Danaos (NYSE:DAC) Reaches New 12-Month High After Better-Than-Expected Earnings

Danaos Corporation (NYSE:DAC) shares hit a new 52-week high during mid-day trading on Tuesday following a stronger than expected earnings report. The company traded as high as $106.99 and last traded at $105.8490, with a volume of 13323 shares changing hands. The stock had previously closed at $103.00.

The shipping company reported $7.14 EPS for the quarter, beating analysts’ consensus estimates of $6.46 by $0.68. Danaos had a net margin of 47.45% and a return on equity of 13.50%. The business had revenue of $266.27 million during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $253.00 million.

Danaos Announces Dividend

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, March 4th. Stockholders of record on Monday, February 23rd will be issued a dividend of $0.90 per share. This represents a $3.60 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 3.4%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Monday, February 23rd. Danaos’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 14.37%.

Danaos News Roundup

Here are the key news stories impacting Danaos this week:

• Positive Sentiment: Q4 results beat expectations — Danaos reported EPS of $7.14 vs. consensus $6.46 and revenue of $266.3M vs. $253M, with healthy margins and ROE, supporting stronger near-term cash flow and valuation. Danaos Q4 earnings (MarketBeat)
• Positive Sentiment: Container volumes reached record highs in the quarter, implying improved operational leverage and revenue visibility as demand for container shipping strengthened. Danaos beats Q4 expectations (Investing.com)
• Positive Sentiment: Dividend declared — Danaos announced a $0.90 quarterly dividend (annualized yield ~3.4%), with record/ex-dividend dates in late February and payment in early March; the payout supports the stock’s income appeal.
• Neutral Sentiment: Company filings and press materials published — PR Newswire posted the official Q4/2025 results and metrics; a slide deck from the call is also available for deeper review of fleet metrics and revenue drivers. Danaos Q4 press release (PR Newswire)
• Neutral Sentiment: Earnings-call transcripts published — Full transcripts (Fool, Seeking Alpha) are available for details on management commentary about market outlook, contract coverage and capital allocation. Investors should read Q&A for guidance clues. Danaos Q4 earnings call (Fool) Danaos Q4 earnings call (Seeking Alpha)

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

Separately, Weiss Ratings reaffirmed a “buy (b)” rating on shares of Danaos in a research report on Wednesday, January 21st. Two research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, According to data from MarketBeat.com, Danaos currently has an average rating of “Buy” and an average target price of $105.00.

Institutional Trading of Danaos

A number of large investors have recently bought and sold shares of the stock. Morgan Dempsey Capital Management LLC boosted its stake in shares of Danaos by 41.7% in the 2nd quarter. Morgan Dempsey Capital Management LLC now owns 4,564 shares of the shipping company’s stock valued at $394,000 after purchasing an additional 1,343 shares in the last quarter. Aristides Capital LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Danaos during the 2nd quarter worth about $246,000. Y Intercept Hong Kong Ltd bought a new position in Danaos during the 2nd quarter valued at about $264,000. Bastion Asset Management Inc. boosted its position in Danaos by 50.6% in the second quarter. Bastion Asset Management Inc. now owns 37,514 shares of the shipping company’s stock valued at $3,217,000 after buying an additional 12,606 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Walleye Capital LLC bought a new stake in Danaos during the second quarter worth about $1,129,000. 19.01% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

Danaos Trading Up 2.1%

The company has a market cap of $2.00 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 3.93 and a beta of 1.08. The company’s fifty day moving average price is $98.15 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $94.23. The company has a quick ratio of 4.51, a current ratio of 4.62 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.18.

Danaos Company Profile

Danaos Corporation is a leading independent owner and manager of containerships, specializing in long-term charters of modern vessels to major liner companies worldwide. The company’s core services include vessel acquisition and sale, technical and crew management, and commercial chartering, all aimed at supporting global containerized trade. Danaos leverages its in-house expertise in operations, maintenance and regulatory compliance to ensure reliable and efficient fleet performance.

Founded in 1972 by Dr.