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INSW vs STNG
Which Stock Would AI Choose? International Seaways (INSW) vs. Scorpio Tankers (STNG) Stock Comparison
Key Takeaways
- Both INSW and STNG operate in the marine tanker sector, but INSW maintains a more balanced crude-and-products fleet while STNG is predominantly a refined-product tanker play.
- INSW offers a substantially higher forward dividend yield (approximately 4.23%) compared to STNG (approximately 2.26%), reflecting different capital-return philosophies.
- Both companies delivered strong Q4 2025 results, with STNG generating $128.1 million in net income and INSW reporting $128 million, underscoring the sector-wide rate strength in recent months.
- STNG holds a near-net-cash balance sheet with a cash breakeven rate of approximately $11,000 per day, while INSW carries a low net loan-to-value ratio of roughly 13%.
- Geopolitical disruptions, aging global fleet dynamics, and longer trade routes are structural tailwinds benefiting both companies, though each faces distinct spot-market volatility risks.
Introduction
When evaluating marine transportation equities, two names consistently surface among institutional and retail investors alike: International Seaways, Inc. and Scorpio Tankers Inc. Both companies operate extensive tanker fleets that move crude oil and refined petroleum products across global shipping lanes. This stock comparison examines how INSW and STNG stack up in the current market environment. The comparison is particularly relevant for investors seeking exposure to energy logistics, those evaluating dividend-paying shipping stocks, and traders monitoring relative performance within the transportation sector. With tanker rates responding to geopolitical events, refinery dislocations, and fleet-supply constraints, understanding the nuances between these two operators can help frame expectations around risk, return, and market positioning.
INSW Overview and Recent Performance
International Seaways (INSW) is one of the largest publicly traded tanker companies globally, operating a fleet of approximately 70 vessels across crude tankers — including VLCCs (Very Large Crude Carriers), Suezmax, and Aframax classes — and product carriers spanning LR2 (Long Range 2), LR1, and MR (Medium Range) categories. The company has distinguished itself in recent quarters through an aggressive fleet optimization program, selling older vessels while taking delivery of modern, dual-fuel-ready newbuilds. In recent market activity, INSW shares have demonstrated notable upward momentum, trading near $92 as of late July 2026, compared to a 52-week low of approximately $39, reflecting a powerful recovery driven by strengthening tanker rates. The company reported full-year 2025 net income of $309 million and followed with a record quarterly dividend declaration of $2.15 per share. Its January 2026 acquisition of full ownership of Tankers International, coupled with the launch of a new Suezmax pool, has expanded its commercial platform. With approximately 82% of TCE (Time Charter Equivalent) revenues derived from the spot market, INSW offers significant operating leverage to rate improvements, though this exposure also makes quarterly earnings inherently variable.
STNG Overview and Recent Performance
Scorpio Tankers Inc. (STNG), headquartered in Monaco, operates one of the largest and youngest product-tanker fleets in the world, with approximately 90 wholly owned vessels spanning LR2, MR, and Handymax classes. The company has undergone a dramatic balance-sheet transformation, reducing net debt from roughly $2.7 billion at year-end 2021 to a near-net-cash position as of late 2025 — a deleveraging that stands out even within the capital-intensive shipping industry. For full-year 2025, STNG reported net income of $344.3 million, with adjusted net income of $269.5 million. In recent weeks, shares have traded around $79, reflecting year-to-date gains exceeding 50%, supported by robust product-tanker rates and improving sentiment across the shipping sector. The company has prepaid substantial portions of its debt, eliminating all scheduled principal amortization for 2026 and 2027, and has pushed its daily cash breakeven rate to approximately $11,000 — among the lowest in company history. A quarterly dividend of $0.45 per share, representing a 5% increase from prior levels, underscores management's commitment to sustainable shareholder returns. The company has also completed approximately $1 billion in share buybacks since 2023.
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Head-to-Head Comparison
While both companies occupy the marine tanker space, meaningful differences shape their respective investment profiles. Fleet composition is the most fundamental distinction: INSW runs a two-segment operation split between crude tankers and product carriers, providing diversified exposure across energy-transportation markets. STNG, by contrast, is overwhelmingly concentrated in refined-product tankers, making it a more targeted bet on gasoline, diesel, jet fuel, and naphtha trade flows. In terms of capital allocation, INSW has prioritized a high-payout dividend strategy — distributing upwards of 75-87% of adjusted net income — resulting in a forward yield near 4.2%. STNG has emphasized aggressive debt reduction and share buybacks alongside a more modest but growing dividend (yielding approximately 2.3%). On balance sheet strength, STNG holds an edge with its near-net-cash position and industry-low breakeven rate of $11,000 per day. INSW maintains a conservative 13% net loan-to-value ratio but carries more absolute leverage. Regarding valuation, both trade at similar trailing P/E (price-to-earnings) ratios — STNG at roughly 7.85 and INSW at approximately 8.40 — neither appearing stretched relative to historical norms for the sector. Momentum has favored INSW in the most recent period, with the stock reaching new 52-week highs, while STNG has delivered exceptional year-to-date returns but remains below its May 2026 peak.
Tickeron AI Verdict
Based on observable trend consistency, relative positioning, and structural catalyst alignment, Tickeron's AI-driven analysis would likely lean toward INSW in the current environment, though the margin is narrow. The rationale rests on several factors: INSW's diversified crude-and-products fleet provides exposure to both sides of the current tanker-rate upcycle, reducing single-segment concentration risk. The company's consolidated ownership of the Tankers International VLCC pool and its expanding Suezmax platform enhance commercial scalability. Additionally, the stock's sustained push to new 52-week highs suggests stronger near-term trend consistency from a momentum perspective. That said, STNG's fortress balance sheet, ultralow cash breakeven rate, and disciplined capital-return framework make it an exceptionally resilient operator — one that may weather a rate normalization scenario more comfortably. In probabilistic terms, the AI framework would favor INSW for trend-following strategies in the current climate, while recognizing STNG as a structurally sound alternative with a stronger margin of safety.
Disclaimer
The information on this webpage is provided for general informational and educational purposes only and is not intended as investment advice, a recommendation to purchase or sell any security, or an offer or solicitation related to investments. It does not consider your personal financial situation, goals, or risk profile, and all investing carries inherent risks, including the possibility of losing your entire investment. For more details, please review our full disclaimer.
To compare these two companies we present long-term analysis, their fundamental ratings and make comparative short-term technical analysis which are presented below. The conclusion is INSW is a Buy and STNG is a StrongBuy.
Long-Term Analysis
It is best to consider a long-term outlook for a ticker by using Fundamental Analysis (FA) ratings. The rating of 1 to 100, where 1 is best and 100 is worst, is divided into thirds. The first third (a green rating of 1-33) indicates that the ticker is undervalued; the second third (a grey number between 34 and 66) means that the ticker is valued fairly; and the last third (red number of 67 to 100) reflects that the ticker is undervalued. We use an FA Score to show how many ratings show the ticker to be undervalued (green) or overvalued (red).
INSW’s FA Score shows that 3 FA rating(s) are green whileSTNG’s FA Score has 1 green FA rating(s).
- INSW’s FA Score: 3 green, 2 red.
- STNG’s FA Score: 1 green, 4 red.
Short-Term Analysis
It is best to consider a short-term outlook for a ticker by using Technical Analysis (TA) indicators. We use Odds of Success as the percentage of outcomes which confirm successful trade signals in the past.
If the Odds of Success (the likelihood of the continuation of a trend) for each indicator are greater than 50%, then the generated signal is confirmed. A green percentage from 90% to 51% indicates that the ticker is in a bullish trend. A red percentage from 90% - 51% indicates that the ticker is in a bearish trend. All grey percentages are below 50% and are considered not to confirm the trend signal.
INSW’s TA Score shows that 5 TA indicator(s) are bullish while STNG’s TA Score has 6 bullish TA indicator(s).
- INSW’s TA Score: 5 bullish, 3 bearish.
- STNG’s TA Score: 6 bullish, 3 bearish.
Price Growth
INSW (@Oil & Gas Pipelines) experienced а +4.23% price change this week, while STNG (@Oil & Gas Pipelines) price change was -2.05% for the same time period.
The average weekly price growth across all stocks in the @Oil & Gas Pipelines industry was -0.80%. For the same industry, the average monthly price growth was +6.86%, and the average quarterly price growth was +19.49%.
Reported Earning Dates
INSW is expected to report earnings on Aug 12, 2026.
STNG is expected to report earnings on Nov 03, 2026.
Industries' Descriptions
@Oil & Gas Pipelines (-0.80% weekly)Oil & Gas Pipelines industry includes companies that transport natural gas and crude oil through pipelines. These companies also collect and market the fuels. The pipeline segment could be considered as a midstream operation – functioning as a link between the upstream and downstream operations in the oil and gas industry. Some of the largest U.S. pipeline players include Enterprise Products Partners L.P, TC Energy Corporation and Energy Transfer, L.P.
| INSW | STNG | INSW / STNG | |
| Capitalization | 4.76B | 3.9B | 122% |
| EBITDA | 750M | 1.06B | 71% |
| Gain YTD | 116.156 | 54.993 | 211% |
| P/E Ratio | 8.76 | 4.85 | 181% |
| Revenue | 985M | 1.22B | 81% |
| Total Cash | N/A | 1.84B | - |
| Total Debt | 610M | 729M | 84% |
INSW | STNG | ||
|---|---|---|---|
OUTLOOK RATING 1..100 | 46 | 36 | |
VALUATION overvalued / fair valued / undervalued 1..100 | 17 Undervalued | 25 Undervalued | |
PROFIT vs RISK RATING 1..100 | 8 | 41 | |
SMR RATING 1..100 | 37 | 39 | |
PRICE GROWTH RATING 1..100 | 35 | 40 | |
P/E GROWTH RATING 1..100 | 20 | 74 | |
SEASONALITY SCORE 1..100 | 50 | 50 |
Tickeron ratings are formulated such that a rating of 1 designates the most successful stocks in a given industry, while a rating of 100 points to the least successful stocks for that industry.
INSW's Valuation (17) in the Marine Shipping industry is in the same range as STNG (25). This means that INSW’s stock grew similarly to STNG’s over the last 12 months.
INSW's Profit vs Risk Rating (8) in the Marine Shipping industry is somewhat better than the same rating for STNG (41). This means that INSW’s stock grew somewhat faster than STNG’s over the last 12 months.
INSW's SMR Rating (37) in the Marine Shipping industry is in the same range as STNG (39). This means that INSW’s stock grew similarly to STNG’s over the last 12 months.
INSW's Price Growth Rating (35) in the Marine Shipping industry is in the same range as STNG (40). This means that INSW’s stock grew similarly to STNG’s over the last 12 months.
INSW's P/E Growth Rating (20) in the Marine Shipping industry is somewhat better than the same rating for STNG (74). This means that INSW’s stock grew somewhat faster than STNG’s over the last 12 months.
| INSW | STNG | |
|---|---|---|
| RSI ODDS (%) | 7 days ago 59% | 3 days ago 85% |
| Stochastic ODDS (%) | 3 days ago 58% | 3 days ago 68% |
| Momentum ODDS (%) | 3 days ago 84% | 3 days ago 84% |
| MACD ODDS (%) | 3 days ago 73% | 3 days ago 75% |
| TrendWeek ODDS (%) | 3 days ago 79% | 3 days ago 72% |
| TrendMonth ODDS (%) | 3 days ago 80% | 3 days ago 80% |
| Advances ODDS (%) | 3 days ago 77% | 10 days ago 79% |
| Declines ODDS (%) | 17 days ago 69% | 4 days ago 72% |
| BollingerBands ODDS (%) | N/A | 3 days ago 80% |
| Aroon ODDS (%) | 3 days ago 72% | N/A |
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INSW and
Correlation & Price change
A.I.dvisor indicates that over the last year, INSW has been closely correlated with TNK. These tickers have moved in lockstep 88% of the time. This A.I.-generated data suggests there is a high statistical probability that if INSW jumps, then TNK could also see price increases.
| Ticker / NAME | Correlation To INSW | 1D Price Change % | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| INSW | 100% | +1.02% | ||
| TNK - INSW | 88% Closely correlated | +2.60% | ||
| TK - INSW | 83% Closely correlated | +3.10% | ||
| DHT - INSW | 81% Closely correlated | +0.11% | ||
| FRO - INSW | 81% Closely correlated | +0.69% | ||
| TEN - INSW | 81% Closely correlated | +1.08% | ||
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STNG and
Correlation & Price change
A.I.dvisor indicates that over the last year, STNG has been closely correlated with TNK. These tickers have moved in lockstep 80% of the time. This A.I.-generated data suggests there is a high statistical probability that if STNG jumps, then TNK could also see price increases.
| Ticker / NAME | Correlation To STNG | 1D Price Change % | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| STNG | 100% | +3.08% | ||
| TNK - STNG | 80% Closely correlated | +2.60% | ||
| INSW - STNG | 77% Closely correlated | +1.02% | ||
| TRMD - STNG | 74% Closely correlated | +0.23% | ||
| TK - STNG | 73% Closely correlated | +3.10% | ||
| FRO - STNG | 72% Closely correlated | +0.69% | ||
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