Ryder System (R) is drawing attention after International Motors and PlusAI selected the company as the inaugural customer in a live autonomous truck pilot on a 600 mile Texas freight route.

Ryder's autonomous truck pilot comes at a time when momentum in the shares has been mixed, with a 7 day share price return of 3.04%, a 30 day share price return of 3.31%, and a 90 day share price return of 6.06%. Long term investors have seen a 1 year total shareholder return of 51.58% and a 5 year total shareholder return of 202.55%.

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With Ryder now in the spotlight on autonomous trucking, the shares sit around US$205.95, roughly 10% below the average analyst price target. This raises the question: is there still upside here, or is future growth already priced in?

Most Popular Narrative: 9.4% Undervalued

Ryder's most followed valuation narrative points to a fair value of $227.22 per share, which sits above the latest close at $205.95 and frames the current debate around the stock.

A transformed business model built on high-margin, multi-year contracts and disciplined pricing, combined with significant operating cash flow and a strong balance sheet, provides Ryder with the capital flexibility to fund organic growth, strategic acquisitions, and shareholder returns, creating long-term earnings growth potential.

Want to see what underpins that confidence? The narrative focuses on recurring contracts, improving margins and a future earnings profile that implies a relatively high profit multiple.

Result: Fair Value of $227.22 (UNDERVALUED)

However, the picture could change if freight markets stay weak for longer or if used vehicle pricing pressure and higher fleet investment start to squeeze margins and cash flow.

Another View: Cash Flows Paint A Tighter Picture

While the popular narrative focuses on a fair value of $227.22 per share, the SWS DCF model points to a future cash flow value of $185.41, below the current $205.95 price and implying the shares are overvalued on this measure. Which story do you think better fits your expectations for Ryder's cash generation?

Simply Wall St performs a discounted cash flow (DCF) on every stock in the world every day (check out Ryder System for example). We show the entire calculation in full. You can track the result in your watchlist or portfolio and be alerted when this changes, or use our stock screener to discover 62 high quality undervalued stocks. If you save a screener we even alert you when new companies match - so you never miss a potential opportunity.

Next Steps

With mixed signals across valuations and the autonomous trucking story gaining traction, it makes sense to check the underlying data yourself and move fast to form an independent view. To weigh both sides of the story, take a close look at the 5 key rewards and 2 important warning signs.

Looking for more investment ideas?

If Ryder's story has you thinking bigger about your portfolio, now is the time to scan the market for other opportunities before they run away from you.

• Target high quality value by checking companies highlighted in the 62 high quality undervalued stocks.
• Prioritize resilience and sleep a little easier at night with the 67 resilient stocks with low risk scores.
• Hunt for potential future standouts that are still off most radars through the screener containing 25 high quality undiscovered gems.

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.