Safe Bulkers, Inc. (SB) AI Stock Analysis
SB AI stock analysis summary
AI ResearchSafe Bulkers, Inc. (NYSE: SB) is a marine drybulk shipping company with a trailing twelve-month revenue of $307.5M and a profit margin of 28.3%. In the quarter ended June 30, 2026, revenue increased 33.0% year-over-year while net earnings grew 296.2%. The stock trades at a trailing price-to-earnings multiple of 10.2x and offers a forward dividend yield of 3.83%.
- Market cap
- $891.3M
- Revenue (TTM)
- $307.5M
- P/E
- 10.2x fwd 2.1x
- 1Y return
- 88.5% S&P 500 16.8%
- Avg. target
- $9.50 21.3% vs last close
Bull case
- Trailing twelve months operating margin reached 41.1%, well above the 11.7% median of its US-listed Industrials peers.
- Quarterly earnings jumped 296.2% year-over-year for the period ended June 30, 2026, supported by 33.0% revenue growth.
- The stock has beaten the broader market over the past year with an 88.5% return compared to 16.8% for the S&P 500.
Bear case
- Annual revenue has demonstrated high volatility, falling 18.7% in FY2023 and 10.4% in FY2025.
- Analysts project earnings to drop 32.4% and revenue to decline 9.7% in the next fiscal year.
- The company carries $511.4M in total debt against $134.5M in cash, leaving $376.9M in net debt.
What Safe Bulkers does
Safe Bulkers, Inc. provides marine drybulk transportation services, carrying raw commodities such as coal, grain, and iron ore worldwide. Founded in 2007 and headquartered in Monaco, the company operates across international shipping routes. As of March 18, 2022, Safe Bulkers managed a fleet of 40 vessels with a total carrying capacity of 3,925,500 deadweight tons and an average vessel age of 10.4 years. The fleet consists of 12 Panamax, 7 Kamsarmax, 15 post-Panamax, and 6 Capesize vessels, providing diversified capacity across multiple bulk cargo classes.
Growth and profitability
Between FY2020 and FY2025, Safe Bulkers recorded a revenue compound annual growth rate of 6.8%. Annual performance has fluctuated with industry cycles: revenue peaked at $349.7M in FY2022 before dropping 18.7% to $284.4M in FY2023. Revenue recovered to $307.6M in FY2024 but fell 10.4% to $275.7M in FY2025, when operating margin fell to 25.1% and net income was $38.6M. However, trailing twelve months revenue reached $307.5M with an operating margin of 41.1%. In the latest quarter ended June 30, 2026, revenue grew 33.0% year-over-year, and earnings surged 296.2%.
Balance sheet and cash flow
As of June 30, 2026, Safe Bulkers held $134.5M in cash and short-term investments against $511.4M in total debt, resulting in net debt of $376.9M. Total assets stood at $1.43B, while shareholders' equity was $870.3M, yielding a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.59 and a current ratio of 1.00. In FY2025, the company generated $102.3M in operating cash flow and $60.3M in free cash flow. Capital allocation in FY2025 included $42.0M in capital expenditures, $28.6M in dividends paid, and $11.0M in share buybacks, contributing to a 5-year share count decline of 16.3%.
Valuation and performance
Safe Bulkers trades at a trailing P/E of 10.2x and an EV/EBITDA of 7.7x, both well below the median of its US-listed Industrials peers, which trade at 24.8x and 13.9x, respectively. Its price-to-sales ratio is 2.9x compared to the peer median of 1.5x, while its price-to-book ratio stands at 1.1x. Over the past year, SB shares returned 88.5%, outperforming the S&P 500 (SPY) return of 16.8%. Over five years, the stock gained 113.2% compared to 83.0% for the benchmark index.
SB dividend
Safe Bulkers pays a quarterly dividend with an annual forward payout of $0.30 per share, representing a dividend yield of 3.83%. The company maintains a payout ratio of 32.6% and has paid dividends for 5 consecutive years. Its most recent ex-dividend date was August 13, 2026.
What analysts expect
Wall Street coverage consists of 2 Strong Buy ratings, with 0 Buy, 0 Hold, and 0 Sell recommendations. The mean price target of $9.50 represents a 21.3% premium over the October 16, 2026 closing price of $7.83. For the fiscal year ending December 31, 2026, analysts estimate EPS of $1.03 on revenue of $322.1M. Over the last four quarters, the company beat EPS expectations 3 times. The next earnings release is scheduled for November 24, 2026.
Key risks and what to watch
- Cyclical shipping demand creates uneven free cash flow, which ranged from -$86.9M in FY2023 to $60.3M in FY2025.
- Short interest stands at 6.2% of the float, reflecting market skepticism despite recent strong returns.
- A current ratio of 1.00 indicates working capital coverage is tight relative to short-term obligations.
AI-generated research summary. Written with AI from Quotelinks data as of October 16, 2026 and checked so every figure matches that data. For information only, not investment advice. Disclaimer
About this SB AI stock analysis
This page is an AI-written research summary of Safe Bulkers, Inc. (SB). The text was generated on October 30, 2026 from Quotelinks data as of October 16, 2026 (company profile, annual results, latest balance sheet, valuation, price performance and analyst estimates). An automatic check rejects any draft that contains a figure not found in that data. It is not investment advice; verify figures on the linked tabs before making decisions.
Related: SB income statement, SB balance sheet, SB key metrics, SB analyst forecast, SB chart. See the SB stock overview for the latest quote and news.
SB AI stock analysis FAQ
What is Safe Bulkers' dividend yield?
Safe Bulkers has a forward dividend yield of 3.83%, paying an annual dividend of $0.30 per share on a quarterly schedule. The dividend payout ratio is 32.6%.
How much debt does Safe Bulkers have?
As of June 30, 2026, Safe Bulkers had total debt of $511.4M and cash and short-term investments of $134.5M, resulting in net debt of $376.9M. Its debt-to-equity ratio is 0.59.
What is the consensus analyst price target for SB stock?
The mean analyst price target is $9.50, which sits 21.3% above the October 16, 2026 closing price of $7.83. Both covering analysts rate the stock a Strong Buy.
When is Safe Bulkers' next earnings date?
Safe Bulkers is scheduled to report its next financial results on November 24, 2026.