NVGS vs FLNG Stock Comparison: AI Score, Valuation, Performance and Upside
NVGS (Navigator Gas) and FLNG (Flex LNG) are both liquefied gas shipping companies but serving different cargo markets — Navigator transports petrochemical gases (ethylene, propylene, ammonia) and LPG using flexible semi-refrigerated vessels across shorter trade routes, while Flex LNG transports LNG exclusively using modern, fuel-efficient LNG carriers on long-term time charters to energy companies.
NVGS vs FLNG is specialized petrochemical gas carrier with flexible multi-cargo vessels (Navigator Gas's semi-refrigerated fleet serving ethylene, propylene, ammonia, and LPG trades — cargo flexibility and Houston terminal providing diversification across petrochemical shipping cycles) versus modern LNG tanker fleet on long-term charters to energy majors (Flex LNG's 13 M-type and X-DF vessels, high time charter coverage, and John Fredriksen sponsorship — concentrated LNG trade exposure with visibility from multi-year charter backlog) — petrochemical gas flexibility versus LNG trade growth leverage.
NVGS holds the edge across 4 of 5 key metrics in this comparison. NVGS leads on both 1-year return (+49.29%) and forward P/E quality (12.94x vs 14.80x for FLNG), a relatively favorable combination of momentum and valuation. On fundamentals, NVGS is growing revenue faster (29.50%), while FLNG maintains the higher operating margin (55.68%) — a classic growth-versus-profitability split. Analyst consensus implies meaningfully more upside for NVGS (+14.02%) than for FLNG (-17.53%).
Human Wall Street analysts' price targets, typically implying a ~12-month view — a separate signal from this site's own AI Prediction Signal further down the page, which is a 5-/30-day machine-learning forecast based on price history alone.
- Want exposure to petrochemical gas shipping with cargo flexibility (ethylene, propylene, ammonia, LPG) that allows Navigator to capture rates across multiple specialized trade routes
- Value Navigator's Houston Ship Channel terminal as providing infrastructure revenue and strategic positioning in the world's largest petrochemical hub
- See the semi-refrigerated specialized fleet as competing in a smaller, less-commoditized market than large-scale LPG/LNG carriers with better supply/demand dynamics
- Want exposure to the structural LNG trade growth driven by U.S. LNG export expansion and Asian energy demand with a modern fleet that commands fuel-efficiency premiums
- Value Flex LNG's long-term time charter coverage as providing earnings visibility and dividend sustainability through LNG spot rate volatility
- Appreciate John Fredriksen's shipping industry pedigree as providing strategic relationships with energy majors and commodity traders who are the primary LNG vessel charterers
| Metric | NVGS | FLNG |
|---|---|---|
| AI scorei | 43.3 | 39.1 |
| AI ranki | #783 | #1698 |
| Latest closei | $21.92 | $28.64 |
| 1M returni | -10.79% | -11.58% |
| 3M returni | +3.69% | -6.26% |
| 6M returni | +9.25% | -3.51% |
| 1Y returni | +49.29% | +27.17% |
How much would $10,000 be worth today if invested at the start of each period, with all dividends reinvested?
| Period | NVGS | FLNG |
|---|---|---|
| 1Y ago | $15.14K (+51.4%) started 2025-10-15 | $14.18K (+41.8%) started 2025-10-15 |
| 5Y ago | $27.61K (+176.1%) started 2021-10-15 | $60.68K (+506.8%) started 2021-10-15 |
| 10Y ago | $34.94K (+249.4%) started 2016-10-17 | $149.24K (+1392.4%) started 2019-06-17 |
Hypothetical — past performance does not guarantee future results.
| Metric | NVGS | FLNG |
|---|---|---|
| Market capi | $1.38B | $1.71B |
| Trailing P/Ei | 10.42 | 16.67 |
| Forward P/Ei | 12.94 | 14.80 |
| Price/Salesi | N/A | N/A |
| EV/Revenuei | 3.42 | 8.60 |
| Analyst targeti | $25.67 | $26.13 |
| Target upsidei | +14.02% | -17.53% |
| Metric | NVGS | FLNG |
|---|---|---|
| Revenue growthi | 29.50% | 24.20% |
| Earnings growthi | 174.20% | 159.10% |
| EPS growthi | +174.20% | +159.10% |
| FCF margini | +17.16% | +39.72% |
| Operating margini | 28.48% | 55.68% |
| Profit margini | 22.80% | 28.50% |
| ROIC proxyi | 11.73% | 14.03% |
| Return on equityi | 11.73% | 14.03% |
| Dividend yieldi | 1.26% | 9.53% |
| Payout ratioi | 12.04% | 157.89% |
| Dividend growth streaki | 2 yrs | 1 yr |
| Betai | 0.48 | 0.16 |
| Debt/equityi | 72.81 | 255.33 |
| Current ratioi | 1.71 | 2.69 |
| Quick ratioi | 1.30 | 2.59 |
Over the past year, NVGS and FLNG have moved moderately in the same direction (correlation of 0.58), based on daily returns.
Lower drawdown and smaller single-period drops generally indicate a smoother ride, though they do not guarantee lower future risk.
| Period | Metric | NVGS | FLNG |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1Y | Growthi | +49.29% | +27.17% |
| CAGRi | +49.33% | +27.19% | |
| Volatilityi | 30.34% | 27.06% | |
| Sharpe ratioi | 1.33 | 0.86 | |
| Sortino ratioi | 1.85 | 1.23 | |
| Max drawdowni | 23.12% | 13.55% | |
| Current drawdowni | 12.53% | 11.93% | |
| Avg drawdowni | 5.35% | 3.49% | |
| Ulcer Indexi | 7.53% | 4.45% | |
| Max daily dropi | 11.55% | 6.08% | |
| Max wkly dropi | 16.76% | 9.22% | |
| 5Y | Growthi | +164.07% | +172.81% |
| CAGRi | +21.44% | +22.23% | |
| Volatilityi | 35.58% | 38.65% | |
| Sharpe ratioi | 0.60 | 0.60 | |
| Sortino ratioi | 0.88 | 0.88 | |
| Max drawdowni | 38.88% | 31.04% | |
| Current drawdowni | 12.53% | 11.93% | |
| Avg drawdowni | 10.33% | 11.41% | |
| Ulcer Indexi | 12.81% | 13.51% | |
| Max daily dropi | 11.55% | 11.30% | |
| Max wkly dropi | 20.00% | 27.71% | |
| 10Y | Growthi | +234.23% | +425.52% |
| CAGRi | +12.83% | +25.41% | |
| Volatilityi | 47.09% | 46.76% | |
| Sharpe ratioi | 0.39 | 0.62 | |
| Sortino ratioi | 0.61 | 0.94 | |
| Max drawdowni | 73.33% | 71.92% | |
| Current drawdowni | 12.53% | 11.93% | |
| Avg drawdowni | 20.56% | 17.90% | |
| Ulcer Indexi | 25.14% | 24.38% | |
| Max daily dropi | 24.37% | 13.09% | |
| Max wkly dropi | 50.89% | 27.71% |
| Category | NVGS | FLNG |
|---|---|---|
| Company | Navigator Gas Holdings plc | Flex LNG Ltd. |
| Sector | Energy | Energy |
| Industry | Oil & Gas Midstream | Oil & Gas Midstream |
| Core business | Navigator Gas is a specialist owner and operator of liquefied gas carriers transporting petrochemical gases and LPG. Navigator's fleet of approximately 50+ vessels includes semi-refrigerated carriers (which transport ethylene, propylene, butadiene, ammonia, and LPG at partial refrigeration and pressure — highly flexible vessels that can carry multiple cargo types), fully pressurized carriers (LPG and chemical gas at ambient temperature but high pressure), and ethane carriers (purpose-built for ethylene and ethane transport). Navigator's fleet is differentiated from large-scale LPG carriers (VLGCs — Very Large Gas Carriers used for propane/butane trade) by its focus on petrochemical gas cargoes and its use of medium-size semi-refrigerated vessels. Navigator also operates a terminal on the Houston Ship Channel. | Flex LNG is a modern LNG (liquefied natural gas) tanker owner/operator with a fleet of 13 M-type Electronically Controlled Gas Injection (MEGA) TFDE (Tri-Fuel Diesel Electric) and X-DF (two-stroke dual-fuel) LNG carriers. Flex LNG's vessels are among the most modern and fuel-efficient in the LNG fleet, built at South Korean shipyards (Hyundai Heavy Industries, Samsung). Flex LNG charters its vessels to LNG producers (Shell, BP, Equinor, Glencore) and utilities under long-term time charters (3-7 years) that provide revenue certainty. Flex LNG is backed by John Fredriksen (the Norwegian shipping magnate who founded Frontline and Seadrill), who provides strategic sponsorship and financial backing. |
| Investor focus | Investors track Navigator's fleet utilization rates, time charter equivalent (TCE) earnings per vessel per day, contract coverage (% of fleet locked into time charters vs. spot market), and the petrochemical gas market supply/demand balance. | Investors track Flex LNG's TCE per vessel per day, contract backlog coverage (percentage of fleet on time charters vs. spot), dividend sustainability, and the long-term LNG trade growth that drives vessel demand. |
- Semi-refrigerated vessels are the most flexible in the liquefied gas fleet — semi-refrigerated/fully pressurized carriers can transport ethylene, propylene, butadiene, ammonia, propane, butane, and other gases in the same vessel; this cargo flexibility allows Navigator to optimize vessel deployment across diverse trade routes
- Petrochemical gas shipping is more specialized with fewer competitors than large-scale LPG/LNG — the semi-refrigerated segment has a limited number of capable vessels and operators; fewer vessels competing for the same cargoes supports rates better than commodity VLGC markets
- Houston Ship Channel terminal provides infrastructure revenue and cargo positioning — Navigator's terminal allows transshipment and storage of petrochemical gases, supporting customer supply chains in the U.S. Gulf Coast petrochemical hub
- Modern, fuel-efficient fleet commands premium rates vs. older LNG vessels — Flex LNG's M-type and X-DF vessels are more fuel-efficient than older steam turbine LNG carriers; charterers prefer modern vessels because lower fuel consumption reduces voyage costs; this premium efficiency supports higher TCE rates
- Long-term time charter coverage provides earnings visibility — Flex LNG targets securing 80%+ of its fleet on multi-year time charters; the backlog of contracted revenue reduces exposure to spot LNG tanker rate volatility
- John Fredriksen sponsorship provides strategic credibility and financial backing — Fredriksen's shipping empire (Frontline, Euronav, SFL Corporation) has deep relationships with oil majors and commodity traders who are LNG charterers; Fredriksen-backed shipping companies have historically had better access to vessels and charterers than independent operators
- Petrochemical trade volumes depend on global chemical production and trade flows — if chemical production in Asia or Europe declines, demand for petrochemical gas shipping declines proportionally; chemical cycle downturns reduce volumes
- Semi-refrigerated vessel newbuild orders could create oversupply — if shipyards receive orders for many new semi-refrigerated vessels, fleet supply growth could outpace cargo volume growth and compress TCE rates
- LPG/petrochemical gas trade patterns can shift with geopolitical events — U.S. ethane exports to Europe (via ethane carriers) depend on European cracker economics relative to naphtha; shifts in energy trade patterns affect Navigator's cargo mix
- LNG tanker rates are cyclical and depend on LNG trade growth vs. newbuild vessel supply — the LNG carrier fleet is growing as shipyards deliver vessels ordered during the LNG boom; if vessel supply exceeds cargo volume growth, spot rates decline; this affects vessel values and the rates at which time charters are reset
- Long-term time charter expirations create rechartering risk — when Flex LNG's existing time charters expire (3-7 year term), vessels must be rechartered; if market rates at that time are below current charter rates, earnings decline; Flex LNG must continuously renew charters in an uncertain rate environment
- LNG carrier concentration in a single cargo type limits vessel flexibility vs. semi-refrigerated multipurpose carriers — LNG carriers are purpose-built for LNG; they cannot carry other cargoes if LNG trade declines; vessel value is entirely dependent on LNG trade volumes
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