I've already revealed that I have a crush on Diana, and suggested that Charles Darwin himself would have been smitten with her adaptive prowess.
I'm speaking, of course, about Diana Shipping
Diana, a dry bulk shipper, made a profit after a challenging second quarter, matching analyst expectations with earnings of $30.4 million. A 31% decline in the average charter rate to $33,073 per day, plus a marginal increase in idle operating days, yielded a copycat 31% drop in revenue. Diana's fleet utilization rate of 99.1% highlights the importance of long-term charters during a major market disruption, although smaller operator Eagle Bulk Shipping
Great navigators must be able to predict the weather with accuracy, however, and Diana is not shy about sharing her forecast. Alongside fellow bellwethers Nucor
Accordingly, Diana remains in lockdown mode, making no additions to a conservative order book of just two new vessels under construction. Competitor Navios Maritime Holdings
Despite the temptation to dive into dry bulk as China continues to hoard raw materials and American industrial giants perceive a bottom, I have not altered my fundamental view that physical survival remains the overarching priority for dry bulkers until we see how this global fleet expansion will be absorbed. I view debt-laden operators like Excel Maritime Carriers
With more cash on hand than long-term debt, and the most conservative strategic stance I've observed in the industry, Diana is prepped for survival. She may not be flashy or prone to comforting rhetoric, but she's beautiful in this Fool's eyes.
Further Foolishness:
- DryShips attacks shareholders.
- The truth beneath Excel's profits.
- A game of relative strength.
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