ZACKS·2025-10-29 16:06Industry Overview - The Zacks Transportation sector is diverse, including airlines, railroads, package delivery companies, and truckers, with S&P 500 members expected to see a 5.9% year-over-year decline in third-quarter 2025 earnings and a 4.4% drop in revenues [1] - The recent decline in oil prices, which fell 4.2% during the July–September period, is beneficial for the transportation sector as fuel is a major operating expense, supporting margin expansion [3] - Ongoing cost-control efforts amid soft freight demand and the strength of e-commerce are expected to contribute positively to profitability in the sector [4] Company Performance - Expeditors International of Washington (EXPD) is expected to report better-than-expected earnings despite challenges like weak freight demand and declining rates, with an Earnings ESP of +1.43% and a Zacks Rank of 3 [9] - Air Lease Corporation (AL) has an Earnings ESP of +15.63% and is anticipated to benefit from steady growth in its fleet and higher end-of-lease revenues, having beaten the Zacks Consensus Estimate in the last four quarters with an average beat of 11.8% [11][12] - GXO Logistics (GXO) is projected to report positive results driven by increased e-commerce and cost-cutting efforts, with an Earnings ESP of +0.18% and a Zacks Rank of 3, having surpassed the Zacks Consensus Estimate in the last four quarters with an average beat of 5.3% [13][14] Market Dynamics - U.S. airlines are experiencing steady air travel demand despite economic headwinds, while shipping companies are showing resilience against inflation and trade tensions, particularly those focusing on operational efficiency [5] - The combination of a positive Earnings ESP and a Zacks Rank of 1 (Strong Buy), 2 (Buy), or 3 (Hold) is suggested as a method to identify stocks with high chances of delivering positive earnings surprises, with odds as high as 70% for stocks with this mix [7]