SFL stock falls after cutting dividend on weaker drilling market

Published 19/08/2025, 15:22
© Reuters.

Investing.com -- SFL Corporation (NYSE:SFL) stock declined 12% after the shipping and energy company cut its quarterly dividend to $0.20 per share from $0.27 previously, citing challenges in the drilling rig market and reduced near-term cash flow.

The company reported second quarter earnings per share of $0.01, beating analyst estimates of a $0.05 loss. Revenue came in at $192.58 million, slightly above the consensus estimate of $192.4 million. Despite the revenue beat, investors focused on the dividend reduction, which the company attributed to market uncertainty and oil price volatility affecting its Hercules drilling rig.

SFL received charter hire of $194 million in the quarter, with approximately 87% coming from shipping operations and 13% from energy. The company reported adjusted EBITDA of $104 million from consolidated subsidiaries, with $97 million from shipping and $7 million from energy activities, plus an additional $8 million from associated vessel owning companies.

CEO Ole B. Hjertaker highlighted the company’s recent fleet renewal efforts, including the sale of older vessels for more than $200 million and securing a five-year charter extension for three container vessels with Maersk, adding approximately $225 million to the company’s backlog.

"The market for our legacy drilling rig Hercules remains challenging, with the recent market uncertainty and oil price volatility delaying new employment opportunities for the rig," Hjertaker noted in the earnings release. "This is impacting our near-term financial results as we keep the rig warm stacked."

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