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Compared to Estimates, Heartland Express (HTLD) Q3 Earnings: A Look at Key Metrics

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Heartland Express (HTLD - Free Report) reported $295.03 million in revenue for the quarter ended September 2023, representing a year-over-year increase of 7.7%. EPS of -$0.14 for the same period compares to $0.31 a year ago.

The reported revenue represents a surprise of -2.04% over the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $301.18 million. With the consensus EPS estimate being $0.07, the EPS surprise was -300.00%.

While investors closely watch year-over-year changes in headline numbers -- revenue and earnings -- and how they compare to Wall Street expectations to determine their next course of action, some key metrics always provide a better insight into a company's underlying performance.

Since these metrics play a crucial role in driving the top- and bottom-line numbers, comparing them with the year-ago numbers and what analysts estimated about them helps investors better project a stock's price performance.

Here is how Heartland Express performed in the just reported quarter in terms of the metrics most widely monitored and projected by Wall Street analysts:

  • Operating ratio: 102.5% compared to the 95.2% average estimate based on two analysts.
  • Fuel surcharge revenue: $42.93 million versus $41.70 million estimated by two analysts on average. Compared to the year-ago quarter, this number represents a -9.6% change.
  • Operating revenue, excluding fuel surcharge revenue: $252.10 million versus $261.35 million estimated by two analysts on average. Compared to the year-ago quarter, this number represents a +11.3% change.
View all Key Company Metrics for Heartland Express here>>>

Shares of Heartland Express have returned -3.1% over the past month versus the Zacks S&P 500 composite's -3.4% change. The stock currently has a Zacks Rank #4 (Sell), indicating that it could underperform the broader market in the near term.

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