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Marten Transport
(NASDAQ:MRTN)
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Rating:51Neutral
Price Target:
$12.50
â–¼(-13.55% Downside)
Action:Reiterated
Date:10/23/26
The score is held back primarily by the multi-year margin/return deterioration and clear bearish technical trend (price below all key moving averages with negative MACD). Strengths include a very conservative, low-debt balance sheet and improving 2026 TTM free cash flow, while valuation is a notable risk due to the very high P/E relative to currently low profitability. Corporate updates are moderately supportive but not enough to offset profitability and trend headwinds.
Positive Factors
Conservative balance sheet
Extremely low leverage gives Marten meaningful financial flexibility to withstand freight-market volatility, fund fleet and technology investments, and pursue operational improvements without heavy refinancing pressure. This balance-sheet strength can support resilience through weaker industry conditions.
Negative Factors
Structural margin deterioration
The sharp decline in net and operating margins shows that revenue recovery has not yet translated into restored profitability. Persistently thin margins leave less room to absorb cost inflation or weaker freight pricing and indicate that earnings power remains materially below earlier levels.
Read all positive and negative factors
Positive Factors
Negative Factors
Conservative balance sheet
Extremely low leverage gives Marten meaningful financial flexibility to withstand freight-market volatility, fund fleet and technology investments, and pursue operational improvements without heavy refinancing pressure. This balance-sheet strength can support resilience through weaker industry conditions.
Read all positive factors
Marten Transport (MRTN) vs. SPDR S&P 500 ETF (SPY)
Market Cap
$981.57M
Dividend Yield2%
Average Volume (3M)839.08K
Price to Earnings (P/E)72.3
Beta (1Y)0.78
Revenue Growth-4.82%
EPS Growth-31.33%
CountryUS
Employees3,502
SectorIndustrials
Sector Strength72
IndustryTrucking
Share Statistics
EPS (TTM)0.16
Shares Outstanding81,661,670
10 Day Avg. Volume789,922
30 Day Avg. Volume839,084
Financial Highlights & Ratios
PEG Ratio-1.49
Price to Book (P/B)1.21
Price to Sales (P/S)1.05
P/FCF Ratio-18.17
Enterprise Value/Market Cap0.98
Enterprise Value/Revenue1.11
Enterprise Value/Gross Profit59.35
Enterprise Value/Ebitda8.12
Forecast
1Y Price Target
$12.50Price Target Upside-13.55% Downside
Rating ConsensusHold
Number of Analyst Covering1
EPS Forecast (FY)0.26
Revenue Forecast (FY)$895.87M
Marten Transport Business Overview & Revenue Model
Company Description
Marten Transport, Ltd. functions as a prominent logistics firm, specializing in the temperature-controlled shipment of goods across the United States, Canada, and Mexico. The company's operations are divided into four main segments. Its Truckload ...
How the Company Makes Money
Marten Transport makes money primarily by being paid to move freight and manage freight movements for customers. Its core revenue stream comes from transportation services where Marten (or its subsidiaries) operates trucks and trailers—most notabl...
Marten Transport Financial Statement Overview
Summary
Income Statement
42
Neutral
Balance Sheet
85
Very Positive
Cash Flow
55
Neutral
| Breakdown | TTM | Dec 2025 | Dec 2024 | Dec 2023 | Dec 2022 | Dec 2021 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Income Statement | ||||||
| Total Revenue | 860.41M | 883.65M | 963.71M | 1.13B | 1.26B | 973.64M |
| Gross Profit | 16.15M | 22.91M | 130.70M | 188.73M | 238.50M | 183.15M |
| EBITDA | 118.07M | 129.77M | 139.90M | 193.22M | 240.98M | 197.96M |
| Net Income | 13.33M | 17.44M | 26.92M | 70.37M | 110.35M | 85.43M |
Balance Sheet | ||||||
| Total Assets | 955.97M | 949.77M | 968.76M | 990.34M | 980.52M | 884.26M |
| Cash, Cash Equivalents and Short-Term Investments | 91.50M | 43.28M | 17.27M | 53.21M | 80.60M | 56.99M |
| Total Debt | 82.00K | 388.00K | 282.00K | 249.00K | 710.00K | 540.00K |
| Total Liabilities | 191.80M | 182.14M | 200.84M | 232.95M | 276.60M | 232.59M |
| Stockholders Equity | 764.16M | 767.63M | 767.92M | 757.39M | 703.92M | 651.68M |
Cash Flow | ||||||
| Free Cash Flow | 54.59M | -51.06M | -98.42M | -76.18M | 42.87M | -28.09M |
| Operating Cash Flow | 88.87M | 93.49M | 134.81M | 164.38M | 219.49M | 171.20M |
| Investing Cash Flow | -28.16M | -42.88M | -152.14M | -172.54M | -134.96M | -123.73M |
| Financing Cash Flow | -18.69M | -19.60M | -18.62M | -19.23M | -60.93M | -56.60M |
Marten Transport Technical Analysis
Negative
14.46
Price Trends
13.41
Negative
14.98
Negative
14.41
Negative
Market Momentum
-0.40
Positive
33.27
Neutral
44.50
Neutral
Evaluating momentum and price trends is crucial in stock analysis to make informed investment decisions. For MRTN, the sentiment is Negative. The current price of 14.46 is above the 20-day moving average (MA) of 12.65, above the 50-day MA of 13.41, and above the 200-day MA of 14.41, indicating a bearish trend. The MACD of -0.40 indicates Positive momentum. The RSI at 33.27 is Neutral, neither overbought nor oversold. The STOCH value of 44.50 is Neutral, not indicating any strong overbought or oversold conditions. Overall, these indicators collectively point to a Negative sentiment for MRTN.
Marten Transport Risk Analysis
Marten Transport disclosed 20 risk factors in its most recent earnings report. Marten Transport reported the most risks in the "Legal & Regulatory" category.
Finance & Corporate - Financial and accounting risks. Risks related to the execution of corporate activity and strategy
Latest Risks Added 0 New Risks
Marten Transport Peers Comparison
UnderperformOutperform
Sector (63)
Name | Overall Rating | Market Cap | P/E Ratio | ROE | Dividend Yield | Revenue Growth | EPS Growth |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
63 Neutral | $10.79B | 15.43 | 7.44% | 2.01% | 2.89% | -14.66% | |
61 Neutral | $5.45B | 48.61 | 3.68% | 1.27% | 6.25% | -10.92% | |
58 Neutral | $10.26B | 66.34 | 2.18% | 1.24% | 7.03% | 7.31% | |
51 Neutral | $981.57M | 72.32 | 1.74% | 2.00% | -4.82% | -31.33% | |
49 Neutral | $759.56M | 199.53 | 0.92% | 0.94% | 8.34% | -89.15% | |
48 Neutral | $1.76B | -94.44 | -1.41% | 1.91% | 9.64% | -190.02% | |
46 Neutral | $801.94M | -64.89 | -1.69% | 0.77% | -17.23% | 63.20% |
* Industrials Sector Average
MRTN
Marten Transport
12.02
2.32
23.87%
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KNX
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WERN
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SNDR
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38.88%
Marten Transport Corporate Events
Business Operations and StrategyFinancial Disclosures
Marten Transport boosts Q3 profit amid tightening freight market
Positive
Oct 22, 2026
Marten Transport, headquartered in Mondovi, Wis., is a multifaceted trucking and logistics company focused on time- and temperature-sensitive and dry truck-based transportation and distribution. It operates across five business platforms – T...
Private Placements and FinancingRegulatory Filings and Compliance
Marten Transport Enters Significant New Financial Agreement
Neutral
Aug 25, 2026
On August 25, 2026, Marten Transport, Ltd. filed a report under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, formally signed by Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer James J. Hinnendael. The filing documents the company’s entry into a...
Business Operations and StrategyFinancial Disclosures
Marten Transport Highlights Q2 Profit Recovery, Market Tailwinds
Negative
Jul 23, 2026
Marten Transport reported that second-quarter 2026 net income fell to $5.3 million, or $0.07 per diluted share, from $7.2 million, or $0.09 per share, a year earlier, though earnings rose sharply from $1.4 million in the first quarter of 2026. For...
Glossary
BuyA stock rated as a "Buy" is expected to perform better than the overall market or a specific benchmark over the near-to-medium term. This rating suggests the stock is likely to deliver higher returns compared to other stocks in the same sector or market index. Note: This is not investment advice; please consult a financial advisor before making investment decisions.
HoldA stock rated as a "Hold" is expected to perform in line with the overall market or a specific benchmark. This rating indicates that the stock is neither particularly compelling nor unfavorable for investment. Note: This is not investment advice; please consult a financial advisor before making investment decisions.
SellA stock rated as a "Sell" is expected to perform worse than the overall market or a specific benchmark over the near-to-medium term. This rating suggests the stock may deliver lower returns compared to other stocks in the same sector or market index. Note: This is not investment advice; please consult a financial advisor before making investment decisions.
Disclaimer
This AI Analyst Stock Report is automatically generated by our AI systems using advanced algorithms and publicly available financial, technical, and market data. While the information provided aims to be accurate and insightful, it is intended for informational purposes only and should not be considered financial advice. Any content created by an AI (Artificial Intelligence) system may contain inaccuracies and/or contain errors. Investing in stocks carries inherent risks, and past performance is not indicative of future results. This report does not account for your personal financial circumstances, objectives, or risk tolerance. Always conduct your own research or consult with a qualified financial advisor before making investment decisions. The analysis and recommendations provided are based on historical and current data and may not fully reflect future market conditions or unexpected developments. Neither the creators of this report nor its affiliated entities guarantee the accuracy, completeness, or reliability of the information presented. Use this report at your own discretion and risk.