Maersk says coronavirus will impact 2020 earnings after fourth-quarter misses expectations

Reuters

Published Feb 20, 2020 07:21

Maersk says coronavirus will impact 2020 earnings after fourth-quarter misses expectations

COPENHAGEN (Reuters) - Shipping group A.P. Moller-Maersk (CO:MAERSKb) said on Thursday the coronavirus outbreak would weigh on earnings this year, as it reported fourth-quarter profit below expectations.

Earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA) totalled $1.46 billion, lagging the $1.51 billion forecast by 24 analysts in a consensus poll compiled by Maersk.

Maersk, the world's biggest container shipping company, said it expects 2020 EBITDA of $5.5 billion, compared to $6.0 billion expected by analysts and the $5.7 billion achieved last year.