DAC

Industrials

Danaos Corporation · Marine Shipping · $2B

UQS Score — Balanced Preset
53.0
Good

Danaos Corporation scores 53.0/100 using the Balanced preset.

UQS vs Industrials Sector
DAC
53.0
Sector avg
42.4
Quality
Good
Moat
Weak
Growth
Weak
Risk
Strong
Valuation
Attractive

What is Danaos Corporation?

Danaos Corporation is a Greek-based containership owner and operator serving liner companies across Asia, Europe, Australia, and the United States. The company has built one of the larger independent containership fleets in the world.

Danaos generates revenue by chartering its containerships to major liner companies under time-charter agreements. These contracts provide the company with predictable cash flows over defined periods. Rather than operating cargo routes directly, Danaos acts as a vessel lessor — its customers handle cargo bookings while Danaos manages the fleet.

Danaos Corporation was founded in 1963 and is headquartered in Piraeus, Greece.

  • Time-charter containership leasing
  • Large-capacity vessel fleet management
  • Seaborne freight transportation capacity
  • Fleet services across major global trade lanes

Is DAC a Good Stock to Buy?

UQS Score rates DAC as Good overall, reflecting a balanced profile with meaningful strengths and some areas of caution.

The Risk pillar stands out as a clear strength, suggesting the company carries a relatively conservative financial structure compared to sector peers. Valuation is rated Attractive, meaning the stock does not appear expensive relative to its fundamentals — a notable characteristic in the capital-intensive shipping sector.

The Moat and Growth pillars are both rated Weak, indicating limited competitive differentiation and modest near-term expansion prospects — common challenges in the cyclical containership industry.

See the full pillar breakdown and underlying financial metrics by signing up for a UQS Pro account. Sign up free →

Past performance does not guarantee future results. UQS Score is based on fundamental data and is not a buy/sell recommendation.

Does DAC pay dividends?

Yes — Danaos Corporation pays a dividend.

Danaos pays a regular dividend, which is relatively uncommon among mid-cap shipping companies. The time-charter model generates predictable cash flows that support consistent distributions. Investors seeking income exposure in the industrials sector may find DAC's dividend cadence worth examining alongside the full UQS analysis.

When does DAC report earnings?

Danaos Corporation reports earnings on a quarterly cadence, typical for US-listed equities.

Charter rate environments and fleet utilization levels tend to drive quarterly results for containership operators. Danaos's long-term charter contracts provide some insulation from short-term freight market swings, which can moderate earnings volatility relative to spot-rate-exposed peers.

For the most recent quarter's results, visit Danaos Corporation's investor relations page directly.

DAC Price History

+117.1% over 5Y

Monthly close, adjusted for stock splits and dividend reinvestment.

Return Calculator

What if I invested in Danaos Corporation?

$
Today it would be worth
$28,776
That's a +188% total return, or +23.5% annualized.

Based on Danaos Corporation's historical closing prices, adjusted for stock splits and dividend reinvestment. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is for informational purposes only and is not financial advice.

DAC Long-term Outlook

The UQS Growth pillar is rated Weak, reflecting limited near-term expansion signals for Danaos in the current shipping cycle. However, the Strong Risk rating suggests the company is positioned to weather downturns with relative stability. The Attractive Valuation label indicates the market may not be fully pricing in the company's financial resilience, which could matter over a longer holding horizon.

Growth drivers

  • Long-term time-charter contracts providing revenue visibility
  • Potential fleet renewal or expansion during softer asset-price environments
  • Exposure to recovering global trade volumes across key shipping lanes

Key risks

  • Cyclical containership market subject to sharp freight rate corrections
  • Weak Moat rating reflects limited pricing power relative to larger liner operators
  • Capital-intensive fleet maintenance and vessel replacement requirements

DAC vs Peers

Danaos operates in a competitive containership and marine infrastructure space alongside several other publicly traded vessel owners.

CMREDAC scores higher
Costamare Inc.

Costamare is another Greece-based containership lessor with a similarly charter-focused model, making it one of the most direct comparables to Danaos in fleet strategy and revenue structure.

CDLRDAC scores lower
Cadeler A/S

Cadeler focuses on offshore wind installation vessels rather than containerships, representing a different segment of the marine transport and infrastructure market.

WTE.TODAC scores higher
Westshore Terminals Investment Corporation

Westshore operates a bulk commodity terminal in Canada, offering a different model of marine logistics infrastructure compared to Danaos's ocean-going fleet.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Danaos Corporation do?

Danaos owns and operates a fleet of containerships that it charters to major liner companies. Rather than running cargo routes itself, the company leases vessels under time-charter agreements, earning predictable fees while customers manage freight operations. Its fleet serves trade lanes across Asia, Europe, Australia, and the United States.

Does DAC pay dividends?

Yes, Danaos pays a regular dividend. The company's time-charter revenue model generates relatively stable cash flows, which supports consistent distributions to shareholders. For current yield figures and payment schedules, check Danaos's investor relations page or your brokerage platform.

When does DAC report earnings?

Danaos reports on a quarterly cadence, as is standard for US-listed companies. Specific dates are announced in advance on the company's investor relations page. We recommend checking there directly for the most accurate upcoming reporting schedule.

Is DAC a good stock to buy?

UQS Score rates DAC as Good overall. The Risk pillar is Strong and Valuation is Attractive, which are positive signals. However, the Moat and Growth pillars are both Weak, reflecting the cyclical and competitive nature of the containership industry. The full pillar breakdown is available to Pro members.

Is DAC overvalued?

The UQS Valuation pillar for DAC is rated Attractive, suggesting the stock is not expensive relative to its fundamentals. In a capital-intensive sector like containership leasing, an Attractive valuation label can indicate the market is pricing in meaningful risk — which the Strong Risk pillar partially offsets.

How does DAC compare to its competitors?

Among publicly traded containership lessors, Costamare is the most direct comparable to Danaos in terms of business model. Cadeler and Westshore Terminals operate in adjacent marine infrastructure segments with different risk and revenue profiles. UQS Score provides side-by-side pillar comparisons for Pro members.

What is DAC's market cap bracket?

Danaos Corporation is classified as a mid-cap company. This places it in a tier that typically offers more liquidity than small-cap shipping peers while remaining more nimble than the largest global container shipping conglomerates.

Who founded Danaos Corporation?

Danaos traces its origins to 1963 and is associated with the Coustas family, a prominent Greek shipping dynasty. The company is headquartered in Piraeus, Greece, the country's main port city and a global center of maritime commerce.

Is DAC a long-term quality investment?

From a long-term quality perspective, DAC's Strong Risk rating and Attractive Valuation are encouraging signals. The Weak Moat and Growth ratings are worth monitoring, as they suggest limited structural competitive advantages. UQS Score's full analysis helps investors assess whether the quality profile aligns with their long-term criteria.

What sector does DAC belong to?

Danaos Corporation is classified in the Industrials sector, specifically within marine transportation. The company's business is closely tied to global trade volumes and shipping cycle dynamics, which can create both opportunity and volatility for investors in this sector.

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Pro Analysis

DAC — Score History

45505560Apr 2Apr 12Apr 22May 2May 12May 22May 24v5
Score changes· 13 most recent
DateUQSQualityMoatGrowthRiskValueChange
May 23, 202653.078.516.018.686.684.0+0.1
May 21, 202652.978.516.018.686.683.7-0.1
May 20, 202653.078.516.018.686.684.2+0.1
May 19, 202652.978.516.018.686.683.8-0.1
May 16, 202653.078.516.018.686.684.1+0.1
May 15, 202652.978.516.018.686.683.7-1.0
May 14, 202653.978.516.011.686.6100.0+0.1
May 11, 202653.878.516.010.886.6100.0-1.2
May 10, 202655.083.516.010.886.6100.0+2.1
May 9, 202652.983.516.00.086.6100.0-0.9

DAC — Pillar Breakdown

Quality

78.5/100 (25%)

Danaos Corporation demonstrates outstanding capital efficiency and profitability, placing it among the highest-quality businesses in the market.

Capital Efficiency (ROIC)Moderate

How effectively capital is deployed to generate returns.

Return on EquityModerate

Profitability relative to shareholders' equity.

Operating ProfitabilityStrong

Ability to convert revenue into operating profit.

Net ProfitabilityStrong

Bottom-line profit as a share of revenue.

Gross Profit / AssetsModerate

Asset productivity — how much gross profit each dollar of assets generates.

Cash GenerationStrong

Free cash flow relative to market value.

Growth

18.6/100 (20%)

Danaos Corporation faces growth headwinds with declining or stagnant revenue trends.

Recent Revenue TrendWeak

Revenue trajectory over the last twelve months.

3Y Revenue CAGRWeak

Compound annual revenue growth rate over 3 years.

EPS GrowthWeak

Year-over-year earnings per share growth.

Forward Revenue OutlookWeak

Analyst consensus for future revenue growth.

Forward EPS GrowthWeak

Analyst consensus for future earnings growth.

Risk

86.6/100 (15%)

Danaos Corporation carries minimal financial risk with conservative leverage and strong solvency.

Financial LeverageStrong

Debt levels relative to earnings capacity.

Debt/EquityStrong

Total debt relative to shareholder equity.

Current RatioStrong

Short-term liquidity — ability to pay near-term obligations.

Interest CoverageModerate

Earnings capacity relative to interest payments.

Valuation

84.0/100 (15%)

Danaos Corporation appears attractively valued relative to its earnings, cash flows, and sector peers.

Earnings YieldStrong

Inverse of forward P/E — higher yield means cheaper stock.

Price to Free Cash FlowStrong

How many years of FCF the market cap represents.

PEG RatioWeak

P/E relative to earnings growth — lower is more attractive.

EV/EBITDA vs SectorStrong

Enterprise value multiple relative to sector median.

Moat

16/100 (25%)

Danaos Corporation operates in a highly competitive environment with limited sustainable advantages. The Moat pillar evaluates competitive advantages across five dimensions: Switching Costs, Network Effects, Cost Advantage, Intangible Assets, and Scale & Ecosystem. Sign in to customize moat ratings for DAC.

Score Composition

Quality
78.5×25%19.6
Growth
18.6×20%3.7
Risk
86.6×15%13.0
Valuation
84.0×15%12.6
Moat
16.0×25%4.0
Total
53.0Good

Financial Data

More Stock Analysis

How is the DAC UQS Score Calculated?

The UQS (Unified Quality Score) for Danaos Corporation is calculated using a proprietary 6-pillar framework with 29 financial metrics. Each pillar evaluates a different dimension on a 0–100 scale, then combines into a single weighted score. Scoring thresholds are calibrated per sector. Momentum is an optional Pro toggle — without it, you get the 5-pillar / 25-metric core shown below.

Quality (25%) measures profitability and capital efficiency — ROIC, ROE, margins, GP/Assets, and FCF Yield.

Moat (25%) assesses Danaos Corporation's competitive advantages across switching costs, network effects, cost advantages, intangible assets, and ecosystem scale.

Growth (20%) tracks revenue trajectory and earnings momentum, combining historical results with analyst forward estimates.

Risk (15%) is inversely scored — lower leverage and strong balance sheet health result in higher scores.

Valuation (15%) measures whether Danaos Corporation is fairly priced using earnings yield, price-to-FCF, PEG ratio, and EV/EBITDA relative to sector peers.

Six investor-inspired presets are available, each with different pillar weights: Balanced, Buffett, Munger, Lynch, Cathie Wood, and Graham. The public score shown here uses the Balanced preset. Learn more in our FAQ.