Why Seaspan Corporation Stock Is Down Nearly 13%

Seaspan stock sails stormy seas. Image source: Getty Images.

What happened

It's 12:45 p.m. EST and oceangoing container shipping company Seaspan Corporation (NYSE: SSW) is already down 12.7% -- and it hasn't even reported earnings yet.

So what

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Blame Morgan Stanley for this curious news. This morning, the analyst heaped praises on Seaspan competitor Costamare (NYSE: CMRE), which reported an "earnings beat" last week and which Morgan Stanley believes will outperform the market over the rest of this year. In contrast, the analyst initiated coverage of Seaspan but with a much less bullish view.

According to Morgan Stanley, Seaspan is likely to experience declining earnings over the course of this year as "weak global trade and prolonged oversupply of containerships" put the hurt on its income statement. At the same time, Morgan Stanley blasted Seaspan for its "deteriorating balance sheet and liquidity position." And on the cash flow statement,the analyst warns that Seaspan is likely to experience "annual cash burn" in excess of $200 million this year.

Now what

Perhaps worst of all, though, is Morgan Stanley's prediction that the global container shipping market won't recover before 2019, or even 2020. With Seaspan currently burdened with nearly $2.7 billion in debt, with only $540 million in cash to pay it -- and that cash evaporating at the rate of $200 million a year (or more) -- the analyst isn't 100% sure the company will survive to see the recovery.

Investors should be wary as well.

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Rich Smith has no position in any stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool recommends Seaspan. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.