Heartland Express, Inc. (HTLD)

Over the past six months, Heartland Express, Inc.'s stock price has declined, reaching $7.79 as of November 25, 2025, down from $12.65 on November 26, 2024. The stock was down 12.32% over the past six months as of November 27, 2025, and has decreased by 36.85% over the last year. Factors impacting the stock include macroeconomic headwinds, weak demand, and oil price volatility, which have weighed on revenue. The company reported a decrease in operating revenue in Q2 2025 and Q3 2025, reflecting market weakness and the impact of external factors. Despite these challenges, the company has shown improvements in cost and expense management through strategic adjustments in operating capacity and has continued its regular quarterly cash dividend payments.

Demand for Heartland Express's services can be influenced by seasonal factors. There is a potential for seasonal demand surges, particularly in the second half of the year, driven by inventory restocking ahead of academic seasons and the holiday season, which can help improve the company's pricing power. However, the company has also faced challenges from overall weaker market demand for freight and logistics services, exacerbated by factors such as stubborn inflation and excess capacity in the truckload market. Muted holiday sales growth projections can also lead to softer consumption and production, impacting freight demand.

Heartland Express, Inc. is an American transportation and logistics company specializing in short, medium, and long-haul truckload services across the United States, Mexico, and Canada. Founded in 1978, the company operates within the Industrials sector, specifically in the Trucking industry, providing asset-based dry van truckload services for non-perishable goods, cross-border freight, and temperature-controlled truckload services. It serves a diverse customer base, including retailers, manufacturers, and parcel carriers in industries such as consumer goods, appliances, food products, and automotive, under the brand names Heartland Express, Millis Transfer, Smith Transport, and CFI.

Heartland Express, Inc. operates throughout the contiguous United States, Mexico, and Canada. The company maintains 28 terminal facilities across the contiguous United States and one in Mexico. Its headquarters are located in North Liberty, Iowa.

Heartland Express has a distinguished reputation for providing superior transportation services and is recognized as one of the most respected names in the trucking industry. The company is known for its operational efficiency and customer-centric approach, with a focus on safety, sustainability, and innovation.

Heartland Express, Inc. has a significant ownership presence from both institutional investors and insiders, particularly the founding family. As of November 25, 2025, the company had 408 institutional owners holding a total of 48,525,189 shares, with major institutional shareholders including BlackRock, Inc., Vanguard Group Inc, and Dimensional Fund Advisors Lp. Insider ownership is substantial, with Russell A. Gerdin, the founder, being the largest individual shareholder, owning 69.46 million shares, representing 89.69% of the company. Other significant insider owners include members of the Gerdin family and company executives.