Valaris shares drop amid market weakness despite merger news
Written by Emily J. Thompson, Senior Investment Analyst
Updated: Jan 13 2026
0mins
Should l Buy VAL?
Source: Benzinga
Valaris Ltd shares fell 7.94% as the stock crossed below its 5-day SMA, reflecting a negative market trend.
Despite the recent merger announcement with Transocean, where Valaris shareholders will receive 15.235 Transocean shares for each Valaris share, implying a 31.6% premium, the stock experienced a decline. The merger is expected to yield significant cost synergies of $200 million, enhancing future profitability and positioning the combined entity as the largest offshore drilling company. However, the overall market sentiment was weak, with the Nasdaq-100 down 0.96% and the S&P 500 down 0.60%, leading to sector rotation affecting Valaris shares.
The implications of this merger are significant, as it could reshape the offshore drilling landscape, but the immediate market reaction indicates that investors are cautious amid broader market declines.
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Analyst Views on VAL
Wall Street analysts forecast VAL stock price to fall
6 Analyst Rating
1 Buy
4 Hold
1 Sell
Hold
Current: 88.960
Low
49.00
Averages
56.50
High
65.00
Current: 88.960
Low
49.00
Averages
56.50
High
65.00
About VAL
Valaris Limited is an offshore contract drilling company, which is engaged in providing offshore contract drilling services to the international oil and gas industry with operations on the offshore market on approximately six continents. The Company operates a rig fleet of ultra-deepwater drill ships, semisubmersibles, and shallow water jackups. The Company operates through four segments: Floaters, which includes its drill ships and semisubmersible rigs; Jackups; ARO, and Other, which consists of management services on rigs owned by third parties and the activities associated with its arrangements with ARO. Its customers include many of the offshore exploration and production companies, including integrated energy companies, national oil companies, and independent operators. The Company owns approximately 52 rigs, including 13 drill ships, four dynamically positioned semisubmersible rigs, one moored semisubmersible rig, and 34 jackup rigs.
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.
Valaris Secures Nearly $900M in New Contracts
- Contract Extension: The Valaris DS-7 drillship secured a five-well contract extension with Azule Energy offshore Angola, expected to commence in October 2026 and last for 325 days, adding approximately $125 million to the contracted revenue backlog, indicating sustained demand in the deepwater drilling market.
- Long-term Partnership: The Valaris DS-9 drillship received a two-year contract extension from Exxon Mobil, set to begin in July 2026 at an operating dayrate aligned with recent market rates, further solidifying the long-term partnership with a key client.
- New Contract Wins: The Valaris 106 jackup secured an eight-well contract with BP in Indonesia, expected to start in Q3 2026 and last for two years, contributing around $74 million to the contracted revenue backlog, reflecting the company's market expansion capabilities in the Asia-Pacific region.
- Backlog Growth: The total contracted revenue backlog increased from $4.5 billion to $4.7 billion due to all new contracts, showcasing Valaris's significant business growth potential in a competitive offshore drilling market.
See More
Valaris to Announce Q4 Earnings on February 19
- Earnings Announcement: Valaris is set to announce its Q4 earnings on February 19 before market open, with consensus EPS estimate at $0.84 and revenue estimate at $494.41 million, reflecting a 15.4% year-over-year decline, which could directly impact the company's stock performance.
- Earnings Estimate Changes: Over the past three months, Valaris has seen three upward revisions in EPS estimates with no downward adjustments, indicating increased market confidence in its profitability, while revenue estimates have experienced three upward and two downward revisions, reflecting a cautious outlook on revenue growth.
- M&A Activity: Valaris recently entered into a $5.8 billion all-stock acquisition agreement with Transocean, viewed as a significant positive for Valaris, although market concerns regarding valuation limits may affect its stock price upside.
- Industry Collaboration Outlook: The merger between Valaris and Transocean is considered a pivotal move in the industry, potentially enhancing both companies' competitiveness in the offshore drilling market and creating greater value for shareholders in the future.
See More
Investor Rights Law Firm Investigates Multiple Companies for Potential Violations
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- Cash Transaction: Great Lakes Dredge & Dock Corporation (NASDAQ:GLDD) is being sold to Saltchuk Resources, Inc. for $17.00 per share in cash, which may limit superior competing offers and harm shareholder interests.
- Merger Impact: Air Industries Group (NYSE American: AIRI) is merging with Tenax Aerospace Acquisition, LLC, with Air Industries shareholders expected to own only about 5% of the combined company, potentially diluting shareholder equity.
- Legal Support: Halper Sadeh LLC represents global investors seeking increased consideration, additional disclosures, or other relief to protect shareholder rights and pursue potential financial compensation.
See More
Valaris Share Price Drops Amid Acquisition Concerns
- Share Price Decline: Valaris's share price fell over 7% just eight days after announcing its acquisition, indicating investor concerns regarding the delay in the company's latest earnings release, which may impact post-acquisition market confidence.
- Earnings Release Delay: Valaris announced the postponement of its fourth-quarter earnings report to February 19 and canceled its planned conference call, a move that, while not unusual during acquisitions, heightened investor anxiety about the company's transparency.
- Acquisition Deal Details: The $5.8 billion merger with Transocean will result in a new company structure where approximately 53% of shares will be owned by Transocean shareholders, with the remainder held by Valaris investors, indicating a significant shift in shareholder dynamics post-merger.
- Market Reaction: Concerns over weak oil prices led to a 6% decline in Transocean's stock on Monday, directly affecting Valaris's share performance, prompting investors to adopt a cautious stance and suggesting a wait-and-see approach until merger implementation details are clarified.
See More
Transocean Stock Drops 6.12% After 52-Week High
- Stock Price Fluctuation: Transocean closed at $6.14, down 6.12%, primarily due to profit-taking after last week's 52-week high and reassessment of its all-stock acquisition of Valaris, raising investor concerns.
- Surge in Trading Volume: Today's trading volume reached 80.8 million shares, approximately 98% above the three-month average of 40.9 million shares, indicating heightened market interest and active trading in Transocean's stock.
- Acquisition Impact Analysis: The $5.8 billion acquisition of Valaris is expected to yield cost synergies and position Transocean as the world's largest offshore drilling contractor with over 70 rigs and an estimated $10 billion backlog, although shareholder concerns about stock dilution and potential legal issues persist.
- Investor Focus: Investors will closely monitor Transocean's Q4 earnings report on February 19, particularly regarding the financial details of the Valaris deal, to assess future profitability and market performance.
See More
Valaris Issues Latest Fleet Status Report
- Fleet Status Update: Valaris's Fleet Status Report provides detailed information on the current status of the company's offshore drilling rigs and associated contract details, showcasing its transparency and information disclosure capabilities in the industry.
- Industry Leadership: As a leader in offshore drilling services, Valaris operates a high-quality fleet of drilling rigs across all water depths and geographies, indicating its strong competitive position in the global market.
- Commitment to Technology and Innovation: Valaris emphasizes its unwavering commitment to safety, operational excellence, and customer satisfaction, particularly through ongoing investments in technology and innovation aimed at enhancing service quality and efficiency.
- Global Operational Experience: Valaris has extensive experience operating in nearly every major offshore basin, further solidifying its professional standing and market influence in the offshore drilling industry.
See More
Valaris Secures Nearly $900M in New Contracts
- Contract Extension: The Valaris DS-7 drillship secured a five-well contract extension with Azule Energy offshore Angola, expected to commence in October 2026 and last for 325 days, adding approximately $125 million to the contracted revenue backlog, indicating sustained demand in the deepwater drilling market.
- Long-term Partnership: The Valaris DS-9 drillship received a two-year contract extension from Exxon Mobil, set to begin in July 2026 at an operating dayrate aligned with recent market rates, further solidifying the long-term partnership with a key client.
- New Contract Wins: The Valaris 106 jackup secured an eight-well contract with BP in Indonesia, expected to start in Q3 2026 and last for two years, contributing around $74 million to the contracted revenue backlog, reflecting the company's market expansion capabilities in the Asia-Pacific region.
- Backlog Growth: The total contracted revenue backlog increased from $4.5 billion to $4.7 billion due to all new contracts, showcasing Valaris's significant business growth potential in a competitive offshore drilling market.
See More
Valaris to Announce Q4 Earnings on February 19
- Earnings Announcement: Valaris is set to announce its Q4 earnings on February 19 before market open, with consensus EPS estimate at $0.84 and revenue estimate at $494.41 million, reflecting a 15.4% year-over-year decline, which could directly impact the company's stock performance.
- Earnings Estimate Changes: Over the past three months, Valaris has seen three upward revisions in EPS estimates with no downward adjustments, indicating increased market confidence in its profitability, while revenue estimates have experienced three upward and two downward revisions, reflecting a cautious outlook on revenue growth.
- M&A Activity: Valaris recently entered into a $5.8 billion all-stock acquisition agreement with Transocean, viewed as a significant positive for Valaris, although market concerns regarding valuation limits may affect its stock price upside.
- Industry Collaboration Outlook: The merger between Valaris and Transocean is considered a pivotal move in the industry, potentially enhancing both companies' competitiveness in the offshore drilling market and creating greater value for shareholders in the future.
See More
Investor Rights Law Firm Investigates Multiple Companies for Potential Violations
- Investigation Focus: Halper Sadeh LLC is investigating Tri Pointe Homes, Inc. (NYSE:TPH) for its sale to Sumitomo Forestry Co., Ltd. at $47.00 per share, potentially violating fiduciary duties to shareholders and impacting their rights.
- Cash Transaction: Great Lakes Dredge & Dock Corporation (NASDAQ:GLDD) is being sold to Saltchuk Resources, Inc. for $17.00 per share in cash, which may limit superior competing offers and harm shareholder interests.
- Merger Impact: Air Industries Group (NYSE American: AIRI) is merging with Tenax Aerospace Acquisition, LLC, with Air Industries shareholders expected to own only about 5% of the combined company, potentially diluting shareholder equity.
- Legal Support: Halper Sadeh LLC represents global investors seeking increased consideration, additional disclosures, or other relief to protect shareholder rights and pursue potential financial compensation.
See More
Valaris Share Price Drops Amid Acquisition Concerns
- Share Price Decline: Valaris's share price fell over 7% just eight days after announcing its acquisition, indicating investor concerns regarding the delay in the company's latest earnings release, which may impact post-acquisition market confidence.
- Earnings Release Delay: Valaris announced the postponement of its fourth-quarter earnings report to February 19 and canceled its planned conference call, a move that, while not unusual during acquisitions, heightened investor anxiety about the company's transparency.
- Acquisition Deal Details: The $5.8 billion merger with Transocean will result in a new company structure where approximately 53% of shares will be owned by Transocean shareholders, with the remainder held by Valaris investors, indicating a significant shift in shareholder dynamics post-merger.
- Market Reaction: Concerns over weak oil prices led to a 6% decline in Transocean's stock on Monday, directly affecting Valaris's share performance, prompting investors to adopt a cautious stance and suggesting a wait-and-see approach until merger implementation details are clarified.
See More
Transocean Stock Drops 6.12% After 52-Week High
- Stock Price Fluctuation: Transocean closed at $6.14, down 6.12%, primarily due to profit-taking after last week's 52-week high and reassessment of its all-stock acquisition of Valaris, raising investor concerns.
- Surge in Trading Volume: Today's trading volume reached 80.8 million shares, approximately 98% above the three-month average of 40.9 million shares, indicating heightened market interest and active trading in Transocean's stock.
- Acquisition Impact Analysis: The $5.8 billion acquisition of Valaris is expected to yield cost synergies and position Transocean as the world's largest offshore drilling contractor with over 70 rigs and an estimated $10 billion backlog, although shareholder concerns about stock dilution and potential legal issues persist.
- Investor Focus: Investors will closely monitor Transocean's Q4 earnings report on February 19, particularly regarding the financial details of the Valaris deal, to assess future profitability and market performance.
See More
Valaris Issues Latest Fleet Status Report
- Fleet Status Update: Valaris's Fleet Status Report provides detailed information on the current status of the company's offshore drilling rigs and associated contract details, showcasing its transparency and information disclosure capabilities in the industry.
- Industry Leadership: As a leader in offshore drilling services, Valaris operates a high-quality fleet of drilling rigs across all water depths and geographies, indicating its strong competitive position in the global market.
- Commitment to Technology and Innovation: Valaris emphasizes its unwavering commitment to safety, operational excellence, and customer satisfaction, particularly through ongoing investments in technology and innovation aimed at enhancing service quality and efficiency.
- Global Operational Experience: Valaris has extensive experience operating in nearly every major offshore basin, further solidifying its professional standing and market influence in the offshore drilling industry.
See More
