Critical Contrast: Proficient Auto Logistics (PAL) & Its Competitors

Proficient Auto Logistics (NASDAQ:PAL) is one of 45 public companies in the “TRANS – SERVICES” industry, but how does it compare to its competitors? We will compare Proficient Auto Logistics to related businesses based on the strength of its earnings, institutional ownership, profitability, dividends, valuation, analyst recommendations and risk.

Insider and Institutional Ownership

55.5% of shares of all “TRANS – SERVICES” companies are held by institutional investors. 13.9% of Proficient Auto Logistics shares are held by company insiders. Comparatively, 22.9% of shares of all “TRANS – SERVICES” companies are held by company insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that endowments, hedge funds and large money managers believe a stock will outperform the market over the long term.

Risk & Volatility

Proficient Auto Logistics has a beta of 2.53, suggesting that its stock price is 153% more volatile than the S&P 500. Comparatively, Proficient Auto Logistics’ competitors have a beta of 0.87, suggesting that their average stock price is 13% less volatile than the S&P 500.

Profitability

This table compares Proficient Auto Logistics and its competitors’ net margins, return on equity and return on assets.

	Net Margins	Return on Equity	Return on Assets
Proficient Auto Logistics	-2.87%	-1.02%	-0.68%
Proficient Auto Logistics Competitors	6.48%	-228.77%	2.57%

Earnings and Valuation

This table compares Proficient Auto Logistics and its competitors revenue, earnings per share and valuation.

	Gross Revenue	Net Income	Price/Earnings Ratio
Proficient Auto Logistics	$240.85 million	-$8.48 million	255.10
Proficient Auto Logistics Competitors	$9.94 billion	$183.78 million	19.19

Proficient Auto Logistics’ competitors have higher revenue and earnings than Proficient Auto Logistics. Proficient Auto Logistics is trading at a higher price-to-earnings ratio than its competitors, indicating that it is currently more expensive than other companies in its industry.

Analyst Recommendations

This is a summary of current ratings for Proficient Auto Logistics and its competitors, as provided by MarketBeat.

	Sell Ratings	Hold Ratings	Buy Ratings	Strong Buy Ratings	Rating Score
Proficient Auto Logistics	1	1	2	0	2.25
Proficient Auto Logistics Competitors	450	1444	1581	93	2.37

Proficient Auto Logistics presently has a consensus price target of $12.50, indicating a potential upside of 63.33%. As a group, “TRANS – SERVICES” companies have a potential upside of 5.98%. Given Proficient Auto Logistics’ higher probable upside, analysts clearly believe Proficient Auto Logistics is more favorable than its competitors.

Summary

Proficient Auto Logistics competitors beat Proficient Auto Logistics on 8 of the 13 factors compared.

About Proficient Auto Logistics

Proficient Auto Logistics, Inc. focuses on providing auto transportation and logistics services in North America. It primarily focuses on transporting and delivering finished vehicles from automotive production facilities, ports of entry, and rail yards to a network of automotive dealerships. The company operates approximately 1,130 auto transport vehicles and trailers, including 615 company-owned transport vehicles and trailers. It serves auto companies, electric vehicle producers, auto dealers, auto auctions, rental car companies, and auto leasing companies. The company was formerly known as AH Acquisition Corp. and changed its name to Proficient Auto Logistics, Inc. in October 2023. The company was incorporated in 2023 and is based in Jacksonville, Florida.