(HTLD) Heartland Express - Overview
Sector: Industrials | Industry: Trucking | Exchange: NASDAQ (USA) | Market Cap: 1.112m USD | Total Return: 67.7% in 12m
Avg Turnover: 7.31M
Qual. Beats: 1
Rev. Trend: -98.5%
Qual. Beats: 0
Warnings
Interest Coverage Ratio -4.2 is critical
Tailwinds
Supp Ema20, Rs Leader, Tailwind, Confidence
Heartland Express (HTLD) is an Iowa-based asset-based transportation company providing dry van and temperature-controlled truckload services across North America. Operating through brands including Millis Transfer, Smith Transport, and CFI, the company serves a diversified client base spanning the retail, manufacturing, and automotive sectors. As an asset-based carrier, Heartland owns and maintains its fleet of tractors and trailers, a model that allows for greater control over capacity and service quality compared to non-asset brokerage firms.
The cargo ground transportation sector is highly cyclical and sensitive to changes in fuel costs and national freight volumes. Heartland focuses on short-to-long-haul routes, positioning itself within a fragmented industry where scale and driver retention are primary competitive advantages. Investors can utilize ValueRay to examine the companys historical margin performance and debt levels.
- Freight rate fluctuations impact core operating margins across North American truckload segments
- Integration of CFI and Smith Transport acquisitions dictates long-term earnings growth
- Diesel fuel price volatility directly affects net income and surcharge recovery efficiency
- Driver recruitment and retention costs influence fleet utilization and operating ratios
- Consumer spending trends in retail and manufacturing drive overall shipment volume demand
| Net Income: -43.4m TTM > 0 and > 6% of Revenue |
| FCF/TA: -0.05 > 0.02 and ΔFCF/TA -6.22 > 1.0 |
| NWC/Revenue: 4.02% < 20% (prev -1.51%; Δ 5.53% < -1%) |
| CFO/TA 0.07 > 3% & CFO 86.6m > Net Income -43.4m |
| Net Debt (111.9m) to EBITDA (107.8m): 1.04 < 3 |
| Current Ratio: 1.27 > 1.5 & < 3 |
| Outstanding Shares: last quarter (77.5m) vs 12m ago -1.47% < -2% |
| Gross Margin: 9.10% > 18% (prev 0.10%; Δ 899.9% > 0.5%) |
| Asset Turnover: 60.38% > 50% (prev 74.11%; Δ -13.73% > 0%) |
| Interest Coverage Ratio: -4.24 > 6 (EBITDA TTM 107.8m / Interest Expense TTM 10.6m) |
| A: 0.03 (Total Current Assets 143.2m - Total Current Liabilities 112.6m) / Total Assets 1.18b |
| B: 0.81 (Retained Earnings 959.0m / Total Assets 1.18b) |
| C: -0.04 (EBIT TTM -45.0m / Avg Total Assets 1.26b) |
| D: 2.22 (Book Value of Equity 959.9m / Total Liabilities 431.9m) |
| Altman-Z'' = 4.91 = AAA |
| DSRI: 1.07 (Receivables 77.8m/95.0m, Revenue 762.5m/996.6m) |
| GMI: 1.12 (GM 9.10% / 10.19%) |
| AQI: 1.08 (AQ_t 0.34 / AQ_t-1 0.32) |
| SGI: 0.77 (Revenue 762.5m / 996.6m) |
| TATA: -0.11 (NI -43.4m - CFO 86.6m) / TA 1.18b) |
| Beneish M = -3.10 (Cap -4..+1) = AA |
As of May 30, 2026, the stock is trading at USD 14.99 with a total of 284,916 shares traded.
Over the past week, the price has changed by +4.97%,
over one month by +13.13%,
over three months by +36.18% and
over the past year by +67.67%.
Heartland Express has received a consensus analysts rating of 2.60. Therefore, it is recommended to hold HTLD.
- StrongBuy: 0
- Buy: 0
- Hold: 3
- Sell: 2
- StrongSell: 0
| Analysts Target Price | 12.4 | -17.3% |
P/E Forward = 21.0526
P/S = 1.4582
P/B = 1.4846
P/EG = 1.6765
Revenue TTM = 762.5m USD
EBIT TTM = -45.0m USD
EBITDA TTM = 107.8m USD
Long Term Debt = 149.9m USD (from longTermDebt, last quarter)
Short Term Debt = 1.86m USD (from shortTermDebt, last quarter)
Debt = 156.4m USD (from shortLongTermDebtTotal, last quarter) + Leases 3.27m
Net Debt = 111.9m USD (calculated: Debt 156.4m - CCE 44.5m)
Enterprise Value = 1.22b USD (1.11b + Debt 156.4m - CCE 44.5m)
Interest Coverage Ratio = -4.24 (Ebit TTM -45.0m / Interest Expense TTM 10.6m)
EV/FCF = -19.12x (Enterprise Value 1.22b / FCF TTM -64.0m)
FCF Yield = -5.23% (FCF TTM -64.0m / Enterprise Value 1.22b)
FCF Margin = -8.39% (FCF TTM -64.0m / Revenue TTM 762.5m)
Net Margin = -5.69% (Net Income TTM -43.4m / Revenue TTM 762.5m)
Gross Margin = 9.10% ((Revenue TTM 762.5m - Cost of Revenue TTM 693.1m) / Revenue TTM)
Gross Margin QoQ = 9.61% (prev 9.14%)
Tobins Q-Ratio = 1.04 (Enterprise Value 1.22b / Total Assets 1.18b)
Interest Expense / Debt = 6.77% (Interest Expense 10.6m / Debt 156.4m)
Taxrate = 21.0% (US default 21%)
NOPAT = -35.5m (EBIT -45.0m * (1 - 21.00%)) [loss with tax shield]
Current Ratio = 1.27 (Total Current Assets 143.2m / Total Current Liabilities 112.6m)
Debt / Equity = 0.21 (Debt 156.4m / totalStockholderEquity, last quarter 749.0m)
Debt / EBITDA = 1.04 (Net Debt 111.9m / EBITDA 107.8m)
Debt / FCF = -1.75 (negative FCF - burning cash) (Net Debt 111.9m / FCF TTM -64.0m)
Total Stockholder Equity = 766.7m (last 4 quarters mean from totalStockholderEquity)
RoA = -3.44% (Net Income -43.4m / Total Assets 1.18b)
RoE = -5.66% (Net Income TTM -43.4m / Total Stockholder Equity 766.7m)
RoCE = -4.90% (EBIT -45.0m / Capital Employed (Equity 766.7m + L.T.Debt 149.9m))
RoIC = -3.46% (negative operating profit) (NOPAT -35.5m / Invested Capital 1.03b)
WACC = 8.79% (E(1.11b)/V(1.27b) * Re(9.27%) + D(156.4m)/V(1.27b) * Rd(6.77%) * (1-Tc(0.21)))
Discount Rate = 9.27% (= CAPM, Blume Beta Adj.)
Shares (quarterly) Correlation: -82.22 | Cagr: -0.93%
[DCF] Fair Price = unknown (Cash Flow -64.0m)
EPS Correlation: N/A | EPS CAGR: N/A | SUE: 1.30 | # QB: 1
Revenue Correlation: -98.47 | Revenue CAGR: -17.21% | SUE: 0.09 | # QB: 0
EPS current Quarter (2026-06-30): EPS=0.00 | Chg30d=+103.44% | Revisions=+20% | Analysts=4
EPS next Quarter (2026-09-30): EPS=0.03 | Chg30d=N/A | Revisions=+20% | Analysts=3
EPS current Year (2026-12-31): EPS=0.02 | Chg30d=+109.32% | Revisions=+33% | GrowthEPS=+104.7% | GrowthRev=-7.0%
EPS next Year (2027-12-31): EPS=0.51 | Chg30d=+26.89% | Revisions=+43% | GrowthEPS=+2138.0% | GrowthRev=+7.7%
[Analyst] Revisions Ratio: +43%