SB
IndustrialsSafe Bulkers, Inc. · Marine Shipping · $670M
What is Safe Bulkers, Inc.?
Safe Bulkers, Inc. is a Monaco-based marine drybulk shipping company that owns and operates a fleet of bulk cargo vessels. The company transports commodities including coal, grain, and iron ore across global trade routes.
Safe Bulkers generates revenue by chartering its drybulk vessels to cargo customers on voyage and time-charter contracts. The fleet spans multiple vessel classes — Panamax, Kamsarmax, post-Panamax, and Capesize — allowing the company to serve a range of cargo sizes and trade lanes. Revenue is closely tied to drybulk freight rates, which fluctuate with global commodity demand and shipping supply conditions.
Safe Bulkers was incorporated in 2008 and is headquartered in Monaco.
- Drybulk vessel ownership and operation
- Coal, grain, and iron ore sea transportation
- Panamax and Kamsarmax class vessel charters
- Post-Panamax and Capesize class vessel charters
- Voyage and time-charter freight contracts
Is SB a Good Stock to Buy?
UQS Score rates SB as Below Average overall, reflecting meaningful structural challenges alongside some areas of relative strength.
The Quality pillar comes in at a Good rating, suggesting the business maintains reasonable operational standards relative to its size. Valuation is rated Attractive, meaning the stock may not be pricing in a premium relative to fundamentals — a point of interest for value-oriented investors.
Both the Moat and Growth pillars register as Weak, indicating limited competitive differentiation and constrained expansion prospects — common headwinds in the cyclical drybulk shipping sector.
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Past performance does not guarantee future results. UQS Score is based on fundamental data and is not a buy/sell recommendation.
Does SB pay dividends?
Yes — Safe Bulkers, Inc. pays a dividend.
Safe Bulkers pays a regular dividend, which can appeal to income-focused investors navigating the cyclical nature of drybulk shipping. Dividend levels in this sector often track freight rate cycles, so payout consistency can vary. Investors should review the company's investor relations page for the most current dividend details.
When does SB report earnings?
Safe Bulkers reports earnings on a quarterly cadence, typical for US-listed equities.
Results tend to reflect prevailing drybulk freight market conditions, with revenue and profitability moving in line with charter rate cycles. Fleet utilization and vessel operating costs are key variables that shape each quarter's outcome.
For the most recent quarter's results, visit Safe Bulkers' investor relations page directly.
SB Price History
+116.0% over 5Y
Monthly close, adjusted for stock splits and dividend reinvestment.
What if I invested in Safe Bulkers, Inc.?
Based on Safe Bulkers, Inc.'s historical closing prices, adjusted for stock splits and dividend reinvestment. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is for informational purposes only and is not financial advice.
SB Long-term Outlook
The UQS Growth pillar for SB is rated Weak, pointing to limited near-term expansion catalysts within the drybulk shipping market. The Risk pillar sits at Neutral, suggesting the company's financial and operational risk profile is neither particularly elevated nor especially conservative by sector standards. An Attractive Valuation rating may offer some downside cushion, but weak growth and moat dynamics temper the longer-term fundamental outlook.
Growth drivers
- Recovery in global commodity trade volumes, particularly coal and grain
- Fleet utilization improvements through active charter management
- Potential freight rate upswings tied to supply-demand imbalances in drybulk shipping
Key risks
- Cyclical freight rate volatility reducing revenue predictability
- Weak competitive moat in a commoditized shipping market
- Regulatory and environmental compliance costs for aging vessel fleets
SB vs Peers
Safe Bulkers operates in a fragmented drybulk and broader dry shipping market alongside several peers of varying size and focus.
Himalaya Shipping focuses on the larger Newcastlemax vessel segment, targeting a narrower but high-capacity niche of the drybulk market.
Ardmore operates in the product and chemical tanker space, giving it exposure to liquid bulk cargo rather than dry commodities.
Algoma Central is a Canadian operator focused on domestic Great Lakes and St. Lawrence Seaway routes, with a more geographically concentrated business model.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Safe Bulkers do?
Safe Bulkers owns and operates a fleet of drybulk vessels that transport bulk commodities — primarily coal, grain, and iron ore — across international shipping routes. The company earns revenue through voyage and time-charter contracts with cargo customers.
Does SB pay dividends?
Yes, Safe Bulkers pays a regular dividend. As a cyclical shipping company, dividend levels can fluctuate with freight market conditions. Investors should check the company's investor relations page for the latest declared amounts and payment schedules.
When does SB report earnings?
Safe Bulkers reports on a quarterly cadence, consistent with US-listed companies. For the exact schedule and most recent results, refer to Safe Bulkers' official investor relations page.
Is SB a good stock to buy?
UQS Score rates SB as Below Average overall. The Valuation pillar is Attractive and Quality is Good, but Moat and Growth are both Weak. Whether it fits your portfolio depends on your risk tolerance and view of the drybulk shipping cycle. The full pillar breakdown is available to Pro members.
Is SB overvalued?
The UQS Valuation pillar for SB is rated Attractive, suggesting the stock does not appear to carry a significant premium relative to its fundamentals. However, valuation alone does not determine investment suitability — weak growth and moat ratings are important context.
How does SB compare to its competitors?
Safe Bulkers competes in a fragmented drybulk shipping market. Peers like Himalaya Shipping target larger vessel classes, while Ardmore Shipping focuses on liquid bulk tankers and Algoma Central operates primarily in Canadian inland waterways. Each has a distinct fleet and geographic profile.
What is SB's market cap bracket?
Safe Bulkers is classified as a small-cap company. This places it among smaller publicly traded shipping operators, which typically means lower trading liquidity and higher sensitivity to sector-level volatility compared to large-cap peers.
Who founded Safe Bulkers?
Safe Bulkers was incorporated in 2008. Founding and leadership context is publicly available through the company's official filings and investor relations materials for those seeking detailed background.
Is SB a long-term quality investment?
From a long-term quality perspective, SB's UQS profile shows a Good Quality rating but Weak Moat and Growth scores. This combination suggests the business operates reasonably well today but faces structural challenges in sustaining competitive advantage and expanding over time.
What is the main competitive advantage of Safe Bulkers?
Safe Bulkers' fleet diversity across Panamax, Kamsarmax, post-Panamax, and Capesize vessel classes allows it to serve different cargo sizes and trade routes. However, the UQS Moat pillar rates the company as Weak, reflecting the commoditized nature of drybulk shipping.
What sector does SB belong to?
Safe Bulkers operates in the Industrials sector, specifically within marine transportation and drybulk shipping. The sector is cyclical, with performance closely tied to global trade volumes and commodity demand.
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Pro Analysis
SB — Score History
| Date | UQS | Quality | Moat | Growth | Risk | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| May 23, 2026 | 44.5 | 60.9 | 10.0 | 26.9 | 54.3 | 88.5 | +0.3 |
| May 7, 2026 | 44.2 | 60.9 | 10.0 | 26.2 | 54.3 | 87.2 | -0.1 |
| May 3, 2026 | 44.3 | 60.9 | 10.0 | 26.2 | 54.3 | 88.2 | -0.1 |
| Apr 26, 2026 | 44.4 | 60.9 | 10.0 | 26.2 | 54.3 | 88.7 | 0.0 |
| Apr 19, 2026 | 44.4 | 60.9 | 10.0 | 26.2 | 54.3 | 88.3 | 0.0 |
| Apr 18, 2026 | 44.4 | 60.9 | 10.0 | 26.2 | 54.3 | 88.9 | 0.0 |
| Apr 14, 2026 | 44.4 | 60.9 | 10.0 | 26.2 | 54.3 | 88.4 | 0.0 |
| Apr 12, 2026 | 44.4 | 60.9 | 10.0 | 26.2 | 54.3 | 88.7 | +0.1 |
| Apr 5, 2026 | 44.3 | 60.9 | 10.0 | 26.2 | 54.3 | 87.9 | -0.1 |
| Apr 4, 2026 | 44.4 | 60.9 | 10.0 | 26.2 | 54.3 | 88.6 | 0.0 |
SB — Pillar Breakdown
Quality
— 60.9/100 (25%)Safe Bulkers, Inc. shows solid profitability with healthy returns on capital and reasonable margins.
How effectively capital is deployed to generate returns.
Profitability relative to shareholders' equity.
Ability to convert revenue into operating profit.
Bottom-line profit as a share of revenue.
Asset productivity — how much gross profit each dollar of assets generates.
Free cash flow relative to market value.
Growth
— 26.9/100 (20%)Safe Bulkers, Inc. faces growth headwinds with declining or stagnant revenue trends.
Revenue trajectory over the last twelve months.
Compound annual revenue growth rate over 3 years.
Year-over-year earnings per share growth.
Analyst consensus for future revenue growth.
Analyst consensus for future earnings growth.
Risk
— 54.3/100 (15%)Safe Bulkers, Inc. has some risk factors including moderate leverage or solvency concerns.
Debt levels relative to earnings capacity.
Total debt relative to shareholder equity.
Short-term liquidity — ability to pay near-term obligations.
Earnings capacity relative to interest payments.
Valuation
— 88.5/100 (15%)Safe Bulkers, Inc. appears attractively valued relative to its earnings, cash flows, and sector peers.
Inverse of forward P/E — higher yield means cheaper stock.
How many years of FCF the market cap represents.
P/E relative to earnings growth — lower is more attractive.
Enterprise value multiple relative to sector median.
Moat
— 10/100 (25%)Safe Bulkers, Inc. operates in a highly competitive environment with limited sustainable advantages. The Moat pillar evaluates competitive advantages across five dimensions: Switching Costs, Network Effects, Cost Advantage, Intangible Assets, and Scale & Ecosystem. Sign in to customize moat ratings for SB.
Score Composition
Financial Data
More Stock Analysis
How is the SB UQS Score Calculated?
The UQS (Unified Quality Score) for Safe Bulkers, Inc. is calculated using a proprietary 6-pillar framework with 29 financial metrics. Each pillar evaluates a different dimension on a 0–100 scale, then combines into a single weighted score. Scoring thresholds are calibrated per sector. Momentum is an optional Pro toggle — without it, you get the 5-pillar / 25-metric core shown below.
Quality (25%) measures profitability and capital efficiency — ROIC, ROE, margins, GP/Assets, and FCF Yield.
Moat (25%) assesses Safe Bulkers, Inc.'s competitive advantages across switching costs, network effects, cost advantages, intangible assets, and ecosystem scale.
Growth (20%) tracks revenue trajectory and earnings momentum, combining historical results with analyst forward estimates.
Risk (15%) is inversely scored — lower leverage and strong balance sheet health result in higher scores.
Valuation (15%) measures whether Safe Bulkers, Inc. is fairly priced using earnings yield, price-to-FCF, PEG ratio, and EV/EBITDA relative to sector peers.
Six investor-inspired presets are available, each with different pillar weights: Balanced, Buffett, Munger, Lynch, Cathie Wood, and Graham. The public score shown here uses the Balanced preset. Learn more in our FAQ.