HTLD (Heartland Express) Financial Strength: 5 (As of Mar. 2026) — 50% Below Median

Author: Vera Yuan Vera Yuan
Vera Yuan
Vera Yuan
Director of Data and Quant Analytics at GuruFocus
Focused on building reliable datasets, financial models, and research tools for value-minded investors. Committed to turning complex data into practical guidance for value-investing and long-term wealth.
Reviewed by: Charlie Tian Charlie Tian
Charlie Tian
Charlie Tian
Founder & CEO of GuruFocus
Dr. Charlie Tian is the founder and CEO of GuruFocus.com, a leading global investment research platform established in 2004. With a Ph.D. in physics, Dr. Tian transitioned from science to finance, applying a data-driven, disciplined approach to value investing.

HTLD Heartland Express Inc HTLD
60 GF Score
Price $15.30
GF Value $7.98
Valuation Significantly Overvalued
! 5 Warning Signs
View Full Analysis

What is Heartland Express Financial Strength?

Heartland Express HTLD +5.37% 60 Financial Strength is 5 as of Mar. 2026, which is 50% below its 10-year median of 10.00. 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.

Heartland Express has the Financial Strength Rank of 5.

GuruFocus Financial Strength Rank measures how strong a company's financial situation is. It is rated on a scale of 1 to 10 and is based on these factors:

1. The debt burden that the company has as measured by its Interest Coverage (current year). The higher, the better.
2. Debt to revenue ratio. The lower, the better.
3. Altman Z-Score.
4. Other debt related ratios.

A higher score indicates a stronger financial position, with companies rated 7 or above considered financially stable and unlikely to face distress. Conversely, a score of 3 or below suggests potential financial difficulties, indicating a higher risk of distress.

Heartland Express did not have earnings to cover the interest expense. Heartland Express's debt to revenue ratio for the quarter that ended in Mar. 2026 was 0.22. As of today, Heartland Express's Altman Z-Score is 3.25.


Heartland Express  (NAS:HTLD) Financial Strength Explanation

The rank is rated on a scale of 1 to 10. A higher score indicates a stronger financial position, with companies rated 7 or above considered financially stable and unlikely to face distress. Conversely, a score of 3 or below suggests potential financial difficulties, indicating a higher risk of distress.

Heartland Express has the Financial Strength Rank of 5.


Heartland Express Financial Strength Related Terms


HTLD vs CVLG, MRTN, ULH: Financial Strength Comparison

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

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

* The bar in red indicates where Heartland Express's Financial Strength falls into.


HTLD
60GF Score
Heartland Express Inc HTLD
Financial Strength is just one metric. See GF Score™, valuation, warning signs, and more.
View Full Analysis

Heartland Express Financial Strength Calculation

GuruFocus Financial Strength Rank measures how strong a company's financial situation is. It is based on these factors

A company ranks high with financial strength is likely to withstand any business slowdowns and recessions.

1. The debt burden that the company has as measured by its Interest Coverage (current year). The higher, the better.

Note: If both Interest Expense and Interest Income are empty, while Net Interest Income is negative, then use Net Interest Income as Interest Expense.

Interest Coverage is a ratio that determines how easily a company can pay interest expenses on outstanding debt. It is calculated by dividing a company's Operating Income (EBIT) by its Interest Expense:

Heartland Express's Interest Expense for the months ended in Mar. 2026 was $-2.2 Mil. Its Operating Income for the months ended in Mar. 2026 was $-10.6 Mil. And its Long-Term Debt & Capital Lease Obligation for the quarter that ended in Mar. 2026 was $151.3 Mil.

Heartland Express's Interest Coverage for the quarter that ended in Mar. 2026 is

Heartland Express did not have earnings to cover the interest expense.

The higher the ratio, the stronger the company's financial strength is.

2. Debt to revenue ratio. The lower, the better.

Heartland Express's Debt to Revenue Ratio for the quarter that ended in Mar. 2026 is

Debt to Revenue Ratio=Total Debt (Q: Mar. 2026 ) / Revenue
=(Short-Term Debt & Capital Lease Obligation + Long-Term Debt & Capital Lease Obligation) / Revenue
=(1.865 + 151.298) / 705.024
=0.22

3. Altman Z-Score.

Z-Score model is an accurate forecaster of failure up to two years prior to distress. It can be considered the assessment of the distress of industrial corporations.

The zones of discrimination were as such:

When Z-Score is less than 1.81, it is in Distress Zones.
When Z-Score is greater than 2.99, it is in Safe Zones.
When Z-Score is between 1.81 and 2.99, it is in Grey Zones.

Heartland Express has a Z-score of 3.25, indicating it is in Safe Zones. This implies the Z-Score is strong.

Good Sign:

Altman Z-score of 3.25 is strong.

* 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.

Frequently Asked Questions Learn more about Financial Strength →
What does a Financial Strength of 5 mean?
Heartland Express (HTLD) has a Financial Strength of 5 as of Mar. 2026. The financial strength rank measures the strength of a company's balance sheet based on revenue and debt. View historical data on Heartland Express and its competitors. This is 50% below median its historical median of 10.00. Over the past decade, Heartland Express' Financial Strength has ranged from 5.00 to 10.00.
Is Heartland Express' Financial Strength too high?
Heartland Express' current Financial Strength of 5 is 50% below median its 10-year median of 10.00. Over the past 10 years, this metric has ranged from a low of 5.00 to a high of 10.00. 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' Financial Strength compare to CVLG and MRTN?
Heartland Express' Financial Strength of 5 can be compared against companies in the Transportation industry. Historically, Heartland Express' own Financial Strength has ranged from 5.00 to 10.00 over the past decade. See the competitive comparison table and distribution chart on this page for a detailed peer-by-peer breakdown.
What is a good Financial Strength for a Transportation company?
A good Financial Strength depends on the Transportation industry context. However, Financial Strength 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 Financial Strength mean?
A high Financial Strength can signal that a stock is expensive relative to its fundamentals. The financial strength rank measures the strength of a company's balance sheet based on revenue and debt. View historical data on Heartland Express and its competitors. Heartland Express's current Financial Strength is 5, which is 50% below median its own 10-year median of 10.00. 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 Financial Strength is 5, which is 50% below median its 10-year median of 10.00. 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 Financial Strength calculated?
Financial Strength is calculated from a company's financial statements. For Heartland Express (HTLD), the current Financial Strength is 5 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:

  • Financial Strength: 5 (50% below median its 10-year median of 10.00)
  • 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

Get the complete analysis for HTLD

Financial Strength is just one metric. See GF Value™, 30-year financials, guru trades, warning signs, and more.

$15.30
Price
$7.98
GF Value