Figma Shares Indicated To Open $105/$110
On Friday, Citi adjusted the price target on J.B. Hunt Transport Services (NASDAQ:JBHT) stock to $193.00, a decrease from the previous target of $204.00, while continuing to recommend the stock as a Buy. According to InvestingPro data, the company maintains a GOOD financial health score, though 10 analysts have recently revised their earnings expectations downward for the upcoming period.
Citi noted that J.B. Hunt delivered mixed results in the fourth quarter of 2024, with adjusted earnings per share (EPS) of $1.65, which is marginally higher than both the analyst's expectation of $1.62 and the consensus estimate of $1.61. The company's revenue reached $3.15 billion, surpassing Rosa's projection by $40 million.
Despite the revenue outperformance, J.B. Hunt's margins came in lower than anticipated at 7.1%, compared to the expected 7.3%. This was attributed to increased costs associated with maintaining service levels. The company's gross profit margin stands at 18.8% for the last twelve months, while trading at a relatively high P/E multiple of 33.7x.
InvestingPro analysis suggests the stock is currently trading above its Fair Value. The fourth quarter showed some positive signs, such as sequential improvements in volumes and rates in the Intermodal and Integrated Capacity Solutions (ICS)/Brokerage segments, suggesting the beginning of an upturn.
However, the company's outlook for the first quarter of 2025 dampened optimism as management forecasted a significant decline in operating income, expecting it to fall by 20% to 25% sequentially. This would imply an operating income of approximately $175 million, which is notably lower than the prior Street target of $207 million. The guidance resulted in J.B. Hunt's shares falling by 11% in after-hours trading.
Citi expressed that the extent of the projected downturn was unexpected but remains in line with broader concerns regarding the truckload sector. The analyst conveyed skepticism about the potential for a rapid turnaround in rates within the industry. Despite the disappointing forecast, the Buy rating suggests that Citi still sees long-term value in J.B. Hunt's shares at the revised price target.
Worth noting is the company's strong dividend history, having maintained payments for 21 consecutive years with 11 years of consecutive increases. For deeper insights into J.B. Hunt's financial health and additional ProTips, investors can access the comprehensive Pro Research Report available on InvestingPro.
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