These 10 Dividend Stocks are Underperforming in 2025

2. Noble Corporation plc (NYSE:NE)

Dividend yield: 7.72%

Ex-Dividend Date: March 5, 2025

Number of Hedge Funds: 32

Noble Corporation plc (NYSE:NE) is an offshore drilling contractor, headquartered in London, England. The company focuses on the oil and gas industry and provides contract drilling services. The company specializes in ultra-deepwater and harsh environment drilling, with its mobile offshore drilling units like floaters and jack-ups. The company serves established and emerging regions, including the North Sea, West Africa, and the Gulf of Mexico.

Noble Corporation plc (NYSE:NE) has faced a YTD decline of 20.62% as of February 28, 2025. A softer utilization environment impacted the company’s performance for lower specification floaters and a lagging rebound in the jack-up market. Furthermore, the company is explicitly experiencing a decline in the West African Market as the demand for rigs fell from 17-20 to 13 rigs. It impacted the regional performance of the company, and the EPS of the company fell to $0.60 compared to the previous year’s $1.06. However, the acquisition of Diamond Offshore has enabled the company to enhance its position in the deepwater market, leading to a positive reception among investors.

Noble Corporation plc (NYSE:NE) offers a dividend yield of 7.72% with a reasonable 60.81% payout ratio, indicating the importance placed by the company on retaining a portion of its earnings. However, institutional confidence in the stocks is strong, with 32 hedge funds from the Insider Monkey database holding stakes in Noble at the end of Q4 2024.

Analysts forecast a 56.38% upside to $39 and hence offered a consensus Buy rating. Investors should act before March 5, 2025, to qualify for the upcoming dividend payouts.