Costamare Inc Q1 2026 Earnings Call - Secures $2.8B in New Contracts with COSCO While Boosting Dividend
Summary
Costamare Inc. delivered a strong first quarter in 2026, posting adjusted net income of $76 million and ending the period with $645 million in liquidity. The shipping company is aggressively expanding its fleet through a major newbuilding program, ordering 16 new container ships from Chinese yards and acquiring two secondhand vessels. Crucially, these acquisitions are locked into long-term charters with high-quality counterparties like COSCO, adding $2.8 billion in incremental contracted revenue and pushing total contracted revenues to $6.2 billion. Management is using this improved cash flow visibility to raise the quarterly dividend, signaling confidence in sustained profitability despite market volatility.
The strategic pivot toward a younger, heavily contracted fleet is already showing results. By 2030, the newbuilding program will reduce the average fleet age by 3.7 years, while simultaneously extending the weighted average charter duration by two years. With 97% of revenue days fixed for 2026 and 94% for 2027, Costamare has effectively insulated itself from spot rate fluctuations. The company is capitalizing on a tight market where added fleet capacity sits at just 1%, ensuring high utilization and robust charter rates. This disciplined approach to fleet renewal and long-term employment is positioning Costamare for steady, predictable growth in a volatile industry.
Key Takeaways
- Costamare reported Q1 2026 adjusted net income of $76 million ($0.63 per share), demonstrating strong near-term profitability.
- The company secured 16 newbuilding contracts with COSCO Shipping, adding $2.8 billion in incremental contracted revenue over 15 to 8-year charters.
- Total contracted revenues now stand at $6.2 billion, with a TEU-weighted remaining charter duration of 6.1 years, providing exceptional cash flow visibility.
- Fleet renewal is accelerating: 22 vessels are under construction, which will reduce the average fleet age by 3.7 years by 2030.
- Management is increasing the quarterly dividend from $0.115 to $0.125 per share, reflecting improved cash flows and shareholder returns.
- Revenue days are fixed at 97% for 2026 and 94% for 2027, significantly de-risking the near-term earnings profile.
- Pre- and post-delivery financing is fully arranged for all newbuildings with Chinese financial institutions, securing long-term debt tenure up to 15 years.
- Two secondhand 5,600 TEU vessels are being acquired for Q4 2026 delivery, each locked into a 42-month time charter with a leading liner operator.
- The container shipping market remains tight, with added fleet capacity at just 1%, supporting robust charter rates and high vessel utilization.
- Liquidity remains strong at $645 million, providing ample cushion for fleet expansion and dividend payments in a volatile market environment.
Full Transcript
Operator: Thank you for standing by, ladies and gentlemen, welcome to the Costamare Inc. conference call on the first quarter 2026 financial results. We have with us Mr. Gregory Zikos, Chief Financial Officer of the company. At this time, all participants are in a listen-only mode. There will be a presentation followed by a question-and-answer session. At that time, if you wish to ask a question, please press star then one on your telephone keypad and wait for your name to be announced. I must advise you that this conference call is being recorded today, Wednesday, April 29th, 2026. We would like to remind you that this conference call contains forward-looking statements. Please take a moment to read slide number 2 on the presentation which contains the forward-looking statements.
I will now pass the floor over to your speaker today, Mr. Zikos. Please go ahead, sir.
Gregory Zikos, Chief Financial Officer, Costamare Inc.: Thank you, and good morning, ladies and gentlemen. During the first quarter of the year, the company generated net income of about $75 million. Total liquidity amounted to about $645 million. Executing on our strategy of renewing the fleet and securing long-term cash flows from high-quality counterparties, we have ordered a total of 16 new buildings from first-class Chinese shipyards. 12 of the ships are 9,200 TEUs and 4 3,100 TEUs capacity. The vessels are expected to be delivered between the fourth quarter of 2027 and the second quarter of 2030. Upon delivery, all ships will commence long-term charters with COSCO Shipping of 15 and 8 years for the 12 9,000 TEU ships and the 4 3,100 TEU vessels respectively.
We are pleased to expand our valued and long-lasting relationship with COSCO through the completion of our latest 16 new buildings transaction. Incremental contracted revenues for the new charters amount to about $2.8 billion. The acquisitions will be funded with equity and debt. Pre- and post-delivery financing for a tenure of up to 15 years has been arranged for all 16 ships with two leading Chinese financial institutions. In addition to the above, we have agreed to acquire two secondhand 5,600 TEU vessels built in 2001. The acquisitions are expected to be completed in Q4 2026, upon which each vessels shall commence a 42-month time charter with a leading liner operator. As a consequence, total contracted revenues have reached $6.2 billion, with the remaining time charter duration of 6.1 years.
In light of the above, management is pleased to recommend to the board of directors to increase the quarterly dividend per share from $0.115 to $0.125. While rewarding our shareholders as a result of increased cash flows, profitability, and visibility, the payment of that dividend is not expected to affect our capacity to continue growing on a healthy basis in a volatile market environment. Moving now to the slide presentation. On the first slide, you can see our first quarter results. Adjusted net income for the quarter was $76 million or $0.63 per share. Net income for the quarter was $75 million or $0.62 per share. Our liquidity stands at above $640 million. Management has announced the intention to recommend a dividend increase to the board.
Subject to approval, the quarterly dividend would increase from 11.5 to $0.125 per share, starting with Q2 2026. Slide 4. We have concluded new building contracts for 16 container ships with expected deliveries between Q4 2027 and Q2 2030, bringing the total number of our vessels under construction to 22. Upon delivery, each vessel will commence a long-term charter with a leading liner company. We have already arranged pre- and post-delivery financing for all the new buildings. Slide 5. Here we show our new building program. In total, we now have 22 vessels under construction, increasing the weighted average duration of our chartered book by about 2 years. All our new buildings have long-term employment and signed pre- and post-delivery financing already in place. Slide 6.
This slide highlights the effect of the new building program on our fleet age. By 2030, the program reduces average fleet age by about 3.7 years compared to the average age of our fleet had we not entered into the new building contracts. Slide 7. Regarding S&P activity, we have agreed to acquire two secondhand 5,600 TEU capacity container ships with expected delivery in Q4 2026. Upon delivery, each vessels shall commence a 42-month time charter with a leading liner. Both acquisitions are expected to be financed with debt and cash on hand. On the employment side, our revenue days are fixed 97% for 2026 and 94% for 2027, while our contracted revenues are $6.2 billion, with a TEU weighted remaining time charter duration of 6.1 years.
Moving to the last slide, charter rates in the container shipping market remain at robust levels. The added fleet remains at very low levels at 1%, indicating a fully employed market. With that, we conclude our presentation, and we can now take questions. Thank you. Operator, we can take questions now.
Operator: Thank you. As a reminder, if you would wish to ask a question, please press star then one on your telephone keypad and wait for your name to be announced. If you wish to cancel your request, please press star then two. That’s star one to ask a question. As there are no further questions, I would like to pass the call over to Mr. Zikos for any closing remarks.
Gregory Zikos, Chief Financial Officer, Costamare Inc.: Thank you for dialing in and for your interest in the Costamare Q1 results call. We’re looking forward to speaking with you again during the next quarterly results call. Thank you. Operator, we can conclude the call now.
Operator: Thank you. That does conclude our conference for today. Thank you all for your participation. You may now disconnect.