Page 1

July 30 , 2026 For Immediate Release Press Release Heartland Express , Inc. Reports Net Income and Financial Results for the Second Quarter of 2026 NORTH LIBERTY , IOWA - July 30 , 2026 - Heartland Express , Inc. ( Nasdaq : HTLD ) announced today financial results for the three and six months ended June 30 , 2026 . • • • • • • • • Three months ended June 30 , 2026 : Operating Revenue of $ 184.1 million , Net Income of $ 10.6 million , Basic Earnings per Share of $ 0.14 , Operating Ratio of 91.0 % ( a 1,490bp improvement to Q2 2025 ) and 88.3 % Non - GAAP Adjusted Operating Ratio ( 1 ) , Purchased 172,061 shares of our common stock for $ 2.3 million , Payments of $ 15 million to reduce outstanding acquisition - related debt , Total Assets of $ 1.2 billion , including $ 62.4 million of Cash , Stockholders ' Equity of $ 756.3 million . Six months ended June 30 , 2026 : Operating Revenue of $ 360.4 million , • Net Income of $ 5.8 million , • Basic Earnings per Share of $ 0.07 , • Operating Ratio of 96.3 % and 94.9 % Non - GAAP Adjusted Operating Ratio ( 1 ) , Smith Transport debt and equipment leases eliminated , Payments of $ 25 million to reduce outstanding debt and finance lease obligations . Acquisition- related debt and finance lease obligations reduced from $ 494 million in 2022 to $ 135 million . Heartland Express Chief Executive Officer Mike Gerdin commented on the quarterly operating results and ongoing initiatives of the Company , " Our consolidated operating results for the three months ended June 30 , 2026 , reflect significant operating ratio improvement ( 91.0 % ) as compared to the second quarter of 2025 ( 105.9 % ) and sequential non - GAAP adjusted operating ratio ( 1 ) improvement in each quarter since the first quarter of 2025. We are pleased with our operational improvements and profitability as we continue toward our foundational goal of an operating ratio of 85.0 % or lower and return to a debt - free balance sheet . The improved financial results delivered reflect stronger freight volumes and improved customer pricing resulting from ongoing industry capacity reductions along with reduced operating costs and strategic disposals of under - utilized assets . We expect to rely on our positive cash flows from operations to make a significant investment in our fleet of tractors and trailers over the remainder of the year along with additional reductions of the remaining acquisition - related debt . " Financial Results For the three months ended June 30 , 2026 , the Company delivered operating revenues of $ 184.1 million , compared to $ 210.4 million in the same period of 2025. Operating revenues for the quarter included fuel surcharge revenues of $ 31.7 million , compared to $ 24.5 million in the same period of 2025. Net income was $ 10.6 million , as compared to a net loss of ( $ 10.9 ) million in the second quarter of 2025. Basic earnings per share was $ 0.14 during the quarter , as compared to basic loss per share of $ ( 0.14 ) in the same period of 2025. The Company posted an operating ratio of 91.0 % , non - GAAP adjusted operating ratio ( 1 ) of 88.3 % , and net income as a percentage of operating revenues of 5.7 % in the second quarter of 2026 compared to 105.9 % , 106.0 % , and ( 5.2 ) % ( net loss as a percentage of operating revenues ) respectively , in the second quarter of 2025 .