Geopolitics just put shipping and maritime transport stocks back under the spotlight. Fresh US strikes on Iran, threats around the Strait of Hormuz, and oil prices moving towards the high $90s per barrel have pushed investors to reconsider which companies might be most exposed to supply chain friction, higher fuel costs, and insurance risks. Some stocks could see new opportunities, while others may face serious headwinds. This article picks out 3 stocks from a Shipping and Maritime Transport screener that are directly tied to these headlines and explains how the same news could help or hurt each one.

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Genco Shipping & Trading (GNK)

Overview: Genco Shipping & Trading is a New York based dry bulk shipping company that owns and operates vessels carrying iron ore, grain, coal, steel products, and other bulk cargoes for global trading houses, commodity producers, and government entities.

Operations: Genco generates its revenue from two dry bulk segments, with approximately US$185.7 million from major bulk cargoes and US$199.5 million from minor bulk cargoes.

Market Cap: US$1.04b

Genco sits in the crosshairs of current shipping tensions because its fleet is tightly linked to long haul commodity trade. In this environment, chokepoints and higher fuel costs can feed directly into freight rates and earnings. Analysts are factoring in strong earnings growth and a materially higher estimated future cash flow value. However, the stock currently trades on a high P/E, which raises questions about how much optimism is already priced in. At the same time, a generous dividend policy and an ongoing takeover battle with Diana Shipping add an extra layer of potential upside and governance risk that investors following the Shipping and Maritime Transport Stocks screener will not want to ignore.

Genco’s takeover battle, high P/E and rich dividends point to a story that is still evolving, not finished, and the 3 key rewards and 2 important warning signs (1 is major!) could reveal what the market might be missing right now

Braemar (LSE:BMS)

Overview: Braemar is a London based maritime services company that brokers ships, cargoes, and related deals across tankers, dry cargo, offshore and specialised vessels, while also providing corporate finance, securities, and advisory services to shipping and energy clients worldwide.

Operations: Braemar generates most of its revenue from Chartering at £74.7m, with £32.1m from Investment Advisory and £28.8m from Risk Advisory, supported by a strong presence in the United Kingdom at £80.4m and further contributions from the United States and Singapore.

Market Cap: £74.5m

For investors tracking how conflict around key oil routes ripples through shipping markets, Braemar offers a different angle to pure-play vessel owners. Its shipbroking and advisory model is tied to freight rate volatility and changing trade flows, not just spot earnings. Management has highlighted how disruption around the Strait of Hormuz can reroute tankers towards the US Gulf and create new, longer trading patterns, which can support activity for brokers even when some lanes are blocked. At the same time, low net margins, dividend cuts and a high P/E keep execution risk front and center. With earnings growth forecasts well ahead of the wider UK market, the question is whether Braemar’s order book and acquisition plans justify that view or leave the stock exposed if shipping conditions soften again.

Rapid earnings forecasts and a high P/E suggest Braemar’s story might be accelerating faster than the headline numbers imply, and the analyst forecasts for Braemar could highlight the one pressure point that changes the whole thesis.

Star Bulk Carriers (SBLK)

Overview: Star Bulk Carriers is a Greece based dry bulk shipping company that owns and operates a large fleet of vessels moving iron ore, grains, minerals, fertilizers, bauxite and steel products across global trade routes.

Operations: Star Bulk generates all of its approximately US$1.09b in revenue from operating dry bulk vessels.

Market Cap: US$3.0b

Investors looking at shipping stocks tied to global trade routes may find Star Bulk Carriers significant, especially with tensions around the Strait of Hormuz reshaping long haul commodity flows and freight demand. The company combines a sizeable, increasingly fuel efficient fleet with Q1 2026 net income of US$58.5 million, adjusted EBITDA of US$114.3 million and a dividend policy that returned US$0.50 per share in the quarter, with the board aiming for more than US$3 per share in 2026. At the same time, earnings have been volatile, the dividend track record is uneven, leverage is meaningful and revenue is forecast to drift slightly lower even as analysts expect strong earnings growth, which leaves investors to consider how sustainable this setup may be.

Star Bulk’s combination of sizeable fleet, current dividends and analyst expectations for strong earnings growth can look compelling, but the analyst forecasts for Star Bulk Carriers could show whether that optimism rests on one assumption that might not hold.

The three stocks in this article are only a starting point, and the full Shipping and Maritime Transport Stocks screener surfaces 23 more companies with equally compelling shipping and maritime transport narratives that you have not seen yet. Use Simply Wall St to identify, analyze and filter for the specific catalysts, risks and narratives that matter to you so you can focus on the highest conviction ideas in this theme.

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This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned.