Story perspectives

J.B. Hunt Warns 5%-10% Earnings Drop on Costs

By Drooid · Sep 16, 2026, 6:14 PM UTC · How we work

Summary

Story summary

J.B. Hunt Transport Services warned its third-quarter earnings will decline 5%-10%.
CFO Brad Delco said rising drayage driver costs will add about $25 million sequentially.
Record-high diesel prices create roughly $10 million of fuel cost headwind.
Shares dropped more than 10% on Wednesday and about 9% after-hours.
BofA Securities cut its price target to $302, maintaining a Buy rating.

History

Historical Context

The 1973 OPEC oil embargo, announced in October 1973, triggered a quadrupling of U.S. diesel prices and a sharp recession in trucking profits. During that crisis, the American Trucking Associations reported a 12% drop in carrier earnings while diesel surged to $12 per barrel, a $9 increase. Today, J.B. Hunt Transport Services faces a similar squeeze as CFO Brad Delco cites $25 million drayage cost hikes and $10 million fuel headwinds, echoing 1973’s pressure on margins. Analysts at BofA Securities warn that, as in 1973, sustained fuel spikes could force carriers to cut capacity, prompting regulators to revisit price-cap policies.

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Story summary

J.B. Hunt Transport Services warned its third-quarter earnings will decline 5%-10%.
CFO Brad Delco said rising drayage driver costs will add about $25 million sequentially.
Record-high diesel prices create roughly $10 million of fuel cost headwind.
Shares dropped more than 10% on Wednesday and about 9% after-hours.
BofA Securities cut its price target to $302, maintaining a Buy rating.

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