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Heartland Express (HTLD) Competitors

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$12.34 +0.15 (+1.23%)
Closing price 09/11/2026 04:00 PM Eastern
Extended Trading
$12.33 -0.01 (-0.08%)
As of 09/11/2026 07:30 PM Eastern
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HTLD vs. HUBG, JBHT, LSTR, MRTN, and ODFL

Should you buy Heartland Express stock or one of its competitors? Heartland Express's main competitors and comparable companies include Hub Group (HUBG), J.B. Hunt Transport Services (JBHT), Landstar System (LSTR), Marten Transport (MRTN), and Old Dominion Freight Line (ODFL). Companies are selected based on similarities in market, industry, and size. These companies are all part of the "industrials" sector.

How does Heartland Express compare to Hub Group?

Heartland Express (NASDAQ:HTLD) and Hub Group (NASDAQ:HUBG) are both industrials companies, but which is the better business? We will contrast the two businesses based on the strength of their dividends, earnings, institutional ownership, analyst recommendations, valuation, profitability, risk and media sentiment.

Hub Group has higher revenue and earnings than Heartland Express. Heartland Express is trading at a lower price-to-earnings ratio than Hub Group, indicating that it is currently the more affordable of the two stocks.

CompanyGross RevenuePrice/Sales RatioNet IncomeEarnings Per SharePrice/Earnings Ratio
Heartland Express$805.71M1.18-$52.45M-$0.28N/A
Hub Group$3.95B0.56$103.99M$1.7320.83

Heartland Express pays an annual dividend of $0.08 per share and has a dividend yield of 0.6%. Hub Group pays an annual dividend of $0.50 per share and has a dividend yield of 1.4%. Heartland Express pays out -28.6% of its earnings in the form of a dividend. Hub Group pays out 28.9% of its earnings in the form of a dividend. Both companies have healthy payout ratios and should be able to cover their dividend payments with earnings for the next several years.

In the previous week, Heartland Express and Heartland Express both had 8 articles in the media. Hub Group's average media sentiment score of 0.86 beat Heartland Express' score of 0.59 indicating that Hub Group is being referred to more favorably in the news media.

Company Very Positive Positive Neutral Negative Very Negative Overall Sentiment
Heartland Express
3 Very Positive mention(s)
0 Positive mention(s)
3 Neutral mention(s)
0 Negative mention(s)
0 Very Negative mention(s)
Positive
Hub Group
3 Very Positive mention(s)
0 Positive mention(s)
3 Neutral mention(s)
0 Negative mention(s)
0 Very Negative mention(s)
Positive

53.5% of Heartland Express shares are held by institutional investors. Comparatively, 46.8% of Hub Group shares are held by institutional investors. 41.6% of Heartland Express shares are held by insiders. Comparatively, 3.5% of Hub Group shares are held by insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that large money managers, endowments and hedge funds believe a company will outperform the market over the long term.

Hub Group has a net margin of 0.00% compared to Heartland Express' net margin of -2.98%. Hub Group's return on equity of 0.00% beat Heartland Express' return on equity.

Company Net Margins Return on Equity Return on Assets
Heartland Express-2.98% -0.92% -0.58%
Hub Group N/A N/A N/A

Heartland Express currently has a consensus price target of $13.00, indicating a potential upside of 5.35%. Hub Group has a consensus price target of $43.31, indicating a potential upside of 20.17%. Given Hub Group's stronger consensus rating and higher possible upside, analysts plainly believe Hub Group is more favorable than Heartland Express.

Company Sell Ratings Hold Ratings Buy Ratings Strong Buy Ratings Rating Score
Heartland Express
3 Sell rating(s)
3 Hold rating(s)
1 Buy rating(s)
0 Strong Buy rating(s)
1.71
Hub Group
1 Sell rating(s)
9 Hold rating(s)
6 Buy rating(s)
0 Strong Buy rating(s)
2.31

Heartland Express has a beta of 1.33, indicating that its share price is 33% more volatile than the broader market. Comparatively, Hub Group has a beta of 1.19, indicating that its share price is 19% more volatile than the broader market.

Summary

Hub Group beats Heartland Express on 12 of the 17 factors compared between the two stocks.

How does Heartland Express compare to J.B. Hunt Transport Services?

J.B. Hunt Transport Services (NASDAQ:JBHT) and Heartland Express (NASDAQ:HTLD) are both industrials companies, but which is the better business? We will contrast the two businesses based on the strength of their media sentiment, dividends, analyst recommendations, risk, valuation, profitability, institutional ownership and earnings.

J.B. Hunt Transport Services has higher revenue and earnings than Heartland Express. Heartland Express is trading at a lower price-to-earnings ratio than J.B. Hunt Transport Services, indicating that it is currently the more affordable of the two stocks.

CompanyGross RevenuePrice/Sales RatioNet IncomeEarnings Per SharePrice/Earnings Ratio
J.B. Hunt Transport Services$12.70B2.00$598.28M$7.0638.31
Heartland Express$805.71M1.18-$52.45M-$0.28N/A

In the previous week, Heartland Express had 1 more articles in the media than J.B. Hunt Transport Services. MarketBeat recorded 8 mentions for Heartland Express and 7 mentions for J.B. Hunt Transport Services. J.B. Hunt Transport Services' average media sentiment score of 1.10 beat Heartland Express' score of 0.59 indicating that J.B. Hunt Transport Services is being referred to more favorably in the media.

Company Very Positive Positive Neutral Negative Very Negative Overall Sentiment
J.B. Hunt Transport Services
6 Very Positive mention(s)
0 Positive mention(s)
0 Neutral mention(s)
0 Negative mention(s)
0 Very Negative mention(s)
Positive
Heartland Express
3 Very Positive mention(s)
0 Positive mention(s)
3 Neutral mention(s)
0 Negative mention(s)
0 Very Negative mention(s)
Positive

74.9% of J.B. Hunt Transport Services shares are owned by institutional investors. Comparatively, 53.5% of Heartland Express shares are owned by institutional investors. 2.5% of J.B. Hunt Transport Services shares are owned by insiders. Comparatively, 41.6% of Heartland Express shares are owned by insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that hedge funds, large money managers and endowments believe a company is poised for long-term growth.

J.B. Hunt Transport Services has a beta of 1.29, meaning that its share price is 29% more volatile than the broader market. Comparatively, Heartland Express has a beta of 1.33, meaning that its share price is 33% more volatile than the broader market.

J.B. Hunt Transport Services pays an annual dividend of $1.80 per share and has a dividend yield of 0.7%. Heartland Express pays an annual dividend of $0.08 per share and has a dividend yield of 0.6%. J.B. Hunt Transport Services pays out 25.5% of its earnings in the form of a dividend. Heartland Express pays out -28.6% of its earnings in the form of a dividend. Both companies have healthy payout ratios and should be able to cover their dividend payments with earnings for the next several years. J.B. Hunt Transport Services has raised its dividend for 22 consecutive years. J.B. Hunt Transport Services is clearly the better dividend stock, given its higher yield and longer track record of dividend growth.

J.B. Hunt Transport Services has a net margin of 5.31% compared to Heartland Express' net margin of -2.98%. J.B. Hunt Transport Services' return on equity of 18.75% beat Heartland Express' return on equity.

Company Net Margins Return on Equity Return on Assets
J.B. Hunt Transport Services5.31% 18.75% 8.46%
Heartland Express -2.98%-0.92%-0.58%

J.B. Hunt Transport Services presently has a consensus price target of $286.30, suggesting a potential upside of 5.86%. Heartland Express has a consensus price target of $13.00, suggesting a potential upside of 5.35%. Given J.B. Hunt Transport Services' stronger consensus rating and higher probable upside, analysts clearly believe J.B. Hunt Transport Services is more favorable than Heartland Express.

Company Sell Ratings Hold Ratings Buy Ratings Strong Buy Ratings Rating Score
J.B. Hunt Transport Services
1 Sell rating(s)
10 Hold rating(s)
13 Buy rating(s)
2 Strong Buy rating(s)
2.62
Heartland Express
3 Sell rating(s)
3 Hold rating(s)
1 Buy rating(s)
0 Strong Buy rating(s)
1.71

Summary

J.B. Hunt Transport Services beats Heartland Express on 16 of the 20 factors compared between the two stocks.

How does Heartland Express compare to Landstar System?

Heartland Express (NASDAQ:HTLD) and Landstar System (NASDAQ:LSTR) are both industrials companies, but which is the superior stock? We will contrast the two businesses based on the strength of their media sentiment, risk, analyst recommendations, dividends, profitability, valuation, institutional ownership and earnings.

Landstar System has a net margin of 2.64% compared to Heartland Express' net margin of -2.98%. Landstar System's return on equity of 20.84% beat Heartland Express' return on equity.

Company Net Margins Return on Equity Return on Assets
Heartland Express-2.98% -0.92% -0.58%
Landstar System 2.64%20.84%10.42%

Heartland Express pays an annual dividend of $0.08 per share and has a dividend yield of 0.6%. Landstar System pays an annual dividend of $1.76 per share and has a dividend yield of 1.0%. Heartland Express pays out -28.6% of its earnings in the form of a dividend. Landstar System pays out 45.6% of its earnings in the form of a dividend. Both companies have healthy payout ratios and should be able to cover their dividend payments with earnings for the next several years. Landstar System has increased its dividend for 10 consecutive years. Landstar System is clearly the better dividend stock, given its higher yield and longer track record of dividend growth.

Heartland Express has a beta of 1.33, indicating that its share price is 33% more volatile than the broader market. Comparatively, Landstar System has a beta of 0.9, indicating that its share price is 10% less volatile than the broader market.

In the previous week, Heartland Express had 4 more articles in the media than Landstar System. MarketBeat recorded 8 mentions for Heartland Express and 4 mentions for Landstar System. Landstar System's average media sentiment score of 1.73 beat Heartland Express' score of 0.59 indicating that Landstar System is being referred to more favorably in the news media.

Company Very Positive Positive Neutral Negative Very Negative Overall Sentiment
Heartland Express
3 Very Positive mention(s)
0 Positive mention(s)
3 Neutral mention(s)
0 Negative mention(s)
0 Very Negative mention(s)
Positive
Landstar System
3 Very Positive mention(s)
0 Positive mention(s)
0 Neutral mention(s)
0 Negative mention(s)
0 Very Negative mention(s)
Very Positive

Landstar System has higher revenue and earnings than Heartland Express. Heartland Express is trading at a lower price-to-earnings ratio than Landstar System, indicating that it is currently the more affordable of the two stocks.

CompanyGross RevenuePrice/Sales RatioNet IncomeEarnings Per SharePrice/Earnings Ratio
Heartland Express$805.71M1.18-$52.45M-$0.28N/A
Landstar System$4.74B1.24$115.01M$3.8644.76

Heartland Express presently has a consensus target price of $13.00, suggesting a potential upside of 5.35%. Landstar System has a consensus target price of $196.00, suggesting a potential upside of 13.44%. Given Landstar System's stronger consensus rating and higher possible upside, analysts plainly believe Landstar System is more favorable than Heartland Express.

Company Sell Ratings Hold Ratings Buy Ratings Strong Buy Ratings Rating Score
Heartland Express
3 Sell rating(s)
3 Hold rating(s)
1 Buy rating(s)
0 Strong Buy rating(s)
1.71
Landstar System
2 Sell rating(s)
11 Hold rating(s)
3 Buy rating(s)
1 Strong Buy rating(s)
2.18

53.5% of Heartland Express shares are held by institutional investors. Comparatively, 98.0% of Landstar System shares are held by institutional investors. 41.6% of Heartland Express shares are held by company insiders. Comparatively, 0.7% of Landstar System shares are held by company insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that endowments, hedge funds and large money managers believe a company is poised for long-term growth.

Summary

Landstar System beats Heartland Express on 16 of the 20 factors compared between the two stocks.

How does Heartland Express compare to Marten Transport?

Heartland Express (NASDAQ:HTLD) and Marten Transport (NASDAQ:MRTN) are both small-cap industrials companies, but which is the better stock? We will contrast the two companies based on the strength of their media sentiment, valuation, analyst recommendations, profitability, dividends, institutional ownership, risk and earnings.

Heartland Express presently has a consensus target price of $13.00, suggesting a potential upside of 5.35%. Marten Transport has a consensus target price of $16.00, suggesting a potential upside of 15.94%. Given Marten Transport's stronger consensus rating and higher probable upside, analysts plainly believe Marten Transport is more favorable than Heartland Express.

Company Sell Ratings Hold Ratings Buy Ratings Strong Buy Ratings Rating Score
Heartland Express
3 Sell rating(s)
3 Hold rating(s)
1 Buy rating(s)
0 Strong Buy rating(s)
1.71
Marten Transport
0 Sell rating(s)
3 Hold rating(s)
0 Buy rating(s)
1 Strong Buy rating(s)
2.50

Marten Transport has higher revenue and earnings than Heartland Express. Heartland Express is trading at a lower price-to-earnings ratio than Marten Transport, indicating that it is currently the more affordable of the two stocks.

CompanyGross RevenuePrice/Sales RatioNet IncomeEarnings Per SharePrice/Earnings Ratio
Heartland Express$805.71M1.18-$52.45M-$0.28N/A
Marten Transport$883.65M1.28$17.44M$0.1781.18

Marten Transport has a net margin of 1.47% compared to Heartland Express' net margin of -2.98%. Marten Transport's return on equity of 1.65% beat Heartland Express' return on equity.

Company Net Margins Return on Equity Return on Assets
Heartland Express-2.98% -0.92% -0.58%
Marten Transport 1.47%1.65%1.32%

53.5% of Heartland Express shares are held by institutional investors. Comparatively, 69.1% of Marten Transport shares are held by institutional investors. 41.6% of Heartland Express shares are held by insiders. Comparatively, 22.6% of Marten Transport shares are held by insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that endowments, large money managers and hedge funds believe a stock will outperform the market over the long term.

Heartland Express pays an annual dividend of $0.08 per share and has a dividend yield of 0.6%. Marten Transport pays an annual dividend of $0.24 per share and has a dividend yield of 1.7%. Heartland Express pays out -28.6% of its earnings in the form of a dividend. Marten Transport pays out 141.2% of its earnings in the form of a dividend, suggesting it may not have sufficient earnings to cover its dividend payment in the future.

In the previous week, Heartland Express had 6 more articles in the media than Marten Transport. MarketBeat recorded 8 mentions for Heartland Express and 2 mentions for Marten Transport. Marten Transport's average media sentiment score of 1.79 beat Heartland Express' score of 0.59 indicating that Marten Transport is being referred to more favorably in the news media.

Company Very Positive Positive Neutral Negative Very Negative Overall Sentiment
Heartland Express
3 Very Positive mention(s)
0 Positive mention(s)
3 Neutral mention(s)
0 Negative mention(s)
0 Very Negative mention(s)
Positive
Marten Transport
1 Very Positive mention(s)
0 Positive mention(s)
0 Neutral mention(s)
0 Negative mention(s)
0 Very Negative mention(s)
Very Positive

Heartland Express has a beta of 1.33, suggesting that its stock price is 33% more volatile than the broader market. Comparatively, Marten Transport has a beta of 0.95, suggesting that its stock price is 5% less volatile than the broader market.

Summary

Marten Transport beats Heartland Express on 14 of the 19 factors compared between the two stocks.

How does Heartland Express compare to Old Dominion Freight Line?

Old Dominion Freight Line (NASDAQ:ODFL) and Heartland Express (NASDAQ:HTLD) are both industrials companies, but which is the superior investment? We will compare the two businesses based on the strength of their profitability, risk, institutional ownership, earnings, dividends, analyst recommendations, valuation and media sentiment.

Old Dominion Freight Line has higher revenue and earnings than Heartland Express. Heartland Express is trading at a lower price-to-earnings ratio than Old Dominion Freight Line, indicating that it is currently the more affordable of the two stocks.

CompanyGross RevenuePrice/Sales RatioNet IncomeEarnings Per SharePrice/Earnings Ratio
Old Dominion Freight Line$5.60B6.65$1.02B$5.1934.64
Heartland Express$805.71M1.18-$52.45M-$0.28N/A

Old Dominion Freight Line has a net margin of 19.44% compared to Heartland Express' net margin of -2.98%. Old Dominion Freight Line's return on equity of 24.87% beat Heartland Express' return on equity.

Company Net Margins Return on Equity Return on Assets
Old Dominion Freight Line19.44% 24.87% 19.47%
Heartland Express -2.98%-0.92%-0.58%

77.8% of Old Dominion Freight Line shares are held by institutional investors. Comparatively, 53.5% of Heartland Express shares are held by institutional investors. 8.2% of Old Dominion Freight Line shares are held by company insiders. Comparatively, 41.6% of Heartland Express shares are held by company insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that large money managers, hedge funds and endowments believe a company will outperform the market over the long term.

Old Dominion Freight Line pays an annual dividend of $1.16 per share and has a dividend yield of 0.6%. Heartland Express pays an annual dividend of $0.08 per share and has a dividend yield of 0.6%. Old Dominion Freight Line pays out 22.4% of its earnings in the form of a dividend. Heartland Express pays out -28.6% of its earnings in the form of a dividend. Both companies have healthy payout ratios and should be able to cover their dividend payments with earnings for the next several years. Old Dominion Freight Line has increased its dividend for 5 consecutive years. Heartland Express is clearly the better dividend stock, given its higher yield and lower payout ratio.

Old Dominion Freight Line presently has a consensus target price of $227.65, indicating a potential upside of 26.62%. Heartland Express has a consensus target price of $13.00, indicating a potential upside of 5.35%. Given Old Dominion Freight Line's stronger consensus rating and higher possible upside, equities research analysts clearly believe Old Dominion Freight Line is more favorable than Heartland Express.

Company Sell Ratings Hold Ratings Buy Ratings Strong Buy Ratings Rating Score
Old Dominion Freight Line
2 Sell rating(s)
13 Hold rating(s)
10 Buy rating(s)
1 Strong Buy rating(s)
2.38
Heartland Express
3 Sell rating(s)
3 Hold rating(s)
1 Buy rating(s)
0 Strong Buy rating(s)
1.71

In the previous week, Old Dominion Freight Line had 10 more articles in the media than Heartland Express. MarketBeat recorded 18 mentions for Old Dominion Freight Line and 8 mentions for Heartland Express. Old Dominion Freight Line's average media sentiment score of 1.28 beat Heartland Express' score of 0.59 indicating that Old Dominion Freight Line is being referred to more favorably in the media.

Company Very Positive Positive Neutral Negative Very Negative Overall Sentiment
Old Dominion Freight Line
10 Very Positive mention(s)
2 Positive mention(s)
4 Neutral mention(s)
0 Negative mention(s)
0 Very Negative mention(s)
Positive
Heartland Express
3 Very Positive mention(s)
0 Positive mention(s)
3 Neutral mention(s)
0 Negative mention(s)
0 Very Negative mention(s)
Positive

Old Dominion Freight Line has a beta of 1.16, suggesting that its share price is 16% more volatile than the broader market. Comparatively, Heartland Express has a beta of 1.33, suggesting that its share price is 33% more volatile than the broader market.

Summary

Old Dominion Freight Line beats Heartland Express on 16 of the 20 factors compared between the two stocks.

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New MarketBeat Followers Over Time

This chart shows the number of new MarketBeat users adding HTLD and its top 5 competitors to their watchlist. Each company is represented with a line over a 90 day period.
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Media Sentiment Over Time

This chart shows the average media sentiment of NASDAQ and its competitors over the past 90 days as caculated by MarketBeat. The averaged score is equivalent to the following: Very Negative Sentiment <= -1.5, Negative Sentiment > -1.5 and <= -0.5, Neutral Sentiment > -0.5 and < 0.5, Positive Sentiment >= 0.5 and < 1.5, and Very Positive Sentiment >= 1.5.
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HTLD vs. The Competition

MetricHeartland ExpressGround Transportation IndustryIndustrials SectorNASDAQ Exchange
Market Cap$942.68M$20.81B$10.20B$12.71B
Dividend Yield0.66%2.10%97.17%11.16%
P/E Ratio-44.0741.1725.7525.27
Price / Sales1.182.23459.5099.48
Price / Cash7.7442.5023.7151.44
Price / Book1.273.364.846.20
Net Income-$52.45M$989.25M$612.22M$358.27M
7 Day Performance-0.80%-2.07%-1.56%-2.36%
1 Month Performance0.41%-0.24%-3.85%-2.77%
1 Year Performance45.69%10.97%6.34%7.64%

Heartland Express Competitors List

CompanyMarketRankShare PriceAnalysts' Price Target1Y Price PerformanceMarket CapRevenueP/E RatioEmployee CountIndicator(s)
HTLD
Heartland Express
2.1545 of 5 stars
$12.34
+1.2%
$13.00
+5.3%
+42.3%$942.68M$805.71MN/A4,560
HUBG
Hub Group
4.5228 of 5 stars
$37.94
-4.8%
$43.31
+14.1%
-3.9%$2.32B$3.73B21.936,500
JBHT
J.B. Hunt Transport Services
4.5301 of 5 stars
$256.48
-3.4%
$286.30
+11.6%
+91.2%$24.09B$12.00B36.3331,750
LSTR
Landstar System
4.3733 of 5 stars
$175.41
-2.9%
$196.00
+11.7%
+30.5%$5.95B$4.74B45.441,378
MRTN
Marten Transport
3.4845 of 5 stars
$13.86
-3.9%
$16.00
+15.4%
+15.4%$1.13B$857.65M81.533,502

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This page (NASDAQ:HTLD) was last updated on 9/12/2026 by MarketBeat.com Staff.
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