SFL (NYSE:SFL) Posts Quarterly Earnings Results, Meets Expectations

SFL (NYSE:SFL) issued its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday. The shipping company reported $0.25 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, hitting analysts’ consensus estimates of $0.25, FiscalAI reports. The company had revenue of $200.77 million during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $200.80 million. SFL had a return on equity of 3.46% and a net margin of 8.76%.The firm’s revenue was up 4.1% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period last year, the company earned $0.01 earnings per share.

Here are the key takeaways from SFL’s conference call:

• Positive Sentiment: SFL reported strong second-quarter results, with revenue of $201 million, adjusted EBITDA of $130 million—up 20% sequentially—and net income of $34 million, or $0.25 per share.
• Positive Sentiment: The company declared its 90th consecutive quarterly dividend of $0.22 per share and ended the quarter with a $3.8 billion charter backlog; approximately 65% is tied to investment-grade customers.
• Positive Sentiment: SFL expanded its car-carrier portfolio by ordering four 7,000-CEU LNG dual-fuel vessels and securing charters for two, adding approximately $233 million of firm backlog. Management cited growing Chinese vehicle exports and expected supply-demand tightening from 2029–2030 onward.
• Positive Sentiment: Two Suezmax tankers benefited substantially from the strong spot market, earning average TCE of approximately $133,000 per day in the quarter versus $54,000 in Q1; 63% of third-quarter vessel days were covered at roughly $93,000 per day.
• Negative Sentiment: The Suezmax earnings surge is market-dependent and may not persist, while the Hercules drilling rig remains warm-stacked until its expected contract start in the first half of 2027. SFL also has approximately $1.2 billion of remaining newbuilding capital expenditures and recently issued $100 million of equity, creating potential execution and dilution considerations.

SFL Trading Up 3.0%

NYSE SFL traded up $0.35 during trading hours on Thursday, hitting $12.38. 1,364,013 shares of the company’s stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 1,229,945. The stock has a 50-day simple moving average of $11.58 and a 200 day simple moving average of $11.23. SFL has a 1-year low of $6.73 and a 1-year high of $12.94. The firm has a market cap of $1.79 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 25.80 and a beta of 0.43. The company has a current ratio of 0.32, a quick ratio of 0.32 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.84.

SFL Dividend Announcement

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, September 22nd. Investors of record on Wednesday, September 9th will be given a dividend of $0.22 per share. The ex-dividend date is Wednesday, September 9th. This represents a $0.88 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 7.1%. SFL’s dividend payout ratio is presently 366.67%.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

A number of analysts have weighed in on the stock. Benchmark reissued a “buy” rating on shares of SFL in a research report on Wednesday. Wall Street Zen upgraded shares of SFL from a “hold” rating to a “buy” rating in a research report on Saturday, August 22nd. BTIG Research reaffirmed a “buy” rating and issued a $14.00 price objective on shares of SFL in a research note on Wednesday. Finally, Weiss Ratings reiterated a “hold (c)” rating on shares of SFL in a research report on Wednesday, August 12th. Two investment analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and one has issued a Hold rating to the company’s stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average price target of $14.00.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On SFL

Several institutional investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the business. MIRAE ASSET GLOBAL ETFS HOLDINGS Ltd. grew its position in shares of SFL by 3.5% during the 3rd quarter. MIRAE ASSET GLOBAL ETFS HOLDINGS Ltd. now owns 2,904,433 shares of the shipping company’s stock worth $21,870,000 after buying an additional 97,689 shares during the period. Goldman Sachs Group Inc. lifted its position in shares of SFL by 16.0% during the 4th quarter. Goldman Sachs Group Inc. now owns 1,259,801 shares of the shipping company’s stock valued at $9,839,000 after acquiring an additional 174,072 shares during the period. Empowered Funds LLC lifted its position in shares of SFL by 15.1% during the 4th quarter. Empowered Funds LLC now owns 660,013 shares of the shipping company’s stock valued at $5,155,000 after acquiring an additional 86,339 shares during the period. Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. boosted its stake in SFL by 4.9% during the fourth quarter. Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. now owns 509,232 shares of the shipping company’s stock worth $3,977,000 after acquiring an additional 23,937 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Voloridge Investment Management LLC boosted its stake in SFL by 25.0% during the fourth quarter. Voloridge Investment Management LLC now owns 295,668 shares of the shipping company’s stock worth $2,309,000 after acquiring an additional 59,141 shares in the last quarter. 28.59% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

More SFL News

Here are the key news stories impacting SFL this week:

• Positive Sentiment: Q2 results met expectations and improved year over year. SFL reported revenue of approximately $201 million, adjusted EBITDA of $130 million, net income of $34 million and earnings of $0.25 per share, matching consensus EPS estimates. Revenue increased 4.1% from the prior-year quarter. SFL Second Quarter 2026 Results
• Positive Sentiment: The company declared its 90th consecutive quarterly dividend. The $0.22-per-share quarterly payout, scheduled for September 22, reinforces SFL’s income-investment appeal and its uninterrupted dividend history since its 2004 NYSE listing. SFL Preliminary Q2 Results and Dividend
• Positive Sentiment: SFL is expanding its car-carrier fleet with contracted revenue support. The company ordered four new PCTC vessels in a deal valued at about $363 million and secured new long-term charters for SFL Composer and SFL Conductor. The investment could increase future cash flow and fleet growth. SFL Makes Fresh Car Carrier Play
• Positive Sentiment: BTIG reaffirmed its Buy rating and maintained a $14 price target, implying further upside from the recent trading level and signaling continued confidence in SFL’s fleet and cash-flow strategy. BTIG Reiterates Buy Rating on SFL
• Neutral Sentiment: SFL also raised $100 million in equity, providing funding for growth but potentially diluting existing shareholders. The newbuild program will require significant capital and exposes the company to vessel-delivery, financing and shipping-market risks. SFL Car Carrier Newbuilding Order

About SFL

Ship Finance International Limited (NYSE: SFL) is an independent owner of modern, large-size ocean-going vessels that provides finance and leasing services to the global shipping industry. The company’s fleet encompasses a diversified mix of crude oil tankers, product and chemical tankers, liquefied natural gas (LNG) carriers, dry bulk carriers, container vessels and floating production storage and offloading (FPSO) units. By structuring long-term charter agreements and bareboat leases with major oil companies, commodity traders and offshore operators, Ship Finance International seeks to deliver stable cash flows and risk-adjusted returns for its shareholders.

In its core business, Ship Finance International acquires or finances vessels through forward sales agreements and then charters them out under fixed-rate contracts, typically ranging from five to 20 years in duration.