| Factor | Score | Distribution | Value | Avg | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Valuation | 37 | 38.3x | 17.8x | Bottom tier | |
Growth | 66 | 5.3% | 7.1% | Top tier | |
Quality | 72 | 13.9% | 4.5% | Top tier | |
Safety | 80 | 0.8x | 2.6x | Top tier | |
Capital Return | 60 | 0.66% | 2.12% | Around median | |
Momentum | 89 | 87.2% | 2.9% | Top tier | |
Sentiment | 82 | 17 | 3 | Top tier |
Estimates — analyst targets and a simplified DCF, not investment advice.
Ten ratios that matter, each compared against its sector median and average — so you can see whether a number is rich or cheap relative to peers in the same sector.
J.B. Hunt Transport Services operates through a multimodal transportation network that includes intermodal transportation JBI, dedicated contract services DCS, truckload transportation JBT, brokerage and capacity management solutions ICS, and Final Mile. The company generates revenue from transporting freight, operating dedicated fleets for customers, connecting road freight with rail, and providing third-party transportation capacity, while relying on owned assets and company drivers in important parts of its intermodal network.
In fiscal Q2 2026, total revenue increased 19% year over year, operating income improved 32%, and diluted earnings per share increased 45%. JBI, ICS, and JBT recorded double-digit volume growth, while JBI achieved a quarterly record exceeding 578 thousand loads, up 10%, including 5% growth in transcontinental lanes and 16% in the eastern network.
The improvement in profitability was supported by the removal of more than $135 million in structural costs during the twelve months ended fiscal Q2 2026, alongside volume growth and operating discipline. However, the margin picture was not consistent across segments; JBT revenue increased 35% and loads grew 14%, while the segment’s gross profit dollars declined 12% due to higher purchased transportation rates, and fuel placed approximately 100 basis points of pressure on DCS operating income margin compared with the comparable period.
The analyst consensus rates JBHT shares a “Buy,” with an average price target of $298.33 and a wide range between $200 and $370. The average target is less than 1% away from the 52-week range high of $299.76, while the stock’s annual range extends from $130.12 to $299.76; the wide range of targets indicates significant disagreement over how quickly volume growth and cost reductions will translate into higher margins, particularly amid pressure from purchased transportation and driver wages.
Figures in the text are as of 2026-08-28; the live price is shown at the top of the page.
Revenue increased 19% year over year, operating income improved 32%, and diluted earnings per share increased 45%. JBI, ICS, and JBT recorded double-digit volume growth, alongside the removal of more than $135 million in structural costs within one year. These figures confirm that the improvement in results relied more on volume, productivity, and cost discipline than on a significant pricing contribution in intermodal transportation.
JBI recorded a quarterly record exceeding 578 thousand loads in fiscal Q2 2026, an annual increase of 10%. The eastern network grew 16%, or 31% on a two-year cumulative basis, compared with 5% growth in transcontinental lanes. The company also has thousands of containers available for growth, and the eastern network benefits from converting road freight to rail as truck capacity tightens.
The company’s operating income improved 32%, and management reported achieving its targeted contribution from cost reductions and a nearly equal contribution from volume growth in its path to restoring JBI margins. In contrast, JBT’s gross profit dollars declined 12% despite 35% revenue growth due to the higher cost of purchased transportation. Fuel also pressured DCS operating income margin by approximately 100 basis points compared with the comparable period, making the margin improvement uneven across segments.
Automated analysis for informational purposes only — not investment advice.
Management said the number of bid opportunities, proposals, and reviews reached a record level during the quarter. ICS achieved double-digit rate increases, while the price gap between road transportation and eastern intermodal transportation became wider than the historically sustainable discount of 10% to 15%, including fuel. Management expects to continue pricing discussions during the remainder of fiscal 2026 and the 2027 bid season, but it did not provide guidance for the magnitude of the improvement.
JBT faces higher purchased transportation rates, which led its gross profit to decline 12% in fiscal Q2 2026. A tighter driver market also requires signing bonuses and targeted wage increases, alongside the possibility of higher labor and rail costs. This is compounded by a $90 million revenue headwind in Final Mile and a DCS sales cycle that historically ranges between 12 and 18 months before the opportunity pipeline translates into financial results.
The stock carries a “Buy” consensus with an average target of $298.33, compared with a high target of $370 and a low target of $200. The average target is very close to the 52-week range high of $299.76, while the range low is $130.12. The $170 difference between the highest and lowest targets reflects clear disagreement over how much the company will benefit from JBI growth and cost reductions in the face of driver wage inflation and pressure on JBT margins.
