Global shipping stocks are back in focus as reports point to a potential deal between the U.S. and Iran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz and restore freedom of movement for commercial ships. If trade flows through this key chokepoint become smoother and energy market risks ease, some companies exposed to global sea routes could see their risk profile shift. This article looks at 3 stocks from our Industrials: Global Shipping and Logistics screener that are closely tied to this news. You will see how each might be positively positioned if the Strait fully reopens.

Freightways Group (NZSE:FRW)

Overview: Freightways Group is a New Zealand based logistics company that runs courier, express parcel, business mail and temperature controlled freight networks, alongside document destruction, clinical waste handling and information management services across New Zealand, Australia and selected international routes.

Operations: Freightways Group generates most of its NZ$1.35b revenue from Express Package & Business Mail at about NZ$1.12b, with Information Management contributing roughly NZ$233m and Corporate services around NZ$5m, partly offset by NZ$10m of inter segment eliminations.

Market Cap: NZ$2.51b

Freightways Group provides leveraged exposure to parcel activity, cross border trade and higher value logistics services at a time when a reopening Strait of Hormuz could support smoother global freight flows. The company reports benefits from e commerce volumes, automation projects and expansion into niches such as medical logistics and secure data destruction. At the same time, a relatively high P/E, reliance on external borrowings and margin pressure in some Australian and Information Management operations keep the story balanced and may warrant closer inspection for investors who are comfortable weighing growth against funding and profitability risks.

Freightways Group’s mix of e commerce, medical logistics and data destruction could mean its growth story is only half told. Put its higher P/E and funding needs in context with the analysis report for Freightways Group

Landstar System (LSTR)

Overview: Landstar System is a US based transportation management company that arranges freight across truck, rail, air and ocean, using an asset light model that relies on independent agents and third party capacity providers to serve industries from autos and building products to electronics and food.

Operations: Landstar System generates the bulk of its roughly US$5.0b revenue from Transportation Logistics at about US$4.93b, with Insurance adding around US$126m and internal revenue eliminations reducing the total by about US$56m.

Market Cap: US$6.0b

Landstar System stands out in global freight because its asset light network can flex with shifting trade flows when routes like the Strait of Hormuz become more reliable and energy markets steady. The company is seeing benefits from heavy haul work tied to data centers, aerospace and energy, alongside tighter truck capacity and an expanded agent network. Analysts also flag softer past earnings, higher insurance costs and a relatively rich P/E as key watchpoints. If you want to understand how this mix of flexible capacity, sector exposure and risk from claims and funding could develop as trade lanes reopen, Landstar’s full story warrants a closer look.

Landstar System’s asset light model, heavy haul exposure, and higher P/E could be telling a different story than headline earnings suggest. Get the fuller picture with the 2 key rewards and 1 important warning sign

James Fisher and Sons (LSE:FSJ)

Overview: James Fisher and Sons is a specialist marine services and engineering company that supports energy, defence and maritime transport customers with offshore services, subsea equipment, submarine rescue and coastal shipping across global trade routes.

Operations: James Fisher and Sons generates about £158.9m from Energy, £88.8m from Defence and £147.0m from Maritime Transport, with a small amount of inter segment sales of £0.3m.

Market Cap: £227.2m

James Fisher and Sons gives you pure exposure to marine services at a time when a potential reopening of the Strait of Hormuz could support more reliable global shipping and offshore activity. The company is working through a turnaround, with reported expectations that earnings could recover from current losses and margins could improve as higher value defence and subsea work scales up. At the same time, every pound of liabilities currently rests on higher risk external borrowing and the business still depends on defence budgets and project timing in energy markets. If you are looking for a globally positioned marine services stock that could benefit from smoother trade routes but want to understand whether the balance sheet and turnaround plan stack up, this story may warrant closer consideration.

James Fisher and Sons looks like a turnaround that could be accelerating just as marine and defence work gain traction. Before the story moves on without you, review the full narrative for James Fisher and Sons

The three Industrials: Global Shipping and Logistics stocks in this article are only a sample, and the full screener surfaced 10 more companies with equally compelling trade route and freight narratives through the Industrials: Global Shipping and Logistics screener. Use Simply Wall St to identify and analyze the specific catalysts, balance sheet strength and route exposures that matter to you so you can focus on your highest conviction global shipping ideas.

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This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned.