NASDAQ$HTLD

Heartland Express Inc · Q2 2024 earnings

Q2 2024 earnings · · Investor relations

Briefing

Reported a net loss due to weak freight demand and operating cost inflation, but showed sequential improvement from the previous quarter.

Heartland Express reported a net loss of $3.5 million for Q2 2024, impacted by weak freight demand and cost inflation. However, operating revenue increased and the operating ratio improved sequentially compared to Q1 2024. The company continued to reduce debt and repurchased shares.

  • Operating revenue was $274.8 million.
  • Net loss was $3.5 million, or $0.04 loss per share.
  • The company posted an operating ratio of 99.9%.
  • Debt repayments totaled $63.4 million year-to-date.

Headline financials

Total Revenue

$275M

Previous: $306M-10.3%
EPS

-$0.04

Previous: $0.10-140.0%
Operating Ratio

99.9%

Previous: 94.7%+5.5%
Adj. Operating Ratio

99.4%

No prior period
Capital Expenditures

-$15.2M

Previous: -$108M+85.9%
Free Cash Flow

-$18.7M

Previous: -$100M+81.3%
Net Income

-$3.48M

Previous: $7.77M-144.8%
Operating Income

$264K

Previous: $16.2M-98.4%
Gross Profit

$258M

Previous: $290M-11.1%
Cash & Equivalents

$23.9M

Previous: $46.3M-48.4%
Total Assets

$1.41B

Previous: $1.6B-11.5%
Stock-Based Comp

$400K

Previous: $200K+100.0%

Revenue & EPS history

Heartland Express · Revenue · Quarterly

$275M

Q2 2024-10.3%vs Q2 2023
Beat estimate in 7 of 14 quarters(50%)
ActualEstimate

Revenue by segment

Heartland Express · $19.5M total across 1 segment · Q1 2020

  • Fuel Surcharge
    $19.5M+14.7%

Forward guidance

Heartland Express anticipates freight market improvements extending into 2025 and plans to continue prioritizing debt reduction.

Tailwinds

  • The company expects freight market improvements as capacity exits the market.
  • Heartland Express believes in the long-term strength of the organization.
  • The company repurchased shares of common stock for $7.3 million during the second quarter of 2024.
  • The company is at approximately half of the debt balances undertaken with the 2022 acquisitions.
  • Heartland Express intends to continue to prioritize capital towards further debt reductions throughout 2024.

Headwinds

  • The company anticipates freight market improvements extending into 2025.
  • The company reported an extended and significant period of weak freight demand.
  • The company reported ongoing operating cost inflation.
  • The company's current expectation of the timing of that favorable change likely extends into 2025.
  • The company needs freight demand improvements in order to reach its historical operating results target of an operating ratio of 85% or lower within the next two years.

Historical earnings impact

How earnings announcements have historically affected this stock's price.

Avg. return before/after earnings

Based on 20 quarterly earnings reports · overlaid with Q2 2024

Historical avgQ2 2024

-0.2%

Avg return

Earnings day

-0.1%

Avg return

5 days after

+1.4%

Avg return

30 days after

46%

32 / 69 earnings

Positive

+12.7%

Q2 2018

Best reaction

-14.0%

Q3 2023

Worst reaction

Earnings price reactions
QuarterReport dateReaction (Day 0)+5 days+30 days
Q1 2026-2.4%+10.2%+19.3%
Q4 2025+3.1%+6.5%+0.4%
Q3 2025-1.1%-3.1%-1.9%
Q2 2025-1.4%+0.0%+0.5%
Q1 2025+1.3%+9.1%+3.6%
Q4 2024-2.2%-3.1%-13.7%
Q3 2024-3.0%-4.1%+10.4%
Q2 2024+2.7%+5.7%-2.2%
Q1 2024+0.5%+0.8%+10.2%
Q4 2023-1.7%-4.1%-4.8%
Q3 2023-14.0%-18.9%-7.8%
Q2 2023-7.8%-7.5%-9.8%
Q1 2023-0.1%+0.2%+8.6%
Q4 2022-7.2%-7.5%-4.2%
Q3 2022-8.0%-7.2%+9.8%
Q2 2022+5.1%+9.0%+10.4%
Q1 2022+3.9%+4.7%+1.5%
Q4 2021-0.7%-1.3%-8.9%
Q3 2021+1.7%+2.5%+6.6%
Q2 2021-1.1%-0.7%-0.8%
Q1 2021-2.7%-5.6%-6.8%
Q4 2020+1.9%+3.0%-1.5%
Q3 2020-7.7%-6.3%-6.7%
Q2 2020+6.3%+3.2%-0.6%
Q1 2020+1.6%+5.9%+8.1%
Q4 2019-4.1%-6.8%-1.9%
Q3 2019-6.4%-2.4%-4.0%
Q2 2019+7.0%+6.5%+5.7%
Q1 2019+5.9%+4.8%+1.3%
Q4 2018-1.0%-0.5%+5.0%
Q3 2018+5.6%+1.3%+6.9%
Q2 2018+12.7%+7.0%+7.2%
Q1 2018+1.1%-0.4%+5.1%
Q4 2017+3.5%-0.4%-6.5%
Q3 2017-11.0%-12.2%-11.3%
Q2 2017-2.0%-1.0%+5.5%
Q1 2017+5.3%+6.0%-1.3%
Q4 2016-2.0%-0.7%-0.5%
Q3 2016-0.7%-0.2%+18.2%
Q2 2016+2.7%+2.6%+6.4%
Q1 2016+9.3%
Q4 2015+4.6%
Q3 2015-12.7%
Q2 2015+10.6%
Q1 2015-5.7%
Q4 2014-4.9%
Q3 2014-3.8%
Q2 2014+8.6%
Q1 2014-3.6%
Q4 2013+0.9%
Q3 2013+2.0%
Q2 2013-0.1%
Q1 2013+0.2%
Q4 2012+4.1%
Q3 2012+0.4%
Q2 2012-0.1%
Q1 2012+1.7%
Q4 2011-0.9%
Q3 2011-1.2%
Q2 2011-7.4%
Q1 2010-2.8%
Q1 2011+1.8%
Q4 2008-2.4%
Q4 2010-2.4%
Q3 2010-0.7%
Q3 2009-0.7%
Q2 2010+1.5%
Q2 2009+1.5%
Q4 2009+1.5%

Discussion

Share your read of this quarter. Sign-in carries your eToro identity.

Join the conversation

Sign in with eToro to post your read of this quarter and vote on others'.

Sign in with eToro