Topic: How To Invest

Dear Patrick: It would be appreciated if you could share your thoughts on SeaDrill Ltd. Cheers.

Article Excerpt

SeaDrill Ltd., $45.98, symbol SDRL on Nasdaq (Shares outstanding: 467.1 million; Market cap: $21.1 billion; www.seadrill.com), is a leading offshore drilling company. The Norway-based firm has a fleet of 64 drilling rigs that can operate in shallow to very deep water. It has 27 more rigs under construction, most of which will be ready within two years. SeaDrill only started up in 2005, so it owns modern, high-quality drilling rigs that are in great demand. As a result, the company’s utilization rates are high, in the 93% to 97% range. In the three months ended June 30, 2013, SeaDrill’s revenue rose 13.0%, to $1.26 billion from $1.12 billion a year earlier. Rising oil prices continue to push up demand for the company’s rigs. Earnings jumped 215.9% in the quarter, to $1.75 billion, or $3.53 a share. (Total earnings of $1.75 billion exceeded revenue of $1.26 billion because the company sold its tender-rig business for a $1.3-billion gain, which is included in earnings.) Tender…