Knight-Swift Transportation Holdings Inc. $KNX Stake Lifted by Norris Perne & French LLP MI

Key Points

• Norris Perne & French LLP MI increased its Knight-Swift stake by 248.3% in the third quarter, bringing its holdings to 473,393 shares worth about $30.1 million. Institutional investors collectively own 88.77% of the company.
• Knight-Swift exceeded third-quarter expectations, reporting adjusted EPS of $0.83 versus $0.76 consensus and revenue of $2.20 billion, up 14.2% year over year. Management expects meaningful fourth-quarter truckload operating-income improvement, though EPS guidance of $0.78–$0.84 is slightly below consensus at the midpoint.
• Analyst sentiment remains favorable, with the stock carrying a Moderate Buy consensus rating and an average target price of $82.78, despite recent target reductions and insider selling totaling approximately $16.2 million over 90 days.

Norris Perne & French LLP MI lifted its stake in shares of Knight-Swift Transportation Holdings Inc. (NYSE:KNX - Free Report) by 248.3% during the third quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The firm owned 473,393 shares of the transportation company's stock after acquiring an additional 337,461 shares during the quarter. Knight-Swift Transportation comprises about 1.3% of Norris Perne & French LLP MI's investment portfolio, making the stock its 23rd biggest holding. Norris Perne & French LLP MI owned 0.29% of Knight-Swift Transportation worth $30,103,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Several other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Manning & Napier Advisors LLC bought a new position in Knight-Swift Transportation during the 2nd quarter valued at $173,669,000. Encompass Capital Advisors LLC acquired a new position in shares of Knight-Swift Transportation during the 1st quarter valued at $28,790,000. Assenagon Asset Management S.A. bought a new stake in shares of Knight-Swift Transportation in the 3rd quarter worth $29,990,000. Baird Financial Group Inc. raised its stake in shares of Knight-Swift Transportation by 152.4% in the 2nd quarter. Baird Financial Group Inc. now owns 426,026 shares of the transportation company's stock worth $33,175,000 after buying an additional 257,256 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Sei Investments Co. lifted its holdings in shares of Knight-Swift Transportation by 24.7% in the first quarter. Sei Investments Co. now owns 842,644 shares of the transportation company's stock valued at $48,519,000 after buying an additional 166,919 shares during the period. Institutional investors own 88.77% of the company's stock.

Knight-Swift Transportation News Roundup

Here are the key news stories impacting Knight-Swift Transportation this week:

• Positive Sentiment: KNX reported third-quarter adjusted EPS of $0.83, above the approximately $0.75–$0.76 analyst consensus, while revenue of $2.20 billion also exceeded expectations. EPS more than doubled from $0.32 a year earlier, supported by improving truckload pricing and early margin recovery. Knight-Swift Q3 earnings report
• Positive Sentiment: Management expects truckload operating income to improve meaningfully in the fourth quarter, and commentary pointed to tighter capacity and better pricing as potential catalysts for further earnings recovery. First look at Knight-Swift’s Q3 results
• Positive Sentiment: Several analysts still see substantial upside: Stifel raised its price target to $92 with a buy rating, while Wells Fargo maintained an overweight rating despite lowering its target to $79. A valuation analysis also suggested KNX may be significantly undervalued if the earnings recovery continues. Knight-Swift may be undervalued
• Neutral Sentiment: JPMorgan raised its target from $68 to $74 but kept a neutral rating, indicating that analysts recognize the recovery potential while remaining cautious about execution and industry conditions. JPMorgan analyst action
• Negative Sentiment: Fourth-quarter adjusted EPS guidance of $0.78–$0.84 has a midpoint of $0.81, slightly below the $0.82 consensus estimate. The guidance may be weighing on the stock because it suggests that the recovery will be gradual rather than immediate. Knight-Swift Q4 guidance

Analyst Ratings Changes

Several research analysts recently weighed in on the company. Stifel Nicolaus raised their target price on Knight-Swift Transportation from $90.00 to $92.00 and gave the company a "buy" rating in a research note on Thursday. Citigroup reaffirmed a "market outperform" rating on shares of Knight-Swift Transportation in a report on Thursday. Morgan Stanley set a $90.00 price target on shares of Knight-Swift Transportation in a research report on Wednesday, September 2nd. Bank of America cut their price target on shares of Knight-Swift Transportation from $98.00 to $92.00 and set a "buy" rating for the company in a report on Wednesday, September 23rd. Finally, Susquehanna reduced their price objective on shares of Knight-Swift Transportation from $96.00 to $85.00 and set a "positive" rating for the company in a research report on Friday, October 2nd. Two equities research analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, fifteen have given a Buy rating and three have issued a Hold rating to the company's stock. According to MarketBeat.com, Knight-Swift Transportation currently has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus target price of $82.78.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In other news, Director David Vander Ploeg sold 2,200 shares of the business's stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, August 12th. The shares were sold at an average price of $52.33, for a total transaction of $115,126.00. Following the sale, the director owned 30,252 shares in the company, valued at $1,583,087.16. The trade was a 6.78% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through the SEC website. Also, CEO Reid Dove sold 126,864 shares of the company's stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, August 13th. The shares were sold at an average price of $73.13, for a total transaction of $9,277,564.32. The SEC filing for this sale provides additional information. Insiders sold a total of 224,954 shares of company stock worth $16,183,454 over the last ninety days. 2.90% of the stock is currently owned by company insiders.

Knight-Swift Transportation Price Performance

NYSE KNX opened at $61.23 on Friday. The stock has a market capitalization of $9.97 billion, a P/E ratio of 65.84, a P/E/G ratio of 0.51 and a beta of 1.21. Knight-Swift Transportation Holdings Inc. has a 1 year low of $41.24 and a 1 year high of $82.86. The business's fifty day moving average is $66.77 and its two-hundred day moving average is $69.57. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.30, a quick ratio of 0.88 and a current ratio of 0.91.

Knight-Swift Transportation (NYSE:KNX - Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, October 21st. The transportation company reported $0.83 earnings per share for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $0.76 by $0.07. Knight-Swift Transportation had a return on equity of 4.71% and a net margin of 1.92%. The business had revenue of $2.20 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $2.16 billion. During the same period last year, the company posted $0.32 EPS. The company's revenue was up 14.2% compared to the same quarter last year. On average, research analysts forecast that Knight-Swift Transportation Holdings Inc. will post 2.55 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Knight-Swift Transportation Announces Dividend

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, September 21st. Shareholders of record on Friday, September 4th were issued a $0.20 dividend. This represents a $0.80 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 1.3%. The ex-dividend date was Friday, September 4th. Knight-Swift Transportation's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 86.02%.

Knight-Swift Transportation Company Profile

Knight-Swift Transportation Holdings Inc is a transportation and logistics company that provides freight services across North America. The company operates one of the largest truckload fleets in the United States and serves a broad range of industries through its network of company-owned equipment, independent contractors, terminals and distribution facilities.

Its services include dry-van, refrigerated and flatbed truckload transportation; dedicated and expedited delivery; less-than-truckload shipping; freight brokerage; intermodal transportation; cross-border logistics; and warehousing and other supply-chain services.

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