Analyzing FLEX LNG (NYSE:FLNG) and Viking (NYSE:VIK)

Viking (NYSE:VIK) and FLEX LNG (NYSE:FLNG) are both transportation companies, but which is the superior business? We will contrast the two businesses based on the strength of their risk, dividends, profitability, earnings, analyst recommendations, valuation and institutional ownership.

Earnings & Valuation

This table compares Viking and FLEX LNG”s revenue, earnings per share and valuation.

	Gross Revenue	Price/Sales Ratio	Net Income	Earnings Per Share	Price/Earnings Ratio
Viking	$4.71 billion	4.17	-$1.86 billion	N/A	N/A
FLEX LNG	$362.65 million	3.27	$120.04 million	$1.70	13.11

FLEX LNG has lower revenue, but higher earnings than Viking.

Profitability

This table compares Viking and FLEX LNG’s net margins, return on equity and return on assets.

	Net Margins	Return on Equity	Return on Assets
Viking	-10.97%	N/A	-1.53%
FLEX LNG	25.33%	16.27%	5.11%

Insider & Institutional Ownership

98.8% of Viking shares are held by institutional investors. 0.3% of FLEX LNG shares are held by insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that endowments, large money managers and hedge funds believe a company is poised for long-term growth.

Analyst Ratings

This is a breakdown of current ratings and recommmendations for Viking and FLEX LNG, as provided by MarketBeat.

	Sell Ratings	Hold Ratings	Buy Ratings	Strong Buy Ratings	Rating Score
Viking	0	3	9	0	2.75
FLEX LNG	0	1	0	0	2.00

Viking presently has a consensus price target of $41.92, suggesting a potential downside of 7.86%. FLEX LNG has a consensus price target of $24.00, suggesting a potential upside of 7.70%. Given FLEX LNG’s higher possible upside, analysts plainly believe FLEX LNG is more favorable than Viking.

Summary

FLEX LNG beats Viking on 6 of the 11 factors compared between the two stocks.

About Viking

Viking Holdings Ltd engages in the passenger shipping and other forms of passenger transport in North America, the United Kingdom, and internationally. It operates through River and Ocean segments. The company also operates as a tour entrepreneur for passengers and related activities in tourism. As of December 31, 2023, it operated a fleet of 92 ships, including 81 river vessels comprising 58 Longships, 10 smaller classes based on the Longship design, 11 other river vessels, and 1 river vessel charter and the Viking Mississippi; 9 ocean ships; and 2 expedition ships. The company was founded in 1997 and is based in Pembroke, Bermuda.

About FLEX LNG

Flex LNG Ltd., together with its subsidiaries, engages in the seaborne transportation of liquefied natural gas (LNG) worldwide. The company owns and operates vessels with M-type electronically controlled gas injection LNG carriers; and vessels with generation X dual fuel propulsion systems. Flex LNG Ltd. was incorporated in 2006 and is based in Hamilton, Bermuda.