Latest Ratios: P/E Ratio -17.4x · EV/EBITDA 10.8x · ROE -6.6%. (1996–2025 historical series)
Price-based multiples — how expensive the stock is relative to earnings, sales, book value, and cash flow
| Metric | TTM | FY 2025 | FY 2024 | FY 2023 | FY 2022 | FY 2021 | FY 2020 | FY 2019 | FY 2018 | FY 2017 | FY 2016 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Market Cap | $905M | $704M | $884M | $1.1B | $1.2B | $1.3B | $1.5B | $1.7B | $1.5B | $1.9B | $1.7B |
| Enterprise Value | $1.0B | $847M | $1.1B | $1.4B | $1.6B | $1.2B | $1.4B | $1.6B | $1.3B | $1.9B | $1.6B |
| P/E Ratio → | -17.43 | — | — | 75.05 | 9.08 | 16.82 | 20.80 | 23.65 | 20.80 | 25.93 | 29.94 |
| P/S Ratio | 1.12 | 0.87 | 0.84 | 0.93 | 1.25 | 2.21 | 2.28 | 2.89 | 2.47 | 3.20 | 2.77 |
| P/B Ratio | 1.21 | 0.93 | 1.07 | 1.30 | 1.42 | 1.84 | 2.04 | 2.52 | 2.45 | 3.38 | 3.36 |
| P/FCF | — | — | 25.39 | — | 35.48 | — | — | — | — | — | 24.35 |
| P/OCF | 10.13 | 7.88 | 6.12 | 6.82 | 6.22 | 10.85 | 8.24 | 11.80 | 10.29 | 17.76 | 10.90 |
P/E links to full P/E history page with 30-year chart
Enterprise-value multiples — capital-structure-neutral measures of total business value
| Metric | TTM | FY 2025 | FY 2024 | FY 2023 | FY 2022 | FY 2021 | FY 2020 | FY 2019 | FY 2018 | FY 2017 | FY 2016 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| EV / Revenue | — | 1.05 | 1.03 | 1.17 | 1.65 | 1.95 | 2.11 | 2.76 | 2.20 | 3.08 | 2.56 |
| EV / EBITDA | 10.77 | 8.70 | 7.02 | 7.07 | 7.11 | 5.64 | 6.67 | 8.45 | 7.05 | 11.17 | 8.21 |
| EV / EBIT | — | — | — | 32.17 | 8.42 | 11.14 | 14.42 | 16.80 | 14.65 | 28.91 | 18.23 |
| EV / FCF | — | — | 31.01 | — | 46.74 | — | — | — | — | — | 22.51 |
Margins and return-on-capital ratios measuring operating efficiency
Full margin charts and quarterly trend are on the Earnings History page
| Metric | TTM | FY 2025 | FY 2024 | FY 2023 | FY 2022 | FY 2021 | FY 2020 | FY 2019 | FY 2018 | FY 2017 | FY 2016 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gross Margin | 8.4% | 8.4% | 10.5% | 12.0% | 20.7% | 21.1% | 22.9% | 20.5% | 20.6% | 16.9% | 21.9% |
| Operating Margin | -7.7% | -7.7% | -2.6% | 0.1% | 9.4% | 17.4% | 14.5% | 15.8% | 14.7% | 10.5% | 14.0% |
| Net Profit Margin | -6.5% | -6.5% | -2.8% | 1.2% | 13.8% | 13.1% | 11.0% | 12.2% | 11.9% | 12.4% | 9.2% |
| Metric | TTM | FY 2025 | FY 2024 | FY 2023 | FY 2022 | FY 2021 | FY 2020 | FY 2019 | FY 2018 | FY 2017 | FY 2016 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ROE | -6.6% | -6.6% | -3.5% | 1.7% | 16.9% | 10.9% | 10.1% | 11.2% | 12.2% | 13.9% | 11.6% |
| ROA | -4.2% | -4.2% | -2.1% | 0.9% | 10.3% | 8.4% | 7.7% | 8.6% | 9.1% | 9.8% | 7.6% |
| ROIC | -4.8% | -4.8% | -1.9% | 0.1% | 7.6% | 13.4% | 11.5% | 13.3% | 14.1% | 10.9% | 15.8% |
| ROCE | -5.4% | -5.4% | -2.1% | 0.1% | 7.7% | 12.1% | 10.9% | 12.0% | 12.3% | 9.2% | 12.7% |
Solvency and debt-coverage ratios — lower is generally safer
| Metric | TTM | FY 2025 | FY 2024 | FY 2023 | FY 2022 | FY 2021 | FY 2020 | FY 2019 | FY 2018 | FY 2017 | FY 2016 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Debt / Equity | 0.21 | 0.21 | 0.25 | 0.37 | 0.51 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Debt / EBITDA | 1.66 | 1.66 | 1.36 | 1.58 | 1.93 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Net Debt / Equity | — | 0.19 | 0.24 | 0.33 | 0.45 | -0.22 | -0.16 | -0.11 | -0.26 | -0.13 | -0.25 |
| Net Debt / EBITDA | 1.47 | 1.47 | 1.27 | 1.44 | 1.71 | -0.75 | -0.56 | -0.39 | -0.84 | -0.45 | -0.67 |
| Debt / FCF | — | — | 5.62 | — | 11.26 | — | — | — | — | — | -1.84 |
| Interest Coverage | -4.93 | -4.93 | -1.09 | 1.82 | 22.17 | — | — | 93.37 | — | 369.56 | — |
Short-term solvency ratios and asset-utilisation metrics
| Metric | TTM | FY 2025 | FY 2024 | FY 2023 | FY 2022 | FY 2021 | FY 2020 | FY 2019 | FY 2018 | FY 2017 | FY 2016 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Current Ratio | 1.04 | 1.04 | 1.08 | 1.37 | 1.47 | 3.26 | 2.72 | 2.39 | 3.59 | 2.27 | 3.08 |
| Quick Ratio | 1.04 | 1.04 | 1.08 | 1.37 | 1.47 | 3.26 | 2.72 | 2.39 | 3.59 | 2.27 | 3.08 |
| Cash Ratio | 0.17 | 0.17 | 0.11 | 0.23 | 0.32 | 2.20 | 1.62 | 1.21 | 2.50 | 1.00 | 1.96 |
| Asset Turnover | — | 0.68 | 0.79 | 0.80 | 0.58 | 0.65 | 0.68 | 0.66 | 0.76 | 0.77 | 0.83 |
| Inventory Turnover | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Days Sales Outstanding | — | 34.12 | 32.63 | 34.13 | 53.90 | 34.20 | 31.44 | 34.91 | 29.36 | 42.48 | 30.72 |
Earnings, FCF, buyback, and dividend yields — total returns to shareholders
Full dividend history and growth charts are on the Dividend History page
| Metric | TTM | FY 2025 | FY 2024 | FY 2023 | FY 2022 | FY 2021 | FY 2020 | FY 2019 | FY 2018 | FY 2017 | FY 2016 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dividend Yield | 0.7% | 0.9% | 0.5% | 0.6% | 0.5% | 3.4% | 0.4% | 0.4% | 0.4% | 0.3% | 0.4% |
| Payout Ratio | — | — | — | 42.8% | 4.7% | 57.9% | 9.2% | 9.0% | 9.1% | 8.9% | 11.8% |
| Metric | TTM | FY 2025 | FY 2024 | FY 2023 | FY 2022 | FY 2021 | FY 2020 | FY 2019 | FY 2018 | FY 2017 | FY 2016 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Earnings Yield | — | — | — | 1.3% | 11.0% | 5.9% | 4.8% | 4.2% | 4.8% | 3.9% | 3.3% |
| FCF Yield | — | — | 3.9% | — | 2.8% | — | — | — | — | — | 4.1% |
| Buyback Yield | 1.1% | 1.5% | 0.8% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 2.4% | 1.7% | 0.0% | 1.7% | 0.0% | 0.9% |
| Total Shareholder Yield | 1.8% | 2.4% | 1.4% | 0.6% | 0.5% | 5.8% | 2.2% | 0.4% | 2.1% | 0.4% | 1.3% |
| Shares Outstanding | — | $78M | $79M | $79M | $79M | $80M | $81M | $82M | $82M | $83M | $83M |
Includes 30+ ratios · 30 years · Updated daily
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Quick answers to the most common questions about buying HTLD stock.
Heartland Express, Inc.'s current P/E ratio is -17.4x. The historical average is 23.5x.
Heartland Express, Inc.'s current EV/EBITDA is 10.8x. This enterprise value multiple compares the company's total value (equity + debt - cash) to its EBITDA. The historical average is 8.5x.
Heartland Express, Inc.'s return on equity (ROE) is -6.6%. The historical average is 15.1%.
Based on historical data, Heartland Express, Inc. is trading at a P/E of -17.4x. Compare with industry peers and growth rates for a complete picture.
Heartland Express, Inc.'s current dividend yield is 0.69%.
Heartland Express, Inc. has 8.4% gross margin and -7.7% operating margin.
Heartland Express, Inc.'s Debt/EBITDA ratio is 1.7x, indicating moderate leverage. A ratio below 2x is generally considered financially healthy.
Key Metrics
Top Statement Risk
Integration and revenue contraction
Metrics are mathematically derived from official filings.
Margin Recovery Still Fragile
According to quarterly financials, gross margin swung from 1.6% in Q2 2026 to 9.6% in Q1 2026, while operating margin improved to -4.6% from -8.9% in Q4 2025, suggesting a tentative recovery.
The sequential improvement in operating margin from -8.9% to -4.6% between Q4 2025 and Q2 2026 appears driven by aggressive cost cuts, as SG&A fell sharply. However, gross margin volatility—plunging to 1.6% in Q2 2026—indicates that fuel surcharge recovery and equipment utilization remain unstable. The negative operating margin persists, implying that the company still cannot cover fixed overhead, and the Q2 net margin of 5.7% likely reflects non-operating gains, not core hauling profitability.
Returns Trapped in Negative Territory
Based on reported figures, ROIC has been negative for nine consecutive quarters, with Q2 2026 at -0.8%, while ROE turned positive at 1.4% only due to non-operating items, per quarterly data.
ROIC has hovered between -0.4% and -1.3% over the past two years, indicating that the company is destroying value on its invested capital, a stark contrast to its historical returns. The slight improvement in Q2 2026 ROE to 1.4% is misleading because it stems from equipment sale gains and tax benefits, not operational earnings. The persistent negative ROIC suggests that the CFI and Smith acquisitions have not yet generated returns above the cost of capital, and the goodwill overhang of $322.6M remains a risk if impairments become necessary.
Working Capital Squeeze Eases Slightly
As reported in quarterly filings, DSO improved to 38 days in Q2 2026 from 40 days a year earlier, while DPO fell to 19 days, indicating tighter supplier terms, per the latest data.
The cash conversion cycle remains negative or near zero, but the data shows a slight improvement in receivables collection, which may reflect better customer mix or stricter credit policies. However, DPO dropping from 27 days in Q2 2025 to 19 days in Q2 2026 suggests the company is paying suppliers faster, possibly to secure favorable terms or due to reduced bargaining power. Asset turnover has been stable at 0.15-0.16, indicating that the fleet downsizing has not yet improved revenue generation per dollar of assets, a concern given the capital intensity.
Debt Load Lightens but Coverage Remains Thin
According to balance sheet data, debt-to-equity improved to 0.19 in Q2 2026 from 0.33 in Q1 2024, yet interest coverage was -4.53, reflecting negative operating income, per quarterly figures.
The company has reduced total debt from $277.7M to $146.4M over the past two years, which is a positive sign, but the interest coverage ratio remains deeply negative because operating income is still negative. This indicates that debt service is currently being funded by cash reserves or asset sales, not by core operations. The D/EBITDA ratio of 6.15 is elevated, though it may improve if EBITDA recovers as the operating ratio improves. Investors should monitor whether the deleveraging trend continues without further equity erosion.
Cash Buffer Improves but Still Thin
Based on quarterly balance sheet data, the current ratio rose to 1.58 in Q2 2026 from 0.95 a year earlier, with cash at $62.4M, but the quick ratio remains identical, indicating no inventory cushion.
The improvement in the current ratio from 0.95 to 1.58 is notable, but it is driven by a build-up in cash and possibly other current assets, not by a fundamental strengthening of working capital. The quick ratio equals the current ratio, which is typical for a trucking company with minimal inventory, but it also means that liquidity is entirely dependent on receivables and cash. Under a severe freight downturn, the company could face a cash crunch if receivables collection slows, especially given the negative free cash flow in recent quarters.
Misapplied Metric: P/E in a Loss Cycle
The most commonly misapplied ratio for Heartland is the price-to-earnings multiple, which is meaningless given negative TTM earnings; instead, EV/EBITDA or price-to-book better capture the asset-heavy, cyclical nature, per current valuation data.
With a TTM P/E of -19.16 and a forward P/E of 84.66, traditional earnings multiples are distorted by the current downcycle and non-recurring gains. The market appears to be pricing the stock on forward recovery, but the high forward P/E implies an aggressive earnings rebound that may not materialize if revenue keeps falling. EV/EBITDA of 11.69 is more relevant, but it too is elevated relative to peers like Werner (8.35) and Marten (9.97), suggesting the market is already pricing in a turnaround. Investors should focus on the operating ratio and ROIC as better indicators of fundamental value creation.