06:22 AM EDT, 10/16/2025 (MT Newswires) -- J.B. Hunt Transport Services (JBHT) shares jumped early Thursday as the transportation and logistics company recorded an unexpected year-over-year increase in its third-quarter earnings, while revenue came in above market estimates.

Net earnings rose to $1.76 per share for the September quarter from $1.49 the year before, the company said late Wednesday, defying the consensus on FactSet for a decrease to $1.46. Revenue edged down to $3.05 billion from $3.07 billion, but topped the Street's view for $3.02 billion. The stock spiked 13% in the most recent premarket activity.

The company attributed the decrease in revenue mainly to declines in revenue per load in its intermodal and truckload segments. The result was also impacted by a decrease in load volume in the integrated capacity solutions and dedicated contract services units, as well as fewer stops in the final mile services business.

"Even as overall freight demand softened during the quarter, our unwavering commitment to service enabled our intermodal and highway businesses to capture additional volume and outperform the market," Chief Executive Shelley Simpson said during an earnings call, according to a FactSet transcript. "We remain focused on controlling what we can, optimizing cost in the near-term without sacrificing our future earnings power potential."

Sales in the intermodal business moved down 2% to $1.52 billion amid a 1% decrease in both volume and gross revenue per load, due to changes in the freight mix, fuel surcharge revenue and customer rates, according to the company. Dedicated contract services sales inclined 2% to $864.1 million, driven by a 3% gain in productivity.

Revenue in the integrated capacity solutions segment slipped 1% to $276.3 million as volume slid 8% on a yearly basis. Truckload sales grew 10% to $189.7 million, while the final mile services segment decreased 5% in part due to weak demand across many of the company's end markets.

Operating income advanced to $242.7 million from $224.1 million in the prior-year quarter, aided by the group's cost reduction efforts, improved productivity and lower purchase transportation expenses. Operating expenses fell to $2.81 billion from $2.84 billion last year, the company said.

"While inflation and insurance, wages and employee benefits, and equipment cost were all up, our productivity and cost management efforts more than offset those headwinds to drive our improved results," Chief Financial Officer Brad Delco said on the call.