Baader Bank Aktiengesellschaft bought a new stake in J.B. Hunt Transport Services, Inc. (NASDAQ:JBHT – Free Report) in the first quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The firm bought 1,843 shares of the transportation company’s stock, valued at approximately $390,000.
Several other institutional investors also recently made changes to their positions in JBHT. State Street Corp increased its holdings in shares of J.B. Hunt Transport Services by 7.1% in the 2nd quarter. State Street Corp now owns 4,122,669 shares of the transportation company’s stock valued at $592,015,000 after purchasing an additional 272,594 shares in the last quarter. Janus Henderson Group PLC boosted its holdings in J.B. Hunt Transport Services by 2.2% during the fourth quarter. Janus Henderson Group PLC now owns 3,940,833 shares of the transportation company’s stock worth $765,862,000 after buying an additional 84,149 shares in the last quarter. AQR Capital Management LLC grew its position in J.B. Hunt Transport Services by 17.7% during the fourth quarter. AQR Capital Management LLC now owns 3,755,171 shares of the transportation company’s stock worth $729,780,000 after buying an additional 565,605 shares during the period. Invesco Ltd. increased its holdings in J.B. Hunt Transport Services by 5.4% in the third quarter. Invesco Ltd. now owns 1,612,262 shares of the transportation company’s stock valued at $216,317,000 after buying an additional 82,939 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Norges Bank acquired a new stake in shares of J.B. Hunt Transport Services during the 4th quarter valued at approximately $200,587,000. 74.95% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.
J.B. Hunt Transport Services Trading Down 0.3% Shares of J.B. Hunt Transport Services stock opened at $292.24 on Thursday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.31, a current ratio of 1.26 and a quick ratio of 1.26. J.B. Hunt Transport Services, Inc. has a 1 year low of $130.12 and a 1 year high of $299.76. The company has a market capitalization of $27.56 billion, a P/E ratio of 41.39, a P/E/G ratio of 1.85 and a beta of 1.29. The business has a 50 day moving average price of $277.52 and a 200 day moving average price of $240.59.
J.B. Hunt Transport Services (NASDAQ:JBHT – Get Free Report) last posted its earnings results on Wednesday, July 15th. The transportation company reported $1.91 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating analysts’ consensus estimates of $1.71 by $0.20. The firm had revenue of $3.50 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $3.26 billion. J.B. Hunt Transport Services had a return on equity of 18.75% and a net margin of 5.31%.J.B. Hunt Transport Services’s revenue was up 19.4% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter in the prior year, the company earned $1.31 EPS. Sell-side analysts anticipate that J.B. Hunt Transport Services, Inc. will post 7.71 EPS for the current fiscal year.
Wall Street Analyst Weigh In JBHT has been the topic of several research analyst reports. Zacks Research raised J.B. Hunt Transport Services from a “hold” rating to a “strong-buy” rating in a research note on Thursday, July 16th. Barclays lifted their price objective on J.B. Hunt Transport Services from $270.00 to $300.00 and gave the stock an “equal weight” rating in a report on Thursday, July 16th. The Goldman Sachs Group set a $261.00 target price on J.B. Hunt Transport Services in a report on Thursday, July 16th. Citigroup restated a “market perform” rating on shares of J.B. Hunt Transport Services in a research report on Monday. Finally, Weiss Ratings downgraded J.B. Hunt Transport Services from a “hold (c+)” rating to a “hold (c)” rating in a research note on Friday, April 24th. Two equities research analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, thirteen have given a Buy rating, ten have issued a Hold rating and one has given a Sell rating to the company’s stock. According to MarketBeat.com, J.B. Hunt Transport Services presently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus target price of $286.30.
Get Our Latest Stock Report on JBHT
Insiders Place Their Bets In related news, EVP Darren P. Field sold 4,000 shares of the stock in a transaction on Thursday, May 14th. The stock was sold at an average price of $254.49, for a total transaction of $1,017,960.00. Following the sale, the executive vice president owned 8,696 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $2,213,045.04. This trade represents a 31.51% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at the SEC website. Also, EVP David Keefauver sold 703 shares of J.B. Hunt Transport Services stock in a transaction dated Friday, June 5th. The stock was sold at an average price of $285.13, for a total value of $200,446.39. Following the sale, the executive vice president owned 790 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $225,252.70. This represents a 47.09% decrease in their position. The SEC filing for this sale provides additional information. Over the last three months, insiders sold 15,847 shares of company stock valued at $4,162,861. Insiders own 2.50% of the company’s stock.
J.B. Hunt Transport Services Company Profile (Free Report)
J.B. Hunt Transport Services, Inc is a leading provider of transportation and logistics solutions headquartered in Lowell, Arkansas. The company offers a comprehensive suite of services designed to move freight efficiently across North America, including intermodal, dedicated contract services, full truckload, less-than-truckload (LTL), final mile delivery and specialized transport.
In its intermodal segment, J.B. Hunt leverages a network of rail and truck assets to transport containers and trailers on major U.S.
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LOWELL, Ark.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--J.B. Hunt Transport Services, Inc. (NASDAQ:JBHT) announced today that its Board of Directors has declared a regular quarterly dividend on its common stock of $ 0.45 (forty five cents) per common share. The dividend is payable to stockholders of record on August 7, 2026 and will be paid on August 21, 2026.
About J.B. Hunt
J.B. Hunt’s vision is to create the most efficient transportation network in North America. The company’s industry-leading solutions and mode-neutral approach generate value for customers by eliminating waste, reducing costs and enhancing supply chain visibility. Powered by one of the largest company-owned fleets in the country and third-party capacity through its J.B. Hunt 360°® digital freight marketplace, J.B. Hunt can meet the unique shipping needs of any business, from first mile to final delivery, and every shipment in-between. Through disciplined investments in its people, technology and capacity, J.B. Hunt is delivering exceptional value and service that enable long-term growth for the company and its stakeholders.
J.B. Hunt Transport Services Inc. is an S&P 500 company and a component of the Dow Jones Transportation Average. Its stock trades on NASDAQ under the ticker symbol JBHT. J.B. Hunt Transport Inc. is a wholly owned subsidiary of JBHT. The company’s services include intermodal, dedicated, refrigerated, truckload, less-than-truckload, flatbed, single source, last mile, transload and more. For more information, visit www.jbhunt.com.
Momentum investing is all about the idea of following a stock's recent trend, which can be in either direction. In the "long context," investors will essentially be "buying high, but hoping to sell even higher." And for investors following this methodology, taking advantage of trends in a stock's price is key; once a stock establishes a course, it is more than likely to continue moving in that direction. The goal is that once a stock heads down a fixed path, it will lead to timely and profitable trades.
While many investors like to look for momentum in stocks, this can be very tough to define. There is a lot of debate surrounding which metrics are the best to focus on and which are poor quality indicators of future performance. The Zacks Momentum Style Score, part of the Zacks Style Scores, helps address this issue for us.
Below, we take a look at JB Hunt (JBHT - Free Report) , which currently has a Momentum Style Score of A. We also discuss some of the main drivers of the Momentum Style Score, like price change and earnings estimate revisions.
It's also important to note that Style Scores work as a complement to the Zacks Rank, our stock rating system that has an impressive track record of outperformance. JB Hunt currently has a Zacks Rank of #1 (Strong Buy). Our research shows that stocks rated Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) and #2 (Buy) and Style Scores of "A or B" outperform the market over the following one-month period.
You can see the current list of Zacks #1 Rank Stocks here >>>
Set to Beat the Market?Let's discuss some of the components of the Momentum Style Score for JBHT that show why this trucking and logistics company shows promise as a solid momentum pick.
A good momentum benchmark for a stock is to look at its short-term price activity, as this can reflect both current interest and if buyers or sellers currently have the upper hand. It is also useful to compare a security to its industry, as this can help investors pinpoint the top companies in a particular area.
For JBHT, shares are up 4.09% over the past week while the Zacks Transportation - Truck industry is up 2.92% over the same time period. Shares are looking quite well from a longer time frame too, as the monthly price change of 8.92% compares favorably with the industry's 6.2% performance as well.
While any stock can see a spike in price, it takes a real winner to consistently outperform the market. Over the past quarter, shares of JB Hunt have risen 16.7%, and are up 93.02% in the last year. In comparison, the S&P 500 has only moved 6.61% and 20.33%, respectively.
Investors should also take note of JBHT's average 20-day trading volume. Volume is a useful item in many ways, and the 20-day average establishes a good price-to-volume baseline; a rising stock with above average volume is generally a bullish sign, whereas a declining stock on above average volume is typically bearish. Right now JBHT is averaging 1,028,292 shares for the last 20 days..
Earnings OutlookThe Zacks Momentum Style Score encompasses many things, including estimate revisions and a stock's price movement. Investors should note that earnings estimates are also significant to the Zacks Rank, and a nice path here can be promising. We have recently been noticing this with JBHT.
Over the past two months, 10 earnings estimates moved higher compared to none lower for the full year. These revisions helped boost JBHT's consensus estimate, increasing from $7.27 to $7.71 in the past 60 days. Looking at the next fiscal year, 10 estimates have moved upwards while there have been no downward revisions in the same time period.
Bottom LineTaking into account all of these elements, it should come as no surprise that JBHT is a #1 (Strong Buy) stock with a Momentum Score of A. If you've been searching for a fresh pick that's set to rise in the near-term, make sure to keep JB Hunt on your short list.
California Public Employees Retirement System raised its holdings in shares of J.B. Hunt Transport Services, Inc. (NASDAQ:JBHT – Free Report) by 11.9% during the first quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 167,796 shares of the transportation company’s stock after buying an additional 17,884 shares during the period. California Public Employees Retirement System owned about 0.18% of J.B. Hunt Transport Services worth $35,556,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.
Other hedge funds and other institutional investors also recently modified their holdings of the company. CYBER HORNET ETFs LLC acquired a new position in J.B. Hunt Transport Services during the 2nd quarter worth approximately $31,000. International Assets Investment Management LLC acquired a new position in J.B. Hunt Transport Services during the 4th quarter worth $32,000. MUFG Securities EMEA plc acquired a new position in J.B. Hunt Transport Services in the second quarter worth about $34,000. Whittier Trust Co. grew its position in shares of J.B. Hunt Transport Services by 39.1% in the 4th quarter. Whittier Trust Co. now owns 178 shares of the transportation company’s stock worth $37,000 after acquiring an additional 50 shares in the last quarter. Finally, CIBC Private Wealth Group LLC boosted its holdings in J.B. Hunt Transport Services by 34.3% in the fourth quarter. CIBC Private Wealth Group LLC now owns 188 shares of the transportation company’s stock worth $37,000 after purchasing an additional 48 shares during the period. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 74.95% of the company’s stock.
Insider Activity In other news, insider Bradley W. Hicks sold 7,644 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction dated Friday, May 15th. The stock was sold at an average price of $261.91, for a total value of $2,002,040.04. Following the sale, the insider directly owned 23,982 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $6,281,125.62. This trade represents a 24.17% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. Also, EVP Darren P. Field sold 4,000 shares of J.B. Hunt Transport Services stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, May 14th. The stock was sold at an average price of $254.49, for a total value of $1,017,960.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the executive vice president directly owned 8,696 shares in the company, valued at approximately $2,213,045.04. This represents a 31.51% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this sale is available in the SEC filing. Over the last ninety days, insiders have sold 15,847 shares of company stock valued at $4,162,861. Insiders own 2.50% of the company’s stock.
Wall Street Analyst Weigh In JBHT has been the subject of a number of research reports. Zacks Research upgraded J.B. Hunt Transport Services from a “hold” rating to a “strong-buy” rating in a research note on Thursday, July 16th. Wells Fargo & Company raised their target price on shares of J.B. Hunt Transport Services from $310.00 to $335.00 and gave the company an “overweight” rating in a research note on Thursday, July 16th. Bank of America upped their price objective on J.B. Hunt Transport Services from $225.00 to $250.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a report on Thursday, April 16th. Raymond James Financial raised their target price on shares of J.B. Hunt Transport Services from $299.00 to $315.00 and gave the stock an “outperform” rating in a report on Thursday, July 16th. Finally, Sanford C. Bernstein reissued an “outperform” rating on shares of J.B. Hunt Transport Services in a research note on Thursday, July 16th. Two investment analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, thirteen have issued a Buy rating, ten have given a Hold rating and one has assigned a Sell rating to the company’s stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the stock has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of $286.30.
Read Our Latest Research Report on JBHT
J.B. Hunt Transport Services Price Performance Shares of NASDAQ:JBHT opened at $293.26 on Wednesday. The firm has a market cap of $27.65 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 41.54, a P/E/G ratio of 1.85 and a beta of 1.29. The company has a current ratio of 1.26, a quick ratio of 1.26 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.31. J.B. Hunt Transport Services, Inc. has a 1 year low of $130.12 and a 1 year high of $299.76. The business has a fifty day simple moving average of $276.44 and a 200 day simple moving average of $239.90.
J.B. Hunt Transport Services (NASDAQ:JBHT – Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, July 15th. The transportation company reported $1.91 EPS for the quarter, topping analysts’ consensus estimates of $1.71 by $0.20. J.B. Hunt Transport Services had a return on equity of 18.75% and a net margin of 5.31%.The firm had revenue of $3.50 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $3.26 billion. During the same quarter in the prior year, the company posted $1.31 earnings per share. The firm’s revenue was up 19.4% on a year-over-year basis. As a group, sell-side analysts predict that J.B. Hunt Transport Services, Inc. will post 7.66 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.
J.B. Hunt Transport Services Dividend Announcement The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, May 22nd. Stockholders of record on Friday, May 8th were paid a dividend of $0.45 per share. This represents a $1.80 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 0.6%. The ex-dividend date was Friday, May 8th. J.B. Hunt Transport Services’s dividend payout ratio is 25.50%.
J.B. Hunt Transport Services Profile (Free Report)
J.B. Hunt Transport Services, Inc is a leading provider of transportation and logistics solutions headquartered in Lowell, Arkansas. The company offers a comprehensive suite of services designed to move freight efficiently across North America, including intermodal, dedicated contract services, full truckload, less-than-truckload (LTL), final mile delivery and specialized transport.
In its intermodal segment, J.B. Hunt leverages a network of rail and truck assets to transport containers and trailers on major U.S.
Featured Articles Five stocks we like better than J.B. Hunt Transport Services Confidence Is Back, But Earnings Show the Consumer Is Being Picky AeroVironment’s Stock Is Down, But Drone Demand Is Taking Off 3M’s Redemption Arc: Can Q2 Earnings Change the Narrative? 3 Photonics Companies Making Quantum Tech Possible Want to see what other hedge funds are holding JBHT? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for J.B. Hunt Transport Services, Inc. (NASDAQ:JBHT – Free Report).
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LOWELL, Ark.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Overroute, an AI-native freight technology company built for carriers and logistics operators, today announced its public launch after a year of co-design with J.B. Hunt Transport Services Inc. (Nasdaq: JBHT), one of the largest supply chain solutions providers in North America.Overroute's AI agents are in use by operators across all of J.B. Hunt's business units, working on millions of loads inside one of the most complex freight carrier networks in the industry.O.
Key Takeaways J.B. Hunt's operating margin improved to 7.4% as revenue growth and cost actions lifted profitability. JBHT's second-quarter intermodal volume rose 10%, while segment operating income climbed 58%. Liquidity, driver hiring and higher purchased-transportation costs remain key operating risks for JBHT. J.B. Hunt Transport Services (JBHT - Free Report) is moving through a better freight backdrop with improving volume, stronger operating leverage and a clearer earnings path into 2027.
The setup is not risk-free, but the company’s second-quarter performance shows how tighter truck capacity, stronger intermodal demand and internal cost discipline can work together when freight conditions improve.
JBHT’s Business Mix Sets the StageJ.B. Hunt operates across five segments: Intermodal, Dedicated Contract Services, Integrated Capacity Solutions, Final Mile Services and Truckload. That structure gives the company a broad role in North American freight, spanning rail-linked transportation, private fleet outsourcing, brokerage, last-mile delivery and full-truckload service.
The mix matters. Intermodal generated 50% of 2025 revenues, while Dedicated Contract Services contributed 28.3%. That gives JBHT meaningful exposure to both cyclical freight recovery and longer-term contractual business.
Schneider National (SNDR - Free Report) is a relevant peer because it also competes across truckload, intermodal and logistics. Knight-Swift Transportation (KNX - Free Report) also belongs in the discussion because its truckload and logistics footprint gives investors another way to track capacity and pricing trends across the trucking cycle.
J.B. Hunt’s Intermodal Edge Is BackIntermodal is the key driver behind JBHT’s improved outlook. In the second quarter of 2026, intermodal volume increased 10%, including 16% growth in the eastern network.
Segment operating income rose 58% in the same period. That gain shows the power of network density when volumes recover, because stronger utilization can reduce empty container moves, storage expense and drayage inefficiencies.
The broader market is also helping. Higher fuel costs and constrained truck capacity make road-to-rail conversion more attractive for shippers seeking cost-efficient capacity. J.B. Hunt’s scale, rail relationships and intermodal equipment base give it a stronger position when customers look for reliable alternatives to highway-only freight.
JBHT’s Cost Actions Are Lifting ProfitabilityJ.B. Hunt’s recovery is not only about volume. Companywide operating income increased 32% in the second quarter of 2026, and operating margin improved to 7.4% from 6.7% a year earlier.
The improvement came from several practical sources. Higher revenue, lower medical claims, reduced facility and storage costs, and ongoing cost-to-serve initiatives all supported profitability.
Intermodal density added another layer of leverage. As more freight moved through the network, the company benefited from lower empty container activity and better productivity in drayage operations. These are operational improvements, not just favorable comparisons.
Driven by the tailwinds, shares of JBHT have outperformed its industry over the past six months.
6-Month Price ComparisonImage Source: Zacks Investment Research
J.B. Hunt Still Has Real Operating RisksLiquidity remains a watch item. Cash and cash equivalents were approximately $4.2 million at June 30, 2026, while outstanding debt was $1.15 billion.
Driver hiring is another constraint. Management indicated that driver need had reached the highest level since June 2022 as demand and customer wins increased. A tighter driver market can raise compensation costs or slow the onboarding of new business.
Purchased transportation expense also remains a pressure point. Integrated Capacity Solutions saw purchased transportation expense rise 54% in the second quarter, while Truckload recorded an operating loss as higher third-party capacity costs hurt gross profit.
Why JBHT’s Signals Still Look FavorableThe bottom line is that JBHT’s outlook has improved because demand recovery is showing up in its most important operating channels, while internal cost actions are supporting margin repair. The key question is whether stronger freight demand can keep outrunning liquidity, labor and purchased-transportation pressures.
The stock currently sports a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.
JBHT also has a Value Score of D, Growth Score of B, Momentum Score of A and VGM Score of B.
That mix suggests the strongest parts of the story are earnings momentum, operating traction and share-price momentum rather than valuation appeal alone. For investors watching the freight cycle, JBHT’s current profile points to a company with improving near-term prospects, balanced by valuation and execution risks that still deserve attention.
Key Takeaways J.B. Hunt's intermodal volume rose 10% in Q2 2026, led by 16% growth in the Eastern network. Higher fuel costs and tight truck capacity are strengthening intermodal's cost and reliability appeal. JBHT's operating income rose 32% as network density and drayage productivity improved margins. J.B. Hunt Transport Services, Inc. (JBHT - Free Report) is benefiting as freight demand shifts toward scaled networks, reliable capacity and lower-cost transportation options.
The trend is not only about volume recovery. It also reflects how shippers are weighing fuel costs, capacity constraints, sustainability goals and service reliability in a tighter freight market.
JBHT Benefits From a Road-to-Rail Freight ShiftHigher fuel costs and constrained truck capacity are improving the road-to-rail value proposition. Intermodal gives shippers a way to lower transportation costs while accessing dependable capacity through a rail-linked network.
J.B. Hunt is well placed for that shift. Its Intermodal business reported a 10% volume increase in the second quarter of 2026, including 16% growth in the Eastern network. Union Pacific Corporation (UNP - Free Report) and CSX Corporation (CSX - Free Report) remain important names in the broader rail ecosystem, underscoring how rail capacity sits at the center of intermodal freight planning.
J.B. Hunt Uses Alternative Power as a DifferentiatorJ.B. Hunt’s sustainability strategy adds another layer to the freight-conversion story. The company has expanded its alternative-powered fleet through battery-electric, hydrogen-electric and renewable natural gas vehicles.
Its target is to reduce carbon-emission intensity 32% by 2034 from a 2019 baseline. That effort includes alternative-powered equipment, greater use of biogenic fuels and fuel-economy improvements, aligning JBHT’s services with customer demand for lower-emission freight options.
JBHT's Margin Recovery Tracks Network EfficiencyThe freight recovery is showing up in profitability. In the second quarter of 2026, total operating revenue rose 19% year over year to $3.50 billion, while operating income increased 32% to $259.5 million.
Efficiency is the key driver. In Intermodal, operating income climbed 58% as greater network density, improved drayage productivity, a lower proportion of empty container moves and lower storage expenses supported margins. Structural cost actions also helped the company convert improving demand into better earnings.
J.B. Hunt Sees Trend Splits Across Its SegmentsThe trend is not evenly distributed. Intermodal is benefiting most directly from conversion activity, while Dedicated Contract Services continues to show resilience through productivity gains and improved customer retention.
Integrated Capacity Solutions improved from a year-earlier operating loss, but higher purchased transportation expense still pressured gross margins. Truckload remained under pressure from higher third-party capacity costs, while Final Mile Services continued to face account-quality actions and demand challenges. Schneider National, Inc. (SNDR - Free Report) is another transportation and logistics name tied to truckload and intermodal trends, making it a relevant comparison point as investors evaluate freight-cycle exposure.
JBHT's Momentum Signals Match the Trend SetupThe bottom line is that JBHT offers investors exposure to freight trends that look increasingly durable, including intermodal conversion, capacity tightening, customer focus on reliability and efficiency-led margin recovery. The positives are meaningful, but the uneven segment performance keeps the story from becoming one-dimensional.
JBHT's earnings estimate revision picture over the past 60 days is impressive for the third quarter, the fourth quarter, full-year 2026 and 2027.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
The Value Score of D is the counterweight. JBHT’s trend exposure and operating momentum are clear, but that score suggests investors should remain mindful of valuation before assuming the shares are inexpensive.
Bank of New York Mellon Corp boosted its stake in J.B. Hunt Transport Services, Inc. (NASDAQ:JBHT – Free Report) by 4.6% during the first quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the SEC. The fund owned 644,321 shares of the transportation company’s stock after buying an additional 28,245 shares during the period. Bank of New York Mellon Corp owned approximately 0.68% of J.B. Hunt Transport Services worth $136,532,000 as of its most recent filing with the SEC.
Several other hedge funds have also recently bought and sold shares of the stock. International Assets Investment Management LLC bought a new stake in J.B. Hunt Transport Services in the 4th quarter valued at $32,000. Whittier Trust Co. increased its position in J.B. Hunt Transport Services by 39.1% during the fourth quarter. Whittier Trust Co. now owns 178 shares of the transportation company’s stock worth $37,000 after acquiring an additional 50 shares during the period. CIBC Private Wealth Group LLC raised its stake in J.B. Hunt Transport Services by 34.3% in the 4th quarter. CIBC Private Wealth Group LLC now owns 188 shares of the transportation company’s stock worth $37,000 after purchasing an additional 48 shares in the last quarter. Activest Wealth Management raised its stake in J.B. Hunt Transport Services by 19,800.0% in the 4th quarter. Activest Wealth Management now owns 199 shares of the transportation company’s stock worth $39,000 after purchasing an additional 198 shares in the last quarter. Finally, CYBER HORNET ETFs LLC bought a new stake in J.B. Hunt Transport Services in the 2nd quarter valued at about $31,000. 74.95% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.
J.B. Hunt Transport Services News Roundup Here are the key news stories impacting J.B. Hunt Transport Services this week:
Positive Sentiment: JBHT was added to Zacks’ “Strong Buy” momentum list, signaling improving technical and fundamental momentum. Best Momentum Stocks to Buy for July 17th Positive Sentiment: Analysts raised price targets after the earnings beat, including JPMorgan, Robert W. Baird, Barclays, Citigroup, and TD Cowen, reflecting confidence in the recovery and margin improvement. Positive Sentiment: Reports highlighted shrinking trucking capacity and a shift toward intermodal freight, which could support stronger pricing and volume trends for JBHT. J.B. Hunt Stock Could Reach $340 as Trucking Capacity Shrinks Positive Sentiment: JBHT was also featured on relative-strength and momentum screens, indicating that investors see it as one of the stronger names in a choppy market. 5 Top Stocks With Relative Price Strength to Buy Right Now Neutral Sentiment: One Zacks article cautioned that while earnings growth and estimate revisions support the rally, the stock’s premium valuation means investors should remain selective. Is JBHT Stock too Expensive or Still Attractive After Its Rally? Neutral Sentiment: Analysts’ consensus remains constructive, with coverage still centered around a “Moderate Buy” view. Insider Buying and Selling at J.B. Hunt Transport Services In related news, EVP Brian Webb sold 1,500 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction on Friday, June 5th. The stock was sold at an average price of $284.01, for a total transaction of $426,015.00. Following the sale, the executive vice president owned 15,881 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $4,510,362.81. This trade represents a 8.63% decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available through this hyperlink. Also, EVP Spencer Frazier sold 2,000 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction on Tuesday, May 19th. The shares were sold at an average price of $258.20, for a total value of $516,400.00. Following the sale, the executive vice president directly owned 4,604 shares in the company, valued at approximately $1,188,752.80. This trade represents a 30.28% decrease in their position. The SEC filing for this sale provides additional information. Insiders sold 18,119 shares of company stock worth $4,736,095 over the last 90 days. 2.50% of the stock is owned by corporate insiders.
Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth A number of equities research analysts have recently weighed in on JBHT shares. UBS Group lifted their price target on shares of J.B. Hunt Transport Services from $286.00 to $291.00 and gave the company a “neutral” rating in a research report on Thursday. Susquehanna set a $345.00 target price on J.B. Hunt Transport Services in a research report on Thursday. Stifel Nicolaus increased their target price on J.B. Hunt Transport Services from $225.00 to $261.00 and gave the stock a “hold” rating in a report on Monday, July 13th. Robert W. Baird raised their price target on J.B. Hunt Transport Services from $290.00 to $320.00 and gave the stock an “outperform” rating in a research report on Thursday. Finally, The Goldman Sachs Group set a $261.00 price target on J.B. Hunt Transport Services in a research report on Thursday. Two investment analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, thirteen have assigned a Buy rating, ten have assigned a Hold rating and one has issued a Sell rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average target price of $286.30.
Read Our Latest Report on JBHT
J.B. Hunt Transport Services Price Performance Shares of JBHT stock opened at $291.41 on Monday. The company has a quick ratio of 1.26, a current ratio of 1.26 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.31. J.B. Hunt Transport Services, Inc. has a twelve month low of $130.12 and a twelve month high of $299.76. The company has a market cap of $27.48 billion, a P/E ratio of 41.28, a P/E/G ratio of 1.87 and a beta of 1.29. The business has a fifty day simple moving average of $274.31 and a 200 day simple moving average of $238.54.
J.B. Hunt Transport Services (NASDAQ:JBHT – Get Free Report) last released its earnings results on Wednesday, July 15th. The transportation company reported $1.91 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating analysts’ consensus estimates of $1.71 by $0.20. The firm had revenue of $3.50 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $3.26 billion. J.B. Hunt Transport Services had a return on equity of 18.75% and a net margin of 5.31%.The business’s revenue for the quarter was up 19.4% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter in the previous year, the business posted $1.31 earnings per share. On average, sell-side analysts forecast that J.B. Hunt Transport Services, Inc. will post 7.6 EPS for the current fiscal year.
J.B. Hunt Transport Services Dividend Announcement The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, May 22nd. Investors of record on Friday, May 8th were given a dividend of $0.45 per share. This represents a $1.80 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 0.6%. The ex-dividend date was Friday, May 8th. J.B. Hunt Transport Services’s dividend payout ratio is currently 25.50%.
J.B. Hunt Transport Services Company Profile (Free Report)
J.B. Hunt Transport Services, Inc is a leading provider of transportation and logistics solutions headquartered in Lowell, Arkansas. The company offers a comprehensive suite of services designed to move freight efficiently across North America, including intermodal, dedicated contract services, full truckload, less-than-truckload (LTL), final mile delivery and specialized transport.
In its intermodal segment, J.B. Hunt leverages a network of rail and truck assets to transport containers and trailers on major U.S.
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NEXT HEADLINE »Greenwood Gearhart LLC Trims Stock Position in J.B. Hunt Transport Services, Inc. $JBHT
Greenwood Gearhart LLC cut its holdings in J.B. Hunt Transport Services, Inc. (NASDAQ:JBHT – Free Report) by 1.8% during the first quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the SEC. The fund owned 198,296 shares of the transportation company’s stock after selling 3,543 shares during the period. J.B. Hunt Transport Services accounts for about 2.3% of Greenwood Gearhart LLC’s portfolio, making the stock its 17th largest holding. Greenwood Gearhart LLC owned approximately 0.21% of J.B. Hunt Transport Services worth $42,019,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.
Several other hedge funds also recently added to or reduced their stakes in JBHT. CYBER HORNET ETFs LLC purchased a new stake in J.B. Hunt Transport Services in the second quarter valued at $31,000. International Assets Investment Management LLC purchased a new position in shares of J.B. Hunt Transport Services during the 4th quarter worth $32,000. MUFG Securities EMEA plc purchased a new position in shares of J.B. Hunt Transport Services during the 2nd quarter worth $34,000. Whittier Trust Co. increased its position in shares of J.B. Hunt Transport Services by 39.1% during the 4th quarter. Whittier Trust Co. now owns 178 shares of the transportation company’s stock worth $37,000 after purchasing an additional 50 shares during the last quarter. Finally, CIBC Private Wealth Group LLC increased its position in shares of J.B. Hunt Transport Services by 34.3% during the 4th quarter. CIBC Private Wealth Group LLC now owns 188 shares of the transportation company’s stock worth $37,000 after purchasing an additional 48 shares during the last quarter. 74.95% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.
Wall Street Analyst Weigh In Several analysts recently issued reports on the stock. Stifel Nicolaus boosted their price objective on shares of J.B. Hunt Transport Services from $225.00 to $261.00 and gave the company a “hold” rating in a report on Monday, July 13th. TD Cowen increased their target price on shares of J.B. Hunt Transport Services from $265.00 to $297.00 and gave the stock a “hold” rating in a research note on Thursday. Argus set a $285.00 price target on shares of J.B. Hunt Transport Services in a research report on Monday, April 20th. Benchmark boosted their price target on shares of J.B. Hunt Transport Services from $250.00 to $300.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a research note on Friday, June 26th. Finally, Stephens upped their price objective on shares of J.B. Hunt Transport Services from $360.00 to $370.00 and gave the stock an “overweight” rating in a report on Thursday. Two research analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, thirteen have assigned a Buy rating, ten have assigned a Hold rating and one has assigned a Sell rating to the company’s stock. According to MarketBeat, the stock has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of $286.30.
Get Our Latest Research Report on J.B. Hunt Transport Services
Key Headlines Impacting J.B. Hunt Transport Services Here are the key news stories impacting J.B. Hunt Transport Services this week:
Positive Sentiment: JBHT was added to Zacks’ “Strong Buy” momentum list, signaling improving technical and fundamental momentum. Best Momentum Stocks to Buy for July 17th Positive Sentiment: Analysts raised price targets after the earnings beat, including JPMorgan, Robert W. Baird, Barclays, Citigroup, and TD Cowen, reflecting confidence in the recovery and margin improvement. Positive Sentiment: Reports highlighted shrinking trucking capacity and a shift toward intermodal freight, which could support stronger pricing and volume trends for JBHT. J.B. Hunt Stock Could Reach $340 as Trucking Capacity Shrinks Positive Sentiment: JBHT was also featured on relative-strength and momentum screens, indicating that investors see it as one of the stronger names in a choppy market. 5 Top Stocks With Relative Price Strength to Buy Right Now Neutral Sentiment: One Zacks article cautioned that while earnings growth and estimate revisions support the rally, the stock’s premium valuation means investors should remain selective. Is JBHT Stock too Expensive or Still Attractive After Its Rally? Neutral Sentiment: Analysts’ consensus remains constructive, with coverage still centered around a “Moderate Buy” view. Insider Activity In related news, EVP Spencer Frazier sold 2,000 shares of J.B. Hunt Transport Services stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, May 19th. The shares were sold at an average price of $258.20, for a total value of $516,400.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the executive vice president owned 4,604 shares in the company, valued at $1,188,752.80. The trade was a 30.28% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this hyperlink. Also, insider Bradley W. Hicks sold 7,644 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, May 15th. The stock was sold at an average price of $261.91, for a total transaction of $2,002,040.04. Following the transaction, the insider owned 23,982 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $6,281,125.62. This trade represents a 24.17% decrease in their position. The disclosure for this sale is available in the SEC filing. In the last three months, insiders sold 18,119 shares of company stock valued at $4,736,095. 2.50% of the stock is owned by corporate insiders.
J.B. Hunt Transport Services Stock Performance NASDAQ:JBHT opened at $291.41 on Monday. J.B. Hunt Transport Services, Inc. has a 12-month low of $130.12 and a 12-month high of $299.76. The firm has a market cap of $27.48 billion, a PE ratio of 41.28, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.87 and a beta of 1.29. The company has a current ratio of 1.26, a quick ratio of 1.26 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.31. The stock has a fifty day moving average price of $274.31 and a 200 day moving average price of $238.54.
J.B. Hunt Transport Services (NASDAQ:JBHT – Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, July 15th. The transportation company reported $1.91 earnings per share for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $1.71 by $0.20. The company had revenue of $3.50 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $3.26 billion. J.B. Hunt Transport Services had a return on equity of 18.75% and a net margin of 5.31%.J.B. Hunt Transport Services’s revenue was up 19.4% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter in the prior year, the business earned $1.31 EPS. Sell-side analysts anticipate that J.B. Hunt Transport Services, Inc. will post 7.6 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.
J.B. Hunt Transport Services Dividend Announcement The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, May 22nd. Stockholders of record on Friday, May 8th were given a dividend of $0.45 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Friday, May 8th. This represents a $1.80 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 0.6%. J.B. Hunt Transport Services’s payout ratio is currently 25.50%.
J.B. Hunt Transport Services Profile (Free Report)
J.B. Hunt Transport Services, Inc is a leading provider of transportation and logistics solutions headquartered in Lowell, Arkansas. The company offers a comprehensive suite of services designed to move freight efficiently across North America, including intermodal, dedicated contract services, full truckload, less-than-truckload (LTL), final mile delivery and specialized transport.
In its intermodal segment, J.B. Hunt leverages a network of rail and truck assets to transport containers and trailers on major U.S.
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« PREVIOUS HEADLINEBank of New York Mellon Corp Has $136.53 Million Stock Holdings in J.B. Hunt Transport Services, Inc. $JBHT
J.B. Hunt Transport Services, Inc. (NASDAQ:JBHT – Get Free Report)’s stock price reached a new 52-week high during mid-day trading on Thursday after the company announced better than expected quarterly earnings. The company traded as high as $299.49 and last traded at $294.6170, with a volume of 215944 shares changing hands. The stock had previously closed at $276.28.
The transportation company reported $1.91 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $1.71 by $0.20. The firm had revenue of $3.50 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $3.26 billion. J.B. Hunt Transport Services had a net margin of 5.31% and a return on equity of 18.86%. The firm’s revenue for the quarter was up 19.4% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period in the prior year, the company posted $1.31 earnings per share.
J.B. Hunt Transport Services Announces Dividend The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, May 22nd. Stockholders of record on Friday, May 8th were paid a dividend of $0.45 per share. This represents a $1.80 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 0.6%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Friday, May 8th. J.B. Hunt Transport Services’s dividend payout ratio is 27.86%.
Key Stories Impacting J.B. Hunt Transport Services Here are the key news stories impacting J.B. Hunt Transport Services this week:
Positive Sentiment: J.B. Hunt delivered Q2 earnings of $1.91 per share, topping estimates of $1.71, while revenue came in at $3.50 billion versus $3.26 billion expected. Results were driven by higher intermodal volumes, improved pricing, and cost discipline. Article Title Positive Sentiment: Management said intermodal performance was especially strong, with record quarterly volumes and a 22% revenue increase in the largest segment, reinforcing optimism that the freight cycle may be improving. Article Title Positive Sentiment: Multiple analysts turned more constructive after the report, including JPMorgan raising its target to $313 and Robert W. Baird lifting its target to $320 with an outperform rating, signaling higher expectations for JBHT’s earnings power. Article Title Positive Sentiment: Other firms also raised targets, including Citigroup to $309, Barclays to $300, and TD Cowen to $297, reflecting broad post-earnings optimism even where ratings remained neutral or hold. Article Title Neutral Sentiment: Some analysts stayed cautious, with Citigroup maintaining a neutral rating, Barclays at equal weight, and TD Cowen at hold, suggesting the stock’s valuation may already reflect much of the recent improvement. Article Title Neutral Sentiment: J.B. Hunt was also highlighted in market commentary and momentum-stock screens after the earnings beat, but these mentions were secondary to the fundamental catalyst from the quarterly report. Article Title Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth A number of research firms recently weighed in on JBHT. Evercore restated an “outperform” rating and issued a $248.00 price target on shares of J.B. Hunt Transport Services in a research note on Monday, May 11th. Citizens Jmp began coverage on J.B. Hunt Transport Services in a report on Wednesday. They set a “market perform” rating on the stock. Benchmark increased their price objective on J.B. Hunt Transport Services from $250.00 to $300.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a research report on Friday, June 26th. Stephens raised their target price on J.B. Hunt Transport Services from $360.00 to $370.00 and gave the company an “overweight” rating in a report on Thursday. Finally, UBS Group boosted their target price on shares of J.B. Hunt Transport Services from $286.00 to $291.00 and gave the stock a “neutral” rating in a research report on Thursday. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, thirteen have given a Buy rating, ten have issued a Hold rating and one has given a Sell rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat.com, J.B. Hunt Transport Services presently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of $286.30.
View Our Latest Report on JBHT
Insiders Place Their Bets In other J.B. Hunt Transport Services news, EVP David Keefauver sold 703 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction on Friday, June 5th. The stock was sold at an average price of $285.13, for a total transaction of $200,446.39. Following the sale, the executive vice president directly owned 790 shares in the company, valued at approximately $225,252.70. The trade was a 47.09% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this link. Also, insider Bradley W. Hicks sold 7,644 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction on Friday, May 15th. The stock was sold at an average price of $261.91, for a total value of $2,002,040.04. Following the sale, the insider owned 23,982 shares in the company, valued at approximately $6,281,125.62. The trade was a 24.17% decrease in their ownership of the stock. Additional details regarding this sale are available in the official SEC disclosure. Over the last quarter, insiders have sold 18,119 shares of company stock worth $4,736,095. 2.50% of the stock is owned by insiders.
Institutional Inflows and Outflows A number of hedge funds have recently made changes to their positions in the company. Wealth Enhancement Advisory Services LLC grew its position in shares of J.B. Hunt Transport Services by 45.8% in the fourth quarter. Wealth Enhancement Advisory Services LLC now owns 56,809 shares of the transportation company’s stock valued at $11,712,000 after purchasing an additional 17,839 shares during the last quarter. Sivia Capital Partners LLC acquired a new position in shares of J.B. Hunt Transport Services during the 2nd quarter worth approximately $539,000. Merit Financial Group LLC lifted its stake in J.B. Hunt Transport Services by 48.6% in the 4th quarter. Merit Financial Group LLC now owns 13,849 shares of the transportation company’s stock valued at $2,692,000 after buying an additional 4,527 shares in the last quarter. HighTower Advisors LLC lifted its stake in J.B. Hunt Transport Services by 71.7% in the 4th quarter. HighTower Advisors LLC now owns 9,684 shares of the transportation company’s stock valued at $1,882,000 after buying an additional 4,043 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Hudson Bay Capital Management LP purchased a new stake in J.B. Hunt Transport Services in the 3rd quarter valued at approximately $6,435,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 74.95% of the company’s stock.
J.B. Hunt Transport Services Trading Up 8.0% The business has a fifty day simple moving average of $273.39 and a 200 day simple moving average of $237.87. The stock has a market cap of $28.14 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 42.27, a PEG ratio of 2.00 and a beta of 1.29. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.36, a quick ratio of 1.26 and a current ratio of 1.26.
J.B. Hunt Transport Services Company Profile (Get Free Report)
J.B. Hunt Transport Services, Inc is a leading provider of transportation and logistics solutions headquartered in Lowell, Arkansas. The company offers a comprehensive suite of services designed to move freight efficiently across North America, including intermodal, dedicated contract services, full truckload, less-than-truckload (LTL), final mile delivery and specialized transport.
In its intermodal segment, J.B. Hunt leverages a network of rail and truck assets to transport containers and trailers on major U.S.
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J.B. Hunt Transportation's NASDAQ: JBHT share price is trucking higher in 2026 and is on track to hit the $340 mark due to an existential shift in the industry. While demand is relatively flat, industry-wide capacity has contracted significantly over the trailing 12 months (TTM), and it isn’t coming back. The collapse of Yellow Corp. in 2023, higher-for-longer rates, high fuel costs, and a regulatory squeeze have undermined capacity.
J.B. Hunt Transport Services Today
JBHT
J.B. Hunt Transport Services
$291.24 -7.17 (-2.40%)
As of 10:47 AM Eastern
This is a fair market value price provided by Massive. Learn more.
52-Week Range$130.12▼
$299.76Dividend Yield0.62%
P/E Ratio41.61
Price Target$286.30
The regulatory squeeze, linked to immigration reform, clamped down on driver qualification and compliance, squeezing an estimated 50,000 drivers out of the market over the past year. At the same time, smaller operators are exiting due to cost constraints, leaving the big players like J.B. Hunt to pick up the slack. Within this, shippers are coming to appreciate JBHT's intermodal model, as it enables lower costs and a full slate of services that run from the port to the final mile.
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And J.B. Hunt? It’s been investing in technology to improve its operational efficiency, even as spot prices are climbing. The takeaway for investors is that J.B. Hunt is perfectly positioned for the current environment, experiencing top-line growth and margin expansion that is not expected to end soon. Given the underlying economic backdrop, business is likely to remain at least stable over the coming 12 months if it doesn’t accelerate.
J.B. Hunt Outperforms, Raises Guidance on Demand and Margin StrengthJ.B. Hunt had an outstanding 2nd quarter, with revenue growing by 19% to $3.5 billion, more than 700 basis points above the consensus estimates. Strength was driven by load volume and revenue per load in the key segments, offset by a single spot of weakness in Final Mile Services. Final Mile Services, one of the smallest segments, contracted by 6%, offset by a 49% increase in Integrated Capacity Solutions (ICS), a 35% increase in JBT (trucking), a 22% increase in JBI (intermodal), and a 9% increase in Dedicated Contract Services (DCS).
Margin news was also good, if spotty. There was margin contraction in one segment and an operating loss in another, linked to outsized capacity purchases, but these were offset by record-setting margins in others. Operating income grew by 32% to nearly $260 million, outpacing top-line growth by 1,300 bps, and GAAP earnings grew by 45%, outperforming the consensus by more than 1,000 bps. Looking ahead, the company expects its strengths to continue, good news for investors, given the leverage they provide.
The strength of J.B. Hunt’s position is clearly reflected in the balance sheet. The TTM improvement in revenue, margin, and cash flow enabled significant debt reduction even as the company invested in the future and returned capital to shareholders. Debt was reduced by 21%, aided by reduced capital expenditure (CapEx) and structural cost savings, and the share count was reduced by more than 3%.
Balance sheet highlights at quarter-end include a reduced cash balance, offset by increases in current and total assets and in receivables. Additionally, total liabilities are down, and equity is up.
Analysts Hitching Ride With JBHT - Forecast Fresh HighsAnalysts responded favorably to the earnings release, highlighting factors such as volumes, margins, cash flow, and the balance sheet. The net result was several price target increases and coverage initiations that extend the prevailing trend.
Overall MarketRank™80th Percentile
Analyst RatingModerate Buy
Upside/Downside4.1% Downside
Short Interest LevelHealthy
Dividend StrengthStrong
News Sentiment0.78 Insider TradingSelling Shares
Proj. Earnings Growth26.12%
See Full Analysis
Coverage is increasing, sentiment is firming, and the consensus price target is rising, forecasting a move to $330 at the high end. The likely scenario is that analysts continue lifting their targets through year’s end, eventually pushing this market into the mid-$300 range.
Technical factors are bullish. The late-June, early-July action suggests consolidation within a strong uptrend, with the post-release action in alignment with a bullish breakout. Assuming the market follows through on the signal, the consolidation amounts to a continuation signal with potential to rise by the dollar figure of the preceding rally. That’s worth approximately $70, sufficient to put this market at $340 within only a few months of the fresh high.
Institutional activity is mixed and raises the risk that the market will top out, but isn’t yet a deal-breaker for this market. As it stands, the group owns about 75% of the stock and has accumulated on balance over the TTM period, but the margin is slim, and activity in early 2026 suggests profit-taking. The market will struggle to advance with this in play, but it can do so; the risk is that institutions accelerate profit-taking, though this is unlikely until later in the year. Later in the year, as the fiscal period nears its end, institutions, analysts, and money managers will be tempted to lock in 2026 profits and may cap gains.
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J.B. Hunt Transport Services delivered strong Q2 2026 results, with accelerating intermodal volume and profit growth outpacing revenue gains. The IM segment EBIT soared 58% on 10% volume growth, demonstrating operating leverage and network efficiency before a major pricing reset. Dedicated remains a stable earnings base with 96% retention, while ICS and TL segments show early signs of recovery but face margin pressure from higher costs.
Negativní sentiment se před koncem obchodní seance ještě více prohloubil. Může za to silný pokles technologického giganta Google, u kterého přišla zpráva, že je v několikaměsíčním zpoždění s vydáním nové vlajkové AI verze Geminy Pro 3.5. V prostředí velké konkurence to může mít neblahý efekt ztráty poptávky. Akcie Alphabet končí silnou ztrátou –4,43 %.
Nevalný výsledek zažil i čipový sektor, kde velkou váhu poklesu má na svědomí Micron -5,65 % či AMD -5,33 %.
Oproti tomu se dařilo defenzivním sektorům spotřebního zboží či služeb. McDonald přidal slušných +3,04 %, PepsiCo též +2,97 % a například kartová asociace Mastercard +3,04 %.
Ropa WTI stále mírně ztrácela -0,75 %. Negativní vývoj na burze tedy dnes nebyl ovlivněn negativní geopolitickou situací.
Index Dow Jones -0,2 % na 52553,62 b.
S&P 500 -0,51 % na 7533,89 b.
Nasdaq Composite -1,47 % na 25881,95 b.
Index S&P 500 -0,51 % na 7533,89 b. Nejsilnější sektory S&P Změna Nejslabší sektory S&P Změna Nezbytná spotřeba +2,9 % Komunikační služby -2,8 % Zdravotní péče +2,2 % Informační technologie -1,8 % Reality +2,1 % Zbytná spotřeba -0,3 % Nejsilnější akcie S&P Změna Nejslabší akcie S&P Změna Abbott Laboratories (ABT) +11 % Sandisk Corp (SNDK) -13 % JB Hunt Transport Services (JBHT) +8,0 % Seagate Technology Holdings (STX) -10,0 % Fedex Freight Holding (FDXF) +7,5 % Corning (GLW) -9,2 % Erie Indemnity (ERIE) +7,5 % Western Digital Corp (WDC) -9,2 % Dexcom (DXCM) +7,2 % Marvell Technology (MRVL) -8,7 %
Jan Pazourek, Fio banka, a.s.
Key Takeaways J.B. Hunt's Q2 EPS rose 45.8% to $1.91 as revenues climbed 19.4% to $3.50 billion.Intermodal revenues jumped 22% as loads rose 10%, while operating income surged 58%.JBHT repurchased roughly 392,000 shares for about $98 million during the second quarter of 2026. J.B. Hunt Transport Services, Inc. (JBHT - Free Report) reported second-quarter 2026 earnings of $1.91 per share, up 45.8% from $1.31 a year ago. The figure beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $1.71 by 11.7%.
Operating revenues climbed 19.4% year over year to $3.50 billion and surpassed the consensus mark of $3.19 billion by 9.5%. Higher volumes and pricing across several businesses supported growth, led by a 10% increase in Intermodal loads.
JBHT's Intermodal Business Leads the UpswingIntermodal revenues increased 22% year over year to $1.75 billion. Volume rose 10%, with transcontinental loads up 5% and Eastern network loads advancing 16%. Revenue per load increased to $3,034 from $2,738, while the metric excluding fuel surcharge revenue improved 1%.
Operating income surged 58% to $150.9 million. Stronger network efficiency, drayage productivity, fewer empty container moves and lower storage expense supported the gain. Cost-to-serve initiatives also helped, though higher insurance and professional driver expenses partly offset the improvement.
J.B. Hunt's Dedicated Operations Stay SteadyDedicated Contract Services revenues rose 9% to $920.7 million. Revenue per truck per week advanced 9% to $5,635, while average truck count was approximately flat. Productivity excluding fuel surcharge revenues increased 2% due to contracted index-based price escalators.
Operating income grew 9% to $102.5 million. Higher revenues, lower group medical claims and continued cost reductions supported profitability. Higher insurance premiums, equipment-related expenses and new-business onboarding costs limited the upside. Customer retention remained approximately 96%.
JBHT's Brokerage Unit Returns to ProfitIntegrated Capacity Solutions’ revenues jumped 49% to $388.5 million. Segment volume increased 19%, while revenue per load rose 26% to $2,477. Contractual freight represented 65% of total loads and 63% of revenues during the quarter.
The segment posted operating income of $1.7 million compared with a loss of $3.6 million a year earlier. Higher volume and revenue per load lifted gross profit despite a 54% increase in purchased transportation expense. Gross margin narrowed to 12.5% from 15.5%, but improved from 12.0% in the first quarter of 2026.
J.B. Hunt's Truckload Costs Pressure ResultsTruckload revenues increased 35% to $239.7 million. Revenues excluding fuel surcharge climbed 28% as load volume grew 14% and revenue per load excluding fuel surcharge advanced 13%. Trailer turns improved 13% because of better network balance and velocity.
The business recorded an operating loss of $1.3 million versus an operating income of $3.4 million in the prior-year quarter. Higher purchased transportation costs drove a 12% decline in gross profit. Cost management and productivity gains provided only a partial offset.
JBHT's Final Mile Sales and Profit Decline
Final Mile Services revenues fell 6% to $198.0 million. The decrease reflected known business losses tied to efforts to improve account quality and profitability. Stabilizing demand and new business implemented during the past year partly cushioned the decline.
Operating income dropped 30% to $5.6 million. Lower revenues and higher purchased transportation expenses weighed on results. Reduced claims and facility rental expenses, along with continued cost-to-serve improvements, softened the pressure.
J.B. Hunt Expands Margins Despite Higher Transport CostsCompanywide operating income rose 32% to $259.5 million, while operating margin improved to 7.4% from 6.7%. Higher revenues, productivity gains, structural cost reductions and lower medical claims supported margin expansion.
Rents and purchased transportation increased to 48.0% of revenues from 43.3%, reflecting cost pressure in highway-related operations. Salaries, wages and employee benefits declined to 23.5% of revenues from 27.9%, while general and administrative expenses fell to 1.9% from 2.6%.
JBHT Strengthens Its Debt PositionNet cash provided by operating activities totaled $723.3 million for the first six months of 2026 compared with $806.2 million a year earlier. Net capital expenditures declined to $144.9 million from $399.1 million.
Total debt stood at approximately $1.15 billion at June 30, 2026. JBHT repurchased roughly 392,000 shares for about $98 million during the quarter, leaving approximately $791 million under its authorization. The company also narrowed its expected 2026 tax-rate range to 24.0%-24.5%.
JBHT’s Zacks RankCurrently, JBHT carries a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.
Q2 Performances of Other Transportation CompaniesDelta Air Lines (DAL - Free Report) reported second-quarter 2026 earnings (excluding 88 cents from non-recurring items) of $1.56 per share, beating the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $1.51. Earnings declined in double digits (percentage-wise) from a year ago as sharply higher fuel costs pressured profitability.
Revenues rose on a year-over-year basis to $17.67 billion but missed the consensus estimate of $17.76 billion. Broad demand strength lifted adjusted total revenue per available seat mile, or TRASM, 12.4%, while premium and diversified revenue streams continued to expand.
United Airlines Holdings, Inc. (UAL - Free Report) reported second-quarter 2026 adjusted earnings of $1.99 per share, down 48.6% year over year but above the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $1.92 by 3.7%.
Operating revenues rose 16% to $17.67 billion and were essentially in line with the $17.68-billion consensus mark. A 12.1% increase in total revenue per available seat mile, or TRASM, and broad-based gains across premium, loyalty and cargo revenues supported the top line despite sharply higher fuel costs.
Americkým indexům se dnes nedaří. Po počáteční kladném otevření se v průběhu dne pomalu ale jistě sunou do záporných hodnot, momentálně s výjimkou Dow Jones, který je na kladné nule. Technologický sektor je i nadále tlačen vahou čipového sektoru, který nadále koriguje letošní růstovou rallye. V Americké společnosti se začíná objevovat napětí kolem sektoru umělé inteligence, přičemž se začíná mluvit o její regulaci. V obci v Michiganu se lidé postavili proti výstavbě datového centra za 16 mld. USD, který má být velkým společným projektem firem Oracle, Open AI, Related Digital, Blackstone a Walbridge. Investoři jsou tedy stále opatrní, co se týče budoucnosti tohoto sektoru.
Nejlépe se daří klasickým technologickým společnostem těžící z poskytování výpočetního výkonu, takzvaný hyperscaleři. Microsoft přidává +1,88 %. V čele poklesu v čipovém sektoru je opět Micron, který odepisuje -6,11 %. Podobně je na tom ARM -8,41 %.
Oproti nim se kapitál opět přelévá do defenzivních titulů. Zde excelují například McDonald +2,6 % či MasterCard +2,4 %. Daří se i realitnímu sektoru, kterému pomáhá vidina nadále se nezvyšujících úrokových sazeb. Lídr na tomto trhu Realty Income přidává slušné 3 %. Vici Properties pak +2,57 %. Opačný efekt to má na cenné kovy, kde zlato odepisuje -1,38 % a bojuje o udržení supportní úrovně 4000 USD.
Geopolitický vývoj v Hormuzském průlivu mírně ustrnul, nelepší se ale ani nehorší. Ropa WTI osciluje kolem nuly a nyní odepisuje -0,67 %.
Index Dow Jones +0,1 % na 52711,63 b.
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Index S&P 500 -0,24 % na 7554,53 b. Nejsilnější sektory S&P Změna Nejslabší sektory S&P Změna Nezbytná spotřeba +2,3 % Informační technologie -1,7 % Zdravotní péče +2 % Průmysl -0,2 % Reality +1,5 % Utility -0,2 % Nejsilnější akcie S&P Změna Nejslabší akcie S&P Změna Abbott Laboratories (ABT) +11 % Corning (GLW) -10 % Erie Indemnity (ERIE) +9,5 % Sandisk Corp (SNDK) -10 % Cintas Corp (CTAS) +7,1 % Western Digital Corp (WDC) -9,9 % Ingersoll Rand (IR) +6,9 % Seagate Technology Holdings (STX) -8,6 % JB Hunt Transport Services (JBHT) +6,6 % Marvell Technology (MRVL) -8,4 %
Jan Pazourek, Fio banka, a.s.
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Stock to Watch: JB Hunt (JBHT - Free Report) J.B. Hunt Transport Services is a provider of a wide range of transportation, brokerage, and delivery services to a diverse group of customers through the United States, Canada and Mexico. Founded in 1961, JBHT is based in Lowell, AR. J.B. Hunt's fiscal year coincides with the calendar year. As of Dec 31, 2025, JBHT had 31,750 employees, which consisted of 21,554 company drivers, 8,481 office personnel, 1,374 maintenance technicians, and 341 delivery and material assistants.
JBHT is a #2 (Buy) on the Zacks Rank, with a VGM Score of B.
Momentum investors should take note of this Transportation stock. JBHT has a Momentum Style Score of A, and shares are up 3.4% over the past four weeks.
Eight analysts revised their earnings estimate upwards in the last 60 days for fiscal 2026. The Zacks Consensus Estimate has increased $0.08 to $7.35 per share. JBHT boasts an average earnings surprise of +9.8%.
With a solid Zacks Rank and top-tier Momentum and VGM Style Scores, JBHT should be on investors' short list.
J.B. Hunt Transport Services Inc. (NASDAQ:JBHT) on Wednesday posted better-than-expected second-quarter earnings.
JB Hunt Transport reported quarterly earnings of $1.91 per share, which beat the analyst estimate of $1.71 by 11.7%, according to Benzinga Pro data. Quarterly revenue came in at $3.5 billion, which beat the Street estimate of $3.24 billion and was up from $2.93 billion in the same period last year.
"I’m grateful for our people and their continued focus on delivering operational excellence around service, safety and cost discipline in this dynamic environment," said CEO Shelley Simpson.
JB Hunt shares rose 7.5% to $297.10 in pre-market trading.
These analysts made changes to their price targets on JB Hunt following earnings announcement.
Baird analyst Daniel Moore maintained the stock with an Outperform rating and raised the price target from $290 to $320. Barclays analyst Brandon Oglenski maintained the stock with an Equal-Weight rating and raised the price target from $270 to $300. Considering buying JBHT stock? Here’s what analysts think:
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J.B. Hunt reported Q2 results that exceeded expectations on both the top and bottom lines. The company also reported record quarterly volumes in its Intermodal business. Shares were already trading at highs prior to the release, and the stock is set to reach new all-time highs.
Index Dow Jones -0,02 % na 52647,4 b. S&P 500 -0,45 % na 7538,29 b. Nasdaq Composite -1,08 % na 25985,74 b.
Nejsledovanější americké indexy v úvodu obchodování ztrácejí. Podle agentury Bloomberg výprodej akcií výrobců čipů táhne dolů celý akciový trh kvůli obavám, zda masivní investice do umělé inteligence dokážou ospravedlnit jejich vysoké valuace. Trh oslabuje také pod vlivem rostoucích cen ropy, které tlačí nahoru výnosy dluhopisů.
Zdravotnická společnost Abbott Laboratories (+14 %) posiluje poté, co zvýšila svůj celoroční výhled očištěného zisku na akcii, přičemž tento aktualizovaný výhled překonal průměrný odhad analytiků. Firma zároveň vykázala za druhé čtvrtletí očištěný zisk a čisté tržby, které předčily očekávání. Podrobnosti připravujeme v samostatné zprávě.
Daří se také akciím poskytovatele služeb v oblasti nákladní dopravy J.B. Hunt Transport Services (+8,1 %) poté, co společnost vykázala za druhé čtvrtletí očištěný zisk na akcii, který překonal průměrný odhad analytiků. Analytici vyzdvihují pokrok v jejím intermodálním podnikání, v němž společnost využívá dva nebo více způsobů přepravy.
Své výsledky zveřejnily také společnosti UnitedHealth Group (+7,9 %), General Electric Aerospace (-4,9 %) a TSMC (-2,5 %). Podrobnosti naleznete v jednotlivých zprávách.
Index S&P 500 -0,45 % na 7538,29 b. Nejsilnější sektory S&P Změna Nejslabší sektory S&P Změna Zdravotní péče +2,5 % Informační technologie -2,1 % Nezbytná spotřeba +2,2 % Průmysl -0,4 % Energie +1,1 % Komunikační služby -0,3 % Nejsilnější akcie S&P Změna Nejslabší akcie S&P Změna Abbott Laboratories (ABT) +14 % Sandisk Corp (SNDK) -8,8 % JB Hunt Transport Services (JBHT) +8,1 % Seagate Technology Holdings (STX) -8,2 % UnitedHealth Group (UNH) +7,9 % Corning (GLW) -8,0 % Erie Indemnity (ERIE) +7,8 % Western Digital Corp (WDC) -7,5 % Dexcom (DXCM) +7,2 % Marvell Technology (MRVL) -6,6 % Zdroj: Bloomberg
JB Hunt Transport reported quarterly earnings of $1.91 per share, which beat the analyst estimate of $1.71 by 11.7%, according to Benzinga Pro data. Quarterly revenue came in at $3.5 billion, which beat the Street estimate of $3.24 billion and was up from $2.93 billion in the same period last year.
J B Hunt Transport Services shares jumped 7.9% to $298.14 in pre-market trading.
Here are some other stocks moving in pre-market trading.
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J.B. Hunt Transport has surged 86% over the past year, fueled by a sharp freight market recovery and strong Q2 results. JBHT delivered $1.91 EPS on $3.5 billion revenue, with margin expansion driven by $135 million in cost cuts and robust intermodal growth. Structural industry shifts, including a Supreme Court ruling and tight capacity, favor large brokers like JBHT, enabling further market share gains.
JB Hunt (JBHT - Free Report) came out with quarterly earnings of $1.91 per share, beating the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $1.71 per share. This compares to earnings of $1.31 per share a year ago. These figures are adjusted for non-recurring items.
This quarterly report represents an earnings surprise of +11.70%. A quarter ago, it was expected that this trucking and logistics company would post earnings of $1.45 per share when it actually produced earnings of $1.49, delivering a surprise of +2.76%.
Over the last four quarters, the company has surpassed consensus EPS estimates four times.
JB Hunt, which belongs to the Zacks Transportation - Truck industry, posted revenues of $3.5 billion for the quarter ended June 2026, surpassing the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 9.50%. This compares to year-ago revenues of $2.93 billion. The company has topped consensus revenue estimates three times over the last four quarters.
The sustainability of the stock's immediate price movement based on the recently-released numbers and future earnings expectations will mostly depend on management's commentary on the earnings call.
JB Hunt shares have added about 44.5% since the beginning of the year versus the S&P 500's gain of 10.2%.
What's Next for JB Hunt?While JB Hunt has outperformed the market so far this year, the question that comes to investors' minds is: what's next for the stock?
There are no easy answers to this key question, but one reliable measure that can help investors address this is the company's earnings outlook. Not only does this include current consensus earnings expectations for the coming quarter(s), but also how these expectations have changed lately.
Empirical research shows a strong correlation between near-term stock movements and trends in earnings estimate revisions. Investors can track such revisions by themselves or rely on a tried-and-tested rating tool like the Zacks Rank, which has an impressive track record of harnessing the power of earnings estimate revisions.
Ahead of this earnings release, the estimate revisions trend for JB Hunt was favorable. While the magnitude and direction of estimate revisions could change following the company's just-released earnings report, the current status translates into a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy) for the stock. So, the shares are expected to outperform the market in the near future. You can see the complete list of today's Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.
It will be interesting to see how estimates for the coming quarters and the current fiscal year change in the days ahead. The current consensus EPS estimate is $2.02 on $3.33 billion in revenues for the coming quarter and $7.32 on $12.89 billion in revenues for the current fiscal year.
Investors should be mindful of the fact that the outlook for the industry can have a material impact on the performance of the stock as well. In terms of the Zacks Industry Rank, Transportation - Truck is currently in the top 7% of the 250 plus Zacks industries. Our research shows that the top 50% of the Zacks-ranked industries outperform the bottom 50% by a factor of more than 2 to 1.
Old Dominion Freight Line (ODFL - Free Report) , another stock in the same industry, has yet to report results for the quarter ended June 2026. The results are expected to be released on July 29.
This trucking company is expected to post quarterly earnings of $1.52 per share in its upcoming report, which represents a year-over-year change of +19.7%. The consensus EPS estimate for the quarter has been revised 4.3% higher over the last 30 days to the current level.
Old Dominion Freight Line's revenues are expected to be $1.53 billion, up 8.9% from the year-ago quarter.
JB Hunt (JBHT - Free Report) reported $3.5 billion in revenue for the quarter ended June 2026, representing a year-over-year increase of 19.4%. EPS of $1.91 for the same period compares to $1.31 a year ago.
The reported revenue represents a surprise of +9.5% over the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $3.19 billion. With the consensus EPS estimate being $1.71, the EPS surprise was +11.7%.
While investors scrutinize revenue and earnings changes year-over-year and how they compare with Wall Street expectations to determine their next move, some key metrics always offer a more accurate picture of a company's financial health.
Since these metrics play a crucial role in driving the top- and bottom-line numbers, comparing them with the year-ago numbers and what analysts estimated about them helps investors better project a stock's price performance.
Here is how JB Hunt performed in the just reported quarter in terms of the metrics most widely monitored and projected by Wall Street analysts:
Intermodal - Trailing equipment (end of period): 124,199 versus the three-analyst average estimate of 125,565.Integrated Capacity Solutions - Revenue per load: $2,477.00 versus the three-analyst average estimate of $2,146.64.Intermodal - Revenue per load: $3,034.00 compared to the $2,792.96 average estimate based on three analysts.Final Mile Services - Average trucks during the period: 1,199 versus 1,268 estimated by three analysts on average.Revenue- Truckload: $239.65 million versus $203.24 million estimated by four analysts on average. Compared to the year-ago quarter, this number represents a +35.4% change.Revenue- Dedicated: $920.71 million compared to the $889.21 million average estimate based on four analysts. The reported number represents a change of +8.7% year over year.Revenue- Final Mile Services: $198.04 million versus the four-analyst average estimate of $201.34 million. The reported number represents a year-over-year change of -6%.Revenue- Integrated Capacity Solutions: $388.5 million compared to the $300.75 million average estimate based on four analysts. The reported number represents a change of +49.3% year over year.Revenue- Intermodal: $1.75 billion versus $1.52 billion estimated by four analysts on average. Compared to the year-ago quarter, this number represents a +22% change.Revenue- Fuel surcharge revenues: $641.46 million versus the three-analyst average estimate of $416.28 million. The reported number represents a year-over-year change of +82.3%.Revenue- Operating revenues, excluding fuel surcharge revenues: $2.85 billion versus the three-analyst average estimate of $2.7 billion. The reported number represents a year-over-year change of +10.8%.Revenue- Intersegment eliminations: $-5.29 million versus $-4.79 million estimated by three analysts on average. Compared to the year-ago quarter, this number represents a +23.1% change.View all Key Company Metrics for JB Hunt here>>>
Shares of JB Hunt have returned +0.4% over the past month versus the Zacks S&P 500 composite's +1.6% change. The stock currently has a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy), indicating that it could outperform the broader market in the near term.
JBHT Burns Rubber, Hits the Highway to a $300 Price TagJ.B. Hunt Transport Services NASDAQ: JBHT reported sharply improved second-quarter results, with management attributing the gains to disciplined execution, cost reductions and rising demand across several transportation segments as truckload capacity tightened across the industry.
On the company’s earnings call, CFO Brad Delco said total revenue rose 19% year over year on a GAAP basis, operating income improved 32% and diluted earnings per share increased 45%. He said the results reflected “continued momentum” from J.B. Hunt’s focus on operational excellence and lowering its cost to serve customers.
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AI Broke the Trucks: 3 Transports to Buy After the AI PanicPresident and CEO Shelley Simpson said the freight market has changed, with available truckload capacity tightening due to “safety-focused enforcement and broader supply pressures.” She said the tightening built throughout the quarter, including a “noticeable step change” around the annual road check event in early May that has persisted.
“While demand is improving gradually, the current market tightness is being driven primarily by supply conditions,” Simpson said.
Cost Cuts and Margin Repair Remain Central Priorities Is Landstar the Next Big Winner in Transportation Stocks?Management emphasized that J.B. Hunt’s performance was not solely the result of improving market conditions. Delco said the company has removed more than $135 million of structural costs over the past year and continues to pursue productivity gains, improved asset utilization and automation through technology.
Simpson said J.B. Hunt has made “meaningful progress repairing margins,” although she added that further opportunity remains. The company is continuing discussions with customers about the investments needed to maintain service, capacity and innovation while producing appropriate returns for shareholders.
Delco said the company’s capital allocation priorities remain unchanged: investing in the business for attractive long-term returns, maintaining a strong investment-grade balance sheet, supporting dividend growth and repurchasing shares opportunistically.
Intermodal Sets Volume Record as Conversion Demand Rises Intermodal was a major focus of the call. Darren Field, president of Intermodal, said demand outperformed normal seasonality for the third consecutive quarter, and the segment set a quarterly volume record with more than 578,000 loads. Volumes increased 10% year over year, marking the first double-digit quarterly volume growth in more than a decade.
Field said monthly Intermodal volumes rose 9% in April, 9% in May and 12% in June. Transcontinental volume increased 5%, while Eastern volume grew 16%. He said the company continues to see significant road-to-rail conversion opportunities in the East as truckload rates, fuel prices and capacity constraints make Intermodal more attractive to shippers.
Field said J.B. Hunt has available container capacity to grow, but the company remains disciplined about adding freight that is sustainable and earns acceptable returns. He also said the rail network is experiencing “quality growth,” though service has moderated slightly as volumes accelerated.
On pricing, Field said J.B. Hunt has improved margins through cost and volume, while the remaining opportunity is price. He noted that the company is nearing completion of the 2026 Intermodal bid season and is “increasingly encouraged” by the pricing opportunity heading into the 2027 bid season.
Customers Seek Capacity as Market Shifts Quickly Spencer Frazier, executive vice president of sales and marketing, said customers are facing planning and execution challenges as the market changes quickly. He cited higher tender rejections, higher spot pricing and lower driver employment as industry indicators moving toward levels last seen in 2021 and 2022.
Frazier said overall freight demand improved modestly from the first quarter, with industrial markets improving and U.S. consumer demand remaining resilient. He said demand for J.B. Hunt’s services is outpacing the broader market, supported by record Intermodal volumes and double-digit volume growth in both Truckload and Integrated Capacity Solutions.
He also said customers initiated more out-of-cycle and mini-bid activity as they sought to keep pricing aligned with the rising cost of capacity. In response to an analyst question, Frazier said the number of bids, proposals and reviews reached a record in the quarter and described many of the so-called mini-bids as structurally larger efforts by customers to reset their networks.
Highway, Final Mile and Dedicated Updates Nick Hobbs, chief operating officer and president of Highway Services and Final Mile, said J.B. Hunt is outperforming last year’s safety results by 11% year to date through the second quarter, based on DOT preventable accidents per million miles. He said the company has implemented sign-on bonuses in several markets and targeted wage increases in select markets as the driver market tightens.
In Final Mile, Hobbs said demand remains stable across furniture, exercise equipment and appliances, while demand in the fulfillment business remains strong due to off-price retail channels. He said the sales pipeline remains healthy as the company works to offset a previously disclosed $90 million revenue headwind tied to its disciplined approach.
In the truckload segment, Hobbs said revenue increased 35% and load growth was 14%, but gross profit dollars declined 12%, primarily because of higher purchased transportation rates. He said pricing implemented only a few months ago is no longer sufficient given the pace of market change.
For Integrated Capacity Solutions, Hobbs said momentum is beginning to translate into improved financial performance. He said the company had success in bid season, won more volume and is securing double-digit rate increases, though gross margins remain under pressure compared with last year.
Brad Hicks, president of Dedicated Contract Services, said Dedicated results again highlighted the strength of that business. He said the company sold approximately 250 trucks during the quarter and remains confident in its full-year target of 1,000 to 1,200 gross new truck sales. Hicks said the sales pipeline is at a record level in terms of number of trucks, helped by tighter truckload conditions and increased customer interest in dedicated fleet solutions.
Driver Market Tightness Seen as Ongoing Challenge Executives repeatedly pointed to driver availability as a key constraint. Simpson said some driver markets are “as tight as we have ever seen,” while Hobbs said there is no quick solution to the industry’s capacity needs.
Hobbs said tighter conditions could bring some former drivers back to the industry and create training opportunities for younger workers, including military veterans, but he cautioned that those sources will not solve the issue immediately. He said tight capacity could support continued Intermodal conversions while the industry works through labor constraints.
Simpson closed the call by saying the company is entering the second half of the year with momentum, helped by its decision to retain talent through what she described as one of the industry’s most prolonged freight recessions.
About J.B. Hunt Transport Services NASDAQ: JBHTJ.B. Hunt Transport Services, Inc is a leading provider of transportation and logistics solutions headquartered in Lowell, Arkansas. The company offers a comprehensive suite of services designed to move freight efficiently across North America, including intermodal, dedicated contract services, full truckload, less-than-truckload (LTL), final mile delivery and specialized transport.
In its intermodal segment, J.B. Hunt leverages a network of rail and truck assets to transport containers and trailers on major U.S.
This instant news alert was generated by narrative science technology and financial data from MarketBeat in order to provide readers with the fastest reporting and unbiased coverage. Please send any questions or comments about this story to [email protected].
Should You Invest $1,000 in J.B. Hunt Transport Services Right Now?Before you consider J.B. Hunt Transport Services, you'll want to hear this.
MarketBeat keeps track of Wall Street's top-rated and best performing research analysts and the stocks they recommend to their clients on a daily basis. MarketBeat has identified the five stocks that top analysts are quietly whispering to their clients to buy now before the broader market catches on... and J.B. Hunt Transport Services wasn't on the list.
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Tesla, Nvidia, and Google helped shape the last era of market growth, but the next wave could come from a new group of companies. Inside this report, you’ll find 7 stocks that could play a major role in the next tech-driven market boom.
Higher fuel costs and stricter driver regulations have made it harder and more expensive for businesses this year to find trucks to make shipments. But investors in trucking and logistics giant J.B.
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That wraps up our initial coverage of JBHT’s Q2 results. Thank you for stopping by!
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With J.B. Hunt Transport Services (NASDAQ:JBHT | JBHT Price Prediction) already out with a clean Q2 beat, revisiting the Q1 2026 call clarifies why tonight’s report landed the way it did. Here are the three items from April’s call that mattered most going into this quarter.
Last Quarter’s Top 3 Takeaways: Intermodal set the runway. Q1 posted the highest first-quarter intermodal volume in company history, with segment operating income up 21% and eastern network loads up 7%. That truck-to-intermodal conversion story primed the market for tonight’s 22% intermodal revenue growth and 58% segment operating income jump. Structural cost work was compounding. Management pointed to lower equipment-related costs and productivity gains driving operating margin to 6.8% from 6.1%. CEO Shelley Simpson framed it as leveraging “investments in our People, Technology, and Capacity,” signaling prior guidance was conservative and setting up the 32% operating income jump just reported. ICS margin was the swing factor analysts were still watching. Q1 saw ICS volume up 10% and revenue per load up 9%, yet gross margin compressed to 12.0% from 15.3% on higher purchased transportation. That was the single largest overhang into tonight, and Q2’s 49% ICS revenue growth and return to operating profit resolved it decisively. Simpson’s tone in April was measurably more upbeat than Q4 2025’s “operational excellence” framing, and the 24.0%-25.0% full-year tax guide, plus $888 million in remaining buyback capacity, provided the tailwinds that Q2 just cashed in on.
1 hour ago
Live
J.B. Hunt Transport Services just reported second-quarter earnings, with shares initially up 4.2% following the report. Here are the key numbers:
Revenue: $3.50 billion vs. $3.26 billion expected EPS: $1.91 vs. $1.73 expected Operating income: $259.5 million, up 32% year over year Net income: $181.0 million, up 41% year over year Quick Read:
J.B. Hunt delivered a clean beat on revenue and earnings, led by 22% intermodal revenue growth and a 58% jump in segment operating income.
Integrated Capacity Solutions also reached an important inflection point, with revenue soaring 49% and the business returning to an operating profit after posting a loss last year.
1 hour ago
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With J.B. Hunt Transport Services (NASDAQ:JBHT) minutes from reporting, the sell-side sits at a consensus target of $281 against a current quote near $272.82, implying roughly 2.9% upside.
The distribution skews bullish: 13 Buys, 9 Holds, and 1 Sell. The high target of $329 from Bernstein sits well above spot; the low is anchored by Morgan Stanley’s Underweight.
Today’s fresh Citizens initiation at Market Perform tightens that spread, flagging valuation stretch after the 45.08% YTD run. With shares trading at a 43x P/E, tonight’s guidance likely dictates whether targets migrate higher or compress toward consensus.
Firm Analyst Rating Price Target Date Citizens N/A Market Perform N/A Jul 15, 2026 Bernstein N/A Outperform $329 Recent Susquehanna N/A Positive $326 Recent Morgan Stanley N/A Underweight N/A Recent Consensus 22 firms Bullish $281 Jul 2026 2 hours ago
Live
J.B. Hunt Transport Services (NASDAQ:JBHT) trades at $272.72, down 2.9% intraday and 2.93% over the past month, with the full-chain put/call ratio at 1.1 signaling a mild defensive tilt.
KPIs That Matter Intermodal volumes, especially eastern network growth following Q1’s 7% load increase. ICS gross margin recovery from 12.0%, down from 15.3% a year earlier. DCS truck sales tracking toward the 800-1,000 net new trucks annual target. Move Triggers Historical earnings-day moves average 4.29%, ranging from -7.68% to +22.14%. A clean beat above $1.7273 EPS with intermodal margin expansion could extend the rally toward the $315.93 crowd target.
2 hours ago
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Bull Case Beat streak intact: 3 of the last 4 quarters topped EPS estimates, with Q1 2026 delivering a +3.02% surprise. Analyst momentum: Bernstein upgraded to Outperform with a $329 target; Susquehanna lifted its target to $326. Intermodal engine: Q1 posted the highest first-quarter volume in company history, with segment operating income up 21%. Buyback firepower: Roughly $888 million remains authorized. Bear Case Valuation stretched: Shares trade at a 43x P/E, prompting Morgan Stanley’s Underweight downgrade. ICS margin compression: Gross margin fell to 12.0% from 15.3%. Insider selling: $4.7 million in recent sales alongside 17 net-selling transactions. High bar: A 45.08% YTD run leaves little cushion if guidance disappoints. 2 hours ago
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Top 5 Analyst Questions: Can Intermodal sustain 21% operating income growth as eastern network conversion matures? Why did ICS gross margin compress to 12.0% from prior highs, and when does it stabilize? Is DCS fleet contraction (19 fewer trucks YoY) a demand signal or discipline? How does management justify the 43 P/E after the 45.08% YTD move? Pace of the remaining $888 million buyback given cash at $4.6M? Key Topics: tariff/trade impact, peak surcharge timing, insurance and casualty claims, trailer turns.
Red Flags: Further ICS margin erosion FMS declines beyond -6% Revenue-per-load weakness Rising purchased transportation expense Cautious commentary on freight demand that undermines the $326-$329 bull-case targets 2 hours ago
Live
This live blog is being updated by Thomas Richmond, a 24/7 Wall St. contributor. You’ll get expert analysis of J.B. Hunt’s earnings.
Simply stay on this page, and new updates will appear below automatically. We expect J.B. Hunt’s earnings to be released shortly after 4:05 p.m. ET.
2 hours ago
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J.B. Hunt Transport Services enters its second-quarter earnings report tonight with Wall Street expecting earnings per share of $1.7273 and revenue of $3.25 billion.
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The company has become a proxy for tracking the broader freight recovery, making tonight’s results an important read on shipping volumes, pricing, and transportation demand across the U.S. economy.
The central question is whether continued intermodal momentum can offset the slower recovery in J.B. Hunt’s Integrated Capacity Solutions business. Investors will be watching for stronger volumes and margins in intermodal, along with evidence that ICS is moving toward sustainable profitability.
J.B. Hunt shares have climbed 86.31% over the past year, sharpening the debate over how much of the recovery is reflected in the stock. Wall Street remains broadly constructive, with 13 Buy ratings, nine Holds, and one Sell, but Morgan Stanley’s valuation concerns could return quickly if earnings fail to keep pace with the rally.
Tonight’s guidance may ultimately matter more than the headline results. Consumer sentiment sits at a recessionary 44.8, creating uncertainty around future freight demand. A strong report and confident outlook could validate J.B. Hunt’s rally, while soft volumes, weak margin recovery, or cautious guidance could pressure both the stock and the broader transportation sector.
J.B. Hunt Transport Services (NASDAQ:JBHT) reports Q2 2026 results tonight at 4:05 PM ET after the market closes. With shares near $277.37 and a P/E of 44, tonight’s numbers must validate the freight-cycle recovery thesis embedded in the stock.
Momentum Meets a Steeper Bar In Q1, JBHT delivered a clean beat: EPS of $1.49 on revenue of $3.06 billion, up 4.6% YoY, with operating margin expanding to 6.8% from 6.1%. Intermodal set a first-quarter volume record, and operating income there jumped 21%.
Since that April report, JBHT has rallied hard. The stock is up 45.08% year-to-date, and Bernstein upgraded it to Outperform with a $329 target on July 10. Morgan Stanley cut to Underweight at $200, calling much of the upcycle already priced in.
Consensus Estimates Metric Q2 2026 Est. YoY Change Q1 2026 Actual Revenue $3.25B +10.9% $3.06B EPS (Normalized) $1.7273 +31.9% $1.49 The Street wants sequential acceleration versus Q2 2025 EPS of $1.31. That embeds pricing traction in ICS and Truckload plus continued intermodal leverage. Any slippage in operating margin lands against a stretched multiple.
Watchpoints: Intermodal Pricing and ICS Margin Recovery Tonight, I’ll be watching how CEO Shelley Simpson frames the freight cycle. In April, she said “we believe we are on a path of recovery” and described capacity as inverted.
Investors will also focus on Integrated Capacity Solutions (ICS) gross margin, which compressed to 12.0% from 15.3%. COO Nick Hobbs noted “we are winning more volume and securing rate increases,” so any sequential improvement validates the bid-season narrative.
Also, I’ll track intermodal pricing discipline. Executive Vice President Darren Field warned transcon bid season had been “more competitive” than expected, and the Eastern network’s 7% load growth requires staying power.
Another metric to watch is cost-to-serve progress, currently pacing north of $130 million for the year versus a $100 million target, plus buyback cadence against the $888 million remaining authorization.
Earnings History Quarter EPS Surprise Reported EPS Q1 2026 +3.02% $1.49 Q4 2025 +4.78% $1.90 Q3 2025 +20.55% $1.76 Q2 2025 -0.86% $1.31 On average, shares moved roughly 10.79% higher seven days after the last earnings release.
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LOWELL, Ark.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--J.B. Hunt Transport Services, Inc. (NASDAQ: JBHT) announced second quarter 2026 U.S. GAAP (United States Generally Accepted Accounting Principles) net earnings of $181.0 million, or diluted earnings per share of $1.91 versus second quarter 2025 net earnings of $128.6 million, or $1.31 per diluted share.
“I’m grateful for our people and their continued focus on delivering operational excellence around service, safety and cost discipline in this dynamic environment,” said Shelley Simpson, president and CEO. “Our second quarter results reflect the strength of executing our strategy, as we leveraged our investments in our people, technology, and capacity to drive growth and improve profitability. As market conditions continue to evolve, we remain focused on creating long-term value for our shareholders, delivering valuable solutions to our customers while maintaining discipline around returns on our capital.”
Total operating revenue for the current quarter was $3.50 billion compared with $2.93 billion for the second quarter 2025, an increase of 19%. Current quarter total operating revenue, excluding fuel surcharge revenue, increased 11% versus the second quarter 2025. The increase in revenue, excluding fuel surcharge revenue, was primarily driven by increased load volumes in Intermodal (JBI), Integrated Capacity Solutions (ICS) and Truckload (JBT), higher revenue per load in JBI, ICS and JBT and increased productivity in Dedicated Contract Services® (DCS®), partially offset by a 14% decline in Final Mile Services (FMS) stops.
Operating income for the current quarter increased 32% to $259.5 million versus $197.3 million for the second quarter 2025. The increase in operating income was primarily driven by higher revenue, improved productivity across the business, continued execution on our initiative to remove structural cost, lower group medical claims and lower facility rental and equipment storage expenses. These were partially offset by higher purchase transportation cost, particularly in our ICS and JBT segments and higher equipment-related expenses. Consolidated operating income as a percentage of gross revenue increased year-over-year as a result of the previously mentioned items, partially offset by higher fuel expense as a percentage of gross revenue.
Net interest expense for the current quarter decreased approximately 21% from the second quarter 2025 due to a lower average consolidated debt balance partially offset by a modestly higher average interest rate.
The effective income tax rate was 25.4% in the current quarter compared to 26.9% in the second quarter 2025. We now expect our 2026 annual tax rate to be between 24.0% and 24.5%.
Segment Information:
Intermodal (JBI)
Second Quarter 2026 Segment Revenue: $1.75 billion; up 22% Second Quarter 2026 Operating Income: $150.9 million; up 58% Intermodal volume increased 10% over the same period in 2025. Transcontinental network loads increased 5%, while Eastern network loads increased 16% compared to the second quarter 2025. Overall demand for our intermodal service increased throughout the quarter driven by the strong value proposition it presents to customers facing higher fuel prices and constrained driver and capacity availability in other transportation modes. Volume growth in our Eastern network continues to be strong, driven by conversion and overall service execution. Segment gross revenue increased 22% from the prior-year period driven by the 10% increase in volume and an 11% increase in gross revenue per load, resulting from higher fuel surcharge revenue, customer rates and changes in mix of freight. Revenue per load excluding fuel surcharge revenue increased 1%.
Operating income increased 58% compared to the second quarter 2025 primarily due to network efficiency resulting from strong volume growth, productivity improvements across the dray network, lower proportion of empty container moves and lower container storage expense. Continued execution on initiatives to lower our cost to serve also contributed to the improvement. These were partially offset by higher insurance premium and claims expense and higher professional driver personnel expense.
Dedicated Contract Services (DCS)
Second Quarter 2026 Segment Revenue: $921 million; up 9% Second Quarter 2026 Operating Income: $102.5 million; up 9% DCS revenue increased 9% during the quarter compared to the same period 2025 driven by a 9% increase in productivity (revenue per truck per week) as average trucks were approximately flat versus the prior-year period. Productivity excluding fuel surcharge revenue increased 2% from the prior-year period due to contracted indexed-based price escalators. On a net basis, there were 5 additional revenue-producing trucks in the fleet by the end of the quarter compared to the prior-year period and approximately 140 more versus the end of the first quarter 2026. Customer retention rates have improved to approximately 96%.
Operating income increased 9% from the prior-year period. The increase was driven by the higher revenue, lower group medical claims expense and continued progress on the initiative to lower our cost to serve. These were partially offset by higher insurance premium and equipment-related expenses and higher new business onboarding expenses compared to the prior year period.
Integrated Capacity Solutions (ICS)
Second Quarter 2026 Segment Revenue: $388 million; up 49% Second Quarter 2026 Operating Income/(Loss): $1.7 million; vs. $(3.6) million in Q2’25 ICS revenue increased 49% during the current quarter compared to the second quarter of 2025. Overall segment volume increased 19% versus the prior-year period with growth in both published and spot volume. Revenue per load increased 26% due to higher rates across both contractual and transactional volume. Contractual volume represented approximately 65% of the total load volume and 63% of the total revenue in the current quarter compared to 62% and 63%, respectively, in the second quarter 2025.
Operating income was $1.7 million compared to an operating loss of $3.6 million for the second quarter of 2025. The operating environment remained volatile during the current quarter as market capacity dynamics continue to evolve rapidly. Operating results improved from the prior-year quarter primarily due to an increase in gross profit driven by the increases in both revenue per load and volume which more than offset a 54% increase in purchased transportation expense. Gross profit margins decreased to 12.5% compared to 15.5% in the prior year period but improved from 12.0% in the first quarter of 2026.
Final Mile Services (FMS)
Second Quarter 2026 Segment Revenue: $198 million; down 6% Second Quarter 2026 Operating Income: $5.6 million; down 30% FMS revenue decreased 6% compared to the same period 2025. The decrease was primarily driven by known business losses given our ongoing efforts to improve revenue quality and profitability across various accounts. The decrease in segment gross revenue was partially offset by stabilizing demand across many of the end markets served and the implementation of new business awarded over the past year.
Operating income decreased 30% to $5.6 million compared to the prior-year period. Operating income decreased primarily due to the impact of lower revenue and higher purchased transportation expense. The operating income decline was partially offset by lower claims and facility rental expenses and continued progress on the initiative to lower our cost to serve.
Truckload (JBT)
Second Quarter 2026 Segment Revenue: $240 million; up 35% Second Quarter 2026 Operating Income/(Loss): ($1.3) million; vs. $3.4 million in Q2’25 JBT revenue increased 35% compared to the same period in the prior year. Revenue excluding fuel surcharge revenue increased 28% driven by a 14% increase in load volume and a 13% improvement in revenue per load excluding fuel surcharge revenue. Total average effective trailer count increased by approximately 45 units, or less than 1% versus the prior-year period. Trailer turns in the quarter improved 13% from the prior period primarily due to improved network balance and velocity to improve equipment utilization.
Operating loss was $1.3 million compared to operating income of $3.4 million for the second quarter 2025. Operating performance declined from the prior year period primarily due to higher purchased transportation expense, which resulted in a 12% decline in gross profit. This was partially offset by continued cost management and productivity and a more balanced network. JBT segment operating income as a percentage of segment gross revenue decreased year-over-year as a result of higher third-party capacity costs as a percentage of gross revenue.
Cash Flow and Capitalization:
At June 30, 2026, we had approximately $1.15 billion outstanding on various debt instruments compared to $1.72 billion at June 30, 2025 and $1.47 billion at December 31, 2025.
Our net capital expenditures for the six months ended June 30, 2026 approximated $144.9 million compared to $399.1 million for the same period 2025. At June 30, 2026, we had cash and cash equivalents of approximately $4.2 million.
In the second quarter 2026, we purchased approximately 392,000 shares of common stock for approximately $98 million. At June 30, 2026, we had approximately $791 million remaining under our share repurchase authorization. Actual shares outstanding at June 30, 2026 approximated 93.9 million.
Conference Call Information:
The company will hold a conference call today from 4:00–5:00 p.m. CDT to discuss the quarterly earnings. Investors will have the opportunity to listen to the conference call live over the internet by going to investor.jbhunt.com. Please log on 15 minutes early to register, download and install any necessary audio software. For those who cannot listen to the live broadcast, an online replay of the earnings call webcast will be available a few hours after the completion of the call.
Forward-Looking Statements:
This press release may contain forward-looking statements, which are based on information currently available. Actual results may differ materially from those currently anticipated due to a number of factors, including, but not limited to, those discussed in Item 1A of our Annual Report filed on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2025. We assume no obligation to update any forward-looking statement to the extent we become aware that it will not be achieved for any reason. This press release and additional information will be available to interested parties on our website, www.jbhunt.com.
About J.B. Hunt
J.B. Hunt’s vision is to create the most efficient transportation network in North America. The company’s industry-leading solutions and mode-neutral approach generate value for customers by eliminating waste, reducing costs and enhancing supply chain visibility. Powered by one of the largest company-owned fleets in the country and third-party capacity through its J.B. Hunt 360°® digital freight marketplace, J.B. Hunt can meet the unique shipping needs of any business, from first mile to final delivery, and every shipment in-between. Through disciplined investments in its people, technology and capacity, J.B. Hunt is delivering exceptional value and service that enable long-term growth for the company and its stakeholders.
J.B. Hunt Transport Services Inc. is an S&P 500 company and a component of the Dow Jones Transportation Average. Its stock trades on NASDAQ under the ticker symbol JBHT. J.B. Hunt Transport Inc. is a wholly owned subsidiary of JBHT. The company’s services include intermodal, dedicated, refrigerated, truckload, less-than-truckload, flatbed, single source, last mile, transload and more. For more information, visit www.jbhunt.com.
J.B. HUNT TRANSPORT SERVICES, INC. Condensed Consolidated Statements of Earnings (in thousands, except per share data) (unaudited) Three Months Ended June 30 2026
2025
% Of % Of Amount Revenue Amount Revenue Operating revenues, excluding fuel surcharge revenues $ 2,853,836
$ 2,576,319
Fuel surcharge revenues 641,460
351,862
Total operating revenues 3,495,296
100.0
%
2,928,181
100.0
%
Operating expenses Rents and purchased transportation 1,677,280
48.0
%
1,266,908
43.3
%
Salaries, wages and employee benefits 820,352
23.5
%
816,941
27.9
%
Fuel and fuel taxes 235,208
6.7
%
153,710
5.2
%
Depreciation and amortization 180,610
5.2
%
176,980
6.0
%
Operating supplies and expenses 138,870
4.0
%
128,245
4.4
%
Insurance and claims 88,792
2.5
%
84,838
2.9
%
General and administrative expenses, including asset dispositions 65,718
1.9
%
74,876
2.6
%
Operating taxes and licenses 18,920
0.5
%
17,770
0.6
%
Communication and utilities 10,094
0.3
%
10,639
0.4
%
Total operating expenses 3,235,844
92.6
%
2,730,907
93.3
%
Operating income 259,452
7.4
%
197,274
6.7
%
Net interest expense 16,768
0.5
%
21,285
0.7
%
Earnings before income taxes 242,684
6.9
%
175,989
6.0
%
Income taxes 61,650
1.7
%
47,365
1.6
%
Net earnings $ 181,034
5.2
%
$ 128,624
4.4
%
Average diluted shares outstanding 94,944
97,976
Diluted earnings per share $ 1.91
$ 1.31
J.B. HUNT TRANSPORT SERVICES, INC. Condensed Consolidated Statements of Earnings (in thousands, except per share data) (unaudited) Six Months Ended June 30 2026
2025
% Of % Of Amount Revenue Amount Revenue Operating revenues, excluding fuel surcharge revenues $ 5,502,329
$ 5,136,048
Fuel surcharge revenues 1,049,458
713,525
Total operating revenues 6,551,787
100.0
%
5,849,573
100.0
%
Operating expenses Rents and purchased transportation 3,082,180
47.0
%
2,560,236
43.8
%
Salaries, wages and employee benefits 1,605,948
24.5
%
1,616,588
27.6
%
Fuel and fuel taxes 410,267
6.3
%
313,643
5.4
%
Depreciation and amortization 360,020
5.5
%
356,456
6.1
%
Operating supplies and expenses 264,131
4.0
%
251,698
4.3
%
Insurance and claims 176,542
2.7
%
169,856
2.9
%
General and administrative expenses, including asset dispositions 127,571
2.0
%
147,847
2.5
%
Operating taxes and licenses 37,453
0.6
%
35,250
0.6
%
Communication and utilities 21,175
0.3
%
22,045
0.4
%
Total operating expenses 6,085,287
92.9
%
5,473,619
93.6
%
Operating income 466,500
7.1
%
375,954
6.4
%
Net interest expense 34,668
0.5
%
39,882
0.7
%
Earnings before income taxes 431,832
6.6
%
336,072
5.7
%
Income taxes 109,245
1.7
%
89,708
1.5
%
Net earnings $ 322,587
4.9
%
$ 246,364
4.2
%
Average diluted shares outstanding 95,073
99,226
Diluted earnings per share $ 3.39
$ 2.48
Financial Information By Segment (in thousands) (unaudited) Three Months Ended June 30 2026
2025
% Of % Of Amount Total Amount Total Revenue Intermodal $ 1,753,689
50
%
$ 1,437,885
49
%
Dedicated 920,710
26
%
846,755
29
%
Integrated Capacity Solutions 388,495
11
%
260,243
9
%
Final Mile Services 198,037
6
%
210,627
7
%
Truckload 239,653
7
%
176,968
6
%
Subtotal 3,500,584
100
%
2,932,478
100
%
Intersegment eliminations (5,288
)
(0
%)
(4,297
)
(0
%)
Consolidated revenue $ 3,495,296
100
%
$ 2,928,181
100
%
Operating income Intermodal $ 150,863
58
%
$ 95,747
49
%
Dedicated 102,473
40
%
93,687
47
%
Integrated Capacity Solutions 1,695
1
%
(3,554
)
(2
%)
Final Mile Services 5,557
2
%
7,993
4
%
Truckload (1,335
)
(1
%)
3,369
2
%
Other (1) 199
0
%
32
0
%
Operating income $ 259,452
100
%
$ 197,274
100
%
Six Months Ended June 30 2026
2025
% Of % Of Amount Total Amount Total Revenue Intermodal $ 3,258,482
49
%
$ 2,907,138
50
%
Dedicated 1,761,266
27
%
1,669,047
28
%
Integrated Capacity Solutions 711,232
11
%
528,285
9
%
Final Mile Services 386,064
6
%
411,331
7
%
Truckload 445,036
7
%
343,596
6
%
Subtotal 6,562,080
100
%
5,859,397
100
%
Intersegment eliminations (10,293
)
(0
%)
(9,824
)
(0
%)
Consolidated revenue $ 6,551,787
100
%
$ 5,849,573
100
%
Operating income Intermodal $ 265,353
57
%
$ 190,134
51
%
Dedicated 189,868
41
%
173,961
46
%
Integrated Capacity Solutions (2,956
)
(1
%)
(6,220
)
(1
%)
Final Mile Services 12,722
3
%
12,669
3
%
Truckload 1,382
0
%
5,408
1
%
Other (1) 131
0
%
2
0
%
Operating income $ 466,500
100
%
$ 375,954
100
%
(1) Includes corporate support activity Operating Statistics by Segment (unaudited) Three Months Ended June 30 2026
2025
Intermodal Loads 578,072
525,161
Average length of haul 1,587
1,631
Revenue per load $ 3,034
$ 2,738
Average tractors during the period * 6,212
6,376
Tractors (end of period) * 6,232
6,363
Trailing equipment (end of period) 124,199
125,265
Average effective trailing equipment usage 112,301
102,603
Dedicated Loads 995,594
992,772
Average length of haul 172
177
Revenue per truck per week** $ 5,635
$ 5,163
Average trucks during the period*** 12,658
12,689
Trucks (end of period) *** 12,744
12,739
Trailing equipment (end of period) 34,343
32,345
Average effective trailing equipment usage 35,645
33,027
Integrated Capacity Solutions Loads 156,856
132,315
Revenue per load $ 2,477
$ 1,967
Gross profit margin 12.5
%
15.5
%
Employee count (end of period) 710
560
Final Mile Services Stops 861,905
998,916
Average trucks during the period*** 1,199
1,317
Truckload Loads 118,714
104,357
Revenue per load $ 2,019
$ 1,696
Average length of haul 584
611
Tractors (end of period) Company-owned -
-
Independent contractor 1,880
2,041
Total tractors 1,880
2,041
Trailers (end of period) 12,573
12,785
Average effective trailing equipment usage 12,190
12,144
* Includes company-owned and independent contractor tractors ** Using weighted workdays *** Includes company-owned, independent contractor, and customer-owned trucks Operating Statistics by Segment (unaudited) Six Months Ended June 30 2026
2025
Intermodal Loads 1,114,924
1,046,982
Average length of haul 1,600
1,645
Revenue per load $ 2,923
$ 2,777
Average tractors during the period * 6,198
6,403
Tractors (end of period) * 6,232
6,363
Trailing equipment (end of period) 124,199
125,265
Average effective trailing equipment usage 110,193
105,164
Dedicated Loads 1,937,825
1,935,666
Average length of haul 172
179
Revenue per truck per week** $ 5,438
$ 5,146
Average trucks during the period*** 12,649
12,656
Trucks (end of period) *** 12,744
12,739
Trailing equipment (end of period) 34,343
32,345
Average effective trailing equipment usage 34,497
32,972
Integrated Capacity Solutions Loads 308,675
270,058
Revenue per load $ 2,304
$ 1,956
Gross profit margin 12.3
%
15.4
%
Employee count (end of period) 710
560
Final Mile Services Stops 1,666,641
1,919,260
Average trucks during the period*** 1,214
1,335
Truckload Loads 232,135
199,500
Revenue per load $ 1,917
$ 1,722
Average length of haul 589
616
Tractors (end of period) Company-owned -
-
Independent contractor 1,880
2,041
Total tractors 1,880
2,041
Trailers (end of period) 12,573
12,785
Average effective trailing equipment usage 12,352
12,120
* Includes company-owned and independent contractor tractors ** Using weighted workdays *** Includes company-owned, independent contractor, and customer-owned trucks J.B. HUNT TRANSPORT SERVICES, INC. Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets (in thousands) (unaudited) June 30, 2026
December 31, 2025
ASSETS Current assets: Cash and cash equivalents $ 4,162
$ 17,284
Accounts Receivable, net 1,461,271
1,160,371
Prepaid expenses and other 347,913
426,535
Total current assets 1,813,346
1,604,190
Property and equipment 9,359,388
9,348,370
Less accumulated depreciation 3,988,837
3,810,269
Net property and equipment 5,370,551
5,538,101
Other assets, net 760,881
784,864
$ 7,944,778
$ 7,927,155
LIABILITIES & STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY Current liabilities: Current debt $ -
$ 699,859
Trade accounts payable 792,348
655,604
Claims accruals 322,235
310,339
Accrued payroll 153,185
110,388
Other accrued expenses 176,895
159,153
Total current liabilities 1,444,663
1,935,343
Long-term debt 1,145,337
766,938
Long-term claims accruals 487,457
444,479
Other long-term liabilities 298,697
307,005
Deferred income taxes 911,509
908,305
Stockholders' equity 3,657,115
3,565,085
$ 7,944,778
$ 7,927,155
Supplemental Data (unaudited) June 30, 2026
December 31, 2025
Actual shares outstanding at end of period (000) 93,915
94,595
Book value per actual share outstanding at end of period $ 38.94
$ 37.69
Six Months Ended June 30 2026
2025
Net cash provided by operating activities (000) $ 723,266
JBHT stock is moving. Watch the price action here. J.B. Hunt Q2 Details JB Hunt Transport reported quarterly earnings of $1.91 per share, which beat the analyst estimate of $1.71 by 11.7%, according to Benzinga Pro data.
Quarterly revenue came in at $3.5 billion, which beat the Street estimate of $3.24 billion and was up from $2.93 billion in the same period last year.
“I’m grateful for our people and their continued focus on delivering operational excellence around service, safety and cost discipline in this dynamic environment,” said CEO Shelley Simpson.
“Our second quarter results reflect the strength of executing our strategy, as we leveraged our investments in our people, technology, and capacity to drive growth and improve profitability,” Simpson added.
JBHT Stock Price Activity: According to data from Benzinga Pro, J.B. Hunt stock was up 6.65% to $294.65 in Wednesday’s extended trading.
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Market News and Data brought to you by Benzinga APIs
The logistics company reported a profit of $181 million, with its largest business segment reporting a 22% increase in revenue and a 10% increase in volume.
In its upcoming report, JB Hunt (JBHT - Free Report) is predicted by Wall Street analysts to post quarterly earnings of $1.71 per share, reflecting an increase of 30.5% compared to the same period last year. Revenues are forecasted to be $3.17 billion, representing a year-over-year increase of 8.1%.
Over the past 30 days, the consensus EPS estimate for the quarter has been adjusted upward by 0.9% to its current level. This demonstrates the covering analysts' collective reassessment of their initial projections during this period.
Before a company reveals its earnings, it is vital to take into account any changes in earnings projections. These revisions play a pivotal role in predicting the possible reactions of investors toward the stock. Multiple empirical studies have consistently shown a strong association between trends in earnings estimates and the short-term price movements of a stock.
While investors usually depend on consensus earnings and revenue estimates to assess the business performance for the quarter, delving into analysts' forecasts for certain key metrics often provides a more comprehensive understanding.
In light of this perspective, let's dive into the average estimates of certain JB Hunt metrics that are commonly tracked and forecasted by Wall Street analysts.
The average prediction of analysts places 'Revenue- Truckload' at $204.18 million. The estimate indicates a change of +15.4% from the prior-year quarter.
The combined assessment of analysts suggests that 'Revenue- Dedicated' will likely reach $888.15 million. The estimate indicates a year-over-year change of +4.9%.
The collective assessment of analysts points to an estimated 'Revenue- Final Mile Services' of $200.31 million. The estimate points to a change of -4.9% from the year-ago quarter.
Analysts expect 'Revenue- Integrated Capacity Solutions' to come in at $302.16 million. The estimate suggests a change of +16.1% year over year.
It is projected by analysts that the 'Intermodal - Trailing equipment (end of period)' will reach 125,565 . The estimate compares to the year-ago value of 125,265 .
Analysts predict that the 'Integrated Capacity Solutions - Revenue per load' will reach $2159.76 . The estimate compares to the year-ago value of $1967.00 .
The consensus estimate for 'Intermodal - Revenue per load' stands at $2774.52 . The estimate compares to the year-ago value of $2738.00 .
Based on the collective assessment of analysts, 'Final Mile Services - Average trucks during the period' should arrive at 1,264 . Compared to the current estimate, the company reported 1,317 in the same quarter of the previous year.
Analysts' assessment points toward 'Truckload - Total tractors' reaching 2,003 . The estimate is in contrast to the year-ago figure of 2,041 .
The consensus among analysts is that 'Integrated Capacity Solutions - Loads' will reach 142,244 . Compared to the present estimate, the company reported 132,315 in the same quarter last year.
Analysts forecast 'Dedicated - Average trucks during the period' to reach 12,689 . Compared to the current estimate, the company reported 12,689 in the same quarter of the previous year.
According to the collective judgment of analysts, 'Intermodal - Loads' should come in at 537,462 . The estimate compares to the year-ago value of 525,161 .
View all Key Company Metrics for JB Hunt here>>>
Shares of JB Hunt have experienced a change of -2.3% in the past month compared to the +2.2% move of the Zacks S&P 500 composite. With a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy), JBHT is expected to outperform the overall market in the near future. You can see the complete list of today's Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) stocks here >>>> .
Key Takeaways JBHT expects Q2 revenues of $3.17B, up 8.15% y/y, with strength across the majority of its segments.JBHT's Q2 EPS estimate of $1.71 is up 0.59% in the past 60 days and 30.53% from last year's actual.Higher net interest expense is likely to weigh on J.B. Hunt's bottom line. J.B. Hunt Transport Services, Inc. (JBHT - Free Report) is scheduled to report second-quarter 2026 results on July 15, after market close.
J.B. Hunt has an encouraging earnings surprise history. The company’s earnings outpaced the Zacks Consensus Estimate in three of the trailing four quarters (missed the mark in the remaining quarter), delivering an average beat of 6.31%.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
Let’s see how things have shaped up for J.B. Hunt this earnings season.
Factors Likely to Have Influenced JBHT’s Q2 PerformanceThe Zacks Consensus Estimate for JBHT’s second-quarter 2026 earnings has been revised upward by 0.59% to $1.71 per share in the past 60 days. Moreover, the consensus mark implies a surge of 30.53% from the year-ago actual.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for J.B. Hunt’s second-quarter 2026 revenues is pegged at $3.17 billion, indicating an 8.15% growth year over year. The upside is expected to have been driven by strength across the majority of its segments.
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for the second-quarter Intermodal revenues is pegged at $1.49 billion, indicating a surge of 3.6% from the year-ago reported figure. The consensus mark lies above our estimate of $1.44 billion.
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for the Dedicated Contract Services segment revenues is pegged at $888 million, implying a 4.8% increase from the second quarter of 2025 reported number. The upside is likely to have been driven by the rise in productivity (revenue per truck per week).The consensus mark is pegged below our estimate of $899.9 million.
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Integrated Capacity Solutions’revenues is pegged at $302 million, indicating a 16.1% increase from the year-ago reported figure. Our estimate is pegged at $289.4 million.
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Truckload revenues is pegged at $204 million, indicating a 15.2% rise from the second quarter of 2025 reported number. Truckload revenues are expected to have been aided by an increase inload volume. Our estimate is pegged at $204.3 million.
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Final Mile Services revenues is pegged at $200 million, indicating a 5.2% decrease from the second quarter of 2025 reported number. General weakness in demand across many of the end markets served might have hurt the segment.Our estimate is pegged at $201.1 million.
Higher net interest expense is likely to mar J.B. Hunt’s bottom line. JBHT continues to incur higher interest expenses due to higher interest rates. Further, the company’s bottom line might have been hurt by an expected increase in operating expenses due to high purchased transportation costs, salaries, wages and benefit expenses.
What Our Model Says About JBHTOur proven model predicts an earnings beat for J.B. Hunt this time around. The combination of a positive Earnings ESP and a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy), 2 (Buy) or 3 (Hold) increases the odds of an earnings beat. You can uncover the best stocks to buy or sell before they're reported with our Earnings ESP Filter.
J.B. Hunt has an Earnings ESP of +0.36% and a Zacks Rank #2 at present.
Highlights of JBHT’s Q1 EarningsJ.B. Hunt Transport Services reported first-quarter 2026 earnings per share of $1.49, up 27% from $1.17 a year ago. The result topped the Zacks Consensus Estimate by $0.04, a 2.8% surprise.
Operating revenues totaled $3.06 billion, rising 4.6% year over year. Revenues beat the consensus mark of $2.94 billion, resulting in a 3.9% surprise, as demand proved resilient across several service offerings, led by Intermodal volume growth and higher revenue per load in select highway-related businesses.
Other Stocks to ConsiderHere are a few stocks from the broader Zacks Transportation sector that investors may consider, as our model shows that these have the right combination of elements to beat on earnings this reporting cycle.
CSX Corporation (CSX - Free Report) has an Earnings ESP of +2.65% and a Zacks Rank #2 at present. You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.
CSX is scheduled to report second-quarter 2026 earnings on July 22. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for second-quarter 2026 earnings has been revised marginally upward over the past 30 days. CSX’s earnings beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate in three of the preceding four quarters and missed in the remaining one, the average beat being 3.2%.
Union Pacific (UNP - Free Report) has an Earnings ESP of +1.35% and a Zacks Rank #2 at present. UNP is scheduled to report second-quarter 2026 earnings on July 23.
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for second-quarter 2026 earnings has remained stable at $3.14 per share over the past 60 days. UNP’s earnings beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate in three of the preceding four quarters (missing the mark on the other occasion). The average beat is 2.3%.
JB Hunt (JBHT - Free Report) is expected to deliver a year-over-year increase in earnings on higher revenues when it reports results for the quarter ended June 2026. This widely-known consensus outlook gives a good sense of the company's earnings picture, but how the actual results compare to these estimates is a powerful factor that could impact its near-term stock price.
The stock might move higher if these key numbers top expectations in the upcoming earnings report, which is expected to be released on July 15. On the other hand, if they miss, the stock may move lower.
While the sustainability of the immediate price change and future earnings expectations will mostly depend on management's discussion of business conditions on the earnings call, it's worth handicapping the probability of a positive EPS surprise.
Zacks Consensus EstimateThis trucking and logistics company is expected to post quarterly earnings of $1.71 per share in its upcoming report, which represents a year-over-year change of +30.5%.
Revenues are expected to be $3.15 billion, up 7.5% from the year-ago quarter.
Estimate Revisions TrendThe consensus EPS estimate for the quarter has been revised 0.86% higher over the last 30 days to the current level. This is essentially a reflection of how the covering analysts have collectively reassessed their initial estimates over this period.
Investors should keep in mind that an aggregate change may not always reflect the direction of estimate revisions by each of the covering analysts.
Price, Consensus and EPS Surprise
Earnings WhisperEstimate revisions ahead of a company's earnings release offer clues to the business conditions for the period whose results are coming out. Our proprietary surprise prediction model -- the Zacks Earnings ESP (Expected Surprise Prediction) -- has this insight at its core.
The Zacks Earnings ESP compares the Most Accurate Estimate to the Zacks Consensus Estimate for the quarter; the Most Accurate Estimate is a more recent version of the Zacks Consensus EPS estimate. The idea here is that analysts revising their estimates right before an earnings release have the latest information, which could potentially be more accurate than what they and others contributing to the consensus had predicted earlier.
Thus, a positive or negative Earnings ESP reading theoretically indicates the likely deviation of the actual earnings from the consensus estimate. However, the model's predictive power is significant for positive ESP readings only.
A positive Earnings ESP is a strong predictor of an earnings beat, particularly when combined with a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy), 2 (Buy) or 3 (Hold). Our research shows that stocks with this combination produce a positive surprise nearly 70% of the time, and a solid Zacks Rank actually increases the predictive power of Earnings ESP.
Please note that a negative Earnings ESP reading is not indicative of an earnings miss. Our research shows that it is difficult to predict an earnings beat with any degree of confidence for stocks with negative Earnings ESP readings and/or Zacks Rank of 4 (Sell) or 5 (Strong Sell).
How Have the Numbers Shaped Up for JB Hunt?For JB Hunt, the Most Accurate Estimate is higher than the Zacks Consensus Estimate, suggesting that analysts have recently become bullish on the company's earnings prospects. This has resulted in an Earnings ESP of +0.36%.
On the other hand, the stock currently carries a Zacks Rank of #2.
So, this combination indicates that JB Hunt will most likely beat the consensus EPS estimate.
Does Earnings Surprise History Hold Any Clue?Analysts often consider to what extent a company has been able to match consensus estimates in the past while calculating their estimates for its future earnings. So, it's worth taking a look at the surprise history for gauging its influence on the upcoming number.
For the last reported quarter, it was expected that JB Hunt would post earnings of $1.45 per share when it actually produced earnings of $1.49, delivering a surprise of +2.76%.
Over the last four quarters, the company has beaten consensus EPS estimates three times.
Bottom LineAn earnings beat or miss may not be the sole basis for a stock moving higher or lower. Many stocks end up losing ground despite an earnings beat due to other factors that disappoint investors. Similarly, unforeseen catalysts help a number of stocks gain despite an earnings miss.
That said, betting on stocks that are expected to beat earnings expectations does increase the odds of success. This is why it's worth checking a company's Earnings ESP and Zacks Rank ahead of its quarterly release. Make sure to utilize our Earnings ESP Filter to uncover the best stocks to buy or sell before they've reported.
JB Hunt appears a compelling earnings-beat candidate. However, investors should pay attention to other factors too for betting on this stock or staying away from it ahead of its earnings release.
Stay on top of upcoming earnings announcements with the Zacks Earnings Calendar.
J.B. Hunt Transport Services, Inc. (NASDAQ:JBHT) will release its second quarter earnings report after the closing bell on Wednesday, July 15.
Analysts expect the Lowell, Arkansas-based company to report quarterly earnings of $1.71 per share, up from $1.31 per share in the year-ago period. The consensus estimate for J.B. Hunt Transport’s quarterly revenue is $3.21 billion. It reported $2.93 billion last year, according to Benzinga Pro.
On April 15, J.B. Hunt Transport Services reported better-than-expected first-quarter financial results.
J.B. Hunt Transport shares fell 1% to close at $275.00 on Tuesday.
Benzinga readers can access the latest analyst ratings on the Analyst Stock Ratings page. Readers can sort by stock ticker, company name, analyst firm, rating change or other variables.
Let’s have a look at how Benzinga’s most-accurate analysts have rated the company in the recent period.
Considering buying JBHT stock? Here’s what analysts think:
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Market News and Data brought to you by Benzinga APIs
The gradual improvement in the overall freight scenario is a huge positive for the Zacks Transportation-Truck industry. After a prolonged freight downturn, industry participants are relieved owing to factors like capacity tightening and rising rates. The industry is also benefiting from the uptick in Artificial Intelligence (“AI”) related investments, which have increased efficiency. However, concerns about tariffs, high inflation and geopolitical woes are major headwinds.
Despite the aforementioned headwinds, the industry has demonstrated resilience, particularly among companies focused on growth strategies and operational efficiency. Given this backdrop of an improving freight scenario, investors would do well to bet on stocks like J.B. Hunt Transport Services (JBHT - Free Report) , Knight-Swift Transportation Holdings (KNX - Free Report) and ArcBest Corporation (ARCB - Free Report) at present.
Industry Description The Zacks Transportation-Truck industry houses truck operators transporting freight to diverse customers, mainly across North America. These companies provide full-truckload or less-than-truckload (“LTL”) services over the short, medium or long haul. The range of trucking services these companies provide includes dry-van, dedicated, refrigerated, flatbed and expedited. Some companies have an extensive fleet of company-owned tractors and trucks, and independent contractor trucks. Besides trucking, most entities offer logistics and intermodal services as well as value-added services like container drayage, truckload brokerage, supply-chain consulting and warehousing. A few also offer asset-light services to other third-party logistics companies in the transportation sector.
4 Trends Shaping the Future of the Trucking Industry Freight Scene on the Mend: A Big Positive: Following a prolonged period of downturn, things appear to be brightening as far as freight demand is concerned. Highlighting the brightening freight demand scenario, the Cass Freight Shipments Index improved 3% month on month in May 2026. This measure has improved month on month in each of the past four months, which confirms the improving scenario. The 1.2% year-over-year May decrease with respect to the Cass Freight Shipments Index was the smallest reduction in the past 18 months, further attesting to the improvement.
Moreover, many market watchers expect freight rates to increase in the current year. The shrinking of capacity, as small carriers exit the market due to lackluster profitability, is resulting in the tightening of the supply-demand gap, thereby improving pricing power.
Uptick in AI Investments Support Efficiencies: In a bid to improve efficiency, companies are investing big time in AI, thereby reducing the cost structure and promoting safety. Cost optimization and automation are helping protect profitability. Fleets are increasingly using AI to optimize routes, predict vehicle maintenance needs and match freight with available trucks in real time. This helps reduce empty trips, lower fuel costs, minimize vehicle downtime and improve fleet utilization. AI is also making supply chains more efficient by improving demand forecasting, shipment tracking and load planning, enabling trucking companies to respond more quickly to customer needs. In warehouses and distribution centers, AI-powered automation speeds up freight handling, allowing trucks to spend more time on the road.
Emphasis on Shareholder Returns: As economic activity rebounds from pandemic-era lows, companies are increasingly using their growing cash reserves to reward shareholders through dividends and share buybacks. This reflects both financial resilience and confidence in prospects. Within the Transportation-Truck space, J.B. Hunt Transport Services has raised its quarterly dividend by 2.3% this year.
Economic Uncertainty Refuses to Fade: The industry’s prospects are highly correlated with the prevailing economic health. Volatile inflation data, geopolitical tensions and labor market concerns have dented consumer confidence and have time and again unsettled markets. In its latest policy meeting, the Fed did not go for a rate cut but held rates at 3.5-3.75%. The recent intensification of the prolonged Russia-Ukraine conflict has aggravated the uncertain scenario.
Zacks Industry Rank Indicates Sunny Prospects The Zacks Transportation-Truck industry is a 12-stock group within the broader Zacks Transportation sector. The industry currently carries a Zacks Industry Rank #41, which places it in the top 17% of 246 Zacks industries.
The group’s Zacks Industry Rank, the average of the Zacks Rank of all member stocks, indicates bright near-term prospects. Our research shows that the top 50% of the Zacks-ranked industries outperform the bottom 50% by a factor of more than 2 to 1.
The industry’s position in the top 50% of the Zacks-ranked industries is a result of a positive earnings outlook for the constituent companies in aggregate. Looking at the aggregate earnings estimate revisions, it appears that analysts are gradually gaining confidence in this group’s earnings growth potential. The industry's earnings estimate for 2026 has increased 7.1% since March-end.
Before we present a few stocks from the industry that you may want to buy, let’s take a look at the industry’s recent stock market performance and the valuation picture.
Truck Industry Outperforms the S&P 500 and the Sector The Zacks Transportation-Truck industry has surpassed the Zacks S&P 500 composite as well as the Transportation sector over the past year.
The industry has surged roughly 51% over this period compared with the S&P 500's appreciation of 23.7% and the broader sector’s uptick of 23.4%.
One-Year Price Performance
Truck Industry's Current Valuation Based on the trailing 12-month EV-to-EBITDA (enterprise value to earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortization), a commonly used multiple for valuing trucking stocks, the industry is currently trading at 18X compared with the S&P 500’s 18.53X. It is above the sector’s EV/EBITDA of 11.74X.
Over the past five years, the industry has traded as high as 19.72X and as low as 7.83X, with the median being 12.34X, as the chart below shows.
Enterprise Value-to-EBITDA Ratio (TTM)
3 Transport Truck Stocks to Bet on at Present Knight-Swift is based in Phoenix, AZ. This company’s efforts to reward its investors through dividends and buybacks bode well. Earlier in the year, Knight-Swift raised its quarterly dividend to 20 cents per share from 18 cents.
Shares of KNX have surged 65% in a year. KNX currently sports a Zacks Rank# 1 (Strong Buy). The Zacks Consensus Estimate for current-year earnings has been revised upward by 2.1% over the past 60 days.
You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.
Price and Consensus: KNXArcBest provides freight transportation services and solutions. The company is based in Fort Smith, AR. ArcBest is being well-served by its efforts to control costs, improve productivity and enhance service quality.
The company expects its 2026 earnings per share to increase 58.6% on a year-over-year basis. Shares of ARCB have surged 76% in a year. ARCB currently sports a Zacks Rank# 1. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for current-year earnings has been revised upward by 11% over the past 60 days.
Price and Consensus: ARCB
J.B. Hunt Transport Services provides a broad range of transportation services to a diverse group of customers in the United States, Canada and Mexico. JBHT is benefiting from efforts to reward its shareholders through dividend payments and share repurchases.
Shares of JBHT have surged 91% in a year. JBHT currently carries a Zacks Rank # 2 (Buy). In the current year, the company’s earnings beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate in three of the last four quarters (missing the mark in the other quarter). The average beat is 6.3%.
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Truck drivers occupy two very different tax universes. Company drivers get a W-2, a payroll-split FICA tax, and access to whatever retirement plan the fleet offers. Owner-operators run a small business, owe the full 15.3% self-employment tax, and choose their own retirement vehicle. Early retirement is possible from either seat, but the levers you pull are almost nothing alike.
Here is how to think about the tradeoffs and the specific accounts each path unlocks.
The Company Driver Playbook: Squeeze the W-2 If you drive for a carrier like Schneider National (NYSE:SNDR | SNDR Price Prediction), Werner Enterprises (NASDAQ:WERN), or J.B. Hunt Transport Services (NASDAQ:JBHT), your paycheck already withholds half your Social Security and Medicare tax. Median full-time weekly earnings across the workforce were $1,235 in Q1 2026, and experienced OTR drivers often clear that. Your early-retirement math hinges on three moves.
Max the 401(k) and capture every match. Contribute at least enough to grab the full employer match. That is an instant return you will not find in any freight lane. Verify the current-year 401(k) elective deferral limit and the age-50 catch-up before you set your percentage, because both adjust for inflation. With CPI at 334.0 in May 2026, those thresholds keep drifting up.
Use the Rule of 55. If you separate from your carrier in or after the year you turn 55, you can pull from that employer’s 401(k) without the 10% early-withdrawal penalty. Roll the account to an IRA first and you lose the exemption. This is the single biggest early-retirement tool a company driver has, and most drivers do not know it exists.
Stack an HSA if your carrier offers a high-deductible plan. Triple tax-free treatment beats a Roth IRA at the margin, and after age 65 the HSA behaves like a traditional IRA for non-medical withdrawals. With healthcare spending running at $3,716.0 billion annually as of May 2026, this bucket matters more every year.
The Owner-Operator Playbook: You Are the Plan Sponsor Running your own authority (or leased to a carrier as a 1099 contractor) changes everything. You pay both halves of FICA, but you also get retirement plans a W-2 driver cannot touch.
Open a Solo 401(k). You contribute as both employee and employer, which lets you shelter far more income than a SEP-IRA at the same revenue level. If your spouse works in the business (dispatch, books, ride-alongs), they can contribute too. The Solo 401(k) also permits Roth contributions and, at some custodians, a mega-backdoor Roth conversion. Confirm the current-year contribution ceilings before funding.
SEP-IRA if paperwork scares you. Simpler than a Solo 401(k), funded entirely by the employer (you), and deductible against your Schedule C. The tradeoff: no Roth option and no employee deferral, so total shelter is lower at modest revenue.
Deduct like a business owner. Per diem for meals on the road, depreciation on the tractor, fuel, maintenance, and the health-insurance premium deduction all lower your self-employment tax base. With gasoline at $3.83 per gallon in late June 2026 and diesel tracking above that, every documented fuel receipt matters.
Bridging From 55 to 59.5 to Medicare Early retirement involves three problems at once: income, health insurance, and taxes. A 72(t) SEPP series unlocks penalty-free IRA withdrawals at any age if you commit to substantially equal payments. ACA marketplace subsidies scale to your modified AGI, so Roth conversions in low-income years can slash your bridge-year premiums.
Plug your own numbers into the compound growth of either path here:
Fifteen years of consistent contributions at a reasonable return builds a meaningful bridge fund, and the Solo 401(k) or company 401(k) is the tax-advantaged wrapper that gets you there faster.
Which Path Retires You Earlier? Company drivers win on simplicity, the employer match, and Rule-of-55 access. Owner-operators win on total shelter capacity and business deductions, but only if revenue is strong and expenses are disciplined. With the personal savings rate at just 3.9% in Q1 2026, the drivers who retire early are the ones who automate contributions and treat the retirement account like a truck payment: non-negotiable.
Contact [email protected] for any questions or corrections.
LOWELL, Ark.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--J.B. Hunt Transport Services, Inc., (NASDAQ: JBHT) announced today that it expects to issue second quarter 2026 earnings at the close of the market Wednesday, July 15, 2026. It will hold a conference call from 4:00-5:00 p.m. CDT on the same day to discuss the quarterly results and answer questions from the investment community. An online, real-time webcast of the quarterly conference call will be available at investor.jbhunt.com on July 15, 2026, at 4:00 p.m. CDT.
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Investors interested in Transportation - Truck stocks are likely familiar with ArcBest (ARCB - Free Report) and JB Hunt (JBHT - Free Report) . But which of these two stocks presents investors with the better value opportunity right now? Let's take a closer look.
There are plenty of strategies for discovering value stocks, but we have found that pairing a strong Zacks Rank with an impressive grade in the Value category of our Style Scores system produces the best returns. The proven Zacks Rank emphasizes companies with positive estimate revision trends, and our Style Scores highlight stocks with specific traits.
Currently, ArcBest has a Zacks Rank of #1 (Strong Buy), while JB Hunt has a Zacks Rank of #2 (Buy). Investors should feel comfortable knowing that ARCB likely has seen a stronger improvement to its earnings outlook than JBHT has recently. But this is only part of the picture for value investors.
Value investors also try to analyze a wide range of traditional figures and metrics to help determine whether a company is undervalued at its current share price levels.
Our Value category highlights undervalued companies by looking at a variety of key metrics, including the popular P/E ratio, as well as the P/S ratio, earnings yield, cash flow per share, and a variety of other fundamentals that have been used by value investors for years.
ARCB currently has a forward P/E ratio of 24.72, while JBHT has a forward P/E of 37.03. We also note that ARCB has a PEG ratio of 0.66. This popular figure is similar to the widely-used P/E ratio, but the PEG ratio also considers a company's expected EPS growth rate. JBHT currently has a PEG ratio of 2.00.
Another notable valuation metric for ARCB is its P/B ratio of 2.51. Investors use the P/B ratio to look at a stock's market value versus its book value, which is defined as total assets minus total liabilities. By comparison, JBHT has a P/B of 7.06.
These metrics, and several others, help ARCB earn a Value grade of B, while JBHT has been given a Value grade of D.
ARCB stands above JBHT thanks to its solid earnings outlook, and based on these valuation figures, we also feel that ARCB is the superior value option right now.
LOWELL, Ark.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--J.B. Hunt Transport Services, Inc.'s (NASDAQ: JBHT) President of Dedicated Contract Services and Executive Vice President Brad Hicks and Senior Vice President of Operations for J.B. Hunt Truckload Josh Phelan will address the Bank of America 33rd Annual Industrials, Transportation & Airlines Key Leaders Conference in New York, New York, at 10:20 a.m. EDT on Tuesday, May 12, 2026. President of Intermodal and Executive Vice President Darren Field will address th.
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Stock to Watch: JB Hunt (JBHT - Free Report) J.B. Hunt Transport Services is a provider of a wide range of transportation, brokerage, and delivery services to a diverse group of customers through the United States, Canada and Mexico. Founded in 1961, JBHT is based in Lowell, AR. J.B. Hunt's fiscal year coincides with the calendar year. As of Dec 31, 2025, JBHT had 31,750 employees, which consisted of 21,554 company drivers, 8,481 office personnel, 1,374 maintenance technicians, and 341 delivery and material assistants.
JBHT is a #3 (Hold) on the Zacks Rank, with a VGM Score of A.
Momentum investors should take note of this Transportation stock. JBHT has a Momentum Style Score of A, and shares are up 9.7% over the past four weeks.
For fiscal 2026, nine analysts revised their earnings estimate upwards in the last 60 days, and the Zacks Consensus Estimate has increased $0.12 to $7.27 per share. JBHT boasts an average earnings surprise of +6.3%.
With a solid Zacks Rank and top-tier Momentum and VGM Style Scores, JBHT should be on investors' short list.
LOWELL, Ark.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--J.B. Hunt Transport Services Inc. (Nasdaq: JBHT), one of the largest supply chain solutions providers in North America, announced today it has been included in the Dow Jones Best‑in‑Class North America Index following S&P Global's 2025 Corporate Sustainability Assessment (CSA). J.B. Hunt was previously included in the North American Dow Jones Sustainability Index, the predecessor to the Dow Jones Best-in-Class Indices, a family of global, regional and country.
J.B. Hunt Transport Services, Inc. (JBHT) Presents at Bank of America 33rd Annual Industrials, Transportation and Airlines Key Leaders Conference Transcript
Transportation stocks are rarely the most exciting names on Wall Street.
They don't instigate the same kind of excitement you might find in artificial intelligence or biotech stocks, but railroads, logistics firms, and freight operators consistently move trillions of dollars' worth of goods around the world. And there's nothing boring about that.
In fact, in 2026, there are two transportation stocks in particular that really stand out thanks to improving margins, pricing power, infrastructure advantages, and most importantly, lower exposure to surging fuel costs.
Image source: Getty Images.
Less than a truckload For years, FedEx (FDX +5.87%) struggled with bloated costs, uneven margins, and an overly complicated operational structure.
In response, management spent the last several years aggressively streamlining the business through network consolidation, facility optimization, and large-scale cost-cutting efforts. As a result, the numbers have started to improve.
FedEx recently reported fiscal Q2 2026 earnings of $4.82 per share, beating analyst expectations by roughly 17%, while raising full-year adjusted EPS guidance to between $17.80 and $19.00.
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But that's just the beginning.
One thing that's making FedEx more attractive is its FedEx Freight spinoff.
If you're unfamiliar, FedEx Freight specializes in "less-than-truckload" shipping, meaning it combines smaller shipments from multiple customers onto the same truck rather than dedicating an entire trailer to a single load.
FedEx Freight is expected to generate roughly $8.7 billion in annual revenue while targeting operating margins around 12%, making it one of the strongest less-than-truckload freight businesses in North America.
This is also the result of the company being less exposed to fuel-price volatility, because fuel surcharges are built into much of its shipping network.
In other words, when diesel or jet fuel prices rise sharply, FedEx often offsets part of that increase by charging customers more rather than absorbing the full cost itself. With oil prices likely to remain elevated for the foreseeable future due to geopolitical tensions and global supply uncertainty, this is not trivial.
Meanwhile, FedEx stock has surged more than 70% over the past year as investors rotate back into industrial and logistics stocks.
That combination of improving margins, restructuring execution, and freight-network scale is why FedEx remains one of the best transportation stocks in 2026.
Intermodal advantage In an environment where fuel prices are likely to remain elevated for most of the year, J.B. Hunt Transport Services (JBHT +2.99%) could become one of the biggest beneficiaries in the freight industry.
That's because the company focuses heavily on intermodal shipping, which combines trucking and rail transportation to improve fuel efficiency and lower shipping costs.
Instead of relying entirely on long-haul trucking, freight containers are moved long distances by rail and then transferred to trucks for local delivery, significantly reducing diesel consumption. And right now, demand for intermodal shipping is rising as higher fuel costs and tighter trucking capacity push more freight customers toward rail-based transportation.
J.B. Hunt recently reported first-quarter 2026 revenue of $3.06 billion, up 5% year over year, while operating income climbed 16%. Earnings per share jumped 27% to $1.49.
The company's intermodal division remains its largest profit driver, generating approximately $1.5 billion in quarterly revenue. Operating income in the segment rose 21% year over year.
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But again, you can't understate rising fuel costs here.
In recent earnings commentary, management specifically noted growing "road-to-rail conversion" as customers attempt to reduce transportation expenses amid higher diesel prices.
Unlike airlines or pure trucking operators, J.B. Hunt could actually benefit from higher fuel prices if more freight customers migrate toward intermodal solutions.
That positioning is exactly why the stock stands out in 2026.
Indeed, transportation stocks rarely generate the excitement of AI stocks or biotech start-ups.
But they often provide something equally important: established businesses with durable infrastructure, real cash flow, and pricing power.
In 2026, FedEx stands out due to its restructuring turnaround and logistics scale, while J.B. Hunt can actively capitalize on rising demand for intermodal shipping as fuel prices remain elevated.
These are not speculative moonshots. These are mature transportation businesses with durable infrastructure, real cash flow, and proven operating models that can safely handle extended fuel price volatility and even benefit from it to some degree.
A month has gone by since the last earnings report for JB Hunt (JBHT - Free Report) . Shares have added about 6.9% in that time frame, outperforming the S&P 500.
But investors have to be wondering, will the recent positive trend continue leading up to its next earnings release, or is JB Hunt due for a pullback? Well, first let's take a quick look at its most recent earnings report in order to get a better handle on the recent drivers for J.B. Hunt Transport Services, Inc. before we dive into how investors and analysts have reacted as of late.
Earnings Beat at J.B. Hunt in Q1J.B. Hunt Transport Services reported posted first-quarter 2026 earnings per share of $1.49, up 27% from $1.17 a year ago. The result topped the Zacks Consensus Estimate by $0.04, a 2.8% surprise.
Operating revenues totaled $3.06 billion, rising 4.6% year over year. Revenues beat the consensus mark of $2.94 billion, resulting in a 3.9% surprise, as demand proved resilient across several service offerings, led by Intermodal volume growth and higher revenue per load in select highway-related businesses.
Intermodal revenues increased to $1.50 billion, up 2% year over year, while operating income climbed 21% to $114.5 million. Loads rose 3% to 536,852, highlighted by record fiscal first-quarter volume and a record weekly load count in March. Management characterized demand strength as broad-based and credited service execution and network reliability for continued road-to-rail conversion, particularly in the eastern network.
The company noted a split in volume trends: transcontinental loads were flat, while eastern network loads increased 7% compared with the prior-year period. Revenue per load was $2,803, modestly lower year over year, with the metric excluding fuel surcharge down 2%. Even so, profitability improved as network efficiency gains reduced empty container moves and container storage expense, and productivity improved in drayage. Weather-related disruptions and higher insurance costs partially offset those benefits.
JBHT Sees Mixed Highway Results as Costs Shift Up
Dedicated Contract Services produced steady gains, with revenues of $841 million, up 2% and operating income of $87.4 million, up 9%. Productivity improved 2%, while average trucks were essentially flat. Customer retention improved to roughly 96%, and management pointed to a strengthening sales pipeline as tighter truckload conditions renewed interest in dedicated solutions. The company also highlighted that start-up expenses can rise as new accounts are onboarded, which can influence profit timing even when sales momentum improves.
Integrated Capacity Solutions remained the most pressured area. Revenues rose 20% to $323 million on 10% volume growth and a 9% increase in revenue per load. However, the segment posted an operating loss of $4.7 million compared with a $2.7 million loss a year ago as purchased transportation costs rose sharply with changing capacity dynamics. Gross profit declined 6% and gross margin compressed to 12% from 15.3%, even as operating expenses excluding purchased transportation fell 1%, reflecting productivity gains.
Truckload revenues increased 23% to $205 million and operating income improved 33% to $2.7 million. Loads rose 19% and revenue per load increased, supported by improved asset utilization, with trailer turns up 15% and trailing equipment up modestly year over year. Management noted, however, that the tight truckload market and higher fuel prices late in the quarter made conditions tougher for independent contractors, pushing the business to rely more on third-party capacity. That dynamic contributed to higher purchased transportation expenses and a decline in gross profit despite the strong top-line growth.
Final Mile Services continued to work through a previously disclosed customer loss. Revenues declined 6% to $188 million, but operating income increased 53% to $7.2 million, reflecting improved revenue quality, lower personnel costs and reduced insurance claims expense.
J.B. Hunt Highlights Balance Sheet Flexibility and Capital Plan
The company reiterated its full-year net capital expenditure plan of $600 million to $800 million, with Dedicated growth opportunities expected to be a key swing factor within that range. J.B. Hunt ended the quarter with $1.30 billion of total debt compared with $1.47 billion at the end of 2025.
Cash and cash equivalents were $4.6 million at the quarter's end. Operating cash flow was $353 million and net capital expenditures were $70.7 million. The company repurchased about 383,000 shares for approximately $80 million, leaving roughly $888 million under its repurchase authorization, and noted a recent dividend increase approved earlier in the year.
JBHT Leans on Productivity as the Cycle Turns
Management framed the quarter as a meaningful shift in the freight backdrop compared with the past few years, citing a tighter truckload market driven primarily by supply exiting the industry alongside early signs of demand improvement. That tightening supported better bid-season conversations, more frequent “mini bids” and an increased focus by shippers on execution quality and reliability.
Operational discipline remained the central theme. The company emphasized progress on its initiative to remove structural costs, noting more than $30 million eliminated during the quarter and pointing to year-over-year margin expansion despite weather disruption and several inflationary pressures, including higher insurance and medical costs. Elevated fuel prices were also a factor, described largely as a pass-through that can dilute margin percentages even when profit dollars are protected.
How Have Estimates Been Moving Since Then?It turns out, estimates review have trended upward during the past month.
VGM ScoresCurrently, JB Hunt has a great Growth Score of A, though it is lagging a lot on the Momentum Score front with a D. Following the exact same course, the stock was allocated a score of D on the value side, putting it in the bottom 40% for this investment strategy.
Overall, the stock has an aggregate VGM Score of C. If you aren't focused on one strategy, this score is the one you should be interested in.
OutlookEstimates have been broadly trending upward for the stock, and the magnitude of these revisions looks promising. Notably, JB Hunt has a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). We expect an in-line return from the stock in the next few months.
JBHT Burns Rubber, Hits the Highway to a $300 Price TagExecutives from J.B. Hunt Transport Services NASDAQ: JBHT said freight-market conditions are tightening, but they attributed much of the shift to capacity leaving the market rather than a broad-based demand rebound.
Speaking at a Bank of America transportation conference, Brad Hicks, executive vice president and president of Dedicated Contract Services, said the company has seen “strength” begin in the fourth quarter and persist into the current year, with spot-market pricing changes beginning to move into contract freight. However, Hicks said demand has remained largely steady.
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AI Broke the Trucks: 3 Transports to Buy After the AI Panic“We’re not really seeing any demand lift,” Hicks said. “Now, I wouldn’t suggest that we’ve seen a fall in demand. I think it’s been pretty steady.”
Josh Phelan, senior vice president of truckload operations, said the “capacity tightness is real,” adding that supply-side changes that began in the fourth quarter continued into the first quarter rather than easing seasonally.
Regulatory enforcement cited as a driver of capacity exits Is Landstar the Next Big Winner in Transportation Stocks?Hicks pointed to several regulatory and enforcement-related factors that he said are contributing to capacity leaving the trucking market. These included state-by-state actions affecting non-domiciled drivers, enforcement of English language proficiency rules, enforcement against cabotage involving Mexican and Canadian-based carriers running domestic freight, and pressure on driver training schools and electronic logging device providers.
“There’s not new laws, it’s really more around the enforcement,” Hicks said. He described the process as a “slower drip” rather than a sudden removal of capacity.
Phelan said the supply correction appears to be “on solid footing” and is making its way into customer markets, though he said the major unknown remains demand. He said demand appears “marginally better,” but supply is the main driver of rates.
Andrew Hall from investor relations said food demand remains good, industrial demand “feels okay,” and purchasing managers’ index data has improved for four months. However, he said J.B. Hunt would not characterize the overall demand environment as robust. He also said housing, a key potential beneficiary for truckload demand, has not shown enough movement to create enthusiasm.
Rates expected to rise, with timing varying by business J.B. Hunt executives said the rate environment has improved. Phelan said the company is seeing bid activity outside the normal cycle and that “the ability to raise rates exists again for the first time in 3 or 4 years.”
Hicks said truckload and brokerage market rates could be “at or north of 20%” over a two-year stack through this cycle and into next year’s bid cycle. Phelan said double-digit increases could be achieved in the back half of bid season, though those would not represent a full calendar-year rate increase.
For Dedicated Contract Services, Hicks said annual rate movement is typically governed by contract terms and generally falls in the 2% to 4% range. He said he would expect roughly 3% to 3.5% as contracts adjust, though certain cost pressures, including driver wages, could require separate customer conversations.
Hicks said driver markets have begun tightening in certain regions, including Texas and parts of the Rust Belt such as Ohio, Indiana and Michigan. He said J.B. Hunt has reintroduced some sign-on bonuses after two years without them, although Hall said those bonuses are limited to a handful of cities and are “small dollars” compared with past extremes.
Dedicated pipeline at record levels In Dedicated Contract Services, Hicks said J.B. Hunt’s sales target remains 800 to 1,000 net tractor additions. While the fleet was flat in the first quarter due to downsizing at some accounts and a couple of losses, Hicks said the pipeline is at record levels.
He said J.B. Hunt added 40 new names to its dedicated portfolio last year, which he described as an important entry point for future growth. Hicks said the company remains disciplined about the kind of dedicated business it accepts and is not seeking to build “capacity fleets” that could quickly shift back to one-way freight when market conditions change.
Hicks also highlighted the company’s focus on improving profitability and lowering its cost to serve. He said J.B. Hunt has increased its run-rate savings to $130 million from the $100 million run rate discussed in the fourth quarter.
“We do feel like we have to continue to repair our margins,” Hicks said.
Intermodal growth tied to service, fuel and truckload comparisons On intermodal, executives said revenue per load has been affected largely by mix, with faster growth in the Eastern network than in Transcontinental lanes. Hall said Eastern network growth involves shorter lengths of haul, which lowers revenue per load.
Hicks said J.B. Hunt has taken rate on headhaul lanes but has had to give rate on backhaul lanes, muting the overall pricing effect. He said intermodal may not see a meaningful opportunity to move rates until the next bid cycle, unlike truckload and brokerage, where more frequent bid opportunities exist.
Executives said the Eastern network is benefiting from strong rail service and remains more directly competitive with truckload. Hall said intermodal historically offers a 10% to 15% discount to truckload in the East, and with current fuel levels, that discount is pushing 20% to 25%.
Hicks said that if shippers are facing higher brokerage rates, higher truckload rates and elevated diesel prices, they should be looking to convert more freight to intermodal. He said J.B. Hunt has invested in capacity and has room to grow before adding more containers.
Technology and brokerage profitability remain priorities Executives also discussed technology initiatives, including automation and artificial intelligence. Hicks said J.B. Hunt is using technology as part of a broader business transformation, with AI helping the company solve problems faster and more efficiently.
Phelan said AI is being used and developed in brokerage for load prioritization, carrier matching, and track-and-trace functions. In the asset and drop-trailer business, he said AI could help improve demand forecasting, dwell management, empty-move decisions and trailer turns.
In Integrated Capacity Solutions, Phelan said the brokerage unit saw 10% volume growth in the first quarter, but gross margin was squeezed by the tighter truckload market. He said the company does not plan for ICS to lose money and expects repricing through bid season and spot opportunities to support gross margin.
Asked about potential rail mergers, Hicks said J.B. Hunt is confident in its leadership position regardless of the outcome, citing its relationships with rail partners and its role in the shipping market. Phelan added that if the objective is to expand the overall intermodal market, that would be positive for J.B. Hunt as the market leader.
Summing up the market backdrop, Hicks said: “Steady as she goes. Rates are going up.”
About J.B. Hunt Transport Services NASDAQ: JBHTJ.B. Hunt Transport Services, Inc is a leading provider of transportation and logistics solutions headquartered in Lowell, Arkansas. The company offers a comprehensive suite of services designed to move freight efficiently across North America, including intermodal, dedicated contract services, full truckload, less-than-truckload (LTL), final mile delivery and specialized transport.
In its intermodal segment, J.B. Hunt leverages a network of rail and truck assets to transport containers and trailers on major U.S.
This instant news alert was generated by narrative science technology and financial data from MarketBeat in order to provide readers with the fastest reporting and unbiased coverage. Please send any questions or comments about this story to [email protected].
Should You Invest $1,000 in J.B. Hunt Transport Services Right Now?Before you consider J.B. Hunt Transport Services, you'll want to hear this.
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Stock to Watch: JB Hunt (JBHT - Free Report) J.B. Hunt Transport Services is a provider of a wide range of transportation, brokerage, and delivery services to a diverse group of customers through the United States, Canada and Mexico. Founded in 1961, JBHT is based in Lowell, AR. J.B. Hunt's fiscal year coincides with the calendar year. As of Dec 31, 2025, JBHT had 31,750 employees, which consisted of 21,554 company drivers, 8,481 office personnel, 1,374 maintenance technicians, and 341 delivery and material assistants.
JBHT is a #3 (Hold) on the Zacks Rank, with a VGM Score of B.
Momentum investors should take note of this Transportation stock. JBHT has a Momentum Style Score of B, and shares are up 2.2% over the past four weeks.
10 analysts revised their earnings estimate higher in the last 60 days for fiscal 2026, while the Zacks Consensus Estimate has increased $0.14 to $7.27 per share. JBHT also boasts an average earnings surprise of +6.3%.
With a solid Zacks Rank and top-tier Momentum and VGM Style Scores, JBHT should be on investors' short list.
