SAN FRANCISCO, Jan 27 (Reuters) - Noble Corp, the world's third-largest offshore rig contractor by market value, reported on Wednesday a better-than-expected 6 percent rise in quarterly profit and said new rigs would underpin 2010 earnings.
'The commencements of operations of three new ultra-deepwater units, coupled with our outstanding backlog, give us positive momentum for the year ahead,' Chief Executive David Williams said in a statement.
The Switzerland-based company said its fourth-quarter net profit rose to $446 million, or $1.72 per share, from $419 million, or $1.58 per share, in the same quarter a year before. Revenue grew 3 percent to $940 million.
Analysts had expected a profit of $1.58 a share on revenue of $896 million, according to the averages on Thomson Reuters I/B/E/S.
Noble shares closed a few cents higher at $42.19 prior to the release of the results, which are the first from a major rig contractor.
Diamond Offshore Drilling Inc releases earnings on Feb. 4, followed by Oslo-listed SeaDrill Ltd on Feb. 19. Sector leader Transocean Ltd reports on Feb. 24, with Ensco International Plc reporting the next day.
(Reporting by Braden Reddall; editing by Andre Grenon) Keywords: NOBLECORP/ (braden.reddall@thomsonreuters.com +1 415 677 2543; braden.reddall.reuters.com@reuters.net) COPYRIGHT Copyright Thomson Reuters 2010. All rights reserved. The copying, republication or redistribution of Reuters News Content, including by framing or similar means, is expressly prohibited without the prior written consent of Thomson Reuters.
'The commencements of operations of three new ultra-deepwater units, coupled with our outstanding backlog, give us positive momentum for the year ahead,' Chief Executive David Williams said in a statement.
The Switzerland-based company said its fourth-quarter net profit rose to $446 million, or $1.72 per share, from $419 million, or $1.58 per share, in the same quarter a year before. Revenue grew 3 percent to $940 million.
Analysts had expected a profit of $1.58 a share on revenue of $896 million, according to the averages on Thomson Reuters I/B/E/S.
Noble shares closed a few cents higher at $42.19 prior to the release of the results, which are the first from a major rig contractor.
Diamond Offshore Drilling Inc releases earnings on Feb. 4, followed by Oslo-listed SeaDrill Ltd on Feb. 19. Sector leader Transocean Ltd reports on Feb. 24, with Ensco International Plc reporting the next day.
(Reporting by Braden Reddall; editing by Andre Grenon) Keywords: NOBLECORP/ (braden.reddall@thomsonreuters.com +1 415 677 2543; braden.reddall.reuters.com@reuters.net) COPYRIGHT Copyright Thomson Reuters 2010. All rights reserved. The copying, republication or redistribution of Reuters News Content, including by framing or similar means, is expressly prohibited without the prior written consent of Thomson Reuters.
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