Ardmore Shipping (ASC) vs Safe Bulkers (SB)
Head-to-head comparison of performance, valuation, growth, profitability and dividends. Prices delayed 15 minutes; data as of Oct 7, 2026.
Summary
Safe Bulkers (SB) has outperformed Ardmore Shipping (ASC) over the past year, gaining 92.5% versus a gain of 61.4%. Over five years, ASC leads with a +376.3% price change compared with +83.3% for SB. Safe Bulkers is the larger company by market cap ($961.9 million vs $754.9 million), about 1.3 times the size.
On valuation, Safe Bulkers trades at a lower forward P/E (12.1x vs 22.5x for Ardmore Shipping). Ardmore Shipping offers the higher dividend yield (7.41% vs 1.18%).
Summary generated from market data by MetaCap's automated system. Methodology
Relative performance
Percent change in share price from the first common trading day shown; excludes dividends.
Head-to-head
| Metric | ASC | SB |
|---|---|---|
| Share price | $18.48 | $8.45 |
| Market cap | $754.94M | $961.89M |
| 1-day change | -1.81% | -1.52% |
| YTD return | +74.50% | +75.31% |
| 1-year return | +61.40% | +92.48% |
| 5-year return | +376.29% | +83.30% |
| P/E ratio (TTM) | 7.19 | 10.97 |
| Forward P/E | 22.54 | 12.07 |
| EPS (TTM) | $2.57 | $0.77 |
| Dividend yield | 7.41% | 1.18% |
| Annual dividend | $1.37 | $0.10 |
| 52-week high | $20.03 | $9.31 |
| 52-week low | $10.31 | $4.14 |
| Distance from 52-week high | -7.74% | -9.24% |
| Average volume | 600.22K | 1.17M |
| Shares outstanding | 40.85M | 113.83M |
| Sector | Consumer Discretionary | Consumer Discretionary |
| Industry | Marine Transportation | Marine Transportation |
Highlighted cells mark the higher value for growth, returns, margins and yield, and the lower value for P/E ratios. Highlighting is a mechanical comparison, not a recommendation.
Key differences
- SB has outperformed ASC by 31.1 percentage points over the past year.
- Safe Bulkers trades at a higher earnings multiple (11.0x vs 7.2x trailing P/E).
- Ardmore Shipping offers a meaningfully higher dividend yield (7.41% vs 1.18%).
ASC vs SB FAQ
Which is bigger, Ardmore Shipping or Safe Bulkers?
Safe Bulkers (SB) is larger, with a market capitalization of $961.89M compared with $754.94M for Ardmore Shipping (ASC).
Which stock has performed better over the past year, ASC or SB?
SB returned +92.48% over the past 12 months, compared with +61.40% for ASC (price return, excluding dividends). Past performance does not predict future results.
Which has the lower P/E ratio, ASC or SB?
ASC has the lower trailing P/E at 7.2, versus 11.0 for SB. A lower P/E is not by itself a sign of a better investment; it can reflect slower expected growth or higher risk.
Which pays a higher dividend, Ardmore Shipping or Safe Bulkers?
Ardmore Shipping has the higher yield at 7.41%, compared with 1.18% for Safe Bulkers.
Are Ardmore Shipping and Safe Bulkers in the same industry?
Yes. Both are classified in the Marine Transportation industry within the Consumer Discretionary sector.