tiprankstipranks
Trending News
More News >
Ensign Engy Services (TSE:ESI)
TSX:ESI

Ensign Energy Services (ESI) AI Stock Analysis

Compare
133 Followers

Top Page

TSE:ESI

Ensign Energy Services

(TSX:ESI)

Select Model
Select Model
Select Model
Neutral 56 (OpenAI - 5.2)
Rating:56Neutral
Price Target:
C$3.50
▲(12.18% Upside)
Ensign Energy Services' overall score is driven by mixed financial performance and valuation concerns, offset by positive technical indicators and strategic initiatives highlighted in the earnings call. The company's focus on debt reduction and securing long-term contracts provides a cautiously optimistic outlook, but challenges in profitability and revenue growth remain significant.
Positive Factors
Long-term contracted revenue
A >$1.1B forward contract backlog with a $300M long-term contract margin provides durable revenue visibility and utilization support. This backlog de-risks near-term demand swings, smooths cash flows and underpins medium-term planning and capital allocation through improved predictability.
Debt reduction plan and execution
Active deleveraging materially improves financial flexibility and lowers interest burden over time. Demonstrated paydown and a clear $600M target support continued interest expense reduction, stronger covenant headroom and greater capacity to invest in high-return rigs or technology without refinancing risk.
Operational efficiency (EBITDA margin)
A ~23% EBITDA margin signals durable operational leverage in drilling services despite revenue pressure. Strong core margins indicate effective cost management and crew/asset productivity, enabling the company to convert activity into operating profit and sustain investment in technology and maintenance.
Negative Factors
Declining revenue and negative net margin
Persisting revenue declines and a negative net margin undermine free cash flow expansion and reinvestment capacity. Continued top-line weakness compresses scale benefits, limits ability to cover fixed costs, and can constrain long-term competitiveness unless revenue trends reverse.
International operating days decline
A steep drop in international operating days reduces geographic diversification and idle capacity risk. Prolonged international softness can force asset reallocation or idling, increase unit costs, and diminish revenue resilience if recovery timelines remain uncertain.
U.S. well servicing weakness
A 24% drop in U.S. well servicing activity hits a complementary, often higher-margin revenue stream. Regional weakness can erode cross-selling, lower overall utilization of well service rigs, and pressure margins and cash generation in North America where a large share of revenue is sourced.

Ensign Energy Services (ESI) vs. iShares MSCI Canada ETF (EWC)

Ensign Energy Services Business Overview & Revenue Model

Company DescriptionEnsign Energy Services Inc., together with its subsidiaries, provides oilfield services to the crude oil and natural gas industries in Canada, the United States, and internationally. The company offers shallow, intermediate, and deep well drilling, as well as specialized drilling services, including horizontal, underbalanced, horizontal re-entry, and slant drilling for steam assisted gravity drainage applications; and equipment and services. It also provides coring and oil sands drilling services to the mining, and oil and natural gas industries; directional drilling and related services for conventional and horizontal drilling applications; shallow to deep well services, such as completions, abandonments, production workovers, and bottom hole pump changes for oil and natural gas producers; and interactive pressure drilling services with self-contained systems comprising nitrogen generation and compression equipment, and surface control systems. In addition, the company rents drill strings, loaders, tanks, pumps, rig mattings, blow-out preventers, waste bins, and wastewater treatment equipment for the drilling and completions segments of the oilfield industry. Further, the company offers transportation services. As of December 31, 2021, it operated a fleet of 262 land drilling rigs, 21 specialty coring rigs, and 100 well servicing rigs. The company was incorporated in 1987 and is headquartered in Calgary, Canada.
How the Company Makes MoneyEnsign Energy Services generates revenue primarily through its various service offerings in the oil and gas industry. The main revenue streams include contract drilling services, which involve providing drilling rigs and crews to oil and gas companies on a contractual basis, and completions services that assist in the final stages of well preparation. Additionally, the company earns income from its well servicing operations, which involve maintenance and repair of existing wells. Ensign's revenue is also bolstered by strategic partnerships with major oil and gas operators, allowing them to secure long-term contracts and increase their market presence. Factors such as global oil prices, demand for energy, and technological advancements in drilling techniques significantly influence their earnings and financial performance.

Ensign Energy Services Earnings Call Summary

Earnings Call Date:Nov 07, 2025
(Q3-2025)
|
% Change Since: |
Next Earnings Date:Feb 27, 2026
Earnings Call Sentiment Neutral
The earnings call presented a mixed picture for Ensign Energy Services. While the company achieved notable market share growth, debt reduction, and secured long-term contracts, it faced significant challenges such as decreased revenue and adjusted EBITDA, and a decline in international operating days. The U.S. well servicing business also struggled, indicating regional market difficulties.
Q3-2025 Updates
Positive Updates
Market Share Growth in Canadian and U.S. Segments
The company experienced year-over-year market share growth in its Canadian business unit and the U.S., driven by high-spec single and triple rig types.
Debt Reduction and Financial Strategy
Ensign Energy Services successfully reduced $83.8 million of debt in the first nine months of 2025 and plans to achieve a $600 million debt reduction target by the first half of 2026.
Operational Achievements and Technological Advancements
The company operated an average of 25 drill rigs and 50 well service rigs daily, with strong gross margins and successful beta testing of the EDGE AutoDriller Max.
Long-term Contracts Secured
Ensign secured over $1.1 billion in forward contract revenue, with $300 million in long-term contract margin forecast.
Interest Expense Reduction
Interest expense decreased by 23% to $18.4 million due to lower debt levels and effective interest rates.
Negative Updates
Decrease in Revenue and Adjusted EBITDA
Revenue for the third quarter of 2025 was $411.2 million, a 5% decrease from the prior year. Adjusted EBITDA was $98.6 million, a 17% decrease from the third quarter of 2024.
Operating Days Decline Internationally
Operating days were down 29% internationally for the third quarter of 2025 compared to the same period in 2024.
Challenges in U.S. Well Servicing Business
The U.S. well servicing business faced a tougher market, with a 24% year-over-year decrease in activity for the quarter.
Decrease in International Operating Days
The company experienced an 18% decrease in international operating days for the first nine months of 2025 compared to the same period in 2024.
Company Guidance
Ensign Energy Services Inc. provided detailed guidance during their Third Quarter 2025 Results Conference Call, emphasizing several key metrics and strategic plans. The company highlighted year-over-year market share growth in their Canadian and U.S. operations, with consistent rig activity internationally. They operated approximately 25 drill rigs and 50 well service rigs daily, achieving stronger-than-expected gross margins. Ensign aims to reduce $600 million in debt by mid-2026, having already achieved $98.5 million in debt reduction in the first nine months of 2025. The company reported a 5% year-over-year decrease in third-quarter revenue to $411.2 million, with a 17% drop in adjusted EBITDA to $98.6 million. Despite these declines, they secured over $1.1 billion in forward contract revenue, projecting a $300 million long-term contract margin. Ensign also recorded industry-leading safety metrics and made advancements in technology, notably with the EDGE AutoDriller Max. The company is focused on maintaining financial discipline, negotiating long-term contracts, and investing in technology to enhance operational efficiency.

Ensign Energy Services Financial Statement Overview

Summary
Ensign Energy Services faces challenges with declining revenues and profitability, as reflected in the income statement. The balance sheet shows moderate leverage with a stable equity ratio, but negative returns on equity highlight profitability issues. Cash flow remains relatively strong, providing some stability despite negative net income. Overall, the company needs to address revenue growth and profitability to improve its financial standing.
Income Statement
45
Neutral
Ensign Energy Services shows a declining revenue trend with a negative revenue growth rate of -1.41% in TTM. The company struggles with profitability, as indicated by a negative net profit margin of -2.25% and declining gross profit margins. However, the EBITDA margin remains relatively strong at 23.30%, suggesting operational efficiency despite the challenging market conditions.
Balance Sheet
50
Neutral
The balance sheet reflects moderate leverage with a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.77, which is an improvement from previous years. However, the return on equity is negative at -2.80%, indicating challenges in generating returns for shareholders. The equity ratio stands at 47.68%, showing a stable capital structure.
Cash Flow
55
Neutral
Cash flow analysis reveals a decline in free cash flow growth at -2.76% in TTM, but the company maintains a healthy operating cash flow to net income ratio of 0.91. The free cash flow to net income ratio is 0.58, indicating that the company generates sufficient cash flow relative to its net income, despite the negative net income.
BreakdownTTMDec 2024Dec 2023Dec 2022Dec 2021Dec 2020
Income Statement
Total Revenue1.65B1.68B1.79B1.58B995.59M936.82M
Gross Profit103.80M151.74M240.87M141.11M-36.79M-96.09M
EBITDA366.56M429.44M481.91M402.84M202.14M374.79M
Net Income-46.19M-20.75M41.24M8.13M-156.01M-66.74M
Balance Sheet
Total Assets2.75B2.91B2.95B3.18B2.98B3.05B
Cash, Cash Equivalents and Short-Term Investments16.73M28.11M20.50M49.88M13.30M44.20M
Total Debt977.53M1.08B1.23B1.46B1.46B1.40B
Total Liabilities1.44B1.54B1.64B1.90B1.78B1.69B
Stockholders Equity1.31B1.37B1.31B1.29B1.19B1.37B
Cash Flow
Free Cash Flow218.77M293.13M184.46M145.57M113.39M196.73M
Operating Cash Flow410.56M471.79M360.30M319.96M178.64M246.97M
Investing Cash Flow-154.43M-130.79M-152.63M-121.46M-174.59M-50.24M
Financing Cash Flow-264.14M-334.67M-366.28M-162.04M-35.03M-180.71M

Ensign Energy Services Technical Analysis

Technical Analysis Sentiment
Positive
Last Price3.12
Price Trends
50DMA
2.78
Positive
100DMA
2.63
Positive
200DMA
2.39
Positive
Market Momentum
MACD
0.14
Positive
RSI
57.64
Neutral
STOCH
51.11
Neutral
Evaluating momentum and price trends is crucial in stock analysis to make informed investment decisions. For TSE:ESI, the sentiment is Positive. The current price of 3.12 is above the 20-day moving average (MA) of 3.05, above the 50-day MA of 2.78, and above the 200-day MA of 2.39, indicating a bullish trend. The MACD of 0.14 indicates Positive momentum. The RSI at 57.64 is Neutral, neither overbought nor oversold. The STOCH value of 51.11 is Neutral, not indicating any strong overbought or oversold conditions. Overall, these indicators collectively point to a Positive sentiment for TSE:ESI.

Ensign Energy Services Peers Comparison

Overall Rating
UnderperformOutperform
Sector (65)
Financial Indicators
Name
Overall Rating
Market Cap
P/E Ratio
ROE
Dividend Yield
Revenue Growth
EPS Growth
73
Outperform
C$82.60M3.5812.87%24.94%956.65%
72
Outperform
C$207.48M7.2311.51%-16.20%-38.85%
72
Outperform
C$387.92M7.5923.65%10.44%8.98%-27.41%
71
Outperform
C$1.48B26.483.43%-5.55%-74.96%
65
Neutral
$15.17B7.614.09%5.20%3.87%-62.32%
56
Neutral
C$600.87M-12.42-3.50%-2.47%-246.73%
54
Neutral
C$82.92M-12.09-2.38%-0.38%6.98%
* Energy Sector Average
Performance Comparison
Ticker
Company Name
Price
Change
% Change
TSE:ESI
Ensign Energy Services
3.12
0.22
7.59%
TSE:PD
Precision Drilling
113.80
32.97
40.79%
TSE:AKT.A
AKITA Drilling Ltd
1.99
0.36
22.09%
TSE:ACX
Cathedral Energy Services
5.70
-0.32
-5.32%
TSE:PHX
PHX Energy Services
8.34
-0.15
-1.81%
TSE:WRG
Western Energy Services
2.45
-0.19
-7.20%

Ensign Energy Services Corporate Events

Business Operations and StrategyFinancial Disclosures
Ensign Energy Services Reports Decline in Q3 2025 Earnings Amid Debt Reduction Efforts
Negative
Nov 7, 2025

Ensign Energy Services Inc. reported a decrease in revenue and adjusted EBITDA for the third quarter of 2025 compared to the same period in 2024, with revenue dropping by 5% and adjusted EBITDA by 17%. The company also recorded a net loss attributable to common shareholders, contrasting with a net income in the previous year. Despite these declines, Ensign has made progress in reducing its debt, with a $98.5 million decrease in total debt, net of cash, during the first nine months of 2025. The company has amended its credit agreement, extending the maturity date of its $950 million credit facility to 2028, and expects to achieve its debt reduction target by the first half of 2026, subject to industry conditions.

The most recent analyst rating on (TSE:ESI) stock is a Hold with a C$2.50 price target. To see the full list of analyst forecasts on Ensign Energy Services stock, see the TSE:ESI Stock Forecast page.

Glossary
BuyA stock rated as a "Buy" is expected to perform better than the overall market or a specific benchmark over the near-to-medium term. This rating suggests the stock is likely to deliver higher returns compared to other stocks in the same sector or market index. Note: This is not investment advice; please consult a financial advisor before making investment decisions.
HoldA stock rated as a "Hold" is expected to perform in line with the overall market or a specific benchmark. This rating indicates that the stock is neither particularly compelling nor unfavorable for investment. Note: This is not investment advice; please consult a financial advisor before making investment decisions.
SellA stock rated as a "Sell" is expected to perform worse than the overall market or a specific benchmark over the near-to-medium term. This rating suggests the stock may deliver lower returns compared to other stocks in the same sector or market index. Note: This is not investment advice; please consult a financial advisor before making investment decisions.

Disclaimer

This AI Analyst Stock Report is automatically generated by our AI systems using advanced algorithms and publicly available financial, technical, and market data. While the information provided aims to be accurate and insightful, it is intended for informational purposes only and should not be considered financial advice. Any content created by an AI (Artificial Intelligence) system may contain inaccuracies and/or contain errors. Investing in stocks carries inherent risks, and past performance is not indicative of future results. This report does not account for your personal financial circumstances, objectives, or risk tolerance. Always conduct your own research or consult with a qualified financial advisor before making investment decisions. The analysis and recommendations provided are based on historical and current data and may not fully reflect future market conditions or unexpected developments. Neither the creators of this report nor its affiliated entities guarantee the accuracy, completeness, or reliability of the information presented. Use this report at your own discretion and risk.Date of analysis: Dec 11, 2025