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U.S. Transportation Industry Analysis

UpdatedAug 18, 2026
DataAggregated Company Financials
Companies49
  • 7D1.0%
  • 3M7.1%
  • 1Y14.3%
  • YTD14.8%

Over the last 7 days, the Transportation industry has remained flat, although notably Uber Technologies declined by 3.9%. The past year has been better, since the industry has gained 14% in that time. Looking forward, earnings are forecast to grow by 15% annually.

Industry Valuation and Performance

Has the U.S. Transportation Industry valuation changed over the past few years?

DateMarket CapRevenueEarningsPEAbsolute PEPS
Tue, 18 Aug 2026US$715.6bUS$244.2bUS$29.4b36.9x24.4x2.9x
Thu, 16 Jul 2026US$705.5bUS$236.0bUS$27.1b41.5x26.1x3x
Sat, 13 Jun 2026US$689.8bUS$236.1bUS$27.1b39.7x25.5x2.9x
Mon, 11 May 2026US$665.5bUS$235.0bUS$27.7b40x24.1x2.8x
Wed, 08 Apr 2026US$626.7bUS$232.0bUS$29.3b38.4x21.4x2.7x
Fri, 06 Mar 2026US$672.2bUS$231.1bUS$29.1b36.4x23.1x2.9x
Sun, 01 Feb 2026US$627.4bUS$228.4bUS$33.1b34.3x18.9x2.7x
Tue, 30 Dec 2025US$630.5bUS$228.3bUS$33.3b31x18.9x2.8x
Thu, 27 Nov 2025US$614.3bUS$227.3bUS$33.2b26.7x18.5x2.7x
Sat, 25 Oct 2025US$641.4bUS$223.9bUS$29.2b26.3x22x2.9x
Mon, 22 Sep 2025US$650.8bUS$223.7bUS$29.7b24.2x21.9x2.9x
Wed, 20 Aug 2025US$633.7bUS$222.5bUS$30.1b27.3x21x2.8x
Fri, 18 Jul 2025US$634.9bUS$219.6bUS$29.8b25.6x21.3x2.9x
Sun, 15 Jun 2025US$597.9bUS$219.1bUS$29.6b25.7x20.2x2.7x
Tue, 13 May 2025US$576.0bUS$218.8bUS$29.6b26.3x19.5x2.6x
Thu, 10 Apr 2025US$513.0bUS$216.7bUS$26.5b26.1x19.4x2.4x
Sat, 08 Mar 2025US$605.9bUS$216.4bUS$27.3b28.6x22.2x2.8x
Mon, 03 Feb 2025US$610.2bUS$213.0bUS$22.0b29.7x27.7x2.9x
Wed, 01 Jan 2025US$574.6bUS$213.4bUS$21.9b28.5x26.3x2.7x
Fri, 29 Nov 2024US$652.1bUS$213.3bUS$21.0b32.7x31.1x3.1x
Sun, 27 Oct 2024US$619.0bUS$220.6bUS$17.9b30x34.5x2.8x
Tue, 24 Sep 2024US$615.7bUS$220.7bUS$17.2b29x35.7x2.8x
Thu, 22 Aug 2024US$607.3bUS$219.9bUS$17.0b28.7x35.8x2.8x
Sat, 20 Jul 2024US$589.1bUS$216.7bUS$16.6b26.1x35.5x2.7x
Mon, 17 Jun 2024US$571.3bUS$217.0bUS$16.7b24.6x34.3x2.6x
Wed, 15 May 2024US$593.8bUS$216.1bUS$16.6b25.5x35.8x2.7x
Fri, 12 Apr 2024US$624.9bUS$214.9bUS$18.2b23.5x34.3x2.9x
Sun, 10 Mar 2024US$645.3bUS$212.9bUS$17.5b22.6x36.8x3x
Tue, 06 Feb 2024US$606.1bUS$211.7bUS$16.3b23.6x37.3x2.9x
Thu, 04 Jan 2024US$569.2bUS$216.1bUS$16.9b21.6x33.6x2.6x
Sat, 02 Dec 2023US$542.6bUS$216.1bUS$16.8b21.3x32.3x2.5x
Mon, 30 Oct 2023US$467.0bUS$214.7bUS$14.9b16x31.3x2.2x
Wed, 27 Sep 2023US$494.4bUS$214.2bUS$13.7b14.3x36x2.3x
Fri, 25 Aug 2023US$515.0bUS$214.3bUS$13.7b15x37.5x2.4x
Price to Earnings Ratio

37.5x


Total Market Cap: US$515.0bTotal Earnings: US$13.7bTotal Revenue: US$214.3bTotal Market Cap vs Earnings and Revenue0%0%0%
U.S. Transportation Industry Price to Earnings3Y Average 27.7x202420252026
Current Industry PE
  • Investors are pessimistic on the American Transportation industry, indicating that they anticipate long term growth rates will be lower than they have historically.
  • The industry is trading at a PE ratio of 24.4x which is lower than its 3-year average PE of 27.7x.
  • The industry is trading close to its 3-year average PS ratio of 2.8x.
Past Earnings Growth
  • The earnings for companies in the Transportation industry have grown 29% per year over the last three years.
  • Revenues for these companies have grown 4.4% per year.
  • This means that more sales are being generated by these companies overall, and subsequently their profits are increasing too.

Industry Trends

Which industries have driven the changes within the U.S. Industrials industry?

US Market0.11%
Industrials0.95%
Transportation0.99%
Cargo Ground Transportation2.88%
Railroads2.04%
Trucking-2.37%
Industry PE
  • Investors are most optimistic about the Cargo Ground Transportation industry which is trading above its 3-year average PE ratio of 35.4x.
    • Analysts are expecting annual earnings growth of 29.5%, which is higher than its past year's earnings decline of 7.6% per year.
  • Investors are most pessimistic about the Trucking industry, which is trading below its 3-year average of 40.9x.
Forecasted Growth
  • Analysts are most optimistic on the Cargo Ground Transportation industry, expecting annual earnings growth of 29% over the next 5 years.
  • This is better than its past earnings decline of 7.6% per year.
  • In contrast, the Railroads industry is expected to see its earnings grow by 8.5% per year over the next few years.

Top Stock Gainers and Losers

Which companies have driven the market over the last 7 days?

CompanyLast Price7D1YValuation
UNP Union PacificUS$299.902.6%
+US$4.6b		36.3%PE24.3x
JBHT J.B. Hunt Transport ServicesUS$283.376.5%
+US$1.6b		98.8%PE39.5x
NSC Norfolk SouthernUS$341.122.1%
+US$1.6b		21.9%PE29.1x
XPO XPOUS$210.995.2%
+US$1.2b		65.0%PE61.1x
CSX CSXUS$50.580.9%
+US$852.1m		40.5%PE29.1x

Latest News

PAL
US$5.89
Proficient Auto Logistics
7D
-18.6%
1Y
-24.2%
Seeking Alpha • 10h

Proficient Auto Logistics: Strong Buy On Transformative Acquisition (Rating Upgrade)

Summary Proficient Auto Logistics reported weaker-than-expected second-quarter results, with profitability missing consensus estimates by a wide margin. Results were negatively impacted by persistent cost inflation and capacity limitations. In addition, claims expenses exceeded expectations during the quarter, driven in part by self-insured losses. While the quarter was nothing to write home about, the acquisition of competitor Hansen & Adkins has resulted in the combined company now being North America's largest auto hauler. Sell-side analysts have been positive on the transaction. However, a surprise $75 million convertible notes offering caused the stock to sell off. Given almost 80% potential upside from current share price levels, I am upgrading PAL stock from "Buy" to "Strong Buy". Read the full article on Seeking Alpha
UBER
US$74.99
Uber Technologies
7D
-3.9%
1Y
-20.2%
PAMT
US$12.66
PAMT
7D
-7.7%
1Y
3.9%
Seeking Alpha • Aug 17

PAMT Corp's Troubles Aren't Over Yet

Summary PAMT Corporation remains rated 'sell' due to persistent industry headwinds and deteriorating fundamentals. Recent revenue growth is largely driven by fuel surcharges and brokerage/logistics services, masking ongoing weakness in core truckload operations. Profitability metrics show modest improvement, but rising net debt—now $275.9 million—significantly elevates financial risk. Despite relative valuation discounts, elevated leverage and lack of clear recovery prospects warrant continued caution for PAMT stock. Read the full article on Seeking Alpha
KNX
US$72.80
Knight-Swift Transportation Holdings
7D
6.0%
1Y
72.2%
LSTR
US$193.38
Landstar System
7D
8.4%
1Y
50.2%
ODFL
US$211.96
Old Dominion Freight Line
7D
-0.3%
1Y
40.9%
Narrative Update • Aug 14

ODFL: Tightening Freight Capacity Will Support Future Earnings Through 2027

Old Dominion Freight Line's fair value estimate has been raised from $260.00 to $280.00, reflecting analysts' higher price targets across the sector as they cite better margin trends, tighter less than truckload capacity, and improving freight demand expectations into 2027. Analyst Commentary Recent research coverage on Old Dominion Freight Line points to a broadly constructive tone.
XPO
US$210.99
XPO
7D
5.2%
1Y
65.0%
JBHT
US$283.37
J.B. Hunt Transport Services
7D
6.5%
1Y
98.8%
Narrative Update • Aug 13

JBHT: Tight Truckload Capacity Will Drive Intermodal Pricing Power Through 2027

The analyst price target for J.B. Hunt Transport Services has been raised from $330.00 to $370.00, reflecting higher modeled revenue growth, slightly stronger profit margins, and a lower future P/E multiple in response to recent Q2 results and broad Street commentary around tightening truckload capacity and intermodal momentum. Analyst Commentary Recent Street research on J.B. Hunt Transport Services reflects a broadly constructive tone, with many bullish analysts lifting price targets after Q2 results and updated outlooks.
GRAB
US$3.58
Grab Holdings
7D
-2.5%
1Y
-29.8%
LIME
US$37.43
Neutron Holdings
7D
-7.9%
1Y
n/a
CSX
US$50.58
CSX
7D
0.9%
1Y
40.5%
YMM
US$8.84
Full Truck Alliance
7D
-8.9%
1Y
-19.9%
SAIA
US$385.22
Saia
7D
8.3%
1Y
30.3%
Narrative Update • Aug 05

SAIA: Network Expansion And Tight Capacity Will Drive Early Cycle Freight Upside

Saia's updated analyst price target has been reduced by about $27 to roughly $438, as analysts factor in softer Q3 guidance, slightly lower revenue growth assumptions, and a tighter future P/E multiple, while still expressing support for the company's long term earnings potential. Analyst Commentary Recent research on Saia shows a clear split between bullish and bearish analysts, even as most firms trim their price targets in response to the softer Q3 outlook and updated earnings assumptions.
UNP
US$299.90
Union Pacific
7D
2.6%
1Y
36.3%
NSC
US$341.12
Norfolk Southern
7D
2.1%
1Y
21.9%
Narrative Update • Jul 30

NSC: Tighter Trucking Capacity And Merger Progress Will Shape Forward Appeal

Analysts have raised the Norfolk Southern fair value estimate from $341.72 to $363.72. This change reflects higher price targets across the Street that are grounded in recent earnings beats, firmer profit margins, and a supportive revenue backdrop.
UHAL
US$73.76
U-Haul Holding
7D
-0.3%
1Y
27.3%