Although we don't believe in timing the market or panicking over market movements, we do like to keep an eye on big changes -- just in case they're material to our investing thesis.
What: Shares of trucking company Arkansas Best (ARCB 3.50%) skyrocketed as much as 40% after disclosing in a regulatory filing on Friday that its subsidiary, ABF Freight System, had reached a tentative agreement with the Teamsters union.
So what: The negotiations of a long-term contract between Arkansas Best subsidiary ABF Freight and the Teamsters National Freight Industry Negotiating Committee have been going on for way too long. This filing appears to have paved the way for a five-year agreement between both parties that will allow ABF to continue its operations without having to shed 15%-20% of capacity as some analysts had feared, and gives better certainty to union members that they aren't going to lose their jobs. In response to the deal being reached, Deutsche Bank upgraded Arkansas Best to buy from hold as it sees much of the uncertainty in the company now removed.
Now what: Although I'm not a shareholder in Arkansas Best, it is a holding in my "One Person's Trash Is Another Person's Treasure" portfolio, and I can firmly say, "Finally!" This deal has been a long time coming and it should practically guarantee a return to profitability for Arkansas Best. This is great news for shareholders who continue to enjoy the $0.12 annual dividend and even more reason to like the stock moving forward.
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