Back to top

Image: Bigstock

What Falling Estimates & Price Mean for National Oilwell Varco (NOV)

Read MoreHide Full Article

Similar to wise buying decisions, exiting certain underperformers at the right time helps maximize portfolio returns. Selling off losers can be difficult, but if both the share price and estimates are falling, it could be time to get rid of the security before more losses hit your portfolio.
 
One such stock that you may want to consider dropping is National Oilwell Varco, Inc. (NOV - Free Report) , which has witnessed a significant price decline in the past four weeks, and it has seen negative earnings estimate revisions for the current quarter and the current year. A Zacks Rank #5 (Strong Sell) further confirms weakness in NOV.
 
A key reason for this move has been the negative trend in earnings estimate revisions. For the full year, we have seen 10 estimates moving down in the past 30 days, compared with no upward revisions. This trend has caused the consensus estimate to trend lower, going from earnings of 9 cents a share a month ago to its current level of a loss of 1 cent.

Also, for the current quarter, National Oilwell Varco has seen six downward estimate revisions versus one revision in the opposite direction, dragging the consensus estimate down to 9 cents a share from 13 cents over the past 30 days.
   
The stock also has seen some pretty dismal trading lately, as the share price has dropped 14.6% in the past month.

National Oilwell Varco, Inc. Price and Consensus

So it may not be a good decision to keep this stock in your portfolio anymore, at least if you don’t have a long time horizon to wait.
 
If you are still interested in the Oil and Gas – Mechanical and and Equitment industry, you may instead consider a better-ranked stock - Profire Energy, Inc. (PFIE - Free Report) . The stock currently holds a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy) and may be a better selection at this time. You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.

The Hottest Tech Mega-Trend of All
 
Last year, it generated $8 billion in global revenues. By 2020, it's predicted to blast through the roof to $47 billion. Famed investor Mark Cuban says it will produce "the world's first trillionaires," but that should still leave plenty of money for regular investors who make the right trades early.
 
See Zacks' 3 Best Stocks to Play This Trend >>


See More Zacks Research for These Tickers


Normally $25 each - click below to receive one report FREE:


NOV Inc. (NOV) - free report >>

Profire Energy, Inc. (PFIE) - free report >>

Published in