International Seaways (INSW) Advances +11% as Tanker Rates Reach Multi-Year Highs
Key Takeaways
- International Seaways (INSW) shares advanced roughly 11% over the 30-day period through mid-September, rising from about $97 to above $107 and touching a 52-week high of $106.73.
- The move extends a multi-month rally fueled by multi-year-high tanker rates tied to disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz and the Bab el-Mandeb waterway.
- Record second-quarter results—earnings of $5.91 per share and net income of $295 million—beat consensus, and the company declared its largest quarterly dividend of $5.05 per share.
- Analysts have largely maintained or raised price targets, though the consensus target remains below the recent share price.
- The stock has gained roughly 32% over the past three months and more than doubled over the trailing year as crude and product tanker earnings strengthened.
A Closer Look at International Seaways (INSW) and Its Market Position
International Seaways, Inc. stands as one of the world's largest independent tanker operators, transporting crude oil and refined petroleum products for oil majors, commodity traders, and national oil companies. The firm runs two main segments: Crude Tankers, covering VLCCs, Suezmaxes, and Aframaxes, and Product Carriers, which include LR2, LR1, and medium-range vessels. Its fleet totals around 70 ships and roughly 8.4 million deadweight tons.
Investors track INSW because earnings track closely with spot tanker rates, offering direct exposure to global energy logistics and crude demand. Key advantages include a diversified, modern fleet, low spot cash breakeven, a strong balance sheet with about $935 million in liquidity and a low net loan-to-value ratio, plus scale from commercial pooling via Tankers International. Peers include STNG and TNK.
INSW Stock Performance Over the Past 30 Days and Quarter
In the last 30 days, INSW rose from a closing price of $97.05 on August 14 to around $107.72, for a gain of about 11%. The path was not linear, with a brief pullback near $89 early in August before the uptrend resumed and carried shares to a 52-week high of $106.73 on September 9.
Looking back over the quarter, the stock climbed roughly 32% from near $81 in mid-June. This broader advance reflects strengthening tanker rates, record earnings, and several analyst target increases, with shares trading comfortably above both the 50-day and 200-day moving averages. I also checked this using Tickeron’s AI Screener to see how the stock compares to others in the industry.
Key Drivers Behind the Recent 30-Day Move
The main catalyst came from the second-quarter earnings release on August 10. International Seaways posted record adjusted net income of $295 million, or $5.91 per share, ahead of consensus estimates around $5.28 to $5.55. Shipping revenues reached $467.3 million, up 138.8% year over year, while adjusted EBITDA hit a record $345 million. The blended average spot time-charter equivalent rate rose to about $79,000 per day from $27,500 a year earlier, reflecting disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz and Bab el-Mandeb.
Management declared its largest quarterly dividend of $5.05 per share, an 85% payout of adjusted net income. Analyst moves helped sentiment: Jefferies lifted its target to $108, Deutsche Bank kept a buy rating with a $107 target, and BTIG raised its target to $100, though Zacks moved the stock to hold. Strong institutional ownership and continued firmness in crude and product tanker rates supported the advance.
Factors Supporting Performance Over the Past Quarter
Over the quarter, the story centered on a sharp rise in tanker earnings amid geopolitical disruption and higher ton-mile demand. Issues around the Strait of Hormuz, which historically sees roughly 15 million barrels per day of crude transit, plus Houthi-related challenges in the Bab el-Mandeb, pushed cargoes onto longer routes, tightening fleet capacity and lifting spot rates to multi-year highs.
This backdrop produced consecutive record quarters. After a strong first quarter of $5.75 per share, the second quarter showed further gains as blended spot TCE rates moved from about $55,600 per day to $79,000 per day. The company also progressed its fleet renewal by contracting four additional dual-fuel-ready LR1 newbuildings and consolidated Tankers International, including a new Suezmax pool. A tightening supply picture—an aging global fleet with limited new orders—has backed the constructive view from management.
Outlook and Factors to Monitor
The outlook for INSW remains tied to tanker spot rates. As of late July, management noted that about 48% of third-quarter spot revenue days were booked at a blended average near $61,000 per day, well above the fleet-wide cash breakeven of under $14,500 per day. Investors will focus on third-quarter fixture levels, the path of disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz and Bab el-Mandeb, and any added ton-mile demand from strategic petroleum reserve replenishment.
Other points include dividend sustainability under the 85% payout policy, delivery of the two remaining LR1 newbuildings in the third quarter, and the possibility that spot rates ease as the cycle matures. Notably, the analyst consensus price target still sits below the current share price, highlighting debate over how much of the cyclical peak is already priced in. Spot-market exposure means earnings can climb quickly in strong conditions but may also drop sharply if rates moderate. From what I see, this is important because it underscores the cyclical nature of the business.
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Contributor
Sergey Savastiouk, Ph.D. has a degree in Applied Mathematics from Moscow University and has extensive experience as an entrepreneur, investor, manager, and mathematician. His professional expertise is in applied mathematics, mathematical modeling, system and pattern analysis, and software and hardware system integration. He has served as the CEO of several hi-tech start-up companies and nonprofit organizations, which has given him proven capabilities in business strategy for high-tech start-up companies, market assessment, company formation, team building, product development, marketing, and sales. He has published numerous articles in journals and magazines on related fields. As a retail investor, he spent 15 years developing his proprietary trading and quantitative algorithms (now Tickeron’s A.I.), which brought him significant returns in trading the stock market. His current work and goal in founding Tickeron is to bring professional, sophisticated stock market analysis capabilities to retail investors via an easy-to-use interface.
INSW's MACD Histogram crosses above signal line
The Moving Average Convergence Divergence (MACD) for INSW turned positive on September 03, 2026. Looking at past instances where INSW's MACD turned positive, the stock continued to rise in 38 of 48 cases over the following month. The odds of a continued upward trend are 79%.
Technical Analysis (Indicators)
Bullish Trend Analysis
The Momentum Indicator moved above the 0 level on August 14, 2026. You may want to consider a long position or call options on INSW as a result. In 55 of 70 past instances where the momentum indicator moved above 0, the stock continued to climb. The odds of a continued upward trend are 79%.
Following a +3.62% 3-day Advance, the price is estimated to grow further. Considering data from situations where INSW advanced for three days, in 257 of 333 cases, the price rose further within the following month. The odds of a continued upward trend are 77%.
The Aroon Indicator entered an Uptrend today. In 249 of 345 cases where INSW Aroon's Indicator entered an Uptrend, the price rose further within the following month. The odds of a continued Uptrend are 72%.
Bearish Trend Analysis
The RSI Indicator has been in the overbought zone for 2 days. Expect a price pull-back in the near future.
The Stochastic Oscillator demonstrated that the ticker has stayed in the overbought zone for 7 days. The longer the ticker stays in the overbought zone, the sooner a price pull-back is expected.
Following a 3-day decline, the stock is projected to fall further. Considering past instances where INSW declined for three days, the price rose further in 50 of 62 cases within the following month. The odds of a continued downward trend are 69%.
INSW broke above its upper Bollinger Band on September 04, 2026. This could be a sign that the stock is set to drop as the stock moves back below the upper band and toward the middle band. You may want to consider selling the stock or exploring put options.
Fundamental Analysis (Ratings)
The Tickeron Valuation Rating of 2 (best 1 - 100 worst) indicates that the company is seriously undervalued in the industry. This rating compares market capitalization estimated by our proprietary formula with the current market capitalization. This rating is based on the following metrics, as compared to industry averages: P/B Ratio (2.356) is normal, around the industry mean (185.895). P/E Ratio (6.889) is within average values for comparable stocks, (25.221). Projected Growth (PEG Ratio) (0.000) is also within normal values, averaging (3.870). Dividend Yield (0.076) settles around the average of (0.051) among similar stocks. P/S Ratio (4.264) is also within normal values, averaging (4.703).
The Tickeron Profit vs. Risk Rating rating for this company is 4 (best 1 - 100 worst), indicating low risk on high returns. The average Profit vs. Risk Rating rating for the industry is 39, placing this stock better than average.
The Tickeron SMR rating for this company is 27 (best 1 - 100 worst), indicating very strong sales and a profitable business model. SMR (Sales, Margin, Return on Equity) rating is based on comparative analysis of weighted Sales, Income Margin and Return on Equity values compared against S&P 500 index constituents. The weighted SMR value is a proprietary formula developed by Tickeron and represents an overall profitability measure for a stock.
The Tickeron Price Growth Rating for this company is 35 (best 1 - 100 worst), indicating steady price growth. INSW’s price grows at a higher rate over the last 12 months as compared to S&P 500 index constituents.
The Tickeron Seasonality Score of 50 (best 1 - 100 worst) indicates that the company is fair valued in the industry. The Tickeron Seasonality score describes the variance of predictable price changes around the same period every calendar year. These changes can be tied to a specific month, quarter, holiday or vacation period, as well as a meteorological or growing season.
The Tickeron PE Growth Rating for this company is 83 (best 1 - 100 worst), pointing to worse than average earnings growth. The PE Growth rating is based on a comparative analysis of stock PE ratio increase over the last 12 months compared against S&P 500 index constituents.
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General Information
a company, which engages in the ocean transportation of crude oil and petroleum products
Industry OilGasPipelines
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