As part of its leadership succession plan, C.H. Robinson (CHRW - Free Report) elevated its current chief operating officer (COO), Robert Biesterfeld, to the position of chief executive officer (CEO). Biesterfeld will take over the reins from the incumbent chairman and CEO, John Wiehoff, on May 9 — the date for the company’s annual meeting of shareholders.
We note that Biesterfeld has been functioning as C.H. Robinson’s COO since March 2018. Prior to his COO responsibilities, he served this transportation company in various capacities ever since joining C.H. Robinson in 1999.
Apart from promoting Biesterfeld to the top rank, C.H. Robinson nominated him to stand for election to its board of directors, which will continue to have Wiehoff as its chairman. Another change involves C.H. Robinson’s current board member, Scott Anderson. Anderson will function as the lead independent director from May 9.
Price Performance
C.H. Robinson continues to grapple with escalating operating expenses. In 2018, operating expenses increased 12.6% mainly due to rise in personnel expenses and increased average headcount. High capital expenditures are also pushing up costs. For 2019, the company anticipates capital expenditures between $80 and $90 million, with the majority to be spent on technology.
The company’s high debt levels are also concerning. Long-term debt as of Dec 31, 2018, was $1,341.35 million compared with $750 million at the end of 2017. Due to the headwinds, shares of C.H. Robinson have declined 2.8% in a year’s time.
One-Year Price Performance
Investors will keenly await as to whether the elevation of the highly experienced Biesterfeld to the top position yields the desired results. They will keep an eye on whether the stock is able to reverse its disappointing run on the bourse under his guidance.
Zacks Rank & Key Picks
C.H. Robinson carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). Better-ranked stocks in the Zacks Transportation sector are Expeditors International of Washington (EXPD - Free Report) , SkyWest (SKYW - Free Report) and Frontline (FRO - Free Report) each sporting a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.
Both Expeditors and SkyWest have outshined the Zacks Consensus Estimate for earnings in each of the trailing four quarters. While the average beat for Expeditors is 12.2%, the same at SkyWest is 16.9%. Meanwhile, shares of Frontline have rallied more than 25% in a year’s time.
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As part of its leadership succession plan, C.H. Robinson (CHRW - Free Report) elevated its current chief operating officer (COO), Robert Biesterfeld, to the position of chief executive officer (CEO). Biesterfeld will take over the reins from the incumbent chairman and CEO, John Wiehoff, on May 9 — the date for the company’s annual meeting of shareholders.
We note that Biesterfeld has been functioning as C.H. Robinson’s COO since March 2018. Prior to his COO responsibilities, he served this transportation company in various capacities ever since joining C.H. Robinson in 1999.
Apart from promoting Biesterfeld to the top rank, C.H. Robinson nominated him to stand for election to its board of directors, which will continue to have Wiehoff as its chairman. Another change involves C.H. Robinson’s current board member, Scott Anderson. Anderson will function as the lead independent director from May 9.
Price Performance
C.H. Robinson continues to grapple with escalating operating expenses. In 2018, operating expenses increased 12.6% mainly due to rise in personnel expenses and increased average headcount. High capital expenditures are also pushing up costs. For 2019, the company anticipates capital expenditures between $80 and $90 million, with the majority to be spent on technology.
The company’s high debt levels are also concerning. Long-term debt as of Dec 31, 2018, was $1,341.35 million compared with $750 million at the end of 2017. Due to the headwinds, shares of C.H. Robinson have declined 2.8% in a year’s time.
One-Year Price Performance
Investors will keenly await as to whether the elevation of the highly experienced Biesterfeld to the top position yields the desired results. They will keep an eye on whether the stock is able to reverse its disappointing run on the bourse under his guidance.
Zacks Rank & Key Picks
C.H. Robinson carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). Better-ranked stocks in the Zacks Transportation sector are Expeditors International of Washington (EXPD - Free Report) , SkyWest (SKYW - Free Report) and Frontline (FRO - Free Report) each sporting a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.
Both Expeditors and SkyWest have outshined the Zacks Consensus Estimate for earnings in each of the trailing four quarters. While the average beat for Expeditors is 12.2%, the same at SkyWest is 16.9%. Meanwhile, shares of Frontline have rallied more than 25% in a year’s time.
Zacks' Best Stock-Picking Strategy
It's hard to believe, even for us at Zacks. But from 2000-2018, while the market gained +4.8% per year, our top stock-picking strategy averaged +54.3% per year.
How has that screen done lately? From 2017-2018, it sextupled the market's +15.8% gain with a soaring +98.3% return.
Free – See the Stocks It Turned Up for Today >>
Zacks Names "Single Best Pick to Double"
From thousands of stocks, 5 Zacks experts each have chosen their favorite to skyrocket +100% or more in months to come. From those 5, Director of Research Sheraz Mian hand-picks one to have the most explosive upside of all.
It’s a little-known chemical company that’s up 65% over last year, yet still dirt cheap. With unrelenting demand, soaring 2022 earnings estimates, and $1.5 billion for repurchasing shares, retail investors could jump in at any time.
This company could rival or surpass other recent Zacks’ Stocks Set to Double like Boston Beer Company which shot up +143.0% in little more than 9 months and NVIDIA which boomed +175.9% in one year.
Free: See Our Top Stock and 4 Runners Up >>
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