Heartland Express, Inc. (HTLD)

In the past six months, Heartland Express (HTLD) reported its Q4 2025 earnings on February 3, 2026, with an EPS of -$0.06, surpassing estimates, but quarterly revenue declined by 26.1% year-over-year. The company has consistently declared regular quarterly cash dividends of $0.02 per share. Analyst sentiment has shown some optimism, with the consensus price target for Heartland Express on an upward trajectory over the past year, reaching $10.50 a month ago, up from $9.25 a quarter ago. The average price target from 7 analysts is currently $10.00, representing a forecasted downside of -12.82% from the current price of $11.47. The stock has traded between a 52-week high of $12.00 and a low of $7.00.

Demand for Heartland Express's products and services exhibits seasonality. The U.S. Truckload Market can experience seasonal weakness in March and April, with a potential demand surge in May and June due to inventory restocking activities after the holiday season and in anticipation of events like the back-to-school period and the upcoming holiday season. Companies may also restock inventory ahead of new tariffs to mitigate their impact on pricing and costs.

Heartland Express, Inc. (HTLD) is a trucking company providing short, medium, and long-haul truckload carrier and transportation services, specializing in asset-based dry van truckload services. The company offers full truckload transportation, long-haul, line-haul, and drop-and-hook solutions, as well as temperature-controlled truckload services and cross-border freight and logistics services, including operations in Mexico. Heartland Express operates under several brand names, including Heartland Express, Millis Transfer, Smith Transport, and CFI, serving customers in sectors such as consumer goods, appliances, food products, and automotive industries. Founded in 1978 and headquartered in North Liberty, Iowa, Heartland Express falls under the Industrials sector and the Trucking industry.

Heartland Express, Inc. has operations across the United States, Canada, and Mexico, covering all 48 contiguous states, with a strategic concentration on major freight corridors connecting Midwestern manufacturing hubs to coastal distribution centers. Heartland Express operates a network of 31 terminal facilities throughout the contiguous U.S. and one in Mexico.

In the past year, Heartland Express's brand reputation has been influenced by a challenging macroeconomic environment and efforts to improve operational efficiency. The company is grappling with weak demand and oil price volatility, which have impacted its revenue. Analysts have given Heartland Express a consensus rating of "Reduce," with an average rating score of 1.86. Despite these challenges, Heartland Express is actively working on improving efficiency through effective cost controls and maintaining a strong balance sheet with stable cash flow and low leverage. Insider buying activity suggests confidence in the company's future, and the company's long history and consistent dividend payments also contribute to its standing.

Heartland Express, Inc. has a significant number of institutional owners, with 391 institutional owners and shareholders holding a total of 47,339,399 shares as of January 21, 2026. Major institutional shareholders include BlackRock, Inc., Vanguard Group Inc, and Dimensional Fund Advisors Lp. Michael Gerdin, the CEO, is a significant shareholder, directly owning 23.73% of the company's shares, valued at $216.51 million. Other notable individual and family trust holdings include the 2007 Gerdin Heartland Trust and the 2009 Gerdin Heartland Trust.