Knight-Swift Transportation (NYSE:KNX) Announces Earnings Results

Knight-Swift Transportation (NYSE:KNX) released its earnings results on Wednesday. The transportation company reported $0.83 EPS for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $0.76 by $0.07, FiscalAI reports. The company had revenue of $2.20 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $2.16 billion. Knight-Swift Transportation had a return on equity of 3.51% and a net margin of 0.56%. The business’s revenue for the quarter was up 14.2% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period last year, the firm earned $0.32 EPS.

Here are the key takeaways from Knight-Swift Transportation’s conference call:

• Truckload margins improved significantly: Revenue per mile excluding fuel surcharge rose 12.2% year over year in Q3, while cost per mile increased 3.5%, allowing 68% of rate gains to flow through to margin. Management expects further sequential operating-income improvement in Q4.
• Capacity tightening is supporting pricing: Strong tender rejection rates, peak-season projects, and ongoing mini-bid activity are improving contract pricing, with management expecting to begin the 2027 bid season with low- to mid-double-digit rate increases.
• Intermodal and Logistics delivered momentum: Intermodal reached its highest quarterly load count in more than five years, with revenue per load excluding fuel up 5.5% year over year, while Logistics adjusted operating income improved nearly 20% despite a 1% revenue decline.
• Near-term seasonality and cost risks remain: Management expects All Other Segments to post an operating loss in Q4 as warehousing activity slows against a higher fixed-cost base, while fuel, driver pay, insurance claims, and equipment costs remain potential pressures.
• Q4 earnings guidance is above the prior year: Adjusted EPS is projected at $0.78–$0.84, compared with $0.32 in Q3 2025, supported primarily by Truckload rate realization and seasonal project activity.

Knight-Swift Transportation Stock Down 0.2%

Knight-Swift Transportation stock opened at $63.12 on Thursday. Knight-Swift Transportation has a 12-month low of $41.24 and a 12-month high of $82.86. The company has a quick ratio of 0.88, a current ratio of 0.88 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.32. The company has a market capitalization of $10.27 billion, a PE ratio of 242.79, a PEG ratio of 0.54 and a beta of 1.21. The firm’s fifty day moving average is $67.21 and its 200 day moving average is $69.60.

Knight-Swift Transportation Announces Dividend

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, September 21st. Stockholders of record on Friday, September 4th were given a dividend of $0.20 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Friday, September 4th. This represents a $0.80 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 1.3%. Knight-Swift Transportation’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 307.69%.

Insider Buying and Selling

In other Knight-Swift Transportation news, CEO Reid Dove sold 126,864 shares of Knight-Swift Transportation stock in a transaction on Thursday, August 13th. The shares were sold at an average price of $73.13, for a total transaction of $9,277,564.32. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available through this link. Also, Director David Vander Ploeg sold 2,200 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, August 12th. The shares were sold at an average price of $52.33, for a total value of $115,126.00. Following the sale, the director directly owned 30,252 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $1,583,087.16. The trade was a 6.78% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The SEC filing for this sale provides additional information. In the last three months, insiders have sold 224,954 shares of company stock valued at $16,183,454. 2.90% of the stock is owned by company insiders.

More Knight-Swift Transportation News

Here are the key news stories impacting Knight-Swift Transportation this week:

• Positive Sentiment: Third consecutive earnings beat: Q3 adjusted earnings were $0.83 per share, ahead of estimates ranging from $0.75 to $0.76 and well above $0.32 a year earlier. Knight-Swift Transportation Tops Q3 Earnings and Revenue Estimates
• Positive Sentiment: Revenue exceeded expectations: Quarterly revenue reached $2.20 billion versus the $2.16 billion consensus and increased 14.2% year over year, indicating continued recovery in freight demand and pricing. Knight-Swift Q3 2026 Earnings
• Positive Sentiment: Rate momentum supported results: Coverage characterized the quarter as another beat driven by improving freight rates, a favorable signal for the company’s trucking and logistics businesses. Knight-Swift Transportation Exceeds Q3 Expectations
• Neutral Sentiment: The earnings-call transcript is expected to provide further detail on pricing, freight volumes, cost trends and management’s outlook; the available reports do not identify a new guidance change. Knight-Swift Q3 2026 Earnings Call Transcript
• Negative Sentiment: Profitability remains a concern: Despite the improved EPS, the reported net margin was only 0.56% and return on equity was 3.51%, which may limit enthusiasm about the quality and durability of the recovery.
• Negative Sentiment: Valuation may be constraining the reaction: With a reported P/E ratio above 240 and the stock trading below its 50-day and 200-day moving averages, investors may be demanding clearer evidence of sustained earnings improvement before bidding the shares higher.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

KNX has been the subject of several recent analyst reports. JPMorgan Chase & Co. lowered their target price on shares of Knight-Swift Transportation from $84.00 to $68.00 and set a “neutral” rating for the company in a research note on Monday, October 5th. Zacks Research lowered Knight-Swift Transportation from a “strong-buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a report on Friday, July 31st. Wells Fargo & Company lowered their price objective on shares of Knight-Swift Transportation from $86.00 to $81.00 and set an “overweight” rating on the stock in a research note on Tuesday, October 6th. Stephens upgraded shares of Knight-Swift Transportation to a “strong-buy” rating in a report on Wednesday, July 8th. Finally, Barclays boosted their price target on Knight-Swift Transportation from $75.00 to $90.00 and gave the company an “overweight” rating in a research note on Thursday, June 25th. Two analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, fifteen have issued a Buy rating and three have issued a Hold rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, Knight-Swift Transportation presently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of $82.94.

Knight-Swift Transportation Company Profile

Knight-Swift Transportation Holdings Inc is a transportation and logistics company that provides freight services across North America. The company operates one of the largest truckload fleets in the United States and serves a broad range of industries through its network of company-owned equipment, independent contractors, terminals and distribution facilities.

Its services include dry-van, refrigerated and flatbed truckload transportation; dedicated and expedited delivery; less-than-truckload shipping; freight brokerage; intermodal transportation; cross-border logistics; and warehousing and other supply-chain services.