Heartland Express (HTLD) AI Stock Analysis

• Market Cap: $664.16M
• Dividend Yield: 0.93%
• Average Volume (3M): 686.49K
• Price to Earnings (P/E): ―
• Beta (1Y): 0.93
• Revenue Growth: -16.42%
• EPS Growth: -49.44%
• Country: US
• Employees: 5,220
• Sector: Industrials
• Sector Strength: 74
• Industry: Trucking
• EPS (TTM): -0.14
• Shares Outstanding: 77,408,226
• 10 Day Avg. Volume: 614,681
• 30 Day Avg. Volume: 686,492
• PEG Ratio: N/A
• Price to Book (P/B): N/A
• Price to Sales (P/S): N/A
• P/FCF Ratio: N/A
• Enterprise Value/Market Cap: 1.28
• Enterprise Value/Revenue: 0.85
• Enterprise Value/Gross Profit: 12.77
• Enterprise Value/Ebitda: 5.47
• 1Y Price Target: $9.20
• Price Target Upside: 6.85% Upside
• Rating Consensus: Moderate Sell
• Number of Analyst Covering: 5

• Rating: 49 Neutral
• Price Target: $8.50 ▼(-1.28% Downside)

Heartland Express faces significant financial challenges, with declining revenue and profitability being the most impactful factors. The technical indicators suggest a neutral market sentiment, while the valuation is hampered by a negative P/E ratio. The company's consistent dividend payments provide some positive outlook, but overall, the financial difficulties weigh heavily on the stock's score.

Positive Factors

Freight Recovery

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

Management Strategy

The operating income improvement despite weaker topline results could point to some early benefits from management's efforts to strategically reduce underperforming lanes of freight.

Negative Factors

Investor Sentiment

Investors will need more definitive proof of operating improvement to see any shift in sentiment, as the stock continues to lag.

Operational Challenges

Despite some early signs of operational improvement, results remain underwhelming and require sustained execution to shift sentiment.

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 generates revenue primarily through its freight transportation services, charging customers for moving goods over long distances using its fleet of trucks. The company operates on a per-mile basis and also utilizes contracts with shippers to ensure consistent revenue streams. Key revenue streams include spot market loads, dedicated contract services, and regional freight services. Additionally, Heartland Express benefits from a strong reputation for reliability and safety, which helps maintain long-term relationships with clients. The company may also leverage partnerships with logistics firms and freight brokers to maximize its load capacity and optimize routes, further enhancing its revenue potential.

Heartland Express Financial Statement Overview

Summary

Heartland Express is facing financial headwinds, with declining revenue and profitability impacting its income statement. The balance sheet shows moderate leverage, but decreasing equity and assets highlight financial challenges. While cash flow from operations is strong, the negative free cash flow trend suggests a need for better 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
EBITDA	155.39M	162.43M	243.08M	224.50M	210.13M	204.20M
Net Income	-28.49M	-29.72M	14.78M	133.58M	79.28M	70.81M
Balance Sheet
Total Assets	1.34B	1.33B	1.51B	1.67B	928.54M	951.18M
Cash, Cash Equivalents and Short-Term Investments	23.87M	12.81M	28.12M	49.46M	157.74M	113.85M
Total Debt	205.76M	208.61M	317.44M	433.96M	0.00	0.00
Total Liabilities	536.99M	511.59M	644.39M	814.01M	201.44M	226.84M
Stockholders Equity	807.73M	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: Positive
• Last Price: 8.61
• 50DMA: Positive
• 100DMA: Positive
• 200DMA: Negative
• MACD: Negative
• RSI: Neutral
• STOCH: Neutral

Evaluating momentum and price trends is crucial in stock analysis to make informed investment decisions. For HTLD, the sentiment is Positive. The current price of 8.61 is above the 20-day moving average (MA) of 8.34, above the 50-day MA of 8.46, and below the 200-day MA of 9.64, indicating a neutral trend. The MACD of 0.07 indicates Negative momentum. The RSI at 55.26 is Neutral, neither overbought nor oversold. The STOCH value of 59.11 is Neutral, not indicating any strong overbought or oversold conditions. Overall, these indicators collectively point to a Positive sentiment for HTLD.

Heartland Express Peers Comparison

Name	Overall Rating	Market Cap	P/E Ratio	ROE	Dividend Yield	Revenue Growth	EPS Growth
ARCB	69 Neutral	$1.69B	10.78	12.50%	0.66%	-6.42%	25.72%
CVLG	69 Neutral	$602.47M	18.43	8.58%	1.10%	0.75%	-15.76%
ULH	66 Neutral	$661.93M	10.85	9.67%	1.67%	-5.55%	-52.21%
WERN	64 Neutral	$1.72B	33.24	3.65%	1.94%	-6.43%	-13.76%
Sector *	64 Neutral	$10.73B	15.74	7.56%	2.01%	2.76%	-15.10%
MRTN	56 Neutral	$958.68M	45.25	2.72%	2.04%	-11.77%	-52.06%
HTLD	49 Neutral	$664.16M	―	-4.42%	0.93%	-16.42%	-49.44%

Heartland Express Corporate Events

Heartland Express Declares Quarterly Cash Dividend

On June 13, 2025, Heartland Express, Inc. announced the declaration of a regular quarterly cash dividend of $0.02 per share, to be paid on July 3, 2025, to shareholders of record as of June 23, 2025. This marks the company’s eighty-eighth consecutive quarterly dividend, totaling $558.3 million in cash dividends paid since 2003, reflecting its commitment to returning value to shareholders.