We use cookies to understand how you use our site and to improve your experience.
This includes personalizing content and advertising.
By pressing "Accept All" or closing out of this banner, you consent to the use of all cookies and similar technologies and the sharing of information they collect with third parties.
You can reject marketing cookies by pressing "Deny Optional," but we still use essential, performance, and functional cookies.
In addition, whether you "Accept All," Deny Optional," click the X or otherwise continue to use the site, you accept our Privacy Policy and Terms of Service, revised from time to time.
You are being directed to ZacksTrade, a division of LBMZ Securities and licensed broker-dealer. ZacksTrade and Zacks.com are separate companies. The web link between the two companies is not a solicitation or offer to invest in a particular security or type of security. ZacksTrade does not endorse or adopt any particular investment strategy, any analyst opinion/rating/report or any approach to evaluating individual securities.
If you wish to go to ZacksTrade, click OK. If you do not, click Cancel.
What's in Store for These 4 Transportation Stocks This Earnings Season?
Read MoreHide Full Article
Key Takeaways
UPS and Old Dominion are positioned for Q3 earnings beats, while C.H. Robinson and JetBlue face uncertainty.
Old Dominion expects 25.78% earnings growth, supported by improving freight demand and disciplined pricing.
JetBlue faces rising fuel costs and operational hurdles, while C.H. Robinson battles freight margin pressures.
The widely diversified Zacks Transportation sector continues to navigate through a challenging macroeconomic environment. The sector grapples with multiple headwinds, including higher expenses, inflation-driven interest rates, a downturn in freight demand, and supply-chain woes. Geopolitical uncertainties and tariff-induced economic tensions continue to hurt consumer sentiment and growth expectations.
Fuel remains a key swing factor in near-term results. Elevated fuel prices (all thanks to the ongoing tensions between the United States and Iran) have been weighing on the bottom-line growth of all transportation companies. This is because fuel expenses represent a key input cost for any transportation player. Currently, oil prices are hovering around $100 a barrel.
With inflation remaining a concern, the risk of an economic slowdown and geopolitical tensions dampens prospects for stocks in this sector. Sluggish economic growth and inflationary woes are likely to make markets more volatile in the coming days. Supply-chain troubles will likely keep costs elevated.
Given this backdrop, investors interested in the Zacks Transportation sector are keenly waiting for the results of United Parcel Service (UPS - Free Report) ),Old Dominion Freight Line, Inc.(ODFL - Free Report) , C.H. Robinson Worldwide, Inc.(CHRW - Free Report) and JetBlue Airways Corporation (JBLU - Free Report) – all of which are slated to be released this week.
Our quantitative model predicts an earnings beat for a company if it has a positive Earnings ESP and a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy), 2 (Buy) or 3 (Hold). This combination increases the chances of an earnings beat. You can uncover the best stocks to buy or sell before they’re reported with our Earnings ESP Filter.
Let’s delve deeper.
United Parcel Service
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for UPS’ third-quarter 2026 earnings per share and revenues is pegged at $1.63 and $22.23 billion, respectively. The bottom-line projection indicates a year-over-year decline of 6.3%. The consensus mark for the to-be-reported quarter has remained stable over the past 60 days. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for quarterly revenues implies a year-over-year expansion of 3.8%.
We expect ongoing macro uncertainty from the Middle East conflict to have dented UPS’ performance in the September quarter. The ongoing conflict in the Middle East has sharply raised oil prices. This has naturally hurt the bottom line of transportation stocks like UPS. Fuel expenses are a key input cost for a transportation company.
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for ODFL’s third-quarter 2026 earnings has risen 0.63% over the past 60 days to $1.61 per share. The consensus mark indicates a 25.78% increase from third-quarter 2025 actuals. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for third-quarter 2026 revenues is pegged at $1.56 billion, indicating a 10.68% increase from the third quarter of 2025 actuals.
The company exits the September-end quarter amid improving freight demand, disciplined pricing and continued operational efficiency. Better tonnage trends, strong service levels and ample network capacity are likely to have supported profitable revenue growth during the quarter.
ODFL is scheduled to release third-quarter 2026 results on Oct. 28, before market open. Our proven model predicts an earnings beat for Old Dominion this time around, as it has an Earnings ESP of +0.25% and a Zacks Rank #2 at present.
Old Dominion Freight Line, Inc. Price and EPS Surprise
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for third-quarter 2026 earnings has risen 4.24% over the past 60 days to $1.72 per share. The consensus mark indicates a 22.86% increase from the third-quarter 2025 actuals. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for third-quarter 2026 revenues is pegged at $4.96 billion, indicating a 9.84% increase from third-quarter 2025 actuals.
The company exits the September-end quarter amid elevated truckload spot costs, pressure on contractual margins and still-soft freight demand. Higher insurance-related expenses and continued volatility across global freight markets may also have weighed on profitability.
CHRW is scheduled to release third-quarter 2026 results on Oct. 28, before market open. Our proven model does not conclusively predict an earnings beat for C.H. Robinson this time around, as it has an Earnings ESP of -0.58% and a Zacks Rank #2 at present.
C.H. Robinson Worldwide, Inc. Price and EPS Surprise
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for JBLU’s third-quarter 2026 loss per share has widened in the past 60 days to 55 cents from 45 cents. Moreover, the consensus mark implies a downside of 37.5% from the year-ago actual. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for JBLU’s third-quarter 2026 revenues is pegged at $2.83 billion, indicating 21.80% growth year over year.
JBLU’s third-quarter 2026 results are expected to have been affected by concerns related to bad weather, air traffic control issues and soaring jet fuel prices, with solid air travel demand as the only green flag. The combination of solid underlying demand, a constructive pricing environment and targeted commercial actions has led to an encouraging third-quarter revenue expectation for JetBlue.
JBLU is scheduled to report third-quarter 2026 results on Oct. 27, before market open. Our proven model does not conclusively predict an earnings beat for JBLU this time around, as it has an Earnings ESP of -2.73% and a Zacks Rank #4 (Sell) at present. The Earnings ESP was -6.22% and a Zacks Rank #4, when we issued our third-quarter 2026 earnings preview.
JetBlue Airways Corporation Price and EPS Surprise
View the Zacks #1 Rank List
Image: Bigstock
What's in Store for These 4 Transportation Stocks This Earnings Season?
Key Takeaways
The widely diversified Zacks Transportation sector continues to navigate through a challenging macroeconomic environment. The sector grapples with multiple headwinds, including higher expenses, inflation-driven interest rates, a downturn in freight demand, and supply-chain woes. Geopolitical uncertainties and tariff-induced economic tensions continue to hurt consumer sentiment and growth expectations.
Fuel remains a key swing factor in near-term results. Elevated fuel prices (all thanks to the ongoing tensions between the United States and Iran) have been weighing on the bottom-line growth of all transportation companies. This is because fuel expenses represent a key input cost for any transportation player. Currently, oil prices are hovering around $100 a barrel.
With inflation remaining a concern, the risk of an economic slowdown and geopolitical tensions dampens prospects for stocks in this sector. Sluggish economic growth and inflationary woes are likely to make markets more volatile in the coming days. Supply-chain troubles will likely keep costs elevated.
Given this backdrop, investors interested in the Zacks Transportation sector are keenly waiting for the results of United Parcel Service (UPS - Free Report) ), Old Dominion Freight Line, Inc.(ODFL - Free Report) , C.H. Robinson Worldwide, Inc.(CHRW - Free Report) and JetBlue Airways Corporation (JBLU - Free Report) – all of which are slated to be released this week.
Our quantitative model predicts an earnings beat for a company if it has a positive Earnings ESP and a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy), 2 (Buy) or 3 (Hold). This combination increases the chances of an earnings beat. You can uncover the best stocks to buy or sell before they’re reported with our Earnings ESP Filter.
Let’s delve deeper.
United Parcel Service
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for UPS’ third-quarter 2026 earnings per share and revenues is pegged at $1.63 and $22.23 billion, respectively. The bottom-line projection indicates a year-over-year decline of 6.3%. The consensus mark for the to-be-reported quarter has remained stable over the past 60 days. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for quarterly revenues implies a year-over-year expansion of 3.8%.
We expect ongoing macro uncertainty from the Middle East conflict to have dented UPS’ performance in the September quarter. The ongoing conflict in the Middle East has sharply raised oil prices. This has naturally hurt the bottom line of transportation stocks like UPS. Fuel expenses are a key input cost for a transportation company.
UPS is scheduled to report its third-quarter 2026 results on Oct. 27, before market open. Our proven model predicts an earnings beat for UPS for the September quarter, as it has an Earnings ESP of +0.95% and a Zacks Rank #3. You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.
United Parcel Service, Inc. Price and EPS Surprise
United Parcel Service, Inc. price-eps-surprise | United Parcel Service, Inc. Quote
Old Dominion
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for ODFL’s third-quarter 2026 earnings has risen 0.63% over the past 60 days to $1.61 per share. The consensus mark indicates a 25.78% increase from third-quarter 2025 actuals. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for third-quarter 2026 revenues is pegged at $1.56 billion, indicating a 10.68% increase from the third quarter of 2025 actuals.
The company exits the September-end quarter amid improving freight demand, disciplined pricing and continued operational efficiency. Better tonnage trends, strong service levels and ample network capacity are likely to have supported profitable revenue growth during the quarter.
ODFL is scheduled to release third-quarter 2026 results on Oct. 28, before market open. Our proven model predicts an earnings beat for Old Dominion this time around, as it has an Earnings ESP of +0.25% and a Zacks Rank #2 at present.
Old Dominion Freight Line, Inc. Price and EPS Surprise
Old Dominion Freight Line, Inc. price-eps-surprise | Old Dominion Freight Line, Inc. Quote
C.H. Robinson
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for third-quarter 2026 earnings has risen 4.24% over the past 60 days to $1.72 per share. The consensus mark indicates a 22.86% increase from the third-quarter 2025 actuals. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for third-quarter 2026 revenues is pegged at $4.96 billion, indicating a 9.84% increase from third-quarter 2025 actuals.
The company exits the September-end quarter amid elevated truckload spot costs, pressure on contractual margins and still-soft freight demand. Higher insurance-related expenses and continued volatility across global freight markets may also have weighed on profitability.
CHRW is scheduled to release third-quarter 2026 results on Oct. 28, before market open. Our proven model does not conclusively predict an earnings beat for C.H. Robinson this time around, as it has an Earnings ESP of -0.58% and a Zacks Rank #2 at present.
C.H. Robinson Worldwide, Inc. Price and EPS Surprise
C.H. Robinson Worldwide, Inc. price-eps-surprise | C.H. Robinson Worldwide, Inc. Quote
JetBlue
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for JBLU’s third-quarter 2026 loss per share has widened in the past 60 days to 55 cents from 45 cents. Moreover, the consensus mark implies a downside of 37.5% from the year-ago actual. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for JBLU’s third-quarter 2026 revenues is pegged at $2.83 billion, indicating 21.80% growth year over year.
JBLU’s third-quarter 2026 results are expected to have been affected by concerns related to bad weather, air traffic control issues and soaring jet fuel prices, with solid air travel demand as the only green flag. The combination of solid underlying demand, a constructive pricing environment and targeted commercial actions has led to an encouraging third-quarter revenue expectation for JetBlue.
JBLU is scheduled to report third-quarter 2026 results on Oct. 27, before market open. Our proven model does not conclusively predict an earnings beat for JBLU this time around, as it has an Earnings ESP of -2.73% and a Zacks Rank #4 (Sell) at present. The Earnings ESP was -6.22% and a Zacks Rank #4, when we issued our third-quarter 2026 earnings preview.
JetBlue Airways Corporation Price and EPS Surprise
JetBlue Airways Corporation price-eps-surprise | JetBlue Airways Corporation Quote