Landstar System, Inc. (NASDAQ:LSTR) Poised For Near-Term Momentum On Bullish Technicals

Landstar shows technical momentum that supports a near-term bullish bias, while fundamental signals point to stretched valuation and margin pressure. The combination suggests price action may lead fundamentals in the coming weeks.

Recent News

On January 28, 2026 Landstar released fiscal Q4 results noting an EPS miss and commentary that insurance costs and related charges cloud near-term guidance. The company confirmed an ongoing sales process for its Landstar Metro unit and cited geopolitical risks related to Mexican operations in the announcement. A special one-time cash dividend of $2.00 per share paid January 21, 2026 drew investor attention, and the company promoted an AI strategy in investor slides released with the quarter. In March 2026 Landstar received industry recognition as a Top Trucking Employer (TCA 2026 Best Place to Drive).

Technical Analysis

ADX registers 18.28, indicating no established directional trend; momentum measures thus drive short-term bias more than a dominant trend. The directional indicators diverge: DI+ at 23.15 and rising signals buyer strength, while DI− shows a dip-and-reversal pattern consistent with bearish pressure returning; the net reads as short-term bullish bias tempered by renewed selling risk.

MACD sits at 4.02 with the MACD line above the signal line (signal 2.69) and an increasing MACD trend — a bullish momentum cross that supports additional near-term upside potential from current levels.

MRO stands at −2.88 with a peak-and-reversal trend; the negative MRO indicates price sits below its internal target and, in mechanical terms, suggests potential for price to move higher toward that target if momentum holds.

RSI at 58.87 with an increasing trend points to constructive momentum without overbought extremes; the 12-day EMA (price12dayEMA 164.46, increasing) sits below the close ($168.27), and the close also sits above the 50-day ($155.74) and 200-day ($138.90) averages, reinforcing short-to-intermediate bullish alignment.

Price currently trades just beneath the 1× Bollinger upper band (upper 1× = $169.19), implying proximity to near-term resistance while the SuperTrend lower support sits at $159.32. Short-term volume (395,793) slightly exceeds the 10-day average (391,129), indicating attention behind recent moves; 42-day beta 1.22 denotes above-market short-term volatility that can widen intraday ranges.

 


Fundamental Analysis

Revenue totaled $1,174,469,000 with YoY revenue growth of 5.86% and QoQ growth of 4.21%, showing continued top-line expansion. Gross profit reached $155,515,000 and gross margin registered 13.241%, a 4.12 percentage-point YoY improvement.

Operating (EBIT) margin measured 2.43%, down 44.85% QoQ and down 45.51% YoY; this margin sits below the industry peer mean of 8.08% and below the industry peer median of 8.10%, signaling compressed operating profitability relative to peers. Operating income totaled $28,553,000.

Reported EPS of $0.70 missed the estimate of $0.99, a shortfall of $0.29, equivalent to a −29.3% EPS surprise. Earnings growth reads −38.53% on the period measure while reported net income from continuing operations reached $23,944,000.

Return metrics show return on equity near 3.01% and return on assets near 1.45%, rates that reflect modest capital efficiency given total assets of $1,635,935,000 and total equity of $795,665,000. Free cash flow reached $70,506,000 with a free cash flow yield of 1.46%, below the industry peer mean free cash flow yield of 2.17%.

Capital structure remains conservative: total debt $133,476,000, debt-to-equity 0.168, and interest coverage ~24.4x. Book value per share near $23.36 while the price-to-book ratio equals 6.09, modestly above the industry peer mean of 5.14 and within the industry peer range high of 10.22.

The current valuation as determined by WMDST: over-valued. Market multiples underline the view: trailing P/E ~189.7 and forward P/E ~81.1 sit above typical peer means, and enterprise multiple prints well above the industry peer mean, supporting the WMDST valuation assessment despite healthy cash balances ($396.7M) and positive operating cash flow.

MOST-RECENT QUARTERLY REPORT
REPORT PERIOD ENDING: 2025-12-31
REPORT DATE: 2026-01-28
NEXT REPORT DATE: 2026-04-29
CASH FLOW  Begin Period Cash Flow 375.2 M
 Operating Cash Flow 72.7 M
 Capital Expenditures -2.21 M
 Change In Working Capital 35.5 M
 Dividends Paid -13.66 M
 Cash Flow Delta 21.5 M
 End Period Cash Flow 396.7 M
 
INCOME STATEMENT REVENUE
 Total Revenue 1.2 B
 Forward Revenue 700.8 M
COSTS
 Cost Of Revenue 1.0 B
 Depreciation 10.5 M
 Depreciation and Amortization 10.5 M
 Research and Development
 Total Operating Expenses 1.1 B
PROFITABILITY
 Gross Profit 155.5 M
 EBITDA 39.1 M
 EBIT 28.6 M
 Operating Income 28.6 M
 Interest Income -240.00 K
 Interest Expense
 Net Interest Income -240.00 K
 Income Before Tax 29.3 M
 Tax Provision 5.4 M
 Tax Rate 18.313 %
 Net Income 23.9 M
 Net Income From Continuing Operations 23.9 M
EARNINGS
 EPS Estimate 0.99
 EPS Actual 0.70
 EPS Difference -0.29
 EPS Surprise -29.293 %
 Forward EPS 1.68
 
BALANCE SHEET ASSETS
 Total Assets 1.6 B
 Intangible Assets 34.0 M
 Net Tangible Assets 761.7 M
 Total Current Assets 1.2 B
 Cash and Short-Term Investments 452.2 M
 Cash 396.7 M
 Net Receivables 670.1 M
 Inventory
 Long-Term Investments 124.3 M
LIABILITIES
 Accounts Payable 369.6 M
 Short-Term Debt 56.7 M
 Total Current Liabilities 695.8 M
 Net Debt
 Total Debt 133.5 M
 Total Liabilities 840.3 M
EQUITY
 Total Equity 795.7 M
 Retained Earnings 2.9 B
VALUATION & PER-SHARE METRICS EQUITY & PER-SHARE METRICS
 Book Value Per-Share 23.36
 Shares Outstanding 34.059 M
 Revenue Per-Share 34.48
VALUATION
 Market Capitalization 4.8 B
 Enterprise Value 4.5 B
 Enterprise Multiple 115.89
Enterprise Multiple QoQ 80.436 %
Enterprise Multiple YoY 34.976 %
Enterprise Multiple IPRWA LSTR: 115.89
high: 111.108
mean: 45.222
median: 34.234
low: -35.353
 EV/R 3.854
CAPITAL STRUCTURE
 Asset To Equity 2.056
 Asset To Liability 1.947
 Debt To Capital 0.144
 Debt To Assets 0.082
Debt To Assets QoQ 8.382 %
Debt To Assets YoY 142.395 %
Debt To Assets IPRWA high: 0.794
median: 0.391
mean: 0.364
LSTR: 0.082
low: 0.033
 Debt To Equity 0.168
Debt To Equity QoQ 19.149 %
Debt To Equity YoY 167.288 %
Debt To Equity IPRWA high: 2.844
mean: 1.391
median: 1.342
LSTR: 0.168
low: 0.043
PRICE-BASED VALUATION
 Price To Book (P/B) 6.089
Price To Book QoQ 21.3 %
Price To Book YoY -4.971 %
Price To Book IPRWA high: 10.221
LSTR: 6.089
median: 5.223
mean: 5.136
low: 0.232
 Price To Earnings (P/E) 189.675
Price To Earnings QoQ 78.14 %
Price To Earnings YoY 40.825 %
Price To Earnings IPRWA high: 219.55
LSTR: 189.675
mean: 72.613
median: 41.949
low: -140.344
 PE/G Ratio -4.923
 Price To Sales (P/S) 4.125
Price To Sales QoQ 11.461 %
Price To Sales YoY -19.938 %
Price To Sales IPRWA high: 17.053
LSTR: 4.125
mean: 4.051
median: 3.462
low: 0.815
FORWARD MULTIPLES
Forward P/E 81.146
Forward PE/G -2.106
Forward P/S 6.939
EFFICIENCY OPERATIONAL
 Operating Leverage 18.026
ASSET & SALES
 Asset Turnover Ratio 0.712
Asset Turnover Ratio QoQ -0.685 %
Asset Turnover Ratio YoY 5.139 %
Asset Turnover Ratio IPRWA high: 0.761
LSTR: 0.712
mean: 0.367
median: 0.339
low: 0.008
 Receivables Turnover 1.719
Receivables Turnover Ratio QoQ 0.793 %
Receivables Turnover Ratio YoY -2.004 %
Receivables Turnover Ratio IPRWA high: 2.589
mean: 2.039
median: 1.983
LSTR: 1.719
low: 1.171
 Inventory Turnover
Inventory Turnover Ratio QoQ
Inventory Turnover Ratio YoY
Inventory Turnover Ratio IPRWA
 Days Sales Outstanding (DSO) 53.07
CASH CYCLE
 Cash Conversion Cycle Days (CCC)
Cash Conversion Cycle Days QoQ
Cash Conversion Cycle Days YoY
Cash Conversion Cycle Days IPRWA
CAPITAL DEPLOYMENT
 Cash Conversion Ratio 2.256
 CapEx To Revenue -0.002
 CapEx To Depreciation -0.21
 
CAPITAL, LIQUIDITY & COVERAGE CAPITAL STRUCTURE
 Total Capital 795.7 M
 Net Invested Capital 852.3 M
 Invested Capital 852.3 M
 Net Tangible Assets 761.7 M
 Net Working Capital 520.5 M
LIQUIDITY
 Cash Ratio 0.65
 Current Ratio 1.748
Current Ratio QoQ -13.088 %
Current Ratio YoY -10.849 %
Current Ratio IPRWA high: 2.155
LSTR: 1.748
mean: 1.247
median: 1.219
low: 0.829
 Quick Ratio
Quick Ratio QoQ
Quick Ratio YoY
Quick Ratio IPRWA
COVERAGE & LEVERAGE
 Debt To EBITDA 3.417
 Cost Of Debt 0.646 %
 Interest Coverage Ratio 24.425
Interest Coverage Ratio QoQ -46.265 %
Interest Coverage Ratio YoY -47.074 %
Interest Coverage Ratio IPRWA LSTR: 24.425
high: 16.885
median: 9.917
mean: 9.087
low: -65.0
 Operating Cash Flow Ratio 0.039
TIMING / LIQUIDITY
 Days Payables Outstanding (DPO) 33.666
DIVIDENDS
 Dividend Coverage Ratio 1.753
 Dividend Payout Ratio 0.571
 Dividend Rate 0.40
 Dividend Yield 0.003
PERFORMANCE GROWTH
 Asset Growth Rate -1.58 %
 Revenue Growth -2.567 %
Revenue Growth QoQ 420.69 %
Revenue Growth YoY 586.364 %
Revenue Growth IPRWA high: 18.902 %
mean: 5.783 %
median: 5.507 %
LSTR: -2.567 %
low: -7.198 %
 Earnings Growth -38.525 %
Earnings Growth QoQ -2411.038 %
Earnings Growth YoY 443.218 %
Earnings Growth IPRWA high: 88.889 %
mean: 15.64 %
median: 8.17 %
LSTR: -38.525 %
low: -75.342 %
MARGINS
 Gross Margin 13.241 %
Gross Margin QoQ 0.554 %
Gross Margin YoY 4.12 %
Gross Margin IPRWA high: 30.222 %
median: 20.769 %
mean: 17.663 %
LSTR: 13.241 %
low: 5.091 %
 EBIT Margin 2.431 %
EBIT Margin QoQ -44.85 %
EBIT Margin YoY -45.505 %
EBIT Margin IPRWA high: 10.777 %
median: 8.096 %
mean: 8.077 %
LSTR: 2.431 %
low: -49.872 %
 Return On Sales (ROS) 2.431 %
Return On Sales QoQ -44.85 %
Return On Sales YoY -45.505 %
Return On Sales IPRWA high: 10.519 %
mean: 8.167 %
median: 8.056 %
LSTR: 2.431 %
low: -7.05 %
CASH FLOW
 Free Cash Flow (FCF) 70.5 M
 Free Cash Flow Yield 1.455 %
Free Cash Flow Yield QoQ -24.572 %
Free Cash Flow Yield YoY 66.667 %
Free Cash Flow Yield IPRWA high: 4.561 %
mean: 2.172 %
median: 1.962 %
LSTR: 1.455 %
low: -3.721 %
 Free Cash Growth -18.057 %
Free Cash Growth QoQ -101.033 %
Free Cash Growth YoY -35.708 %
Free Cash Growth IPRWA high: 585.318 %
median: 12.813 %
mean: 9.091 %
LSTR: -18.057 %
low: -504.706 %
 Free Cash To Net Income 2.945
 Cash Flow Margin 2.308 %
 Cash Flow To Earnings 1.132
VALUE & RETURNS
 Economic Value Added 0.04
 Return On Assets (ROA) 1.452 %
Return On Assets QoQ 26.042 %
Return On Assets YoY -43.873 %
Return On Assets IPRWA high: 4.15 %
median: 2.479 %
mean: 1.939 %
LSTR: 1.452 %
low: -5.819 %
 Return On Capital Employed (ROCE) 3.037 %
 Return On Equity (ROE) 0.03
Return On Equity QoQ 38.091 %
Return On Equity YoY -36.653 %
Return On Equity IPRWA high: 0.11
median: 0.074
mean: 0.067
LSTR: 0.03
low: -0.25
 DuPont ROE 2.843 %
 Return On Invested Capital (ROIC) 2.737 %
Return On Invested Capital QoQ -34.973 %
Return On Invested Capital YoY -132.614 %
Return On Invested Capital IPRWA high: 8.168 %
median: 4.936 %
mean: 3.943 %
LSTR: 2.737 %
low: -6.797 %

Six-Week Outlook

Technical momentum favors short-term upside: MACD has crossed above its signal line, DI+ shows increasing directional strength, RSI remains below overbought thresholds, and price holds above the 12-day EMA and both medium/long-term moving averages. MRO’s negative reading implies mechanical scope for the price to move toward modeled targets. Near-term support clusters around the SuperTrend lower at $159.32 and the Ichimoku baselines near $159.02–$161.15; failure below these levels would dampen the current bullish bias.

Volatility and liquidity considerations: 42-day beta >1 and average volume metrics suggest swings may accelerate; rising short-term volume through the last sessions confirms market interest. Given stretched valuation metrics and compressed operating margin compared with industry peer mean and median, technical-driven price moves may precede any fundamental re-rating, making momentum the dominant driver over the coming six weeks.

About Landstar System, Inc.

Landstar System, Inc. (NASDAQ:LSTR) delivers integrated transportation management solutions across the United States, Canada, Mexico, and internationally. The company operates through two main segments: Transportation Logistics and Insurance. The Transportation Logistics segment provides an extensive range of services, including truckload and less-than-truckload transportation, rail intermodal, air and ocean cargo, expedited delivery, and specialized heavy-haul services. It also facilitates cross-border transportation between the U.S., Canada, and Mexico, and handles project cargo and customs brokerage. Landstar serves diverse industries such as automotive, consumer durables, building products, metals, chemicals, foodstuffs, heavy machinery, retail, electronics, and military equipment. In the Insurance segment, Landstar offers risk and claims management services, along with reinsurance for its independent contractors. The company markets its services through a network of independent commission sales agents and third-party capacity providers. Established in 1991, Landstar System, Inc. maintains its headquarters in Jacksonville, Florida, and continues to support a wide array of industries with its comprehensive transportation and logistics solutions.



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