WERN
Werner Enterprises, Inc.
Trucking
Market Cap$2.18B
5Y Perf.-21.2%
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Stock Comparison
WERN vs JBHT
Revenue, margins, valuation, and 5-year total return — side by side.
JBHT
J.B. Hunt Transport Services, Inc.
Integrated Freight & Logistics
Market Cap$23.27B
5Y Perf.+105.5%
WERN vs JBHT — Key Financials
Market cap, revenue, margins, and valuation side-by-side.
| Company Snapshot | WERN | JBHT |
|---|---|---|
| Industry | Trucking | Integrated Freight & Logistics |
| Market Cap | $2.18B | $23.27B |
| Revenue (TTM) | $2.97B | $12.00B |
| Net Income (TTM) | $-14M | $598M |
| Gross Margin | 8.3% | 14.0% |
| Operating Margin | 1.9% | 7.2% |
| Forward P/E | 39.8x | 33.6x |
| Total Debt | $752M | $1.47B |
| Cash & Equiv. | $60M | $17M |
WERN vs JBHT — Long-Term Stock Performance
Price return indexed to 100 at period start. Dividends excluded.
WERN
JBHT
| Stock | May 20 | May 26 | Return |
|---|---|---|---|
| Werner Enterprises,… (WERN) | 100 | 78.8 | -21.2% |
| J.B. Hunt Transport… (JBHT) | 100 | 205.5 | +105.5% |
Price return only. Dividends and distributions are not included.
Quick Verdict: WERN vs JBHT
Each card shows where this stock fits in a portfolio — not just who wins on paper.
Bottom line: JBHT leads in 6 of 7 categories, making it the strongest pick for growth and revenue expansion and valuation and capital efficiency. Werner Enterprises, Inc. is the stronger pick specifically for dividend income and shareholder returns. As sector peers, any of these can serve as alternatives in the same allocation.
WERN
Werner Enterprises, Inc.
The Defensive Pick
WERN is the clearest fit if your priority is defensive.
- Beta 1.24, yield 1.5%, current ratio 1.94x
- 1.5% yield, 5-year raise streak, vs JBHT's 0.7%
Best for: defensive
JBHT
J.B. Hunt Transport Services, Inc.
The Income Pick
JBHT carries the broadest edge in this set and is the clearest fit for income & stability and growth exposure.
- Dividend streak 12 yrs, beta 1.07, yield 0.7%
- Rev growth -0.7%, EPS growth 10.1%, 3Y rev CAGR -6.8%
- 211.3% 10Y total return vs WERN's 76.0%
Best for: income & stability and growth exposure
See the full category breakdown
| Category | Winner | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Growth | JBHT | -0.7% revenue growth vs WERN's -1.8% |
| Value | JBHT | Lower P/E (33.6x vs 39.8x) |
| Quality / Margins | JBHT | 5.0% margin vs WERN's -0.5% |
| Stability / Safety | JBHT | Beta 1.07 vs WERN's 1.24, lower leverage |
| Dividends | WERN | 1.5% yield, 5-year raise streak, vs JBHT's 0.7% |
| Momentum (1Y) | JBHT | +89.3% vs WERN's +46.8% |
| Efficiency (ROA) | JBHT | 7.5% ROA vs WERN's -0.5%, ROIC 12.0% vs 2.5% |
WERN vs JBHT — Revenue Breakdown by Segment
How each company's revenue is distributed across its business units
FY 2025
FY 2025
WERN vs JBHT — Financial Metrics
Side-by-side numbers across 2 stocks — who leads on profitability, valuation, growth, and risk.
BEST OVERALLJBHTLAGGINGWERN
WERNWerner Enterprises, I…
1leads
JBHTJ.B. Hunt Transport S…
4leads
6 Total Categories
CATEGORYLEADERvs WERNMETRICS WON
Income & Cash FlowRevenue, margins, and cash flow strength
JBHT6/6
Valuation MetricsMultiples, price ratios, and targets
WERN4/5
Profitability & EfficiencyROE, ROIC, leverage, and quality scores
JBHT7/9
Total Returns1Y, 3Y, 5Y total returns with dividends
JBHT6/6
Risk & VolatilityBeta, volatility, and downside exposure
JBHT2/2
Analyst OutlookRatings, price targets, and dividends
Tied
—
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
JBHT leads this category, winning 6 of 6 comparable metrics.
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
JBHT is the larger business by revenue, generating $12.0B annually — 4.0x WERN's $3.0B. JBHT is the more profitable business, keeping 5.0% of every revenue dollar as net income compared to WERN's -0.5%.
| Metric | WERNWerner Enterprise… | JBHTJ.B. Hunt Transpo… |
|---|---|---|
| RevenueTrailing 12 months | $3.0B | $12.0B |
| EBITDAEarnings before interest/tax | $343M | $1.6B |
| Net IncomeAfter-tax profit | -$14M | $598M |
| Free Cash FlowCash after capex | -$69M | $948M |
| Gross MarginGross profit ÷ Revenue | +8.3% | +14.0% |
| Operating MarginEBIT ÷ Revenue | +1.9% | +7.2% |
| Net MarginNet income ÷ Revenue | -0.5% | +5.0% |
| FCF MarginFCF ÷ Revenue | -2.3% | +7.9% |
| Rev. Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | -2.3% | -1.6% |
| EPS Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | -3.4% | +24.2% |
JBHT leads this category, winning 6 of 6 comparable metrics.
Valuation Metrics
WERN leads this category, winning 4 of 5 comparable metrics.
Valuation Metrics
On an enterprise value basis, WERN's 8.1x EV/EBITDA is more attractive than JBHT's 15.6x.
| Metric | WERNWerner Enterprise… | JBHTJ.B. Hunt Transpo… |
|---|---|---|
| Market CapShares × price | $2.2B | $23.3B |
| Enterprise ValueMkt cap + debt − cash | $2.9B | $24.7B |
| Trailing P/EPrice ÷ TTM EPS | -151.67x | 40.19x |
| Forward P/EPrice ÷ next-FY EPS est. | 39.82x | 33.55x |
| PEG RatioP/E ÷ EPS growth rate | — | 7.66x |
| EV / EBITDAEnterprise value multiple | 8.07x | 15.64x |
| Price / SalesMarket cap ÷ Revenue | 0.73x | 1.94x |
| Price / BookPrice ÷ Book value/share | 1.59x | 6.74x |
| Price / FCFMarket cap ÷ FCF | — | 24.55x |
WERN leads this category, winning 4 of 5 comparable metrics.
Profitability & Efficiency
JBHT leads this category, winning 7 of 9 comparable metrics.
Profitability & Efficiency
JBHT delivers a 16.8% return on equity — every $100 of shareholder capital generates $17 in annual profit, vs $-1 for WERN. JBHT carries lower financial leverage with a 0.41x debt-to-equity ratio, signaling a more conservative balance sheet compared to WERN's 0.54x. On the Piotroski fundamental quality scale (0–9), JBHT scores 7/9 vs WERN's 5/9, reflecting strong financial health.
| Metric | WERNWerner Enterprise… | JBHTJ.B. Hunt Transpo… |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM)Return on equity | -1.0% | +16.8% |
| ROA (TTM)Return on assets | -0.5% | +7.5% |
| ROICReturn on invested capital | +2.5% | +12.0% |
| ROCEReturn on capital employed | +2.6% | +13.5% |
| Piotroski ScoreFundamental quality 0–9 | 5 | 7 |
| Debt / EquityFinancial leverage | 0.54x | 0.41x |
| Net DebtTotal debt minus cash | $692M | $1.4B |
| Cash & Equiv.Liquid assets | $60M | $17M |
| Total DebtShort + long-term debt | $752M | $1.5B |
| Interest CoverageEBIT ÷ Interest expense | 0.47x | 12.19x |
JBHT leads this category, winning 7 of 9 comparable metrics.
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
JBHT leads this category, winning 6 of 6 comparable metrics.
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
A $10,000 investment in JBHT five years ago would be worth $14,526 today (with dividends reinvested), compared to $8,167 for WERN. Over the past 12 months, JBHT leads with a +89.3% total return vs WERN's +46.8%. The 3-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) favors JBHT at 12.1% vs WERN's -5.8% — a key indicator of consistent wealth creation.
| Metric | WERNWerner Enterprise… | JBHTJ.B. Hunt Transpo… |
|---|---|---|
| YTD ReturnYear-to-date | +19.8% | +25.2% |
| 1-Year ReturnPast 12 months | +46.8% | +89.3% |
| 3-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | -16.4% | +40.9% |
| 5-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | -18.3% | +45.3% |
| 10-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +76.0% | +211.3% |
| CAGR (3Y)Annualised 3-year return | -5.8% | +12.1% |
JBHT leads this category, winning 6 of 6 comparable metrics.
Risk & Volatility
JBHT leads this category, winning 2 of 2 comparable metrics.
Risk & Volatility
JBHT is the less volatile stock with a 1.07 beta — it tends to amplify market swings less than WERN's 1.24 beta. A beta below 1.0 means the stock typically moves less than the S&P 500.
| Metric | WERNWerner Enterprise… | JBHTJ.B. Hunt Transpo… |
|---|---|---|
| Beta (5Y)Sensitivity to S&P 500 | 1.24x | 1.07x |
| 52-Week HighHighest price in past year | $38.46 | $256.18 |
| 52-Week LowLowest price in past year | $23.06 | $130.12 |
| % of 52W HighCurrent price vs 52-week peak | +94.6% | +96.0% |
| RSI (14)Momentum oscillator 0–100 | 58.9 | 55.8 |
| Avg Volume (50D)Average daily shares traded | 1.0M | 896K |
JBHT leads this category, winning 2 of 2 comparable metrics.
Analyst Outlook
Evenly matched — WERN and JBHT each lead in 1 of 2 comparable metrics.
Analyst Outlook
Wall Street rates WERN as "Hold" and JBHT as "Buy". Consensus price targets imply -0.8% upside for WERN (target: $36) vs -8.6% for JBHT (target: $225). For income investors, WERN offers the higher dividend yield at 1.54% vs JBHT's 0.71%.
| Metric | WERNWerner Enterprise… | JBHTJ.B. Hunt Transpo… |
|---|---|---|
| Analyst RatingConsensus buy/hold/sell | Hold | Buy |
| Price TargetConsensus 12-month target | $36.10 | $224.88 |
| # AnalystsCovering analysts | 36 | 45 |
| Dividend YieldAnnual dividend ÷ price | +1.5% | +0.7% |
| Dividend StreakConsecutive years of raises | 5 | 12 |
| Dividend / ShareAnnual DPS | $0.56 | $1.75 |
| Buyback YieldShare repurchases ÷ mkt cap | +2.5% | 0.0% |
Evenly matched — WERN and JBHT each lead in 1 of 2 comparable metrics.
Key Takeaway
JBHT leads in 4 of 6 categories (Income & Cash Flow, Profitability & Efficiency). WERN leads in 1 (Valuation Metrics). 1 tied.
Best OverallJ.B. Hunt Transport Service… (JBHT)Leads 4 of 6 categories
Loading custom metrics...
WERN vs JBHT: Frequently Asked Questions
10 questions · data-driven answers · updated daily
01Is WERN or JBHT a better buy right now?
For growth investors, J.
B. Hunt Transport Services, Inc. (JBHT) is the stronger pick with -0. 7% revenue growth year-over-year, versus -1. 8% for Werner Enterprises, Inc. (WERN). J. B. Hunt Transport Services, Inc. (JBHT) offers the better valuation at 40. 2x trailing P/E (33. 6x 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.
02Which has the better valuation — WERN or JBHT?
On forward P/E, J.
B. Hunt Transport Services, Inc. is actually cheaper at 33. 6x.
03Which is the better long-term investment — WERN or JBHT?
Over the past 5 years, J.
B. Hunt Transport Services, Inc. (JBHT) delivered a total return of +45. 3%, compared to -18. 3% for Werner Enterprises, Inc. (WERN). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: JBHT returned +211. 3% versus WERN's +76. 0%. Past returns do not guarantee future results, and the stock with the higher historical return may already have its best growth priced in.
04Which is safer — WERN or JBHT?
By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), J.
B. Hunt Transport Services, Inc. (JBHT) is the lower-risk stock at 1. 07β versus Werner Enterprises, Inc. 's 1. 24β — meaning WERN is approximately 16% 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 54% for Werner Enterprises, Inc. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.
05Which is growing faster — WERN or JBHT?
By revenue growth (latest reported year), J.
B. Hunt Transport Services, Inc. (JBHT) is pulling ahead at -0. 7% versus -1. 8% for Werner Enterprises, Inc. (WERN). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: J. B. Hunt Transport Services, Inc. grew EPS 10. 1% year-over-year, compared to -143. 6% for Werner Enterprises, Inc.. Over a 3-year CAGR, WERN leads at -3. 3% 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.
06Which has better profit margins — WERN or JBHT?
J.
B. Hunt Transport Services, Inc. (JBHT) is the more profitable company, earning 5. 0% net margin versus -0. 5% for Werner Enterprises, Inc. — meaning it keeps 5. 0% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: JBHT leads at 7. 2% versus 2. 3% for WERN. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — JBHT leads at 10. 5%, 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.
07Is WERN or JBHT more undervalued right now?
On forward earnings alone, J.
B. Hunt Transport Services, Inc. (JBHT) trades at 33. 6x forward P/E versus 39. 8x for Werner Enterprises, Inc. — 6. 3x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for WERN: -0. 8% to $36. 10.
08Which pays a better dividend — WERN or JBHT?
All stocks in this comparison pay dividends.
Werner Enterprises, Inc. (WERN) offers the highest yield at 1. 5%, versus 0. 7% for J. B. Hunt Transport Services, Inc. (JBHT).
09Is WERN or JBHT better for a retirement portfolio?
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, +211. 3% 10Y return). Both have compounded well over 10 years (JBHT: +211. 3%, WERN: +76. 0%), 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.
10What are the main differences between WERN and JBHT?
Both stocks operate in the Industrials sector, making this a peer-level intra-sector comparison — the same macro tailwinds and headwinds will affect both.
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.
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