Why J.B. Hunt Stock Is Sinking After Earnings
J.B. Hunt stock is notably lower Friday after the logistics company fell short of fourth-quarter earnings expectations. Here's what you need to know.

J.B. Hunt Transport Services (JBHT) stock slumped out of the gate Friday after the transportation and logistics provider reported lackluster results for its fourth quarter.
In the three months ending December 31, J.B. Hunt's revenue decreased 4.8% year over year to $3.15 billion. Its earnings per share (EPS) were up 4.1% from the year-ago period to $1.53.
"While 2024 was a continuation of the challenging freight environment, I am proud of the work of our team and how we position the company for our future," said J.B. Hunt CEO Shelley Simpson on the company's conference call. "We have been in a period of heavy investment to better prepare ourselves to expand all aspects of our business in the future."

Sign up for Kiplinger’s Free E-Newsletters
Profit and prosper with the best of expert advice on investing, taxes, retirement, personal finance and more - straight to your e-mail.
Profit and prosper with the best of expert advice - straight to your e-mail.
The results were mixed compared with analysts' expectations. Wall Street was anticipating revenue of $3.15 billion and earnings of $1.61 per share, according to CNBC.
"While market dynamics remain uncertain around the timing and magnitude of a potential inflection, our focus in 2025 is to grow and begin to repair our margins," Simpson said. "We will be coming out of the freight recession from a position of strength."
Is J.B. Hunt stock a buy, sell or hold?
J.B. Hunt Transport Services has lagged the broader market over the past year, down nearly 2% on a total return basis (price change plus dividends) vs the S&P 500's 26% gain. But Wall Street thinks there's plenty to like in the industrial stock.
According to S&P Global Market Intelligence, the average analyst target price for JBHT stock is $189.09, representing implied upside of more than 8% to current levels. Additionally, the consensus recommendation is a Buy.
Not everyone is bullish toward the large-cap stock, though. Financial services firm Bernstein, has a Market-Perform rating (equivalent to a Hold) on JBHT and lowered its price target to $180 from $190 following the earnings release.
"We think it makes sense to tread carefully here and remain on the sidelines. We were expecting and got a beat ... and then got beaten down as we were expecting a better start to the year,” says Bernstein analyst David Vernon. "The high rate of earnings compounding in consensus forecasts (and our less aggressive but still high prior forecast), combined with a high valuation, has kept us from recommending the name the last two years."
Related Content
Get Kiplinger Today newsletter — free
Profit and prosper with the best of Kiplinger's advice on investing, taxes, retirement, personal finance and much more. Delivered daily. Enter your email in the box and click Sign Me Up.
Joey Solitro is a freelance financial journalist at Kiplinger with more than a decade of experience. A longtime equity analyst, Joey has covered a range of industries for media outlets including The Motley Fool, Seeking Alpha, Market Realist, and TipRanks. Joey holds a bachelor's degree in business administration.
-
13 Things Medicare Gives You for Free
Medicare beneficiaries often pay monthly premiums, copays, annual deductibles and prescription drug costs. But what you may not know is that some services don’t cost anything at all.
By Kathryn Pomroy Published
-
Trump Buyout Offer Paused by Judge as Deadline Loomed: What Workers Need to Know
Law & Politics The federal deferred resignation program accepted by thousands of workers continues to cause confusion and concern. Now the courts are involved.
By Kelley R. Taylor Published
-
Trump's Sovereign Wealth Fund: What Is It And How Does It Work?
President Trump signed an executive order that puts in motion plans for a U.S. sovereign wealth fund. Here's what a sovereign wealth fund is and how it works.
By Charles Lewis Sizemore, CFA Published
-
Honeywell Stock Is at the Bottom Of the Dow After Split News
Honeywell is the worst Dow Jones stock Thursday as the industrial conglomerate's weak outlook offsets news that it is splitting into three separate companies.
By Joey Solitro Published
-
Roblox Stock Plunges After Bookings, Users Fall Short of Expectations
Roblox stock is down Thursday after the gaming company came up short on key metrics for its fourth quarter. Here's what you need to know.
By Joey Solitro Published
-
Eli Lilly Stock Rises After Profit, Outlook Top Expectations
Eli Lilly stock is higher Thursday after the pharma giant beat fourth-quarter profit expectations and issued strong 2025 guidance. Here's what you need to know.
By Joey Solitro Published
-
Qualcomm Stock Drops After Its Earnings Beat. Here's Why
Qualcomm stock is lower Thursday even after the chipmaker reported strong earnings and gave an encouraging outlook. This is what investors need to know.
By Joey Solitro Published
-
The Best ROI? Investing in Yourself This Year
If personal growth is something you invest in only after taking care of all other priorities, it's time to turn that mindset on its head. Here's how to start.
By Frank J. Legan Published
-
The Four Worst Mistakes to Make When Selling Your Business
From ignoring potential buyers to failing to consider what you'll do once you've stopped working, here are the key mistakes to avoid when selling a business.
By Evan T. Beach, CFP®, AWMA® Published
-
Stock Market Today: Stocks Waver as Big Tech Slumps on Spending Concerns
Markets seesawed amid worries over massive costs for artificial intelligence and mixed economic news.
By Dan Burrows Published