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Knight-Swift Transportation Holdings Inc.: Q2 FY2026 earnings call

What management said about Q2 FY2026, from the documents filed with the SEC on 22 July 2026: press release. Guidance figures: 9 new, 3 kept. The quarter’s numbers.

Key takeaways

  • Revenue rose, adjusted operating ratio improved: Total revenue was $2.1 billion, up 12.6% year-over-year, and Adjusted Operating Ratio improved 240 basis points to 91.4%. Revenue excluding truckload and LTL fuel surcharge rose 5.5%. Source
  • Truckload margin improved 360 basis points: Truckload revenue excluding fuel surcharge rose 2.8% and Adjusted Operating Ratio improved to 91.0%. Revenue per loaded mile rose 5.5%, and empty miles fell 140 basis points. Source
  • U.S. Xpress over-the-road posted first profit: The U.S. Xpress over-the-road division reached its first profitable quarter since the acquisition, with rate improvement above the legacy brands. Source
  • Intermodal returned to profitability: Intermodal revenue rose 34.9%, load count rose 19.6%, and Operating Ratio improved 470 basis points to 99.4%. Revenue per load rose 12.8%. Source
  • Logistics gross margin compressed: Logistics revenue rose 8.9% as revenue per load increased 29.6% while load count fell 16.4%. Gross margin was 15.4%, down 350 basis points year-over-year. Source
  • Truckload market tightening accelerated: Spot rates, tender rejections and contract negotiations rose through the quarter. Management said tender rejection rates ran roughly twice public indicators in the second quarter. Source
  • Rate per loaded mile accelerated into June: Rate per loaded mile improved from low single digits entering the quarter to high single digits in June. Over-the-road rate rose double digits year-over-year in June. Source
  • Driver supply tightening: Management said driver availability is showing signs of tightness and that safe, quality drivers are becoming more of a premium. Seated truck count in Truckload was pressured. Source
  • Free cash flow positive year-to-date: Year-to-date free cash flow was $190.4 million, from $450.4 million in operating cash flow less $259.9 million of net capital expenditures. Source
  • Convertible bonds replaced bank debt: The company issued $1.5 billion of 1.0% convertible bonds due 2031. It repaid $626.0 million on the revolver and $775.0 million on term loans. Source

“We believe demand for our truckload service offering is outpacing the market, as evidenced by our tender rejection rates running roughly twice the levels of public indicators in the second quarter.”

Adam Miller, CEO of Knight-Swift

Guidance

AreaPeriodFigureAgainst last quarter
Adjusted EPS Sourcethird quarter of 2026$0.71 to $0.77New
Truckload Adjusted Operating Ratio Sourcethird quarter of 2026, year-over-yearimproving 650 - 750 basis pointsNew
LTL Adjusted Operating Ratio Sourcethird quarter of 2026low 90'sNew
Intermodal segment revenue Sourcethird quarter of 2026, sequentialup low single-digit percentNew
All Other Segments operating income Sourcethird quarter of 2026approximately $18 million to $22 million, before $11.5 million quarterly intangible amortizationNew
Gain on sale Sourcethird quarter of 2026$12 million to $17 millionNew
Net interest expense Sourcethird quarter of 2026, sequentialdown approximately $5 millionNew
Other income, net below the line Sourcethird quarter of 2026roughly $2 million to $4 millionNew
Net cash capital expenditures Sourcefull year 2026$600 million - $650 millionKept
Effective tax rate on adjusted income before taxes Sourcethird quarter of 2026approximately 25.5% to 26.5%Kept
Effective tax rate on adjusted income before taxes Sourcefull year 2026approximately 25.0% to 26.0%New
Amortization of intangible assets per share Sourcefull year 2026approximately $0.34Kept

What changed from last quarter

  • Guidance raised: Third-quarter Adjusted EPS range of $0.71 to $0.77 was given after a second-quarter range of $0.45 to $0.49 in the prior release, which is a higher range; the documents do not use the word raised. Source
  • New guidance: Quarterly guidance now covers the third quarter of 2026, with segment-level items for Truckload, LTL, Logistics, Intermodal and All Other. Source
  • New: Accounts receivable securitization program is new in 2026; its costs of $5.8 million in the second quarter were in operating income, not interest expense. Source
  • New: Former executive chairman retirement and consulting arrangement produced an $18.2 million severance charge in the second quarter. Source
  • New: Issued $1.5 billion face amount of convertible 1.0% bonds due November 2031 in the first half of 2026. Source
  • Guidance kept: Full-year net cash capital expenditures range of $600 million to $650 million was kept from the prior release. Source

Results and growth drivers

  • Revenue rose, adjusted operating ratio improved: Total revenue was $2.1 billion, up 12.6% year-over-year, and Adjusted Operating Ratio improved 240 basis points to 91.4%. Revenue excluding truckload and LTL fuel surcharge rose 5.5%. Source
  • Adjusted EPS nearly doubled year-over-year: Adjusted EPS was $0.63 versus $0.35 a year earlier. GAAP diluted EPS was $0.26 versus $0.21. Net income attributable to Knight-Swift was $43.2 million. Source
  • Quarter rebounded from first-quarter loss: The first-quarter release reported a GAAP loss per diluted share of $(0.01) and Adjusted EPS of $0.09. The second quarter GAAP EPS was $0.26 and Adjusted EPS was $0.63.

Segments and regions

  • Truckload margin improved 360 basis points: Truckload revenue excluding fuel surcharge rose 2.8% and Adjusted Operating Ratio improved to 91.0%. Revenue per loaded mile rose 5.5%, and empty miles fell 140 basis points. Source
  • U.S. Xpress over-the-road posted first profit: The U.S. Xpress over-the-road division reached its first profitable quarter since the acquisition, with rate improvement above the legacy brands. Source
  • LTL shipments fell while tonnage grew: LTL revenue excluding fuel surcharge fell 1.4% on a 3.7% drop in shipments per day, while tonnage per day grew 4.0%. Adjusted Operating Ratio improved 100 basis points to 92.1%. Source
  • Intermodal returned to profitability: Intermodal revenue rose 34.9%, load count rose 19.6%, and Operating Ratio improved 470 basis points to 99.4%. Revenue per load rose 12.8%. Source
  • Logistics gross margin compressed: Logistics revenue rose 8.9% as revenue per load increased 29.6% while load count fell 16.4%. Gross margin was 15.4%, down 350 basis points year-over-year. Source
  • All Other segments swung to loss: All Other Segments revenue rose 41.8% on warehousing and trailer leasing, but operating results were a $10.4 million loss, including the securitization cost and an $18.2 million severance charge. Source

“we anticipate meaningful opportunity ahead as the improvement in rate per loaded mile accelerated from low single-digits coming into the quarter to high single-digits in June.”

Adam Miller, CEO of Knight-Swift

Products and customers

  • Logistics pricing offset by fewer loads: Logistics revenue per load was $2,624, up 29.6%, while brokerage load count fell 16.4% as management kept a disciplined approach to carrier quality. Source
  • Intermodal load count hit second-quarter high: Intermodal load count was 39,082, up 19.6%, the highest second-quarter mark since 2021. Average revenue per load was $2,901, up 12.8%. Source

Costs, margins and pricing

  • Insurance and claims expense increased: Insurance and claims expense was $100.2 million versus $85.3 million a year earlier. Source
  • Interest expense fell on refinancing: Interest expense was $23.3 million versus $40.9 million, a $17.6 million reduction year-over-year. Source
  • Tax rate and non-GAAP items: GAAP effective tax rate was 34.1% versus 29.2%. Non-GAAP effective tax rate was 24.4% versus 28.0%. Excluded items included a $22.8 million mark-to-market charge tied to U.S. Xpress purchase price obligations. Source

“Similar to our outlook last quarter, we expect momentum across our businesses to build as rates continue to be reset”

Adam Miller, CEO of Knight-Swift

Demand and the order book

  • Truckload market tightening accelerated: Spot rates, tender rejections and contract negotiations rose through the quarter. Management said tender rejection rates ran roughly twice public indicators in the second quarter. Source
  • Rate per loaded mile accelerated into June: Rate per loaded mile improved from low single digits entering the quarter to high single digits in June. Over-the-road rate rose double digits year-over-year in June. Source
  • Driver supply tightening: Management said driver availability is showing signs of tightness and that safe, quality drivers are becoming more of a premium. Seated truck count in Truckload was pressured. Source
  • LTL renewals and freight mix: LTL renewal rates continued mid single-digit percentage increases. Revenue per shipment excluding fuel surcharge rose 3.4%. Source

Capital, cash and shareholder returns

  • Free cash flow positive year-to-date: Year-to-date free cash flow was $190.4 million, from $450.4 million in operating cash flow less $259.9 million of net capital expenditures. Source
  • Convertible bonds replaced bank debt: The company issued $1.5 billion of 1.0% convertible bonds due 2031. It repaid $626.0 million on the revolver and $775.0 million on term loans. Source
  • Liquidity and net debt: Unrestricted cash and available liquidity were $1.7 billion and stockholders' equity was $7.0 billion. Net debt was $2.2 billion at June 30, 2026. Source
  • Quarterly dividend of $0.20: The board declared a $0.20 per share quarterly dividend on May 12, 2026, paid June 22, 2026, up from $0.18. Source

Equipment and capital expenditures

  • Net capex rose year-to-date: Year-to-date net capital expenditures were $259.9 million, versus $172.2 million a year earlier. Full-year guidance of $600 million to $650 million was kept. Source
  • Tractor fleet aged slightly in Truckload: Average Truckload tractor age was 2.8 years versus 2.7 a year earlier. LTL tractor fleet age fell to 3.8 years from 4.5 years. Source

Strategy and investment

  • LTL freight mix and network focus: Management said the near-term LTL focus is revenue and margin expansion through service, disciplined pricing and cost efficiency, while seeking organic and inorganic footprint expansion. Source
  • Truckload capacity deployed deliberately: Truckload priorities are monitoring market pricing, deploying capacity, managing costs, raising the seated truck percentage and improving utilization. Source

People and leadership

  • Former executive chairman retirement: An $18.2 million severance charge was recorded for the retirement and consulting arrangement of the former executive chairman. Source

Coming up, as management said on 22 July 2026

  • Q3 guidance update: Next quarterly Adjusted EPS guidance follows in the third quarter release; the current range covers the third quarter of 2026. Source
  • Momentum to build across businesses: Management expects momentum to build as rates are reset, cost and operational initiatives continue, and more spot and project opportunities arise. Source

Risks management discussed

  • External: Truckload capacity is tightening, and management said it expects rate and margin gains to depend on capacity conditions persisting. Source
  • Operational: Logistics gross margin faces pressure as spot capacity costs rose faster than contractual pricing gains. Source
  • Financial: Mark-to-market adjustment on U.S. Xpress purchase price obligations produced a $22.8 million expense, and a pre-acquisition tax assessment accrual rose $8.2 million. Source
  • Demand: LTL shipments per day fell 3.7% as management metered certain volumes to improve network efficiency and freight mix. Source

Earlier plans management reported on

  • Not stated: The full-year 2026 net capital expenditure range of $600 million to $650 million was kept from the prior release. Source

Other quarters

Summarised with AI from the documents the company filed with the SEC. Every point is checked against the filing before it is shown: management’s own words word for word, figures against the line or table row they come from. A point that fails the check is left out. Source opens the filing at that line.