Heartland Express (HTLD) AI Stock Analysis

• Market Cap: $651.21M
• Dividend Yield: 0.96%
• Average Volume (3M): 489.57K
• Price to Earnings (P/E): ―
• Beta (1Y): 0.90
• Revenue Growth: -16.42%
• EPS Growth: -49.44%
• Country: US
• Employees: 5,220
• Sector: Industrials
• Sector Strength: 93
• Industry: Trucking
• EPS (TTM): -0.14
• Shares Outstanding: 78,553,566
• 10 Day Avg. Volume: 593,889
• 30 Day Avg. Volume: 489,568
• PEG Ratio: 0.66
• Price to Book (P/B): 0.83
• Price to Sales (P/S): 0.00
• P/FCF Ratio: 61.04
• Enterprise Value/Market Cap: 1.28
• Enterprise Value/Revenue: 0.29
• Enterprise Value/Gross Profit: 5.82
• Enterprise Value/Ebitda: 1.07
• 1Y Price Target: $10.00
• Price Target Upside: 19.62% Upside
• Rating Consensus: Moderate Sell
• Number of Analyst Covering: 4

• Rating: 53 Neutral
• Price Target: $9.00 ▲(7.66%Upside)

Heartland Express's financial performance is the most significant factor, showing operational and financial challenges. While technical indicators are neutral, the stock's valuation is a concern due to its negative P/E ratio. The company's consistent dividend payments provide a positive note, reflecting its commitment to shareholder value.

Positive Factors

Freight Market Recovery

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

Operational Improvements

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

Negative Factors

Financial Challenges

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

Investor Confidence

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. (NASDAQ: HTLD) is a North American transportation and logistics services company specializing in short-to-medium haul truckload carrier services. Headquartered in North Liberty, Iowa, Heartland Express operates primarily in the United States, serving a diverse range of industries including retail, manufacturing, and consumer goods. The company is known for its focus on providing consistent, reliable, and safe transportation services through its modern fleet of trucks and a strong commitment to customer service.

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 headwinds with declining revenue and profitability, impacting its income statement. The balance sheet shows moderate leverage, but decreasing equity and assets highlight financial challenges. Strong operating cash flow is countered by a negative free cash flow trend, indicating 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	Dec 2024	Dec 2023	Dec 2022	Dec 2021	Dec 2020
Income Statement
Total Revenue	1.05B	1.21B	968.00M	607.28M	645.26M
Gross Profit	110.16M	145.28M	401.93M	114.64M	147.46M
EBITDA	162.43M	243.08M	224.50M	210.13M	204.20M
Net Income	-29.72M	14.78M	133.58M	79.28M	70.81M
Balance Sheet
Total Assets	1.33B	1.51B	1.67B	928.54M	951.18M
Cash, Cash Equivalents and Short-Term Investments	12.81M	28.12M	49.46M	157.74M	113.85M
Total Debt	208.61M	317.44M	433.96M	0.00	0.00
Total Liabilities	511.59M	644.39M	814.01M	201.44M	226.84M
Stockholders Equity	822.60M	865.26M	855.48M	727.10M	724.33M
Cash Flow
Free Cash Flow	34.81M	-43.33M	34.15M	-9.22M	-25.49M
Operating Cash Flow	144.35M	165.27M	194.71M	123.42M	178.85M
Investing Cash Flow	-46.54M	-67.87M	-663.26M	-2.65M	-111.05M
Financing Cash Flow	-112.71M	-120.69M	359.26M	-78.14M	-32.74M

Heartland Express Technical Analysis

• Technical Analysis Sentiment: Negative
• Last Price: 8.36
• 50DMA: Negative
• 100DMA: Negative
• 200DMA: Negative
• MACD: Positive
• RSI: Neutral
• STOCH: Positive

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 8.36 is below the 20-day moving average (MA) of 8.83, below the 50-day MA of 8.83, and below the 200-day MA of 10.12, indicating a bearish trend. The MACD of -0.11 indicates Positive momentum. The RSI at 40.86 is Neutral, neither overbought nor oversold. The STOCH value of 18.72 is Positive, 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	79 Outperform	$1.93B	11.12	14.25%	0.56%	-5.69%	51.78%
CVLG	71 Outperform	$668.94M	18.60	8.58%	0.99%	0.75%	-15.76%
ULH	70 Outperform	$721.27M	11.82	9.67%	1.39%	-5.55%	-52.21%
Sector *	65 Neutral	$11.05B	15.76	5.13%	1.92%	3.11%	-24.90%
WERN	61 Neutral	$1.78B	100.53	1.21%	1.91%	-7.66%	-78.26%
MRTN	58 Neutral	$1.06B	50.62	2.72%	1.84%	-11.77%	-52.06%
HTLD	53 Neutral	$651.21M	―	-4.42%	0.96%	-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.

The most recent analyst rating on (HTLD) stock is a Hold with a $12.00 price target. To see the full list of analyst forecasts on Heartland Express stock, see the HTLD Stock Forecast page.

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.