In this article, we will take a look at the 10 best shipping and container stocks to buy now.

The shipping and container companies play an important role in the global economy. These companies are responsible for the transportation of raw materials, commodities, and finished goods across the oceans through various vessels.

Container and shipping supply chain has been in crisis mode since the onset of global COVID-19 pandemic in early 2020. There were several factors that led to the crisis according to an S&P Market Intelligence report. The biggest factor was a massive shift in consumer spending in the U.S. from services to home improvement, and from brick and mortar to e-commerce, resulting in a 20% increase in US import container volumes in 2021 as compared to 2019.

The increased demand turned into a problem with port congestions, closure of Suez Canal in March 2021, as well as the shutdown of Yantian port in South China in the spring, one of the largest marine terminals in the world. The congestion resulted in the removal of 10-15% of container shipping capacity, according to estimates, which led to a three to five times increase in spot container freight rates.

Container lines managed to generate profits of $400 billion from Q2 2020 to Q2 2022, according to a DHL Global Forwarding report. There has been significant progress in the clearing of port congestions which has led to a significant reduction in spot container freight rates. Despite that, the rates are still higher than the pre-pandemic levels and are expected to stay above that level into the 2023-24.

Shipping and container stocks have a history of paying a significant portion of their income to shareholders in the form of dividends. In times of good profitability for shipping and container companies, they have some of the highest dividend yields as described in the later part of this article. ZIM Integrated Shipping Services Ltd. (NYSE:ZIM), Golden Ocean Group Limited (NASDAQ:GOGL), and Diana Shipping Inc. (NYSE:DSX) had the highest dividend yields on our list, as of October 17.

Methodology

We shortlisted the stocks of top 20 shipping and container companies that exhibited a mix of industry leadership, strong fundamentals, growth potential, analyst sentiment, and dividend yields. We sorted these stocks based on the hedge funds invested in them at the end of Q2 2022 and picked the top 10 shipping and container stocks on the list.

Best Shipping and Container Stocks to Buy Now

10. SFL Corporation Ltd. (NYSE:SFL)

Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 13

Hamilton, Bermuda-based SFL Corporation Ltd. (NYSE:SFL) is one of the world’s largest ship-owning companies, with investments in the tanker, bulker, container, and offshore segments. As of June 30, the company had a fleet of 34 container vessels and 6 car carriers, 16 crude oil, product, and chemical tankers, 15 dry bulk carriers, and 2 harsh environment drilling rigs.

In August, SFL Corporation Ltd. (NYSE:SFL) released its financial results for the second quarter of 2022. Its total revenue increased by 1% y-o-y to $153 million, while it reported a net income of $57 million. It generated a normalized EPS of $0.35 for the quarter, $0.11 more than the analyst consensus.

SFL Corporation Ltd. (NYSE:SFL) has regularly paid dividends since its initial listing on the NYSE in 2004. In August, the company declared its latest quarterly dividend of $0.23 per share. As of October 17, the shipping stock had a dividend yield of 9.81%.

Apart from paying hefty dividends, SFL Corporation Ltd. (NYSE:SFL) is also investing in the growth of the company. In Q3 2022, the company announced that it had agreed to acquire two new eco-design feeder container vessels, and four modern Suezmax tankers.

As of Q2 2022, 13 of the 895 hedge funds tracked by Insider Monkey held SFL Corporation Ltd. (NYSE:SFL) shares.

9. Danaos Corporation (NYSE:DAC)

Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 14

Athens, Greece-based Danaos Corporation (NYSE:DAC) is one of the world’s largest independent owners of containerships. Its fleet includes 71 modern, high-quality Container Vessels ranging from 2,200 TEU to 13,100 TEU.

In August, Danaos Corporation (NYSE:DAC) released its financial results for Q2 2022. Its operating revenues increased by 71% y-o-y to $251 million, while its adjusted net income increased by 128% y-o-y to $157 million. It reported a normalized EPS of $7.59 for the quarter, exceeding the analyst consensus by $1.73. The company also pays regular quarterly dividends, with $0.75 per share of quarterly dividend declared for the second quarter. Its shares had a dividend yield of 5.14% as of October 17.

Danaos Corporation (NYSE:DAC) shares were held by 14 of the 895 hedge funds as of Q2 2022, with the total hedge fund holdings valued at $145 million. Its largest hedge fund shareholder is Ken Griffin’s Citadel Investment Group.

8. Golden Ocean Group Limited (NASDAQ:GOGL)

Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 14

Based in Hamilton, Bermuda, Golden Ocean Group Limited (NASDAQ:GOGL) is a leading international dry bulk shipping company. Its fleet comprised 97 vessels, including 48 Capesize, 28 Panamax and 2 Ultramax vessels owned by the company, 8 chartered Capesize vessels, 1 chartered Ultramax, and 10 vessels on order, as of June 30, 2022.

In August, Golden Ocean Group Limited (NASDAQ:GOGL) released its financial results for the second quarter of 2022. Its revenues increased by 15% y-o-y to $317 million, while net income surged by 57% y-o-y to $164 million. The normalized EPS was recorded at $0.73 for the quarter, beating the consensus by $0.17.

The Board of Directors of Golden Ocean Group Limited (NASDAQ:GOGL) declared a quarterly cash dividend of $0.60 per share for Q2 2022. The company has paid a total of $3.60 per share in cash dividends since the beginning of 2021. Its shares have a dividend yield of 27.46%.

In addition to a very attractive dividend yield, the board of directors of Golden Ocean Group Limited (NASDAQ:GOGL) authorized a share repurchase program to purchase up to 10 million shares of the company with the maximum amount of $10 per share. The share repurchase program is expected to keep the share price steady in the short-term.

As of Q2 2022, 14 hedge funds tracked by Insider Monkey held shares of Golden Ocean Group Limited (NASDAQ:GOGL), worth $62 million. Jim Simons’ Renaissance Technologies is its largest hedge fund shareholder with ownership of 18.4 million shares valued at $2.7 billion.

7. Diana Shipping Inc. (NYSE:DSX)

Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 15

Athens, Greece-based Diana Shipping Inc. (NYSE:DSX) is a global shipping transportation services provider specializing in the ownership and bareboat charter-in of dry bulk vessels. Its fleet includes 4 Newcastlemax, 11 Capesize, 5 Post-Panamax, 6 Kamsarmax, 8 Panamax and 1 Ultramax vessels with the addition of 8 Ultramax dry bulk vessels expected in Q4 2022.

On August 11, Diana Shipping Inc. (NYSE:DSX) announced that it had agreed to acquire 9 Ultramax dry bulk vessels from Sea Trade Holdings for an aggregate purchase price of $330 million. The company agreed to pay $220 million in cash with the remaining $110 million to be paid in the form of approximately 18.5 million shares of the company at a price of $5.95 per share.

The addition of Ultramax vessels to the fleet provides Diana Shipping Inc. (NYSE:DSX) certain advantages against its peers. The Ultramax vessels, due to their smaller size, are more suitable for smaller ports and benefit from lower rates volatility.

The Board of Directors of Diana Shipping Inc. (NYSE:DSX) declared a quarterly cash dividend of $0.275 per share for Q2 2022. Its shares have a dividend yield of 26.32%.

As of Q2 2022, 15 of the 895 hedge funds tracked by Insider Monkey held shares of Diana Shipping Inc. (NYSE:DSX), worth $42 million. Jeremy Hosking’s Hosking Partners was its largest shareholder. Jim Simons’ Renaissance Technologies and Steve Cohen’s Point72 Asset Management also hold its shares.

6. Genco Shipping & Trading Limited (NYSE:GNK)

Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 16

Genco Shipping & Trading Limited (NYSE:GNK) is the largest U.S. headquartered dry-bulk shipowner focused on the global transportation of commodities. Its fleet consists of 44 vessels including 17 Capesize, 15 Ultramax, and 12 Supramax vessels.

Genco Shipping & Trading Limited (NYSE:GNK) has used the growth in its top and bottom line to improve its balance sheet and to return capital to its shareholders. The company has undertaken a voluntary debt reduction plan and has reduced its debt by $260.7 million, representing 58% of its total debt, since the beginning of 2021.

On August 3, Genco Shipping & Trading Limited (NYSE:GNK) declared a cash dividend of $0.50 per share for Q2 2022. The latest dividend payment marks the company’s 12th consecutive dividend payout. Its shares had a dividend yield of 14.26%, as of October 17.

On October 10, B. Riley analyst Liam Burke lowered the price target on Genco Shipping & Trading Limited (NYSE:GNK) shares to $27 from $31. The analyst maintained a ‘Buy’ rating for the shares of the shipping company as he believes that the long-term fundamentals of the dry-bulk sector look promising.

As of Q2 2022, Genco Shipping & Trading Limited (NYSE:GNK) shares were held by 16 out of 895 hedge funds tracked by Insider Monkey with a total value of $142 million. Its largest shareholder was Centerbridge Partners with ownership of 4.6 million shares valued at $88 million.

5. Eagle Bulk Shipping Inc. (NASDAQ:EGLE)

Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 18

Eagle Bulk Shipping Inc. (NASDAQ:EGLE) is a Stamford, Connecticut-based owner and operator of dry bulk vessels focused on the mid-size segment. Its fleet consists of 27 Ultramax vessels and 26 Supramax vessels, including an Ultramax vessel to be delivered to the company in Q4 2022.

Eagle Bulk Shipping Inc. (NASDAQ:EGLE) has a significantly more resilient top and bottom line mainly due to the nature of its fleet which belongs to the Ultramax and Supramax category of vessels. Due to their smaller size, these vessels are less exposed to rates volatility more commonly associated with Capesize vessels that are prone to changes in Chinese steel output.

In addition, the company benefits from lower operational costs for its fleet due to an average fleet age of 9.5 years and the fact that 48 of its vessels are scrubber-fitted which significantly lowers its fuel costs.

In October 2021, the board of directors of Eagle Bulk Shipping Inc. (NASDAQ:EGLE) instituted a dividend program targeting a minimum payout equal to 30% of the net income. The quarterly dividend of $2.20 per share conforms to this program. Its shares had a dividend yield of 17.79%, as of October 17.

On October 10, B. Riley analyst Liam Burke lowered the price target on Eagle Bulk Shipping Inc. (NASDAQ:EGLE) shares to $72 from $82 and maintained a ‘Buy’ rating for the shares.

As of Q2 2022, 18 of the 895 hedge funds tracked by Insider Monkey owned shares of Eagle Bulk Shipping Inc. (NASDAQ:EGLE), valued at $253 million. Its largest shareholder was Howard Marks’ Oaktree Capital Management with ownership of 3.8 million shares valued at $196 million.

4. Star Bulk Carriers Corp. (NASDAQ:SBLK)

Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 18

Athens, Greece based Star Bulk Carriers Corp. (NASDAQ:SBLK) is a leading global shipping company that provides worldwide seaborne transportation of major bulks. Its fleet comprises of 128 vessels, with an aggregate capacity of more than 14 million DWT, consisting of Newcastlemax, Capesize, Post Panamax, Kamsarmax, Panamax, Ultramax and Supramax vessels.

Similar to other shipping companies, Star Bulk Carriers Corp. (NASDAQ:SBLK) also pays a significant portion of its dividends in the form of dividends. In August, its board of directors declared a quarterly dividend of $1.65 per share. Its shares had a dividend yield of 32.31%, as of October 17.

On September 26, Jefferies analyst Omar Nokta lowered the price target on Star Bulk Carriers Corp. (NASDAQ:SBLK) shares to $26 from $30 and maintained a ‘Buy’ rating for the shares. Even though steel and iron ore demand has been impacted by slowdown in the economy of China, coal shipments are still expected to remain on an upward trend for the short to medium term.

According to the Insider Monkey data on 895 leading hedge funds, 18 hedge funds were long Star Bulk Carriers Corp. (NASDAQ:SBLK) shares as of Q2 2022, with the total shares held by hedge funds valued at $784 million. Howard Marks’ Oaktree Capital Management was the largest hedge fund shareholder with ownership of 26 million shares valued at $650 million.

3. ZIM Integrated Shipping Services Ltd. (NYSE:ZIM)

Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 19

Based in Haifa, Israel, ZIM Integrated Shipping Services Ltd. (NYSE:ZIM) is a leading global, asset-light container liner shipping company. It operates a fleet of close to 100 vessels, nearly all chartered-in, mostly in short-term charter arrangements which allows the company to adjust its capacity to meet changing market conditions, optimize vessel deployment, ensure high utilization of vessels, and exploit specific trade advantages.

In August, ZIM Integrated Shipping Services Ltd. (NYSE:ZIM) released its financial results for the second quarter of 2022. Its revenue increased by 44% y-o-y to $3.4 billion, while net income surged by 50% y-o-y to $1.3 billion. It generated a normalized EPS of $11.07 for the quarter, missing the consensus estimates by $2.18.

ZIM Integrated Shipping Services Ltd. (NYSE:ZIM) intends to follow a dividend policy to distribute nearly 30% of the net quarterly income of first three quarters of the year to its shareholders with cumulative annual dividends representing 30-50% of annual income. In this lieu, the company declared a cash dividend of $4.75 per share for the quarter. Its shares had a dividend yield of 105.53%, as of October 17.

ZIM Integrated Shipping Services Ltd. (NYSE:ZIM) is among the favorite shipping stocks of hedge funds, with 19 of the 895 hedge funds tracked by Insider Monkey holding its shares valued at $479 million. Arrowstreet Capital is its biggest shareholder with ownership of 3.8 million shares valued at $178 million.

2. Global Ship Lease, Inc. (NYSE:GSL)

Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 20

London-based, Global Ship Lease, Inc. (NYSE:GSL) is a leading independent owner of containerships with a diversified fleet of mid-sized and smaller containerships. The company owns 65 containerships, ranging from 1,118 to 11,040 TEU, including 32 ships that are wide beam post-Panamax.

As of October 17, Global Ship Lease, Inc. (NYSE:GSL) shares are down 24.44% year-to-date. Following the drop in its share price, its shares had a dividend yield of 8.67%, as of the same date. Based on the low payout ratio of 16%, the company has the potential to continue dividend payments despite the economic downturn in the medium term.

Global Ship Lease, Inc. (NYSE:GSL) also benefits from its operating model which provides it resilience against changes in shipping rates. The company does not handle the point-to-point logistics for its vessels and instead leases these ships out to global liner companies which isolate it from the volatility in freight rates.

As of Q2 2022, 20 of the 895 hedge funds tracked by Insider Monkey were long Global Ship Lease, Inc. (NYSE:GSL), holding shares worth $111 million. Israel Englander’s Millennium Management was the largest shareholder with ownership of 1.3 million shares valued at $22 million.

1. Kirby Corporation (NYSE:KEX)

Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 23

Houston, Texas-based Kirby Corporation (NYSE:KEX) is the premier tank barge operator in the United States, transporting bulk liquid products throughout the Mississippi River System, on the Gulf Intracoastal Waterway, along all three U.S. Coasts, and in Alaska and Hawaii.

On October 24, Kirby Corporation (NYSE:KEX) released the financial results for the third quarter of 2022. Its total revenues increased by 25% y-o-y to $746 million, while it reported a net income of $39 million, compared to a net loss of $265 million in Q3 2021. It generated a normalized EPS of $0.65 for the quarter, exceeding the analyst consensus by $0.06.

As of Q2 2022, Kirby Corporation (NYSE:KEX) was the most sought-after stock among hedge funds on our list of 10 best shipping and container stocks to buy now, as 23 of the elite hedge funds tracked by Insider Monkey held its shares, valued at $297 million. Ric Dillon’s Diamond Hill Capital was its largest hedge fund shareholder with ownership of 1.8 million shares valued at $112 million.

You may also like to read ARK Invest Stock Portfolio: Top 10 Picks and 11 Best High-Dividend Stocks Under $100

Follow Insider Monkey on Twitter

Suggested Articles:

• 10 Best Telecom Dividend Stocks To Buy
• 10 Best Recession Proof Stocks To Invest In
• 10 Best S&P 500 Stocks To Buy According To Hedge Funds

Disclosure: None. 10 Best Shipping and Container Stocks to Buy Now is originally published on Insider Monkey.