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JBHT vs. UAL: J.B. Hunt Transport Services vs. United Airlines Stock Comparison

How do J.B. Hunt Transport Services (JBHT) and United Airlines (UAL) 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 United Airlines (UAL) both fall under the Transportation industry group, but JBHT is classified in Ground Transportation while UAL is classified in Passenger Airlines.

Company profile comparison for J.B. Hunt Transport Services (JBHT) and United Airlines (UAL)
Profile ItemJBHTUAL
NameJ.B. Hunt Transport Services, Inc.United Airlines Holdings, Inc.
Country/RegionUnited StatesUnited States
GICS SectorIndustrialsIndustrials
GICS Industry GroupTransportationTransportation
GICS IndustryGround TransportationPassenger Airlines
GICS Sub-IndustryCargo Ground TransportationPassenger Airlines
Market Capitalization20.28 billion USD36.63 billion USD
CurrencyUSDUSD
ExchangeNasdaqNasdaq
Listing DateNovember 22, 1983February 6, 2006
Security TypeCommon StockCommon Stock

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

JBHT
UAL
GSPC
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J.B. Hunt Transport Services (JBHT) vs. United Airlines (UAL), with S&P 500 (GSPC) for reference: Growth of a $10,000 investment over the past five years. Adjusted for dividends and splits.

Trailing Returns

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Trailing total returns for J.B. Hunt Transport Services (JBHT) and United Airlines (UAL). Returns over one year are annualized.

Calendar-Year Returns

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Calendar-year total returns for J.B. Hunt Transport Services (JBHT) and United Airlines (UAL). Each bar is that year's total return, measured year-end to year-end.

Performance Metrics

Price performance metrics for J.B. Hunt Transport Services (JBHT) and United Airlines (UAL)
MetricJBHTUAL
Total Return (1Y)32.27%22.35%
Total Return (3Y, Annualized)10.37%47.27%
Total Return (5Y, Annualized)3.78%17.68%

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

JBHT
UAL
GSPC
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J.B. Hunt Transport Services (JBHT) vs. United Airlines (UAL), with S&P 500 (GSPC) for reference: Drawdown from the running peak over the past five years. Each line shows the decline from its prior peak; 0% marks a new high.

Return Distribution

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Distribution of monthly total returns for J.B. Hunt Transport Services (JBHT) and United Airlines (UAL). Each bar is the share of months whose return fell in that 5% bucket.

Risk Metrics

Risk profile metrics for J.B. Hunt Transport Services (JBHT) and United Airlines (UAL)
MetricJBHTUAL
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)34.65%48.88%
Beta (5Y)1.251.32
Max Drawdown (5Y)-42.42%-49.19%
Avg. Volume (3M)976.33K4.24M

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

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JBHT and UAL are plotted by 1-year volatility (risk) and 1-year return. The dashed Capital Allocation Line runs from the risk-free rate through the shared industry median.

Risk-Adjusted Metrics

Risk-adjusted metrics for J.B. Hunt Transport Services (JBHT) and United Airlines (UAL)
MetricJBHTUAL
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)0.810.37
Sortino Ratio (1Y)1.150.59

Profitability

ROE (TTM)

United Airlines (UAL) at 22.31% sits in the top ROE quartile, while J.B. Hunt Transport Services (JBHT) at 18.77% is closer to the peer norm — stronger capital efficiency for UAL.

JBHT

Transportation industry group

18.77%

Max
45.08%
Q3
22.02%
JBHT
18.77%
Median
13.94%
Q1
2.89%
Min
-10.45%

UAL

Transportation industry group

22.31%

Max
45.08%
UAL
22.31%
Q3
22.02%
Median
13.94%
Q1
2.89%
Min
-10.45%
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J.B. Hunt Transport Services (JBHT) vs. United Airlines (UAL): A comparison of their ROE against the Transportation industry group benchmark.

Net Margin (TTM)

Both J.B. Hunt Transport Services (JBHT) at 5.07% and United Airlines (UAL) at 5.46% 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%

UAL

Transportation industry group

5.46%

Max
50.36%
Q3
21.18%
Median
5.58%
UAL
5.46%
Q1
1.55%
Min
-11.37%
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J.B. Hunt Transport Services (JBHT) vs. United Airlines (UAL): A comparison of their net margin against the Transportation industry group benchmark.

Operating Margin (TTM)

Both J.B. Hunt Transport Services (JBHT) at 6.72% and United Airlines (UAL) at 7.03% run core operations about as efficiently as their industries’ norm — neither stands out on operating profitability.

JBHT

Transportation industry group

6.72%

Max
59.18%
Q3
29.30%
Median
11.50%
JBHT
6.72%
Q1
4.62%
Min
-8.91%

UAL

Transportation industry group

7.03%

Max
59.18%
Q3
29.30%
Median
11.50%
UAL
7.03%
Q1
4.62%
Min
-8.91%
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J.B. Hunt Transport Services (JBHT) vs. United Airlines (UAL): A comparison of their operating margin against the Transportation industry group benchmark.

Profitability Metrics

Profitability metrics for J.B. Hunt Transport Services (JBHT) and United Airlines (UAL)
MetricJBHTUAL
ROE (TTM)18.77%22.31%
ROA (TTM)7.41%3.31%
Net Margin (TTM)5.07%5.46%
Operating Margin (TTM)6.72%7.03%
Gross Margin (TTM)17.88%30.87%

Growth

Revenue Growth

Both J.B. Hunt Transport Services (JBHT) at -0.73% and United Airlines (UAL) at 3.52% land near their industries' usual revenue growth ranges, so top-line momentum looks broadly in line with peers on both sides.

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J.B. Hunt Transport Services (JBHT) vs. United Airlines (UAL): A comparison of their Revenue Growth across different time periods.

EPS Growth

Both J.B. Hunt Transport Services (JBHT) at 10.07% and United Airlines (UAL) at 7.94% land near their industries' usual EPS growth ranges, so bottom-line momentum looks broadly in line with peers on both sides.

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J.B. Hunt Transport Services (JBHT) vs. United Airlines (UAL): A comparison of their EPS Growth across different time periods.

Growth Metrics

Growth metrics for J.B. Hunt Transport Services (JBHT) and United Airlines (UAL)
MetricJBHTUAL
Revenue Growth (YoY)-0.73%3.52%
Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR)-6.78%9.53%
EPS Growth (YoY)10.07%7.94%
EPS Growth (3Y CAGR)-12.74%66.00%

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 United Airlines (UAL) at 0.75 runs in the tighter-liquidity quartile — a thinner cushion against current liabilities for UAL.

JBHT

Transportation industry group

1.23

Max
2.58
Q3
1.62
JBHT
1.23
Median
1.16
Q1
0.78
Min
0.22

UAL

Transportation industry group

0.75

Max
2.58
Q3
1.62
Median
1.16
Q1
0.78
UAL
0.75
Min
0.22
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J.B. Hunt Transport Services (JBHT) vs. United Airlines (UAL): A comparison of their current ratio against the Transportation industry group benchmark.

Debt / Equity (MRQ)

J.B. Hunt Transport Services (JBHT) at 0.40 carries an industry-typical debt-to-equity mix, while United Airlines (UAL) at 1.93 uses more debt funding than most peers.

JBHT

Transportation industry group

0.40

Max
2.75
Q3
1.37
Median
0.78
JBHT
0.40
Q1
0.35
Min
0.00

UAL

Transportation industry group

1.93

Max
2.75
UAL
1.93
Q3
1.37
Median
0.78
Q1
0.35
Min
0.00
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J.B. Hunt Transport Services (JBHT) vs. United Airlines (UAL): A comparison of their debt-to-equity ratio against the Transportation industry group benchmark.

Financial Strength Metrics

Financial strength metrics for J.B. Hunt Transport Services (JBHT) and United Airlines (UAL)
MetricJBHTUAL
Current Ratio (MRQ)1.230.75
Debt / Equity (MRQ)0.401.93
Net Debt / EBITDA0.862.79

Dividends

Dividend Yield (TTM)

United Airlines (UAL) pays no dividend (yield 0.00%) — it may be reinvesting, using buybacks, or simply not returning cash through dividends. Meanwhile J.B. Hunt Transport Services (JBHT) reports a yield of 0.82%, ranking against industry peers normally.

JBHT

Transportation industry group

0.82%

Max
4.68%
Q3
1.99%
JBHT
0.82%
Median
0.74%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%

UAL

Transportation industry group

0.00%

Max
4.68%
Q3
1.99%
Median
0.74%
UAL
0.00%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%
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J.B. Hunt Transport Services (JBHT) vs. United Airlines (UAL): A comparison of their dividend yield against the Transportation industry group benchmark.

Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)

United Airlines (UAL) pays no dividend (payout 0.00%) — it may be reinvesting, using buybacks, or simply not returning cash through dividends. Meanwhile J.B. Hunt Transport Services (JBHT) reports a payout of 25.25%, ranking against industry peers normally.

JBHT

Transportation industry group

25.25%

Max
100.89%
Q3
41.68%
JBHT
25.25%
Median
20.43%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%

UAL

Transportation industry group

0.00%

Max
100.89%
Q3
41.68%
Median
20.43%
UAL
0.00%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%
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J.B. Hunt Transport Services (JBHT) vs. United Airlines (UAL): A comparison of their payout ratio against the Transportation industry group benchmark.

Dividend Metrics

Dividend metrics for J.B. Hunt Transport Services (JBHT) and United Airlines (UAL)
MetricJBHTUAL
Dividend Yield (TTM)0.82%0.00%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)25.25%0.00%

Valuation

P/E Ratio (TTM)

United Airlines (UAL) at 10.32 sits in the cheaper P/E ratio quartile, while J.B. Hunt Transport Services (JBHT) at 30.68 is closer to its industry’s usual earnings multiple — a discount for UAL, though growth and earnings durability still matter.

JBHT

Transportation industry group

30.68

Max
46.76
Q3
30.87
JBHT
30.68
Median
20.58
Q1
10.44
Min
0.00

UAL

Transportation industry group

10.32

Max
46.76
Q3
30.87
Median
20.58
Q1
10.44
UAL
10.32
Min
0.00
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J.B. Hunt Transport Services (JBHT) vs. United Airlines (UAL): A comparison of their P/E ratio against the Transportation industry group benchmark.

P/S Ratio (TTM)

On P/S ratio, both J.B. Hunt Transport Services (JBHT) at 1.52 and United Airlines (UAL) at 0.56 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

UAL

Transportation industry group

0.56

Max
4.35
Q3
2.07
Median
0.93
UAL
0.56
Q1
0.53
Min
0.04
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J.B. Hunt Transport Services (JBHT) vs. United Airlines (UAL): A comparison of their P/S ratio against the Transportation industry group benchmark.

P/B Ratio (MRQ)

United Airlines (UAL) at 2.06 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

UAL

Transportation industry group

2.06

Max
6.29
Q3
3.39
UAL
2.06
Median
1.90
Q1
1.03
Min
-2.07
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J.B. Hunt Transport Services (JBHT) vs. United Airlines (UAL): A comparison of their P/B ratio against the Transportation industry group benchmark.

Valuation Metrics

Valuation metrics for J.B. Hunt Transport Services (JBHT) and United Airlines (UAL)
MetricJBHTUAL
P/E Ratio (TTM)30.6810.32
P/S Ratio (TTM)1.520.56
P/B Ratio (MRQ)5.582.06
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)4.15%-1.57%