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Shipping Industry Rises 60.3% Year to Date: 3 Stocks to Buy
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Key Takeaways
The shipping industry is up 60.3% YTD, topping the S&P 500's 8.3% gain and transportation's 11% rise.
AI, digitalization and alternative fuels are improving efficiency, supply chains and emissions compliance.
Seanergy Maritime, Star Bulk and EuroDry posted strong YTD gains and sharp 2026 estimate revisions.
The Zacks Transportation - Shipping industry is currently benefiting from strategic diversification initiatives and an increasing shift toward digitalization and artificial intelligence. These are aimed at improving operational efficiency, reducing costs and aligning with the evolving regulatory and market requirements.
The shipping industry's shift toward decarbonization continues to generate long-term growth opportunities. Increasing adoption of alternative fuels such as LNG, methanol, ammonia and biofuels is helping operators reduce emissions while complying with increasingly stringent environmental regulations. Investments in fuel-efficient vessel designs, advanced hull coatings and next-generation propulsion systems are lowering operating costs and improving fleet efficiency.
Digitalization and artificial intelligence are transforming the shipping industry by improving operational efficiency and optimizing supply-chain management. AI-powered analytics and machine learning tools help achieve more accurate demand forecasting, better route planning and improved fuel-efficiency management; real-time cargo tracking enhances shipment visibility, reduces delays and allows operators to identify potential disruptions; automation across ports and vessels helps streamline cargo handling and documentation and lowers the risk of manual errors.
Despite these positives, the industry grapples with higher fuel prices (all thanks to the ongoing global uncertainty, which started with the Middle East tensions). Higher fuel prices are a key concern for shipping companies, as bunker fuel remains one of the industry's largest operating expenses. With supply concerns being intensified around the Strait of Hormuz, shipping companies are likely to suffer from difficult trade flows, higher transit risks and worsened operating conditions.
Shipping Industry’s Price Performance
The shipping industry has gained 60.3% so far this year, outperforming the S&P 500 Index’s northward movement of 8.3% and the 11% surge of the Zacks Transportation sector.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
The buoyancy in the industry is further confirmed by its Zacks Industry Rank #39, which places it in the top 16% of more than 250 Zacks industries.
Investing in Shipping Stocks: A Prudent Idea
Given this encouraging backdrop, we present three shipping stocks, Seanergy Maritime Holdings Corp (SHIP - Free Report) , Star Bulk Carriers Corp. (SBLK - Free Report) and EuroDry Ltd. (EDRY - Free Report) , which investors can bet on.
The aforementioned stocks currently have a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) or 2 (Buy), a VGM Score of A or B and a solid expected earnings growth rate for the current year. These stocks have also witnessed upward estimate revisions in the past 60 days. Additionally, these stocks have a strong trailing four-quarter average earnings surprise history.
Our research shows that stocks with a VGM Score of A or B, combined with a Zacks Rank #1 or 2, offer the best investment opportunities for investors. The selected companies appear to be compelling investment propositions at the moment.
Seanergy Maritime:Seanergy Maritime engages in the seaborne transportation of dry bulk commodities worldwide. SHIP has a market capitalization of $382.30 million. Shares of Seanergy Maritime have rallied 97.6% year to date.
Seanergy Maritime sports a Zacks Rank #1 and has a VGM Score of A. The positive sentiment surrounding SHIP stock is evident from the fact that the Zacks Consensus Estimate for the third quarter of 2026 and full-year 2026 earnings has been revised upward by 4.1% and 17.8%, respectively, in the past 60 days. You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.
The company’s expected earnings growth rate for the third quarter and full-year 2026 is 14.9% and 178.9%, respectively. SHIP has a trailing four-quarter earnings surprise of 38.00%, on average.
Seanergy Maritime Holdings Corp Price and EPS Surprise
Star Bulk: The company provides international seaborne transportation services for dry bulk commodities. SBLK has a market capitalization of $3.53 billion. Shares of Star Bulk have rallied 59.9% year to date.
Star Bulk sports a Zacks Rank #1 and has a VGM Score of B. The positive sentiment surrounding SBLK stock is evident from the fact that the Zacks Consensus Estimate for the third quarter of 2026 and full-year 2026 earnings has been revised upward by 17.5% and 14.6%, respectively, in the past 60 days.
The company’s expected earnings growth rate for the third quarter and full-year 2026 is more than 100% each. SBLK has a trailing four-quarter earnings surprise of 14.84%, on average.
EuroDry: The company provides ocean-going transportation services worldwide. EDRY has a market capitalization of $175.09 million.
EuroDry sports a Zacks Rank #1 and has a VGM Score of B. The positive sentiment surrounding EDRY stock is evident from the fact that the Zacks Consensus Estimate for the third quarter of 2026 and full-year 2026 earnings has been revised upward by 39.34% and 49.10%, respectively, in the past 60 days.
Its expected earnings growth rate for the third quarter and full-year 2026 is more than 100% each. Shares of EuroDry have surged more than 100% year to date.
View the Zacks #1 Rank List
Image: Bigstock
Shipping Industry Rises 60.3% Year to Date: 3 Stocks to Buy
Key Takeaways
The Zacks Transportation - Shipping industry is currently benefiting from strategic diversification initiatives and an increasing shift toward digitalization and artificial intelligence. These are aimed at improving operational efficiency, reducing costs and aligning with the evolving regulatory and market requirements.
The shipping industry's shift toward decarbonization continues to generate long-term growth opportunities. Increasing adoption of alternative fuels such as LNG, methanol, ammonia and biofuels is helping operators reduce emissions while complying with increasingly stringent environmental regulations. Investments in fuel-efficient vessel designs, advanced hull coatings and next-generation propulsion systems are lowering operating costs and improving fleet efficiency.
Digitalization and artificial intelligence are transforming the shipping industry by improving operational efficiency and optimizing supply-chain management. AI-powered analytics and machine learning tools help achieve more accurate demand forecasting, better route planning and improved fuel-efficiency management; real-time cargo tracking enhances shipment visibility, reduces delays and allows operators to identify potential disruptions; automation across ports and vessels helps streamline cargo handling and documentation and lowers the risk of manual errors.
Despite these positives, the industry grapples with higher fuel prices (all thanks to the ongoing global uncertainty, which started with the Middle East tensions). Higher fuel prices are a key concern for shipping companies, as bunker fuel remains one of the industry's largest operating expenses. With supply concerns being intensified around the Strait of Hormuz, shipping companies are likely to suffer from difficult trade flows, higher transit risks and worsened operating conditions.
Shipping Industry’s Price Performance
The shipping industry has gained 60.3% so far this year, outperforming the S&P 500 Index’s northward movement of 8.3% and the 11% surge of the Zacks Transportation sector.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
The buoyancy in the industry is further confirmed by its Zacks Industry Rank #39, which places it in the top 16% of more than 250 Zacks industries.
Investing in Shipping Stocks: A Prudent Idea
Given this encouraging backdrop, we present three shipping stocks, Seanergy Maritime Holdings Corp (SHIP - Free Report) , Star Bulk Carriers Corp. (SBLK - Free Report) and EuroDry Ltd. (EDRY - Free Report) , which investors can bet on.
The aforementioned stocks currently have a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) or 2 (Buy), a VGM Score of A or B and a solid expected earnings growth rate for the current year. These stocks have also witnessed upward estimate revisions in the past 60 days. Additionally, these stocks have a strong trailing four-quarter average earnings surprise history.
Our research shows that stocks with a VGM Score of A or B, combined with a Zacks Rank #1 or 2, offer the best investment opportunities for investors. The selected companies appear to be compelling investment propositions at the moment.
Seanergy Maritime:Seanergy Maritime engages in the seaborne transportation of dry bulk commodities worldwide. SHIP has a market capitalization of $382.30 million. Shares of Seanergy Maritime have rallied 97.6% year to date.
Seanergy Maritime sports a Zacks Rank #1 and has a VGM Score of A. The positive sentiment surrounding SHIP stock is evident from the fact that the Zacks Consensus Estimate for the third quarter of 2026 and full-year 2026 earnings has been revised upward by 4.1% and 17.8%, respectively, in the past 60 days. You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.
The company’s expected earnings growth rate for the third quarter and full-year 2026 is 14.9% and 178.9%, respectively. SHIP has a trailing four-quarter earnings surprise of 38.00%, on average.
Seanergy Maritime Holdings Corp Price and EPS Surprise
Seanergy Maritime Holdings Corp price-eps-surprise | Seanergy Maritime Holdings Corp Quote
Star Bulk: The company provides international seaborne transportation services for dry bulk commodities. SBLK has a market capitalization of $3.53 billion. Shares of Star Bulk have rallied 59.9% year to date.
Star Bulk sports a Zacks Rank #1 and has a VGM Score of B. The positive sentiment surrounding SBLK stock is evident from the fact that the Zacks Consensus Estimate for the third quarter of 2026 and full-year 2026 earnings has been revised upward by 17.5% and 14.6%, respectively, in the past 60 days.
The company’s expected earnings growth rate for the third quarter and full-year 2026 is more than 100% each. SBLK has a trailing four-quarter earnings surprise of 14.84%, on average.
Star Bulk Carriers Corp. Price and EPS Surprise
Star Bulk Carriers Corp. price-eps-surprise | Star Bulk Carriers Corp. Quote
EuroDry: The company provides ocean-going transportation services worldwide. EDRY has a market capitalization of $175.09 million.
EuroDry sports a Zacks Rank #1 and has a VGM Score of B. The positive sentiment surrounding EDRY stock is evident from the fact that the Zacks Consensus Estimate for the third quarter of 2026 and full-year 2026 earnings has been revised upward by 39.34% and 49.10%, respectively, in the past 60 days.
Its expected earnings growth rate for the third quarter and full-year 2026 is more than 100% each. Shares of EuroDry have surged more than 100% year to date.
EuroDry Price and EPS Surprise
EuroDry price-eps-surprise | EuroDry Quote