ArcBest announces dividend, notes U-Pack award from Better Business Bureau

Fort Smith-based ArcBest has announced a quarterly cash dividend of six cents per share payable May 29 to shareholders of record on May 15.

The company is set to report first quarter financials on Monday (May 4). Market watchers are waiting to see if the company will continue the momentum gained in 2014. ArcBest, a transportation holding company with less-than-truckload carrier ABF Freight as its largest subsidiary, reported in February full year net income of $46.177 million, up 192% compared to the $15.811 million in 2013, and a wide swing from the $7.7 million loss in 2012.

ArcBest shares (NASDAQ: ARCB) were trading up more than 80 cents in Friday afternoon trading. The share price closed Thursday at $35.70. During the past 52 weeks the share price has ranged from a $47.52 high to a $30.14 low.

The company also announced Friday that its U-Pack division received the 2015 Torch Award for Ethics from the Arkansas Better Business Bureau. The household moving service was one of four winners chosen by a panel of independent judges from over 100 entries.

"We're honored to represent the extraordinary principles that make up the Better Business Bureau ethics program," Andrew Schweizer, vice president of U-Pack, said in a statement. "We value the feedback we receive from customers via the BBB and will continue to utilize that source as a measurement of quality."