Should I buy Maersk stock in 2025? (South Africa Analysis)

What is Maersk?

How much is the Maersk stock?

The price of Maersk stock is declining this week. As of now, Maersk shares are trading at 11,885.00 DKK, recording a 1.65% drop over the last 24 hours and a 5.86% decrease across the week.

The company has a market capitalization of 180.78 billion DKK, with an average three-month trading volume of 32,250 shares. Its price/earnings ratio stands at 4.02, the dividend yield is an attractive 9.42%, and the stock’s beta is 0.89, indicating moderate volatility.

These fundamentals, together with Maersk’s global reach, may interest ZA investors looking for stable income and exposure to international trade.

Our full analysis on Maersk stock

Having thoroughly reviewed A.P. Møller – Mærsk A/S’s latest financial disclosures alongside the stock’s resilient performance over the past three years, our deep-dive deploys proprietary algorithms merging financials, technicals, sector data, and competitor benchmarks. With a disciplined methodology, we evaluate not only Maersk’s results but also evolving macroeconomic conditions and competitive positioning within global logistics. So, why might Maersk stock once again become a strategic entry point into the international transport and logistics sector in 2025?

Recent Performance and Market Context

Maersk, listed on the Nasdaq Copenhagen (OMXCOP: MAERSK-B), currently trades at 11,885 DKK per share, commanding a market cap of 180.78 billion DKK. While the past week saw the stock retreat by 5.86%, the one-month view showcases an impressive 8.34% gain—demonstrating swift adaptability to dynamic news flows. Over six months, the share has held steady (+1.36%), and for the past five years, an exceptional 80.6% total return loops in robust capital appreciation for patient investors.

Most notably, Q1 2025 marked a sharp inflection in earnings: revenues rose 7.8% year-on-year (USD 13.3bn), EBITDA leaped by 70%, and net profit surged 556% over the prior quarter, exceeding consensus forecasts by a wide margin. These numbers reflect Maersk’s atypical capacity to capitalize on global disruptions—especially as the company’s CEO anticipates continuing Red Sea bottlenecks well into next year.

• Container shipping rates surged 38.1% in 2024, boosting margins.
• Persistent global logistical disruptions highlight the strategic necessity of resilient, integrated supply chains—a Maersk specialty.
• Maersk’s own forecast has improved, with worldwide container volume growth for 2025 now expected at +4%, up from a prior -1% estimate.

The combination of positive company events, a cyclical upswing in freight, and sector tailwinds underpins a renewed case for strategic accumulation at current levels.

Technical Analysis

A glance at Maersk’s technical landscape signals a robust set-up, especially for investors attuned to momentum and market psychology.

• Moving Averages: The share price sits comfortably above both its 50-day (11,502.94 DKK) and 200-day (11,307.39 DKK) moving averages. This configuration signals underlying strength and denotes positive medium-term price momentum.
• RSI: With a current reading between 57 and 62, the Relative Strength Index is firmly out of “overbought” territory yet exhibits constructive upward pressure—often a hallmark of sustainable bullish cycles.
• MACD: While signals remain mixed depending on timeframe, the recent positive MACD crossovers suggest that buyers are regaining initiative after a brief consolidation phase.
• Support and Resistance: The 52-week low at 8,734 DKK marks a formidable support, while 13,510 DKK (the 52-week high) stands as the primary resistance. With the stock consolidating above key levels and well clear of support, the technical risk/reward profile appears notably favourable.
• Short/Medium-Term Momentum: Uptrend structure, positive price above the trend-defining averages, and strengthening momentum all point to ongoing institutional accumulation and the potential for a sustained breakout if macro conditions remain favourable.

These technical factors, converging with overarching positive sector dynamics, reinforce Maersk’s positioning for a possible new bullish phase as 2025 unfolds.

Fundamental Analysis

Where Maersk truly shines is in its fundamentals—a rare blend of robust earnings growth, capital discipline, and sector leadership.

• Earnings Power: Q1 2025 EBITDA was USD 2.71bn (+70% YOY), with net profit up over 500%—underscoring operational leverage and the ability to monetize sector volatility.
• Margin Expansion: EBIT margins reached a healthy 9.4%. Notably, the Logistics & Services division marked an EBIT margin improvement to 4.1%, underscoring diversification benefits.
• Attractive Valuation: The current forward P/E ratio stands at just 4.02, reflecting a marked discount versus both historical averages and global industrial peers. Price-to-sales (0.50) and price-to-book (0.50) multiples also flag compelling relative value.
• Dividend Yield: With an anticipated payout of 1,120 DKK per share (9.42% yield), Maersk’s dividend ranks among the highest in blue-chip European equities—amplifying total return potential for income-seeking investors.
• Strategic Strengths:
• Market Share: Maersk is the world’s leading container shipper, competing from a clear position of scale.
• Vertical Integration: The business model spans ocean, terminal, and integrated logistics solutions, allowing margin capture at every step of the global supply chain.
• Resilience: Maersk has repeatedly demonstrated agility in the face of major shocks—COVID-19, Red Sea disruptions, and trade volatility—further solidifying its investment case.
• Digital Transformation: Heavy investment in automation and technology future-proofs operations and enhances competitive moats.

The fundamentals not only justify renewed interest but strongly position Maersk as a core global logistics holding, particularly for diversified portfolios in the ZA market seeking hard currency and sector balance.

Volume and Liquidity

Robust liquidity is a hallmark of conviction in blue-chip equities. Maersk trades an average of 32,250 shares daily over the past three months—a substantial float for the OMX Copenhagen. Institutional and insider holdings of approximately 50% further confirm long-term alignment and stakes in successful execution.

With a floating share base of 8.88 million, price action remains responsive, providing an environment conducive to dynamic valuation adjustments as new information surfaces. High, stable trading volume signals consistent institutional interest and provides ample entry and exit flexibility—a key consideration for both individual and professional investors.

Catalysts and Positive Outlook

Looking ahead, multiple tangible and structural factors may act as upside catalysts for Maersk’s valuation.

• Persistent Supply Chain Disruptions: The ongoing Red Sea crisis, projected to persist throughout 2025, continues to elevate freight rates, supporting Maersk’s outlier profitability.
• Upgraded Industry Forecasts: Maersk now expects global container volume growth of +4% for 2025, materially improving from prior industry pessimism.
• Logistics Expansion: Margin improvement in Logistics & Services signals accelerating progress in Maersk’s strategic shift towards higher-value integrated offerings—a long-term secular growth lever.
• Guidance Maintenance: The company maintains a robust EBITDA outlook for 2025 (USD 6–9bn), reflecting clear earnings visibility and operational resilience.
• ESG and Digital Innovation: Ongoing investments in decarbonisation, digitalisation, and automation position Maersk at the forefront of sustainable global transport, likely to appeal to institutional flows seeking ESG compliance.
• Dividend Track Record: With a best-in-class 9.42% forward yield and disciplined cash management, Maersk routinely rewards patient shareholders.

Additionally, low leverage (30.2% debt/equity), strong cash flows (DKK 7.91bn TTM), and unique crisis adaptation make Maersk unusually well positioned for current global realities.

Investment Strategies

Maersk’s risk/return profile appears attractive across a range of investment horizons:

• Short-Term: The stock is currently consolidating above both 50-day and 200-day moving averages and appears primed for increased volatility on the back of upcoming sector data or geopolitical developments. These inflection points could offer timely tactical entry opportunities.
• Medium-Term: Ahead of forecasted industry growth and as container rates hold strong, Maersk stands to benefit from persistent earning power and resilient capital markets visibility. Accumulation on technical pullbacks or ahead of key catalysts (earnings releases, logistical partnerships) could prove especially astute.
• Long-Term: With a multi-generational global footprint, sector leadership, a strong balance sheet, and visible innovation pipelines, Maersk is solidly positioned as a foundational portfolio holding. The current valuation multiples provide an opportunity to build exposure before the next upcycle materialises.

Ideal positioning may be found at or near technical lows, or when approaching significant company or industry catalysts—offering strategic entry for investors with varying timeframes and objectives.

Is it the Right Time to Buy Maersk?

Summing up, Maersk stands out as a global logistics bellwether with exceptional financial momentum, an attractive valuation, and a multi-dimensional growth story. Key strengths include:

• Surging profits and margins—far above expectations.
• Sector-leading scale, integration, and operational agility.
• A generous and secure dividend, enhancing portfolio yield.
• Successful adaptation to global crisis contexts.
• A supportive macro- and sectoral environment, driving long-term structural opportunity.

With the stock trading at a pronounced discount to intrinsic value, demonstrating strong momentum above key supports, and a robust set of upcoming catalysts, Maersk seems to represent an excellent opportunity for discerning investors seeking resilient exposure to world trade. In our expert view, the current combination of technical strength, compelling fundamentals, and visible near- and medium-term catalysts more than justify renewed, constructive attention towards the stock.

For those seeking to anchor their portfolios to the accelerating global logistics super-cycle, Maersk’s share price trajectory and operational outlook are aligned for long-term outperformance. Approaching the inflection point of 2025, the window of opportunity for strategic accumulation appears decisively optimistic.

In today’s unsettled global climate, Maersk offers a compelling convergence of income, growth, and operational resilience—traits that should remain highly sought after as global trade rebalances and new investment paradigms emerge.

How to buy Maersk stock in South Africa?

Buying Maersk shares online is both simple and secure for South African investors when you use a regulated broker. You have two main avenues: purchasing Maersk shares directly (“spot buying” for actual share ownership), or trading Contracts for Difference (CFDs) that mirror the share’s price movements, allowing leverage. Both methods are accessible through most online platforms—simply open an account, fund it in ZAR, and start investing. Each approach has unique benefits and risks to consider. For a comparison of brokers available in South Africa, explore the broker comparison table further down the page.

Spot Buying: Direct Maersk Share Ownership

With spot buying, you acquire real Maersk shares on the Nasdaq Copenhagen Exchange (OMXCOP), becoming a direct shareholder and benefiting from any dividends declared. Most South African brokers offer international share dealing, typically charging a fixed commission per order—often around ZAR 150–200, depending on the platform.

Example

Suppose the Maersk share price is DKK 11,885, which is about ZAR 29,000 per share at current exchange rates (*DKK 1 ≈ ZAR 2.44). With a USD 1,000 (approx. ZAR 18,500) investment, you can buy about 0.64 Maersk shares, after including a brokerage fee of roughly USD 5 (ZAR 92).

• Gain scenario: If the share price rises by 10%, your holdings are now worth USD 1,100 (ZAR 20,350).
• Result: +USD 100 (ZAR 1,850) gross gain, representing +10% on your initial investment.

Trading via CFD: Gaining Exposure with Leverage

CFD trading enables you to speculate on Maersk’s share price without owning the physical shares. Instead, you enter into a contract that tracks the underlying price. With CFDs, fees are structured as spreads (the difference between buy/sell prices) and daily overnight financing costs if you hold positions open for more than a day.

Example

You open a CFD position on Maersk with USD 1,000 (ZAR 18,500) and use 5x leverage, so your exposure is USD 5,000 (ZAR 92,500).

• Gain scenario: If the Maersk share rises by 8%, your CFD position amplifies gains to 8% × 5 = 40%.
• Result: +USD 400 (ZAR 7,400) profit on your USD 1,000 (ZAR 18,500) outlay (excluding fees).

Final Advice

Before investing, always compare brokers’ fees, currency conversion costs, and platform terms—these can vary widely and impact your returns. Whether you choose spot shares for long-term growth and dividends or CFDs for leveraged trading and flexibility, the best method depends on your investment objectives and risk appetite. Feel free to reference the comparison tool further down the page to find the provider that best suits your needs.

Our 7 tips for buying Maersk stock

The latest news about Maersk

Maersk delivered an exceptional Q1 2025, with revenue and profit growth far exceeding analysts’ expectations. The company reported a 7.8% increase in revenue year-over-year for the first quarter, totaling USD 13.3 billion, and an impressive 70% surge in EBITDA to USD 2.71 billion. Operating profit reached USD 1.3 billion, compared to just USD 177 million a year prior, translating to a robust EBIT margin of 9.4%. This performance, which notably outpaced market forecasts, highlights the group’s operational strength and efficiency—critical factors for institutional investors, including those in South Africa, seeking companies with demonstrated resilience and profit scalability in volatile environments.

Disruptions in the Red Sea continue to drive elevated ocean freight rates, a key tailwind for Maersk’s earnings power. CEO Vincent Clerc confirmed that shipping disruptions are set to persist through all of 2025, resulting in a 38.1% year-on-year increase in container rates and generating USD 9.2 billion in pretax profits from the company’s ocean division. Given South Africa’s strategic positioning on global shipping lanes and the centrality of imported and exported containerized volumes, this robust pricing dynamic directly supports Maersk’s bottom line while underpinning reliable logistics flows critical to South African trade and supply chains.

Maersk maintains positive forward guidance for 2025, leveraging both sustained strong container markets and robust logistics performance. Official company guidance for 2025 remains unchanged, targeting an EBITDA of USD 6–9 billion and an EBIT ranging from 0 to USD 3 billion, with global container market growth now revised upward to 4% for the year. This constructive outlook, underpinned by solid logistics and services margins (improved to 4.1%), signals to South African analysts that Maersk is well-positioned to capture value across the entire shipping and supply chain spectrum, including key routes linking Europe, Asia, and African ports.

Maersk remains a core logistics partner for southern Africa, reinforcing regional connectivity and investment in digital and operational infrastructure. Through its integrated ocean, port terminal, and logistics offerings, Maersk continues to facilitate major trade corridors into and out of South Africa, supporting sectors such as mining, agriculture, and manufacturing. Ongoing investments in technology, supply chain solutions, and local partnerships enhance both efficiency and reliability for the region’s importers and exporters, which is increasingly important as global shipping patterns adapt to geopolitical tensions.

Maersk’s shareholder returns remain attractive, with a leading dividend yield and strong valuation metrics providing additional investor appeal. The current dividend yield stands at a compelling 9.42%, supplemented by a forward-looking price/earnings ratio of just 4.02 and price/sales and price/book metrics (both 0.5) indicating significant value. These fundamentals are particularly relevant for South African investors seeking global exposure with a strong income component, and further underscore the company’s financial health and stable capital structure.

FAQ

P. Laurore

Finance expert

Co-founder of HelloSafe and holder of a Master's degree in finance, Pauline has recognised expertise in personal finance, which she uses to help users better understand and optimise their financial choices. At HelloSafe, Pauline plays a key role in designing clear, educational content on savings, investments and personal finance. Passionate about financial education, Pauline strives, with every piece of content she oversees, to provide reliable, transparent and unbiased information for independent and informed financial management. To this end, she has tested over 100 trading platforms to help internet users make the right choices.