1. Transocean Ltd. (NYSE:RIG)
Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 38
Share Price as of April 16: $2.16
Transocean Ltd. (NYSE:RIG) operates as a top offshore drilling contractor with one of the world’s biggest mobile drilling unit fleets. The company owns or has stakes in 34 rigs—26 ultra-deepwater floaters and 8 harsh environment ones—serving energy companies from government-backed giants to small independents. Its rigs tackle deepwater and ultra-deepwater projects while offering drilling services with cutting-edge safety and automation tech. Transocean is among the few penny stocks tied to offshore oil exploration, a sector gaining traction amid steady energy needs.
In Q4 ending December 31, 2024, Transocean Ltd. (NYSE:RIG) posted $952 million in adjusted drilling revenue and $323 million in adjusted EBITDA—a 34% margin. The full 2024 year brought in $3.5 billion in revenue and $1.15 billion in adjusted EBITDA. The company generated $206 million in operating cash in Q4 and finished the year with $1.5 billion in liquidity, keeping a solid balance sheet despite market ups and downs.
In addition, Transocean Ltd. (NYSE:RIG) keeps landing valuable contracts, including day rates above $500,000 for seventh-gen rigs and over $600,000 for eighth-gen 20k-capable rigs. The company’s fleet use stays robust—above 96% for 2025 and 93% heading into 2026—backed by extended contracts and new deals in India and Australia. Tracocean hit its best safety record ever and installed the industry’s first two 20k subsea completions, showing its tech leadership.
Despite expected short-term offshore market weakness in 2025 because of a temporary rig surplus in Africa and currency headwinds in Brazil, the company stands in a good spot. Moreover, Transocean Ltd. (NYSE:RIG) is working to unlock its $3.1 billion backlog while cutting costs and reducing debt. Many deepwater projects are set to launch in 2026 and beyond, hinting at a broader industry comeback.
With global deepwater spending projected to double by 2027 and traditional oil production becoming a priority again for major players, Transocean’s focus on deepwater trends sets it up for long-term growth in the offshore market.
Overall, Transocean Ltd. (NYSE:RIG) ranks first on our list of the 12 Best Oil and Gas Penny Stocks to Invest in Now While we acknowledge the potential of RIG, our conviction lies in the belief that certain AI stocks hold greater promise for delivering higher returns, and doing so within a shorter time frame. There is an AI stock that went up since the beginning of 2025, while popular AI stocks lost around 25%. If you are looking for an AI stock that is more promising than RIG but that trades at less than 5 times its earnings, check out our report about this cheapest AI stock.
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