Heartland Express, Inc. (NASDAQ:HTLD) Position Trimmed by Legato Capital Management LLC

Legato Capital Management LLC trimmed its holdings in shares of Heartland Express, Inc. (NASDAQ:HTLD - Free Report) by 57.6% during the fourth quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 55,109 shares of the transportation company's stock after selling 74,855 shares during the period. Legato Capital Management LLC owned about 0.07% of Heartland Express worth $618,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

A number of other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also recently bought and sold shares of HTLD. CWM LLC lifted its position in Heartland Express by 85.7% during the third quarter. CWM LLC now owns 5,069 shares of the transportation company's stock valued at $62,000 after buying an additional 2,340 shares in the last quarter. R Squared Ltd acquired a new position in Heartland Express during the fourth quarter valued at approximately $75,000. Intech Investment Management LLC acquired a new position in Heartland Express during the third quarter valued at approximately $124,000. Allspring Global Investments Holdings LLC acquired a new position in Heartland Express during the fourth quarter valued at approximately $171,000. Finally, Paloma Partners Management Co acquired a new position in shares of Heartland Express during the third quarter worth $202,000. 53.45% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Heartland Express Stock Up 0.7 %

Shares of NASDAQ:HTLD traded up $0.08 during midday trading on Tuesday, reaching $11.47. The company had a trading volume of 61,837 shares, compared to its average volume of 436,816. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.23, a current ratio of 1.08 and a quick ratio of 1.17. The stock's fifty day moving average price is $11.35 and its 200-day moving average price is $11.76. The stock has a market capitalization of $900.00 million, a P/E ratio of -31.07 and a beta of 0.76. Heartland Express, Inc. has a one year low of $9.63 and a one year high of $13.67.

Heartland Express (NASDAQ:HTLD - Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, January 28th. The transportation company reported ($0.02) earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping analysts' consensus estimates of ($0.04) by $0.02. Heartland Express had a negative net margin of 2.84% and a negative return on equity of 3.57%. Equities research analysts expect that Heartland Express, Inc. will post 0.17 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Heartland Express Dividend Announcement

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Wednesday, January 8th. Investors of record on Friday, December 27th were paid a $0.02 dividend. The ex-dividend date was Friday, December 27th. This represents a $0.08 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 0.70%. Heartland Express's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently -21.62%.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

A number of research analysts have recently commented on the stock. Barclays boosted their target price on shares of Heartland Express from $10.00 to $11.00 and gave the stock an "underweight" rating in a research report on Wednesday, November 13th. UBS Group reduced their target price on shares of Heartland Express from $13.00 to $12.00 and set a "neutral" rating on the stock in a research report on Wednesday, October 30th.

Heartland Express Profile

Heartland Express, Inc, together with its subsidiaries, operates as a short-to-medium, and long-haul truckload carrier in the United States and Canada. It primarily provides nationwide asset-based dry van truckload service for shippers; cross-border freight and other transportation services; and temperature-controlled truckload services.