HTLD
Heartland Express, Inc.
Trucking
Market Cap$1.01B
5Y Perf.-40.7%
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Stock Comparison
HTLD vs KNX
Revenue, margins, valuation, and 5-year total return — side by side.
KNX
Knight-Swift Transportation Holdings Inc.
Trucking
Market Cap$10.30B
5Y Perf.+52.4%
HTLD vs KNX — Key Financials
Market cap, revenue, margins, and valuation side-by-side.
| Company Snapshot | HTLD | KNX |
|---|---|---|
| Industry | Trucking | Trucking |
| Market Cap | $1.01B | $10.30B |
| Revenue (TTM) | $806M | $7.50B |
| Net Income (TTM) | $-52M | $34M |
| Gross Margin | -0.9% | 30.6% |
| Operating Margin | -7.7% | 2.9% |
| Forward P/E | — | 34.3x |
| Total Debt | $161M | $2.89B |
| Cash & Equiv. | $18M | $303M |
HTLD vs KNX — Long-Term Stock Performance
Price return indexed to 100 at period start. Dividends excluded.
HTLD
KNX
| Stock | May 20 | May 26 | Return |
|---|---|---|---|
| Heartland Express, … (HTLD) | 100 | 59.3 | -40.7% |
| Knight-Swift Transp… (KNX) | 100 | 152.4 | +52.4% |
Price return only. Dividends and distributions are not included.
Quick Verdict: HTLD vs KNX
Each card shows where this stock fits in a portfolio — not just who wins on paper.
Bottom line: KNX leads in 4 of 6 categories, making it the strongest pick for growth and revenue expansion and profitability and margin quality. Heartland Express, Inc. is the stronger pick specifically for capital preservation and lower volatility and recent price momentum and sentiment. As sector peers, any of these can serve as alternatives in the same allocation.
HTLD
Heartland Express, Inc.
The Defensive Pick
HTLD is the clearest fit if your priority is sleep-well-at-night and defensive.
- Lower volatility, beta 1.37, Low D/E 21.4%, current ratio 1.04x
- Beta 1.37, yield 0.6%, current ratio 1.04x
- Beta 1.37 vs KNX's 1.40, lower leverage
Best for: sleep-well-at-night and defensive
KNX
Knight-Swift Transportation Holdings Inc.
The Income Pick
KNX carries the broadest edge in this set and is the clearest fit for income & stability and growth exposure.
- Dividend streak 8 yrs, beta 1.40, yield 1.1%
- Rev growth 0.8%, EPS growth -43.8%, 3Y rev CAGR 0.2%
- 156.2% 10Y total return vs HTLD's -19.6%
Best for: income & stability and growth exposure
See the full category breakdown
| Category | Winner | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Growth | KNX | 0.8% revenue growth vs HTLD's -23.1% |
| Quality / Margins | KNX | 0.5% margin vs HTLD's -6.5% |
| Stability / Safety | HTLD | Beta 1.37 vs KNX's 1.40, lower leverage |
| Dividends | KNX | 1.1% yield, 8-year raise streak, vs HTLD's 0.6% |
| Momentum (1Y) | HTLD | +72.8% vs KNX's +54.4% |
| Efficiency (ROA) | KNX | 0.3% ROA vs HTLD's -4.1%, ROIC 2.0% vs -4.8% |
HTLD vs KNX — Revenue Breakdown by Segment
How each company's revenue is distributed across its business units
Segment breakdown not available.
FY 2025
HTLD vs KNX — Financial Metrics
Side-by-side numbers across 2 stocks — who leads on profitability, valuation, growth, and risk.
BEST OVERALLKNXLAGGINGHTLD
HTLDHeartland Express, In…
1leads
KNXKnight-Swift Transpor…
4leads
6 Total Categories
CATEGORYLEADERvs HTLDMETRICS WON
Income & Cash FlowRevenue, margins, and cash flow strength
KNX6/6
Valuation MetricsMultiples, price ratios, and targets
HTLD4/4
Profitability & EfficiencyROE, ROIC, leverage, and quality scores
KNX6/9
Total Returns1Y, 3Y, 5Y total returns with dividends
KNX4/6
Risk & VolatilityBeta, volatility, and downside exposure
Tied
—
Analyst OutlookRatings, price targets, and dividends
KNX2/2
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
KNX leads this category, winning 6 of 6 comparable metrics.
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
KNX is the larger business by revenue, generating $7.5B annually — 9.3x HTLD's $806M. KNX is the more profitable business, keeping 0.5% of every revenue dollar as net income compared to HTLD's -6.5%. On growth, KNX holds the edge at +1.4% YoY revenue growth, suggesting stronger near-term business momentum.
| Metric | HTLDHeartland Express… | KNXKnight-Swift Tran… |
|---|---|---|
| RevenueTrailing 12 months | $806M | $7.5B |
| EBITDAEarnings before interest/tax | $97M | $1.0B |
| Net IncomeAfter-tax profit | -$52M | $34M |
| Free Cash FlowCash after capex | -$67M | $1.3B |
| Gross MarginGross profit ÷ Revenue | -0.9% | +30.6% |
| Operating MarginEBIT ÷ Revenue | -7.7% | +2.9% |
| Net MarginNet income ÷ Revenue | -6.5% | +0.5% |
| FCF MarginFCF ÷ Revenue | -8.3% | +17.8% |
| Rev. Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | -26.1% | +1.4% |
| EPS Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | -9.6% | -104.3% |
KNX leads this category, winning 6 of 6 comparable metrics.
Valuation Metrics
HTLD leads this category, winning 4 of 4 comparable metrics.
Valuation Metrics
On an enterprise value basis, HTLD's 11.8x EV/EBITDA is more attractive than KNX's 12.4x.
| Metric | HTLDHeartland Express… | KNXKnight-Swift Tran… |
|---|---|---|
| Market CapShares × price | $1.0B | $10.3B |
| Enterprise ValueMkt cap + debt − cash | $1.1B | $12.9B |
| Trailing P/EPrice ÷ TTM EPS | -19.37x | 154.71x |
| Forward P/EPrice ÷ next-FY EPS est. | — | 34.28x |
| PEG RatioP/E ÷ EPS growth rate | — | — |
| EV / EBITDAEnterprise value multiple | 11.80x | 12.41x |
| Price / SalesMarket cap ÷ Revenue | 1.25x | 1.38x |
| Price / BookPrice ÷ Book value/share | 1.34x | 1.46x |
| Price / FCFMarket cap ÷ FCF | — | 13.50x |
HTLD leads this category, winning 4 of 4 comparable metrics.
Profitability & Efficiency
KNX leads this category, winning 6 of 9 comparable metrics.
Profitability & Efficiency
KNX delivers a 0.5% return on equity — every $100 of shareholder capital generates $0 in annual profit, vs $-7 for HTLD. HTLD carries lower financial leverage with a 0.21x debt-to-equity ratio, signaling a more conservative balance sheet compared to KNX's 0.41x. On the Piotroski fundamental quality scale (0–9), KNX scores 6/9 vs HTLD's 4/9, reflecting solid financial health.
| Metric | HTLDHeartland Express… | KNXKnight-Swift Tran… |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM)Return on equity | -6.7% | +0.5% |
| ROA (TTM)Return on assets | -4.1% | +0.3% |
| ROICReturn on invested capital | -4.8% | +2.0% |
| ROCEReturn on capital employed | -5.4% | +2.3% |
| Piotroski ScoreFundamental quality 0–9 | 4 | 6 |
| Debt / EquityFinancial leverage | 0.21x | 0.41x |
| Net DebtTotal debt minus cash | $143M | $2.6B |
| Cash & Equiv.Liquid assets | $18M | $303M |
| Total DebtShort + long-term debt | $161M | $2.9B |
| Interest CoverageEBIT ÷ Interest expense | -4.93x | 1.36x |
KNX leads this category, winning 6 of 9 comparable metrics.
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
KNX leads this category, winning 4 of 6 comparable metrics.
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
A $10,000 investment in KNX five years ago would be worth $13,435 today (with dividends reinvested), compared to $7,237 for HTLD. Over the past 12 months, HTLD leads with a +72.8% total return vs KNX's +54.4%. The 3-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) favors KNX at 4.5% vs HTLD's -4.8% — a key indicator of consistent wealth creation.
| Metric | HTLDHeartland Express… | KNXKnight-Swift Tran… |
|---|---|---|
| YTD ReturnYear-to-date | +42.1% | +21.8% |
| 1-Year ReturnPast 12 months | +72.8% | +54.4% |
| 3-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | -13.7% | +14.1% |
| 5-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | -27.6% | +34.4% |
| 10-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | -19.6% | +156.2% |
| CAGR (3Y)Annualised 3-year return | -4.8% | +4.5% |
KNX leads this category, winning 4 of 6 comparable metrics.
Risk & Volatility
Evenly matched — HTLD and KNX each lead in 1 of 2 comparable metrics.
Risk & Volatility
HTLD is the less volatile stock with a 1.37 beta — it tends to amplify market swings less than KNX's 1.40 beta. A beta below 1.0 means the stock typically moves less than the S&P 500.
| Metric | HTLDHeartland Express… | KNXKnight-Swift Tran… |
|---|---|---|
| Beta (5Y)Sensitivity to S&P 500 | 1.37x | 1.40x |
| 52-Week HighHighest price in past year | $13.92 | $67.75 |
| 52-Week LowLowest price in past year | $7.00 | $38.63 |
| % of 52W HighCurrent price vs 52-week peak | +93.2% | +93.6% |
| RSI (14)Momentum oscillator 0–100 | 63.9 | 56.4 |
| Avg Volume (50D)Average daily shares traded | 398K | 3.0M |
Evenly matched — HTLD and KNX each lead in 1 of 2 comparable metrics.
Analyst Outlook
KNX leads this category, winning 2 of 2 comparable metrics.
Analyst Outlook
Wall Street rates HTLD as "Hold" and KNX as "Buy". Consensus price targets imply 2.6% upside for KNX (target: $65) vs -7.6% for HTLD (target: $12). For income investors, KNX offers the higher dividend yield at 1.14% vs HTLD's 0.62%.
| Metric | HTLDHeartland Express… | KNXKnight-Swift Tran… |
|---|---|---|
| Analyst RatingConsensus buy/hold/sell | Hold | Buy |
| Price TargetConsensus 12-month target | $12.00 | $65.10 |
| # AnalystsCovering analysts | 22 | 36 |
| Dividend YieldAnnual dividend ÷ price | +0.6% | +1.1% |
| Dividend StreakConsecutive years of raises | 1 | 8 |
| Dividend / ShareAnnual DPS | $0.08 | $0.72 |
| Buyback YieldShare repurchases ÷ mkt cap | +1.0% | 0.0% |
KNX leads this category, winning 2 of 2 comparable metrics.
Key Takeaway
KNX leads in 4 of 6 categories (Income & Cash Flow, Profitability & Efficiency). HTLD leads in 1 (Valuation Metrics). 1 tied.
Best OverallKnight-Swift Transportation… (KNX)Leads 4 of 6 categories
Loading custom metrics...
HTLD vs KNX: Frequently Asked Questions
9 questions · data-driven answers · updated daily
01Is HTLD or KNX a better buy right now?
For growth investors, Knight-Swift Transportation Holdings Inc.
(KNX) is the stronger pick with 0. 8% revenue growth year-over-year, versus -23. 1% for Heartland Express, Inc. (HTLD). Knight-Swift Transportation Holdings Inc. (KNX) offers the better valuation at 154. 7x trailing P/E (34. 3x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Knight-Swift Transportation Holdings Inc. (KNX) a "Buy" — based on 36 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 — HTLD or KNX?
Over the past 5 years, Knight-Swift Transportation Holdings Inc.
(KNX) delivered a total return of +34. 4%, compared to -27. 6% for Heartland Express, Inc. (HTLD). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: KNX returned +156. 2% versus HTLD's -19. 6%. 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 — HTLD or KNX?
By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), Heartland Express, Inc.
(HTLD) is the lower-risk stock at 1. 37β versus Knight-Swift Transportation Holdings Inc. 's 1. 40β — meaning KNX is approximately 2% more volatile than HTLD relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Heartland Express, Inc. (HTLD) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 21% versus 41% for Knight-Swift Transportation Holdings Inc. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.
04Which is growing faster — HTLD or KNX?
By revenue growth (latest reported year), Knight-Swift Transportation Holdings Inc.
(KNX) is pulling ahead at 0. 8% versus -23. 1% for Heartland Express, Inc. (HTLD). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Knight-Swift Transportation Holdings Inc. grew EPS -43. 8% year-over-year, compared to -76. 3% for Heartland Express, Inc.. Over a 3-year CAGR, KNX leads at 0. 2% annualised revenue growth. Higher growth typically commands a higher valuation multiple — check whether the premium P/E or P/S is justified by the growth rate using the PEG ratio.
05Which has better profit margins — HTLD or KNX?
Knight-Swift Transportation Holdings Inc.
(KNX) is the more profitable company, earning 0. 9% net margin versus -6. 5% for Heartland Express, Inc. — meaning it keeps 0. 9% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: KNX leads at 3. 4% versus -7. 7% for HTLD. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — KNX leads at 28. 3%, 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.
06Is HTLD or KNX more undervalued right now?
Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for KNX: 2.
6% to $65. 10.
07Which pays a better dividend — HTLD or KNX?
All stocks in this comparison pay dividends.
Knight-Swift Transportation Holdings Inc. (KNX) offers the highest yield at 1. 1%, versus 0. 6% for Heartland Express, Inc. (HTLD).
08Is HTLD or KNX better for a retirement portfolio?
For long-horizon retirement investors, Knight-Swift Transportation Holdings Inc.
(KNX) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (1. 1% yield, +156. 2% 10Y return). Both have compounded well over 10 years (KNX: +156. 2%, HTLD: -19. 6%), 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.
09What are the main differences between HTLD and KNX?
Both stocks operate in the Industrials sector, making this a peer-level intra-sector comparison — the same macro tailwinds and headwinds will affect both.
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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