Frontline Shares Fall As Contract Ends

Frontline Shares Fall As Contract Ends
Associated Press
12.04.07
Forbes.com

Shares of Frontline Ltd. slipped in trading Tuesday, after a JPMorgan analyst reduced his 2008 earnings estimates to reflect the oil tanker operator's expected losses from the end of two long-term charter agreements.

Frontline (FRO) said earlier Tuesday it ended deals for two vessels with Ship Finance International Ltd. (SFL ), which then sold the tankers for $40 million each. Frontline expects $32.8 million for the contract's early termination.

Analyst Jonathan B. Chappell cut his 2008 profit estimate to $2.55 per share from $2.70 per share, saying the company "continues to trade short-term gains for long-term earnings losses."

He reiterated his "Underweight" rating for Frontline, and suggested the stock should underperform other tanker operators for the next nine months to a year.

Shares of Frontline fell $1.76, or 3.9 percent, to close at $42.87. The stock has ranged between $29.35 and $53.09 in the past year.

Chappell also lowered 2008 profit estimate on Ship Finance to $1.77 per share from $1.96 per share.

However, Chappell said that unlike Frontline, he expects Ship Finance to use the sale's proceeds to diversify and expand its fleet outside of the struggling tanker market.

He maintained his "Overweight" rating.

Ship Finance shares fell 57 cents to $24.64.

Ship Finance 3Q Profit Falls 55 Percent

Ship Finance 3rd-Qtr Profit Falls 55 Percent As Revenue Falls Faster Than Expenses
November 15 (AP)

Ship Finance International Ltd. said Thursday its net income fell more than half in the third quarter, as revenue fell at a higher rate than expenses and its spot-tanker business delivered lower profits.
Profit fell 55 percent to $20.6 million, or 28 cents per share, from $45.7 million, or 63 cents per share, a year earlier. Revenue fell 23.3 percent to $93.4 million from $121.8 million.

Analysts polled by Thomson Financial expected earnings of 43 cents per share on revenue of $97.5 million, on average.

Though operating expenses also fell, they used up about 36 percent of revenue last quarter compared with 29 percent in the year-ago period. Results also included a loss of $7.2 million or 10 cents per share, from a noncash accounting adjustment.

The company also said the spot-tanker market has been "substantially weaker" and negatively impacted earnings.

Ship Finance shares fell 55 cents, or 2.1 percent, to $25.80 in afternoon trading.

Ship Finance (SFL) Reports Q2 2007 Results

SFL Reports Second Quarter 2007 Results
Ship Finance International Limited 8/23/2007
URL: http://www.rigzone.com/news/article.asp?a_id=49369

Ship Finance International reports the financial results for the quarter ended June 30, 2007.

Highlights:

Ship Finance International Reported net income for the quarter of $39.5 million or $0.54 per share, including profit share of $15.7 million or $0.22 per share and declared a quarterly cash dividend of $0.55 per share. All five container vessels chartered to Horizon Lines, Inc. have commenced their long-term charters with full cash flow and earnings effect from the third quarter.

The Company's second jack-up drilling rig West Prospero was delivered from the shipyard and commenced its 15-year charter to Seadrill Limited at the end of the quarter.

The single hull VLCC Front Vanadis was sold on hire/purchase terms, and a gain of $4.3 million was recorded in the quarter.

Five newbuilding container vessels were ordered in China for delivery in 2010 at an aggregate price of approximately $190 million.

Acquisition of a 2003 built 1,700 TEU container vessel scheduled to be delivered in August 2007.

Acquisition of five new offshore supply vessels from Deep Sea Supply Plc. in combination with 12-year charters. Scheduled delivery in late August 2007.

Amendment of profit share agreement with Frontline Ltd. Profit share will be earned on a quarterly basis, starting the second quarter 2007.

Dividends and Results for the Quarter ended June 30, 2007

The Board of Directors has declared a cash dividend for the second quarter of $0.55 per share. The dividend will be paid on or about September 13, 2007 to shareholders of record as of August 31, 2007.

The ex-dividend date will be August 29, 2007.

The Company reported total operating revenues of $96.6 million or $1.33 per share in the second quarter. This includes $15.7 million or $0.22 per share of profit share from Frontline Ltd. ("Frontline"). Net operating income for the quarter was $70.5 million or $0.97 per share and net income was $39.5 million or $0.54 per share.

As the majority of the Company's assets are accounted for as finance leases, a significant portion of the charter hire received does not appear in the Income Statement. These amounts are classified as 'repayment of investment in finance leases', and are only included in the Statement of Cashflows. For the second quarter, this amounted to $46.2 million or $0.64 per share.

Net cash provided by operating activities in the second quarter was $29.0 million, net cash used in investing activities was $201.9 million and net cash provided by financing activities was $125.7 million.

Banc of America Dowgrades Overseas (OSG)

Oil Tanker Stocks Fall on Analyst Downgrade and Expected Rate Slump
Wednesday July 25, 12:08 pm
NEW YORK (AP)

Stocks of companies that own and operate crude oil tankers mostly fell Wednesday, after a Banc of America Securities analyst downgraded Overseas Shipholding Group Inc. and said the third quarter may be challenging for the sector.

Analyst Daniel L. Barcelo downgraded Overseas Shipholding to "Neutral" from "Buy" as the stock approached his fair value estimate. He maintained the stock as his top pick in the sector, but said he no longer sees any near-term catalysts to drive up the stock.

Across the sector, Barcelo said the tanker companies should post "solid" second-quarter earnings, although they may struggle in the near-term as tanker charter rates slip.

"Looking ahead, the third quarter may prove difficult as rates have collapsed between 25 to 50 percent since peaking in early May due to relatively high inventory levels, limited OPEC production and refinery turnarounds," the analyst said. "Thus we expect third-quarter rates will drop about 25 percent from second-quarter levels, on average, for all three major types of crude vessels."

The analyst expects tanker rates to even out throughout the rest of the year, and then to turn around in 2008 and 2009.

In midday trading, shares of Overseas Shipholding fell 32 cents to $84.

Frontline Ltd. fell 63 cents to $47.71, while Teekay Corp. rose 7 cents to $55.89.

Ship Finance International Ltd. fell 58 cents, or 1.9 percent, to $29.25. The stock has traded between $18.41 and $31.78 in the last 12 months.

General Maritime Corp. fell 3 cents to $27.45, and Aries Maritime Transport Ltd. rose 4 cents to $9.97.

Knightsbridge Tankers Ltd. rose 40 cents to $29.32.