Expeditors International (EXPD)

[peterquinnvet]

Right out of the gate, Expeditors International of Washington (EXPD, $128.27) merits a close look for investors because it's a transportation services company, not a transportation company in the traditional sense of the word.

EXPD doesn't own ships, trains and planes, but rather knits them together to create supply chains for its customers. This is important because large fixed assets mean large fixed costs that can be perilous as supply, demand and, most importantly, prices fluctuate.

Shippers need creative new solutions now, and EXPD's sales and earnings indicate it has been delivering them. In its third quarter, sales were up 84% and earnings 88% versus year-ago figures. As a benchmark, consider that in the third quarter of 2019, before the pandemic, sales and earnings were flat.

Not that one flat quarter typifies EXPD's performance. Over the past five years ending 2020, Expeditors International has grown sales and earnings a steady 11% average annually. But the most recent results demonstrate that turmoil is, at least for this transport stock, creating opportunity.

That party is likely to continue, according to analysts. For the fourth quarter, the analyst community is forecasting 39.8% year-over-year sales growth to $4.43 billion and 75.9% annual earnings growth to $2.04 per share. So far this quarter, analysts have lifted their quarterly earnings estimate by 32.5%.

Upward analyst revisions tend to have a positive influence on stock prices. Ultimately, these adjustments come home to roost with actual results. And if the forecasts prove correct, it sets the stage for another leg higher in stock prices.

Another reason EXPD belongs among the best transportation stocks for 2022 is that it has no debt. It does have some fixed-lease obligations, which for all companies are now reported on balance sheets thanks to changing accounting regulations. In the case of EXPD, they are not material, And when the shipping landscape is defined by capacity shortages and price volatility, nothing spells comfort like the absence of fixed-debt obligations.

Source: https://www.kiplinger.com/investing/stocks/603905/transportation-stocks-to-buy