North American Market Weighs Down Oil and Gas Services

The second of the "big three" oil and gas service companies, Baker Hughes (NYSE: BHI  ) , released its fourth-quarter and full-year results for 2012 this morning. Much like its larger peer, Schlumberger (NYSE: SLB  ) , Baker Hughes witnessed continued headwinds in the on-land North American market. Bright spots internationally lead to an 8% jump in year-over-year revenues, but margins did not allow for any bottom-line growth. To see what markets helped and hurt this services leader, check out Motley Fool energy analyst Taylor Muckerman's video below.

Get up to speed on Halliburton before it releases earnings on Friday: Domestic oil and gas service companies have taken a hit recently due to a slowdown in the natural gas drilling boom of the last couple of years. As this market looks to rebound, investors would be wise to consider Halliburton, one of the top companies in the business and one of those most in tune with the domestic market. To access The Motley Fool's new premium research report on this industry stalwart, simply click here now and learn everything you need to know about how Halliburton is positioning itself both at home and abroad.