LOWELL, Ark. — J.B. Hunt Transport Services saw first quarter net earnings for 2024 drop to $127.5 million, or diluted earnings per share of $1.22, versus $197.8 million, or $1.89 per diluted share, in 2023.
Total operating revenue for the current quarter was $2.94 billion compared with $3.23 billion for the first quarter 2023, a decrease of 9%, according to a company news release.
“The decline in revenue was primarily driven by a 9% decrease in segment gross revenue per load in both Intermodal (JBI) and Truckload (JBT), 22% fewer loads in Integrated Capacity Solutions (ICS) and a modest decline in average trucks and productivity in Dedicated Contract Services (DCS) compared to the prior year period,” the news release notes.
Revenue declines in JBI, ICS, JBT and DCS were partially offset by Final Mile Services (FMS) revenue growth of 2%, primarily driven by new contracts implemented over the past year.
Current quarter total operating revenue, excluding fuel surcharge revenue, decreased approximately 7% versus the first quarter 2023.
Operating income for the current quarter decreased 30% to $194.4 million versus $277.5 million for the first quarter 2023.
The decrease in operating income was primarily due to a combination of lower volumes and yield pressure in JBI, ICS and JBT, as well as increases in equipment, insurance and claims, and bad debt expense.
Operating income as a percentage of gross revenue decreased year-over-year as a result of higher professional driver and non-driver wages and benefits, equipment, and insurance and claims expenses as a percentage of gross revenue.
These items were partially offset by lower rail and truck purchased transportation costs as a percentage of gross revenue.
Net interest expense for the current quarter increased approximately 6% from first quarter 2023 due to higher effective interest rates and consolidated debt balance, partially offset by higher interest income.
The effective income tax rate increased to 28.7% in the current quarter compared to 24.7% in the first quarter 2023, due to discrete tax items. Company officials say they “continue to expect our 2024 annual tax rate to be between 24.0% and 25.0%.”
Intermodal volume was flat versus the same period in 2023. Transcontinental network loads increased 5%, while eastern network loads decreased 7% compared to the first quarter 2023.
“Overall demand for our domestic intermodal service offering in the quarter was weaker than expected, partially attributable to competition from over-the-road truck options in the eastern network, and our disciplined approach to the market for the value our services provide,” according to the news release.
Segment gross revenue decreased 9% from the prior year period, driven by a 9% decrease in segment gross revenue per load, resulting from changes in the mix of freight, customer rates, and fuel surcharge revenue. Revenue per load excluding fuel surcharge revenue was down 8% year-over-year.
Operating income decreased 40% in the first quarter primarily from lower yields. JBI segment operating income as a percentage of segment gross revenue declined versus the prior-year period as a result of increases in professional driver and non-driver wages and benefits, higher equipment and maintenance expenses, and insurance premium costs as a percentage of gross revenue. During the period we onboarded approximately 1,140 new units of container capacity. The current period ended with approximately 119,300 units of trailing capacity and approximately 6,300 power units in the dray fleet.
DCS revenue decreased 2% during the current quarter over the same period 2023, driven by a 1% decline in average trucks combined with a 1% decline in productivity (gross revenue per truck per week).
Productivity excluding fuel surcharge revenue increased 1% from a year ago driven by contracted indexed-based price escalators, partially offset by an increase in idled equipment. On a net basis, there were 71 fewer revenue producing trucks in the fleet by the end of the quarter compared to the prior-year period, and 2 more versus the end of the fourth quarter 2023. Customer retention rates are approximately 91%, largely reflecting the downsizing of fleets and to a lesser extent account losses.
Operating income decreased 9% from the prior year quarter.
The decrease was primarily driven by lower revenue; increases in insurance premiums, equipment and bad debt expense; and higher new account start-up costs as compared to the prior year period. These items were partially offset by lower maintenance costs and the maturing of new business onboarded over the past trailing 12 months.
ICS revenue declined 26% during the current quarter versus the first quarter 2023. Overall segment volume decreased 22% versus the prior year period. Revenue per load decreased 5% compared to the first quarter 2023 due to lower contractual and transactional rates and changes in customer freight mix. Contractual volume represented approximately 57% of the total load volume and 59% of the total revenue in the current quarter compared to 63% and 64%, respectively, in first quarter 2023.
Operating loss was $17.5 million compared to operating loss of $5.4 million for the first quarter 2023. Operating performance declined largely due to an $11.0 million decrease in gross profit, higher insurance costs, and integration and transition costs related to the purchase of the brokerage assets of BNSF Logistics.
These items were partially offset by lower personnel-related expenses and reduced technology costs. Gross profit declined 21% versus the prior year period as a result of lower volume and revenue, despite gross profit margins improving to 14.3% as compared to 13.4% in the prior year period. ICS carrier base decreased 22% year-over-year, largely driven by changes to carrier qualification requirements to mitigate cargo theft.
FMS revenue increased 2% compared to the same period 2023. The increase was primarily driven by multiple new contracts implemented over the past year and efforts to improve the overall revenue quality of the business. These items were partially offset by general weakness in demand across many of the end markets served.
Operating income increased 128% to $15.1 million compared to the prior-year period. First quarter 2024 included a $3.1 million benefit from a prior period claim settlement. Excluding this impact, operating income increased primarily from higher revenue and lower personnel, maintenance, and technology costs. These items were partially offset by higher facility rent expense, insurance premiums, bad debt expense, and loss on equipment sales as compared to the prior year period.
JBT revenue decreased 13% compared to the same period in the previous year. Revenue excluding fuel surcharge revenue decreased 13% due to a 9% decline in revenue per load excluding fuel surcharge revenue and a 5% decline in load volume. Total average effective trailer count decreased by approximately 200 units, or 2% versus the prior-year period.
Trailer turns in the quarter were down 2% compared to the prior year period primarily due to changes in freight mix and weaker overall freight demand as compared to the first quarter 2023.
JBT operating income decreased 75% to $1.2 million compared to the first quarter 2023. The decrease in operating income was primarily driven by the decline in revenue. JBT segment operating income as a percentage of segment gross revenue declined versus the prior-year period as a result of higher equipment, maintenance and insurance premium expenses as a percentage of gross revenue.
At March 31, 2024, the company had a total of $1.37 billion outstanding on various debt instruments compared to $1.58 billion at Dec. 31, 2023.
The company’s net capital expenditures for the first quarter 2024 approximated $166 million compared to $380 million for the first quarter 2023. At March 31, 2024, the company had cash and cash equivalents of $64 million.
In the first quarter 2024, the company purchased approximately 126,000 shares of common stock for approximately $25 million. At March 31, 2024, the company had approximately $366 million remaining under share repurchase authorization.
Actual shares outstanding at March 31, 2024, approximated 103.2 million.
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