Heartland Express Inc (HTLD)

Net profit margin

		Dec 31, 2023	Dec 31, 2022	Dec 31, 2021	Dec 31, 2020	Dec 31, 2019
Net income	US$ in thousands	14,775	133,584	79,277	70,806	72,967
Revenue	US$ in thousands	1,207,460	967,996	607,284	645,262	596,815
Net profit margin		1.22%	13.80%	13.05%	10.97%	12.23%

December 31, 2023 calculation

Net profit margin = Net income ÷ Revenue
= $14,775K ÷ $1,207,460K
= 1.22%

Heartland Express, Inc.'s net profit margin has displayed fluctuations over the past five years. In 2023, the net profit margin decreased significantly to 1.22% from 13.80% in 2022. This decline suggests a substantial decrease in profitability efficiency in converting sales into net income for the most recent fiscal year.

Comparing to the prior years, the net profit margin was relatively stable in the range of around 10% to 13% from 2020 to 2022. This stability indicates consistency in the company's ability to control costs and generate profits during those years. However, the drop in net profit margin in 2023 necessitates further investigation into potential causes such as increased expenses, declining revenues, or one-time charges that impacted the profitability of Heartland Express, Inc.

Overall, while the company has shown generally positive net profit margins in recent years, the significant drop in 2023 raises concerns about the company's profitability and operational efficiency, warranting a closer look to identify and address any underlying issues.