Noble Corporation Plc (NYSE:NE) Boosts Backlog And Confirms Narrowed 2025 Guidance

Noble enters the short term with stronger commercial momentum but mixed technical signals; operational backlog growth contrasts with compressed margins and elevated leverage metrics.

Recent News

On October 13, 2025 the company announced plans to release third-quarter 2025 results after market close. On October 27, 2025 the company reported third-quarter 2025 results and disclosed an interim $0.50 per share cash dividend and backlog growth to approximately $7.0 billion driven by recent contract awards and fixtures. The company also noted additional contract value additions since its prior fleet status update made in August 2025.

Technical Analysis

ADX at 13.72 indicates no trend, suggesting limited directional conviction for near-term moves and raising sensitivity to momentum shifts when trend drivers appear.

Directional indicators show DI+ at 18.42 decreasing (bearish) while DI- at 14.16 decreasing (bullish); the simultaneous decreases suggest directional pressure has eased and that short-term directional signal carries mixed implications for price bias.

MACD sits at 0.26 above its signal at 0.24, which constitutes a bullish MACD crossover signal; however, the MACD trend shows a peak-and-reversal, signalling bearish momentum despite the recent crossover, creating conflicting momentum clues for the coming weeks.

MRO at -13.74 (negative) indicates price sits below the model target and implies upside potential toward fair-value target levels, with the magnitude of the negative MRO indicating moderate upward pressure if other indicators permit.

RSI at 52.81 with a peak-and-reversal describes recent exhaustion from higher readings and implies reduced bullish momentum versus prior strength, tempering upside conviction while leaving room for range-bound action.

Price sits at $30.17, above the 200-day average ($26.15) and slightly above the 20-day average ($29.72); the 12-day EMA is increasing, which favors short-term positive bias, while Bollinger bands place price near the 1x upper band, indicating limited immediate volatility runway to the upside. SuperTrend lower support lies near $28.40 and provides a nearby structural level for short-term support.

 


Fundamental Analysis

Revenue totaled $798.0 million with EBITDA of $198.4 million and EBIT of $51.1 million, producing an EBIT margin of 6.41%. EBIT margin declined QoQ by -61.15% and YoY by -56.45%, reflecting margin compression versus the prior periods. The company delivered operating margin of 13.41% and gross margin of 17.58%, both down QoQ and YoY. These margin moves speak to rising operating costs relative to revenue in the recent period.

Reported diluted EPS equaled -$0.13 versus an estimate of $0.17, a negative surprise of -176.47%, aligning with a modest net loss of $21.1 million for the period; adjusted non-GAAP metrics reported elsewhere show stronger cash generation, but GAAP EPS weakness affected reported profitability.

Liquidity and cash flow show $477.9 million in cash and short-term investments, operating cash flow of $277.1 million, and free cash flow of $139.5 million, producing a free cash flow yield of 3.10%, which sits below the industry peer mean of 4.05% on a yield basis. The current ratio equals 1.75, above the industry peer mean of 1.58, supporting near-term liquidity coverage of current obligations.

Leverage metrics present mixed signals: total debt stands at $1.98 billion with net debt near $1.50 billion; debt-to-EBITDA equals 9.97x, indicating elevated leverage relative to cash-generation capacity. Debt-to-assets of 25.88% sits below the industry peer mean of 29.44%, while debt-to-equity at 0.44 remains below the industry peer mean of 0.60. Interest coverage of 1.26 shows constrained coverage of interest expense.

Valuation multiples read P/E ~148.9x and enterprise multiple ~30.21x, while the price-to-book ratio equals 0.99, which sits above the industry peer mean book ratio of 0.82 but remains near historical capital intensity for the group. Price-to-sales at 5.63 sits above the industry peer mean of 4.11. WMDST values the stock as over-valued based on the current combination of multiples, cash-flow yield, and leverage.

MOST-RECENT QUARTERLY REPORT
REPORT PERIOD ENDING: 2025-09-30
REPORT DATE: 2025-10-27
NEXT REPORT DATE: 2026-01-26
CASH FLOW  Begin Period Cash Flow 345.5 M
 Operating Cash Flow 277.1 M
 Capital Expenditures -137.66 M
 Change In Working Capital 200.9 M
 Dividends Paid -79.52 M
 Cash Flow Delta 139.1 M
 End Period Cash Flow 484.5 M
 
INCOME STATEMENT REVENUE
 Total Revenue 798.0 M
 Forward Revenue -1.24 B
COSTS
 Cost Of Revenue 657.7 M
 Depreciation 147.3 M
 Depreciation and Amortization 147.3 M
 Research and Development
 Total Operating Expenses 691.0 M
PROFITABILITY
 Gross Profit 140.3 M
 EBITDA 198.4 M
 EBIT 51.1 M
 Operating Income 107.0 M
 Interest Income 726.0 K
 Interest Expense 40.5 M
 Net Interest Income -39.76 M
 Income Before Tax 10.6 M
 Tax Provision 31.7 M
 Tax Rate 21.0 %
 Net Income -21.09 M
 Net Income From Continuing Operations -21.09 M
EARNINGS
 EPS Estimate 0.17
 EPS Actual -0.13
 EPS Difference -0.30
 EPS Surprise -176.471 %
 Forward EPS 0.83
 
BALANCE SHEET ASSETS
 Total Assets 7.6 B
 Intangible Assets
 Net Tangible Assets 4.5 B
 Total Current Assets 1.4 B
 Cash and Short-Term Investments 477.9 M
 Cash 477.9 M
 Net Receivables 678.3 M
 Inventory
 Long-Term Investments 543.1 M
LIABILITIES
 Accounts Payable 305.0 M
 Short-Term Debt
 Total Current Liabilities 779.3 M
 Net Debt 1.5 B
 Total Debt 2.0 B
 Total Liabilities 3.1 B
EQUITY
 Total Equity 4.5 B
 Retained Earnings 280.1 M
VALUATION & PER-SHARE METRICS EQUITY & PER-SHARE METRICS
 Book Value Per-Share 28.54
 Shares Outstanding 158.846 M
 Revenue Per-Share 5.02
VALUATION
 Market Capitalization 4.5 B
 Enterprise Value 6.0 B
 Enterprise Multiple 30.207
Enterprise Multiple QoQ 45.116 %
Enterprise Multiple YoY -5.028 %
Enterprise Multiple IPRWA NE: 30.207
high: 29.3
median: 14.282
mean: 11.445
low: -5.665
 EV/R 7.509
CAPITAL STRUCTURE
 Asset To Equity 1.685
 Asset To Liability 2.46
 Debt To Capital 0.304
 Debt To Assets 0.259
Debt To Assets QoQ 0.306 %
Debt To Assets YoY 4.952 %
Debt To Assets IPRWA high: 0.584
mean: 0.294
NE: 0.259
median: 0.251
low: 0.155
 Debt To Equity 0.436
Debt To Equity QoQ 2.022 %
Debt To Equity YoY 3.102 %
Debt To Equity IPRWA high: 1.803
mean: 0.596
median: 0.475
NE: 0.436
low: 0.22
PRICE-BASED VALUATION
 Price To Book (P/B) 0.991
Price To Book QoQ 6.273 %
Price To Book YoY -16.079 %
Price To Book IPRWA high: 1.417
NE: 0.991
mean: 0.819
median: 0.667
low: 0.442
 Price To Earnings (P/E) 148.89
Price To Earnings QoQ -27.74 %
Price To Earnings YoY 150.266 %
Price To Earnings IPRWA NE: 148.89
high: 54.099
mean: -15.502
median: -40.107
low: -180.305
 PE/G Ratio 3.226
 Price To Sales (P/S) 5.631
Price To Sales QoQ 10.716 %
Price To Sales YoY -18.523 %
Price To Sales IPRWA high: 5.821
NE: 5.631
mean: 4.108
median: 3.476
low: 1.831
FORWARD MULTIPLES
Forward P/E 33.76
Forward PE/G 0.731
Forward P/S -3.615
EFFICIENCY OPERATIONAL
 Operating Leverage 10.638
ASSET & SALES
 Asset Turnover Ratio 0.104
Asset Turnover Ratio QoQ -4.304 %
Asset Turnover Ratio YoY -11.29 %
Asset Turnover Ratio IPRWA high: 0.212
mean: 0.114
NE: 0.104
median: 0.089
low: 0.06
 Receivables Turnover 1.108
Receivables Turnover Ratio QoQ -0.872 %
Receivables Turnover Ratio YoY -3.827 %
Receivables Turnover Ratio IPRWA high: 1.957
mean: 1.593
median: 1.497
low: 1.276
NE: 1.108
 Inventory Turnover
Inventory Turnover Ratio QoQ
Inventory Turnover Ratio YoY
Inventory Turnover Ratio IPRWA
 Days Sales Outstanding (DSO) 82.33
CASH CYCLE
 Cash Conversion Cycle Days (CCC) 38.829
Cash Conversion Cycle Days QoQ
Cash Conversion Cycle Days YoY
Cash Conversion Cycle Days IPRWA high: 135.555
mean: 46.757
NE: 38.829
median: 27.455
low: -90.47
CAPITAL DEPLOYMENT
 Cash Conversion Ratio 1.364
 CapEx To Revenue -0.172
 CapEx To Depreciation -0.935
 
CAPITAL, LIQUIDITY & COVERAGE CAPITAL STRUCTURE
 Total Capital 6.5 B
 Net Invested Capital 6.5 B
 Invested Capital 6.5 B
 Net Tangible Assets 4.5 B
 Net Working Capital 585.2 M
LIQUIDITY
 Cash Ratio 0.613
 Current Ratio 1.751
Current Ratio QoQ -2.749 %
Current Ratio YoY 11.765 %
Current Ratio IPRWA high: 1.891
NE: 1.751
median: 1.643
mean: 1.579
low: 1.081
 Quick Ratio
Quick Ratio QoQ
Quick Ratio YoY
Quick Ratio IPRWA
COVERAGE & LEVERAGE
 Debt To EBITDA 9.965
 Cost Of Debt 1.618 %
 Interest Coverage Ratio 1.263
Interest Coverage Ratio QoQ -63.917 %
Interest Coverage Ratio YoY -73.25 %
Interest Coverage Ratio IPRWA high: 9.671
NE: 1.263
median: 1.0
mean: -0.571
low: -11.318
 Operating Cash Flow Ratio 0.222
TIMING / LIQUIDITY
 Days Payables Outstanding (DPO) 43.501
DIVIDENDS
 Dividend Coverage Ratio -0.265
 Dividend Payout Ratio -3.77
 Dividend Rate 0.50
 Dividend Yield 0.018
PERFORMANCE GROWTH
 Asset Growth Rate -0.361 %
 Revenue Growth -5.967 %
Revenue Growth QoQ 101.997 %
Revenue Growth YoY -138.385 %
Revenue Growth IPRWA high: 4.049 %
mean: -0.716 %
median: -3.17 %
low: -3.714 %
NE: -5.967 %
 Earnings Growth 46.154 %
Earnings Growth QoQ -192.308 %
Earnings Growth YoY -337.369 %
Earnings Growth IPRWA high: 200.0 %
NE: 46.154 %
median: -23.077 %
mean: -34.776 %
low: -666.667 %
MARGINS
 Gross Margin 17.583 %
Gross Margin QoQ -12.627 %
Gross Margin YoY -38.342 %
Gross Margin IPRWA high: 86.431 %
mean: 41.814 %
median: 25.684 %
NE: 17.583 %
low: 4.807 %
 EBIT Margin 6.407 %
EBIT Margin QoQ -61.153 %
EBIT Margin YoY -56.451 %
EBIT Margin IPRWA high: 40.423 %
NE: 6.407 %
median: 4.132 %
mean: -36.669 %
low: -169.553 %
 Return On Sales (ROS) 13.41 %
Return On Sales QoQ -16.198 %
Return On Sales YoY -8.85 %
Return On Sales IPRWA high: 35.438 %
median: 21.168 %
mean: 16.211 %
NE: 13.41 %
low: -2.378 %
CASH FLOW
 Free Cash Flow (FCF) 139.5 M
 Free Cash Flow Yield 3.104 %
Free Cash Flow Yield QoQ 34.256 %
Free Cash Flow Yield YoY 9.527 %
Free Cash Flow Yield IPRWA high: 6.576 %
mean: 4.051 %
median: 3.7 %
NE: 3.104 %
low: 0.471 %
 Free Cash Growth 39.79 %
Free Cash Growth QoQ -208.538 %
Free Cash Growth YoY -107.134 %
Free Cash Growth IPRWA high: 142.992 %
median: 125.962 %
NE: 39.79 %
mean: -298.596 %
low: -1700.269 %
 Free Cash To Net Income -6.612
 Cash Flow Margin 21.71 %
 Cash Flow To Earnings -8.213
VALUE & RETURNS
 Economic Value Added 0.03
 Return On Assets (ROA) -0.276 %
Return On Assets QoQ -150.182 %
Return On Assets YoY -130.701 %
Return On Assets IPRWA high: 4.115 %
median: -0.27 %
NE: -0.276 %
mean: -2.309 %
low: -11.317 %
 Return On Capital Employed (ROCE) 0.745 %
 Return On Equity (ROE) -0.005
Return On Equity QoQ -150.216 %
Return On Equity YoY -135.578 %
Return On Equity IPRWA high: 0.077
median: -0.004
NE: -0.005
mean: -0.05
low: -0.238
 DuPont ROE -0.46 %
 Return On Invested Capital (ROIC) 0.62 %
Return On Invested Capital QoQ -62.963 %
Return On Invested Capital YoY -87.313 %
Return On Invested Capital IPRWA high: 5.913 %
NE: 0.62 %
median: -0.484 %
mean: -1.335 %
low: -9.63 %

Six-Week Outlook

Expect consolidation with episodic directional moves. Commercial momentum—measured by recent backlog additions and announced contract value—supports positive fundamental catalysts; negative EPS surprise and compressed EBIT margin limit immediate fundamental upside. Technical signals conflict: short-term moving averages and a bullish MACD crossover contrast with a MACD peak-and-reversal and an RSI peak-and-reversal, while the negative MRO signals measurable upside potential toward the model target if momentum re-accelerates. Low ADX suggests breakouts may fail without a clear trend driver; nearby technical support near $28.40 and the 20–50 day average band will act as key reference levels for short-term range boundaries. Monitor operating cash flow and free cash flow trends alongside contract awards as primary swing drivers over the coming six weeks.

About Noble Corporation Plc

Noble Corporation Plc (NYSE:NE) delivers offshore drilling services to the global oil and gas industry. With a comprehensive fleet of mobile offshore drilling units, Noble Corporation provides contract drilling services that cater to the complex needs of its clients. The company operates a diverse range of drilling rigs, including floaters and jackups, which are engineered to perform in various water depths and environmental conditions. Established in 1921, Noble Corporation has built a longstanding reputation for reliability and technical expertise within the energy sector. Headquartered in Sugar Land, Texas, the company continues to support the exploration and production efforts of its clients by offering efficient and safe drilling operations. Through its advanced fleet and experienced workforce, Noble Corporation remains a key player in facilitating the extraction of vital energy resources from beneath the ocean floor.



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