Tearsheet

Global Ship Lease (GSL)


Market Price (11/18/2025): $34.91 | Market Cap: $1.2 Bil
Sector: Industrials | Industry: Marine Transportation

Global Ship Lease (GSL)


Market Price (11/18/2025): $34.91
Market Cap: $1.2 Bil
Sector: Industrials
Industry: Marine Transportation

Investment Highlights Why It Matters Which of these 2 stories sounds closer for this stock?

1. Generates cash flow

The stock generated 4% or more of the share price (called cash flow yield), and shows moderate 10-15% or more growth.

2. Riding a trend

Think Tesla during the pandemic of 2020 when EVs were riding a cultural high, or Nvidia in the current AI boom, or even Figma. These companies don’t have enough yield, or, enough growth, or both - however - they are riding a trend. They have momentum. These can be more volatile - they don’t have the floor of strong cash flow


0 Attractive yield
Total YieldTotal Yield = Earnings Yield + Dividend Yield, Earnings Yield = Net Income / Market Cap Dividend Yield = Total Dividends / Market Cap is 37%, Dividend Yield is 5.4%, ERPEquity Risk Premium (ERP) = Total Yield - Risk Free Rate, Reflects the premium above risk free assets offered by the investment. is 33%, FCF Yield is 11%
Trading close to highs
Dist 52W High is 0.0%, Dist 3Y High is 0.0%
 
1 Attractive operating margins
Op Mgn LTMOperating Margin = Operating Income / Revenue Reflects profitability before taxes and before impact of capital structure (interest payments). is 52%
  
2 Attractive cash flow generation
CFO/Rev LTMCash Flow from Operations / Revenue (Sales), Last Twelve Months (LTM) is 61%, FCF/Rev LTMFree Cash Flow / Revenue (Sales), Last Twelve Months (LTM) is 19%
  
3 Low stock price volatility
Vol 12M is 31%
  
4 Megatrend and thematic drivers
Megatrends include E-commerce & Digital Retail, E-commerce & DTC Adoption, and Future of Freight. Themes include Online Marketplaces, Show more.
  
0 Attractive yield
Total YieldTotal Yield = Earnings Yield + Dividend Yield, Earnings Yield = Net Income / Market Cap Dividend Yield = Total Dividends / Market Cap is 37%, Dividend Yield is 5.4%, ERPEquity Risk Premium (ERP) = Total Yield - Risk Free Rate, Reflects the premium above risk free assets offered by the investment. is 33%, FCF Yield is 11%
1 Attractive operating margins
Op Mgn LTMOperating Margin = Operating Income / Revenue Reflects profitability before taxes and before impact of capital structure (interest payments). is 52%
2 Attractive cash flow generation
CFO/Rev LTMCash Flow from Operations / Revenue (Sales), Last Twelve Months (LTM) is 61%, FCF/Rev LTMFree Cash Flow / Revenue (Sales), Last Twelve Months (LTM) is 19%
3 Low stock price volatility
Vol 12M is 31%
4 Megatrend and thematic drivers
Megatrends include E-commerce & Digital Retail, E-commerce & DTC Adoption, and Future of Freight. Themes include Online Marketplaces, Show more.
5 Trading close to highs
Dist 52W High is 0.0%, Dist 3Y High is 0.0%

Market Valuation & Key Metrics

GSL Stock


Why The Stock Moved


Qualitative Assessment

AI Generated Analysis | Feedback

1. Global Ship Lease reported strong third-quarter 2025 earnings that significantly surpassed analyst expectations for both earnings per share (EPS) and revenue. The company reported an EPS of $2.62, beating the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $2.27, and revenues of $192.67 million, exceeding the consensus estimate by 4.61%. This marks the fourth consecutive quarter the company has surpassed consensus EPS estimates.

2. The company announced a substantial increase in its quarterly dividend. Global Ship Lease raised its annualized dividend to $2.50 per Class A share, representing a 19.0% increase in total annualized dividends per share, commencing with the third-quarter dividend of $0.625. This dividend increase, supported by contracted revenues, signals confidence in future cash flow.

Show more

Stock Movement Drivers

Return vs. Risk


Price Returns Compared

 202020212022202320242025Total [1]
Returns
GSL Return35%100%-22%29%18%69%439%
Peers Return-12%71%7%13%113%3%300%
S&P 500 Return16%27%-19%24%23%13%107%

Monthly Win Rates [3]
GSL Win Rate58%50%50%58%42%80% 
Peers Win Rate25%40%44%43%47%52% 
S&P 500 Win Rate58%75%42%67%75%70% 

Max Drawdowns [4]
GSL Max Drawdown-69%-1%-32%-3%-3%-15% 
Peers Max Drawdown-30%-0%-10%-17%-19%-31% 
S&P 500 Max Drawdown-31%-1%-25%-1%-2%-15% 


[1] Cumulative total returns since the beginning of 2020
[2] Peers: GNK, SB, PANL, CMDB, HTCO.
[3] Win Rate = % of calendar months in which monthly returns were positive
[4] Max drawdown represents maximum peak-to-trough decline within a year
[5] 2025 data is for the year up to 11/17/2025 (YTD)

How Low Can It Go

Unique KeyEventGSLS&P 500
2022 Inflation Shock2022 Inflation Shock  
2022 Inflation Shock% Loss% Loss-48.4%-25.4%
2022 Inflation Shock% Gain to Breakeven% Gain to Breakeven93.7%34.1%
2022 Inflation ShockTime to BreakevenTime to Breakeven695 days464 days
2020 Covid Pandemic2020 Covid Pandemic  
2020 Covid Pandemic% Loss% Loss-69.4%-33.9%
2020 Covid Pandemic% Gain to Breakeven% Gain to Breakeven227.0%51.3%
2020 Covid PandemicTime to BreakevenTime to Breakeven243 days148 days
2018 Correction2018 Correction  
2018 Correction% Loss% Loss-72.6%-19.8%
2018 Correction% Gain to Breakeven% Gain to Breakeven264.6%24.7%
2018 CorrectionTime to BreakevenTime to Breakeven750 days120 days
2008 Global Financial Crisis2008 Global Financial Crisis  
2008 Global Financial Crisis% Loss% Loss-98.1%-56.8%
2008 Global Financial Crisis% Gain to Breakeven% Gain to Breakeven5175.2%131.3%
2008 Global Financial CrisisTime to BreakevenTime to BreakevenNot Fully Recovered days1480 days

Compare to GNK, SB, PANL, CMDB, HTCO


In The Past

Global Ship Lease's stock fell -48.4% during the 2022 Inflation Shock from a high on 3/11/2022. A -48.4% loss requires a 93.7% gain to breakeven.

Preserve Wealth

Limiting losses and compounding gains is essential to preserving wealth over time.

Asset Allocation

Actively managed asset allocation strategies protect wealth. Learn more.

About Global Ship Lease (GSL)

Better Bets than Global Ship Lease (GSL)

Trade Ideas

Select past ideas related to GSL. For more, see Trefis Trade Ideas.

Unique KeyDateTickerCompanyCategoryTrade Strategy6M Fwd Rtn12M Fwd Rtn12M Max DD
GEO_10312025_Dip_Buyer_FCFYield10312025GEOGEODip BuyDB | FCFY OPMDip Buy with High FCF Yield and High Margin
Buying dips for companies with high FCF yield and meaningfully high operating margin
-10.3%-10.3%-14.1%
RUN_10312025_Short_Squeeze10312025RUNSunrunSpecialShort Squeeze PotentialShort Squeeze Potential
Has potential for a short squeeze. High short interest, rising short interest and high debt.
-10.2%-10.2%-17.5%
PLPC_10312025_Quality_Momentum_RoomToRun_10%10312025PLPCPreformed Line ProductsQualityQ | Momentum | UpsideQuality Stocks with Momentum and Upside
Buying quality stocks with strong momentum but still having room to run
-3.4%-3.4%-4.8%
VRSK_10172025_Monopoly_xInd_xCD_Getting_Cheaper10172025VRSKVerisk AnalyticsMonopolyMY | Getting CheaperMonopoly-Like with P/S Decline
Large cap with monopoly-like margins or cash flow generation and getting cheaper based on P/S multiple
-7.1%-7.1%-10.5%
CARR_10102025_Dip_Buyer_ValueBuy10102025CARRCarrier GlobalDip BuyDB | P/E OPMDip Buy with Low PE and High Margin
Buying dips for companies with tame PE and meaningfully high operating margin
-4.2%-4.2%-4.2%
Unique KeyDateTickerCompanyCategoryTrade Strategy6M Fwd Rtn12M Fwd Rtn12M Max DD
GEO_10312025_Dip_Buyer_FCFYield10312025GEOGEODip BuyDB | FCFY OPMDip Buy with High FCF Yield and High Margin
Buying dips for companies with high FCF yield and meaningfully high operating margin
-10.3%-10.3%-14.1%
RUN_10312025_Short_Squeeze10312025RUNSunrunSpecialShort Squeeze PotentialShort Squeeze Potential
Has potential for a short squeeze. High short interest, rising short interest and high debt.
-10.2%-10.2%-17.5%
PLPC_10312025_Quality_Momentum_RoomToRun_10%10312025PLPCPreformed Line ProductsQualityQ | Momentum | UpsideQuality Stocks with Momentum and Upside
Buying quality stocks with strong momentum but still having room to run
-3.4%-3.4%-4.8%
VRSK_10172025_Monopoly_xInd_xCD_Getting_Cheaper10172025VRSKVerisk AnalyticsMonopolyMY | Getting CheaperMonopoly-Like with P/S Decline
Large cap with monopoly-like margins or cash flow generation and getting cheaper based on P/S multiple
-7.1%-7.1%-10.5%
CARR_10102025_Dip_Buyer_ValueBuy10102025CARRCarrier GlobalDip BuyDB | P/E OPMDip Buy with Low PE and High Margin
Buying dips for companies with tame PE and meaningfully high operating margin
-4.2%-4.2%-4.2%

Recent Active Movers

Recent Active Movers

More From Trefis

Peer Comparisons for Global Ship Lease

Financials

GSLGNKSBPANLCMDBHTCOMedian
NameGlobal S.Genco Sh.Safe Bul.Pangaea .Costamar.High-Tre. 
Mkt Price34.7117.594.796.6513.8810.7012.29
Mkt Cap1.20.80.50.4--0.6
Rev LTM730331278580--456
Op Inc LTM38147736--57
FCF LTM141-23130-4--63
FCF 3Y Avg2433311526--74
CFO LTM4464613058--94
CFO 3Y Avg4089011565--103

Growth & Margins

GSLGNKSBPANLCMDBHTCOMedian
NameGlobal S.Genco Sh.Safe Bul.Pangaea .Costamar.High-Tre. 
Rev Chg LTM4.0%-24.6%-9.7%15.1%---2.8%
Rev Chg 3Y Avg11.2%-15.6%-7.8%-9.1%---8.4%
Rev Chg Q8.7%-19.5%-16.3%19.2%---3.8%
QoQ Delta Rev Chg LTM2.1%-5.5%-4.4%4.5%---1.2%
Op Mgn LTM52.2%1.2%27.7%6.3%--17.0%
Op Mgn 3Y Avg53.0%10.6%35.7%9.3%--23.1%
QoQ Delta Op Mgn LTM-0.2%-5.1%-4.8%-1.0%---2.9%
CFO/Rev LTM61.1%13.9%47.0%10.0%--30.4%
CFO/Rev 3Y Avg59.1%22.4%38.5%12.0%--30.4%
FCF/Rev LTM19.4%-7.0%47.0%-0.7%--9.3%
FCF/Rev 3Y Avg35.5%7.6%38.5%5.1%--21.5%

Valuation

GSLGNKSBPANLCMDBHTCOMedian
NameGlobal S.Genco Sh.Safe Bul.Pangaea .Costamar.High-Tre. 
Mkt Cap1.20.80.50.4--0.6
P/S1.72.31.80.7--1.7
P/EBIT2.9204.75.812.4--9.1
P/E3.1-107.69.248.3--6.2
P/CFO2.816.63.87.4--5.6
Total Yield37.2%4.8%10.9%6.6%--8.7%
Dividend Yield5.4%5.7%0.0%4.5%--5.0%
FCF Yield 3Y Avg27.8%5.1%29.0%7.9%--17.9%
D/E0.60.21.10.3--0.5
Net D/E0.30.10.90.2--0.2

Returns

GSLGNKSBPANLCMDBHTCOMedian
NameGlobal S.Genco Sh.Safe Bul.Pangaea .Costamar.High-Tre. 
1M Rtn22.0%9.4%11.1%38.3%7.7%39.5%16.6%
3M Rtn12.8%8.9%10.9%31.1%49.7%72.0%22.0%
6M Rtn36.8%29.1%32.4%53.6%38.7%27.8%34.6%
12M Rtn58.8%7.2%18.1%11.8%--66.0%11.8%
3Y Rtn147.9%48.9%90.4%64.9%--77.7%
1M Excs Rtn21.9%9.3%11.0%38.1%7.6%39.4%16.5%
3M Excs Rtn11.8%8.5%10.2%29.4%48.0%58.3%20.6%
6M Excs Rtn24.9%17.2%20.5%41.7%26.8%15.9%22.7%
12M Excs Rtn42.3%-3.6%2.9%0.4%--77.5%0.4%
3Y Excs Rtn66.2%-21.6%32.0%-6.1%--13.0%

Financials

Segment Financials

Revenue by Segment

$ Mil20242023202220212020
Single Segment675646448283261
Total675646448283261


Price Behavior

Short Interest

Short Interest: As Of Date10312025
Short Interest: Shares Quantity660,872
Short Interest: % Change Since 1015202514.2%
Average Daily Volume317,104
Days-to-Cover Short Interest2.08
Basic Shares Quantity35,612,413
Short % of Basic Shares1.9%

SEC Filings

Expand for More

Report DateFiling DateFiling
630202580620256-K 6/30/2025
331202552020256-K 3/31/2025
12312024318202520-F 12/31/2024
9302024111220246-K 9/30/2024
630202480620246-K 6/30/2024
331202452020246-K 3/31/2024
12312023320202420-F 12/31/2023
9302023110920236-K 9/30/2023
630202380320236-K 6/30/2023
331202351120236-K 3/31/2023
12312022323202320-F 12/31/2022
9302022110920226-K 9/30/2022
630202280420226-K 6/30/2022
331202250920226-K 3/31/2022
12312021324202220-F 12/31/2021
9302021111220216-K 9/30/2021

Insider Activity

Expand for More