Heartland Express (HTLD) AI Stock Analysis

• Market Cap: $683.42M
• Dividend Yield: 0.92%
• Average Volume (3M): 620.35K
• Price to Earnings (P/E): ―
• Beta (1Y): 0.93
• Revenue Growth: -13.10%
• EPS Growth: -121.50%
• Country: US
• Employees: 5,220
• Sector: Industrials
• Sector Strength: 87
• Industry: Trucking
• EPS (TTM): -0.18
• Shares Outstanding: 78,553,566
• 10 Day Avg. Volume: 405,503
• 30 Day Avg. Volume: 620,346
• PEG Ratio: -8.97
• Price to Book (P/B): 0.85
• Price to Sales (P/S): 0.00
• P/FCF Ratio: 63.83
• Enterprise Value/Market Cap: 1.28
• Enterprise Value/Revenue: 0.21
• Enterprise Value/Gross Profit: 13.11
• Enterprise Value/Ebitda: 1.39
• 1Y Price Target: $10.00
• Price Target Upside: 14.94% Upside
• Rating Consensus: Moderate Sell
• Number of Analyst Covering: 3

• Rating: 48 Neutral
• Price Target: $8.50 ▼(-2.30%Downside)

Heartland Express faces significant financial challenges, with declining revenue and negative profitability impacting valuation. Technical indicators are neutral, providing little directional guidance. The negative P/E ratio and low dividend yield further contribute to a cautious investment stance.

Positive Factors

Earnings Trajectory

Signs of life in the TL market and supportive commentary from peers suggest 4Q may mark the inflection for HTLD's earnings trajectory.

Fleet and Cost Actions

It is encouraging to see HTLD outline fleet size and cost actions following 7 quarters without an operating profit.

Freight Recovery

Management noted they have begun to see 'encouraging signs' for a freight recovery.

Negative Factors

Interest Expense

EPS remains negative due to elevated interest expense from the financing of the CFI and Smith Transport acquisitions.

Stock Performance

Investors will need more than one quarter to underwrite the improvement and for the stock to break out of its laggard position.

Heartland Express Business Overview & Revenue Model

Company Description

Heartland Express, Inc., together with its subsidiaries, operates as a short-to-medium haul truckload carrier in the United States and Canada. It primarily provides nationwide asset-based dry van truckload service for shippers from Washington to Florida and New England to California; and temperature-controlled truckload services. The company offers its services under the Heartland Express and Millis Transfer brand names. It primarily serves retailers and manufacturers in consumer goods, appliances, food products, and automotive industries. The company was founded in 1978 and is headquartered in North Liberty, Iowa.

How the Company Makes Money

Heartland Express makes money through its core operation as a truckload carrier, transporting freight for customers across various industries. The company's primary revenue stream comes from the transportation services it provides, charging clients based on factors such as distance, weight, and volume of goods transported. Heartland Express focuses on maintaining high asset utilization and operational efficiency to maximize profitability. Additionally, the company may engage in strategic acquisitions to expand its market presence and enhance its service offerings. Key partnerships with major shippers and a focus on customer satisfaction contribute to its earnings, allowing the company to secure long-term contracts and repeat business.

Heartland Express Financial Statement Overview

Summary

Heartland Express faces financial challenges with declining revenue and profitability, as shown by a low income statement score. The balance sheet is stable with moderate leverage but shows decreasing equity and assets. Cash flow from operations is strong, but the negative free cash flow trend indicates potential issues with capital management.

Income Statement

Heartland Express has experienced a decline in revenue and profitability. The TTM data shows negative EBIT and net income, indicating operational challenges. Gross profit margin has also decreased, suggesting reduced pricing power or increased costs. The company's revenue has decreased compared to the previous year, highlighting a need for strategic adjustments to drive growth.

Balance Sheet

The company's balance sheet remains relatively stable, with a moderate debt-to-equity ratio, reflecting controlled leverage. However, the decreasing trend in stockholders' equity and total assets indicates potential financial strain. Despite the challenges, Heartland Express maintains a solid equity ratio, showcasing a buffer against liabilities.

Cash Flow

Operating cash flow remains strong, but free cash flow has significantly decreased, reflecting higher capital expenditures. The ratio of operating cash flow to net income is favorable, indicating efficient cash generation relative to earnings. However, the negative free cash flow trend poses a concern for sustainable cash management.

Breakdown
TTM	Dec 2024	Dec 2023	Dec 2022	Dec 2021	Dec 2020
Income Statement		Total Revenue
996.61M	1.05B	1.21B	968.00M	607.28M	645.26M
	Gross Profit
66.54M	110.16M	145.28M	401.93M	114.64M	147.46M
	EBIT
-19.72M	-20.24M	42.38M	188.36M	105.41M	93.42M
	EBITDA
155.39M	162.43M	243.08M	224.50M	210.13M	204.20M
	Net Income Common Stockholders
-28.49M	-29.72M	14.78M	133.58M	79.28M	70.81M
Balance Sheet		Cash, Cash Equivalents and Short-Term Investments
49.46M	12.81M	28.12M	49.46M	157.74M	113.85M
	Total Assets
1.67B	1.33B	1.51B	1.67B	928.54M	951.18M
	Total Debt
433.96M	208.61M	317.44M	433.96M	0.00	0.00
	Net Debt
384.50M	195.80M	289.32M	384.50M	-157.74M	-113.85M
	Total Liabilities
814.01M	511.59M	644.39M	814.01M	201.44M	226.84M
	Stockholders Equity
855.48M	822.60M	865.26M	855.48M	727.10M	724.33M
Cash Flow		Free Cash Flow
10.82M	34.81M	-43.33M	34.15M	-9.22M	-25.49M
	Operating Cash Flow
139.22M	144.35M	165.27M	194.71M	123.42M	178.85M
	Investing Cash Flow
-59.99M	-46.54M	-67.87M	-663.26M	-2.65M	-111.05M
	Financing Cash Flow
-79.00M	-112.71M	-120.69M	359.26M	-78.14M	-32.74M

Heartland Express Technical Analysis

• Technical Analysis Sentiment: Negative
• Last Price: 8.70
• 50DMA: Positive
• 100DMA: Negative
• 200DMA: Negative
• MACD: Positive
• RSI: Neutral
• STOCH: Neutral

Evaluating momentum and price trends is crucial in stock analysis to make informed investment decisions. For HTLD, the sentiment is Negative. The current price of 8.7 is below the 20-day moving average (MA) of 8.87, above the 50-day MA of 8.52, and below the 200-day MA of 10.58, indicating a neutral trend. The MACD of 0.05 indicates Positive momentum. The RSI at 48.48 is Neutral, neither overbought nor oversold. The STOCH value of 42.70 is Neutral, not indicating any strong overbought or oversold conditions. Overall, these indicators collectively point to a Negative sentiment for HTLD.

Heartland Express Peers Comparison

Name	Overall Rating	Market Cap	P/E Ratio	ROE	Dividend Yield	Revenue Growth	EPS Growth
ARCB	73 Outperform	$1.56B	9.00	14.25%	0.70%	-5.69%	51.78%
CVLG	69 Neutral	$616.36M	16.42	8.95%	1.23%	0.59%	-11.10%
Sector *	66 Neutral	$4.47B	12.22	5.40%	3.65%	4.14%	-12.00%
MRTN	64 Neutral	$1.06B	49.00	2.83%	1.85%	-13.47%	-62.49%
ULH	62 Neutral	$635.16M	7.62	13.57%	1.74%	1.16%	-30.78%
WERN	58 Neutral	$1.70B	96.91	1.21%	2.03%	-7.66%	-78.26%
HTLD	48 Neutral	$683.42M	―	-3.44%	0.92%	-13.10%	-121.50%

Heartland Express Corporate Events

Heartland Express Elects Directors at Annual Meeting

On May 8, 2025, Heartland Express, Inc. held its Annual Meeting of Stockholders, where seven directors were elected to the Board until the 2026 meeting. The appointment of Grant Thornton LLP as the independent public accounting firm for 2025 was ratified, and the compensation of executive officers was approved in a non-binding vote. These decisions reflect the company’s ongoing commitment to strong governance and financial oversight.