NASDAQ$HTLD

Heartland Express Inc · Q4 2024 earnings

Q4 2024 earnings · · Before market open · Investor relations

Briefing

Reported sequential and year-over-year operating improvement due to acquisition integration, cost controls, and a modestly better freight environment.

Heartland Express reported Q4 2024 financial results, showing operating revenue of $242.6 million and a net loss of $1.9 million. The company saw operating improvements due to acquisition integration, cost controls, and a slightly better freight environment. They also paid down $100.3 million in debt during the year.

  • Operating revenue for Q4 2024 was $242.6 million.
  • Net loss for Q4 2024 was $1.9 million, with a basic loss per share of $0.02.
  • The company's operating ratio was 99.6%, and the non-GAAP adjusted operating ratio was 98.9%.
  • Heartland Express paid down $100.3 million of debt during 2024.

Headline financials

Total Revenue

$243M

Previous: $275M-11.9%
EPS (adj)

-$0.02

Previous: $0.06-133.3%
Net Income

-$1.9M

Previous: $5.1M-137.3%
Operating Income

$1M

Previous: $10.7M-90.7%

Revenue & EPS history

Heartland Express · Revenue · Quarterly

$243M

Q4 2024-11.9%vs Q4 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

The company expects a positive shift in customer rate and volume negotiations that they expect to strengthen as the year unfolds and will focus on cost improvements, operating system integrations, and asset utilization strategies ahead of an expected favorable increase in overall freight demand.

Tailwinds

  • Positive shift in customer rate and volume negotiations expected to strengthen.
  • Focus on cost improvements.
  • Focus on operating system integrations.
  • Focus on asset utilization strategies.
  • Expected favorable increase in overall freight demand.

Headwinds

  • Extreme winter weather conditions in 2025 make comparison difficult.
  • Weak freight environment continued to present challenges.
  • Lower freight volumes compared to the same quarter a year ago.
  • Freight rate mix impacted financial results.
  • Increase in empty miles compared to the same quarter a year ago.

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 Q4 2024

Historical avgQ4 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%

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