CHRW
C.H. Robinson Worldwide, Inc.
Integrated Freight & Logistics
Market Cap$20.00B
5Y Perf.+107.8%
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Stock Comparison
CHRW vs FWRD
Revenue, margins, valuation, and 5-year total return — side by side.
FWRD
Forward Air Corporation
Integrated Freight & Logistics
Market Cap$573M
5Y Perf.-63.0%
CHRW vs FWRD — Key Financials
Market cap, revenue, margins, and valuation side-by-side.
| Company Snapshot | CHRW | FWRD |
|---|---|---|
| Industry | Integrated Freight & Logistics | Integrated Freight & Logistics |
| Market Cap | $20.00B | $573M |
| Revenue (TTM) | $16.20B | $2.50B |
| Net Income (TTM) | $599M | $-108M |
| Gross Margin | 8.3% | 20.5% |
| Operating Margin | 4.9% | 1.5% |
| Forward P/E | 27.4x | — |
| Total Debt | $1.63B | $2.16B |
| Cash & Equiv. | $161M | $106M |
CHRW vs FWRD — Long-Term Stock Performance
Price return indexed to 100 at period start. Dividends excluded.
CHRW
FWRD
| Stock | May 20 | May 26 | Return |
|---|---|---|---|
| C.H. Robinson World… (CHRW) | 100 | 207.8 | +107.8% |
| Forward Air Corpora… (FWRD) | 100 | 37.0 | -63.0% |
Price return only. Dividends and distributions are not included.
Quick Verdict: CHRW vs FWRD
Each card shows where this stock fits in a portfolio — not just who wins on paper.
Bottom line: CHRW leads in 6 of 7 categories, making it the strongest pick for valuation and capital efficiency and profitability and margin quality. Forward Air Corporation is the stronger pick specifically for growth and revenue expansion. As sector peers, any of these can serve as alternatives in the same allocation.
CHRW
C.H. Robinson Worldwide, Inc.
The Income Pick
CHRW carries the broadest edge in this set and is the clearest fit for income & stability and long-term compounding.
- Dividend streak 5 yrs, beta 0.95, yield 1.5%
- 160.9% 10Y total return vs FWRD's -44.3%
- Lower volatility, beta 0.95, Low D/E 88.3%, current ratio 1.53x
Best for: income & stability and long-term compounding
FWRD
Forward Air Corporation
The Growth Play
FWRD is the clearest fit if your priority is growth exposure.
- Rev growth 0.8%, EPS growth 88.3%, 3Y rev CAGR 14.1%
- 0.8% revenue growth vs CHRW's -8.4%
Best for: growth exposure
See the full category breakdown
| Category | Winner | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Growth | FWRD | 0.8% revenue growth vs CHRW's -8.4% |
| Value | CHRW | Better valuation composite |
| Quality / Margins | CHRW | 3.7% margin vs FWRD's -4.3% |
| Stability / Safety | CHRW | Beta 0.95 vs FWRD's 2.28, lower leverage |
| Dividends | CHRW | 1.5% yield; 5-year raise streak; the other pay no meaningful dividend |
| Momentum (1Y) | CHRW | +93.7% vs FWRD's +9.6% |
| Efficiency (ROA) | CHRW | 11.5% ROA vs FWRD's -4.0%, ROIC 18.0% vs 1.2% |
CHRW vs FWRD — Revenue Breakdown by Segment
How each company's revenue is distributed across its business units
FY 2025
FY 2024
CHRW vs FWRD — Financial Metrics
Side-by-side numbers across 2 stocks — who leads on profitability, valuation, growth, and risk.
BEST OVERALLCHRWLAGGINGFWRD
FWRDForward Air Corporati…
2leads
CHRWC.H. Robinson Worldwi…
3leads
6 Total Categories
CATEGORYLEADERvs FWRDMETRICS WON
Income & Cash FlowRevenue, margins, and cash flow strength
Tied
—
Valuation MetricsMultiples, price ratios, and targets
FWRD4/5
Profitability & EfficiencyROE, ROIC, leverage, and quality scores
CHRW9/9
Total Returns1Y, 3Y, 5Y total returns with dividends
CHRW6/6
Risk & VolatilityBeta, volatility, and downside exposure
CHRW2/2
Analyst OutlookRatings, price targets, and dividends
FWRD1/1
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
Evenly matched — CHRW and FWRD each lead in 3 of 6 comparable metrics.
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
CHRW is the larger business by revenue, generating $16.2B annually — 6.5x FWRD's $2.5B. CHRW is the more profitable business, keeping 3.7% of every revenue dollar as net income compared to FWRD's -4.3%.
| Metric | CHRWC.H. Robinson Wor… | FWRDForward Air Corpo… |
|---|---|---|
| RevenueTrailing 12 months | $16.2B | $2.5B |
| EBITDAEarnings before interest/tax | $896M | $189M |
| Net IncomeAfter-tax profit | $599M | -$108M |
| Free Cash FlowCash after capex | $858M | $15M |
| Gross MarginGross profit ÷ Revenue | +8.3% | +20.5% |
| Operating MarginEBIT ÷ Revenue | +4.9% | +1.5% |
| Net MarginNet income ÷ Revenue | +3.7% | -4.3% |
| FCF MarginFCF ÷ Revenue | +5.3% | +0.6% |
| Rev. Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | -0.8% | -0.3% |
| EPS Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | +9.9% | +26.6% |
Evenly matched — CHRW and FWRD each lead in 3 of 6 comparable metrics.
Valuation Metrics
FWRD leads this category, winning 4 of 5 comparable metrics.
Valuation Metrics
On an enterprise value basis, FWRD's 13.9x EV/EBITDA is more attractive than CHRW's 23.9x.
| Metric | CHRWC.H. Robinson Wor… | FWRDForward Air Corpo… |
|---|---|---|
| Market CapShares × price | $20.0B | $573M |
| Enterprise ValueMkt cap + debt − cash | $21.5B | $2.6B |
| Trailing P/EPrice ÷ TTM EPS | 34.90x | -5.28x |
| Forward P/EPrice ÷ next-FY EPS est. | 27.41x | — |
| PEG RatioP/E ÷ EPS growth rate | 6.51x | — |
| EV / EBITDAEnterprise value multiple | 23.91x | 13.89x |
| Price / SalesMarket cap ÷ Revenue | 1.23x | 0.23x |
| Price / BookPrice ÷ Book value/share | 11.10x | 3.52x |
| Price / FCFMarket cap ÷ FCF | 22.35x | 37.52x |
FWRD leads this category, winning 4 of 5 comparable metrics.
Profitability & Efficiency
CHRW leads this category, winning 9 of 9 comparable metrics.
Profitability & Efficiency
CHRW delivers a 33.3% return on equity — every $100 of shareholder capital generates $33 in annual profit, vs $-67 for FWRD. CHRW carries lower financial leverage with a 0.88x debt-to-equity ratio, signaling a more conservative balance sheet compared to FWRD's 13.36x. On the Piotroski fundamental quality scale (0–9), CHRW scores 7/9 vs FWRD's 5/9, reflecting strong financial health.
| Metric | CHRWC.H. Robinson Wor… | FWRDForward Air Corpo… |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM)Return on equity | +33.3% | -66.7% |
| ROA (TTM)Return on assets | +11.5% | -4.0% |
| ROICReturn on invested capital | +18.0% | +1.2% |
| ROCEReturn on capital employed | +25.6% | +1.5% |
| Piotroski ScoreFundamental quality 0–9 | 7 | 5 |
| Debt / EquityFinancial leverage | 0.88x | 13.36x |
| Net DebtTotal debt minus cash | $1.5B | $2.1B |
| Cash & Equiv.Liquid assets | $161M | $106M |
| Total DebtShort + long-term debt | $1.6B | $2.2B |
| Interest CoverageEBIT ÷ Interest expense | 6.27x | 0.19x |
CHRW leads this category, winning 9 of 9 comparable metrics.
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
CHRW leads this category, winning 6 of 6 comparable metrics.
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
A $10,000 investment in CHRW five years ago would be worth $18,408 today (with dividends reinvested), compared to $2,169 for FWRD. Over the past 12 months, CHRW leads with a +93.7% total return vs FWRD's +9.6%. The 3-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) favors CHRW at 19.6% vs FWRD's -41.8% — a key indicator of consistent wealth creation.
| Metric | CHRWC.H. Robinson Wor… | FWRDForward Air Corpo… |
|---|---|---|
| YTD ReturnYear-to-date | +3.4% | -26.9% |
| 1-Year ReturnPast 12 months | +93.7% | +9.6% |
| 3-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +70.9% | -80.3% |
| 5-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +84.1% | -78.3% |
| 10-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +160.9% | -44.3% |
| CAGR (3Y)Annualised 3-year return | +19.6% | -41.8% |
CHRW leads this category, winning 6 of 6 comparable metrics.
Risk & Volatility
CHRW leads this category, winning 2 of 2 comparable metrics.
Risk & Volatility
CHRW is the less volatile stock with a 0.95 beta — it tends to amplify market swings less than FWRD's 2.28 beta. A beta below 1.0 means the stock typically moves less than the S&P 500. CHRW currently trades 82.9% from its 52-week high vs FWRD's 56.5% drawdown — a narrower gap to the peak suggests stronger recent price momentum.
| Metric | CHRWC.H. Robinson Wor… | FWRDForward Air Corpo… |
|---|---|---|
| Beta (5Y)Sensitivity to S&P 500 | 0.95x | 2.28x |
| 52-Week HighHighest price in past year | $203.34 | $32.47 |
| 52-Week LowLowest price in past year | $86.58 | $14.81 |
| % of 52W HighCurrent price vs 52-week peak | +82.9% | +56.5% |
| RSI (14)Momentum oscillator 0–100 | 41.3 | 35.5 |
| Avg Volume (50D)Average daily shares traded | 1.7M | 725K |
CHRW leads this category, winning 2 of 2 comparable metrics.
Analyst Outlook
FWRD leads this category, winning 1 of 1 comparable metric.
Analyst Outlook
Wall Street rates CHRW as "Hold" and FWRD as "Hold". Consensus price targets imply 101.5% upside for FWRD (target: $37) vs 11.1% for CHRW (target: $187). CHRW is the only dividend payer here at 1.47% yield — a key consideration for income-focused portfolios.
| Metric | CHRWC.H. Robinson Wor… | FWRDForward Air Corpo… |
|---|---|---|
| Analyst RatingConsensus buy/hold/sell | Hold | Hold |
| Price TargetConsensus 12-month target | $187.38 | $37.00 |
| # AnalystsCovering analysts | 46 | 21 |
| Dividend YieldAnnual dividend ÷ price | +1.5% | — |
| Dividend StreakConsecutive years of raises | 5 | 8 |
| Dividend / ShareAnnual DPS | $2.48 | — |
| Buyback YieldShare repurchases ÷ mkt cap | +1.8% | +0.1% |
FWRD leads this category, winning 1 of 1 comparable metric.
Key Takeaway
CHRW leads in 3 of 6 categories (Profitability & Efficiency, Total Returns). FWRD leads in 2 (Valuation Metrics, Analyst Outlook). 1 tied.
Best OverallC.H. Robinson Worldwide, In… (CHRW)Leads 3 of 6 categories
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CHRW vs FWRD: Frequently Asked Questions
9 questions · data-driven answers · updated daily
01Is CHRW or FWRD a better buy right now?
For growth investors, Forward Air Corporation (FWRD) is the stronger pick with 0.
8% revenue growth year-over-year, versus -8. 4% for C. H. Robinson Worldwide, Inc. (CHRW). C. H. Robinson Worldwide, Inc. (CHRW) offers the better valuation at 34. 9x trailing P/E (27. 4x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate C. H. Robinson Worldwide, Inc. (CHRW) a "Hold" — based on 46 analyst ratings — the highest consensus in this comparison. The "better buy" depends entirely on your goals: growth investors should weight revenue trajectory, value investors should weight P/E and PEG, and income investors should weight dividend yield and streak.
02Which is the better long-term investment — CHRW or FWRD?
Over the past 5 years, C.
H. Robinson Worldwide, Inc. (CHRW) delivered a total return of +84. 1%, compared to -78. 3% for Forward Air Corporation (FWRD). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: CHRW returned +160. 9% versus FWRD's -44. 3%. Past returns do not guarantee future results, and the stock with the higher historical return may already have its best growth priced in.
03Which is safer — CHRW or FWRD?
By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), C.
H. Robinson Worldwide, Inc. (CHRW) is the lower-risk stock at 0. 95β versus Forward Air Corporation's 2. 28β — meaning FWRD is approximately 140% more volatile than CHRW relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, C. H. Robinson Worldwide, Inc. (CHRW) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 88% versus 13% for Forward Air Corporation — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.
04Which is growing faster — CHRW or FWRD?
By revenue growth (latest reported year), Forward Air Corporation (FWRD) is pulling ahead at 0.
8% versus -8. 4% for C. H. Robinson Worldwide, Inc. (CHRW). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Forward Air Corporation grew EPS 88. 3% year-over-year, compared to 25. 1% for C. H. Robinson Worldwide, Inc.. Over a 3-year CAGR, FWRD leads at 14. 1% annualised revenue growth. Higher growth typically commands a higher valuation multiple — check whether the premium P/E or P/S is justified by the growth rate using the PEG ratio.
05Which has better profit margins — CHRW or FWRD?
C.
H. Robinson Worldwide, Inc. (CHRW) is the more profitable company, earning 3. 6% net margin versus -4. 3% for Forward Air Corporation — meaning it keeps 3. 6% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: CHRW leads at 4. 9% versus 1. 5% for FWRD. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — FWRD leads at 20. 5%, reflecting greater pricing power or product mix advantage. Stronger margins indicate durable pricing power, lower cost of revenue, or higher mix of software/services. They are one of the clearest signs of business quality.
06Is CHRW or FWRD more undervalued right now?
Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for FWRD: 101.
5% to $37. 00.
07Which pays a better dividend — CHRW or FWRD?
In this comparison, CHRW (1.
5% yield) pays a dividend. FWRD does not pay a meaningful dividend and should not be held primarily for income.
08Is CHRW or FWRD better for a retirement portfolio?
For long-horizon retirement investors, C.
H. Robinson Worldwide, Inc. (CHRW) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 0. 95), 1. 5% yield, +160. 9% 10Y return). Forward Air Corporation (FWRD) carries a higher beta of 2. 28 — meaning larger drawdowns in market downturns, which matters significantly when you cannot wait years for a recovery. Both have compounded well over 10 years (CHRW: +160. 9%, FWRD: -44. 3%), confirming both are viable long-term holds — but the lower-volatility option typically results in less emotional selling during corrections. Retirement portfolios generally favour predictability over maximum returns. Consult a financial advisor before making allocation decisions.
09What are the main differences between CHRW and FWRD?
Both stocks operate in the Industrials sector, making this a peer-level intra-sector comparison — the same macro tailwinds and headwinds will affect both.
CHRW pays a dividend while FWRD does not, making them suitable for different income and tax situations. These fundamental differences mean investors should not choose between them on a single metric — the "better stock" depends entirely on which of these characteristics aligns with your investment strategy.
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