Expeditors International and Johnson Controls Featured in Best Stocks Curation

Expeditors International of Washington (EXPD), the global logistics firm based in Bellevue, Washington, has added to its momentum this year, rising 30 percent year-to-date and ranking eighth among the 44 holdings in the iShares US Transportation ETF (IYT). The stock’s ascent has drawn skepticism from Wall Street, where analysts argue that the drivers propelling the share price higher are one-time phenomena unlikely to sustain. Second-quarter earnings showed a significant beat, yet the average price target remained below the current trading level, reflecting doubts that the current earnings multiple can persist. Management attributed part of the pricing lift to temporary tariff-related customs filings, while ocean container volume showed only modest growth, suggesting that capacity discipline, not volume expansion, fueled much of the recent improvement. The company’s tech-driven restructuring provided a one-time margin benefit, and at roughly 28 times trailing earnings, investors are paying a premium for a cyclical business facing modest expected earnings growth through 2027. Technical indicators show the stock building a tight range near key moving averages, with traders watching closely for a breakout or failure.

Johnson Controls International Plc (JCI) was also featured in the curated selection, benefiting from structural tailwinds in data center infrastructure. The HVAC and building automation company has raised its fiscal 2026 adjusted EPS guidance and organic sales growth outlook, driven by expanding demand for data center cooling solutions. Management highlighted its Alloy Enterprises acquisition and NVIDIA certification of coolant distribution units as key components of its AI-enabled expansion strategy. The stock demonstrated a technical breakout in October, supported by positive divergence in momentum indicators, though analysts note the rally remains dependent on sustained execution in the data center segment.

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