Critical Comparison: C3is (NASDAQ:CISS) vs. Scorpio Tankers (NYSE:STNG)

Scorpio Tankers (NYSE:STNG) and C3is (NASDAQ:CISS) are both transportation companies, but which is the superior investment? We will compare the two companies based on the strength of their analyst recommendations, risk, earnings, profitability, institutional ownership, valuation and dividends.

Insider & Institutional Ownership

54.6% of Scorpio Tankers shares are held by institutional investors. Comparatively, 10.5% of C3is shares are held by institutional investors. 7.3% of Scorpio Tankers shares are held by company insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that endowments, large money managers and hedge funds believe a company is poised for long-term growth.

Profitability

This table compares Scorpio Tankers and C3is’ net margins, return on equity and return on assets.

	Net Margins	Return on Equity	Return on Assets
Scorpio Tankers	52.40%	22.56%	15.35%
C3is	5.74%	19.35%	11.24%

Valuation and Earnings

This table compares Scorpio Tankers and C3is”s revenue, earnings per share (EPS) and valuation.

	Gross Revenue	Price/Sales Ratio	Net Income	Earnings Per Share	Price/Earnings Ratio
Scorpio Tankers	$1.34 billion	1.95	$546.90 million	$13.95	3.71
C3is	$28.74 million	0.01	$9.29 million	$23.28	0.04

Scorpio Tankers has higher revenue and earnings than C3is. C3is is trading at a lower price-to-earnings ratio than Scorpio Tankers, indicating that it is currently the more affordable of the two stocks.

Risk and Volatility

Scorpio Tankers has a beta of 0.18, meaning that its stock price is 82% less volatile than the S&P 500. Comparatively, C3is has a beta of 2.53, meaning that its stock price is 153% more volatile than the S&P 500.

Analyst Ratings

This is a breakdown of recent ratings for Scorpio Tankers and C3is, as provided by MarketBeat.

	Sell Ratings	Hold Ratings	Buy Ratings	Strong Buy Ratings	Rating Score
Scorpio Tankers	0	3	3	0	2.50
C3is	0	0	0	0	0.00

Scorpio Tankers presently has a consensus price target of $76.40, suggesting a potential upside of 47.56%. Given Scorpio Tankers’ stronger consensus rating and higher possible upside, research analysts clearly believe Scorpio Tankers is more favorable than C3is.

Summary

Scorpio Tankers beats C3is on 12 of the 14 factors compared between the two stocks.

About Scorpio Tankers

Scorpio Tankers Inc., together with its subsidiaries, engages in the seaborne transportation of crude oi and refined petroleum products in the shipping markets worldwide. As of March 21, 2024, its fleet consisted of 110 owned and leases financed tanker, including 39 LR2, 57 MR, and 14 Handymax with a weighted average age of approximately 8.1 years. Scorpio Tankers Inc. was incorporated in 2009 and is headquartered in Monaco.

About C3is

C3is Inc. offers international seaborne transportation services. It provides its services to dry bulk charterers, including national and private industrial users, commodity producers and traders, oil producers, refineries, and commodities traders and producers. The company owns and operates a fleet of two drybulk carriers, which transport major bulks, such as iron ore, coal and grains, as well as minor bulks comprising bauxite, phosphate, and fertilizers, and one Aframax crude oil tanker that transports crude oil. C3is Inc. was founded in 2021 and is based in Athens, Greece.