Thursday, July 19, 2007, For Immediate Release

Press Release

Heartland Express, Inc. Reports Revenues and Earnings for the Second Quarter of 2007.

CORALVILLE, IOWA – July 19, 2007 – Heartland Express, Inc. (Nasdaq: HTLD) announced today financial results for the quarter ended June 30, 2007.  Operating revenues for the quarter increased 4.2% to $149.1 million from $143.1 million in the second quarter of 2006.  Operating income for the quarter was negatively impacted by a $5.6 million decrease in gains on disposal of property and equipment. Therefore, net income decreased 19.9% to $19.8 million from $24.8 million in the 2006 period. Earnings per share were $0.20 compared to $0.25 for the second quarter of 2006.

For the six months ended June 30, 2007, operating revenues increased 5.2% to $292.5 from $278.1 during the same period in 2006. Operating income for the six month period was negatively impacted by a $3.0 million decrease in gains on disposal of property and equipment. Therefore, net income decreased 4.7% to $42.4 million from $44.5 million in the 2006 period. Earnings per share were $0.43 compared with $0.45 for the 2006 period.

For the quarter, Heartland Express, Inc. posted an operating ratio (operating expenses as a percentage of operating revenues) of 81.2% and a 13.3% net margin.  The Company reported an operating ratio of 79.7% and a 14.5% net margin for the six months ended June 30, 2007. During the quarter, Heartland Express paid a special dividend of $2.00 per share in addition to its regular quarterly cash dividend of $0.02 per share.  This dividend in the amount of $198.5 million was paid on May 31, 2007 to shareholders of record at the close of business on May 24, 2007.  The Company has now paid cash dividends of $220.8 million over the past sixteen consecutive quarters. The Company ended the second quarter with cash, cash equivalents, and short-term investments of $172.8 million, a $158.5 million decrease from the $331.3 million reported on December 31, 2006 primarily due to the special dividend paid. The Company’s balance sheet continues to be debt-free with total assets of $513.7 million. 

The average age of the Company’s tractor fleet was 1.6 years at June 30, 2007, while the average age of the its trailer fleet was 3.4 years. The Company took delivery of 165 new International tractors and 300 new Wabash trailers during the quarter.

The Company was recently recognized by Sears Holding Corporation as their 2006 Supplier of the Year, Federal Express Corporation as their 2006 Truckload Carrier of the Year, and Wal-mart Transportation LLC as 2006 Truckload Carrier of the Year. In addition, the Company is pleased to announce the completion of its Phoenix, Arizona operational and shop facility during the quarter. The facility will serve as the Company’s base of operations for its Western United States transportation services. This past week the Company moved to its new corporate headquarters in North Liberty, Iowa. The new facility consolidates our corporate headquarters employees into one building and will accommodate future growth. A new shop facility adjacent to the corporate facility was completed and occupied prior to quarter end.

This press release may contain statements that might be considered as forward-looking statements or predictions of future operations.  Such statements are based on management’s belief or interpretation of information currently available.  These statements and assumptions involve certain risks and uncertainties.  Actual events may differ from these expectations as specified from time to time in filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Contact: Heartland Express, Inc.

Mike Gerdin, President

John Cosaert, Chief Financial Officer

319-626-3600

 

HEARTLAND EXPRESS, INC.

AND SUBSIDIARIES

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME

(UNAUDITED)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Three months ended

Six months ended

 

June 30,

June 30,

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2007

 

2006

 

2007

 

2006

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

OPERATING REVENUE

$149,103,425

 

$143,058,628

 

$292,532,451

 

$278,057,927

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

OPERATING EXPENSES:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

   Salaries, wages, benefits

$  50,950,587

 

$ 46,040,770

 

$  98,964,316

 

$  92,411,352

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

   Rent and purchased transportation

   5,643,406

 

   6,772,305

 

10,865,171

 

12,971,977

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

   Fuel

39,696,911

 

37,789,391

 

76,510,208

 

70,750,409

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

   Operations and maintenance

3,499,310

 

3,358,967

 

6,703,360

 

6,305,700

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

   Operating taxes and licenses

2,338,260

 

2,203,726

 

4,618,618

 

4,270,893

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

   Insurance and claims

5,687,899

 

4,835,933

 

11,277,730

 

8,922,782

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

   Communications and utilities

1,013,024

 

943,092

 

1,868,942

 

1,895,431

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

   Depreciation

11,876,953

 

11,181,612

 

23,580,708

 

21,359,271

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

   Other operating expenses

4,439,034

 

4,158,378

 

8,564,157

 

8,356,007

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

   Gain on disposal of property & equipment

(4,111,910)

 

(9,724,303)

 

(9,778,152)

 

(12,783,540)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

    121,033,474

 

 107,559,871

 

233,175,058

 

214,460,282

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Operating income

28,069,951

  

35,498,757

  

59,357,393

  

63,597,645

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

   Interest income

2,905,704

 

2,906,972

 

6,221,768

 

5,412,919

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

   Income before income taxes

30,975,655

 

38,405,729

 

65,579,161

 

69,010,564

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  Federal and state income taxes

11,134,509

 

13,634,068

 

23,184,714

 

24,498,752

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

   Net income

$  19,841,146

 

$ 24,771,661

 

42,394,447

 

44,511,812

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

   Earnings per share

$             0.20

 

$            0.25

 

$             0.43

 

$             0.45

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

   Weighted average shares

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

   outstanding

   98,251,889

 

   98,428,589

 

98,251,889

 

98,428,589

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

   Dividends declared per share

$           2.02

 

$           0.02

 

$            2.04

 

$            0.04

 

 

HEARTLAND EXPRESS, INC.

AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

June 30,

 

December 31,

ASSETS

 

2007

 

2006

 

 

(unaudited)

 

 

CURRENT ASSETS

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

     Cash and cash equivalents

 

$            10,579,024

 

$                 8,458,882

     Short-term investments

 

162,240,604

 

               322,829,306

     Trade receivables

 

48,741,950

 

43,499,482

     Prepaid tires

 

5,050,605

 

5,075,566

     Other prepaid expenses

 

4,804,333

 

1,635,077

     Deferred income taxes

 

29,712,000

 

29,177,000

                  Total current assets

 

$          261,128,516

 

$             410,675,313

 

 

 

 

 

PROPERTY AND EQUIPMENT

 

$          351,672,008

 

$              344,323,852

     Less accumulated depreciation

 

         109,607,867

 

            96,293,111

 

 

$          242,064,141

 

$              248,030,741

OTHER ASSETS

 

$            10,555,412

 

$                10,363,658

 

 

$          513,748,069

 

$              669,069,712

 

 

 

 

 

LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

CURRENT LIABILITIES

 

 

 

 

     Accounts payable & accrued liabilities

$             12,188,502

 

  $               15,075,647

     Compensation & benefits

 

14,655,037

 

15,028,378

     Income taxes payable

 

470,127

 

21,418,610

     Insurance accruals

 

58,986,754

 

56,651,853

     Other accruals

 

           8,269,890

 

              8,248,415

             Total current liabilities

 

$               94,570,310

 

$              116,422,903

 

 

 

 

 

LONG-TERM LIABILITIES

 

 

 

 

     Income taxes payable

 

$            35,537,701

 

$                              --

     Deferred income taxes

 

              51,391,000

 

57,623,000

 

 

$             86,928,701

 

$                57,623,000

 

 

 

 

 

COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY

 

 

 

 

     Capital stock: common, $.01 par value;

 

 

 

     authorized 395,000,000 shares; issued and

 

 

 

 

     outstanding 98,251,889

 

$                 982,519

 

$                     982,519

     Additional paid-in capital

 

438,701

 

        376,029 

     Retained earnings

 

330,827,838

 

          493,665,261

 

 

$           332,249,058

 

$              495,023,809

 

 

$           513,748,069

 

$              669,069,712