UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM 6-K
REPORT OF FOREIGN PRIVATE ISSUER PURSUANT TO RULE 13A-16 OR 15D-16 UNDER THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
For the month of May, 2026
Commission File Number: 001-32199
SFL Corporation Ltd.
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(Translation of registrant's name into English)
Par-la-Ville Place
14 Par-la-Ville Road
Hamilton, HM 08, Bermuda
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(Address of principal executive offices)
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant files or will file annual reports under cover of Form 20-F or Form 40-F.
Form 20-F [ X ] Form 40-F [ ]
INFORMATION CONTAINED IN THIS FORM 6-K REPORT
Attached hereto is a copy of the press release of SFL Corporation Ltd. ("SFL" or the "Company"), dated May 12, 2026, announcing preliminary financial results for the quarter ended March 31, 2026.
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.
| SFL Corporation Ltd. | |||||||||||
| Date: May 12, 2026 | By: | /s/ Ole B. Hjertaker | |||||||||
| Name: | Ole B. Hjertaker | ||||||||||
| Title: | SFL Management AS | ||||||||||
| (Principal Executive Officer) | |||||||||||
Preliminary Earnings Release
Q1 2026
SFL Corporation Ltd.
Preliminary Q1 2026 results and increased quarterly cash dividend of $0.22 per share
SFL Corporation Ltd. (“SFL” or the “Company”) today announced preliminary financial results for the quarter ended March 31, 2026.
Highlights
•89th consecutive quarterly dividend declared, increased to $0.22 per share
•Total operating revenues of $174 million, of which approximately 87% was from shipping and 13% from energy
•Adjusted EBITDA1 of $108 million, including $8 million from associated companies
•Reported net income of $26 million, or $0.20 per share
•Strong performance from two Suezmax tankers in the spot market
•Secured a $170 million drilling contract for the semi-submersible rig Hercules
•Refinanced the Linus and Hercules rigs with $250 million in new credit facilities
•Successfully closed $75 million bond tap issue subsequent to quarter end
Quarterly Dividend
The Board of Directors has declared a quarterly cash dividend of $0.22 per share. The dividend will be paid on or around June 22, and the record- and ex-dividend date on the New York Stock Exchange will be May 27, 2026.
Results for the Quarter ended March 31, 2026
The Company reported total U.S. GAAP operating revenues on a consolidated basis of approximately $174 million in the first quarter of 2026. This figure is lower than the cash received as it excludes approximately $8 million of charter hire2 which is not classified as operating revenues pursuant to U.S. GAAP, but as ‘investment in associates’ for accounting purposes.
The net result in the first quarter was impacted by non-recurring or non-cash items, including a net gain on vessel sale of approximately $11.5 million, net positive mark-to-market effects from hedging derivatives of approximately $2.5 million and positive mark-to-market effects from equity investments of approximately $1.9 million.
Reported net income pursuant to U.S. GAAP for the first quarter was $26 million, or $0.20 per share.
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1 ‘Adjusted EBITDA’ is a non-U.S. GAAP measure. It represents cash receipts from operating activities before net interest and capital payments.
2 Charter hire represents the amounts billable in the period by the Company and its associates for chartering out vessels and rigs. This is mainly the contracted daily rate multiplied by the number of chargeable days plus any additional billable income, including profit share and attributable mobilization fees, if any. Long term charter hire relates to contracts undertaken for a period greater than one year. Short term charter hire relates to contracts undertaken for a period less than one year, including voyage charters.
Business Update
As of March 31, 2026, the contracted fixed rate charter backlog3 from the Company’s fleet of vessels including newbuildings under construction was approximately $3.7 billion with a weighted remaining charter term of 6.3 years. Approximately 68% of the fixed rate charter backlog is to customers with an investment grade credit rating, illustrating the strength of our charter portfolio.
In the first quarter of 2026, the Company’s fleet generated gross charter hire4 of $177 million, including approximately $1.3 million of profit share.
| Q1 2026 | Q4 2025 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
Charter hire4 | Operating days5 | Utilization6 | Charter hire4 | Operating days5 | Utilization6 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Container | $81m | 2,229 | 99% | $81m | 2,267 | 99% | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Car Carrier | $26m | 630 | 100% | $26m | 641 | 100% | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Tanker | $46m | 1,474 | 100% | $42m | 1,624 | 99% | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Bulker | $2m | 175 | 97% | $3m | 184 | 100% | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Energy | $23m | 90 | 50% | $23m | 92 | 50% | ||||||||||||||||||||
In March 2026, SFL signed a new drilling contract for the Hercules, a harsh-environment semi-submersible drilling rig. The contract is for offshore operations in Canada with a large, investment-grade oil company, and is expected to commence in the first quarter of 2027. The minimum contract term is 400 days, with an estimated contract value of approximately $170 million.
The Company has two Suezmax tankers and two Kamsarmax dry bulk vessels deployed in the spot and short-term charter market. Under US GAAP, revenues for spot-traded vessels are recorded on a load-to-discharge basis, whereby revenues are allocated only to days when cargo is onboard.
During the first quarter, our Suezmax tankers and Kamsarmax dry bulk vessels achieved average daily spot Time Charter Equivalent (TCE⁷) of approximately $54,000 and $10,700, respectively.
SFL is committed to efficiency and sustainability and has carried out a comprehensive vessel retrofit and upgrade program in close cooperation with customers. These projects enhance vessel performance and reduce environmental impact, and total investments since 2023 have reached approximately $110 million. The Company has also invested significant amounts in vessels with LNG dual-fuel capability, including newbuilds on order.
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3 Fixed rate backlog as of March 31, 2026 includes fully owned vessels, rigs and 100% of four partially owned 19,000 teu container vessels, which SFL also manages. It also includes subsequent transactions. The contracted fixed rate charter backlog excludes charterers’ extension options.
4 Charter hire represents the amounts billable in the period by the Company and its associates for chartering out vessels and rigs. This is mainly the contracted daily rate multiplied by the number of chargeable days plus any additional billable income, including profit share and attributable mobilization fees, if any. Long term charter hire relates to contracts undertaken for a period greater than one year. Short term charter hire relates to contracts undertaken for a period less than one year, including voyage charters.
5 For vessels “operating days” equals calendar days less days for technical off hire, dry dock or yard stay. For rigs “operating days” equals days on rate or in transit covered by mobilisation fees less days off hire and time spent in port not on drilling rate.
6 Utilization means Operating days divided by calendar days.
7 TCE or Time Charter Equivalent earnings is a non-GAAP measure calculated as voyage revenues less voyage expenses divided by available days. Pursuant to US GAAP, revenues are recorded on a load to discharge basis.
Financing and Capital Expenditure
As of March 31, 2026, cash and cash equivalents amounted to approximately $128 million. In addition, the Company had $160 million available under undrawn credit lines, representing a total available liquidity of approximately $288 million at quarter end.
In February, the suezmax tanker SFL Thelon was delivered as part of its previously announced sale, and SFL recorded a book gain of approximately $11.5 million in the first quarter. The net cash proceeds from the sale were approximately $26 million, after repayment of related debt and expenses.
During the first quarter, SFL refinanced the Linus rig with a new $150 million term loan facility. The Company also concluded a new $100 million revolving credit financing for the Hercules rig. The rig was debt free at year-end 2025 and the new facility was undrawn at quarter end.
Subsequent to quarter end, the Company completed a $75 million tap issuance of its 7.75% senior unsecured sustainability-linked bonds due 2030 at 103.5% of par, raising gross proceeds of approximately $77.6 million. The tap issuance implies a yield to maturity of approximately 6.8%.
The Company has five 16,800 TEU container vessels under construction, scheduled for delivery in 2028, with remaining capital expenditure commitments of approximately $850 million. The outstanding yard instalments are due closer to delivery and are expected to be financed through pre- and post-delivery credit facilities. Upon delivery, each vessel will commence a ten-year fixed-rate time charter with a world-leading container line.
In addition, the Company had approximately $21 million of remaining capital expenditure relating to upgrades on existing assets.
Corporate and Other Matters
On May 12, 2026, Mr. Jan Erik Klepsland notified the Company of his resignation from the Board of Directors, in connection with his departure from the Seatankers group. Mr. Klepsland has confirmed that his resignation is not due to any disagreement with the Company on any matter relating to the Company's operations, policies (including accounting or financial policies), or practices. Following Mr. Klepsland's resignation, the size of the Board of Directors will be reduced from seven to six directors, which the Board of Directors has determined will continue to comply with applicable corporate governance and New York Stock Exchange listing requirements. The Board of Directors thanks Mr. Klepsland for his contributions during his tenure and wishes him well in his future endeavours.
The Board of Directors has renewed the Company's share repurchase program, authorizing the repurchase of up to $100 million of common shares in the aggregate, from time to time through June 2028. The Board has also renewed the Company's dividend reinvestment program ("DRIP") and at-the-market offering program ("ATM"), pursuant to which the Company may issue up to 10 million common shares and raise up to $100 million of common equity, respectively, from time to time.
Any of the above referenced programs, including repurchase or sale of shares will be at the discretion of the Company and the timing, including the amount of any repurchase or sale of shares, as applicable, will depend on, among other things, legal requirements, market conditions, stock price, alternative uses of capital, capital availability, and other factors. SFL is not obliged under the terms of any board authorization, including in respect of or a share repurchase, an ATM or a DRIP program, to repurchase, issue or sell any number of shares and the foregoing may be amended, suspended or reinstated at any time at the Company's discretion and without further notice.
Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward Looking Statements
This press release may contain forward looking statements. These statements are based upon various assumptions, many of which are based, in turn, upon further assumptions, including SFL management’s examination of historical operating trends, data contained in the Company’s records and other data available from third parties. Although SFL believes that these assumptions were reasonable when made, because assumptions are inherently subject to significant uncertainties and contingencies which are difficult or impossible to predict and are beyond its control, SFL cannot give assurance that it will achieve or accomplish these expectations, beliefs or intentions.
Important factors that, in the Company’s view, could cause actual results to differ materially from those discussed in the forward looking statements include the strength of world economies, inflationary pressures and central bank policies intended to combat overall inflation and rising interest rates and foreign exchange rates, general market conditions in the seaborne transportation industry, which is cyclical and volatile, including fluctuations in charter hire rates and vessel values, the supply of and demand for oil and oil products and vessels, including drilling rigs, comparable to ours, including against the background of the possibility of accelerated climate change transition worldwide, including shifts in consumer demand for other energy resources could have an accelerated negative effect on the demand for oil and thus its transportation and drilling, changes in market demand in countries which import commodities and finished goods and changes in the amount and location of the production of those commodities and finished goods and resulting changes to trade patterns, technological innovation in the sectors in which we operate and quality and efficiency requirements from customers, increased inspection procedures and more restrictive import and export controls, changes in the Company’s operating expenses, including bunker prices, dry docking and insurance costs, performance of the Company’s charterers and other counterparties with whom the Company deals, the impact of any restructuring of the counterparties with whom the Company deals, timely delivery of vessels under construction within the contracted price, governmental laws and regulations, including environmental regulations, that add to our costs or the costs of our customers, potential liability from future litigation, including litigation related to claims raised by public-interest organizations or activism with regard to failure to adapt or mitigate climate impact, world events, political instability, international sanctions or international hostilities, and potential physical disruption of shipping routes as a result thereof, the impact of restrictions on trade, including the imposition of new tariffs, port fees and other important restrictions, and other important factors described from time to time in the reports filed by the Company with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission. SFL disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by law.
May 12, 2026
The Board of Directors
SFL Corporation Ltd.
Hamilton, Bermuda
Questions may be directed to SFL Management AS:
Espen Nilsen Gjøsund, Vice President - Investor Relations: +47 47500500
André Reppen, Chief Treasurer & Senior Vice President: +47 23114055
Aksel C. Olesen, Chief Financial Officer: +47 23114036
For more information about SFL, please visit the Company’s website: www.sflcorp.com
SFL CORPORATION LTD.
FIRST QUARTER 2026 REPORT (UNAUDITED)
INCOME STATEMENT | Three months ended | Full year | |||||||||
| (in thousands of $ | Mar 31, | Dec 31, | 2025 | ||||||||
| except per share data) | 2026 | 2025 | (audited) | ||||||||
Charter revenues: sales-type leases (excluding charter hire treated as Repayments)(1) | — | — | 951 | ||||||||
Charter revenues: operating leases and rig revenue contracts | 171,574 | 169,495 | 713,195 | ||||||||
Profit share income | 1,323 | 1,194 | 5,604 | ||||||||
Other operating income | 1,586 | 4,818 | 13,291 | ||||||||
Total operating revenues | 174,483 | 175,507 | 733,041 | ||||||||
Gain/(loss) on sale of vessels and settlement of charters | 11,503 | (11,702) | (7,172) | ||||||||
Vessel and rig operating expenses | (67,576) | (70,951) | (301,768) | ||||||||
Administrative expenses | (7,596) | (4,746) | (18,332) | ||||||||
| Depreciation | (54,460) | (56,296) | (234,998) | ||||||||
Vessel impairment charge | — | — | (34,093) | ||||||||
Total operating expenses | (129,632) | (131,993) | (589,191) | ||||||||
Operating income | 56,354 | 31,812 | 136,678 | ||||||||
| Results in associates | 631 | 612 | 2,366 | ||||||||
| Interest income from associates | 1,125 | 1,150 | 4,563 | ||||||||
| Interest income, other | 1,267 | 3,355 | 10,218 | ||||||||
| Interest expense | (38,142) | (42,938) | (180,527) | ||||||||
| Interest and valuation gain/(loss) on non-designated derivatives | 3,195 | 1,330 | (1,478) | ||||||||
| Gain/(loss) on investments in equity securities | 1,928 | 729 | (39) | ||||||||
| Other financial items | 349 | 53 | 3,670 | ||||||||
| Taxes | (630) | (756) | (1,882) | ||||||||
Net income/(loss) | 26,077 | (4,653) | (26,431) | ||||||||
Basic earnings/(loss) per share ($) | 0.20 | (0.04) | (0.20) | ||||||||
Weighted average number of shares(2) | 132,832,489 | 132,797,785 | 133,063,652 | ||||||||
Common shares outstanding(2) | 132,992,784 | 132,797,785 | 132,797,785 | ||||||||
(1)‘Charter revenues: sales-type leases’ are reported net of charter hire classified as ‘Repayment of Investment in sales-type leases’ under US GAAP, which for the three months ended March 31, 2026 was $0.0 million (three months ended December 31, 2025: $0.0 million; full year 2025: $4.0 million).
(2)The weighted average number of shares and the number of common shares outstanding excludes approximately 11.8 million shares issued by SFL as part of share lending arrangements and 2.3 million shares held by SFL as treasury stock. The shares are owned by SFL, thus they are excluded in the calculation of earnings per share.
SFL CORPORATION LTD.
FIRST QUARTER 2026 REPORT (UNAUDITED)
| BALANCE SHEET | Mar 31, | Dec 31, 2025 | |||||||||
| (in thousands of $) | 2026 | (audited) | |||||||||
| ASSETS | |||||||||||
Short term | |||||||||||
Cash and cash equivalents(1) | 127,564 | 150,829 | |||||||||
Investment in marketable securities | 6,213 | 4,146 | |||||||||
Amount due from related parties | 8,599 | 6,941 | |||||||||
Other current assets | 112,931 | 97,302 | |||||||||
Long term | |||||||||||
Vessels, rigs and equipment, net | 3,037,733 | 3,122,633 | |||||||||
Capital improvements in progress and newbuildings | 182,147 | 181,074 | |||||||||
Investment in associates(2) | 15,728 | 15,832 | |||||||||
Amount due from related parties, long term(2) | 45,000 | 45,000 | |||||||||
Other long term assets | 19,518 | 14,386 | |||||||||
Total assets | 3,555,433 | 3,638,143 | |||||||||
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY | |||||||||||
Short term | |||||||||||
Short term and current portion of long term interest bearing debt | 723,259 | 605,943 | |||||||||
Amount due to related parties | 1,188 | 1,303 | |||||||||
Other current liabilities | 79,854 | 103,079 | |||||||||
Long term | |||||||||||
Long term interest bearing debt, net of deferred charges | 1,778,668 | 1,960,533 | |||||||||
Other long term liabilities | 7,638 | 6,423 | |||||||||
Stockholders’ equity | 964,826 | 960,862 | |||||||||
Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity | 3,555,433 | 3,638,143 | |||||||||
(1)Not including cash held by affiliates accounted for as ‘Investment in associates’.
(2)One of our affiliates was accounted for as ‘Investment in associates’ at quarter end. Our investment is a combination of equity classified as ‘Investment in associates’ and any loans from the Company to the affiliate included within ‘Amount due from related parties, long term’.
SFL CORPORATION LTD.
FIRST QUARTER 2026 REPORT (UNAUDITED)
STATEMENT OF CASHFLOWS | Three months ended | Full year | ||||||||||||||||||
(in thousands of $) | Mar 31, | Dec 31, | 2025 | |||||||||||||||||
| 2026 | 2025 | (audited) | ||||||||||||||||||
OPERATING ACTIVITIES | ||||||||||||||||||||
Net income/(loss) | 26,077 | (4,653) | (26,431) | |||||||||||||||||
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities: | ||||||||||||||||||||
Depreciation and amortization | 57,062 | 58,883 | 243,449 | |||||||||||||||||
Vessel impairment charge | — | — | 34,093 | |||||||||||||||||
| Capitalized lease debt financing interest | 2,346 | 2,372 | 8,142 | |||||||||||||||||
| Adjustment of derivatives to fair value recognised in net income | (2,546) | (600) | 4,646 | |||||||||||||||||
| (Gain)/loss on investments in equity securities | (1,928) | (729) | 39 | |||||||||||||||||
| Results in associates | (631) | (612) | (2,366) | |||||||||||||||||
| Gain on sale of vessels, net | (11,503) | (11,298) | (15,828) | |||||||||||||||||
| Repayment of investment in sales-type leases | — | — | 4,021 | |||||||||||||||||
| Other, net | 2,052 | 1,466 | 4,296 | |||||||||||||||||
| Change in operating assets and liabilities | (36,843) | 6,729 | 13,082 | |||||||||||||||||
| Net cash provided by operating activities | 34,086 | 51,558 | 267,143 | |||||||||||||||||
INVESTING ACTIVITIES | ||||||||||||||||||||
Purchase of vessels, capital improvements and newbuildings | (7,435) | (4,133) | (70,482) | |||||||||||||||||
Proceeds from sale of vessels | 48,308 | 49,086 | 258,574 | |||||||||||||||||
Net cash provided by investing activities | 40,873 | 44,953 | 188,092 | |||||||||||||||||
FINANCING ACTIVITIES | ||||||||||||||||||||
Proceeds from long and short term debt | 150,000 | — | 244,042 | |||||||||||||||||
Repayment of long and short term debt | (219,988) | (197,203) | (527,287) | |||||||||||||||||
Repurchase of Company bonds | — | — | (11,144) | |||||||||||||||||
Expenses paid in connection with securing finance | (1,672) | (150) | (3,168) | |||||||||||||||||
Net cash flows on swaps | — | — | (6,265) | |||||||||||||||||
| Cash paid for shares repurchased | — | — | (10,025) | |||||||||||||||||
Cash dividends paid | (26,564) | (26,560) | (125,110) | |||||||||||||||||
Net cash used in financing activities | (98,224) | (223,913) | (438,957) | |||||||||||||||||
Net (decrease)/increase in cash and cash equivalents | (23,265) | (127,402) | 16,278 | |||||||||||||||||
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period | 150,829 | 278,231 | 134,551 | |||||||||||||||||
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period | 127,564 | 150,829 | 150,829 | |||||||||||||||||
ASSOCIATED COMPANIES ACCOUNTED FOR AS INVESTMENT IN ASSOCIATES
FIRST QUARTER 2026 (UNAUDITED)
Condensed income statement data for the three months ended March 31, 2026
River Box | |||||
| (in thousands of $) | Holding Inc | ||||
| Ownership share presented | 49.9% | ||||
Charter revenues - direct financing leases (net of charter hire treated as Repayment of investment in direct financing leases)(1) | 3,850 | ||||
Interest expense, related party(2) | (561) | ||||
Interest expense, other | (2,731) | ||||
Other items | 73 | ||||
Net income (3) | 631 | ||||
(1)‘Charter revenues – direct financing leases’ are reported net of charter hire classified as ‘Repayment of investment in direct financing leases’ under US GAAP, which for the three months ended March 31, 2026 was $3.8 million.
(2)‘Interest expense, related party’ from this affiliate is included in the Company’s consolidated income statement as ‘Interest income from associates’. For the three months ended March 31, 2026, the Company recorded approximately $1.1 million from this associate. In the above table, the Company's 49.9% share of River Box Holding’s income statement is shown.
(3)‘Net income’ from this affiliate appears in the Company’s consolidated income statement as ‘Results in associates’
Condensed balance sheet data as of March 31, 2026
River Box | |||||
| (in thousands of $) | Holding Inc (1) | ||||
| Ownership share presented | 49.9% | ||||
Cash and cash equivalents | 2,520 | ||||
Investment in direct financing leases including current portion | 202,183 | ||||
Total assets | 204,703 | ||||
Short term and long term portions of lease liability | 165,342 | ||||
Other current liabilities | 1,178 | ||||
Long term loans from shareholders, net(2) | 22,455 | ||||
Stockholder's equity(3) | 15,728 | ||||
Total liabilities and stockholder's equity | 204,703 | ||||
(1)The numbers represent the Company's relative share of 49.9% in River Box Holding Inc
(2)The Company has a $45.0 million loan to River Box included within ‘Amount due from related parties, long term’. In the above table, the Company's 49.9 % share of River Box Holding’s balance sheet is shown
(3)‘Stockholder’s equity’ from affiliates appears in the Company’s consolidated balance sheet as ‘Investment in associates’
SFL CORPORATION LTD.
FIRST QUARTER 2026 (UNAUDITED)
Shipping and Energy condensed income statement data for the three months ended March 31, 2026
INCOME STATEMENT | Shipping | Energy | Total | ||||||||
| (in thousands of $) | |||||||||||
| Total operating revenues | 151,495 | 22,988 | 174,483 | ||||||||
Gain on sale of vessels | 11,503 | — | 11,503 | ||||||||
Total operating expenses | (93,542) | (36,090) | (129,632) | ||||||||
Operating income/(loss) | 69,456 | (13,102) | 56,354 | ||||||||
| Interest expense | (34,881) | (3,261) | (38,142) | ||||||||
| Other non-operating items | 7,899 | 596 | 8,495 | ||||||||
| Taxes | — | (630) | (630) | ||||||||
| Net income/(loss) | 42,474 | (16,397) | 26,077 | ||||||||
APPENDIX 1: RECONCILIATION OF ADJUSTED EBITDA
FIRST QUARTER 2026 (UNAUDITED)
Adjusted EBITDA data for the three months ended March 31, 2026
ADJUSTED EBITDA | Shipping | Energy | Total | 49.9% owned | ||||||||||
| (in thousands of $) | associates | |||||||||||||
Net cash provided by/(used in) operating activities | 56,057 | (21,971) | 34,086 | 4,403 | ||||||||||
Non cash movements in other assets and liabilities | 12,556 | 20,654 | 33,210 | (11) | ||||||||||
Interest related to Non- Designated Derivatives | (649) | — | (649) | — | ||||||||||
Interest expense excl. amortization of deferred charges | 33,469 | 2,899 | 36,368 | 2,731 | ||||||||||
Interest income, other | (952) | (253) | (1,205) | — | ||||||||||
Interest (income)/expense from associates | (1,125) | — | (1,125) | 561 | ||||||||||
Adjusted EBITDA (1) | 99,356 | 1,329 | 100,685 | 7,684 | ||||||||||
(1)‘Adjusted EBITDA’ is a non-U.S. GAAP measure. It represents cash receipts from operating activities before net interest and capital payments