J.B. Hunt Transport Services said it has seen mixed results so far this intermodal bid season, capturing rate increases and adding volume in some empty lanes of the network while also losing business to competitors as it remains disciplined and tries to up its freight mix.
The Lowell, Arkansas-based company’s intermodal head, Darren Field, said on a Tuesday evening call with equity analysts that J.B. Hunt (NASDAQ: JBHT) has had “only modest success in repairing rates while retaining existing business.” The company is getting rate increases in headhaul markets while walking from lower-margin business in other areas.
A changing tariff landscape has the management team contemplating multiple volume scenarios.
Roughly 20% to 30% of its intermodal volume comes off the West Coast, but it didn’t say how much of that freight originates in China. Field said there hasn’t been a notable change in demand indications from customers. Most customers also haven’t said they pulled forward freight ahead of recent tariff implementations, which if they have, would create a void in demand later this year.
The multimodal transportation provider reported first-quarter earnings per share of $1.17 after the market closed Tuesday. The result was 3 cents ahead of the consensus estimate but 5 cents lower year over year. Of note, earnings estimates for transportation companies have been coming down in recent weeks as trade risks rise and as March failed to live up to typical seasonality. J.B. Hunt’s first-quarter consensus estimate moved from $1.42 90 days ago to $1.14 ahead of the print.
Consolidated revenue of $2.92 billion was 1% lower y/y. Operating income fell 8% y/y to $179 million. Higher costs (insurance and claims, medical insurance, and maintenance) were the culprits. The company slightly beat its guidance calling for a 20% to 25% sequential decline in operating income for the period.
Intermodal revenue of $1.47 billion was 5% higher y/y as the company reported record first-quarter volumes. Total loads increased 8% as transcontinental loads were up 4% and shipments in the Eastern network were up 13%. Loads were up 9% y/y in January, 6% in February and 7% in March. That compared to a 9% y/y increase in total intermodal traffic on the U.S. Class I railroads during the quarter, according to the Association of American Railroads.
Revenue per load declined 2% y/y (down just 1% from the fourth quarter). A higher growth rate in the East was a modest drag on yields given the shorter length of haul. The company still has some large bids to be negotiated in the coming months.
