Heartland Express (Nasdaq: HTLD) reported earnings on July 19. Here are the numbers you need to know.

The 10-second takeaway
 For the quarter ended June 30 (Q2), Heartland Express missed estimates on revenues and beat expectations on earnings per share.

Compared to the prior-year quarter, revenue shrank. GAAP earnings per share grew.

Gross margins grew, operating margins dropped, net margins expanded.

Revenue details
 Heartland Express reported revenue of $134.0 million. The 12 analysts polled by S&P Capital IQ hoped for sales of $141.8 million on the same basis. GAAP reported sales were the same as the prior-year quarter's.

Source: S&P Capital IQ. Quarterly periods. Dollar amounts in millions. Non-GAAP figures may vary to maintain comparability with estimates.

EPS details
 EPS came in at $0.23. The 16 earnings estimates compiled by S&P Capital IQ predicted $0.20 per share. GAAP EPS of $0.23 for Q2 were 9.5% higher than the prior-year quarter's $0.21 per share.

Source: S&P Capital IQ. Quarterly periods. Non-GAAP figures may vary to maintain comparability with estimates.

Margin details
 For the quarter, gross margin was 36.8%, 310 basis points better than the prior-year quarter. Operating margin was 15.5%, 110 basis points worse than the prior-year quarter. Net margin was 14.3%, 130 basis points better than the prior-year quarter. (Margins calculated in GAAP terms.)

Looking ahead
 Next quarter's average estimate for revenue is $139.4 million. On the bottom line, the average EPS estimate is $0.19.

Next year's average estimate for revenue is $554.6 million. The average EPS estimate is $0.81.

Investor sentiment
 The stock has a four-star rating (out of five) at Motley Fool CAPS, with 81 members out of 89 rating the stock outperform, and eight members rating it underperform. Among 27 CAPS All-Star picks (recommendations by the highest-ranked CAPS members), 26 give Heartland Express a green thumbs-up, and one give it a red thumbs-down.

Of Wall Street recommendations tracked by S&P Capital IQ, the average opinion on Heartland Express is hold, with an average price target of $14.39.

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