Ultrapetrol (Bahamas) Limited (NASDAQ: ULTR) and Matson (NYSE:MATX) are both transportation companies, but which is the better stock? We will contrast the two businesses based on the strength of their profitability, valuation, risk, dividends, analyst recommendations, institutional ownership and earnings.
Valuation & Earnings
This table compares Ultrapetrol (Bahamas) Limited and Matson’s gross revenue, earnings per share (EPS) and valuation.
| Gross Revenue | Price/Sales Ratio | EBITDA | Earnings Per Share | Price/Earnings Ratio | |
| Ultrapetrol (Bahamas) Limited | N/A | N/A | N/A | ($0.47) | -0.11 |
| Matson | $2.01 billion | 0.65 | $225.70 million | $1.73 | 17.53 |
Matson has higher revenue and earnings than Ultrapetrol (Bahamas) Limited. Ultrapetrol (Bahamas) Limited is trading at a lower price-to-earnings ratio than Matson, indicating that it is currently the more affordable of the two stocks.
Insider and Institutional Ownership
4.0% of Ultrapetrol (Bahamas) Limited shares are held by institutional investors. Comparatively, 83.6% of Matson shares are held by institutional investors. 2.6% of Matson shares are held by insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that large money managers, hedge funds and endowments believe a company is poised for long-term growth.
Risk and Volatility
Ultrapetrol (Bahamas) Limited has a beta of 2.39, indicating that its share price is 139% more volatile than the S&P 500. Comparatively, Matson has a beta of 1.13, indicating that its share price is 13% more volatile than the S&P 500.
Dividends
Matson pays an annual dividend of $0.80 per share and has a dividend yield of 2.6%. Ultrapetrol (Bahamas) Limited does not pay a dividend. Matson pays out 46.2% of its earnings in the form of a dividend. Matson has raised its dividend for 4 consecutive years.
Profitability
This table compares Ultrapetrol (Bahamas) Limited and Matson’s net margins, return on equity and return on assets.
| Net Margins | Return on Equity | Return on Assets | |
| Ultrapetrol (Bahamas) Limited | -58.33% | -71.51% | -22.45% |
| Matson | 3.76% | 16.10% | 3.69% |
Analyst Recommendations
This is a breakdown of current ratings and target prices for Ultrapetrol (Bahamas) Limited and Matson, as reported by MarketBeat.com.
| Sell Ratings | Hold Ratings | Buy Ratings | Strong Buy Ratings | Rating Score | |
| Ultrapetrol (Bahamas) Limited | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | N/A |
| Matson | 0 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 2.33 |
Matson has a consensus target price of $39.00, suggesting a potential upside of 28.63%. Given Matson’s higher probable upside, analysts plainly believe Matson is more favorable than Ultrapetrol (Bahamas) Limited.
Summary
Matson beats Ultrapetrol (Bahamas) Limited on 11 of the 13 factors compared between the two stocks.
Ultrapetrol (Bahamas) Limited Company Profile
Ultrapetrol (Bahamas) Limited is an industrial shipping company serving the marine transportation markets. The Company serves the shipping markets for grain, forest products, minerals, crude oil, petroleum and refined petroleum products, as well as technological products through its container feeder vessels, and the offshore oil platform supply market through its operations in the three segments of the marine transportation industry. The Company’s segments are River Business, Offshore Supply Business and Ocean Business. The Company’s River Business owns and operates river barges and pushboats that transport dry bulk and liquid cargos through the Hidrovia Region of South America. Its Offshore Supply Business owns and operates vessels that provide logistical and transportation services for offshore petroleum exploration and production companies, in the coastal waters of Brazil and the North Sea. In the Ocean Business, the Company operates ocean-going vessels.
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