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J.B. Hunt Transport Services (JBHT - Free Report) reported better-than-expected fourth-quarter 2020 results. Quarterly earnings of $1.44 per share beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $1.27. The bottom line also increased 6.7% year over year due to higher revenues across most segments.
Total operating revenues of $2,737.7 million surpassed the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $2,514.3 million and also climbed 11.7% year over year. Total operating revenues, excluding fuel surcharge revenues, grew approximately 18% year over year. The top line was driven by robust performances of the Integrated Capacity Solutions (“ICS”) and Truck (“JBT”) segments.
Quarterly operating income (on a reported basis) inched up 1%. Meanwhile operating expenses rose 12.7%.
J.B. Hunt Transport Services, Inc. Price, Consensus and EPS Surprise
The Intermodal (“JBI”) division generated quarterly revenues of $1.25 billion, down 1% year over year. Despite inching up 1%, volumes were heavily constrained by rail congestion and service issues. Operating income declined 16% year over year to $110.8 million.
Revenues at the Dedicated Contract Services (“DCS”) segment rose 3% year over year to $568 million. Moreover, operating income augmented 4% year over year to $77.6 million owing to increased productivity of assets, reduced driver turnover, and lower travel and entertainment expenses.
ICS revenues surged 56% year over year to $587 million with 39% increase in revenue per load. Revenue per load benefited from favorable freight mix changes and higher spot and contractual rates. The segment’s operating income was $5.6 million, compared with an operating loss of $11.8 million in the year-ago period.
Final Mile Services (“FMS”) revenues jumped 30% to $213 million since stop count within the segment ascended 42% during the December quarter. The segment’s operating income climbed 12% year over year, driven primarily by increase in revenues.
JBT revenues were up 50% to $140 million, primarily due to increase in load count and revenue per load, excluding fuel surcharge revenues. At the end of the fourth quarter, total tractors and trailers were 1,769 and 8,567 respectively, compared with the respective year-ago figures of 1,831 and 6,975. Meanwhile, operating income soared 32% to $8.4 million.
Liquidity & Buyback
This Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) company exited the fourth quarter with cash and cash equivalents of $313.3 million compared with $35 million at the end of 2019. Long-term debt was $1.31 billion compared with $1.29 billion at 2019-end. Net capital expenditures in 2020 were $600.77 million compared with $688.2 million in 2019.
During the reported quarter, J.B. Hunt repurchased approximately 144,000 shares for around $17 million. The company had approximately $503 million remaining under its share repurchase authorization at the end of the fourth quarter.
Investors interested in the Zacks Transportation - Truck industry are keenly awaiting fourth-quarter 2020 earnings reports from key players like Old Dominion Freight Line (ODFL - Free Report) , Landstar System (LSTR - Free Report) and Werner Enterprises (WERN - Free Report) .
While Landstar will release earnings results on Jan 27, Old Dominion and Werner will announce the same on Feb 4. Each of the stocks carries a Zacks Rank #3.
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J.B. Hunt (JBHT) Q4 Earnings Beat, Rise Y/Y on Higher Revenues
J.B. Hunt Transport Services (JBHT - Free Report) reported better-than-expected fourth-quarter 2020 results. Quarterly earnings of $1.44 per share beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $1.27. The bottom line also increased 6.7% year over year due to higher revenues across most segments.
Total operating revenues of $2,737.7 million surpassed the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $2,514.3 million and also climbed 11.7% year over year. Total operating revenues, excluding fuel surcharge revenues, grew approximately 18% year over year. The top line was driven by robust performances of the Integrated Capacity Solutions (“ICS”) and Truck (“JBT”) segments.
Quarterly operating income (on a reported basis) inched up 1%. Meanwhile operating expenses rose 12.7%.
J.B. Hunt Transport Services, Inc. Price, Consensus and EPS Surprise
J.B. Hunt Transport Services, Inc. price-consensus-eps-surprise-chart | J.B. Hunt Transport Services, Inc. Quote
Segmental Highlights
The Intermodal (“JBI”) division generated quarterly revenues of $1.25 billion, down 1% year over year. Despite inching up 1%, volumes were heavily constrained by rail congestion and service issues. Operating income declined 16% year over year to $110.8 million.
Revenues at the Dedicated Contract Services (“DCS”) segment rose 3% year over year to $568 million. Moreover, operating income augmented 4% year over year to $77.6 million owing to increased productivity of assets, reduced driver turnover, and lower travel and entertainment expenses.
ICS revenues surged 56% year over year to $587 million with 39% increase in revenue per load. Revenue per load benefited from favorable freight mix changes and higher spot and contractual rates. The segment’s operating income was $5.6 million, compared with an operating loss of $11.8 million in the year-ago period.
Final Mile Services (“FMS”) revenues jumped 30% to $213 million since stop count within the segment ascended 42% during the December quarter. The segment’s operating income climbed 12% year over year, driven primarily by increase in revenues.
JBT revenues were up 50% to $140 million, primarily due to increase in load count and revenue per load, excluding fuel surcharge revenues. At the end of the fourth quarter, total tractors and trailers were 1,769 and 8,567 respectively, compared with the respective year-ago figures of 1,831 and 6,975. Meanwhile, operating income soared 32% to $8.4 million.
Liquidity & Buyback
This Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) company exited the fourth quarter with cash and cash equivalents of $313.3 million compared with $35 million at the end of 2019. Long-term debt was $1.31 billion compared with $1.29 billion at 2019-end. Net capital expenditures in 2020 were $600.77 million compared with $688.2 million in 2019.
During the reported quarter, J.B. Hunt repurchased approximately 144,000 shares for around $17 million. The company had approximately $503 million remaining under its share repurchase authorization at the end of the fourth quarter.
You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.
Upcoming Releases
Investors interested in the Zacks Transportation - Truck industry are keenly awaiting fourth-quarter 2020 earnings reports from key players like Old Dominion Freight Line (ODFL - Free Report) , Landstar System (LSTR - Free Report) and Werner Enterprises (WERN - Free Report) .
While Landstar will release earnings results on Jan 27, Old Dominion and Werner will announce the same on Feb 4. Each of the stocks carries a Zacks Rank #3.
Breakout Biotech Stocks with Triple-Digit Profit Potential
The biotech sector is projected to surge beyond $775 billion by 2024 as scientists develop treatments for thousands of diseases. They’re also finding ways to edit the human genome to literally erase our vulnerability to these diseases.
Zacks has just released Century of Biology: 7 Biotech Stocks to Buy Right Now to help investors profit from 7 stocks poised for outperformance. Our recent biotech recommendations have produced gains of +50%, +83% and +164% in as little as 2 months. The stocks in this report could perform even better.
See these 7 breakthrough stocks now>>