DAC

We rate Danaos Corp (DAC) as a Buy with a composite score of 66.0/100 at a current price of $110.31. The stock scores above average across the majority of our six quantitative factors and ranks #248 out of 7,333 stocks in our universe, reflecting a favorable risk-reward profile.

The rating is primarily driven by strength in value (83th percentile) and quality (77th percentile), which together account for the majority of the composite score. Offsetting weakness in investment (31th percentile) and momentum (64th percentile) tempers our overall conviction. We assign a Wide Moat rating (74/100), Low uncertainty, and Exemplary capital allocation.

Key items to watch: whether strong momentum is fundamentally supported by revenue trends. Any material change in these dynamics could warrant a reassessment of our rating. The moat trend is stable, which suggests the competitive landscape is stable for now.

Danaos Corp holds a lower-quartile position (#41 of 50) within the Transportation, Communications, Electric, Gas, And Sanitary Services sector, based on our composite quantitative scoring across quality, value, momentum, and stability factors. The composite score of 66.0/100 places it at rank #248 in our full 7,333-stock universe. At $1.5B in market capitalization, Danaos Corp is a small-cap player in the Transportation, Communications, Electric, Gas, And Sanitary Services space, which limits certain scale advantages but may allow for more agile strategic execution.

The outlook is moderately positive, with revenue expanding at 4% and favorable momentum (64th percentile) reflecting constructive market sentiment. The business shows steady execution, though the growth rate is below the levels typically associated with high-conviction growth stories. Momentum confirmation provides support for the current price level.

The margin cascade tells an important story: gross margins of 100% (+44.9pp vs sector) narrow to operating margins of 53% (+35.8pp vs sector) and net margins of 49.8%, yielding a gross-to-net conversion rate of 50%. This efficient conversion suggests well-controlled operating costs and limited margin leakage between the gross and net levels.

At a current price of $110.31, Danaos Corp appears undervalued relative to its fundamentals. Our value factor score of 83/100 reflects a composite assessment across multiple valuation metrics including price-to-earnings, price-to-book, EV/EBITDA, and price-to-sales ratios relative to both sector peers and the broader market. The stock screens as attractively priced on a majority of these measures, suggesting the market may be underappreciating the underlying fundamentals.

The stock currently trades at a P/E of 4.2x (a 75% discount to the sector median of 16.9x), EV/EBITDA of 0.8x (discounted to peers), P/B of 0.6x, P/S of 0.5x. The below-sector P/E suggests possible undervaluation or the market pricing in near-term headwinds.

We assign a Low uncertainty rating to Danaos Corp. The company exhibits strong financial stability with a beta of 0.75, conservative leverage (21% D/E), and a stability factor in the 69th percentile. The predictable nature of the business model and solid financial position reduce the range of potential outcomes, giving us confidence in our fair value estimate.

We identify no major risk factors at this time. The company's stability factor sits at the 69th percentile with quality at the 77th percentile, both of which support our low-risk assessment. The absence of material leverage, profitability, or volatility concerns reduces the likelihood of a permanent capital loss scenario.

Key risk mitigants include: healthy gross margins of 100% provide a buffer against cost pressures; conservative leverage (21% D/E) limits balance sheet risk; above-average stability (69th percentile) suggests predictable business dynamics. These factors partially offset the identified risks and provide downside protection in adverse scenarios. On balance, the risk-reward profile is favorable for long-term investors.

We rate Danaos Corp's capital allocation as Exemplary. Management demonstrates a strong track record of balancing reinvestment with shareholder returns, evidenced by returns on equity of 59.0%, disciplined leverage (21% D/E), a 4.10% dividend yield. Exemplary allocators typically generate returns on equity above 20% while maintaining debt-to-equity below 50% — Danaos Corp meets this high bar.

The balance sheet remains conservatively managed, providing financial flexibility for opportunistic investments while maintaining a margin of safety for shareholders. The company returns capital via a 4.10% dividend yield, and the combination of 46.5% return on assets and controlled leverage suggests management is deploying capital at rates well above the cost of capital — the hallmark of exemplary stewardship.

In summary, Danaos Corp receives a Buy rating with a composite score of 66.0/100 (rank #248 of 7,333). Our quantitative framework assigns a Wide Moat (74/100, trend: stable), Low uncertainty, and Exemplary capital allocation. The average factor score across quality, value, momentum, stability, and investment is 65/100.

Our analysis supports a constructive view on Danaos Corp. The combination of a wide competitive moat, low uncertainty, and exemplary capital allocation creates a risk-reward profile that favors accumulation at current levels. We recommend investors consider adding this name to portfolios aligned with the stock's risk profile.