SFL Corporation Ltd. (NYSE: SFL) saw its stock price surge 5.90% in pre-market trading on Tuesday, following the release of its third-quarter 2025 financial results and the announcement of its 87th consecutive quarterly dividend. The company's performance exceeded analyst expectations, demonstrating resilience in a challenging market environment.

SFL reported a net income of $8.6 million, or $0.07 per share, for Q3 2025, significantly beating the FactSet consensus estimate of a $0.02 loss per share. The company's total operating revenue came in at $178.2 million, slightly above the analyst consensus of $176.8 million. Additionally, SFL declared a quarterly cash dividend of $0.20 per share, maintaining its track record of consistent shareholder returns.

Investors were particularly encouraged by SFL's strategic initiatives and positive outlook. The company highlighted its focus on fleet optimization, having invested nearly $100 million in fuel efficiency and cargo optimization upgrades. These investments have contributed to adding approximately $1.2 billion to SFL's fixed-rate charter backlog, which now stands at about $4 billion. CEO Ole B. Hjertaker expressed optimism about securing new employment for the Hercules rig next year and emphasized the company's strong position to deliver consistent value to shareholders through its disciplined capital allocation and focus on accretive investments.