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[Timothy Smith]

$HP Helmerich & Payne, Inc. seems to be doing pretty good going along with the demands and requirements of the oil and energy market, as evident from the Q3 FY2012 results of the company.

It recorded income from continuing operations of $150 million from operating revenues of $820 million for its third fiscal quarter ended June 30, 2012, compared to income from continuing operations of $110 million from operating revenues of $644 million during last year's third fiscal quarter ended June 30, 2011.

I would say that H&P wins hands down with its immediate competitor, Nabors Industries (NBR). The operating income margin of H&P stands at 27.62%, compared to 7.95% of NBR. The P/E ratio of H&P stands at 9.54x compared to 21.18x of NBR. Even EPS of H&P is much plumper at $4.99, compared to $0.75 of NBR.

Still the stock price of the company fell by 24.44% in the last six months.

Is it because of the lack of investor confidence or due to a factual slowdown in the economy?

As it seems, the fall in stock price is on with every other company in the oil drilling and extraction industry.

Atwood Oceanics, Inc. (ATW): -2.81%
Pioneer Energy Services (PES): -3.7%
Precision Drilling (PDS): -30.51%
Union Drilling, Inc. (UDRL): -39.75%
Patterson-UTI Energy, Inc. (PTEN): -21.67%
Unit Corp. (UNT): -13.69%