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HTLD Stock Forecast: Heartland Express, Inc. Price Predictions for 2026-2027

Last close, 24 Aug 2026
$13
−2.57% on the day

The 6 Wall Street analysts covering Heartland Express, Inc. hold a median 12-month price target of $13 — +3.9% from the last close. Ticker Nerd's systematic factor model, run across ~4,600 US stocks, ranks it 83 of 100 as at 22 Aug 2026 — inside the top quartile. Here, the model and the Street point the same way.

Market cap
$993.0M
Ticker Nerd rank
83 / 100
Median analyst target
$13
Analysts covering
6
Total return, dividends reinvested
1W
−2.4%
1M
−12.4%
YTD
+39.0%
1Y
+44.0%
From 52W high
−22.8%
From 52W low
+77.7%
$7
$16
52-week range, adjusted closes · the dot is the last close
Ticker Nerd rank

HTLD stock analysis: one number for the whole business

Consensus tells you what everyone already believes. The model scores Heartland Express, Inc. on its factor families — the same systematic rank behind the Ticker Nerd portfolio.

Where the model ranks itAs at 22 Aug 2026
83 / 100

Percentile across ~4,600 US stocks on Ticker Nerd’s systematic factor model. Higher is better. How the model is built and tested

Accruals
95
Issuance
94
Revisions
88
Momentum
85
Volatility
68
Size
45
Growth
39
Value
31
Quality
26

Accruals (95): Reported profit is backed by cash, and the company is not expanding recklessly.

Quality (26): Profits are thin or unreliable for the size of the business, or they are not turning into cash.

Built and run by Aslam Ghouse, an ex-Goldman Sachs quant trader with fourteen years in markets.

Wall Street

HTLD stock forecast 2026-2027: analyst price targets & predictions

The bullish and bearish analyst opinions on HTLD, reported as data — targets and ratings, the market's view beside the model's.

Share price and the analyst range, 12 monthsAdjusted close, US dollars
$6$8$10$12$14$16Oct 25Jan 26Apr 26Jul 26HTLDHigh $16Median $13Low $12

Price targets and ratings are third-party analyst estimates, reported here as data. They are not Ticker Nerd forecasts, and they are frequently wrong.

Data provided by Twelve Data

What Wall Street says6 analysts
1 Buy3 Hold2 Sell
Low $12Median $13High $16

The green dot is the last close — the median target sits +3.9% from it.

Recent analyst actionsNewest first

Of the 20 most recent actions, 3 moved their price target up and 1 moved it down.

DateFirmActionRatingTarget
13 Aug 2026BarclaysMaintainsUnderweight$14 → $12
6 Aug 2026UBSMaintainsNeutral$12 → $13
31 July 2026JP MorganMaintainsUnderweight$11 → $12
31 July 2026JP MorganMaintainsUnderweight—
6 July 2026Morgan StanleyMaintainsEqual-Weight$12 → $13
6 July 2026Morgan StanleyMaintainsEqual-Weight—
26 June 2026BarclaysMaintainsUnderweight—
28 Apr 2026BarclaysMaintainsUnderweight—
24 Apr 2026BairdMaintainsOutperform—
24 Apr 2026JP MorganMaintainsUnderweight—
24 Apr 2026UBSMaintainsNeutral—
3 Mar 2026BarclaysMaintainsUnderweight—
5 Feb 2026UBSMaintainsNeutral—
15 Jan 2026BarclaysMaintainsUnderweight—
5 Jan 2026BairdUpgradeOutperform—
8 Dec 2025Morgan StanleyMaintainsEqual-Weight—
3 Nov 2025BairdMaintainsNeutral—
8 Oct 2025JP MorganMaintainsUnderweight—
6 Oct 2025Morgan StanleyMaintainsEqual-Weight—
6 Aug 2025BarclaysMaintainsUnderweight—

Price targets and ratings are third-party analyst estimates, reported here as data. They are not Ticker Nerd forecasts, and they are frequently wrong.

Market Radar

This page is one stock. Monday covers all of them.

Computed off the Friday close and sent before the US open.

Market Radar reports the week’s largest rank changes across roughly 4,600 US stocks, the factor behind each one, and where the market went. HTLD appears on the weeks it earns a place.

Free, every Monday. Unsubscribe any time.

Estimates

HTLD analyst estimate revisions

Not the forecast itself — the direction analysts are revising it. Revision direction is one of the model's factor families.

Which way the estimates are movingNext fiscal year
EPS revision, 90 days
+1369.5%
Analysts raising
5
Analysts cutting
0
Fundamentals

Heartland Express, Inc. (HTLD) financial data

A margin means little on its own. Each bar marks where the figure sits across the whole US universe we score.

Valuation
Trailing P/E
52.4×

Cheaper than 14% of US stocks

Price / sales
1.3×

Cheaper than 63% of US stocks

Price / book
1.3×

Cheaper than 64% of US stocks

EV / EBITDA
11.4×

Cheaper than 34% of US stocks

Growth & margins
Revenue growth (YoY)
−12.5%

Higher than 14% of US stocks

Earnings growth (YoY)
−19.7%

Higher than 20% of US stocks

Gross margin
9.6%

Higher than 9% of US stocks

Operating margin
−4.6%

Higher than 28% of US stocks

Net margin
−3.0%

Higher than 26% of US stocks

Returns & dividend
Return on equity
−2.8%

Higher than 41% of US stocks

Return on assets
−2.5%

Higher than 36% of US stocks

Dividend yield
0.6%

Higher than 12% of US dividend payers

Bars mark the percentile across the ~4,600 US stocks Ticker Nerd covers, among those reporting the figure.

Peers

HTLD vs competitors

The nearest names by industry and size, scored by the same model — like for like.

Its peer group, ranked by the same modelTrucking
CompanyMarket capTKN rank
HTLDHeartland Express, Inc.$993.0M
83
CVLGCovenant Logistics Group, Inc.$893.3M
62
MRTNMarten Transport Ltd.$1.2B
64
ULHUniversal Logistics Holdings, Inc.$504.0M
79
WERNWerner Enterprises, Inc.$2.3B
64
ARCBArcBest Corp.$3.2B
92
RXORXO, Inc.$3.7B
70

Look up any of the roughly 4,600 stocks we score.

The rank is the raw material. Whether the rules would actually own Heartland Express, Inc. — and when they’d sell — is the membership. See the Ticker Nerd 20 →

News

Latest HTLD news & analysis

Is Heartland Express (HTLD) Stock Outpacing Its Transportation Peers This Year?

Zacks Investment Research · 11 Aug 2026neutral

Zacks Investment Research reports on how Heartland Express (HTLD) and JB Hunt (JBHT) have performed so far this year compared to their transportation sector. The piece compares the year-to-date performance of both stocks against their industry peers.

Why it matters — HTLD watchers would care because it shows where the company's stock stands relative to JB Hunt and the broader transportation sector this year.

Heartland Express (HTLD) Q2 Earnings: Taking a Look at Key Metrics Versus Estimates

Zacks Investment Research · 30 July 2026neutral

Heartland Express (HTLD) reported its Q2 2026 earnings, with the article noting that key metrics can be compared to Wall Street estimates and year-ago values.

Why it matters — HTLD watchers would care because the quarterly earnings report offers insight into the company's recent financial performance relative to analyst expectations and prior results.

Heartland Express, Inc. Reports Net Income and Financial Results for the Second Quarter of 2026

GlobeNewsWire · 30 July 2026positive

Heartland Express, Inc. reported financial results for the second quarter of 2026, showing operating revenue of $184.1 million and net income of $10.6 million. The company also reported an operating ratio of 91.0%, repurchased 172,061 shares of common stock, and made $15 million in payments to reduce acquisition-related debt.

Why it matters — The quarter's improved operating ratio and debt-reduction payments indicate operational efficiency and continued progress on the company's post-acquisition balance sheet strategy.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions about HTLD stock

What is the HTLD stock price forecast for 2026-2027?

The 6 Wall Street analysts covering Heartland Express, Inc. have a median 12-month price target of $13, with estimates ranging from $12 to $16. These are third-party analyst estimates, not Ticker Nerd forecasts, and they are frequently wrong.

Is HTLD stock a buy right now?

Of the 6 analysts covering Heartland Express, Inc., 1 rate it a Buy, 3 a Hold and 2 a Sell. Ticker Nerd's systematic factor model ranks Heartland Express, Inc. 83 out of 100 across roughly 4,600 US stocks as at 22 Aug 2026. None of this is personal advice — it does not consider your circumstances.

How does Ticker Nerd's model rank HTLD?

As at 22 Aug 2026, Heartland Express, Inc. ranks 83 out of 100 on Ticker Nerd's systematic factor model — a percentile across roughly 4,600 US stocks, built from its factor families. Its strongest factor family is Accruals (95 of 100).

Will HTLD stock go up?

No one can know that. What the data says: the median 12-month target from 6 analysts implies +3.9% from the last close, and Ticker Nerd's factor model ranks Heartland Express, Inc. 83 out of 100 as at 22 Aug 2026. Analyst targets are third-party estimates and frequently wrong; none of this is personal advice.

What is the HTLD stock forecast for 2030?

No analyst covering Heartland Express, Inc. publishes a 2030 price target — Wall Street targets run 12 to 18 months out. Sites quoting a 2030 price for HTLD are extrapolating price history, which says nothing about the business. The furthest attributed numbers are the current analyst targets: $12 to $16 over the next 12 months.

How has HTLD stock performed over the past year?

Heartland Express, Inc. returned +44.0% over the 12 months to 24 Aug 2026, with dividends reinvested. Past performance does not indicate future returns.

What does Heartland Express, Inc. do?

Heartland Express Inc. is a pivotal player in the North American transportation and logistics industry.

What is the latest news on HTLD?

The most recent item we track (Zacks Investment Research, 11 Aug 2026): "Is Heartland Express (HTLD) Stock Outpacing Its Transportation Peers This Year?". Zacks Investment Research reports on how Heartland Express (HTLD) and JB Hunt (JBHT) have performed so far this year compared to their transportation sector. The piece compares the year-to-date performance of both stocks against their industry peers.

Company

About Heartland Express, Inc.

Heartland Express Inc. is a pivotal player in the North American transportation and logistics industry. Specializing in short- to medium-haul truckload carrier services, the company primarily focuses on transporting freight for major shippers across the United States and Canada. This asset represents a significant component of the supply chain infrastructure, facilitating efficient movement of goods across diverse sectors such as retail, manufacturing, and consumer products. Founded in 1978 and based in North Liberty, Iowa, Heartland Express Inc. has established a reputation for reliability and timely delivery, employing state-of-the-art technology and a fleet of modern vehicles to optimize routes and fuel efficiency. This enables the company to maintain competitive service levels and environmental sustainability. Heartland Express Inc.'s role in logistics is underscored by its capacity to adapt to changing market demands, thereby holding an influential position within the transportation network essential for economic activity across North America.

CEO Mr. Michael J. Gerdin · 3,630 employees · United States · https://www.heartlandexpress.com