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Transocean (RIG) Stock Jumps 52.8% Since Q3 Earnings Release

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Shares of Transocean Ltd. (RIG - Free Report) have soared 52.8% since third-quarter 2020 earnings announcement on Nov 2. Alongside a better-than-expected bottom line, investors’ hopes are buoyed by the company’s encouraging guidance for 2021. In particular, the offshore driller anticipates its operations and maintenance expense for 2021 in the $1.4-$1.6 billion range, much lower than expected.

Transoceanreported adjusted net loss per share of 11 cents, narrower than the Zacks Consensus Estimate of a loss of 17 cents as well as the year-ago loss of 38 cents. This outperformance is led by the company’s improving utilization.

However, this offshore drilling powerhouse’s total revenues of $773 million missed the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $783 million and also the prior-year figure of $784 million, primarily on lower activity levels.

Segmental Revenue Break-Up

Transocean’s Ultra-deepwater floaters contributed to 63.4% of total contract drilling revenues while Harsh Environment floaters accounted for the remainder. In the quarter under review, revenues from Ultra-deepwater and Harsh Environment floaters totalled $490 million and $283 million each compared with the year-ago reported figures of $493 million and $281 million, respectively.

Revenue efficiency was 96.6%, lower than 97.2% reported sequentially. The figure also declined from the year-ago value of 97%.

Dayrates and Utilization

Average dayrate in the quarter rose to $343,500 from the year-ago level of $314,500. The company witnessed strong year-over-year average revenues per day from Harsh environment floaters. Overall, fleet utilization was 65% during the quarter, up from the prior-year utilization rate of 58%.

Backlog

Transocean’s backlog record at $8.2 billion as of October reflects a decline of $2.6 billion from the year-ago figure.

Transocean Ltd. Price, Consensus and EPS Surprise

Transocean Ltd. Price, Consensus and EPS Surprise

Transocean Ltd. price-consensus-eps-surprise-chart | Transocean Ltd. Quote

Costs, Capex & Balance Sheet

Operating and maintenance costs decreased to $470 million from $547 million a year ago. The company spent $65 million on capital investment in the third quarter. Cash provided by operating activities totalled $81 million. The company had cash and cash equivalents worth $1.38 billion on Sep 30, 2020. Long-term debt was $7.79 billion with debt-to-capitalization of 40.6% as of the same date, improving from the sequential quarter’s 43.6%.

Guidance

For the fourth quarter, the company expects adjusted contract drilling revenues to be $710 million with a revenue efficiency of 95%.

Fourth-quarter operating and maintenance expense is projected to be approximately $445 million. Further, the company projects its G&A expense for the current quarter to be approximately $42 million.

Meanwhile, capital spending for the fourth quarter comprising capitalized interest is predicted to be almost $55 million. Besides, the amount projects nearly $37 million for the newbuild drillships under construction and the remaining $18 million for maintenance. 

For 2021, Nabors forecasts adjusted contract drilling revenues in the $2.6-$2.8 billion band. The company anticipates its operations and maintenance expense for 2021 in the $1.4-$1.6 billion range while its G&A expense is estimated between $150 million and $160 million.

Meanwhile, capital spending for 2021 comprising capitalized interest is expected to be $1.5 billion. The amount also assumes $1.4 billion for the newbuild drillships under construction and the remaining $100 billion for maintenance. 

Zacks Rank & Key Picks

Transocean currently has a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). Some better-ranked stocks in the energy space are Oasis Petroleum Inc. , Antero Resources Corporation (AR - Free Report) and Matador Resources Company (MTDR - Free Report) , each carrying a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy) at present. You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.

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