Plus, the U.S. will temporarily allow highway sales of dyed diesel, and Persian Gulf oil producers pay millions to move crude.
The improving freight scenario and cost-cutting actions bode well for the Zacks Transportation-Air Freight and Cargo industry. UPS, FDX and GXO are well-poised to capitalize on the tailwinds.
Knight-Swift Transportation is rated a buy, with both quant and Wall Street consensus supporting strong upside potential and sector-leading status. KNX's earnings power is recovering, with Q2 results beating estimates and guidance, while valuation remains discounted on forward metrics versus peers. The current freight upcycle is supply-driven, with regulatory actions removing low-quality capacity, supporting a more durable, though potentially slower, recovery.
Haverty Furniture Companies NYSE: HVT said it is seeing continued strength in higher-ticket furniture purchases and its in-store design business, even as the company monitors freight costs, promotional activity and uncertainty around tariffs.
Nobody is building a competing transcontinental railroad, and that simple fact has quietly funded decades of rising dividends across four companies most investors never think about.
Freight ETFs are surging as Middle East disruptions send tanker rates soaring, with BWET up over 3,700% YTD and shipping earnings at record levels.
The Zacks Transportation-Services industry is benefiting from the brightening freight scenario and improving efficiencies. We believe stocks like EXPD, MATX and SNDR are worth buying amid the sunny backdrop.
Covenant Logistics Group NYSE: CVLG is pursuing a strategy centered on higher-return freight, diversified operations and disciplined capital allocation as freight-market conditions improve, Chief Financial Officer Tripp Grant said during a presentation hosted by Three Part Advisors.
Global freight is becoming more digital, and it's happening just in time for artificial intelligence. That, at least, was the backdrop for Freightos' second-quarter 2026 results, released Monday (Aug. 17).
J.B. Hunt Transport Services NASDAQ: JBHT executives said the company sees a strengthening freight environment, supported by tightening capacity, improving truckload pricing and sustained rail service quality, while emphasizing that intermodal pricing opportunities may build into 2027.
Schneider National is rated Buy, driven by regulatory catalysts, asset undervaluation, operational leverage, and a pending freight restocking cycle. SNDR trades at a 36.8% P/B discount to peers, with a fortress balance sheet and minimal net debt, providing an asset value floor. Regulatory shifts and the Montgomery ruling are forcing a flight to quality, favoring SNDR's scale, compliance, and diversified logistics infrastructure.
CSX Corporation (CSX) shares gain 1,220% since 2008.