Brigade Capital Fully Exits Nabors Industries Position
Written by Emily J. Thompson, Senior Investment Analyst
Updated: May 31 2026
0mins
Source: Fool
- Position Change: Brigade Capital Management disclosed on May 14, 2026, that it sold its entire holding of 675,879 shares in Nabors Industries for an estimated $49.04 million, reflecting a strategic response to market fluctuations.
- Financial Impact: The sale resulted in a $36.70 million decrease in Brigade's position value at quarter-end, indicating that the overall portfolio performance was affected by trading activities and price changes.
- Market Performance: As of last Friday, Nabors Industries shares were priced at $92.63, having surged 250% over the past year, significantly outperforming the S&P 500's 28% increase, showcasing its strong performance in the energy services sector.
- Future Outlook: While Brigade opted to lock in profits, Nabors reported $784 million in revenue and $205 million in adjusted EBITDA for Q1, with management expecting continued growth, particularly in international markets and demand for high-specification rigs.
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Analyst Views on NBR
Wall Street analysts forecast NBR stock price to fall
6 Analyst Rating
2 Buy
3 Hold
1 Sell
Hold
Current: 77.380
Low
50.00
Averages
61.67
High
66.00
Current: 77.380
Low
50.00
Averages
61.67
High
66.00
About NBR
Nabors Industries Ltd. is a provider of advanced technology for the energy industry. The Company operates in over 20 countries and provides drilling and drilling-related services for land-based and offshore oil and natural gas wells, with a fleet of rigs and drilling-related equipment. Its segments include U.S. Drilling, International Drilling, Drilling Solutions, and Rig Technologies. Its RigCLOUD platform is an edge computing system designed to support workflow management, performance monitoring, and user-specific configurations. Its fleet includes over 284 actively marketed rigs for land-based drilling operations in the United States and various countries throughout the world and 26 actively marketed rigs for offshore platform drilling operations in the United States and multiple international markets. It provides performance tools, directional drilling services, tubular running services, and technologies for use on its own rig fleet and rigs operated by third parties.
About the author

Emily J. Thompson
Emily J. Thompson, a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) with 12 years in investment research, graduated with honors from the Wharton School. Specializing in industrial and technology stocks, she provides in-depth analysis for Intellectia’s earnings and market brief reports.
- Earnings Release Schedule: Nabors Industries will release its Q2 2026 earnings after market close on July 28, 2026, followed by a conference call on July 29 at 10:00 a.m. CDT, which is expected to discuss operational results reflecting the company's ongoing performance in the energy sector.
- Conference Participation Info: The call will offer multiple dial-in options, including toll-free numbers for the US and Canada, as well as international dialing, along with a participant elite entry number to ensure investors can smoothly join the discussion and obtain the latest information.
- Recording and Replay: The conference will be recorded and available for replay for one week post-meeting, allowing investors who cannot participate live to access key insights through designated dial-in numbers.
- Webcast Availability: Nabors will provide a live audio webcast of the conference on its website, enabling investors to access information by navigating to the Investor Relations page, thereby enhancing transparency and information accessibility.
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- Earnings Release Schedule: Nabors Industries will release its Q2 earnings report after market close on July 28, 2026, providing investors with critical operational results and financial performance data for the period ending June 30, 2026.
- Conference Call Timing: The company will hold a conference call on July 29, 2026, at 10:00 a.m. CDT, where CEO Anthony G. Petrello and CFO Miguel A. Rodriguez will discuss the financial results, enhancing investor understanding of the company's operations.
- Participation Details: Investors can join the call using the US Toll-Free number (888) 317-6003 or the international number (412) 317-6061, with a recommendation to dial in 10 to 15 minutes early to ensure a smooth connection and improve the overall experience.
- Webcast and Replay Availability: The conference will be available via live audio webcast on Nabors' website, and a recording will be accessible for one week post-call, allowing investors who cannot attend live to stay informed, thereby enhancing transparency.
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- Low RSI Indicator: Nabors Industries' relative strength index (RSI) has dropped to 29.0, significantly below the energy sector average of 43.6, indicating that recent heavy selling may be nearing exhaustion, prompting investors to consider entry points.
- Price Range Analysis: Over the past 52 weeks, Nabors' stock has seen a low of $29.50 and a high of $112.90, with the current trading price at $77.50, suggesting substantial price volatility that could attract investor interest.
- Market Performance Decline: The stock is down approximately 7.8% on the day, reflecting a bearish sentiment in the market, which may present a buying opportunity for those anticipating a rebound.
- Energy Market Comparison: Compared to WTI crude oil (RSI 22.5) and Henry Hub natural gas (RSI 53.5), Nabors' RSI indicates relative weakness in the energy market, necessitating cautious evaluation by investors regarding market conditions.
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- AMN Healthcare Demand Weakness: AMN Healthcare (market cap $1.19 billion) has seen a decline in travelers on assignment over the past two years, indicating soft demand, and its earnings per share have contracted by 7.1% annually, creating headwinds for stock prices as increasing competition erodes profitability.
- Nabors Industries Cost Risks: Operating one of the largest land-based drilling fleets globally, Nabors Industries (market cap $1.51 billion) faces challenges with a low gross margin of 39% and a poor free cash flow margin of 2.3% over the last five years, limiting its ability to invest in growth initiatives and indicating vulnerability due to high extraction costs and unfavorable asset economics.
- Small-Cap Investment Risks: Small-cap stocks in the Russell 2000 face greater challenges due to their instability and limited resources, making stock selection critical for investors, particularly for those companies showing underperformance, necessitating careful consideration of their long-term profitability and market competitiveness.
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- Share Disposition: Brigade Capital sold 675,879 shares of Nabors Industries last quarter for an estimated $49.04 million, marking a complete exit from the company and reflecting a 6.1% decrease in its 13F AUM.
- Value Decline: The quarter-end position value decreased by $36.70 million, capturing the dual impact of trading and price changes, indicating increased volatility in the stock that may affect investor confidence.
- Performance Review: Despite Brigade's decision to lock in profits, Nabors Industries reported $784 million in revenue and $205 million in adjusted EBITDA in Q1, showcasing strong performance and ongoing growth potential in the oil and gas sector.
- Market Outlook: Nabors' management highlighted that as customers prioritize high-specification rigs and drilling technology, the company is gaining market share, with optimistic expectations for rig growth ahead, although investors should cautiously assess future performance after significant stock price increases.
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- Position Change: Brigade Capital Management disclosed on May 14, 2026, that it sold its entire holding of 675,879 shares in Nabors Industries for an estimated $49.04 million, reflecting a strategic response to market fluctuations.
- Financial Impact: The sale resulted in a $36.70 million decrease in Brigade's position value at quarter-end, indicating that the overall portfolio performance was affected by trading activities and price changes.
- Market Performance: As of last Friday, Nabors Industries shares were priced at $92.63, having surged 250% over the past year, significantly outperforming the S&P 500's 28% increase, showcasing its strong performance in the energy services sector.
- Future Outlook: While Brigade opted to lock in profits, Nabors reported $784 million in revenue and $205 million in adjusted EBITDA for Q1, with management expecting continued growth, particularly in international markets and demand for high-specification rigs.
See More











