HTLD (Heartland Express) Moat Score: 4/10 (As of Jul. 16, 2026)

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HTLD Heartland Express Inc HTLD
60 GF Score
Price $15.30
GF Value $7.98
Valuation Significantly Overvalued
! 5 Warning Signs
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What is Heartland Express Moat Score?

Heartland Express HTLD +5.37% 60 Moat Score is 4 as of Jul. 16, 2026. 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 1,057 Transportation companies, Heartland Express ranks better than 87.98% on this metric.

Heartland Express has the Moat Score of 4, which implies that the company might have Narrow Moat - Discernible but modest moat.

Heartland Express has Narrow Moat: Heartland Express Inc has a discernible but modest moat. It benefits from a strong distribution network and some cost advantages. However, it lacks significant market leadership, brand strength, and regulatory barriers, which limits its competitive edge.

Moat Score is a ranking system developed by GuruFocus to assess a company's ability to sustain a competitive advantage, rated on a scale from 0 to 10. It takes into account key factors such as market leadership, cost advantages, network effects, customer switching costs, and more.

The company's Moat Score is based on these criteria:

1. Market leadership and sustainable market share
2. Network effects and significant customer switching costs
3. Valuable intellectual property and patents
4. Strong brand strength and deep customer loyalty
5. Durable cost advantages (e.g., economies of scale, proprietary technology)
6. Significant regulatory barriers and exclusive licenses
7. Superior distribution network
8. Strong and sustainable pricing power
9. Consistent and impactful innovation and R&D capabilities

Based on the research, GuruFocus believes Heartland Express might have Narrow Moat - Discernible but modest moat.

Heartland Express  (NAS:HTLD) Moat Score Explanation

The Moat Score ranges from 0 to 10, with 10 as the highest. GuruFocus divided Moat Score into following 8 categories:

Moat Score Moat Level
10Wide Moat - Exceptionally dominant and durable wide moat
8 - 9Wide Moat - Clear and robust wide moat
7Wide Moat - Entry-level wide moat, clearly possessing durable advantages
6Narrow Moat - Strong narrow moat, clearly distinguishable but not wide
5Narrow Moat - Solid narrow moat
4Narrow Moat - Discernible but modest moat
1 - 3No Moat - Very weak/transient advantages
0No Moat - No discernible moat

Heartland Express Moat Score Related Terms

HTLD vs CVLG, MRTN, ULH: Moat Score Comparison

For the Trucking subindustry, Heartland Express's Moat Score, along with its competitors' market caps and Moat Score 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 Moat Score vs Transportation Industry

For the Transportation industry and Industrials sector, Heartland Express's Moat Score distribution charts can be found below:

* The bar in red indicates where Heartland Express's Moat Score falls into.


HTLD
60GF Score
Heartland Express Inc HTLD
Moat Score is just one metric. See GF Score™, valuation, warning signs, and more.
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Frequently Asked Questions Learn more about Moat Score →
What does a Moat Score of 4 mean?
Heartland Express (HTLD) has a Moat Score of 4 as of Jul. 16, 2026. Moat Score is a ranking system developed by GuruFocus to assess a company's ability to sustain a competitive advantage, rated on a scale from 0 to 10. It takes into account key factors such as market leadership, cost advantages, network effects, customer switching costs, and more. According to the industry distribution chart, Heartland Express ranks #127 out of 1057 companies in the Transportation industry, placing it in the top 12%.
Is Heartland Express' Moat Score too high?
Heartland Express' current Moat Score is 4. Based on the distribution chart, Heartland Express ranks #127 out of 1057 companies in the Transportation industry, which is in the top quartile — a strong position relative to peers. 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' Moat Score compare to CVLG and MRTN?
According to the Transportation industry distribution chart, Heartland Express ranks #127 out of 1057 companies for Moat Score. This places Heartland Express in the top 12% of its industry — outperforming the majority of peers. See the competitive comparison table and distribution chart on this page for a detailed peer-by-peer breakdown.
What is a good Moat Score for a Transportation company?
A good Moat Score depends on the Transportation industry context. However, Moat Score should not be evaluated in isolation — investors should consider it alongside profitability, growth, and financial strength metrics. Use the industry distribution chart on this page to see where any company falls relative to its peers.
What does a high Moat Score mean?
A high Moat Score can signal that a stock is expensive relative to its fundamentals. Moat Score is a ranking system developed by GuruFocus to assess a company's ability to sustain a competitive advantage, rated on a scale from 0 to 10. It takes into account key factors such as market leadership, cost advantages, network effects, customer switching costs, and more. Heartland Express's current Moat Score is 4. 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 Moat Score is 4. 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 Moat Score calculated?
Moat Score is calculated from a company's financial statements. For Heartland Express (HTLD), the current Moat Score is 4 as of Jul. 16, 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:

  • Moat Score: 4
  • GF Value™: $7.98 vs. price of $15.30 (91.7% above fair value)
  • GF Score™: 60/100 with 5 warning signs

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 Business Description

Address 901 Heartland Way, North Liberty, IA, USA, 52317
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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Moat Score is just one metric. See GF Value™, 30-year financials, guru trades, warning signs, and more.

$15.30
Price
$7.98
GF Value