JBHT vs. LUV: J.B. Hunt Transport Services vs. Southwest Airlines Stock Comparison
How do J.B. Hunt Transport Services (JBHT) and Southwest Airlines (LUV) stack up? This page sets them side by side across company profile, performance and risk, profitability, growth, financial strength, dividends, and valuation, with selected fundamentals also measured against each stock's industry-group peers.
Company Profile
J.B. Hunt Transport Services (JBHT) and Southwest Airlines (LUV) both fall under the Transportation industry group, but JBHT is classified in Ground Transportation while LUV is classified in Passenger Airlines.
| Profile Item | JBHT | LUV |
|---|---|---|
| Name | J.B. Hunt Transport Services, Inc. | Southwest Airlines Co. |
| Country/Region | United States | United States |
| GICS Sector | Industrials | Industrials |
| GICS Industry Group | Transportation | Transportation |
| GICS Industry | Ground Transportation | Passenger Airlines |
| GICS Sub-Industry | Cargo Ground Transportation | Passenger Airlines |
| Market Capitalization | 20.28 billion USD | 21.76 billion USD |
| Currency | USD | USD |
| Exchange | Nasdaq | NYSE |
| Listing Date | November 22, 1983 | January 2, 1980 |
| Security Type | Common Stock | Common Stock |
Price Performance
Cumulative Growth
Trailing Returns
Calendar-Year Returns
Performance Metrics
| Metric | JBHT | LUV |
|---|---|---|
| Total Return (1Y) | 32.27% | 44.35% |
| Total Return (3Y, Annualized) | 10.37% | 28.08% |
| Total Return (5Y, Annualized) | 3.78% | -0.31% |
Risk Profile
Drawdown History
Return Distribution
Risk Metrics
| Metric | JBHT | LUV |
|---|---|---|
| Volatility (1Y, Annualized) | 34.65% | 44.46% |
| Beta (5Y) | 1.25 | 1.19 |
| Max Drawdown (5Y) | -42.42% | -55.39% |
| Avg. Volume (3M) | 976.33K | 5.76M |
Risk-Adjusted Performance
Risk-Return Positioning
Risk-Adjusted Metrics
| Metric | JBHT | LUV |
|---|---|---|
| Sharpe Ratio (1Y) | 0.81 | 0.90 |
| Sortino Ratio (1Y) | 1.15 | 1.51 |
Profitability
ROE (TTM)
Both J.B. Hunt Transport Services (JBHT) at 18.77% and Southwest Airlines (LUV) at 13.94% land near their industries’ usual ROE ranges, so capital efficiency looks broadly in line with peers on both sides.
JBHT
Transportation industry group
18.77%
- Max
- 45.08%
- Q3
- 22.02%
- JBHT
- 18.77%
- Median
- 13.94%
- Q1
- 2.89%
- Min
- -10.45%
LUV
Transportation industry group
13.94%
- Max
- 45.08%
- Q3
- 22.02%
- LUV
- 13.94%
- Median
- 13.94%
- Q1
- 2.89%
- Min
- -10.45%
Net Margin (TTM)
Both J.B. Hunt Transport Services (JBHT) at 5.07% and Southwest Airlines (LUV) at 3.34% keep about the typical share of revenue as profit for their industries — neither bottom line stands out from peers.
JBHT
Transportation industry group
5.07%
- Max
- 50.36%
- Q3
- 21.18%
- Median
- 5.58%
- JBHT
- 5.07%
- Q1
- 1.55%
- Min
- -11.37%
LUV
Transportation industry group
3.34%
- Max
- 50.36%
- Q3
- 21.18%
- Median
- 5.58%
- LUV
- 3.34%
- Q1
- 1.55%
- Min
- -11.37%
Operating Margin (TTM)
J.B. Hunt Transport Services (JBHT) at 6.72% runs core operations around its industry’s norm, while Southwest Airlines (LUV) at 4.49% operates in the bottom quartile.
JBHT
Transportation industry group
6.72%
- Max
- 59.18%
- Q3
- 29.30%
- Median
- 11.50%
- JBHT
- 6.72%
- Q1
- 4.62%
- Min
- -8.91%
LUV
Transportation industry group
4.49%
- Max
- 59.18%
- Q3
- 29.30%
- Median
- 11.50%
- Q1
- 4.62%
- LUV
- 4.49%
- Min
- -8.91%
Profitability Metrics
| Metric | JBHT | LUV |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM) | 18.77% | 13.94% |
| ROA (TTM) | 7.41% | 3.05% |
| Net Margin (TTM) | 5.07% | 3.34% |
| Operating Margin (TTM) | 6.72% | 4.49% |
| Gross Margin (TTM) | 17.88% | 22.14% |
Growth
Revenue Growth
Both J.B. Hunt Transport Services (JBHT) at -0.73% and Southwest Airlines (LUV) at 2.11% land near their industries' usual revenue growth ranges, so top-line momentum looks broadly in line with peers on both sides.
EPS Growth
Both J.B. Hunt Transport Services (JBHT) at 10.07% and Southwest Airlines (LUV) at 3.95% land near their industries' usual EPS growth ranges, so bottom-line momentum looks broadly in line with peers on both sides.
Growth Metrics
| Metric | JBHT | LUV |
|---|---|---|
| Revenue Growth (YoY) | -0.73% | 2.11% |
| Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR) | -6.78% | 5.63% |
| EPS Growth (YoY) | 10.07% | 3.95% |
| EPS Growth (3Y CAGR) | -12.74% | -3.16% |
Financial Strength
Current Ratio (MRQ)
J.B. Hunt Transport Services (JBHT) at 1.23 keeps current ratio within its industry’s typical mid-range, while Southwest Airlines (LUV) at 0.47 runs in the tighter-liquidity quartile — a thinner cushion against current liabilities for LUV.
JBHT
Transportation industry group
1.23
- Max
- 2.58
- Q3
- 1.62
- JBHT
- 1.23
- Median
- 1.16
- Q1
- 0.78
- Min
- 0.22
LUV
Transportation industry group
0.47
- Max
- 2.58
- Q3
- 1.62
- Median
- 1.16
- Q1
- 0.78
- LUV
- 0.47
- Min
- 0.22
Debt / Equity (MRQ)
Both J.B. Hunt Transport Services (JBHT) at 0.40 and Southwest Airlines (LUV) at 0.94 fund their balance sheets with roughly industry-typical debt-to-equity mixes.
JBHT
Transportation industry group
0.40
- Max
- 2.75
- Q3
- 1.37
- Median
- 0.78
- JBHT
- 0.40
- Q1
- 0.35
- Min
- 0.00
LUV
Transportation industry group
0.94
- Max
- 2.75
- Q3
- 1.37
- LUV
- 0.94
- Median
- 0.78
- Q1
- 0.35
- Min
- 0.00
Financial Strength Metrics
| Metric | JBHT | LUV |
|---|---|---|
| Current Ratio (MRQ) | 1.23 | 0.47 |
| Debt / Equity (MRQ) | 0.40 | 0.94 |
| Net Debt / EBITDA | 0.86 | 1.21 |
Dividends
Dividend Yield (TTM)
Both J.B. Hunt Transport Services (JBHT) at 0.82% and Southwest Airlines (LUV) at 1.62% pay solid, industry-typical yields, sitting squarely within their peers’ usual range.
JBHT
Transportation industry group
0.82%
- Max
- 4.68%
- Q3
- 1.99%
- JBHT
- 0.82%
- Median
- 0.74%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
LUV
Transportation industry group
1.62%
- Max
- 4.68%
- Q3
- 1.99%
- LUV
- 1.62%
- Median
- 0.74%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)
Both J.B. Hunt Transport Services (JBHT) at 25.25% and Southwest Airlines (LUV) at 35.12% keep payout ratio within their industries’ typical mid-ranges — dividend policies that share earnings without consuming too much of them.
JBHT
Transportation industry group
25.25%
- Max
- 100.89%
- Q3
- 41.68%
- JBHT
- 25.25%
- Median
- 20.43%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
LUV
Transportation industry group
35.12%
- Max
- 100.89%
- Q3
- 41.68%
- LUV
- 35.12%
- Median
- 20.43%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
Dividend Metrics
| Metric | JBHT | LUV |
|---|---|---|
| Dividend Yield (TTM) | 0.82% | 1.62% |
| Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM) | 25.25% | 35.12% |
Valuation
P/E Ratio (TTM)
Both J.B. Hunt Transport Services (JBHT) at 30.68 and Southwest Airlines (LUV) at 21.68 land around their industries’ usual P/E ratio levels — neither is getting a clear earnings-multiple discount or premium versus peers.
JBHT
Transportation industry group
30.68
- Max
- 46.76
- Q3
- 30.87
- JBHT
- 30.68
- Median
- 20.58
- Q1
- 10.44
- Min
- 0.00
LUV
Transportation industry group
21.68
- Max
- 46.76
- Q3
- 30.87
- LUV
- 21.68
- Median
- 20.58
- Q1
- 10.44
- Min
- 0.00
P/S Ratio (TTM)
On P/S ratio, both J.B. Hunt Transport Services (JBHT) at 1.52 and Southwest Airlines (LUV) at 0.69 are priced roughly in line with their industries — neither looks cheap nor rich on a sales basis.
JBHT
Transportation industry group
1.52
- Max
- 4.35
- Q3
- 2.07
- JBHT
- 1.52
- Median
- 0.93
- Q1
- 0.53
- Min
- 0.04
LUV
Transportation industry group
0.69
- Max
- 4.35
- Q3
- 2.07
- Median
- 0.93
- LUV
- 0.69
- Q1
- 0.53
- Min
- 0.04
P/B Ratio (MRQ)
Southwest Airlines (LUV) at 2.97 is valued about in line with its industry on P/B ratio, while J.B. Hunt Transport Services (JBHT) at 5.58 carries an above-peer premium to book — JBHT is pricier on assets.
JBHT
Transportation industry group
5.58
- Max
- 6.29
- JBHT
- 5.58
- Q3
- 3.39
- Median
- 1.90
- Q1
- 1.03
- Min
- -2.07
LUV
Transportation industry group
2.97
- Max
- 6.29
- Q3
- 3.39
- LUV
- 2.97
- Median
- 1.90
- Q1
- 1.03
- Min
- -2.07
Valuation Metrics
| Metric | JBHT | LUV |
|---|---|---|
| P/E Ratio (TTM) | 30.68 | 21.68 |
| P/S Ratio (TTM) | 1.52 | 0.69 |
| P/B Ratio (MRQ) | 5.58 | 2.97 |
| Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM) | 4.15% | -2.82% |