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Baker Hughes beats earnings price quotes on global need, raises dividend

Oilfield services firm Baker Hughes beat analysts' quotes for firstquarter revenue on greater international drilling demand and increased its dividend.

Brent crude increased almost 10% in the quarter on an average, prompting oil firms to drill more, developing demand for oilfield services and devices provided by Baker Hughes and rivals.

International rig count, a sign of future production, was up 5.4% at 965 on an average at the end of the first quarter, from a year previously, according to Baker Hughes data.

Overall earnings from its global section was up at $2.79. billion in the quarter, compared with $2.59 billion a year. earlier.

Previously in the day, the business stated it had gotten an. order to provide devices for the 3rd phase of oil giant. Aramco's gas network expansion task in Saudi Arabia.

Baker Hughes rounds out a quarter when the top three. oilfield services business' results were lifted by robust. international activity.

SLB and Halliburton gained from need in. their international operations that assisted balance out weakness in. The United States and Canada.

Total quarterly revenue from the The United States and Canada segment fell. to $990 million from $992 million, Baker Hughes said, as. multi-year low natural gas costs required operators in the U.S. to rein in activity.

The business also increased its quarterly dividend to 21. cents per share, from 19 cents per share a year earlier.

CEO Lorenzo Simonelli said Baker was on-track to provide. 60% -80% of totally free cash flow to shareholders. The business. repurchased $158 million of shares during the quarter.

Baker Hughes reported an adjusted revenue of 43 cents per. share for the quarter ended March 31, compared with analysts'. typical price quote of 40 cents, according to LSEG information.

Houston-based Baker's profits increased 12.3% to $6.42 billion,. topping price quotes of $6.37 billion.

(source: Reuters)