New York, Feb 13, 2026, 06:23 EST — Premarket
- CHRW bounced roughly 1% higher before the bell, clawing back a bit after yesterday’s 14.5% dive.
- AI disruption jitters are spilling over from software to freight and logistics stocks.
- Eyes are now on the U.S. CPI report and the cash-market open.
C.H. Robinson Worldwide (CHRW) edged up roughly 1% before the bell Friday, clawing back a bit after Thursday’s 14.54% slide. Shares were last seen at $169.40 in premarket action, compared with a $167.78 close the day before. Volume on Thursday hit 16.43 million shares. (Investing)
C.H. Robinson suddenly found itself swept up in the wider “AI disruption” trade, which is now hammering firms with big software exposure—whether or not they’re classic tech names. Reuters reported Thursday’s rout: shares of both C.H. Robinson and Landstar System plunged more than 14%, with the Dow Jones Transportation Average off 4%. Jefferies trader Jeffrey Favuzza described the mood as “shoot 1st ask questions later” any time an AI headline crosses screens. (Reuters)
The story spun off a small competitor’s announcement. Algorhythm Holdings, trading under RIME, put out a press release touting that its SemiCab platform could process about 300% to 400% more freight volume, all without needing to hire extra staff. Investors were directed to a fresh white paper on broker productivity. (GlobeNewswire)
C.H. Robinson fired back late Thursday. In a newsroom statement, it pointed to its history—claiming it’s been “a leader in AI for more than a decade.” The company said its “Lean AI” effort has boosted productivity over 40% since 2023, with stock buybacks ongoing. (C.H. Robinson)
Barclays isn’t budging on its Overweight stance, labeling the C.H. Robinson slide “disproportionate” and dubbing the company “the AI disrupter” across U.S. truck brokerage and global forwarding. The firm flagged Algorhythm’s limited scale, pointing out it finished September with just $2.8 million in cash and is on track for roughly $10 million in annual recurring revenue by the end of 2025. (Investing)
C.H. Robinson runs an “asset-light” model: instead of owning trucks, it connects shippers to available capacity and keeps freight moving. The backbone here is transportation management software, or TMS—the very planning layer that’s making investors uneasy right now.
The question on the table: Do AI tools give established firms with mountains of data and deep customer ties an even bigger edge, or do they actually let smaller outfits challenge by moving faster and cutting prices? Judging by Thursday’s tape, traders weren’t sitting back to find out.
Plenty could still break another way. Should SemiCab’s promises fail to gain traction with customers, shares might level off in short order. But fresh AI news could keep the sector in flux, or tougher stances from buyers on price could turn margins into a new flashpoint for volatility.
Investors won’t wait long for the next read: January’s CPI lands from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics at 8:30 a.m. ET, a release with the potential to shake up sentiment for cyclicals just before the 9:30 a.m. cash open. (Bureau of Labor Statistics)
CHRW traders face a clear dilemma: Will the early premarket rebound stick around when serious volume hits, or does Thursday’s AI-driven jolt pick up steam again if the inflation data sparks fresh action?
