Head-To-Head Comparison: Ultrapetrol (Bahamas) (OTCMKTS:ULTRF) and ZIM Integrated Shipping Services (NYSE:ZIM)

ZIM Integrated Shipping Services (NYSE:ZIM) and Ultrapetrol (Bahamas) (OTCMKTS:ULTRF) are both transportation companies, but which is the superior business? We will contrast the two companies based on the strength of their dividends, valuation, analyst recommendations, risk, profitability, institutional ownership and earnings.

Analyst Ratings

This is a summary of recent recommendations and price targets for ZIM Integrated Shipping Services and Ultrapetrol (Bahamas), as provided by MarketBeat.com.

	Sell Ratings	Hold Ratings	Buy Ratings	Strong Buy Ratings	Rating Score
ZIM Integrated Shipping Services	5	1	0	1	1.57
Ultrapetrol (Bahamas)	0	0	0	0	0.00

ZIM Integrated Shipping Services currently has a consensus price target of $13.54, indicating a potential downside of 12.62%. Given Ultrapetrol (Bahamas)’s higher possible upside, analysts clearly believe Ultrapetrol (Bahamas) is more favorable than ZIM Integrated Shipping Services.

Profitability

This table compares ZIM Integrated Shipping Services and Ultrapetrol (Bahamas)’s net margins, return on equity and return on assets.

	Net Margins	Return on Equity	Return on Assets
ZIM Integrated Shipping Services	19.26%	48.63%	15.13%
Ultrapetrol (Bahamas)	N/A	N/A	N/A

Valuation & Earnings

This table compares ZIM Integrated Shipping Services and Ultrapetrol (Bahamas)”s gross revenue, earnings per share (EPS) and valuation.

	Gross Revenue	Price/Sales Ratio	Net Income	Earnings Per Share	Price/Earnings Ratio
ZIM Integrated Shipping Services	$8.43 billion	0.22	-$2.70 billion	$17.83	0.87
Ultrapetrol (Bahamas)	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A

Ultrapetrol (Bahamas) has lower revenue, but higher earnings than ZIM Integrated Shipping Services.

Insider & Institutional Ownership

21.4% of ZIM Integrated Shipping Services shares are held by institutional investors. 1.3% of ZIM Integrated Shipping Services shares are held 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.

Summary

ZIM Integrated Shipping Services beats Ultrapetrol (Bahamas) on 8 of the 9 factors compared between the two stocks.

About ZIM Integrated Shipping Services

ZIM Integrated Shipping Services Ltd., together with its subsidiaries, provides container shipping and related services in Israel and internationally. It provides door-to-door and port-to-port transportation services for various types of customers, including end-users, consolidators, and freight forwarders. The company also offers ZIMonitor, a premium reefer cargo tracking service. As of March 1, 2024, it operated a fleet of 150 vessels, which included 134 container vessels and 16 vehicle transport vessels; and as of December 31, 2023, it operated a network of 67 weekly lines. The company was incorporated in 1945 and is headquartered in Haifa, Israel.

About Ultrapetrol (Bahamas)

Ultrapetrol (Bahamas) Limited, an industrial shipping company, provides marine transportation services in South America, Europe, Central America, North America, and Asia. The company operates in three segments: River Business, Offshore Supply Business, and Ocean Business. The River Business segment owns and operates dry and tanker barges, and push boats in the Hidrovia region of South America. Its dry barges transport agricultural and forestry products, iron ore, and other cargoes; and tanker barges carry petroleum products, vegetable oils, and other liquids. As of December 31, 2015, this segment had 681 barges with approximately 1.3 million dwt capacity; and 34 push boats. The Offshore Supply Business segment owns and operates vessels that provide logistical and transportation services for offshore petroleum exploration and production companies. It transports supplies, such as containerized equipment, drill casings, pipes, and heavy loads; fuel, water, drilling fluids, and bulk cement; and various other supplies to drilling rigs and platforms. This segment's fleet consisted of 13 platform supply vessels and 1 remotely operated vehicle. The Ocean Business segment owns and operates oceangoing vessels, which transports petroleum products, as well as a container line service in the Argentine cabotage trade. The company serves petroleum, agricultural, and mining companies. Ultrapetrol (Bahamas) Limited was founded in 1992 and is headquartered in Nassau, the Bahamas. Ultrapetrol (Bahamas) Limited is a subsidiary of Sparrow Capital Investments Ltd.