Shipping Stocks To Watch As Strait Of Hormuz Risks Lift Marine Insurance Rates

Escalating attacks on oil tankers in the Strait of Hormuz have pushed shipping routes, marine insurers and energy-linked companies back into focus, as higher risk premiums and disrupted traffic reshape costs and capacity. For investors, this news-linked stress test can expose both pressure points and potential beneficiaries, depending on how exposed each stock is to Gulf transits, tanker activity or marine cover. This article walks through 3 stocks from our Global Shipping and Marine Insurance Providers screener that appear positively exposed to the current tensions, and it outlines why the news matters and what to watch before making any decision.

Gjensidige Forsikring (OB:GJF)

Overview: Gjensidige Forsikring is a large Nordic insurer based in Oslo that offers a wide range of general insurance and pension products to private, commercial and agricultural customers across Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Finland and the Baltics.

Operations: Gjensidige Forsikring generates most of its revenue from General Insurance Commercial (NOK 23.0b) and General Insurance Private (NOK 18.3b), with smaller contributions from Sweden (NOK 2.2b), Pension (NOK 0.7b) and Other Including Eliminations (NOK 1.3b). Norway is the main geographic market at NOK 31.8b.

Market Cap: NOK 135.9b

Investors looking at Gjensidige Forsikring in the context of rising marine risk may find a mix of attractive fundamentals and meaningful trade offs. The company combines strong insurance operations and a high Return on Equity around 30% with exposure to higher marine and travel insurance demand as geopolitical tensions disrupt key shipping routes. At the same time, the stock carries a relatively rich P/E compared with many European insurers and relies on external borrowing rather than customer deposits. Q1 2026 results, including net income of NOK 1,725.7m and higher EPS, show how pricing discipline and customer loyalty can translate into earnings, but the key issue is how sustainable that balance of risk and reward will be as conditions evolve.

High Return on Equity and a rich P/E suggest investors may be missing how Gjensidige Forsikring prices risk across cycles, so it is worth scanning the 2 key rewards and 1 important warning sign

Himalaya Shipping (OB:HSHP)

Overview: Himalaya Shipping is a Bermuda based dry bulk shipping company that operates 12 large Newcastlemax vessels, moving iron ore, bauxite and other bulk commodities for global trading, energy transition and transport companies.

Operations: Himalaya Shipping generates all of its revenue, US$143.5 million, from transportation shipping activities based in Bermuda.

Market Cap: NOK 6.9b

Himalaya Shipping operates at the intersection of tighter global shipping capacity and heightened geopolitical risk that can increase freight and insurance premiums. Its young fleet is tied to index linked contracts on long haul iron ore and bauxite routes, which can benefit when disruptions in locations such as the Strait of Hormuz reroute cargoes and lengthen voyages. At the same time, investors may wish to weigh that potential upside against factors such as external borrowing levels, exposure to spot and index markets, and a P/E that is reported to be above many shipping peers. Recent earnings, dividend payouts and index inclusions indicate growing market attention, and investors will need to form their own view on whether current freight conditions and analyst assumptions are sufficient to support that level of interest.

Himalaya Shipping’s young fleet and index linked contracts could be masking what really matters for long haul bulk exposure right now. It is worth reviewing the full analysis report for Himalaya Shipping

Xiamen Xiangyu (SHSE:600057)

Overview: Xiamen Xiangyu is a Chinese supply chain and logistics company that handles international trade in bulk commodities such as agricultural products, energy resources, chemicals, metals and minerals, while also running door to door transport, warehousing, customs and financing services for clients at home and abroad.

Market Cap: CN¥15.9b

Investors watching shipping disruption around the Strait of Hormuz may want to look at how Xiamen Xiangyu’s global logistics network could be affected by rerouted cargo and demand for more flexible supply chain solutions. The stock is priced at a steep discount to an estimated fair value, with a P/E well below peers, and analysts currently forecast earnings growth even after a CN¥2.0b one off loss and a 0.3% net margin. The gap between valuation, growth forecasts and a growing revenue base represents a potential opportunity, but it comes with trade offs, including high reliance on external borrowing, a 4.9% ROE and governance considerations that investors may wish to evaluate carefully.

Valuation and growth expectations for Xiamen Xiangyu look out of sync, with that steep discount and low P/E hinting at something the market might be missing. As a result, it is worth studying the analyst forecasts for Xiamen Xiangyu

The three stocks covered here are only a starting point, as the full Global Shipping and Marine Insurance Providers screener on Simply Wall St surfaced 16 more companies whose stories around capacity, risk pricing and trade routes may be just as compelling. To identify and analyze the highest conviction ideas for your own watchlist, unlock the filters for the specific catalysts and narratives discussed in this article with the Global Shipping and Marine Insurance Providers screener.

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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.

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