Club holding Halliburton (HAL) reported stronger-than-expected first-quarter results before the bell Tuesday, validating our investment in the oilfield services company as it capitalizes on years of underinvestment in drilling capacity. Total revenue rose 33% year over year to $5.68 billion, topping analyst expectations of $5.5 billion, according to Refinitiv. Earnings per share (EPS) more than doubled on an annual basis, to 72 cents, exceeding the Refinitiv estimate of 68 cents. Bottom line Halliburton’s results — and management’s associated commentary — strengthened our conviction in the company. In addition to its top-and-bottom line beats, Halliburton also posted better-than-anticipated operating margin and operating cash flow. It wasn’t all perfect. Halliburton’s free cash flow disappointed. However, Halliburton CEO Jeff Miller stressed there’s been no change to the company’s longer-term expectations around strong free cash flow generation, which supports capital returns to shareholders via dividends and buybacks. “Everything I see today points to more cash to shareholders,” Miller said on Tuesday’s earnings call, expressing the sentiment on multiple occasions during the presentation and Q & A with analysts. Despite the quality print, shares of Halliburton fell more than 3% in midmorning trading, to just over $33 each. A few factors could be motivating the sellers. Crude prices fell more than 2% Tuesday, which is helping make energy the worst-performing sector in the S & P 500 on a down day for the index. Additionally, Halliburton had been among the best-performing Club stocks over the past month, so there may also be some profit-taking afoot. Guidance Halliburton’s overall outlook is constructive, as Miller said the company continues to expect customer spending to grow in 2023 and beyond. In North America, specifically, he reiterated that customer spending is on track to grow at least 15% this year. “At today’s oil prices, I believe that our customers will execute their activity plans and the market for highly efficient equipment and quality services will remain tight,” Miller said. He added there’s been no change to his belief that a multi-year boom is underway for oilfield services firms. On a segment-by-segment basis, Halliburton CFO Eric Carre said its revenue from drilling and evaluation should increase sequentially in the low-to-mid single digits in the second quarter, with a slight decline in margins driven by seasonal weakness in software sales. Completion and production revenue also is expected to grow in the low-to-mid single digits sequentially, alongside between 25 basis points and 75 basis points of margin expansion. A basis point equals 0.01%. Capital return initiatives Halliburton bought back $100 million worth of stock in the first quarter, which follows $250 million worth of share repurchases in the final three months of 2022. As a reminder, in January, Halliburton announced a new framework to return at least 50% of annual free cash flow via dividends and buybacks going forward. Halliburton now pays a dividend of 16 cents per share , up 33% from where it stood at the end of last year. Miller stressed Tuesday that Halliburton has the flexibility to increase its buyback spending as the year progresses. Halliburton’s first-quarter sales were better than expected in all four of its geographic segments. Its North American and Latin American operations saw the biggest year-over-year growth, rising 43.6% to $2.77 billion and 40.1% to $915 million, respectively. The only geographic segment that saw declines on an annual basis was Europe/Africa/CIS, which fell 2%. Management noted on the call that those results were impacted by the sale of its Russia operations. Halliburton’s free cash flow came in at negative $105 million in three months ended March 31, compared with estimates of positive $134 million. It’s important to remember the weakness is largely due to normal seasonal trends, a dynamic also impacting Halliburton rival SLB, which last week reported negative first-quarter free cash flow, too. (Jim Cramer’s Charitable Trust is long HAL. See here for a full list of the stocks.) As a subscriber to the CNBC Investing Club with Jim Cramer, you will receive a trade alert before Jim makes a trade. Jim waits 45 minutes after sending a trade alert before buying or selling a stock in his charitable trust’s portfolio. If Jim has talked about a stock on CNBC TV, he waits 72 hours after issuing the trade alert before executing the trade. THE ABOVE INVESTING CLUB INFORMATION IS SUBJECT TO OUR TERMS AND CONDITIONS AND PRIVACY POLICY , TOGETHER WITH OUR DISCLAIMER . NO FIDUCIARY OBLIGATION OR DUTY EXISTS, OR IS CREATED, BY VIRTUE OF YOUR RECEIPT OF ANY INFORMATION PROVIDED IN CONNECTION WITH THE INVESTING CLUB. NO SPECIFIC OUTCOME OR PROFIT IS GUARANTEED.
A Halliburton worker walks through a hydraulic fracturing site north of Dacono, Colorado.
Jamie Schwaberow | Bloomberg | Getty Images
Club holding Halliburton (HAL) reported stronger-than-expected first-quarter results before the bell Tuesday, validating our investment in the oilfield services company as it capitalizes on years of underinvestment in drilling capacity.
Total revenue rose 33% year over year to $5.68 billion, topping analyst expectations of $5.5 billion, according to Refinitiv.
Earnings per share(EPS) more than doubled on an annual basis, to 72 cents, exceeding the Refinitiv estimate of 68 cents.
On today’s extreme episode of Quick Charge, we’ve got the most affordable new EV in America packing 255 miles of range, sub-30 minute charging, V2H support, and more – all that for a price about $10,000 LESS than that new “affordable” Tesla.
We’ve also got specs for the all-new, all-electric Ferrari Elettrica and a world’s first, hydrogen-powered autonomous farm tractor from Kubota.
Today’s episode is brought to you by Climate XChange, a nonpartisan nonprofit working to help states pass effective, equitable climate policies. The nonprofit just kicked off its 10th annual EV raffle, where participants have multiple opportunities to win their dream model. Visit CarbonRaffle.org/Electrek to learn more.
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If you’re considering going solar, it’s always a good idea to get quotes from a few installers. To make sure you find a trusted, reliable solar installer near you that offers competitive pricing, check out EnergySage, a free service that makes it easy for you to go solar. It has hundreds of pre-vetted solar installers competing for your business, ensuring you get high-quality solutions and save 20-30% compared to going it alone. Plus, it’s free to use, and you won’t get sales calls until you select an installer and share your phone number with them.
Your personalized solar quotes are easy to compare online and you’ll get access to unbiased Energy Advisors to help you every step of the way. Get started here.
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Momentum, the lifestyle-focused urban bike brand under Giant Group, has just launched the latest version of its popular Vida E+ electric bike – and this one’s all about making e-biking smoother, safer, and more accessible to riders of all experience levels.
The updated Vida E+ features a new 500W SyncDrive Move S motor offering 60Nm of torque and pedal assist up to 28 mph, designed to provide natural-feeling power whether you’re cruising to work or just exploring around town. The system uses a combination of sensors to analyze torque, speed, and cadence, automatically adjusting power output to match your pedaling effort.
According to Momentum, the motor engages with as little as 4Nm of pedal pressure and just 10° of crank movement, giving riders what they describe as an ultra-smooth and effortless start every time.
A new optional throttle adds another layer of convenience, letting riders cruise at speeds up to 20 mph without pedaling, which should be perfect for hills, traffic-heavy starts, or when you just want to relax and take it easy on the way home. The bike’s EnergyPak 700 battery provides up to a claimed 55 miles (88 km) of range on pedal assist or 43 miles (69 km) on throttle-only riding.
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The Vida E+ also leans hard into comfort and safety. It sports a low-step aluminum frame for easy on-and-off, an 80 mm suspension fork, and wide 26×2.4-inch tires for stability and plushness. Four-piston hydraulic disc brakes ensure solid stopping power, while a new automatic motor cutoff feature stops assistance as soon as the brakes engage. The bike is UL 2849 certified, meaning it meets top-tier safety standards for batteries and electronics, which is a growing priority in the e-bike world as more cities and states consider requiring safety certification as a prerequisite.
With support for up to 300 pounds (136 kg) total load and optional racks front and rear, the Vida E+ is also built for everyday utility. And on the tech side, momentum’s RideControl app lets riders fine-tune speed and assistance, lock or unlock the bike electronically, and monitor battery health.
VW’s US EV lease deals just went from hero to zero. Federal tax credits are now dead, the automaker has wiped out up to $12,000 in lease incentives on the ID.4, and ended $10,500 in discounts on the ID. Buzz. The move bucks the trend as other brands continue to sweeten their EV lease offers.
As of September 30, 2025, Volkswagen offered up to $12,350 in lease cash on the ID.4, depending on configuration. That included a $7,500 federal lease tax credit for lessees as Bonus Customer Cash, plus $3,500 to $4,850 in Dealer Lease Cash. It made the ID.4 one of the top EV lease deals around.
On October 1, those incentives vanished. While the ID.4 still has a 0% APR equivalent lease rate, drivers lost more than $12,000 in savings overnight. The ID. Buzz took a similar hit. Last month, the 2025 ID. Buzz offered $10,500 off MSRP between the $7,500 tax credit and $3,000 Dealer Lease Cash. Now, almost all lease cash is gone. VW Credit is offering just $750 in Dealer Lease Cash, and weirdly, not on models with two-tone paint. According to CarsDirect’s lease calculator, the lowest-priced ID. Buzz trim now carries an effective monthly cost topping $1,000 — a considerable jump.
For comparison, the ID. Buzz Pro S was previously advertised at $589 a month for 36 months with $5,999 due at signing, or an effective monthly cost of $756.
The ID.4 lease once cost just $233 a month, making it one of the cheapest EVs to lease. According to updated estimates, that figure is now north of $800 – that’s hair-raising.
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Meanwhile, VW’s rivals are going in the opposite direction. Ford extended its Mustang Mach-E lease deals through early January. Subaru’s updated 2026 Solterra still qualifies for the $7,500 lease credit, and Jeep replaced the expiring EV lease credit with equivalent bonus cash.
If you really want a Volkswagen, though, there’s some good news: financing deals haven’t changed. The 2025 ID.4 continues to offer 0% APR for 72 months, and buyers of the ID. Buzz can still get up to $3,250 in Bonus Customer Cash through November 3, a perk unavailable to lessees.
It kinda seems like VW doesn’t want to lease their EVs anymore…?? Let me know your thoughts in the comments below.
The 30% federal solar tax credit is ending this year. If you’ve ever considered going solar, now’s the time to act. To make sure you find a trusted, reliable solar installer near you that offers competitive pricing, check out EnergySage, a free service that makes it easy for you to go solar. It has hundreds of pre-vetted solar installers competing for your business, ensuring you get high-quality solutions and save 20-30% compared to going it alone. Plus, it’s free to use, and you won’t get sales calls until you select an installer and share your phone number with them.
Your personalized solar quotes are easy to compare online and you’ll get access to unbiased Energy Advisors to help you every step of the way. Get started here.
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