J.B. Hunt Transport Services, Inc. $JBHT Shares Acquired by American Century Companies Inc.

Key Points

• American Century Companies Inc. increased its stake in J.B. Hunt Transport Services by 21.8%, holding a total of 168,524 shares valued at approximately $24.93 million as of the latest SEC filing.
• Institutional investors collectively own 74.95% of J.B. Hunt's stock, indicating strong confidence in the company from major financial entities.
• Several financial analysts have raised target prices for J.B. Hunt, with an average target of $164.90, reflecting a positive outlook for the company's future performance.

American Century Companies Inc. grew its holdings in J.B. Hunt Transport Services, Inc. (NASDAQ:JBHT - Free Report) by 21.8% in the first quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The fund owned 168,524 shares of the transportation company's stock after buying an additional 30,151 shares during the period. American Century Companies Inc. owned 0.17% of J.B. Hunt Transport Services worth $24,933,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission.

Other hedge funds have also modified their holdings of the company. Raymond James Financial Inc. acquired a new stake in J.B. Hunt Transport Services during the fourth quarter worth about $6,030,000. First Trust Advisors LP increased its position in J.B. Hunt Transport Services by 0.4% during the fourth quarter. First Trust Advisors LP now owns 169,633 shares of the transportation company's stock worth $28,949,000 after purchasing an additional 742 shares during the last quarter. MetLife Investment Management LLC increased its position in J.B. Hunt Transport Services by 0.6% during the fourth quarter. MetLife Investment Management LLC now owns 21,105 shares of the transportation company's stock worth $3,602,000 after purchasing an additional 133 shares during the last quarter. Kovitz Investment Group Partners LLC acquired a new stake in J.B. Hunt Transport Services during the fourth quarter worth about $288,000. Finally, Coldstream Capital Management Inc. increased its position in J.B. Hunt Transport Services by 31.5% during the fourth quarter. Coldstream Capital Management Inc. now owns 1,692 shares of the transportation company's stock worth $289,000 after purchasing an additional 405 shares during the last quarter. 74.95% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Insider Buying and Selling

In other J.B. Hunt Transport Services news, EVP Eric Mcgee bought 1,148 shares of the company's stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, August 4th. The stock was purchased at an average price of $140.76 per share, with a total value of $161,592.48. Following the transaction, the executive vice president owned 7,397 shares in the company, valued at $1,041,201.72. This trade represents a 18.37% increase in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available at the SEC website. Also, EVP David Keefauver sold 989 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, July 23rd. The shares were sold at an average price of $151.97, for a total transaction of $150,298.33. Following the completion of the sale, the executive vice president directly owned 946 shares of the company's stock, valued at $143,763.62. This trade represents a 51.11% decrease in their position. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. 2.30% of the stock is currently owned by corporate insiders.

J.B. Hunt Transport Services Trading Down 1.6%

NASDAQ:JBHT traded down $2.32 on Thursday, reaching $143.47. The stock had a trading volume of 277,558 shares, compared to its average volume of 1,126,167. J.B. Hunt Transport Services, Inc. has a 12-month low of $122.79 and a 12-month high of $200.40. The firm's fifty day moving average is $146.36 and its two-hundred day moving average is $145.69. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.28, a current ratio of 0.87 and a quick ratio of 0.87. The company has a market cap of $13.89 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 26.09, a P/E/G ratio of 2.22 and a beta of 1.29.

J.B. Hunt Transport Services (NASDAQ:JBHT - Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, July 15th. The transportation company reported $1.31 EPS for the quarter, missing analysts' consensus estimates of $1.34 by ($0.03). J.B. Hunt Transport Services had a net margin of 4.59% and a return on equity of 14.26%. The company had revenue of $2.93 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $2.93 billion. During the same period in the prior year, the company earned $1.32 EPS. The company's revenue was up .0% compared to the same quarter last year. Equities analysts expect that J.B. Hunt Transport Services, Inc. will post 6.37 EPS for the current fiscal year.

J.B. Hunt Transport Services Dividend Announcement

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, August 22nd. Investors of record on Friday, August 8th were given a dividend of $0.44 per share. This represents a $1.76 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 1.2%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Friday, August 8th. J.B. Hunt Transport Services's dividend payout ratio is 32.00%.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

A number of equities research analysts have weighed in on JBHT shares. UBS Group reiterated a "buy" rating on shares of J.B. Hunt Transport Services in a research report on Tuesday, July 8th. Barclays lifted their price target on shares of J.B. Hunt Transport Services from $135.00 to $145.00 and gave the stock an "equal weight" rating in a research note on Thursday, July 10th. Baird R W upgraded shares of J.B. Hunt Transport Services to a "strong-buy" rating in a research report on Tuesday, July 1st. Robert W. Baird initiated coverage on shares of J.B. Hunt Transport Services in a research report on Tuesday, July 1st. They set an "outperform" rating and a $169.00 price objective for the company. Finally, Morgan Stanley cut their target price on shares of J.B. Hunt Transport Services from $160.00 to $155.00 and set an "equal weight" rating on the stock in a report on Monday, July 7th. One research analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, eleven have issued a Buy rating and ten have issued a Hold rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, J.B. Hunt Transport Services presently has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus price target of $164.90.

J.B. Hunt Transport Services Profile

J.B. Hunt Transport Services, Inc provides surface transportation, delivery, and logistic services in the United States. It operates through five segments: Intermodal (JBI), Dedicated Contract Services (DCS), Integrated Capacity Solutions (ICS), Final Mile Services (FMS), and Truckload (JBT). The JBI segment offers intermodal freight solutions.