First look: J.B. Hunt’s Q4 beats consensus

J.B. Hunt Transport Services beat fourth-quarter earnings expectations Thursday after the market closed. Consolidated revenue fell 2% year over year but operating income was up 11% (19% higher including one-time prior-year charges). Better productivity and cost takeouts drove the improvement. The company previously implemented a $100-million cost reduction program, which management expects to add to over time. It has said the cost elimination is structural and that these expenses won’t come back as volume ...