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.
| Profile Item | JBHT | ZTO |
|---|---|---|
| Name | J.B. Hunt Transport Services, Inc. | ZTO Express (Cayman) Inc. ADR |
| Country/Region | United States | China |
| GICS Sector | Industrials | Industrials |
| GICS Industry Group | Transportation | Transportation |
| GICS Industry | Ground Transportation | Air Freight & Logistics |
| GICS Sub-Industry | Cargo Ground Transportation | Air Freight & Logistics |
| Market Capitalization | 20.28 billion USD | 15.53 billion USD |
| Currency | USD | USD |
| Exchange | Nasdaq | NYSE |
| Listing Date | November 22, 1983 | October 27, 2016 |
| Security Type | Common Stock | ADR |
Price Performance
Cumulative Growth
Trailing Returns
Calendar-Year Returns
Performance Metrics
| Metric | JBHT | ZTO |
|---|---|---|
| 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
Return Distribution
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.
| Metric | JBHT | ZTO |
|---|---|---|
| Volatility (1Y, Annualized) | 34.65% | 24.57% |
| Beta (5Y) | 1.25 | -0.18 |
| Max Drawdown (5Y) | -42.42% | -49.55% |
| Avg. Volume (3M) | 976.33K | 2.26M |
Risk-Adjusted Performance
Risk-Return Positioning
Risk-Adjusted Metrics
| Metric | JBHT | ZTO |
|---|---|---|
| Sharpe Ratio (1Y) | 0.81 | 0.28 |
| Sortino Ratio (1Y) | 1.15 | 0.40 |
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%
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%
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%
Profitability Metrics
| Metric | JBHT | ZTO |
|---|---|---|
| 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.
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.
Growth Metrics
| Metric | JBHT | ZTO |
|---|---|---|
| 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
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
Financial Strength Metrics
| Metric | JBHT | ZTO |
|---|---|---|
| Current Ratio (MRQ) | 1.23 | 1.67 |
| Debt / Equity (MRQ) | 0.40 | 0.35 |
| Net Debt / EBITDA | 0.86 | -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%
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%
Dividend Metrics
| Metric | JBHT | ZTO |
|---|---|---|
| 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
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
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
Valuation Metrics
| Metric | JBHT | ZTO |
|---|---|---|
| P/E Ratio (TTM) | 30.68 | 11.37 |
| P/S Ratio (TTM) | 1.52 | 0.29 |
| P/B Ratio (MRQ) | 5.58 | 1.66 |
| Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM) | 4.15% | 41.42% |