U.S. Stock Futures: U.S. stock futures rose this morning, with Nasdaq futures increasing by approximately 300 points on Thursday.
Palo Alto Networks Performance: Palo Alto Networks reported strong first-quarter results for fiscal 2026, with revenue of $2.47 billion and adjusted earnings of 93 cents per share, both exceeding analyst expectations, despite a 4.6% drop in pre-market trading.
Other Stocks Declining: Several stocks experienced declines in pre-market trading, including WeShop Holdings Limited, which fell 38.8%, and Vizsla Silver Corp, which dropped 12.6% after announcing a convertible senior notes offering.
Market Reactions: Other notable declines included FinVolution Group down 5.6%, Kyverna Therapeutics down 5.1%, and NetEase Inc down 3.2%, reflecting a mixed market sentiment following various earnings reports.
Wall Street analysts forecast FWRD stock price to rise over the next 12 months. According to Wall Street analysts, the average 1-year price target for FWRD is 37.50 USD with a low forecast of 30.00 USD and a high forecast of 45.00 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.
4 Analyst Rating
Wall Street analysts forecast FWRD stock price to rise over the next 12 months. According to Wall Street analysts, the average 1-year price target for FWRD is 37.50 USD with a low forecast of 30.00 USD and a high forecast of 45.00 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.
2 Buy
2 Hold
0 Sell
Moderate Buy
Current: 28.470
Low
30.00
Averages
37.50
High
45.00
Current: 28.470
Low
30.00
Averages
37.50
High
45.00
Stifel
J. Bruce Chan
maintain
$30 -> $32
2026-01-21
New
Reason
Stifel
J. Bruce Chan
Price Target
$30 -> $32
AI Analysis
2026-01-21
New
maintain
Reason
Stifel analyst J. Bruce Chan raised the firm's price target on Forward Air to $32 from $30 and keeps a Buy rating on the shares. The firm's base case expectation is for mid-to-high single digit percentage organic and regulatory-driven attrition in long-haul over-the-road supply this year and while it expects significantly less supply impact for Less-than-Truckload than it does in its Truckload group coverage, the firm believes tightening in truckload creates marginal demand spillover, as well as pricing support, the analyst tells investors in a Q4 earnings preview for the group.
Susquehanna
Positive
maintain
$42 -> $45
2026-01-05
Reason
Susquehanna
Price Target
$42 -> $45
2026-01-05
maintain
Positive
Reason
Susquehanna raised the firm's price target on Forward Air to $45 from $42 and keeps a Positive rating on the shares. The firm said they have low expectations on LTL volume recovery materializing before late 2026, but they believe investors are better aligned with cyclical reality than they were entering 2025.
Unlock Full Analyst Thesis， Get the complete breakdown of rating reason for FWRD
Unlock Now
Stifel
Buy
maintain
$32 -> $30
2025-10-17
Reason
Stifel
Price Target
$32 -> $30
2025-10-17
maintain
Buy
Reason
Stifel lowered the firm's price target on Forward Air to $30 from $32 and keeps a Buy rating on the shares. The firm ascribes the stock having traded off in the past few weeks to waning confidence in a protracted sale process and to macro pressure amid rekindled U.S.-China trade tensions. However, the firm is "generally constructive on the unique opportunity" and still believes an imminent take-private or sale event is likely, the analyst tells investors.
Susquehanna
Positive
maintain
$40 -> $43
2025-08-12
Reason
Susquehanna
Price Target
$40 -> $43
2025-08-12
maintain
Positive
Reason
Susquehanna raised the firm's price target on Forward Air to $43 from $40 and keeps a Positive rating on the shares. The firm noted cyclical rsik remains given its roughly breakeven free cash flow and level of Q4 net debt/EBITDA but they believe a sale of the business is the most likely outcome for it to reach its price target.
About FWRD
Forward Air Corporation is an asset-light provider of transportation services across the United States, Canada and Mexico. Its Expedited Freight segment provides expedited regional, inter-regional and national less-than-truckload (LTL) services. Expedited Freight also offers customers local pick-up and delivery and other services including truckload, shipment consolidation and deconsolidation, warehousing, customs brokerage and other handling. The Omni Logistics segment provides a full suite of global logistics services. Services include air and ocean freight consolidation and forwarding, customs brokerage, warehousing and distribution, time-definite transportation services and other supply chain solutions. The Intermodal segment provides first- and last-mile high-value intermodal container drayage services both to and from seaports and railheads. Intermodal also offers dedicated contract and CFS warehouse and handling services, and in select locations, linehaul and LTL 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.
