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Marten Transport
(NASDAQ:MRTN)
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Rating:52Neutral
Price Target:
$17.00
▲(4.29% Upside)
Action:Reiterated
Date:07/24/26
The score is held back primarily by weakening profitability (sharp margin compression) and inconsistent free cash flow, partially offset by an exceptionally conservative balance sheet. Technicals are neutral-to-weak with the stock below key short-term averages, and valuation is the biggest headwind given the very high P/E relative to current earnings strength. Corporate events add only modest support via sequential profit improvement and added financing flexibility.
Positive Factors
Very low leverage balance sheet
A near-zero debt-to-equity position gives Marten durable financial flexibility and low refinancing risk, allowing management to fund operations, invest in equipment or withstand freight cycles without needing urgent external financing. This supports long-term resilience and strategic optionality.
Negative Factors
Multi-year revenue decline
A persistent revenue decline since 2022 signals secular or competitive pressures reducing load volumes or contracted business. Lower topline reduces scale benefits, impairs fixed-cost absorption in trucking, and makes sustainable margin recovery and reinvestment more difficult over the medium term.
Read all positive and negative factors
Positive Factors
Negative Factors
Very low leverage balance sheet
A near-zero debt-to-equity position gives Marten durable financial flexibility and low refinancing risk, allowing management to fund operations, invest in equipment or withstand freight cycles without needing urgent external financing. This supports long-term resilience and strategic optionality.
Read all positive factors
Marten Transport (MRTN) vs. SPDR S&P 500 ETF (SPY)
Market Cap
$1.21B
Dividend Yield1.62%
Average Volume (3M)726.99K
Price to Earnings (P/E)95.3
Beta (1Y)0.77
Revenue Growth-6.87%
EPS Growth-39.59%
CountryUS
Employees3,502
SectorIndustrials
Sector Strength72
IndustryTrucking
Share Statistics
EPS (TTM)0.16
Shares Outstanding81,589,134
10 Day Avg. Volume972,000
30 Day Avg. Volume726,985
Financial Highlights & Ratios
PEG Ratio-1.49
Price to Book (P/B)1.21
Price to Sales (P/S)1.05
P/FCF Ratio-18.17
Enterprise Value/Market Cap<0.01
Enterprise Value/Revenue<0.01
Enterprise Value/Gross Profit<0.01
Enterprise Value/Ebitda<0.01
Forecast
1Y Price Target
$16.00Price Target Upside-1.84% Downside
Rating ConsensusHold
Number of Analyst Covering2
EPS Forecast (FY)0.31
Revenue Forecast (FY)$899.77M
Marten Transport Business Overview & Revenue Model
Company Description
Marten Transport, Ltd. (MRTN) is a U.S. transportation and logistics company focused primarily on temperature-sensitive and time-critical freight. It provides truckload refrigerated services and related logistics offerings, operating across multip...
How the Company Makes Money
Marten Transport makes money primarily by transporting freight for customers and charging for those services under negotiated rates and contracts. Key revenue streams generally include: (1) Asset-based trucking revenue, where the company uses its ...
Marten Transport Financial Statement Overview
Summary
Income Statement
34
Negative
Balance Sheet
86
Very Positive
Cash Flow
46
Neutral
| Breakdown | TTM | Dec 2025 | Dec 2024 | Dec 2023 | Dec 2022 | Dec 2021 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Income Statement | ||||||
| Total Revenue | 857.65M | 883.65M | 963.71M | 1.13B | 1.26B | 973.64M |
| Gross Profit | 10.34M | 50.49M | 130.70M | 188.73M | 238.50M | 183.15M |
| EBITDA | 113.56M | 129.77M | 139.90M | 193.22M | 240.98M | 197.96M |
| Net Income | 12.64M | 17.44M | 26.92M | 70.37M | 110.35M | 85.43M |
Balance Sheet | ||||||
| Total Assets | 955.49M | 949.77M | 968.76M | 990.34M | 980.52M | 884.26M |
| Cash, Cash Equivalents and Short-Term Investments | 103.98M | 43.28M | 17.27M | 53.21M | 80.60M | 56.99M |
| Total Debt | 119.00K | 388.00K | 282.00K | 249.00K | 710.00K | 540.00K |
| Total Liabilities | 189.52M | 182.14M | 200.84M | 232.95M | 276.60M | 232.59M |
| Stockholders Equity | 765.96M | 767.63M | 767.92M | 757.39M | 703.92M | 651.68M |
Cash Flow | ||||||
| Free Cash Flow | 4.16M | -51.06M | -98.42M | -76.18M | 42.87M | -28.09M |
| Operating Cash Flow | 84.84M | 93.49M | 134.81M | 164.38M | 219.49M | 171.20M |
| Investing Cash Flow | 7.78M | -42.88M | -152.14M | -172.54M | -134.96M | -123.73M |
| Financing Cash Flow | -18.68M | -19.60M | -18.62M | -19.23M | -60.93M | -56.60M |
Marten Transport Risk Analysis
Marten Transport disclosed 20 risk factors in its most recent earnings report. Marten Transport reported the most risks in the "Legal & Regulatory" category.
Finance & Corporate - Financial and accounting risks. Risks related to the execution of corporate activity and strategy
Latest Risks Added 0 New Risks
Marten Transport Peers Comparison
UnderperformOutperform
Sector (63)
Name | Overall Rating | Market Cap | P/E Ratio | ROE | Dividend Yield | Revenue Growth | EPS Growth |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
63 Neutral | $10.79B | 15.43 | 7.44% | 2.01% | 2.89% | -14.66% | |
59 Neutral | $894.07M | 236.80 | 0.92% | 0.60% | 8.34% | -89.15% | |
58 Neutral | $3.23B | 206.21 | 4.30% | 0.31% | 3.70% | -89.58% | |
57 Neutral | $947.70M | -43.34 | -2.89% | 0.56% | -21.02% | 38.05% | |
56 Neutral | $2.24B | -48.53 | -3.39% | 1.32% | 9.64% | ― | |
52 Neutral | $1.21B | 95.30 | 1.65% | 1.47% | -6.87% | -39.59% | |
44 Neutral | $352.83M | -3.22 | -19.73% | 2.66% | -8.33% | -249.94% |
* Industrials Sector Average
MRTN
Marten Transport
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26.22%
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Marten Transport Corporate Events
Business Operations and StrategyFinancial Disclosures
Marten Transport Highlights Q2 Profit Recovery, Market Tailwinds
Negative
Jul 23, 2026
Marten Transport reported that second-quarter 2026 net income fell to $5.3 million, or $0.07 per diluted share, from $7.2 million, or $0.09 per share, a year earlier, though earnings rose sharply from $1.4 million in the first quarter of 2026. For...
Business Operations and StrategyPrivate Placements and FinancingRegulatory Filings and Compliance
Marten Transport Amends Credit Agreement, Enhancing Financial Flexibility
Positive
Jun 18, 2026
On June 12, 2026, Marten Transport, Ltd. entered into a First Amendment to its Credit Agreement with a syndicate of banks and U.S. Bank National Association acting as agent, formalizing updated terms to its existing credit facilities. The agreemen...
Executive/Board ChangesShareholder Meetings
Marten Transport Shareholders Reelect Board and Approve Compensation
Positive
May 11, 2026
At its Annual Meeting of Stockholders held on May 5, 2026, Marten Transport, Ltd. reported that shareholders re-elected seven directors, including Chairman Randolph L. Marten, to serve until the next annual meeting or until their successors are ch...
Glossary
BuyA stock rated as a "Buy" is expected to perform better than the overall market or a specific benchmark over the near-to-medium term. This rating suggests the stock is likely to deliver higher returns compared to other stocks in the same sector or market index. Note: This is not investment advice; please consult a financial advisor before making investment decisions.
HoldA stock rated as a "Hold" is expected to perform in line with the overall market or a specific benchmark. This rating indicates that the stock is neither particularly compelling nor unfavorable for investment. Note: This is not investment advice; please consult a financial advisor before making investment decisions.
SellA stock rated as a "Sell" is expected to perform worse than the overall market or a specific benchmark over the near-to-medium term. This rating suggests the stock may deliver lower returns compared to other stocks in the same sector or market index. Note: This is not investment advice; please consult a financial advisor before making investment decisions.
Disclaimer
This AI Analyst Stock Report is automatically generated by our AI systems using advanced algorithms and publicly available financial, technical, and market data. While the information provided aims to be accurate and insightful, it is intended for informational purposes only and should not be considered financial advice. Any content created by an AI (Artificial Intelligence) system may contain inaccuracies and/or contain errors. Investing in stocks carries inherent risks, and past performance is not indicative of future results. This report does not account for your personal financial circumstances, objectives, or risk tolerance. Always conduct your own research or consult with a qualified financial advisor before making investment decisions. The analysis and recommendations provided are based on historical and current data and may not fully reflect future market conditions or unexpected developments. Neither the creators of this report nor its affiliated entities guarantee the accuracy, completeness, or reliability of the information presented. Use this report at your own discretion and risk.