We recently published a list of 12 Best Freight Stocks to Buy According to Hedge Funds. In this article, we are going to take a look at where J.B. Hunt Transport Services, Inc. (NASDAQ:JBHT) stands against other best freight stocks to buy according to hedge funds.
Freight stocks are often perceived as boring if compared to the flashy technology and AI stocks, but they are actually the blood of the global economy – the freight sector is the backbone of trade and the gross domestic product of every country. In essence, any good produced and sold was almost certain to have been involved in transportation, often several times at different stages of the supply chain. This means that freight companies are able to capture a small share of the giant gross domestic product, which makes the overall sector a huge size.
The key growth drivers of freight activity are trade volumes, fuel prices (cheap fuel is a huge profitability boost), public spending on large projects like infrastructure, and the level of manufacturing activity. Consequently, freight stocks thrive during periods of strong economic growth, supported by affordable energy prices and low interest rates, as well as a calm geopolitical landscape that ensures the free flow of goods. Conversely, the whole transportation sector tends to underperform during sluggish economic conditions, featuring mediocre construction and manufacturing activities, slowdowns in both public and private spending, and other macro headwinds like high interest rates and inflation, which pressure consumption on a large scale.
READ ALSO: 10 Best Transportation Stocks to Buy According to Hedge Funds
The year 2024 was not the best for freight activity in the US, as almost 2 years of high interest rates and past inflation finally took a toll on consumption, industrial activity, and construction. Last year, while strong from a valuation standpoint and stock market returns, it actually brought a significant slowdown in consumer spending, residential construction, automotive volumes, and industrial production. There were pockets of strength in data center construction, public construction (as fueled by the Infrastructure Act), and some industrial niches, but that was not enough to fuel growth for freight stocks. As a result, the whole sector underperformed the broad market and reached a new 5-year low (relative to the broad market) by year-end. Furthermore, the new US administration brought even more challenges into 2025 – the cut in public spending is likely to eliminate some of the pockets of strength mentioned above, while the tariff threats are a huge headwind for commerce and the flow of goods.
The Atlanta Fed and other reputable research boutiques have drastically cut their estimates of GDP growth for 2025, which puts transportation stocks out of favor again. However, according to the principles of value investing, the trough of the business cycle, when stocks are trading at or near their lows, is the best time to acquire good companies at exceptional prices. As legendary investors like Warren Buffet and Peter Lynch have taught us, valuations certainly do matter for long-term stock returns, meaning that periods of underperformance are opportunities to acquire stocks at bargain prices.
We also believe that the long-term picture remains favorable, and there are reasons to expect a reacceleration in GDP growth and freight volumes at some point in 2H 2025 or 2026, once the current challenges are navigated. The main reason for long-term optimism is that the outlook on the construction sector is favorable due to a chronically undersupplied residential housing market and the aging of infrastructure in the US. Second, industrial activity will also have to rebound at some point, and we believe that lower interest rates over time will unmute the “Roaring 2020s” tailwinds in such areas as electric vehicle production, energy grid, and automation – all of these will bring higher volumes for the freight sector. The key takeaway for readers is that we may be at an opportune time to acquire freight stocks at bargain prices ahead of a broad economic recovery over the next 1-2 years.
Our Methodology
We used a stock screener and thematic ETFs to shortlist 40-50 companies operating in the freight space, which includes the “Integrated Freight & Logistics” and “Trucking” industries. Then we compared the list with our proprietary database of hedge funds’ ownership and included in the article the top 12 stocks with the largest number of hedge funds owning the stock as of Q4 2024. All stocks are ranked in ascending order.
Why are we interested in the stocks that hedge funds pile into? The reason is simple: our research has shown that we can outperform the market by imitating the top stock picks of the best hedge funds. Our quarterly newsletter’s strategy selects 14 small-cap and large-cap stocks every quarter and has returned 373.4% since May 2014, beating its benchmark by 218 percentage points (see more details here).
A truck on a highway, its exhausts billowing in the air.
J.B. Hunt Transport Services, Inc. (NASDAQ:JBHT)
Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 47
J.B. Hunt Transport Services, Inc. (NASDAQ:JBHT) is a transportation company that offers a diversified range of services, ranging from truckload shipping and intermodal transport to auxiliary solutions like dedicated contract services and final mile services. JBHT uses its own innovative technology platform (J. B. Hunt 360) to make its operations more transparent and help clients manage some of the processes themselves. The company is also known for continuous innovation and reinvestments into its operations to remain competitive and meet the evolving needs of its clients.
J.B. Hunt Transport Services, Inc. (NASDAQ:JBHT) delivered strong operational performance in 2024 despite challenging market conditions, with particular success in service execution and safety performance. The company achieved record Intermodal volumes for two consecutive quarters while maintaining high service levels, demonstrating operational excellence during peak season. The Dedicated Contract Services business showed remarkable resilience with solid visibility for future growth, though some fleet losses are expected to continue through early Q2 2025. Financial results for Q4 2024 showed revenue declining 5% YoY, while operating income increased 2%, and diluted EPS increased 4%.
Looking ahead to 2025, J.B. Hunt Transport Services, Inc. (NASDAQ:JBHT) faces continued inflationary cost pressures in insurance premiums and people costs, despite record safety performance. Management is focused on improving margins and returns on capital, with a clear strategy to scale into their investments and grow the business. The company’s strategic investments, including the acquisition of Walmart’s Intermodal assets, are expected to enhance future earnings potential. Capital expenditures for 2025 are projected between $700 million and $900 million, up from $674 million in 2024, reflecting the company’s commitment to growth. We include JBHT on our list of best freight stocks as its strong reinvestments into the business position the company well for future growth.
Overall, JBHT ranks 5th on our list of best best freight stocks to buy according to hedge funds. While we acknowledge the potential of JBHT, our conviction lies in the belief that AI stocks hold greater promise for delivering higher returns, and doing so within a shorter time frame. There is an AI stock that went up since the beginning of 2025, while popular AI stocks lost around 25%. If you are looking for an AI stock that is more promising than JBHT but that trades at less than 5 times its earnings, check out our report about this cheapest AI stock.
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Disclosure: None. This article is originally published at Insider Monkey.
