Core Laboratories (CLB)
Market Price (12/5/2025): $16.48 | Market Cap: $762.4 MilSector: Energy | Industry: Oil & Gas Equipment & Services
Core Laboratories (CLB)
Market Price (12/5/2025): $16.48Market Cap: $762.4 MilSector: EnergyIndustry: Oil & Gas Equipment & Services
Investment Highlights
Why It Matters
Which of these 2 stories sounds closer for this stock?
1. Generates cash flow
The stock generated 4% or more of the share price (called cash flow yield), and shows moderate 10-15% or more growth.
2. Riding a trend
Think Tesla during the pandemic of 2020 when EVs were riding a cultural high, or Nvidia in the current AI boom, or even Figma. These companies don’t have enough yield, or, enough growth, or both - however - they are riding a trend. They have momentum. These can be more volatile - they don’t have the floor of strong cash flow
| Attractive yieldTotal YieldTotal Yield = Earnings Yield + Dividend Yield, Earnings Yield = Net Income / Market Cap Dividend Yield = Total Dividends / Market Cap is 5.8%, FCF Yield is 6.0% | Weak multi-year price returns2Y Excs Rtn is -57%, 3Y Excs Rtn is -93% | Weak revenue growthRev Chg LTMRevenue Change % Last Twelve Months (LTM) is -1.0% |
| Megatrend and thematic driversMegatrends include Hydrocarbon Efficiency & Optimization. Themes include Advanced Reservoir Characterization, and Production Optimization Technologies. | Meaningful short interestShort Interest % of Basic SharesShort Interest % of Basic Shares = (Short Interest Quantity) / (Basic Shares Outstanding). A high fraction of short interest can indicate potential risk of a short squeeze. is 10% |
| Attractive yieldTotal YieldTotal Yield = Earnings Yield + Dividend Yield, Earnings Yield = Net Income / Market Cap Dividend Yield = Total Dividends / Market Cap is 5.8%, FCF Yield is 6.0% |
| Megatrend and thematic driversMegatrends include Hydrocarbon Efficiency & Optimization. Themes include Advanced Reservoir Characterization, and Production Optimization Technologies. |
| Weak multi-year price returns2Y Excs Rtn is -57%, 3Y Excs Rtn is -93% |
| Meaningful short interestShort Interest % of Basic SharesShort Interest % of Basic Shares = (Short Interest Quantity) / (Basic Shares Outstanding). A high fraction of short interest can indicate potential risk of a short squeeze. is 10% |
| Weak revenue growthRev Chg LTMRevenue Change % Last Twelve Months (LTM) is -1.0% |
Valuation, Metrics & Events
CLB Stock
Why The Stock Moved
Qualitative Assessment
AI Generated Analysis | Feedback
Here are the key points for Core Laboratories (CLB) stock movement from approximately August 31, 2025, to December 5, 2025:
1. Core Laboratories reported sequential improvements in its third-quarter 2025 financial results. Despite missing analyst expectations for both earnings per share (EPS) and revenue, the company achieved sequential increases in operating income, operating margins, and EPS (excluding certain items). This performance, though a miss against forecasts, saw the stock experience a notable premarket increase of 16.6% on October 23, 2025.
2. The company completed a strategic acquisition in Brazil during the third quarter of 2025. On September 30, 2025, Core Laboratories announced the strategic acquisition of Brazil-based Solintec, a geological services provider. This acquisition was intended to enhance Core Lab's capabilities in the strategically important South Atlantic Margin and included an earn-out feature, tying a portion of the purchase price to Solintec's future performance.
Stock Movement Drivers
Return vs. Risk
Price Returns Compared
| 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 | Total [1] | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Returns | |||||||
| CLB Return | -29% | -16% | -9% | -13% | -2% | -4% | -55% |
| Peers Return | -16% | -9% | 276% | -13% | -7% | -9% | 113% |
| S&P 500 Return | 16% | 27% | -19% | 24% | 23% | 17% | 112% |
Monthly Win Rates [3] | |||||||
| CLB Win Rate | 50% | 33% | 50% | 33% | 50% | 50% | |
| Peers Win Rate | 17% | 17% | 25% | 15% | 30% | 30% | |
| S&P 500 Win Rate | 58% | 75% | 42% | 67% | 75% | 70% | |
Max Drawdowns [4] | |||||||
| CLB Max Drawdown | -79% | -17% | -40% | -17% | -20% | -44% | |
| Peers Max Drawdown | -32% | -15% | -3% | -19% | -17% | -28% | |
| S&P 500 Max Drawdown | -31% | -1% | -25% | -1% | -2% | -15% | |
[1] Cumulative total returns since the beginning of 2020
[2] Peers: CLMT, NINE, HMH, WBI, BKR. See CLB Returns vs. Peers.
[3] Win Rate = % of calendar months in which monthly returns were positive
[4] Max drawdown represents maximum peak-to-trough decline within a year
[5] 2025 data is for the year up to 12/4/2025 (YTD)
How Low Can It Go
| Event | CLB | S&P 500 |
|---|---|---|
| 2022 Inflation Shock | ||
| % Loss | -72.4% | -25.4% |
| % Gain to Breakeven | 262.4% | 34.1% |
| Time to Breakeven | Not Fully Recovered days | 464 days |
| 2020 Covid Pandemic | ||
| % Loss | -80.6% | -33.9% |
| % Gain to Breakeven | 416.1% | 51.3% |
| Time to Breakeven | 358 days | 148 days |
| 2018 Correction | ||
| % Loss | -71.7% | -19.8% |
| % Gain to Breakeven | 252.8% | 24.7% |
| Time to Breakeven | Not Fully Recovered days | 120 days |
| 2008 Global Financial Crisis | ||
| % Loss | -65.7% | -56.8% |
| % Gain to Breakeven | 191.8% | 131.3% |
| Time to Breakeven | 498 days | 1480 days |
Compare to CLMT, NINE, HMH, WBI, BKR
In The Past
Core Laboratories's stock fell -72.4% during the 2022 Inflation Shock from a high on 6/10/2021. A -72.4% loss requires a 262.4% gain to breakeven.
Preserve Wealth
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Asset Allocation
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Latest Trefis Analyses
Trade Ideas
Select past ideas related to CLB. For more, see Trefis Trade Ideas.
| Date | Ticker | Company | Category | Trade Strategy | 6M Fwd Rtn | 12M Fwd Rtn | 12M Max DD |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 11212025 | WHD | Cactus | Dip Buy | DB | P/E OPMDip Buy with Low PE and High MarginBuying dips for companies with tame PE and meaningfully high operating margin | 11.8% | 11.8% | 0.0% |
| 10172025 | OVV | Ovintiv | Dip Buy | DB | FCFY OPMDip Buy with High FCF Yield and High MarginBuying dips for companies with high FCF yield and meaningfully high operating margin | 17.7% | 17.7% | 0.0% |
| 10102025 | COP | ConocoPhillips | Dip Buy | DB | FCFY OPMDip Buy with High FCF Yield and High MarginBuying dips for companies with high FCF yield and meaningfully high operating margin | 5.7% | 5.7% | -2.3% |
| 10102025 | HAL | Halliburton | Dip Buy | DB | FCFY OPMDip Buy with High FCF Yield and High MarginBuying dips for companies with high FCF yield and meaningfully high operating margin | 25.5% | 25.5% | -0.7% |
| 10102025 | OXY | Occidental Petroleum | Dip Buy | DB | FCFY OPMDip Buy with High FCF Yield and High MarginBuying dips for companies with high FCF yield and meaningfully high operating margin | 0.7% | 0.7% | -5.7% |
| Date | Ticker | Company | Category | Trade Strategy | 6M Fwd Rtn | 12M Fwd Rtn | 12M Max DD |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 11212025 | WHD | Cactus | Dip Buy | DB | P/E OPMDip Buy with Low PE and High MarginBuying dips for companies with tame PE and meaningfully high operating margin | 11.8% | 11.8% | 0.0% |
| 10172025 | OVV | Ovintiv | Dip Buy | DB | FCFY OPMDip Buy with High FCF Yield and High MarginBuying dips for companies with high FCF yield and meaningfully high operating margin | 17.7% | 17.7% | 0.0% |
| 10102025 | COP | ConocoPhillips | Dip Buy | DB | FCFY OPMDip Buy with High FCF Yield and High MarginBuying dips for companies with high FCF yield and meaningfully high operating margin | 5.7% | 5.7% | -2.3% |
| 10102025 | HAL | Halliburton | Dip Buy | DB | FCFY OPMDip Buy with High FCF Yield and High MarginBuying dips for companies with high FCF yield and meaningfully high operating margin | 25.5% | 25.5% | -0.7% |
| 10102025 | OXY | Occidental Petroleum | Dip Buy | DB | FCFY OPMDip Buy with High FCF Yield and High MarginBuying dips for companies with high FCF yield and meaningfully high operating margin | 0.7% | 0.7% | -5.7% |
Research & Analysis
Invest in Strategies
Wealth Management
Peer Comparisons for Core Laboratories
| Peers to compare with: |
Financials
| Median | |
|---|---|
| Name | |
| Mkt Price | 19.45 |
| Mkt Cap | 1.2 |
| Rev LTM | 844 |
| Op Inc LTM | 46 |
| FCF LTM | 18 |
| FCF 3Y Avg | 13 |
| CFO LTM | 35 |
| CFO 3Y Avg | 31 |
Growth & Margins
| Median | |
|---|---|
| Name | |
| Rev Chg LTM | 1.5% |
| Rev Chg 3Y Avg | 2.6% |
| Rev Chg Q | -1.9% |
| QoQ Delta Rev Chg LTM | -0.5% |
| Op Mgn LTM | 8.9% |
| Op Mgn 3Y Avg | 6.4% |
| QoQ Delta Op Mgn LTM | -0.7% |
| CFO/Rev LTM | 4.1% |
| CFO/Rev 3Y Avg | 5.7% |
| FCF/Rev LTM | 2.1% |
| FCF/Rev 3Y Avg | 2.5% |
Valuation
| Median | |
|---|---|
| Name | |
| Mkt Cap | 1.2 |
| P/S | 0.7 |
| P/EBIT | 6.2 |
| P/E | 8.0 |
| P/CFO | 7.1 |
| Total Yield | -13.6% |
| Dividend Yield | 0.1% |
| FCF Yield 3Y Avg | 3.9% |
| D/E | 1.0 |
| Net D/E | 0.9 |
Returns
| Median | |
|---|---|
| Name | |
| 1M Rtn | -1.4% |
| 3M Rtn | 12.0% |
| 6M Rtn | 42.4% |
| 12M Rtn | -15.8% |
| 3Y Rtn | -20.8% |
| 1M Excs Rtn | -2.7% |
| 3M Excs Rtn | 4.5% |
| 6M Excs Rtn | 27.0% |
| 12M Excs Rtn | -30.8% |
| 3Y Excs Rtn | -93.5% |
Comparison Analyses
Segment Financials
Revenue by Segment
| $ Mil | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Reservoir Description | 334 | 308 | 314 | 355 | 421 |
| Production Enhancement | 177 | 182 | 157 | 133 | 248 |
| Corporate & Other | -0 | -1 | -1 | -1 | -1 |
| Total | 510 | 490 | 470 | 487 | 668 |
| $ Mil | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Reservoir Description | 41 | 23 | 29 | 55 | 55 |
| Production Enhancement | 13 | 16 | 15 | -133 | 38 |
| Corporate & Other | 1 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 3 |
| Total | 55 | 42 | 45 | -77 | 97 |
| $ Mil | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Reservoir Description | 309 | 307 | 305 | 327 | 343 |
| Production Enhancement | 161 | 160 | 142 | 130 | 280 |
| Corporate & Other | 116 | 112 | 133 | 112 | 151 |
| Total | 586 | 578 | 581 | 569 | 775 |
Returns Analyses
SEC Filings
Expand for More| Report Date | Filing Date | Filing |
|---|---|---|
| 9302025 | 10232025 | 10-Q 9/30/2025 |
| 6302025 | 7252025 | 10-Q 6/30/2025 |
| 3312025 | 4282025 | 10-Q 3/31/2025 |
| 12312024 | 2132025 | 10-K 12/31/2024 |
| 9302024 | 10242024 | 10-Q 9/30/2024 |
| 6302024 | 7252024 | 10-Q 6/30/2024 |
| 3312024 | 4252024 | 10-Q 3/31/2024 |
| 12312023 | 2152024 | 10-K 12/31/2023 |
| 9302023 | 11022023 | 10-Q 9/30/2023 |
| 6302023 | 7272023 | 10-Q 6/30/2023 |
| 3312023 | 4272023 | 10-Q 3/31/2023 |
| 12312022 | 2102023 | 10-K 12/31/2022 |
| 9302022 | 10282022 | 10-Q 9/30/2022 |
| 6302022 | 7282022 | 10-Q 6/30/2022 |
| 3312022 | 4282022 | 10-Q 3/31/2022 |
| 12312021 | 2102022 | 10-K 12/31/2021 |
Industry Resources
External Quote Links
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| CNBC | Etrade |
| MarketWatch | Unusual Whales |
| YCharts | Perplexity Finance |
| FinViz |