Sue Goodridge
Disclosure: I am in full compliance with all ethics and other policies for Market Realist research analysts. I am not invested in securities that I cover on Market Realist.
More From Sue Goodridge

Decoding the Fall in Crude Tanker Rates
Since the BDTI (Baltic Dirty Tanker Index) has fallen by 50% from the beginning of the year, crude tanker stock prices have also fallen.

Recent Developments for Navios Maritime Midstream Partners
In October, NAP amended its existing management agreement with Navios Tankers Management. It extended the fleet’s fixed-fee period for commercial and technical management services.

China Had the 2nd-Highest Crude Oil Imports in August
August was the first time in 22 months that China has recorded a YoY increase in imports. Crude oil imports for China are now at a record high.

Analysts’ Recommendations for Crude Tanker Stocks
In Week 28, analysts made no target price revisions or recommendation changes for crude tanker companies.

Oil Supply and Refinery Margins Concern Crude Tankers
Refinery margins have fallen throughout most of the world. US Gulf refinery margins for WTI crude lost more than $2 compared to last month’s level.

Week 10: After Last Week’s Dip, Time Charter Rates Stabilize
VLCC time charter rates were almost constant in week ten of 2016. Otherwise, there hasn’t been a significant move in time charter rates in last few weeks.

Noble Corporation: Optimistic about Offshore Drilling Outlook
Noble Corporation’s (NE) contract drilling revenue was $354.0 million in 1Q17 compared to $591.0 million in the same period last year.

Analyzing Rowan’s Rig Scrapping and Stacking Activity in 3Q15
Offshore drilling (XLE) (IYE) is a capital-intensive industry requiring a large amount of money to keep rigs active and well-maintained.

What Analysts Recommend for the Top Two Crude Tanker Stocks
DHT Holdings (DHT) was the best-performing stock among peers on a YTD basis.

GasLog Partners’ 2Q17 Results Are Just around the Corner
GasLog Partners plans to release its 2Q17 results before the market opens on July 27. The release will be followed by a conference call on the same day.

China’s March Data and the Crude Tanker Industry
In many ways, China is the most important country for the crude oil tanker industry. In this series, we’ll take a close look at China’s March 2017 import-export data and manufacturing sector performance.

Is US Oil Demand Helping Crude Tankers?
US products supplied for the week ended March 17, 2017, totaled 19,225 Mbpd (thousand barrels per day), 1% less than in the previous week.

Tsakos Energy Navigation’s Revenue and EBITDA Fell in 1Q16
Tsakos Energy Navigation’s 1Q16 net revenues fell by 11.6% to $99 million from $112 million in the previous quarter.

Analysts Recommend a ‘Hold’ on Navios Maritime Midstream Partners
The consensus 12-month target price for Navios Maritime Partners is $4.83, which implies a potential upside of 40.82% from its market price on July 12.

What Impacted Nordic American Tankers’ Top Line?
Nordic American Tankers’ revenue in 3Q16 fell to $71 million—compared to $88 million in 2Q16. Its revenue was 29% lower than its revenue in 3Q15.

Credit Suisse Downgrades Navios Maritime Midstream Partners
Consensus recommendations On January 13, 2017, Credit Suisse downgraded Navios Maritime Midstream Partners (NAP) to “neutral” from “outperform” and decreased the target price to $12 from $13. Only five analysts give recommendations on Navios Maritime Partners. According to Reuters, the consensus rating for the stock is 2.6, which means a “hold.” One analyst has given a […]

Which Crude Tanker Companies Lost More in 3Q?
The third quarter wasn’t very good for tanker rates. In August 2016, the middle of the third quarter, tanker rates dropped to some of their lowest levels.

Euronav Provided Insights on the Rising Orderbook
Euronav thinks that the rise in the orderbook is partly due to the Tier 3 legislation on nitrogen oxide emissions. The legislation is applicable from January 2016.

Time Charter Rates Fell at the End of November
The time charter rates for one year on VLCCs (very large crude carriers) fell to $43,000 per day on November 25—compared to $45,500 per day the previous week.

Seadrill Stock Rose 98% in Week 20
The offshore drilling industry made headlines last week, especially Seadrill (SDRL), which reached a 52-week high of $0.73.

VLCC Rates Are near Multiyear Lows
According to Weber’s report, VLCC rates for the route from the Arabian Gulf to China fell from $10,809 per day on August 18 to $8,747 per day on August 25.

Behind Analysts’ High Estimates for Tsakos
Tsakos operates a total fleet of 50 tankers and has 15 tankers under construction. Of these 15, seven newbuilds are expected to join the fleet in 2016.

No Drilling Permits in the Gulf of Mexico in May
In May, no drilling permits were issued in the shallow waters of the Gulf of Mexico. In the first five months of 2018, only two were issued.

What Do Wall Street Analysts Think about Transocean?
The Market has given a consensus rating of “sell” to Transocean (RIG). Of the 37 analysts covering the stock, only 5% have given it a “buy” recommendation.

How Has Market Sentiment Changed for Noble?
Noble (NE) has a consensus “hold” recommendation based on ratings from 39 analysts covering the stock, according to Bloomberg.

China’s PMI Hits 19-Month Low—How It Impacts the Crude Tanker Industry
In February 2018, China’s manufacturing PMI (purchasing managers’ index) was 50.3.

China’s Imports: 12.5% Higher in First 4 Months of 2017
China’s crude oil imports hit an all-time high in March. April’s crude oil imports eased—total crude oil imports came in at 34.39 million tons.

China’s Oil Production and Imports Benefit Crude Tanker Industry
China’s crude oil imports in March hit a new record. Its total crude oil imports came in at 39.0 million tons, compared to 31.8 million tons in February.

Week 12: Nordic American Tankers Struggled
In week 12 of 2018, which ended on March 23, the BDTI rose from 635 to 656. In week 11, the index dropped by 18 points.

Prepping for Noble Corporation’s 2Q17 Results
Noble Corporation plans to release its 2Q17 results on August 3, 2017, after the markets close. It will have a conference call on August 4, 2017.

How the OPEC Production Cut Turned Out for Crude Tankers
Crude oil production has gradually fallen since the beginning of 2016, especially on the non-OPEC (Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries) side.

Frontline in 3Q15: Risks and Bullish Factors for Tanker Industry
The main factor for a bright outlook for the tanker industry is the world oil supply, which is at the highest level ever at 97 million barrels per day. The low price for oil is supporting higher demand.

Key Takeaways from Diamond’s 3Q15 Earnings and Conference Call
Diamond Offshore Drilling’s (DO) stock showed a 5% rise as of November 5, 2015, after the company released its 3Q15 earnings on November 2.

What’s Noble’s Debt Situation Look Like after 1Q16?
For the next five years, Noble needs to pay around $200 million–$300 million in debt every year. Then, the repayment for each year rises to around $400 million or more.

A Look At TGP’s Contracts to Gauge its Future Outlook
Teekay LNG Partners (TGP) has a total fleet of 87 vessels, out of which 27 vessels are newbuilds under construction. The active fleet of 60 vessels consists of 29 LNG carriers, 21 LPG carriers, and eight conventional tankers.

Euronav’s Financial and Liquidity Position after Its 3Q16 Results
On September 30, 2016, Euronav (EURN) had long-term debt of ~$1.0 billion. This increased from $952 million at the start of the year.

What to Expect from GasLog Partners’ Upcoming 1Q18 Results
GasLog Partners (GLOP) plans to release its 1Q18 results before the market opens on April 27.

Morgan Stanley Upgrades GasLog
In June 2017, Morgan Stanley upgraded GasLog (GLOG) to “overweight” from “equal weight.”

How Crude Tanker Stocks Fared before the Holidays
Week 51 was a mixed bag for crude oil tanker investors. DHT Holdings (DHT) was the top performer, and Nordic American Tankers (NAT) and Frontline (FRO) were the worst.

Tsakos Energy Navigation’s Revenue Fell in 3Q16
Tsako posted revenue of $109 million in 3Q16—9% lower than last quarter’s revenue of $120 million and 23% lower than $141 million recorded in 3Q15.

Seadrill: Best Performer among Peers Last Week
Offshore drilling stocks had mixed returns in Week 30, which ended July 27. The best performer was Seadrill (SDRL).

How Offshore Drilling Stocks Performed Last Week
Most offshore drilling stocks traded in the green in the week ended July 13. The best performer during the week was Noble.

Week 44: Weekly Crude Tanker Industry Update
In week 44, many of the crude tanker stocks traded in the red. Only Frontline and Navios Maritime Midstream Partners traded in the green.

BDTI, Crude Tanker Stock Prices Inch Higher in Week 22
The BDTI stood at 739 on June 7, 2016. For the week ending June 3 (Week 22), the BDTI rose to 759 from 735 at the beginning of the week.

China’s Auto Sales Rise 8.8%: The Impact on Crude Oil Tankers
China’s (MCHI) auto sales for the first two months of 2017 were 8.8% higher than sales for the same period in 2016.

Estimates and Recommendations for Ensco ahead of 1Q18 Earnings
Of the 32 analysts covering Ensco (ESV), 44% recommend a “buy” or equivalent for the stock.

Teekay Tankers’ Earnings: How Do They Compare?
In the first quarter, Teekay Tankers’ EBITDA fell to $80.9 million, from $83.9 million in the previous quarter.

VLCC Prices Rose First Time in 2017
Newbuild VLCC (very large crude carrier) prices rose in May 2017, and this is the first time we’ve seen a rise in prices this year.

Transocean’s Cost Guidance for 1Q18 and 2018
In 4Q17, Transocean’s (RIG) costs increased. With a fall in revenue, Transocean’s drilling-to-revenue ratio rose to 66% in 4Q17 from 46% in 3Q17.

Gener8 Maritime Partners: Fourth-Best Performer in 2018
Gener8 Maritime Partners’ YTD returns were -10% as of April 5, 2018. Gener8 Maritime Partners is the fourth-best performer among its peers YTD.

A Review of Floaters and Jack-Up Fleets for Offshore Drillers
Seadrill and Diamond Offshore have more than 20 floaters in their fleets. Ensco and Rowan Companies have more jack-ups in their fleets than peers have.

What Could China’s March Data Mean for Crude Tanker Investors?
After a steep dip to a four-month low in January, crude oil imports in February jumped, which was a good sign for crude tanker investors.

The 2010 Gulf Oil Spill Tragedy and Its Aftermath across the Industry
The marine oil spill in April 2010 was the worst environmental disaster in US history, causing millions of barrels of oil gushed into the Gulf.

Euronav’s Cash Return Policies to Shareholders
In September 2015, Euronav distributed an interim dividend of $0.62 per share. Euronav has stated that it is committed to distributing 80% of net income.

Transocean and Atwood Were Best Performers among Peers Last Week
In the week ending September 29, 2017, almost all of the offshore drilling stocks traded in the green.

Analysts’ Pre-1Q18 Estimates for Höegh LNG Partners
According to Reuters, the consensus rating for Höegh LNG Partners (HMLP) is 1.38, which means a “strong buy.”

What Happened in September in the Offshore Drilling Space?
The offshore drilling industry experienced many events in the first half of September 2017. Seadrill (SDRL) filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy.

Week 44 Was Another Week of Falling Tanker Stocks
Week 44 ended on November 4, 2016. The BDTI (Baltic Dirty Tanker Index) rose from 660 to 665 at the beginning of the week.

The Word on the Street: What Analysts Recommend for Transocean after 1Q16
Of the 38 analysts covering Transocean, 5% have given it a “buy” recommendation, while 32% have given it a “hold,” and 63% have recommended a “sell.”

How to Interpret Valuation Multiples in the Offshore Drilling Industry
Offshore drilling companies are capital-intensive and have varying degrees of financial leverage. Thus, we use the EV-to-EBITDA multiple as a valuation.

How China’s Manufacturing and Auto Industry Are Impacting Crude Tankers
In May 2017, the Markit China Manufacturing PMI was 51.2 (MCHI)—similar to the previous month.

Why Pacific Drilling Opted for a Reverse Stock Split
Pacific Drilling’s shareholders approved a one-for-ten reverse stock split of the company’s common shares.

Baltic Dirty Tanker Index Rose by 67 Points in Week 21
Most of the crude tanker stocks rose in week 21. Euronav and DHT Holdings were the best performers in the sector.

Crude Tanker Index Rose in Week 16
In week 16, the BDTI was higher than the previous year’s level. On average, the index was 4% higher than the same period last year.

Teekay in the Gulf of Mexico: What’s the Ship-To-Ship Business?
Teekay’s acquisitions complement the company’s ship-to-ship transfer business and expand its presence in the US Gulf of Mexico.

Ensco’s 4Q17 Earnings Compared to Transocean and Diamond Offshore
In 4Q17, Ensco’s EBITDA fell to $98.4 million from $149.5 million in 3Q17. The company’s EBITDA was 48% lower than its 4Q16 EBITDA of $190.0 million.

Crude Tanker Index and Stocks Fell in Week 14
In week 14, the BDTI (Baltic Dirty Tanker Index) fell from 790 to 775. The BDTI tracks shipping rates for crude oil tankers on representative routes.

Transocean Secured New Contracts
As of July 25, 2017, Transocean (RIG) had a backlog of $10.2 billion—compared to $10.8 billion in April 2017.

Teekay LNG Partners: Top-Performing LNG Carrier Stock in 2017
Teekay LNG Partners (TGP) was the best-performing stock in 2017 among the LNG carrier companies. TGP reported a year-to-date return of 36.6% on December 20, 2017.

On Deck with Crude Tankers: Positives and Negatives
Crude tanker stocks have given mixed returns in 2017. Gener8 Maritime has been the best performer YTD, while Nordic American has been the worst.

Extracting the Basics: An Introduction to Offshore Drilling
Oil is one of the most important and most frequently traded commodities, and offshore drilling is an integral part of the oil industry.

Seadrill Stock Fell 32% in Week 21
Even after week 21’s fall in stock price, Seadrill still has a whopping 82.8% year-to-date return as of May 25.

What Do Transocean’s Capex and Liquidity Forecasts Tell Us?
In 1Q16, Transocean (RIG) had cash flow from operations of $631 million, which was lower than the $960 million it had in 4Q15.

Which Rig Type Has Been Performing Best for Transocean?
Transocean’s drilling revenue for 1Q16 was $1.34 billion, ~28% lower than the $1.85 billion in 4Q15 and 34% lower than the $2 billion in revenue in 1Q15.

Looking Back and Forward: Tsakos’s EBITDA in 4Q15, in 1Q16
Tsakos Energy Navigation’s vessel operating expenses decreased to $33 million in 4Q15 compared to $38 million in 4Q14. The firm sold two vessels in 3Q15.

Analyst Recommendations for Transocean before 4Q17 Results
Of the 34 analysts covering Transocean, 44% recommend a “buy” or some equivalent for the stock, while 32% recommend a “hold.”

Is the Customer the King in Offshore Drilling?
The bargaining power of offshore drilling customers is influenced by oil prices and utilization rates. When oil prices are high, rig capacity goes down.

Analyzing DHT Holdings’ Performance in 2018
DHT Holdings’ (DHT) YTD returns were 1.1% as of April 5, 2018. DHT Holdings is the only crude tanker company with a positive YTD return.

How Do These 6 Crude Tanker Companies Compare?
After a spectacular 2015, the crude tanker industry is going through a rough patch in 2016. All crude tanker stocks have given negative year-to-date returns.

How Did China’s Car Sales Turn Out in February?
After outstanding auto sales in January, China’s auto sales took a dive in February. In February, the total sales recorded came in at 1.6 million, which was down 0.86% YoY (year-over-year) and down 36% from the previous month.

Frontline Management’s Outlook for Tanker Rates
Even though industry tanker rates were strong compared to 1Q15, the company recorded negative growth of -7% in 2Q15 compared to 1Q15.

China’s Auto Sales Rose in August, Impacted Crude Tankers
In August 2017, China’s auto sales rose 4.1% YoY (year-over-year). Its total vehicle sales rose 5.3% to 2.19 million in August.

Floating Storage and Regasification Units: Updates and Outlook
In this article, we’ll look at Golar’s prospects and progress with regards to its FSRU (floating storage and regasification unit) business stream.

Seadrill: Why No ‘Buy’ Recommendations?
Majority recommends “sell” Currently, 28 analysts give recommendations on Seadrill (SDRL). Of these, none have given a “buy” recommendation on the stock. Six analysts have given a “hold” recommendation, and 22 have a “sell” recommendation. The consensus target price is $1.78, which implies a downside of 17%. Like Seadrill, Ocean Rig (ORIG) does not have […]

Euronav Thinks Q2 and Q3 Will Be Difficult for Crude Tankers
Euronav’s (EURN) CEO, Paddy Rogers, discussed his thoughts on the outlook for the tanker industry at a recent shipping conference.

Week 9: Crude Tanker Industry Update
In week 9 of 2018, which ended on March 2, the BDTI rose from 646 to 669. In week 8, the index fell by three points.

Tsakos Energy Navigation: Fifth-Best Performer in 2018
Tsakos Energy Navigation’s (TNP) YTD returns were -12.8% as of April 5, 2018. Tsakos Energy Navigation is the fifth-best performer among its peers YTD.

Jefferies Revises Target Prices for Diamond Offshore, Noble
Article focus In this article, we’ll discuss analysts’ target price revisions for offshore drilling companies in Week 8 of 2018 (ended February 23). Revisions in Week 8 Jefferies revised its target prices for two offshore drillers. On February 21, 2018, it reduced the target price for Transocean (RIG) to $12 from 413 and maintained a […]

Understanding China’s Rising Auto Sales in November 2016
China’s (FXI) auto sales rose to ~2.9 million in November 2016 from ~2.7 million in October.

Counting the Years: Drillers Must Deal with Aging Rigs
Older vessels are less fuel efficient and are costly to maintain. Insurance rates also increase with a rig’s age, increasing operating costs.

Tanker Fleet Mixes and Their Effects on Company Performance
At the onset of 4Q15, tanker rates started to climb as refineries completed their maintenance programs. The rate spike was especially lead by VLCCs.

Will Fleet Growth Prove Negative for the Crude Tanker Industry?
In the first week of 2017, the number of VLCCs (very large crude carriers) in the world was 686. Halfway into 2017, the VLCC fleet has grown to 713.

Inside Rowan Companies’ 4Q17 Earnings Estimate
Analysts expect a fall in Rowan Companies’ (RDC) EBITDA (earnings before interest, tax, depreciation, and amortization).

Pemex Terminates the Contract on West Pegasus with Seadrill
On August 22, Seadrill reported that it received a contract termination notice for its contract with Pemex Exploration Servicios on the rig West Pegasus.

Must-Knows about Euronav’s Fleet and Recent Acquisitions
The day after Euronav (EURN) announced its 3Q16 results on October 31, it announced that its agreed to purchase the 50% of the joint venture it does not own in the VLCC VK Eddie.

Highlights from Ensco’s July Fleet Status Report
Ensco (ESV) released its quarterly fleet status report on July 19. Ensco 8503 secured a 100-day contract with Talos Energy in the US Gulf of Mexico.

Crude Tanker Stocks and the BDTI Index in Week 39
In week 39, the week ending September 29, the BDTI rose to 776 from 772. In week 38, the index rose by 28 points. It rose for the fifth consecutive week.

What Are GasLog Partners’ Asset Dropdown and Dropdown Options?
GasLog, GasLog Partners’ general partner (or GP), has entered into a seven-year time charter contract with Total, which will commence in mid-2018.

GasLog Partners: Top-Performing Stock among LNG Carriers
On a year-to-date basis, GasLog Partners (GLOP) was the top-performing stock among the LNG carrier companies.

VLCC Rates Rise by 127% Month-over-Month, BDTI Rises 15% YoY
VLCC rates (very large crude carrier) for the benchmark route Gulf to Japan rose from $49,400 per day last month to $112,100 per day for the week ending October 2, 2015.