HTLD

Heartland Express has followed the market’s trajectory closely, rising in tandem with the S&P 500 over the past six months. The stock has climbed by 13% to $12.55 per share while the index has gained 11.6%. Is now the time to buy Heartland Express, or should you be careful about including it in your portfolio? See what our analysts have to say in our full research report, it’s free. We don’t have much confidence in Heartland Express. Here are three reasons we avoid HTLD, plus one stock we’d rather own. A company’s long-term sales performance is one signal of its overall quality. Any business can put up a good quarter or two, but many enduring ones grow for years. Unfortunately, Heartland Express’s 3.3% annualized revenue growth over the last five years was sluggish. This fell short of our benchmark for the industrials sector. Free cash flow isn’t a prominently featured metric in company financials and earnings releases, but we think it’s telling because it accounts for all operating and capital expenses, making it tough to manipulate. Cash is king. As you can see below, Heartland Express’s margin dropped by 14.5 percentage points over the last five years. It may have ticked higher more recently, but shareholders are likely hoping for its margin to at least revert to its historical level. If the longer-term trend returns, it could signal it is in the middle of an investment cycle. Heartland Express’s free cash flow margin for the trailing 12 months was 14.8%. A company’s ROIC, or return on invested capital, shows how much operating profit it makes compared to the money it has raised (debt and equity). Over the last few years, Heartland Express’s ROIC has unfortunately decreased significantly. Paired with its already low returns, these declines suggest its profitable growth opportunities are few and far between. We see the value of companies helping their customers, but in the case of Heartland Express, we’re out. That said, the stock currently trades at 50.9× forward P/E (or $12.55 per share). This valuation tells us it’s a bit of a market darling with a lot of good news priced in - we think other companies feature superior fundamentals at the moment. We’d suggest looking at a safe-and-steady industrials business benefiting from an upgrade cycle. ONE MORE THING: Top 6 Stocks for This Week. This market is separating quality stocks from expensive ones fast. AI is taking down whole sectors with no warning. In a rotation this fast, you need more than a list of good companies. Our AI system flagged Palantir before it ran 1,662% between October 2022 and February 2026. AppLovin before it ran 753% between February 2024 and February 2026. Nvidia before it ran 1,178% between January 2023 and February 2026. Each week it produces 6 new names that pass the same tests. Get Our Top 6 Stocks for Free HERE. Stocks that have made our list include now familiar names such as Nvidia (+1,460% between June 2020 and June 2025) as well as under-the-radar businesses like the once-micro-cap company Kadant (+214% between June 2020 and June 2025). Find your next big winner with StockStory today.

Freight delivery company Heartland Express (NASDAQ:HTLD) missed Wall Street’s revenue expectations in Q2 CY2026, with sales falling 12.5% year on year to $184.1 million. Its non-GAAP profit of $0.14 per share was significantly above analysts’ consensus estimates. Is now the time to buy Heartland Express? Find out in our full research report. Revenue: $184.1 million vs analyst estimates of $188.3 million (12.5% year-on-year decline, 2.2% miss) Adjusted EPS: $0.14 vs analyst estimates of -$0.01 (significant beat) Operating Margin: 9%, up from -5.9% in the same quarter last year Market Capitalization: $1.01 billion Heartland Express Chief Executive Officer Mike Gerdin commented on the quarterly operating results and ongoing initiatives of the Company, "Our consolidated operating results for the three months ended June 30, 2026, reflect significant operating ratio improvement (91.0%) as compared to the second quarter of 2025 (105.9%) and sequential non-GAAP adjusted operating ratio(1) improvement in each quarter since the first quarter of 2025. We are pleased with our operational improvements and profitability as we continue toward our foundational goal of an operating ratio of 85.0% or lower and return to a debt-free balance sheet. The improved financial results delivered reflect stronger freight volumes and improved customer pricing resulting from ongoing industry capacity reductions along with reduced operating costs and strategic disposals of under-utilized assets. We expect to rely on our positive cash flows from operations to make a significant investment in our fleet of tractors and trailers over the remainder of the year along with additional reductions of the remaining acquisition-related debt." Founded by the son of a trucker, Heartland Express (NASDAQ:HTLD) offers full-truckload deliveries across the United States and Mexico. A company’s long-term sales performance is one signal of its overall quality. Any business can have short-term success, but a top-tier one grows for years. Regrettably, Heartland Express’s sales grew at a sluggish 3.3% compounded annual growth rate over the last five years. This was below our standard for the industrials sector and is a rough starting point for our analysis. We at StockStory place the most emphasis on long-term growth, but within industrials, a half-decade historical view may miss cycles, industry trends, or a company capitalizing on catalysts such as a new contract win or a successful product line. Heartland Express’s performance shows it grew in the past but relinquished its gains over the last two years, as its revenue fell by 18.8% annually. This quarter, Heartland Express missed Wall Street’s estimates and reported a rather uninspiring 12.5% year-on-year revenue decline, generating $184.1 million of revenue. Looking ahead, sell-side analysts expect revenue to grow 2.8% over the next 12 months. While this projection suggests its newer products and services will catalyze better top-line performance, it is still below average for the sector. ALSO WORTH WATCHING: Nvidia’s Quiet Partner. Nvidia’s chips cost a hundred grand. The connectors that make them work cost even more. One company makes them all. Every AI server needs specialized infrastructure the chip companies don’t make. High-speed cables. Power connectors. Thermal sensors. This 90-year-old company built a monopoly on it. The AI boom just started. This stock is still flying under the radar. Claim The Stock Ticker Here for FREE. Operating margin is one of the best measures of profitability because it tells us how much money a company takes home after procuring and manufacturing its products, marketing and selling those products, and most importantly, keeping them relevant through research and development. Heartland Express was profitable over the last five years but held back by its large cost base. Its average operating margin of 4.8% was weak for an industrials business. This result isn’t too surprising given its low gross margin as a starting point. Looking at the trend in its profitability, Heartland Express’s operating margin decreased by 31.5 percentage points over the last five years. This raises questions about the company’s expense base because its revenue growth should have given it leverage on its fixed costs, resulting in better economies of scale and profitability. Heartland Express’s performance was poor no matter how you look at it - it shows that costs were rising and it couldn’t pass them onto its customers. This quarter, Heartland Express generated an operating margin profit margin of 9%, up 14.9 percentage points year on year. The increase was solid, especially since its revenue fell, showing it was more efficient because it scaled down its expenses. We track the long-term change in earnings per share (EPS) for the same reason as long-term revenue growth. Compared to revenue, however, EPS highlights whether a company’s growth is profitable. Sadly for Heartland Express, its EPS declined by 16% annually over the last five years while its revenue grew by 3.3%. This tells us the company became less profitable on a per-share basis as it expanded due to non-fundamental factors such as interest expenses and taxes. Diving into the nuances of Heartland Express’s earnings can give us a better understanding of its performance. As we mentioned earlier, Heartland Express’s operating margin expanded this quarter but declined by 31.5 percentage points over the last five years. This was the most relevant factor (aside from the revenue impact) behind its lower earnings; interest expenses and taxes can also affect EPS but don’t tell us as much about a company’s fundamentals. Like with revenue, we analyze EPS over a more recent period because it can provide insight into an emerging theme or development for the business. For Heartland Express, its two-year annual EPS growth of 45.7% was higher than its five-year trend. Its improving earnings are an encouraging data point, but a caveat is that its EPS is still in the red. In Q2, Heartland Express reported adjusted EPS of $0.14, up from negative $0.14 in the same quarter last year. This print easily cleared analysts’ estimates, and shareholders should be content with the results. Over the next 12 months, Wall Street is optimistic. Analysts forecast Heartland Express’s full-year EPS will flip from negative $0.09 to positive $0.22. It was good to see Heartland Express beat analysts’ EPS expectations this quarter. On the other hand, its revenue missed. Overall, this quarter could have been better. The stock closed down 2% today. Should you buy the stock or not? The latest quarter does matter, but not nearly as much as longer-term fundamentals and valuation, when deciding if the stock is a buy. We cover that in our actionable full research report which you can read here, it’s free.

NORTH LIBERTY, Iowa, July 30, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Heartland Express, Inc. (Nasdaq: HTLD) announced today financial results for the three and six months ended June 30, 2026. Three months ended June 30, 2026: Operating Revenue of $184.1 million, Net Income of $10.6 million, Basic Earnings per Share of $0.14, Operating Ratio of 91.0% (a 1,490bp improvement to Q2 2025) and 88.3% Non-GAAP Adjusted Operating Ratio(1), Purchased 172,061 shares of our common stock for $2.3 million, Payments of $15 million to reduce outstanding acquisition-related debt, Total Assets of $1.2 billion, including $62.4 million of Cash, Stockholders' Equity of $756.3 million. Six months ended June 30, 2026: Operating Revenue of $360.4 million, Net Income of $5.8 million, Basic Earnings per Share of $0.07, Operating Ratio of 96.3% and 94.9% Non-GAAP Adjusted Operating Ratio(1), Smith Transport debt and equipment leases eliminated, Payments of $25 million to reduce outstanding debt and finance lease obligations. Acquisition-related debt and finance lease obligations reduced from $494 million in 2022 to $135 million. Heartland Express Chief Executive Officer Mike Gerdin commented on the quarterly operating results and ongoing initiatives of the Company, "Our consolidated operating results for the three months ended June 30, 2026, reflect significant operating ratio improvement (91.0%) as compared to the second quarter of 2025 (105.9%) and sequential non-GAAP adjusted operating ratio(1) improvement in each quarter since the first quarter of 2025. We are pleased with our operational improvements and profitability as we continue toward our foundational goal of an operating ratio of 85.0% or lower and return to a debt-free balance sheet. The improved financial results delivered reflect stronger freight volumes and improved customer pricing resulting from ongoing industry capacity reductions along with reduced operating costs and strategic disposals of under-utilized assets. We expect to rely on our positive cash flows from operations to make a significant investment in our fleet of tractors and trailers over the remainder of the year along with additional reductions of the remaining acquisition-related debt." Financial Results For the three months ended June 30, 2026, the Company delivered operating revenues of $184.1 million, compared to $210.4 million in the same period of 2025. Operating revenues for the quarter included fuel surcharge revenues of $31.7 million, compared to $24.5 million in the same period of 2025. Net income was $10.6 million, as compared to a net loss of ($10.9) million in the second quarter of 2025. Basic earnings per share was $0.14 during the quarter, as compared to basic loss per share of $(0.14) in the same period of 2025. The Company posted an operating ratio of 91.0%, non-GAAP adjusted operating ratio(1) of 88.3%, and net income as a percentage of operating revenues of 5.7% in the second quarter of 2026 compared to 105.9%, 106.0%, and (5.2)% (net loss as a percentage of operating revenues) respectively, in the second quarter of 2025. For the six months ended June 30, 2026, the Company delivered operating revenues of $360.4 million, compared to $429.8 million in the same period of 2025. Operating revenues for the period included fuel surcharge revenues of $54.2 million, compared to $50.8 million in the same period of 2025. Operating income for the six-month period ended June 30, 2026 was $13.3 million, compared to an operating loss of $(27.3) million in the same period of the prior year. Net income was $5.8 million, compared to net loss of $(24.7) million in the same period of the prior year. Basic earnings per share was $0.07 during the six-month period as compared to $(0.32) basic loss per share during the same period of 2025. The Company posted an operating ratio of 96.3%, non-GAAP adjusted operating ratio(1) of 94.9%, and net income as a percentage of operating revenues of 1.6% for the six months ended June 30, 2026 compared to 106.4%, 106.5%, and (5.8)% (net loss as a percentage of operating revenues) respectively, in the same period of the prior year. Balance Sheet, Liquidity, and Capital Expenditures As of June 30, 2026, the Company had $62.4 million in cash balances, an increase of $43.9 million since December 31, 2025. Debt of $134.9 million remains at June 30, 2026, down from the initial $447.3 million of borrowings less associated fees for the CFI acquisition in August 2022 along with $46.8 million debt and finance lease obligations assumed from the Smith acquisition in May 2022. The acquisition-related debt and finance lease obligations of Smith Transport were fully retired in the first three months of 2026. There were no borrowings under the Company's unsecured line of credit at June 30, 2026. The Company had $88.8 million in available borrowing capacity on the line of credit as of June 30, 2026 after consideration of $11.2 million of outstanding letters of credit. The Company continues to be in compliance with associated financial covenants. The Company ended the quarter with total assets of $1.2 billion and stockholders' equity of $756.3 million. Net cash flows from operations for the first six months of 2026 were $36.0 million or 10.0% of operating revenue. The primary uses of cash for financing activities were $25 million used for repayment of debt and financing leases along with $3.1 million for dividends paid and $2.3 million for repurchases of common stock. Cash provided by investing activities included $39.2 million from net property and equipment transactions. The average age of the Company's consolidated tractor fleet was 2.3 years as of June 30, 2026 compared 2.6 years as of June 30, 2025. The average age of the Company's consolidated trailer fleet was 7.1 years as of June 30, 2026 compared to 7.5 years as of June 30, 2025. We expect to continue to dispose of excess trailers within our fleet as used equipment market conditions improve. For the remainder of 2026, we currently expect net capital expenditures to be approximately $8 to $14 million and $13 to $19 million of gains on disposal of property and equipment. The Company continues its commitment to stockholders through the payment of cash dividends. Our regular dividend of $0.02 per share was declared during the second quarter of 2026 and paid on July 6, 2026. The Company has now paid cumulative cash dividends of $564.5 million, including four special dividends, ($2.00 in 2007, $1.00 in 2010, $1.00 in 2012, and $0.50 in 2021) over the past ninety-two consecutive quarters since 2003. Our outstanding shares at June 30, 2026 were 77.3 million. A total of 3.0 million shares of common stock have been repurchased for $37.0 million over the past five years. The Company has the ability to repurchase an additional 4.7 million shares under the current authorization which would result in 72.7 million outstanding shares if fully executed. Other Information During the second quarter of 2026, our family of operating brands continued to deliver award-winning service and earn corporate trust as Millis Transfer was recognized by Newsweek as one of America's Greatest Midsize Workplaces for Culture, Belonging & Community in 2026. Operating revenue excluding fuel surcharge revenue, adjusted operating income (loss), and adjusted operating ratio are non-GAAP financial measures and are not intended to replace financial measures calculated in accordance with GAAP. These non-GAAP financial measures supplement our GAAP results. We believe that using these measures affords a more consistent basis for comparing our results of operations from period to period. The information required by Item 10(e) of Regulation S-K under the Securities Act of 1933 and the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and Regulation G under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, including a reconciliation to the most directly comparable financial measure calculated in accordance with GAAP, is included in the table at the end of this press release. This press release may contain statements that might be considered as forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, as amended. Such statements may be identified by their use of terms or phrases such as “seek,” “expects,” “estimates,” “anticipates,” “projects,” “believes,” “hopes,” “plans,” “goals,” “intends,” “may,” “might,” “likely,” “will,” “should,” “would,” “could,” “potential,” “predict,” “continue,” “strategy,” “future,” “ensure,” “outlook,” and similar terms and phrases. In this press release, the statements relating to freight supply and demand, our ability to react to and capitalize on changing market conditions, the expected impact of operational improvements and strategic changes, progress toward our goals, future capital expenditures, future dispositions of revenue equipment and property and gains therefrom, future profitability, and future stock repurchases, dividends, and debt repayment are forward-looking statements. Such statements are based on management's belief or interpretation of information currently available. These statements and assumptions involve certain risks and uncertainties, and undue reliance should not be placed on such statements. Actual events may differ materially from those set forth in, contemplated by, or underlying such statements as a result of numerous factors, including, without limitation, those specified in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2025 and Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2026. The Company assumes no obligation to update any forward-looking statements, which speak as of their respective dates. (a) Operating revenue excluding fuel surcharge revenue, as reported in this press release is based upon operating revenue minus fuel surcharge revenue. Adjusted operating income (loss) as reported in this press release is based upon operating revenue excluding fuel surcharge revenue, less operating expenses, net of fuel surcharge revenue, and non-cash amortization expense related to intangible assets. Adjusted operating ratio as reported in this press release is based upon operating expenses, net of fuel surcharge revenue, and amortization of intangibles, as a percentage of operating revenue excluding fuel surcharge revenue. We believe that operating revenue excluding fuel surcharge revenue, adjusted operating income (loss), and adjusted operating ratio are more representative of our underlying operations by excluding the volatility of fuel prices, which we cannot control. Operating revenue excluding fuel surcharge revenue, adjusted operating income (loss), and adjusted operating ratio are not substitutes for operating revenue, operating income (loss), or operating ratio measured in accordance with GAAP. There are limitations to using non-GAAP financial measures. Although we believe that operating revenue excluding fuel surcharge revenue, adjusted operating income (loss), and adjusted operating ratio improve comparability in analyzing our period-to-period performance, they could limit comparability to other companies in our industry if those companies define such measures differently. Because of these limitations, operating revenue excluding fuel surcharge revenue, adjusted operating income (loss), and adjusted operating ratio should not be considered measures of income generated by our business or discretionary cash available to us to invest in the growth of our business. Management compensates for these limitations by primarily relying on GAAP results and using non-GAAP financial measures on a supplemental basis.

ArcBest (ARCB) came out with quarterly earnings of $2.38 per share, beating the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $2.3 per share. This compares to earnings of $1.36 per share a year ago. These figures are adjusted for non-recurring items. This quarterly report represents an earnings surprise of +3.48%. A quarter ago, it was expected that this freight transportation and logistics company would post earnings of $0.27 per share when it actually produced earnings of $0.32, delivering a surprise of +18.52%. Over the last four quarters, the company has surpassed consensus EPS estimates three times. ArcBest, which belongs to the Zacks Transportation - Truck industry, posted revenues of $1.18 billion for the quarter ended June 2026, missing the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 0.79%. This compares to year-ago revenues of $1.02 billion. The company has topped consensus revenue estimates three times over the last four quarters. The sustainability of the stock's immediate price movement based on the recently-released numbers and future earnings expectations will mostly depend on management's commentary on the earnings call. ArcBest shares have added about 101.5% since the beginning of the year versus the S&P 500's gain of 8.5%. While ArcBest has outperformed the market so far this year, the question that comes to investors' minds is: what's next for the stock? There are no easy answers to this key question, but one reliable measure that can help investors address this is the company's earnings outlook. Not only does this include current consensus earnings expectations for the coming quarter(s), but also how these expectations have changed lately. Empirical research shows a strong correlation between near-term stock movements and trends in earnings estimate revisions. Investors can track such revisions by themselves or rely on a tried-and-tested rating tool like the Zacks Rank, which has an impressive track record of harnessing the power of earnings estimate revisions. Ahead of this earnings release, the estimate revisions trend for ArcBest was favorable. While the magnitude and direction of estimate revisions could change following the company's just-released earnings report, the current status translates into a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) for the stock. So, the shares are expected to outperform the market in the near future. You can see the complete list of today's Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here. It will be interesting to see how estimates for the coming quarters and the current fiscal year change in the days ahead. The current consensus EPS estimate is $2.34 on $1.2 billion in revenues for the coming quarter and $6.62 on $4.51 billion in revenues for the current fiscal year. Investors should be mindful of the fact that the outlook for the industry can have a material impact on the performance of the stock as well. In terms of the Zacks Industry Rank, Transportation - Truck is currently in the top 3% of the 250 plus Zacks industries. Our research shows that the top 50% of the Zacks-ranked industries outperform the bottom 50% by a factor of more than 2 to 1. One other stock from the same industry, Heartland Express (HTLD), is yet to report results for the quarter ended June 2026. This trucking and logistics company is expected to post break-even quarterly earnings per share in its upcoming report, which represents a year-over-year change of +100%. The consensus EPS estimate for the quarter has been revised 137.5% higher over the last 30 days to the current level. Heartland Express' revenues are expected to be $189.59 million, down 9.9% from the year-ago quarter. Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report ArcBest Corporation (ARCB) : Free Stock Analysis Report Heartland Express, Inc. (HTLD) : Free Stock Analysis Report This article originally published on Zacks Investment Research (zacks.com). Zacks Investment Research

As the craze of earnings season draws to a close, here’s a look back at some of the most exciting (and some less so) results from Q1. Today, we are looking at ground transportation stocks, starting with Heartland Express (NASDAQ:HTLD). The growth of e-commerce and global trade continues to drive demand for shipping services, especially last-mile delivery, presenting opportunities for ground transportation companies. The industry continues to invest in data, analytics, and autonomous fleets to optimize efficiency and find the most cost-effective routes. Despite the essential services this industry provides, ground transportation companies are still at the whim of economic cycles. Consumer spending, for example, can greatly impact the demand for these companies’ offerings while fuel costs can influence profit margins. The 15 ground transportation stocks we track reported a strong Q1. As a group, revenues beat analysts’ consensus estimates by 2.1%. In light of this news, share prices of the companies have held steady as they are up 2.9% on average since the latest earnings results. Founded by the son of a trucker, Heartland Express (NASDAQ:HTLD) offers full-truckload deliveries across the United States and Mexico. Heartland Express reported revenues of $176.3 million, down 19.7% year on year. This print exceeded analysts’ expectations by 2.6%. Overall, it was a stunning quarter for the company with a beat of analysts’ EPS estimates and a solid beat of analysts’ EBITDA estimates. Heartland Express Chief Executive Officer Mike Gerdin commented on the quarterly operating results and ongoing initiatives of the Company, "Our consolidated operating results for the three months ended March 31, 2026, reflect significant operating ratio improvement (101.9%) as compared to the first quarter of 2025 (106.8%) and sequential non-GAAP adjusted operating ratio(1) improvement in each quarter since the first quarter of 2025." Heartland Express delivered the slowest revenue growth of the whole group. Interestingly, the stock is up 23.9% since reporting and currently trades at $14.35. Is now the time to buy Heartland Express? Access our full analysis of the earnings results here, it’s free. The parent company of brands such as Zipcar and Budget Truck Rental, Avis (NASDAQ:CAR) is a provider of car rental and mobility solutions. Avis Budget Group reported revenues of $2.53 billion, up 4.1% year on year, outperforming analysts’ expectations by 4.7%. The business had an exceptional quarter with a solid beat of analysts’ EBITDA estimates. Although it had a fine quarter compared to its peers, the market seems unhappy with the results as the stock is down 7.8% since reporting. It currently trades at $167.86. Is now the time to buy Avis Budget Group? Access our full analysis of the earnings results here, it’s free. Founded in 1932, Universal Logistics (NASDAQ:ULH) is a provider of customized transportation and logistics solutions operating throughout the United States and in Mexico, Canada, and Colombia. Universal Logistics reported revenues of $367.6 million, down 3.9% year on year, falling short of analysts’ expectations by 1.3%. It was a disappointing quarter as it posted a significant miss of analysts’ adjusted operating income estimates. Universal Logistics delivered the weakest performance against analyst estimates in the group. As expected, the stock is down 36.6% since the results and currently trades at $14.20. Read our full analysis of Universal Logistics’s results here. As one of the first companies to introduce the idea of leasing trucks, Ryder (NYSE:R) provides rental vehicles to businesses and delivers packages directly to homes or businesses. Ryder reported revenues of $3.13 billion, flat year on year. This number met analysts’ expectations. Overall, it was a very strong quarter as it also logged an impressive beat of analysts’ adjusted operating income estimates and full-year EPS guidance exceeding analysts’ expectations. The stock is up 6% since reporting and currently trades at $241.14. Read our full, actionable report on Ryder here, it’s free. Employing thousands of drivers across the country to make deliveries, Schneider (NYSE:SNDR) makes full truckload and intermodal deliveries regionally and across borders. Schneider reported revenues of $1.40 billion, flat year on year. This result missed analysts’ expectations by 0.7%. In spite of that, it was a very strong quarter as it produced a beat of analysts’ EPS and adjusted operating income estimates. The stock is up 7.4% since reporting and currently trades at $33.40. Read our full, actionable report on Schneider here, it’s free. Late in 2025 into early 2026, there was hand wringing around artificial intelligence. For software companies, the fear was that AI would erode pricing power and compress margins as new tools made it easier to replicate what once required expensive enterprise platforms. Crypto investors had their own version of the same anxiety: if AI agents could trade, allocate capital, and manage wallets autonomously, what exactly was the long-term value of today’s crypto infrastructure? These concerns triggered a noticeable rotation away from these sectors and into safer havens. But markets rarely dwell on one narrative for long. Spring 2026 came, and the focus shifted abruptly from technological disruption to geopolitical risk. The US’ conflict with Iran became the dominant driver of market psychology, and when geopolitics takes center stage, the script changes quickly. Investors stop debating growth rates and start worrying about oil supply, inflation, and global stability. Want to invest in winners with rock-solid fundamentals? Check out our Strong Momentum Stocks and add them to your watchlist. These companies are poised for growth regardless of the political or macroeconomic climate. StockStory’s analyst team — all seasoned professional investors — uses quantitative analysis and automation to deliver market-beating insights faster and with higher quality.

Heartland Express (HTLD) could be a solid choice for investors given the company's remarkably improving earnings outlook. While the stock has been a strong performer lately, this trend might continue since analysts are still raising their earnings estimates for the company. The upward trend in estimate revisions for this trucking and logistics company reflects growing optimism of analysts on its earnings prospects, which should get reflected in its stock price. After all, empirical research shows a strong correlation between trends in earnings estimate revisions and near-term stock price movements. Our stock rating tool -- the Zacks Rank -- is principally built on this insight. The five-grade Zacks Rank system, which ranges from a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) to a Zacks Rank #5 (Strong Sell), has an impressive externally-audited track record of outperformance, with Zacks #1 Ranked stocks generating an average annual return of +25% since 2008. Consensus earnings estimates for the next quarter and full year have moved considerably higher for Heartland Express, as there has been strong agreement among the covering analysts in raising estimates. The chart below shows the evolution of forward 12-month Zacks Consensus EPS estimate: The company is expected to earn $0.02 per share for the current quarter, which represents a year-over-year change of +114.3%. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Heartland Express has increased 126.67% over the last 30 days, as two estimates have gone higher compared to no negative revisions. The company is expected to earn $0.04 per share for the full year, which represents a change of +108.3% from the prior-year number. In terms of estimate revisions, the trend for the current year also appears quite encouraging for Heartland Express. Over the past month, two estimates have moved higher compared to no negative revisions, helping the consensus estimate increase 114.58%. Thanks to promising estimate revisions, Heartland Express currently carries a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy). The Zacks Rank is a tried-and-tested rating tool that helps investors effectively harness the power of earnings estimate revisions and make the right investment decision. You can see the complete list of today's Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here. Our research shows that stocks with Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) and 2 (Buy) significantly outperform the S&P 500. While strong estimate revisions for Heartland Express have attracted decent investments and pushed the stock 14.9% higher over the past four weeks, further upside may still be left in the stock. So, you may consider adding it to your portfolio right away. Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report Heartland Express, Inc. (HTLD) : Free Stock Analysis Report This article originally published on Zacks Investment Research (zacks.com). Zacks Investment Research

Track your investments for FREE with Simply Wall St, the portfolio command center trusted by over 7 million individual investors worldwide. Heartland Express (HTLD) reported first quarter 2026 results with sales of US$176.26 million versus US$219.42 million a year earlier, while its net loss narrowed to US$4.82 million from US$13.87 million. See our latest analysis for Heartland Express. The earnings release appears to have coincided with a sharp shift in sentiment, with Heartland Express posting a 1 day share price return of 8.4% and a year to date share price return of 42.4%. This comes even as the 5 year total shareholder return stands at a loss of 27.3%, suggesting recent momentum is building from a weaker long term base. If this kind of move has you looking beyond a single trucking name, it may be a good time to broaden your search with the 18 top founder-led companies With Heartland Express shares up 64.1% over the past year and trading above the US$11 analyst target while some models still suggest a sizable intrinsic discount, you have to ask: is there real value left here, or is the market already paying up for future growth? Heartland Express last closed at $13.03, and based on a P/S of 1.3x that sits above both its peer group and the fair P/S level implied by the SWS model. The P/S ratio compares the company’s market value to its revenue, which can be useful when earnings are negative or volatile, as is the case here. For Heartland Express, the current P/S of 1.3x is described as expensive compared with both the US Transportation industry average of 1.3x and a peer average of 0.8x. It is also above the estimated fair P/S of 0.8x that the SWS fair ratio model suggests the market could eventually lean toward if expectations cool. Explore the SWS fair ratio for Heartland Express Result: Price to sales of 1.3x (OVERVALUED) However, recent share price strength sits against a 5 year total shareholder return loss of 27.3% and ongoing net losses of US$43.401 million, which could temper enthusiasm. Find out about the key risks to this Heartland Express narrative. While the current 1.3x P/S looks rich against peers, the SWS DCF model points in the opposite direction, suggesting Heartland Express at $13.03 is trading well below an estimated future cash flow value of $57.68. That is a very large gap, so is the market missing something or is the model too optimistic? Look into how the SWS DCF model arrives at its fair value. Simply Wall St performs a discounted cash flow (DCF) on every stock in the world every day (check out Heartland Express for example). We show the entire calculation in full. You can track the result in your watchlist or portfolio and be alerted when this changes, or use our stock screener to discover 54 high quality undervalued stocks. If you save a screener we even alert you when new companies match - so you never miss a potential opportunity. With mixed signals on valuation and sentiment, it makes sense to check the numbers yourself and move quickly while views are still forming. To see what the market is optimistic about, take a closer look at the 2 key rewards If Heartland Express caught your attention, now is the moment to broaden your watchlist with a few focused sets of companies filtered by clear, objective criteria. Spot potential mispricing early by scanning through the 54 high quality undervalued stocks that combine quality fundamentals with prices that may not fully reflect them yet. Prioritise resilience by checking companies in the 72 resilient stocks with low risk scores that score well on balance sheet strength and business stability. Hunt for potential future leaders using the screener containing 25 high quality undiscovered gems that highlight lesser known names with solid underlying numbers. This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned. Companies discussed in this article include HTLD. Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email [email protected]