What Is the Transportation Sector?
The transportation sector encompasses various companies that offer services for moving people and goods, in addition to the necessary infrastructure. According to the Global Industry Classification Standard (GICS), transportation is categorized as a sub-sector of the industrial sector. This sector includes multiple industries such as air freight and logistics, airlines, maritime, road, rail, and transportation infrastructure, which are further divided into sub-industries including airport services and marine ports.
Key Takeaways
Understanding the Transportation Sector
Performance within the transportation industry is highly affected by changes in company earnings and transportation service pricing. Key determinants of earnings include fuel prices, labor costs, service demand, geopolitical incidents, and governmental regulations, many of which are interconnected. For instance, stricter licensing regulations can lead to a reduced driver supply, subsequently increasing hiring costs.
Oil prices significantly impact transportation costs, as rising fuel costs can diminish a trucking company’s margins, thereby potentially leading to a drop in stock prices.
Investing in the Transportation Sector
Investors can participate in the transportation sector by purchasing shares in individual companies or through mutual funds or ETFs that focus specifically on this sector. This sector is diverse, with industries representing airlines, railroads, trucking, equipment leasing, and logistics. Funds typically align their performance with a benchmark index such as the DJTA.
The Dow Jones Transportation Index
The Dow Jones Transportation Average (DJTA) is a price-weighted index comprised of 20 transportation stocks in the U.S. Established in 1884 by Charles Dow, it is the oldest stock index in the country. Initially focused on railroad companies, the index now includes airlines, trucking, marine transport, and logistics.
S&P Transportation Select Index
The S&P Transportation Select Industry Index serves as an additional benchmark for the transportation sector.
