UTI Energy, Inc. maintains a reasonable risk profile with manageable debt levels.
Debt levels relative to earnings capacity.
Total debt relative to shareholder equity.
Short-term liquidity — ability to pay near-term obligations.
Earnings capacity relative to interest payments.
Valuation
— 61.5/100 (15%)Patterson-UTI Energy, Inc. trades at a reasonable valuation with decent earnings yield and FCF multiples.
Inverse of forward P/E — higher yield means cheaper stock.
How many years of FCF the market cap represents.
P/E relative to earnings growth — lower is more attractive.
Enterprise value multiple relative to sector median.
Moat
— 15/100 (25%)Patterson-UTI Energy, Inc. operates in a highly competitive environment with limited sustainable advantages. The Moat pillar evaluates competitive advantages across five dimensions: Switching Costs, Network Effects, Cost Advantage, Intangible Assets, and Scale & Ecosystem. Sign in to customize moat ratings for PTEN.
Score Composition
Financial Data
More Stock Analysis
How is the PTEN UQS Score Calculated?
The UQS (Unified Quality Score) for Patterson-UTI Energy, Inc. is calculated using a proprietary 6-pillar framework with 29 financial metrics. Each pillar evaluates a different dimension on a 0–100 scale, then combines into a single weighted score. Scoring thresholds are calibrated per sector. Momentum is an optional Pro toggle — without it, you get the 5-pillar / 25-metric core shown below.
Quality (25%) measures profitability and capital efficiency — ROIC, ROE, margins, GP/Assets, and FCF Yield.
Moat (25%) assesses Patterson-UTI Energy, Inc.'s competitive advantages across switching costs, network effects, cost advantages, intangible assets, and ecosystem scale.
Growth (20%) tracks revenue trajectory and earnings momentum, combining historical results with analyst forward estimates.
Risk (15%) is inversely scored — lower leverage and strong balance sheet health result in higher scores.
Valuation (15%) measures whether Patterson-UTI Energy, Inc. is fairly priced using earnings yield, price-to-FCF, PEG ratio, and EV/EBITDA relative to sector peers.
Six investor-inspired presets are available, each with different pillar weights: Balanced, Buffett, Munger, Lynch, Cathie Wood, and Graham. The public score shown here uses the Balanced preset. Learn more in our FAQ.