Critical Contrast: Roadrunner Transportation Systems (NYSE:RRTS) vs. Core-Mark Holding (CORE)

Roadrunner Transportation Systems (NYSE: RRTS) and Core-Mark Holding (NASDAQ:CORE) are both small-cap transportation companies, but which is the better investment? We will compare the two businesses based on the strength of their analyst recommendations, earnings, risk, dividends, profitabiliy, institutional ownership and valuation.

Profitability

This table compares Roadrunner Transportation Systems and Core-Mark Holding’s net margins, return on equity and return on assets.

	Net Margins	Return on Equity	Return on Assets
Roadrunner Transportation Systems	N/A	N/A	N/A
Core-Mark Holding	0.34%	11.42%	4.24%

Analyst Ratings

This is a summary of recent ratings and target prices for Roadrunner Transportation Systems and Core-Mark Holding, as reported by MarketBeat.

	Sell Ratings	Hold Ratings	Buy Ratings	Strong Buy Ratings	Rating Score
Roadrunner Transportation Systems	0	2	1	0	2.33
Core-Mark Holding	0	1	3	0	2.75

Roadrunner Transportation Systems currently has a consensus target price of $9.67, indicating a potential upside of 38.69%. Core-Mark Holding has a consensus target price of $40.75, indicating a potential upside of 14.31%. Given Roadrunner Transportation Systems’ higher possible upside, research analysts clearly believe Roadrunner Transportation Systems is more favorable than Core-Mark Holding.

Dividends

Core-Mark Holding pays an annual dividend of $0.36 per share and has a dividend yield of 1.0%. Roadrunner Transportation Systems does not pay a dividend. Core-Mark Holding pays out 32.7% of its earnings in the form of a dividend.

Earnings & Valuation

This table compares Roadrunner Transportation Systems and Core-Mark Holding’s gross revenue, earnings per share and valuation.

	Gross Revenue	Price/Sales Ratio	EBITDA	Earnings Per Share	Price/Earnings Ratio
Roadrunner Transportation Systems	$1.97 billion	0.14	$100.85 million	$0.66	10.56
Core-Mark Holding	$11.86 billion	0.14	$130.70 million	$1.10	32.41

Core-Mark Holding has higher revenue and earnings than Roadrunner Transportation Systems. Roadrunner Transportation Systems is trading at a lower price-to-earnings ratio than Core-Mark Holding, indicating that it is currently the more affordable of the two stocks.

Risk & Volatility

Roadrunner Transportation Systems has a beta of 0.78, suggesting that its stock price is 22% less volatile than the S&P 500. Comparatively, Core-Mark Holding has a beta of 0.85, suggesting that its stock price is 15% less volatile than the S&P 500.

Insider & Institutional Ownership

74.6% of Roadrunner Transportation Systems shares are held by institutional investors. Comparatively, 98.3% of Core-Mark Holding shares are held by institutional investors. 25.8% of Roadrunner Transportation Systems shares are held by insiders. Comparatively, 2.5% of Core-Mark Holding shares are held by insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that large money managers, hedge funds and endowments believe a stock is poised for long-term growth.

Summary

Core-Mark Holding beats Roadrunner Transportation Systems on 13 of the 16 factors compared between the two stocks.

About Roadrunner Transportation Systems

Roadrunner Transportation Systems, Inc. (RRTS) is an asset-light transportation and logistics service provider. The Company offers a suite of global supply chain solutions, including truckload logistics (TL), customized and expedited less-than-truckload (LTL), intermodal solutions (transporting a shipment by over one mode, primarily through rail and truck), freight consolidation, inventory management, expedited services, air freight, international freight forwarding, customs brokerage and transportation management solutions. The Company operates through three segments: Truckload Logistics, Less-than-Truckload and Global Solutions. The Company utilizes a third-party network of transportation providers, consisting of independent contractors (ICs) and purchased power providers, to serve a diverse customer base. It primarily focuses on small to mid-size shippers.

About Core-Mark Holding

Core-Mark Holding Company, Inc. is a wholesale distributor to the convenience retail industry in North America. The Company provides sales, marketing, distribution and logistics services. As of December 31, 2016, the Company offered services to over 43,000 customer locations across the United States and Canada through 30 distribution centers. The Company’s segments include the United States, Canada and Corporate. The Company’s primary customer base consists of traditional convenience stores, as well as alternative outlets selling consumer packaged goods. The Company’s traditional convenience store customers include various national and super-regional convenience store operators, as well as independently owned convenience stores. Its alternative outlet customers include a range of store formats, including grocery stores, drug stores, liquor stores, cigarette and tobacco shops, hotel gift shops, military exchanges, college and corporate campuses, casinos and hardware stores.