Replies to post #496 on Halliburton Company (HAL)

[Timothy Smith]

Relief of drop in oil prices. The analyst was reviewing macro conditions over next 1-2 years which I generally agree with. I believe a bottom is forming but rebound will start slow and move quickly. Even back to $50-60 WTI is not going to be a catalyst for strong growth.

[Timothy Smith]

Traders willing to bet Halliburton's (HAL +1.4%) proposed deal for Baker Hughes (BHI +1.2%) can survive regulatory scrutiny stand to amass more than $3B in profit, and Schlumberger’s (SLB +1.9%) purchase of Cameron International (CAM +1.7%) could help their chances, according to a Bloomberg analysis.

[Timothy Smith]

Halliburton (HAL -0.5%) is upgraded to Buy from Hold with a $44 price target at HSBC, despite a worsened oilfield service outlook since March with additional E&P capital expenditure cutbacks and further oil price turbulence.

HSBC says HAL's decremental margin performance in H1, even adjusting for the depreciation on assets held for sale, of 37% Y/Y and 34% Q/Q was much better than the comparable period in 2009 which showed declines of 66% Y/Y and 47% Q/Q.