Since the IPO in 2015, the Hapag-Lloyd share has performed positively. A total of over €20 billion in dividends has been distributed.
The Hamburg-based container shipping company Hapag-Lloyd can look back on ten years since its listing on the Frankfurt Stock Exchange. Since November 2015, the company has developed into one of the world’s leading liner shipping companies.
The company’s current position can be attributed to the prudent management of capital, a consistent dividend policy and profitable growth. At that time, 13.2 million shares were placed on the Frankfurt Stock Exchange at €20 each, raising around €265 million for Hapag-Lloyd. This capital was used to modernize and expand the fleet, thus creating the basis for growth in recent years. “Since the IPO, Hapag-Lloyd has been able to distribute a dividend of over €120 per share,” the Hamburg-based shipping company announced. “Combined with a share price increase to well over €100, the returns for those who invested in Hapag-Lloyd in 2015 were very attractive.”
CEO Rolf Habben Jansen called the IPO a “turning point” in the company’s history. “Access to the capital markets enabled us to invest in our fleet, strengthen our network and accelerate our strategic transformation,” he said. “Ten years later, Hapag-Lloyd stands for quality, growth and performance – for both our shareholders and our customers.”
“Since the IPO, Hapag-Lloyd has paid out more than €21 billion in dividends and created significant value for its shareholders. At the same time, a solid balance sheet and prudent financial policy has been maintained,” added CFO/CPO Mark Frese.
30% of net profit goes to shareholders
Hapag-Lloyd’s dividend policy is to distribute at least 30% of the Group’s net profit to shareholders – “a balance between attractive returns and a focus on long-term growth and stability”, it says. Although the current market environment remains challenging, Hapag-Lloyd’s solid balance sheet, disciplined capital allocation and clear strategic focus provide a strong foundation for sustainable performance and long-term stakeholder value.
Hapag-Lloyd’s current share price is around €120 per share (as of 7.11.25); after a jump in the middle of the year, it had leveled off at the current value. The company reached its highest level to date during the Covid-19 pandemic: in May 2022, the share price temporarily stood at around €440.
In the second quarter of 2025, the company reported declining profits, primarily due to the US customs policy. The figures for the third quarter will be published next week.
In terms of capacity, Hapag-Lloyd ranks fifth among container liner shipping companies with 2.4 million TEU, almost 300 ships and a market share of 7.2% – behind Cosco, CMA CGM, Gemini partner Maersk and the Mediterranean Shipping Company with over 7 million TEU in undisputed first place.
