LOWELL (dpa-AFX) - J.B. Hunt Transport Services Inc. (JBHT), Thursday reported a 25 percent increase in profit for the fourth quarter, driven mainly by double-digit revenue growth and better margins. The Lowell, Arkansas-based company's profit for the quarter improved to $72.6 million or $0.61 per share from $57.9 million or $0.46 per share last year. On average, 27 analysts polled by Thomson Reuters expected earnings of $0.58 per share for the quarter. Analysts' estimates typically exclude special items. Fourth quarter 2011 results included $3.9 million of pretax expense related to severance agreements for executive retirees and a charitable contribution, which reduced net earnings by $0.02 per share. Total operating revenues for the quarter grew to $1.20 billion from $1.02 billion last year. All four segments contributed to this increase in operating revenues, the company noted. Twenty Wall Street analysts estimated revenues of $1.19 billion for the quarter.
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