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C3is Inc. (CISS)
NASDAQ:CISS
US Market

C3is Inc. (CISS) AI Stock Analysis

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CISS

C3is Inc.

(NASDAQ:CISS)

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Neutral 61 (OpenAI - 5.2)
Rating:61Neutral
Price Target:
$2.00
▲(952.63% Upside)
Action:ReiteratedDate:02/21/26
Score is supported by a very conservative, low-debt balance sheet and positive earnings-call guidance highlighting a FY2025 profitability turnaround. This is tempered by highly volatile cash flows/earnings typical of shipping cycles and weak technicals (below key moving averages with negative MACD).
Positive Factors
Conservative balance sheet
Near-zero debt and growing equity materially reduce financial risk and provide durable flexibility to survive weak freight cycles. A conservative capital structure lowers rollover and interest exposure, enabling management to fund opportunistic acquisitions and weather cyclical revenue troughs without refinancing pressure.
Profitability turnaround and EBITDA expansion
A large swing to positive net income and materially higher EBITDA indicates the company can generate operating profits when market conditions improve. Sustained EBITDA expansion supports internal cash generation, reinvestment into the fleet and continued deleveraging, improving long-run resilience through shipping cycles.
Fleet expansion and unencumbered assets
Growing, diversified capacity—including product tankers—and unencumbered vessels strengthen market positioning and commercial optionality. Ownership without bank liens preserves free cash flow allocation choices and supports chartering flexibility, enabling longer-term strategic deployment across higher‑yield tanker and drybulk routes.
Negative Factors
Volatile cash flow generation
Large multi-year swings in operating and free cash flow reflect exposure to freight-rate cycles and episodic downtime. This variability complicates capital planning, increases financing risk in downcycles, and makes consistent investment or dividend policies difficult without maintaining substantial liquidity buffers.
Aging fleet raises maintenance risk
An older fleet elevates drydocking frequency, repair costs, and downtime probability, which can materially reduce earning days and TCE rates. Over time, maintenance spend and potential resale value deterioration may pressure margins and require cyclical capex, limiting long-term margin sustainability versus younger competitors.
Structural demand headwinds and operational disruption
Sluggish core drybulk cargo growth and commodity-specific weakness can cap freight rate recoveries, especially for Handysize routes. Combined with geopolitical and weather-related routing risks, structural demand softness increases downside for utilization and TCEs, making revenue recovery uneven even as fleet grows.

C3is Inc. (CISS) vs. SPDR S&P 500 ETF (SPY)

C3is Inc. Business Overview & Revenue Model

Company DescriptionC3is Inc. offers international seaborne transportation services. The company 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. It owns and operates three 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. The company was founded in 2021 and is based in Athens, Greece.
How the Company Makes Money

C3is Inc. Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)

Any
Any
Average Number Of Vessels
Average Number Of Vessels
Indicates the average size of the fleet over a period, highlighting the company's capacity to generate revenue and its market presence in the shipping industry.
Chart InsightsC3is Inc. has steadily increased its fleet size, with the average number of vessels rising from 2.0 in early 2023 to 4.0 by late 2025. This expansion aligns with the company's strategic focus on maintaining a high-quality fleet, despite facing a 24% drop in voyage revenues due to drydocking. The earnings call highlights significant financial improvements, such as a 281% increase in net income and a debt-free status, underscoring the company's resilience and strategic growth amidst market uncertainties.
Data provided by:The Fly

C3is Inc. Earnings Call Summary

Earnings Call Date:Feb 19, 2026
(Q4-2025)
|
% Change Since: |
Next Earnings Date:Jun 19, 2026
Earnings Call Sentiment Positive
The call emphasized a clear financial turnaround — profitable results, large EBITDA improvement, reduced interest costs, stronger cash and full deleveraging — alongside strategic fleet additions poised to benefit from robust tonne-mile and Aframax/product tanker market dynamics. Offsetting these positives are meaningful near-term operational headwinds: an 18% decline in voyage revenues driven by 74 vessel non-revenue/idle days and a 28% drop in TCE rates, plus an aging fleet profile and sector-specific demand softness (notably coal). On balance the significant profitability, cash and balance-sheet improvements and favorable market outlook outweigh the operational setbacks reported for the year.
Q4-2025 Updates
Positive Updates
Turnaround to Profitability
Net income of $10.5M for FY2025 versus a net loss of $3.0M in FY2024, an increase of 481%.
Strong EBITDA Growth
EBITDA rose to $17.0M in 2025 from $7.0M in 2024, an increase of 244%.
Improved Cash Position and Deleveraging
Cash balance increased to $14.9M (up 19% from $12.6M at year-end 2024) despite paying $15.1M to fully settle the Eco Spitfire balance; company reported no bank debt and total CapEx obligations of $59.2M repaid since July 2023.
Material Reduction in Interest Expense
Interest and finance costs fell to $0.4M in 2025 from $2.5M in 2024, a decrease of $2.1M due to repayment of acquisition-related balances.
Warrants Gain Reversal
Reported a gain on warrants of $9.2M in 2025 versus a loss on warrants of $11.1M in 2024, a swing of $20.3M.
Fleet Growth and Strategic Acquisitions
Company owns 4 vessels at year-end 2025 and has acquired 2 product tankers to be delivered in 2026, increasing fleet capacity to 311,000 dwt — a 387% capacity increase from inception; all vessels unencumbered and equipped with ballast water systems.
Favorable Market Tailwinds (Tonne-Mile Demand & Tanker Rates)
Management highlighted robust tonne-mile demand and strong Aframax/LR2 spot rate recoveries (e.g., Caribbean-U.S. Gulf +88.7% to $66,426/day; Med-Med +85.3% to $65,808/day; North Sea-Cont +65.8% to $71,022/day) and continued healthy product tanker cash flows.
Negative Updates
Decline in Voyage Revenues
Voyage revenues fell 18% to $34.8M in 2025 from $42.0M in 2024, primarily due to dry docking and 46 idle days for the Aframax tanker (28 non-revenue days for dry docking; total 74 days).
Significant Drop in TCE Rates
Time charter equivalent (TCE) rates decreased by 28% year-over-year, negatively impacting unit economics and voyage profitability.
Aframax Downtime Impact
Dry docking of Afrapearl II (completed August 2025) produced lost revenue from the company's highest-earning vessel for 74 days, a material contributor to lower annual voyage revenue.
Aging Fleet Profile
Company's Handysize fleet average age was 14.9 years at year-end 2025; global Handysize fleet has 38% of vessels over 15 years and Aframax falls in 15–20 year bracket (Afrapearl II age 15.4 years), indicating potential future maintenance/demotion risk.
Headwinds in Key Commodity Flows
Structural weakness in coal demand and subdued iron ore demand tempered dry bulk volume growth; total dry bulk cargo volumes expected to rise <1% in 2026, creating uneven market support by commodity and route.
Geopolitical and Weather Risks
Management cited ongoing geopolitical volatility (sanctions, changing trade flows) and weather-related disruptions as sources of continued market unpredictability that could affect future revenues and routing.
Company Guidance
Management guided that 2026 should be a firm year driven by longer voyage tonne-mile demand (transport works +~2% p.a.) despite muted tonnage growth (total dry bulk volumes <1% in 2026), with minor bulks up ~3% and Handysize exports at 1,798 Mt in 2025 (+2% YoY; 15% coal, 13% grains, 9% steel), while fleet dynamics (global Handysize 3,202 vessels, 38% >15 yrs; global Aframax 1,198 ships, 293 >20 yrs/25%) and trade shifts support higher freight (Aframax routes showing dayrates e.g. Caribbean‑USG $66,426 +88.7%, Med‑Med $65,808 +85.3%), and company-level metrics reflect strong positioning: FY‑2025 net income $10.5M (+481%), EBITDA $17M (+244%), cash $14.9M (+19% YoY), voyage revenues $34.8M (‑18%), TCEs ‑28%, fleet to reach 311,000 DWT with 2 product tankers in 2026 (fleet +387% since inception), no bank debt, vessels net book $78M (market ~$75M Jan‑26).

C3is Inc. Financial Statement Overview

Summary
Strong balance sheet with near-zero debt and growing equity supports resilience, but earnings and cash flows are highly cyclical and volatile (loss in 2024, rebound in 2025; sharp 2025 cash-flow drop after a strong 2024).
Income Statement
62
Positive
Revenue has scaled materially since 2022, with strong growth in 2023 and 2024, but a modest decline in 2025 (annual revenue down vs. 2024 despite a positive growth-rate field). Profitability is mixed: 2023 delivered strong net income, 2024 swung to a net loss with negative net margin, and 2025 rebounded to strong net income. Gross profit dollars also fell sharply in 2025 versus 2024, suggesting margin/earnings volatility typical of shipping cycles and/or one-off items.
Balance Sheet
86
Very Positive
The balance sheet looks very conservatively financed: total debt is near-zero across recent years (including effectively zero debt-to-equity in 2023–2024), while equity is large and has grown meaningfully into 2025. Total assets are stable-to-up, and low leverage reduces financial risk and provides flexibility. The main weakness is return consistency—returns were strong in 2023, negative in 2024, and not provided for 2025—highlighting that earnings power has been uneven despite a strong capital base.
Cash Flow
57
Neutral
Cash generation is volatile. Operating cash flow was weak/negative in 2021, improved in 2022, rose in 2023, surged in 2024, then fell sharply in 2025. Free cash flow shows similar swings, including deeply negative free cash flow in 2022 and a steep decline in 2025 after a very strong 2024. On the positive side, 2024 showed strong cash conversion with free cash flow roughly matching net results, but the multi-year variability increases execution and funding risk during weaker freight cycles.
BreakdownDec 2025Dec 2024Dec 2023Dec 2022Dec 2021
Income Statement
Total Revenue34.76M42.30M28.74M3.29M6.27M
Gross Profit4.43M13.62M12.02M750.83K3.78M
EBITDA7.87M5.90M14.76M1.11M4.10M
Net Income10.47M-2.75M9.29M551.59K3.61M
Balance Sheet
Total Assets98.49M100.49M95.47M39.86M16.36M
Cash, Cash Equivalents and Short-Term Investments14.94M12.59M9.06M0.0018.99K
Total Debt24.75K28.77K0.000.007.28M
Total Liabilities3.39M29.13M39.93M965.47K7.61M
Stockholders Equity95.10M71.36M55.54M38.89M8.75M
Cash Flow
Free Cash Flow3.84M23.35M1.34M-38.34M-11.65M
Operating Cash Flow4.00M24.98M5.64M1.05M-12.08K
Investing Cash Flow-6.54M-1.36M-12.43M-39.39M-11.64M
Financing Cash Flow-1.49M-19.67M7.48M38.34M12.42M

C3is Inc. Technical Analysis

Technical Analysis Sentiment
Negative
Last Price0.19
Price Trends
50DMA
2.96
Negative
100DMA
21.26
Negative
200DMA
42.59
Negative
Market Momentum
MACD
-0.91
Negative
RSI
33.59
Neutral
STOCH
27.69
Neutral
Evaluating momentum and price trends is crucial in stock analysis to make informed investment decisions. For CISS, the sentiment is Negative. The current price of 0.19 is below the 20-day moving average (MA) of 1.74, below the 50-day MA of 2.96, and below the 200-day MA of 42.59, indicating a neutral trend. The MACD of -0.91 indicates Negative momentum. The RSI at 33.59 is Neutral, neither overbought nor oversold. The STOCH value of 27.69 is Neutral, not indicating any strong overbought or oversold conditions. Overall, these indicators collectively point to a Negative sentiment for CISS.

C3is Inc. Risk Analysis

C3is Inc. disclosed 86 risk factors in its most recent earnings report. C3is Inc. reported the most risks in the "Finance & Corporate" category.
Finance & Corporate - Financial and accounting risks. Risks related to the execution of corporate activity and strategy
Latest Risks Added 0 New Risks

C3is Inc. Peers Comparison

Overall Rating
UnderperformOutperform
Sector (63)
Financial Indicators
Name
Overall Rating
Market Cap
P/E Ratio
ROE
Dividend Yield
Revenue Growth
EPS Growth
74
Outperform
$26.60M1.1717.90%-11.07%-13.39%
63
Neutral
$10.79B15.437.44%2.01%2.89%-14.66%
61
Neutral
$388.82K-0.017.12%-27.96%-98.99%
52
Neutral
$21.45M-0.69-5.54%-1.35%-118.25%
51
Neutral
$40.14M-8.95-2.63%18.49%-264.74%
47
Neutral
$17.88M-4.07-7.09%6.20%-8.96%-88.67%
* Industrials Sector Average
Performance Comparison
Ticker
Company Name
Price
Change
% Change
CISS
C3is Inc.
1.76
-100.24
-98.27%
PSHG
Performance Shipping
2.07
0.46
28.57%
GLBS
Globus Maritime
2.01
0.69
52.27%
CTRM
Castor Maritime
2.18
-0.30
-12.10%
USEA
United Maritime Corp.
2.02
0.34
20.24%

C3is Inc. Corporate Events

C3is Inc. Posts Strong 2025 Results, Expands Tanker Fleet and Executes Reverse Split
Feb 19, 2026

On February 19, 2026, C3is Inc. reported unaudited financial and operating results for the fourth quarter and full year ended December 31, 2025, highlighting stronger earnings driven by higher time charter equivalent rates and improved fleet utilization. The company posted Q4 2025 voyage revenues of $10.6 million, net income of $5.2 million and EBITDA of $6.7 million, while for the full year 2025 it generated net income of $10.5 million and EBITDA of $17 million, supported by reduced finance costs after fully repaying prior related-party acquisition loans.

Operational metrics showed fleet utilization rising to 93.5% in Q4 2025 from 90.2% a year earlier, with all vessels unencumbered and cash and time deposits totaling $14.9 million at year-end, underscoring a debt-free balance sheet on the owned fleet. During Q4 2025 the company raised fresh equity through two offerings totaling about $11 million, and between December 2025 and January 2026 it agreed to acquire two product tankers for $39.8 million via a one-year interest-free loan, while in January 2026 it executed a 1-for-20 reverse stock split to maintain its Nasdaq listing, collectively signaling a push to expand its tanker footprint and shore up market positioning.

The most recent analyst rating on (CISS) stock is a Hold with a $2.00 price target. To see the full list of analyst forecasts on C3is Inc. stock, see the CISS Stock Forecast page.

C3is Inc. Enacts 1-for-20 Reverse Stock Split as Shares Begin Trading on Adjusted Basis
Jan 26, 2026

On January 23, 2026, C3is Inc. filed an amendment to its Restated Articles of Incorporation to implement a one‑for‑20 reverse stock split of its common stock, which became effective at 11:59 p.m. Eastern time on January 25, 2026, with split‑adjusted trading on Nasdaq beginning January 26, 2026. The move cut the number of outstanding common shares from about 24.7 million to approximately 1.23 million, with no fractional shares issued; holders otherwise entitled to fractional shares received cash in lieu, while the par value and other terms of the common stock and preferred stock remained unchanged. The company’s warrants and Series A Convertible Preferred Stock were proportionately adjusted to reflect the new share count, and certain warrant classes received additional exercise price adjustments tied to the stock’s volume‑weighted average price around the effective date, signaling a comprehensive recapitalization effort aimed at maintaining compliance and aligning its capital structure with market trading conditions; the post‑split common shares now trade under a new CUSIP but continue to use the “CISS” ticker.

The most recent analyst rating on (CISS) stock is a Hold with a $0.09 price target. To see the full list of analyst forecasts on C3is Inc. stock, see the CISS Stock Forecast page.

C3is Inc. Sets 1-for-20 Reverse Stock Split to Preserve Nasdaq Listing
Jan 22, 2026

On January 22, 2026, C3is Inc. announced that its board has approved a one-for-20 reverse stock split of its common shares, effective at 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time on January 25, 2026, with split-adjusted trading on the Nasdaq Capital Market to begin on January 26, 2026 under a new CUSIP number. The action will reduce the company’s outstanding common stock from roughly 20.5 million shares to about 1.02 million, with warrants and Series A Convertible Preferred Stock proportionally adjusted and fractional shares cashed out based on the January 23, 2026 closing price, as C3is seeks to boost its share price to meet Nasdaq’s minimum bid requirement and preserve its stock market listing—an important step for maintaining access to public equity markets and visibility with investors.

The most recent analyst rating on (CISS) stock is a Hold with a $0.13 price target. To see the full list of analyst forecasts on C3is Inc. stock, see the CISS Stock Forecast page.

C3is Inc. Expands Fleet With $22.9 Million Product Tanker Acquisition
Jan 20, 2026

On January 20, 2026, C3is Inc. announced it has agreed to acquire a 2011 South Korean-built product tanker with 47,203 deadweight tons capacity for $22.9 million from an entity affiliated with Brave Maritime Corp Inc., a related party to members of the Vafias family. The deal, approved by the company’s independent directors based on independent vessel valuations, allows C3is to defer payment for up to one year from the purchase agreement date without interest, and the vessel is expected to be delivered between the first and second quarters of 2026. Following delivery of this tanker and assuming no further fleet changes beyond another pending product tanker acquisition, C3is’s fleet will increase to six vessels with a total capacity of 310,667 deadweight tons, enhancing its scale and diversification across drybulk and tanker segments, which may strengthen its competitive position in the shipping market.

The most recent analyst rating on (CISS) stock is a Hold with a $0.13 price target. To see the full list of analyst forecasts on C3is Inc. stock, see the CISS Stock Forecast page.

C3is Inc. Agrees to Acquire 50,000 dwt Product Tanker for $16.9 Million
Dec 19, 2025

On December 19, 2025, C3is Inc. announced it had entered into an agreement to acquire a South Korean-built 2008 product tanker with 50,000 dwt capacity for $16.88 million from an entity affiliated with Brave Maritime Corp Inc., a company linked to the Vafias family. The deal, approved by C3is’s independent directors after obtaining third-party vessel valuations, includes an option for the company to defer payment for one year from the purchase agreement date without interest. Delivery of the vessel is expected in the second or third quarter of 2026, at which point, assuming no additional fleet changes, C3is’s fleet will comprise five vessels with a total capacity of about 263,464 dwt, enhancing its scale and product tanker exposure within the global shipping market.

C3is Inc. Completes $9 Million Securities Offering
Dec 12, 2025

On December 12, 2025, C3is Inc. completed a registered offering of 7,500,000 units, raising approximately $9 million in gross proceeds. This offering included common units and pre-funded units, each with associated warrants, and was facilitated by Aegis Capital Corp. as the placement agent. The completion of this offering is expected to impact the company’s financial standing and market presence, providing additional capital for operations and potentially influencing its stock performance.

Glossary
BuyA stock rated as a "Buy" is expected to perform better than the overall market or a specific benchmark over the near-to-medium term. This rating suggests the stock is likely to deliver higher returns compared to other stocks in the same sector or market index. Note: This is not investment advice; please consult a financial advisor before making investment decisions.
HoldA stock rated as a "Hold" is expected to perform in line with the overall market or a specific benchmark. This rating indicates that the stock is neither particularly compelling nor unfavorable for investment. Note: This is not investment advice; please consult a financial advisor before making investment decisions.
SellA stock rated as a "Sell" is expected to perform worse than the overall market or a specific benchmark over the near-to-medium term. This rating suggests the stock may deliver lower returns compared to other stocks in the same sector or market index. Note: This is not investment advice; please consult a financial advisor before making investment decisions.

Disclaimer

This AI Analyst Stock Report is automatically generated by our AI systems using advanced algorithms and publicly available financial, technical, and market data. While the information provided aims to be accurate and insightful, it is intended for informational purposes only and should not be considered financial advice. Any content created by an AI (Artificial Intelligence) system may contain inaccuracies and/or contain errors. Investing in stocks carries inherent risks, and past performance is not indicative of future results. This report does not account for your personal financial circumstances, objectives, or risk tolerance. Always conduct your own research or consult with a qualified financial advisor before making investment decisions. The analysis and recommendations provided are based on historical and current data and may not fully reflect future market conditions or unexpected developments. Neither the creators of this report nor its affiliated entities guarantee the accuracy, completeness, or reliability of the information presented. Use this report at your own discretion and risk.Date of analysis: Feb 21, 2026