Fact based stock research
J.B. Hunt Transport Services (NasdaqGS:JBHT)

US4456581077

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Growth - shows a company's growth potential. Green is "high growth" expected; red is "tough times ahead".

Safety - relates to the amount of debt a company has. Green is low debt level; red is high debt level.

Combined Financial - this isn't an average of the first three ranks but rather a consolidated view across several financial indicators. Green = good; red = tread carefully.

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J.B. Hunt Transport Services stock research in summary

jbhunt.com

ANALYSIS: With an Obermatt Combined Rank of 35 (worse than 65% compared with investment alternatives), J.B. Hunt Transport Services (Trucking, USA) shares have somewhat below-average financial characteristics compared with similar stocks. Shares of J.B. Hunt Transport Services are low in value (priced high) with a consolidated Value Rank of 20 (worse than 80% of alternatives) and show below-average growth (Growth Rank of 38) but are safely financed (Safety Rank of 67), which means low debt burdens. ...read more

RECOMMENDATION: A Combined Rank of 35, is a hold recommendation based on J.B. Hunt Transport Services's financial characteristics. As the company J.B. Hunt Transport Services's critical financial metrics exhibit below-average performance, such as low value (Obermatt Value Rank of 20) and low growth (Obermatt Growth Rank of 38), it is a somewhat questionable stock investment, where the risk of paying too much for the shares is significant, unless the company has an exceptionally bright future. In this case, good financing practices (Obermatt Safety Rank of 67) are a positive sign, because it may allow the company to weather challenging times until the hoped-for cash flows materialize. This may be true for high-tech or biotechnology companies with enough cash to sustain prolonged business development. If they own properties that only provide cash flows in the future, the stock may look excessively expensive and unattractive today. In such cases, the Obermatt Method has limited value, as it is based on facts we can observe today. If the facts lie all in the future, stock investing becomes guesswork, and this should only be a driver in a limited number of investments that account for a small fraction of a safe portfolio. Obermatt Premium subscribers can further check the stock’s Sentiment Ranks, which also flow into the Obermatt 360° View for investors. ...read more

Latest Obermatt Ranks


360° View^new
Sentiment Rank^new
Value Rank	20
Growth Rank	38
Safety Rank	67
Combined Rank	35

Country	USA
Industry	Trucking
Index	Low Emissions, NASDAQ, S&P 500
Size class	XX-Large

19-Dec-2024. Stock data may be delayed. Log in or sign up to get the most recent research.

Further information

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Review the performance ranks of the individual metrics that form each investment strategy.

Research History: J.B. Hunt Transport Services

RESEARCH HISTORY	2021	2022	2023	2024
VALUE
VALUE	23	13	14	20
GROWTH
GROWTH	76	36	57	38
SAFETY
SAFETY	89	76	75	67
SENTIMENT
SENTIMENT	n/a	57	61	^new
360° VIEW
360° VIEW	n/a	36	48	^new

Most recent update of the stock research: 19-Dec-2024. Financial reporting date used for calculating ranks: 30-Sep-2024. Stock research history is based on the Obermatt Method. The higher the rank, the better J.B. Hunt Transport Services is in the corresponding investment strategy.
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Combined financial peformance in Detail

RESEARCH HISTORY	2021	2022	2023	2024
VALUE
VALUE	23	13	14	20
GROWTH
GROWTH	76	36	57	38
SAFETY
SAFETY	89	76	75	67
COMBINED
COMBINED	76	26	41	35

Last update of combined financial performance: 19-Dec-2024. Stock analysis on combined financial performance: The higher the rank of J.B. Hunt Transport Services the better the performance.

Value Metrics in Detail

ANALYSIS: With an Obermatt Value Rank of 20 (worse than 80% compared with alternatives), J.B. Hunt Transport Services shares are significantly more expensive than comparable stocks. The Value Rank is based on consolidating four value indicators, with three out of four indicators below average for J.B. Hunt Transport Services. Only the metric dividend yield has an above-average rank, reflecting that dividend practices are expected to be higher than 53% of comparable companies, making the stock an attractive buy for dividend investors. However, dividend investors may get disappointed because all other critical financial indicators are below the market median: Price-to-Sales is 30 which means that the stock price compared with what market professionals expect for future profits is higher than 70% of comparable companies, indicating a low value concerning J.B. Hunt Transport Services's sales levels. The same is valid for Price-to-Profit (also referred to as price-earnings, P/E) with a rank of 24 which means that the stock price compared with what market professionals expect for future profit levels is higher than 76% of comparable companies. In addition, Price-to-Book (also referred to as market-to-book ratio) with a Price-to-Book Rank of 26 is also low. Compared with invested capital, the stock price is higher than for 74% of comparable investments. ...read more

RECOMMENDATION: The overall picture with a consolidated Value Rank of 20, is a sell recommendation based on J.B. Hunt Transport Services's stock price compared with the company's operational size and dividend yields. Should dividend investors pick J.B. Hunt Transport Services? The company-reported financials speak against it. The company is expensive compared with revenue and invested capital levels, two reliable company size indicators. In addition, it currently has a low level of profits. How can future dividends be paid in the case that profits remain low? Dividend investors should choose J.B. Hunt Transport Services only if they reasonably expect the low current profit levels to be transitory. We recommend further analyzing the stock with Obermatt’s Value, Safety, and Sentiment Ranks, including the 360° View, before making an investment decision, which is essential in this case, as the financial indicators are inconclusive. ...read more

VALUE METRICS	2021	2022	2023	2024
PRICE VS. REVENUES (P/S)
PRICE VS. REVENUES (P/S)	49	33	24	30
PRICE VS. PROFITS (P/E)
PRICE VS. PROFITS (P/E)	43	14	22	24
PRICE VS. CAPITAL (Market-to-Book)
PRICE VS. CAPITAL (Market-to-Book)	4	9	27	26
DIVIDEND YIELD
DIVIDEND YIELD	32	58	52	53
CONSOLIDATED RANK: VALUE
CONSOLIDATED RANK: VALUE	23	13	14	20

Last update of Value Rank: 19-Dec-2024. Stock analysis on value ratios: The higher the rank, the lower the value ratio of J.B. Hunt Transport Services; except for dividend yield where the rank is higher, the higher the yield.

Growth Metrics in Detail

ANALYSIS: With an Obermatt Growth Rank of 38 (better than 38% compared with alternatives), J.B. Hunt Transport Services shows a below-average growth dynamic in its industry. There is limited momentum in this company. The Growth Rank is based on consolidating four value indicators, with three out of four indicators below average for J.B. Hunt Transport Services. Only Capital Growth has a good rank of 66, which means that currently professionals expect the company to grow its invested capital more than 37% of its competitors. The other three indicators are pointing South: Sales Growth has a rank of 49 which means that currently professionals expect the company to grow less than 51% of its competitors. Profit Growth with a rank of 37 and Stock Returns with a rank of 24 are also low (below 76% of alternative investments). ...read more

RECOMMENDATION: The overall picture with a consolidated Growth Rank of 38, is a hold recommendation for growth and momentum investors. The good news from the invested capital side is surprising. A company with disappointing revenues, profits, and disappointed shareholders typically doesn't invest above average. Overall, the growth momentum for J.B. Hunt Transport Services is thus negative. As it is intriguing to see that company executives are optimistic about their investment policy, it is worthwhile looking into the details of the capital investment projects. They may indicate future growth and profits and thus if accompanied by a good value, a sign of good timing to invest in the stock. While momentum is a popular investment factor, the value aspect might be the more important one, in the longer term. We recommend analyzing the stock with Obermatt’s Value, Safety, and Sentiment Ranks to arrive at a 360° View of the stock purchase case, especially since the growth performance is limited here. ...read more

GROWTH METRICS	2021	2022	2023	2024
REVENUE GROWTH
REVENUE GROWTH	68	63	64	49
PROFIT GROWTH
PROFIT GROWTH	33	44	56	37
CAPITAL GROWTH
CAPITAL GROWTH	n/a	15	17	66
STOCK RETURNS
STOCK RETURNS	60	67	65	24
CONSOLIDATED RANK: GROWTH
CONSOLIDATED RANK: GROWTH	76	36	57	38

Last update of Growth Rank: 19-Dec-2024. Stock analysis on growth metrics: The higher the rank, the higher the growth and returns of J.B. Hunt Transport Services.

Safety Metrics in Detail

ANALYSIS: With an Obermatt Safety Rank of 67 (better than 67% compared with alternatives), the company J.B. Hunt Transport Services has financing practices on the safer side, which mean that their overall debt burden is lower than average. This doesn't mean that the business of J.B. Hunt Transport Services is safe, it only means that the company is on the safer side regarding possible bankruptcy, assuming that public reporting is correct. The Safety Rank is based on consolidating three financing indicators, with two out of three indicators above average for J.B. Hunt Transport Services. Leverage is at a rank of 71, meaning the company has a below-average debt-to-equity ratio. It has less debt than 71% of its competitors. Liquidity is also good at a rank of 82, meaning the company generates more profit to service its debt than 82% of its competitors. This indicates that the company is on the safer side when it comes to debt service. But Refinancing is lower at a rank of 38, which means that the portion of the debt that is about to be refinanced is above-average. It has more debt in the refinancing stage than 62% of its competitors. ...read more

RECOMMENDATION: With a consolidated Safety Rank of 67 (better than 67% compared with alternatives), J.B. Hunt Transport Services has a financing structure that is safer than that of its competitors. The refinancing issues could be a short-term problem, especially if the company has reputation issues. Banks and investors don't like to refinance debt if there are clouds on the horizon. For this reason, investors should look at the refinancing environment for J.B. Hunt Transport Services. Does it look safe that debt that is coming due can be covered with new debt? If that is the case, then the financing situation of the company is on the safer side. If not, it may be better to wait until refinancing has been completed and the Refinancing rank is good again. Investors may have a short-term debt challenge with J.B. Hunt Transport Services and should also compare Obermatt’s Value, Growth, and Sentiment Ranks before making a decision. ...read more

SAFETY METRICS	2021	2022	2023	2024
LEVERAGE
LEVERAGE	85	72	74	71
REFINANCING
REFINANCING	54	38	50	38
LIQUIDITY
LIQUIDITY	89	87	78	82
CONSOLIDATED RANK: SAFETY
CONSOLIDATED RANK: SAFETY	89	76	75	67

Last update of Safety Rank: 19-Dec-2024. Stock analysis on safety metrics: The higher the rank, the lower the leverage of J.B. Hunt Transport Services and the more cash is available to service its debt.

Sentiment Metrics in Detail

SENTIMENT	2021	2022	2023	2024
ANALYST OPINIONS
ANALYST OPINIONS	n/a	5	77	^new
OPINIONS CHANGE
OPINIONS CHANGE	n/a	11	48	^new
PRO HOLDINGS
PRO HOLDINGS	n/a	97	16	^new
MARKET PULSE
MARKET PULSE	n/a	76	81	^new
CONSOLIDATED RANK: SENTIMENT
CONSOLIDATED RANK: SENTIMENT	n/a	57	61	^new

Last update of Sentiment Rank: 19-Dec-2024. Stock analysis on sentiment metrics: The higher the rank, the more positive the sentiment for J.B. Hunt Transport Services.
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