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INSW vs TK
Which Stock Would AI Choose? International Seaways (INSW) vs. Teekay Corporation (TK) Stock Comparison
Key Takeaways
- International Seaways (INSW) and Teekay Corporation (TK) both operate in the crude oil and petroleum product marine transportation sector, yet differ sharply in scale, fleet composition, and corporate structure.
- INSW has delivered a year-to-date return of approximately 98%, significantly outpacing TK's roughly 32% gain, reflecting divergent market positioning and earnings momentum.
- INSW's market capitalization of roughly $4.2 billion is more than four times larger than TK's approximately $960 million, giving it greater scale and liquidity advantages.
- Both companies benefit from tight tanker supply conditions driven by an aging global fleet, geopolitical route disruptions, and rising environmental compliance costs.
- INSW emphasizes aggressive shareholder returns with an 85% adjusted net income payout ratio, while TK operates with a far more conservative balance sheet, carrying minimal debt.
- Key risks for both include spot-rate volatility, an expanding industry orderbook, and the potential for normalizing tanker demand if geopolitical tensions ease.
Introduction
Investors in the marine shipping sector seeking exposure to crude oil and petroleum product transportation often encounter INSW and TK as two distinct ways to access the tanker market. While both companies generate revenue from moving energy commodities across global sea lanes, their business models, fleet profiles, and recent stock performance tell markedly different stories. This comparison is relevant for energy-sector investors, value-oriented traders, and anyone monitoring how geopolitical events and fleet supply dynamics influence shipping equities. By examining each company's recent performance, strategic positioning, and relative risk profile, readers can better assess how these two tanker names fit into a broader market view.
INSW Overview and Recent Performance
International Seaways, Inc. (INSW) is one of the world's largest publicly traded tanker companies, headquartered in New York City and operating a fleet of approximately 70 oceangoing vessels across two primary segments: Crude Tankers and Product Carriers. Its crude segment includes Very Large Crude Carriers (VLCCs), Suezmax, and Aframax tankers, while its product carrier fleet spans LR2, LR1, and MR (Medium Range) vessels.
In recent months, INSW has posted exceptionally strong financial results. First-quarter 2026 adjusted earnings reached $3.90 per share, a substantial beat against consensus estimates, while revenues surged to $325 million from $183 million in the prior-year quarter. The company declared its largest quarterly dividend in history at $4.55 per share, reflecting a newly raised payout ratio of 85% of adjusted net income. Total liquidity stood at approximately $918 million, and the net loan-to-value ratio was below 7%, underscoring a robust balance sheet.
Strategic developments have also shaped sentiment. INSW acquired full ownership of Tankers International, a premier VLCC pooling platform, and launched a new Suezmax pool to broaden commercial reach. Fleet renewal remains active, with four dual-fuel-ready LR1 newbuilds scheduled for 2026 delivery and older vessels being monetized. Analysts have maintained a generally constructive view, with Deutsche Bank reiterating a Buy rating and the stock receiving a Zacks Rank of #1 (Strong Buy) in recent assessments. The stock's year-to-date gain of roughly 98% reflects a combination of strong tanker rates, aggressive capital returns, and operational execution.
TK Overview and Recent Performance
Teekay Corporation Ltd. (TK), headquartered in Hamilton, Bermuda, is a marine energy transportation company that provides international crude oil transportation and marine services primarily through its controlling ownership interest in Teekay Tankers Ltd. (TNK). Teekay Tankers operates a fleet of 34 double-hull tankers, including 14 Suezmax vessels, 18 Aframax/LR2 tankers, and two Suezmax newbuilds, supplemented by three time-chartered-in vessels. The Teekay group also manages and operates vessels for the Australian government and runs a ship-to-ship transfer business in the U.S. Gulf and Caribbean.
TK's recent performance reflects a smaller but improving earnings profile. For full-year 2025, the company reported revenue of approximately $950 million and net income of $98 million, or $1.13 per diluted share. First-quarter 2026 results showed meaningful improvement, with revenue reaching $286 million and net income climbing to approximately $154 million. The company paid a $1.00 special dividend in June 2026. TK's balance sheet is notably conservative, with total debt of just $46 million against a market capitalization of roughly $960 million.
Sentiment around TK has been more measured. The stock carries a consensus analyst rating of Hold, and recent weeks have seen notable insider selling by directors. The company's beta of approximately 0.22 indicates very low volatility relative to the broader market. TK shares have gained approximately 32% year-to-date, a respectable return but one that trails INSW and other tanker peers by a wide margin. The structural distinction of being a holding company with its primary asset being its stake in Teekay Tankers adds a layer of complexity for investors evaluating TK's standalone valuation.
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Head-to-Head Comparison
The most immediate difference between INSW and TK is scale. INSW's $4.2 billion market capitalization dwarfs TK's $960 million, and its diversified fleet of approximately 70 vessels across crude and product segments provides broader revenue exposure than TK's more focused mid-sized crude tanker fleet of 34 vessels. INSW generated full-year 2025 revenue of roughly $843 million (with a sharp ramp in Q1 2026), while TK posted $950 million in 2025 revenue—similar top-line figures but with very different bottom-line outcomes: INSW's 2025 net income of $309 million far exceeded TK's $98 million.
Growth drivers also diverge. INSW is aggressively expanding through fleet renewal, commercial pool consolidation, and higher shareholder payouts, while TK's growth is more closely tied to its subsidiary Teekay Tankers' earnings and the mid-sized tanker market. INSW's spot-market exposure of roughly 82% amplifies both upside and downside, whereas TK's operating model, which includes Australian government marine services contracts, provides a modest buffer of contracted cash flow visibility.
On risk factors, both companies face industry-wide headwinds: an orderbook exceeding 15% of the existing fleet, potential normalization of tanker rates if geopolitical tensions ease, and rising environmental compliance costs under frameworks such as the Carbon Intensity Indicator (CII). However, TK's extremely low debt load ($46 million versus INSW's $610 million) and low-beta profile make it a lower-volatility vehicle, while INSW's higher leverage—both operational and financial—means it could experience sharper swings in either direction.
Market sentiment favors INSW, which has attracted multiple analyst upgrades and a Strong Buy consensus from several research firms, while TK holds a consensus Hold rating with recent insider selling raising investor caution. From a valuation standpoint, both stocks screen relatively inexpensive on trailing earnings: INSW trades at approximately 8 times earnings and TK at roughly 7 times, though INSW's forward earnings estimates imply significantly more near-term earnings power.
Tickeron AI Verdict
Based on observable trend consistency, relative momentum, and fundamental positioning, Tickeron's AI analytical framework would likely favor INSW over TK in the current market environment. INSW's combination of stronger earnings momentum, aggressive shareholder return policy, scale advantages, and strategic consolidation of the Tankers International platform presents a more compelling and consistent trend profile. TK's conservative balance sheet and diversified marine services business offer stability, but its slower price appreciation, lower earnings power, and the structural complexity of its holding-company relationship with Teekay Tankers weigh on its relative attractiveness. That said, no AI assessment can predict future outcomes with certainty. The tanker market remains highly sensitive to geopolitical developments, oil demand patterns, and fleet supply dynamics—variables that can shift rapidly and affect both stocks materially. The probabilistic edge, based on currently observable data, tilts toward INSW.
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 TK 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 whileTK’s FA Score has 3 green FA rating(s).
- INSW’s FA Score: 3 green, 2 red.
- TK’s FA Score: 3 green, 2 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 TK’s TA Score has 6 bullish TA indicator(s).
- INSW’s TA Score: 5 bullish, 3 bearish.
- TK’s TA Score: 6 bullish, 3 bearish.
Price Growth
INSW (@Oil & Gas Pipelines) experienced а +4.23% price change this week, while TK (@Oil & Gas Pipelines) price change was +4.02% 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.
TK is expected to report earnings on Oct 29, 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 | TK | INSW / TK | |
| Capitalization | 4.76B | 1.01B | 470% |
| EBITDA | 750M | 437M | 172% |
| Gain YTD | 116.156 | 39.469 | 294% |
| P/E Ratio | 8.76 | 10.35 | 85% |
| Revenue | 985M | 950M | 104% |
| Total Cash | N/A | N/A | - |
| Total Debt | 610M | 46.4M | 1,315% |
INSW | TK | ||
|---|---|---|---|
OUTLOOK RATING 1..100 | 39 | 36 | |
VALUATION overvalued / fair valued / undervalued 1..100 | 17 Undervalued | 24 Undervalued | |
PROFIT vs RISK RATING 1..100 | 8 | 14 | |
SMR RATING 1..100 | 35 | 59 | |
PRICE GROWTH RATING 1..100 | 35 | 42 | |
P/E GROWTH RATING 1..100 | 23 | 11 | |
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 TK (24). This means that INSW’s stock grew similarly to TK’s over the last 12 months.
INSW's Profit vs Risk Rating (8) in the Marine Shipping industry is in the same range as TK (14). This means that INSW’s stock grew similarly to TK’s over the last 12 months.
INSW's SMR Rating (35) in the Marine Shipping industry is in the same range as TK (59). This means that INSW’s stock grew similarly to TK’s over the last 12 months.
INSW's Price Growth Rating (35) in the Marine Shipping industry is in the same range as TK (42). This means that INSW’s stock grew similarly to TK’s over the last 12 months.
TK's P/E Growth Rating (11) in the Marine Shipping industry is in the same range as INSW (23). This means that TK’s stock grew similarly to INSW’s over the last 12 months.
| INSW | TK | |
|---|---|---|
| RSI ODDS (%) | 5 days ago 59% | 2 days ago 90% |
| Stochastic ODDS (%) | 2 days ago 53% | 2 days ago 57% |
| Momentum ODDS (%) | 2 days ago 87% | 2 days ago 81% |
| MACD ODDS (%) | 2 days ago 73% | 2 days ago 82% |
| TrendWeek ODDS (%) | 2 days ago 79% | 2 days ago 77% |
| TrendMonth ODDS (%) | 2 days ago 80% | 2 days ago 76% |
| Advances ODDS (%) | 2 days ago 77% | 3 days ago 79% |
| Declines ODDS (%) | 15 days ago 69% | 15 days ago 66% |
| BollingerBands ODDS (%) | N/A | 4 days ago 84% |
| Aroon ODDS (%) | 2 days ago 72% | 2 days ago 55% |
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| 1 Day | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| MFs / NAME | Price $ | Chg $ | Chg % |
| MISIX | 21.82 | N/A | N/A |
| Victory Trivalent International Sm-Cp I | |||
| FSKAX | 205.11 | N/A | N/A |
| Fidelity Total Market Index | |||
| GSXPX | 73.56 | N/A | N/A |
| Goldman Sachs Small Cp Val Insghts P | |||
| IGIVX | 137.93 | -0.20 | -0.14% |
| Integrity Growth & Income Fund I | |||
| AIOIX | 12.49 | -0.04 | -0.32% |
| American Century International Opps Inv | |||
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 | 84% Closely correlated | +3.10% | ||
| FRO - INSW | 81% Closely correlated | +0.69% | ||
| DHT - INSW | 81% Closely correlated | +0.11% | ||
| TEN - INSW | 81% Closely correlated | +1.08% | ||
More | ||||
TK and
Correlation & Price change
A.I.dvisor indicates that over the last year, TK has been closely correlated with TNK. These tickers have moved in lockstep 90% of the time. This A.I.-generated data suggests there is a high statistical probability that if TK jumps, then TNK could also see price increases.