- While Deutsche Bank analysts see oil poised for a modest recovery, they nevertheless downgrade Pioneer Energy (PES -8.1%) and Precision Drilling (PDS -3.7%) to Hold from Buy, believing that some of the traditional early cycle winners - specifically land drillers - will trade up in the near-term but the strong earnings recovery required to justify such a move will disappoint.
- But the firm does not think investors should avoid all oil services stocks, saying well service companies such as Basic Energy Services (BAS -2.8%) and Key Energy Services (KEG flat) could be the biggest beneficiaries, actually helped by a more cautious environment in which operators can generate high returns and quick paybacks by enhancing production from existing wells.