Olivier Le Peuch, the chief executive of SLB LIMITED/NV (NYSE:SLB), disposed of 25,000 shares of the companys common stock on January 28, 2026, at $50.40 per share in a single transaction. The sale produced proceeds of approximately $1.26 million. After the transaction, Le Peuchs direct holdings in SLB stand at 1,459,044 shares.
The transaction was carried out pursuant to a Rule 10b5-1 trading plan that Le Peuch adopted on March 25, 2025. The plan framework governs scheduled insider sales and purchases and was the mechanism used for this January 28 sale.
Separately, SLB reported commercial progress in the Middle East. The company secured two five-year contracts with Petroleum Development Oman to supply wellheads and artificial lift technologies for Block-6, which is described as Oman's largest oil and gas concession. Under these agreements, SLB will deliver a variety of wellhead assemblies and pumps intended to improve recovery rates and extend the productive life of the assets in the concession.
Market and analyst responses to the companys recent performance and strategic developments have been mixed. Freedom Capital Markets downgraded SLB from Hold to Sell, citing weak global drilling activity that affected fourth-quarter 2025 results. The research note referenced a 15.2% year-over-year decline in adjusted earnings per share for that quarter.
By contrast, several other brokerages moved to raise price targets while reiterating constructive stances. Stifel increased its price target to $56 and maintained a Buy rating after what it described as stronger-than-expected fourth-quarter results and the completion of the ChampionX acquisition. JPMorgan raised its price target to $54, pointing to favorable international growth prospects, with specific emphasis on Saudi Arabia, Mexico, and deepwater operations. Raymond James lifted its price target to $57, citing SLBs strong quarterly performance, particularly in the Digital and Production Systems segments, which contributed to an EBITDA beat.
These corporate actions, contract awards, and analyst updates reflect a combination of headwinds and potential growth avenues for SLB. The companys operational wins in Oman and strategic moves are juxtaposed with near-term pressures on earnings driven by global drilling conditions. Market participants will likely continue to monitor operational execution on the new contracts and the trajectory of drilling activity as inputs into future earnings and valuation assessments.