Top 5 Oil Service Stocks To Own Right Now

It's been a busy week for Halliburton (NYSE: HAL  ) . And at the end, the second largest oil services company seems to have come out trumps. Here is a company whose management knows what it's doing. The strategy to return cash to investors through share buybacks is proving to be a master stroke.

Halliburton's corporate headquarters in Houston. Source: Wikimedia commons.

Not the best of weeks ...
Starting with the reporting of the second-quarter results, this hasn't been the most impressive of weeks for Halliburton. A flat rig count and lower drilling activity ensured that revenue from the North American segment -- the company's largest market -- declined almost 10%, year over year, in the first six months of 2013. To top that, a federal antitrust probe has been initiated targeting the U.S. hydraulic fracturing market, with the top names, including Halliburton, coming under investigation.

Best Biotech Stocks To Own Right Now: Walter Energy Inc.(WLT)

Walter Energy, Inc. produces and exports metallurgical coal for the steel industry primarily in the United States. The company also produces thermal and industrial coal, anthracite, metallurgical coke, coal bed methane gas, and other related products. It principally serves electric utility and industrial customers. The company was formerly known as Walter Industries, Inc. and changed its name to Walter Energy, Inc. in April 2009. Walter Energy, Inc. was founded in 1946 and is headquartered in Birmingham, Alabama.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Monica Gerson]

  Walter Energy (NYSE: WLT) shares tumbled 12.98% to $7.91 after the company priced $200 million of 9.5% Senior Secured Notes and $350 million of Senior Secured Second Lien PIK Toggle Notes.

• [By Dimitra DeFotis]

  “Sustained natural gas prices will prop up demand for the thermal coal used in power production through mid-2014 to early 2015, while supply rationalization should help stabilize prices for metallurgical coal, which is used in steelmaking. …�The stable outlook reflects our expectation that over the next year or so coal-fired power plants will capture roughly 40% of US electricity generation, up from 37% in 2012 … Coal inventories had fallen to roughly 164 million short tons by July this year, so we expect modest improvements in thermal coal production and pricing next year.”

  Smaller player�Walter Energy�(WLT) rose more than 14%, making it the biggest coal mover of the day. It also boasted the heaviest volume.�Walter reported a loss in its latest quarter, even though its metallurgical coal production rose. With concerns about liquidity, Sterne Agee wrote of Walter last week:

  “The company has raised $450 million in liquidity during 2013. As amendments are in place, all options remain to enhance its position, including asset sales and tapping debt capital markets. Available liquidity of $487.5 million, including $171 million�in cash and cash equivalents for now as we were encouraged to see management again reduce capital spending levels to $150 million�this year with a targeted minimum level of $130 million for 2014.”

• [By James E. Brumley]

  Congratulations if you happened to step into Alpha Natural Resources, Inc. (NYSE:ANR), Walter Energy, Inc. (NYSE:WLT), or Arch Coal Inc. (NYSE:ACI) late last week or early this week. They're all up in the meantime, which is saying something... given the lousy market environment. In fact, ACI, WLT, and ANR are three of the market's best-performing stocks today. Now get out. Take the money and run. While it superficially seems a rebound could be underway, this rally was never meant to last.

• [By James Brumley]

  On the surface, the news that the Environmental Protection Agency is cracking down on carbon dioxide emissions seems like the beginning of the end for coal stocks like Peabody Energy (BTU), Walter Energy (WLT) and Arch Coal (ACI).

Top 5 Oil Service Stocks To Own Right Now: China Natural Resources Inc.(CHNR)

China Natural Resources, Inc., through its subsidiaries, engages in the acquisition and exploitation of mining rights. The company involves in the exploration, extraction, processing, and sale of iron, zinc, and other nonferrous metals extracted or produced at mines primarily located in Anhui Province in the People?s Republic of China. It also involves in the exploration, acquisition, construction, development, and operation of coal mines located in Guizhou Province, the People?s Republic of China. The company is based in Central, Hong Kong.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Jake L'Ecuyer]

  Top decliners in the sector included Arch Coal (NYSE: ACI), off 5.3 percent, and China Natural Resources (NASDAQ: CHNR), down 3.9 percent.

  Top Headline

Top 5 Oil Service Stocks To Own Right Now: Hospitality Properites Trust (HPT)

Hospitality Properties Trust, a real estate investment trust (REIT), engages in buying, owning, and leasing hotels. The company�s hotels are operated as Courtyard by Marriott, Residence Inn by Marriott, Staybridge Suites by Holiday Inn, Candlewood Suites, AmeriSuites, Prime Hotels and Resorts, Homestead Studio Suites, TownePlace Suites by Marriott, and SpringHill Suites by Marriott or Marriott Hotels and Resorts. As of June 30, 2005, it owned 298 hotels located in 38 states in the United States; Puerto Rico; and Ontario, Canada. The company�s hotels are primarily designed for business, governmental, and family travelers. As a REIT, the company would not be subject to federal income tax provided it distributes at least 90% of its REIT taxable income to its stockholders. Hospitality Properties was formed in 1995 and is based in Newton, Massachusetts.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Russ Krull]

  Hospitality Properties (NYSE: HPT  ) sold $300 million of 10-year, 4.25% paper to fund the redemption of 7% preferred shares.�There are 6.7 million preferred shares at $25 each for total of $167.5 million.�The new debt service will cost about $1 million more per year than the preferred dividends, but Hospitality is getting quite a bit of additional cash for "funding hotel renovation or rebranding costs and potential future acquisitions."

• [By John Udovich]

  Small cap TravelCenters of America LLC is the largest full-service travel center company in the United States, serving professional drivers and motorists traveling on highways with the finest full-service facilities on the road. More specifically, TravelCenters of America LLC offers�diesel fuel and gasoline plus�full-service restaurants, branded lodging and nationally known fast food restaurants at�165 sites with 145�sites owned by Hospitality Properties Trust (NYSE: HPT) and operated by TA; 10 sites owned by HPT and franchise operated; and 10 franchisee-owned and operated.

• [By Rich Duprey]

  Hotel and travel center operator Hospitality Properties Trust� (NYSE: HPT  ) �announced today�its second-quarter dividend of $0.4453125 per�share on its 7.125% Series D�preferred stock that trades on the NYSE under the symbol HPT-PD.

• [By Marc Bastow]

  Hotel and travel REIT Hospitality Properties Trust (HPT) raised its quarterly dividend 2.1% to 48 cents per share, payable Nov. 22 to shareholders of record as of Oct. 25.
  HPT Dividend Yield: 6.71%

Top 5 Oil Service Stocks To Own Right Now: Digital Ally Inc.(DGLY)

Digital Ally, Inc. engages in the production and sale of digital video imaging, audio/video recording, storage, and other products for use in law enforcement and security applications. Its digital audio/video recording and storage product line comprises an in-car digital audio/video system that is integrated into a rear view mirror; an all-weather mobile digital audio/video system designed for motorcycle, ATV, and boat uses; a miniature body-worn digital audio/video camera; a hand-held speed detection system based on light detection and ranging (LIDAR); a hand-held thermal imaging camera used for improved night vision; and a digital audio/video system, which is integrated into a law-enforcement style flashlight. The company?s products make self-contained video and audio recordings onto flash memory cards that are incorporated in the body of the digital video rear view mirror, officer-worn video, and audio system and flashlight. Digital Ally, Inc. sells its products to law enforcement agencies and other security organizations, as well as for consumer and commercial applications through direct sales and third-party distributors. The company is based in Overland Park, Kansas.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Jayson Derrick]

  Digital Ally (NASDAQ: DGLY) said that a police department in Tennessee placed an order for the company's wearable cameras, in-car systems, motorcycle video systems and VuLink connectivity devices. Shares gained 8.79 percent, closing at $12.50.

• [By James E. Brumley]

  There's no denying Tesla Motors Inc. (NASDAQ:TSLA) has been one of year's top investment stories, with shares running up from less than $40 to more than $194 in just a few short months. But, as one might imagine, that 385% runup from TSLA creates something of a disconnect between the company and its share price. Time to head for the exit. Instead, a better use of that now-considerably-greater capital is a position in Digital Ally, Inc. (NASDAQ:DGLY) ... a stock that's also had a pretty good 2014, but has suffered more than a small setback since mid-September. Specifically, DGLY has pulled back from a peak price of $17.47 to a low of $9.88 as of Friday. But, it looks like that correction may have already come to an end.