Heartland Express (HTLD) vs Landstar System (LSTR)
Head-to-head comparison of performance, valuation, growth, profitability and dividends. Prices delayed 15 minutes; data as of Oct 8, 2026.
Summary
Landstar System (LSTR) has outperformed Heartland Express (HTLD) over the past year, gaining 34.7% versus a gain of 34.1%. Over five years, LSTR leads with a +2.8% price change compared with -31.9% for HTLD. Landstar System is the larger company by market cap ($5.67 billion vs $872.3 million), about 6.5 times the size.
On valuation, Landstar System trades at a lower forward P/E (21.8x vs 22.5x for Heartland Express). Landstar System offers the higher dividend yield (0.96% vs 0.71%).
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 | HTLD | LSTR |
|---|---|---|
| Share price | $11.28 | $166.98 |
| Market cap | $872.31M | $5.67B |
| 1-day change | -0.44% | -1.22% |
| YTD return | +24.92% | +16.20% |
| 1-year return | +34.13% | +34.72% |
| 5-year return | -31.93% | +2.83% |
| P/E ratio (TTM) | — | 43.26 |
| Forward P/E | 22.47 | 21.75 |
| EPS (TTM) | $-0.29 | $3.86 |
| Dividend yield | 0.71% | 0.96% |
| Annual dividend | $0.08 | $1.60 |
| Revenue (latest FY) | — | $4.74B |
| Revenue growth (YoY) | — | -1.57% |
| Net income (latest FY) | — | $115.01M |
| Operating margin | — | 3.20% |
| Net margin | — | 2.42% |
| 52-week high | $16.64 | $228.46 |
| 52-week low | $7.00 | $121.12 |
| Distance from 52-week high | -32.21% | -26.91% |
| Analyst consensus | hold | hold |
| Avg. price target upside | +17.02% | +13.94% |
| Average volume | 725.23K | 425.76K |
| Shares outstanding | 77.33M | 33.94M |
| Employees | 3,630 | 1,300 |
| 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
- Landstar System is about 6.5 times larger than Heartland Express by market value ($5.67B vs $872.31M).
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
About Landstar System
LSTR stock →Landstar System, Inc. provides transportation management solutions in the United States, Canada, Mexico, and internationally.
Industrials · Trucking Freight/Courier Services · 1,300 employees
HTLD vs LSTR FAQ
Which is bigger, Heartland Express or Landstar System?
Landstar System (LSTR) is larger, with a market capitalization of $5.67B compared with $872.31M for Heartland Express (HTLD).
Which stock has performed better over the past year, HTLD or LSTR?
LSTR returned +34.72% over the past 12 months, compared with +34.13% for HTLD (price return, excluding dividends). Past performance does not predict future results.
Which pays a higher dividend, Heartland Express or Landstar System?
Landstar System has the higher yield at 0.96%, compared with 0.71% for Heartland Express.
Are Heartland Express and Landstar System in the same industry?
Yes. Both are classified in the Trucking Freight/Courier Services industry within the Industrials sector.