New York, Feb 13, 2026, 17:53 EST — After-hours
- CH Robinson shares bounced 4.9% in after-hours trading, clawing back some ground following a steep AI-driven selloff just a day before.
- A small AI-driven freight platform launch triggered a broad selloff across brokers and logistics stocks.
- SEC filings show CEO David Bozeman and CFO Damon Lee picked up shares in open-market buys.
C.H. Robinson Worldwide, Inc. climbed 4.9% to $176.01 in Friday’s after-hours session, bouncing back a bit after freight and logistics names were hammered earlier.
This wasn’t about a missed quarter, or losing a huge contract. Instead, jitters about fresh artificial intelligence tech taking over freight planning—and potentially cutting out brokers who don’t actually own trucks—sent a shock through the market. Wall Street had always considered that business model tough to disrupt.
Trucking and logistics stocks took a beating Thursday after Algorhythm Holdings — previously an in-car karaoke startup, now pitching itself as an AI freight specialist — rolled out its SemiCab platform. The company claimed the tool could let clients boost freight volume by 300% to 400%, all without extra hires. C.H. Robinson shares tumbled 15% by the close, having been down as much as 24% earlier. Landstar lost 16%. RXO gave up roughly 20%, according to the Guardian. “The level of paranoia is Category 5,” said Joseph Shaposhnik, portfolio manager at Rainwater Equity. 1
Some bullish voices didn’t see the drop coming. Barclays’ Brandon Oglenski called it “disproportionate to the risk,” telling clients he’d buy the sector if prices sag further. Nationwide’s Mark Hackett, for his part, pointed out that responses to AI stories often get “emotional and exaggerated.” 2
C.H. Robinson fired back. In a Feb. 12 statement, the company described itself as “a leader in AI for more than a decade,” touting its “Lean AI” strategy for boosting productivity over 40% and automating “millions of shipping tasks.” The firm added: “Rather than being disrupted, our 120-year-old company is the disrupter – and we’re just getting started.” 3
Barclays kept its Overweight call intact on Thursday, describing the selloff as “disproportionate” and dubbing C.H. Robinson “the AI disrupter” in its markets, according to a research note quoted by Investing.com. 4
Insider buying picked up again, with Chief Executive David P. Bozeman snapping up 1,223 shares at $163.345 on Feb. 12. Chief Financial Officer Damon J. Lee also stepped in, picking up 620 shares at $162.5221 that day, according to SEC filings. 5
The company’s annual report, filed Friday, pegs 2026 capital spending at roughly $75 million to $85 million, most of it earmarked for software—including AI-driven projects—with an eye on scalable solutions. The board has also cleared an extra $2.0 billion for share buybacks, according to the filing. Still, management flagged a risk: falling behind in the fast-moving AI race could put the company at a disadvantage. Demand and broader acceptance of AI, they wrote, remain up in the air. 6
The “AI scare trade” remains a blunt instrument. For brokers, there’s a straightforward risk: if these new tools actually squeeze the advantages of scale, data, and pricing speed, margins could take a hit—right as freight demand wobbles and customers get tougher on rates.
Traders eye whether Friday’s rebound can stick after the long weekend. With U.S. markets shut Monday, Feb. 16, for Washington’s Birthday/Presidents Day, Tuesday’s open will be the first real gauge. 7
