Financial Performance - Heartland Express reported operating revenue of $242.6 million for Q4 2024, down from $275.3 million in Q4 2023, reflecting a decrease of 11.5% [4][5] - For the full year 2024, operating revenue was $1.0 billion, a decline of 13.2% compared to $1.2 billion in 2023 [5] - The company experienced a net loss of $1.9 million in Q4 2024, compared to a net income of $5.1 million in Q4 2023, resulting in a basic loss per share of $0.02 [2][4] - For the twelve-month period, the net loss was $29.7 million, compared to a net income of $14.8 million in 2023, with a basic loss per share of $0.38 [5] Operating Ratios - The operating ratio for Q4 2024 was reported at 99.6%, compared to 96.1% in Q4 2023, indicating a deterioration in operational efficiency [4][5] - The non-GAAP adjusted operating ratio for Q4 2024 was 98.9%, compared to 94.9% in the same quarter of the previous year [4][5] - For the full year 2024, the operating ratio was 101.9%, significantly worse than the 96.5% reported in 2023 [5] Debt Management - The company paid down $100.3 million in debt during 2024, with total debt and financing lease obligations at $200.7 million as of December 31, 2024 [6][3] - Since the acquisitions in 2022, Heartland Express has repaid nearly $300 million in debt and capitalized leases [3] Cash Flow and Liquidity - Net cash flows from operations for the twelve-month period ended December 31, 2024, were $144.3 million, representing 13.8% of operating revenues [7] - The company ended the year with $12.8 million in cash, a decrease of $15.3 million from the previous year [6] Fleet and Assets - The average age of the tractor fleet was 2.5 years as of December 31, 2024, compared to 2.2 years in 2023, while the trailer fleet's average age increased to 7.4 years from 6.4 years [8] Shareholder Returns - Heartland Express declared regular dividends of $0.02 per share during each quarter of 2024, maintaining a commitment to returning capital to shareholders [9]

Core Viewpoint - Heartland Express (HTLD) is expected to report a year-over-year decline in earnings due to lower revenues, with a consensus outlook indicating a quarterly loss of $0.04 per share, representing a -166.7% change from the previous year, and revenues projected at $254.84 million, down 7.5% from the same quarter last year [1][3]. Earnings Expectations - The upcoming earnings report could lead to a stock price increase if the results exceed expectations, while missing estimates may result in a decline [2]. - The consensus EPS estimate has been revised 50% lower in the last 30 days, reflecting a reassessment by analysts [4]. Earnings Surprise Prediction - The Zacks Earnings ESP model indicates that the Most Accurate Estimate for Heartland Express is higher than the Zacks Consensus Estimate, resulting in a positive Earnings ESP of +25%, suggesting a likelihood of beating the consensus EPS estimate [10][11]. - A positive Earnings ESP is a strong predictor of an earnings beat, especially when combined with a Zacks Rank of 1, 2, or 3 [8]. Historical Performance - Heartland Express has only beaten consensus EPS estimates once in the last four quarters, with a significant miss of -500% in the last reported quarter [12][13]. Conclusion - While Heartland Express shows potential as an earnings-beat candidate, investors should consider other factors influencing stock performance beyond just earnings results [14][16].

Investors in Heartland Express, Inc. (HTLD) need to pay close attention to the stock based on moves in the options market lately. That is because the Dec 20, 2024 $5 Call had some of the highest implied volatility of all equity options today.What is Implied Volatility?Implied volatility shows how much movement the market is expecting in the future. Options with high levels of implied volatility suggest that investors in the underlying stocks are expecting a big move in one direction or the other. It could a ...

Heartland Express (HTLD) reported $259.86 million in revenue for the quarter ended September 2024, representing a year-over-year decline of 11.9%. EPS of -$0.12 for the same period compares to -$0.14 a year ago. The reported revenue compares to the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $269.04 million, representing a surprise of -3.41%. The company delivered an EPS surprise of -500.00%, with the consensus EPS estimate being -$0.02. While investors closely watch year-over-year changes in headline numbers -- revenue an ...

Heartland Express (HTLD) came out with a quarterly loss of $0.12 per share versus the Zacks Consensus Estimate of a loss of $0.02. This compares to loss of $0.14 per share a year ago. These figures are adjusted for non-recurring items.This quarterly report represents an earnings surprise of -500%. A quarter ago, it was expected that this trucking and logistics company would post a loss of $0.04 per share when it actually produced a loss of $0.04, delivering no surprise.Over the last four quarters, the compa ...

NORTH LIBERTY, Iowa, Oct. 29, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Heartland Express, Inc. (Nasdaq: HTLD) announced today financial results for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2024. Three months ended September 30, 2024: Operating Revenue of $259.9 million, Net Loss of $9.3 million, Basic Loss per Share of $0.12, Operating Ratio of 102.7% and 102.6% Non-GAAP Adjusted Operating Ratio(1), Total Assets of $1.4 billion, Stockholders' Equity of $825.7 million. Nine months ended September 30, 2024: Operating Re ...

Heartland Express, Inc. Reports Operating Results for the Second Quarter of 2024 Press Release Three months ended June 30, 2024: • Operating Revenue of $274.8 million, • Operating Income of $0.3 million, • Net Loss of $3.5 million, • Basic Loss per Share of $0.04, • Operating Ratio of 99.9% and 99.4% Non-GAAP Adjusted Operating Ratio , • Total Assets of $1.4 billion, • Stockholders' Equity of $836.8 million. (1) Heartland Express Chief Executive Officer Mike Gerdin commented on the quarterly operating resul ...

View all Key Company Metrics for Heartland Express here>>> The reported revenue compares to the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $276.49 million, representing a surprise of -0.63%. The company has not delivered EPS surprise, with the consensus EPS estimate being -$0.04. Here is how Heartland Express performed in the just reported quarter in terms of the metrics most widely monitored and projected by Wall Street analysts: Heartland Express (HTLD) reported $274.75 million in revenue for the quarter ended June 2024 ...

A quarter ago, it was expected that this trucking and logistics company would post a loss of $0.11 per share when it actually produced a loss of $0.19, delivering a surprise of -72.73%. Over the last four quarters, the company has surpassed consensus EPS estimates just once. Heartland Express (HTLD) came out with a quarterly loss of $0.04 per share in line with the Zacks Consensus Estimate. This compares to earnings of $0.10 per share a year ago. These figures are adjusted for non-recurring items. Heartland ...

Operating Revenue of $274.8 million, Operating Income of $0.3 million, Net Loss of $3.5 million, Basic Loss per Share of $0.04, Operating Ratio of 99.9% and 99.4% Non-GAAP Adjusted Operating Ratio(1), Total Assets of $1.4 billion, Stockholders' Equity of $836.8 million. NORTH LIBERTY, Iowa, July 23, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Heartland Express, Inc. (NASDAQ:HTLD) announced today financial results for the three and six months ended June 30, 2024. Three months ended June 30, 2024: Six months ended June 30, 2024 ...