Heartland Express, Inc. (HTLD) Stock

Heartland Express, Inc. (HTLD) is a Industrials stock trading at $12.50 (as of 2026-08-24), with a market capitalization of $968.62M. Figures are sourced from first-party U.S. SEC EDGAR filings and market data.

Heartland Express, Inc., along with its subsidiaries, is a short-to-medium haul truckload carrier operating in the United States and Canada. It provides asset-based dry van truckload and temperature-controlled truckload services under the Heartland Express and Millis Transfer brands, serving retailers and manufacturers in consumer goods, appliances, food products, and automotive industries.

Understand Heartland Express, Inc.: how it makes money

Heartland Express operates as a short-to-medium haul truckload carrier, providing nationwide dry van and temperature-controlled trucking services, and it earns revenue from shipping services including fuel surcharge revenue.

Because operating revenue can be split into base operating revenue and fuel surcharge revenue, profitability is structurally driven by how much freight pricing and demand (base revenue) can offset fuel related cost exposure (surcharge contribution).

Revenue by segment (latest quarter)
OpRev$0.2B
Fuel$0.0B

Business quality (Weak): Clear operating business model (truckload service) with a direct view into pricing versus fuel via revenue excluding fuel surcharges and fuel surcharge revenue. Latest quarter shows negative operating margin, so investors should focus on whether base revenue trends can improve earnings.

Bull case

  • Broad service offering: Heartland Express provides nationwide dry van truckload service and temperature-controlled truckload services.
  • Established shipper focus: The company primarily serves retailers and manufacturers in consumer goods, appliances, food products, and automotive industries.
  • Fuel component is separately visible: Fuel surcharge revenue is a distinct part of operating revenue, which helps separate base freight business from fuel-related effects.

Bear case

  • Unprofitable quarter: The latest quarter operating margin is -1.9%, indicating operating loss pressure.
  • Earnings sensitivity to fuel economics: A portion of revenue comes through fuel surcharge revenue, which implies results can be affected by fuel price dynamics and how surcharges flow through.
Valuation — source: SEC EDGAR (first-party)
Price$12.50
Market Cap$968.62M
EV / EBITDA4.3
Price / Book1.29
Price / Sales1.21
FCF Yield-2.7%
Profitability & Growth — source: SEC EDGAR
Revenue (TTM)$805.71M
Net Margin-6.5%
Revenue Growth (YoY)-23.1%
EPS Growth (YoY)76.3%
FCF Growth (YoY)-292.0%
Financial Health — source: SEC EDGAR
Altman Z-Score2.99 (grey)
Valuation vs Sector & Industry
Sector P/E (Industrials)26.0
Industry P/E (Transportation)17.0
Smart-Money Activity — SEC Form 4 / 13F / Congressional disclosures
Top Institutional HolderBlackRock, Inc. ($70.63M)
Institutional Holders Tracked10
Congressional Trades (recent)1
Company
SectorIndustrials
IndustryTransportation
CEOMichael J. Gerdin
Employees5,220
CountryUS
IPO Date1986-11-05

Related Companies (Transportation; 8 comparable transport companies)

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  • Werner Enterprises, Inc. (WERN)
  • Saia, Inc. (SAIA)
  • ArcBest Corporation (ARCB)
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HTLD earnings history · HTLD institutional & insider holders · HTLD KPIs & operating metrics · HTLD financials · HTLD investor presentations & press releases · HTLD SEC filings · HTLD peers · Congress trades · Insider trades · Short interest · Stock screener

Data as of 2026-08-24.

Figures sourced from U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC EDGAR) filings and market data. Not personalized investment advice.