HEARTLAND EXPRESS INC (HTLD) Form 8-K — Oct 21, 2026
Heartland Express reported Q3 2026 net income of $1.0 million ($0.01 EPS) on revenue of $179.5 million, a sharp turnaround from a $(8.3) million loss in Q3 2025. The operating ratio improved 500bp to 98.7%, helped by stronger freight volumes, better pricing from industry capacity reductions, and ongoing cost discipline. The balance sheet strengthened materially: cash rose $30 million since year-end to $48.5 million, and the company paid $35 million toward debt in the quarter, cutting remaining debt to $99.9 million from $494.1 million of 2022 acquisition-related obligations. Smith Transport debt and equipment leases were fully retired in early 2026.
Key figures
- Eps
- 0.01
- Revenue
- 179500000
- Guidance
- Net capex of ~$2 to $5 million and $9 to $13 million of total gains on disposal of property and equipment for remainder of 2026; full benefits of contract negotiations not expected until 2027.
- Net Income
- 1000000
- Total Debt
- 99900000
- Revenue Yoy
- -8.7% (Q3: $179.5M vs $196.5M)
- Total Assets
- 1100000000
- Cash Position
- 48500000
- Shares Outstanding
- 77200000
- Nine month eps
- 0.09
- Dividend per share
- $0.02
- Nine month revenue
- 539900000
- Q3 share repurchases
- 183,371 shares for $2.2 million
- Nine month net income
- 6700000
- Nine month debt paydown
- $59.9 million
- Operating ratio q3 2025
- 103.7%
- Operating ratio q3 2026
- 98.7%
- Available line of credit
- $88.8 million
- Prior acquisition debt 2022
- $494.1 million reduced to $99.9 million
- Adjusted operating ratio q3 2026
- 97.6%
AI analysis
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