The offshore oil drilling market continues to be red hot, particularly ultra-deepwater, which is great for Seadrill Ltd (NYSE:SDRL). In the second quarter, total operating revenue rose 13% from a year ago, despite selling its tender fleet during the quarter. Net income spiked to $1.75 billion but that was driven by the tender sale so a better judge of progress is to look at a 5% rise in operating income to $507 million. To top it off, management increased its dividend to $0.91 per share.
Seadrill Ltd (NYSE:SDRL)’s fleet is now even more heavily skewed toward ultra-deepwater drilling with 70% of contract revenue coming from the floaters segment. That’s a good sign for investors because deepwater rigs are commanding high dayrates and long-term contracts. 6 of Seadrill Ltd (NYSE:SDRL)’s drillships and 6 semi-submersibles are contracted into 2017 with dayrates as high as $590,000.
The newbuild program will keep returns high and revenue growing in the future as well. 27 new rigs are under construction, including 11 drillships and 2 harsh environment semi-submersibles. If the market continues like it is Seadrill Ltd (NYSE:SDRL) could nearly double revenue in the next five years.
Deepwater drilling lifts all rigs
The transition to deepwater has been a swift one for some of the industry’s largest players. Transocean LTD (NYSE:RIG) has taken a similar strategy to drilling as Seadrill Ltd (NYSE:SDRL), selling 37 jackups last year for $1.05 billion. It also has six ultra-deepwater rigs coming in the next two years, continuing its transition to a deepwater company. Noble Corporation (NYSE:NE) will begin generating revenue from two new rigs this quarter and has another three under construction as well.
Where Seadrill Ltd (NYSE:SDRL) has an advantage over Transocean LTD (NYSE:RIG) and Noble is with a newer fleet and revenue reliant on ultra-deepwater. That’s resulted in the revenue out-performance you see below.
SDRL Revenue TTM data by YCharts
Offshore drilling pays you back
If the deepwater market continues to expand at a rapid rate the industry will easily be able to absorb the supply being built by Seadrill, Transocean, Noble Corporation (NYSE:NE), and others are building. That will help keep revenue and profits growing as these companies expand deepwater fleets and allow them to pay back investors. Seadrill currently leads these companies with an 8.1% dividend yield followed by Transocean at 4.8% and Noble at 2.6%. Each dividend should grow given the strong earnings prospects these companies have. Seadrill is my pick but I think the whole industry will be able to outperform the market going forward.
The article Push to Deepwater Helping Seadrill originally appeared on Fool.com and is written by Travis Hoium.
Fool contributor Travis Hoium manages an account that owns shares of Seadrill. The Motley Fool recommends Seadrill. The Motley Fool owns shares of Seadrill and Transocean.
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