Star Bulk Carriers reports Q1 adjusted EPS 56c, consensus 48c

Reports Q1 revenue $281.15M, consensus $223.55M. Petros Pappas, CEO of Star Bulk, commented: “The dry bulk market opened 2026 with counterseasonal strength across all vessel segments, and Star Bulk was well positioned to capture it. We generated Net Income of $58.5 million, EBITDA of $109.7 million, and TCE of $18,493 per vessel per day-a result that reflects both the quality of the market and the operating platform we have built. Our investment proposition to shareholders is straightforward: we believe Star Bulk converts dry bulk freight rates into cash returns more efficiently than any listed peer. Under the full payout dividend policy we adopted last quarter, the Board has approved a dividend of $0.50 per share, distributing our entire operating cash flow after capex and debt service. Combined with one of the lowest cost structures in the sector – daily OPEX of $5,071 and net cash G&A of $1,375 per vessel in Q1 – we aim for every dollar of rate improvement to flow through to shareholders. Since 2021, we will have returned over $2.05 billion through dividends and buybacks. This quarter also marks the beginning of our newbuilding delivery cycle, with our latest generation high specification Kamsarmax vessels joining the fleet. These arrivals, alongside our continued disposal of older tonnage, are steadily reshaping the fleet towards greater efficiency and lower emissions, reinforcing our competitive edge for the years ahead. Looking ahead, the supply-demand fundamentals that supported Q1 remain firmly in place, and we are optimistic about the remainder of the year. Under the current FFA curve, we are targeting to return more than $3 per share to our shareholders this year. With significant operating leverage across a diverse fleet of 141 vessels on a fully delivered basis, a full payout capital allocation policy, and one of the strongest balance sheets in the industry, we believe that Star Bulk is the most direct way for investors to access the dry bulk market. We remain committed to being the go-to dry bulk investment vehicle and to continue creating value for our shareholders.”