The Zacks Analyst Blog Wabtec, United Airlines Holdings, Southwest Airlines, SkyWest and ZIM Integrated Shipping Services

Transportation Sector Overview - The Zacks Transportation sector includes airlines, railroads, package delivery companies, and truckers, showcasing its diversified nature [2] - Most sector participants have performed well in 2024 due to multiple tailwinds, with expectations of continued strong performance in 2025 [3] Key Tailwinds in 2024 - Airline stocks benefited from improved air-travel demand post-pandemic and normalized economic activities, with record-breaking traffic during Thanksgiving and higher summer passenger volumes [4] - E-commerce demand remained strong, benefiting packaging companies, while transportation companies improved their financial health [5] - Many companies increased dividends, providing a steady income source and cushion against market uncertainty [6] - Companies cut costs to combat weak demand from high inflation, and declining oil prices positively impacted transportation companies' bottom lines [7] 2025 Projections - The International Air Transport Association (IATA) projects global passenger counts to exceed 5 billion in 2025, indicating continued growth for airlines [8] - Transportation stocks like Wabtec Corp, United Airlines Holdings, Southwest Airlines, SkyWest, and ZIM Integrated Shipping Services are expected to perform well in 2025 [9] Company Highlights Wabtec Corp (WAB) - Wabtec offers technology-based locomotives and services for the freight rail and passenger transit industries, with a strong balance sheet and shareholder-friendly stance [10] - Expected earnings growth rate of 13.60% for 2025, with a 4.1% improvement in Zacks Consensus Estimate over the past 90 days [11] - Market capitalization of $34.87 billion and Zacks Rank 2 [11] United Airlines Holdings (UAL) - United Airlines benefits from strong air travel demand and new routes, with an environment-friendly approach [12] - Expected earnings growth rate of 14.15% for 2025, with a 5.8% improvement in Zacks Consensus Estimate over the past 90 days [13] - Market capitalization of $31.75 billion and Zacks Rank 2 [13] Southwest Airlines (LUV) - Southwest Airlines anticipates a 3.5%-5.5% year-over-year increase in Q4 2024 unit revenues, driven by healthy travel demand [14] - Expected earnings growth rate of 110.13% for 2025, with a 21.7% improvement in Zacks Consensus Estimate over the past 90 days [15] - Market capitalization of $20.06 billion and Zacks Rank 1 [15] SkyWest (SKYW) - SkyWest focuses on fleet modernization and has agreements with major airlines like United Airlines and Alaska Airlines [16] - Expected earnings growth rate of 16.6% for 2025, with a 7.1% improvement in Zacks Consensus Estimate over the past 90 days [17] - Market capitalization of $4.31 billion and Zacks Rank 1 [17] ZIM Integrated Shipping Services (ZIM) - ZIM provides container shipping services internationally, with a Zacks Consensus Estimate for 2025 earnings improving over 100% in the past 90 days [18] - Market capitalization of $2.45 billion and Zacks Rank 1 [18]