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Knight Transportation (KNX)
NYSE:KNX

Knight Transportation (KNX) AI Stock Analysis

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Knight Transportation

(NYSE:KNX)

Rating:64Neutral
Price Target:
$47.00
▲(9.99%Upside)
Knight Transportation's overall score reflects a stable financial foundation and strategic board enhancements, but faces challenges from overvaluation and cautious market outlook. While there are growth opportunities, market uncertainties and competitive pressures weigh on its prospects.
Positive Factors
Market Position
Knight Transportation is considered best-positioned to outperform peers and benefit from a recovery in the Truckload (TL) market.
Operational Efficiency
Knight effectively controlled costs during the quarter and improved asset utilization while generating year-over-year revenue per loaded mile growth for the first time in 10 quarters.
Strategic Growth
Knight-Swift's Less-than-Truckload (LTL) growth is outperforming peers, with significant year-over-year growth in tons per day.
Negative Factors
Financial Performance
Lower 2Q EPS is below midpoint on Trucking rate and LTL margin pressure.
Revenue Impact
The company's trucking revenue per mile is expected to moderate, which could affect overall revenue.
Trade Policy Uncertainty
With the uncertainty created by the trade policy situation, 2Q guidance was reduced to $0.30 to $0.38 for the second quarter of 2025, which is below the previous range of $0.46 to $0.50.

Knight Transportation (KNX) vs. SPDR S&P 500 ETF (SPY)

Knight Transportation Business Overview & Revenue Model

Company DescriptionKnight-Swift Transportation Holdings Inc., together with its subsidiaries, provides truckload transportation services in the United States, Mexico, and Canada. The company operates through four segments: Trucking, Logistics, Less-than-truckload (LTL), and Intermodal. Its trucking services include irregular route, dedicated, refrigerated, flatbed, expedited, dry van, drayage, and cross-border transportation of various products, goods, and materials. The company also provides logistics and intermodal services, such as brokerage, intermodal, and certain logistics; freight management; and non-trucking services. In addition, it offers various support services, including repair and maintenance shop services, warranty, insurance, and equipment leasing; and trailer parts manufacturing and warehousing services, as well as engages in the driving academy activities. In addition, it offers regional direct services to customers national transportation needs by utilizing carriers for coverage areas outside networks. The company operates a total of 18,019 tractors, which comprises 16,166 company tractors and 1,853 independent contractor tractors, as well as 67,606 trailers; 2,735 tractors and 7,413 trailers; and 597 tractors and 10,847 intermodal containers. It serves retail, food and beverage, consumer products, paper products, transportation and logistics, housing and building, automotive, and manufacturing industries. Knight-Swift Transportation Holdings Inc. was incorporated in 1989 and is headquartered in Phoenix, Arizona.
How the Company Makes MoneyKnight Transportation makes money through several key revenue streams centered around its core trucking and logistics services. The primary source of revenue is its truckload transportation services, where the company charges clients for moving freight across various distances and regions. Knight Transportation also generates income through its dedicated contract carriage, where it offers customized transportation solutions tailored to meet specific client needs on a long-term basis. Additionally, the company earns from ancillary services such as brokerage operations, which involve arranging transportation for customers through third-party carriers. Strategic partnerships and a focus on operational efficiency, including advanced logistics technology and fuel management, further contribute to the company's profitability.

Knight Transportation Earnings Call Summary

Earnings Call Date:Apr 23, 2025
(Q1-2025)
|
% Change Since: 8.37%|
Next Earnings Date:Jul 16, 2025
Earnings Call Sentiment Neutral
The earnings call reflected a mix of positive financial performance indicators such as significant growth in adjusted operating income and LTL revenue, alongside challenges brought by external factors like trade policy uncertainty and a decline in truckload revenue.
Q1-2025 Updates
Positive Updates
Improved Adjusted Operating Income
Adjusted operating income improved by 68.2% or $35.1 million year over year.
Truckload Segment Improvement
Truckload segment saw a 59.7% increase in adjusted operating income despite a revenue decline.
LTL Growth
LTL business grew revenue excluding fuel surcharge by 26.7% year over year with shipments per day increasing 24.2%.
Logistics Revenue Growth
Logistics revenue increased 11.8% year over year as revenue per load increased 11.7%.
Cost Reduction Efforts
Implemented cost measures including selling underutilized tractors and trailers, investing in new technology, and reducing overhead costs.
Negative Updates
Truckload Revenue Decline
Truckload revenue excluding fuel surcharge for the first quarter decreased 4.2% driven by a 5.4% decline in loaded miles.
Challenges with Tariff and Trade Policies
Talks of tariffs and food trade policy have led to increased uncertainty among shippers, impacting volumes and rate negotiations.
Intermodal Market Pressure
Intermodal market saw increased competition and some deteriorating demand, affecting bid season outcomes.
Guidance Reduction
Guidance for the second quarter was reduced due to significant uncertainty created by fluid trade policy and its implications.
Company Guidance
During the Knight-Swift Transportation Holdings Inc. first quarter 2025 earnings call, guidance for the upcoming quarters was provided with a cautious tone due to uncertainty in the market. The company projected adjusted EPS for the second quarter of 2025 to range between $0.30 and $0.38, revising it down from the original range of $0.46 to $0.50. This adjustment reflects potential risks and uncertainties, including a possible decline in volumes and weak spot market conditions, as trade policies and tariffs create a volatile environment. The company highlighted a 1.2% year-over-year increase in revenue excluding fuel surcharge, a 68.2% rise in adjusted operating income, and a consolidated adjusted operating ratio improvement of 210 basis points to 94.7%. Despite these positive metrics, Knight-Swift emphasized the unpredictable market conditions and withheld guidance for the third quarter, opting to focus on short-term cost control measures and strategic asset management.

Knight Transportation Financial Statement Overview

Summary
Knight Transportation's financials demonstrate stable revenue and cash flow generation, a robust equity base, and prudent debt management. However, profitability metrics and Return on Equity (ROE) are modest, indicating room for enhancement in shareholder returns.
Income Statement
75
Positive
Knight Transportation's income statement showcases solid gross and net profit margins with a Gross Profit Margin of 18.2% and a Net Profit Margin of 2.0% for TTM (Trailing-Twelve-Months). Revenue growth appears stable, with a slight increase from the previous year, indicating consistent business performance. EBIT and EBITDA margins reflect steady operational efficiency, though there is a noticeable decline in EBIT margin from previous years. Overall, the income statement reflects a stable yet not exceptional profitability trajectory in a competitive trucking industry.
Balance Sheet
70
Positive
The balance sheet indicates a stable financial position with a Debt-to-Equity Ratio of 0.19, suggesting prudent financial leverage. Return on Equity (ROE) for TTM is modest at 2.1%, which is quite low and shows room for improvement in generating returns for shareholders. The Equity Ratio stands strong at 56.4%, indicating a robust equity base relative to total assets, providing a cushion against liabilities. Overall, the balance sheet reflects a sound financial structure but with modest shareholder returns.
Cash Flow
68
Positive
Cash flow analysis shows a Free Cash Flow to Net Income Ratio of 0.81 for TTM, indicating a robust cash generation relative to net income, though the Free Cash Flow Growth Rate shows volatility over the years. The Operating Cash Flow to Net Income Ratio is high at 5.77, highlighting strong cash conversion efficiency. However, capital expenditures have been significant, impacting free cash flow. The cash flow statement presents a stable cash-generating capability but with potential pressure from capital investments.
Breakdown
TTMDec 2024Dec 2023Dec 2022Dec 2021Dec 2020
Income StatementTotal Revenue
4.77B7.41B7.14B7.43B6.00B4.67B
Gross Profit
1.02B1.03B1.25B1.77B1.41B969.12M
EBIT
624.58M243.39M338.15M412.30M418.18M76.28M
EBITDA
1.14B1.11B1.13B1.77B1.62B1.17B
Net Income Common Stockholders
474.37M117.63M217.15M771.33M743.39M410.00M
Balance SheetCash, Cash Equivalents and Short-Term Investments
218.26M218.26M168.54M196.77M261.00M156.70M
Total Assets
12.70B12.70B12.87B10.95B10.66B8.47B
Total Debt
3.28B3.28B3.20B2.09B2.24B817.08M
Net Debt
3.06B3.06B3.03B1.89B1.98B660.38M
Total Liabilities
5.58B5.58B5.77B4.00B4.11B2.60B
Stockholders Equity
7.11B7.11B7.09B6.95B6.53B5.87B
Cash FlowFree Cash Flow
547.76M-20.09M90.06M635.29M656.06M398.58M
Operating Cash Flow
1.07B799.06M1.16B1.44B1.19B919.64M
Investing Cash Flow
-429.27M-759.12M-1.23B-646.18M-1.82B-480.71M
Financing Cash Flow
-557.37M-139.40M150.69M-754.35M779.33M-443.88M

Knight Transportation Technical Analysis

Technical Analysis Sentiment
Negative
Last Price42.73
Price Trends
50DMA
42.05
Positive
100DMA
46.15
Negative
200DMA
49.75
Negative
Market Momentum
MACD
0.27
Positive
RSI
44.91
Neutral
STOCH
16.36
Positive
Evaluating momentum and price trends is crucial in stock analysis to make informed investment decisions. For KNX, the sentiment is Negative. The current price of 42.73 is below the 20-day moving average (MA) of 44.10, above the 50-day MA of 42.05, and below the 200-day MA of 49.75, indicating a neutral trend. The MACD of 0.27 indicates Positive momentum. The RSI at 44.91 is Neutral, neither overbought nor oversold. The STOCH value of 16.36 is Positive, not indicating any strong overbought or oversold conditions. Overall, these indicators collectively point to a Negative sentiment for KNX.

Knight Transportation Risk Analysis

Knight Transportation disclosed 38 risk factors in its most recent earnings report. Knight Transportation reported the most risks in the "Finance & Corporate" category.
Finance & Corporate - Financial and accounting risks. Risks related to the execution of corporate activity and strategy
Latest Risks Added 0 New Risks

Knight Transportation Peers Comparison

Overall Rating
UnderperformOutperform
Sector (66)
Financial Indicators
Name
Overall Rating
Market Cap
P/E Ratio
ROE
Dividend Yield
Revenue Growth
EPS Growth
73
Outperform
$1.56B9.0014.25%0.70%-5.69%51.78%
68
Neutral
$6.95B21.7614.63%8.95%-13.23%
66
Neutral
$4.47B12.215.40%3.65%4.14%-12.00%
KNKNX
64
Neutral
$6.92B45.972.13%1.68%1.16%36.33%
64
Neutral
$1.06B49.002.83%1.85%-13.47%-62.49%
63
Neutral
$4.22B34.014.20%1.58%-0.30%-20.76%
58
Neutral
$1.70B96.911.21%2.03%-7.66%-78.26%
* Industrials Sector Average
Performance Comparison
Ticker
Company Name
Price
Change
% Change
KNX
Knight Transportation
42.73
-3.61
-7.79%
MRTN
Marten Transport
13.00
-4.24
-24.59%
SAIA
Saia
260.81
-186.53
-41.70%
WERN
Werner Enterprises
27.60
-7.86
-22.17%
ARCB
ArcBest
68.10
-37.62
-35.58%
SNDR
Schneider National
24.08
2.54
11.79%

Knight Transportation Corporate Events

Shareholder MeetingsBusiness Operations and Strategy
Knight Transportation Holds Annual Stockholders Meeting
Neutral
May 14, 2025

On May 13, 2025, Knight-Swift Transportation Holdings Inc. held its Annual Meeting of Stockholders, where several key decisions were made. The stockholders elected twelve directors to serve one-year terms, approved executive compensation on an advisory basis, ratified the appointment of Grant Thornton LLP as the independent registered public accounting firm for 2025, and voted against a proposal for transparency in political spending. These decisions reflect the company’s strategic priorities and governance approach, potentially impacting its operational focus and stakeholder relations.

The most recent analyst rating on (KNX) stock is a Buy with a $62.00 price target. To see the full list of analyst forecasts on Knight Transportation stock, see the KNX Stock Forecast page.

Glossary
BuyA stock rated as a "Buy" is expected to perform better than the overall market or a specific benchmark over the near-to-medium term. This rating suggests the stock is likely to deliver higher returns compared to other stocks in the same sector or market index. Note: This is not investment advice; please consult a financial advisor before making investment decisions.
HoldA stock rated as a "Hold" is expected to perform in line with the overall market or a specific benchmark. This rating indicates that the stock is neither particularly compelling nor unfavorable for investment. Note: This is not investment advice; please consult a financial advisor before making investment decisions.
SellA stock rated as a "Sell" is expected to perform worse than the overall market or a specific benchmark over the near-to-medium term. This rating suggests the stock may deliver lower returns compared to other stocks in the same sector or market index. Note: This is not investment advice; please consult a financial advisor before making investment decisions.

Disclaimer

This AI Analyst Stock Report is automatically generated by our AI systems using advanced algorithms and publicly available financial, technical, and market data. While the information provided aims to be accurate and insightful, it is intended for informational purposes only and should not be considered financial advice. Any content created by an AI (Artificial Intelligence) system may contain inaccuracies and/or contain errors. Investing in stocks carries inherent risks, and past performance is not indicative of future results. This report does not account for your personal financial circumstances, objectives, or risk tolerance. Always conduct your own research or consult with a qualified financial advisor before making investment decisions. The analysis and recommendations provided are based on historical and current data and may not fully reflect future market conditions or unexpected developments. Neither the creators of this report nor its affiliated entities guarantee the accuracy, completeness, or reliability of the information presented. Use this report at your own discretion and risk.