Covenant Logistics Group (CVLG) vs Heartland Express (HTLD)
Head-to-head comparison of performance, valuation, growth, profitability and dividends. Prices delayed 15 minutes; data as of Oct 10, 2026.
Summary
Covenant Logistics Group (CVLG) has outperformed Heartland Express (HTLD) over the past year, gaining 48.2% versus a gain of 32.4%. Over five years, CVLG leads with a +95.9% price change compared with -32.9% for HTLD. Heartland Express is the larger company by market cap ($859.9 million vs $810.8 million), about 1.1 times the size.
On valuation, Covenant Logistics Group trades at a lower forward P/E (11.9x vs 23.0x for Heartland Express). Covenant Logistics Group offers the higher dividend yield (0.88% vs 0.72%).
Summary generated from market data by MetaCap's automated system. Methodology
Relative performance
Percent change in share price from the first common trading day shown; excludes dividends.
Head-to-head
| Metric | CVLG | HTLD |
|---|---|---|
| Share price | $31.95 | $11.12 |
| Market cap | $810.82M | $859.94M |
| 1-day change | -2.32% | -2.03% |
| YTD return | +44.96% | +23.15% |
| 1-year return | +48.19% | +32.38% |
| 5-year return | +95.89% | -32.89% |
| Forward P/E | 11.88 | 22.95 |
| EPS (TTM) | $0.01 | $-0.29 |
| Dividend yield | 0.88% | 0.72% |
| Annual dividend | $0.28 | $0.08 |
| Revenue (latest FY) | — | $805.71M |
| Revenue growth (YoY) | — | -23.08% |
| Net income (latest FY) | — | $-52.45M |
| Operating margin | — | -7.13% |
| Net margin | — | -6.51% |
| 52-week high | $49.88 | $16.64 |
| 52-week low | $18.00 | $7.00 |
| Distance from 52-week high | -35.95% | -33.17% |
| Analyst consensus | buy | hold |
| Avg. price target upside | +58.06% | +18.71% |
| Average volume | 211.50K | 736.84K |
| Shares outstanding | 20.68M | 77.33M |
| Employees | 2,900 | 3,630 |
| Sector | Industrials | Industrials |
| Industry | Trucking Freight/Courier Services | Trucking Freight/Courier Services |
Highlighted cells mark the higher value for growth, returns, margins and yield, and the lower value for P/E ratios. Highlighting is a mechanical comparison, not a recommendation.
Key differences
- CVLG has outperformed HTLD by 15.8 percentage points over the past year.
About Covenant Logistics Group
CVLG stock →Covenant Logistics Group, Inc., together with its subsidiaries, provides transportation and logistics services in the United States. It operates through four segments: Expedited, Dedicated, Managed Freight, and Warehousing.
Industrials · Trucking Freight/Courier Services · 2,900 employees
About Heartland Express
HTLD stock →Heartland Express, Inc., together with its subsidiaries, provides short, medium, and long-haul truckload carrier and transportation services in the United States, Mexico, and Canada. It primarily provides nationwide asset-based dry van truckload services for shippers; cross-border freight and other transportation services; and temperature-controlled truckload services.
Industrials · Trucking Freight/Courier Services · 3,630 employees
CVLG vs HTLD FAQ
Which is bigger, Covenant Logistics Group or Heartland Express?
Heartland Express (HTLD) is larger, with a market capitalization of $859.94M compared with $810.82M for Covenant Logistics Group (CVLG).
Which stock has performed better over the past year, CVLG or HTLD?
CVLG returned +48.19% over the past 12 months, compared with +32.38% for HTLD (price return, excluding dividends). Past performance does not predict future results.
Which pays a higher dividend, Covenant Logistics Group or Heartland Express?
Covenant Logistics Group has the higher yield at 0.88%, compared with 0.72% for Heartland Express.
Are Covenant Logistics Group and Heartland Express in the same industry?
Yes. Both are classified in the Trucking Freight/Courier Services industry within the Industrials sector.