Majority of Arkansas-based companies see third-quarter stock gains

Most of Arkansas’ publicly traded companies saw stock values improve in the third quarter compared to the second quarter. Five of the 11 companies had gains in stock prices over the first three quarters of 2024.

Four others trimmed losses from the second quarter to the third. Only two companies, America’s Car-Mart and Dillard’s, reported weaker stock prices since June.

Bentonville-based Walmart is the biggest winner among the Arkansas companies with a 53.57% gain in the stock’s value through the third quarter. Walmart shares (NYSE: WMT) closed Sept. 30 at $80.75 compared to $52.52 where the stock opened trading on Jan. 2. Walmart also grew its market capitalization by $220 billion year to date. The market capitalization of Walmart shares closed out the first three quarters of 2024 at $649 billion. Walmart will report its fiscal third-quarter earnings on Nov. 19.

Shares of El Dorado-based Murphy USA (NYSE: MUSA) increased in value by 34.88% in the first nine months of this year. The stock opened the year at $365.39 and closed at $492.87 on Sept. 30. The company has grown its market capitalization to $10.1 billion, up from $7.58 billion at the start of 2024. Murphy USA will report its fiscal third-quarter earnings in the first week of November. The company operates more than 1,700 U.S. fuel and convenience stores.

Springdale-based Tyson Foods saw its share price grow 13.21% through the first nine months of the year, up from the 8.61% growth reported through June. Shares of Tyson Foods (NYSE: TSN) opened the year at $52.61 and closed on Sept. 30 at $59.56. The company’s market capitalization totals $21.96 billion, up from $19.82 billion to start the year. Tyson will report its fiscal year-end earnings on Nov. 11.

Shares of the Pine Bluff-based Simmons Bank (NASDAQ: SFNC) ended the quarter at $21.54, up 9.25% from the $19.71 share value on Jan. 2. In the first half of 2024, Simmons stock price was down 10.8%. In its second-quarter results reported July 24, the bank beat the consensus earnings estimate, despite year-over-year net income declines of 32%. Simmons Bank had a market capitalization of $2.7 billion, up from $2.48 billion at to start of 2024. The bank will report its third-quarter results on Oct. 18.

Home BancShares (NYSE: HOMB) opened the year at $25.07 per share and closed Sept. 30 at $27.07, up 8.05%. The gains improved from a 4.94% price decline at the end of June. The Conway-based bank has a market capitalization of $5.409 billion, up $5.11 billion to start the year. The bank will report earnings on Oct. 16.

Fort Smith-based ArcBest (NASDAQ: ARCB) shares closed Sept. 30 at $108.45, down 9.33% from the $119.62 to start the year. The trucking industry continues to see excess capacity which puts downward pressure on rates. The market capitalization totaled $2.587 billion at the end of September, down from $2.84 billion at to start of the year. The company plans to post third quarter earnings on Nov. 1.

Tontitown-based P.A.M. Transportation Services also saw improvements in its share price during the recent quarter. The shares (NASDAQ: PTSI) closed at $18.50 on Sept. 30, down 9.62% over the nine months. That improved from a 15.14% share value decline at the end of June. The carrier reported a market capitalization of $402.7 million as of Sept. 30, down 34% over the past nine months. The third-quarter report is set for Oct. 20.

Little Rock-based Bank OZK (NASDAQ: OZK) has seen its share price drop 12.85% in the past nine months. That was an improvement from the 16.88% decline reported at the of June. The market capitalization is $4.878 billion, down from $5.63 billion for a loss of 13.35% over the nine months. The bank will report those results on Oct. 17.

Lowell-based J.B. Hunt Transport Services is also struggling with the ongoing freight recession. J.B. Hunt shares (NASDAQ: JBHT) opened the year at $199.82 and closed at $172.33 on Sept. 30, down 13.75%. The decline narrowed from the 19.92% price decline in the first half of the year. The market capitalization is $17.575 billion, down from $20.60 billion at the start of 2024. The company will report fiscal third quarter results between the Oct. 15 and Oct. 21.

Dillard’s fell from the short list of winners to the bottom rung of the ladder in the third quarter. The Little Rock-based retailer’s stock (NYSE: DDS) closed at $383.69 on Sept. 30, down 4.32% from $401.02 to start the year and reversing the 9.71% gain reported through June. The market capitalization of Dillard’s stock totals $6.38 billion down 2.44% since the start of the year. Dillard’’s will report third quarter earnings the first week of November.

Bentonville-based America’s Car-Mart operates like a bank since it finances the cars and trucks it sells. The buy-here pay-here dealer generates the bulk of its revenue from the loans it carries on its books. Shares of Car-Mart (NASDAQ: CRMT) opened the year at $70.90 and closed on Sept. 30 at $41.92, down $40.87%. The share value losses widened from 14% through June 30. The company’s market capitalization totals $351.48 million, down 26.77%. from $480 million where it started the year. The company recently filed documents to raise $65 million in additional capital through a stock public offering. Car-Mart will post earnings the first week of December.

Following are the 11 publicly-held companies listed in order of stock price performance during the first nine months of 2024.

Walmart (NYSE: WMT)
Jan. 2:  $52.52
Sept. 30: $80.75
53.75%

Murphy USA  (NYSE: MUSA)
Jan. 2:  $365.39
Sept. 30: $492.87
34.88%

Tyson Food  (NYSE: TSN)
Jan. 2: $52.61
Sept. 30: $59.56
13.21%

Simmons Bank (NASDAQ: SFNC)
Jan. 2: $19.71
Sept. 30: $21.54
9.25%

Home Bank (NYSE: HOMB)
Jan. 2: $25.07
Sept. 30: $27.09
8.05%

Dillard’s  (NYSE: DDS)
Jan. 2: $401.02
Sept. 30: $383.69
-4.32%

ArcBest  (NASDAQ: ARCB)
Jan. 2: $119.62
Sept. 30: $108.45
-9.33%

P.A.M. Transportation Services (NASDAQ: PTSI)
Jan. 2: $20.47
Sept. 30: $18.50
-9.62%

Bank OZK (NASDAQ: OZK)
Jan. 2: $49.33
Sept. 30: $42.99
-12.85%

J.B. Hunt Transport Services (NASDAQ: JBHT)
Jan. 2: $199.82
Sept. 30: $172.33
-13.75%

America’s Car-Mart (NASDAQ: CRMT)
Jan. 2: $70.90
Sept. 30: $41.92
-40.87%