First Trust Industrials/Producer Durables AlphaDEX Fund

Although manufacturing accounts for just 16% of global GDP, manufacturing activity remains a key leading indicator for cues about the health of the economy.

Norfolk Southern (NSC) reported an 11% YoY increase in its rail traffic volumes in Week 52 driven primarily by robust growth in carloads and intermodal units.

Norfolk Southern (NSC) reported 4.4% YoY growth in its rail traffic volume in week 47. The company hauled 134,716 total cars.

Norfolk Southern (NSC) reported a 2.2% YoY fall in its rail traffic volume in week 46.

Eastern US railroad company Norfolk Southern (NSC) reported a 3.3% YoY (year-over-year) fall in its carload traffic in Week 42.

United Parcel Service’s (UPS) Supply Chain & Freight vertical accounts for ~20% of its total revenues.

Eastern US rail carrier Norfolk Southern (NSC) registered a 3.1% YoY (year-over-year) slump in carload traffic.

The Truck segment’s revenues expanded 14% in the third quarter to $106.0 million from $93.0 million in the third quarter of 2017.

In week 39, Norfolk Southern recorded a 1.9% YoY (year-over-year) fall in carload traffic.

Free cash flow (or FCF) is an important metric in the railroad (FXR) industry.

Trinity Industries (TRN) is a major rail transportation solution provider in the United States. On September 25, the company announced that its board has approved the separation of its infrastructure-related businesses.

On September 20, Ryder System announced the opening of a new full-service maintenance facility in Reading, Pennsylvania.

General Electric (GE) Transportation made a key announcement at Berlin’s InnoTrans 2018 International Trade Fair on September 19.

In August, Genesee & Wyoming’s (GWR) rail traffic in Europe reported a 1.8% year-over-year decline.

The FedEx Express segment accounts for the lion’s share in the company’s total revenue.

Out of all class I railroads, Canadian National Railway was the only to report a YoY carload volume decline in week 36.

In August, Southwest Airlines’ (LUV) utilization declined 0.6% YoY (year-over-year) to 84.3% as traffic growth lagged capacity growth.

In August, Southwest Airlines’ (LUV) capacity increased 2% YoY (year-over-year) after recording growth of 3.2% in July.

Genesee & Wyoming’s (GWR) UK-European total railcar volumes declined 1% YoY (year-over-year) in July.

In June, Genesee & Wyoming’s (GWR) UK and European rail traffic volumes slumped 14.6% YoY (year-over-year).

C.H. Robinson Worldwide’s (CHRW) Global Forwarding business provides ocean and air freight services and customs brokerage through its contracts with independent agents and its global network of offices.

Norfolk Southern (NSC), an Eastern US railroad, reported the highest intermodal revenue growth of 19% YoY among its peers in the first quarter.

FedEx (FDX) expects TNT Express integration expenses to be ~$450.0 million for fiscal 2019.

In this article, we’ll consider FedEx’s (FDX) Express segment’s performance in the fourth quarter.

In this article, we’ll look at analysts’ recommendations for XPO Logistics (XPO).

The manufacturing sector continues to expand despite the minor drop recorded in March.

Policy changes announced in the last six months may have led to the increased projection for economic growth.

In the week ended March 3, 2018, Norfolk Southern saw a ~2% fall in carload traffic. It hauled ~67,700 carloads in the week.

CNI noted an 8.0% gain in intermodal volumes in the seventh week of 2018.

Norfolk Southern’s intermodal volumes were up 8.3% in the seventh week of 2018.

In January 2018, Genesee & Wyoming’s (GWR) combined carloads from all of the reporting segments fell 0.6%—compared to January 2017.

The ISM publishes a monthly manufacturing report on changes in new orders, supplier deliveries, inventories, production, and employment.

JetBlue Airways’ (JBLU) operating revenue grew 3% and 5% in 2016 and 9M17, respectively.

Analysts surveyed by Thomson Reuters expect the company to report an operating margin of 31.4% in 4Q17.

The Institute of Supply Management’s New Orders Index The ISM’s (Institute of Supply Management) New Orders Index is a monthly report on changes in new orders, supplier deliveries, inventories, production, and employment. New orders are a measure of future activity in any industry (VIS), as companies’ production depends on incoming orders. The ISM’s New Orders […]

The average work week The US Bureau of Labor Statistics’ establishment survey includes data on the number of hours worked by manufacturing employees. Changes in the number of working hours help investors assess the health of the sector. A rise in the number of working hours signals that companies are projecting higher demand in the manufacturing sector […]

Spirit Airlines’ (SAVE) capacity is expected to increase 17.5% YoY in the fourth quarter of 2017, leading to a 2017 capacity growth of about 16.5%.

This has been one of the best years since 2004 for manufacturing activity, viewed through the Purchasing Managers’ Index (or PMI).

FedEx (FDX) Freight’s fiscal 2Q18 revenues rose 10.3% to ~$1.8 billion in fiscal 2Q18 from $1.6 billion in the second quarter of fiscal 2017.

ALK’s 3Q17 net income fell 3.9% YoY to $266.0 million, leading to earnings per share (or EPS) of $2.24 and missing analysts’ estimates of $2.26 per share.

The US Manufacturing PMI (purchasing managers’ index) for the month of October fell to 58.7, compared with 60.8 in September.

Genesee & Wyoming’s North American revenues contribute ~55.0% of its overall operating revenues. In 3Q17, North American revenues totaled $318.9 million.

In 3Q17, Norfolk Southern’s (NSC) operating margin expanded 160 basis points to 34.1%, up from 32.5% in 3Q16.

According to the latest data, in September 2017, the average working hours for production workers decreased from 42.0 in August to 41.8 in September.

In December 2016, Delta Air Lines (DAL) placed an order for 75 CS100 Bombardier jets. This huge order was the first for these jets and a huge relief for Bombardier.

On a sequential basis, CSX’s adjusted EPS is expected to fall 12% in 3Q17.

After five months of improvement in capacity utilization, Spirit Airlines (SAVE) is back to its old ways. The carrier’s capacity growth has outpaced traffic growth…

In fiscal 1Q18, FedEx’s (FDX) incurred $1.04 billion in capital expenditure or capex, representing 6.8% of that quarter’s total revenues of $15.3 billion.

In fiscal 1Q18, FedEx’s (FDX) Express segment’s overall revenues totaled $8.6 billion, compared with $8.5 billion in fiscal 1Q17.

Manufacturing activity continues to remain robust Activity in the manufacturing sector (FXR) continues to remain impressive and promising. The best way to measure the health of this sector is by observing changes in manufacturing employees’ number of working hours. This data is released by the US Bureau of Labor Statistics every month, after its establishment […]

The Conference Board Leading Economic Index (or LEI) is one of three composite business cycle indicators released by the Conference Board. In this series, we’ll analyze each component of the LEI and its implications for different sectors.

There are 12 analysts covering Genesee & Wyoming (GWR) stock. Of those, five analysts (or 42.0%) have a “strong buy” opinion on the stock.

In 2Q17, GWR’s North American revenues were $315.7 million, a 3.6% rise from $304.6 million in the same quarter last year.

For 3Q17, Spirit Airlines’ (SAVE) sales are expected to rise 21.7% year-over-year (or YoY) to $756.4 million.

Spirit Airlines (SAVE) had no debt until 4Q14. Debt rose to $646 million at the end of 2015 and $981.7 million at the end of 2016.

For 2Q17, Spirit Airlines’ adjusted operating profit improved 8.9% year-over-year (or YoY) to $132.7 million.

In early May, Spirit Airlines (SAVE) ended up canceling more than 300 flights due to the pilot strike.

Southwest Airlines’ (LUV) debt level has remained almost constant for nearly three years at an average of $3.0 billion.

CSX’s (CSX) Merchandise segment revenues expanded 1% to $1.8 billion in 2Q17.

JetBlue Airways’ (JBLU) revenue fell almost 0.7% year-over-year (or YoY) in the first quarter.

Delta Air Lines (DAL) is currently valued at 5.8x its forward EV-to-EBITDA (enterprise value to earnings before interest, tax, depreciation, and amortization) multiple.

Delta Air Lines’ (DAL) cost per available seat mile excluding fuel and including profit sharing (or CASM-ex) rose 7.3% year-over-year (or YoY).

NSC overall intermodal volumes declined 0.3% YoY in the week ended July 8, 2017, moving over 64,000 containers and trailers for the period.

On July 5, 2017, CSX’s (CSX) stock reached a 52-week high of $55.3 per share.

The analysts surveyed by Reuters estimate that CSX (CSX) will see EPS of $0.6 in 2Q17. On a YoY basis, this would mean a 35% rise.

In the 26th week of 2017, Norfolk Southern (NSC) saw its overall intermodal volumes expressed containers and trailers grow 8.9%.

During 1Q17, Delta Air Lines’ (DAL) debt rose by ~$2 billion at a blended interest rate of just 3.3%.

In another innovative effort, Delta Air Lines (DAL) has partnered with Lyft.

Delta Air Lines’ (DAL) revenue is expected to rise 3.0% year-over-year (or YoY) to $10.8 billion in 2Q17.

In the week ended June 24, 2017, Norfolk Southern (NSC) reported a 3.8% rise in its overall intermodal volumes.

SAIA reported an 8.4% rise in LTL shipments per workday in May 2017. The company’s LTL tonnage per workday also rose 7.5% compared to May 2016.

Norfolk Southern’s overall intermodal traffic rose 6.8% in the week ended June 17, 2017. The company’s intermodal volumes reached ~80,000 containers and trailers.

Earlier, we discussed FedEx’s (FDX) segmental and corporate operating margins in fiscal 4Q17. Now, let’s take a look at the company’s capital expenditure (capex).

In this article, we’ll study the company’s Freight segment’s fiscal 4Q17. The segment’s revenue rose 5.7% to $1.7 billion in the quarter, compared to $1.6 billion in fiscal 4Q16.

In fiscal 4Q17, FedEx’s (FDX) Express segment’s total revenue was $7.1 billion, compared to $6.7 billion in fiscal 4Q16, a year-over-year (or YoY) rise of 6.9%.

Norfolk Southern’s (NSC) total intermodal traffic rose 5.3% in the week ended June 10, 2017.

Spirit Airlines’ (SAVE) traffic grew 6.6% YoY (year-over-year) in May 2017—much slower than its 9.0% YoY capacity growth for the same month.

In May 2017, Spirit Airlines’ (SAVE) capacity grew 9.0% YoY, which was slower than its 12.9% YoY growth in April 2017.

For May 2017, American Airlines’ (AAL) traffic grew 2.6% YoY (year-over-year), which was slightly higher than its capacity growth of 2.6% YoY.

United Continental (UAL) has lately been in the news for all the wrong reasons.

Airlines’ history of destroying capital has made investors wary of the industry.

Norfolk Southern’s (NSC) total intermodal traffic rose 8% in the week ended May 13, 2017. Its volumes reached ~72,000 containers.

Norfolk Southern’s (NSC) total intermodal traffic rose 4.3% in the week ended May 6, 2017. Its volumes reached ~78,000 containers.

Norfolk Southern’s intermodal traffic Norfolk Southern’s (NSC) total intermodal traffic rose 6.5% in the week ended April 29, 2017. Its volumes reached ~78,000 containers. Norfolk’s container traffic rose 5.6%, and its trailer traffic rose 15.6% YoY (year-over-year) to nearly 6,900 units, compared with 5,900 units in the week ended April 30, 2016. Since the beginning of […]

Norfolk Southern’s (NSC) total intermodal traffic rose a marginal 1.2% in the week ended April 22, 2017. Its volumes reached more than 74,000 containers.

Revenues from CSX’s Merchandise segment rose 6% to $1.8 billion in 1Q17 against $1.7 billion on a year-over-year basis.

Norfolk Southern’s (NSC) total intermodal traffic rose to 6.5% in the week ended April 15, 2017. Its volumes reached more than 69,500 containers.

Norfolk Southern (NSC) has a mean analyst rating of 2.57, indicating a “hold.”

For the first quarter of 2017, the analysts surveyed by Reuters have estimated a 29.3% operating margin for Norfolk Southern (NSC).

Norfolk Southern’s (NSC) total intermodal traffic increased marginally to 2.8% in the week ended April 8, 2017.

In 1Q17, Alaska Air Group’s (ALK) revenue is expected to rise 32.2% year-over-year (or YoY) to $1.8 billion. Its 2Q17 revenue is expected to rise 40.1% YoY to $ 2.1 billion.

At the end of 2015, Alaska Air Group (ALK) increased its dividend for the third time since it started paying dividends. It increased its dividend by 38%.

NSC’s rise in trailer volumes appears to mark the end of its hardship due to its restructuring of TCS (Triple Crown Services), its underperforming subsidiary.

United Continental (UAL) is currently trading at a forward EV-to-EBITDA (enterprise value to earnings before interest, tax, depreciation, and amortization) multiple of 5.9x.

For 1Q17, analysts are now expecting United Continental’s (UAL) EBITDA to fall 39% to $0.81 billion.

Norfolk Southern’s (NSC) total intermodal traffic slumped 2.3% in the week ended March 18, 2017. Its volumes reached nearly 71,000 containers.

In 3Q17, the company incurred a capex of $1.1 billion, which represents 7.4% of the 3Q17 total revenues of ~$15.0 billion.

The FedEx Freight segment revenues rose 3.1% from $1.4 billion in 3Q16 to $1.5 billion in fiscal 3Q17.

In 3Q17, FedEx’s (FDX) Express segment reported revenue of $6.7 billion as compared to $6.5 billion in 3Q16.

Norfolk Southern’s (NSC) total intermodal traffic rose 2.4% in the week ended March 11, 2017.