J.B. Hunt posts higher quarterly profit as cost cuts, improved volumes offset fuel costs
15/04/2026 21:52
Corrects paragraph 7 to clarify that intermodal volumes grew 3%, not 2% April 15 (Reuters) - U.S. trucking firm J.B. Hunt Transportation Services JBHT.O reported a higher first-quarter profit on Wednesday, as cost-cutting efforts and improved volumes across key segments largely offset higher fuel costs. Shares of the company were up 1.2% in aftermarket trading. The U.S. trucking industry had shown signs of a revival early in the year, following a nearly four-year lull, but higher fuel costs due to the war in the Middle East has delayed a long-awaited turnaround. J.B Hunt has been pursuing cost reductions to enhance efficiency during this period. The company and other contract trucking firms in the U.S. have traditionally recouped higher fuel costs by passing them on to customers in the form of a fuel surcharge. For the first quarter, the company's fuel surcharge revenue grew 12.8% versus a growth of 3.3% in the previous quarter. The volumes at its Intermodal segment, which accounts for around 50% of the company's revenue and involves shipping goods via two or more modes of transport, grew 3% year-over-year in the reported quarter. Meanwhile, the Dedicated Contract Services segment, which forms a quarter of the company's revenue, grew 2%. The Arkansas-based company posted first-quarter net earnings of $141.6 million or $1.49 per share, up from $117.7 million, or $1.17 per share, a year earlier. The company reported revenue of about $3.06 billion for the quarter ended March 31, compared with $2.92 billion a year ago. (Reporting by Nandan Mandayam and Megavarshini G. Somasundaram in Bengaluru; Editing by Vijay Kishore) ((Nandan.Mandayam@thomsonreuters.com; Mobile: +91 9591011727;))