J.B. Hunt Transport Services Q3 Profit Rises - Quick Facts

(RTTNews) - J.B. Hunt Transport Services Inc. (JBHT) reported that its net earnings for the third quarter 2015 rose to $115.1 million or $0.99 per share from $102.4 million, or $0.87 per share in the same quarter last year. Analysts polled by Thomson Reuters expected the company to report earnings of $0.97 per share. Analysts' estimates typically exclude special items.

Operating income for the quarter totaled $194 million compared to $172 million for the third quarter 2014. The increase in operating income from load growth, higher productivity and customer rate increases was partially offset by lower box turns from slower train speeds in some regions, increases in rail purchase transportation rates, increases in driver wages and recruiting costs and higher equipment ownership costs compared to third quarter 2014.

Total operating revenue for the quarter declined to $1.59 billion, from $1.60 billion for the third quarter 2014. Wall Street expected revenues of $1.62 billion for the quarter. Total operating revenue, excluding fuel surcharges, increased 8% vs. the comparable quarter 2014.

Customer rate increases, load growth of 3% in Intermodal (JBI), a 6% increase in revenue producing trucks and improved asset productivity, excluding fuel surcharges, in Dedicated Contract Services (DCS), a 9% increase in load volume in Integrated Capacity Solutions (ICS) and 14% increase in truck count in Truck (JBT) business segment could not offset the decrease in fuel surcharge revenue and tepid customer demand resulting in a decrease in consolidated revenue compared to prior year.