Maersk sets November 5 for release of third-quarter 2026 results
Key Facts
Maersk had not reported its third-quarter results as of October 30; the company set November 5, 2026, for the release of its financial report, according to its official calendar. That means figures showing the company’s performance during the quarter had not been released as of the date of the article. The report is scheduled for around 8:00 a.m. Central European Time, according to the company’s event page. On the same day, Maersk will hold a conference call and webcast for investors and analysts at 11:00 a.m. The report comes as third-quarter results matter for the company’s ability to support its annual forecast, which it raised after its second-quarter results.
The company reported second-quarter revenue of 15.8 billion dollars, up 20% year over year, compared with 13.1 billion dollars in the same period a year earlier. EBITDA rose to 3.0 billion dollars from 2.3 billion dollars. EBIT was about 1.6 billion dollars, with an EBIT margin of 10.0%, according to the company’s results statement. Maersk said the strong quarter was driven by higher demand and increased spot rates in its Ocean segment, as well as growth across all business segments. These results provide the financial backdrop against which third-quarter performance will be measured, after stronger activity accompanied the improvement in revenue and earnings.
Second-quarter data for the Ocean segment showed loaded volumes up 4.1%, average loaded freight rates up 22%, and vessel utilization at 96%. Chief Executive Vincent Clerc said strong, broad-based demand from the Far East since 2024 had increased trade-flow imbalances and pressure on inland infrastructure capacity, with congestion and disruptions in multiple regions. In the first quarter, the company reported revenue of 13.0 billion dollars, down 2.8% year over year, while EBITDA rose to 1.8 billion dollars from 1.3 billion dollars a year earlier. Clerc said at the time that excess capacity continued to weigh on freight rates despite strong demand in most regions. He added that the flexible Ocean network cut unit costs by 7%, providing operational support against market pressures.
Maersk raised its 2026 underlying EBITDA guidance to a range of 10.5–12.5 billion dollars, from 8–10 billion dollars previously. It also raised its underlying EBIT forecast to 4.5–6.5 billion dollars, compared with a previous range of 2–4 billion dollars. The guidance was based on an expected 4% growth in the global container market during the year, according to the company’s statement. Maersk said disruption to transit through the Strait of Hormuz had diverted Gulf-bound shipments to alternative ports and overland routes. It added that affected capacity in the Ocean segment was quickly redeployed to other trade lanes, while demand and higher rates helped support second-quarter results.
Before the report, Goldman Sachs on October 22 downgraded Maersk shares to Sell from Neutral, while keeping its target price at 18,000 Danish kroner. The bank estimated that EBITDA forecasts for the third and fourth quarters and the following first quarter were above Visible Alpha consensus by 8%, 35% and 34%, respectively. But it said factors that had tightened the container market, including limited supply growth, geopolitical and climate disruptions, and U.S. restocking, could begin to ease. The bank said a full return of ships to the Suez Canal could reduce container-mile demand by a mid-single-digit percentage in the following year. It also expected new vessel deliveries to rise to 8–10% of the fleet in the second half of 2027, versus 5–6% in the first half, then exceed 15% in 2028. AMKBY closed at 17.43 dollars on October 29, according to EL7 data.