JBHT vs. NSC: J.B. Hunt Transport Services vs. Norfolk Southern Stock Comparison
How do J.B. Hunt Transport Services (JBHT) and Norfolk Southern (NSC) 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 Norfolk Southern (NSC) both belong to the Ground Transportation industry, though JBHT is classified under Cargo Ground Transportation while NSC falls under Rail Transportation.
| Profile Item | JBHT | NSC |
|---|---|---|
| Name | J.B. Hunt Transport Services, Inc. | Norfolk Southern Corp. |
| Country/Region | United States | United States |
| GICS Sector | Industrials | Industrials |
| GICS Industry Group | Transportation | Transportation |
| GICS Industry | Ground Transportation | Ground Transportation |
| GICS Sub-Industry | Cargo Ground Transportation | Rail Transportation |
| Market Capitalization | 20.28 billion USD | 71.86 billion USD |
| Currency | USD | USD |
| Exchange | Nasdaq | NYSE |
| Listing Date | November 22, 1983 | June 2, 1982 |
| Security Type | Common Stock | Common Stock |
Price Performance
Cumulative Growth
Trailing Returns
Calendar-Year Returns
Performance Metrics
| Metric | JBHT | NSC |
|---|---|---|
| Total Return (1Y) | 32.27% | 16.63% |
| Total Return (3Y, Annualized) | 10.37% | 21.35% |
| Total Return (5Y, Annualized) | 3.78% | 4.94% |
Risk Profile
Drawdown History
Return Distribution
Risk Metrics
| Metric | JBHT | NSC |
|---|---|---|
| Volatility (1Y, Annualized) | 34.65% | 21.75% |
| Beta (5Y) | 1.25 | 1.19 |
| Max Drawdown (5Y) | -42.42% | -35.64% |
| Avg. Volume (3M) | 976.33K | 1.02M |
Risk-Adjusted Performance
Risk-Return Positioning
Risk-Adjusted Metrics
| Metric | JBHT | NSC |
|---|---|---|
| Sharpe Ratio (1Y) | 0.81 | 0.57 |
| Sortino Ratio (1Y) | 1.15 | 0.86 |
Profitability
ROE (TTM)
Both J.B. Hunt Transport Services (JBHT) at 18.77% and Norfolk Southern (NSC) at 16.84% 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%
NSC
Transportation industry group
16.84%
- Max
- 45.08%
- Q3
- 22.02%
- NSC
- 16.84%
- Median
- 13.94%
- Q1
- 2.89%
- Min
- -10.45%
Net Margin (TTM)
Both J.B. Hunt Transport Services (JBHT) at 5.07% and Norfolk Southern (NSC) at 20.71% 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%
NSC
Transportation industry group
20.71%
- Max
- 50.36%
- Q3
- 21.18%
- NSC
- 20.71%
- Median
- 5.58%
- Q1
- 1.55%
- Min
- -11.37%
Operating Margin (TTM)
Norfolk Southern (NSC) at 35.42% operates in the top operating margin quartile, ahead of J.B. Hunt Transport Services (JBHT) at 6.72%, which runs around its industry’s norm.
JBHT
Transportation industry group
6.72%
- Max
- 59.18%
- Q3
- 29.30%
- Median
- 11.50%
- JBHT
- 6.72%
- Q1
- 4.62%
- Min
- -8.91%
NSC
Transportation industry group
35.42%
- Max
- 59.18%
- NSC
- 35.42%
- Q3
- 29.30%
- Median
- 11.50%
- Q1
- 4.62%
- Min
- -8.91%
Profitability Metrics
| Metric | JBHT | NSC |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM) | 18.77% | 16.84% |
| ROA (TTM) | 7.41% | 6.03% |
| Net Margin (TTM) | 5.07% | 20.71% |
| Operating Margin (TTM) | 6.72% | 35.42% |
| Gross Margin (TTM) | 17.88% | 44.68% |
Growth
Revenue Growth
Both J.B. Hunt Transport Services (JBHT) at -0.73% and Norfolk Southern (NSC) at 0.47% 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 Norfolk Southern (NSC) at 10.20% 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 | NSC |
|---|---|---|
| Revenue Growth (YoY) | -0.73% | 0.47% |
| Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR) | -6.78% | -1.50% |
| EPS Growth (YoY) | 10.07% | 10.20% |
| EPS Growth (3Y CAGR) | -12.74% | -2.79% |
Financial Strength
Current Ratio (MRQ)
Both J.B. Hunt Transport Services (JBHT) at 1.23 and Norfolk Southern (NSC) at 0.90 carry current ratio within their industries’ typical mid-ranges, suggesting balanced short-term liquidity relative to peers.
JBHT
Transportation industry group
1.23
- Max
- 2.58
- Q3
- 1.62
- JBHT
- 1.23
- Median
- 1.16
- Q1
- 0.78
- Min
- 0.22
NSC
Transportation industry group
0.90
- Max
- 2.58
- Q3
- 1.62
- Median
- 1.16
- NSC
- 0.90
- Q1
- 0.78
- Min
- 0.22
Debt / Equity (MRQ)
Both J.B. Hunt Transport Services (JBHT) at 0.40 and Norfolk Southern (NSC) at 1.02 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
NSC
Transportation industry group
1.02
- Max
- 2.75
- Q3
- 1.37
- NSC
- 1.02
- Median
- 0.78
- Q1
- 0.35
- Min
- 0.00
Financial Strength Metrics
| Metric | JBHT | NSC |
|---|---|---|
| Current Ratio (MRQ) | 1.23 | 0.90 |
| Debt / Equity (MRQ) | 0.40 | 1.02 |
| Net Debt / EBITDA | 0.86 | 2.68 |
Dividends
Dividend Yield (TTM)
Both J.B. Hunt Transport Services (JBHT) at 0.82% and Norfolk Southern (NSC) at 1.65% 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%
NSC
Transportation industry group
1.65%
- Max
- 4.68%
- Q3
- 1.99%
- NSC
- 1.65%
- Median
- 0.74%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)
J.B. Hunt Transport Services (JBHT) at 25.25% pays out a band-typical share of earnings, while Norfolk Southern (NSC) at 45.26% distributes more than its industry norm — less retained, thinner cover.
JBHT
Transportation industry group
25.25%
- Max
- 100.89%
- Q3
- 41.68%
- JBHT
- 25.25%
- Median
- 20.43%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
NSC
Transportation industry group
45.26%
- Max
- 100.89%
- NSC
- 45.26%
- Q3
- 41.68%
- Median
- 20.43%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
Dividend Metrics
| Metric | JBHT | NSC |
|---|---|---|
| Dividend Yield (TTM) | 0.82% | 1.65% |
| Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM) | 25.25% | 45.26% |
Valuation
P/E Ratio (TTM)
Both J.B. Hunt Transport Services (JBHT) at 30.68 and Norfolk Southern (NSC) at 26.82 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
NSC
Transportation industry group
26.82
- Max
- 46.76
- Q3
- 30.87
- NSC
- 26.82
- Median
- 20.58
- Q1
- 10.44
- Min
- 0.00
P/S Ratio (TTM)
J.B. Hunt Transport Services (JBHT) at 1.52 prices around its industry’s typical P/S ratio, while Norfolk Southern (NSC) at 5.54 clears its benchmark range — NSC looks notably rich on sales.
JBHT
Transportation industry group
1.52
- Max
- 4.35
- Q3
- 2.07
- JBHT
- 1.52
- Median
- 0.93
- Q1
- 0.53
- Min
- 0.04
NSC
Transportation industry group
5.54
- NSC
- 5.54
- Max
- 4.35
- Q3
- 2.07
- Median
- 0.93
- Q1
- 0.53
- Min
- 0.04
P/B Ratio (MRQ)
Both J.B. Hunt Transport Services (JBHT) at 5.58 and Norfolk Southern (NSC) at 4.30 carry a premium to book value versus peers, sitting in the upper P/B ratio quartile of their industries.
JBHT
Transportation industry group
5.58
- Max
- 6.29
- JBHT
- 5.58
- Q3
- 3.39
- Median
- 1.90
- Q1
- 1.03
- Min
- -2.07
NSC
Transportation industry group
4.30
- Max
- 6.29
- NSC
- 4.30
- Q3
- 3.39
- Median
- 1.90
- Q1
- 1.03
- Min
- -2.07
Valuation Metrics
| Metric | JBHT | NSC |
|---|---|---|
| P/E Ratio (TTM) | 30.68 | 26.82 |
| P/S Ratio (TTM) | 1.52 | 5.54 |
| P/B Ratio (MRQ) | 5.58 | 4.30 |
| Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM) | 4.15% | 2.25% |