Most Arkansas-based companies see stock price gains in 2024

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by Kim Souza ([email protected]) ago 98 views 

Six of the 11 Arkansas publicly traded companies posted stock gains for the full year, compared to five of 11 that had gains to end the third quarter. Walmart posted the largest share price gain, and trucking companies saw wider dips in their stock prices as the year ended.

Bentonville-based Walmart had a 72.02% gain in the stock’s value through Dec. 31. Walmart shares (NYSE: WMT) closed the year at $90.35 per share, up $37.83 from the start of 2024. Walmart grew its market capitalization by $296 billion, ending 2024 at $725.82 billion. Shareholders also received 84 cents per share in cash dividends in 2024. Walmart will report its fiscal 2025 first-quarter earnings on Feb. 20.

Share prices of El Dorado-based Murphy USA (NYSE: MUSA) increased 37.31% during 2024. The stock opened the year at $365.39 and closed at $501.75. The stock price gains grew from the third quarter amid strength in core sales. The company has grown its market capitalization to $10.23 billion, up from $7.58 billion at the start of 2024. Shareholders also received cash dividends totaling $1.79 per share for the year. The company operates more than 1,700 U.S. fuel and convenience stores and will report its fourth-quarter earnings on Feb. 5.

Pine Bluff-based Simmons Bank moved up the ranks into the third position at year-end pushing Springdale-based Tyson Foods down the list. Simmons Bank shares (NASDAQ: SFNC) ended 2024 at $22.18, up 12.5% from where it opened on Jan. 2, 2024. The bank expanded those gains from 9.25% to end the third quarter behind favorable market conditions and 10% annualized net interest income gains. The bank had a market capitalization totaling $2.79 billion by the end of 2024, up from $2.48 billion at the start of 2024. Simmons also paid cash dividends totaling 84 cents per share during the year. The bank will report its fourth-quarter results on Jan. 21.

The biggest turnaround story was Little Rock-based Dillard’s. The stock (NYSE: DDS) closed the year at $450.63, up 12.37% from the start of 2024. Dillard’s reversed the share declines of 4.32% at the end of the third quarter despite challenges in the department store retail segment that sent same-store sales down 4% in the third quarter for the company. The 84-year-old Dillard’s has outperformed market peers with tighter inventory control and higher gross margins. The retailer’s market capitalization totaled $7.24 billion by the end of 2024, up from $6.28 billion at the beginning of the year. Dillard’s paid cash dividends totaling $26 per share in 2024, which includes a special $25 per share dividend paid in December. The retailer is expected to report fiscal year-end earnings in early February.

Home BancShares (NYSE: HOMB) closed the year at $28.30, up 11.41% from Jan. 2, 2024. The Conway-based national bank expanded its gains from a 4.94% price decline at mid-year. The bank ranked the fifth-best performer in the third quarter and it maintained that place to the end of the year. On Dec. 31, the bank had a market capitalization of $5.52 billion, up from  $5.11 billion at the start of the year. Shareholders received cash dividends totaling 56 cents per share in 2024. The bank will report fiscal year earnings on Jan. 15.

Springdale-based Tyson Foods tumbled from the No. 3 slot it held at the end of the third quarter. Tyson’s share price (NYSE: TSN) grew 9.18% in 2024, but gave back some of the 13.2% gains previously garnered. Tyson stock opened the year at $52.61 and closed Dec. 31 at $57.44. The company’s market capitalization totaled $20.44 billion up from $19.82 billion to start the year. The company paid cash dividends totaling $1.47 to shareholders during 2024. Tyson is expected to report fiscal first-quarter earnings in early February.

The value of Little Rock-based Bank OZK (NASDAQ: OZK) shares declined 9.73% during 2024. The bank improved its results from losses of 12.85% at the end of the third quarter. The shares closed the year at $44.53 down from the $49.33 to begin the year. The market capitalization at year end was $5.06 billion, down from $5.53 billion to start 2024. The bank paid cash dividends totaling $1.58 per share for the year. Bank OZK will report year-end earnings on Jan. 16.

Lowell-based J.B. Hunt Transport Services continues to struggle with recessionary pressures in the sector. J.B. Hunt shares (NASDAQ: JBHT) opened the year at $199.82 and closed at $170.66 on Dec. 31, down 14.59%. The shares continued to struggle in the fourth quarter, but the decline did narrow from a 19.92% deficit in the first half of the year. The market capitalization fell to $17.21 billion, down from $20.60 billion at the start of 2024. The company paid cash dividends totaling $1.72 per share during the year. The company will report fiscal fourth-quarter results in mid-January.

Tontitown-based Pamt, formerly P.A.M. Transportation, saw losses widen in the back half of the year ending with shares values down 19.98%. The shares (NASDAQ: PAMT) closed at $16.38  on Dec. 31, down from $20.47 to start 2024. The carrier reported a market capitalization of $356.80 million on Dec. 31, down from $452.5 million to start the year, a loss of 21.15%. The company will report year-end earnings in February.

Fort Smith-based ArcBest (NASDAQ: ARCB) shares closed Dec. 31 at $93.32, down 21.98% 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 $2.18 billion at the end of December, down 19.17% from $2.84 billion at the start of the year. Shareholders received cash dividends totaling 37 cents per share for the year. The company will report fourth-quarter earnings in early February.

Rogers-based America’s Car-Mart operates like a bank given it finances the cars and trucks it sells. The buy-here, pay-here dealer generates most of its revenue from loans it carries. Car-Mart shares (NASDAQ: CRMT) opened the year at $70.90 and closed on Dec. 31 at $51.25, down 22.71%. Just one quarter earlier the share value was down 40.87%. The company’s market capitalization on Dec. 31 totaled $422.946 million, down from $351.48 million where it started the year. Car-Mart will post earnings on Jan. 16.

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

1. Walmart (NYSE: WMT)
Jan. 2:  $52.52
Dec. 31: $90.35
up 72.02%

2. Murphy USA  (NYSE: MUSA)
Jan. 2:  $365.39
Dec. 31: $501.75
up 37.31%

3. Simmons Bank (Nasdaq: SFNC)
Jan. 2: $19.71
Dec. 31: $22.18
up 12.5%

4. Dillard’s  (NYSE: DDS)
Jan. 2: $401.02
Dec.31: $450.63
up 12.37%

5. Home Bank (NYSE: HOMB)
Jan. 2: $25.07
Dec. 31: $28.30
up 11.41%

6. Tyson Food  (NYSE: TSN)
Jan. 2: $52.61
Dec 31: $57.44
up 9.18%

7. Bank of OZK (Nasdaq: OZK)
Jan. 2: $49.33
Dec.: $44.53
down 9.73%

8. JB Hunt Transport  (Nasdaq: JBHT)
Jan. 2: $199.82
Dec. 31: $170.66
down 14.59%

9 Pamt (Nasdaq: PAMT)
Jan. 2: $20.47
Dec.31: $16.38
down 19.98%

10 ArcBest  (Nasdaq: ARCB)
Jan. 2: $119.62
Dec. 31: $93.32
down 21.98%

11. America’s Car-Mart (Nasdaq: CRMT)
Jan. 2: $70.90
Dec.31: $51.25
down 27.71%