The Numbers Tell a Split Story
J.B. Hunt Transport Services Inc. (JBHT) reported its fourth-quarter results after Thursday's close, delivering a classic good news, bad news scenario. The transportation giant posted earnings of $1.90 per share, comfortably ahead of the $1.77 analyst consensus. But revenue came in at $3.097 billion, just shy of the $3.099 billion Wall Street was expecting.
That slight revenue miss tells an interesting story about the challenges facing the trucking industry. Total operating revenue slipped 2% compared to the same quarter last year, weighed down by declining revenue per load (excluding fuel surcharges) and a 1% decrease in the average truck count in Dedicated Contract Services.
But it wasn't all downhill. The company saw some bright spots that helped cushion the blow, including a solid 15% jump in volume for its Truckload division (JBT), a 1% productivity gain in Dedicated Contract Services, and improved revenue per load in Integrated Capacity Solutions.
Balance Sheet and Shareholder Returns
J.B. Hunt closed the quarter with $17 million in cash and cash equivalents against $1.47 billion in debt. The company remained active on the buyback front, repurchasing approximately 843,000 shares for around $140 million during the quarter. That leaves roughly $968 million available under its share repurchase authorization as of December 31, 2025.
"We have momentum with our operational excellence that is setting us apart with customers. We achieved a record year in safety for the third consecutive year and remain focused on improving our financial performance to drive long-term value for our Company and our shareholders," said Shelley Simpson, president and CEO.