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Knight Transportation (KNX)
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Knight Transportation (KNX) AI Stock Analysis

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KNX

Knight Transportation

(NYSE:KNX)

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Neutral 67 (OpenAI - 4o)
Rating:67Neutral
Price Target:
$47.00
▲(17.06% Upside)
Knight Transportation's overall stock score reflects a stable financial position and positive corporate events, offset by a high valuation and mixed technical signals. The company's resilience and strategic growth in key segments are significant strengths, while valuation concerns and lack of strong technical momentum are notable risks.
Positive Factors
Financial Flexibility
The new $2.5 billion credit facility enhances financial flexibility, allowing for better capital management and strategic investments, supporting long-term growth.
Revenue Growth in Key Segments
Significant revenue growth in the LTL segment indicates strong demand and effective market positioning, contributing to sustainable long-term revenue expansion.
Cash Flow Improvement
The substantial improvement in free cash flow highlights effective cash management, providing resources for reinvestment and debt reduction, enhancing financial stability.
Negative Factors
Soft Freight Environment
A soft freight environment poses challenges to revenue growth, impacting profitability and requiring strategic adjustments to maintain competitive advantage.
Intermodal Segment Decline
The decline in the Intermodal segment reflects operational challenges and market pressures, potentially affecting overall business performance and requiring strategic focus.
LTL Segment Margin Pressure
Margin pressure in the LTL segment due to expansion costs could strain profitability, necessitating efficiency improvements to sustain long-term growth.

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 generates revenue primarily through its truckload transportation services. The company operates a fleet of trucks and trailers that transport goods for customers across various industries, charging fees based on mileage, weight, and type of cargo. Key revenue streams include dry van services, which make up a significant portion of their business, as well as refrigerated transport services for temperature-sensitive goods. Additionally, Knight offers logistics services, managing the supply chain needs of customers which adds to its revenue. Strategic partnerships with shippers and a focus on customer service enhance their earnings potential. The company also benefits from operational efficiencies and a strong focus on maintaining a modern, well-maintained fleet, which reduces costs and improves profitability.

Knight Transportation Earnings Call Summary

Earnings Call Date:Jul 30, 2025
(Q2-2025)
|
% Change Since: |
Next Earnings Date:Oct 15, 2025
Earnings Call Sentiment Neutral
The earnings call highlighted growth in revenue and operating income across several segments, with notable improvements in the Truckload and LTL businesses. However, the company faced challenges due to a soft freight environment, particularly affecting the Intermodal segment, and experienced margin pressures in the LTL segment due to expansion costs. Overall, the company demonstrated resilience and strategic growth despite market challenges.
Q2-2025 Updates
Positive Updates
Revenue and Earnings Growth
Revenue, excluding fuel surcharge, increased by 1.9%, and adjusted operating income improved by 17.2% or $15.2 million year-over-year. GAAP EPS for Q2 2025 was $0.21, a 61.5% increase year-over-year, and adjusted EPS was $0.35, a 45.8% increase year-over-year.
Truckload Segment Performance
Adjusted operating income grew 87.5% year-over-year, and adjusted operating ratio improved by 260 basis points. Miles per truck improved 4% year-over-year, marking the eighth consecutive quarter of year-over-year gains.
LTL Segment Growth
LTL revenue, excluding fuel surcharge, grew 28.4% year-over-year, with shipments per day increasing 21.7%. Revenue per hundredweight, excluding fuel surcharge, increased 9.9% year-over-year.
Logistics Segment Improvement
Adjusted operating income grew by 13.3% year-over-year, and adjusted operating ratio improved by 70 basis points to 94.8%.
Negative Updates
Soft Freight Environment
Most segments experienced year-over-year revenue pressure due to a soft freight environment, particularly with a lull in import-driven freight demand affecting the West Coast.
Intermodal Segment Decline
Intermodal revenue declined by 13.8% year-over-year, with a 12.4% decrease in load count and a 1.6% decrease in revenue per load.
LTL Segment Margin Pressure
Adjusted operating income in the LTL segment declined 36.8% year-over-year due to costs related to expansion, integration, and early-stage operations at new facilities.
Company Guidance
During the Knight-Swift Transportation second quarter 2025 earnings call, several key metrics and guidance updates were provided. Revenue, excluding fuel surcharge, increased by 1.9%, with adjusted operating income showing a significant improvement of 17.2% year-over-year, equivalent to $15.2 million. GAAP earnings per diluted share rose by 61.5% to $0.21, while adjusted EPS increased by 45.8% to $0.35. The company's consolidated adjusted operating ratio improved by 80 basis points to 93.8%. Key segments such as Truckload and Logistics saw improvements in adjusted operating income and adjusted operating ratios. The LTL segment experienced a revenue growth of 28.4% year-over-year, although adjusted operating income declined by 36.8% due to integration costs. The company projects third-quarter adjusted EPS to range between $0.36 and $0.42, assuming stable conditions and some seasonality. Additionally, full-year net cash CapEx guidance was reduced to between $525 million and $575 million.

Knight Transportation Financial Statement Overview

Summary
Knight Transportation demonstrates a stable financial position with consistent revenue and profitability levels. The income statement shows moderate profitability, while the balance sheet reflects solid equity and manageable debt levels. Cash flow improvements highlight effective cash management, though asset utilization needs enhancement.
Income Statement
75
Positive
Knight Transportation's income statement shows a stable financial performance with a Gross Profit Margin of 19.03% and a Net Profit Margin of 2.22% in the TTM. The company has experienced slight revenue growth of 0.23% from the previous annual period. Despite a decrease in EBIT and EBITDA margins, the overall profitability remains moderate. The trucking industry faces challenges, but the firm maintains a steady revenue trajectory.
Balance Sheet
68
Positive
The balance sheet reflects a solid Debt-to-Equity Ratio of 0.18 and a healthy Equity Ratio of 56.88%. The Return on Equity stands at 2.31%, indicating modest returns for shareholders. The company's financial stability is reinforced by its relatively low leverage compared to industry standards, but the declining total assets trend may be a concern.
Cash Flow
70
Positive
Knight Transportation's cash flow statement presents a positive Free Cash Flow growth rate of 1060.01% in the TTM and an Operating Cash Flow to Net Income Ratio of 4.94. The significant improvement in free cash flow suggests better cash management, though the firm's reliance on capital expenditures requires careful monitoring to sustain long-term liquidity.
BreakdownTTMDec 2024Dec 2023Dec 2022Dec 2021Dec 2020
Income Statement
Total Revenue7.43B7.41B7.14B7.43B6.00B4.67B
Gross Profit1.47B1.80B1.96B2.41B1.97B1.46B
EBITDA1.07B1.03B1.01B1.66B1.47B1.07B
Net Income164.84M117.63M217.15M771.33M743.39M410.00M
Balance Sheet
Total Assets12.52B12.70B12.87B10.95B10.66B8.47B
Cash, Cash Equivalents and Short-Term Investments339.37M218.26M168.54M196.77M261.00M156.70M
Total Debt1.30B3.28B3.20B2.09B2.24B817.08M
Total Liabilities5.39B5.58B5.77B4.00B4.11B2.60B
Stockholders Equity7.12B7.11B7.09B6.95B6.53B5.87B
Cash Flow
Free Cash Flow195.56M-20.09M90.06M635.29M656.06M398.58M
Operating Cash Flow814.29M799.06M1.16B1.44B1.19B919.64M
Investing Cash Flow-689.90M-759.12M-1.23B-646.18M-1.82B-480.71M
Financing Cash Flow-118.69M-139.40M150.69M-754.35M779.33M-443.88M

Knight Transportation Technical Analysis

Technical Analysis Sentiment
Negative
Last Price40.15
Price Trends
50DMA
42.45
Negative
100DMA
43.48
Negative
200DMA
46.01
Negative
Market Momentum
MACD
-0.97
Positive
RSI
41.67
Neutral
STOCH
20.23
Neutral
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 40.15 is below the 20-day moving average (MA) of 41.49, below the 50-day MA of 42.45, and below the 200-day MA of 46.01, indicating a bearish trend. The MACD of -0.97 indicates Positive momentum. The RSI at 41.67 is Neutral, neither overbought nor oversold. The STOCH value of 20.23 is Neutral, 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 (63)
Financial Indicators
Name
Overall Rating
Market Cap
P/E Ratio
ROE
Dividend Yield
Revenue Growth
EPS Growth
69
Neutral
$3.73B29.852.53%1.79%2.20%7.86%
67
Neutral
$6.44B39.062.33%1.74%-2.54%144.49%
66
Neutral
$1.56B10.1812.17%0.70%-6.42%25.72%
65
Neutral
$7.82B27.1211.90%4.23%-23.94%
58
Neutral
$1.57B30.663.69%2.13%-6.43%-13.76%
56
Neutral
$874.71M41.822.71%2.24%-11.77%-52.06%
63
Neutral
$10.79B15.437.44%2.01%2.89%-14.66%
* Industrials Sector Average
Performance Comparison
Ticker
Company Name
Price
Change
% Change
KNX
Knight Transportation
40.15
-13.01
-24.47%
MRTN
Marten Transport
10.65
-6.74
-38.76%
SAIA
Saia
294.65
-142.61
-32.61%
WERN
Werner Enterprises
26.24
-11.68
-30.80%
ARCB
ArcBest
69.41
-38.40
-35.62%
SNDR
Schneider National
21.09
-7.03
-25.00%

Knight Transportation Corporate Events

Dividends
Knight Transportation Declares Quarterly Cash Dividend
Positive
Aug 7, 2025

On August 6, 2025, Knight-Swift Transportation Holdings Inc.’s board of directors declared a quarterly cash dividend of $0.18 per share, payable to stockholders of record as of September 5, 2025, with payment expected on September 22, 2025. This announcement reflects the company’s ongoing commitment to returning value to its shareholders.

Private Placements and FinancingBusiness Operations and Strategy
Knight Transportation Secures New $2.5 Billion Credit Facility
Positive
Jul 14, 2025

On July 8, 2025, Knight-Swift Transportation Holdings Inc. entered into a new $2.5 billion unsecured credit facility, replacing its previous $2.3 billion credit facility and $250 million term loan. This new agreement includes a $1.5 billion revolving line of credit and two term loans, with varying maturity dates extending to 2030. The new credit facility is expected to streamline the company’s financial structure by consolidating its debt under more favorable terms, potentially enhancing its operational flexibility and financial stability.

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.Date of analysis: Sep 06, 2025