JBHT vs ODFL Stock Comparison: AI Score, Valuation, Performance and Upside
JB Hunt and Old Dominion both represent leading operators within their respective freight transportation modes, with JB Hunt built around intermodal rail freight and dedicated contract services, while Old Dominion is built around premium less-than-truckload service quality and network density.
JB Hunt offers differentiated intermodal exposure with a capital-efficient growth model, while Old Dominion offers an established, premium-performing LTL platform with a long efficiency track record. Consider whether you prefer JB Hunt's intermodal freight mode positioning or Old Dominion's LTL service quality leadership.
JBHT holds the edge across 3 of 5 key metrics in this comparison. JBHT leads on both 1-year return (+100.26%) and forward P/E quality (25.81x vs 29.91x for ODFL), a relatively favorable combination of momentum and valuation. On fundamentals, JBHT is growing revenue faster (19.40%), while ODFL maintains the higher operating margin (28.84%) — a classic growth-versus-profitability split. Analyst consensus implies similar upside for both: +17.02% for JBHT and +16.87% for ODFL.
Human Wall Street analysts' price targets, typically implying a ~12-month view — a separate signal from this site's own AI Prediction Signal further down the page, which is a 5-/30-day machine-learning forecast based on price history alone.
- Want differentiated exposure to North American intermodal rail freight transportation
- Value the more stable, contracted revenue provided by the dedicated contract services segment
- Believe long-standing rail partnerships support durable intermodal network advantages
- Prefer a more capital-efficient freight model relative to pure over-the-road trucking
- Want exposure to an established, industry-leading LTL operator with a long track record of superior execution
- Value consistent reinvestment in terminal network capacity supporting sustained market share gains
- Are comfortable paying a premium valuation for a proven, high-quality service provider
- Prefer LTL freight mode exposure over intermodal and dedicated contract services
| Metric | JBHT | ODFL |
|---|---|---|
| AI scorei | 58.4 | 62.3 |
| AI ranki | #205 | #145 |
| Latest closei | $273.05 | $180.96 |
| 1M returni | -2.38% | -14.22% |
| 6M returni | +36.44% | -1.88% |
| 1Y returni | +100.26% | +24.59% |
How much would $10,000 be worth today if invested at the start of each period, with all dividends reinvested?
| Period | JBHT | ODFL |
|---|---|---|
| 1Y ago | $19.81K (+98.1%) started 2025-09-16 | $12.31K (+23.1%) started 2025-09-16 |
| 5Y ago | $17.36K (+73.6%) started 2021-09-17 | $12.9K (+29.0%) started 2021-09-17 |
| 10Y ago | $39.58K (+295.8%) started 2016-09-19 | $84.15K (+741.5%) started 2016-09-19 |
Hypothetical — past performance does not guarantee future results.
| Metric | JBHT | ODFL |
|---|---|---|
| Market capi | $24.51B | $41.31B |
| Trailing P/Ei | 37.18 | 38.20 |
| Forward P/Ei | 25.81 | 29.91 |
| Price/Salesi | N/A | 5.91 |
| EV/Revenuei | 2.04 | 7.30 |
| Analyst targeti | $305.45 | $232.14 |
| Target upsidei | +17.02% | +16.87% |
| Metric | JBHT | ODFL |
|---|---|---|
| Revenue growthi | 19.40% | 10.40% |
| Earnings growthi | 45.80% | 32.30% |
| EPS growthi | +45.80% | +32.30% |
| FCF margini | +7.11% | +17.33% |
| Operating margini | 7.42% | 28.84% |
| Profit margini | 5.31% | 19.44% |
| ROIC proxyi | 18.45% | 24.82% |
| Return on equityi | 18.45% | 24.82% |
| Dividend yieldi | 0.69% | 0.58% |
| Payout ratioi | 25.32% | 21.92% |
| Dividend growth streaki | No increase yet | No increase yet |
| Betai | 1.30 | 1.18 |
| Debt/equityi | 38.37 | 0.44 |
| Current ratioi | 1.25 | 1.89 |
| Quick ratioi | 1.01 | 1.71 |
Over the past year, JBHT and ODFL have moved moderately in the same direction (correlation of 0.68), based on daily returns.
Lower drawdown and smaller single-period drops generally indicate a smoother ride, though they do not guarantee lower future risk.
| Period | Metric | JBHT | ODFL |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1Y | Growthi | +98.15% | +23.09% |
| CAGRi | +98.42% | +23.14% | |
| Volatilityi | 38.42% | 37.78% | |
| Sharpe ratioi | 1.86 | 0.62 | |
| Sortino ratioi | 3.56 | 0.92 | |
| Max drawdowni | 15.87% | 27.72% | |
| Current drawdowni | 8.50% | 27.25% | |
| Avg drawdowni | 3.94% | 7.68% | |
| Ulcer Indexi | 5.68% | 10.12% | |
| Max daily dropi | 5.73% | 7.93% | |
| Max wkly dropi | 11.15% | 16.35% | |
| 5Y | Growthi | +67.56% | +26.96% |
| CAGRi | +10.88% | +4.89% | |
| Volatilityi | 32.42% | 36.92% | |
| Sharpe ratioi | 0.34 | 0.19 | |
| Sortino ratioi | 0.51 | 0.27 | |
| Max drawdowni | 42.41% | 45.37% | |
| Current drawdowni | 8.50% | 27.25% | |
| Avg drawdowni | 16.40% | 16.75% | |
| Ulcer Indexi | 19.37% | 20.09% | |
| Max daily dropi | 10.83% | 12.97% | |
| Max wkly dropi | 17.27% | 17.13% | |
| 10Y | Growthi | +264.24% | +712.99% |
| CAGRi | +13.81% | +23.34% | |
| Volatilityi | 30.17% | 33.30% | |
| Sharpe ratioi | 0.43 | 0.66 | |
| Sortino ratioi | 0.64 | 0.96 | |
| Max drawdowni | 42.41% | 45.37% | |
| Current drawdowni | 8.50% | 27.25% | |
| Avg drawdowni | 13.16% | 11.27% | |
| Ulcer Indexi | 16.57% | 15.46% | |
| Max daily dropi | 14.23% | 12.97% | |
| Max wkly dropi | 17.27% | 17.13% |
| Category | JBHT | ODFL |
|---|---|---|
| Company | J.B. Hunt Transport Services, Inc. | Old Dominion Freight Line, Inc. |
| Sector | Industrials | Industrials |
| Industry | Integrated Freight & Logistics | Trucking |
| Core business | A transportation and logistics company providing intermodal, dedicated contract, truckload, and final mile delivery services, with a leading position in North American intermodal rail freight transportation. | A less-than-truckload motor carrier providing regional, inter-regional, and national LTL freight transportation services along with logistics services across the United States and select international markets. |
| Investor focus | Intermodal volume and pricing trends, dedicated contract services growth, and rail partnership dynamics affecting intermodal service reliability. | Operating ratio trends, tonnage and revenue per hundredweight growth, and continued network capacity investment supporting service quality. |
- Leading position in North American intermodal freight provides a differentiated, capital-efficient growth avenue versus pure trucking
- Dedicated contract services segment provides more stable, contracted revenue compared to spot market truckload freight
- Long-standing rail partnerships support network reach and service reliability for intermodal customers
- Industry-leading operating ratio reflects a long track record of superior service quality and cost discipline
- Consistent reinvestment in terminal network capacity has supported market share gains over time
- Strong reputation for on-time delivery and low damage claims commands premium pricing versus competitors
- Intermodal volumes and pricing are sensitive to broader freight market conditions and competition from over-the-road trucking
- Rail service reliability depends partly on railroad partner performance outside of JB Hunt's direct control
- Truckload and final mile segments remain exposed to freight rate cyclicality
- Premium valuation reflects high performance expectations, leaving less room for execution missteps
- LTL freight volumes are sensitive to broader industrial production and manufacturing activity cycles
- Continued capital investment in terminal capacity requires sustained volume growth to generate expected returns
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