Business Corpus: This No. 1 Logistics Firm, Backed By Alibaba, Is Set To ReportZTO Express, a logistics play on China's e-commerce boom, reports earnings after the close Wednesday. The post This No. 1 Logistics Firm, Backed By Alibaba, Is Set To Report appeared first on Investor's Business Daily.

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Leading China delivery company ZTO Express (ZTO), a logistics play on China's e-commerce boom, reports earnings after the close Wednesday.

The Alibaba (BABA)-backed firm covers 96% of China's cities and counties, supporting the strong growth of e-commerce in that country. The Chinese e-commerce giant and its logistics arm Cainiao are investing $1.38 billion in ZTO.

Estimates: EPS is seen climbing 53% to 23 cents, according to one analyst surveyed by Zacks Investment Research. There was no revenue estimate but ZTO saw $438 million in sales a year ago.

Results: To be announced.

Stock: Shares of ZTO climbed 1.2% to 19.68 in the stock market today. The stock jumped past a 21.80 buy point on July 16 in strong volume, but has since dropped into sell territory. But with a 95 Composite Rating, ZTO still holds the No. 1 ranking among transportation and logistics stocks. Echo Global (ECHO) comes in second with a 94.

Last-Mile Delivery Focus

ZTO Express serves millions of online merchants and consumers on Alibaba and JD.com (JD).

After Alibaba and Cainiao announced their investment in ZTO in May, ZTO in June took a 15% stake in Cainiao's last-mile delivery business for a $168 million investment.

The company has made "significant progress" in developing last-mile delivery products and services, said CEO Meisong Lai, when ZTO announced the Cainiao stake. But he acknowledged fierce competition in last-mile delivery services as demand for personalized pickup and delivery grows alongside daily parcel volume.

Any impact from that growing partnership is likely to be in focus during the company's 9 p.m. ET conference call.

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The post This No. 1 Logistics Firm, Backed By Alibaba, Is Set To Report appeared first on Investor's Business Daily.