Maersk shares rose 7 percent after the Danish shipping giant raised its 2026 earnings guidance for the second time this year. The company reported preliminary underlying EBITDA of $3 billion for the April-June quarter, blowing past the LSEG-compiled consensus estimate of $2.04 billion by 47 percent.
CEO Vincent Clerc credited the beat to the "incredible resilience of demand and the incredible resilience of the economy," saying global trade volumes remain strong even as the company deals with the Middle East conflict and U.S. tariffs.
Clerc said supply bottlenecks have shifted primarily to land-based logistics rather than sea routes, a dynamic that is pushing freight rates higher across the industry.
The guidance hike signals firm management confidence as regional conflicts continue to reshape global shipping patterns, forcing carriers to re-optimize routes.
German freight carrier Hapag-Lloyd rose 0.7 percent, with its own results showing higher volumes and spot rates. CEO Rolf Habben Jansen said performance was "materially better than the first quarter" despite $600 million in additional costs tied to the Middle East conflict, primarily for fuel and energy.
Jansen said the market has been "remarkably strong," producing a better balance of supply and demand than many had anticipated—allowing carriers to absorb higher operational costs while still delivering strong financial results.
Maersk's ability to raise guidance twice in a single year, with pricing power intact during ongoing disruptions, makes it a credible long signal for investors in essential global logistics. Carriers with diversified routes and flexible operations are best positioned to hold that advantage.
