J.B. Hunt encourages stockholders to listen remotely to shareholders meeting in light of COVID-19

Lowell-based carrier J.B. Hunt Transport Services Inc. announced Thursday (April 9) it will provide audio conference call access for stockholders to listen remotely to its annual shareholders meeting at 10 a.m. April 23 as a result of the COVID-19 (coronavirus) pandemic.

The meeting will take place at the company’s corporate headquarters at 615 J.B. Hunt Corporate Drive in Lowell. J.B. Hunt management doesn’t plan to provide an informal business update at the meeting, according to a news release. It will only be for official business.

Stockholders of record as of Feb. 18 are encouraged to listen remotely to the meeting amid the existing health crisis. The conference call will be available live during the meeting, and stockholders must register before 10 a.m. April 22 to receive a dial-in number, personal access code and meeting agenda. Only stockholders will be allowed to attend the meeting.

Those who attend the meeting in person must respond to the company’s COVID-19 visitor screening questionnaire before arrival, notify the company by 10 a.m. April 22 and provide proof of stock ownership. In-person attendees can register by calling 479-820-8111 or emailing [email protected].

Stockholders voting by proxy don’t need to attend the meeting unless they want to revoke their proxy and vote in-person. The company encourages stockholders to submit their proxy by completing, signing, dating and mailing the previously provided proxy card, by voting online or by calling the phone number listed on the proxy card. The company will publish final voting results of the meeting in a filing with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission within four business days after the meeting.

After the markets close April 14, J.B. Hunt is expected to report earnings per share declined by 4.6% to $1.04 in the first quarter, from $1.09 in the same period in 2019, based on a consensus of 20 analysts. Revenue is expected to rise by 6.4% to $2.22 billion, from $2.09 billion.

Shares of J.B. Hunt (NASDAQ: JBHT) closed Thursday at $99.19, up 36 cents or 0.36%. In the past 52 weeks, the stock has traded between $122.29 and $75.29.