Maersk Shares Drop After Q3 Earnings Miss Expectations

A.P. Moller-Maersk A/S saw its shares slump as much as 11.6% in Copenhagen following the release of third-quarter earnings and updated 2026 guidance that fell short of analyst expectations. While the company reported a 155% year-over-year increase in third-quarter Ebit to $3.27 billion, the result missed the $3.61 billion estimate.

Maersk upgraded its 2026 underlying earnings before interest and tax forecast to a range of $8 billion to $8.5 billion, though this remains below the Bloomberg analyst average of $8.66 billion. The company cited challenging weather and reduced activity in the Middle East as primary drivers for lower volumes in its Ocean business.

Despite these headwinds, overall demand and rates were supported by the global rollout of artificial intelligence infrastructure and various supply chain disruptions. These included port congestion, typhoons, and the conflict between the United States and Iran affecting the Strait of Hormuz.