Halliburton revenue beats on higher North America rig count

(Reuters) - Oilfield services provider Halliburton Co's quarterly revenue rose 24 percent to beat analysts' estimates on Monday as higher oil prices encouraged U.S. oil and gas producers to put more rigs to work.

U.S. rig count, an early indicator of future output, stood at 858 in the week to July 20, according to a Baker Hughes report, up from 764 a year earlier, as energy companies ramp up production in anticipation of higher prices in 2018.

Margins in U.S. onshore operations are closing in on what the company achieved during the previous peak in 2014, Halliburton Chief Executive Jeff Miller said in a statement.

Halliburton's North America revenue rose 38.4 percent to $3.83 billion, while revenue from its international business increased 6 percent to $2.31 billion.

The company's total revenue rose to $6.15 billion from $4.96 billion.

Net profit attributable to Halliburton rose to $511 million, or 58 cents per share, in the second quarter ended June 30, from $28 million, or 3 cents per share, a year earlier.

The company took a charge of $262 million in the year-ago quarter.

Excluding one-time items, the company earned 58 cents per share, in line with Wall Street estimate, according to Thomson Reuters I/B/E/S.

(Reporting by John Benny in Bengaluru; Editing by Maju Samuel)