ETS
Elite Express Holding Inc.
Trucking
Market Cap$9M
5Y Perf.-31.1%
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Stock Comparison
ETS vs MRTN
Revenue, margins, valuation, and 5-year total return — side by side.
MRTN
Marten Transport, Ltd.
Trucking
Market Cap$1.24B
5Y Perf.-3.1%
ETS vs MRTN — Key Financials
Market cap, revenue, margins, and valuation side-by-side.
| Company Snapshot | ETS | MRTN |
|---|---|---|
| Industry | Trucking | Trucking |
| Market Cap | $9M | $1.24B |
| Revenue (TTM) | $2M | $884M |
| Net Income (TTM) | $-208K | $17M |
| Gross Margin | 7.1% | 5.7% |
| Operating Margin | -7.8% | 1.2% |
| Forward P/E | — | 54.4x |
| Total Debt | $647K | $388K |
| Cash & Equiv. | $55K | $43M |
Quick Verdict: ETS vs MRTN
Each card shows where this stock fits in a portfolio — not just who wins on paper.
Bottom line: MRTN leads in 5 of 5 categories, making it the strongest pick for profitability and margin quality and capital preservation and lower volatility. As sector peers, any of these can serve as alternatives in the same allocation.
ETS
Elite Express Holding Inc.
The Lower-Volatility Pick
In this particular matchup, ETS is outpaced on most metrics by others in the set.
Best for: industrials exposure
MRTN
Marten Transport, Ltd.
The Long-Run Compounder
MRTN carries the broadest edge in this set and is the clearest fit for long-term compounding and sleep-well-at-night.
- 144.8% 10Y total return vs ETS's -84.5%
- Lower volatility, beta 1.16, Low D/E 0.1%, current ratio 1.86x
- Beta 1.16, yield 1.2%, current ratio 1.86x
Best for: long-term compounding and sleep-well-at-night
See the full category breakdown
| Category | Winner | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Quality / Margins | MRTN | 2.0% margin vs ETS's -8.6% |
| Stability / Safety | MRTN | Lower D/E ratio (0.1% vs 16.2%) |
| Dividends | MRTN | 1.2% yield; the other pay no meaningful dividend |
| Momentum (1Y) | MRTN | +21.2% vs ETS's -84.5% |
| Efficiency (ROA) | MRTN | 1.8% ROA vs ETS's -28.8%, ROIC 1.1% vs -22.5% |
ETS vs MRTN — Revenue Breakdown by Segment
How each company's revenue is distributed across its business units
Segment breakdown not available.
FY 2025
ETS vs MRTN — Financial Metrics
Side-by-side numbers across 2 stocks — who leads on profitability, valuation, growth, and risk.
BEST OVERALLMRTNLAGGINGETS
ETSElite Express Holding…
0leads
MRTNMarten Transport, Ltd.
3leads
6 Total Categories
CATEGORYLEADERvs ETSMETRICS WON
Income & Cash FlowRevenue, margins, and cash flow strength
Tied
—
Valuation MetricsMultiples, price ratios, and targets
MRTN3/4
Profitability & EfficiencyROE, ROIC, leverage, and quality scores
MRTN7/8
Total Returns1Y, 3Y, 5Y total returns with dividends
MRTN6/6
Risk & VolatilityBeta, volatility, and downside exposure
Tied
—
Analyst OutlookRatings, price targets, and dividends
—
—
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
Evenly matched — ETS and MRTN each lead in 2 of 4 comparable metrics.
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
MRTN is the larger business by revenue, generating $884M annually — 364.2x ETS's $2M. MRTN is the more profitable business, keeping 2.0% of every revenue dollar as net income compared to ETS's -8.6%.
| Metric | ETSElite Express Hol… | MRTNMarten Transport,… |
|---|---|---|
| RevenueTrailing 12 months | $2M | $884M |
| EBITDAEarnings before interest/tax | — | $116M |
| Net IncomeAfter-tax profit | — | $17M |
| Free Cash FlowCash after capex | — | -$51M |
| Gross MarginGross profit ÷ Revenue | +7.1% | +5.7% |
| Operating MarginEBIT ÷ Revenue | -7.8% | +1.2% |
| Net MarginNet income ÷ Revenue | -8.6% | +2.0% |
| FCF MarginFCF ÷ Revenue | -0.6% | -5.8% |
| Rev. Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | — | -8.8% |
| EPS Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | — | -34.4% |
Evenly matched — ETS and MRTN each lead in 2 of 4 comparable metrics.
Valuation Metrics
MRTN leads this category, winning 3 of 4 comparable metrics.
Valuation Metrics
On an enterprise value basis, MRTN's 10.3x EV/EBITDA is more attractive than ETS's 234.6x.
| Metric | ETSElite Express Hol… | MRTNMarten Transport,… |
|---|---|---|
| Market CapShares × price | $9M | $1.2B |
| Enterprise ValueMkt cap + debt − cash | $10M | $1.2B |
| Trailing P/EPrice ÷ TTM EPS | -43.46x | 72.10x |
| Forward P/EPrice ÷ next-FY EPS est. | — | 54.36x |
| PEG RatioP/E ÷ EPS growth rate | — | — |
| EV / EBITDAEnterprise value multiple | 234.63x | 10.26x |
| Price / SalesMarket cap ÷ Revenue | 3.74x | 1.40x |
| Price / BookPrice ÷ Book value/share | 227.19x | 1.61x |
| Price / FCFMarket cap ÷ FCF | — | — |
MRTN leads this category, winning 3 of 4 comparable metrics.
Profitability & Efficiency
MRTN leads this category, winning 7 of 8 comparable metrics.
Profitability & Efficiency
MRTN delivers a 2.3% return on equity — every $100 of shareholder capital generates $2 in annual profit, vs $-5 for ETS. MRTN carries lower financial leverage with a 0.00x debt-to-equity ratio, signaling a more conservative balance sheet compared to ETS's 16.20x. On the Piotroski fundamental quality scale (0–9), ETS scores 6/9 vs MRTN's 4/9, reflecting solid financial health.
| Metric | ETSElite Express Hol… | MRTNMarten Transport,… |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM)Return on equity | -5.2% | +2.3% |
| ROA (TTM)Return on assets | -28.8% | +1.8% |
| ROICReturn on invested capital | -22.5% | +1.1% |
| ROCEReturn on capital employed | -41.1% | +1.3% |
| Piotroski ScoreFundamental quality 0–9 | 6 | 4 |
| Debt / EquityFinancial leverage | 16.20x | 0.00x |
| Net DebtTotal debt minus cash | $592,611 | -$43M |
| Cash & Equiv.Liquid assets | $54,712 | $43M |
| Total DebtShort + long-term debt | $647,323 | $388,000 |
| Interest CoverageEBIT ÷ Interest expense | -6.33x | — |
MRTN leads this category, winning 7 of 8 comparable metrics.
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
MRTN leads this category, winning 6 of 6 comparable metrics.
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
A $10,000 investment in MRTN five years ago would be worth $9,475 today (with dividends reinvested), compared to $1,552 for ETS. Over the past 12 months, MRTN leads with a +21.2% total return vs ETS's -84.5%. The 3-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) favors MRTN at -8.3% vs ETS's -46.3% — a key indicator of consistent wealth creation.
| Metric | ETSElite Express Hol… | MRTNMarten Transport,… |
|---|---|---|
| YTD ReturnYear-to-date | +6.9% | +32.8% |
| 1-Year ReturnPast 12 months | -84.5% | +21.2% |
| 3-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | -84.5% | -22.9% |
| 5-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | -84.5% | -5.3% |
| 10-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | -84.5% | +144.8% |
| CAGR (3Y)Annualised 3-year return | -46.3% | -8.3% |
MRTN leads this category, winning 6 of 6 comparable metrics.
Risk & Volatility
Evenly matched — ETS and MRTN each lead in 1 of 2 comparable metrics.
Risk & Volatility
ETS is the less volatile stock with a -0.61 beta — it tends to amplify market swings less than MRTN's 1.16 beta. A beta below 1.0 means the stock typically moves less than the S&P 500. MRTN currently trades 98.2% from its 52-week high vs ETS's 12.8% drawdown — a narrower gap to the peak suggests stronger recent price momentum.
| Metric | ETSElite Express Hol… | MRTNMarten Transport,… |
|---|---|---|
| Beta (5Y)Sensitivity to S&P 500 | -0.61x | 1.16x |
| 52-Week HighHighest price in past year | $4.23 | $15.42 |
| 52-Week LowLowest price in past year | $0.39 | $9.35 |
| % of 52W HighCurrent price vs 52-week peak | +12.8% | +98.2% |
| RSI (14)Momentum oscillator 0–100 | 45.6 | 63.1 |
| Avg Volume (50D)Average daily shares traded | 73K | 750K |
Evenly matched — ETS and MRTN each lead in 1 of 2 comparable metrics.
Analyst Outlook
Insufficient data to determine a leader in this category.
Analyst Outlook
MRTN is the only dividend payer here at 1.19% yield — a key consideration for income-focused portfolios.
| Metric | ETSElite Express Hol… | MRTNMarten Transport,… |
|---|---|---|
| Analyst RatingConsensus buy/hold/sell | — | Hold |
| Price TargetConsensus 12-month target | — | $22.50 |
| # AnalystsCovering analysts | — | 13 |
| Dividend YieldAnnual dividend ÷ price | — | +1.2% |
| Dividend StreakConsecutive years of raises | — | 0 |
| Dividend / ShareAnnual DPS | — | $0.18 |
| Buyback YieldShare repurchases ÷ mkt cap | +0.0% | 0.0% |
Insufficient data to determine a leader in this category.
Key Takeaway
MRTN leads in 3 of 6 categories — strongest in Valuation Metrics and Profitability & Efficiency. 2 categories are tied.
Best OverallMarten Transport, Ltd. (MRTN)Leads 3 of 6 categories
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ETS vs MRTN: Frequently Asked Questions
7 questions · data-driven answers · updated daily
01Is ETS or MRTN a better buy right now?
Marten Transport, Ltd.
(MRTN) offers the better valuation at 72. 1x trailing P/E (54. 4x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Marten Transport, Ltd. (MRTN) a "Hold" — based on 13 analyst ratings — the highest consensus in this comparison. The "better buy" depends entirely on your goals: growth investors should weight revenue trajectory, value investors should weight P/E and PEG, and income investors should weight dividend yield and streak.
02Which is the better long-term investment — ETS or MRTN?
Over the past 5 years, Marten Transport, Ltd.
(MRTN) delivered a total return of -5. 3%, compared to -84. 5% for Elite Express Holding Inc. (ETS). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: MRTN returned +144. 8% versus ETS's -84. 5%. Past returns do not guarantee future results, and the stock with the higher historical return may already have its best growth priced in.
03Which is safer — ETS or MRTN?
By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), Elite Express Holding Inc.
(ETS) is the lower-risk stock at -0. 61β versus Marten Transport, Ltd. 's 1. 16β — meaning MRTN is approximately -290% more volatile than ETS relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Marten Transport, Ltd. (MRTN) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 0% versus 16% for Elite Express Holding Inc. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.
04Which has better profit margins — ETS or MRTN?
Marten Transport, Ltd.
(MRTN) is the more profitable company, earning 2. 0% net margin versus -8. 6% for Elite Express Holding Inc. — meaning it keeps 2. 0% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: MRTN leads at 1. 2% versus -7. 8% for ETS. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — ETS leads at 7. 1%, reflecting greater pricing power or product mix advantage. Stronger margins indicate durable pricing power, lower cost of revenue, or higher mix of software/services. They are one of the clearest signs of business quality.
05Which pays a better dividend — ETS or MRTN?
In this comparison, MRTN (1.
2% yield) pays a dividend. ETS does not pay a meaningful dividend and should not be held primarily for income.
06Is ETS or MRTN better for a retirement portfolio?
For long-horizon retirement investors, Elite Express Holding Inc.
(ETS) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β -0. 61)). Both have compounded well over 10 years (ETS: -84. 5%, MRTN: +144. 8%), confirming both are viable long-term holds — but the lower-volatility option typically results in less emotional selling during corrections. Retirement portfolios generally favour predictability over maximum returns. Consult a financial advisor before making allocation decisions.
07What are the main differences between ETS and MRTN?
Both stocks operate in the Industrials sector, making this a peer-level intra-sector comparison — the same macro tailwinds and headwinds will affect both.
MRTN pays a dividend while ETS does not, making them suitable for different income and tax situations. These fundamental differences mean investors should not choose between them on a single metric — the "better stock" depends entirely on which of these characteristics aligns with your investment strategy.
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