Reviewing OceanPal (NASDAQ:OP) & C3is (NASDAQ:CISS)

C3is (NASDAQ:CISS) and OceanPal (NASDAQ:OP) are both small-cap transportation companies, but which is the better investment? We will compare the two companies based on the strength of their analyst recommendations, valuation, profitability, dividends, earnings, institutional ownership and risk.

Profitability

This table compares C3is and OceanPal’s net margins, return on equity and return on assets.

	Net Margins	Return on Equity	Return on Assets
C3is	32.12%	22.99%	14.33%
OceanPal	-16.24%	-3.63%	-3.51%

Valuation and Earnings

This table compares C3is and OceanPal’s revenue, earnings per share (EPS) and valuation.

	Gross Revenue	Price/Sales Ratio	Net Income	Earnings Per Share	Price/Earnings Ratio
C3is	$36.90 million	0.01	$9.29 million	$30.11	0.05
OceanPal	$18.96 million	0.72	-$1.98 million	($2.83)	-0.65

C3is has higher revenue and earnings than OceanPal. OceanPal is trading at a lower price-to-earnings ratio than C3is, indicating that it is currently the more affordable of the two stocks.

Analyst Recommendations

This is a breakdown of current ratings for C3is and OceanPal, as reported by MarketBeat.

	Sell Ratings	Hold Ratings	Buy Ratings	Strong Buy Ratings	Rating Score
C3is	0	0	0	0	N/A
OceanPal	0	0	0	0	N/A

Institutional and Insider Ownership

10.5% of C3is shares are owned by institutional investors. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that hedge funds, endowments and large money managers believe a company is poised for long-term growth.

Summary

C3is beats OceanPal on 8 of the 9 factors compared between the two stocks.

About C3is

C3is Inc. offers international seaborne transportation services. It provides its services to dry bulk charterers, including national and private industrial users, commodity producers and traders, oil producers, refineries, and commodities traders and producers. The company owns and operates a fleet of two drybulk carriers, which transport major bulks, such as iron ore, coal and grains, as well as minor bulks comprising bauxite, phosphate, and fertilizers, and one Aframax crude oil tanker that transports crude oil. C3is Inc. was founded in 2021 and is based in Athens, Greece.

About OceanPal

OceanPal Inc. provides ocean-going transportation services worldwide. The company owns and operates dry bulk carriers that transport major bulks, such as iron ore, coal, and grains, as well as minor bulks, including bauxite, phosphate, and fertilizers. As of December 31, 2023, its fleet consisted of five dry bulk carriers, which include three Panamaxes and two Capesize vessels with a cargo carrying capacity of approximately 572,599 deadweight tons. The company was incorporated in 2021 and is based in Athens, Greece.