C. H. ROBINSON WORLDWIDE, INC. (CHRW)

Price—Loading quote

AI: Overvalued

Price checkThe shares still look expensive after their sharp fall from July’s highs.

At $148.57, the latest available close, the June share count implies a market value near $17.4 billion. Trailing diluted earnings are about $5.24 a share, so the stock costs roughly 28 times earnings. Cash generated by operations over the last four reported quarters was about $685 million, only 3.9% of that market value before business investment. Even 2022’s cyclical-peak $7.40 earnings would cost 20 times. The price therefore assumes durable margin gains and better cash conversion despite freight cyclicality and unresolved legal exposure, supporting an Overvalued verdict.

Big pictureProfits are recovering through efficiency gains, but freight demand remains deeply cyclical.

Revenue fell from $24.7 billion in 2022 to $16.2 billion in 2025 as freight prices and demand weakened. Operating income, profit from the core business, dropped from $1.27 billion to $515 million by 2023 before recovering to $795 million in 2025. Second-quarter 2026 operating income rose 18.4%, despite a weak freight index. Cash is less dependable: 2025 operations produced $915 million, but first-half 2026 produced only $104 million, versus $334 million one year earlier, mainly because customer receivables absorbed cash.

Business strengthAutomation and scale support margins, while debt-funded buybacks weaken the safety cushion.

At June 30, current assets of $3.56 billion covered current liabilities of $2.25 billion. However, debt minus cash reached $1.53 billion, about $602 million above year-end. During the first half, C.H. Robinson spent $432 million on buybacks and $154 million on dividends against only $104 million of operating cash, while also funding an acquisition. Second-quarter repurchases averaged $167.12 per share, above today’s price. Positively, shares have fallen 12.8% since 2020, limiting dilution, while second-quarter headcount fell 10.8% and operating margin improved 3.6 percentage points.

What could change the storyHigher freight volumes could justify the price, but legal losses could erase gains.

The strongest bull case is sustained productivity plus a freight recovery. Earnings above roughly $7.50 a share would reduce today’s price to below 20 times earnings, while annual operating cash above $900 million would confirm durability. The bear case is stalled margins: second-quarter carrier costs per mile rose 29%, faster than the 25.5% increase charged to customers, although profit per mile still edged higher. The legal appeal is the larger wildcard. The $604 million jury award approximates one year’s trailing profit, and disclosed insurance covers only $155 million per occurrence.

$148.57 price considered

AI: News

Strong quarter, weak cashSecond-quarter profit rose strongly, but weak cash generation challenged the quality of the gain.

On July 29, 2026, C.H. Robinson reported revenue of $4.93 billion, up 19.3%, and net income of $186.8 million, up 22.5%. Diluted earnings rose 23.8% to $1.56 per share, while North American volume grew 1.5% against a 3.3% market decline. However, operating cash fell to $35.9 million from $227.1 million. Shares declined 15.44% on July 30. The timing suggests expectations reset after the report, but continuing legal concerns prevent attributing the move solely to earnings.

Major jury verdictA $604 million verdict exposed a legal risk that could outlast the current appeal.

On July 23, 2026, a Dallas jury assigned 23% of $604 million in damages to C.H. Robinson. Because it also found shared legal responsibility, the company could potentially owe the entire award. Its quarterly filing disclosed $155 million of insurance and a $5 million deductible, while recording only an immaterial amount because management expects to appeal. Shares fell 9.25% on July 24 and 6.46% on July 27; that timing is consistent with concern, but does not prove the verdict alone caused both declines.

DeSpir acquisition completedThe acquisition adds specialized cargo services, though its near-term financial contribution should remain small.

On June 22, 2026, C.H. Robinson bought DeSpir Logistics for approximately $75 million in cash. DeSpir generated $62 million of 2025 revenue, making the price about 1.2 times revenue, although profitability was not disclosed. Management expects a slight increase to 2026 earnings. The deal adds secure transport for pharmaceuticals, data-center equipment and other valuable cargo. Relative to C.H. Robinson’s size, the purchase is modest; its importance depends on whether the company can scale these higher-value services successfully.

Broker liability expandsA Supreme Court ruling opened freight brokers to more state negligence claims and possible insurance costs.

On May 14, 2026, the unanimous U.S. Supreme Court ruled that certain state negligent-hiring claims against freight brokers are not blocked by federal transportation law. The Court reversed and returned the Montgomery case to lower courts; it did not decide that C.H. Robinson was negligent. The ruling matters because brokers may now face varying state standards, more litigation and higher insurance costs. C.H. Robinson’s subsequent quarterly filing specifically warned that claims and related defense or settlement expenses could increase.

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Free cash flow

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Total cash / debt

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Financial statements

	2025	2024	2023	2022	2021	2020	2019	2018	2017	2016	2015	2014	2013	2012	2011	2010	2009	2008	2007
Revenue	$16.23B	$17.72B	$17.60B	$24.70B	$23.10B	$16.21B	$15.31B	$16.63B	$14.87B	$13.14B	$13.48B	$13.47B	$12.75B	$11.36B	$10.34B	$9.27B	$7.58B	$8.58B	$7.32B
Operating income	$795.0M	$669.1M	$514.6M	$1.27B	$1.08B	$673.3M	$790.0M	$912.1M	$775.1M	$837.5M	$858.3M	$748.4M	$682.6M	$675.3M	$692.7M	$622.9M	$584.8M	$571.6M	$509.7M
EBITDAderived	$897.8M	$766.3M	$613.6M	$1.36B	$1.17B	$775.0M	$890.4M	$1.01B	$868.1M	$912.2M	$924.7M	$805.4M	$739.5M	$713.4M	$725.2M	$652.2M	$615.3M	$602.8M	$537.0M
Net income	$587.1M	$465.7M	$325.1M	$940.5M	$844.2M	$506.4M	$577.0M	$664.5M	$504.9M	$513.4M	$509.7M	$449.7M	$415.9M	$593.8M	$431.6M	$387.0M	$360.8M	$359.2M	$324.3M
Basic EPSper diluted share	$4.88	$3.89	$2.74	$7.48	$6.37	$3.74	$4.21	$4.78	$3.59	$3.60	$3.52	$3.06	$2.65	$3.68	$2.63	$2.35	$2.15	$2.12	$1.90
Diluted EPSper diluted share	$4.83	$3.86	$2.72	$7.40	$6.31	$3.72	$4.19	$4.73	$3.57	$3.59	$3.51	$3.05	$2.65	$3.67	$2.62	$2.33	$2.13	$2.08	$1.86

Review source filings at SEC.gov ↗

Insider buys & sells

Jul 1, 2024–Jun 30, 2026

Buys4$501.6K disclosed value

Sells (SEC code S)23$30.06M disclosed value

Transaction	Insider	Type	Shares	Price	Value	Owned after
Feb 12, 2026Form 4	Castagnetto Michael D.Pres, NAST	BuyCommon Stock	594.39	$168.24	$100.0K	35.5K
Feb 12, 2026Form 4	Bozeman David PPresident & CEO	BuyCommon Stock	1.2K	$163.35	$199.8K	190.6K
Feb 12, 2026Form 4	RAJAN ARUNChief Strat & Innov Officer	BuyCommon Stock	605	$167.11	$101.1K	133.7K
Feb 12, 2026Form 4	Lee Damon J.Chief Financial Officer	BuyCommon Stock	620	$162.52	$100.8K	41.4K
Feb 9, 2026Form 4	Freeman Angela K.CHRO and ESG Officer	SellCommon Stock	8.6K	$200.52	$1.72M	55.6K

Review ownership filings at SEC.gov ↗

C. H. ROBINSON WORLDWIDE, INC. (CHRW)

Financial charts

Financial statements

Insider buys & sells