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ROIC % measures how well a company generates cash flow relative to the capital it has invested in its business. It is also called ROC %. Forward Air's annualized return on invested capital (ROIC %) for the quarter that ended in Mar. 2026 was 3.48%.
As of today (2026-08-04), Forward Air's WACC % is 8.35%. Forward Air's ROIC % is 1.81% (calculated using TTM income statement data).
Forward Air earns returns that do not match up to its cost of capital. It will destroy value as it grows.
ROIC % measures how well a company generates cash flow relative to the capital it has invested in its business. It is also called ROC %. The reason book values of debt and equity are used is because the book values are the capital the company received when issuing the debt or receiving the equity investments.
There are four key components to this definition. The first is the use of operating income or EBIT rather than net income in the numerator. The second is the tax adjustment to this operating income or EBIT, computed as a hypothetical tax based on an effective or marginal tax rate. The third is the use of book values for invested capital, rather than market values. The final is the timing difference; the capital invested is from the end of the prior year whereas the operating income or EBIT is the current year's number.
Why is ROIC % important?
Because it costs money to raise capital. A firm that generates higher returns on investment than it costs the company to raise the capital needed for that investment is earning excess returns. A firm that expects to continue generating positive excess returns on new investments in the future will see its value increase as growth increases, whereas a firm that earns returns that do not match up to its cost of capital will destroy value as it grows.
As of today, Forward Air's WACC % is 8.35%. Forward Air's ROIC % is 1.81% (calculated using TTM income statement data).
Forward Air earns returns that do not match up to its cost of capital. It will destroy value as it grows.
Be Aware
Like ROE % and ROA %, ROIC % is calculated with only 12 months of data. Fluctuations in the company's earnings or business cycles can affect the ratio drastically. It is important to look at the ratio from a long term perspective.
Forward Air ROIC % Related Terms
Forward Air ROIC % Historical Data
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The historical data trend for Forward Air's ROIC % can be seen below:
* 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.
For the Integrated Freight & Logistics subindustry, Forward Air's ROIC %, along with its competitors' market caps and ROIC % 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 ROIC % vs Transportation Industry
For the Transportation industry and Industrials sector, Forward Air's ROIC % distribution charts can be found below:
* The bar in red indicates where Forward Air's ROIC % falls into.
Note:
The Operating Income data used here is four times the quarterly (Mar. 2026) data.
The tax rate is limited to between 0% and 100%.
* 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.
Forward Air (FWRD) has a ROIC % of 3.48% as of Mar. 2026. Return on invested capital is the ratio of current-period net income to average two-period invested capital. View historical data on Forward Air and its competitors.
Is Forward Air's ROIC % too high?
Forward Air's current ROIC % is 3.48%. The Transportation industry median ROIC % is 4.73. Forward Air's value of 3.48% is 26.4% below this industry median. 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 ROIC % compare to RLGT and CYRX?
Forward Air's ROIC % of 3.48% can be compared against companies in the Transportation industry. The industry median ROIC % is 4.73. Forward Air's value of 3.48% is 26.4% below this benchmark. See the competitive comparison table and distribution chart on this page for a detailed peer-by-peer breakdown.
What is a good ROIC % for a Transportation company?
The median ROIC % among Transportation companies is 4.73, based on 989 companies in the industry. Companies in the top quartile (top 25%) have a ROIC % significantly above this median, while those in the bottom quartile fall well below. However, ROIC % should not be evaluated in isolation — investors should consider it alongside profitability, growth, and financial strength metrics. Forward Air's current ROIC % of 3.48% is 26.4% below the industry median. Use the industry distribution chart on this page to see where any company falls relative to its peers.
What does a high ROIC % mean?
A high ROIC % can signal that a stock is expensive relative to its fundamentals. Return on invested capital is the ratio of current-period net income to average two-period invested capital. View historical data on Forward Air and its competitors. For the Transportation industry, the median ROIC % is 4.73 — values significantly above this may indicate overvaluation, while values below may suggest a bargain or underlying issues. Forward Air's current ROIC % is 3.48%. 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 $15.11 — trading 53.8% below its estimated fair value. The current ROIC % is 3.48% and 26.4% below the Transportation industry median of 4.73. 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 ROIC % calculated?
ROIC % is calculated from a company's financial statements. For Forward Air (FWRD), the current ROIC % is 3.48% 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 $15.11 is trading 53.8% below its estimated GF Value™ of $32.72.
GuruFocus considers Forward Air to be Possible Value Trap.
Key valuation signals for FWRD:
ROIC %: 3.48%
GF Value™: $32.72 vs. price of $15.11 (53.8% below fair value)
Industry Position: 26.4% below the Transportation median
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 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
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ROIC % is just one metric. See GF Value™, 30-year financials, guru trades, warning signs, and more.
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