Heartland Express : First Quarter Earnings Release

HTLD 2016 Q1 10Q April 26, 2016 For Immediate Release‌ Press Release Heartland Express, Inc. Reports Revenues and Earnings for the First Quarter Ended March 31, 2016

NORTH LIBERTY, IOWA - April 26, 2016 - Heartland Express, Inc. (Nasdaq: HTLD) announced today financial results for the quarter ended March 31, 2016. Highlights of the quarter included:

• Net Income of $14.4 million, Earnings per Share of $0.17, and Operating Revenue of $162.8 million,

• 86.5% Non-GAAP Adjusted Operating Ratio(1),

• Cash generated from operations increased to $55.9 million,

• Cash balance of $69.7 million, a $36.5 million increase since December 31, 2015,

• Repurchased 0.9 million shares of our common stock during the quarter, 5.3% of outstanding shares repurchased for $88.7 million since August 2015,

• No outstanding debt at March 31, 2016.

Heartland Express Chief Executive Officer Michael Gerdin, commented on the quarterly operating results and ongoing initiatives of the Company, "During the first quarter of 2016 we continued to make progress toward our goal to improve our operating efficiency as measured by our adjusted operating ratio. During the first quarter of 2016 we took another step towards a return to a low 80's adjusted operating ratio. We were able to achieve this despite weaker freight volumes and more downward pressure on freight rates in 2016 compared to the first quarters of 2015 and 2014. Excluding gains on disposals of property and equipment, which tend to be volatile based on timing of fleet upgrades, we have now delivered three years of sequential first quarter improvements in our operating ratio. These continued improvements lead to another quarter of solid cash flows from operations, which allowed us to increase our cash reserves, and remain debt free. Our continued financial strength is expected to allow us to maintain flexibility and ensure that we are well prepared to capitalize on future opportunities within the ever-changing trucking industry. Our fleet of both tractors and trailers remains in pristine condition, ready for the road ahead."

Financial Results

Heartland Express ended the first quarter of 2016 with net income of $14.4 million, compared to $17.6 million in the first quarter of 2015. Basic earnings per share were $0.17 during the quarter compared to $0.20 earnings per share in the first quarter of 2015. Operating revenues were $162.8 million, a $24.7 million decrease, compared to $187.5 million in the first quarter of 2015. Operating revenues for the quarter included fuel surcharge revenues of $13.1 million compared to $26.1 million in the same period of 2015, a $13.0 million decrease. Operating revenues decreased 7.3% excluding the impact of fuel surcharge revenues. Following our fleet upgrade capital campaign in 2015, operating income for the three-month period decreased

$8.9 million as a result of lower gains on disposal of property and equipment from lower trade volumes. The Company posted an adjusted operating ratio(1) of 86.5% and an 8.8% net margin (net income as a percentage of operating revenues) in the first quarter of 2016 compared to 82.5% and 9.4%, respectively in the first quarter of 2015.

Balance Sheet, Liquidity, and Capital Expenditures

At March 31, 2016, the Company had $69.7 million in cash balances and no borrowings under the Company's unsecured line of credit. The Company had $194.5 million in available borrowing capacity on the line of credit at March 31, 2016 after consideration of outstanding letters of credit. The Company continues to be in compliance with associated financial covenants. The Company ended the quarter with total assets of

$726.8 million.

Net cash flows from operations for the first three months of 2016 were $55.9 million. The primary use of cash during the three month period ended March 31, 2016 was $14.7 million for stock repurchases and

$1.7 million for dividends. The average age of the Company's tractor fleet was 1.5 years as of March 31, 2016 compared to 1.7 years at March 31, 2015. The average age of the Company's trailer fleet was 4.7 years at March 31, 2016 compared to 4.5 years at March 31, 2015. The Company currently anticipates a total of approximately $45 to $55 million in net capital expenditures for the calendar year 2016. The Company ended the past twelve months with a return on total assets of 9.3% and a 14.4% return on equity.

The Company continues its commitment to stockholders through the payment of cash dividends and repurchase of common stock. Dividends of $0.02 per share were declared and paid during the first quarter of 2016. The Company has now paid cumulative cash dividends of $459.1 million, including three special dividends, ($2.00 in 2007, $1.00 in 2010, and $1.00 in 2012) over the past fifty-one consecutive quarters. During the three months ended March 31, 2016, 0.9 million shares of our common stock were repurchased for $14.7 million reducing outstanding shares at March 31, 2016 to 83.2 million shares. The Company has repurchased 4.7 million shares of our common stock for $88.7 million since August 2015 and a total of 10.7 million shares of common stock for approximately $169.2 million over the past five years.

Other Information

Historical commitment to customer service has allowed us to build solid, long-term relationships and brand ourselves as an industry leader for safety and on-time service. This past quarter we were recognized for the following customer service and fleet safety awards:

• Sam's Club (Walmart) - Carrier of the Year,

• Johnson and Johnson - Truckload Service Provider of the Year,

• Quaker/Gatorade - Carrier of the Year (Northwest Region),

• Quaker/Gatorade - Carrier of the Year (Central West Region),

• DHL - On Time Delivery - Truckload,

• California Trucking Association - Fleet Safety Award (1st Place - Truckload, over 7 million miles),

• California Trucking Association - Fleet Safety Award (1st Place - LTL/Gen Commodities-Local/Short Haul, over 4 million miles).

These awards are hard-earned and are a testament to our outstanding group of drivers and the many employees that support them each day.

Adjusted operating ratio is a non-GAAP financial measure and is not intended to replace financial measures calculated in accordance with GAAP. This non-GAAP financial measure supplements our GAAP results. We believe that using this measure affords a more consistent basis for comparing our results of operations from period to period. The information required by Item 10(e) of Regulation S-K under the Securities Act of 1933 and the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and Regulation G under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, including a reconciliation to the most directly comparable financial measure calculated in accordance with GAAP, is included in the table at the end of this press release.

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, Chief Executive Officer or John Cosaert, Chief Financial Officer 319-626-3600

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME

(In thousands, except per share amounts) (unaudited)

Three Months Ended March 31,

2016	2015
OPERATING REVENUE	$ 162,786	$ 187,523
OPERATING EXPENSES:
Salaries, wages, and benefits	$ 65,466	$ 70,996
Rent and purchased transportation	6,700	9,327
Fuel	21,194	34,256
Operations and maintenance	6,639	8,134
Operating taxes and licenses	3,891	4,813
Insurance and claims	8,092	6,644
Communications and utilities	1,204	1,543
Depreciation and amortization	25,705	25,974
Other operating expenses	4,933	7,757
Gain on disposal of property and equipment	(1,288)	(10,181)
142,536	159,263
Operating income	20,250	28,260
Interest income	75	31
Interest expense	-	(19)
Income before income taxes	20,325	28,272
Federal and state income taxes	5,948	10,661
Net income	$ 14,377	$ 17,611
Earnings per share
Basic	$ 0.17	$ 0.20
Diluted	$ 0.17	$ 0.20

Weighted average shares outstanding

Basic	83,369	87,791
Diluted	83,460	87,965

Dividends declared per share $ 0.02 $ 0.02

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

(in thousands, except per share amounts) (unaudited)

March 31, December 31, ASSETS 2016 2015 CURRENT ASSETS

Cash and cash equivalents $ 69,747 $ 33,232

Trade receivables, net 58,497 61,009

Prepaid tires 8,180 9,584

Other current assets 13,258 8,316

Income tax receivable - 7,641

Deferred income taxes, net - 16,662

Total current assets 149,682 136,444

PROPERTY AND EQUIPMENT 666,079 671,946

Less accumulated depreciation 219,382 197,948

446,697 473,998

GOODWILL 100,212 100,212 OTHER INTANGIBLES, NET 13,532 14,013 DEFERRED INCOME TAXES, NET 5,206 - OTHER ASSETS 11,457 11,363

$ 726,786 $ 736,030

LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY CURRENT LIABILITIES

Accounts payable and accrued liabilities $ 6,367 $ 7,516 Compensation and benefits 27,126 24,636

Insurance accruals 22,338 21,573

Income taxes payable 6,486 -

Other accruals 12,823 12,443

Total current liabilities 75,140 66,168

LONG-TERM LIABILITIES

Income taxes payable 14,631 16,228

Deferred income taxes, net 93,884 112,118

Insurance accruals less current portion 63,630 59,435

Other long-term liabilities 10,953 12,153

Total long-term liabilities 183,098 199,934

STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES

Capital stock, common, $.01 par value; authorized 395,000 shares; issued 90,689 in 2016 and 2015; outstanding 83,234 in 2016 and 84,115 in 2015, respectively	907	907
Additional paid-in capital	4,023	4,126
Retained earnings	588,659	575,948
Treasury stock, at cost; 7,455 in 2016 and 6,574 in 2015, respectively	(125,041)	(111,053)
468,548	469,928
$ 726,786	$ 736,030