SFL
SFL Corporation Ltd.
Marine Shipping
Market Cap$1.58B
5Y Perf.+20.1%
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Stock Comparison
SFL vs KNOP
Revenue, margins, valuation, and 5-year total return — side by side.
KNOP
KNOT Offshore Partners LP
Marine Shipping
Market Cap$377M
5Y Perf.-26.9%
SFL vs KNOP — Key Financials
Market cap, revenue, margins, and valuation side-by-side.
| Company Snapshot | SFL | KNOP |
|---|---|---|
| Industry | Marine Shipping | Marine Shipping |
| Market Cap | $1.58B | $377M |
| Revenue (TTM) | $720M | $359M |
| Net Income (TTM) | $-26M | $53M |
| Gross Margin | 33.2% | 40.3% |
| Operating Margin | 23.7% | 30.9% |
| Forward P/E | 351.3x | 7.6x |
| Total Debt | $2.57B | $906M |
| Cash & Equiv. | $151M | $67M |
SFL vs KNOP — Long-Term Stock Performance
Price return indexed to 100 at period start. Dividends excluded.
SFL
KNOP
| Stock | May 20 | May 26 | Return |
|---|---|---|---|
| SFL Corporation Ltd. (SFL) | 100 | 120.1 | +20.1% |
| KNOT Offshore Partn… (KNOP) | 100 | 73.1 | -26.9% |
Price return only. Dividends and distributions are not included.
Quick Verdict: SFL vs KNOP
Each card shows where this stock fits in a portfolio — not just who wins on paper.
Bottom line: KNOP leads in 6 of 7 categories, making it the strongest pick for growth and revenue expansion and valuation and capital efficiency. SFL Corporation Ltd. is the stronger pick specifically for dividend income and shareholder returns. As sector peers, any of these can serve as alternatives in the same allocation.
SFL
SFL Corporation Ltd.
The Long-Run Compounder
SFL is the clearest fit if your priority is long-term compounding and defensive.
- 56.4% 10Y total return vs KNOP's 45.1%
- Beta 0.67, yield 7.9%, current ratio 0.36x
- 7.9% yield, vs KNOP's 2.7%
Best for: long-term compounding and defensive
KNOP
KNOT Offshore Partners LP
The Income Pick
KNOP carries the broadest edge in this set and is the clearest fit for income & stability and growth exposure.
- Dividend streak 1 yrs, beta 0.36, yield 2.7%
- Rev growth 7.5%, EPS growth 120.4%, 3Y rev CAGR 3.6%
- Lower volatility, beta 0.36, current ratio 0.33x
Best for: income & stability and growth exposure
See the full category breakdown
| Category | Winner | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Growth | KNOP | 7.5% revenue growth vs SFL's -19.3% |
| Value | KNOP | Lower P/E (7.6x vs 351.3x) |
| Quality / Margins | KNOP | 14.7% margin vs SFL's -3.7% |
| Stability / Safety | KNOP | Beta 0.36 vs SFL's 0.67, lower leverage |
| Dividends | SFL | 7.9% yield, vs KNOP's 2.7% |
| Momentum (1Y) | KNOP | +69.1% vs SFL's +55.1% |
| Efficiency (ROA) | KNOP | 3.2% ROA vs SFL's -0.7%, ROIC 3.7% vs 2.8% |
SFL vs KNOP — Revenue Breakdown by Segment
How each company's revenue is distributed across its business units
Segment breakdown not available.
FY 2024
SFL vs KNOP — Financial Metrics
Side-by-side numbers across 2 stocks — who leads on profitability, valuation, growth, and risk.
BEST OVERALLKNOPLAGGINGSFL
SFLSFL Corporation Ltd.
0leads
KNOPKNOT Offshore Partner…
3leads
6 Total Categories
CATEGORYLEADERvs SFLMETRICS WON
Income & Cash FlowRevenue, margins, and cash flow strength
KNOP6/6
Valuation MetricsMultiples, price ratios, and targets
KNOP5/6
Profitability & EfficiencyROE, ROIC, leverage, and quality scores
KNOP9/9
Total Returns1Y, 3Y, 5Y total returns with dividends
Tied
—
Risk & VolatilityBeta, volatility, and downside exposure
Tied
—
Analyst OutlookRatings, price targets, and dividends
Tied
—
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
KNOP leads this category, winning 6 of 6 comparable metrics.
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
SFL is the larger business by revenue, generating $720M annually — 2.0x KNOP's $359M. KNOP is the more profitable business, keeping 14.7% of every revenue dollar as net income compared to SFL's -3.7%. On growth, KNOP holds the edge at +27.0% YoY revenue growth, suggesting stronger near-term business momentum.
| Metric | SFLSFL Corporation L… | KNOPKNOT Offshore Par… |
|---|---|---|
| RevenueTrailing 12 months | $720M | $359M |
| EBITDAEarnings before interest/tax | $414M | $225M |
| Net IncomeAfter-tax profit | -$26M | $53M |
| Free Cash FlowCash after capex | $220M | $155M |
| Gross MarginGross profit ÷ Revenue | +33.2% | +40.3% |
| Operating MarginEBIT ÷ Revenue | +23.7% | +30.9% |
| Net MarginNet income ÷ Revenue | -3.7% | +14.7% |
| FCF MarginFCF ÷ Revenue | +30.5% | +43.2% |
| Rev. Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | -24.1% | +27.0% |
| EPS Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | -123.3% | +5.0% |
KNOP leads this category, winning 6 of 6 comparable metrics.
Valuation Metrics
KNOP leads this category, winning 5 of 6 comparable metrics.
Valuation Metrics
On an enterprise value basis, KNOP's 6.6x EV/EBITDA is more attractive than SFL's 10.5x.
| Metric | SFLSFL Corporation L… | KNOPKNOT Offshore Par… |
|---|---|---|
| Market CapShares × price | $1.6B | $377M |
| Enterprise ValueMkt cap + debt − cash | $4.0B | $1.2B |
| Trailing P/EPrice ÷ TTM EPS | -59.55x | 52.79x |
| Forward P/EPrice ÷ next-FY EPS est. | 351.33x | 7.57x |
| PEG RatioP/E ÷ EPS growth rate | — | — |
| EV / EBITDAEnterprise value multiple | 10.52x | 6.62x |
| Price / SalesMarket cap ÷ Revenue | 2.20x | 1.21x |
| Price / BookPrice ÷ Book value/share | 1.65x | 0.62x |
| Price / FCFMarket cap ÷ FCF | 7.20x | 2.77x |
KNOP leads this category, winning 5 of 6 comparable metrics.
Profitability & Efficiency
KNOP leads this category, winning 9 of 9 comparable metrics.
Profitability & Efficiency
KNOP delivers a 8.5% return on equity — every $100 of shareholder capital generates $9 in annual profit, vs $-3 for SFL. KNOP carries lower financial leverage with a 1.48x debt-to-equity ratio, signaling a more conservative balance sheet compared to SFL's 2.67x. On the Piotroski fundamental quality scale (0–9), KNOP scores 8/9 vs SFL's 3/9, reflecting strong financial health.
| Metric | SFLSFL Corporation L… | KNOPKNOT Offshore Par… |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM)Return on equity | -2.8% | +8.5% |
| ROA (TTM)Return on assets | -0.7% | +3.2% |
| ROICReturn on invested capital | +2.8% | +3.7% |
| ROCEReturn on capital employed | +4.4% | +5.3% |
| Piotroski ScoreFundamental quality 0–9 | 3 | 8 |
| Debt / EquityFinancial leverage | 2.67x | 1.48x |
| Net DebtTotal debt minus cash | $2.4B | $839M |
| Cash & Equiv.Liquid assets | $151M | $67M |
| Total DebtShort + long-term debt | $2.6B | $906M |
| Interest CoverageEBIT ÷ Interest expense | 1.18x | 1.79x |
KNOP leads this category, winning 9 of 9 comparable metrics.
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
Evenly matched — SFL and KNOP each lead in 3 of 6 comparable metrics.
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
A $10,000 investment in SFL five years ago would be worth $20,259 today (with dividends reinvested), compared to $7,507 for KNOP. Over the past 12 months, KNOP leads with a +69.1% total return vs SFL's +55.1%. The 3-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) favors KNOP at 37.2% vs SFL's 18.8% — a key indicator of consistent wealth creation.
| Metric | SFLSFL Corporation L… | KNOPKNOT Offshore Par… |
|---|---|---|
| YTD ReturnYear-to-date | +53.5% | +8.7% |
| 1-Year ReturnPast 12 months | +55.1% | +69.1% |
| 3-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +67.6% | +158.4% |
| 5-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +102.6% | -24.9% |
| 10-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +56.4% | +45.1% |
| CAGR (3Y)Annualised 3-year return | +18.8% | +37.2% |
Evenly matched — SFL and KNOP each lead in 3 of 6 comparable metrics.
Risk & Volatility
Evenly matched — SFL and KNOP each lead in 1 of 2 comparable metrics.
Risk & Volatility
KNOP is the less volatile stock with a 0.36 beta — it tends to amplify market swings less than SFL's 0.67 beta. A beta below 1.0 means the stock typically moves less than the S&P 500. SFL currently trades 99.5% from its 52-week high vs KNOP's 96.0% drawdown — a narrower gap to the peak suggests stronger recent price momentum.
| Metric | SFLSFL Corporation L… | KNOPKNOT Offshore Par… |
|---|---|---|
| Beta (5Y)Sensitivity to S&P 500 | 0.67x | 0.36x |
| 52-Week HighHighest price in past year | $11.96 | $11.55 |
| 52-Week LowLowest price in past year | $6.73 | $6.16 |
| % of 52W HighCurrent price vs 52-week peak | +99.5% | +96.0% |
| RSI (14)Momentum oscillator 0–100 | 71.8 | 62.6 |
| Avg Volume (50D)Average daily shares traded | 1.3M | 119K |
Evenly matched — SFL and KNOP each lead in 1 of 2 comparable metrics.
Analyst Outlook
Evenly matched — SFL and KNOP each lead in 1 of 2 comparable metrics.
Analyst Outlook
Wall Street rates SFL as "Hold" and KNOP as "Buy". Consensus price targets imply 44.3% upside for KNOP (target: $16) vs 21.7% for SFL (target: $15). For income investors, SFL offers the higher dividend yield at 7.89% vs KNOP's 2.74%.
| Metric | SFLSFL Corporation L… | KNOPKNOT Offshore Par… |
|---|---|---|
| Analyst RatingConsensus buy/hold/sell | Hold | Buy |
| Price TargetConsensus 12-month target | $14.50 | $16.00 |
| # AnalystsCovering analysts | 9 | 12 |
| Dividend YieldAnnual dividend ÷ price | +7.9% | +2.7% |
| Dividend StreakConsecutive years of raises | 0 | 1 |
| Dividend / ShareAnnual DPS | $0.94 | $0.30 |
| Buyback YieldShare repurchases ÷ mkt cap | +0.6% | 0.0% |
Evenly matched — SFL and KNOP each lead in 1 of 2 comparable metrics.
Key Takeaway
KNOP leads in 3 of 6 categories — strongest in Income & Cash Flow and Valuation Metrics. 3 categories are tied.
Best OverallKNOT Offshore Partners LP (KNOP)Leads 3 of 6 categories
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SFL vs KNOP: Frequently Asked Questions
10 questions · data-driven answers · updated daily
01Is SFL or KNOP a better buy right now?
For growth investors, KNOT Offshore Partners LP (KNOP) is the stronger pick with 7.
5% revenue growth year-over-year, versus -19. 3% for SFL Corporation Ltd. (SFL). KNOT Offshore Partners LP (KNOP) offers the better valuation at 52. 8x trailing P/E (7. 6x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate KNOT Offshore Partners LP (KNOP) a "Buy" — based on 12 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 — SFL or KNOP?
On forward P/E, KNOT Offshore Partners LP is actually cheaper at 7.
6x.
03Which is the better long-term investment — SFL or KNOP?
Over the past 5 years, SFL Corporation Ltd.
(SFL) delivered a total return of +102. 6%, compared to -24. 9% for KNOT Offshore Partners LP (KNOP). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: SFL returned +56. 4% versus KNOP's +45. 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 — SFL or KNOP?
By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), KNOT Offshore Partners LP (KNOP) is the lower-risk stock at 0.
36β versus SFL Corporation Ltd. 's 0. 67β — meaning SFL is approximately 88% more volatile than KNOP relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, KNOT Offshore Partners LP (KNOP) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 148% versus 3% for SFL Corporation Ltd. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.
05Which is growing faster — SFL or KNOP?
By revenue growth (latest reported year), KNOT Offshore Partners LP (KNOP) is pulling ahead at 7.
5% versus -19. 3% for SFL Corporation Ltd. (SFL). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: KNOT Offshore Partners LP grew EPS 120. 4% year-over-year, compared to -119. 8% for SFL Corporation Ltd.. Over a 3-year CAGR, KNOP leads at 3. 6% 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 — SFL or KNOP?
KNOT Offshore Partners LP (KNOP) is the more profitable company, earning 4.
5% net margin versus -3. 7% for SFL Corporation Ltd. — meaning it keeps 4. 5% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: KNOP leads at 23. 3% versus 19. 0% for SFL. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — KNOP leads at 64. 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 SFL or KNOP more undervalued right now?
On forward earnings alone, KNOT Offshore Partners LP (KNOP) trades at 7.
6x forward P/E versus 351. 3x for SFL Corporation Ltd. — 343. 8x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for KNOP: 44. 3% to $16. 00.
08Which pays a better dividend — SFL or KNOP?
All stocks in this comparison pay dividends.
SFL Corporation Ltd. (SFL) offers the highest yield at 7. 9%, versus 2. 7% for KNOT Offshore Partners LP (KNOP).
09Is SFL or KNOP better for a retirement portfolio?
For long-horizon retirement investors, KNOT Offshore Partners LP (KNOP) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 0.
36), 2. 7% yield). Both have compounded well over 10 years (KNOP: +45. 1%, SFL: +56. 4%), 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 SFL and KNOP?
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: SFL is a small-cap income-oriented stock; KNOP is a small-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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