Oil & Gas Midstream
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FRO vs INSW
Revenue, margins, valuation, and 5-year total return — side by side.
Oil & Gas Midstream
FRO vs INSW — Key Financials
Market cap, revenue, margins, and valuation side-by-side.
| Company Snapshot | ||
|---|---|---|
| Industry | Oil & Gas Midstream | Oil & Gas Midstream |
| Market Cap | $8.39B | $4.24B |
| Revenue (TTM) | $1.77B | $843M |
| Net Income (TTM) | $218M | $309M |
| Gross Margin | 26.5% | 47.2% |
| Operating Margin | 25.5% | 42.4% |
| Forward P/E | 5.9x | 8.1x |
| Total Debt | $3.75B | $576M |
| Cash & Equiv. | $414M | $117M |
FRO vs INSW — Long-Term Stock Performance
Price return indexed to 100 at period start. Dividends excluded.
| Stock | May 20 | May 26 | Return |
|---|---|---|---|
| Frontline Ltd. (FRO) | 100 | 412.9 | +312.9% |
| International Seawa… (INSW) | 100 | 378.2 | +278.2% |
Price return only. Dividends and distributions are not included.
Quick Verdict: FRO vs INSW
Each card shows where this stock fits in a portfolio — not just who wins on paper.
FRO carries the broadest edge in this set and is the clearest fit for income & stability and growth exposure.
- Dividend streak 0 yrs, beta 0.36, yield 5.2%
- Rev growth 13.8%, EPS growth -24.4%, 3Y rev CAGR 39.9%
- Lower volatility, beta 0.36, current ratio 1.39x
INSW is the clearest fit if your priority is long-term compounding.
- 9.7% 10Y total return vs FRO's 5.1%
- 36.7% margin vs FRO's 12.3%
- +146.7% vs FRO's +124.6%
See the full category breakdown
| Category | Winner | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Growth | 13.8% revenue growth vs INSW's -11.4% | |
| Value | Lower P/E (5.9x vs 8.1x) | |
| Quality / Margins | 36.7% margin vs FRO's 12.3% | |
| Stability / Safety | Beta 0.36 vs INSW's 0.43 | |
| Dividends | 5.2% yield, vs INSW's 3.4% | |
| Momentum (1Y) | +146.7% vs FRO's +124.6% | |
| Efficiency (ROA) | 11.8% ROA vs FRO's 3.8%, ROIC 9.4% vs 10.6% |
FRO vs INSW — Revenue Breakdown by Segment
How each company's revenue is distributed across its business units
FRO vs INSW — Financial Metrics
Side-by-side numbers across 2 stocks — who leads on profitability, valuation, growth, and risk.
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
INSW leads this category, winning 5 of 6 comparable metrics.
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
FRO is the larger business by revenue, generating $1.8B annually — 2.1x INSW's $843M. INSW is the more profitable business, keeping 36.7% of every revenue dollar as net income compared to FRO's 12.3%. On growth, INSW holds the edge at +37.6% YoY revenue growth, suggesting stronger near-term business momentum.
| Metric | ||
|---|---|---|
| RevenueTrailing 12 months | $1.8B | $843M |
| EBITDAEarnings before interest/tax | $781M | $521M |
| Net IncomeAfter-tax profit | $218M | $309M |
| Free Cash FlowCash after capex | $557M | $38M |
| Gross MarginGross profit ÷ Revenue | +26.5% | +47.2% |
| Operating MarginEBIT ÷ Revenue | +25.5% | +42.4% |
| Net MarginNet income ÷ Revenue | +12.3% | +36.7% |
| FCF MarginFCF ÷ Revenue | +31.5% | +4.5% |
| Rev. Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | -11.8% | +37.6% |
| EPS Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | -33.3% | +2.6% |
Valuation Metrics
INSW leads this category, winning 3 of 5 comparable metrics.
Valuation Metrics
At 13.8x trailing earnings, INSW trades at a 19% valuation discount to FRO's 16.9x P/E. On an enterprise value basis, INSW's 10.0x EV/EBITDA is more attractive than FRO's 10.5x.
| Metric | ||
|---|---|---|
| Market CapShares × price | $8.4B | $4.2B |
| Enterprise ValueMkt cap + debt − cash | $11.7B | $4.7B |
| Trailing P/EPrice ÷ TTM EPS | 16.91x | 13.77x |
| Forward P/EPrice ÷ next-FY EPS est. | 5.93x | 8.10x |
| PEG RatioP/E ÷ EPS growth rate | 0.72x | — |
| EV / EBITDAEnterprise value multiple | 10.46x | 10.00x |
| Price / SalesMarket cap ÷ Revenue | 4.09x | 5.03x |
| Price / BookPrice ÷ Book value/share | 3.59x | 2.11x |
| Price / FCFMarket cap ÷ FCF | — | 111.18x |
Profitability & Efficiency
INSW leads this category, winning 7 of 9 comparable metrics.
Profitability & Efficiency
INSW delivers a 16.0% return on equity — every $100 of shareholder capital generates $16 in annual profit, vs $9 for FRO. INSW carries lower financial leverage with a 0.29x debt-to-equity ratio, signaling a more conservative balance sheet compared to FRO's 1.60x. On the Piotroski fundamental quality scale (0–9), INSW scores 6/9 vs FRO's 5/9, reflecting solid financial health.
| Metric | ||
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM)Return on equity | +9.4% | +16.0% |
| ROA (TTM)Return on assets | +3.8% | +11.8% |
| ROICReturn on invested capital | +10.6% | +9.4% |
| ROCEReturn on capital employed | +14.1% | +12.1% |
| Piotroski ScoreFundamental quality 0–9 | 5 | 6 |
| Debt / EquityFinancial leverage | 1.60x | 0.29x |
| Net DebtTotal debt minus cash | $3.3B | $459M |
| Cash & Equiv.Liquid assets | $414M | $117M |
| Total DebtShort + long-term debt | $3.7B | $576M |
| Interest CoverageEBIT ÷ Interest expense | 1.87x | 3.69x |
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
FRO leads this category, winning 4 of 6 comparable metrics.
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
A $10,000 investment in FRO five years ago would be worth $57,145 today (with dividends reinvested), compared to $52,215 for INSW. Over the past 12 months, INSW leads with a +146.7% total return vs FRO's +124.6%. The 3-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) favors FRO at 44.3% vs INSW's 38.9% — a key indicator of consistent wealth creation.
| Metric | ||
|---|---|---|
| YTD ReturnYear-to-date | +88.2% | +87.1% |
| 1-Year ReturnPast 12 months | +124.6% | +146.7% |
| 3-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +200.6% | +167.9% |
| 5-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +471.4% | +422.1% |
| 10-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +506.8% | +970.0% |
| CAGR (3Y)Annualised 3-year return | +44.3% | +38.9% |
Risk & Volatility
Evenly matched — FRO and INSW each lead in 1 of 2 comparable metrics.
Risk & Volatility
FRO is the less volatile stock with a 0.36 beta — it tends to amplify market swings less than INSW's 0.43 beta. A beta below 1.0 means the stock typically moves less than the S&P 500.
| Metric | ||
|---|---|---|
| Beta (5Y)Sensitivity to S&P 500 | 0.36x | 0.43x |
| 52-Week HighHighest price in past year | $39.89 | $88.52 |
| 52-Week LowLowest price in past year | $16.25 | $35.60 |
| % of 52W HighCurrent price vs 52-week peak | +94.5% | +96.9% |
| RSI (14)Momentum oscillator 0–100 | 64.2 | 75.1 |
| Avg Volume (50D)Average daily shares traded | 4.0M | 585K |
Analyst Outlook
FRO leads this category, winning 1 of 1 comparable metric.
Analyst Outlook
Wall Street rates FRO as "Hold" and INSW as "Buy". Consensus price targets imply 2.1% upside for FRO (target: $39) vs -2.8% for INSW (target: $83). For income investors, FRO offers the higher dividend yield at 5.17% vs INSW's 3.40%.
| Metric | ||
|---|---|---|
| Analyst RatingConsensus buy/hold/sell | Hold | Buy |
| Price TargetConsensus 12-month target | $38.50 | $83.33 |
| # AnalystsCovering analysts | 22 | 13 |
| Dividend YieldAnnual dividend ÷ price | +5.2% | +3.4% |
| Dividend StreakConsecutive years of raises | 0 | 0 |
| Dividend / ShareAnnual DPS | $1.95 | $2.92 |
| Buyback YieldShare repurchases ÷ mkt cap | 0.0% | 0.0% |
INSW leads in 3 of 6 categories (Income & Cash Flow, Valuation Metrics). FRO leads in 2 (Total Returns, Analyst Outlook). 1 tied.
FRO vs INSW: Frequently Asked Questions
10 questions · data-driven answers · updated daily
01Is FRO or INSW a better buy right now?
For growth investors, Frontline Ltd.
(FRO) is the stronger pick with 13. 8% revenue growth year-over-year, versus -11. 4% for International Seaways, Inc. (INSW). International Seaways, Inc. (INSW) offers the better valuation at 13. 8x trailing P/E (8. 1x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate International Seaways, Inc. (INSW) a "Buy" — based on 13 analyst ratings — the highest consensus in this comparison. The "better buy" depends entirely on your goals: growth investors should weight revenue trajectory, value investors should weight P/E and PEG, and income investors should weight dividend yield and streak.
02Which has the better valuation — FRO or INSW?
On trailing P/E, International Seaways, Inc.
(INSW) is the cheapest at 13. 8x versus Frontline Ltd. at 16. 9x. On forward P/E, Frontline Ltd. is actually cheaper at 5. 9x — notably different from the trailing picture, reflecting expected earnings growth.
03Which is the better long-term investment — FRO or INSW?
Over the past 5 years, Frontline Ltd.
(FRO) delivered a total return of +471. 4%, compared to +422. 1% for International Seaways, Inc. (INSW). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: INSW returned +970. 0% versus FRO's +506. 8%. Past returns do not guarantee future results, and the stock with the higher historical return may already have its best growth priced in.
04Which is safer — FRO or INSW?
By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), Frontline Ltd.
(FRO) is the lower-risk stock at 0. 36β versus International Seaways, Inc. 's 0. 43β — meaning INSW is approximately 20% more volatile than FRO relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, International Seaways, Inc. (INSW) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 29% versus 160% for Frontline Ltd. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.
05Which is growing faster — FRO or INSW?
By revenue growth (latest reported year), Frontline Ltd.
(FRO) is pulling ahead at 13. 8% versus -11. 4% for International Seaways, Inc. (INSW). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Frontline Ltd. grew EPS -24. 4% year-over-year, compared to -25. 7% for International Seaways, Inc.. Over a 3-year CAGR, FRO leads at 39. 9% annualised revenue growth. Higher growth typically commands a higher valuation multiple — check whether the premium P/E or P/S is justified by the growth rate using the PEG ratio.
06Which has better profit margins — FRO or INSW?
International Seaways, Inc.
(INSW) is the more profitable company, earning 36. 7% net margin versus 24. 2% for Frontline Ltd. — meaning it keeps 36. 7% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: FRO leads at 38. 1% versus 36. 3% for INSW. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — INSW leads at 42. 3%, reflecting greater pricing power or product mix advantage. Stronger margins indicate durable pricing power, lower cost of revenue, or higher mix of software/services. They are one of the clearest signs of business quality.
07Is FRO or INSW more undervalued right now?
On forward earnings alone, Frontline Ltd.
(FRO) trades at 5. 9x forward P/E versus 8. 1x for International Seaways, Inc. — 2. 2x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for FRO: 2. 1% to $38. 50.
08Which pays a better dividend — FRO or INSW?
All stocks in this comparison pay dividends.
Frontline Ltd. (FRO) offers the highest yield at 5. 2%, versus 3. 4% for International Seaways, Inc. (INSW).
09Is FRO or INSW better for a retirement portfolio?
For long-horizon retirement investors, International Seaways, Inc.
(INSW) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 0. 43), 3. 4% yield, +970. 0% 10Y return). Both have compounded well over 10 years (INSW: +970. 0%, FRO: +506. 8%), confirming both are viable long-term holds — but the lower-volatility option typically results in less emotional selling during corrections. Retirement portfolios generally favour predictability over maximum returns. Consult a financial advisor before making allocation decisions.
10What are the main differences between FRO and INSW?
Both stocks operate in the Energy sector, making this a peer-level intra-sector comparison — the same macro tailwinds and headwinds will affect both.
These fundamental differences mean investors should not choose between them on a single metric — the "better stock" depends entirely on which of these characteristics aligns with your investment strategy.
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