NASDAQ$HTLD
Heartland Express Inc · Q3 2024 earnings
Q3 2024 earnings · · Investor relations
Briefing
Reported a net loss amidst a challenging freight environment, while making progress on debt reduction and acquisition integration.
Heartland Express reported a net loss of $9.3 million on operating revenue of $259.9 million for the third quarter of 2024. The company continues to face a challenging freight environment with lower demand and excess capacity. Despite these challenges, Heartland Express is focused on integrating acquisitions and reducing debt.
- Operating revenue was $259.9 million.
- Net loss was $9.3 million, with a basic loss per share of $0.12.
- The operating ratio was 102.7%, and the non-GAAP adjusted operating ratio was 102.6%.
- The company saw encouraging signs of a potential recovery in freight demand in October but does not expect impactful improvement until 2025.
Headline financials
Revenue & EPS history
Heartland Express · Revenue · Quarterly
$260M
Revenue by segment
Heartland Express · $19.5M total across 1 segment · Q1 2020
- Fuel Surcharge$19.5M+14.7%100.0%
Forward guidance
Heartland Express expects to continue prioritizing capital towards further debt reductions throughout 2024 and 2025. The company anticipates net capital expenditures of approximately $35 to $40 million and $5 to $10 million of gains on disposal of property and equipment for the calendar year of 2024.
Tailwinds
- Encouraging signs pointing to the early stages of a potential recovery in freight demand in October.
- Operational improvements and debt reduction achieved through acquisition integration.
- Legacy businesses (Heartland Express and Millis Transfer) outperformed recently-acquired entities.
- Smith Transport and CFI improved their operating ratios in the trailing six months.
- Commitment to stockholders through the payment of cash dividends.
Headwinds
- Challenging freight environment continues to hamper consolidated operating results.
- Prolonged recessionary period driven by lower freight demand and excess truck capacity.
- Trucking assets have been underutilized.
- Impactful improvement is not expected until 2025.
- Underperformance of legacy businesses compared to long-term historical expectations.
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 Q3 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
| Quarter | Report date | Reaction (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% | — | — |
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