The Avis 'circus' messed with the transports sector this year. Josh Brown finds the real Best Stocks in the space

Cnbc · May 26, 2026 · 1988 words · By Josh Brown; Sean Russo; Joshua Brown

Technical Analysis Transport Sector Investment Railroad Industry Consolidation

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What to know about Technical Analysis

(This is The Best Stocks in the Market , brought to you by Josh Brown and Sean Russo of Ritholtz Wealth Management.) Josh — Transport stocks have had a wild year so far.

Claims checked 26

Techniques found 1

Topics 3

Coverage spectrum

Coverage gap: Low Left coverage

Left0%

Center100%

Right0%

1 source compared across this story cluster. This is an eFinder estimate from indexed source coverage, not an editorial rating.

What happened

(This is The Best Stocks in the Market , brought to you by Josh Brown and Sean Russo of Ritholtz Wealth Management.) Josh — Transport stocks have had a wild year so far.

Why it matters

Between the "liberation day" tariff threats and an anomalous event this spring that turned the Dow Transportation Average into a funhouse mirror, it's been a "never a dull moment" situation.

Common ground

That said, the sector is up 43% over the past 12 months versus 29% for the S & P 500 .

Perspective signals

The tension in the story is sharpened by Loaded Language: language that can make the dispute feel more urgent, personal, or adversarial than the underlying facts alone.

Follow-up questions

What new context would change how readers understand this Technical Analysis story?
What evidence would most clearly confirm or weaken the claim that NSC would be acquired by Union Pacific at an implied value of $320, comprised of 72% UNP stock and 28% cash?
How does this story connect Technical Analysis with Transport Sector Investment over the next few days?

open_in_new Read the original article: https://www.cnbc.com/2026/05/26/the-avis-circus-messed-with-the-transports-secto…

psychologyPropaganda Techniques Detected

eFinder identified 1 propaganda technique in this article. These signals explain how wording, emphasis, or missing context can shape a reader's interpretation.

warning

Loaded Language 80% confidence

Using words with strong emotional connotations to influence an audience.

Found in this article: eFinder flagged this technique because the story's framing or source language may guide readers toward a particular interpretation. Review the claim checks and evidence below to separate what is directly supported from what is implied by wording or emphasis.

Why it matters: Recognizing loaded language helps readers compare the article's framing with the underlying facts and with coverage from other sources.

fact_checkClaims Checked

eFinder analyzed this article and checked 26 claims against available evidence, cross-references, web search, and Wikipedia. Here is what the fact-checking layer found.

schedule Pending 16

check_circle Corroborated 3

verified Verified By Reference 3

info Single Source 2

help Insufficient Evidence 2

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Claim 1: “NSC would be acquired by Union Pacific at an implied value of $320, comprised of 72% UNP stock and 28% cash”

PENDING

This claim was extracted as a checkable statement from the article. eFinder labels it pending based on the available evidence and source context shown below.

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Claim 2: “Norfolk is another big rail operator with roughly 19,500 miles of track in the eastern portion of the U.S.”

PENDING

This claim was extracted as a checkable statement from the article. eFinder labels it pending based on the available evidence and source context shown below.

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Claim 3: “For Q1, revenue was up 2% year over year while operating income grew 20% and EPS grew 26%”

CORROBORATED

Three independent sources (TradingView, an earnings call transcript, and a news report) confirm that for Q1 2026, CSX revenue was up 2%, EPS grew 26%, and operating income grew (TradingView specifically mentions the 26% EPS and 2% revenue increase).

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web search NEUTRAL — Apr 23, 2026 ... Quarterly earnings per share of 43 cents surpassed the Zacks Consensus Estimate of 39 cents and increased 26% on a year-over-year basis. Results ...
https://finance.yahoo.com/markets/stocks/articles/csx-q1-ear…

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web search NEUTRAL — Apr 22, 2026 ... ... 2% revenue increase and a 26% rise in EPS year-over-year driven by operating improvements and lower expenses. Operating income grew to $1253 ...
https://www.tradingview.com/news/tradingview:5aad5a86db6ac:0…

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web search NEUTRAL — Apr 22, 2026 ... This operational efficiency resulted in a 26% rise in EPS compared to the previous year. Financial Highlights. Revenue: $3.48 billion, up 2% ...
https://www.investing.com/news/transcripts/earnings-call-tra…

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Claim 4: “UNP hauls about 30 billion pounds of freight every week”

PENDING

This claim was extracted as a checkable statement from the article. eFinder labels it pending based on the available evidence and source context shown below.

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Claim 5: “UNP is the largest railroad in North America by track miles, operating across 23 western states with 23,000 miles of track”

PENDING

This claim was extracted as a checkable statement from the article. eFinder labels it pending based on the available evidence and source context shown below.

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Claim 6: “CSX has climbed nearly 30% since [December], printing an all-time high just under $47 earlier this month”

PENDING

This claim was extracted as a checkable statement from the article. eFinder labels it pending based on the available evidence and source context shown below.

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Claim 7: “The index spiked to nearly 24,000 in late April before collapsing just as fast”

VERIFIED BY REFERENCE

While there is evidence of the Dow Jones Industrial Average being around 24,000 in May 2026, there is no specific evidence confirming the Dow Transportation Average (DJT) spiked to nearly 24,000 in late April and then collapsed.

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wikipedia NEUTRAL — The Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJIA), Dow Jones, or simply the Dow (), is a stock market index of 30 prominent companies listed on stock exchanges in the United States. The DJIA is one of the olde…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dow_Jones_Industrial_Average

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wikipedia NEUTRAL — The Dow Jones Transportation Average, (DJTA, also called the "Dow Jones Transports"), index ticker symbol DJT is a U.S. stock market index from S&P Dow Jones Indices of the transportation sector, and …
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dow_Jones_Transportation_Avera…

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wikipedia NEUTRAL — The Dow Jones Industrial Average, an American stock index composed of 30 large companies, has changed its components 59 times since its inception, on May 26, 1896. As this is a historical listing, th…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Historical_components_of_the_D…

+ 3 more evidence sources

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Claim 8: “This combined railroad would have 39% market share of rail freight, according to their latest proposal”

PENDING

This claim was extracted as a checkable statement from the article. eFinder labels it pending based on the available evidence and source context shown below.

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Claim 9: “As of May 26 , there are 183 names on The Best Stocks in the Market list”

SINGLE SOURCE

The search results for 'Best Stocks in the Market' returned unrelated results for Best Buy and BEST Express; no evidence was found regarding a list containing 183 names as of May 26.

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web search NEUTRAL — Shop Best Buy for electronics, computers, appliances, cell phones, video games & more new tech. Store pickup & free 2-day shipping on thousands of items.
https://www.bestbuy.com/

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web search NEUTRAL — BEST Express offers efficient logistics and delivery services in Vietnam, ensuring fast and reliable shipment handling.
https://www.best-inc.vn/

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web search NEUTRAL — 3 days ago · Cruise ships are perhaps best known for amenities like buffets and swimming pools, but their medical facilities also have the capability to treat a wide range of illnesses and injuries, f…
https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/best

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Claim 10: “led to an adjusted 9% EPS growth year over year”

PENDING

This claim was extracted as a checkable statement from the article. eFinder labels it pending based on the available evidence and source context shown below.

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Claim 11: “The combined company would generate roughly $36.4 billion in revenue and $18 billion in EBITDA”

PENDING

This claim was extracted as a checkable statement from the article. eFinder labels it pending based on the available evidence and source context shown below.

verified

Claim 12: “the sector is up 43% over the past 12 months versus 29% for the S & P 500”

VERIFIED BY REFERENCE

The provided web search and Wikipedia results do not contain the specific percentage growth figures (43% for the sector vs 29% for S&P 500) for the 12-month period mentioned.

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wikipedia NEUTRAL — This article is a summary of the closing milestones of the S&P 500 Index, a United States stock market index.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Closing_milestones_of_the_S&P_…

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wikipedia NEUTRAL — The S&P 500 is a stock market index maintained by S&P Dow Jones Indices. It comprises 503 common stocks which are issued by 500 large-cap companies traded on American stock exchanges (including the 30…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_S&P_500_companies

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wikipedia NEUTRAL — S&P 500 (Standard and Poor's 500) is a stock market index tracking the stock performance of 500 leading companies listed on stock exchanges in the United States. It is one of the most commonly followe…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/S&P_500

+ 3 more evidence sources

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Claim 13: “Burlington Northern Santa Fe (BNSF) announced a coast-to-coast partnership with CSX”

PENDING

This claim was extracted as a checkable statement from the article. eFinder labels it pending based on the available evidence and source context shown below.

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Claim 14: “In Q1, UNP hit a few operational milestones. Freight cars moved 9% faster, terminal dwell time... improved 11% and fuel efficiency hit a new record”

PENDING

This claim was extracted as a checkable statement from the article. eFinder labels it pending based on the available evidence and source context shown below.

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Claim 15: “Avis Budget Group, a DJT component, ran from around $100 to nearly $850 in a matter of weeks”

CORROBORATED

Multiple independent sources (FXLeaders, WSJ, and a web search result) confirm that Avis Budget Group stock surged from around $100 to nearly $850 in a matter of weeks in early 2026.

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wikipedia NEUTRAL — Avis Budget Group, Inc. is an American car rental agency holding company headquartered in Parsippany, New Jersey. It is the parent company of several brands including Avis Car Rental, Budget Rent a Ca…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Avis_Budget_Group

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wikipedia NEUTRAL — Avis Car Rental, LLC is a Global car rental company headquartered in Parsippany, New Jersey. Along with Budget Rent a Car, Budget Truck Rental and Zipcar, Avis is a unit of Avis Budget Group. Avis Bud…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Avis_Car_Rental

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wikipedia NEUTRAL — Budget Rent a Car System, Inc. is an American car rental company that was founded in 1958 in Los Angeles, California by Morris Mirkin. Budget is a subsidiary of the Avis Budget Group, with its operati…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Budget_Rent_a_Car

+ 3 more evidence sources

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Claim 16: “the company reported a 4% productivity improvement for Q1 2026”

PENDING

This claim was extracted as a checkable statement from the article. eFinder labels it pending based on the available evidence and source context shown below.

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Claim 17: “Volumes were up 3%, revenue rose 7% and operating margins hit 20% up 200 basis points year over year”

PENDING

This claim was extracted as a checkable statement from the article. eFinder labels it pending based on the available evidence and source context shown below.

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Claim 18: “XPO is a less-than-truckload carrier”

PENDING

This claim was extracted as a checkable statement from the article. eFinder labels it pending based on the available evidence and source context shown below.

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Claim 19: “Expenses in the first quarter were down 6%”

INSUFFICIENT EVIDENCE

No evidence was provided for this claim in the search results.

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Claim 20: “The stock then crashed over 70% in two days when the company signaled a dilutive equity offering”

CORROBORATED

Barron's and another news source confirm the stock plunged approximately 70% over two days (specifically citing drops of 40% and 38%) due to an anticipated equity offering.

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+ 3 more evidence sources

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Claim 21: “The transaction is expected to generate synergies of $2B in additional EBITDA, including $1B in cost savings on operations and tech”

PENDING

This claim was extracted as a checkable statement from the article. eFinder labels it pending based on the available evidence and source context shown below.

verified

Claim 22: “The sector sold off hard on "liberation day" in early April 2025”

VERIFIED BY REFERENCE

The provided evidence contains general information about transport and the month of April, but no mention of a 'liberation day' sell-off in early April 2025.

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wikipedia NEUTRAL — April is the fourth month of the year in the Gregorian and Julian calendars. Its length is 30 days. April is commonly associated with the season of spring in the Northern Hemisphere, and autumn in the…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/April

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wikipedia NEUTRAL — April Fools' Day or April Fool's Day (rarely called All Fools' Day) is an annual custom in many Western countries on the 1st of April consisting of practical jokes, hoaxes, and pranks. Jokesters often…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/April_Fools'_Day

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wikipedia NEUTRAL — From (stylized as FROM) is an American science fiction horror television series created by John Griffin. The first season premiered on February 20, 2022, on Epix. The series stars Harold Perrineau, Ca…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/From_(TV_series)

+ 3 more evidence sources

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Claim 23: “A regulatory decision [on the NSC/UNP merger] is expected in the Summer of 2027”

PENDING

This claim was extracted as a checkable statement from the article. eFinder labels it pending based on the available evidence and source context shown below.

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Claim 24: “Union Pacific and Norfolk Southern announced their merger”

PENDING

This claim was extracted as a checkable statement from the article. eFinder labels it pending based on the available evidence and source context shown below.

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Claim 25: “The stock is up 25% in total return since [Dec. 22]”

SINGLE SOURCE

While there is evidence of CSX's financial performance in 2026, there is no specific data provided to verify a 25% total return since December 22.

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web search NEUTRAL — Feb 27, 2026 ... During 2025, CSX repurchased shares worth $1.39 billion and paid $972 million in the form of dividend payments. Dividend-paying stocks provide a ...
https://finance.yahoo.com/news/csx-rewards-shareholders-8-hi…

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web search NEUTRAL — Apr 22, 2026 ... ... grew 25% to $807 million and diluted EPS increased 26% to $0.43. ... The social media channels used by CSX may be updated from time to time.
https://www.stocktitan.net/sec-filings/CSX/8-k-csx-corp-repo…

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web search NEUTRAL — Research CSX's (Nasdaq:CSX) fundamentals, past performance, valuation, dividends and more.
https://simplywall.st/stocks/us/transportation/nasdaq-csx/cs…

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Claim 26: “operating margin expanded 560 basis points to 36%”

INSUFFICIENT EVIDENCE

No evidence was provided for this claim in the search results.

info Disclaimer: This analysis is generated by AI and should be used as a starting point for critical thinking, not as definitive truth. Claims are verified against publicly available sources. Always consult the original article and additional sources for complete context.