Financial Comparison: SFL (NYSE:SFL) vs. Odyssey Marine Exploration (NASDAQ:OMEX)

SFL (NYSE:SFL) and Odyssey Marine Exploration (NASDAQ:OMEX) are both small-cap transportation companies, but which is the better investment? We will compare the two businesses based on the strength of their valuation, risk, earnings, profitability, analyst recommendations, institutional ownership and dividends.

Profitability

This table compares SFL and Odyssey Marine Exploration’s net margins, return on equity and return on assets.

	Net Margins	Return on Equity	Return on Assets
SFL	6.20%	8.50%	2.30%
Odyssey Marine Exploration	2,054.49%	-14.85%	59.37%

Earnings & Valuation

This table compares SFL and Odyssey Marine Exploration”s top-line revenue, earnings per share and valuation.

	Gross Revenue	Price/Sales Ratio	Net Income	Earnings Per Share	Price/Earnings Ratio
SFL	$904.40 million	1.39	$130.65 million	$0.41	21.11
Odyssey Marine Exploration	$770,000.00	49.66	$15.66 million	N/A	N/A

SFL has higher revenue and earnings than Odyssey Marine Exploration.

Volatility & Risk

SFL has a beta of 0.51, indicating that its stock price is 49% less volatile than the S&P 500. Comparatively, Odyssey Marine Exploration has a beta of -0.92, indicating that its stock price is 192% less volatile than the S&P 500.

Institutional and Insider Ownership

28.6% of SFL shares are owned by institutional investors. Comparatively, 50.0% of Odyssey Marine Exploration shares are owned by institutional investors. 8.0% of Odyssey Marine Exploration shares are owned by insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that endowments, large money managers and hedge funds believe a company will outperform the market over the long term.

Analyst Ratings

This is a breakdown of recent recommendations and price targets for SFL and Odyssey Marine Exploration, as reported by MarketBeat.

	Sell Ratings	Hold Ratings	Buy Ratings	Strong Buy Ratings	Rating Score
SFL	0	0	1	1	3.50
Odyssey Marine Exploration	0	0	0	0	0.00

Summary

SFL beats Odyssey Marine Exploration on 7 of the 12 factors compared between the two stocks.

About SFL

SFL Corporation Ltd., a maritime and offshore asset owning and chartering company, engages in the ownership, operation, and chartering out of vessels and offshore related assets on medium and long-term charters. The company operates in various sectors of the maritime, and shipping and offshore industries, including oil transportation, dry bulk shipments, chemical transportation, oil products transportation, container transportation, car transportation, and drilling rigs. As of December 31, 2023, the company owned seven crude oil carriers, six oil product tankers, 15 dry bulk carriers, 32 container vessels, one jack-up drilling rig, one ultra-deepwater drilling rig, and five car carriers. It primarily operates in Bermuda, Canada, Cyprus, Liberia, Namibia, Norway, Singapore, the United Kingdom, and the Marshall Islands. The company was formerly known as Ship Finance International Limited and changed its name to SFL Corporation Ltd. in September 2019. SFL Corporation Ltd. was founded in 2003 and is based in Hamilton, Bermuda.

About Odyssey Marine Exploration

Odyssey Marine Exploration, Inc., together with its subsidiaries, discovers, validates, and develops seafloor mineral resources worldwide. The company provides specialized mineral exploration, project development, and marine services to clients. Odyssey Marine Exploration, Inc. was founded in 1994 and is headquartered in Tampa, Florida.