First Look: J.B. Hunt Q2 earnings

Multimodal transportation provider posts inline quarter

J.B. Hunt will host a call at 5 p.m. EDT on Tuesday to discuss second-quarter results. (Photo: Jim Allen/FreightWaves)
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Key Takeaways:

  • J.B. Hunt's Q2 earnings per share ($1.31) and revenue ($2.93 billion) met analyst expectations but were flat or slightly down compared to the previous year.
  • Intermodal revenue increased slightly due to higher load volume, but revenue per load decreased.
  • Dedicated contract services revenue remained relatively stable, while the brokerage segment showed a reduced operating loss.
  • Overall, J.B. Hunt's results reflect a market that is yet to fully recover.
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J.B. Hunt Transport Services’ second-quarter result was largely in line with analysts’ expectations.

The Lowell, Arkansas-based multimodal transportation provider reported earnings per share of $1.31 for the period after the market closed on Tuesday, which was 1 cent below the year-ago result.

Consolidated revenue of $2.93 billion was in line with consensus and flat year over year. Operating income dipped 4% y/y to $197 million.

Click for full report – “J.B. Hunt still waiting for market to turn”

Table: J.B. Hunt’s key performance indicators – Consolidated

The company’s flagship intermodal unit reported a 2% y/y increase in revenue to $1.44 billion as a 6% increase in loads was partially offset by a 3% decline in revenue per load. A mix shift to the Eastern network weighed on the yield metric given the shorter length of haul. The unit’s operating ratio (inverse of operating margin) deteriorated 40 basis points y/y to 93.3%.

Dedicated revenue dipped less than 1% y/y to $847 million as a 3% decline in average trucks in service was largely offset by a 3% increase in revenue per truck per week (up 5% excluding fuel surcharges). The unit’s OR was 30 bps worse y/y at 88.9%.

A $3.6 million operating loss in the company’s brokerage segment widened slightly from the first quarter, but was nearly $10 million lower y/y. Brokered loads declined 9% y/y but revenue per load was up 6%.

J.B. Hunt (NASDAQ: JBHT) will host a call at 5 p.m. EDT on Tuesday to discuss second-quarter results.

Click for full report – “J.B. Hunt still waiting for market to turn”

Table: J.B. Hunt’s key performance indicators – all segments

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Todd Maiden

Based in Richmond, VA, Todd is the finance editor at FreightWaves. Prior to joining FreightWaves, he covered the TLs, LTLs, railroads and brokers for RBC Capital Markets and BB&T Capital Markets. Todd began his career in banking and finance before moving over to transportation equity research where he provided stock recommendations for publicly traded transportation companies.