Adjusted EPS Growth
Adjusted earnings per share increased 15% year over year in Q1 2026, driven by gross profit optimization, disciplined revenue management, and productivity gains.
NAST Margin Resilience
North American Surface Transportation (NAST) gross margin held at 14.6% in Q1 despite elevated spot-market costs, reflecting targeted repricing, capture of higher-margin transactional volume, and a widened cost-of-hire advantage.
Market Share Gains
Gained market share in NAST for the twelfth consecutive quarter; total NAST volume was flat YoY while outgrowing the CAS Freight Shipment Index (which declined 6.2% YoY). LTL volume rose ~2% YoY and the company reported market share gains in both LTL and truckload despite truckload volume decline.
Productivity and Operating-Leverage Improvement
Delivered double-digit productivity increases in NAST in Q1 and achieved a >50% increase in shipments per person per day since 2022. Company expanded operating margin (excluding restructuring) by 210 basis points YoY, and NAST operating margin (excluding restructuring) expanded by 310 basis points YoY.
Lean AI and Technology Scaling
Lean AI strategy scaled with over 450 in-house engineers/data scientists and rapid deployment of custom AI agents across quote-to-cash workflows; management cites measurable P&L impacts and ongoing runway for automation-driven cost-to-serve reduction.
Repricing and Revenue Management Effectiveness
Management highlighted faster, more targeted repricing and better tools enabling capture of higher-margin transactional business as tender rejection rates rose; AGP per business day improved sequentially (Jan -4%, Feb -2%, Mar flat YoY).
Strong Capital Returns and Liquidity
Returned approximately $360 million to shareholders in Q1 (share repurchases $280.7M and dividends $79M), more than twofold YoY increase. Ended Q1 with ~$1.24 billion liquidity and generated $68.6 million cash from operations.
Global Forwarding Margin Expansion
Global Forwarding expanded gross margins by 60 basis points YoY in Q1 despite a challenging international freight environment and excess vessel capacity depressing ocean rates.