Analyzing Forward Air (NASDAQ:FWRD) and Edify Acquisition (NASDAQ:EAC)

Forward Air (NASDAQ:FWRD) and Edify Acquisition (NASDAQ:EAC) are both small-cap transportation companies, but which is the better business? We will contrast the two companies based on the strength of their analyst recommendations, earnings, risk, valuation, profitability, institutional ownership and dividends.

Volatility and Risk

Forward Air has a beta of 1.2, suggesting that its stock price is 20% more volatile than the S&P 500. Comparatively, Edify Acquisition has a beta of 0.03, suggesting that its stock price is 97% less volatile than the S&P 500.

Analyst Ratings

This is a summary of recent recommendations and price targets for Forward Air and Edify Acquisition, as reported by MarketBeat.com.

	Sell Ratings	Hold Ratings	Buy Ratings	Strong Buy Ratings	Rating Score
Forward Air	0	4	3	0	2.43
Edify Acquisition	0	0	0	0	N/A

Forward Air currently has a consensus price target of $104.14, indicating a potential upside of 49.12%. Given Forward Air’s higher possible upside, equities research analysts plainly believe Forward Air is more favorable than Edify Acquisition.

Institutional & Insider Ownership

97.0% of Forward Air shares are held by institutional investors. Comparatively, 17.0% of Edify Acquisition shares are held by institutional investors. 1.7% of Forward Air shares are held by company insiders. Comparatively, 80.3% of Edify Acquisition shares are held by company insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that endowments, large money managers and hedge funds believe a company is poised for long-term growth.

Profitability

This table compares Forward Air and Edify Acquisition’s net margins, return on equity and return on assets.

	Net Margins	Return on Equity	Return on Assets
Forward Air	8.32%	22.82%	13.05%
Edify Acquisition	N/A	-35.65%	3.82%

Earnings and Valuation

This table compares Forward Air and Edify Acquisition’s top-line revenue, earnings per share and valuation.

	Gross Revenue	Price/Sales Ratio	Net Income	Earnings Per Share	Price/Earnings Ratio
Forward Air	$1.82 billion	0.99	$193.19 million	$5.66	12.34
Edify Acquisition	N/A	N/A	$11.12 million	N/A	N/A

Forward Air has higher revenue and earnings than Edify Acquisition.

Summary

Forward Air beats Edify Acquisition on 9 of the 10 factors compared between the two stocks.

About Forward Air

Forward Air Corporation, together with its subsidiaries, operates as an asset-light freight and logistics company in the United States and Canada. It operates in two segments, Expedited Freight and Intermodal. The Expedited Freight segment provides expedited regional, inter-regional, and national less-than-truckload services; local pick-up and delivery services; and other services, which include final mile, truckload, shipment consolidation and deconsolidation, warehousing, customs brokerage, and other handling. This segment also offers expedited truckload brokerage, dedicated fleet, and high security and temperature-controlled logistics services. The Intermodal segment provides intermodal container drayage services; and contract, and container freight station warehouse and handling services. It serves freight forwarders, third-party logistics companies, integrated air cargo carriers and passenger, passenger and cargo airlines, steamship lines, and retailers. Forward Air Corporation was founded in 1981 and is headquartered in Greeneville, Tennessee.

About Edify Acquisition

Edify Acquisition Corp. does not have significant operations. It intends to effect a merger, share exchange, asset acquisition, share purchase, reorganization, or similar business combination with one or more businesses. Edify Acquisition Corp. was incorporated in 2020 and is based in New York, New York.