Marten Transport Announces First Quarter Results
Rhea-AI Summary
Marten Transport (Nasdaq: MRTN) reported Q1 2026 net income of $1.4 million ($0.02 diluted) on $203.5 million operating revenue, compared with $4.3 million and $223.2 million in Q1 2025. Operating income was $1.6 million and consolidated operating ratio was 99.2% for the quarter. The company remains debt-free with cash and equivalents of $69.8 million and noted the sale of its intermodal business effective September 30, 2025.
Positive
- Net income of $1.4 million in Q1 2026
- Operating cash $69.8 million at March 31, 2026
- Debt-free balance sheet (no borrowings reported)
- Brokerage revenue increased 5.0% year-over-year
Negative
- Net income declined ~68% from Q1 2025 ($4.3M to $1.4M)
- Operating revenue fell 8.8% year-over-year
- Operating income down from $5.9M to $1.6M
- Fleet size tractors down 14.6% (3,040 to 2,595)
News Market Reaction – MRTN
On the day this news was published, MRTN declined 0.20%, reflecting a mild negative market reaction. This price movement removed approximately $2M from the company's valuation, bringing the market cap to $1.16B at that time.
Data tracked by StockTitan Argus on the day of publication.
Key Figures
Previous Earnings Reports
| Date | Event | Sentiment | 24h Move | Catalyst |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 23 | Q3 2025 earnings | Negative | -9.1% | Q3 2025 revenue and income declined; operating income and margins weakened further. |
| Jul 16 | Q2 2025 earnings | Negative | +0.1% | Q2 2025 net income and revenue fell year-over-year amid freight recession. |
| Apr 16 | Q1 2025 earnings | Negative | -3.4% | Q1 2025 net income, EPS and revenue dropped; operating ratio deteriorated. |
| Oct 17 | Q3 2024 earnings | Negative | -2.8% | Q3 2024 showed sharp declines in revenue and income versus 2023 with higher costs. |
| Jul 18 | Q2 2024 earnings | Negative | +1.1% | Q2 2024 net income and revenue fell significantly year-over-year amid weak freight. |
24h Move is the share-price change in the day after each event; other market factors may also have contributed.
Earnings releases have generally highlighted year-over-year revenue and income pressure, with the stock showing an average same-tag move of -2.79% and often trading lower on these updates.
Recent earnings for Marten Transport have repeatedly shown declining net income and operating revenue versus prior-year periods, tied to a prolonged freight market recession, weak demand, and inflationary operating costs. Prior updates also referenced rising operating ratios and the sale of Intermodal assets, alongside a debt-free balance sheet. Today’s Q1 2026 results, with lower net income and revenue versus Q1 2025, fit this pattern of pressured profitability amid challenging freight conditions.
Key Terms
electronic logging device technical
cdl technical
forward-looking statements regulatory
form 10-k regulatory
AI-generated analysis. How Rhea-AI works. Not financial advice.
MONDOVI, Wis., April 23, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Marten Transport, Ltd. (Nasdaq/GS:MRTN) today reported net income of
Operating revenue was
Operating income was
Operating expenses as a percentage of operating revenue were
Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer Randolph L. Marten stated, “Our people drove sequential increases in our revenue per tractor within our truckload and dedicated operations each of the last two quarters. This impact on our earnings was more than offset by the prolonged severe winter storms and the sharp spike in diesel prices in the first quarter.”
“Our unique multifaceted business model’s value continued to be highlighted by the operating results of our dedicated and brokerage operations. Our earnings have been heavily pressured by the historic duration and depth of the freight market recession’s oversupply and weak demand, and the cumulative impact of inflationary operating costs, freight rate reductions and freight network disruptions.”
“We are focused on minimizing the freight market’s impact with our emphasis on safe, premium service, data-driven operating efficiencies and aggressive cost controls. Our strong, debt-free balance sheet enhances our ability to continue investing in our technology and modern fleet and position our operations to capitalize on improving profitable organic growth opportunities.”
“We believe that the freight market is in the early stages of recovery fueled by the current administration’s accelerating immigration enforcement clampdowns on multiple fronts -- including noncompliant state licensing practices for non-domiciled commercial driver’s licenses, or CDL’s, English Language Proficiency enforcement, electronic logging device fraud, CDL mills and chameleon carriers. These measures are structural changes to the freight market that have been and are expected to continue contracting capacity by removing noncompliant and unqualified drivers who never should have been driving in the first place.”
Marten Transport, with headquarters in Mondovi, Wis., is a multifaceted business offering a network of time and temperature-sensitive and dry truck-based transportation and distribution capabilities across Marten’s five distinct business platforms – Temperature-Sensitive and Dry Truckload, Dedicated, Brokerage and MRTN de Mexico. Marten’s Intermodal operations were sold effective September 30, 2025. Marten is one of the leading temperature-sensitive truckload carriers in the United States, specializing in transporting and distributing food, beverages and other consumer packaged goods that require a temperature-controlled or insulated environment. The Company offers service in the United States, Mexico and Canada, concentrating on expedited movements for high-volume customers. Marten’s common stock is traded on the Nasdaq Global Select Market under the symbol MRTN.
This press release contains certain statements that may be considered forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. These statements include a discussion of Marten’s prospects for future growth, including the impact on the freight market of the current administration’s accelerating immigration enforcement clampdowns on multiple fronts -- including noncompliant state licensing practices for non-domiciled commercial driver’s licenses, or CDL’s, English Language Proficiency enforcement, electronic logging device fraud, CDL mills and chameleon carriers, and by their nature involve substantial risks and uncertainties, and actual results may differ materially from those expressed in such forward-looking statements. Important factors known to the Company that could cause actual results to differ materially from those discussed in the forward-looking statements are discussed in Part I, Item 1A of the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2025. The Company undertakes no obligation to correct or update any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.
CONTACTS: Randy Marten, Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer, Doug Petit, President, and Jim Hinnendael, Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, of Marten Transport, Ltd., 715-926-4216.
| MARTEN TRANSPORT, LTD. CONSOLIDATED CONDENSED BALANCE SHEETS | |||||||||
| March 31, | December 31, | ||||||||
| (In thousands, except share information) | 2026 | 2025 | |||||||
| (Unaudited) | |||||||||
| ASSETS | |||||||||
| Current assets: | |||||||||
| Cash and cash equivalents | $ | 69,786 | $ | 43,278 | |||||
| Escrow deposit | 5,000 | 5,000 | |||||||
| Receivables: | |||||||||
| Trade, net | 91,911 | 85,807 | |||||||
| Other | 8,114 | 13,084 | |||||||
| Prepaid expenses and other | 20,792 | 24,532 | |||||||
| Total current assets | 195,603 | 171,701 | |||||||
| Property and equipment: | |||||||||
| Revenue equipment, buildings and land, office equipment and other | 1,112,817 | 1,128,932 | |||||||
| Accumulated depreciation | (362,739 | ) | (352,426 | ) | |||||
| Net property and equipment | 750,078 | 776,506 | |||||||
| Other noncurrent assets | 1,546 | 1,560 | |||||||
| Total assets | $ | 947,227 | $ | 949,767 | |||||
| LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY | |||||||||
| Current liabilities: | |||||||||
| Accounts payable | $ | 27,756 | $ | 28,769 | |||||
| Insurance and claims accruals | 44,853 | 43,700 | |||||||
| Accrued and other current liabilities | 21,641 | 19,763 | |||||||
| Total current liabilities | 94,250 | 92,232 | |||||||
| Deferred income taxes | 88,612 | 89,716 | |||||||
| Noncurrent operating lease liabilities | 157 | 194 | |||||||
| Total liabilities | 183,019 | 182,142 | |||||||
| Stockholders’ equity: | |||||||||
| Preferred stock, $.01 par value per share; 2,000,000 shares authorized; no shares issued and outstanding | - | - | |||||||
| Common stock, $.01 par value per share; 192,000,000 shares authorized; 81,589,135 shares at March 31, 2026, and 81,542,174 shares at December 31, 2025, issued and outstanding | 816 | 815 | |||||||
| Additional paid-in capital | 54,858 | 54,762 | |||||||
| Retained earnings | 708,534 | 712,048 | |||||||
| Total stockholders’ equity | 764,208 | 767,625 | |||||||
| Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity | $ | 947,227 | $ | 949,767 | |||||
| MARTEN TRANSPORT, LTD. CONSOLIDATED CONDENSED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS (Unaudited) | |||||||||
| Three Months | |||||||||
| Ended March 31, | |||||||||
| (In thousands, except per share information) | 2026 | 2025 | |||||||
| Operating revenue | $ | 203,526 | $ | 223,152 | |||||
| Operating expenses (income): | |||||||||
| Salaries, wages and benefits | 72,119 | 78,800 | |||||||
| Purchased transportation | 33,468 | 37,656 | |||||||
| Fuel and fuel taxes | 33,907 | 33,117 | |||||||
| Supplies and maintenance | 15,128 | 15,513 | |||||||
| Depreciation | 25,006 | 27,470 | |||||||
| Operating taxes and licenses | 2,245 | 2,417 | |||||||
| Insurance and claims | 13,245 | 13,377 | |||||||
| Communications and utilities | 2,105 | 2,279 | |||||||
| Gain on disposition of revenue equipment | (1,420 | ) | (1,665 | ) | |||||
| Other | 6,131 | 8,329 | |||||||
| Total operating expenses | 201,934 | 217,293 | |||||||
| Operating income | 1,592 | 5,859 | |||||||
| Other | (457 | ) | (349 | ) | |||||
| Income before income taxes | 2,049 | 6,208 | |||||||
| Income taxes expense | 667 | 1,873 | |||||||
| Net income | $ | 1,382 | $ | 4,335 | |||||
| Basic earnings per common share | $ | 0.02 | $ | 0.05 | |||||
| Diluted earnings per common share | $ | 0.02 | $ | 0.05 | |||||
| Dividends declared per common share | $ | 0.06 | $ | 0.06 | |||||
| MARTEN TRANSPORT, LTD. SEGMENT INFORMATION (Unaudited) | |||||||||||||||
| Dollar | Percentage | ||||||||||||||
| Change | Change | ||||||||||||||
| Three Months | Three Months | Three Months | |||||||||||||
| Ended | Ended | Ended | |||||||||||||
| March 31, | March 31, | March 31, | |||||||||||||
| (Dollars in thousands) | 2026 | 2025 | 2026 vs. 2025 | 2026 vs. 2025 | |||||||||||
| Operating revenue: | |||||||||||||||
| Truckload revenue, net of fuel surcharge revenue | $ | 89,310 | $ | 90,106 | $ | (796 | ) | (0.9 | )% | ||||||
| Truckload fuel surcharge revenue | 16,080 | 14,285 | 1,795 | 12.6 | |||||||||||
| Total Truckload revenue | 105,390 | 104,391 | 999 | 1.0 | |||||||||||
| Dedicated revenue, net of fuel surcharge revenue | 53,174 | 62,405 | (9,231 | ) | (14.8 | ) | |||||||||
| Dedicated fuel surcharge revenue | 10,289 | 11,220 | (931 | ) | (8.3 | ) | |||||||||
| Total Dedicated revenue | 63,463 | 73,625 | (10,162 | ) | (13.8 | ) | |||||||||
| Brokerage revenue | 34,673 | 33,019 | 1,654 | 5.0 | |||||||||||
| Intermodal revenue, net of fuel surcharge revenue | - | 10,268 | (10,268 | ) | (100.0 | ) | |||||||||
| Intermodal fuel surcharge revenue | - | 1,849 | (1,849 | ) | (100.0 | ) | |||||||||
| Total Intermodal revenue | - | 12,117 | (12,117 | ) | (100.0 | ) | |||||||||
| Total operating revenue | $ | 203,526 | $ | 223,152 | $ | (19,626 | ) | (8.8 | )% | ||||||
| Operating income/(loss): | |||||||||||||||
| Truckload | $ | (944 | ) | $ | (300 | ) | $ | (644 | ) | (214.7 | )% | ||||
| Dedicated | 1,622 | 4,854 | (3,232 | ) | (66.6 | ) | |||||||||
| Brokerage | 914 | 2,160 | (1,246 | ) | (57.7 | ) | |||||||||
| Intermodal | - | (855 | ) | 855 | 100.0 | ||||||||||
| Total operating income | $ | 1,592 | $ | 5,859 | $ | (4,267 | ) | (72.8 | )% | ||||||
| Operating ratio: | |||||||||||||||
| Truckload | 100.9 | % | 100.3 | % | |||||||||||
| Dedicated | 97.4 | 93.4 | |||||||||||||
| Brokerage | 97.4 | 93.5 | |||||||||||||
| Intermodal | - | 107.1 | |||||||||||||
| Consolidated operating ratio | 99.2 | % | 97.4 | % | |||||||||||
| Operating ratio, net of fuel surcharges: | |||||||||||||||
| Truckload | 101.1 | % | 100.3 | % | |||||||||||
| Dedicated | 96.9 | 92.2 | |||||||||||||
| Brokerage | 97.4 | 93.5 | |||||||||||||
| Intermodal | - | 108.3 | |||||||||||||
| Consolidated operating ratio, net of fuel surcharges | 99.1 | % | 97.0 | % | |||||||||||
| MARTEN TRANSPORT, LTD. OPERATING STATISTICS (Unaudited) | |||||||
| Three Months | |||||||
| Ended March 31, | |||||||
| 2026 | 2025 | ||||||
| Truckload Segment: | |||||||
| Revenue (in thousands) | $ | 105,390 | $ | 104,391 | |||
| Average revenue, net of fuel surcharges, per tractor per week(1) | $ | 4,425 | $ | 4,196 | |||
| Average tractors(1) | 1,570 | 1,670 | |||||
| Average miles per trip | 518 | 537 | |||||
| Non-revenue miles percentage(2) | 10.8 | % | 11.2 | % | |||
| Total miles (in thousands) | 36,887 | 38,273 | |||||
| Dedicated Segment: | |||||||
| Revenue (in thousands) | $ | 63,463 | $ | 73,625 | |||
| Average revenue, net of fuel surcharges, per tractor per week(1) | $ | 3,909 | $ | 3,846 | |||
| Average tractors(1) | 1,058 | 1,262 | |||||
| Average miles per trip | 298 | 308 | |||||
| Non-revenue miles percentage(2) | 1.3 | % | 1.6 | % | |||
| Total miles (in thousands) | 21,905 | 25,236 | |||||
| Brokerage Segment: | |||||||
| Revenue (in thousands) | $ | 34,673 | $ | 33,019 | |||
| Loads | 23,882 | 20,416 | |||||
| Intermodal Segment: | |||||||
| Revenue (in thousands) | $ | - | $ | 12,117 | |||
| Loads | - | 3,657 | |||||
| Average tractors | - | 77 | |||||
| At March 31, 2026 and March 31, 2025: | |||||||
| Total tractors(1) | 2,595 | 3,040 | |||||
| Average age of company tractors (in years) | 2.4 | 2.0 | |||||
| Total trailers | 5,021 | 5,331 | |||||
| Average age of company trailers (in years) | 5.1 | 5.4 | |||||
| Ratio of trailers to tractors(1) | 1.9 | 1.8 | |||||
| Total refrigerated containers | - | 786 | |||||
| Three Months | |||||||
| Ended March 31, | |||||||
| (In thousands) | 2026 | 2025 | |||||
| Net cash provided by operating activities | $ | 33,049 | $ | 36,215 | |||
| Net cash used for investing activities | (1,607 | ) | (8,413 | ) | |||
| Net cash used for financing activities | (4,934 | ) | (5,164 | ) | |||
| Weighted average shares outstanding: | |||||||
| Basic | 81,579 | 81,493 | |||||
| Diluted | 81,579 | 81,508 | |||||
| (1) | Includes tractors driven by both company-employed drivers and independent contractors. Independent contractors provided 77 and 82 tractors as of March 31, 2026 and 2025, respectively. | |
| (2) | Represents the percentage of miles for which the company is not compensated. | |
