Zacks Research Analysts Lower Earnings Estimates for JBHT

Key Points

• Zacks Research cut its J.B. Hunt earnings forecasts, lowering Q4 2026 EPS to $2.05 from $2.19 and maintaining a “Hold” rating. Its FY2027 and FY2028 estimates were also reduced, signaling expectations for softer profitability.
• Analyst sentiment remains generally positive but cautious: J.B. Hunt has a consensus “Moderate Buy” rating and an average price target of $273.76, despite several firms recently lowering their targets.
• J.B. Hunt recently beat quarterly expectations with $1.82 EPS and $3.68 billion in revenue, while revenue rose 20.4% year over year. The company also declared a quarterly dividend of $0.45 per share, yielding approximately 0.8%.

J.B. Hunt Transport Services, Inc. (NASDAQ:JBHT - Free Report) - Investment analysts at Zacks Research dropped their Q4 2026 earnings per share estimates for J.B. Hunt Transport Services in a report released on Thursday, October 29th. Zacks Research analyst Team now expects that the transportation company will post earnings of $2.05 per share for the quarter, down from their previous forecast of $2.19. Zacks Research has a "Hold" rating on the stock. The consensus estimate for J.B. Hunt Transport Services' current full-year earnings is $7.25 per share. Zacks Research also issued estimates for J.B. Hunt Transport Services' Q1 2027 earnings at $1.70 EPS, Q2 2027 earnings at $2.13 EPS, Q4 2027 earnings at $2.75 EPS, FY2027 earnings at $9.34 EPS, Q1 2028 earnings at $1.47 EPS, Q2 2028 earnings at $2.30 EPS, Q3 2028 earnings at $3.31 EPS and FY2028 earnings at $9.78 EPS.

Several other research firms have also weighed in on JBHT. Susquehanna dropped their price objective on shares of J.B. Hunt Transport Services from $345.00 to $305.00 and set a "positive" rating on the stock in a research note on Friday, October 2nd. TD Cowen decreased their target price on shares of J.B. Hunt Transport Services from $297.00 to $283.00 and set a "hold" rating for the company in a research note on Monday, October 5th. Weiss Ratings cut shares of J.B. Hunt Transport Services from a "hold (c+)" rating to a "hold (c)" rating in a report on Monday. William Blair set a $300.00 price target on shares of J.B. Hunt Transport Services in a research note on Friday, October 16th. Finally, Raymond James Financial set a $283.00 price objective on J.B. Hunt Transport Services in a report on Friday, October 16th. One analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, fourteen have issued a Buy rating, ten have issued a Hold rating and one has given a Sell rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the company presently has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average price target of $273.76.

J.B. Hunt Transport Services Price Performance

NASDAQ JBHT opened at $222.06 on Friday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.31, a current ratio of 1.23 and a quick ratio of 1.26. The firm has a market capitalization of $20.70 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 31.19, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.85 and a beta of 1.31. The company has a 50 day simple moving average of $242.98 and a 200-day simple moving average of $245.69. J.B. Hunt Transport Services has a 52-week low of $157.82 and a 52-week high of $299.76.

J.B. Hunt Transport Services (NASDAQ:JBHT - Get Free Report) last issued its earnings results on Thursday, October 15th. The transportation company reported $1.82 earnings per share for the quarter, topping analysts' consensus estimates of $1.81 by $0.01. J.B. Hunt Transport Services had a net margin of 5.07% and a return on equity of 18.72%. The firm had revenue of $3.68 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts' expectations of $3.59 billion. During the same period last year, the firm posted $1.76 earnings per share. The firm's revenue for the quarter was up 20.4% compared to the same quarter last year.

J.B. Hunt Transport Services Announces Dividend

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, November 20th. Stockholders of record on Friday, November 6th will be paid a dividend of $0.45 per share. The ex-dividend date is Friday, November 6th. This represents a $1.80 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 0.8%. J.B. Hunt Transport Services's dividend payout ratio is 25.28%.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently modified their holdings of the business. Gerber Kawasaki Wealth & Investment Management increased its position in J.B. Hunt Transport Services by 7.9% during the third quarter. Gerber Kawasaki Wealth & Investment Management now owns 1,035 shares of the transportation company's stock worth $232,000 after buying an additional 76 shares during the last quarter. Signature Equity Partners LLC raised its holdings in J.B. Hunt Transport Services by 16.7% during the third quarter. Signature Equity Partners LLC now owns 350 shares of the transportation company's stock valued at $78,000 after buying an additional 50 shares in the last quarter. Sumitomo Mitsui Trust Group Inc. raised its holdings in J.B. Hunt Transport Services by 1.9% during the third quarter. Sumitomo Mitsui Trust Group Inc. now owns 173,311 shares of the transportation company's stock valued at $38,830,000 after buying an additional 3,198 shares in the last quarter. Mirae Asset Global Investments Co. Ltd. acquired a new stake in shares of J.B. Hunt Transport Services in the third quarter worth about $4,676,000. Finally, ProShare Advisors LLC lifted its position in shares of J.B. Hunt Transport Services by 49.5% in the third quarter. ProShare Advisors LLC now owns 18,942 shares of the transportation company's stock worth $4,244,000 after buying an additional 6,275 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors own 74.95% of the company's stock.

Key Stories Impacting J.B. Hunt Transport Services

Here are the key news stories impacting J.B. Hunt Transport Services this week:

• Positive Sentiment: Evercore ISI raised its price target for JBHT to $328 from $275, reflecting greater optimism about the company’s longer-term earnings potential. Evercore ISI price target article
• Positive Sentiment: Zacks said JBHT’s 2027 earnings could rise 33.9% as freight demand and pricing improve, suggesting a potential cyclical recovery. However, the report also noted that margin pressure remains a risk. Zacks JBHT growth and valuation article
• Neutral Sentiment: Despite a 17.8% decline over three months, Zacks described the pullback as a possible buying opportunity, citing improving freight demand and pricing. It cautioned that premium valuation and profitability pressure make the decision less clear. Zacks JBHT pullback article
• Negative Sentiment: Zacks Research maintained a Hold rating while cutting multiple forecasts: Q4 2026 EPS to $2.05 from $2.19, FY2027 EPS to $9.34 from $9.68, and FY2028 EPS to $9.78 from $10.40. It also reduced estimates for Q1 2028, Q2 2028, Q3 2028 and Q4 2027, although Q1 and Q2 2027 estimates were increased modestly. These revisions signal softer expected profitability than previously anticipated.
• Negative Sentiment: Rosen Law Firm said it is investigating potential securities claims on behalf of JBHT shareholders. The announcement does not establish wrongdoing, but it adds legal uncertainty and may pressure sentiment. Rosen Law Firm investigation article

About J.B. Hunt Transport Services

J.B. Hunt Transport Services, Inc is a transportation and logistics company headquartered in Lowell, Arkansas. Founded in 1961 by Johnnie Bryan Hunt and his wife, Nellie, the company has grown into a major provider of freight transportation services across North America.

The company's principal operations include intermodal transportation, which combines rail and truck services; dedicated contract services, which provide customized transportation capacity and fleet management for individual customers; and integrated logistics solutions, including freight brokerage and third-party logistics.

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