J.B. Hunt reported a large increase in third-quarter sales but a much smaller improvement in profit. In its October 15, 2026 announcement, the US transport company reported operating revenue of $3.68 billion for the quarter ended September 30, against $3.05 billion a year earlier. The company rounded the year-on-year increase to 20%. Net earnings under US generally accepted accounting principles, or GAAP, were $172.4 million, compared with $170.8 million.
J.B. Hunt Q3 2026: the main measures
| Measure | Reported figure |
|---|---|
| Operating revenue | $3.68 billion vs $3.05 billion; +20% |
| Revenue excluding fuel surcharge | +13% year on year |
| Operating income | $247.1 million vs $242.7 million; +2% |
| GAAP net earnings | $172.4 million vs $170.8 million |
| Diluted earnings per share | $1.82 vs $1.76 |
Why the fuel-surcharge comparison matters
A fuel surcharge is an additional charge linked to fuel costs. Removing that revenue gives a different sales comparison; it does not turn revenue into profit or establish that all remaining growth is organic. The issuer reported 13% growth on this basis, rather than the 20% headline increase. Diluted earnings per share, which accounts for potential additional shares in the calculation, rose to $1.82 from $1.76. That per-share measure is not the same as the growth rate in total net earnings.
Intermodal and dedicated services diverge
The intermodal business, which combines transport modes such as rail and road, reported $1.83 billion of revenue and $147.5 million of operating income, up 20% and 18% respectively. Loads increased 8%. Dedicated Contract Services reported $960 million of revenue, up 11%, while operating income fell 22% to $81.7 million. These are segment operating results, not separate group net-profit figures.
The practical takeaway is to read sales, operating income and final earnings together. The report does not establish a market-wide freight recovery, an earnings beat or a share-price response. The figures are issuer-reported historical results, not a forecast of returns. The linked release and investor site belong to the same company and are not independent confirmations.
Related: how Wipro’s revenue and profit moved differently.
Official sources and verification
Sources observed: 16/10/2026, 02:33:16 IST. Issuer announcement and financial tables · Issuer investor page / announcement index
Recorded source observation: . This is a source-check timestamp, not a market quote or a new article update.