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JBHT vs. ZTO: J.B. Hunt Transport Services vs. ZTO Express (Cayman) Stock Comparison

How do J.B. Hunt Transport Services (JBHT) and ZTO Express (Cayman) (ZTO) 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 ZTO Express (Cayman) (ZTO) both fall under the Transportation industry group, but JBHT is classified in Ground Transportation while ZTO is classified in Air Freight & Logistics.

J.B. Hunt Transport Services (JBHT) trades as ordinary local shares, while ZTO Express (Cayman) (ZTO) trades as an ADR — compare with FX exposure, depositary-program fees, and dividend-withholding-tax differences in mind.

Company profile comparison for J.B. Hunt Transport Services (JBHT) and ZTO Express (Cayman) (ZTO)
Profile ItemJBHTZTO
NameJ.B. Hunt Transport Services, Inc.ZTO Express (Cayman) Inc. ADR
Country/RegionUnited StatesChina
GICS SectorIndustrialsIndustrials
GICS Industry GroupTransportationTransportation
GICS IndustryGround TransportationAir Freight & Logistics
GICS Sub-IndustryCargo Ground TransportationAir Freight & Logistics
Market Capitalization20.28 billion USD15.53 billion USD
CurrencyUSDUSD
ExchangeNasdaqNYSE
Listing DateNovember 22, 1983October 27, 2016
Security TypeCommon StockADR

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

JBHT
ZTO
GSPC
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J.B. Hunt Transport Services (JBHT) vs. ZTO Express (Cayman) (ZTO), 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 ZTO Express (Cayman) (ZTO). 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 ZTO Express (Cayman) (ZTO). 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 ZTO Express (Cayman) (ZTO)
MetricJBHTZTO
Total Return (1Y)32.27%11.22%
Total Return (3Y, Annualized)10.37%-1.86%
Total Return (5Y, Annualized)3.78%-3.82%

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

JBHT
ZTO
GSPC
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J.B. Hunt Transport Services (JBHT) vs. ZTO Express (Cayman) (ZTO), 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 ZTO Express (Cayman) (ZTO). Each bar is the share of months whose return fell in that 5% bucket.

Risk Metrics

ZTO Express (Cayman) (ZTO) reports a negative beta of -0.18, suggesting inverse market sensitivity over the measurement window. That is uncommon for ordinary equities and can reflect commodity-linked or hedge-like exposure, but it can also come from statistical noise. J.B. Hunt Transport Services (JBHT) has a non-negative beta of 1.25.

Risk profile metrics for J.B. Hunt Transport Services (JBHT) and ZTO Express (Cayman) (ZTO)
MetricJBHTZTO
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)34.65%24.57%
Beta (5Y)1.25-0.18
Max Drawdown (5Y)-42.42%-49.55%
Avg. Volume (3M)976.33K2.26M

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

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JBHT and ZTO 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 ZTO Express (Cayman) (ZTO)
MetricJBHTZTO
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)0.810.28
Sortino Ratio (1Y)1.150.40

Profitability

ROE (TTM)

Both J.B. Hunt Transport Services (JBHT) at 18.77% and ZTO Express (Cayman) (ZTO) at 16.28% 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%

ZTO

Transportation industry group

16.28%

Max
45.08%
Q3
22.02%
ZTO
16.28%
Median
13.94%
Q1
2.89%
Min
-10.45%
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J.B. Hunt Transport Services (JBHT) vs. ZTO Express (Cayman) (ZTO): 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 ZTO Express (Cayman) (ZTO) at 19.04% 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%

ZTO

Transportation industry group

19.04%

Max
50.36%
Q3
21.18%
ZTO
19.04%
Median
5.58%
Q1
1.55%
Min
-11.37%
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J.B. Hunt Transport Services (JBHT) vs. ZTO Express (Cayman) (ZTO): 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 ZTO Express (Cayman) (ZTO) at 22.19% 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%

ZTO

Transportation industry group

22.19%

Max
59.18%
Q3
29.30%
ZTO
22.19%
Median
11.50%
Q1
4.62%
Min
-8.91%
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J.B. Hunt Transport Services (JBHT) vs. ZTO Express (Cayman) (ZTO): A comparison of their operating margin against the Transportation industry group benchmark.

Profitability Metrics

Profitability metrics for J.B. Hunt Transport Services (JBHT) and ZTO Express (Cayman) (ZTO)
MetricJBHTZTO
ROE (TTM)18.77%16.28%
ROA (TTM)7.41%7.38%
Net Margin (TTM)5.07%19.04%
Operating Margin (TTM)6.72%22.19%
Gross Margin (TTM)17.88%25.10%

Growth

Revenue Growth

ZTO Express (Cayman) (ZTO) at 10.88% sits in the top revenue growth quartile, while J.B. Hunt Transport Services (JBHT) at -0.73% is closer to the peer norm — faster top-line expansion for ZTO.

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J.B. Hunt Transport Services (JBHT) vs. ZTO Express (Cayman) (ZTO): A comparison of their Revenue Growth across different time periods.

EPS Growth

Both J.B. Hunt Transport Services (JBHT) at 10.07% and ZTO Express (Cayman) (ZTO) at 4.58% 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. ZTO Express (Cayman) (ZTO): A comparison of their EPS Growth across different time periods.

Growth Metrics

Growth metrics for J.B. Hunt Transport Services (JBHT) and ZTO Express (Cayman) (ZTO)
MetricJBHTZTO
Revenue Growth (YoY)-0.73%10.88%
Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR)-6.78%11.54%
EPS Growth (YoY)10.07%4.58%
EPS Growth (3Y CAGR)-12.74%10.21%

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 ZTO Express (Cayman) (ZTO) at 1.67 sits above its industry’s typical mid-range — comfortable liquidity, though possibly with more idle current assets 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

ZTO

Transportation industry group

1.67

Max
2.58
ZTO
1.67
Q3
1.62
Median
1.16
Q1
0.78
Min
0.22
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J.B. Hunt Transport Services (JBHT) vs. ZTO Express (Cayman) (ZTO): A comparison of their current ratio against the Transportation industry group benchmark.

Debt / Equity (MRQ)

Both J.B. Hunt Transport Services (JBHT) at 0.40 and ZTO Express (Cayman) (ZTO) at 0.35 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

ZTO

Transportation industry group

0.35

Max
2.75
Q3
1.37
Median
0.78
ZTO
0.35
Q1
0.35
Min
0.00
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J.B. Hunt Transport Services (JBHT) vs. ZTO Express (Cayman) (ZTO): 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 ZTO Express (Cayman) (ZTO)
MetricJBHTZTO
Current Ratio (MRQ)1.231.67
Debt / Equity (MRQ)0.400.35
Net Debt / EBITDA0.86-0.62

Dividends

Dividend Yield (TTM)

J.B. Hunt Transport Services (JBHT) at 0.82% pays an industry-typical yield; ZTO Express (Cayman) (ZTO) at 12.89% is above its entire peer range — the higher number, but one that calls for a look at payout sustainability before treating it as an advantage.

JBHT

Transportation industry group

0.82%

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

ZTO

Transportation industry group

12.89%

ZTO
12.89%
Max
4.68%
Q3
1.99%
Median
0.74%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%
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J.B. Hunt Transport Services (JBHT) vs. ZTO Express (Cayman) (ZTO): A comparison of their dividend yield against the Transportation industry group benchmark.

Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)

Both J.B. Hunt Transport Services (JBHT) at 25.25% and ZTO Express (Cayman) (ZTO) at 38.36% 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%

ZTO

Transportation industry group

38.36%

Max
100.89%
Q3
41.68%
ZTO
38.36%
Median
20.43%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%
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J.B. Hunt Transport Services (JBHT) vs. ZTO Express (Cayman) (ZTO): A comparison of their payout ratio against the Transportation industry group benchmark.

Dividend Metrics

Dividend metrics for J.B. Hunt Transport Services (JBHT) and ZTO Express (Cayman) (ZTO)
MetricJBHTZTO
Dividend Yield (TTM)0.82%12.89%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)25.25%38.36%

Valuation

P/E Ratio (TTM)

Both J.B. Hunt Transport Services (JBHT) at 30.68 and ZTO Express (Cayman) (ZTO) at 11.37 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

ZTO

Transportation industry group

11.37

Max
46.76
Q3
30.87
Median
20.58
ZTO
11.37
Q1
10.44
Min
0.00
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J.B. Hunt Transport Services (JBHT) vs. ZTO Express (Cayman) (ZTO): A comparison of their P/E ratio against the Transportation industry group benchmark.

P/S Ratio (TTM)

ZTO Express (Cayman) (ZTO) at 0.29 sits in the cheaper P/S ratio quartile while J.B. Hunt Transport Services (JBHT) at 1.52 prices around its industry’s middle — ZTO costs less per dollar of sales, though read it alongside growth and margins.

JBHT

Transportation industry group

1.52

Max
4.35
Q3
2.07
JBHT
1.52
Median
0.93
Q1
0.53
Min
0.04

ZTO

Transportation industry group

0.29

Max
4.35
Q3
2.07
Median
0.93
Q1
0.53
ZTO
0.29
Min
0.04
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J.B. Hunt Transport Services (JBHT) vs. ZTO Express (Cayman) (ZTO): A comparison of their P/S ratio against the Transportation industry group benchmark.

P/B Ratio (MRQ)

ZTO Express (Cayman) (ZTO) at 1.66 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

ZTO

Transportation industry group

1.66

Max
6.29
Q3
3.39
Median
1.90
ZTO
1.66
Q1
1.03
Min
-2.07
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J.B. Hunt Transport Services (JBHT) vs. ZTO Express (Cayman) (ZTO): 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 ZTO Express (Cayman) (ZTO)
MetricJBHTZTO
P/E Ratio (TTM)30.6811.37
P/S Ratio (TTM)1.520.29
P/B Ratio (MRQ)5.581.66
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)4.15%41.42%