Shares of Ship Finance International Limited (NYSE: SFL), a company engaged primarily in the ownership and operation of vessels and offshore related assets, have risen sharply today after the company reported its first-quarter financial results.
SFL shares rose to an intra-day high of $16.50, and at last check, the stock was trading 9.73% higher at $16.47 on above average volume of 1.21 million. SFL shares have gained more than 21% in the last three trading sessions.
For the first-quarter ended March 31, 2012, SFL reported consolidated operating revenue of $84.1 million. This excludes $15.8 million of revenue, which was classified as repayment of investments in finance lease. It also excludes $87.7 million of charter revenue earned by assets classified as investment in associate.
SFL’s new cash sweep agreement with Frontline Ltd. (NYSE: FRO) resulted in a positive effect of $13.6 million in the quarter.
SFL’s GAAP net operating income for the quarter was $48.2 million, or $0.61 per share. Reported net income for the quarter was $39 million, or $0.49 per share.
During the first quarter, SFL took delivery of four drybulk newbuildings.
Ole B. Hjertaker, CEO of Ship Finance Management AS, said that SFL continues to deliver positive results and has paid quarterly cash dividend since its operations began in 2004. Hjertaker said that the tanker market outperformed most analysts’ expectations in the first quarter, and this has contributed to additional revenue through the company’s new cash sweep arrangement. He added that the VLCC tanker market has continued at a healthy level so far into the second quarter, and based on this, the company expects a significant cash sweep contribution in the second quarter as well.
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