Diamond Offshore Drilling Inc.
(
DO
) reported third quarter 2012 earnings of $1.28 per share, down
31% from the year-earlier earnings of $1.85 per share. However,
the quarterly results comfortably beat the Zacks Consensus
Estimate of $1.01.
Total revenue in the quarter decreased 17% year over year to
$729.0 million, missing the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $736.0
million. The decline was mainly due to lower deepwater rig
utilization.
Dividend Story
Diamond Offshore declared a special dividend of 75 cents per
share in the quarter, unchanged from the prior quarter. The
company will also pay its regular quarterly dividend of 12.5
cents per share (50 cents per share annualized).
Operational Performance
Revenue from the Contract Drilling segment declined 17.1% year
over year to $714.0 million, mainly due to a 16.7% decline in
total floaters revenue. These floaters accounted for nearly 95.1%
of the total quarterly contract drilling revenue, while jackups
contributed 4.9%.
Ultra-Deepwater floaters recorded an average dayrate of $354,000
during the quarter, up from $336,000 in the year-earlier quarter.
Deepwater floaters realized an average dayrate of $373,000 versus
$465,000 in the year-ago quarter. Mid-water floaters recorded an
average dayrate of $258,000 during the quarter, down from
$268,000 in the year-earlier quarter. Jackup rigs' dayrates
averaged $98,000, up from $84,000 in the third quarter of 2011.
Rig utilization for Ultra-Deepwater floaters decreased to 75%
from 88% in the year-ago quarter. Utilization of Deepwater
floaters dipped to 95% during the quarter from 99% in the
year-ago quarter. Mid-water category rig utilization was 71%
compared with 70% in the comparable quarter last year while
jackup rig utilization increased to 56% from 44% in the
year-earlier quarter.
Financials
As of September 30, 2012, Diamond Offshore had approximately
$316.6 million in cash and cash equivalents, while long-term debt
stood at $1,496.0 million. Debt-to-capitalization ratio at the
end of the quarter was 24.8% (down from about 25.0% in the
preceding quarter).
Outlook
Houston, Texas-based Diamond Offshore exhibits long-term earnings
growth visibility based on its strong leverage to the offshore
deepwater drilling market. Additionally, the company's
significant free cash flow generation potential and healthy
balance sheet enhances the possibility of further share buybacks
and/or special dividends, going forward.
Diamond's rival
Noble Corporation
(
NE
) reported third quarter 2012 earnings of 45 cents per share,
failing to meet the Zacks Consensus Estimate of 50 cents, mainly
due to extended downtime from rigs in the Gulf of Mexico (GoM)
and offshore Brazil.
We maintain our long-term Neutral recommendation on Diamond
Offshore shares, given the volatile oil and gas prices scenario
as well as geopolitical risks associated with international
operations. Diamond Offshore currently maintains a Zacks #3 Rank
(short-term Hold rating).
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