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Moller-Maersk Gains 7% Amid Tensions Around the Strait of Hormuz
Shares in the Danish shipping giant A.P. Moller-Maersk A/S (MAERSKB.DK) rose by as much as 8.7% on Thursday, reaching their highest level since March. The rise comes in response to the publication of its second-quarter results and the fact that the company has raised its full-year financial forecasts for the second time in seven weeks. The container shipping industry is benefiting significantly from the ongoing disruptions in the Red Sea and the Strait of Hormuz. The need to avoid these routes has lengthened journey times and effectively reduced the available cargo capacity on the market, causing freight rates to rise sharply.
Freight rates have risen significantly as a result of the conflict in the Middle East. Source: Bloomberg Financial Lp Demand was further bolstered by strong exports from China, as global companies stepped up their orders in anticipation of new tariffs. Maersk’s Chief Executive, Vincent Clerc, emphasised in a television interview that, although freight rates may remain volatile, overall conditions are becoming increasingly favourable. He drew particular attention to the huge demand for transport linked to electrification in the broadest sense and new technologies, including infrastructure for artificial intelligence. In the wake of these results, the board has decided to significantly raise its full-year forecasts. Maersk now expects EBITDA to be in the range of $10.5 to $12.5 billion, representing an increase of around 25 per cent at the midpoint compared with the previous target of $8 to $10 billion. The forecast for underlying operating profit (EBIT) has also risen sharply, reaching a range of $4.5 to $6.5 billion, and leaving the market consensus – estimated at just $3.47 billion – far behind.
Q2 Results and Higher Forecasts for 2026
The company reported its second-quarter results, which significantly exceeded Wall Street analysts’ expectations in every segment.
- Revenue in Q2: $15.76 billion (compared with the market consensus of $14.10 billion).
- Total EBITDA in Q2: $2.99 billion (expected: $2.06 billion).
- Ocean’s EBITDA in Q2: $2.04 billion (expected: $1.31 billion).
- Full-year EBITDA forecast: raised to a range of $10.5bn – $12.5bn (previously estimated at $8.0bn – $10.0bn, whilst the market had expected $9.27bn).
- Full-year EBIT forecast: raised to a range of $4.5bn – $6.5bn (the consensus was $3.47bn).
Maersk shares are rising sharply during today’s session (a gap up following the report) and are extending their long-term uptrend. The 50- and 100-day exponential moving averages (the blue and purple lines on the chart) may serve as a potential support level for the current trend. Source: xStation
