# Diesel Spike Eats J.B. Hunt's Quarter

> J.B. Hunt's stock tumbles as diesel hits $6.45, but analysts hold firm on recovery by year-end
- Title: Diesel Spike Eats J.B. Hunt's Quarter · 24/7 Wall St.
- Summary: J.B. Hunt's stock tumbles as diesel hits $6.45, but analysts hold firm on recovery by year-end J.B. Hunt's Q3 earnings gap stems from diesel price lagging…
- Keywords: j.b. hunt, diesel, nfl, seahawks, seattle, Spike, Eats, Hunt's, Quarter, 24/7 Wall St.
- Source: 24/7 Wall St. — https://247wallst.com/investing/2026/09/21/diesel-at-6-just-ate-j-b-hunts-quarter-truckers-cant-raise-prices-fast-enough
- Author: Omor Ibne Ehsan
- Published: 2026-09-21T17:17:50+00:00
- Read time: 1 min
- Topics: j.b. hunt, diesel, nfl, seahawks, seattle
## Diesel at $6.45
Diesel prices hit $6.45 a gallon, the highest in company history, but J.B. Hunt's stock dropped 13% in one day.

> Diesel has climbed past six dollars a gallon
## Costs Outpace Prices
Driver costs and fuel expenses are rising faster than J.B. Hunt can pass costs to customers through fuel surcharges.

> Costs are arriving faster than prices
## Analysts Still Bullish
Analysts target $298.48 for J.B. Hunt, but the stock trades at $234.25, leaving a $64 gap.

> The Street target of $298.48 sits well above the current quote
## Q3 Earnings Gap
J.B. Hunt's Q3 earnings will fall versus Q2 due to driver costs and diesel prices hitting $6.45.

> CFO Brad Delco told investors third-quarter earnings would fall versus the second quarter
## Intermodal Fix
Intermodal fuel surcharges reset with a lag, but new bids in Q4 should close the gap between pricing and costs.

> Delco called it a timing mismatch because intermodal fuel surcharges reset with a lag
## Peer Comparison
Old Dominion Freight Line and XPO improved margins by raising prices faster than J.B. Hunt's costs.

> Old Dominion Freight Line leaned into pricing
## The Deciding Factor
If diesel stays near $6.45 and intermodal bids reset in Q4, J.B. Hunt's Q3 shortfall becomes a temporary lag.

> The deciding variable is diesel's behavior over the next few weeks
## Key takeaway

J.B. Hunt's Q3 earnings gap stems from diesel price lagging behind surcharge resets, not permanent cost issues