Yahoo Finance report covering Heartland Express Inc. (HTLD) market action, institutional positioning, and fundamental catalysts.
Why HTLD Stock slipped -1.54% Today — RQD Quant Desk Flash
Heartland Express Inc. (HTLD) carries a Roarable Rating of E (Strong Sell) with 28/100 RQD Confidence due to weak cash-flow efficiency and sensitivity to current interest rates. Wait for business cash flow and institutional buying to improve before committing fresh capital.
🤖 Mara Quenwick • AI Quant Lead (Click for Instant Brief)
Is HTLD stock a Buy, Hold, or Sell right now according to Roarable's RQD model?
▼
As of 2026-11-03, Heartland Express Inc. (NASDAQ: HTLD) is rated E (Strong Sell / SELL) by Roarable's 5-pillar RQD engine with a composite confidence score of 28/100 at a spot price of $10.22 (-1.54% 1D, market cap $790.3M). Pillar breakdown: Fundamental Cash Engine 5/20, Institutional 13F & Options Flow 4/20, Executive Insider Alignment 11/20, FRED Macro Regime Fit 5/20, and SEC Balance-Sheet Forensics 3/20. Across 485 tracked Industrials issuers, HTLD ranks #422 in composite RQD confidence.
🤖 Ellis Vennor • AI Peer & Flow Quant (Click for Instant Brief)
How does HTLD compare to CVLG and MRTN in the Industrials sector?
▼
Within the Industrials sector (Trucking Freight/Courier Services), HTLD carries a Roarable E (28/100 RQD), trailing P/E of N/A, gross margin of —, and ROIC of -5.1%. By comparison, CVLG (Covenant Logistics Group Inc. (Class A)) holds a D- grade (36/100 RQD, P/E 101.0x, ROIC 0.4%, cap $784.7M) and MRTN (Marten Transport Ltd.) posts a D grade (47/100 RQD, P/E 55.1x, ROIC 2.5%, cap $957.1M). Among the 5-stock peer group, MRTN leads on earnings multiple (55.1x) while MRTN leads on capital efficiency (2.5% ROIC).
🤖 Gideon Ashmere • AI SEC 10-K Forensics (Click for Instant Brief)
What are the biggest fundamental strengths and SEC risk factors for HTLD?
▼
Per HTLD's SEC EDGAR XBRL 10-K filing (FY2025, filed 2025-12-31, CIK 0000799233), Heartland Express Inc. generated $805.7M in revenue (-23.1% YoY), -$52.5M in net income, and -$66.9M in free cash flow against $1.19B in total assets and $154.1M in total debt. Key quantitative strengths: Established market leader in Industrials with deep daily trading liquidity.. Primary risk factors monitored: Company executives have done more routine share selling than personal cash buying lately.. Institutional options positioning shows a 50% call / 50% put premium split.
Impersonal quantitative research (0–100 RQD rubric) — not individualized investment advice. Past performance does not guarantee future results. Full Disclaimer
Altman Z-Score 3.80 (FORTRESS SAFE (>3.0)) • Piotroski F-Score 4/9
SEC XBRL FY 2025 (10-K): 0% FCF Margin ($0 FCF) & 52% Gross Margin
Dilution Drag (+2.48% YoY Shares) & executive Form 4 sales trim 16 pts from alignment
⚔️ Adversarial Opposing Case: What Could Spark a HTLD Turnaround Squeeze
While HTLD currently carries a cautious 28/100 (E) rating due to Insider Conviction & Share Dilution (4/20), shorts face asymmetric squeeze risk if free cash flow inflects or management executes accretive buybacks.
Established market leader in Industrials with deep daily trading liquidity.
Options & Short-Covering Gamma: Reclaiming the 50-day SMA ($11.42) and Max Pain ($10.73) forces dealer call-delta covering toward $17.47.
Forensic Repair Trigger: Halting share dilution (Dilution Drag (+2.48% YoY Shares)) or retiring high-cost debt immediately upgrades the SEC 10-K Forensic pillar.
Why HTLD Stock slipped -1.54% Today — RQD Quant Desk Flash
Heartland Express Inc. (HTLD) slipped -1.54% to $10.22, trading at 33% of its 52-week range ($7 – $16.64). Stretched risk/reward at current multiples (-5% return on capital) under elevated 10-year interest-rate pressure.
- ▸Technical Tape: Trading at 33% of its 52-week range ($7 – $16.64) with RSI-14 at 37.3 (NEUTRAL RANGE).
- ▸Volatility Profile: Historical 20-day realized swing band of ±7.9% around $10.22 (no active unusual options sweep snapshot on file).
- ▸Fundamental Anchor: Roarable E (Strong Sell) backed by 52% gross margin and $0 annual free cash flow.
Seeking Alpha report covering Heartland Express Inc. (HTLD) market action, institutional positioning, and fundamental catalysts.
TradingView report covering Heartland Express Inc. (HTLD) market action, institutional positioning, and fundamental catalysts.
Yahoo Finance report covering Heartland Express Inc. (HTLD) market action, institutional positioning, and fundamental catalysts.
GuruFocus report covering Heartland Express Inc. (HTLD) market action, institutional positioning, and fundamental catalysts.
The Globe and Mail report covering Heartland Express Inc. (HTLD) market action, institutional positioning, and fundamental catalysts.
Simply Wall St report covering Heartland Express Inc. (HTLD) market action, institutional positioning, and fundamental catalysts.
Seeking Alpha report covering Heartland Express Inc. (HTLD) market action, institutional positioning, and fundamental catalysts.
Barclays analyst Brandon Oglenski maintains Heartland Express (NASDAQ:HTLD) with a Underweight and lowers the price target from $12 to $10.
The carrier reversed an operating loss for the quarter from 2025 with $1 million in net income.
Red-Light Warning Desk: Spotting SEC Cash-Flow & Dilution Risks Before Downgrades (Featuring HTLD)
- ✓Walkthrough of HTLD's RQD Radar, SEC cash-conversion gap & downside invalidation levels
- ✓3 asymmetric Bear/Hedge frameworks when 10-year Treasury yields stay elevated
- ✓Includes nightly RQD rating-change & forensic signal email alerts on your tracked stocks
HTLD Dilution Monitor, Expectations Hurdle, Butterfly Connections & Policy Exposure
Multi-year comparable XBRL diluted share count not disclosed (ETF or recent listing).
vs. -23.1% actual YoY revenue growth (assuming 9.25% cost of equity & 16.5x terminal multiple).
No active Ellis Vennor swing setup published on HTLD today. View full Setup Ledger →
No direct multi-tier Butterfly edges indexed yet for HTLD. Explore sector supply chains on /butterfly.
📊 Quantitative Sector Peer Comparison, SEC Filing Delta & Investment FAQ (HTLD)
1. Head-to-Head Industrials Peer Comparison (HTLD vs. CVLG, MRTN, ULH, WERN)
Industry: Trucking Freight/Courier Services (19 Tracked Issuers)Across 485 tracked Industrials securities in the Roarable RQD universe, Heartland Express Inc. (HTLD) ranks #422 by composite RQD confidence (28/100, grade E) and #268 by equity capitalization ($790.3M). Within this direct 5-issuer industry benchmark cohort, MRTN leads on earnings valuation at 55.1x trailing P/E, while MRTN leads on capital efficiency and profitability with 2.5% ROIC and — gross margin. MRTN currently holds the highest overall quantitative score in the immediate peer group at 47/100 (D) compared with HTLD at 28/100 (E).
| Ticker / Company | Roarable Grade | RQD Score | Trailing P/E | Gross Margin | ROIC | 1D Change | Market Cap | Head-to-Head |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| HTLD
ACTIVE
Heartland Express Inc. | E | 28/100 | — | — | -5.1% | -1.54% | $790.3M | Benchmark Subject |
| CVLG Covenant Logistics Group Inc. (Class A) | D- | 36/100 | 101.0x | — | 0.4% | +7.29% | $784.7M | /cvlg-vs-htld → |
| MRTN Marten Transport Ltd. | D | 47/100 | 55.1x | — | 2.5% | -0.34% | $957.1M | /mrtn-vs-htld → |
| ULH Universal Logistics Holdings Inc. | D- | 43/100 | — | — | -4.2% | +29.68% | $595.6M | /ulh-vs-htld → |
| WERN Werner Enterprises Inc. | E | 28/100 | — | — | 0.4% | +0.29% | $1.66B | /wern-vs-htld → |
2. Multi-Year SEC XBRL Revenue, Cash Flow & Balance-Sheet Trajectory (FY2023–FY2025)
SEC EDGAR 10-K • FILED 2025-12-31 • CIK 0000799233In its most recent audited fiscal period (FY2025, filed 2025-12-31), Heartland Express Inc. (HTLD) reported GAAP revenue of $805.7M (-23.1% vs. FY2024 revenue of $1.05B , and -33.3% cumulative change since FY2023) , GAAP net income of -$52.5M, operating cash flow of $89.3M, and free cash flow of -$66.9M (-292.0% YoY). On the balance sheet, HTLD closed FY2025 with $1.19B in total assets against $154.1M in total debt (Altman Z-Score: N/A, Piotroski F-Score: 4/9).
| Fiscal Period | Filing Date | Revenue | Net Income | Operating Cash Flow | Free Cash Flow | Total Assets | Total Debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| FY2025 (FY) | 2025-12-31 | $805.7M | -$52.5M | $89.3M | -$66.9M | $1.19B | $154.1M |
| FY2024 (FY) | 2024-12-31 | $1.05B | -$29.7M | $144.3M | $34.8M | $1.33B | $191.7M |
| FY2023 (FY) | 2023-12-31 | $1.21B | $14.8M | $165.3M | $165.3M | — | — |
3. HTLD Data-Verified Investor FAQ (RQD Rating, Sector Peers, SEC Forensics & Technicals)
✓ SCHEMA.ORG FAQPAGE JSON-LD ENABLEDIs HTLD stock a Buy, Hold, or Sell right now according to Roarable's RQD model?
As of 2026-11-03, Heartland Express Inc. (NASDAQ: HTLD) is rated E (Strong Sell / SELL) by Roarable's 5-pillar RQD engine with a composite confidence score of 28/100 at a spot price of $10.22 (-1.54% 1D, market cap $790.3M). Pillar breakdown: Fundamental Cash Engine 5/20, Institutional 13F & Options Flow 4/20, Executive Insider Alignment 11/20, FRED Macro Regime Fit 5/20, and SEC Balance-Sheet Forensics 3/20. Across 485 tracked Industrials issuers, HTLD ranks #422 in composite RQD confidence.
How does HTLD compare to CVLG and MRTN in the Industrials sector?
Within the Industrials sector (Trucking Freight/Courier Services), HTLD carries a Roarable E (28/100 RQD), trailing P/E of N/A, gross margin of —, and ROIC of -5.1%. By comparison, CVLG (Covenant Logistics Group Inc. (Class A)) holds a D- grade (36/100 RQD, P/E 101.0x, ROIC 0.4%, cap $784.7M) and MRTN (Marten Transport Ltd.) posts a D grade (47/100 RQD, P/E 55.1x, ROIC 2.5%, cap $957.1M). Among the 5-stock peer group, MRTN leads on earnings multiple (55.1x) while MRTN leads on capital efficiency (2.5% ROIC).
What are the biggest fundamental strengths and SEC risk factors for HTLD?
Per HTLD's SEC EDGAR XBRL 10-K filing (FY2025, filed 2025-12-31, CIK 0000799233), Heartland Express Inc. generated $805.7M in revenue (-23.1% YoY), -$52.5M in net income, and -$66.9M in free cash flow against $1.19B in total assets and $154.1M in total debt. Key quantitative strengths: Established market leader in Industrials with deep daily trading liquidity.. Primary risk factors monitored: Company executives have done more routine share selling than personal cash buying lately.. Institutional options positioning shows a 50% call / 50% put premium split.
Where is HTLD trading relative to its 50-day, 200-day, and 52-week technical levels?
HTLD last traded at $10.22 (-1.54% on volume of 626,514 shares), positioning the stock -10.51% below its 50-day simple moving average ($11.42) and -16.98% below its 200-day simple moving average ($12.31). Across its 52-week range of $7.00 to $16.64, HTLD sits at the 33.4% percentile with a 14-day RSI of 37.3 (NEUTRAL RANGE) and an implied next-earnings move of ±7.9% ($9.41 to $11.03).
HTLD Investor FAQ & Complete 8-Part Research Index
100% OPEN ACCESS • SEC EDGAR × CBOE × FREDWhy is HTLD stock moving today?
Why HTLD Stock slipped -1.54% Today — RQD Quant Desk Flash. Stretched risk/reward at current multiples (-5% return on capital) under elevated 10-year interest-rate pressure.
HTLD — Heartland Express Inc.: What the Facts Mean to a Prospective Investor
Roarable Rating Brief: What This Means to a Prospective Investor
Per the Roarable RQD rating, HTLD scores 28 out of 100, grade E, labeled "Roarable Strong Sell — Forensic Risk / Avoid." The five pillars are: Fundamental Cash Engine 5/20 (ROIC -5.1%; FCF yield -8.33%), Whale 13F Flow 4/20 (institutional accumulation and options positioning), Insider Conviction 3/20 (SEC Form 4 and Congressional PTR cluster flow), Macro Regime Fit 5/20 (Beta 1.0; sector sensitivity), and Forensic Balance Sheet 11/20 (Altman Z 2.5; Piotroski F 4/9; Debt/Equity 0.2).
For a prospective investor, the weakest pillars are the cash engine, insider conviction, and institutional flow, each scoring 5 or fewer out of 20. Per the SEC financials, the company reported negative net income and negative free cash flow in FY 2025, and the market data shows negative ROIC and FCF yield. The balance sheet pillar is comparatively the strongest at 11/20, which is a mitigating but not offsetting factor. Upside drivers would need to come from a turnaround in cash generation; the source data does not show one. Valuation tradeoffs are difficult to assess because forward and trailing earnings multiples are not available in source data. Macro sensitivity is rated at Beta 1.0, indicating market-level volatility, with sector sensitivity scored low.
Business
Per the profile, Heartland Express Inc. is a NASDAQ-listed issuer in the Industrials sector, operating within Trucking Freight/Courier Services. The market capitalization is $0.8B. Not available in source data for customer base, service mix, or revenue model details.
Financial Trend
| Period | Revenue | Operating Income | Net Income | EPS | FCF | Cash | Debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| FY 2025 | $805.7M | $-57.4M | $-52.5M | N/A | $-66.9M | $18.5M | $154.1M |
| FY 2024 | $1047.5M | $-20.2M | $-29.7M | N/A | $34.8M | $12.8M | $191.7M |
| FY 2023 | $1207.5M | $42.4M | $14.8M | N/A | $165.3M | N/A | N/A |
Per the SEC financials, revenue declined from $1207.5M in FY 2023 to $805.7M in FY 2025, with operating losses in both FY 2024 and FY 2025. Per the market data, operating margin is -7.1%, net margin is -6.5%, and gross margin is 0%. ROIC is -5.1%. Per the Roarable RQD rating, the Altman Z-Score is 2.5 and the Piotroski F-Score is 4/9, with Debt/Equity of 0.2. Cash reported for FY 2025 is $18.5M against debt of $154.1M.
Recent Catalysts & News Wire Analysis
Per the recent news feed, five items reference HTLD, all rated YELLOW and all tagged MARKET WIRE. Headlines include a Yahoo Finance report on a Q3 profit that "Meets Margin Strain," a Seeking Alpha piece stating that profits are coming from selling trucks rather than hauling freight, a TradingView report on implied volatility surging for HTLD options, a Yahoo Finance report on Q3 earnings key metrics, a GuruFocus report on Q3 revenue decline with operating ratio improvement, and a Globe and Mail piece listing HTLD among industrial goods names where analysts are conflicted. Per the Butterfly Supply-Chain Graph, the supply chain is listed as NONE, with no butterfly links and no proprietary signals.
Butterfly Effect: 2nd-Order Supply-Chain & Sector Ripples
Per the Butterfly Supply-Chain Graph, no upstream or downstream dependencies, sector correlations, or proprietary signal links are recorded. Not available in source data for supplier, customer, or sector-correlation mapping. Per the news feed, one headline frames profitability as dependent on equipment sales rather than freight hauling, which would be a second-order item to monitor, but the source does not quantify this relationship.
Open Questions
- What drove the decline in revenue from $1207.5M in FY 2023 to $805.7M in FY 2025, and is the operating loss expected to reverse?
- What are the trailing and forward earnings multiples, given that P/E and EPS are not available in source data?
- What is the composition of the FY 2025 cash position of $18.5M relative to the $154.1M debt load?
- What are the institutional 13F and insider Form 4 positions, given that the holders section is empty?
- What is the company's exposure to upstream and downstream supply-chain partners, given that the Butterfly graph records none?
HTLD Live News Feed, Press Releases & Catalyst Wire
Real-time company headlines, analyst actions, and sector developments for Heartland Express Inc. (HTLD) • Click "Debate This Headline" to argue it in the Roar Pit below
Yahoo Finance report covering Heartland Express Inc. (HTLD) market action, institutional positioning, and fundamental catalysts.
Seeking Alpha report covering Heartland Express Inc. (HTLD) market action, institutional positioning, and fundamental catalysts.
TradingView report covering Heartland Express Inc. (HTLD) market action, institutional positioning, and fundamental catalysts.
Yahoo Finance report covering Heartland Express Inc. (HTLD) market action, institutional positioning, and fundamental catalysts.
GuruFocus report covering Heartland Express Inc. (HTLD) market action, institutional positioning, and fundamental catalysts.
The Globe and Mail report covering Heartland Express Inc. (HTLD) market action, institutional positioning, and fundamental catalysts.
Simply Wall St report covering Heartland Express Inc. (HTLD) market action, institutional positioning, and fundamental catalysts.
Seeking Alpha report covering Heartland Express Inc. (HTLD) market action, institutional positioning, and fundamental catalysts.
HTLD Bull vs. Bear Conversation Board — What's Your Call at $10.22?
🔥 Official Bull vs. Bear Debate: Is HTLD (E • RQD 28/100) a Buy at $10.38?
Welcome to the HTLD (Heartland Express Inc.) Roar Pit. Current RQD Composite is 28/100 (Roarable Strong Sell — Forensic Risk / Avoid) in Trucking Freight/Courier Services. Bulls point to operating leverage and sector positioning, while bears focus on macro rate sensitivity and margin execution. Pick your side (🐂 Bull or 🐻 Bear) and drop your price target below.
Pump the brakes on HTLD — check the valuation vs. margin headwinds
Everyone in here is repeating the bull case on HTLD, but look at what you are paying: current EV/EBITDA multiples with tightening sector spreads. Unless Heartland Express Inc. expands free cash flow yield next quarter, I would rather wait for a pullback closer to the 200-day moving average before touching this.
HTLD cash flow & RQD setup is being underpriced by the Street here
Looking at the 5-pillar RQD breakdown on HTLD, the market is fixating on short-term headline noise in Trucking Freight/Courier Services and ignoring the balance sheet and cash flow trajectory. At $10.38 (52-wk range $7.00 - $16.64), any beat on forward guidance forces shorts and underweight funds to chase.