Helmerich & Payne, Inc. (HP) is scheduled to release fourth-quarter earnings results Monday, November 17, after the market close. If you're holding shares, the outlook is a bit of a mixed bag—revenue's up, but profits are taking a hit.

Wall Street analysts are forecasting earnings of 26 cents per share, which represents a pretty steep decline from the 76 cents the company posted in the same quarter last year. That's the kind of drop that gets investors' attention. On the flip side, revenue is expected to tell a different story, climbing to $973.08 million compared to $693.79 million a year earlier.

So what gives? Higher revenue but lower earnings typically means margin pressure, rising costs, or investments that haven't yet paid off. It's a reminder that top-line growth doesn't always translate to bottom-line gains, especially in capital-intensive industries like drilling services.

Recent Leadership Moves

Back in late September, Helmerich & Payne announced some notable promotions. Trey Adams was elevated to president, while Mike Lennox and John Bell were both bumped up to executive vice president roles. Leadership reshuffles like this often signal strategic shifts or succession planning, so it's worth watching how these changes play out.

Meanwhile, the stock hasn't exactly been rallying into earnings. Shares closed Friday at $72.03, down 3.3% for the session.

What Top Analysts Are Saying

Ahead of the earnings call, several highly accurate analysts have weighed in with updated ratings and price targets for Helmerich & Payne. Here's what they're thinking:

• Citigroup analyst Scott Gruber maintained a Neutral rating and raised his price target from $17 to $26 on October 8, 2025. Gruber has an accuracy rate of 62%.
• Goldman Sachs analyst Neil Mehta maintained a Sell rating and bumped the price target from $18 to $20 on October 6, 2025. Mehta's accuracy rate stands at 67%.
• TD Cowen analyst Marc Bianchi maintained a Hold rating and increased the price target from $26 to $27 on August 19, 2025. Bianchi has a 60% accuracy rate.
• Susquehanna analyst Charles Minervino maintained a Positive rating but lowered the price target from $24 to $23 on July 1, 2025. Minervino boasts a 68% accuracy rate.
• Morgan Stanley analyst Daniel Kutz maintained an Underweight rating and slashed the price target from $27 to $20 on May 16, 2025. Kutz has an accuracy rate of 61%.

The range of opinions here is pretty telling. You've got everything from Sell to Positive ratings, with price targets scattered between $20 and $27. That kind of spread suggests genuine uncertainty about where the company is headed next.

As Monday's earnings release approaches, investors will be looking for clarity on margins, cost management, and whether that revenue growth can eventually translate back into stronger profitability. For now, the market seems to be taking a wait-and-see approach.