After 10 year oversupply of Oil Tankers, low rates & bear market and no ships on order, the continued rising oil demand finally caused shortage of tankers by end 2019 with rising rates & earnings. The crises added oil to the fire, so to speak, as a collapse in oil demand caused a severe shortage of storage, exploding shipping rates & earnings. At the same time valuations of these companies have not gone up and have now sunk to half book value while book value is likely understated as the ships are likely worth more today as their value in the books.
The industry has terrible reputation in building long term value for shareholders, most share prices were cut by 10 past 10 years but some have proven to also tenfold during last oil tanker boom from 2002 till 2008.
Downward risk seems very limited with P/E's of 3 and less for 2020. Most companies pay out at least half of earnings giving dividends of 30% plus that will be very attractive for many investors keeping share prices intact, while upside potential of 5x probable to happen since no ships on order as of today means likely at least another 2 years of shortage in tankers and therefore likely continued high rates & earnings.
Looking at Chart tanker rates since 1975 shows short and long term cycles that drive rates likely to bottom on avg in 2020, and go up again till 2025:
https://twitter.com/MarcDeMesel/status/1262986168116920320Links:
Making Great Case:
Is The Oil Tanker Trade Over? Weekly Market update 5-16-20
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2I82iGHr3XgInterview with Calvin Froedge about the Oil Tanker Stocks
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N7l2HEkpsiQInterview with Robert Bugbee CEO Scorpio Tankers
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HIPZrWhECao...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jYDd81U9Vug