Knight-Swift Transportation sees gains amid trucking market recovery
Written by Emily J. Thompson, Senior Investment Analyst
Updated: Jul 09 2024
0mins
Should l Buy KNX?
Source: Coinmarketcap
Knight-Swift Transportation Holdings Inc. experienced a price increase of 3.28%, reaching a 20-day high. This movement comes as the trucking market shows early signs of recovery, despite the broader market's decline, with the Nasdaq-100 down 0.89% and the S&P 500 down 0.12%.
The surge in Knight-Swift's stock is attributed to Bank of America's analysis highlighting a recovery in the trucking market, where supply-side pressures are improving rates. The firm raised price targets and earnings estimates for major truckload carriers, including Knight-Swift, due to tightening capacity and regulatory pressures that are removing weaker operators from the market. Additionally, dry-van spot rates have risen significantly, reaching their highest level since January, which is benefiting resilient trucking firms like Knight-Swift.
This positive movement indicates that Knight-Swift is well-positioned to capitalize on the improving market conditions, as the exit of weaker competitors allows stronger companies to thrive. Investors are likely to remain optimistic about the company's future performance as the trucking sector continues to recover.
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Analyst Views on KNX
Wall Street analysts forecast KNX stock price to fall over the next 12 months. According to Wall Street analysts, the average 1-year price target for KNX is 58.23 USD with a low forecast of 47.00 USD and a high forecast of 70.00 USD. However, analyst price targets are subjective and often lag stock prices, so investors should focus on the objective reasons behind analyst rating changes, which better reflect the company's fundamentals.
13 Analyst Rating
10 Buy
3 Hold
0 Sell
Strong Buy
Current: 60.160
Low
47.00
Averages
58.23
High
70.00
Current: 60.160
Low
47.00
Averages
58.23
High
70.00
About KNX
Knight-Swift Transportation Holdings Inc. is a diversified freight transportation company. The Company is engaged in providing multiple truckload transportation and logistics services as well as less-than-truckload (LTL) services. It uses a nationwide network of business units and terminals in the United States and Mexico to serve customers throughout North America. The Truckload segment consists of an irregular route and dedicated, refrigerated, expedited, flatbed, and cross-border operations. The LTL segment operates approximately 3,569 tractors and 9,564 trailers and includes national coverage to customers by utilizing partner carriers for areas outside of its direct network. Logistics and Intermodal segments provide a multitude of shipping solutions, including additional sources of truckload capacity and alternative transportation modes, by utilizing its network of third-party capacity providers and rail providers, as well as certain logistics and freight management services.
About the author
Emily J. Thompson
Emily J. Thompson, a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) with 12 years in investment research, graduated with honors from the Wharton School. Specializing in industrial and technology stocks, she provides in-depth analysis for Intellectia’s earnings and market brief reports.
Knight-Swift Reports Q4 Earnings Miss with 31 Cents per Share
- Disappointing Earnings: Knight-Swift's Q4 earnings of 31 cents per share fell short of the analyst consensus estimate of 36 cents, indicating challenges in profitability that may affect investor confidence.
- Sales Miss: The company reported quarterly sales of $1.856 billion, missing the analyst consensus estimate of $1.900 billion, reflecting weak market demand that could lead to future performance declines.
- Cautious Guidance: Knight-Swift projects first-quarter adjusted earnings between 28 to 32 cents per share, below the market estimate of 32 cents, indicating a cautious outlook on future market conditions.
- Analyst Target Adjustments: Following the earnings announcement, several analysts adjusted their price targets for Knight-Swift, with Stifel lowering its target from $63 to $61, reflecting concerns about the company's future performance.
See More
Knight-Swift Reports Q4 Net Loss of $6.8M, Adjusted EPS at $0.31
- Financial Decline: Knight-Swift reported a net loss of $6.8 million for Q4, translating to a loss of $0.04 per share, a stark contrast to last year's net income of $69.5 million and earnings of $0.43 per share, indicating challenges faced during brand integration.
- Impairment Charges Impact: The latest results included $52.9 million in non-cash impairment charges primarily related to goodwill and intangible assets, reflecting financial pressures stemming from the company's brand consolidation decision.
- Slight Revenue Decrease: Total quarterly revenue was $1.856 billion, down from $1.864 billion in the prior year, suggesting that soft market demand may have impacted the company's revenue growth.
- Cautious Future Outlook: The company expects adjusted earnings per share to range from $0.28 to $0.32 for Q1 2026, below analysts' expectations of $0.31, indicating uncertainty regarding future performance.
See More
Knight-Swift (KNX) Q4 2025 Revenue Decline of $125 Million Amid Cost Cuts
- Stable Market Demand: Although truckload market demand remained generally stable in Q4, the typical seasonal lift did not occur until late in the quarter, resulting in a rapid decline in project activity and lower truckload volumes than expected, which negatively impacted overall performance.
- Effective Cost Control: Despite a $125 million decline in truckload revenue, the company managed to grow adjusted operating income by $28 million through structural cost reductions, demonstrating its effectiveness in cost management and ability to navigate market challenges.
- Technology Investment Outlook: The company is investing in technologies such as AI to enhance efficiency, with expected benefits to be realized in 2026, which will strengthen its long-term competitiveness in a challenging market.
- LTL Network Expansion Strategy: Management plans a more deliberate pace of LTL network expansion to restore margins, believing that existing infrastructure can support annualized revenue of $2 billion, reflecting confidence in future growth.
See More
Knight-Swift (KNX) Q4 Results Show Revenue Decline and $0.04 Loss
- Seasonal Demand Shortfall: Knight-Swift's Q4 results reflected a lack of typical seasonal demand lift, resulting in a 0.4% decline in total revenue to $1.86 billion, missing expectations by $40 million and indicating market weakness.
- Loss Situation: The company swung to a loss of $0.04 per share due to a $52.9 million impairment charge, a significant drop from a profit of $0.43 a year ago, and failing to meet market expectations of $0.30 profit.
- Segment Performance: While LTL and other segments saw sales increases of 7% and 17.6%, respectively, declines in truckload, logistics, and intermodal revenues of 2.4%, 4.8%, and 3.4% offset these gains, dragging overall performance down.
- Future Outlook: The company expects Q1 earnings between $0.28 and $0.32 per share, with LTL revenue projected to grow 5% to 10%, but truckload and logistics revenues are expected to decline slightly, reflecting uncertainty in market recovery.
See More
Knight-Swift Transportation Q4 Earnings Miss with $0.31 EPS and $1.86B Revenue
- Disappointing Earnings: Knight-Swift reported a Q4 non-GAAP EPS of $0.31, missing expectations by $0.04, indicating pressure on profitability that could undermine investor confidence.
- Slight Revenue Decline: The company's Q4 revenue of $1.86 billion represents a 0.4% year-over-year decline, failing to meet market expectations and reflecting intensified competition and weak demand in the transportation sector.
- Cautious Guidance: Knight-Swift anticipates adjusted EPS for Q1 2026 to range from $0.28 to $0.32, below the consensus of $0.31, suggesting potential continued pressure on future performance.
- Market Reaction Outlook: Given the earnings miss, investors may adopt a cautious stance regarding the company's ability to improve pricing and volume, which could negatively impact stock performance.
See More
Kinder Morgan (KMI) Expected EPS of $0.37, 15.63% YoY Growth
- Earnings Forecast: Kinder Morgan is expected to report an EPS of $0.37 for Q4 2025, reflecting a 15.63% increase year-over-year, indicating robust growth potential in the oil and gas sector.
- Industry Comparison: CACI anticipates an EPS of $6.41, a 7.73% increase from the previous year, having exceeded expectations every quarter in the past year, showcasing its competitive edge in the computer services industry.
- Financial Performance: Pinnacle Financial Partners forecasts an EPS of $2.32, representing a 22.11% increase year-over-year, consistently beating expectations over the past year, highlighting its strong market performance.
- Significant Growth: Live Oak Bancshares expects an EPS of $0.56, a remarkable 154.55% increase, reflecting rapid growth and an increase in market share within the banking sector.
See More
Knight-Swift Reports Q4 Earnings Miss with 31 Cents per Share
- Disappointing Earnings: Knight-Swift's Q4 earnings of 31 cents per share fell short of the analyst consensus estimate of 36 cents, indicating challenges in profitability that may affect investor confidence.
- Sales Miss: The company reported quarterly sales of $1.856 billion, missing the analyst consensus estimate of $1.900 billion, reflecting weak market demand that could lead to future performance declines.
- Cautious Guidance: Knight-Swift projects first-quarter adjusted earnings between 28 to 32 cents per share, below the market estimate of 32 cents, indicating a cautious outlook on future market conditions.
- Analyst Target Adjustments: Following the earnings announcement, several analysts adjusted their price targets for Knight-Swift, with Stifel lowering its target from $63 to $61, reflecting concerns about the company's future performance.
See More
Knight-Swift Reports Q4 Net Loss of $6.8M, Adjusted EPS at $0.31
- Financial Decline: Knight-Swift reported a net loss of $6.8 million for Q4, translating to a loss of $0.04 per share, a stark contrast to last year's net income of $69.5 million and earnings of $0.43 per share, indicating challenges faced during brand integration.
- Impairment Charges Impact: The latest results included $52.9 million in non-cash impairment charges primarily related to goodwill and intangible assets, reflecting financial pressures stemming from the company's brand consolidation decision.
- Slight Revenue Decrease: Total quarterly revenue was $1.856 billion, down from $1.864 billion in the prior year, suggesting that soft market demand may have impacted the company's revenue growth.
- Cautious Future Outlook: The company expects adjusted earnings per share to range from $0.28 to $0.32 for Q1 2026, below analysts' expectations of $0.31, indicating uncertainty regarding future performance.
See More
Knight-Swift (KNX) Q4 2025 Revenue Decline of $125 Million Amid Cost Cuts
- Stable Market Demand: Although truckload market demand remained generally stable in Q4, the typical seasonal lift did not occur until late in the quarter, resulting in a rapid decline in project activity and lower truckload volumes than expected, which negatively impacted overall performance.
- Effective Cost Control: Despite a $125 million decline in truckload revenue, the company managed to grow adjusted operating income by $28 million through structural cost reductions, demonstrating its effectiveness in cost management and ability to navigate market challenges.
- Technology Investment Outlook: The company is investing in technologies such as AI to enhance efficiency, with expected benefits to be realized in 2026, which will strengthen its long-term competitiveness in a challenging market.
- LTL Network Expansion Strategy: Management plans a more deliberate pace of LTL network expansion to restore margins, believing that existing infrastructure can support annualized revenue of $2 billion, reflecting confidence in future growth.
See More
Knight-Swift (KNX) Q4 Results Show Revenue Decline and $0.04 Loss
- Seasonal Demand Shortfall: Knight-Swift's Q4 results reflected a lack of typical seasonal demand lift, resulting in a 0.4% decline in total revenue to $1.86 billion, missing expectations by $40 million and indicating market weakness.
- Loss Situation: The company swung to a loss of $0.04 per share due to a $52.9 million impairment charge, a significant drop from a profit of $0.43 a year ago, and failing to meet market expectations of $0.30 profit.
- Segment Performance: While LTL and other segments saw sales increases of 7% and 17.6%, respectively, declines in truckload, logistics, and intermodal revenues of 2.4%, 4.8%, and 3.4% offset these gains, dragging overall performance down.
- Future Outlook: The company expects Q1 earnings between $0.28 and $0.32 per share, with LTL revenue projected to grow 5% to 10%, but truckload and logistics revenues are expected to decline slightly, reflecting uncertainty in market recovery.
See More
Knight-Swift Transportation Q4 Earnings Miss with $0.31 EPS and $1.86B Revenue
- Disappointing Earnings: Knight-Swift reported a Q4 non-GAAP EPS of $0.31, missing expectations by $0.04, indicating pressure on profitability that could undermine investor confidence.
- Slight Revenue Decline: The company's Q4 revenue of $1.86 billion represents a 0.4% year-over-year decline, failing to meet market expectations and reflecting intensified competition and weak demand in the transportation sector.
- Cautious Guidance: Knight-Swift anticipates adjusted EPS for Q1 2026 to range from $0.28 to $0.32, below the consensus of $0.31, suggesting potential continued pressure on future performance.
- Market Reaction Outlook: Given the earnings miss, investors may adopt a cautious stance regarding the company's ability to improve pricing and volume, which could negatively impact stock performance.
See More
Kinder Morgan (KMI) Expected EPS of $0.37, 15.63% YoY Growth
- Earnings Forecast: Kinder Morgan is expected to report an EPS of $0.37 for Q4 2025, reflecting a 15.63% increase year-over-year, indicating robust growth potential in the oil and gas sector.
- Industry Comparison: CACI anticipates an EPS of $6.41, a 7.73% increase from the previous year, having exceeded expectations every quarter in the past year, showcasing its competitive edge in the computer services industry.
- Financial Performance: Pinnacle Financial Partners forecasts an EPS of $2.32, representing a 22.11% increase year-over-year, consistently beating expectations over the past year, highlighting its strong market performance.
- Significant Growth: Live Oak Bancshares expects an EPS of $0.56, a remarkable 154.55% increase, reflecting rapid growth and an increase in market share within the banking sector.
See More
