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Danaos Corp (DAC)
NYSE:DAC

Danaos (DAC) AI Stock Analysis

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Danaos

(NYSE:DAC)

Rating:78Outperform
Price Target:
$98.00
▲(14.90%Upside)
Danaos Corporation demonstrates strong financial performance with robust profitability and a stable balance sheet. The technical analysis suggests positive momentum, while the valuation appears attractive. The earnings call highlighted both challenges and strategic initiatives, which temper the overall positive outlook. Continuous management of cash flow and operating costs will be crucial.

Danaos (DAC) vs. SPDR S&P 500 ETF (SPY)

Danaos Business Overview & Revenue Model

Company DescriptionDanaos Corporation, together with its subsidiaries, owns and operates containerships in Australia, Asia, Europe, and the United States. The company offers seaborne transportation services, such as chartering its vessels to liner companies. As of February 28, 2022, it had a fleet of 71 containerships aggregating 436,589 twenty-foot equivalent units in capacity. The company was formerly known as Danaos Holdings Limited and changed its name to Danaos Corporation in October 2005. Danaos Corporation was founded in 1963 and is based in Piraeus, Greece.
How the Company Makes MoneyDanaos Corporation generates revenue primarily through long-term time charter contracts with major liner companies. These contracts are typically fixed-rate agreements that provide predictable cash flows and mitigate market volatility risks. The company leases its containerships to these liner companies, who utilize them for their shipping routes around the world. Revenue is largely influenced by the size and specifications of the vessels, charter rates, and the duration of the contracts. Additionally, Danaos capitalizes on strategic partnerships and alliances within the shipping industry to enhance its market position and optimize fleet utilization. Key factors contributing to earnings include operational efficiency, cost management, and maintaining a modern and fuel-efficient fleet to meet environmental regulations and client demands.

Danaos Earnings Call Summary

Earnings Call Date:May 13, 2025
(Q1-2025)
|
% Change Since: -2.98%|
Next Earnings Date:Aug 11, 2025
Earnings Call Sentiment Neutral
Despite strong backlog and strategic fleet optimization, the earnings call revealed significant financial challenges, including lower EPS, increased costs, and segment revenue declines, indicating a cautious outlook.
Q1-2025 Updates
Positive Updates
Strong Contracted Revenue Backlog
The contracted revenue backlog has grown to $3.7 billion with a 3.9-year average charter duration, ensuring 99% contract coverage for 2025 and 85% for 2026.
Net Debt and Liquidity Position
Net debt stands at $299 million with a net debt to adjusted EBITDA ratio of 0.4x, and total liquidity, including marketable securities, is at $825 million.
Fleet Optimization and Strategic Focus
Focus on optimizing the performance of the existing fleet with investments in energy-saving devices and upgrades, ensuring competitive operational costs.
Share Repurchase Program
The company has repurchased $36.9 million worth of stock since the last earnings release, with the share repurchase program upsized to $300 million.
Negative Updates
Decreased Adjusted EPS and Net Income
Adjusted EPS for Q1 2025 decreased to $6.04 from $7.15 in Q1 2024, with adjusted net income dropping from $140 million to $113.4 million.
Increased Operating and Finance Costs
Operating costs increased by $19.8 million, primarily due to a larger fleet, and net finance costs increased by $6 million.
Revenue Declines in Segments
The dry bulk segment saw a $9 million revenue decrease due to a softer spot market, and the container segment experienced a $9.4 million revenue decline from lower charter rates.
Higher Vessel Operating Expenses
Vessel operating expenses rose by $8.6 million, with daily operating costs increasing to $7,000 per vessel per day from $6,500.
Rising Interest Expenses
Interest expense increased by $6.6 million due to higher average indebtedness and lower capitalized interest on vessels under construction.
Company Guidance
During the Danaos Corporation conference call for the first quarter of 2025, the company provided detailed financial guidance and insights into its strategic focus amid global market uncertainties. The adjusted earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter was reported at $6.04, down from $7.15 in the same period of 2024, with an adjusted net income of $113.4 million compared to $140 million. The decline was attributed to increased operating costs due to fleet expansion, higher net finance costs, and reduced revenues in the dry bulk and container segments. Despite these challenges, Danaos added over $0.5 billion to its contracted revenue backlog, which now stands at $3.7 billion with a 3.9-year average charter duration. The company's net debt at the end of Q1 was $299 million, with a net debt to adjusted EBITDA ratio of 0.4x. Danaos declared a dividend of $0.85 per share and continued its share repurchase program, now increased to $300 million. The company emphasized its focus on fleet optimization, investing in energy-saving devices to enhance vessel competitiveness, while remaining cautious on new vessel investments due to uncertain future fuel regulations.

Danaos Financial Statement Overview

Summary
Danaos displays robust financial health with high profitability margins and a solid balance sheet. However, the negative free cash flow and a decline in net income highlight potential areas of concern, necessitating focused management of leverage and cash flow.
Income Statement
82
Very Positive
Danaos has demonstrated solid financial performance with a strong gross profit margin of 60.7% and a net profit margin of 49.8% for 2024. The revenue growth from 2023 to 2024 was 4.2%, showing a positive trajectory. EBIT and EBITDA margins are robust at 53.3% and 66.6%, respectively, indicating efficient operational management. However, a decrease in net income from 2023 to 2024 suggests potential challenges in profitability.
Balance Sheet
78
Positive
The company maintains a healthy balance sheet with a low debt-to-equity ratio of 0.21 and a strong equity ratio of 78.9%, showcasing significant financial stability. Return on equity stands at 14.7%, reflecting good returns on shareholders' equity. The increase in stockholders' equity over the years highlights strengthening financial health. However, the rise in total debt from 2023 to 2024 may pose moderate leverage risks if not managed carefully.
Cash Flow
68
Positive
Operating cash flow covers net income comfortably with a ratio of 1.23, indicating solid cash generation capability. However, the substantial decline in free cash flow year-over-year, resulting in negative free cash flow for 2024, is concerning and suggests potential liquidity constraints. The company's ability to revert to positive free cash flow is critical for future financial flexibility.
Breakdown
Dec 2024Dec 2023Dec 2022Dec 2021Dec 2020
Income StatementTotal Revenue
1.01B973.58M993.34M689.50M461.59M
Gross Profit
615.94M643.71M664.96M412.39M234.85M
EBIT
540.88M580.66M653.44M358.26M199.48M
EBITDA
675.07M704.83M787.63M444.48M315.64M
Net Income Common Stockholders
505.07M576.30M559.21M1.05B93.15M
Balance SheetCash, Cash Equivalents and Short-Term Investments
514.23M357.84M267.67M552.43M65.66M
Total Assets
4.34B3.66B3.40B3.63B2.71B
Total Debt
734.78M404.17M501.95M1.34B1.46B
Net Debt
281.40M132.37M234.28M1.21B1.40B
Total Liabilities
918.85M644.82M839.81M1.54B1.68B
Stockholders Equity
3.42B3.02B2.56B2.09B1.04B
Cash FlowFree Cash Flow
-37.59M308.26M735.61M72.39M95.02M
Operating Cash Flow
621.75M576.29M934.74M428.11M265.68M
Investing Cash Flow
-650.79M-338.53M176.57M-143.15M-170.74M
Financing Cash Flow
210.61M-233.62M-973.40M-220.87M-168.45M

Danaos Technical Analysis

Technical Analysis Sentiment
Positive
Last Price85.29
Price Trends
50DMA
80.12
Positive
100DMA
79.60
Positive
200DMA
79.64
Positive
Market Momentum
MACD
1.30
Positive
RSI
56.00
Neutral
STOCH
72.62
Neutral
Evaluating momentum and price trends is crucial in stock analysis to make informed investment decisions. For DAC, the sentiment is Positive. The current price of 85.29 is above the 20-day moving average (MA) of 84.98, above the 50-day MA of 80.12, and above the 200-day MA of 79.64, indicating a bullish trend. The MACD of 1.30 indicates Positive momentum. The RSI at 56.00 is Neutral, neither overbought nor oversold. The STOCH value of 72.62 is Neutral, not indicating any strong overbought or oversold conditions. Overall, these indicators collectively point to a Positive sentiment for DAC.

Danaos Risk Analysis

Danaos disclosed 65 risk factors in its most recent earnings report. Danaos reported the most risks in the "Finance & Corporate" category.
Finance & Corporate - Financial and accounting risks. Risks related to the execution of corporate activity and strategy
Latest Risks Added 0 New Risks

Danaos Peers Comparison

Overall Rating
UnderperformOutperform
Sector (66)
Financial Indicators
Name
Overall Rating
Market Cap
P/E Ratio
ROE
Dividend Yield
Revenue Growth
EPS Growth
DADAC
78
Outperform
$1.58B3.5014.14%3.90%4.93%-17.08%
ZIZIM
78
Outperform
$2.12B0.9072.40%41.08%65.83%
NMNMM
77
Outperform
$1.13B3.4911.19%0.51%0.28%-17.08%
GSGSL
76
Outperform
$915.77M2.4327.25%7.31%3.94%19.85%
75
Outperform
$1.10B3.7612.57%5.02%17.77%-5.90%
66
Neutral
$1.54B13.556.06%13.65%-7.73%-39.13%
66
Neutral
$4.49B12.345.40%248.65%4.13%-12.33%
* Industrials Sector Average
Performance Comparison
Ticker
Company Name
Price
Change
% Change
DAC
Danaos
85.29
-3.09
-3.50%
CMRE
Costamare
8.75
-2.27
-20.60%
GSL
Global Ship Lease
25.24
-1.33
-5.01%
NMM
Navios Maritime Partners
38.37
-12.48
-24.54%
GOGL
Golden Ocean Group
7.70
-4.09
-34.69%
ZIM
ZIM Integrated Shipping Services
17.03
6.00
54.40%
Glossary
BuyA stock rated as a "Buy" is expected to perform better than the overall market or a specific benchmark over the near-to-medium term. This rating suggests the stock is likely to deliver higher returns compared to other stocks in the same sector or market index. Note: This is not investment advice; please consult a financial advisor before making investment decisions.
HoldA stock rated as a "Hold" is expected to perform in line with the overall market or a specific benchmark. This rating indicates that the stock is neither particularly compelling nor unfavorable for investment. Note: This is not investment advice; please consult a financial advisor before making investment decisions.
SellA stock rated as a "Sell" is expected to perform worse than the overall market or a specific benchmark over the near-to-medium term. This rating suggests the stock may deliver lower returns compared to other stocks in the same sector or market index. Note: This is not investment advice; please consult a financial advisor before making investment decisions.

Disclaimer

This AI Analyst Stock Report is automatically generated by our AI systems using advanced algorithms and publicly available financial, technical, and market data. While the information provided aims to be accurate and insightful, it is intended for informational purposes only and should not be considered financial advice. Any content created by an AI (Artificial Intelligence) system may contain inaccuracies and/or contain errors. Investing in stocks carries inherent risks, and past performance is not indicative of future results. This report does not account for your personal financial circumstances, objectives, or risk tolerance. Always conduct your own research or consult with a qualified financial advisor before making investment decisions. The analysis and recommendations provided are based on historical and current data and may not fully reflect future market conditions or unexpected developments. Neither the creators of this report nor its affiliated entities guarantee the accuracy, completeness, or reliability of the information presented. Use this report at your own discretion and risk.