News in brief

J.B. Hunt gears down '15 revenue outlook

J.B. Hunt Transport Services Inc. has revised its expectations for 2015, projecting a minimal increase in revenue and less money devoted to capital expenditures.

The Lowell-based transportation company revealed the revisions along with its second-quarter earnings report last week. J.B. Hunt now anticipates 2015 revenue will be flat compared with 2014, growing no more than 2 percent from last year's $6.2 billion. The company originally anticipated a 9 percent to 12 percent increase in revenue.

Capital expenditures of $640 million have been lowered to $605 million. J.B. Hunt now anticipates spending $300 million in replacement costs and $245 million for growth regarding trucks, containers and trailers. The company originally projected $320 million in replacement costs and $260 million for growth.

J.B. Hunt reported net earnings of $103.4 million for the second quarter, a 10.7 percent increase from a year ago. Revenue of $1.54 billion was down slightly from $1.55 billion for the same period in 2014.

ArcBest CEO named on 'influential' list

ArcBest Corp. Chief Executive Officer Judy McReynolds has been named to CEO Connection's inaugural list of the most influential women among midmarket size companies.

McReynolds was one of 25 women selected to the list, which recognizes women based on their ability to "influence change, innovation and standards for excellence" at companies whose annual sales are between $100 million and $3 billion, according to a news release. CEO Connection is a membership organization consisting of midmarket CEOs.

McReynolds has 25 years of experience in the transportation industry. She became the Fort Smith-based company's CEO in 2010. ArcBest ranks No. 12 on Transport Topics' list of largest for-hire carriers in North America with $2.6 billion in 2014 revenue.

McReynolds will be recognized at the 2015 Mid-Market Convention Oct. 18-21 at The Wharton School in Philadelphia.

Index skids 8.02, led by Deltic's 5.6% dip

The Arkansas Index, a price-weighted index that tracks the largest public companies based in the state, tumbled 8.02 to 353.71 Thursday.

"U.S. stocks sank lower on Thursday as mixed earnings and cautious corporate guidance offset a drop in [joblessness] claims," said John Blackwell, senior vice president and managing director of equity trading at Stephens Inc. in Little Rock.

Deltic Timber had the biggest loss, falling 5.6 percent on average volume.

USA Truck fell 3.7 percent in light trading.

Windstream declined 3.6 percent and hit another 52-week low.

The index was developed by Bloomberg News and the Democrat-Gazette with a base value of 100 as of Dec. 30, 1997.

Business on 07/24/2015

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