Is Castor Maritime (USA Stocks:CTRM) outlook still optimistic based on the recent debt level?

Castor Maritime has liabilities totaling approximately $111.32 million, with a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.32—roughly in line with industry peers. We offer trading insights that complement the current expert consensus on the stock. Our recommendation engine employs a sophisticated, multi-layered algorithm that evaluates both technical signals and fundamental data to gauge the company's growth prospects. This approach helps us deliver timely, well-rounded advice tailored to the latest market conditions.

Important Points

Investing in Castor Maritime (NASDAQ: CTRM) with leverage requires caution, especially given its recent debt levels of 64.4M in total current liabilities and an investment balance of -133.5M. While the company posted a net income of 15.3M, the relatively high semi deviation of 2.5 suggests increased risk, making it essential to weigh potential gains against the volatility associated with its marine shipping operations. The modest open price of 2.38 and a slight price change of 0.01 highlight a cautious market stance, so leverage might amplify both upside and downside in this context.
Published over a month ago
View all stories for Castor Maritime | View All Stories
Macroaxis uses a strict editorial review process to publish stories and blog posts. Our publishers support our company and may receive a small commission when the partner links or references are utilized. Commissions do not affect the opinions or evaluations of our editorial team. The information our editors and media partners deliver is confidential and licensed for your sole use as a Macroaxis user. We reserve all rights to the content of this article, and therefore copying or distributing this story in whole or in part is strictly prohibited.

Reviewed by Rifka Kats

When it comes to Castor Maritime, the picture is a bit cloudy. The company’s leverage is notable, with liabilities totaling around $797 million against a net invested capital of $596 million. Recent debt levels, including $7.8 million in capital lease obligations and $64.4 million in current liabilities, raise questions about financial flexibility. Despite generating $66.2 million in revenue and an EBITDA of $34.5 million, the company reported a cash outflow of $32.3 million, partly driven by high operating expenses and depreciation. While cash flow from financing activities brought in nearly $60 million, the overall debt load and recent cash burn suggest that Castor Maritime’s leverage could be a concern for investors looking for stability in the marine transportation sector. Castor Maritime is set to release its earnings tomorrow. Currently, its Sales, General, and Administrative expenses as a percentage of revenue remain steady compared to last year. As of July 13, 2025, the company's average inventory is expected to increase to around $1.3 million, while its enterprise value may decrease by approximately $33.8 million. Despite some concerns among older investors about the marine transportation sector, Castor Maritime still presents potential as an investment option. The key question now is whether this could be a stronger year for shareholders. We’ll be watching closely to see if the company can turn things around and deliver better results in the months ahead.
Castor Maritime financial leverage ratio helps determine the effect of debt on the overall profitability of the company. It measures the total debt position of Castor Maritime, including all of Castor Maritime's outstanding debt obligations, and compares it with the equity. In simple terms, the high financial leverage means the cost of production, together with running the business day-to-day, is high, whereas, lower financial leverage implies lower fixed cost investment in the business and generally considered by investors to be a good sign. So if creditors own a majority of Castor Maritime assets, the company is considered highly leveraged. Understanding the composition and structure of overall Castor Maritime debt and outstanding corporate bonds gives a good idea of how risky the capital structure of a business is and if it is worth investing in it. Please read more on our technical analysis page.

Understanding Castor Total Liabilities

Castor Maritime liabilities are broken down into two parts on the balance sheet. These are short-term (or current) obligations and long-term debt. Castor Maritime has to fulfill its short-term liabilities in this reporting year and should be no more than 12 months old. Long-term debt, on the other hand, is anything beyond the 12-month payment timeframe. Common short-term liabilities found on Castor Maritime balance sheet include debt obligations and money owed to different Castor Maritime vendors, workers, and loan providers. Below is the chart of Castor short long-term liabilities accounts currently reported on its balance sheet.
You can use Castor Maritime financial leverage analysis tool to get a better grip on understanding its financial position

How important is Castor Maritime's Liquidity

Castor Maritime financial leverage refers to using borrowed capital as a funding source to finance Castor Maritime ongoing operations. It is usually used to expand the firm's asset base and generate returns on borrowed capital. Castor Maritime financial leverage is typically calculated by taking the company's all interest-bearing debt and dividing it by total capital. So the higher the debt-to-capital ratio (i.e., financial leverage), the riskier the company. Financial leverage can amplify the potential profits to Castor Maritime's owners, but it also increases the potential losses and risk of financial distress, including bankruptcy, if the firm cannot cover its debt costs. The degree of Castor Maritime's financial leverage can be measured in several ways, including by ratios such as the debt-to-equity ratio (total debt / total equity), equity multiplier (total assets / total equity), or the debt ratio (total debt / total assets). Please check the breakdown between Castor Maritime's total debt and its cash.

A Deeper Perspective

Castor Maritime reported the previous year's revenue of 66.24 M. Net Income was 15.3 M with profit before overhead, payroll, taxes, and interest of 35.27 M.

Asset Breakdown

570.7 M
Non Current Assets Total
266.6 M
Total Current Assets
Other Current Assets
557.3 M
Net Tangible Assets
Total Assets837.25 Million
Net Tangible Assets557.26 Million
Non Current Assets Total570.69 Million
Non Currrent Assets Other8.11 Million
Other Assets1.09
Other Current Assets78.03 Million
Total Current Assets266.55 Million
Deferred Long Term Asset Charges0.0
Intangible Assets23.33 Million
A rising tide lifts all boats, but leverage can also sink them if not managed carefully.
Castor Maritime (NASDAQ: CTRM) maintains a solid current ratio of 3.67X, indicating good short-term liquidity, yet its long-term debt stands at $92.5 million, which could pose risks if cash flows weaken. Despite generating $41.9 million from operating activities and a net income of $15.3 million, the company’s free cash flow is negative at -$30.3 million, highlighting potential liquidity concerns. With a market cap of just $23.09 million and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.32%, the stock’s leverage profile suggests moderate risk, but investors should watch for fluctuations in cash flow and debt levels that could impact future performance. Overall, while CTRM shows promise, its leverage levels warrant cautious optimism amid ongoing industry volatility..

Castor showing symptom of lower volatility

Recently, Castor Maritime’s average deviation has fallen to 2.36, indicating less fluctuation in its stock price. This decline in volatility suggests the stock is becoming more stable, which might attract investors seeking calmer investments. However, it’s important to consider whether this quieter trading pattern reflects genuine stability or simply lower trading activity. Currently, Castor shows below-average downside deviation, with an Information Ratio of -0.01 and a Jensen Alpha of 0.09. Monitoring volatility trends can help investors better gauge risk, especially during different market conditions.
In downturns, increased volatility often pushes the stock lower, adding pressure on investors and prompting portfolio adjustments. Overall, the reduced volatility hints at a period of relative calm, but staying alert to market shifts remains key.While Castor Maritime's stock is inching upward slowly amid a generally softening market, there are some notable factors to consider. The stock's potential upside of around $5.38 suggests there could be room for growth, especially if the company continues to navigate shipping demand effectively. However, with a valuation real value close to $1.97 and a naive expected forecast of approximately $2.49, the current price may still reflect some optimism that hasn't fully materialized. Investors should keep an eye on the company's ability to sustain its modest gains and whether the market's overall sentiment shifts in favor of maritime stocks. Caution remains warranted, but the stock's resilience in a declining environment makes it worth monitoring for those willing to take a calculated risk..

Building efficient market-beating portfolios requires time, education, and a lot of computing power!

The Portfolio Prophet is an AI-driven system that provides multiple benefits to our users by leveraging cutting-edge machine learning algorithms, statistical analysis, and predictive modeling to automate the process of asset selection and portfolio construction, saving time and reducing human error for individual and institutional investors.

Try AI Portfolio Prophet

Editorial Staff

This story should be regarded as informational only and should not be considered a solicitation to sell or buy any financial products. Macroaxis does not express any opinion as to the present or future value of any investments referred to in this post. This post may not be reproduced without the consent of Macroaxis LLC. Macroaxis LLC and Vlad Skutelnik do not own shares of Castor Maritime. Please refer to our Terms of Use for any information regarding our disclosure principles.

Would you like to provide feedback on the content of this article?

You can get in touch with us directly or send us a quick note via email to editors@macroaxis.com