Marten Transport (MRTN) AI Stock Analysis

• Market Cap: $1.06B
• Dividend Yield: 1.85%
• Average Volume (3M): 517.02K
• Price to Earnings (P/E): 49.0
• Beta (1Y): 0.82
• Revenue Growth: -13.47%
• EPS Growth: -62.49%
• Country: US
• Employees: 3,776
• Sector: Industrials
• Sector Strength: 87
• Industry: Trucking
• EPS (TTM): 0.27
• Shares Outstanding: 81,493,420
• 10 Day Avg. Volume: 449,878
• 30 Day Avg. Volume: 517,017
• PEG Ratio: 0.47
• Price to Book (P/B): 2.30
• Price to Sales (P/S): 0.00
• P/FCF Ratio: 37.70
• Enterprise Value/Market Cap: 1.45
• Enterprise Value/Revenue: 0.38
• Enterprise Value/Gross Profit: 15.15
• Enterprise Value/Ebitda: 2.43
• 1Y Price Target: $19.00
• Price Target Upside: 46.15% Upside
• Rating Consensus: Moderate Buy
• Number of Analyst Covering: 0

• Rating: 64 Neutral
• Price Target: $14.00 ▲(7.69%Upside)

Marten Transport's overall stock score reflects strong financial health and cash flow improvements but is tempered by high valuation and recent income declines due to macroeconomic challenges. The technical analysis suggests a neutral to slightly bearish trend, while corporate events highlight ongoing market pressures.

Marten Transport Business Overview & Revenue Model

Company Description

Marten Transport, Ltd. operates as a temperature-sensitive truckload carrier for shippers in the United States, Canada, and Mexico. It operates through four segments: Truckload, Dedicated, Intermodal, and Brokerage. The Truckload segment transports food and other consumer packaged goods that require a temperature-controlled or insulated environment. The Dedicated segment offers customized transportation solutions for individual customers' requirements using temperature-controlled trailers, dry vans, and other specialized equipment. The Intermodal segment transports customers' freight utilizing its refrigerated containers and temperature-controlled trailers on railroad flatcars for portions of trips, as well as using tractors and contracted carriers. The Brokerage segment develops contractual relationships with and arranges for third-party carriers to transport freight for customers in temperature-controlled trailers and dry vans. As of December 31, 2021, the company operated a fleet of 3,204 tractors, including 3,111 company-owned tractors and 93 tractors supplied by independent contractors. Marten Transport, Ltd. was founded in 1946 and is headquartered in Mondovi, Wisconsin.

How the Company Makes Money

Marten Transport generates revenue through the provision of freight transportation services. The company's primary revenue stream comes from its temperature-controlled truckload services, where it charges clients for the movement of goods requiring specific temperature conditions. Marten also offers dry van transportation services, contributing to its revenue. The company maximizes asset utilization through efficient logistics and fleet management, ensuring competitive pricing and reliability. Additionally, Marten has developed strategic partnerships and contracts with major companies in the food and pharmaceutical sectors, securing steady revenue streams. The company may also derive income from ancillary services such as logistics management and brokerage services, enhancing its overall earnings portfolio.

Marten Transport Financial Statement Overview

Summary

Marten Transport exhibits solid financial health with low leverage and strong equity positions. While revenue and profit margins indicate some challenges in profitability and growth, cash flow improvements suggest effective cash management.

Income Statement

The TTM (Trailing-Twelve-Months) total revenue has declined compared to the previous year by 14.89%. Gross profit margin stands at 18.29%, indicating a healthy ability to cover operating expenses. However, the net profit margin is 2.79%, reflecting challenges in converting revenue to profit. EBIT and EBITDA margins are 3.06% and 11.89% respectively, showing moderate operational efficiency.

Balance Sheet

The company maintains a strong financial position with a low debt-to-equity ratio of 0.0004, indicating minimal reliance on debt. Return on equity is 3.51%, showing moderate profitability relative to equity. The equity ratio is robust at 79.28%, reflecting financial stability and a strong capital base.

Cash Flow

Free cash flow has improved significantly, transitioning from negative to positive at $134.81 million in TTM. The operating cash flow to net income ratio is healthy at 5.01, indicating strong cash generation relative to net earnings. Positive free cash flow signals potential for reinvestment and shareholder returns.

Breakdown
Dec 2024	Dec 2023	Dec 2022	Dec 2021	Dec 2020
Income Statement		Total Revenue
963.71M	1.13B	1.26B	973.64M	874.37M
	Gross Profit
130.70M	295.31M	238.50M	183.15M	170.76M
	EBIT
33.22M	90.11M	5.57M	-23.46M	-30.55M
	EBITDA
148.00M	193.22M	240.98M	197.96M	185.69M
	Net Income Common Stockholders
26.92M	70.37M	110.35M	85.43M	69.50M
Balance Sheet		Cash, Cash Equivalents and Short-Term Investments
17.27M	53.21M	80.60M	56.99M	66.13M
	Total Assets
968.76M	990.34M	965.68M	870.69M	831.64M
	Total Debt
282.00K	249.00K	409.00K	291.00K	411.00K
	Net Debt
-16.98M	-52.96M	-80.19M	-56.70M	-65.72M
	Total Liabilities
200.84M	232.95M	261.76M	219.01M	211.30M
	Stockholders Equity
767.92M	757.39M	703.92M	651.68M	620.33M
Cash Flow		Free Cash Flow
-98.42M	-76.18M	42.87M	-28.09M	16.55M
	Operating Cash Flow
134.81M	164.38M	219.49M	171.20M	189.60M
	Investing Cash Flow
-152.14M	-172.54M	-134.96M	-123.73M	-106.33M
	Financing Cash Flow
-18.62M	-19.23M	-60.93M	-56.60M	-48.61M

Marten Transport Technical Analysis

• Technical Analysis Sentiment: Negative
• Last Price: 13.00
• 50DMA: Negative
• 100DMA: Negative
• 200DMA: Negative
• MACD: Negative
• RSI: Neutral
• STOCH: Neutral

Evaluating momentum and price trends is crucial in stock analysis to make informed investment decisions. For MRTN, the sentiment is Negative. The current price of 13 is below the 20-day moving average (MA) of 13.13, below the 50-day MA of 13.12, and below the 200-day MA of 15.16, indicating a bearish trend. The MACD of -0.03 indicates Negative momentum. The RSI at 46.55 is Neutral, neither overbought nor oversold. The STOCH value of 38.62 is Neutral, not indicating any strong overbought or oversold conditions. Overall, these indicators collectively point to a Negative sentiment for MRTN.

Marten Transport 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%

Marten Transport Corporate Events

Marten Transport Elects Directors at Annual Meeting

Marten Transport, Ltd. held its 2025 Annual Meeting of Stockholders on May 6, 2025, where all seven director nominees were elected. Additionally, stockholders approved the 2025 Equity Incentive Plan, an advisory resolution on executive compensation, and the selection of Grant Thornton LLP as independent public accountants for the year ending December 31, 2025.

The most recent analyst rating on (MRTN) stock is a Buy with a $19.00 price target. To see the full list of analyst forecasts on Marten Transport stock, see the MRTN Stock Forecast page.

Marten Transport Reports Q1 2025 Income Decline

Marten Transport reported a decline in net income for the first quarter of 2025, with earnings of $4.3 million compared to $9.6 million in the same period of 2024. The company’s operating revenue also decreased to $223.2 million from $249.7 million, reflecting challenges such as the freight market recession, inflationary costs, and trade policy volatility. Despite these pressures, Marten Transport remains focused on minimizing market impacts and investing in growth opportunities. The company was recently recognized as a TCA Elite Fleet, highlighting its commitment to exceptional work environments and innovative practices.