SLB vs HAL — which stock performed better?

Schlumberger Limited (SLB) versus Halliburton Company (HAL), Energy, on 2026-07-16.

Result

Halliburton Company (HAL) performed better on 2026-07-16. SLB moved -0.670%, HAL moved 1.240%.

Why these two companies

Iran's closure of the Strait of Hormuz sent crude oil prices surging this week, lifting energy shares even as the broader market wobbled. The two largest oilfield-services companies in the world — SLB and Halliburton — are the most direct beneficiaries of higher oil prices and increased drilling activity, and both are heading into their Q2 2026 earnings reports later this month, setting up a natural head-to-head.

The research

SLB and Halliburton are the two biggest 'oilfield-services' companies — think of them as the expert contractors that oil producers hire to drill wells and get oil and gas out of the ground. When oil prices rise and drillers get busy, these two tend to benefit.

Right now oil prices have jumped because of tension around Iran and a key shipping route in the Middle East. That has pushed energy stocks up while the rest of the market has been shaky, and both companies are about to tell investors how their spring quarter went.

One reason to lean toward SLB: it is the bigger company and does a lot of work overseas and in deep water, which can be steadier than the up-and-down U.S. market. One reason to lean toward Halliburton: it does more of its business in the United States, so if American drilling picks back up, it could bounce faster.

One thing to keep in mind for both: their fortunes ride almost entirely on the price of oil. If the Middle East situation calms down and oil falls back, this week's rally in both stocks could fade just as quickly.