Tearsheet

Heartland Express (HTLD)


Market Price (10/14/2025): $7.95 | Market Cap: $620.7 Mil
Sector: Industrials | Industry: Cargo Ground Transportation

Heartland Express (HTLD)


Market Price (10/14/2025): $7.95
Market Cap: $620.7 Mil
Sector: Industrials
Industry: Cargo Ground Transportation

Investment Highlights

0 Attractive cash flow generation
CFO/Rev LTMCash Flow from Operations / Revenue (Sales), Last Twelve Months (LTM) is 13%
Weak multi-year price returns
2Y Excs Rtn is -99%, 3Y Excs Rtn is -123%
Not profitable at operating income level
Op 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%
1 Low stock price volatility
Vol 12M is 36%
  Weak revenue growth
Rev Chg LTMRevenue Change % Last Twelve Months (LTM) is -16%, Rev Chg QQuarterly Revenue Change % is -23%
2   Not cash flow generative
FCF/Rev LTMFree Cash Flow / Revenue (Sales), Last Twelve Months (LTM) is -3.4%
3   Yield minus risk free rate is negative
ERPEquity Risk Premium (ERP) = Total Yield - Risk Free Rate, Reflects the premium above risk free assets offered by the investment. is -10%
0 Attractive cash flow generation
CFO/Rev LTMCash Flow from Operations / Revenue (Sales), Last Twelve Months (LTM) is 13%
1 Low stock price volatility
Vol 12M is 36%
2 Weak multi-year price returns
2Y Excs Rtn is -99%, 3Y Excs Rtn is -123%
3 Not profitable at operating income level
Op 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%
4 Weak revenue growth
Rev Chg LTMRevenue Change % Last Twelve Months (LTM) is -16%, Rev Chg QQuarterly Revenue Change % is -23%
5 Not cash flow generative
FCF/Rev LTMFree Cash Flow / Revenue (Sales), Last Twelve Months (LTM) is -3.4%
6 Yield minus risk free rate is negative
ERPEquity 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

 202020212022202320242025Total [1]
Returns
HTLD Return-14%-4%-8%-7%-21%-29%-60%
Peers Return12%22%-6%6%6%-19%17%
S&P 500 Return16%27%-19%24%23%13%103%

Monthly Win Rates [3]
HTLD Win Rate42%50%33%42%33%33% 
Peers Win Rate47%52%30%33%40%36% 
S&P 500 Win Rate58%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

Unique KeyEventHTLDS&P 500
2022 Inflation Shock2022 Inflation Shock  
2022 Inflation Shock% Loss% Loss-41.6%-25.4%
2022 Inflation Shock% Gain to Breakeven% Gain to Breakeven71.1%34.1%
2022 Inflation ShockTime to BreakevenTime to BreakevenNot Fully Recovered days464 days
2020 Covid Pandemic2020 Covid Pandemic  
2020 Covid Pandemic% Loss% Loss-25.3%-33.9%
2020 Covid Pandemic% Gain to Breakeven% Gain to Breakeven33.9%51.3%
2020 Covid PandemicTime to BreakevenTime to Breakeven72 days148 days
2018 Correction2018 Correction  
2018 Correction% Loss% Loss-31.1%-19.8%
2018 Correction% Gain to Breakeven% Gain to Breakeven45.2%24.7%
2018 CorrectionTime to BreakevenTime to BreakevenNot Fully Recovered days120 days
2008 Global Financial Crisis2008 Global Financial Crisis  
2008 Global Financial Crisis% Loss% Loss-34.7%-56.8%
2008 Global Financial Crisis% Gain to Breakeven% Gain to Breakeven53.2%131.3%
2008 Global Financial CrisisTime to BreakevenTime to Breakeven1724 days1480 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.

Better Bets than Heartland Express (HTLD)

Trade Ideas

Select past trade ideas related to HTLD and Cargo Ground Transportation.

Unique KeyDateTickerCompanyCategoryTrade Strategy6M Fwd Rtn12M Fwd Rtn12M Max DD
FCN_9302025_Dip_Buyer_ValueBuy09302025FCNFTI ConsultingDip BuyDB | P/E OPMDip Buy with Low PE and High Margin
Buying dips for companies with tame PE and meaningfully high operating margin
0.0%0.0%-1.3%
ODFL_9122025_Monopoly_xInd_xCD_Getting_Cheaper09122025ODFLOld Dominion Freight LineMonopolyMY | Getting CheaperMonopoly-Like with P/S Decline
Large cap with monopoly-like margins or cash flow generation and getting cheaper based on P/S multiple
-7.3%-7.3%-7.3%
EFX_8312025_Monopoly_xInd_xCD_Getting_Cheaper08312025EFXEquifaxMonopolyMY | Getting CheaperMonopoly-Like with P/S Decline
Large cap with monopoly-like margins or cash flow generation and getting cheaper based on P/S multiple
-6.5%-6.5%-6.5%
UHAL_8312025_Monopoly_xInd_xCD_Getting_Cheaper08312025UHALU-HaulMonopolyMY | Getting CheaperMonopoly-Like with P/S Decline
Large cap with monopoly-like margins or cash flow generation and getting cheaper based on P/S multiple
-5.6%-5.6%-5.6%
BWXT_8312025_Quality_Momentum_RoomToRun_10%08312025BWXTBWX TechnologiesQualityQ | Momentum | UpsideQuality Stocks with Momentum and Upside
Buying quality stocks with strong momentum but still having room to run
17.3%17.3%-1.2%
Unique KeyDateTickerCompanyCategoryTrade Strategy6M Fwd Rtn12M Fwd Rtn12M Max DD
FCN_9302025_Dip_Buyer_ValueBuy09302025FCNFTI ConsultingDip BuyDB | P/E OPMDip Buy with Low PE and High Margin
Buying dips for companies with tame PE and meaningfully high operating margin
0.0%0.0%-1.3%
ODFL_9122025_Monopoly_xInd_xCD_Getting_Cheaper09122025ODFLOld Dominion Freight LineMonopolyMY | Getting CheaperMonopoly-Like with P/S Decline
Large cap with monopoly-like margins or cash flow generation and getting cheaper based on P/S multiple
-7.3%-7.3%-7.3%
EFX_8312025_Monopoly_xInd_xCD_Getting_Cheaper08312025EFXEquifaxMonopolyMY | Getting CheaperMonopoly-Like with P/S Decline
Large cap with monopoly-like margins or cash flow generation and getting cheaper based on P/S multiple
-6.5%-6.5%-6.5%
UHAL_8312025_Monopoly_xInd_xCD_Getting_Cheaper08312025UHALU-HaulMonopolyMY | Getting CheaperMonopoly-Like with P/S Decline
Large cap with monopoly-like margins or cash flow generation and getting cheaper based on P/S multiple
-5.6%-5.6%-5.6%
BWXT_8312025_Quality_Momentum_RoomToRun_10%08312025BWXTBWX TechnologiesQualityQ | Momentum | UpsideQuality Stocks with Momentum and Upside
Buying quality stocks with strong momentum but still having room to run
17.3%17.3%-1.2%

See Trefis Trade Ideas for more.

Recent Active Movers

Recent Active Movers

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Peer Comparisons for Heartland Express

Financials

HTLDLSTRSNDRTRNWERNETSMedian
NameHeartlan.Landstar.Schneide.Trinity .Werner E.Elite Ex. 
Mkt Price7.95124.9922.1327.5926.410.7724.27
Mkt Cap0.64.43.92.31.6-2.3
Rev LTM9324,7875,4772,8552,96632,910
Op Inc LTM-4420218341285-0134
FCF LTM-3118816425-120-012
FCF 3Y Avg235932-468-115-2
CFO LTM120207673598207-0207
CFO 3Y Avg164385712304354-354

Growth & Margins

HTLDLSTRSNDRTRNWERNETSMedian
NameHeartlan.Landstar.Schneide.Trinity .Werner E.Elite Ex. 
Rev Chg LTM-16.4%-2.1%2.2%-9.4%-6.4%--6.4%
Rev Chg 3Y Avg23.2%-14.0%-4.8%22.3%-0.9%--0.9%
Rev Chg Q-23.4%-1.1%7.9%-27.7%-1.0%--1.1%
QoQ Delta Rev Chg LTM-6.5%-0.3%1.9%-7.3%-0.3%--0.3%
Op Mgn LTM-4.8%4.2%3.3%14.4%2.9%-19.4%3.1%
Op Mgn 3Y Avg-0.8%5.6%4.9%12.1%4.8%-4.9%
QoQ Delta Op Mgn LTM-1.7%-0.2%0.0%0.4%1.3%-0.0%
CFO/Rev LTM12.9%4.3%12.3%20.9%7.0%-5.5%9.6%
CFO/Rev 3Y Avg14.6%7.0%12.7%10.6%11.1%-11.1%
FCF/Rev LTM-3.4%3.9%3.0%0.9%-4.0%-5.5%-1.2%
FCF/Rev 3Y Avg-0.0%6.5%0.6%-19.8%-3.6%--0.0%

Valuation

HTLDLSTRSNDRTRNWERNETSMedian
NameHeartlan.Landstar.Schneide.Trinity .Werner E.Elite Ex. 
Mkt Cap0.64.43.92.31.6-2.3
P/S0.70.90.70.80.5-0.7
P/EBIT-19.021.620.74.614.9-14.9
P/E-17.326.030.916.530.7-26.0
P/CFO5.221.05.83.87.8-5.8
Total Yield-5.8%6.7%5.0%10.3%5.4%-5.4%
Dividend Yield0.0%2.8%1.7%4.2%2.2%-2.2%
FCF Yield 3Y Avg-0.4%5.7%0.9%-21.5%-5.2%--0.4%
D/E0.30.00.12.50.5-0.3
Net D/E0.3-0.10.12.50.4-0.3

Returns

HTLDLSTRSNDRTRNWERNETSMedian
NameHeartlan.Landstar.Schneide.Trinity .Werner E.Elite Ex. 
1M Rtn-5.9%-2.9%-7.1%-2.0%-5.2%-23.4%-5.6%
3M Rtn-11.9%-10.4%-14.2%0.9%-7.6%--10.4%
6M Rtn-5.4%-11.0%-1.2%10.4%-6.7%--5.4%
12M Rtn-30.9%-32.0%-18.7%-20.3%-25.9%--25.9%
3Y Rtn-44.8%-8.3%7.8%39.8%-29.0%--8.3%
1M Excs Rtn-7.0%-3.9%-8.2%-3.1%-6.3%-24.4%-6.6%
3M Excs Rtn-15.9%-14.7%-18.0%-4.0%-11.4%--14.7%
6M Excs Rtn-29.6%-34.3%-24.1%-12.3%-30.0%--29.6%
12M Excs Rtn-44.9%-46.0%-32.3%-33.2%-40.9%--40.9%
3Y Excs Rtn-122.6%-88.8%-69.2%-46.9%-106.9%--88.8%

Financials

Segment Financials

Revenue by Segment

$ Mil20242023202220212020
Single Segment1,207968607645597
Total1,207968607645597


Price Behavior

Short Interest

Short Interest: As Of Date9302025
Short Interest: Shares Quantity2,612,413
Short Interest: % Change Since 9152025-6.4%
Average Daily Volume734,975
Days-to-Cover Short Interest3.55
Basic Shares Quantity78,079,000
Short % of Basic Shares3.3%

Earnings Returns History

Expand for More

 Forward Returns
Earnings Date1D Returns5D Returns21D Returns
7/29/2025-3.2%-8.2%2.4%
5/2/2025-1.0%8.5%15.4%
2/3/20251.7%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   
# Positive111413
# Negative131011
Median Positive1.7%2.7%6.4%
Median Negative-0.9%-3.5%-4.5%
Max Positive3.7%13.6%19.8%
Max Negative-5.4%-8.2%-10.0%

SEC Filings

Expand for More

Report DateFiling DateFiling
6302025808202510-Q 6/30/2025
3312025512202510-Q 3/31/2025
12312024218202510-K 12/31/2024
93020241112202410-Q 9/30/2024
6302024809202410-Q 6/30/2024
3312024510202410-Q 3/31/2024
12312023228202410-K 12/31/2023
93020231109202310-Q 9/30/2023
6302023809202310-Q 6/30/2023
3312023508202310-Q 3/31/2023
12312022301202310-K 12/31/2022
93020221109202210-Q 9/30/2022
6302022809202210-Q 6/30/2022
3312022509202210-Q 3/31/2022
12312021225202210-K 12/31/2021
93020211104202110-Q 9/30/2021

Insider Activity

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 OwnerTitleFiling DateActionPriceSharesTransacted
Value
Value of
Held Shares
Form
0GERDIN MICHAEL JChief Executive Officer8182025Buy8.201,31410,77511,998,092Form
1PRATT JAMES G5162025Buy8.966,57158,876268,800Form
2Ann S. Gerdin Revocable Trust5142025Buy8.95167,6441,500,04510,867,103Form
3Hupfeld Amanda 5142025Buy8.762,00017,52017,520Form
4GERDIN MICHAEL JChief Executive Officer5132025Buy8.50148,2721,260,6683,726,449Form