Heartland Express (HTLD)
Market Price (10/14/2025): $7.95 | Market Cap: $620.7 MilSector: Industrials | Industry: Cargo Ground Transportation
Heartland Express (HTLD)
Market Price (10/14/2025): $7.95Market Cap: $620.7 MilSector: IndustrialsIndustry: Cargo Ground Transportation
Investment Highlights
Attractive cash flow generationCFO/Rev LTMCash Flow from Operations / Revenue (Sales), Last Twelve Months (LTM) is 13% | Weak multi-year price returns2Y Excs Rtn is -99%, 3Y Excs Rtn is -123% | Not profitable at operating income levelOp Inc LTMOperating Income, Last Twelve Months is -44 Mil, Op Mgn LTMOperating Margin = Operating Income / Revenue Reflects profitability before taxes and before impact of capital structure (interest payments). is -4.8% |
Low stock price volatilityVol 12M is 36% | Weak revenue growthRev Chg LTMRevenue Change % Last Twelve Months (LTM) is -16%, Rev Chg QQuarterly Revenue Change % is -23% | |
Not cash flow generativeFCF/Rev LTMFree Cash Flow / Revenue (Sales), Last Twelve Months (LTM) is -3.4% | ||
Yield minus risk free rate is negativeERPEquity Risk Premium (ERP) = Total Yield - Risk Free Rate, Reflects the premium above risk free assets offered by the investment. is -10% |
Attractive cash flow generationCFO/Rev LTMCash Flow from Operations / Revenue (Sales), Last Twelve Months (LTM) is 13% |
Low stock price volatilityVol 12M is 36% |
Weak multi-year price returns2Y Excs Rtn is -99%, 3Y Excs Rtn is -123% |
Not profitable at operating income levelOp Inc LTMOperating Income, Last Twelve Months is -44 Mil, Op Mgn LTMOperating Margin = Operating Income / Revenue Reflects profitability before taxes and before impact of capital structure (interest payments). is -4.8% |
Weak revenue growthRev Chg LTMRevenue Change % Last Twelve Months (LTM) is -16%, Rev Chg QQuarterly Revenue Change % is -23% |
Not cash flow generativeFCF/Rev LTMFree Cash Flow / Revenue (Sales), Last Twelve Months (LTM) is -3.4% |
Yield minus risk free rate is negativeERPEquity Risk Premium (ERP) = Total Yield - Risk Free Rate, Reflects the premium above risk free assets offered by the investment. is -10% |
Market Valuation & Key Metrics
HTLD Stock
Price Returns Compared
2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 | Total [1] | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Returns | |||||||
HTLD Return | -14% | -4% | -8% | -7% | -21% | -29% | -60% |
Peers Return | 12% | 22% | -6% | 6% | 6% | -19% | 17% |
S&P 500 Return | 16% | 27% | -19% | 24% | 23% | 13% | 103% |
Monthly Win Rates [3] | |||||||
HTLD Win Rate | 42% | 50% | 33% | 42% | 33% | 33% | |
Peers Win Rate | 47% | 52% | 30% | 33% | 40% | 36% | |
S&P 500 Win Rate | 58% | 75% | 42% | 67% | 75% | 67% | |
Max Drawdowns [4] | |||||||
HTLD Max Drawdown | -25% | -10% | -23% | -24% | -30% | -34% | |
Peers Max Drawdown | -20% | -1% | -19% | -9% | -12% | -24% | |
S&P 500 Max Drawdown | -31% | -1% | -25% | -1% | -2% | -15% | |
[1] Cumulative total returns since the beginning of 2020
[2] Peers: LSTR, SNDR, TRN, WERN, ETS. See HTLD Returns vs. Peers.
[3] Win Rate = % of calendar months in which monthly returns were positive
[4] Max drawdown represents maximum peak-to-trough decline within a year
[5] 2025 data is for the year up to 10/13/2025 (YTD)
Downturns Compared
Event | HTLD | S&P 500 |
---|---|---|
2022 Inflation Shock | ||
% Loss | -41.6% | -25.4% |
% Gain to Breakeven | 71.1% | 34.1% |
Time to Breakeven | Not Fully Recovered days | 464 days |
2020 Covid Pandemic | ||
% Loss | -25.3% | -33.9% |
% Gain to Breakeven | 33.9% | 51.3% |
Time to Breakeven | 72 days | 148 days |
2018 Correction | ||
% Loss | -31.1% | -19.8% |
% Gain to Breakeven | 45.2% | 24.7% |
Time to Breakeven | Not Fully Recovered days | 120 days |
2008 Global Financial Crisis | ||
% Loss | -34.7% | -56.8% |
% Gain to Breakeven | 53.2% | 131.3% |
Time to Breakeven | 1724 days | 1480 days |
How Low Can It Go?
Heartland Express's stock fell -41.6% during the 2022 Inflation Shock from a high on 4/5/2021. A -41.6% loss requires a 71.1% gain to breakeven.
Preserve Wealth
Limiting losses and compounding gains is essential to preserving wealth over time.
Asset Allocation
Actively managed asset allocation strategies protect wealth. Learn more.
About Heartland Express (HTLD)
Heartland Express, Inc., together with its subsidiaries, operates as a short-to-medium haul truckload carrier in the United States and Canada. It primarily provides nationwide asset-based dry van truckload service for shippers from Washington to Florida and New England to California; and temperature-controlled truckload services. The company offers its services under the Heartland Express and Millis Transfer brand names. It primarily serves retailers and manufacturers in consumer goods, appliances, food products, and automotive industries. The company was founded in 1978 and is headquartered in North Liberty, Iowa.
Latest Trefis Analyses
Trade Ideas
Select past trade ideas related to HTLD and Cargo Ground Transportation.
Date | Ticker | Company | Category | Trade Strategy | 6M Fwd Rtn | 12M Fwd Rtn | 12M Max DD |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
09302025 | FCN | FTI Consulting | Dip Buy | DB | P/E OPMDip Buy with Low PE and High MarginBuying dips for companies with tame PE and meaningfully high operating margin | 0.0% | 0.0% | -1.3% |
09122025 | ODFL | Old Dominion Freight Line | Monopoly | MY | Getting CheaperMonopoly-Like with P/S DeclineLarge cap with monopoly-like margins or cash flow generation and getting cheaper based on P/S multiple | -7.3% | -7.3% | -7.3% |
08312025 | EFX | Equifax | Monopoly | MY | Getting CheaperMonopoly-Like with P/S DeclineLarge cap with monopoly-like margins or cash flow generation and getting cheaper based on P/S multiple | -6.5% | -6.5% | -6.5% |
08312025 | UHAL | U-Haul | Monopoly | MY | Getting CheaperMonopoly-Like with P/S DeclineLarge cap with monopoly-like margins or cash flow generation and getting cheaper based on P/S multiple | -5.6% | -5.6% | -5.6% |
08312025 | BWXT | BWX Technologies | Quality | Q | Momentum | UpsideQuality Stocks with Momentum and UpsideBuying quality stocks with strong momentum but still having room to run | 17.3% | 17.3% | -1.2% |
Date | Ticker | Company | Category | Trade Strategy | 6M Fwd Rtn | 12M Fwd Rtn | 12M Max DD |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
09302025 | FCN | FTI Consulting | Dip Buy | DB | P/E OPMDip Buy with Low PE and High MarginBuying dips for companies with tame PE and meaningfully high operating margin | 0.0% | 0.0% | -1.3% |
09122025 | ODFL | Old Dominion Freight Line | Monopoly | MY | Getting CheaperMonopoly-Like with P/S DeclineLarge cap with monopoly-like margins or cash flow generation and getting cheaper based on P/S multiple | -7.3% | -7.3% | -7.3% |
08312025 | EFX | Equifax | Monopoly | MY | Getting CheaperMonopoly-Like with P/S DeclineLarge cap with monopoly-like margins or cash flow generation and getting cheaper based on P/S multiple | -6.5% | -6.5% | -6.5% |
08312025 | UHAL | U-Haul | Monopoly | MY | Getting CheaperMonopoly-Like with P/S DeclineLarge cap with monopoly-like margins or cash flow generation and getting cheaper based on P/S multiple | -5.6% | -5.6% | -5.6% |
08312025 | BWXT | BWX Technologies | Quality | Q | Momentum | UpsideQuality Stocks with Momentum and UpsideBuying quality stocks with strong momentum but still having room to run | 17.3% | 17.3% | -1.2% |
See Trefis Trade Ideas for more.
Research & Analysis
Invest in Strategies
Wealth Management
Peer Comparisons for Heartland Express
Financials
Median | |
---|---|
Name | |
Mkt Price | 24.27 |
Mkt Cap | 2.3 |
Rev LTM | 2,910 |
Op Inc LTM | 134 |
FCF LTM | 12 |
FCF 3Y Avg | 2 |
CFO LTM | 207 |
CFO 3Y Avg | 354 |
Growth & Margins
Median | |
---|---|
Name | |
Rev Chg LTM | -6.4% |
Rev Chg 3Y Avg | -0.9% |
Rev Chg Q | -1.1% |
QoQ Delta Rev Chg LTM | -0.3% |
Op Mgn LTM | 3.1% |
Op Mgn 3Y Avg | 4.9% |
QoQ Delta Op Mgn LTM | 0.0% |
CFO/Rev LTM | 9.6% |
CFO/Rev 3Y Avg | 11.1% |
FCF/Rev LTM | -1.2% |
FCF/Rev 3Y Avg | -0.0% |
Valuation
Median | |
---|---|
Name | |
Mkt Cap | 2.3 |
P/S | 0.7 |
P/EBIT | 14.9 |
P/E | 26.0 |
P/CFO | 5.8 |
Total Yield | 5.4% |
Dividend Yield | 2.2% |
FCF Yield 3Y Avg | -0.4% |
D/E | 0.3 |
Net D/E | 0.3 |
Returns
Median | |
---|---|
Name | |
1M Rtn | -5.6% |
3M Rtn | -10.4% |
6M Rtn | -5.4% |
12M Rtn | -25.9% |
3Y Rtn | -8.3% |
1M Excs Rtn | -6.6% |
3M Excs Rtn | -14.7% |
6M Excs Rtn | -29.6% |
12M Excs Rtn | -40.9% |
3Y Excs Rtn | -88.8% |
Comparison Analyses
Returns Analyses
Earnings Returns History
Expand for MoreForward Returns | |||
---|---|---|---|
Earnings Date | 1D Returns | 5D Returns | 21D Returns |
7/29/2025 | -3.2% | -8.2% | 2.4% |
5/2/2025 | -1.0% | 8.5% | 15.4% |
2/3/2025 | 1.7% | 2.0% | -10.0% |
10/29/2024 | -0.5% | -2.0% | 13.2% |
7/26/2024 | -1.7% | -5.8% | -5.9% |
4/30/2024 | -0.2% | 9.4% | 10.6% |
2/2/2024 | -1.8% | 2.2% | -7.3% |
10/31/2023 | -5.4% | 1.9% | 7.9% |
... | |||
SUMMARY STATS | |||
# Positive | 11 | 14 | 13 |
# Negative | 13 | 10 | 11 |
Median Positive | 1.7% | 2.7% | 6.4% |
Median Negative | -0.9% | -3.5% | -4.5% |
Max Positive | 3.7% | 13.6% | 19.8% |
Max Negative | -5.4% | -8.2% | -10.0% |
SEC Filings
Expand for MoreReport Date | Filing Date | Filing |
---|---|---|
6302025 | 8082025 | 10-Q 6/30/2025 |
3312025 | 5122025 | 10-Q 3/31/2025 |
12312024 | 2182025 | 10-K 12/31/2024 |
9302024 | 11122024 | 10-Q 9/30/2024 |
6302024 | 8092024 | 10-Q 6/30/2024 |
3312024 | 5102024 | 10-Q 3/31/2024 |
12312023 | 2282024 | 10-K 12/31/2023 |
9302023 | 11092023 | 10-Q 9/30/2023 |
6302023 | 8092023 | 10-Q 6/30/2023 |
3312023 | 5082023 | 10-Q 3/31/2023 |
12312022 | 3012023 | 10-K 12/31/2022 |
9302022 | 11092022 | 10-Q 9/30/2022 |
6302022 | 8092022 | 10-Q 6/30/2022 |
3312022 | 5092022 | 10-Q 3/31/2022 |
12312021 | 2252022 | 10-K 12/31/2021 |
9302021 | 11042021 | 10-Q 9/30/2021 |
Insider Activity
Expand for MoreOwner | Title | Filing Date | Action | Price | Shares | TransactedValue | Value ofHeld Shares | Form | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
0 | GERDIN MICHAEL J | Chief Executive Officer | 8182025 | Buy | 8.20 | 1,314 | 10,775 | 11,998,092 | Form |
1 | PRATT JAMES G | 5162025 | Buy | 8.96 | 6,571 | 58,876 | 268,800 | Form | |
2 | Ann S. Gerdin Revocable Trust | 5142025 | Buy | 8.95 | 167,644 | 1,500,045 | 10,867,103 | Form | |
3 | Hupfeld Amanda | 5142025 | Buy | 8.76 | 2,000 | 17,520 | 17,520 | Form | |
4 | GERDIN MICHAEL J | Chief Executive Officer | 5132025 | Buy | 8.50 | 148,272 | 1,260,668 | 3,726,449 | Form |
External Quote Links
Y Finance | Barrons |
TradingView | Morningstar |
SeekingAlpha | ValueLine |
Motley Fool | Robinhood |
CNBC | Etrade |
MarketWatch | Unusual Whales |
YCharts | Perplexity Finance |
FinViz |