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Upturn AI Summary - About
Marten Transport Ltd(MRTN)
Advisory History & Simulated Performance *
*as per simulation (see disclosures)- ALL
- 1Y
- 1M
- 1W
- BUY Advisory
- SELL Advisory (Profit)
- SELL Advisory (Loss)
- Profit
- Loss
- PASS (Skip)
Stock price based on last close Advisory Performance History (Simulated)
Upturn Advisory & Investor View for MRTN
11/12/2026: MRTN (1-star) is currently NOT-A-BUY. Pass it for now.
Marten Transport is a publicly traded, asset-based trucking company that serves as a specialized provider of temperature-sensitive and dry freight services in North America. Known for its historical focus on refrigerated transportation, the company balances its asset-heavy truckload and dedicated operations with brokerage services. Its primary investment story hinges on its niche position in food-grade freight and a clean, debt-free balance sheet that provides resilience. However, the company faces significant risks from cyclical freight market downturns, intense competition from larger multimodal rivals, and rising operating costs. The stock may suit dividend-focused or value-oriented investors monitoring for long-term freight cycle recoveries and capital efficiency.
How to Read the Upturn Advisory
The Upturn Star Rating and the current BUY, SELL, or PASS advisory are generated by Upturn’s AI advisory engine based on proprietary signal analysis, price behavior, advisory history, and historical signal performance.
Company fundamentals, valuation, risks, and news provide supporting context about the business.
Investor Fit
| Investor style | Fit | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Growth investor | Mixed fit | The company is currently focused on cyclical recovery and margin improvement rather than aggressive, high-velocity revenue growth. |
| Momentum investor | Weak fit | The stock's performance is tied to cyclical freight market signals, which have been historically volatile and recently soft. |
| Value investor | Strong fit | Marten's debt-free balance sheet and historically disciplined management often appeal to value-oriented investors during market troughs. |
| Dividend investor | Strong fit | The company has a consistent history of paying dividends and occasionally providing special cash distributions to shareholders. |
| Low-risk investor | Mixed fit | While the balance sheet is strong, the inherent volatility of the trucking industry and freight market cycles creates operational risk. |
Risk Profile
| Risk factor | Level | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| Price volatility | Medium | The stock is sensitive to freight cycle shifts and quarterly earnings surprises. |
| Valuation risk | Medium | Market expectations for a freight recovery are often priced in, which can lead to volatility if improvements are delayed. |
| Competition risk (Multimodal/National Carriers) | High | Larger carriers have greater economies of scale and broader service bundles to win contracts. |
| Business quality | Medium | Marten has a strong reputation for service, though thin margins limit financial buffer room. |
| Dividend income | Low | While consistent, dividends are modest and subject to capital allocation priorities. |
| Execution risk | Medium | Success depends on driver retention, fuel cost management, and maintaining high service levels. |
Key Highlights
Company Size Small-Cap Stock | Market Capitalization 979.89M USD | Price to earnings Ratio 75.06 | 1Y Target Price 15.75 |
Price to earnings Ratio 75.06 | 1Y Target Price 15.75 | ||
Volume (30-day avg) 759.8K shares | Beta 1.02 | 52 Weeks Range 9.18 - 18.34 | Updated Date 11/11/2026 |
52 Weeks Range 9.18 - 18.34 | Updated Date 11/11/2026 | ||
Dividends yield (FY) 2.00% | Basic EPS (TTM) 0.16 |
Sector & Industry Intelligence
Sector
Industrials
Constructive- Sentiment
- Bullish
- Momentum
- BUY Breadth Improving
- BUY participation
- 39.5%
- Active BUY / eligible
- 30 / 76
- 30-Day BUY Count Change
- +12
- Market state
- Bullish
More qualifying stocks are receiving or maintaining BUY advisories, indicating improving market participation.
Industry
Trucking
- BUY participation
- 0.0%
- Active BUY / eligible
- 0 / 1
- 30-Day BUY Count Change
- 0
Eligible universe: 1 stock.
Sector signal summarizes BUY breadth conditions for the sector. It does not override this stock’s BUY, SELL, or PASS advisory.
Price Behavior
Downtrend
The stock has experienced a sustained decline in price over recent periods.
Moderately Choppy
The stock has experienced noticeable price swings while retaining some directional structure.
Analysis of Past Performance
Type Stock | Historic Profit -17.46% | Avg. Invested days 37 | Today’s Advisory PASS |
Upturn Advisory Rating  | Upturn Advisory Performance  2.0 | Stock Returns Performance  1.0 |
| Profits based on simulation | Last Close 11/12/2026 |
Upturn Scorecard
Upturn Star Rating 
Company Fundamentals
Financial Health Rating
Growth Momentum Score
Ownership
Top 5 Institutional Investors
Unit Economics (Per $1K Revenue)
Economic Dimensions
Quantitative Style Profile
Style Classification
Quality Focused
How Company Makes Money
| Business area | What it includes | Retail investor read |
|---|---|---|
| Temperature-Sensitive Truckload | Refrigerated freight services for food and beverages. | This is the company's core, specialized service that provides the bulk of its brand identity and reputation. |
| Dedicated & Brokerage | Contracted long-term fleets and asset-light freight matching. | These segments add volume and flexibility, helping to smooth out demand in the core truckload segment. |
Analyzing Revenue: Products, Geography and Growth
Revenue by Products
Product revenue - Year on Year
Earnings Date
Report Date 2026-10-22 | When After Market | Estimate 0.06 | Actual 0.04 |
Profitability
Profit Margin 1.55% | Operating Margin (TTM) 0.78% |
Management Effectiveness
Return on Assets (TTM) 0.44% | Return on Equity (TTM) 1.74% |
Valuation
Trailing PE 75.06 | Forward PE 17.64 | Enterprise Value 889.34M | Price to Sales(TTM) 1.14 |
Enterprise Value 889.34M | Price to Sales(TTM) 1.14 | ||
Enterprise Value to Revenue 1.03 | Enterprise Value to EBITDA 8.38 | Shares Outstanding 81.59M | Shares Floating 57.59M |
Shares Outstanding 81.59M | Shares Floating 57.59M | ||
Percent Insiders 29.29 | Percent Institutions 75.9 |
Financial Metrics
🧭 Investment Snapshot
Total Revenue (Scale)
Total money earned from selling products or services before any costs. It is needed to understand the scale of the business and its ability to generate income.
Net Income (Profit)
Final profit after all expenses, interest, and taxes are deducted. It is needed to determine the overall profitability available to shareholders.
Free Cash Flow (Cash Strength)
Cash remaining after operating activities and capital expenditures, showing cash available for growth. It is needed to evaluate the company’s ability to invest, pay dividends, or reduce debt.
📈 Growth & Strength
Operating Income (Core Profit)
Profit from core operations after deducting all operating expenses. It is needed to measure how efficiently the company runs its primary business activities.
EBITDA (Cash Earnings)
Earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization, indicating operating cash potential. It is needed to compare operating performance across companies without accounting or financing differences.
Gross Profit (Unit Profitability)
Revenue minus cost of revenue, showing profit after direct production costs. It is needed to evaluate core business profitability before overhead expenses.
🛡️ Financial Safety
Cash (Liquidity Buffer)
Total cash and cash equivalents on hand. It is needed to evaluate immediate liquidity and financial flexibility.
Total Debt (Leverage Risk)
Total debt including both short-term and long-term components. It is needed to assess the company’s leverage and financial risk.
Net Working Capital (Short-Term Health)
Current assets minus current liabilities, indicating short-term liquidity strength. It is needed to assess whether the company can meet its short-term obligations.
🧱 Balance Sheet Strength
Stockholder Equity (Net Worth)
Total equity value held by shareholders. It is needed to understand the net worth of the company from the owners’ perspective.
Total Assets (Asset Base)
The full value of everything the company owns, including cash, inventory, equipment, and investments. It is needed to understand the resource base used to generate revenue.
Income Before Tax (Pre-Tax Earnings)
Income before provision for income taxes. It is needed to analyze profitability independent of tax structures.
⚙️ Cost & Drag Factors
Cost of Revenue (Production Cost)
Direct costs required to produce and deliver the products or services sold. It is needed to assess efficiency in production and service delivery.
Total Operating Expenses (Operating Cost)
Indirect costs of running the business such as salaries, marketing, and administration. It is needed to understand how much it costs to sustain ongoing business operations.
Income Tax Expense (Tax Drag)
Amount of taxes paid or payable to the government. It is needed to evaluate the impact of taxation on overall profitability.
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