J.B. Hunt Q3 Profit Jumps 12.3%, Beats Analyst Expectations
Share Price Soars as Revenue Holds Steady, Costs Fall
Key Takeaways:
- Companywide cost-cutting measures are having an effect.
- J.B. Hunt's three priorities are operational excellence, scaling into investments and continuing to repair margins to drive stronger financial performance.
- Revenue for the Intermodal unit, the company’s largest division by revenue and operating profit, fell 2% to $1.52 billion.
[Stay on top of transportation news: .]
Profit at jumped 12.3% year over year in the third quarter of 2025 as revenue held steady, comfortably beating analyst expectations and jolting the share price higher Oct. 16.
Lowell, Ark.-based J.B. Hunt posted net income of $170.85 million in Q3 ($1.76 per diluted share), compared with $152.07 million ($1.49) in the year-ago period, as companywide cost-cutting initiatives bore fruit, the company said in earnings released after the market closed Oct. 15.
The carrier reported revenue for the most recent quarter of $3.05 billion, compared with $3.07 billion in the year-ago period.
Consensus analyst expectations saw J.B. Hunt posting a revenue total of $3.02 billion, or a 1.44% year-over-year decline, according to Zacks Equity Research. Consensus analyst expectations were for EPS of $1.47, according to Deutsche Bank.
After the release of the better-than-expected results in the middle of a freight recession, J.B. Hunt’s share price jumped more than 10% in after-hours action Oct. 15. When the market officially opened Oct. 16, the stock was up more than 15%.
“Throughout the year, our focus has been on three clear priorities: operational excellence, scaling into our investments and continuing to repair our margins to drive stronger financial performance,” CEO Shelley Simpson told analysts on the company’s earnings call.
“We are executing these priorities with discipline and determination, guided by a strategy designed to strengthen our competitive position and unlock long-term value for our shareholders,” she said. “Even as overall freight demand softened during the quarter, our unwavering commitment to service enabled our intermodal and highway businesses to capture additional volume and outperform the market.”
The company’s largest division by revenue and operating profit, the intermodal unit, saw revenue fall 2% to $1.52 billion in Q3 from $1.56 billion in the year-ago period, but beat consensus expectations of $1.51 billion, according to Zacks.
However, the division’s Q3 operating income jumped 12% to $125 million from $111.79 million.
Intermodal volume decreased 1% to 539,907 from 547,988 in the same period in 2024. Transcontinental network loads decreased 6%, while Eastern network loads increased 6% compared with Q3 2024.
“We believe our volumes held up better relative to the broader truckload market decline, primarily because more customers are converting freight to intermodal from the highway as they see our commitment to operational excellence differentiating J. B. Hunt Intermodal from the competition,” Executive Vice President of Sales and Marketing Spencer Fraser told analysts.
Christmas Not Canceled
Fraser also pointed analysts to a positive final quarter of 2025 for the division.
“T strong container volume into the West Coast in July generated headlines regarding a potential pull forward,” Fraser said during the Oct. 15 call. “Ocean peak season came early.
“That said, it is important to disconnect the timing of peak season on the water from peak season of the inland supply chain. Our customers are still expecting a peak season, although the magnitude and duration of peak volumes will vary,” he added. “Our conversations indicate there is a large amount of freight that was imported early that hasn’t moved through the inland supply chain yet. No one has canceled Christmas.”
Revenue by Segment
• Dedicated Contract Services: Revenue rose 2% to $864.11 million in Q3 from $845.97 million and operating income increased 9% to $104.3 million from $95.51 million.
The unit’s improved results were driven by a 3% increase in revenue per truck per week to $5,209 from $5,073.
• Truckload: Revenue climbed 10% to $189.7 million from $173.2 million a year earlier as loads rose. The total topped consensus analyst expectations of $175 million by 8.4%, according to Zacks.
The segment’s loads increased 14% to 115,269 in the most recent quarter from 100,896 in Q3 2024. JBT’s gross revenue excluding fuel surcharge revenue increased 10% as the rise in load volume was partially offset by a 4% decline in gross revenue per load.
• Integrated Capacity Solutions: Revenue nudged lower to $276.34 million from $278.18 million in the year-ago period, but its operating loss narrowed to $750,000 from $3.26 million in Q3 2024 on the back of lower personnel-related expenses, reduced technology costs and insurance claims expense.
J.B. Hunt ranks No. 3 on the Transport Topics Top 100 list of the largest for-hire carriers in North America. The company is the No.1-ranked intermodal carrier by size and the No. 2 ranked player in the truckload/dedicated segment of the freight market. J.B. Hunt ranks No. 4 on the TT logistics Top 100 and No. 2 among freight brokerages.
Want more news? Listen to today's daily briefing below or go here for more info:
