The Macondo well incident continues to haunt Transocean (NYSE: RIG). This year's first-quarter results were unimpressive, as net profits plunged because of one-time impairment charges of around $227 million. To be frank, this doesn't really come as a major surprise. But the question is: Should the rig-contractor's recent bottom line be the deciding factor on your investing decisions, or is it time to look beyond these numbers and focus more on the company's business prospects?
Improved business, poor results
Revenue rose 9%, to $2.3 billion, from last year's first quarter. Revenue from its contract drilling services, which is a part of core operations, grew 13%. However, operating income fell 27% to $270 million, partly because of higher operating and maintenance expenses (which grew about 4%), but mainly because of the impairment charge. The fall in demand for shallow-water drilling rigs in the Gulf of Mexico prompted management to write down assets, which includes goodwill. As a result, net income dropped to $59 million, as compared with $340 million a year back.
This isn't too surprising. Shallow-water drilling in the Gulf looks especially bleak, with specialists in this segment, like Hercules Offshore (Nasdaq: HERO), suffering major losses. A combination of low utilization rates and dayrates ensured poor results.
But if you are prudent enough to look beyond earnings ...
However, if all notional expenses and paper losses are added back to Transocean's net income, then cash flow from operations registered a healthy 38% growth to $540 million. What worked to Transocean's advantage were its 50 high-specification rigs, capable of drilling in ultra-deepwater, deepwater, and harsh environmental conditions.
Revenue from high-specification floaters (offshore rigs) jumped 23% to $1.6 billion and contributed to a whopping 72% of total contract drilling revenues -- up from 66% last year. This is one segment I'm betting big on for the future. Average dayrates for ultra-deepwater rigs grew 15% to $534,900. SeaDrill (NYSE: SDRL), a leader in ultra-deepwater drilling, expects daily rates to cross $600,000.
Currently, backlog contracts are worth nearly $21 billion, with high spec floats accounting for $16 billion. Although these contracts can be reversed without carrying much of a fee, the demand, as well as dayrates, should only go up from here. Investors must keep an eye on this stock.
Foolish bottom line
Another factor that draws me to this stock is its dividend. A yield of 6.8% is hard to miss, especially when growth opportunities are present. I admit there have been problems for this company, the most prominent being the Gulf tragedy. However, they can't have an impact on its earnings potential forever. Aside from that, Transocean seems to be on the right path. Keep abreast of the situation by adding Transocean to your free personalized Watchlist.
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