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Heartland ExpressHTLD +5.37%60 Current Ratio is 1.27 as of Mar. 2026, which is 41% below its 10-year median of 2.17. GuruFocus rates HTLD with a GF Score™ of 60/100 and a GF Value™ of $7.98 (Significantly Overvalued). The stock has 5 warning signs investors should review. Among 1,005 Transportation companies, Heartland Express ranks worse than 59.7% on this metric.
The current ratio is a liquidity ratio that measures a company's ability to pay short-term obligations. It is calculated as a company's Total Current Assets divides by its Total Current Liabilities. Heartland Express's current ratio for the quarter that ended in Mar. 2026 was 1.27.
Heartland Express has a current ratio of 1.27. It generally indicates good short-term financial strength.
The historical rank and industry rank for Heartland Express's Current Ratio or its related term are showing as below:
HTLD'
s Current Ratio Range Over the Past 10 Years
Min: 0.9 Med: 2.17 Max: 4.05
Current: 1.27
During the past 13 years, Heartland Express's highest Current Ratio was 4.05. The lowest was 0.90. And the median was 2.17.
HTLD's Current Ratio is ranked worse than 59.7% of 1005
companies
in the Transportation industry
Industry Median: 1.46
vs HTLD: 1.27
Heartland Express (NAS:HTLD) Current Ratio Explanation
The current ratio can give a sense of the efficiency of a company's operating cycle or its ability to turn its product into cash. Companies that have trouble getting paid on their receivables or have long inventory turnover can run into liquidity problems because they are unable to alleviate their obligations. Because business operations differ in each industry, it is always more useful to compare companies within the same industry.
Acceptable current ratios vary from industry to industry and are generally between 1 and 3 for healthy businesses.
The higher the current ratio, the more capable the company is of paying its obligations. A ratio under 1 suggests that the company would be unable to pay off its obligations if they came due at that point. While this shows the company is not in good financial health, it does not necessarily mean that it will go bankrupt - as there are many ways to access financing - but it is definitely not a good sign.
If all other things were equal, a creditor, who is expecting to be paid in the next 12 months, would consider a high current ratio to be better than a low current ratio, because a high current ratio means that the company is more likely to meet its liabilities which fall due in the next 12 months.
Heartland Express Current Ratio Related Terms
Heartland Express Current Ratio Historical Data
* Premium members only.
The historical data trend for Heartland Express's Current Ratio can be seen below:
* For Operating Data section: All numbers are indicated by the unit behind each term and all currency related amount are in USD. * For other sections: All numbers are in millions except for per share data, ratio, and percentage. All currency related amount are indicated in the company's associated stock exchange currency.
For the Trucking subindustry, Heartland Express's Current Ratio, along with its competitors' market caps and Current Ratio data, can be viewed below:
* Competitive companies are chosen from companies within the same industry, with headquarter located in same country, with closest market capitalization; x-axis shows the market cap, and y-axis shows the term value; the bigger the dot, the larger the market cap. Note that "N/A" values will not show up in the chart.
Heartland Express Current Ratio vs Transportation Industry
For the Transportation industry and Industrials sector, Heartland Express's Current Ratio distribution charts can be found below:
* The bar in red indicates where Heartland Express's Current Ratio falls into.
* For Operating Data section: All numbers are indicated by the unit behind each term and all currency related amount are in USD. * For other sections: All numbers are in millions except for per share data, ratio, and percentage. All currency related amount are indicated in the company's associated stock exchange currency.
Heartland Express (HTLD) has a Current Ratio of 1.27 as of Mar. 2026. This is 41% below median its historical median of 2.17. Over the past decade, Heartland Express' Current Ratio has ranged from 0.90 to 4.05. According to the industry distribution chart, Heartland Express ranks #600 out of 1005 companies in the Transportation industry, placing it in the top 59.7%.
Is Heartland Express' Current Ratio too high?
Heartland Express' current Current Ratio of 1.27 is 41% below median its 10-year median of 2.17. Over the past 10 years, this metric has ranged from a low of 0.90 to a high of 4.05. The Transportation industry median Current Ratio is 1.46. Heartland Express' value of 1.27 is 13% below this industry median. Based on the distribution chart, Heartland Express ranks #600 out of 1005 companies in the Transportation industry, which is below the industry midpoint. Overall, Heartland Express has a GF Score™ of 60/100 and is considered Significantly Overvalued, reflecting its overall financial health beyond just this single metric.
How does Heartland Express' Current Ratio compare to CVLG and MRTN?
According to the Transportation industry distribution chart, Heartland Express ranks #600 out of 1005 companies for Current Ratio. This places Heartland Express in the lower half of its industry. The industry median Current Ratio is 1.46. Heartland Express' value of 1.27 is 13% below this benchmark. Historically, Heartland Express' own Current Ratio has ranged from 0.90 to 4.05 over the past decade. While the company's 10-year median is 2.17 vs. the industry median of 1.46, Heartland Express has consistently been below the industry average. See the competitive comparison table and distribution chart on this page for a detailed peer-by-peer breakdown.
What is a good Current Ratio for a Transportation company?
The median Current Ratio among Transportation companies is 1.46, based on 1,005 companies in the industry. Companies in the top quartile (top 25%) have a Current Ratio significantly above this median, while those in the bottom quartile fall well below. However, Current Ratio should not be evaluated in isolation — investors should consider it alongside profitability, growth, and financial strength metrics. Heartland Express's current Current Ratio of 1.27 is 13% below the industry median. Use the industry distribution chart on this page to see where any company falls relative to its peers.
What does a high Current Ratio mean?
A high Current Ratio can signal that a stock is expensive relative to its fundamentals. For the Transportation industry, the median Current Ratio is 1.46 — values significantly above this may indicate overvaluation, while values below may suggest a bargain or underlying issues. Heartland Express's current Current Ratio is 1.27, which is 41% below median its own 10-year median of 2.17. However, context matters — high-growth companies often justify higher valuations. Always evaluate alongside other metrics like GF Score™ and GF Value™.
Is Heartland Express stock overvalued right now?
Based on GuruFocus' analysis, Heartland Express (HTLD) is currently considered Significantly Overvalued. The stock's GF Value™ is $7.98, compared to a current price of $15.30 — trading 91.7% above its estimated fair value. The current Current Ratio is 1.27, which is 41% below median its 10-year median of 2.17 and 13% below the Transportation industry median of 1.46. Heartland Express' overall GF Score™ is 60/100 with 5 warning signs to review. Investors should evaluate multiple metrics — including profitability, growth, and financial strength — before making a decision.
How is Current Ratio calculated?
Current Ratio is calculated from a company's financial statements. For Heartland Express (HTLD), the current Current Ratio is 1.27 as of Mar. 2026. GuruFocus calculates this using data sourced from SEC filings and annual reports. See the calculation section and 30-year financial data on this page for the full breakdown.
Is Heartland Express (HTLD) Overvalued in 2026?
Based on GuruFocus' analysis, Heartland Express stock appears to be overvalued.
The current stock price of $15.30 is trading 91.7% above its estimated GF Value™ of $7.98.
GuruFocus considers Heartland Express to be Significantly Overvalued.
Key valuation signals for HTLD:
Current Ratio: 1.27 (41% below median its 10-year median of 2.17)
GF Value™: $7.98 vs. price of $15.30 (91.7% above fair value)
Industry Position: 13% below the Transportation median (#600 of 1005)
No single metric tells the full story. See the HTLD stock analysis page for a complete view including 30-year financials, guru trades, and insider activity.
Heartland Express Inc, along with its subsidiaries, operates as a short, medium, and long-haul truckload carrier and transportation services provider. It mainly provides nationwide asset-based dry van truckload service for shippers across the United States, along with cross-border freight and other transportation services offered through third-party partnerships in Mexico. The group operates under the brand names of Heartland Express, Millis Transfer, Smith Transport, and CFI (for services within Mexico).
60GF Score
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