How to buy SLB (Schlumberger) stock from India

Yes, an Indian resident can buy SLB — legally, in US dollars, under the RBI's Liberalised Remittance Scheme (LRS). SLB (formerly Schlumberger) trades on NYSE. It pays a quarterly dividend (~2.5% yield). SLB is the world's largest oilfield services company — it provides the technology, equipment, and expertise that oil and gas producers use to drill, complete, and produce wells. SLB's earnings are leveraged to international E&P capital spending, particularly in the Middle East, offshore West Africa, and deepwater — markets that are less volatile than US shale.

The 30-second version

• Legal and simple. Buy SLB via Vested, INDmoney, or Interactive Brokers India.
• Quarterly dividend (~2.5%). File Form W-8BEN for 15% DTAA withholding; claim FTC via Form 44.
• India tax on gains: hold more than 24 months → 12.5% LTCG (Section 112); shorter hold → slab rate.
• Estate-tax trap: above $60,000 US-situs → up to 40% US estate tax; no treaty relief.
• The position: SLB is the picks-and-shovels play on global oil production — it wins when producers drill, regardless of which company owns the oil. International and offshore E&P spending has been recovering since 2021 and is less volatile than US shale rig counts. SLB's digital segment (Delfi, Agora) adds a technology services layer that is independent of physical activity levels.

Quick facts

Ticker / exchange	SLB / NYSE
Dividend	~$0.275/quarter (~2.5% annual yield)
India tax on gains	12.5% LTCG after 24 months; else slab (Section 112)
Dividend tax	15% US WHT (DTAA) + Indian slab; FTC via Form 44
Estate-tax risk	US-situs above $60k → up to 40%
Annual compliance	Schedule FA every year you hold

What SLB actually is

Reservoir Performance: Evaluation, stimulation, and production services — including hydraulic fracturing, well stimulation, and production chemicals. Largest segment by revenue.

Well Construction: Drilling services (directional drilling, measurement-while-drilling, logging-while-drilling), drilling fluids, cementing, and rig technology. Revenue closely tracks global rig counts.

Production Systems: Wellheads, tree systems, artificial lift, subsea systems, and surface production equipment. Higher proportion of equipment vs. services revenue; longer-cycle exposure to offshore and deepwater.

Digital & Integration: Delfi (cloud-based digital platform for reservoir and production management), Agora (industrial IoT platform for oilfield equipment), and full-field development consulting. SLB is positioning itself as a technology company in addition to a services provider. Digital revenue has higher margins than physical services.

International vs North America: SLB generates ~80% of revenue outside North America. Middle East (Saudi Aramco, ADNOC, QatarEnergy contracts), Latin America, and offshore Africa are the key international markets. This reduces exposure to US shale boom/bust cycles.

Tax and compliance

Capital gains: 12.5% LTCG after 24 months; slab for shorter holds. Dividend: 15% US WHT (W-8BEN) + Indian slab; FTC via Form 44. Schedule FA mandatory.

Full rules: how US stocks are taxed in India. Estate-tax: guide.

SLB vs XOM vs CVX vs COP

If you want…	Best route
Oilfield services, E&P capex leverage	SLB
Integrated major, 42-year dividend streak	XOM
Integrated major, Kazakhstan, ~4% yield	CVX
US independent upstream, VROC model	COP
Full energy picture	Energy stocks guide