Heavy Duty Trucking Logo
MenuMENU
SearchSEARCH

Earnings Watch: J.B. Hunt Improves Second Quarter Profit by 2%

Trucking and intermodal giant J.B. Hunt Transport Services reported its second quarter profit increased just slightly, falling short of Wall Street expectations.

by Staff
July 18, 2016
Earnings Watch: J.B. Hunt Improves Second Quarter Profit by 2%

 

3 min to read


Trucking and intermodal giant J.B. Hunt Transport Services Inc. (NASDAQ:JBHT) reported on Monday its second quarter profit increased just slightly, falling short of Wall Street expectations.

Net earnings totaled $105 million compared to $103 million a year earlier. Earnings per share were 92 cents versus 88 cents, 5 cents less than a consensus estimate in a poll of analysts from Zacks Investment Research.

Ad Loading...

Total operating revenue for the most recent quarter was $1.62 billion, up 5% from the second quarter 2015, as total operating revenue excluding fuel surcharges increased 9%.

The company attributed the increase in revenue to load growth of 9% in its intermodal business and a 62% jump in its third-party logistics operation, Integrated Capacity Solutions. It also saw a 5% increase in revenue-producing trucks for its dedicated operations and an 11% increase in the average fleet count for its trucking business segment.

Despite the increases, the Arkansas-based operation revised downward its outlook for all of 2016, predicting revenue rising 7% over the previous year, down from its earlier expectation of a 9% to 12% increase. It expects operating income to increase 5%, down from an earlier projection of an 8% to 11% rise.

Ad Loading...

J.B. Hunt’s biggest operation, intermodal, saw second quarter revenue increase 3% to $933 million as operating income fell 11% to $105.6 million. It was affected by a 5% decrease in revenue per load despite the gain in volume growth. The quarter ended with 81,243 units of trailing capacity and 5,244 power units assigned to the dray fleet.

The company’s dedicated segment saw a 4% increase in revenue, totaling $383 million, as operating income jumped 24% to $50.5 million.

The dedicated segment reported it had 132 more revenue-producing trucks compared to the first quarter, and 350 more compared to last year's second quarter. Approximately 87% of these additions represent private fleet conversions versus traditional dedicated capacity fleets, according to the company. Customer retention rates remain above 98%.

The company’s Integrated Capacity Solutions segment saw a 17% increase in revenue, hitting $204 million, as operating income leapt 122% to $10.9 million.

ICS revenue was up 17% compared to the second quarter 2015. Volumes increased 62% while revenue per load decreased 28%, primarily due to freight mix changes driven by customer demand and lower fuel prices compared to second quarter 2015.

Ad Loading...

Lastly, J.B. Hunt’s truck operations had a 1% increase in revenue, totaling $98 million as operating income fell 9% to $8.9 million.

Revenue excluding fuel surcharges increased 6% for the truck division, primarily from an 11% increase in average fleet count. Rate per loaded mile excluding fuel surcharges was down approximately 5%, primarily from customer-driven freight mix changes, including a 5.8% increase in length of haul. Core customer rate increases were up 0.9% compared to the same period in 2015. At the end of the period, the trucking segment operated 2,186 tractors compared to 2,073 a year ago.

More Fleet Management

Illustration of map with GPS markers overlaid with Geotab fleet card and a fuel pump nozzle
Fuel Smarts•by Staff•October 2, 2026

Geotab Links Fleet Card to Vehicle Data

The new card combines fuel discounts with telematics-based purchase controls. Geotab’s analysis also points to potential savings from choosing lower-priced fuel stops.

Read More →
Cyberstop column illustration showing multi factor authorization
Fleet Management•September 29, 2026

How MFA Helps Protect Trucking Fleets

Multi-factor authentication adds protection when passwords are stolen. Here’s how it works and where fleets should start.

Read More →
Three generic semi-trucks break through a fractured wall against a dark blue digital background, symbolizing trucking technology overcoming data silos.
Fleet Management•September 28, 2026

How Better Freight Data Helps Trucking Teams Get Ahead of Disruption

Trucking and logistics teams have plenty of data. The problem is getting the right information in front of the right people soon enough to act. Better-connected data can help teams spot trouble earlier and make smarter decisions before small problems become big ones.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
Photo of man in collared buttoned shirt speaking on stage in front of a backdrop that says Trimble
Fleet Management•by Deborah Lockridge•September 28, 2026

Trimble: Taking Artificial Intelligence in Trucking Beyond Faster Tasks

At Insight 2026, Trimble executives argued that fleets may need to redesign workflows to get more from AI as it introduced new products and enhancements. AI’s value will depend on how fleets combine automation with their people's knowledge.

Read More →
Geotab Whitepaper Data Tells the Story.  Why ELD Dash Cam belong together
Sponsored•September 28, 2026

Build a bulletproof fleet: Uniting ELDs and dash cams for total compliance

An ELD can prove compliance, but it cannot always prove what happened on the road. Discover how uniting accurate ELD data with AI-powered dash cam video can help your fleet strengthen compliance, defend against liability, protect drivers and reduce operational costs.

Read More →
Illustration showing ladders against a blue background with Heavy Duty Trucking Emerging Leaders logo and the words "2026 nominations now open"
Fleet Management•by Staff•September 21, 2026

Nominations Open for HDT Emerging Leaders

Heavy Duty Trucking is looking for accomplished trucking fleet professionals under 40 who are making an impact and helping lead the industry forward.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
Illustration of Penske day cab backed into loading dock with graphic of generic charts and graphs and a penske logo.
Fleet Management•by Deborah Lockridge•September 17, 2026

Why Private Fleets Are Taking More Freight

Private fleets are putting their own trucks on demanding customers and high-cost lanes as companies seek greater control over service, costs, and capacity.

Read More →
A woman holding a tablet with a screen showing rectangles of various colors
Sponsored•September 16, 2026

Color Match Smarter: Tools That Restore & Perform

For fleet managers and collision repair professionals keeping heavy-duty trucks on the road, getting the color right the first time isn't just about appearance — it's about efficiency, turnaround time, and bottom-line results. Discover how today's digital color tools are transforming the repair process from guesswork to precision.

Read More →
Mobile tablet showing Motus screen against highway background with Motus logo
Fleet Management•by Staff•September 15, 2026

FMCSA Pauses Biennial-Update Enforcement Amid Motus Transition

Carriers whose updates were due on or after June 1 have more time, while FMCSA works to stabilize its new registration system and warns of phishing sites impersonating its new carrier registration system, Motus.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
Geotab Whitepaper Cargo Theft Cover
Sponsored•September 14, 2026

2026 Blueprint for Countering Smarter Supply Chain Theft

Cargo theft is no longer just the cost of doing business. It's a multi-billion-dollar criminal enterprise exploiting vulnerabilities across your fleet, drivers, and supply chain.

Read More →