The Transportation group has plenty of great stocks, but investors should always be looking for companies that are outperforming their peers. Has Corporacion America Airports S.A. (CAAP) been one of those stocks this year? By taking a look at the stock's year-to-date performance in comparison to its Transportation peers, we might be able to answer that question.Corporacion America Airports S.A. is a member of our Transportation group, which includes 115 different companies and currently sits at #9 in the Za ...

Have you been searching for a stock that might be well-positioned to maintain its earnings-beat streak in its upcoming report? It is worth considering Herc Holdings (HRI) , which belongs to the Zacks Transportation - Equipment and Leasing industry.This equipment rental supplier has seen a nice streak of beating earnings estimates, especially when looking at the previous two reports. The average surprise for the last two quarters was 33.14%.For the most recent quarter, Herc Holdings was expected to post earn ...

Core Viewpoint - AerCap (AER) is positioned well to potentially beat earnings estimates in its upcoming quarterly report, supported by a strong history of exceeding expectations [1]. Earnings Performance - AerCap has a solid track record of surpassing earnings estimates, with an average surprise of 30.09% over the last two quarters [2]. - In the last reported quarter, AerCap achieved earnings of $4.97 per share, significantly exceeding the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $3.16 per share, resulting in a surprise of 57.28% [3]. - For the previous quarter, the company was expected to report earnings of $2.75 per share but delivered $2.83 per share, yielding a surprise of 2.91% [3]. Earnings Estimates and Predictions - Estimates for AerCap have been trending upward, influenced by its history of earnings surprises [6]. - The stock currently has a positive Zacks Earnings ESP (Expected Surprise Prediction) of +8.70%, indicating increased analyst optimism regarding its near-term earnings potential [9]. - The combination of a positive Earnings ESP and a Zacks Rank of 3 (Hold) suggests a high likelihood of another earnings beat, with historical data showing that this combination results in positive surprises nearly 70% of the time [7][9]. Upcoming Earnings Report - AerCap's next earnings report is anticipated to be released on February 6, 2026 [9].

Core Insights - Air Lease (AL) advanced its fleet strategy in Q4 2025 by taking delivery of 10 new aircraft, focusing on modern, fuel-efficient models from Airbus and Boeing [1][8] - The company invested approximately $920 million during the quarter, with most spending concentrated in the second half, reflecting disciplined capital deployment aligned with delivery schedules [1] - Air Lease sold 23 aircraft to third-party buyers, generating about $1 billion in proceeds, exceeding quarterly aircraft investments and demonstrating management's ability to capitalize on strong demand in the secondary aircraft market [2][8] - These actions strengthened AL's financial flexibility and balance-sheet position, limiting net expansion while maintaining a robust order book of 218 aircraft scheduled for delivery through 2031 [3][8] - The company's share price has risen 42.5% over the past year, outperforming the Transportation - Equipment and Leasing industry's growth of 18.5% [4] Financial Performance - Air Lease's investment of approximately $920 million in Q4 2025 was strategically timed to align with aircraft delivery schedules [1] - The sale of 23 aircraft generated about $1 billion, highlighting effective capital recycling and strong demand in the secondary market [2] - The balance between fleet growth and asset sales has allowed the company to maintain a robust order book while managing fleet age and composition [3] Market Position - Air Lease currently holds a Zacks Rank 3 (Hold), indicating a stable outlook in the market [6] - Investors in the Zacks Transportation sector may also consider Expeditors International of Washington (EXPD) and Global Ship Lease (GSL) as potential investment opportunities [7]

Company Performance - Pony AI Inc. - Sponsored ADR (PONY) has returned approximately 18.1% year-to-date, significantly outperforming the Transportation sector, which has returned an average of 3% [4] - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for PONY's full-year earnings has increased by 86.4% over the past quarter, indicating improved analyst sentiment and a stronger earnings outlook [4] Industry Context - Pony AI Inc. belongs to the Transportation - Equipment and Leasing industry, which includes 10 companies and currently ranks 75 in the Zacks Industry Rank. This industry has gained about 17% year-to-date, with PONY performing better than its peers [6] - Another notable stock in the Transportation sector is Star Bulk Carriers (SBLK), which has increased by 6.7% year-to-date and has a consensus EPS estimate that has risen by 91.9% over the past three months [5]

Core Insights - Air Lease (AL) is facing significant challenges due to increased expenses and weak liquidity, compounded by geopolitical uncertainty, making it an unattractive investment choice [1] Financial Performance - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for AL's earnings for the first quarter of 2026 has been revised downward by 0.6% over the past 60 days, with a similar downward revision of 0.14% for the full year 2026, indicating a lack of confidence from brokers [2] - AL's operating expenses increased by 7.3% year over year in Q3, with selling, general, and administrative expenses rising by 14.2% and stock-based compensation expenses climbing by 21.3% to $9.6 million, further straining profit margins [8] - The current ratio for AL has remained below 0.5 through 2025, highlighting ongoing liquidity strain, with a sharp decline from 1.12 in 2022 to 0.40 in 2023, and only a slight improvement to 0.43 in Q3 2025 [9] Industry Context - AL currently holds a Zacks Rank of 5 (Strong Sell), and the industry it belongs to has a Zacks Industry Rank of 209 out of 243, placing it in the bottom 14% of Zacks Industries [4] - The performance of AL is significantly influenced by the overall industry, as studies indicate that 50% of a stock's price movement is related to its industry group [5] - The macroeconomic environment is challenging for AL, with economic uncertainty, evolving tariff policies, and heightened geopolitical tensions increasing operational and compliance risks [10]

Company Performance - Teekay Tankers (TNK) has returned approximately 36.6% year-to-date, significantly outperforming the average return of 2.9% for Transportation companies [4] - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for TNK's full-year earnings has increased by 8.8% over the past quarter, indicating improved analyst sentiment and earnings outlook [4] - Teekay Tankers holds a Zacks Rank of 1 (Strong Buy), suggesting strong potential for future performance [3] Industry Comparison - Teekay Tankers is part of the Transportation - Shipping industry, which consists of 39 companies and is currently ranked 33 in the Zacks Industry Rank [6] - The average gain for stocks in the Transportation - Shipping industry this year is 9%, indicating that TNK is performing better than its industry peers [6] - In contrast, Westinghouse Air Brake Technologies (WAB), another outperforming stock, is in the Transportation - Equipment and Leasing industry, which has a lower rank (71) and has gained 16% year-to-date [5][7] Sector Overview - The Transportation group, which includes Teekay Tankers, is currently ranked 3 within the Zacks Sector Rank, which evaluates 16 different groups [2] - The Zacks Rank system focuses on earnings estimates and revisions, helping to identify stocks that may outperform the broader market in the near term [3]

Core Viewpoint - Ryder System, Inc. is currently undervalued based on its forward price-to-sales ratio, trading at 0.58X compared to the industry average of 2.29X, indicating an attractive valuation [1][7]. Valuation Metrics - Ryder's forward 12-month price-to-sales ratio is 0.58X, significantly lower than the industry average of 2.29X over the past five years, suggesting a cheap valuation [1][7]. Shareholder Returns - Ryder has consistently paid dividends for over 48 years, with dividend payments of $123 million in 2022, $128 million in 2023, and a projected $456 million in 2024 through dividends and share repurchases [5][6]. - In the first nine months of 2025, Ryder paid $108 million in dividends and repurchased shares worth $350 million, reflecting a commitment to shareholder value [5][6]. Financial Performance - Ryder's stock has increased by 25% over the past six months, outperforming the Zacks Transportation - Equipment and Leasing industry's growth of 10.4% [9]. - The company has raised its free cash flow outlook for 2025 to between $900 million and $1 billion, up from a previous estimate of $375 million to $475 million [8]. Operating Costs and Liquidity - Ryder faces significant financial pressure due to rising operating costs, with total operating expenses increasing from $10.8 billion in 2022 to $11.9 billion in 2024 [12]. - The company's liquidity is concerning, with cash and cash equivalents of $189 million against a current debt level of $577 million, indicating insufficient cash to meet obligations [13]. Earnings Estimates - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Ryder's earnings has been revised downward for the fourth quarter of 2025 and for full-year 2025 and 2026, reflecting a lack of confidence among brokers [15]. - The current earnings estimates for Q1 2026 have also been projected downward, indicating negative sentiment surrounding the stock [15]. Investment Outlook - Despite attractive valuation and shareholder-friendly initiatives, Ryder faces headwinds from increased operating expenses and a volatile macro environment, making it a risky investment choice at this time [17].

Core Insights - Ryder System announced a planned CEO succession, with Robert E. Sanchez retiring on March 31, 2026, and John J. Diez being elevated to the CEO position, ensuring leadership continuity and minimizing execution risk [1][2][8] Leadership Transition - John J. Diez, a long-tenured insider with over 20 years at Ryder, will take over as CEO, while Sanchez will remain as executive chair, reinforcing strategic stability and preserving institutional knowledge during the transition [2][4] - Sanchez has been CEO since January 2013 and chairman since May 2013, leaving behind a strong legacy of balanced growth that derisked operations and improved returns [3][8] Strategic Outlook - Diez's appointment is seen as a move towards execution continuity rather than a strategic shift, which strengthens confidence in Ryder System's long-term growth outlook [4][8] - The company has experienced a share price increase of 3.5% over the past 90 days, compared to a 7.2% rise in the Transportation - Equipment and Leasing industry [5]

Core Viewpoint - Momentum investing focuses on following a stock's recent price trends, aiming to buy high and sell higher, with the expectation that established trends will continue [1][2]. Company Overview: AerCap (AER) - AerCap currently holds a Momentum Style Score of A, indicating strong momentum potential [3]. - The company has a Zacks Rank of 1 (Strong Buy), which historically outperforms the market when combined with a Style Score of A or B [4]. Price Performance - Over the past week, AerCap shares increased by 4.47%, outperforming the Zacks Transportation - Equipment and Leasing industry, which rose by 4.26% [6]. - In the last quarter, AerCap shares rose by 16.43%, and over the past year, they increased by 48.59%, while the S&P 500 only moved 5.09% and 14.7%, respectively [7]. Trading Volume - AerCap's average 20-day trading volume is 1,426,805 shares, which serves as a bullish indicator when combined with rising stock prices [8]. Earnings Outlook - In the past two months, five earnings estimates for AerCap have been revised upwards, raising the consensus estimate from $12.93 to $14.75 [10]. - For the next fiscal year, five estimates have also moved higher, with no downward revisions during the same period [10]. Conclusion - Given the strong momentum indicators and positive earnings outlook, AerCap is positioned as a solid momentum pick with a 1 (Strong Buy) rating and a Momentum Score of A [12].