C.H. Robinson Reports 2026 Second Quarter Results

EDEN PRAIRIE, Minn.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--$CHRW #CHRobinson--C.H. Robinson Worldwide, Inc. (“C.H. Robinson”) (Nasdaq: CHRW) today reported financial results for the quarter ended June 30, 2026.

Second Quarter Highlights:

• Mid-cycle operating margin targets achieved while the freight market is still in the trough of the demand cycle
• Company continues to deliver secular earnings growth driven by market share gains, disciplined revenue management and evergreen productivity improvements fueled by its Lean AI strategy
• North American Surface Transportation ("NAST") volume increased approximately 1.5% year-over-year compared to a 3.3% decline in the Cass Freight Shipment Index, reflecting the 13th consecutive quarter of market outgrowth
• NAST truckload adjusted gross profit per shipment⁽¹⁾ held flat year-over-year despite a significant increase in truckload spot market costs
• Income from operations increased 18.4% to $255.7 million
• Adjusted income from operations⁽¹⁾ increased 19.5% to $263.2 million
• Diluted earnings per share ("EPS") increased 23.8% to $1.56
• Adjusted diluted EPS⁽¹⁾ increased 24.8% to $1.61
• Cash generated by operations decreased by $191.2 million to $35.9 million
• Cash returned to shareholders increased 87.5% to $301.3 million

"I want to begin by thanking our people for their relentless efforts to provide exceptional service to our customers and carriers, for embracing the Robinson operating model and continuing to execute with discipline. These efforts contributed to the high-quality earnings we reported today," said President and Chief Executive Officer, Dave Bozeman. "When I became CEO three years ago, we committed to delivering higher highs and higher lows across freight market cycles. Our second quarter results are yet another example of delivering on that commitment. Despite being in the trough of the freight market demand cycle, with the Cass Freight Shipment Index declining on a year-over-year basis for the 15th consecutive quarter, we hit our mid-cycle operating margin targets in both NAST and Global Forwarding in the second quarter of 2026."

"We achieved this through the disciplined execution of our Lean AI strategy, which has enabled us to identify and remove waste and to automate manual processes in the quote-to-cash lifecycle of an order. The result has been evergreen productivity improvements of over 60% since the end of 2022 in both NAST and Global Forwarding. The execution of our strategy has also enabled us to build a scalable model with significant operating leverage, which contributed to the 20% year-over-year increase in our adjusted operating income."

"But our Lean AI strategy isn’t just about generating higher productivity," added Bozeman. "First and foremost, it needs to result in better service to our customers and carriers, and our scores related to customer satisfaction are exceptionally strong. As we continue to purposefully engineer our work to drive higher automation, an industry-leading cost to serve, and service to our customers and carriers that is better than ever, we’ve consistently gained market share in our NAST business. The second quarter of 2026 was the 13th consecutive quarter in which our year-over-year NAST volume growth outpaced the Cass Freight Shipment Index."

"In our Global Forwarding business, the team continues to help our customers navigate ongoing disruptions across global shipping networks, and they continue to implement the same revenue management disciplines that have been successfully deployed in NAST. Additionally, they are moving from manual, reactive work that is dependent on manual handoffs toward automated workflows that are faster, more connected, and easier to manage at scale. While this journey is still ongoing, we're already seeing encouraging progress in several areas, and as a result, the Global Forwarding team delivered year-over-year productivity improvements of more than 15% in the second quarter of 2026 and achieved an adjusted operating margin, excluding restructuring, of 33.4%."

"We’ll continue to focus on providing differentiated service and solutions to our customers and carriers, executing with discipline, and improving our business model and our cost to serve. We’re highly confident in our ability to continue executing on all of our strategic initiatives, and the strategies that our team is executing are built to be effective in any market environment," said Bozeman.

Summary of Second Quarter of 2026 Results Compared to the Second Quarter of 2025

• Total revenues increased 19.3% to $4.9 billion, primarily driven by higher pricing in our truckload, less than truckload ("LTL"), air and ocean services.
• Gross profits increased 6.8% to $725.9 million. Adjusted gross profits⁽¹⁾ increased 6.5% to $738.0 million, primarily driven by higher adjusted gross profit per transaction in our LTL and air services and higher volume in our LTL services.
• Operating expenses increased 1.0% to $482.2 million. Personnel expenses increased 0.9% to $338.5 million, primarily due to higher incentive compensation reflecting our strong operating performance. This was partially offset by cost optimization efforts and productivity improvements. Average employee headcount declined 10.8%. Other selling, general and administrative (“SG&A”) expenses increased 1.2% to $143.8 million, primarily due to increases across several expense categories.
• Income from operations totaled $255.7 million, up 18.4% due to the increase in adjusted gross profit, partially offset by the increase in operating expenses. Adjusted operating margin⁽¹⁾ of 34.7% increased 360 basis points.
• Interest and other income/expense, net totaled $17.9 million of expense, consisting primarily of $16.9 million of interest expense, which increased $0.1 million versus last year due to a higher average debt balance, partially offset by lower variable interest rates. The second quarter of 2026 results also include a $1.4 million net loss from foreign currency revaluation and realized foreign currency gains and losses.
• The effective tax rate in the quarter was 21.5% compared to 21.4% in the second quarter of 2025.
• Net income totaled $186.8 million, up 22.5% from a year ago. Diluted EPS of $1.56 increased 23.8%. Adjusted diluted EPS⁽¹⁾ of $1.61 increased 24.8%.

Summary of 2026 Year-to-Date Results Compared to 2025

• Total revenues increased 9.3% to $8.9 billion, primarily driven by higher pricing in our truckload and LTL services.
• Gross profits increased 2.7% to $1.4 billion. Adjusted gross profits⁽¹⁾ increased 2.4% to $1.4 billion, primarily driven by higher adjusted gross profit per transaction in our LTL and air services. This was partially offset by lower adjusted gross profit per transaction in our ocean services.
• Operating expenses decreased 0.7% to $967.0 million. Personnel expenses increased 1.1% to $691.2 million, primarily due to higher restructuring charges related to workforce reductions. This was partially offset by cost optimization efforts and productivity improvements. Average employee headcount declined 11.9%. Other SG&A expenses decreased 4.8% to $275.8 million primarily due to reductions across several expense categories and due to a prior year impairment charge on our Kansas City regional center lease resulting from the execution of a sublease agreement on a portion of the building.
• Income from operations totaled $431.4 million, up 9.8% from last year due to the increase in adjusted gross profit and the decrease in operating expenses. Adjusted operating margin⁽¹⁾ of 30.9% increased 220 basis points.
• Interest and other income/expense, net totaled $26.9 million of expense, primarily consisting of $30.9 million of interest expense, which decreased $2.7 million versus last year due to lower variable interest rates and a lower average debt balance. The year-to-date results also include $2.2 million of interest income and a $0.3 million net gain from foreign currency revaluation and realized foreign currency gains and losses.
• The effective tax rate for the six months ended June 30, 2026 was 17.4% compared to 17.9% in the year-ago period.
• Net income totaled $334.0 million, up 16.1% from a year ago. Diluted EPS of $2.78 increased 17.3%. Adjusted diluted EPS⁽¹⁾ of $2.95 increased 19.9%.

North American Surface Transportation (“NAST”) Results

Summarized financial results of our NAST segment are as follows (dollars in thousands):

Second quarter total revenues for the NAST segment totaled $3.6 billion, an increase of 23.1% over the prior year, primarily driven by higher pricing in our truckload and LTL services. NAST adjusted gross profits increased 8.6% in the quarter to $469.4 million. Adjusted gross profits in truckload increased 0.2% due to a 0.5% increase in volume. Our average truckload linehaul rate per mile charged to our customers, which excludes fuel surcharges, increased approximately 25.5% in the quarter compared to the prior year, while truckload linehaul cost per mile, excluding fuel surcharges, increased 29.0%, resulting in a 2.0% increase in truckload adjusted gross profit per mile. LTL adjusted gross profits increased 21.7% versus the year-ago period, driven by a 19.5% increase in adjusted gross profit per order and a 2.0% increase in LTL volume. Total NAST truckload and LTL volume increased 1.5% versus the year-ago period and outpaced the market indices. Operating expenses increased 4.2%, primarily due to higher claims expenses and higher incentive compensation reflecting our strong operating performance, partially offset by cost optimization efforts and productivity improvements. Second quarter average employee headcount was down 11.6% year-over-year. Income from operations increased 15.8% to $189.8 million, and adjusted operating margin expanded 250 basis points to 40.4%. Adjusted operating margin - excluding restructuring⁽¹⁾ increased 280 basis points to 40.9%.

Global Forwarding Results

Summarized financial results of our Global Forwarding segment are as follows (dollars in thousands):

Second quarter total revenues for the Global Forwarding segment increased 12.4% to $896.6 million, primarily driven by higher pricing in our air and ocean services. Adjusted gross profits increased 0.7% in the quarter to $188.8 million. Ocean adjusted gross profits decreased 2.8%, driven by a 4.0% decrease in adjusted gross profit per shipment, partially offset by a 1.0% increase in shipments. Air adjusted gross profits increased 23.4%, driven by a 33.5% increase in adjusted gross profit per metric ton shipped, partially offset by a 7.5% decline in metric tons shipped. Customs adjusted gross profits decreased 9.4%, driven by a 7.5% decrease in adjusted gross profit per transaction and a 2.0% reduction in transaction volume. Operating expenses decreased 6.2%, primarily due to cost optimization efforts and lower incentive compensation. Second quarter average employee headcount decreased 16.6% year-over-year. Income from operations increased 18.8% to $61.0 million, and adjusted operating margin expanded 490 basis points to 32.3% in the quarter. Adjusted operating margin - excluding restructuring⁽¹⁾ expanded 470 basis points to 33.4%.

All Other and Corporate Results

Total revenues and adjusted gross profits for Robinson Fresh, Managed Solutions and Other Surface Transportation are summarized as follows (dollars in thousands):

Second quarter Robinson Fresh adjusted gross profits increased 6.5% to $47.3 million driven by a volume increase with foodservice customers. Managed Solutions adjusted gross profits increased 11.9% due to an increase in freight under management.

Other Income Statement Items

Interest and other income/expense, net totaled $17.9 million of expense, consisting primarily of $16.9 million of interest expense, which increased $0.1 million versus the second quarter of 2025 due to a higher average debt balance, partially offset by lower variable interest rates. The second quarter of 2026 results also include a $1.4 million net loss from foreign currency revaluation and realized foreign currency gains and losses.

The second quarter effective tax rate was 21.5% compared to 21.4% in the second quarter of 2025. For 2026, we expect our full-year effective tax rate to be 18% to 20%.

Diluted weighted average shares outstanding in the quarter were down 1.1% year-over-year due to share repurchases that have occurred over the past twelve months.

Cash Flow Generation and Capital Distribution

Cash generated from operations totaled $35.9 million in the second quarter, compared to $227.1 million in the second quarter of 2025. The $191.2 million decrease in cash flow from operations was primarily related to a $227.3 million decrease in cash generated by changes in net operating working capital, due to a $196.4 million sequential increase in net operating working capital in the second quarter of 2026 compared to a $30.9 million sequential decrease in the second quarter of 2025.

In the second quarter of 2026, cash returned to shareholders totaled $301.3 million, with $226.0 million in repurchases of common stock and $75.3 million in cash dividends.

Capital expenditures totaled $18.2 million in the quarter. Capital expenditures for 2026 are expected to be $65 million to $75 million.

About C.H. Robinson
C.H. Robinson is the global leader in Lean AI supply chains. For more than a century, companies everywhere have looked to us to reimagine how goods move. Now, as we redefine what’s next for the industry, that same drive fuels our commitment to Building Tomorrow’s Supply Chains, Today™. Trusted by 75,000 customers and 450,000 contract carriers, we manage 37 million shipments annually, representing $23 billion in freight. We deliver tailored solutions across the world via truckload, less-than-truckload, ocean, air, and more. With our unique combination of human insight and Lean AI working as one, supply chains move faster, smarter, and more sustainably. As a responsible global citizen, we proudly contribute millions to the causes that matter most to our employees. For more information, visit us at chrobinson.com (Nasdaq: CHRW).

Except for the historical information contained herein, the matters set forth in this release are forward-looking statements that represent our expectations, beliefs, intentions or strategies concerning future events. These forward-looking statements are subject to certain risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from our historical experience or our present expectations, including, but not limited to, factors such as changes in economic conditions, including uncertain consumer demand; changes in market demand and pressures on the pricing for our services; fuel price increases or decreases, or fuel shortages; competition and growth rates within the global logistics industry that could adversely impact our profitability and achieving our long-term growth targets; freight levels and increasing costs and availability of truck capacity or alternative means of transporting freight; risks associated with seasonal changes or significant disruptions in the transportation industry; risks associated with identifying and completing suitable acquisitions; our dependence on and changes in relationships with existing contracted truck, rail, ocean, and air carriers; risks associated with the loss of significant customers; risks associated with reliance on technology to operate our business, including reliance on third-party platforms and cybersecurity related risks; our ability to staff and retain employees; risks associated with operations outside of the U.S.; our ability to successfully integrate the operations of acquired companies with our historic operations or efficiently managing divestitures; climate change related risks; risks associated with our indebtedness; risks associated with interest rates; risks associated with litigation, including contingent auto liability and insurance coverage; risks associated with the potential impact of changes in government regulations, including environmental-related regulations; risks associated with the changes to income tax regulations; risks associated with the produce industry, including food safety and contamination issues; the impact of changes in political and governmental conditions; changes to our capital structure; changes due to catastrophic events; risks associated with the usage of artificial intelligence technologies; and other risks and uncertainties detailed in our Annual and Quarterly Reports.

Any forward-looking statement speaks only as of the date on which such statement is made, and we undertake no obligation to update such statement to reflect events or circumstances arising after such date. All remarks made during our financial results conference call will be current at the time of the call, and we undertake no obligation to update the replay.

Conference Call Information:
C.H. Robinson Worldwide Second Quarter 2026 Earnings Conference Call
Wednesday, July 29, 2026; 5:30 p.m. Eastern Time
Presentation slides and a simultaneous live audio webcast of the conference call may be accessed through C.H. Robinson's Investor Relations website at investor.chrobinson.com.
To participate in the conference call by telephone, please call ten minutes early by dialing: 877-269-7756

Adjusted Gross Profit by Service Line
(in thousands)

This table of summary results presents our service line adjusted gross profits on an enterprise basis. The service line adjusted gross profits in the table differ from the service line adjusted gross profits discussed within the segments as our segments may have revenues from multiple service lines.

GAAP to Non-GAAP Reconciliation
(unaudited, in thousands)

Our adjusted gross profit is a non-GAAP financial measure. Adjusted gross profit is calculated as gross profit excluding amortization of internally developed software utilized to directly serve our customers and contracted carriers. We believe adjusted gross profit is a useful measure of our ability to source, add value, and sell services and products that are provided by third parties, and we consider adjusted gross profit to be a primary performance measurement. Accordingly, the discussion of our results of operations often focuses on the changes in our adjusted gross profit. The reconciliation of gross profit to adjusted gross profit is presented below (in thousands):

Our adjusted operating margin is a non-GAAP financial measure calculated as operating income divided by adjusted gross profit.

Chuck Ives, Senior Director of Investor Relations
Email: chuck.ives@chrobinson.com