JBHT vs XPO

For growth investors, XPO Logistics, Inc.

(XPO) is the stronger pick with 1. 1% revenue growth year-over-year, versus -0. 7% for J. B. Hunt Transport Services, Inc. (JBHT). J. B. Hunt Transport Services, Inc. (JBHT) offers the better valuation at 39. 6x trailing P/E (33. 0x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate J. B. Hunt Transport Services, Inc. (JBHT) a "Buy" — based on 45 analyst ratings — the highest consensus in this comparison. The "better buy" depends entirely on your goals: growth investors should weight revenue trajectory, value investors should weight P/E and PEG, and income investors should weight dividend yield and streak.

On trailing P/E, J.

B. Hunt Transport Services, Inc. (JBHT) is the cheapest at 39. 6x versus XPO Logistics, Inc. at 78. 3x. On forward P/E, J. B. Hunt Transport Services, Inc. is actually cheaper at 33. 0x. The PEG ratio (P/E divided by earnings growth rate) is the most growth-adjusted single valuation metric: XPO Logistics, Inc. wins at 1. 59x versus J. B. Hunt Transport Services, Inc. 's 6. 30x — a reasonable growth-adjusted valuation.

Over the past 5 years, XPO Logistics, Inc.

(XPO) delivered a total return of +306. 8%, compared to +40. 2% for J. B. Hunt Transport Services, Inc. (JBHT). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: XPO returned +21. 5% versus JBHT's +203. 9%. Past returns do not guarantee future results, and the stock with the higher historical return may already have its best growth priced in.

By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), J.

B. Hunt Transport Services, Inc. (JBHT) is the lower-risk stock at 1. 07β versus XPO Logistics, Inc. 's 1. 73β — meaning XPO is approximately 62% more volatile than JBHT relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, J. B. Hunt Transport Services, Inc. (JBHT) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 41% versus 3% for XPO Logistics, Inc. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

By revenue growth (latest reported year), XPO Logistics, Inc.

(XPO) is pulling ahead at 1. 1% versus -0. 7% for J. B. Hunt Transport Services, Inc. (JBHT). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: J. B. Hunt Transport Services, Inc. grew EPS 10. 1% year-over-year, compared to -18. 3% for XPO Logistics, Inc.. Over a 3-year CAGR, XPO leads at 1. 9% annualised revenue growth. Higher growth typically commands a higher valuation multiple — check whether the premium P/E or P/S is justified by the growth rate using the PEG ratio.

J.

B. Hunt Transport Services, Inc. (JBHT) is the more profitable company, earning 5. 0% net margin versus 3. 9% for XPO Logistics, Inc. — meaning it keeps 5. 0% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: XPO leads at 8. 9% versus 7. 2% for JBHT. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — XPO leads at 12. 0%, reflecting greater pricing power or product mix advantage. Stronger margins indicate durable pricing power, lower cost of revenue, or higher mix of software/services. They are one of the clearest signs of business quality.

The PEG ratio (forward P/E divided by expected earnings growth rate) is the most precise measure of undervaluation relative to growth potential.

By this metric, XPO Logistics, Inc. (XPO) is the more undervalued stock at a PEG of 1. 59x versus J. B. Hunt Transport Services, Inc. 's 6. 30x. Both stocks trade at elevated growth-adjusted valuations, so expected growth needs to materialise. On forward earnings alone, J. B. Hunt Transport Services, Inc. (JBHT) trades at 33. 0x forward P/E versus 43. 9x for XPO Logistics, Inc. — 10. 9x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for XPO: 1. 1% to $209. 07.

In this comparison, JBHT (0.

7% yield) pays a dividend. XPO does not pay a meaningful dividend and should not be held primarily for income.

For long-horizon retirement investors, J.

B. Hunt Transport Services, Inc. (JBHT) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 1. 07), 0. 7% yield, +203. 9% 10Y return). XPO Logistics, Inc. (XPO) carries a higher beta of 1. 73 — meaning larger drawdowns in market downturns, which matters significantly when you cannot wait years for a recovery. Both have compounded well over 10 years (JBHT: +203. 9%, XPO: +21. 5%), confirming both are viable long-term holds — but the lower-volatility option typically results in less emotional selling during corrections. Retirement portfolios generally favour predictability over maximum returns. Consult a financial advisor before making allocation decisions.

Both stocks operate in the Industrials sector, making this a peer-level intra-sector comparison — the same macro tailwinds and headwinds will affect both.

JBHT pays a dividend while XPO does not, making them suitable for different income and tax situations. These fundamental differences mean investors should not choose between them on a single metric — the "better stock" depends entirely on which of these characteristics aligns with your investment strategy.