The Motley Fool·Oct 29, 2026
Old Dominion: 3 Key Takeaways for Long-Term InvestorsRevenue increased 13.1% to $1.59 billion in the third quarter. Operating ratio improved by 280 basis points to 71.5%.
Old Dominion's Q2 2026 results mark a decisive cyclical inflection, with revenue up 10.4% YoY and operating income surging 30.0% on premium pricing and disciplined cost control, driving operating margin to 29.9%.
Price trend, volume and key moving averages
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Q2 2026 revenue grew 10.4% YoY to $1.6B with gross margin expanding to 35.0% and operating margin hitting 29.9%, reversing a six-quarter negative revenue streak, though TTM growth remains -5.5%.
Higher less-than-truckload (LTL) pricing is more than offsetting lower shipment volumes, driving revenue growth.
ODFL maintains the best operating ratio in the LTL industry, showcasing superior cost management and profitability.
The company is recognized as the premier LTL carrier in North America and the gold standard in LTL operations.
Trailing total returns as of 11/7/2026, which may include dividends or other distributions. Benchmark is S&P 500 (^GSPC).
Check whether operating performance supports the current valuation.
Recent results and news deserve attention only when they alter the forward view.
| Quarter | EPS (Act vs Est) | Revenue (Act vs Est) |
|---|---|---|
Q4 2026Latest Oct 28, 2026 | $1.65+2.5% vs $1.61 | $1.6B+1.2% vs $1.6B |
Q3 2026 Jul 29, 2026 | $1.68+9.1% vs $1.54 | $1.6B+0.9% vs $1.5B |
Q2 2026 Apr 29, 2026 | $1.14+8.6% vs $1.05 | $1.3B+1.6% vs $1.3B |
Q1 2026 Feb 4, 2026 | $1.09+2.8% vs $1.06 | $1.3B+0.6% vs $1.3B |
Revenue increased 13.1% to $1.59 billion in the third quarter. Operating ratio improved by 280 basis points to 71.5%.
Old Dominion Freight Line, Inc. ( ODFL ) Q3 2026 Earnings Call October 28, 2026 10:00 AM EDT Company Participants Jack Atkins - Director of Investor Relations Kevin Freeman - President, CEO & Director Adam Satterfield - Executive VP, Assistant Secretary & CFO Conference Call Participants Christian Wetherbee - Wells Fargo Securities, LLC, Research Division Scott Group - Wolfe Research, LLC Thomas Wadewitz - UBS Investment Bank, Research Division Jason Seidl - TD Cowen, Research Division Jordan Alliger - Goldman Sachs Group, Inc., Research Division Brian Ossenbeck - JPMorgan Chase & Co, Research Division Eric Morgan - Barclays Bank PLC, Research Division Jonathan Chappell - Evercore ISI Institutional Equities, Research Division Ravi Shanker - Morgan Stanley, Research Division Richa Talwar - Deutsche Bank AG, Research Division Bascome Majors - Stephens Inc., Research Division Ariel Rosa - Citigroup Inc., Research Division Stephanie Benjamin Moore - Jefferies LLC, Research Division Ken Hoexter - BofA Securities, Research Division David Vernon - Bernstein Institutional Services LLC, Research Division Presentation Operator Good day, and welcome to the Old Dominion Freight Line Third Quarter 2026 Earnings Conference Call. [Operator Instructions] Please note this event is being recorded.
Old Dominion Freight Line NASDAQ: ODFL reported third-quarter 2026 revenue growth of 13.1% and a 28.9% increase in diluted earnings per share, as improving demand, pricing gains and operating leverage supported profitability.
Old Dominion's Q3 2026 earnings and revenues beat estimates as stronger pricing and improved operating efficiency drive growth despite persistent freight volume pressures.
Benchmark ODFL against direct peers instead of judging its metrics in isolation.
Key metrics vs top competitors for Old Dominion Freight Line, Inc. (ODFL)
| Company | Price | Market Cap | P/E Ratio | Rev Growth (1Y) | Net Margin | ROE | Div Yield |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| $164.92 | $34.3B | 29.54 | -5.48% | 20.08% | 25.92% | 0.68% | |
| $331.90 | $8.85B | 31.44 | 0.79% | 8.01% | 10.53% | — | |
| $127.91 | $2.85B | 100.02 | -4.04% | 0.66% | 2.23% | 0.37% | |
| $26.95 | $1.62B | -85.07 | -1.84% | -0.56% | -1.39% | 2.09% | |
| $176.95 | $20.78B | 41.51 | 1.05% | 5.69% | 26.31% | — | |
| $94.94 | $7.8B | 20.32 | 31.1% | 4.21% | 14.16% | 2.66% |
Old Dominion Freight Line, Inc. (ODFL) vs competitors — business, growth, and fundamentals comparison against the closest industry rivals.
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Old Dominion Freight Line, Inc. (ODFL) SEC filings — annual & quarterly reports (10-K, 10-Q)
Jul 29, 2026·SEC
Jul 23, 2026·SEC
Jun 3, 2026·SEC
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Old Dominion Freight Line, Inc. (ODFL) stock FAQ — growth, dividends, profitability & financials explained
Old Dominion Freight Line, Inc. (ODFL) reported $5.79B in revenue over the trailing twelve months. Revenue was $5.50B in fiscal year 2025. That is 1776% more than the $293.0M of fiscal year 1996.
Old Dominion Freight Line, Inc. (ODFL) grew revenue by 3.8% over the trailing twelve months, compared with the twelve months before.
Yes. Old Dominion Freight Line, Inc. (ODFL) earned $1.16B in net income over the trailing twelve months (a 20.1% net margin).
Yes. Old Dominion Freight Line, Inc. (ODFL) pays a dividend that yields 0.68% at the current price, a small yield.
Old Dominion Freight Line, Inc. (ODFL) had a return on equity (ROE) of 25.9% over the trailing twelve months. That is well above the market's typical 10-15%.
Old Dominion Freight Line, Inc. (ODFL) generated $1.17B in free cash flow over the trailing twelve months.
