Should I buy International Container Terminal Services stock in 2025?

What is International Container Terminal Services?

How much is International Container Terminal Services stock?

The price of International Container Terminal Services stock is declining this week. As of today, ICT is trading at ₱404.40, reflecting a 0.30% decrease in the last 24 hours and a 2.50% drop over the past week. The company holds a market capitalization of ₱818.88 billion, with an average daily trading volume of 1.87 million shares over three months. ICT shows a P/E ratio of 16.48, a dividend yield of 3.51%, and a stock beta of 1.03. With moderate volatility and sustained market interest, investors may find opportunities as the stock holds firm above its major moving averages.

Our full analysis on International Container Terminal Services stock

After a comprehensive review of International Container Terminal Services, Inc. (ICTSI)’s latest financial results and stock performance over the past three years, bolstered by data-driven insights from rigorous analysis of financial indicators, technical signals, peer benchmarks, and prevailing market dynamics, a compelling narrative emerges. Drawing on inputs processed through proprietary models, ICTSI demonstrates not only robust operational execution and geographic resilience, but also a favorable technical structure positioned for continued momentum. So, why might ICTSI stock once again become a strategic entry point into the global transportation infrastructure sector in 2025?

Recent Performance and Market Context

ICTSI has demonstrated remarkable consistency in creating shareholder value, with the stock price advancing 15.89% year-on-year to ₱404.40 as of May 27, 2025. This growth persists despite short-term volatility—evident in a recent 2.5% dip over the past week—highlighting healthy profit-taking rather than any material deterioration. Over the last six months, the stock remains firmly in positive territory (+5.08%), outperforming many domestic and regional transportation peers.

Several positive catalysts have contributed to this performance:

• Strong Q1 2025 Financials: Revenues jumped 17% year-on-year, EBITDA rose 18%, and net income climbed 14%, underscoring operational efficiency and disciplined cost management.
• Dividend Strength: A competitive 3.51% dividend yield and a latest payout of ₱14.16 per share, with the ex-dividend date in March, reinforce market confidence in cash flow sustainability.
• Macro Backdrop: Resurgent global trade volumes, the tailwinds of increased container traffic, and robust Philippine infrastructure investment ambitions create a fertile environment for continued outperformance. The government’s “Build, Better, More” initiative and supply chain modernization efforts further amplify long-term sector demand.

ICTSI’s geographic diversification—operating 32 marine terminals across 19 countries—mitigates regional economic risks, with recent growth led by new services and terminal acquisitions in both mature and emerging markets.

Technical Analysis

A detailed technical review highlights a strongly bullish structure and a supportive trading environment:

• Momentum Indicators: The 14-day RSI stands at 60.8—a neutral to slightly bullish reading—indicating room for further upward price action before any signs of overextension.
• MACD: The MACD (12,26) value of 12.8 produces an unambiguous buy signal, reflecting underlying momentum likely to propel the stock higher in the coming weeks.
• Moving Averages: Prices currently sit above all major EMAs—20-day (₱390.6), 50-day (₱376.4), 100-day (₱373.5), and 200-day (₱366.8)—signaling clear intermediate and long-term strength.
• Support and Resistance: Firm support levels are present at ₱399.20 (near current price), ₱390.00, and ₱380.00. The primary resistance lies at ₱407.00 and ₱420.00, with an ultimate target at the 52-week high of ₱446.00. The proximity to support levels suggests a favorable risk/reward profile at current market prices.

With a nearly neutral beta of 1.03, ICTSI shares tend to move in line with the market, but recent outperformance hints at potential for a structural rerating.

Fundamental Analysis

ICTSI’s operational and financial momentum is pronounced—an essential trait for robust buy-side conviction:

• Top-Line and Profit Expansion: 2024 full-year revenue of $2.74 billion (+14.7%) and net income of $829.99 million (+77.1%) reflect broad-based growth and continuous leverage of scale.
• Margin Enhancement: An EBITDA margin of 60.58% and a net margin of 28.56% highlight industry-leading efficiency, with tightly managed operating costs and disciplined capital allocation.
• Recurring Earnings Power: Adjusted for one-offs, recurring net income expanded by 25% YoY in Q1 2025, an indicator of genuine underlying strength.
• Valuation: A trailing P/E of 16.48 sits well within historical norms for global infrastructure leaders, while a forward P/E of 30.21 reflects market anticipation of near-term capital expenditures and expansion-driven earnings normalization. The 4.87 price-to-sales ratio and 3.51% dividend yield also compare favorably, considering growth prospects and sector premiums.
• Competitive Positioning: As the world’s largest independent terminal operator and the dominant player in the Philippines, ICTSI’s brand equity, technological leadership, and regulatory relationships constitute a defensible moat that supports further market share gains.

Volume and Liquidity

ICTSI’s liquidity conditions serve as another validation of market conviction:

• Trading Volume: An average of 1.87 million shares exchanges hands daily (3-month average), assuring robust entry and exit points for both institutional and retail investors.
• Public Float: With 1.03 billion shares free-float and significant insider (34.27%) and institutional (20.21%) holdings, ICTSI offers price stability and responsiveness, supporting dynamic valuation without excessive volatility.

These liquidity dynamics suggest that the stock remains well-positioned for sustained institutional accumulation and renewed retail investor interest.

Catalysts and Positive Outlook

A multitude of visible growth drivers are set to reinforce ICTSI’s trajectory in the coming quarters and beyond:

• Capex Pipeline: With $580 million earmarked for 2025, funded expansions in Batangas, further phases in Manzanillo (Mexico) and Manila, and new projects in Brazil and Mindanao will translate into higher terminal capacity, diversified revenue streams, and broader geographic penetration.
• Volume and Service Innovation: Recovery and growth in container throughput at both legacy and recently acquired terminals (such as VCT in Iloilo and CGSA in Ecuador) provide immediate organic uplift. Ongoing digitalization and efficiency improvements will drive longer-term margins and customer stickiness.
• ESG Leadership: Progressive investments in green port infrastructure, digital logistics solutions, and corporate governance are increasingly resonating with global investors focused on sustainability and transparency.
• Favorable Macroeconomic and Sector Trends: Rising global trade flows, expanding intra-Asia commerce, and supportive Philippine government policy on port development ensure strong tailwinds for sector leaders.

These catalysts—tangible capital projects, margin-expanding innovations, and supportive macro context—collectively align to underscore ongoing upward momentum.

Investment Strategies

Whether for traders seeking short-term timing advantages or investors pursuing enduring compounding, ICTSI’s current setup supports a wide range of positioning strategies:

• Short-Term View: For those attuned to technical signals, entry near current support (₱399-₱404) offers an advantageous positioning with upside toward ₱407 and ₱420 resistance levels, capitalizing on recent volume surges and momentum cues from the MACD.
• Medium-Term Perspective: Investors can target portfolio allocation through growth windows tied to upcoming expansion project milestones, strong anticipated Q2 results, or sustained macro tailwinds in the infrastructure and logistics sector.
• Long-Term Horizon: ICTSI’s global infrastructure footprint, defensive cash generation, recurring dividend streams, and its history of accretive capital allocation make it an appealing vehicle for wealth preservation and robust total return over multiple cycles.

Notably, entering at current levels—just above major support, below the 52-week high, and ahead of key catalysts—seems to represent an excellent opportunity to position for both immediate and structural upside.

Is it the Right Time to Buy International Container Terminal Services?

In summation, ICTSI’s blend of sector leadership, operational excellence, robust and growing financial metrics, and clear path to sustained dividend payouts represent a rare alignment of strengths. The company’s ongoing expansion, technological and ESG innovation, and strategic insulation from localized macro risks further reinforce its attractive investment case. Technical and liquidity dynamics are supportive, with the stock exhibiting both resilience and upward momentum.

With clear near-term and long-term catalysts—from new project launches to secular growth in global trade—the fundamentals more than justify renewed and focused investor interest. ICTSI appears to be entering a potentially new bullish phase, offering dynamic opportunities for diversified portfolios. While prudent risk management remains essential, the current confluence of technical, fundamental, and thematic strength suggests that ICTSI stock deserves serious consideration by investors aiming to participate in Southeast Asia’s infrastructure growth story.

In a landscape characterized by volatility and shifting global dynamics, ICTSI’s steady performance, visible growth pipeline, and strong competitive advantages make it a standout choice for those seeking both capital appreciation and income. The company’s trajectory in 2025 may well reaffirm its position as a strategic gateway to the global logistics sector—an opportunity that astute investors will not want to overlook.

How to buy International Container Terminal Services stock in the PH?

Buying International Container Terminal Services (ICTSI) stock online is both straightforward and secure when you use a regulated broker in the Philippines. Two main methods are available: you can buy the stock outright for cash (spot buying) and become a direct shareholder, or trade the price movements through Contracts for Difference (CFDs), which offer flexible strategies. Both approaches have distinct features and risks. Below, we explain each method and show concrete investment examples. To help you choose, a broker comparison for ICTSI stock is available further down this page.

Spot buying

Cash purchase means you buy ICTSI stock directly on the Philippine Stock Exchange (PSE) and become a real shareholder – with rights to any dividends and voting privileges. When buying ICTSI shares through a local broker, you'll typically pay a fixed commission per order, which in the Philippines usually ranges from ₱20 to ₱50, plus a small percentage of the transaction (commonly around 0.25%). For example, if the ICTSI share price is ₱404.40 and you invest $1,000 (around ₱56,700), you can buy approximately 140 shares after including a brokerage fee of about ₱300.

Example: Spot buying gain scenario

Gain scenario:
If the share price rises by 10%, your 140 shares are now worth ₱62,484 (₱404.40 × 1.10 × 140), up from around ₱56,700.
Result: About ₱5,784 gross gain, i.e. +10% on your investment (before other minor fees or taxes).

Trading via CFD

CFD trading on ICTSI shares allows you to speculate on price movements without actually owning the underlying stock. Instead, you enter into a contract with your broker to pay or receive the difference in price between opening and closing the trade. CFD brokers generally charge a spread (the difference between buying and selling prices) and may apply overnight financing fees for positions held more than a day.

Example: CFD trading gain scenario

For example, imagine you open a CFD position with $1,000 (about ₱56,700) and use 5x leverage. Your market exposure becomes $5,000 (₱283,500), allowing you to profit from price movements five times larger than your original investment (but with heightened risk).

Gain scenario:
If ICTSI stock rises by 8%, the position gains 8% × 5 = 40%.
Result: +$400 gain on a $1,000 stake (excluding spreads/financing fees), meaning +40%.

Final advice

Before investing in ICTSI stock, it's essential to compare the fees, platforms, and regulations of different online brokers. Each method—cash buying or CFDs—serves different objectives: direct share ownership for long-term investors, or CFD trading for those seeking to benefit from short-term price movements and leverage. The right choice ultimately depends on your investment style and goals; to assist you, a detailed broker comparator for ICTSI is available further down the page.

Our 7 tips for buying International Container Terminal Services stock

The latest news about International Container Terminal Services

International Container Terminal Services, Inc. (ICTSI) delivered robust Q1 2025 results with double-digit growth in revenue and profit. The company reported a 17% year-over-year increase in revenue to $745.42 million, an 18% rise in EBITDA to $489.59 million, and a net income boost of 14% to $239.54 million, with container volume up 12%. Excluding one-time items, recurring net income increased 25%, highlighting underlying operational strength. These results underscore ICTSI’s continued ability to grow profitably despite a complex global operating environment, with especially strong performance from its Asian and Philippine terminals, including the flagship Manila International Container Terminal.

Recent expansion and new investment highlight a constructive local growth strategy for Philippine stakeholders. Within the last week, ICTSI reinforced its commitment to the Philippines with the ongoing expansion of Manila International Container Terminal and new investments such as the Visayas Container Terminal (VCT) in Iloilo and a new Batangas project. These initiatives prioritize increased capacity and operational efficiency in key domestic hubs, directly supporting the country’s trade competitiveness and creating positive spillover effects for local logistics and employment.

Technical market signals continue to reflect a bullish outlook for the stock, with price momentum above key averages. As of May 27, 2025, ICTSI’s share price sits at ₱404.40, above all major moving averages (20, 50, 100, and 200-day EMAs), while the MACD gives a buy signal and the RSI is neutral. This technical setup suggests strong investor confidence and favorable momentum in the near term, making the stock attractive for both Philippine and international investors seeking transportation infrastructure exposure.

Dividend consistency and a competitive yield strengthen ICTSI’s appeal in the Philippine capital market. The latest dividend of ₱14.16 per share and a yield of 3.51%, along with a stable ex-dividend date in March, signal reliable shareholder returns. The company’s history of consistent dividend payments supports its status among income-focused investors in the region, and the growing earnings base increases the potential for future dividend enhancement.

Strategic regional diversification and capital expenditure plans reinforce ICTSI’s long-term growth trajectory and risk resilience. ICTSI’s ongoing $580 million capital expenditure program for 2025 spans projects in Batangas, Manila, Mindanao, and international terminals, underpinning medium-term volume and revenue growth. The company’s diversified geographic portfolio remains a key strength, mitigating exposure to currency and trade-related headwinds and reinforcing its position as a global and local leader in port operations.

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P. Laurore

Finance expert

Co-founder of HelloSafe and holder of a Master's degree in finance, Pauline has recognised expertise in personal finance, which she uses to help users better understand and optimise their financial choices. At HelloSafe, Pauline plays a key role in designing clear, educational content on savings, investments and personal finance. Passionate about financial education, Pauline strives, with every piece of content she oversees, to provide reliable, transparent and unbiased information for independent and informed financial management. To this end, she has tested over 100 trading platforms to help internet users make the right choices.