SAN FRANCISCO (MarketWatch) — Energy stocks inched higher Monday, losing steam on the heels of a record close for the Dow Jones Industrial Average in the previous session.
But Transocean Ltd. (RIG) climbed, leading energy stocks on the S&P 500 Index with a 3.7% gain, after the offshore driller announced two measures in a deal with activist investor Carl Icahn.
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The company said Monday it will raise its dividend 34% to $3 from $2.24 a share at its May annual meeting. If approved by the board, the dividend increase will be a 5.6% yield based on Friday's closing.
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It also agreed to reduce its board to 11 members, from 14, and to support a second Icahn-backed director, moves that will concentrate Icahn's influence on the board.
Transocean added it would form a master limited partnership next year, with an initial public offering scheduled for the middle of 2014.
This proxy fight between Transocean and Icahn resulted in a draw back in May when shareholders rejected Icahn's proposal to increase dividend to $4 but voted out the company's chairman and elected a candidate affiliated with Icahn. The billionaire has a stake of about 6% on the company.
The company's shares have gained 24% year-to-date, compared with 19% for energy stocks on the S&P. They have underperformed in the past 12 months, however, with the driller's share up 19% versus the sector's 22%.
Other top gainers included Newfield Exploration Co. (NFX) , with shares up 2.1%, and Murphy Oil Corp. (MUR) , up 1.4%.
Major oil companies, however, declined, with shares of Exxon Mobil Corp. (XOM) down 0.1%. Chevron Corp. (CVX) shares were off 0.3%, while shares of ConocoPhillips (COP) fell 0.4%.
Denbury Resources Inc. (DNR) declined 5.5%.
The SPDR Energy Select Sector (XLE) , an exchange-traded fund focused on energy names, was up less than 0.1%.
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