IMPP
Imperial Petroleum Inc.
Oil & Gas Exploration & Production
Market Cap$163M
5Y Perf.-84.7%
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Stock Comparison
IMPP vs FRO
Revenue, margins, valuation, and 5-year total return — side by side.
FRO
Frontline Ltd.
Oil & Gas Midstream
Market Cap$8.39B
5Y Perf.+438.9%
IMPP vs FRO — Key Financials
Market cap, revenue, margins, and valuation side-by-side.
| Company Snapshot | IMPP | FRO |
|---|---|---|
| Industry | Oil & Gas Exploration & Production | Oil & Gas Midstream |
| Market Cap | $163M | $8.39B |
| Revenue (TTM) | $136M | $1.77B |
| Net Income (TTM) | $39M | $218M |
| Gross Margin | 30.5% | 26.5% |
| Operating Margin | 23.0% | 25.5% |
| Forward P/E | 2.4x | 6.0x |
| Total Debt | $79K | $3.75B |
| Cash & Equiv. | $68M | $414M |
IMPP vs FRO — Long-Term Stock Performance
Price return indexed to 100 at period start. Dividends excluded.
IMPP
FRO
| Stock | Dec 21 | May 26 | Return |
|---|---|---|---|
| Imperial Petroleum … (IMPP) | 100 | 15.3 | -84.7% |
| Frontline Ltd. (FRO) | 100 | 538.9 | +438.9% |
Price return only. Dividends and distributions are not included.
Quick Verdict: IMPP vs FRO
Each card shows where this stock fits in a portfolio — not just who wins on paper.
Bottom line: FRO leads in 4 of 7 categories, making it the strongest pick for growth and revenue expansion and capital preservation and lower volatility. Imperial Petroleum Inc. is the stronger pick specifically for valuation and capital efficiency and profitability and margin quality. As sector peers, any of these can serve as alternatives in the same allocation.
IMPP
Imperial Petroleum Inc.
The Defensive Pick
IMPP is the clearest fit if your priority is sleep-well-at-night.
- Lower volatility, beta 0.65, Low D/E 0.0%, current ratio 7.92x
- Lower P/E (2.4x vs 6.0x)
- 28.6% margin vs FRO's 12.3%
Best for: sleep-well-at-night
FRO
Frontline Ltd.
The Income Pick
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%
- 5.1% 10Y total return vs IMPP's -95.7%
Best for: income & stability and growth exposure
See the full category breakdown
| Category | Winner | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Growth | FRO | 13.8% revenue growth vs IMPP's -19.7% |
| Value | IMPP | Lower P/E (2.4x vs 6.0x) |
| Quality / Margins | IMPP | 28.6% margin vs FRO's 12.3% |
| Stability / Safety | FRO | Beta 0.36 vs IMPP's 0.65 |
| Dividends | FRO | 5.2% yield, vs IMPP's 1.1% |
| Momentum (1Y) | FRO | +124.6% vs IMPP's +83.9% |
| Efficiency (ROA) | IMPP | 8.2% ROA vs FRO's 3.8%, ROIC 10.6% vs 10.6% |
IMPP vs FRO — Revenue Breakdown by Segment
How each company's revenue is distributed across its business units
FY 2024
FY 2024
IMPP vs FRO — Financial Metrics
Side-by-side numbers across 2 stocks — who leads on profitability, valuation, growth, and risk.
BEST OVERALLIMPPLAGGINGFRO
FROFrontline Ltd.
3leads
IMPPImperial Petroleum In…
3leads
6 Total Categories
CATEGORYLEADERvs FROMETRICS WON
Income & Cash FlowRevenue, margins, and cash flow strength
IMPP5/6
Valuation MetricsMultiples, price ratios, and targets
IMPP5/5
Profitability & EfficiencyROE, ROIC, leverage, and quality scores
IMPP6/9
Total Returns1Y, 3Y, 5Y total returns with dividends
FRO6/6
Risk & VolatilityBeta, volatility, and downside exposure
FRO2/2
Analyst OutlookRatings, price targets, and dividends
FRO1/1
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
IMPP 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 — 13.0x IMPP's $136M. IMPP is the more profitable business, keeping 28.6% of every revenue dollar as net income compared to FRO's 12.3%. On growth, IMPP holds the edge at +25.4% YoY revenue growth, suggesting stronger near-term business momentum.
| Metric | IMPPImperial Petroleu… | FROFrontline Ltd. |
|---|---|---|
| RevenueTrailing 12 months | $136M | $1.8B |
| EBITDAEarnings before interest/tax | $54M | $781M |
| Net IncomeAfter-tax profit | $39M | $218M |
| Free Cash FlowCash after capex | $65M | $557M |
| Gross MarginGross profit ÷ Revenue | +30.5% | +26.5% |
| Operating MarginEBIT ÷ Revenue | +23.0% | +25.5% |
| Net MarginNet income ÷ Revenue | +28.6% | +12.3% |
| FCF MarginFCF ÷ Revenue | +47.9% | +31.5% |
| Rev. Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | +25.4% | -11.8% |
| EPS Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | 0.0% | -33.3% |
IMPP leads this category, winning 5 of 6 comparable metrics.
Valuation Metrics
IMPP leads this category, winning 5 of 5 comparable metrics.
Valuation Metrics
At 3.4x trailing earnings, IMPP trades at a 80% valuation discount to FRO's 16.9x P/E. On an enterprise value basis, IMPP's 1.6x EV/EBITDA is more attractive than FRO's 10.5x.
| Metric | IMPPImperial Petroleu… | FROFrontline Ltd. |
|---|---|---|
| Market CapShares × price | $163M | $8.4B |
| Enterprise ValueMkt cap + debt − cash | $96M | $11.7B |
| Trailing P/EPrice ÷ TTM EPS | 3.43x | 16.91x |
| Forward P/EPrice ÷ next-FY EPS est. | 2.40x | 5.99x |
| PEG RatioP/E ÷ EPS growth rate | — | 0.72x |
| EV / EBITDAEnterprise value multiple | 1.56x | 10.46x |
| Price / SalesMarket cap ÷ Revenue | 1.11x | 4.09x |
| Price / BookPrice ÷ Book value/share | 0.38x | 3.59x |
| Price / FCFMarket cap ÷ FCF | 54.02x | — |
IMPP leads this category, winning 5 of 5 comparable metrics.
Profitability & Efficiency
IMPP leads this category, winning 6 of 9 comparable metrics.
Profitability & Efficiency
FRO delivers a 9.4% return on equity — every $100 of shareholder capital generates $9 in annual profit, vs $8 for IMPP. IMPP carries lower financial leverage with a 0.00x debt-to-equity ratio, signaling a more conservative balance sheet compared to FRO's 1.60x. On the Piotroski fundamental quality scale (0–9), FRO scores 5/9 vs IMPP's 4/9, reflecting solid financial health.
| Metric | IMPPImperial Petroleu… | FROFrontline Ltd. |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM)Return on equity | +8.5% | +9.4% |
| ROA (TTM)Return on assets | +8.2% | +3.8% |
| ROICReturn on invested capital | +10.6% | +10.6% |
| ROCEReturn on capital employed | +11.3% | +14.1% |
| Piotroski ScoreFundamental quality 0–9 | 4 | 5 |
| Debt / EquityFinancial leverage | 0.00x | 1.60x |
| Net DebtTotal debt minus cash | -$68M | $3.3B |
| Cash & Equiv.Liquid assets | $68M | $414M |
| Total DebtShort + long-term debt | $78,761 | $3.7B |
| Interest CoverageEBIT ÷ Interest expense | 15.99x | 1.87x |
IMPP leads this category, winning 6 of 9 comparable metrics.
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
FRO leads this category, winning 6 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 $427 for IMPP. Over the past 12 months, FRO leads with a +124.6% total return vs IMPP's +83.9%. The 3-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) favors FRO at 44.3% vs IMPP's 15.4% — a key indicator of consistent wealth creation.
| Metric | IMPPImperial Petroleu… | FROFrontline Ltd. |
|---|---|---|
| YTD ReturnYear-to-date | +31.5% | +88.2% |
| 1-Year ReturnPast 12 months | +83.9% | +124.6% |
| 3-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +53.8% | +200.6% |
| 5-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | -95.7% | +471.4% |
| 10-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | -95.7% | +506.8% |
| CAGR (3Y)Annualised 3-year return | +15.4% | +44.3% |
FRO leads this category, winning 6 of 6 comparable metrics.
Risk & Volatility
FRO leads this category, winning 2 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 IMPP's 0.65 beta. A beta below 1.0 means the stock typically moves less than the S&P 500. FRO currently trades 94.5% from its 52-week high vs IMPP's 73.1% drawdown — a narrower gap to the peak suggests stronger recent price momentum.
| Metric | IMPPImperial Petroleu… | FROFrontline Ltd. |
|---|---|---|
| Beta (5Y)Sensitivity to S&P 500 | 0.65x | 0.36x |
| 52-Week HighHighest price in past year | $6.57 | $39.89 |
| 52-Week LowLowest price in past year | $2.45 | $16.25 |
| % of 52W HighCurrent price vs 52-week peak | +73.1% | +94.5% |
| RSI (14)Momentum oscillator 0–100 | 68.7 | 64.2 |
| Avg Volume (50D)Average daily shares traded | 746K | 4.0M |
FRO leads this category, winning 2 of 2 comparable metrics.
Analyst Outlook
FRO leads this category, winning 1 of 1 comparable metric.
Analyst Outlook
Wall Street rates IMPP as "Hold" and FRO as "Hold". Consensus price targets imply 25.0% upside for IMPP (target: $6) vs 2.1% for FRO (target: $39). For income investors, FRO offers the higher dividend yield at 5.17% vs IMPP's 1.10%.
| Metric | IMPPImperial Petroleu… | FROFrontline Ltd. |
|---|---|---|
| Analyst RatingConsensus buy/hold/sell | Hold | Hold |
| Price TargetConsensus 12-month target | $6.00 | $38.50 |
| # AnalystsCovering analysts | 1 | 22 |
| Dividend YieldAnnual dividend ÷ price | +1.1% | +5.2% |
| Dividend StreakConsecutive years of raises | 0 | 0 |
| Dividend / ShareAnnual DPS | $0.05 | $1.95 |
| Buyback YieldShare repurchases ÷ mkt cap | +1.5% | 0.0% |
FRO leads this category, winning 1 of 1 comparable metric.
Key Takeaway
IMPP leads in 3 of 6 categories (Income & Cash Flow, Valuation Metrics). FRO leads in 3 (Total Returns, Risk & Volatility).
Best OverallImperial Petroleum Inc. (IMPP)Leads 3 of 6 categories
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IMPP vs FRO: Frequently Asked Questions
10 questions · data-driven answers · updated daily
01Is IMPP or FRO a better buy right now?
For growth investors, Frontline Ltd.
(FRO) is the stronger pick with 13. 8% revenue growth year-over-year, versus -19. 7% for Imperial Petroleum Inc. (IMPP). Imperial Petroleum Inc. (IMPP) offers the better valuation at 3. 4x trailing P/E (2. 4x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Imperial Petroleum Inc. (IMPP) a "Hold" — based on 1 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 — IMPP or FRO?
On trailing P/E, Imperial Petroleum Inc.
(IMPP) is the cheapest at 3. 4x versus Frontline Ltd. at 16. 9x. On forward P/E, Imperial Petroleum Inc. is actually cheaper at 2. 4x.
03Which is the better long-term investment — IMPP or FRO?
Over the past 5 years, Frontline Ltd.
(FRO) delivered a total return of +471. 4%, compared to -95. 7% for Imperial Petroleum Inc. (IMPP). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: FRO returned +513. 5% versus IMPP's -95. 6%. 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 — IMPP or FRO?
By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), Frontline Ltd.
(FRO) is the lower-risk stock at 0. 36β versus Imperial Petroleum Inc. 's 0. 65β — meaning IMPP is approximately 83% more volatile than FRO relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Imperial Petroleum Inc. (IMPP) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 0% versus 160% for Frontline Ltd. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.
05Which is growing faster — IMPP or FRO?
By revenue growth (latest reported year), Frontline Ltd.
(FRO) is pulling ahead at 13. 8% versus -19. 7% for Imperial Petroleum Inc. (IMPP). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Frontline Ltd. grew EPS -24. 4% year-over-year, compared to -52. 2% for Imperial Petroleum Inc.. Over a 3-year CAGR, IMPP leads at 104. 0% 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 — IMPP or FRO?
Imperial Petroleum Inc.
(IMPP) is the more profitable company, earning 34. 0% net margin versus 24. 2% for Frontline Ltd. — meaning it keeps 34. 0% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: FRO leads at 38. 1% versus 29. 9% for IMPP. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — FRO leads at 34. 4%, 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 IMPP or FRO more undervalued right now?
On forward earnings alone, Imperial Petroleum Inc.
(IMPP) trades at 2. 4x forward P/E versus 6. 0x for Frontline Ltd. — 3. 6x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for IMPP: 25. 0% to $6. 00.
08Which pays a better dividend — IMPP or FRO?
All stocks in this comparison pay dividends.
Frontline Ltd. (FRO) offers the highest yield at 5. 2%, versus 1. 1% for Imperial Petroleum Inc. (IMPP).
09Is IMPP or FRO better for a retirement portfolio?
For long-horizon retirement investors, Frontline Ltd.
(FRO) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 0. 36), 5. 2% yield, +513. 5% 10Y return). Both have compounded well over 10 years (FRO: +513. 5%, IMPP: -95. 6%), 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 IMPP and FRO?
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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Revenue Growth>
%
(IMPP: 25.4% · FRO: -11.8%)Net Margin>
%
(IMPP: 28.6% · FRO: 12.3%)P/E Ratio<
x
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