Quant Picks: 3 Shipping Stocks to Keep Your Portfolio Afloat

Is the shipping industry is a ‘shipwreck’ of an investment, as some say? Well, we decided to check Quant Ratings to see if there are any stocks in the sector worth looking at. The transportation and logistics industry is highly competitive. In 2012, spending in the U.S. in this sector was greater than $1.3 trillion, which was about 8.5% of U.S. GDP. Maritime shipping carries almost 80% of U.S. exports by tonnage, so there is a lot of activity in the sector. Here are some of the best shipping stocks TheStreet Quant Ratings says you should consider looking at. Number 3 is Kirby Corporation. With a 'B-' rating, the company's strengths can be seen in its largely solid financial position, with reasonable debt levels by most measures, and notable return on equity. 2nd is, COSTAMARE. This rating is a 'B.' COSTAMARE thrives in its revenue growth and expanding profit margins. Number 1 is Matson. With an 'A-' rating the company flourishes in its revenue growth and notable return on equity. TheStreet Ratings are algorithmic stock picks based on 32 major data points. S&P 500 stocks rated 'buy' yielded a 16-and-a-half-percent return in 2014, beating the S&P 500 Total Return Index by more than 300 basis points. For the full reports on these stocks, you can check out TheStreet.com/QuantRatings.