Valaris Secures $300 Million Multi-Year Contract with Shell for Drillship VALARIS DS-8
Written by Emily J. Thompson, Senior Investment Analyst
Updated: Dec 12 2025
0mins
Source: Businesswire
- Significant Contract Value: Valaris has secured a multi-year contract valued at approximately $300 million with Shell for the drillship VALARIS DS-8, expected to commence in Q1 2027 with an estimated duration of 800 days, indicating strong demand in the deepwater drilling market.
- Increased Market Confidence: Shell's selection of Valaris for the Orca project demonstrates confidence in the company's ability to deliver complex deepwater drilling solutions, reflecting growing interest from international oil companies in offshore developments in Brazil.
- Successful Commercial Strategy: Valaris has secured over $2.5 billion in backlog year-to-date, supporting future earnings and cash flow, showcasing the company's competitive edge and potential for sustained growth in the offshore drilling sector.
- Industry Leadership: As a leading provider of offshore drilling services, Valaris reinforces its market position across major offshore basins through its commitment to high-quality rigs and operational excellence, further solidifying its reputation in the industry.
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Analyst Views on VAL
Wall Street analysts forecast VAL stock price to fall over the next 12 months. According to Wall Street analysts, the average 1-year price target for VAL is 56.50 USD with a low forecast of 49.00 USD and a high forecast of 65.00 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.
6 Analyst Rating
1 Buy
4 Hold
1 Sell
Hold
Current: 56.880
Low
49.00
Averages
56.50
High
65.00
Current: 56.880
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.
Hara Capital Acquires 173K Shares of Noble Corporation Worth $4.9 Million
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- Asset Allocation Shift: This acquisition positions Noble to account for 2.7% of Hara Capital's reportable 13F assets, highlighting its significance within the firm's total U.S. equity assets of $179.74 million.
- Market Performance Analysis: Despite Noble's stock price declining by 2.9% over the past year while the S&P 500 gained 18.8%, its 6.1% dividend yield continues to attract investor interest, indicating stable cash flow capabilities.
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Hara Capital Acquires 173,597 Shares of Noble Corporation Worth $4.9 Million
- Share Acquisition: Hara Capital acquired 173,597 shares of Noble Corporation during Q4, valued at $4.9 million, making it the firm's sixth-largest equity investment, indicating confidence in the company.
- Asset Proportion: This acquisition represents 2.7% of Hara Capital's reportable assets under management, highlighting Noble's significance within the investment portfolio.
- Performance Metrics: Despite a 2.9% decline in Noble's stock price over the past year, the company reported third-quarter revenue of $798 million, with management noting a backlog increase to $7 billion due to new contracts, suggesting future growth potential.
- Market Comparison: In contrast to the S&P 500's 18.8% gain during the same period, Noble's total shareholder return was only 3.2%, indicating underperformance that may affect investor confidence.
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