second quarter 2026
Filed Jul 29, 2026OLD DOMINION FREIGHT LINE REPORTS SECOND QUARTER 2026 EARNINGS PER DILUTED SHARE OF $1.68
Second-quarter revenue increased 10.4%, operating income increased 30.0%, net income increased 30.5%, and diluted earnings per share increased 32.3%. Operating ratio improved by 450 basis points to 70.1%, supported by revenue quality, direct operating-cost leverage, overhead-cost improvement, and $17.2 million of net gains from property and equipment disposals.
Key metrics
as reported| Metric | Value | q/q | y/y |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total revenueGAAP | $ 1,554,004 (In thousands) | – | 10.4% |
| LTL services revenueGAAP | $ 1,538,938 (In thousands) | – | 10.3% |
| Other services revenueGAAP | $ 15,066 (In thousands) | – | 19.5% |
| Operating incomeGAAP | $ 465,301 (In thousands) | – | 30.0% |
| Operating ratioother | 70.1 % | – | – |
| Net incomeGAAP | $ 350,601 (In thousands) | – | 30.5% |
| Diluted earnings per shareGAAP | $ 1.68 | – | 32.3% |
| Diluted weighted average shares outstandingGAAP | 208,715 (In thousands) | – | (1.6)% |
| Six-month total revenueGAAP | $ 2,888,700 (In thousands) | – | 3.8% |
| Six-month LTL services revenueGAAP | $ 2,860,829 (In thousands) | – | 3.8% |
| Six-month other services revenueGAAP | $ 27,871 (In thousands) | – | 4.7% |
| Six-month operating incomeGAAP | $ 782,642 (In thousands) | – | 12.5% |
| Six-month operating ratioother | 72.9 % | – | – |
| Six-month net incomeGAAP | $ 588,859 (In thousands) | – | 12.5% |
| Six-month diluted earnings per shareGAAP | $ 2.82 | – | 14.6% |
| Six-month diluted weighted average shares outstandingGAAP | 209,014 (In thousands) | – | (1.8)% |
Segments
| Segment | Revenue | q/q | y/y |
|---|---|---|---|
| LTL servicesA 15.2% increase in LTL revenue per hundredweight was partially offset by a 4.1% decrease in LTL tons per day. | $ 1,538,938 (In thousands) | – | 10.3% |
| Other servicesNo segment-specific driver was provided. | $ 15,066 (In thousands) | – | 19.5% |
2026 outlook
- NoteAggregate capital expenditures: approximately $380 million
- NoteReal estate and service center expansion projects: $180 million
- NoteTractors and trailers: $155 million
- NoteInformation technology and other assets: $45 million
Capital returns
- For the first six months of this year, the Company utilized $239.7 million of cash for its share repurchase program.
- For the first six months of this year, the Company paid $120.7 million in cash dividends.
What drove it
- LTL revenue per hundredweight increased 15.2%.
- LTL tons per day decreased 4.1%.
- LTL shipments per day decreased 5.7%.
- LTL weight per shipment increased 1.7%.
- LTL revenue per hundredweight, excluding fuel surcharges, increased 5.5% compared to the second quarter of 2025.
- Direct operating costs as a percent of revenue improved by 230 basis points.
- Overhead costs as a percent of revenue improved compared to the year-ago period, due in part to the $17.2 million of net gains from the disposal of property and equipment.
- The Company reported 99% on-time service and a claims ratio of 0.1%.
Concerns
- LTL tons per day decreased 4.1%.
- LTL shipments per day decreased 5.7%.
- The overhead-cost improvement was due in part to $17.2 million of net gains from the disposal of property and equipment.
- The company identified inflationary pressures, domestic economic downturns, pricing pressure, diesel-fuel volatility, labor costs, equipment and real-estate costs, and changes in trade policies as risks.
What to watch
- Whether LTL tons per day and LTL shipments per day improve from their reported declines of 4.1% and 5.7%, respectively.
- Whether LTL revenue per hundredweight continues to offset cost inflation as intended by the Company's yield-management approach.
- Whether operating-ratio improvement continues after the reported $17.2 million of net gains from disposal of property and equipment.
- Execution of approximately $380 million of expected 2026 capital expenditures, including real estate and service center expansion projects, tractors and trailers, and information technology and other assets.
- Future share repurchases and cash dividends, which the Company identifies as subject to fluctuations in amount and frequency and to its ability to declare and pay future cash dividends.
Balance sheet and cash flow
- Net cash provided by operating activities was $272.7 million for the second quarter of 2026.
- Net cash provided by operating activities was $646.3 million for the first half of the year.
- Cash and cash equivalents were $283.9 million at June 30, 2026.
- Capital expenditures were $77.0 million for the second quarter of 2026.
- Capital expenditures were $139.6 million for the first half of the year.
Analysis
Old Dominion reported a strong second quarter, with total revenue of $ 1,554,004 (In thousands), up 10.4%, and operating income of $ 465,301 (In thousands), up 30.0%. Net income increased 30.5% to $ 350,601 (In thousands), while diluted earnings per share rose 32.3% to $ 1.68. The higher per-share growth rate coincided with a (1.6)% decline in diluted weighted average shares outstanding.
Demand and pricing trends were divergent. LTL services revenue increased 10.3% to $ 1,538,938 (In thousands), driven by a 15.2% increase in LTL revenue per hundredweight. Volume remained under pressure, as LTL tons per day declined 4.1% and LTL shipments per day declined 5.7%; LTL weight per shipment increased 1.7%. LTL revenue per hundredweight excluding fuel surcharges increased 5.5% compared with the second quarter of 2025, highlighting the role of yield management in the revenue increase.
Profitability improved materially. The operating ratio improved by 450 basis points to 70.1%, while direct operating costs as a percent of revenue improved by 230 basis points. Overhead costs as a percent of revenue also improved, due in part to $17.2 million of net gains from the disposal of property and equipment. Service indicators remained strong at 99% on-time service and a claims ratio of 0.1%.
Cash generation funded investment and shareholder returns. Net cash provided by operating activities was $272.7 million in the second quarter, capital expenditures were $77.0 million, and cash and cash equivalents were $283.9 million at June 30, 2026. During the first six months, the Company utilized $239.7 million for share repurchases and paid $120.7 million in cash dividends. Management expects aggregate 2026 capital expenditures of approximately $380 million, including $180 million for real estate and service center expansion projects.
For the first six months, total revenue increased 3.8% to $ 2,888,700 (In thousands), operating income increased 12.5% to $ 782,642 (In thousands), and diluted earnings per share increased 14.6% to $ 2.82. The key issues for the next period are whether shipment and tonnage trends recover, whether pricing continues to support revenue quality and cost inflation recovery, and whether operating-ratio performance continues without the benefit of the reported disposal gains.
Management, verbatim
Old Dominion’s second quarter financial results include a 10.4% increase in revenue, a 30.0% increase in operating income, and earnings per diluted share that match our previous Company record that we set in the third quarter of 2022.
Marty Freeman, President and Chief Executive Officer of Old Dominion
Our 10.4% increase in revenue was primarily due to a 15.2% increase in our LTL revenue per hundredweight that was partially offset by a 4.1% decrease in our LTL tons per day.
Marty Freeman, President and Chief Executive Officer of Old Dominion
Old Dominion produced strong profitable revenue growth in the second quarter as we continued to successfully execute on the fundamental aspects of our long-term strategic plan, the cornerstone of which remains our ability to provide our customers with superior service at a fair price.
Marty Freeman, President and Chief Executive Officer of Old Dominion
Not in the filing
stated, not guessed- Prior-quarter comparisons for revenue, segment revenue, operating income, operating ratio, net income, diluted earnings per share, and diluted weighted average shares outstanding
- Gross profit and gross margin
- Operating expenses
- Income tax expense and tax rate
- Non-GAAP financial measures, including non-GAAP operating income, non-GAAP net income, and non-GAAP earnings per share
- Free cash flow
- Debt balance
- Second-quarter share-repurchase amount
- Second-quarter cash-dividend amount
- Revenue, gross-margin, operating-expense, and tax-rate guidance
- Previous-release outlook for comparison with actual results
AlphaAI analysis generated from the company’s SEC earnings filing (Form 8-K Item 2.02, or Form 6-K for a foreign private issuer). Every figure was cross-checked against the filing text; consensus estimates, price targets and share-price reactions are not shown because they are not in the filing. AI-generated research, not investment advice.