Star Bulk Carriers Raises Quarterly Dividend 80% to $0.90

Star Bulk Carriers Corp. increased its quarterly dividend to $0.90 per share from $0.50, an 80% rise, following stronger operating results in the dry-bulk shipping market. Shares traded ex-dividend on Aug. 21, 2026.

The dividend event does not extend an annual growth streak. Star Bulk previously reduced its payout in 2025, reflecting the variable nature of distributions from a shipping company whose earnings are sensitive to freight rates and vessel utilization.

Star Bulk reported its strongest quarterly results since the second quarter of 2022 for the three months ended June 2026. Management attributed the performance to a strong dry-bulk market and said the company generated net income of $144.9 million and adjusted EBITDA of $194.8 million during the period. Its average time-charter-equivalent rate reached $24,486 per vessel per day, according to the company’s results release filed with the SEC.

Chief Executive Petros Pappas said the company’s commercial and technical platform allowed it to convert the stronger rate environment into improved earnings. He also highlighted operating-cost control and the company’s capital-return framework.

A variable payout tied to shipping conditions

Star Bulk transports dry-bulk commodities and operates a fleet exposed substantially to prevailing charter markets. Its dividend policy links quarterly distributions to cash flow after specified capital spending and debt-service requirements. The board therefore retains discretion, and payments can rise or fall materially as freight markets, operating cash flow and financing needs change. The company describes the mechanics and limitations of that approach on its dividend-policy page.

The latest increase follows a $0.50 quarterly payout, but the supplied annual dividend figure is $1.88 per share rather than a simple annualization of the new quarterly rate. That distinction is important because Star Bulk’s payout is variable, not a fixed commitment for future quarters.

What it means for income investors

At a share price of $30.70, Star Bulk carries a forward annual yield of 6.16%, based on the supplied annual dividend of $1.88 per share. The company has a dividend-safety score of 51 out of 100, corresponding to a C grade.

For income investors, the higher payment increases near-term cash income, but the lack of a consecutive growth streak and the 2025 cut underscore that future distributions may fluctuate with dry-bulk rates, cash generation, capital expenditures and debt obligations.