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JB Hunt Transport Services (JBHT)
NASDAQ:JBHT

JB Hunt (JBHT) AI Stock Analysis

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JBHT

JB Hunt

(NASDAQ:JBHT)

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Neutral 69 (OpenAI - 5.2)
Rating:69Neutral
Price Target:
$225.00
▲(9.72% Upside)
The score is driven by solid financial quality (strong cash flow and a manageable leverage profile) and supportive technical momentum (price above major moving averages with positive MACD). These positives are partially offset by expensive valuation (high P/E with a low yield) and earnings-call risks tied to soft demand, margin pressure, and a meaningful 2026 Final Mile revenue headwind.
Positive Factors
Cash Flow Generation
Strong cash flow generation indicates robust liquidity and financial health, enabling JB Hunt to invest in growth and manage debt effectively.
Cost Management
Effective cost management enhances profitability and operational efficiency, providing resilience against inflationary pressures and market challenges.
Financial Flexibility
The new credit agreement enhances financial flexibility, supporting strategic initiatives like equipment purchases and stock repurchases, strengthening JB Hunt's competitive position.
Negative Factors
Revenue Growth Decline
Declining revenue growth poses a challenge to sustaining long-term profitability and market share, potentially impacting future financial performance.
Soft Demand Environment
A soft demand environment can limit revenue opportunities and pressure margins, challenging JB Hunt's ability to maintain growth and profitability.
Cost Pressures
Rising costs can erode profit margins and strain financial resources, necessitating ongoing efficiency improvements to maintain competitiveness.

JB Hunt (JBHT) vs. SPDR S&P 500 ETF (SPY)

JB Hunt Business Overview & Revenue Model

Company DescriptionJ.B. Hunt Transport Services, Inc. provides surface transportation, delivery, and logistic services in North America. It operates through five segments: Intermodal (JBI), Dedicated Contract Services (DCS), Integrated Capacity Solutions (ICS), Final Mile Services (FMS), and Truckload (JBT). The JBI segment offers intermodal freight solutions. It operates 104,973 pieces of company-owned trailing equipment; owns and maintains its chassis fleet of 85,649 units; and manages a fleet of 5,612 company-owned tractors, 582 independent contractor trucks, and 6,943 company drivers. The DCS segment designs, develops, and executes supply chain solutions that support various transportation networks. As of December 31, 2021, it operated 11,139 company-owned trucks, 544 customer-owned trucks, and 6 contractor trucks. The company also operates 21,069 owned pieces of trailing equipment and 7,753 customer-owned trailers. The ICS segment provides freight brokerage and transportation logistics solutions; flatbed, refrigerated, expedited, and less-than-truckload, as well as dry-van and intermodal solutions; an online multimodal marketplace; and logistics management for customers to outsource the transportation functions. The FMS segment offers delivery services through 1,272 company-owned trucks, 272 customer-owned trucks, and 19 independent contractor trucks; and 1,036 owned pieces of trailing equipment and 185 customer-owned trailers. The JBT segment provides dry-van freight services by utilizing tractors and trailers operating over roads and highways through 734 company-owned tractors and 11,172 company-owned trailers. It also transports or arranges for the transportation of freight, such as general merchandise, specialty consumer items, appliances, forest and paper products, food and beverages, building materials, soaps and cosmetics, automotive parts, agricultural products, electronics, and chemicals. The company was incorporated in 1961 and is headquartered in Lowell, Arkansas.
How the Company Makes MoneyJB Hunt generates revenue primarily through its various service segments. The Intermodal segment involves the transportation of freight using rail and truck, which provides cost-effective and efficient shipping solutions. The Dedicated Contract Services segment focuses on providing customized transportation solutions tailored to specific customer needs, ensuring long-term contracts that contribute to stable revenue streams. The Truckload segment offers standard freight transportation services, while Final Mile Services focus on delivering goods directly to consumers. Key revenue streams include freight charges, logistics management fees, and service contracts. Additionally, partnerships with railroads enhance the intermodal service efficiency, contributing to JB Hunt's earnings through improved capacity utilization and cost savings.

JB Hunt Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)

Any
Any
Revenue by Segment
Revenue by Segment
Shows revenue distribution across various business segments, indicating which areas are growing and contributing most to overall sales.
Chart InsightsJ.B. Hunt's Intermodal segment shows resilience, with recent sequential volume improvements despite a slight year-over-year decline, outperforming market trends by converting highway freight to intermodal. Dedicated Contract Services and Truckload segments face headwinds, reflecting broader soft demand and cost pressures. The Final Mile segment struggles with demand in key markets, but strategic cost-saving initiatives are bolstering overall financial performance, evidenced by improved operating income and earnings per share. The company's focus on operational excellence and cost management positions it well against ongoing market challenges.
Data provided by:The Fly

JB Hunt Earnings Call Summary

Earnings Call Date:Jan 15, 2026
(Q4-2025)
|
% Change Since: |
Next Earnings Date:Apr 20, 2026
Earnings Call Sentiment Positive
The call balanced notable operational and financial strengths against persistent market and segment-level headwinds. Highlights include significant improvement in profitability and EPS, achievement of a >$100M annualized cost-savings run rate, record share repurchases, strong safety and customer retention, and pockets of volume and share gains. Lowlights include modest revenue declines, intermodal and transcontinental volume softness, margin pressure from rising spot truckload rates and a roughly $90M expected final-mile revenue headwind, plus industry/regulatory uncertainty. Overall, the company presented disciplined execution and momentum on cost and capital allocation while acknowledging ongoing market fragility and work remaining to fully repair margins.
Q4-2025 Updates
Positive Updates
Improved Profitability Despite Revenue Pressure
Q4 GAAP revenue down 2% year-over-year, while operating income improved 19% and diluted EPS improved 24% versus prior-year quarter; on a FY2025 GAAP basis revenue declined 1% while operating income increased 4%, reflecting operational execution that offset weaker top-line trends.
Material Cost Savings and Lowering Cost-to-Serve Progress
Executed over $25 million of tracked savings in Q4 and reached a run rate of more than $100 million of annualized cost savings, driven by service efficiencies, network balancing, discretionary spending controls and productivity improvements — management expects continued execution above the initial $100M target over time.
Record Share Repurchases and Capital Discipline
Returned capital via the largest annual share repurchase in company history at $923 million, retiring almost 6.3 million shares; net capital spending for 2025 was $575 million (net of proceeds) and 2026 net CapEx is guided to $600–$800 million, emphasizing replacement with some success-based growth capital.
Strong Safety and Customer Retention
Recorded third consecutive year of record safety performance (DOT preventable accidents per million miles); celebrated a driver reaching 5,000,000 safe miles; company reported its highest customer retention since 2017 — safety and reliability cited as competitive differentiators.
Operational Momentum and Market Share Gains
Management cited strong peak season execution that enabled customers to trust J.B. Hunt with additional freight, with comments that the company gained share in pockets where competitors struggled to meet commitments; Truckload (JBT) achieved a third consecutive quarter of double-digit volume growth.
Dedicated Sales Activity and Pipeline
Sold approximately 385 trucks in Q4 and ~1,205 new trucks for the full year (gross new truck sales); management reports a strong sales pipeline in Dedicated with an addressable market of roughly $90 billion and expects renewed net fleet growth momentum in 2026.
Improved Segment Cost Performance — ICS
Intermodal/ICS operating costs in the quarter were approximately $41 million, the lowest since Q4 2018, reflecting progress on controllable costs and resizing the cost structure in response to market conditions.
Negative Updates
Top-Line Weakness and Volume Pressure
Revenue declined modestly: Q4 GAAP revenue down 2% YoY and FY2025 down 1% YoY; Intermodal volumes in Q4 down 2% YoY (October -1%, November -3%, December flat), with transcontinental volumes down 6% while Eastern loads were up 5%, reflecting challenging freight shifts and uneven demand.
Margin Pressure from Spot Truckload and Pricing Environment
Truckload spot rates moved notably higher in late November/December, pressuring gross margins (particularly in ICS); management noted inflationary cost pressures that were not fully covered by pricing in 2025 and continued work is required on price capture to repair margins.
Final Mile End-Market Softness and Revenue Headwind
Final mile demand remained soft in categories such as furniture, exercise equipment and appliances; company expects losing some legacy appliance-related business in 2026 representing an approximately $90 million revenue headwind that management is working to offset with new business.
Dedicated Fleet Losses Limited Near-Term Profitability Upside
Known fleet losses and some unexpected customer bankruptcies resulted in a year where Dedicated delivered flat operating income versus 2024 despite strong gross truck sales; management expects only modest operating income growth in Dedicated in 2026 with more material improvement likely in 2027 as a wave of truck growth ramps.
Industry and Regulatory Uncertainty
Management described the freight market as 'fragile' with capacity exiting the truckload market, increased regulatory enforcement and potential industry disruption from Class I rail consolidation — these factors create near-term uncertainty for volume and pricing dynamics.
Comparability Items and One-Time Charges in Prior Periods
Prior-year quarter included pretax intangible asset impairments of $16 million; while adjustments show operating income growth was less pronounced (+10% after charges), these comparability factors complicate trend assessment.
Company Guidance
Guidance highlights: management expects 2026 net CapEx of $600–$800 million (largely replacement with some success‑based growth capital), will manage leverage to remain just under ~1.0x trailing‑12‑month EBITDA and maintain an investment‑grade balance sheet (with a $700 million note maturing March 1 covered by the amended credit facility), and will continue to support dividend growth and opportunistic buybacks after 2025’s $923 million of repurchases that retired ~6.3 million shares. They reported lowering‑our‑cost‑to‑serve momentum—> $25 million executed in Q4 and a run rate of >$100 million of annualized savings—and said they’ll keep driving cost, productivity and network balance; Dedicated expects only modest operating‑income growth in 2026 (a material lift requires ~6 months of truck growth), with an annual net sales target of 800–1,000 new trucks (Q4 sold ~385; ~1,205 new trucks booked in 2025), Final Mile faces an anticipated ~$90 million 2026 revenue headwind, and Intermodal saw Q4 volumes down 2% YoY (Oct -1%, Nov -3%, Dec flat; transcontinental -6% Q4, Eastern +5%) while targeting a 10–12% margin band that they say needs roughly 1 point from cost, 1 point from volume, and 1 point from price. For context, FY2025 results included GAAP revenue -1% (Q4 -2% YoY), operating income +4% for the year (+19% in Q4, or +10% ex‑$16M prior charges), diluted EPS +24% in Q4, 2025 net CapEx ~$575 million, and ICS operating costs of about $41 million in Q4 (lowest since Q4‑2018).

JB Hunt Financial Statement Overview

Summary
Solid overall fundamentals supported by strong cash generation (free cash flow growth 31.5% TTM) and a stable balance sheet (debt-to-equity 0.45, ROE 15.2%). The main offset is weakening top-line performance (TTM revenue growth -12.7%) despite stable margins.
Income Statement
65
Positive
JB Hunt's income statement shows a mixed performance. The company has experienced a decline in revenue growth, with a negative growth rate of -12.7% in the TTM period. However, the company maintains stable profitability margins, with a gross profit margin of 15.5% and a net profit margin of 4.8% in the TTM. The EBIT and EBITDA margins are also stable, indicating operational efficiency. Despite the revenue decline, the company has managed to sustain its profit margins, which is a positive sign.
Balance Sheet
70
Positive
The balance sheet of JB Hunt reflects a stable financial position. The debt-to-equity ratio is moderate at 0.45, indicating a balanced approach to leveraging. The return on equity (ROE) is healthy at 15.2%, showcasing effective use of equity to generate profits. The equity ratio stands at 44.1%, suggesting a solid equity base relative to total assets. Overall, the balance sheet indicates financial stability with manageable debt levels and strong equity returns.
Cash Flow
75
Positive
JB Hunt's cash flow statement reveals a strong cash flow position. The free cash flow growth rate is impressive at 31.5% in the TTM, indicating robust cash generation capabilities. The operating cash flow to net income ratio is 0.83, reflecting efficient conversion of earnings into cash. The free cash flow to net income ratio is 0.49, suggesting a good level of free cash flow relative to net income. The company's cash flow metrics highlight strong liquidity and cash management.
BreakdownTTMDec 2024Dec 2023Dec 2022Dec 2021Dec 2020
Income Statement
Total Revenue12.05B12.09B12.83B14.81B12.17B9.64B
Gross Profit1.87B2.06B2.21B2.47B1.87B1.45B
EBITDA1.57B1.60B1.74B1.98B1.60B1.24B
Net Income572.67M570.89M728.29M969.35M760.81M506.04M
Balance Sheet
Total Assets8.11B8.53B8.81B8.00B6.95B6.07B
Cash, Cash Equivalents and Short-Term Investments52.29M46.98M53.34M51.93M355.55M313.30M
Total Debt1.60B1.79B1.93B1.57B1.48B1.44B
Total Liabilities4.54B4.51B4.70B4.34B3.84B3.47B
Stockholders Equity3.57B4.01B4.10B3.67B3.12B2.60B
Cash Flow
Free Cash Flow789.66M617.78M-117.81M236.09M276.33M384.31M
Operating Cash Flow1.61B1.48B1.74B1.78B1.22B1.12B
Investing Cash Flow-677.10M-663.69M-1.69B-1.55B-877.02M-612.96M
Financing Cash Flow-1.00B-825.83M-57.99M-530.43M-304.63M-231.60M

JB Hunt Technical Analysis

Technical Analysis Sentiment
Positive
Last Price205.06
Price Trends
50DMA
192.36
Positive
100DMA
171.14
Positive
200DMA
156.25
Positive
Market Momentum
MACD
3.55
Positive
RSI
56.92
Neutral
STOCH
45.32
Neutral
Evaluating momentum and price trends is crucial in stock analysis to make informed investment decisions. For JBHT, the sentiment is Positive. The current price of 205.06 is above the 20-day moving average (MA) of 204.15, above the 50-day MA of 192.36, and above the 200-day MA of 156.25, indicating a bullish trend. The MACD of 3.55 indicates Positive momentum. The RSI at 56.92 is Neutral, neither overbought nor oversold. The STOCH value of 45.32 is Neutral, not indicating any strong overbought or oversold conditions. Overall, these indicators collectively point to a Positive sentiment for JBHT.

JB Hunt Risk Analysis

JB Hunt disclosed 15 risk factors in its most recent earnings report. JB Hunt reported the most risks in the "Production" category.
Finance & Corporate - Financial and accounting risks. Risks related to the execution of corporate activity and strategy
Latest Risks Added 0 New Risks

JB Hunt Peers Comparison

Overall Rating
UnderperformOutperform
Sector (63)
Financial Indicators
Name
Overall Rating
Market Cap
P/E Ratio
ROE
Dividend Yield
Revenue Growth
EPS Growth
80
Outperform
$21.23B25.7836.47%1.02%12.54%19.59%
73
Outperform
$16.85B14.5313.83%2.98%12.89%3.12%
72
Outperform
$21.31B36.5734.32%1.51%-7.08%71.39%
70
Outperform
$17.44B53.2719.26%-0.30%-11.02%
69
Neutral
$19.32B33.1315.79%0.89%-1.60%4.87%
67
Neutral
$5.21B38.7414.41%2.56%-0.74%-32.79%
63
Neutral
$10.79B15.437.44%2.01%2.89%-14.66%
* Industrials Sector Average
Performance Comparison
Ticker
Company Name
Price
Change
% Change
JBHT
JB Hunt
205.06
33.69
19.66%
CHRW
CH Robinson
184.28
86.00
87.50%
EXPD
Expeditors International
160.07
47.70
42.45%
XPO
XPO
148.23
11.76
8.62%
LSTR
Landstar System
153.51
-9.34
-5.74%
ZTO
ZTO Express
21.97
3.53
19.14%

JB Hunt Corporate Events

Business Operations and StrategyPrivate Placements and Financing
JB Hunt Secures $1.7 Billion Credit Agreement
Positive
Dec 2, 2025

On November 25, 2025, J.B. Hunt Transport Services, Inc. entered into a $1.7 billion Second Amended and Restated Credit Agreement, extending its existing $1.0 billion revolving line of credit for a five-year term with potential extensions. The agreement includes an increased accordion feature and a commitment to fund up to $700 million in term loans, replacing a previous $500 million term loan. This facility will support equipment purchases, stock repurchases, debt refinancing, and working capital, enhancing J.B. Hunt’s financial flexibility and operational capabilities.

The most recent analyst rating on (JBHT) stock is a Buy with a $175.00 price target. To see the full list of analyst forecasts on JB Hunt stock, see the JBHT Stock Forecast page.

Glossary
BuyA stock rated as a "Buy" is expected to perform better than the overall market or a specific benchmark over the near-to-medium term. This rating suggests the stock is likely to deliver higher returns compared to other stocks in the same sector or market index. Note: This is not investment advice; please consult a financial advisor before making investment decisions.
HoldA stock rated as a "Hold" is expected to perform in line with the overall market or a specific benchmark. This rating indicates that the stock is neither particularly compelling nor unfavorable for investment. Note: This is not investment advice; please consult a financial advisor before making investment decisions.
SellA stock rated as a "Sell" is expected to perform worse than the overall market or a specific benchmark over the near-to-medium term. This rating suggests the stock may deliver lower returns compared to other stocks in the same sector or market index. Note: This is not investment advice; please consult a financial advisor before making investment decisions.

Disclaimer

This AI Analyst Stock Report is automatically generated by our AI systems using advanced algorithms and publicly available financial, technical, and market data. While the information provided aims to be accurate and insightful, it is intended for informational purposes only and should not be considered financial advice. Any content created by an AI (Artificial Intelligence) system may contain inaccuracies and/or contain errors. Investing in stocks carries inherent risks, and past performance is not indicative of future results. This report does not account for your personal financial circumstances, objectives, or risk tolerance. Always conduct your own research or consult with a qualified financial advisor before making investment decisions. The analysis and recommendations provided are based on historical and current data and may not fully reflect future market conditions or unexpected developments. Neither the creators of this report nor its affiliated entities guarantee the accuracy, completeness, or reliability of the information presented. Use this report at your own discretion and risk.Date of analysis: Jan 16, 2026