June 17, 2008 1:22PM

Today’s “Stock You’ve Never Heard Of”

By Brian Sullivan

Own an offshore oil rig or jack-up and need to get men and materials to it?   You may be calling Gulfmark Offshore (NYSE: GLF).

The Houston-based company hit my stock screener with 3 year EPS growth of 78.6% and 3 year revenue growth of 27.6%.    That’s according to Thomson Reuters data.    It compares to 3 year revenue growth for the S&P 500 of just 10.6%.   It also has a net profit margin of 33%.

The company is all international.   They do have two ships on the Mexico side of the Gulf of Mexico, but it primarily operates 200+ foot transport ships in the North Sea,  Southeast Asia and Brazil.  

Interviewing CEO Bruce Streeter today on the show he highlighted that new finds such as the Petrobras field off of Brazil should help drive demand.    The big issue for Gulfmark is lack of availability of new ships.    Streeter noted there is a deep backlog at the ship building firms.  

Seven analysts cover the stock.  Four have a ‘buy’ or ’strong buy.’   Analysts aren’t all bullish though.    JPMorgan has a ‘hold’ on the stock, citing valuation. 

The stock has had a heck of a run.     Coming from the mid-teens to the mid-$60s in a few years.    It also has a nearly 10% short interest level, meaning nearly 10% of outstanding shares are being bet they will fall.

Reminder we do this segment every Tuesday.   Next week: an industrial company whose stock is up 45% this year and has profit margins greater than its peers.   One of its biggest shareholders is noted value investing firm Mairs & Power.  The name and CEO interview next Tuesday.