XPO, Old Dominion stocks drop amid FedEx guidance cut

Investing.com -- Shares of XPO, Inc (NYSE: XPO) fell 4.2%, while Old Dominion Freight Line (NASDAQ: NASDAQ:ODFL ) and Saia , Inc. (NASDAQ: NASDAQ:SAIA ) also saw declines of 2.4% and 1% respectively, as trucking stocks faced a downturn following FedEx (NYSE:FDX )'s announcement of a lowered year guidance and plans to spin off its freight division.

The market's response comes after FedEx, a key player in the logistics industry, revealed a strategy shift that includes spinning off its freight division into a standalone company. This move, while seen as a positive for the less-than-truckload (LTL) industry, has raised concerns about the near-term performance of LTL carriers due to the current challenges in the industrial market.

Analysts have weighed in on the implications of FedEx's decision. JP Morgan analyst Brian P. Ossenbeck remarked, "Spin-off still a positive for LTL industry," suggesting that the move could benefit the sector by encouraging investment in sales, service, and margin improvement during the transition. Ossenbeck's comment indicates that the largest competitor is likely to maintain its focus on yields, potentially leading to a more favorable freight environment.

On the other hand, Cowen analyst Jason H. Seidl provided a more nuanced view, acknowledging the potential for a ~10% margin gap closure between FedEx Freight and competitors like ODFL, but also revising near-term LTL estimates lower. The pressure on weight and volume due to a challenged industrial market is expected to weigh on LTL carriers' performance, which could explain the stock price declines.

The broader market reaction reflects investor concerns over the short-term impact of FedEx's guidance cut and structural changes on the trucking industry, as well as the potential for dis-synergies and customer contract issues following the spin-off. Despite the positive outlook for the LTL industry's investment climate, immediate pressures appear to dominate the sentiment, leading to the observed stock movements.

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Source: Investing.com