Dividend Power Score
A single, comprehensive score designed to measure the true strength of a company’s dividend.
This score combines three essential pillars of dividend quality:
Consistency – Measures how reliable the dividend has been over time, focusing on payment history, stability, and the absence of cuts or suspensions.
Payability – Assesses the company’s financial ability to sustain its dividend, taking into account cash flow, earnings coverage, balance sheet strength, and overall financial health.
Growth – Evaluates the long-term growth of both the dividend and the company’s share price, highlighting businesses that consistently increase payouts while creating shareholder value.
Higher scores identify companies that have historically delivered dependable income alongside sustained dividend growth and long-term capital appreciation.
Company Overview
Stampede Drilling Inc. (traded historically under the OTC ticker STPDF and formerly listed on the TSX as SDI) was a Canada-based oilfield services company primarily focused on providing drilling and related support services to the upstream oil and gas industry. The company operated within the energy services and oilfield drilling industries, serving exploration and production companies across Western Canada. Its core offerings centered on contract drilling, equipment rentals, and complementary well-site services tied directly to drilling activity.
The company was founded in the early 2000s and grew through asset expansion and selective acquisitions during periods of elevated Canadian drilling activity. Stampede Drilling’s independent operations ceased in 2018 when it was acquired by Essential Energy Services Ltd., after which it was delisted and integrated into the acquirer’s operations. As a result, Stampede Drilling no longer operates as a standalone public company, and historical information reflects its status prior to the acquisition.
Business Operations
Prior to its acquisition, Stampede Drilling generated revenue primarily through its contract drilling services, operating a fleet of drilling rigs designed for shallow to medium-depth wells. Additional revenue was derived from equipment rentals and oilfield support services, which complemented its drilling operations and allowed the company to capture a broader share of customer spending at the well site.
Operations were concentrated in Canada, with activity levels closely tied to commodity prices and capital spending by oil and gas producers. The company owned and operated its drilling assets and field equipment directly and did not maintain a material international operating presence. Public disclosures indicate no large-scale joint ventures, and its business model relied on direct contracting with exploration and production companies.
Strategic Position & Investments
Stampede Drilling’s strategic focus prior to 2018 emphasized operational efficiency, fleet utilization, and maintaining a cost-competitive position in the Canadian land drilling market. Management pursued selective capital investments in rig upgrades and service capabilities to align with customer demand and regulatory requirements in Western Canada.
The most significant strategic event in the company’s history was its acquisition by Essential Energy Services Ltd. in 2018. The transaction was positioned as a consolidation move within the Canadian oilfield services sector, enabling scale efficiencies and a broader service offering under a single corporate structure. Following the acquisition, Stampede Drilling’s assets and operations were absorbed into the acquirer’s business segments, and no independent investment or growth initiatives have been reported since.
Geographic Footprint
Stampede Drilling’s operations were concentrated entirely in Canada, with a primary focus on Western Canada, including Alberta, British Columbia, and Saskatchewan. These regions represent the core of Canadian onshore oil and gas drilling activity and were the company’s principal markets.
The company did not report material operations outside of Canada, nor did it maintain international subsidiaries or long-term foreign investments. Its geographic exposure therefore mirrored the cyclicality and regulatory environment of the Canadian upstream energy sector.
Leadership & Governance
During its period as an independent public company, Stampede Drilling was led by an executive team with experience in Canadian oilfield services and drilling operations. Governance followed standard Canadian public company practices, with oversight provided by a board of directors until the completion of the acquisition.
Key executives prior to the acquisition included:
- Mark Acheson – President and Chief Executive Officer
- Scott Montgomery – Chief Financial Officer
- Brad Kelln – Chief Operating Officer
Following the acquisition by Essential Energy Services Ltd., Stampede Drilling ceased to have an independent leadership or governance structure. Data on post-acquisition leadership specific to Stampede Drilling is inconclusive based on available public sources.