SFL Corporation Ltd. (SFL) AI Stock Analysis
SFL AI stock analysis summary
AI ResearchSFL Corporation Ltd. (SFL) owns, operates, and leases maritime and offshore assets under medium and long-term charters across diverse shipping sectors. Over the trailing twelve months, the company generated $712.4M in revenue with an operating margin of 33.7%, while maintaining a 7.12% dividend yield. Over the past year, the stock gained 92.7%, substantially outperforming the S&P 500 return of 16.8%.
- Market cap
- $1.71B
- Revenue (TTM)
- $712.4M
- P/E
- 25.8x fwd 163.9x
- 1Y return
- 92.7% S&P 500 16.8%
- Avg. target
- $13.17 6.5% vs last close
Bull case
- Trailing twelve-month operating margin reached 33.7%, well above the US-listed Industrials peer median of 11.7%.
- SFL provides an annual forward dividend yield of 7.12% backed by 23 consecutive years of dividend payments.
- The stock delivered a 1-year return of 92.7%, outperforming the S&P 500 return of 16.8%.
Bear case
- Total debt stood at $2.38B against cash and short-term investments of $118.1M as of June 30, 2026, yielding a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.30.
- FY2025 revenue declined 19.3% to $719.8M, resulting in a net loss of -$26.4M.
- SFL trades at a forward P/E of 163.9x, substantially higher than the US-listed Industrials peer median of 17.2x.
What SFL does
SFL Corporation Ltd. is a maritime and offshore company specializing in the ownership, operation, and leasing of vessels and offshore assets on medium and long-term charters. Founded in 2003 and headquartered in Hamilton, Bermuda, the company manages assets across sectors including oil, chemicals, oil products, containers, cars, dry bulk commodities, and drilling rigs. As of December 31, 2021, its strategically managed fleet included six crude oil tankers, 15 dry bulk carriers, 35 container vessels, two car carriers, one jack-up drilling rig, one ultra-deepwater drilling unit, two chemical tankers, and four oil product tankers. SFL maintains global operations across hubs such as Bermuda, Cyprus, Liberia, Norway, Singapore, the United Kingdom, and the Marshall Islands.
Growth and profitability
Between FY2021 and FY2024, annual revenue expanded from $494.7M to $891.6M, before falling 19.3% to $719.8M in FY2025. Gross margin rose to 58.1% in FY2025 from 34.7% in FY2024, but operating margin contracted to 19.0%. SFL reported net income of -$26.4M and a net margin of -3.7% in FY2025, down from net income of $130.7M in FY2024. For the trailing twelve months ended June 30, 2026, revenue stood at $712.4M with an operating margin of 33.7% and net profit margin of 9.0%. In the latest quarter ended June 30, 2026, quarterly revenue grew 2.7% year-over-year, while quarterly earnings surged 2178.5%.
Balance sheet and cash flow
As of June 30, 2026, SFL held $118.1M in cash and short-term investments against $2.38B in total debt, resulting in net debt of $2.27B. Shareholders' equity was $1.04B and total assets totaled $3.52B, resulting in a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.30 and a current ratio of 0.38. In FY2025, operating cash flow generated $290.1M and free cash flow reached $219.7M. SFL directed cash toward $70.5M in capital expenditures, $10.0M in share buybacks, and $125.1M in dividends paid.
Valuation and performance
SFL trades at a trailing P/E of 25.8x, compared to the median of 24.8x for its US-listed Industrials peers. Its forward P/E of 163.9x is above the peer median of 17.2x, while its EV/EBITDA of 9.4x sits below the peer median of 13.9x. The stock has a price-to-sales multiple of 2.4x versus the peer median of 1.5x. Over the past year, SFL generated a total return of 92.7%, outperforming the 16.8% return for the S&P 500 (SPY). Over five years, SFL returned 139.2% compared to 83.0% for the S&P 500.
SFL dividend
SFL pays an annual forward dividend of $0.88 per share, representing a dividend yield of 7.12% with a payout ratio of 2.0%. The dividend is distributed quarterly, and the company has paid dividends for 23 consecutive years. Its 5-year annualized dividend growth was -1.2%, and the last ex-dividend date was September 9, 2026.
What analysts expect
Wall Street analysts maintain two Strong Buy ratings and two Hold ratings on SFL, with zero Buy, Sell, or Strong Sell ratings. The mean price target is $13.17, representing a 6.5% premium to the last close of $12.36. For the current fiscal year ending December 31, 2026, consensus estimates project revenue of $701.1M and EPS of $0.35, reflecting an EPS growth estimate of 138.3%. For the next fiscal year, four analysts project revenue of $762.0M and EPS of $0.64. SFL has beaten EPS estimates in each of the last 4 quarters, and its next earnings date is November 11, 2026.
Key risks and what to watch
- The current ratio stood at 0.38 as of June 30, 2026, reflecting tight short-term liquidity.
- Net debt of $2.27B creates ongoing servicing obligations that could constrain balance sheet flexibility.
- Annualized 5-year dividend growth fell 1.2%, pointing to reduced dividend momentum over longer horizons.
AI-generated research summary. Written with AI from Quotelinks data as of October 16, 2026 and checked so every figure matches that data. For information only, not investment advice. Disclaimer
About this SFL AI stock analysis
This page is an AI-written research summary of SFL Corporation Ltd. (SFL). The text was generated on October 30, 2026 from Quotelinks data as of October 16, 2026 (company profile, annual results, latest balance sheet, valuation, price performance and analyst estimates). An automatic check rejects any draft that contains a figure not found in that data. It is not investment advice; verify figures on the linked tabs before making decisions.
Related: SFL income statement, SFL balance sheet, SFL key metrics, SFL analyst forecast, SFL chart. See the SFL stock overview for the latest quote and news.
SFL AI stock analysis FAQ
What does SFL Corporation Ltd. do?
SFL Corporation Ltd. owns, operates, and leases maritime and offshore assets under medium and long-term charters. Its diversified fleet includes container ships, dry bulk carriers, oil tankers, car carriers, and drilling rigs.
What is SFL's dividend yield and payment history?
SFL offers a forward dividend yield of 7.12% based on an annual dividend of $0.88 per share paid quarterly. The company has paid dividends for 23 consecutive years.
How leveraged is SFL's balance sheet?
As of June 30, 2026, SFL carried $2.38B in total debt and $118.1M in cash and short-term investments, resulting in net debt of $2.27B and a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.30.
What are analysts forecasting for SFL?
Analysts have a mean price target of $13.17, representing 6.5% upside from the last close of $12.36. For the fiscal year ending December 31, 2026, consensus estimates anticipate revenue of $701.1M and EPS of $0.35.