Baker Hughes Beats Estimates, Flags Middle East Disruptions

Oilfield services provider Baker Hughes beat Wall Street estimates for first-quarter profit, as strong demand in its industrial and energy technology unit offset drilling weakness caused by disruptions in the Middle East.

A surge in electricity demand from data centers, along with investments in liquefied natural gas (LNG), gas infrastructure and grid equipment, lifted orders in the IET unit.

First-quarter IET orders rose to $4.89 billion from $3.18 billion a year earlier.

However, disruptions in the Middle East weighed on oilfield services activity.

Its oilfield services and equipment (OFSE) division was under pressure, with revenue falling 7% year-on-year to $3.24 billion, primarily due to the disposition of its surface pressure control business and regional disruptions.

Revenue from the Middle East/Asia region dropped 19% to $1.15 billion.

Baker Hughes and its peers have yet to benefit meaningfully from higher oil prices following attacks on infrastructure in the Middle East and Iran's effective closure of the Strait of Hormuz, as producers remain cautious about increasing drilling.

Earlier this week, peer Halliburton HAL.N warned disruptions linked to the Iran conflict and the Strait of Hormuz closure could cut current-quarter earnings by about 7 cents to 9 cents per share, even after beating first-quarter estimates.