SFL
IndustrialsSFL Corporation Ltd. · Marine Shipping · $2B
What is SFL Corporation Ltd.?
SFL Corporation Ltd. is a maritime and offshore asset company that owns and charters out a diversified fleet of vessels and offshore equipment on medium and long-term contracts. Headquartered in Hamilton, Bermuda, the company operates across multiple shipping segments globally.
SFL generates revenue by leasing its fleet of vessels and offshore assets to operators under medium and long-term charter agreements. Its portfolio spans crude oil tankers, dry bulk carriers, container ships, car carriers, chemical tankers, oil product tankers, and offshore drilling units. The company operates across Bermuda, Cyprus, Liberia, Norway, Singapore, the United Kingdom, and the Marshall Islands, giving it broad exposure to global maritime trade flows.
SFL Corporation was incorporated in 2003 and is based in Hamilton, Bermuda.
- Container vessel chartering across global trade routes
- Crude oil and product tanker leasing
- Dry bulk carrier fleet operations
- Car carrier and chemical tanker charters
- Offshore drilling rig ownership and chartering
Is SFL a Good Stock to Buy?
UQS Score rates SFL Corporation as Below Average overall.
Among the five pillars, Valuation stands out as the relative bright spot — SFL's shares appear attractively priced compared to many peers in the maritime sector. The Quality pillar registers as Neutral, suggesting the business generates adequate but not exceptional returns on its asset base.
The Moat, Growth, and Risk pillars all register as Weak, reflecting the competitive nature of the charter market, limited pricing power, and meaningful balance-sheet and cyclical risks inherent to the shipping industry.
Pro members can view the full pillar breakdown and underlying financial metrics to understand exactly where SFL stands relative to sector peers. Sign up free →
Past performance does not guarantee future results. UQS Score is based on fundamental data and is not a buy/sell recommendation.
Does SFL pay dividends?
Yes — SFL Corporation Ltd. pays a dividend.
SFL Corporation pays a regular dividend, which has historically been a central part of its investor proposition. The company's long-term charter model is designed to generate predictable cash flows that support distributions. Income-focused investors often look to SFL for yield, though the sustainability of dividends in the shipping sector can be sensitive to charter renewal rates and broader market conditions.
When does SFL report earnings?
SFL Corporation reports earnings on a quarterly cadence, consistent with standard practice for US-listed equities.
Results tend to reflect the health of the global charter market, fleet utilization rates, and the timing of vessel deliveries or disposals. Charter duration and counterparty quality are key factors that influence quarterly outcomes.
For the most recent quarter's results and guidance, visit SFL Corporation's investor relations page directly.
SFL Price History
+97.3% over 5Y
Monthly close, adjusted for stock splits and dividend reinvestment.
What if I invested in SFL Corporation Ltd.?
Based on SFL Corporation Ltd.'s historical closing prices, adjusted for stock splits and dividend reinvestment. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is for informational purposes only and is not financial advice.
SFL Long-term Outlook
The Growth and Risk pillars both register as Weak, pointing to a cautious fundamental outlook. SFL's long-term charter structure provides some revenue visibility, but limited fleet expansion and a competitive market for new contracts constrain near-term growth prospects. Elevated financial risk — common in asset-heavy, leveraged shipping businesses — remains a key consideration for investors evaluating the longer-term trajectory.
Growth drivers
- Long-term charter contracts providing near-term revenue visibility
- Diversified fleet exposure across multiple shipping segments
- Potential fleet renewal or redeployment into higher-demand vessel types
Key risks
- Weak moat leaves SFL exposed to charter rate competition
- High asset leverage typical of maritime businesses amplifies downside risk
- Cyclical shipping demand tied to global trade volumes and energy markets
SFL vs Peers
SFL operates in a competitive maritime leasing landscape alongside several other publicly listed shipping companies.
Global Ship Lease focuses exclusively on container vessels, offering a more concentrated sector bet compared to SFL's diversified multi-segment fleet.
Nordic American Tankers operates solely in the crude tanker segment, making it a purer play on oil transportation demand than SFL's broader portfolio.
Okeanis Eco Tankers differentiates through a modern, fuel-efficient tanker fleet, positioning it toward environmental compliance trends in a way SFL's older mixed fleet does not.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does SFL Corporation do?
SFL Corporation owns and charters out a diversified fleet of maritime and offshore assets under medium and long-term agreements. Its fleet includes crude oil tankers, dry bulk carriers, container vessels, car carriers, chemical tankers, oil product tankers, and offshore drilling units. The company earns revenue primarily through charter hire payments from vessel operators across global shipping markets.
Does SFL pay dividends?
Yes, SFL Corporation pays a regular dividend. The company's long-term charter model is structured to generate relatively predictable cash flows that support distributions to shareholders. However, dividend sustainability in the shipping sector can fluctuate with charter renewal rates and market conditions, so investors should monitor those factors closely.
When does SFL report earnings?
SFL Corporation reports financial results on a quarterly basis, in line with standard practice for US-listed companies. For the exact timing of upcoming earnings releases, investors should check SFL Corporation's investor relations page, where the company publishes its reporting calendar.
Is SFL a good stock to buy?
UQS Score rates SFL as Below Average overall. The Valuation pillar is the relative strength, suggesting the shares are attractively priced relative to peers. However, Weak scores across Moat, Growth, and Risk pillars reflect meaningful structural and cyclical challenges. Investors should weigh the dividend income potential against those risks before making a decision.
Is SFL overvalued?
Based on the UQS Valuation pillar, SFL does not appear overvalued — the rating comes in as Good, suggesting the shares trade at a reasonable price relative to the company's fundamentals and sector peers. That said, attractive valuation alone does not offset the Weak scores in Growth and Risk that the full UQS analysis surfaces.
How does SFL compare to its competitors?
SFL's main differentiator is fleet diversification — it operates across tankers, dry bulk, containers, car carriers, and offshore rigs, unlike more focused peers such as Global Ship Lease (containers only) or Nordic American Tankers (crude tankers only). This breadth can reduce segment-specific volatility but may also dilute the upside from any single shipping market rally.
What is SFL's market cap bracket?
SFL Corporation is classified as a small-cap company. This means it carries a smaller market capitalization than large or mega-cap shipping conglomerates, which can translate to lower trading liquidity and potentially higher price volatility relative to larger maritime peers.
Who founded SFL Corporation?
SFL Corporation was incorporated in 2003 and was formerly known as Ship Finance International Limited, a name it carried until September 2019. The company has roots in the broader Frontline shipping group. For detailed founding history, the company's official filings and investor relations materials provide the most accurate account.
Is SFL a long-term quality investment?
As a long-term quality indicator, SFL's UQS profile raises some caution. Weak Moat and Growth pillars suggest limited competitive durability and constrained expansion prospects over time. The Neutral Quality pillar indicates the business is functional but not among the highest-quality operators in the sector. Long-term investors should weigh these factors alongside the dividend income the company provides.
What is the main competitive advantage of SFL Corporation?
SFL's primary competitive advantage lies in its fleet diversification and long-term charter structure, which provide some revenue predictability compared to spot-market operators. However, the UQS Moat pillar rates as Weak, indicating that durable competitive advantages — such as pricing power or significant barriers to entry — are limited in the broader maritime chartering market.
What sector does SFL belong to?
SFL Corporation is classified within the Industrials sector, specifically in the maritime transportation and offshore asset leasing industry. Investors interested in shipping and offshore energy infrastructure exposure often look at SFL alongside other maritime operators. You can explore more [Industrials sector stocks](/sector/industrials) on UQS Score.
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Pro Analysis
SFL — Score History
| Date | UQS | Quality | Moat | Growth | Risk | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| May 20, 2026 | 35.0 | 50.3 | 15.0 | 31.2 | 0.4 | 82.1 | 0.0 |
| May 16, 2026 | 35.0 | 50.3 | 15.0 | 31.2 | 0.4 | 82.3 | +3.5 |
| May 12, 2026 | 31.5 | 42.6 | 15.0 | 29.1 | 0.3 | 74.9 | +1.0 |
| May 10, 2026 | 30.5 | 25.3 | 15.0 | 29.1 | 36.9 | 60.3 | 0.0 |
| May 8, 2026 | 30.5 | 25.3 | 15.0 | 29.1 | 36.9 | 60.5 | -1.0 |
| May 3, 2026 | 31.5 | 42.6 | 15.0 | 29.1 | 0.3 | 75.1 | -0.1 |
| Apr 26, 2026 | 31.6 | 42.6 | 15.0 | 29.1 | 0.3 | 75.7 | 0.0 |
| Apr 19, 2026 | 31.6 | 42.6 | 15.0 | 29.1 | 0.3 | 75.6 | 0.0 |
| Apr 18, 2026 | 31.6 | 42.6 | 15.0 | 29.1 | 0.3 | 75.7 | +0.2 |
| Apr 5, 2026 | 31.4 | 42.6 | 15.0 | 29.1 | 0.3 | 73.9 | 0.0 |
SFL — Pillar Breakdown
Quality
— 50.3/100 (25%)SFL Corporation Ltd. has average quality metrics, with room for improvement in margins or capital efficiency.
How effectively capital is deployed to generate returns.
Profitability relative to shareholders' equity.
Ability to convert revenue into operating profit.
Bottom-line profit as a share of revenue.
Asset productivity — how much gross profit each dollar of assets generates.
Free cash flow relative to market value.
Growth
— 31.2/100 (20%)SFL Corporation Ltd. faces growth headwinds with declining or stagnant revenue trends.
Revenue trajectory over the last twelve months.
Compound annual revenue growth rate over 3 years.
Year-over-year earnings per share growth.
Analyst consensus for future revenue growth.
Analyst consensus for future earnings growth.
Risk
— 0.4/100 (15%)SFL Corporation Ltd. presents elevated risk with concerns around leverage or financial stability.
Debt levels relative to earnings capacity.
Total debt relative to shareholder equity.
Short-term liquidity — ability to pay near-term obligations.
Earnings capacity relative to interest payments.
Valuation
— 82.5/100 (15%)SFL Corporation Ltd. appears attractively valued relative to its earnings, cash flows, and sector peers.
Inverse of forward P/E — higher yield means cheaper stock.
How many years of FCF the market cap represents.
P/E relative to earnings growth — lower is more attractive.
Enterprise value multiple relative to sector median.
Moat
— 15/100 (25%)SFL Corporation Ltd. operates in a highly competitive environment with limited sustainable advantages. The Moat pillar evaluates competitive advantages across five dimensions: Switching Costs, Network Effects, Cost Advantage, Intangible Assets, and Scale & Ecosystem. Sign in to customize moat ratings for SFL.
Score Composition
Financial Data
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How is the SFL UQS Score Calculated?
The UQS (Unified Quality Score) for SFL Corporation Ltd. is calculated using a proprietary 6-pillar framework with 29 financial metrics. Each pillar evaluates a different dimension on a 0–100 scale, then combines into a single weighted score. Scoring thresholds are calibrated per sector. Momentum is an optional Pro toggle — without it, you get the 5-pillar / 25-metric core shown below.
Quality (25%) measures profitability and capital efficiency — ROIC, ROE, margins, GP/Assets, and FCF Yield.
Moat (25%) assesses SFL Corporation Ltd.'s competitive advantages across switching costs, network effects, cost advantages, intangible assets, and ecosystem scale.
Growth (20%) tracks revenue trajectory and earnings momentum, combining historical results with analyst forward estimates.
Risk (15%) is inversely scored — lower leverage and strong balance sheet health result in higher scores.
Valuation (15%) measures whether SFL Corporation Ltd. is fairly priced using earnings yield, price-to-FCF, PEG ratio, and EV/EBITDA relative to sector peers.
Six investor-inspired presets are available, each with different pillar weights: Balanced, Buffett, Munger, Lynch, Cathie Wood, and Graham. The public score shown here uses the Balanced preset. Learn more in our FAQ.