SB
Safe Bulkers, Inc.
Marine Shipping
Market Cap$729M
5Y Perf.+578.4%
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Stock Comparison
SB vs NMM
Revenue, margins, valuation, and 5-year total return — side by side.
NMM
Navios Maritime Partners L.P.
Marine Shipping
Market Cap$2.11B
5Y Perf.+994.9%
SB vs NMM — Key Financials
Market cap, revenue, margins, and valuation side-by-side.
| Company Snapshot | SB | NMM |
|---|---|---|
| Industry | Marine Shipping | Marine Shipping |
| Market Cap | $729M | $2.11B |
| Revenue (TTM) | $275M | $1.31B |
| Net Income (TTM) | $46M | $262M |
| Gross Margin | 36.9% | 56.7% |
| Operating Margin | 26.0% | 28.2% |
| Forward P/E | 12.6x | 4.9x |
| Total Debt | $537M | $1.42B |
| Cash & Equiv. | $84M | $270M |
SB vs NMM — Long-Term Stock Performance
Price return indexed to 100 at period start. Dividends excluded.
SB
NMM
| Stock | May 20 | May 26 | Return |
|---|---|---|---|
| Safe Bulkers, Inc. (SB) | 100 | 678.4 | +578.4% |
| Navios Maritime Par… (NMM) | 100 | 1094.9 | +994.9% |
Price return only. Dividends and distributions are not included.
Quick Verdict: SB vs NMM
Each card shows where this stock fits in a portfolio — not just who wins on paper.
Bottom line: NMM leads in 4 of 7 categories, making it the strongest pick for valuation and capital efficiency and profitability and margin quality. Safe Bulkers, Inc. is the stronger pick specifically for growth and revenue expansion and dividend income and shareholder returns. As sector peers, any of these can serve as alternatives in the same allocation.
SB
Safe Bulkers, Inc.
The Income Pick
SB is the clearest fit if your priority is income & stability and growth exposure.
- Dividend streak 3 yrs, beta 0.98, yield 4.0%
- Rev growth 8.2%, EPS growth 36.1%, 3Y rev CAGR -2.2%
- 7.2% 10Y total return vs NMM's 262.1%
Best for: income & stability and growth exposure
NMM
Navios Maritime Partners L.P.
The Defensive Pick
NMM carries the broadest edge in this set and is the clearest fit for sleep-well-at-night.
- Lower volatility, beta 0.72, Low D/E 45.8%, current ratio 1.08x
- Lower P/E (4.9x vs 12.6x)
- 19.9% margin vs SB's 16.8%
Best for: sleep-well-at-night
See the full category breakdown
| Category | Winner | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Growth | SB | 8.2% revenue growth vs NMM's 2.1% |
| Value | NMM | Lower P/E (4.9x vs 12.6x) |
| Quality / Margins | NMM | 19.9% margin vs SB's 16.8% |
| Stability / Safety | NMM | Beta 0.72 vs SB's 0.98, lower leverage |
| Dividends | SB | 4.0% yield, 3-year raise streak, vs NMM's 0.3% |
| Momentum (1Y) | SB | +108.2% vs NMM's +106.6% |
| Efficiency (ROA) | NMM | 4.4% ROA vs SB's 3.4%, ROIC 8.3% vs 6.6% |
SB vs NMM — Financial Metrics
Side-by-side numbers across 2 stocks — who leads on profitability, valuation, growth, and risk.
BEST OVERALLNMMLAGGINGSB
SBSafe Bulkers, Inc.
1leads
NMMNavios Maritime Partn…
3leads
6 Total Categories
CATEGORYLEADERvs SBMETRICS WON
Income & Cash FlowRevenue, margins, and cash flow strength
NMM4/6
Valuation MetricsMultiples, price ratios, and targets
NMM5/5
Profitability & EfficiencyROE, ROIC, leverage, and quality scores
NMM6/8
Total Returns1Y, 3Y, 5Y total returns with dividends
Tied
—
Risk & VolatilityBeta, volatility, and downside exposure
Tied
—
Analyst OutlookRatings, price targets, and dividends
SB1/1
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
NMM leads this category, winning 4 of 6 comparable metrics.
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
NMM is the larger business by revenue, generating $1.3B annually — 4.8x SB's $275M. Profitability is closely matched — net margins range from 19.9% (NMM) to 16.8% (SB). On growth, NMM holds the edge at +1.8% YoY revenue growth, suggesting stronger near-term business momentum.
| Metric | SBSafe Bulkers, Inc. | NMMNavios Maritime P… |
|---|---|---|
| RevenueTrailing 12 months | $275M | $1.3B |
| EBITDAEarnings before interest/tax | $131M | $693M |
| Net IncomeAfter-tax profit | $46M | $262M |
| Free Cash FlowCash after capex | $55M | $30M |
| Gross MarginGross profit ÷ Revenue | +36.9% | +56.7% |
| Operating MarginEBIT ÷ Revenue | +26.0% | +28.2% |
| Net MarginNet income ÷ Revenue | +16.8% | +19.9% |
| FCF MarginFCF ÷ Revenue | +19.9% | +2.3% |
| Rev. Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | -3.7% | +1.8% |
| EPS Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | -31.8% | -40.6% |
NMM leads this category, winning 4 of 6 comparable metrics.
Valuation Metrics
NMM leads this category, winning 5 of 5 comparable metrics.
Valuation Metrics
At 6.1x trailing earnings, NMM trades at a 27% valuation discount to SB's 8.3x P/E. On an enterprise value basis, NMM's 4.9x EV/EBITDA is more attractive than SB's 6.9x.
| Metric | SBSafe Bulkers, Inc. | NMMNavios Maritime P… |
|---|---|---|
| Market CapShares × price | $729M | $2.1B |
| Enterprise ValueMkt cap + debt − cash | $1.2B | $3.3B |
| Trailing P/EPrice ÷ TTM EPS | 8.34x | 6.11x |
| Forward P/EPrice ÷ next-FY EPS est. | 12.58x | 4.92x |
| PEG RatioP/E ÷ EPS growth rate | — | — |
| EV / EBITDAEnterprise value multiple | 6.95x | 4.93x |
| Price / SalesMarket cap ÷ Revenue | 2.37x | 1.58x |
| Price / BookPrice ÷ Book value/share | 0.90x | 0.71x |
| Price / FCFMarket cap ÷ FCF | — | — |
NMM leads this category, winning 5 of 5 comparable metrics.
Profitability & Efficiency
NMM leads this category, winning 6 of 8 comparable metrics.
Profitability & Efficiency
NMM delivers a 8.1% return on equity — every $100 of shareholder capital generates $8 in annual profit, vs $6 for SB. NMM carries lower financial leverage with a 0.46x debt-to-equity ratio, signaling a more conservative balance sheet compared to SB's 0.65x.
| Metric | SBSafe Bulkers, Inc. | NMMNavios Maritime P… |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM)Return on equity | +5.6% | +8.1% |
| ROA (TTM)Return on assets | +3.4% | +4.4% |
| ROICReturn on invested capital | +6.6% | +8.3% |
| ROCEReturn on capital employed | +8.6% | +9.0% |
| Piotroski ScoreFundamental quality 0–9 | 7 | 7 |
| Debt / EquityFinancial leverage | 0.65x | 0.46x |
| Net DebtTotal debt minus cash | $453M | $1.2B |
| Cash & Equiv.Liquid assets | $84M | $270M |
| Total DebtShort + long-term debt | $537M | $1.4B |
| Interest CoverageEBIT ÷ Interest expense | 2.34x | 2.78x |
NMM leads this category, winning 6 of 8 comparable metrics.
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
Evenly matched — SB and NMM each lead in 3 of 6 comparable metrics.
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
A $10,000 investment in NMM five years ago would be worth $22,602 today (with dividends reinvested), compared to $19,671 for SB. Over the past 12 months, SB leads with a +108.2% total return vs NMM's +106.6%. The 3-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) favors NMM at 48.0% vs SB's 27.1% — a key indicator of consistent wealth creation.
| Metric | SBSafe Bulkers, Inc. | NMMNavios Maritime P… |
|---|---|---|
| YTD ReturnYear-to-date | +44.3% | +42.6% |
| 1-Year ReturnPast 12 months | +108.2% | +106.6% |
| 3-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +105.5% | +224.2% |
| 5-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +96.7% | +126.0% |
| 10-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +716.6% | +262.1% |
| CAGR (3Y)Annualised 3-year return | +27.1% | +48.0% |
Evenly matched — SB and NMM each lead in 3 of 6 comparable metrics.
Risk & Volatility
Evenly matched — SB and NMM each lead in 1 of 2 comparable metrics.
Risk & Volatility
NMM is the less volatile stock with a 0.72 beta — it tends to amplify market swings less than SB's 0.98 beta. A beta below 1.0 means the stock typically moves less than the S&P 500.
| Metric | SBSafe Bulkers, Inc. | NMMNavios Maritime P… |
|---|---|---|
| Beta (5Y)Sensitivity to S&P 500 | 0.98x | 0.72x |
| 52-Week HighHighest price in past year | $7.20 | $77.90 |
| 52-Week LowLowest price in past year | $3.33 | $35.03 |
| % of 52W HighCurrent price vs 52-week peak | +96.1% | +94.0% |
| RSI (14)Momentum oscillator 0–100 | 69.0 | 67.9 |
| Avg Volume (50D)Average daily shares traded | 591K | 166K |
Evenly matched — SB and NMM each lead in 1 of 2 comparable metrics.
Analyst Outlook
SB leads this category, winning 1 of 1 comparable metric.
Analyst Outlook
Wall Street rates SB as "Buy" and NMM as "Hold". Consensus price targets imply 16.0% upside for NMM (target: $85) vs -39.3% for SB (target: $4). For income investors, SB offers the higher dividend yield at 3.96% vs NMM's 0.28%.
| Metric | SBSafe Bulkers, Inc. | NMMNavios Maritime P… |
|---|---|---|
| Analyst RatingConsensus buy/hold/sell | Buy | Hold |
| Price TargetConsensus 12-month target | $4.20 | $85.00 |
| # AnalystsCovering analysts | 22 | 14 |
| Dividend YieldAnnual dividend ÷ price | +4.0% | +0.3% |
| Dividend StreakConsecutive years of raises | 3 | 3 |
| Dividend / ShareAnnual DPS | $0.27 | $0.20 |
| Buyback YieldShare repurchases ÷ mkt cap | +4.0% | +1.2% |
SB leads this category, winning 1 of 1 comparable metric.
Key Takeaway
NMM leads in 3 of 6 categories (Income & Cash Flow, Valuation Metrics). SB leads in 1 (Analyst Outlook). 2 tied.
Best OverallNavios Maritime Partners L.… (NMM)Leads 3 of 6 categories
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SB vs NMM: Frequently Asked Questions
10 questions · data-driven answers · updated daily
01Is SB or NMM a better buy right now?
For growth investors, Safe Bulkers, Inc.
(SB) is the stronger pick with 8. 2% revenue growth year-over-year, versus 2. 1% for Navios Maritime Partners L. P. (NMM). Navios Maritime Partners L. P. (NMM) offers the better valuation at 6. 1x trailing P/E (4. 9x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Safe Bulkers, Inc. (SB) a "Buy" — based on 22 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 — SB or NMM?
On trailing P/E, Navios Maritime Partners L.
P. (NMM) is the cheapest at 6. 1x versus Safe Bulkers, Inc. at 8. 3x. On forward P/E, Navios Maritime Partners L. P. is actually cheaper at 4. 9x.
03Which is the better long-term investment — SB or NMM?
Over the past 5 years, Navios Maritime Partners L.
P. (NMM) delivered a total return of +126. 0%, compared to +96. 7% for Safe Bulkers, Inc. (SB). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: SB returned +716. 6% versus NMM's +262. 1%. 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 — SB or NMM?
By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), Navios Maritime Partners L.
P. (NMM) is the lower-risk stock at 0. 72β versus Safe Bulkers, Inc. 's 0. 98β — meaning SB is approximately 35% more volatile than NMM relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Navios Maritime Partners L. P. (NMM) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 46% versus 65% for Safe Bulkers, Inc. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.
05Which is growing faster — SB or NMM?
By revenue growth (latest reported year), Safe Bulkers, Inc.
(SB) is pulling ahead at 8. 2% versus 2. 1% for Navios Maritime Partners L. P. (NMM). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Safe Bulkers, Inc. grew EPS 36. 1% year-over-year, compared to -14. 9% for Navios Maritime Partners L. P.. Over a 3-year CAGR, NMM leads at 23. 2% 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 — SB or NMM?
Safe Bulkers, Inc.
(SB) is the more profitable company, earning 31. 7% net margin versus 27. 5% for Navios Maritime Partners L. P. — meaning it keeps 31. 7% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: SB leads at 36. 4% versus 33. 6% for NMM. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — NMM leads at 66. 1%, 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 SB or NMM more undervalued right now?
On forward earnings alone, Navios Maritime Partners L.
P. (NMM) trades at 4. 9x forward P/E versus 12. 6x for Safe Bulkers, Inc. — 7. 7x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for NMM: 16. 0% to $85. 00.
08Which pays a better dividend — SB or NMM?
All stocks in this comparison pay dividends.
Safe Bulkers, Inc. (SB) offers the highest yield at 4. 0%, versus 0. 3% for Navios Maritime Partners L. P. (NMM).
09Is SB or NMM better for a retirement portfolio?
For long-horizon retirement investors, Safe Bulkers, Inc.
(SB) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 0. 98), 4. 0% yield, +716. 6% 10Y return). Both have compounded well over 10 years (SB: +716. 6%, NMM: +262. 1%), 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 SB and NMM?
Both stocks operate in the Industrials sector, making this a peer-level intra-sector comparison — the same macro tailwinds and headwinds will affect both.
SB pays a dividend while NMM does not, making them suitable for different income and tax situations. 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>
%
(SB: -3.7% · NMM: 1.8%)Net Margin>
%
(SB: 16.8% · NMM: 19.9%)P/E Ratio<
x
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