HTLD (Heartland Express) Profitability Rank: 7 (As of Mar. 2026) — 13% Below Median

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Director of Data and Quant Analytics at GuruFocus
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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 Profitability Rank?

Heartland Express HTLD +5.37% 60 Profitability Rank is 7 as of Mar. 2026, which is 13% below its 10-year median of 8.00. 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 Profitability Rank of 7.

GuruFocus Profitability Rank ranks how profitable a company is and how likely the company's business will stay that way. It is rated on a scale of 1 to 10 and is based on these factors:

1. Operating Margin %
2. Piotroski F-Score
3. Trend of the Operating Margin % (5-year average). The company with an uptrend profit margin has a higher rank.
4. Consistency of the profitability
5. Predictability Rank

A higher score indicates superior profitability, with companies rated 7 or above considered to have more robust and sustainable profit generation. Conversely, a score of 3 or lower suggests challenges in generating consistent profits.

Heartland Express's Operating Margin % for the quarter that ended in Mar. 2026 was -6.02%. As of today, Heartland Express's Piotroski F-Score is 5.


Heartland Express Profitability Rank Related Terms


HTLD vs CVLG, MRTN, ULH: Profitability Rank Comparison

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

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

* The bar in red indicates where Heartland Express's Profitability Rank falls into.


HTLD
60GF Score
Heartland Express Inc HTLD
Profitability Rank is just one metric. See GF Score™, valuation, warning signs, and more.
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Heartland Express Profitability Rank Calculation

GuruFocus Profitability Rank ranks how profitable a company is and how likely the company's business will stay that way.

The rank is rated on a scale of 1 to 10. A higher score indicates superior profitability, with companies rated 7 or above considered to have more robust and sustainable profit generation. Conversely, a score of 3 or lower suggests challenges in generating consistent profits.

Heartland Express has the Profitability Rank of 7.

Profitability Rank is not directly related to the Financial Strength. But if a company is consistently profitable, its financial strength will be stronger.

Profitability Rank is based on these factors:

1. Operating Margin %

Operating Margin % - also known as operating income margin, operating profit margin and return on sales (ROS) - is the ratio of Operating Income divided by net sales or Revenue, usually presented in percent.

Heartland Express's Operating Margin % for the quarter that ended in Mar. 2026 is calculated as:

Operating Margin %=Operating Income (Q: Mar. 2026 ) / Revenue (Q: Mar. 2026 )
=-10.612 / 176.256
=-6.02 %

* 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.

2. Piotroski F-Score

The zones of discrimination were as such:

Good or high score = 8 or 9
Bad or low score = 0 or 1

Heartland Express has an F-score of 5 indicating the company's financial situation is typical for a stable company.

3. Trend of the Operating Margin % (5-year average). The company with an uptrend profit margin has a higher rank.

4. Consistency of the profitability

5. Predictability Rank

Frequently Asked Questions Learn more about Profitability Rank →
What does a Profitability Rank of 7 mean?
Heartland Express (HTLD) has a Profitability Rank of 7 as of Mar. 2026. Profitability and Growth ranks a company based on its profit margins and earnings growth. View historical data on Heartland Express and its competitors. This is 13% below median its historical median of 8.00. Over the past decade, Heartland Express' Profitability Rank has ranged from 7.00 to 9.00.
Is Heartland Express' Profitability Rank too high?
Heartland Express' current Profitability Rank of 7 is 13% below median its 10-year median of 8.00. Over the past 10 years, this metric has ranged from a low of 7.00 to a high of 9.00. 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' Profitability Rank compare to CVLG and MRTN?
Heartland Express' Profitability Rank of 7 can be compared against companies in the Transportation industry. Historically, Heartland Express' own Profitability Rank has ranged from 7.00 to 9.00 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 Profitability Rank for a Transportation company?
A good Profitability Rank depends on the Transportation industry context. However, Profitability Rank 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 Profitability Rank mean?
A high Profitability Rank can signal that a stock is expensive relative to its fundamentals. Profitability and Growth ranks a company based on its profit margins and earnings growth. View historical data on Heartland Express and its competitors. Heartland Express's current Profitability Rank is 7, which is 13% below median its own 10-year median of 8.00. 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 Profitability Rank is 7, which is 13% below median its 10-year median of 8.00. 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 Profitability Rank calculated?
Profitability Rank is calculated from a company's financial statements. For Heartland Express (HTLD), the current Profitability Rank is 7 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:

  • Profitability Rank: 7 (13% below median its 10-year median of 8.00)
  • 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

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

$15.30
Price
$7.98
GF Value