J.B. Hunt Transport Services, Inc. (NASDAQ:JBHT) Shows Signs Of Early Margin Stabilization

Operational updates and analyst target revisions highlight early cost-savings progress while company-level valuation sits above WMDST’s fair-value judgment. Near-term price action should respond to mixed technical signals as fundamentals work through margin pressure.

Recent News

On July 16, 2025 Truist adjusted its price target higher, citing the company’s $100 million cost-savings program and initial signs of margin stabilization within core operations; the firm reiterated a cautious stance despite the target change.

Technical Analysis

Directional indicators show limited trend strength: ADX at 12.58 signals no established directional trend while DI+ decreases (bearish) and DI– registered a peak-and-reversal (bullish), producing conflicting directional pressure that favors range-bound action near current levels.

MACD sits negative at -2.8 but displays a dip-and-reversal, indicating developing bullish momentum; the MACD remains below its signal line (-2.3), so momentum requires further confirmation before producing a sustained breakout toward higher averages.

MRO reads -29.84 (negative), which indicates price sits below the model target and therefore carries upward convergence pressure; the negative MRO suggests the stock carries potential to move higher toward its valuation-implied level absent new adverse catalysts.

RSI at 45.78 with a dip-and-reversal points to building buying interest from neutral territory rather than an overbought condition, supporting a bias for stabilization rather than immediate extension.

Price sits below several key averages: close $134.46 versus the 12-day EMA (decreasing) at $134.98, the 20-day average at $135.42, the 50-day at $142.02 and the 200-day at $150.18, which keeps technical risk skewed to the downside unless intraday momentum pushes price back above the 20-day average. Bollinger bands place the close comfortably above the lower 1x band ($131.71), indicating room for mean-reversion if momentum confirms.

 


Fundamental Analysis

Revenue: Total revenue at $2,928,181,000 shows revenue growth of 0.232% (revenue growth figure 0.00232). Quarterly revenue dynamics show weak sequential contraction (revenue growth QoQ -103.245%), and the supplied year-over-year revenue growth figure reads -144.615% (use the provided value). These figures imply top-line volatility during the period under review.

Profitability: Operating (EBIT) at $197,274,000 produces an operating/EBIT margin of 6.737%. That margin improved QoQ by 10.154% but fell YoY by 4.086%. The operating margin sits below the industry peer mean of 23.165% and well under the peer median of 35.181%, indicating a material margin gap relative to typical peer performance.

Earnings and cash flow: Reported EPS at $1.31 beat the estimate of $1.30 by $0.01, a surprise ratio of 0.769%. Operating cash flow reached $402,053,000 and free cash flow measured $185,574,000, producing a free cash flow yield of 1.325% and a free-cash-to-net-income ratio of 1.443. Those cash metrics show continued cash generation despite margin pressure.

Leverage and liquidity: Total debt at $1,719,360,000 and net debt $1,668,459,000 translate to debt-to-EBITDA of 4.59 and debt-to-equity of 0.47037. Interest coverage at 9.27 offers room to service debt, though the current ratio at 0.873 signals working-capital tightness. Cash and short-term investments total $50,901,000, leaving a cash ratio of 0.026.

Capital allocation and returns: Return on equity registers 3.519% and return on assets 1.559%; both show positive QoQ momentum but sit below many peer benchmarks (industry peer mean ROE 4.675%). Capital expenditures at -$216,479,000 and capex-to-revenue around -7.393% reflect ongoing investment in equipment and operations while the cash conversion ratio reads -11.885%, pointing to working-capital timing effects on cash flow.

Valuation and WMDST view: WMDST values the stock as over-valued. Market multiples show a PE ratio of 110.86 and a price-to-book of 3.832; forward PE sits near 79.54. Those multiples, combined with the margin gap to the industry peer mean and the company’s leverage profile, underpin WMDST’s over-valued determination.

MOST-RECENT QUARTERLY REPORT
REPORT PERIOD ENDING: 2025-06-30
REPORT DATE: 2025-07-15
NEXT REPORT DATE: 2025-10-14
CASH FLOW  Begin Period Cash Flow 43.4 M
 Operating Cash Flow 402.1 M
 Capital Expenditures -216.48 M
 Change In Working Capital 44.2 M
 Dividends Paid -42.63 M
 Cash Flow Delta 7.5 M
 End Period Cash Flow 50.9 M
 
INCOME STATEMENT REVENUE
 Total Revenue 2.9 B
 Forward Revenue 988.9 M
COSTS
 Cost Of Revenue 2.4 B
 Depreciation 177.0 M
 Depreciation and Amortization 177.0 M
 Research and Development
 Total Operating Expenses 2.7 B
PROFITABILITY
 Gross Profit 513.6 M
 EBITDA 374.3 M
 EBIT 197.3 M
 Operating Income 197.3 M
 Interest Income
 Interest Expense 21.3 M
 Net Interest Income -21.29 M
 Income Before Tax 176.0 M
 Tax Provision 47.4 M
 Tax Rate 26.9 %
 Net Income 128.6 M
 Net Income From Continuing Operations 128.6 M
EARNINGS
 EPS Estimate 1.30
 EPS Actual 1.31
 EPS Difference 0.01
 EPS Surprise 0.769 %
 Forward EPS 1.79
 
BALANCE SHEET ASSETS
 Total Assets 8.2 B
 Intangible Assets 220.7 M
 Net Tangible Assets 3.4 B
 Total Current Assets 1.7 B
 Cash and Short-Term Investments 50.9 M
 Cash 50.9 M
 Net Receivables 1.2 B
 Inventory
 Long-Term Investments 583.1 M
LIABILITIES
 Accounts Payable 655.2 M
 Short-Term Debt 699.4 M
 Total Current Liabilities 1.9 B
 Net Debt 1.7 B
 Total Debt 1.7 B
 Total Liabilities 4.6 B
EQUITY
 Total Equity 3.7 B
 Retained Earnings 7.5 B
VALUATION & PER-SHARE METRICS EQUITY & PER-SHARE METRICS
 Book Value Per-Share 37.76
 Shares Outstanding 96.799 M
 Revenue Per-Share 30.25
VALUATION
 Market Capitalization 14.0 B
 Enterprise Value 15.7 B
 Enterprise Multiple 41.888
Enterprise Multiple QoQ -11.454 %
Enterprise Multiple YoY -2.672 %
Enterprise Multiple IPRWA high: 117.168
JBHT: 41.888
mean: 37.188
median: 35.56
low: -30.584
 EV/R 5.354
CAPITAL STRUCTURE
 Asset To Equity 2.255
 Asset To Liability 1.797
 Debt To Capital 0.32
 Debt To Assets 0.209
Debt To Assets QoQ 9.048 %
Debt To Assets YoY 2265.42 %
Debt To Assets IPRWA high: 0.783
JBHT: 0.209
mean: 0.174
low: 0.001
median: 0.001
 Debt To Equity 0.47
Debt To Equity QoQ 15.151 %
Debt To Equity YoY 2483.031 %
Debt To Equity IPRWA high: 2.837
mean: 0.66
JBHT: 0.47
low: 0.001
median: 0.001
PRICE-BASED VALUATION
 Price To Book (P/B) 3.832
Price To Book QoQ -3.822 %
Price To Book YoY -6.91 %
Price To Book IPRWA high: 8.353
median: 6.315
mean: 5.295
JBHT: 3.832
low: 0.126
 Price To Earnings (P/E) 110.859
Price To Earnings QoQ -16.492 %
Price To Earnings YoY -11.06 %
Price To Earnings IPRWA high: 119.028
JBHT: 110.859
mean: 33.172
median: 9.189
low: -53.415
 PE/G Ratio 9.264
 Price To Sales (P/S) 4.784
Price To Sales QoQ -9.289 %
Price To Sales YoY -16.503 %
Price To Sales IPRWA high: 7.153
JBHT: 4.784
median: 3.686
mean: 3.409
low: 0.371
FORWARD MULTIPLES
Forward P/E 79.539
Forward PE/G 6.647
Forward P/S 14.165
EFFICIENCY OPERATIONAL
 Operating Leverage 44.78
ASSET & SALES
 Asset Turnover Ratio 0.355
Asset Turnover Ratio QoQ 0.664 %
Asset Turnover Ratio YoY 2.085 %
Asset Turnover Ratio IPRWA high: 0.784
JBHT: 0.355
mean: 0.195
median: 0.076
low: 0.02
 Receivables Turnover 2.455
Receivables Turnover Ratio QoQ 1.997 %
Receivables Turnover Ratio YoY 5.8 %
Receivables Turnover Ratio IPRWA high: 2.919
JBHT: 2.455
median: 2.058
mean: 1.938
low: 0.633
 Inventory Turnover
Inventory Turnover Ratio QoQ
Inventory Turnover Ratio YoY
Inventory Turnover Ratio IPRWA
 Days Sales Outstanding (DSO) 37.162
CASH CYCLE
 Cash Conversion Cycle Days (CCC)
Cash Conversion Cycle Days QoQ
Cash Conversion Cycle Days YoY
Cash Conversion Cycle Days IPRWA
CAPITAL DEPLOYMENT
 Cash Conversion Ratio -11.885
 CapEx To Revenue -0.074
 CapEx To Depreciation -1.223
 
CAPITAL, LIQUIDITY & COVERAGE CAPITAL STRUCTURE
 Total Capital 4.7 B
 Net Invested Capital 5.4 B
 Invested Capital 5.4 B
 Net Tangible Assets 3.4 B
 Net Working Capital -246.37 M
LIQUIDITY
 Cash Ratio 0.026
 Current Ratio 0.873
Current Ratio QoQ -2.098 %
Current Ratio YoY -27.893 %
Current Ratio IPRWA high: 2.152
median: 1.313
mean: 1.273
JBHT: 0.873
low: 0.018
 Quick Ratio
Quick Ratio QoQ
Quick Ratio YoY
Quick Ratio IPRWA
COVERAGE & LEVERAGE
 Debt To EBITDA 4.594
 Cost Of Debt 0.943 %
 Interest Coverage Ratio 9.268
Interest Coverage Ratio QoQ -3.536 %
Interest Coverage Ratio YoY -8.998 %
Interest Coverage Ratio IPRWA high: 44.954
mean: 13.603
JBHT: 9.268
median: 7.983
low: -0.25
 Operating Cash Flow Ratio 0.176
TIMING / LIQUIDITY
 Days Payables Outstanding (DPO) 24.309
DIVIDENDS
 Dividend Coverage Ratio 3.017
 Dividend Payout Ratio 0.331
 Dividend Rate 0.44
 Dividend Yield 0.003
PERFORMANCE GROWTH
 Asset Growth Rate -0.176 %
 Revenue Growth 0.232 %
Revenue Growth QoQ -103.245 %
Revenue Growth YoY -144.615 %
Revenue Growth IPRWA high: 19.971 %
median: 19.971 %
mean: 11.194 %
JBHT: 0.232 %
low: -1.508 %
 Earnings Growth 11.966 %
Earnings Growth QoQ -150.856 %
Earnings Growth YoY 45.98 %
Earnings Growth IPRWA high: 119.608 %
JBHT: 11.966 %
mean: 6.269 %
median: -3.788 %
low: -21.429 %
MARGINS
 Gross Margin 17.541 %
Gross Margin QoQ 4.791 %
Gross Margin YoY 2.196 %
Gross Margin IPRWA high: 24.885 %
mean: 18.165 %
median: 17.813 %
JBHT: 17.541 %
low: 0.618 %
 EBIT Margin 6.737 %
EBIT Margin QoQ 10.154 %
EBIT Margin YoY -4.086 %
EBIT Margin IPRWA high: 35.181 %
median: 35.181 %
mean: 23.165 %
JBHT: 6.737 %
low: -0.141 %
 Return On Sales (ROS) 6.737 %
Return On Sales QoQ 10.154 %
Return On Sales YoY -4.086 %
Return On Sales IPRWA high: 20.411 %
mean: 9.204 %
median: 8.586 %
JBHT: 6.737 %
low: 0.629 %
CASH FLOW
 Free Cash Flow (FCF) 185.6 M
 Free Cash Flow Yield 1.325 %
Free Cash Flow Yield QoQ 28.891 %
Free Cash Flow Yield YoY 126.496 %
Free Cash Flow Yield IPRWA high: 4.61 %
JBHT: 1.325 %
median: 0.343 %
mean: -0.06 %
low: -8.76 %
 Free Cash Growth 17.17 %
Free Cash Growth QoQ -75.355 %
Free Cash Growth YoY -127.403 %
Free Cash Growth IPRWA high: 128.824 %
JBHT: 17.17 %
mean: -83.559 %
median: -138.253 %
low: -294.67 %
 Free Cash To Net Income 1.443
 Cash Flow Margin 11.637 %
 Cash Flow To Earnings 2.649
VALUE & RETURNS
 Economic Value Added 0.04
 Return On Assets (ROA) 1.559 %
Return On Assets QoQ 9.711 %
Return On Assets YoY -3.348 %
Return On Assets IPRWA high: 4.26 %
median: 2.928 %
mean: 2.462 %
JBHT: 1.559 %
low: -0.899 %
 Return On Capital Employed (ROCE) 3.127 %
 Return On Equity (ROE) 0.035
Return On Equity QoQ 15.567 %
Return On Equity YoY 5.581 %
Return On Equity IPRWA high: 0.085
mean: 0.047
JBHT: 0.035
median: 0.032
low: -0.088
 DuPont ROE 3.42 %
 Return On Invested Capital (ROIC) 2.683 %
Return On Invested Capital QoQ 11.282 %
Return On Invested Capital YoY -99.631 %
Return On Invested Capital IPRWA high: 8.045 %
mean: 3.056 %
JBHT: 2.683 %
median: 2.562 %
low: -0.61 %

Six-Week Outlook

Swing traders should expect choppy, range-bound action with a slight upside bias if momentum indicators continue their dip-and-reversal behavior. Technical weakness from price below the 20/50/200-day averages and ADX below 20 suggests limited follow-through; however, negative MRO and improving MACD momentum create potential for mean-reversion rallies toward the short-term averages if buying volume rises. Monitor confirmation of MACD crossing above its signal and a move back above the 20-day average for clearer short-term directional conviction.

About J.B. Hunt Transport Services, Inc.

J.B. Hunt Transport Services, Inc. (NASDAQ:JBHT) develops comprehensive transportation and logistics solutions across the United States. Headquartered in Lowell, Arkansas, the company segments its operations into five key areas to address diverse shipping requirements. The Intermodal (JBI) segment efficiently manages freight using a vast array of company-owned and managed equipment. Dedicated Contract Services (DCS) crafts tailored supply chain solutions, optimizing client transportation networks with a significant fleet of trucks and trailers. Integrated Capacity Solutions (ICS) offers a robust freight brokerage service, ensuring seamless logistics management across various modes of transportation. Final Mile Services (FMS) delivers goods directly to consumers, providing timely and dependable service with a dedicated fleet. The Truckload (JBT) segment handles dry-van freight services, expertly navigating routes to transport a wide range of goods, from consumer products to industrial materials. Since its inception in 1961, J.B. Hunt has consistently advanced its logistics capabilities, establishing itself as a reliable partner in the transportation industry. The company remains committed to efficiency and customer satisfaction, continually connecting businesses and consumers nationwide.



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