Heartland Express (HTLD) vs Universal Logistics (ULH)
Head-to-head comparison of performance, valuation, growth, profitability and dividends. Prices delayed 15 minutes; data as of Oct 7, 2026.
Summary
Heartland Express (HTLD) has outperformed Universal Logistics (ULH) over the past year, gaining 34.1% versus a loss of 16.6%. Over five years, ULH leads with a -17.9% price change compared with -31.9% for HTLD. Heartland Express is the larger company by market cap ($872.3 million vs $450.9 million), about 1.9 times the size.
On valuation, Universal Logistics trades at a lower forward P/E (14.9x vs 22.5x for Heartland Express). Universal Logistics offers the higher dividend yield (2.46% 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 | ULH |
|---|---|---|
| Share price | $11.28 | $17.10 |
| Market cap | $872.31M | $450.89M |
| 1-day change | -0.44% | +0.88% |
| YTD return | +24.92% | +12.57% |
| 1-year return | +34.13% | -16.63% |
| 5-year return | -31.93% | -17.87% |
| Forward P/E | 22.47 | 14.87 |
| EPS (TTM) | $-0.29 | $-3.47 |
| Dividend yield | 0.71% | 2.46% |
| Annual dividend | $0.08 | $0.42 |
| 52-week high | $16.64 | $25.80 |
| 52-week low | $7.00 | $11.73 |
| Distance from 52-week high | -32.21% | -33.72% |
| Average volume | 725.23K | 50.00K |
| Shares outstanding | 77.33M | 26.37M |
| 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
- HTLD has outperformed ULH by 50.8 percentage points over the past year.
- Universal Logistics offers a meaningfully higher dividend yield (2.46% vs 0.71%).
HTLD vs ULH FAQ
Which is bigger, Heartland Express or Universal Logistics?
Heartland Express (HTLD) is larger, with a market capitalization of $872.31M compared with $450.89M for Universal Logistics (ULH).
Which stock has performed better over the past year, HTLD or ULH?
HTLD returned +34.13% over the past 12 months, compared with -16.63% for ULH (price return, excluding dividends). Past performance does not predict future results.
Which pays a higher dividend, Heartland Express or Universal Logistics?
Universal Logistics has the higher yield at 2.46%, compared with 0.71% for Heartland Express.
Are Heartland Express and Universal Logistics in the same industry?
Yes. Both are classified in the Trucking Freight/Courier Services industry within the Industrials sector.