Ship Finance International is keeping an open mind toward new investments as it reported a smaller profit for the third quarter.

Net income for the John Fredriksen-controlled company was $32.3m, compared to $38.8m at the same stage of last year.

But earnings per share of $0.35 beat the analysts’ consensus of $0.31.

SFL declared its fifty-first consecutive quarterly dividend. It is paying investors $0.45