Noble Corporation sells six jackups for $424 million
Written by Emily J. Thompson, Senior Investment Analyst
Updated: Dec 08 2025
0mins
Should l Buy NE?
Source: PRnewswire
Noble Corporation PLC's stock fell by 5.01% and crossed below the 20-day SMA amid a broader market decline, with the Nasdaq-100 down 1.95% and the S&P 500 down 1.12%.
This decline comes despite Noble Corporation's recent announcement of a significant transaction involving the sale of six jackup rigs for $424 million, including five rigs sold to Borr Drilling for $360 million. This strategic move is expected to enhance Noble's focus on deepwater operations and improve its financial position, providing immediate benefits to shareholders and optimizing its asset portfolio.
The sale is anticipated to positively impact Noble's EBITDA and Free Cash Flow for 2025 and 2026, positioning the company for growth in the deepwater drilling sector. However, the stock's performance reflects a sector rotation as investors react to broader market conditions.
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Analyst Views on NE
Wall Street analysts forecast NE stock price to fall over the next 12 months. According to Wall Street analysts, the average 1-year price target for NE is 33.20 USD with a low forecast of 32.00 USD and a high forecast of 36.00 USD. However, analyst price targets are subjective and often lag stock prices, so investors should focus on the objective reasons behind analyst rating changes, which better reflect the company's fundamentals.
5 Analyst Rating
1 Buy
4 Hold
0 Sell
Hold
Current: 39.200
Low
32.00
Averages
33.20
High
36.00
Current: 39.200
Low
32.00
Averages
33.20
High
36.00
About NE
Noble Corporation plc is an offshore drilling contractor for the oil and gas industry, which owns and operates technically advanced fleets in the offshore drilling industry. The Company performs, through its subsidiaries, contract drilling services with a fleet of offshore drilling units focused on ultra-deepwater and high specification jackup drilling opportunities in both established and emerging regions worldwide. It provides contract drilling services to the international oil and gas industry with its global fleet of mobile offshore drilling units. The mobile offshore drilling units comprising its offshore rig fleet operate in a global market for contract drilling services, and its customers consist primarily of large, integrated, independent, and government-owned or controlled oil and gas companies throughout the world. Its fleet of approximately 31 drilling rigs consists of 25 floaters and 6 jackups. Its fleet includes Noble Faye Kozack, Noble Venturer, Noble Viking, and others.
About the author
Emily J. Thompson
Emily J. Thompson, a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) with 12 years in investment research, graduated with honors from the Wharton School. Specializing in industrial and technology stocks, she provides in-depth analysis for Intellectia’s earnings and market brief reports.
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- Charter Agreement: Noble intends to operate the Noble Mick O'Brien and Noble Resolute rigs under a bareboat charter agreement with Borr until December 2026, ensuring a continuous revenue stream and asset utilization.
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- Charter Agreement: Noble intends to operate the Noble Mick O'Brien and Noble Resolute under a bareboat charter agreement with Borr until December 2026, ensuring a continuous revenue stream and optimizing asset utilization.
- Market Positioning: This transaction allows Noble to focus on its modern and technologically advanced drilling fleet, further solidifying its leadership position in the offshore drilling industry while paving the way for future growth opportunities.
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- Historical Accuracy Analysis: According to Investopedia, from 1967 to 2025, the indicator had a 71% accuracy rate, but since 2005, it has only been accurate about 40% of the time, highlighting a significant reduction in its predictive power and reflecting skepticism in the market.
- Lack of Economic Mechanism: Despite the Super Bowl Indicator's persistence in market folklore, there is no plausible economic mechanism linking the outcome of a single sporting event to corporate earnings, monetary policy, or global capital flows, with market performance driven more by interest rate expectations, inflation trends, and fiscal policy.
- Investor Sentiment Impact: Stock index futures fell on Monday as investors looked ahead to key economic data releases, including the January Employment Situation report and retail inflation figures, indicating a focus on economic fundamentals, even as the Super Bowl Indicator remains a lighthearted topic in the market.
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- Earnings Report Schedule: Noble Corporation plans to release its financial results for Q4 and the full year 2025 on February 11, 2026, after the U.S. market closes, reflecting its ongoing performance and growth potential in the oil and gas sector.
- Conference Call Details: The company will host a conference call on February 12, 2026, at 8:00 a.m. U.S. Central Time to provide a detailed discussion of its financial results, which is expected to attract significant attention from investors and analysts.
- Investor Relations Support: Noble will make its earnings press release and presentation available on its website, ensuring that investors can access key information promptly, thereby enhancing transparency and communication efficiency.
- Industry Position: As a leading offshore drilling contractor, Noble has been active in contract drilling since 1921, operating a modern fleet focused on ultra-deepwater and high-specification drilling opportunities, demonstrating its competitive edge in the global market.
See More
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- Earnings Report Schedule: Noble Corporation plans to release its financial results for Q4 and full year 2025 on February 11, 2026, after U.S. market close, which is expected to provide investors with critical financial data and future outlook.
- Conference Call Details: The company will host a conference call on February 12, 2026, at 8:00 a.m. U.S. Central Time to discuss the financial results, allowing investors to dial in 15 minutes prior, enhancing engagement with stakeholders.
- Webcast Availability: A live webcast link will be provided on the company's website, ensuring transparency and accessibility of information, thereby improving communication efficiency with shareholders.
- Industry Context: As a leading offshore drilling contractor, Noble operates a modern fleet focused on ultra-deepwater and high-specification drilling opportunities, highlighting its significant position and technological advantages in the global oil and gas industry.
See More
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- Transaction Value: Noble Corporation completed the sale of five jackup rigs to Borr Drilling for $360 million, generating approximately $210 million in cash and $150 million in seller notes, which enhances the company's liquidity and financial flexibility.
- Charter Agreement: Noble intends to operate the Noble Mick O'Brien and Noble Resolute rigs under a bareboat charter agreement with Borr until December 2026, ensuring a continuous revenue stream and asset utilization.
- Market Positioning: This transaction signifies a strategic shift for Noble in the global offshore drilling market, focusing on high-specification and ultra-deepwater drilling opportunities, thereby enhancing its competitiveness in the industry.
- Historical Context: Engaged in contract drilling since 1921, Noble's asset sale further optimizes its modern and technically advanced fleet, supporting its future growth strategy.
See More
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- Transaction Value: Noble Corporation completed the sale of five jackup rigs to Borr Drilling for $360 million, generating approximately $210 million in cash and $150 million in seller notes, thereby enhancing the company's liquidity and financial flexibility.
- Charter Agreement: Noble intends to operate the Noble Mick O'Brien and Noble Resolute under a bareboat charter agreement with Borr until December 2026, ensuring a continuous revenue stream and optimizing asset utilization.
- Market Positioning: This transaction allows Noble to focus on its modern and technologically advanced drilling fleet, further solidifying its leadership position in the offshore drilling industry while paving the way for future growth opportunities.
- Historical Context: Engaged in contract drilling since 1921, this asset sale represents part of Noble's strategic restructuring aimed at improving operational efficiency and enhancing market competitiveness.
See More
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- Uranium Surge: Uranium Energy (UEC) follows closely with a 50.29% increase, reflecting rising demand for uranium resources, potentially driving long-term growth for related companies.
- Significant Rating Disparities: National Energy Services Reunited (NESR) ranks fifth with a 34.26% gain and a Strong Buy rating of 4.85, showcasing market optimism about its future performance, which may draw more investor attention.
- Market Volatility: Despite Venture Global (VG) ranking fourth with a 34.96% gain, its Strong Sell rating of 1.18 indicates market concerns about its future performance, potentially leading investors to reassess risks.
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