Analyzing C3is (NASDAQ:CISS) and Geopark (NYSE:GPRK)

Geopark (NYSE:GPRK) and C3is (NASDAQ:CISS) are both small-cap energy companies, but which is the superior business? We will contrast the two businesses based on the strength of their profitability, risk, earnings, dividends, valuation, analyst recommendations and institutional ownership.

Profitability

This table compares Geopark and C3is’ net margins, return on equity and return on assets.

	Net Margins	Return on Equity	Return on Assets
Geopark	16.00%	31.33%	7.66%
C3is	41.33%	14.94%	13.24%

Earnings & Valuation

This table compares Geopark and C3is”s gross revenue, earnings per share (EPS) and valuation.

	Gross Revenue	Price/Sales Ratio	Net Income	Earnings Per Share	Price/Earnings Ratio
Geopark	$492.52 million	1.17	$49.67 million	$1.47	7.57
C3is	$50.97 million	0.04	$10.47 million	$4,138.37	0.00

Geopark has higher revenue and earnings than C3is. C3is is trading at a lower price-to-earnings ratio than Geopark, indicating that it is currently the more affordable of the two stocks.

Insider & Institutional Ownership

68.2% of Geopark shares are owned by institutional investors. Comparatively, 10.5% of C3is shares are owned by institutional investors. 1.5% of Geopark shares are owned by company insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that endowments, hedge funds and large money managers believe a stock is poised for long-term growth.

Analyst Ratings

This is a summary of recent recommendations and price targets for Geopark and C3is, as provided by MarketBeat.

	Sell Ratings	Hold Ratings	Buy Ratings	Strong Buy Ratings	Rating Score
Geopark	0	2	1	0	2.33
C3is	1	0	0	0	1.00

Geopark presently has a consensus target price of $12.00, suggesting a potential upside of 7.89%. Given Geopark’s stronger consensus rating and higher possible upside, research analysts clearly believe Geopark is more favorable than C3is.

Volatility & Risk

Geopark has a beta of 0.41, suggesting that its stock price is 59% less volatile than the S&P 500. Comparatively, C3is has a beta of 1.41, suggesting that its stock price is 41% more volatile than the S&P 500.

Summary

Geopark beats C3is on 10 of the 14 factors compared between the two stocks.

About Geopark

GeoPark Limited operates as an oil and natural gas exploration and production company primarily in Chile, Colombia, Brazil, Argentina, Ecuador, and other Latin American countries. It engages in the exploration, development, and production of oil and gas reserves. The company was formerly known as GeoPark Holdings Limited and changed its name to GeoPark Limited in July 2013. GeoPark Limited was founded in 2002 and is based in Bogotá, Colombia.

About C3is

C3is Inc. offers international seaborne transportation services. It provides its services to dry bulk charterers, including national and private industrial users, commodity producers and traders, oil producers, refineries, and commodities traders and producers. The company owns and operates a fleet of two drybulk carriers, which transport major bulks, such as iron ore, coal and grains, as well as minor bulks comprising bauxite, phosphate, and fertilizers, and one Aframax crude oil tanker that transports crude oil. C3is Inc. was founded in 2021 and is based in Athens, Greece.