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Side-by-side financial comparison of HEARTLAND EXPRESS INC (HTLD) and Leslie's, Inc. (LESL). Click either name above to swap in a different company.

HEARTLAND EXPRESS INC is the larger business by last-quarter revenue ($179.4M vs $147.1M, roughly 1.2× Leslie's, Inc.). HEARTLAND EXPRESS INC runs the higher net margin — -10.8% vs -56.4%, a 45.6% gap on every dollar of revenue. On growth, Leslie's, Inc. posted the faster year-over-year revenue change (-16.0% vs -26.1%). HEARTLAND EXPRESS INC produced more free cash flow last quarter ($-44.2M vs $-85.5M). Over the past eight quarters, Leslie's, Inc.'s revenue compounded faster (-11.7% CAGR vs -18.5%).

Heartland Express is an American trucking company headquartered in North Liberty, Iowa. The company offers truckload shipping services across the United States.

Leslie's, Inc., operating as Leslie's Swimming Pool Supplies, is the largest retailer of swimming pool supplies and related products. The company is headquartered in Phoenix, Arizona, and has a particularly strong retail presence in Arizona, California, Florida, Georgia and Texas.

HTLD vs LESL — Head-to-Head

Bigger by revenue
HTLD
HTLD
1.2× larger
HTLD
$179.4M
$147.1M
LESL
Growing faster (revenue YoY)
LESL
LESL
+10.0% gap
LESL
-16.0%
-26.1%
HTLD
Higher net margin
HTLD
HTLD
45.6% more per $
HTLD
-10.8%
-56.4%
LESL
More free cash flow
HTLD
HTLD
$41.3M more FCF
HTLD
$-44.2M
$-85.5M
LESL
Faster 2-yr revenue CAGR
LESL
LESL
Annualised
LESL
-11.7%
-18.5%
HTLD

Income Statement — Q4 FY2025 vs Q1 FY2026

Metric
HTLD
HTLD
LESL
LESL
Revenue
$179.4M
$147.1M
Net Profit
$-19.4M
$-83.0M
Gross Margin
18.4%
Operating Margin
-12.7%
-46.7%
Net Margin
-10.8%
-56.4%
Revenue YoY
-26.1%
-16.0%
Net Profit YoY
-949.2%
-86.2%
EPS (diluted)
$-0.24
$-8.92

Green = leading value per metric. Periods may differ when fiscal calendars don't align.

8-Quarter Revenue & Profit Trend

Side-by-side quarterly history. Quarters aligned by calendar period so offset fiscal years line up.

Revenue
HTLD
HTLD
LESL
LESL
Q1 26
$147.1M
Q4 25
$179.4M
$389.2M
Q3 25
$196.5M
Q2 25
$210.4M
$500.3M
Q1 25
$219.4M
$177.1M
Q4 24
$242.6M
$175.2M
Q3 24
$259.9M
$397.9M
Q2 24
$274.8M
$569.6M
Net Profit
HTLD
HTLD
LESL
LESL
Q1 26
$-83.0M
Q4 25
$-19.4M
$-162.8M
Q3 25
$-8.3M
Q2 25
$-10.9M
$21.7M
Q1 25
$-13.9M
$-51.3M
Q4 24
$-1.9M
$-44.6M
Q3 24
$-9.3M
$-9.9M
Q2 24
$-3.5M
$60.6M
Gross Margin
HTLD
HTLD
LESL
LESL
Q1 26
18.4%
Q4 25
38.6%
Q3 25
Q2 25
39.6%
Q1 25
24.8%
Q4 24
27.2%
Q3 24
36.0%
Q2 24
40.2%
Operating Margin
HTLD
HTLD
LESL
LESL
Q1 26
-46.7%
Q4 25
-12.7%
-38.6%
Q3 25
-3.7%
Q2 25
-5.9%
13.7%
Q1 25
-6.8%
-27.3%
Q4 24
0.4%
-22.7%
Q3 24
-2.7%
6.6%
Q2 24
0.1%
17.2%
Net Margin
HTLD
HTLD
LESL
LESL
Q1 26
-56.4%
Q4 25
-10.8%
-41.8%
Q3 25
-4.2%
Q2 25
-5.2%
4.3%
Q1 25
-6.3%
-29.0%
Q4 24
-0.8%
-25.4%
Q3 24
-3.6%
-2.5%
Q2 24
-1.3%
10.6%
EPS (diluted)
HTLD
HTLD
LESL
LESL
Q1 26
$-8.92
Q4 25
$-0.24
$-20.59
Q3 25
$-0.11
Q2 25
$-0.14
$0.12
Q1 25
$-0.18
$-0.28
Q4 24
$-0.03
$-4.82
Q3 24
$-0.12
$-2.46
Q2 24
$-0.04
$0.33

Balance Sheet & Financial Strength

Snapshot of each company's liquidity, leverage and book value from the latest quarter.

Metric
HTLD
HTLD
LESL
LESL
Cash + ST InvestmentsLiquidity on hand
$18.5M
$3.6M
Total DebtLower is stronger
$154.1M
$781.6M
Stockholders' EquityBook value
$755.3M
$-489.9M
Total Assets
$1.2B
$649.4M
Debt / EquityLower = less leverage
0.20×

8-quarter trend — quarters aligned by calendar period.

Cash + ST Investments
HTLD
HTLD
LESL
LESL
Q1 26
$3.6M
Q4 25
$18.5M
$64.3M
Q3 25
$32.7M
Q2 25
$22.9M
$42.7M
Q1 25
$23.9M
$17.3M
Q4 24
$12.8M
$11.6M
Q3 24
$30.7M
$108.5M
Q2 24
$23.9M
$74.4M
Total Debt
HTLD
HTLD
LESL
LESL
Q1 26
$781.6M
Q4 25
$154.1M
$756.6M
Q3 25
Q2 25
$776.6M
Q1 25
$858.1M
Q4 24
$187.9M
$796.6M
Q3 24
$783.7M
Q2 24
$783.7M
Stockholders' Equity
HTLD
HTLD
LESL
LESL
Q1 26
$-489.9M
Q4 25
$755.3M
$-408.0M
Q3 25
$775.6M
Q2 25
$786.7M
$-246.2M
Q1 25
$807.7M
$-269.5M
Q4 24
$822.6M
$-220.0M
Q3 24
$825.7M
$-177.1M
Q2 24
$836.8M
$-168.2M
Total Assets
HTLD
HTLD
LESL
LESL
Q1 26
$649.4M
Q4 25
$1.2B
$741.5M
Q3 25
$1.3B
Q2 25
$1.3B
$989.5M
Q1 25
$1.3B
$1.0B
Q4 24
$1.3B
$967.0M
Q3 24
$1.4B
$1.1B
Q2 24
$1.4B
$1.1B
Debt / Equity
HTLD
HTLD
LESL
LESL
Q1 26
Q4 25
0.20×
Q3 25
Q2 25
Q1 25
Q4 24
0.23×
Q3 24
Q2 24

Cash Flow & Capital Efficiency

How much cash each business actually produces after reinvestment. Cash flow is harder to manipulate than net income.

Metric
HTLD
HTLD
LESL
LESL
Operating Cash FlowLast quarter
$14.9M
$-81.1M
Free Cash FlowOCF − Capex
$-44.2M
$-85.5M
FCF MarginFCF / Revenue
-24.6%
-58.1%
Capex IntensityCapex / Revenue
33.0%
2.9%
Cash ConversionOCF / Net Profit
TTM Free Cash FlowTrailing 4 quarters
$-66.9M
$7.6M

8-quarter trend — quarters aligned by calendar period.

Operating Cash Flow
HTLD
HTLD
LESL
LESL
Q1 26
$-81.1M
Q4 25
$14.9M
$48.2M
Q3 25
$27.5M
Q2 25
$21.0M
$114.9M
Q1 25
$25.8M
$-49.2M
Q4 24
$37.8M
$-105.1M
Q3 24
$35.6M
$47.1M
Q2 24
$40.0M
$175.5M
Free Cash Flow
HTLD
HTLD
LESL
LESL
Q1 26
$-85.5M
Q4 25
$-44.2M
$41.8M
Q3 25
$-12.2M
Q2 25
$-12.8M
$107.1M
Q1 25
$2.3M
$-55.8M
Q4 24
$-45.5M
$-109.8M
Q3 24
$24.6M
$34.1M
Q2 24
$29.4M
$165.2M
FCF Margin
HTLD
HTLD
LESL
LESL
Q1 26
-58.1%
Q4 25
-24.6%
10.7%
Q3 25
-6.2%
Q2 25
-6.1%
21.4%
Q1 25
1.0%
-31.5%
Q4 24
-18.8%
-62.6%
Q3 24
9.5%
8.6%
Q2 24
10.7%
29.0%
Capex Intensity
HTLD
HTLD
LESL
LESL
Q1 26
2.9%
Q4 25
33.0%
1.7%
Q3 25
20.2%
Q2 25
16.1%
1.6%
Q1 25
10.7%
3.7%
Q4 24
34.3%
2.7%
Q3 24
4.2%
3.2%
Q2 24
3.8%
1.8%
Cash Conversion
HTLD
HTLD
LESL
LESL
Q1 26
Q4 25
Q3 25
Q2 25
5.29×
Q1 25
Q4 24
Q3 24
Q2 24
2.89×

Financial Flow Comparison

Revenue → gross profit → operating profit → net profit for each company.

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