STOCK TITAN

Star Bulk Carriers Corp. Reports Its Strongest Quarterly Results Since the Second Quarter of 2022

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Star Bulk Carriers (Nasdaq: SBLK) reported second quarter 2026 net income of $144.9 million and basic EPS of $1.30, versus virtually breakeven a year earlier. Voyage revenues rose to $357.4 million from $247.4 million, with TCE revenue at $284.6 million and TCE rate at $24,486 per day, despite a smaller average fleet of 134.3 vessels.

Adjusted EBITDA reached $184.2 million and operating cash flow was $149.9 million. The board declared a $0.90 quarterly dividend, the 22nd since 2021. During Q2, Star Bulk sold or agreed to sell five vessels for expected net proceeds of about $70.3 million and took delivery of three of eight newbuildings, with $122.0 million of capex remaining. New and extended debt facilities totaled $132.0 million drawn, and the company expects to have 29 unencumbered vessels after refinancings.

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Positive

  • Net income up to $144.9 million in Q2 2026 from ~$0.04 million
  • TCE rate $24,486/day in Q2 2026 vs $13,624/day in 2025
  • Operating cash flow $149.9 million in Q2 2026 vs $54.5 million
  • Dividend raised to $0.90/share for Q2 2026 vs $0.05 prior year
  • Vessel sale proceeds ~$70.3 million expected net of commissions and debt
  • Interest and finance costs reduced to $12.4 million from $18.9 million YoY

Negative

  • Daily OPEX (as adjusted) rose to $5,180 per vessel from $4,928 YoY
  • Net loss on FFAs and bunker swaps of $0.9 million in Q2 2026

News Explained

The disclosed financing is not yet executed, while one vessel sale and its expected proceeds remain pending.

August 5, 2026 update says Star Moira and Pendulum were delivered to new owners in June and July, while Star Eva is expected to be delivered in the third quarter; the company expects to collect $31.5 million of third-quarter proceeds from the vessel sales, while the separate $35.2 million JOLCO remains subject to definitive documents.

The JOLCO has received credit approval for an amount up to $35.2 million, so its stated amount is a ceiling pending execution rather than completed financing.

Market Reaction – SBLK

+3.36% $28.90
15m delay
+3.36% Vs previous close
$28.90 Last Price
$26.60 $29.41 Day Range
$3.22B Market Cap
0.7x Rel. Volume

Following this news, SBLK has gained 3.36%, reflecting a moderate positive market reaction. Our momentum scanner has triggered 3 alerts so far, indicating moderate trading interest and price volatility. The stock is currently trading at $28.90.

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Market Context

SBLK's 0.86% 24-hour reaction to its Q1 2026 earnings supplied a historical comparator for this anno...
Analysis

SBLK's 0.86% 24-hour reaction to its Q1 2026 earnings supplied a historical comparator for this announcement. The record also included net selling and low short positioning, leaving ownership and volatility risk as the main platform-level watchpoints.

Key Figures

Net income: $144.9 million Dividend per share: $0.90 per share Voyage revenues: $357.4 million +5 more
8 metrics
Net income $144.9 million Q2 2026, versus $0.04 million in Q2 2025
Dividend per share $0.90 per share Q2 2026 quarterly dividend
Voyage revenues $357.4 million Q2 2026, versus $247.4 million in Q2 2025
Adjusted EBITDA $184.2 million Q2 2026, versus $68.9 million in Q2 2025
Earnings per share $1.30 Basic and diluted EPS for Q2 2026
TCE rate $24,486 per vessel per day Q2 2026, versus $13,624 in Q2 2025
Operating cash flow $149.9 million Net cash provided by operating activities in Q2 2026
Remaining newbuilding capital expenditures $122.0 million Payable for five remaining newbuilding vessels

Historical Context

5 past events · Latest: Jul 23 (Neutral)
Pattern 5 events
Date Event Sentiment 24h Move Catalyst
Jul 23 Q2 results scheduling Neutral +1.4% Announced the second-quarter results release date and conference call schedule.
May 20 Q1 earnings report Positive +0.9% Reported first-quarter profit and declared a quarterly dividend.
May 12 Annual meeting results Positive +2.2% Shareholders approved director re-elections and the independent auditor appointment.
May 04 Q1 results scheduling Neutral +0.1% Announced the first-quarter results release date and conference call schedule.
Mar 20 Annual report filing Neutral -1.8% Announced availability of the audited 2025 annual report filed with the SEC.

24h Move is the share-price change in the day after each event; other market factors may also have contributed.

Pattern Detected

Recent history showed positive 24-hour reactions to four of five events, while the 2025 annual-report announcement was the only event with a negative reaction.

Key Terms

ebitda, time charter equivalent, forward freight agreements, jolco
4 terms
ebitda financial
"EBITDA of $194.8 million"
EBITDA stands for earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization. It measures a company's profitability by focusing on the money it makes from its core operations, ignoring expenses like taxes and accounting adjustments. Investors use EBITDA to compare how well different companies are performing financially, as it provides a clearer picture of operational success without the influence of financial structure or accounting choices.
View in glossary
time charter equivalent financial
"Daily Time Charter Equivalent Rate ("TCE")"
Time charter equivalent (TCE) converts the money a ship earns on specific trips into a single daily rate, so different voyages and contract types can be compared on the same scale. Think of it as translating various one-off jobs into a common “daily wage,” which matters to investors because it reveals how much a vessel or fleet is earning per day, helping assess operating profitability, cash flow and valuation across companies and market conditions.
forward freight agreements financial
"forward freight agreements (“FFAs”) and bunker swaps"
Forward freight agreements (FFAs) are contracts that let buyers and sellers lock in the price of transporting goods by sea for future dates, similar to agreeing today on the fare for a future taxi ride. They matter to investors because they provide a way to hedge against or bet on changes in shipping costs, which can affect the profitability of shipping companies, commodity traders, and firms that rely on global transport, and they also signal market expectations about future shipping demand.
jolco financial
"Japanese Operating Lease with Call Option (“JOLCO”)"
A JOLCO is a lease-financing structure where investors buy an asset (often aircraft) and lease it to an operator, with the operator holding an option to buy the asset at the lease end. Think of it like a group of lenders buying a car and renting it out, while the renter can choose to purchase it later; investors get steady lease payments and potential tax benefits, while buyers avoid large upfront costs. For investors, JOLCOs affect cash flow timing, ownership risk, and the tax treatment of returns.

AI-generated analysis. How Rhea-AI works. Not financial advice.

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NET PROFIT OF $144.9 MILLION FOR THE SECOND QUARTER OF 2026 

QUARTERLY DIVIDEND OF $0.90 PER SHARE DECLARED

ATHENS, Greece, Aug. 05, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Star Bulk Carriers Corp. (the "Company" or "Star Bulk") (Nasdaq: SBLK), a global shipping company focusing on the transportation of dry bulk cargoes, today announced its unaudited financial and operating results for the second quarter of 2026. Unless otherwise indicated or unless the context requires otherwise, all references in this press release to "we," "us," "our," or similar references, mean Star Bulk Carriers Corp. and, where applicable, its consolidated subsidiaries.

Financial Highlights 

(Expressed in thousands of U.S. dollars, except for daily rates and per share data)     
Second quarter 2026Second quarter 2025Six months ended June 30, 2026Six months ended June 30, 2025 
Voyage Revenues$357,412$247,408$638,564$478,058 
Net income$144,949$39$203,481$501 
Adjusted Net income(1)$134,751$13,179$197,783$5,441 
Net cash provided by operating activities$149,889$54,493$262,275$103,001 
EBITDA(2)$194,829$55,857$304,567$113,849 
Adjusted EBITDA(2)$184,219$68,946$298,558$117,916 
Earnings per share basic$1.30$0.00$1.83$0.00 
Earnings per share diluted$1.30$0.00$1.82$0.00 
Adjusted earnings per share basic(1)$1.21$0.11$1.78$0.05 
Adjusted earnings per share diluted(1)$1.21$0.11$1.77$0.05 
Dividend per share for the relevant period$0.90$0.05$1.40$0.10 
Average Number of Vessels 134.3 147.6 134.8 149.2 
TCE Revenues(3)$284,600$176,086$498,725$335,364 
Daily Time Charter Equivalent Rate ("TCE")(3)$24,486$13,624$21,495$13,034 
Daily OPEX per vessel(4)$5,265$5,059$5,168$5,034 
Daily OPEX per vessel (as adjusted)(4)$5,180$4,928$5,113$4,913 
Daily Net Cash G&A expenses per vessel(5)$1,362$1,349$1,368$1,334 
      

(1)  Adjusted Net income, Adjusted earnings per share basic and diluted are non-GAAP measures. Please see EXHIBIT I at the end of this release for a reconciliation to Net income and earnings per share basic and diluted, which are the most directly comparable financial measures calculated and presented in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States (“U.S. GAAP”), as well as for the definition of each measure.
(2)  EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA are non-GAAP liquidity measures. Please see EXHIBIT I at the end of this release for a reconciliation of EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA to Net Cash Provided by / (Used in) Operating Activities, which is the most directly comparable financial measure calculated and presented in accordance with U.S. GAAP, as well as for the definition of each measure. To derive Adjusted EBITDA from EBITDA, we exclude certain non-cash gains / (losses).
(3)  Daily Time Charter Equivalent (“TCE”) Rate is a non-GAAP metric, and TCE Revenues is a non-GAAP measure. Please see EXHIBIT I at the end of this release for a reconciliation to Voyage Revenues, which is the most directly comparable financial measure calculated and presented in accordance with U.S. GAAP. The definitions of TCE Rate and TCE Revenues are provided in footnote (7) to the Summary of Selected Data table below.
(4)  Daily OPEX per vessel is calculated by dividing vessel operating expenses by Ownership days (defined below). Daily OPEX per vessel (as adjusted) is calculated by dividing vessel operating expenses excluding pre-delivery expenses for each vessel on acquisition or change of management, if any, by Ownership days. In future periods, we may incur expenses that are the same as or similar to those previously excluded (as described above).
(5)  Daily Net Cash G&A expenses per vessel is calculated by (1) adding the Management fee expense to the General and Administrative expenses, net of share-based compensation expense and other non-cash charges and (2) then dividing the result by the sum of Ownership days and Charter-in days (defined below). Please see EXHIBIT I at the end of this release for a reconciliation to General and administrative expenses, which is the most directly comparable financial measure calculated and presented in accordance with U.S. GAAP.


Petros Pappas, Chief Executive Officer of Star Bulk, commented:

"The dry bulk market continued to be strong during the second quarter of 2026, and Star Bulk again converted that strength into compelling results. We generated Net Income of $144.9 million, EBITDA of $194.8 million, and a TCE of $24,486 per vessel per day – our most profitable quarter since the second quarter of 2022 — underscoring the earnings power of our commercial and technical platform.

Our cost efficiency and capital return policy remain at the center of how we create value. With a full dividend payout policy in place, the Board has approved a dividend of $0.90 per share, distributing our entire operating cash flow after capex and debt service and marking our 22nd consecutive dividend payment since 2021. Combined with one of the lowest cost structures in the sector — daily OPEX of $5,265 and net cash G&A of $1,362 per vessel in Q2 — we aim for every dollar of rate improvement to flow through to our shareholders. Since 2021, we will have returned over $2.15 billion through dividends and buybacks.

During Q2, we took delivery of three previously ordered high-spec Kamsarmax newbuildings with another five scheduled through H2 2026, and sold three older vessels, capitalizing on present firm asset values. We have also fitted 88% of our vessels with Energy Saving Devices, and optimized hull performance through use of silicone paints and hull-cleaning robots. These fleet renewals and efficiency improvements reduce our fleet's fuel consumption, lower our emissions and strengthen our competitiveness.

The outlook remains constructive. The supply-and-demand balance that drove first-half performance is still intact, and we are optimistic about the balance of the year. With significant operating leverage across a diverse fleet of 138 vessels on a fully delivered basis, a full payout capital allocation policy, and one of the strongest balance sheets in the industry, Star Bulk remains well positioned to continue creating value for its shareholders."


Recent Developments

Declaration of Dividend

On August 5, 2026, our Board of Directors declared a quarterly cash dividend of $0.90 per share, payable on or about September 3, 2026 to all shareholders of record as of August 21, 2026.

Fleet Update

Vessels’ S&P

As previously announced, the sales of the vessels Star Scarlett and Star Mariella, were completed on April 21 and May 13, 2026, respectively. During the second quarter of 2026, we agreed to sell the vessels Star Eva, Star Moira and Pendulum. Star Moira and Pendulum were delivered to their new owners in June and July 2026, respectively while Star Eva is expected to be delivered during the third quarter of 2026.

In connection with the sales mentioned above, in the second quarter of 2026 we collected sales proceeds of approximately $60.2 million, net of commissions and we made debt prepayments of approximately $9.9 million, while in the third quarter, we expect to collect sale proceeds of approximately $31.5 million, net of commissions.

Overall, we expect to collect a total amount of approximately $70.3 million, net of commissions and debt prepayments from the aforementioned vessel sales.

 Newbuilding Vessel Program Update

Within the second quarter of 2026, we took delivery of three out of the eight newbuilding vessels. The Star Evelina and the Star Emma were delivered in May 2026 and the Star Ellie was delivered in June 2026. As of June 30, 2026, we have paid a total amount of approximately $164.9 million in pre-delivery and delivery installments related to the eight newbuilding vessels and have a total amount of approximately $122.0 million payable for capital expenditures related to the remaining five newbuilding vessels. Based on the current delivery schedule of the vessels, we expect to take delivery of two vessels in the third quarter of 2026 and three vessels in the fourth quarter of 2026.

Financing

In May 2026, the previously announced extension of the ABN Revolving Facility was executed and the availability period extended until May 2027.

On May 28, 2026, following the deliveries of the vessels Star Emma and Star Evelina, as discussed above, we drew an amount of $52.0 million under the ESUN $130.0 million Facility in order to finance the delivery installments. The ESUN $130.0 million Facility matures seven years after the drawdown and is secured by first-priority mortgages on the two vessels.

In June 2026, we signed the Fubon $80.0 million Facility, as previously announced, and an amount of $80.0 million was drawn on June 10, 2026. The Fubon $80.0 million Facility matures seven years after the drawdown and is secured by first-priority mortgages on two vessels.

In June 2026, we also received a credit approval from BNP Paribas for a Japanese Operating Lease with Call Option (“JOLCO”) for the newbuilding Star Kyra for an amount up to $35.2 million. The execution of the JOLCO transaction is subject to customary definitive documentation for similar transactions of this nature.

Upon the completion of the aforementioned refinancings and prepayments, we will have 29 unencumbered vessels.

Vessel Employment Overview

Our TCE rate per day1 per main vessel category was as follows:

  Second quarter 2026 Six months ended June 30, 2026 
      
Capesize / Newcastlemax Vessels: $36,759 $31,739 
Post Panamax / Kamsarmax Vessels: $20,400 $18,088 
Ultramax / Supramax Vessels: $20,270 $18,184 
      

Amounts shown throughout the press release and variations in period–over–period comparisons are derived from the actual unaudited numbers in our books and records. Reference to per share figures below are based on 111,585,370 and 116,086,335 weighted average diluted shares for the second quarter of 2026 and 2025, respectively.

Second Quarter 2026 and 2025 Results

For the second quarter of 2026, we had net income of $144.9 million, or $1.30 earnings per share, compared to net income for the second quarter of 2025 of $0.04 million, or $0.00 earnings per share. Adjusted Net income, which excludes certain non-cash items, was $134.8 million, or $1.21 earnings per share, for the second quarter of 2026, compared to an Adjusted Net income of $13.2 million, or $0.11 earnings per share for the second quarter of 2025.

Net cash provided by operating activities for the second quarter of 2026 was $149.9 million, compared to $54.5 million for the second quarter of 2025.

Adjusted EBITDA, which excludes certain non-cash items, was $184.2 million for the second quarter of 2026, compared to $68.9 million for the second quarter of 2025.

Voyage revenues increased to $357.4 million for the second quarter of 2026, from $247.4 million for the second quarter of 2025, despite the decrease in the average number of vessels in our fleet to 134.3 from 147.6, primarily due to the higher charter rates prevailing during the recent period, as also reflected in the increase in the TCE rate1 to $24,486 for the second quarter of 2026, compared to $13,624 for the second quarter of 2025.

TCE revenues1 for the second quarters of 2026 and 2025 were $284.6 million and $176.1 million, respectively. In addition to the higher charter rates mentioned above, the TCE Revenues for the second quarter of 2026 were significantly positively impacted by a gain of approximately $21.0 million resulting from the sale of bunkers upon the delivery/redelivery of our vessels to charterers. The gain reflects the significant increase in bunker prices during the quarter, following the escalation of the geopolitical conflicts in the Middle East.

Charter-in hire expenses for the second quarter of 2026 decreased to $12.6 million, compared with $17.3 million in the second quarter of 2025. This decrease was primarily attributable to a decrease in charter-in days to 726 in the second quarter of 2026 from 957 in the corresponding period in 2025.

Vessel operating expenses for the second quarters of 2026 and 2025 amounted to $64.3 million and $68.0 million, respectively. The decrease in our operating expenses was primarily driven by the decrease in the average number of vessels in our fleet. Daily operating expenses per vessel, excluding pre-delivery expenses due to change of management and delivery of our newbuilding vessels, amounted to $5,180 for the second quarter of 2026 compared to $4,928 for the corresponding period of 2025.

Dry docking expenses for the second quarter of 2026 were $19.6 million, compared to $21.0 million for the corresponding period in 2025. During the second quarter of 2026, 10 vessels completed their scheduled periodic dry docking surveys, including 3 dry dockings that commenced in the first quarter of 2026. During the second quarter of 2025, 11 vessels completed their scheduled periodic dry docking surveys. The decrease in dry docking expenses, apart from the lower number of vessels that underwent and completed dry docking surveys in the recent quarter, reflects the timing differences in the commencement and completion of dry dockings across quarters.

General and administrative expenses for the second quarters of 2026 and 2025 were $16.1 million and $18.2 million, respectively, which included share-based compensation of $4.0 million and $4.8 million, respectively. Vessel management fees in the second quarter of 2026 amounted to $5.6 million compared to $5.9 million for the corresponding period in 2025. Our daily net cash general and administrative expenses per vessel (including management fees and excluding share-based compensation and other non-cash charges) for the second quarter of 2026 and 2025 remained at similar levels of $1,362 and $1,349, respectively.

Depreciation expense decreased to $39.8 million for the second quarter of 2026 compared to $42.6 million for the corresponding period in 2025. The decrease is driven by the decrease in the average number of vessels in our fleet, as discussed above.

During the second quarter of 2026, we recognized a net loss on forward freight agreements (“FFAs”) and bunker swaps of $0.9 million, consisting of an unrealized gain of $1.7 million and a realized loss of $2.6 million. During the second quarter of 2025, we recognized a gain on FFAs and bunker swaps of $1.4 million, consisting of an unrealized loss of $0.4 million and a realized gain of $1.8 million.

Other operational gain for the second quarter of 2026 amounted to $2.5 million and primarily relates to insurance proceeds from loss of hire of $1.5 million and write-off of previously recorded accruals and liabilities that were no longer expected to require settlement equal to $0.8 million. Other operational gain for the second quarter of 2025 of $1.7 million, mainly related to settlement of various insurance claims.

During the second quarter of 2026, we recognized a gain on sale of vessels of $12.4 million in connection with the delivery of the Star Scarlett, Star Mariella and Star Moira to their new owners. During the second quarter of 2025, we recognized a loss on sale of vessels of $8.0 million in connection with the completion of the sales of certain vessels.

Interest and finance costs for the second quarters of 2026 and 2025 were $12.4 million and $18.9 million, respectively. The decrease was primarily driven by a reduction in loan interest expense resulting from significantly lower weighted average outstanding indebtedness and reduced weighted average interest rates during the second quarter of 2026.

Interest income and other income/(loss) for the second quarters of 2026 and 2025 amounted to a gain of $3.0 million and $5.4 million, respectively. The decrease primarily reflects a foreign exchange loss of $0.7 million incurred during the recent quarter, compared to a foreign exchange gain of $1.4 million incurred during the second quarter of 2025.

_________________________
1 Please see the table at the end of this release for the calculation of the Daily TCE Rate and TCE Revenues and the reconciliation to Voyage Revenues.

Unaudited Consolidated Income Statements

(Expressed in thousands of U.S. dollars except for share and per share data) Second quarter 2026 Second quarter 2025 Six months ended June 30, 2026 Six months ended June 30, 2025 
          
          
Revenues:         
Voyage revenues $357,412  $247,408  $638,564  $478,058  
Total revenues  357,412   247,408   638,564   478,058  
          
Expenses:         
Voyage expenses  (57,611)  (55,846)  (110,373)  (112,164) 
Charter-in hire expenses  (12,624)  (17,310)  (27,103)  (33,210) 
Vessel operating expenses  (64,326)  (67,955)  (126,112)  (135,897) 
Dry docking expenses  (19,553)  (21,026)  (39,146)  (45,703) 
Depreciation  (39,783)  (42,608)  (79,361)  (85,562) 
Management fees  (5,633)  (5,894)  (11,084)  (11,494) 
Loss on bad debt  (98)  -   (98)  -  
General and administrative expenses  (16,065)  (18,236)  (30,546)  (33,497) 
Gain/(Loss) on FFAs and bunker swaps, net  (943)  1,405   (3,834)  4,335  
Other operational loss  (548)  (434)  (1,421)  (1,590) 
Other operational gain  2,450   1,690   3,161   13,727  
Gain/(Loss) on sale of vessels  12,354   (7,958)  12,526   (8,698) 
   155,032   13,236   225,173   28,305  
          
Interest and finance costs  (12,446)  (18,858)  (25,339)  (38,133) 
Interest income and other income/(loss)  3,035   5,375   4,223   10,087  
Gain/(Loss) on derivative financial instruments, net  28   394   212   446  
Loss on debt extinguishment, net  (714)  (121)  (821)  (186) 
Total other expenses, net  (10,097)  (13,210)  (21,725)  (27,786) 
          
Income before equity in income/(loss) of investee $144,935  $26   203,448   519  
          
Equity in income/(loss) of investee  14   13   33   (18) 
          
Net income $144,949  $39  $203,481  $501  
          
Earnings per share, basic $1.30  $0.00  $1.83  $0.00  
Earnings per share, diluted $1.30  $0.00  $1.82  $0.00  
Weighted average number of shares outstanding, basic  111,285,544   115,963,843   111,297,374   116,583,497  
Weighted average number of shares outstanding, diluted  111,585,370   116,086,335   111,697,798   116,755,442  
          

Unaudited Consolidated Condensed Balance Sheet Data

(Expressed in thousands of U.S. dollars) 
  
ASSETS June 30, 2026 December 31, 2025 
Cash and cash equivalents and restricted cash, current $563,667  500,319 
Vessel held for sale  10,950  - 
Other current assets (including investment in debt security of $1,470 and $1,517, respectively)  233,262  183,026 
TOTAL CURRENT ASSETS  807,879  683,345 
      
Advances for vessels under construction  62,929  87,277 
Vessels and other fixed assets, net  2,838,550  2,874,947 
Restricted cash, non current  1,615  1,615 
Other non-current assets  143,190  158,201 
TOTAL ASSETS $3,854,163 $3,805,385 
      
Current portion of long-term bank loans, revolving facilities and lease financing  233,581  228,868 
Other current liabilities  188,397  154,809 
TOTAL CURRENT LIABILITIES  421,978  383,677 
      
Long-term bank loans, revolving facilities and lease financing non-current (net of unamortized deferred finance fees of $4,717 and $5,321, respectively)  802,997  843,360 
Other non-current liabilities  114,708  129,085 
TOTAL LIABILITIES $1,339,683 $1,356,122 
      
SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY  2,514,480  2,449,263 
      
TOTAL LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY $3,854,163 $3,805,385 
      

Unaudited Consolidated Condensed Cash Flow Data

(Expressed in thousands of U.S. dollars) Six months ended June 30, 2026 Six months ended June 30, 2025 
 
       
Net cash provided by / (used in) operating activities $262,275  $103,001  
       
 Acquisition of other fixed assets  (1,805)  (163) 
 Capital expenditures for acquisitions/vessel modifications/upgrades and advances for vessels under construction  (97,467)  (14,930) 
 Cash proceeds from vessel sales  80,137   65,672  
 Investment in debt security  -   (914) 
 Proceeds from sale of equity on investee  600   -  
 Hull and machinery insurance proceeds  1,218   10,088  
Net cash provided by / (used in) investing activities  (17,317)  59,753  
       
 Proceeds from new debt  272,000   248,000  
 Scheduled debt repayment  (92,473)  (105,906) 
 Debt prepayment due to refinancing and vessel sales  (215,798)  (229,176) 
 Financing and debt extinguishment fees paid  (1,433)  (816) 
 Repurchase of common shares  (46,326)  (68,889) 
 Dividends paid  (97,580)  (16,081) 
Net cash provided by / (used in) financing activities  (181,610)  (172,868) 
       

Summary of Selected Data

 Second quarter 2026 Second quarter 2025 Six months ended June 30, 2026 Six months ended June 30, 2025 
Average number of vessels (1) 134.3  147.6  134.8  149.2 
Number of vessels (2) 135  145  135  145 
Average age of operational fleet (in years) (3) 12.8  12.4  12.8  12.4 
Ownership days (4) 12,218  13,433  24,401  26,998 
Available days (5) 11,623  12,925  23,202  25,730 
Charter-in days (6) 726  957  1,673  2,029 
Daily Time Charter Equivalent Rate (7)$24,486 $13,624 $21,495 $13,034 
Daily OPEX per vessel (8)$5,265 $5,059 $5,168 $5,034 
Daily OPEX per vessel (as adjusted) (8)$5,180 $4,928 $5,113 $4,913 
Daily Net Cash G&A expenses per vessel (9)$1,362 $1,349 $1,368 $1,334 

(1) Average number of vessels is the number of vessels that constituted our owned fleet for the relevant period, as measured by the sum of the number of days each operating vessel was a part of our owned fleet during the period divided by the number of calendar days in that period.
(2) As of the last day of each period reported.
(3) Average age of our operational fleet is calculated as of the end of each period.
(4) Ownership days are the total calendar days each vessel in the fleet was owned by us for the relevant period, including vessels subject to sale and leaseback transactions and finance leases.
(5) Available days for the fleet are the Ownership days after subtracting off-hire days for major repairs, dry docking or special or intermediate surveys, change of management and vessels’ improvements and upgrades. Our method of computing Available Days may not necessarily be comparable to Available Days of other companies.
(6) Charter-in days are the total days that we charter-in third party vessels.
(7) Time charter equivalent (“TCE”) rate represents the weighted average daily TCE rates of our operating fleet (including owned fleet and charter-in vessels). TCE rate is a metric of the average daily net revenue performance of our operating fleet. Our method of calculating TCE rate is determined by dividing (a) TCE Revenues, which consists of Voyage Revenues net of voyage expenses, charter-in hire expenses, amortization of fair value of above/below market acquired time charter agreements, if any, as well as adjusted for the impact of realized gain/(loss) on FFAs and bunker swaps by (b) Available days for the relevant time period. Available days do not include the Charter-in days as per the relevant definitions provided above. Voyage expenses primarily consist of port, canal and fuel costs that are unique to a particular voyage, which would otherwise be paid by the charterer under a time charter contract, as well as commissions. In the calculation of TCE Revenues, we also include the realized gain/(loss) on FFAs and bunker swaps as we believe that this method better reflects the chartering result of our fleet and is more comparable to the method used by some of our peers. TCE Revenues which is a non-GAAP measure and TCE rate, which is a non-GAAP metric, provide additional meaningful information in conjunction with Voyage Revenues, the most directly comparable GAAP measure, because they assist our management in making decisions regarding the deployment and use of our vessels and because we believe that they provide useful information to investors regarding our financial performance. TCE rate is a standard shipping industry performance metric used primarily to compare period-to-period changes in a shipping company's performance despite changes in the mix of charter types (i.e., voyage charters, time charters, and pool arrangements) under which its vessels may be employed between the periods. Our method of computing TCE Revenues and TCE rate may not necessarily be comparable to those of other companies. For a detailed calculation, please see EXHIBIT I at the end of this release with the reconciliation of Voyage Revenues to TCE rate.
(8) We exclude certain expenses that may occur occasionally from our Daily OPEX per vessel, as these are not expected to arise as part of our normal operations on a regular basis. We believe that Daily OPEX per vessel (as adjusted) is a useful metric for our management and investors for period-to-period comparison of our operating cost performance, as it eliminates the impact of expenses, which may vary from period to period, are not part of our daily business and are unrelated to overall operating performance. In future periods, we may incur expenses that are the same as or similar to those previously excluded. Vessel operating expenses for the second quarter of 2026 included pre-delivery expenses due to change of management and delivery of the newbuilding vessels of $1.0 million, compared to $1.8 million of pre-delivery expenses incurred in the second quarter of 2025 due to change of management. Vessel operating expenses for the six months ended June 30, 2026, included pre-delivery expenses due to change of management and delivery of the newbuilding vessels of $1.4 million, compared to $3.3 million of pre-delivery expenses incurred in the six months ended June 30, 2025 due to change of management.
(9) Please see EXHIBIT I at the end of this release for the reconciliation to General and administrative expenses, the most directly comparable GAAP measure. We believe that Daily Net Cash G&A expenses per vessel is a useful metric for our management and investors for period-to-period comparison of our financial performance, as such metric eliminates the effects of non-cash items which may vary from period to period, are not part of our daily business and are unrelated to overall operating performance. In future periods, we may incur expenses that are the same as or similar to those previously excluded.


EXHIBIT I: Non-GAAP Financial Measures and metrics

EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA Reconciliation

We include EBITDA (earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization) herein since it is a basis upon which we assess our liquidity position, and we believe that it presents useful information to investors regarding our ability to service and/or incur indebtedness.

To derive Adjusted EBITDA from EBITDA, we exclude non-cash gains/(losses) such as those related to sale of assets, share-based compensation, impairment loss, loss from bad debt, unrealized gain/(loss) on FFAs and bunker swaps, net, equity in income/(loss) of investee, write-off of accruals and current liabilities and other non-cash charges, if any, as such items do not reflect the operational cash inflows and outflows of our fleet and may vary between periods and across companies.

EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA do not represent and should not be considered as alternatives to cash flow from operating activities or Net income, as determined by United States generally accepted accounting principles, or U.S. GAAP. Our method of computing EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA may not necessarily be comparable to similarly titled measures used by other companies.

The following table reconciles Net cash provided by/(used in) operating activities to EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA:

(Expressed in thousands of U.S. dollars)  Second quarter 2026 Second quarter 2025 Six months ended June 30, 2026 Six months ended June 30, 2025
Net cash provided by/(used in) operating activities  $149,889  $54,493  $262,275  $103,001 
Net increase/(decrease)  in operating assets   46,684   (11,003)  51,630   (18,192)
Net (increase)/decrease in operating  liabilities, excluding operating lease liabilities and including other non-cash charges   (21,163)  13,223   (35,401)  7,076 
Loss on debt extinguishment, net   (714)  (121)  (821)  (186)
Share – based compensation   (4,032)  (4,812)  (5,902)  (6,431)
Amortization of debt (loans & leases) issuance costs   (652)  (809)  (1,381)  (1,633)
Unrealized gain/(loss) on FFAs and bunker swaps, net   1,634   (429)  (1,471)  1,655 
Unrealized gain/(loss) on derivative financial instruments & Reclassification of OCI related to IRS   28   46   212   46 
Total other expenses, net   10,097   13,210   21,725   27,786 
Write-off of accruals and current liabilities   776   -   776   9,266 
Loss on bad debt   (98)  -   (98)  - 
Gain/(Loss) on sale of vessels   12,354   (7,958)  12,526   (8,698)
Gain from Hull & Machinery claim   12   4   270   177 
(Gain)/Loss on sale of equity in investee   -   -   194   - 
Equity in income/(loss) of investee   14   13   33   (18)
EBITDA  $194,829  $55,857  $304,567  $113,849 
          
Equity in (income)/loss of investee   (14)  (13)  (33)  18 
Unrealized (gain)/loss on FFAs and bunker swaps, net   (1,634)  429   1,471   (1,655)
(Gain)/Loss on sale of vessels   (12,354)  7,958   (12,526)  8,698 
Gain/(Loss) on sale of equity in investee   -   -   (194)  - 
Write-off of accruals and current liabilities   (776)  -   (776)  (9,266)
Share-based compensation   4,032   4,812   5,902   6,431 
Loss on bad debt   98   -   98   - 
Other non-cash charges   38   (97)  49   (159)
Adjusted EBITDA  $184,219  $68,946  $298,558  $117,916 
          

Net Income and Adjusted Net Income Reconciliation and Calculation of Adjusted Earnings Per Share

To derive Adjusted Net income and Adjusted earnings per share from Net income, we exclude non-cash items, as provided in the table below. We believe that Adjusted Net income and Adjusted earnings per share assist our management and investors by increasing the comparability of our performance from period to period since each such measure eliminates the effects of non-cash items, such as share-based compensation, gain/(loss) on sale of assets and debt extinguishment, unrealized gain/(loss) on derivatives, impairment loss, loss from bad debt, write-off of accruals and current liabilities, equity in income/(loss) of investee and other non-cash charges, if any, which may vary from period to period and are unrelated to overall operating performance. In addition, we believe that the presentation of these measures provides investors with supplemental data relating to our results of operations, and therefore, with a more complete understanding of the factors affecting our business than with GAAP measures alone. Our method of computing Adjusted Net income and Adjusted earnings per share may not necessarily be comparable to similarly titled measures used by other companies. In future periods, we may incur expenses that are the same as or similar to those previously excluded, as described above.

(Expressed in thousands of U.S. dollars except for share and per share data) Second quarter 2026 Second quarter 2025 Six months ended June 30, 2026 Six months ended June 30, 2025 
Net income $144,949  $39  $203,481  $501  
Loss on bad debt  98   -   98   -  
Share – based compensation  4,032   4,812   5,902   6,431  
Other non-cash charges  38   (97)  49   (159) 
Unrealized (gain)/loss on FFAs and bunker swaps, net  (1,634)  429   1,471   (1,655) 
(Gain)/Loss on sale of equity in investee  -   -   (194)  -  
Unrealized (Gain)/Loss on derivative financial instruments & Reclassification of OCI related to IRS  (28)  (46)  (212)  (46) 
(Gain)/Loss on sale of vessels  (12,354)  7,958   (12,526)  8,698  
Write-off of accruals and current liabilities  (776)  -   (776)  (9,266) 
Loss on debt extinguishment, net (non-cash)  440   97   523   919  
Equity in (income)/loss of investee  (14)  (13)  (33)  18  
Adjusted Net income $134,751  $13,179  $197,783  $5,441  
Weighted average number of shares outstanding, basic  111,285,544   115,963,843   111,297,374   116,583,497  
Weighted average number of shares outstanding, diluted  111,585,370   116,086,335   111,697,798   116,755,442  
Adjusted earnings per share basic $1.21  $0.11  $1.78  $0.05  
Adjusted earnings per share diluted $1.21  $0.11  $1.77  $0.05  
          

Voyage Revenues to Daily TCE Reconciliation

(In thousands of U.S. Dollars, except for TCE rates) Second quarter 2026 Second quarter 2025 Six months ended June 30, 2026 Six months ended June 30, 2025
Voyage revenues $357,412  $247,408  $638,564  $478,058 
Less:        
Voyage expenses  (57,611)  (55,846)  (110,373)  (112,164)
Charter-in hire expenses  (12,624)  (17,310)  (27,103)  (33,210)
Realized gain/(loss) on FFAs/bunker swaps, net  (2,577)  1,834   (2,363)  2,680 
TCE Revenues $284,600  $176,086  $498,725  $335,364 
         
Available days  11,623   12,925   23,202   25,730 
Daily TCE Rate $24,486  $13,624  $21,495  $13,034 
         

Daily Net Cash G&A expenses per vessel Reconciliation

(In thousands of U.S. Dollars, except for daily rates) Second quarter 2026 Second quarter 2025 Six months ended June 30, 2026 Six months ended June 30, 2025
General and administrative expenses $16,065  $18,236  $30,546  $33,497 
Plus:        
Management fees  5,633   5,894   11,084   11,494 
Less:        
Share – based compensation  (4,032)  (4,812)  (5,902)  (6,431)
Other non-cash charges  (38)  97   (49)  159 
Net Cash G&A expenses $17,628  $19,415  $35,679  $38,719 
         
Ownership days  12,218   13,433   24,401   26,998 
Charter-in days  726   957   1,673   2,029 
Daily Net Cash G&A expenses per vessel $1,362  $1,349  $1,368  $1,334 
         


Conference Call details: 

Our management team will host a conference call to discuss our financial results on Thursday, August 6, 2026, at 11:00 a.m. Eastern Time (ET).

Participants should dial into the call 10 minutes before the scheduled time using the following numbers: +1 877 405 1226 (US Toll-Free Dial In) or +1 201 689 7823 (US and Standard International Dial In), or +0 800 756 3429 (UK Toll Free Dial In). Please quote “Star Bulk Carriers” to the operator and/or conference ID 13761537. Click here for additional participant International Toll-Free access numbers.  

Alternatively, participants can register for the call using the call me option for a faster connection to join the conference call. You can enter your phone number and let the system call you right away. Click here for the call me option.

Slides and audio webcast:
There will also be a live, and then archived, webcast of the conference call and accompanying slides, available through the Company’s website. To listen to the archived audio file, visit our website www.starbulk.com and click on Events & Presentations. Participants to the live webcast should register on the website approximately 10 minutes prior to the start of the webcast.

About Star Bulk
Star Bulk is a global shipping company providing worldwide seaborne transportation solutions in the dry bulk sector. Star Bulk’s vessels transport major bulks, which include iron ore, minerals and grain, and minor bulks, which include bauxite, fertilizers and steel products. Star Bulk was incorporated in the Marshall Islands on December 13, 2006 and maintains executive offices in Athens, New York, Stamford and Singapore. Its common stock trades on the Nasdaq Global Select Market under the symbol “SBLK”. As of the date of this release on a fully delivered basis and as adjusted for the delivery of the five firm Kamsarmax vessels currently under construction and the completion of the announced sale of one vessel, we own a fleet of 138 vessels, with an aggregate capacity of 13.8 million dwt consisting of 17 Newcastlemax, 14 Capesize, 7 Post Panamax, 42 Kamsarmax, 47 Ultramax and 11 Supramax vessels with carrying capacities between 55,569 dwt and 209,537 dwt.

In addition, in November 2021, we took delivery of the Capesize vessel Star Shibumi, under a seven-year charter-in arrangement and in 2024, we took delivery of the vessels Star Voyager, Star Explorer, Stargazer, Star Earendel, Star Illusion and Star Thetis, each subject to a seven-year charter-in arrangement.

Forward-Looking Statements
Matters discussed in this press release may constitute forward looking statements. The Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 provides safe harbor protections for forward-looking statements in order to encourage companies to provide prospective information about their business. Forward-looking statements include statements concerning plans, objectives, goals, strategies, future events or performance, shareholder return targets and underlying assumptions and other statements, which are other than statements of historical facts.

We desire to take advantage of the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and are including this cautionary statement in connection with this safe harbor legislation. Words such as, but not limited to, “believe,” “expect,” “anticipate,” “estimate,” “intend,” “plan,” “targets,” “projects,” “likely,” “will,” “would,” “could,” “should,” “may,” “forecasts,” “potential,” “continue,” “possible” and similar expressions or phrases may identify forward-looking statements.

The forward-looking statements in this press release are based upon various assumptions, many of which are based, in turn, upon further assumptions, including without limitation, examination by our management of historical operating trends, data contained in our records and other data available from third parties. Although we believe that these assumptions were reasonable when made, because these assumptions are inherently subject to significant uncertainties and contingencies which are difficult or impossible to predict and are beyond our control, we cannot assure you that we will achieve or accomplish these expectations, beliefs or projections.

In addition, other important factors that, in our view, could cause actual results to differ materially from those discussed in the forward-looking statements include general dry bulk shipping market conditions, including fluctuations in charter rates and vessel values; the strength of world economies; the stability of Europe and the Euro; fluctuations in currencies, interest rates and foreign exchange rates; business disruptions due to natural and other disasters or otherwise, such as the impact of any future epidemics; the length and severity of epidemics and pandemics and their impact on the demand for seaborne transportation in the dry bulk sector; changes in supply and demand in the dry bulk shipping industry, including the market for our vessels and the number of newbuildings under construction; the potential for technological innovation in the sector in which we operate and any corresponding reduction in the value of our vessels or the charter income derived therefrom; changes in our expenses, including bunker prices, dry docking, crewing and insurance costs; changes in governmental rules and regulations or actions taken by regulatory authorities; the impact of current and potential additional trade tariffs on global trade and demand for dry bulk shipping; the risk that trade disputes between U.S. and Chinese officials could result in the reimplementation of significant port fees that may impact our fleet; potential liability from pending or future litigation and potential costs due to environmental damage and vessel collisions; the impact of increasing scrutiny and changing expectations from investors, lenders, charterers and other market participants with respect to our Environmental, Social and Governance (“ESG”) practices; our ability to carry out our ESG initiatives and thereby meet our ESG goals and targets; new environmental regulations and restrictions, whether at a global level stipulated by the International Maritime Organization, and/or regional/national imposed by regional authorities such as the European Union or individual countries; potential cyber-attacks which may disrupt our business operations; general domestic and international political conditions or events, including, among others, “trade wars”, the ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine, the conflict between Israel and Hamas, the conflict between the United States, Israel and Iran and the attacks in the Strait of Hormuz, the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden; the impact on our common shares and reputation if our vessels were to call on ports located in countries that are subject to restrictions imposed by the U.S. or other governments; our ability to successfully compete for, enter into and deliver our vessels under time charters or other employment arrangements for our existing vessels after our current charters expire and our ability to earn income in the spot market; potential physical disruption of shipping routes due to accidents, climate-related reasons (acute and chronic), political events, public health threats, international hostilities and armed conflicts, piracy or acts by terrorists; the availability of financing and refinancing; the failure of our contract counterparties to meet their obligations; our ability to meet requirements for additional capital and financing to complete our newbuilding program and grow our business; the impact of our indebtedness and the compliance with the covenants included in our debt agreements; vessel breakdowns and instances of off‐hire; potential exposure or loss from investment in derivative instruments; potential conflicts of interest involving our Chief Executive Officer, his family and other members of our senior management; our ability to complete acquisition transactions or secondhand vessel purchases as and when planned and upon the expected terms; and the impact of port or canal congestion or disruptions. Please see our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission for a more complete discussion of these and other risks and uncertainties. The information set forth herein speaks only as of the date hereof, and the Company disclaims any intention or obligation to update any forward‐looking statements as a result of developments occurring after the date of this communication.

Contacts

Company:Investor Relations / Financial Media:
Simos Spyrou, Christos BeglerisNicolas Bornozis
Co ‐ Chief Financial OfficersPresident
Star Bulk Carriers Corp.Capital Link, Inc.
c/o Star Bulk Management Inc.230 Park Avenue, Suite 1540
40 Ag. Konstantinou Av.New York, NY 10169
Maroussi 15124Tel. (212) 661‐7566
Athens, GreeceE‐mail: starbulk@capitallink.com
Email: info@starbulk.comwww.capitallink.com
www.starbulk.com 

FAQ

How did Star Bulk Carriers (SBLK) perform in Q2 2026?

Star Bulk reported net income of $144.9 million and basic EPS of $1.30 in Q2 2026. According to Star Bulk, voyage revenues reached $357.4 million and adjusted EBITDA was $184.2 million, supported by a TCE rate of $24,486 per day.

What dividend did Star Bulk (SBLK) declare for the second quarter of 2026?

Star Bulk’s board declared a $0.90 per share quarterly cash dividend for Q2 2026. According to Star Bulk, it will be paid on or about September 3, 2026 to shareholders of record as of August 21, 2026, under the company’s full payout policy.

What were Star Bulk’s TCE rates by vessel type in Q2 2026?

Star Bulk reported a fleetwide TCE rate of $24,486/day in Q2 2026. According to Star Bulk, Capesize/Newcastlemax vessels earned $36,759/day, Post Panamax/Kamsarmax $20,400/day, and Ultramax/Supramax $20,270/day for the quarter, reflecting stronger dry bulk charter markets.

How much cash flow did Star Bulk (SBLK) generate from operations in Q2 2026?

Star Bulk generated $149.9 million in net cash from operating activities in Q2 2026. According to Star Bulk, this compares with $54.5 million a year earlier and underpins its policy of distributing operating cash flow after capex and debt service as dividends.

What vessel sales and newbuild deliveries did Star Bulk complete in 2026?

In Q2 2026 Star Bulk sold or agreed to sell five vessels, expecting about $70.3 million net proceeds. According to Star Bulk, it also took delivery of three of eight Kamsarmax newbuildings and has $122.0 million of remaining newbuilding capital expenditures.

What financing actions did Star Bulk (SBLK) take in Q2 2026?

Star Bulk extended its ABN Revolving Facility availability to May 2027 and drew $52.0 million under an ESUN facility plus $80.0 million under a Fubon facility. According to Star Bulk, it also received credit approval for a JOLCO up to $35.2 million.

How much capital has Star Bulk returned to shareholders since 2021?

Star Bulk stated it will have returned over $2.15 billion to shareholders through dividends and buybacks since 2021. According to Star Bulk, this reflects its full payout capital allocation policy and focus on distributing operating cash flow after capex and debt service.