10-Q · May 11, 2026
Heartland Express reported Q1 2026 results with revenues of $176.3M, down 19.7% year-over-year, but EPS loss narrowed to -$0.06 from -$0.18 in Q1 2025. Operational improvements led to a better operating ratio of 101.9%,…
Earnings analysis · 10-Q
HTLD earnings analysis
Filed August 10, 2026 · Our reading of the company's report
The latest report
Heartland Express delivered a meaningful year-over-year turnaround in Q2 2026, with operating income of $16.5 million, an 91.0% operating ratio, net income of $10.6 million, and diluted EPS of $0.14, despite revenue…
Read full summary
Heartland Express delivered a meaningful year-over-year turnaround in Q2 2026, with operating income of $16.5 million, an 91.0% operating ratio, net income of $10.6 million, and diluted EPS of $0.14, despite revenue declining 12.5% to $184.1 million. Cost reductions, better pricing, improved utilization, and $25.1 million of asset-disposal gains drove the improvement, while diesel prices increased 50.4% and remain a material headwind. Liquidity strengthened with $62.4 million of cash and $24.9 million of debt repayment, but the outlook remains dependent on freight recovery, fuel prices, driver availability, and the sustainability of disposal gains.
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.
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
- $0.14
- Operating margin
- 8.99%
- Segment
- One reportable segment: consolidated transportation services revenue of $184.1 million for Q2 2026 versus $210.4 million in Q2 2025; temperature-controlled and Mexico logistics services were not significant.
What stood out
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Sharp Operating Turnaround
Q2 operating income improved to $16.5 million from a $12.4 million operating loss in Q2 2025. The operating ratio improved to 91.0% from 105.9%, a 14.9-percentage-point improvement.
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EPS Rebounded to $0.14
Net income was $10.6 million, or diluted EPS of $0.14, versus a $10.9 million net loss and diluted EPS of negative $0.14 in Q2 2025. Six-month EPS also improved to $0.07 from negative $0.32.
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Pricing and Surcharges Improved
Revenue declined 12.5% to $184.1 million from $210.4 million year over year, driven by strategic fleet reductions and lower miles. Fuel surcharge revenue increased 29.5% to $31.7 million from $24.5 million.
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Liquidity and Debt Position Improved
Cash and cash equivalents increased to $62.4 million at June 30, 2026 from $18.5 million at December 31, 2025. The company repaid $24.9 million of debt and had $88.8 million of revolver capacity available.
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Cost Structure Benefited from Fleet Reset
Q2 insurance and claims expense fell to $11.8 million from $14.2 million, while salaries, wages, and benefits declined 20.7% to $69.1 million from $87.2 million. Management attributed the savings to lower miles, fewer employees, favorable claims, and insurance program changes.
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Management Sees Further Cost Relief
Management reported that freight pricing improved during Q2 as industry capacity contracted. The company expects continued debt paydown, with further reductions in interest expense, and anticipates net capital expenditures of $8 million-$14 million for the remainder of 2026.
What to watch
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Lower Fleet Capacity Pressures Revenue
Revenue fell $26.3 million, or 12.5%, year over year to $184.1 million because strategic fleet changes reduced drivers and total miles. This smaller operating base limits the benefit from improving freight pricing.
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Fuel Costs Remain a Major Headwind
Average DOE diesel prices rose 50.4% to $5.35 per gallon in Q2 2026 from $3.56 in Q2 2025. Management said surcharge agreements do not recover fuel consumed in empty, out-of-route, and idling miles, and expects elevated fuel prices to negatively affect results.
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Variable-Rate Debt Exposure
The company had $134.9 million of variable-rate debt outstanding at June 30, 2026 at a weighted average rate of 5.1%. A 1-percentage-point increase in SOFR would reduce annual pretax income by approximately $1.3 million.
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Earnings Benefited from Asset Sales
Q2 operating income included a $25.1 million gain on property and equipment disposals, up from $2.8 million in Q2 2025. Management expects only $13 million-$19 million of additional disposal gains for the remainder of 2026, creating potential earnings normalization risk.
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Qualified Driver Availability
Management stated that attracting and retaining experienced drivers will remain challenging. The company also reported that more than 16% of driver employees individually had achieved at least 1.0 million safe miles, highlighting the importance of retaining qualified personnel.
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Insurance Exposure Remains Volatile
Insurance and claims expense improved to $11.8 million in Q2 from $14.2 million, but management cited limited insurance capacity, higher premiums and collateral requirements, and increased retained claim exposure. Future expense could rise and remain volatile if claims experience worsens.
Management's outlook
No company-wide revenue or EPS guidance was provided. Quantitative outlook included 2026 depreciation expense of approximately $125 million-$135 million, $13 million-$19 million of property and equipment disposal gains for the remainder of 2026, and net capital expenditures of approximately $8 million-$14 million for the remainder of 2026.
Earlier filings 4
10-K · March 3, 2026
Heartland Express positions itself as a short- to medium-haul, premium dry-van truckload carrier focused on high-density lanes, driver retention, late-model equipment and strategic acquisitions (CFI U.S. operations…
10-Q · May 10, 2024
Heartland Express reported Q1 revenue of $270.32 million, down $60.60 million year-over-year from $330.92 million, producing an operating loss of $14.383 million and diluted EPS of $(0.19). Operating cash flow remained…
10-Q · November 9, 2023
Heartland reported Q3 revenue of $295.0 million (up from $274.0 million a year ago) but delivered an operating loss of $7.44 million and net loss of $10.70 million (diluted EPS $(0.14)) versus net income $24.42 million…
This is our reading of a public filing, not the filing itself. Analysis can contain errors; check the source document for full context.