🎣 Freight Stocks

March 25, 2025

Newsletter Blog Images 21

🎣 Freight Stocks

Happy Tuesday.

The freight market’s been through it lately, and freight stocks? Even more so. But as they say, “millionaires are born in recessions” – and a freight one might be winding down (or not… looking at you, tariffs).

Today, we’re breaking down who’s thriving, who’s diving, and where opportunity might lie as we close Q1 of 2025.


🎣 Freight Stocks
Today’s Newsletter is Brought to You by FleetWorks.

I’m going to make this clear. I AM NOT A FINANCIAL ADVISOR. But I do love stocks.

The point of this article is not to give you any advice but rather to provide a general overview of what freight stocks have performed well and what haven’t.

Usually, freight gives us an early insight into how the economy is doing.

Please note: prices may have changed

Top Performers (Highest 1-Year Gains)

🎣 Freight Stocks
The Trump administration seems to be allaying some market fears with its new tariff strategy. The impact can be seen in some of these transportation stocks today.

C.H. Robinson (CHRW)
1-Year Performance: ~+26.3%
CHRW leads with a 71.1% Q4 2024 operating income surge and a 10.4% gross profit rise, driven by CEO Dave Bozeman’s focus on tech efficiencies like generative AI. Asset-light and steady, it’s thriving as freight demand slowly ticks up.

Amazon (AMZN)
1-Year Performance: ~+13.1%
Not a pure freight stock, but Amazon Freight’s logistics arm is massive. There are also LTL entry rumors that could add upside. AWS, Prime, warehousing—Amazon has all the tools to make a big splash in this fragmented space.

Middle Performers (Stable or Modest Gains/Losses)

🎣 Freight Stocks
Image Source: Union Pacific

Union Pacific (UNP)
1-Year Performance: ~-3.6%
A rail giant with dividends and industrial exposure. But the tariff talk on Canada and Mexico isn’t doing it any favors.

RXO
1-Year Performance: ~-8.6%
RXO’s brokerage model is gaining traction, especially after acquiring Coyote. Its offset revenue dips with solid EPS beats and tech-driven growth.

XPO
1-Year Performance: ~-9.3%
XPO’s LTL focus delivered margin gains in Q4 and earned a Stifel “Buy” upgrade as freight capacity tightens.

🎣 Freight Stocks
Per Jim Cramer’s Newsletter (February 24, 2025)

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🎣 Freight Stocks

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Bottom Performers (Largest 1-Year Declines)

🎣 Freight Stocks

FedEx (FDX)
1-Year Performance: ~-14.2%
FedEx is still outperforming UPS and has zero Amazon exposure, but industrial weakness and tariff uncertainty are dragging it down. A long-term play if volumes rebound.

Werner Enterprises (WERN)
1-Year Performance: ~-20.65%
High insurance claims and spot market overcapacity wrecked their Q4. A value play if demand rebounds.

J.B. Hunt (JBHT)
1-Year Performance: ~-20.8%
Tied to big clients like Amazon and Walmart, JBHT’s intermodal strength is notable, but 2024’s freight slump didn’t spare anyone.

UPS
1-Year Performance: ~-26%
Full disclosure: I actually own 142 shares of UPS from the Coyote employee stock program (142 shares at $98., the stock pays a quarterly dividend of $1.64). The stock’s taken a hit from Amazon cutting 50% of volume in Q4 and overall freight softness. But UPS is over 100 years old, pays a solid dividend, and operates CATCH in Chicago, where up to 2% of U.S. GDP flows. Too big to fail?

ArcBest (ARCB)
1-Year Performance: ~-45%
Despite beating Q4 expectations, ArcBest couldn’t keep up with LTL peers like XPO. Bank of America lowered their price target and rated it “Underperform.”


Wildcard

🎣 Freight Stocks

Roadrunner Transportation Systems (RRTS)

  • Up ~261% in the past 6 months.

They’re back. With Prospero Staff Capital now in control and LTL growth lanes expanding, RRTS has surged. Low volume, high volatility—a pure momentum play with lots of risk. But it’s the sleeper hit if losses narrow.

[Double check on this because it’s showing 0.00 price and doesn’t show up on stock watchlist for 1-day]

Quick Analysis of Landstar System, Inc. (LSTR)

Landstar (LSTR)

  • Down 18.21% YoY

Landstar System isn’t having a great year. The asset-light logistics provider is caught in a freight funk: volume is soft, truck capacity is up, and demand just isn’t snapping back.

Its core truck transportation segment continues to slump. For Q1 2025, the company expects truckloads to fall 2–7% YoY, while revenue per load could decline up to 2%, or at best rise 3%.

🎣 Inside Landstar: How They Make a Ton of Money
Landstar is one of the largest transportation companies in the U.S. and, from a broker’s perspective, also one of the most criticized.

Despite being asset-light and historically resilient, Landstar isn’t immune to market realities.

Earnings revisions are heading south: current quarter EPS estimates have dropped 18.4% in the past 90 days. And while 98% of its shares are institutionally owned, Wall Street’s consensus is lukewarm: 12 “Hold” ratings, 1 “Sell.”

What’s Next? The upcoming Q1 earnings report on April 29, 2025 will be a key moment. If volumes and rates don’t surprise to the upside, more downside pressure could follow.

Scoop: Still a solid company with low debt and strong financials, but Landstar is stuck in a freight cycle that hasn’t yet turned. Until demand improves, this stock looks more “Hold” than “Go.”

Asset-Based Carriers Are Getting Crushed

Assets have been getting crushed this year. Below is a chart of the YTD returns of some of the largest asset companies.

🎣 Freight Stocks
Asset based performance as of early March.

Brought To You By TAB

🎣 Freight Stocks

TAB-LLC is a wholly owned subsidiary of Artur Express Inc. Our asset-backed model allows our agents to explore opportunities that would otherwise be unavailable.   

At TAB, we provide agents with unmatched support, leading technology, staffing options, and unlimited potential to meet their financial goals and keep the wheels turning.

What we offer:

  • 25-year-old asset-based logistics company with an A+ Credit Rating
  • Aggressive splits up to 80%
  • DAT/Truckstop/Onboarding/Tracking
  • State-of-the-art comprehensive TMS
  • Fast and efficient back-end support

And much, much more.


💭 Ari’s Picks

  • XPO
  • UPS (long)
  • FedEx
  • Amazon
  • UNP

These are freight giants with either strong moats or big rebound potential. All of them have scale, infrastructure, and decades of freight ops under their belt.

Historically speaking, these stocks are winners. You don’t reach multi-billion market caps by doing something wrong. But as always, keep an eye on tariffs, demand swings, and market sentiment—especially in a space that tends to lead broader economic signals.

🎣 Winners & Losers of 2024
Plus: Universal bought Parsec amid layoffs, CA ports reported a record-breaking year, FedEx split off its LTL division, and more.

A look at freight stock winners & losers at the close of Q4 2024.

Disclaimer: This content is for informational purposes only and is not financial advice. Please do your own research or consult a licensed advisor before investing.


FREIGHT HUMOR

🎣 Freight Stocks

Fuente: https://www.freightcaviar.com/freight-stocks-picks/

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DRY VAN

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POWER ONLY

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BULK

When you need reliable and efficient solutions for transporting bulk materials, CoVar Transport’s Bulk services have you covered. With our specialized equipment and tailored logistics, we ensure your materials are delivered safely and on time, every time.

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Efficient Freight Solutions

Explore the benefits of our Bulk Transportation services, designed to meet the unique challenges of bulk material logistics. Whether you’re handling agricultural products, chemicals, or construction materials, our solutions prioritize safety, efficiency, and precision.

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DRY BULK

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LIQUID BULK

With advanced tankers and safety protocols, our Liquid Bulk services handle the transportation of chemicals, oils, and other liquids with precision and care.
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LESS THAN TRUCKLOAD (LTL)

When your shipments don’t require a full truck, CoVar Transport’s Less Than Truckload (LTL) services provide a cost-effective and flexible solution. With our reliable network and streamlined logistics, we ensure your freight is delivered safely and efficiently, no matter the size.

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Efficient Freight Solutions

Discover how our LTL services can help you optimize your shipping needs without compromising on speed or reliability. From small parcels to consolidated freight, our tailored solutions prioritize your business’s success.

Cost-Efficiency

Save on shipping costs by sharing space with other shipments, ensuring you only pay for the space you need.

Reliability

Count on our dependable network to deliver your goods intact and on time, providing peace of mind with every shipment.

Scalability

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STANDARD LTL

Ideal for small-to-medium-sized shipments, our Standard LTL services deliver your freight quickly and securely, without the expense of a full truckload.

EXPEDITED LTL

For time-sensitive shipments, our Expedited LTL services ensure your goods reach their destination faster without sacrificing care or safety.

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INTERMODAL / DRAYAGE

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Streamline your supply chain with our Intermodal and Drayage services, designed to optimize your freight’s journey through ports, railways, and highways. Experience the benefits of a reliable, cost-effective, and eco-conscious approach to transportation.

Cost-Effectiveness

Leverage the savings of rail transport combined with the flexibility of trucking, minimizing overall shipping costs.

Seamless Coordination

Our team ensures smooth transitions between modes of transportation, from port drayage to long-haul delivery, keeping your supply chain running efficiently.

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PORT DRAYAGE

Efficiently move your freight from ports to rail yards or final destinations with our reliable drayage solutions, ensuring prompt delivery.

INTERMODAL FREIGHT

Optimize long-distance transportation by combining rail and truck services, providing a cost-effective solution for large or small shipments.
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Warehousing / Cross Docking

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Our Warehousing / Cross Docking services are designed to accelerate your logistics operations, providing a faster, more cost-effective alternative to traditional warehousing. Whether you’re managing high-volume shipments or time-sensitive deliveries, we’ve got you covered.

Speed

Reduce transit times by bypassing storage and moving goods directly from receiving to shipping.
Cost Savings
Eliminate warehousing costs while maintaining the efficiency and reliability of your supply chain.
Accuracy
Our streamlined process ensures accurate sorting and distribution, minimizing errors and ensuring your goods reach their destination on time.
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INBOUND - TO - OUTBOUND TRANSFER

Ideal for businesses with fluctuating inventory needs, our short-term storage solutions provide flexibility without compromising security.

Restack Services

Our Restack Services ensure that your shipments remain intact and properly secured during transit. Whether due to load shifts, damaged pallets, or compliance requirements, our team quickly restores and reorganizes your freight with precision and care.
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CONSOLIDATION SERVICES

Combine multiple shipments into a single outbound load, optimizing space and reducing transportation costs.

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Break down large shipments for faster distribution to multiple destinations, ensuring timely and efficient delivery.

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Custom Solutions

Tailor-made pallets and crates are designed to fit your unique freight, providing the perfect combination of protection and efficiency.

Durability

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Standard Pallets

Ideal for general freight, our standard pallets are durable and versatile, perfect for a wide range of industries and goods.

Custom Crating

For specialized or fragile items, our custom crates offer the ultimate protection, ensuring safe transit for even the most delicate shipments.

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Heavy-Duty Solutions

Designed for oversized or high-weight shipments, our heavy-duty pallets and crates provide unmatched strength and reliability.

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