Head to Head Comparison: Star Bulk Carriers (NASDAQ:SBLK) vs. Keppel (OTCMKTS:KPELY)

Star Bulk Carriers (NASDAQ:SBLK) and Keppel (OTCMKTS:KPELY) are both transportation companies, but which is the better investment? We will compare the two companies based on the strength of their analyst recommendations, risk, dividends, valuation, earnings, institutional ownership and profitability.

Profitability

This table compares Star Bulk Carriers and Keppel’s net margins, return on equity and return on assets.

	Net Margins	Return on Equity	Return on Assets
Star Bulk Carriers	5.85%	2.66%	1.64%
Keppel	N/A	N/A	N/A

Dividends

Star Bulk Carriers pays an annual dividend of $0.44 per share and has a dividend yield of 2.3%. Keppel pays an annual dividend of $0.46 per share and has a dividend yield of 3.0%. Star Bulk Carriers pays out 84.6% of its earnings in the form of a dividend, suggesting it may not have sufficient earnings to cover its dividend payment in the future.

Volatility & Risk

Star Bulk Carriers has a beta of 0.75, indicating that its share price is 25% less volatile than the S&P 500. Comparatively, Keppel has a beta of 0.45, indicating that its share price is 55% less volatile than the S&P 500.

Institutional & Insider Ownership

33.9% of Star Bulk Carriers shares are owned by institutional investors. 0.9% of Star Bulk Carriers shares are owned by company insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that hedge funds, large money managers and endowments believe a stock is poised for long-term growth.

Analyst Ratings

This is a summary of recent ratings for Star Bulk Carriers and Keppel, as reported by MarketBeat.com.

	Sell Ratings	Hold Ratings	Buy Ratings	Strong Buy Ratings	Rating Score
Star Bulk Carriers	0	2	1	0	2.33
Keppel	0	0	1	0	3.00

Star Bulk Carriers currently has a consensus price target of $22.00, indicating a potential upside of 13.23%. Given Star Bulk Carriers’ higher possible upside, analysts clearly believe Star Bulk Carriers is more favorable than Keppel.

Earnings & Valuation

This table compares Star Bulk Carriers and Keppel”s gross revenue, earnings per share and valuation.

	Gross Revenue	Price/Sales Ratio	Net Income	Earnings Per Share	Price/Earnings Ratio
Star Bulk Carriers	$1.27 billion	1.81	$304.65 million	$0.52	37.37
Keppel	$4.94 billion	2.84	$712.27 million	N/A	N/A

Keppel has higher revenue and earnings than Star Bulk Carriers.

Summary

Star Bulk Carriers beats Keppel on 7 of the 13 factors compared between the two stocks.

About Star Bulk Carriers

Star Bulk Carriers Corp., a shipping company, engages in the ocean transportation of dry bulk cargoes worldwide. Its vessels transport a range of bulk commodities, including iron ores, minerals and grains, bauxite, fertilizers, and steel products. As of December 31, 2023, the company owned a fleet of 116 dry bulk vessels with combined carrying capacity of 13.1 million deadweight tonnage (dwt) consisting of Newcastlemax, Capesize, Post Panamax, Kamsarmax, Panamax, Ultramax, and Supramax vessels with carrying capacities between 53,489 dwt and 209,537 dwt. Star Bulk Carriers Corp. was incorporated in 2006 and is based in Marousi, Greece.

About Keppel

Keppel Ltd., an investment holding company, engages in the infrastructure, real estate, and connectivity business in Singapore, China, Hong Kong, other far East and ASEAN countries, and internationally. The company operates through, Infrastructure, Real Estate, and Connectivity. It manages private funds and listed real estate investment and business trusts, in areas of infrastructure, real estate, and connectivity; energy and environmental solutions and services, including commercial power generation, renewables, environmental engineering and construction, and infrastructure; operation and maintenance; property development and investment; master development; sustainable and innovative urban space solutions; and system integration solutions and services. The company develops and operates data centres; telecommunication services; sells telecommunication and information technology equipment; procures, installs, operates, and maintenance of solar generation facilities; and operates golf club. In addition, it engages electricity, energy, and power supply; general wholesale trading; purchase and sells gaseous fuels; develops of district heating and cooling system; environmental, technologies, and engineering works; solid waste treatment; design and constructs waste-to-energy and desalination plants; commercial power generation; renewable energy generation; and owns and operates hotel. Further, the company offers property investment and development; real estate construction; trades communication systems and accessories; operates telecommunication network; IT consulting and outsourcing; distributes of IT products; colocation services; fixed and other related telecommunication services; ICT solutions; management services; fund management; investment advisory; and real estate investment trust. The company was formerly known as Keppel Corporation and changed its name to Keppel Ltd. in January 2024. Keppel Ltd. Limited was incorporated in 1968 and is headquartered in Singapore.