J.B. Hunt dividend
J.B. Hunt's current annualized dividend is $1.80 per share. In 2025, J.B. Hunt's $947,585 thousand of free cash flow covered its $171,048 thousand of dividends, although buybacks lifted total shareholder payments to $1,094,340 thousand.
How much does J.B. Hunt pay in dividends?
Base dividends rise from $1.84 per share to $2.00, with $1.92 in the middle year. The bear case holds the current annualized rate at $1.80. The bull case reaches $2.25, supported by stronger earnings and cash generation. The board has raised dividends through the downturn, but its policy remains subject to liquidity, earnings, and capital needs.
| 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| EPS, diluted | 6.12 | 5.56 | 6.97 | 9.21 | 7.14 |
| Free cash flow per share | 9.70 | 6.01 | -1.13 | 2.24 | 2.59 |
| − Dividends paid, per share | 1.75 | 1.71 | 1.66 | 1.58 | 1.17 |
| − Share buybacks, per share | 9.45 | 5.00 | 1.53 | 2.85 | 1.42 |
| = FCF not paid out, per share | 0.00 |
What this means. The real free cash flow per share is lower because it subtracts the value of shares given to employees as pay.
Does J.B. Hunt's cash cover its dividend?
Equipment sales and borrowing helped bridge the gap. That can be sensible during a temporary investment cycle, but it leaves less cash for replacement equipment or debt repayment. In 2025, free cash flow was $947,585 thousand. Buybacks were $923,292 thousand. Dividends were $171,048 thousand, bringing total shareholder payments to $1,094,340 thousand. Asset-sale receipts of $155,913 thousand helped fund the difference.
| 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Free cash flow | 947,585 | 617,783 | -117,813 | 236,086 | 276,335 |
| − Dividends paid | 171,048 | 175,543 | 173,898 | 166,724 | 124,442 |
| − Share buybacks | 923,292 | 513,924 | 159,576 | 300,030 | 151,720 |
| = Free cash flow not paid out | 173 | ||||
| = Paid out more than the free cash flow | 146,755 | 71,684 | 451,287 | 230,668 | |
| Paid out, % of free cash flow | 115.5% | 111.6% | not meaningful | 197.7% | 99.9% |
What this means. The company paid shareholders more than it generated in free cash, so it had to use savings or borrow money to cover the difference.
What could change J.B. Hunt's dividend?
The first test arrives by October 2027. Slower revenue growth, further margin deterioration, or costs rising ahead of repricing would move the forecast toward the bear case. Recent truck tonnage declines show why higher rates still need confirmation from demand.
What is J.B. Hunt's dividend yield at today's price?
| Today (Oct 16, 2026) | |
|---|---|
| Share price | 235.31 |
| Free cash flow yield (calculated) | 4.3% |
| Real free cash flow yield (calculated) | 4.0% |
| Dividend yield (calculated) | 0.8% |
What this means. The next-12-month price-to-earnings number uses analysts’ predicted profit, so it is an estimate rather than a fact.