10-Q · May 7, 2026
Covenant Logistics reported a strong Q1 2026 with total revenue of $307.2 million, up 14% from Q1 2025, and diluted EPS of $0.17, meeting the consensus estimate. The Managed Freight segment showed notable growth, while…
Earnings analysis · 10-Q
CVLG earnings analysis
Filed August 7, 2026 · Our reading of the company's report
The latest report
Covenant Logistics delivered strong Q2 revenue growth of 9.9% year over year to $332.9M, with notable gains in Dedicated and Managed Freight revenue, but higher capacity and operating costs reduced operating income…
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Covenant Logistics delivered strong Q2 revenue growth of 9.9% year over year to $332.9M, with notable gains in Dedicated and Managed Freight revenue, but higher capacity and operating costs reduced operating income 23.5% to $8.8M and diluted EPS to $0.32 from $0.36. Dedicated profitability improved, while Managed Freight and Warehousing margins deteriorated. Liquidity and leverage improved through fleet downsizing, although operating cash flow fell to $18.1M for the first six months and insurance, litigation, and broker-liability risks remain significant. Management expects modest sequential Q3 EPS growth and gradual margin expansion, but provided no full-year numeric guidance.
Gross and operating margin
How much of each revenue dollar the business keeps.
One point per quarterly or annual filing. Both margins are shares of that report's revenue.
Where revenue came from
The business segments reported by the company.
Shares of the segments disclosed in this filing, largest first.
How we read each report
Our analysis across the last few reports.
Our model's reading of each filing, not the share price or the market's reaction. Annual and quarterly reports each occupy one position.
Reported figures
- Earnings per share
- $0.32
- Operating margin
- 2.7%
What stood out
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Revenue Growth Accelerated
Q2 revenue was $332.9M, up 9.9% from $302.9M in Q2 2025 and approximately 8.4% above Q1 2026 revenue of $307.0M. Freight revenue excluding fuel surcharges rose 6.6% year over year to $294.7M.
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Dedicated Segment Improved
Dedicated revenue increased $10.1M year over year to $112.4M, while segment operating income rose $1.6M to $7.8M. Average freight revenue per tractor per week increased 8.6%, supported by a 15.4% increase in average rate per total mile.
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Managed Freight Expanded
Managed Freight revenue grew $22.0M year over year to $99.5M, primarily reflecting the Star Acquisition. Management targets longer-term Managed Freight operating margins in the mid-single digits.
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Leverage and Liquidity Improved
Net debt and finance leases declined $6.6M from December 31, 2025 to $289.7M at June 30, 2026. The company had $59.1M of available Credit Facility capacity and stated it does not expect to test its fixed-charge covenant in the foreseeable future.
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Capital Spending Was Reduced
Net capital expenditures were only $0.2M in the first six months of 2026 versus $52.8M in the prior-year period. Management plans $50.0M-$60.0M of capital expenditures for the balance of 2026 after disposing of approximately 573 used tractors and 113 used trailers.
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Working Capital Increased
Working capital increased to $26.6M at June 30, 2026 from $22.8M at December 31, 2025. The average tractor age was 2.2 years, and management expects the fleet average age to range from 25 to 28 months going forward.
What to watch
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Costs Compressed Operating Margin
Operating income declined to $8.8M from $11.6M year over year, reducing operating margin to approximately 2.7% from 3.8%. Adjusted operating ratio also worsened to 95.9% from 94.6%, reflecting disappointing costs despite revenue growth.
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Capacity Costs Pressured Managed Freight
Managed Freight segment operating income fell to $1.7M from $4.5M despite revenue growth to $99.5M, as purchased transportation and capacity costs outpaced the company's ability to capture contractual rate increases. Companywide revenue equipment rentals and purchased transportation increased to $98.7M from $76.8M.
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Broker Liability Risk Expanded
The amended litigation risk factor highlights the May 2026 Supreme Court decision allowing state-law liability claims against freight brokers. The company could face significant damages and higher insurance costs if found liable for third-party providers' acts or omissions; Q2 insurance and claims expense was $18.1M, up from $17.3M.
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Insurance Claims Remain Volatile
Management expects insurance and claims expense to remain volatile because of high retentions, potential uninsured or underinsured claims, nuclear verdicts, and expanded liability for Managed Freight. The company reported 31.3 cents of insurance and claims expense per mile in Q2 2026 versus 25.1 cents in Q2 2025.
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Operating Cash Flow Declined
Operating cash flow declined to $18.1M for the first six months of 2026 from $46.7M in the prior-year period, while changes in operating assets and liabilities used $35.5M versus $7.7M previously. The filing does not disclose a free cash flow measure.
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Fleet Reduction and Renewals
Expedited revenue decreased to $93.4M from $97.3M as average tractors fell 17.0% year over year. Approximately 40% of the Expedited fleet and 25% of the Dedicated fleet have contracts renewing over the next 12 months, including many of the least profitable contracts.
Management's outlook
No full-year numeric revenue or EPS guidance was provided. Management expects a modest sequential increase in Q3 2026 EPS, with operating margin improvement partially offset by the absence of higher TEL equipment sales, a lower income tax rate, and interest income that benefited Q2. The 2026 capital expenditure plan is $50.0M-$60.0M for the balance of the year.
Earlier filings 4
10-K · February 27, 2026
Covenant Logistics (CVLG) emphasizes growth via integration into customer supply chains, technology, and targeted M&A (Star in 2025, AAT in 2022, LTST/Sims in 2023, Landair in 2018) while seeking to reduce seasonality…
10-Q · November 7, 2025
Covenant Logistics reported Q3 2025 revenue of $296,889,000 (up $9,004,000 vs Q3 2024) but operating income and margins compressed sharply; operating income fell to $7,926,000 from $16,235,000 a year ago and diluted EPS…
10-Q · August 7, 2025
Covenant Logistics reported Q2 2025 revenue of $302,854,000 and diluted EPS of $0.36 for the three months ended June 30, 2025. Operating income was $11,563,000 (≈3.8% operating margin); revenue and sequential operating…
This is our reading of a public filing, not the filing itself. Analysis can contain errors; check the source document for full context.