Heartland Express, Inc. Reports Net Income and Financial Results for the Third Quarter of 2026
Heartland Express returned to profitability in Q3 2026 with $1.0 million of net income and EPS of $0.01, versus a net loss of $8.3 million a year earlier. Operating revenue fell to $179.5 million from $196.5 million, but the operating ratio improved 500 basis points to 98.7% on stronger freight volumes, better customer pricing, and industry capacity reductions. Rising fuel and maintenance costs partially offset the improvement. The balance sheet strengthened materially: $59.9 million of nine-month debt repayments cut remaining debt to $99.9 million from $494.1 million in 2022, Smith Transport obligations are fully retired, and cash rose to $48.5 million.
Key figures
- Eps
- 0.01
- Revenue
- 179504000
- Guidance
- Remaining 2026 net capital expenditures approximately $2 to $5 million; $9 to $13 million of total gains on disposal of property and equipment
- Revenue Yoy
- -8.7%
- Cash
- 48503000
- Net income
- 959000
- Q3 buyback
- $2.2 million (183,371 shares)
- Total debt
- 99900000
- Operating ratio
- 98.7%
- Q3 debt paydown
- 35000000
- Dividend per share
- $0.02
- Stockholders equity
- 754097000
- Fuel surcharge revenue
- 32723000
- Operating cash flow 9m
- 55100000
- Adjusted operating ratio
- 97.6%
AI analysis
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