Zacks Industry Outlook Highlights C.H. Robinson Worldwide, Southwest Airlines, and Air Transport Services
For Immediate Release
Chicago, IL – May 10, 2022 – Today, Zacks Equity Research discusses like C.H. Robinson Worldwide CHRW, SouthwestAirlines LUV and Air Transport Services Group ATSG.
Industry: Transportation
Link: https://www.zacks.com/stock/news/1921403/3-transportation-stocks-to-buy-that-beat-mark-in-q1-earnings
The gradual resumption of economic activities and an uptick in world trade already proved to be a boon for stocks in the widely diversified Zacks Transportation sector. In first-quarter 2022 earnings season, which is almost over for the sector, the upsurge in economic activities boosted the results of most sector participants.
Stocks like C.H. Robinson Worldwide, SouthwestAirlines, and Air Transport Services Group outperformed on the top and bottom-line fronts in the first quarter and should grace an investor's portfolio.
Let's delve deeper.
The latest earnings preview suggests that 86.7% of S&P 500 transportation companies beat on EPS, while 86.7% surpassed on revenues and 80% beat on both counts. This is indeed a commendable performance, given the sharp rise in oil fuel costs. Consequently, high fuel costs hurt the bottom-line performances. The oil price escalation of 33% in first-quarter 2022 was induced by the Russia-Ukraine war.
The sharp rise in fuel expenses, one of the key input costs of any transportation player, flared up operating expenses and dented bottom-line growth of transport stocks in the March quarter. This is well-reflected in the earnings preview report, which shows a year-over-year decline of more than 350% in EPS for the S&P 500 fraternity of the sector.
The picture was rosy on the top-line front as highlighted by 33.7% year-over-year revenue growth, per the report. The ramp-up in economic activities supported the top-line numbers in first-quarter 2022. Administered with jabs, people are now more confident of going out and resuming their daily activities.
For example, improvement in air-travel demand aided the results of airlines with many issuing bullish forecasts for the June quarter, assuming the trend not only to continue but get better. Similarly, with the freight scene on the mend in the United States, the results of railroads and other concerned transportation players were also driven.
Against this backdrop, let's focus on the transportation players that outperformed not only with respect to revenues but also with respect to earnings despite the fuel cost upsurge. Moreover, they carry either a Zacks Rank# 1 (Strong Buy) or 2 (Buy). You can see the complete list of today's Zacks #1 Rank stocks here. Also, each of the stocks witnessed a favorable current-year earnings estimate revision.
Our Choices
Southwest Airlines: Improvement in air-travel demand (particularly on the leisure front) aided LUV's first-quarter results. Southwest Airlines delivered a positive surprise of 5.88% and 0.55% each concerning both EPS and revenues in the March quarter, respectively. Anticipating a continued improvement in bookings owing to upbeat air-travel demand, this Dallas-based carrier expects to reap profits in the remaining three quarters of 2022 as well as for the full year. Owing to LUV's multi-year fuel hedging program, it is insured against spikes in jet fuel prices like the current scenario.
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for 2022 earnings has been revised upward in excess of 100% over the past 60 days. This is indicative of the positive sentiment surrounding the currently Zacks Rank #1 stock. Shares of Southwest Airlines have gained 7.6% so far this year.
C.H. Robinson Worldwide: Improving freight market conditions are aiding C.H. Robinson, which delivered a positive surprise of 33.12% and 14.43% regarding both EPS and revenues in the March quarter, respectively. The top line improved 41.8% owing to favorable truckload pricing to customers and handsome profits in ocean freight. High freight rates drove results.
In the NAST (North American Surface Transportation) segment, total revenues were $4.1 billion (up 28.1% year over year). Segmental revenues benefited from higher truckload and less-than-truckload (LTL) pricing as well as increased truckload shipments. Total revenues at Global Forwarding were $2.2 billion, up more than 89% year over year. Results can be attributed to higher pricing and volume in CHRW's ocean as well as air services.
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for 2022 earnings has been revised 13.74% upward over the past 60 days. This implies the optimism surrounding the stock, currently sporting a Zacks Rank of 1. Shares of C.H. Robinson have gained 15.2% over the past six months.
Air Transport Services: Increased demand for midsize freighters is supporting growth at Air Transport Services, which delivered a positive surprise of 24.44% and 5.92% with respect to EPS and revenues each in the March quarter. The top line was bolstered by higher revenues from both segments, namely ACMI (aircraft, crew, maintenance & insurance) services and Cargo Aircraft Management (CAM).
Revenues from the ACMI services unit increased 34% year over year to $330 million. Revenues from the CAM segment increased 28.4% to $106.9 million while the same from other operations rose 9.4% to $102.53 million.
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for 2022 earnings has been revised 5.91% upward over the past 90 days. This hints at the bullishness surrounding the stock, currently carrying a Zacks Rank #2. Shares of ATSG have rallied 12.6% over the past six months.
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Past performance is no guarantee of future results. Inherent in any investment is the potential for loss. This material is being provided for informational purposes only and nothing herein constitutes investment, legal, accounting or tax advice, or a recommendation to buy, sell or hold a security. No recommendation or advice is being given as to whether any investment is suitable for a particular investor. It should not be assumed that any investments in securities, companies, sectors or markets identified and described were or will be profitable. All information is current as of the date of herein and is subject to change without notice. Any views or opinions expressed may not reflect those of the firm as a whole. Zacks Investment Research does not engage in investment banking, market making or asset management activities of any securities. These returns are from hypothetical portfolios consisting of stocks with Zacks Rank = 1 that were rebalanced monthly with zero transaction costs. These are not the returns of actual portfolios of stocks. The S&P 500 is an unmanaged index. Visit https://www.zacks.com/performance for information about the performance numbers displayed in this press release.
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