DSX
Diana Shipping Inc.
Marine Shipping
Market Cap$337M
5Y Perf.+97.8%
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Stock Comparison
DSX vs CAT
Revenue, margins, valuation, and 5-year total return — side by side.
CAT
Caterpillar Inc.
Agricultural - Machinery
Market Cap$431.16B
5Y Perf.+671.4%
DSX vs CAT — Key Financials
Market cap, revenue, margins, and valuation side-by-side.
| Company Snapshot | DSX | CAT |
|---|---|---|
| Industry | Marine Shipping | Agricultural - Machinery |
| Market Cap | $337M | $431.16B |
| Revenue (TTM) | $219M | $70.75B |
| Net Income (TTM) | $24M | $9.42B |
| Gross Margin | 42.1% | 32.5% |
| Operating Margin | 21.8% | 16.6% |
| Forward P/E | 4.5x | 40.1x |
| Total Debt | $638M | $43.33B |
| Cash & Equiv. | $125M | $9.98B |
DSX vs CAT — Long-Term Stock Performance
Price return indexed to 100 at period start. Dividends excluded.
DSX
CAT
| Stock | May 20 | May 26 | Return |
|---|---|---|---|
| Diana Shipping Inc. (DSX) | 100 | 197.8 | +97.8% |
| Caterpillar Inc. (CAT) | 100 | 771.4 | +671.4% |
Price return only. Dividends and distributions are not included.
Quick Verdict: DSX vs CAT
Each card shows where this stock fits in a portfolio — not just who wins on paper.
Bottom line: CAT leads in 4 of 7 categories, making it the strongest pick for growth and revenue expansion and profitability and margin quality. Diana Shipping Inc. is the stronger pick specifically for valuation and capital efficiency and capital preservation and lower volatility. As sector peers, any of these can serve as alternatives in the same allocation.
DSX
Diana Shipping Inc.
The Income Pick
DSX is the clearest fit if your priority is income & stability and sleep-well-at-night.
- Dividend streak 0 yrs, beta 1.45, yield 9.1%
- Lower volatility, beta 1.45, current ratio 2.58x
- Beta 1.45, yield 9.1%, current ratio 2.58x
Best for: income & stability and sleep-well-at-night
CAT
Caterpillar Inc.
The Growth Play
CAT carries the broadest edge in this set and is the clearest fit for growth exposure and long-term compounding.
- Rev growth 4.3%, EPS growth -14.6%, 3Y rev CAGR 4.4%
- 12.2% 10Y total return vs DSX's 58.9%
- 4.3% revenue growth vs DSX's -12.9%
Best for: growth exposure and long-term compounding
See the full category breakdown
| Category | Winner | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Growth | CAT | 4.3% revenue growth vs DSX's -12.9% |
| Value | DSX | Lower P/E (4.5x vs 40.1x) |
| Quality / Margins | CAT | 13.3% margin vs DSX's 11.2% |
| Stability / Safety | DSX | Beta 1.45 vs CAT's 1.54, lower leverage |
| Dividends | DSX | 9.1% yield, vs CAT's 0.6% |
| Momentum (1Y) | CAT | +190.7% vs DSX's +90.9% |
| Efficiency (ROA) | CAT | 10.0% ROA vs DSX's 2.1%, ROIC 15.9% vs 4.3% |
DSX vs CAT — Revenue Breakdown by Segment
How each company's revenue is distributed across its business units
Segment breakdown not available.
FY 2025
DSX vs CAT — Financial Metrics
Side-by-side numbers across 2 stocks — who leads on profitability, valuation, growth, and risk.
BEST OVERALLDSXLAGGINGCAT
CATCaterpillar Inc.
2leads
DSXDiana Shipping Inc.
2leads
6 Total Categories
CATEGORYLEADERvs CATMETRICS WON
Income & Cash FlowRevenue, margins, and cash flow strength
DSX4/6
Valuation MetricsMultiples, price ratios, and targets
DSX6/6
Profitability & EfficiencyROE, ROIC, leverage, and quality scores
CAT5/9
Total Returns1Y, 3Y, 5Y total returns with dividends
CAT5/6
Risk & VolatilityBeta, volatility, and downside exposure
Tied
—
Analyst OutlookRatings, price targets, and dividends
Tied
—
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
DSX leads this category, winning 4 of 6 comparable metrics.
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
CAT is the larger business by revenue, generating $70.8B annually — 323.7x DSX's $219M. Profitability is closely matched — net margins range from 13.3% (CAT) to 11.2% (DSX). On growth, CAT holds the edge at +22.2% YoY revenue growth, suggesting stronger near-term business momentum.
| Metric | DSXDiana Shipping In… | CATCaterpillar Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| RevenueTrailing 12 months | $219M | $70.8B |
| EBITDAEarnings before interest/tax | $93M | $14.0B |
| Net IncomeAfter-tax profit | $24M | $9.4B |
| Free Cash FlowCash after capex | $0 | $11.4B |
| Gross MarginGross profit ÷ Revenue | +42.1% | +32.5% |
| Operating MarginEBIT ÷ Revenue | +21.8% | +16.6% |
| Net MarginNet income ÷ Revenue | +11.2% | +13.3% |
| FCF MarginFCF ÷ Revenue | +26.0% | +16.2% |
| Rev. Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | -9.8% | +22.2% |
| EPS Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | +172.5% | +30.2% |
DSX leads this category, winning 4 of 6 comparable metrics.
Valuation Metrics
DSX leads this category, winning 6 of 6 comparable metrics.
Valuation Metrics
At 45.7x trailing earnings, DSX trades at a 7% valuation discount to CAT's 49.2x P/E. On an enterprise value basis, DSX's 8.2x EV/EBITDA is more attractive than CAT's 34.5x.
| Metric | DSXDiana Shipping In… | CATCaterpillar Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| Market CapShares × price | $337M | $431.2B |
| Enterprise ValueMkt cap + debt − cash | $850M | $464.5B |
| Trailing P/EPrice ÷ TTM EPS | 45.75x | 49.21x |
| Forward P/EPrice ÷ next-FY EPS est. | 4.48x | 40.13x |
| PEG RatioP/E ÷ EPS growth rate | — | 1.75x |
| EV / EBITDAEnterprise value multiple | 8.19x | 34.48x |
| Price / SalesMarket cap ÷ Revenue | 1.48x | 6.38x |
| Price / BookPrice ÷ Book value/share | 0.63x | 20.39x |
| Price / FCFMarket cap ÷ FCF | 5.68x | 41.97x |
DSX leads this category, winning 6 of 6 comparable metrics.
Profitability & Efficiency
CAT leads this category, winning 5 of 9 comparable metrics.
Profitability & Efficiency
CAT delivers a 47.5% return on equity — every $100 of shareholder capital generates $48 in annual profit, vs $5 for DSX. DSX carries lower financial leverage with a 1.26x debt-to-equity ratio, signaling a more conservative balance sheet compared to CAT's 2.03x. On the Piotroski fundamental quality scale (0–9), DSX scores 6/9 vs CAT's 5/9, reflecting solid financial health.
| Metric | DSXDiana Shipping In… | CATCaterpillar Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM)Return on equity | +4.9% | +47.5% |
| ROA (TTM)Return on assets | +2.1% | +10.0% |
| ROICReturn on invested capital | +4.3% | +15.9% |
| ROCEReturn on capital employed | +5.4% | +19.1% |
| Piotroski ScoreFundamental quality 0–9 | 6 | 5 |
| Debt / EquityFinancial leverage | 1.26x | 2.03x |
| Net DebtTotal debt minus cash | $513M | $33.4B |
| Cash & Equiv.Liquid assets | $125M | $10.0B |
| Total DebtShort + long-term debt | $638M | $43.3B |
| Interest CoverageEBIT ÷ Interest expense | 1.40x | 9.22x |
CAT leads this category, winning 5 of 9 comparable metrics.
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
CAT leads this category, winning 5 of 6 comparable metrics.
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
A $10,000 investment in CAT five years ago would be worth $40,189 today (with dividends reinvested), compared to $12,598 for DSX. Over the past 12 months, CAT leads with a +190.7% total return vs DSX's +90.9%. The 3-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) favors CAT at 63.8% vs DSX's -2.6% — a key indicator of consistent wealth creation.
| Metric | DSXDiana Shipping In… | CATCaterpillar Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| YTD ReturnYear-to-date | +60.7% | +55.4% |
| 1-Year ReturnPast 12 months | +90.9% | +190.7% |
| 3-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | -7.7% | +339.3% |
| 5-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +26.0% | +301.9% |
| 10-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +58.9% | +1223.1% |
| CAGR (3Y)Annualised 3-year return | -2.6% | +63.8% |
CAT leads this category, winning 5 of 6 comparable metrics.
Risk & Volatility
Evenly matched — DSX and CAT each lead in 1 of 2 comparable metrics.
Risk & Volatility
DSX is the less volatile stock with a 1.45 beta — it tends to amplify market swings less than CAT's 1.54 beta. A beta below 1.0 means the stock typically moves less than the S&P 500.
| Metric | DSXDiana Shipping In… | CATCaterpillar Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| Beta (5Y)Sensitivity to S&P 500 | 1.45x | 1.54x |
| 52-Week HighHighest price in past year | $2.77 | $930.41 |
| 52-Week LowLowest price in past year | $1.38 | $318.11 |
| % of 52W HighCurrent price vs 52-week peak | +97.1% | +99.6% |
| RSI (14)Momentum oscillator 0–100 | 64.3 | 73.7 |
| Avg Volume (50D)Average daily shares traded | 682K | 2.4M |
Evenly matched — DSX and CAT each lead in 1 of 2 comparable metrics.
Analyst Outlook
Evenly matched — DSX and CAT each lead in 1 of 2 comparable metrics.
Analyst Outlook
Wall Street rates DSX as "Hold" and CAT as "Buy". Consensus price targets imply 11.5% upside for DSX (target: $3) vs -11.0% for CAT (target: $825). For income investors, DSX offers the higher dividend yield at 9.09% vs CAT's 0.63%.
| Metric | DSXDiana Shipping In… | CATCaterpillar Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| Analyst RatingConsensus buy/hold/sell | Hold | Buy |
| Price TargetConsensus 12-month target | $3.00 | $824.80 |
| # AnalystsCovering analysts | 27 | 53 |
| Dividend YieldAnnual dividend ÷ price | +9.1% | +0.6% |
| Dividend StreakConsecutive years of raises | 0 | 8 |
| Dividend / ShareAnnual DPS | $0.24 | $5.86 |
| Buyback YieldShare repurchases ÷ mkt cap | 0.0% | +1.2% |
Evenly matched — DSX and CAT each lead in 1 of 2 comparable metrics.
Key Takeaway
DSX leads in 2 of 6 categories (Income & Cash Flow, Valuation Metrics). CAT leads in 2 (Profitability & Efficiency, Total Returns). 2 tied.
Best OverallDiana Shipping Inc. (DSX)Leads 2 of 6 categories
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DSX vs CAT: Frequently Asked Questions
10 questions · data-driven answers · updated daily
01Is DSX or CAT a better buy right now?
For growth investors, Caterpillar Inc.
(CAT) is the stronger pick with 4. 3% revenue growth year-over-year, versus -12. 9% for Diana Shipping Inc. (DSX). Diana Shipping Inc. (DSX) offers the better valuation at 45. 7x trailing P/E (4. 5x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Caterpillar Inc. (CAT) a "Buy" — based on 53 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 — DSX or CAT?
On trailing P/E, Diana Shipping Inc.
(DSX) is the cheapest at 45. 7x versus Caterpillar Inc. at 49. 2x. On forward P/E, Diana Shipping Inc. is actually cheaper at 4. 5x.
03Which is the better long-term investment — DSX or CAT?
Over the past 5 years, Caterpillar Inc.
(CAT) delivered a total return of +301. 9%, compared to +26. 0% for Diana Shipping Inc. (DSX). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: CAT returned +1223% versus DSX's +58. 9%. 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 — DSX or CAT?
By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), Diana Shipping Inc.
(DSX) is the lower-risk stock at 1. 45β versus Caterpillar Inc. 's 1. 54β — meaning CAT is approximately 6% more volatile than DSX relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Diana Shipping Inc. (DSX) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 126% versus 2% for Caterpillar Inc. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.
05Which is growing faster — DSX or CAT?
By revenue growth (latest reported year), Caterpillar Inc.
(CAT) is pulling ahead at 4. 3% versus -12. 9% for Diana Shipping Inc. (DSX). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Caterpillar Inc. grew EPS -14. 6% year-over-year, compared to -86. 3% for Diana Shipping Inc.. Over a 3-year CAGR, CAT leads at 4. 4% 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 — DSX or CAT?
Caterpillar Inc.
(CAT) is the more profitable company, earning 13. 1% net margin versus 5. 6% for Diana Shipping Inc. — meaning it keeps 13. 1% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: DSX leads at 25. 8% versus 16. 6% for CAT. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — DSX leads at 57. 8%, 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 DSX or CAT more undervalued right now?
On forward earnings alone, Diana Shipping Inc.
(DSX) trades at 4. 5x forward P/E versus 40. 1x for Caterpillar Inc. — 35. 6x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for DSX: 11. 5% to $3. 00.
08Which pays a better dividend — DSX or CAT?
All stocks in this comparison pay dividends.
Diana Shipping Inc. (DSX) offers the highest yield at 9. 1%, versus 0. 6% for Caterpillar Inc. (CAT).
09Is DSX or CAT better for a retirement portfolio?
For long-horizon retirement investors, Caterpillar Inc.
(CAT) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (0. 6% yield, +1223% 10Y return). Both have compounded well over 10 years (CAT: +1223%, DSX: +58. 9%), 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 DSX and CAT?
Both stocks operate in the Industrials sector, making this a peer-level intra-sector comparison — the same macro tailwinds and headwinds will affect both.
In terms of investment character: DSX is a small-cap income-oriented stock; CAT is a large-cap quality compounder stock. 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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Revenue Growth>
%
(DSX: -9.8% · CAT: 22.2%)Net Margin>
%
(DSX: 11.2% · CAT: 13.3%)P/E Ratio<
x
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