Marten’s fourth quarter was better than the third

Truckload bearer Marten Transport reported net for the 4th fourth that reflected the archetypal stirrings of freight marketplace economics betterment that were evident astatine the extremity of 2025.

While the company’s nett income and operating ratios were weaker than successful the 4th fourth of 2024, sequentially Marten (NASDAQ: MRTN) had mostly amended numbers than the 3rd quarter, which it touted successful the prepared connection issued successful conjunction with the net release.

“We are encouraged by the sequential betterment successful our profitability,” president and CEO Randolph Marten said successful the statement. “Our radical besides drove sequential increases this 4th successful our gross per tractor, complaint per full mile and miles per tractor wrong each of our truckload and dedicated operations.”

Sequentially, Marten posted nett income of 5 cents/share successful the 4th quarter, up from 3 cts/share successful the 3rd quarter. Net income successful the 4th fourth of 2024 was 7 cents/share.

One crushed for the improved profitability: outgo control.

Third 4th gross was $220.4 million, dropping to $210.1 cardinal successful the 4th quarter. But salaries, wages and benefits declined sequentially to $75.7 cardinal from $79 million, and purchased proscription dropped to $36 cardinal from $42.3 million. That helped flooded a diminution successful gross to $210.1 cardinal from $220.4 cardinal successful the 3rd quarter.

The outgo power was besides evident successful year-on-year comparisons. Salaries, wages and benefits were down 8.6% year-on-year, and purchased proscription was down 8.1%.

But year-on-year, that driblet successful expenses could not flooded an 8.6% diminution successful revenue. The extremity effect was that 4th fourth 2025 nett income of $3.7 cardinal was a 34% diminution successful nett income year-on-year from $5.6 cardinal a twelvemonth earlier.

The biggest betterment sequentially astatine Marten was successful its operating ratio (OR) nett of substance for its Truckload segment. That fig was 102.2% successful the 3rd 4th but improved to 99.1% successful the 4th quarter. The Truckload conception turned a 3rd 4th operating nonaccomplishment of conscionable implicit $2 cardinal into a $783,000 operating nett successful the 4th quarter.

The sequential betterment was not crossed the board. In Marten’s Dedicated segment, a 3rd 4th OR nett of substance of 94% deteriorated somewhat to 94.6%. There besides was a deterioration successful the company’s OR successful brokerage, widening retired to 98% from 95.9% successful the 3rd quarter.

Dedicated operating income was $3.42 cardinal successful the 3rd quarter. In the 4th quarter, that fig slid to conscionable implicit $3 million. Brokerage declined to a 4th fourth operating income of $774,000, down from $1.6 cardinal successful the 3rd quarter.