FWRD (Forward Air) Profitability Rank: 7 (As of Mar. 2026) — 22% Below Median

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Director of Data and Quant Analytics at GuruFocus
Focused on building reliable datasets, financial models, and research tools for value-minded investors. Committed to turning complex data into practical guidance for value-investing and long-term wealth.
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Charlie Tian
Founder & CEO of GuruFocus
Dr. Charlie Tian is the founder and CEO of GuruFocus.com, a leading global investment research platform established in 2004. With a Ph.D. in physics, Dr. Tian transitioned from science to finance, applying a data-driven, disciplined approach to value investing.

FWRD Forward Air Corp FWRD
56 GF Score
Price $14.67
GF Value $32.72
Valuation Possible Value Trap
! 7 Warning Signs
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What is Forward Air Profitability Rank?

Forward Air FWRD +4.38% 56 Profitability Rank is 7 as of Mar. 2026, which is 22% below its 10-year median of 9.00. GuruFocus rates FWRD with a GF Score™ of 56/100 and a GF Value™ of $32.72 (Possible Value Trap). The stock has 7 warning signs investors should review.

Forward Air has the Profitability Rank of 7.

GuruFocus Profitability Rank ranks how profitable a company is and how likely the company's business will stay that way. It is rated on a scale of 1 to 10 and is based on these factors:

1. Operating Margin %
2. Piotroski F-Score
3. Trend of the Operating Margin % (5-year average). The company with an uptrend profit margin has a higher rank.
4. Consistency of the profitability
5. Predictability Rank

A higher score indicates superior profitability, with companies rated 7 or above considered to have more robust and sustainable profit generation. Conversely, a score of 3 or lower suggests challenges in generating consistent profits.

Forward Air's Operating Margin % for the quarter that ended in Mar. 2026 was 3.51%. As of today, Forward Air's Piotroski F-Score is 6.


Forward Air Profitability Rank Related Terms


FWRD vs RLGT, CYRX, PAL: Profitability Rank Comparison

For the Integrated Freight & Logistics subindustry, Forward Air's Profitability Rank, along with its competitors' market caps and Profitability Rank data, can be viewed below:

* Competitive companies are chosen from companies within the same industry, with headquarter located in same country, with closest market capitalization; x-axis shows the market cap, and y-axis shows the term value; the bigger the dot, the larger the market cap. Note that "N/A" values will not show up in the chart.


Forward Air Profitability Rank vs Transportation Industry

For the Transportation industry and Industrials sector, Forward Air's Profitability Rank distribution charts can be found below:

* The bar in red indicates where Forward Air's Profitability Rank falls into.


FWRD
56GF Score
Forward Air Corp FWRD
Profitability Rank is just one metric. See GF Score™, valuation, warning signs, and more.
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Forward Air Profitability Rank Calculation

GuruFocus Profitability Rank ranks how profitable a company is and how likely the company's business will stay that way.

The rank is rated on a scale of 1 to 10. A higher score indicates superior profitability, with companies rated 7 or above considered to have more robust and sustainable profit generation. Conversely, a score of 3 or lower suggests challenges in generating consistent profits.

Forward Air has the Profitability Rank of 7.

Profitability Rank is not directly related to the Financial Strength. But if a company is consistently profitable, its financial strength will be stronger.

Profitability Rank is based on these factors:

1. Operating Margin %

Operating Margin % - also known as operating income margin, operating profit margin and return on sales (ROS) - is the ratio of Operating Income divided by net sales or Revenue, usually presented in percent.

Forward Air's Operating Margin % for the quarter that ended in Mar. 2026 is calculated as:

Operating Margin %=Operating Income (Q: Mar. 2026 ) / Revenue (Q: Mar. 2026 )
=20.441 / 582.046
=3.51 %

* For Operating Data section: All numbers are indicated by the unit behind each term and all currency related amount are in USD.
* For other sections: All numbers are in millions except for per share data, ratio, and percentage. All currency related amount are indicated in the company's associated stock exchange currency.

2. Piotroski F-Score

The zones of discrimination were as such:

Good or high score = 8 or 9
Bad or low score = 0 or 1

Forward Air has an F-score of 6 indicating the company's financial situation is typical for a stable company.

3. Trend of the Operating Margin % (5-year average). The company with an uptrend profit margin has a higher rank.

4. Consistency of the profitability

5. Predictability Rank

Frequently Asked Questions Learn more about Profitability Rank →
What does a Profitability Rank of 7 mean?
Forward Air (FWRD) has a Profitability Rank of 7 as of Mar. 2026. Profitability and Growth ranks a company based on its profit margins and earnings growth. View historical data on Forward Air and its competitors. This is 22% below median its historical median of 9.00. Over the past decade, Forward Air's Profitability Rank has ranged from 7.00 to 9.00.
Is Forward Air's Profitability Rank too high?
Forward Air's current Profitability Rank of 7 is 22% below median its 10-year median of 9.00. Over the past 10 years, this metric has ranged from a low of 7.00 to a high of 9.00. Overall, Forward Air has a GF Score™ of 56/100 and is considered Possible Value Trap, reflecting its overall financial health beyond just this single metric.
How does Forward Air's Profitability Rank compare to RLGT and CYRX?
Forward Air's Profitability Rank of 7 can be compared against companies in the Transportation industry. Historically, Forward Air's own Profitability Rank has ranged from 7.00 to 9.00 over the past decade. See the competitive comparison table and distribution chart on this page for a detailed peer-by-peer breakdown.
What is a good Profitability Rank for a Transportation company?
A good Profitability Rank depends on the Transportation industry context. However, Profitability Rank should not be evaluated in isolation — investors should consider it alongside profitability, growth, and financial strength metrics. Use the industry distribution chart on this page to see where any company falls relative to its peers.
What does a high Profitability Rank mean?
A high Profitability Rank can signal that a stock is expensive relative to its fundamentals. Profitability and Growth ranks a company based on its profit margins and earnings growth. View historical data on Forward Air and its competitors. Forward Air's current Profitability Rank is 7, which is 22% below median its own 10-year median of 9.00. However, context matters — high-growth companies often justify higher valuations. Always evaluate alongside other metrics like GF Score™ and GF Value™.
Is Forward Air stock overvalued right now?
Based on GuruFocus' analysis, Forward Air (FWRD) is currently considered Possible Value Trap. The stock's GF Value™ is $32.72, compared to a current price of $14.67 — trading 55.2% below its estimated fair value. The current Profitability Rank is 7, which is 22% below median its 10-year median of 9.00. Forward Air's overall GF Score™ is 56/100 with 7 warning signs to review. Investors should evaluate multiple metrics — including profitability, growth, and financial strength — before making a decision.
How is Profitability Rank calculated?
Profitability Rank is calculated from a company's financial statements. For Forward Air (FWRD), the current Profitability Rank is 7 as of Mar. 2026. GuruFocus calculates this using data sourced from SEC filings and annual reports. See the calculation section and 30-year financial data on this page for the full breakdown.

Is Forward Air (FWRD) Overvalued in 2026?

Based on GuruFocus' analysis, Forward Air stock appears to be undervalued. The current stock price of $14.67 is trading 55.2% below its estimated GF Value™ of $32.72. GuruFocus considers Forward Air to be Possible Value Trap.

Key valuation signals for FWRD:

  • Profitability Rank: 7 (22% below median its 10-year median of 9.00)
  • GF Value™: $32.72 vs. price of $14.67 (55.2% below fair value)
  • GF Score™: 56/100 with 7 warning signs

No single metric tells the full story. See the FWRD stock analysis page for a complete view including 30-year financials, guru trades, and insider activity.


Forward Air Business Description

Address 3200 Olympus Boulevard, Suite 300, Dallas, TX, USA, 75019
Forward Air Corp is an asset-light freight and logistics company. The company's operating segment includes Expedited Freight, Omni Logistics, and Intermodal and Corporate. The company generates maximum revenue from the Omni Logistics segment. The expedited Freight segment operates a comprehensive national network to provide expedited regional, inter-regional, and national LTL (less-than-truckload) services. It also offers customers local pick-up and delivery and other services including final mile, truckload, shipment consolidation and deconsolidation, warehousing, customs brokerage, and other handling. The Company conducts business in North and South America, Europe, and Asia.
56GF Score

Get the complete analysis for FWRD

Profitability Rank is just one metric. See GF Value™, 30-year financials, guru trades, warning signs, and more.

$14.67
Price
$32.72
GF Value