Heartland Express

Tightened capacity seen as a spur to both Heartland and Marten beating estimates, with optimism from analysts going forward The earnings reports of truckload carriers Heartland Express and Marten Transport released on Thursday, July 16 continued to resonate with investors a day later, with the stock prices of both companies recording significant gains.  At approximately […]

In today’s edition of The Daily Dash, Heartland reports better-than-expected earnings, a carrier’s owner talks about his driver who killed four kids and why autonomous trucks will be on roadways in 2024.

Heartland’s expenses were up more than revenue so operating ratio rose. Cash stockpile rose and it has plenty of borrowing capability.

Anthony and Zach break down the Knight-Swift and Heartland earnings; slowing decline of freight rates and volumes and what the rise in imports mean for the recovery.

Heartland Express’ better than expected result was diminished by the lack of gains on equipment sales.

Most companies are right near the 25% decline in the market since February 1.

Truckload carrier heads talk demand, rates and capacity at investor conference.

Heartland Express’ financial results were worse than expected in the fourth quarter of 2019. That said, a large acquisition shoulders more of the blame than weaker market fundamentals.

Heartland Express continues to perform. The carrier posts another solid quarter in the face of a “softer” environment.

Third quarter 2019 is likely to see another step down in earnings expectations for the year. Equity analysts have been busy lowering estimates on many publicly traded transportation companies.

The bulls are coming out in support of truckload carriers, kind of. Several equity analysts are using a recent positive inflection in TL volumes, a belief that fundamentals aren’t getting materially worse, and attractive valuation multiples to become more positive on the stocks.

Heartland Express once again uses its strong financial position to acquire. The carrier has a pattern of building cash balances and finding accretive tuck-in deals.

Heartland Express has acquired Millis Transfer for approximately $150 million.

The clean balance sheet and deteriorating fundamentals in the TL space that could force some carriers to look for the exit begs the question, ‘will we see Heartland become acquisitive again?’

Eroding fundamentals in the truckload carrier market have led analysts to lower their earnings estimates for the carriers they cover.

The negative data and commentary centered on the lack of a seasonal increase in demand is forcing analysts to meaningfully lower earnings estimates and the outlook for the sector.

Heartland Express, Inc. (NASDAQ: HTLD) announced a first quarter 2019 profit of $0.21 per share, which was $0.02 ahead of analysts’ estimates.

Investors may be starting to come around to the idea that truckload carriers have another year of strong margins ahead of them.

Heartland continues its strategy of being willing to walk away from revenue if it isn’t profitable and it is showing in the company’s operating ratio.

Investment bank Stifel Nicolaus (NYSE: SF) thinks that publicly-traded truckload stocks are now an attractive buy, with higher earnings available at reasonable valuations. That’s just one takeaway from a raft of research released this week by Stifel and Morgan Stanley (NYSE: MS) as the banks look forward to what next year holds for transportation.