SBLK
IndustrialsStar Bulk Carriers Corp. · Marine Shipping · $3B
What is Star Bulk Carriers Corp.?
Star Bulk Carriers Corp. is a Greece-based dry bulk shipping company operating one of the largest fleets in the sector. It moves essential raw materials across global trade routes, serving customers in industries ranging from steel production to agriculture.
Star Bulk generates revenue by chartering its vessels to transport dry bulk commodities — including iron ore, coal, grains, bauxite, fertilizers, and steel products — across international shipping lanes. The company operates a diversified fleet spanning multiple vessel classes, from large Capesize and Newcastlemax ships to smaller Ultramax and Supramax vessels. It also provides vessel management services, adding an operational layer beyond pure cargo transport.
Incorporated in 2006 and formally established in 2007, Star Bulk Carriers is headquartered in Marousi, Greece.
- Ocean transportation of major bulks: iron ore, coal, and grains
- Minor bulk cargo shipping: bauxite, fertilizers, and steel products
- Multi-class fleet operations across Capesize, Kamsarmax, and Supramax segments
- Vessel management services for third-party operators
Is SBLK a Good Stock to Buy?
UQS Score rates SBLK as Below Average overall, reflecting meaningful structural challenges across several key pillars.
Valuation stands out as the most constructive element of the profile, rated Attractive — suggesting the market may already be pricing in much of the sector's cyclical headwinds. Quality and Risk both register as Neutral, indicating the business is not in acute distress and maintains a degree of operational stability relative to shipping peers.
Both the Moat and Growth pillars are rated Weak, pointing to limited competitive differentiation and constrained earnings expansion prospects in a commodity-driven industry.
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Past performance does not guarantee future results. UQS Score is based on fundamental data and is not a buy/sell recommendation.
Does SBLK pay dividends?
Yes — Star Bulk Carriers Corp. pays a dividend.
Star Bulk Carriers pays a regular dividend, which is common among dry bulk shipping companies that distribute a portion of earnings tied to freight rate cycles. Dividend levels in this sector tend to fluctuate with charter rates rather than follow a fixed payout schedule. Income-focused investors should account for this variability when evaluating SBLK's yield relative to more stable dividend payers.
When does SBLK report earnings?
Star Bulk Carriers reports earnings on a quarterly cadence, consistent with standard practice for US-listed equities.
Results in the dry bulk shipping sector are heavily influenced by prevailing freight rates, fleet utilization, and fuel costs — all of which shift with global trade volumes. SBLK's earnings profile reflects this cyclicality, with revenue and profitability moving in tandem with broader commodity shipping demand.
For the most recent quarter's results and guidance, visit Star Bulk Carriers' official investor relations page.
SBLK Price History
+118.5% over 5Y
Monthly close, adjusted for stock splits and dividend reinvestment.
What if I invested in Star Bulk Carriers Corp.?
Based on Star Bulk Carriers Corp.'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.
SBLK Long-term Outlook
The Growth pillar's Weak rating signals that near-term earnings expansion is not a primary driver of the SBLK investment case. Dry bulk shipping remains a cyclical business, and the trajectory of freight rates — shaped by global steel output, grain trade flows, and fleet supply — will largely determine whether results improve. The Neutral Risk rating suggests the company is not facing immediate balance-sheet stress, but the absence of a durable moat limits the upside case in a competitive freight market.
Growth drivers
- Recovery in global commodity trade volumes, particularly iron ore and grain
- Fleet scale providing operational leverage when freight rates rise
- Vessel management services offering a modest non-cyclical revenue stream
Key risks
- Freight rate volatility driven by global economic slowdowns or oversupply of vessels
- Weak moat leaves SBLK exposed to pricing pressure from competing fleets
- Dividend sustainability tied to cyclical earnings rather than stable cash flows
SBLK vs Peers
Star Bulk operates in a competitive global shipping landscape alongside carriers with differing cargo focuses and business models.
BW LPG focuses on liquefied petroleum gas transport rather than dry bulk, giving it exposure to a distinct commodity cycle and customer base.
Cmb.Tech operates across multiple shipping segments with a focus on cleaner technologies, differentiating it from traditional dry bulk operators like SBLK.
ZIM specializes in containerized cargo rather than dry bulk, competing in a different freight market with its own rate dynamics and customer contracts.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Star Bulk Carriers do?
Star Bulk Carriers is a dry bulk shipping company that transports raw materials — including iron ore, coal, grains, bauxite, and fertilizers — across global ocean routes. It operates a large, diversified fleet spanning multiple vessel classes and also provides vessel management services to third parties.
Does SBLK pay dividends?
Yes, Star Bulk Carriers pays a regular dividend. However, like most dry bulk shipping companies, the payout is tied to cyclical freight earnings rather than a fixed formula. Investors should expect dividend levels to vary with shipping market conditions rather than remain stable quarter to quarter.
When does SBLK report earnings?
Star Bulk Carriers follows a standard quarterly earnings cadence for US-listed companies. For the exact schedule and most recent results, check the investor relations section of the company's official website.
Is SBLK a good stock to buy?
UQS Score rates SBLK as Below Average, driven by Weak scores on both the Moat and Growth pillars. The Valuation pillar is rated Attractive, which may interest contrarian or value-oriented investors. The full pillar breakdown is available to Pro members on UQS Score.
Is SBLK overvalued?
Based on the UQS Valuation pillar, SBLK is rated Attractive — meaning the current price appears to reflect or discount the company's near-term challenges. That said, an attractive valuation in a cyclical, low-moat business does not automatically translate to upside without improvement in freight market conditions.
How does SBLK compare to its competitors?
Star Bulk is one of the larger dry bulk operators by fleet capacity, but it competes in a fragmented market where scale alone does not guarantee pricing power. Peers like ZIM focus on container shipping, while BW LPG targets gas transport — each exposed to different freight cycles and demand drivers than SBLK.
What is SBLK's market cap bracket?
Star Bulk Carriers is classified as a mid-cap company. This places it in a range where institutional coverage exists but liquidity and analyst attention may be lower than for large- or mega-cap shipping conglomerates.
Who founded Star Bulk Carriers?
Star Bulk Carriers was incorporated in 2006 and established in 2007. Founding and leadership history is publicly documented through the company's official filings and investor relations materials, which provide the most accurate and current information.
Is SBLK a long-term quality investment?
As a long-term quality indicator, the UQS Score's Below Average rating — anchored by Weak Moat and Growth pillars — suggests SBLK faces structural headwinds that may limit compounding potential over time. Dry bulk shipping is inherently cyclical, and the absence of a durable competitive advantage makes long-term quality harder to sustain.
What is the main competitive advantage of Star Bulk Carriers?
Star Bulk's primary competitive factor is fleet scale — operating one of the largest dry bulk fleets globally allows for operational efficiencies and broader customer reach. However, the UQS Moat pillar rates this advantage as Weak, reflecting that fleet size alone does not create lasting pricing power in a commoditized freight market.
What sector does SBLK belong to?
SBLK is classified within the Industrials sector, specifically in marine transportation. Dry bulk shipping companies are sensitive to global trade volumes, commodity demand cycles, and macroeconomic conditions — making them more cyclical than many other Industrials sub-sectors.
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Pro Analysis
SBLK — Score History
| Date | UQS | Quality | Moat | Growth | Risk | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| May 22, 2026 | 46.1 | 56.3 | 13.0 | 30.2 | 56.6 | 95.0 | +4.6 |
| May 17, 2026 | 41.5 | 41.9 | 13.0 | 29.5 | 52.9 | 93.1 | -0.5 |
| May 7, 2026 | 42.0 | 43.2 | 13.0 | 30.1 | 52.9 | 93.2 | -0.1 |
| May 3, 2026 | 42.1 | 43.2 | 13.0 | 30.1 | 52.9 | 93.7 | 0.0 |
| Apr 29, 2026 | 42.1 | 43.2 | 13.0 | 30.1 | 52.9 | 93.9 | -0.4 |
| Apr 24, 2026 | 42.5 | 43.2 | 13.0 | 32.0 | 52.9 | 94.0 | +0.5 |
| Apr 19, 2026 | 42.0 | 43.2 | 13.0 | 29.4 | 52.9 | 94.0 | +0.3 |
| Apr 18, 2026 | 41.7 | 43.2 | 13.0 | 28.2 | 52.9 | 93.8 | -0.6 |
| Apr 4, 2026 | 42.3 | 43.2 | 13.0 | 28.2 | 52.9 | 98.0 | -0.1 |
| Apr 2, 2026 | 42.4 | 43.5 | 13.0 | 28.2 | 52.9 | 98.2 | — |
SBLK — Pillar Breakdown
Quality
— 56.3/100 (25%)Star Bulk Carriers Corp. shows solid profitability with healthy returns on capital and reasonable margins.
How effectively capital is deployed to generate returns.
Profitability relative to shareholders' equity.
Ability to convert revenue into operating profit.
Bottom-line profit as a share of revenue.
Asset productivity — how much gross profit each dollar of assets generates.
Free cash flow relative to market value.
Growth
— 30.2/100 (20%)Star Bulk Carriers Corp. faces growth headwinds with declining or stagnant revenue trends.
Revenue trajectory over the last twelve months.
Compound annual revenue growth rate over 3 years.
Year-over-year earnings per share growth.
Analyst consensus for future revenue growth.
Analyst consensus for future earnings growth.
Risk
— 56.6/100 (15%)Star Bulk Carriers Corp. maintains a reasonable risk profile with manageable debt levels.
Debt levels relative to earnings capacity.
Total debt relative to shareholder equity.
Short-term liquidity — ability to pay near-term obligations.
Earnings capacity relative to interest payments.
Valuation
— 95.0/100 (15%)Star Bulk Carriers Corp. appears attractively valued relative to its earnings, cash flows, and sector peers.
Inverse of forward P/E — higher yield means cheaper stock.
How many years of FCF the market cap represents.
P/E relative to earnings growth — lower is more attractive.
Enterprise value multiple relative to sector median.
Moat
— 13/100 (25%)Star Bulk Carriers Corp. 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 SBLK.
Score Composition
Financial Data
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How is the SBLK UQS Score Calculated?
The UQS (Unified Quality Score) for Star Bulk Carriers Corp. 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 Star Bulk Carriers Corp.'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 Star Bulk Carriers Corp. 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.