---
schema_version: "secwatch.filing_event.v1"
accession: "0001437749-24-002185"
form_type: "8-K"
ticker: "MRTN"
cik: "0000799167"
company_name: "MARTEN TRANSPORT LTD"
filed_at: "2024-01-25T23:59:59+00:00"
generated_at: "2026-06-06T18:49:20.729472+00:00"
event_type: "earnings"
sentiment: "negative"
materiality_score: 0.75
calibrated_materiality_score: 0.75
confidence: "high"
source: SEC EDGAR
---

# Marten Transport Q4 net income falls 51% to $12.4M; full-year EPS drops to $0.86 from $1.35

## Summary
- Q4 diluted EPS of $0.15 vs $0.31 in Q4 2022; operating revenue down 17% to $268.2M.
- Full-year 2023 net income $70.4M ($0.86/sh) vs $110.4M ($1.35/sh) in 2022.
- Operating expenses as % of operating revenue (net of fuel surcharges) rose to 93.2% from 87.8%.
- Executive Chairman cites freight market recession, weak demand, oversupply, and inflationary costs.
- Company has not agreed to any rate reductions since August 2023.

## SEC filing metadata
- accession: 0001437749-24-002185
- form_type: 8-K
- ticker: MRTN
- cik: 0000799167
- company_name: MARTEN TRANSPORT LTD
- filed_at: 2024-01-25T23:59:59+00:00
- event_type: earnings
- sentiment: negative
- materiality_score: 0.75
- calibrated_materiality_score: 0.75
- confidence: high
- sec_items: 2.02, 7.01, 9.01
- EDGAR index: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/799167/000143774924002185/0001437749-24-002185-index.htm
- EDGAR primary document: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/799167/000143774924002185/mrtn20240122_8k.htm

## Machine-readable alternates
- HTML: https://secwatch.observer/filing/0001437749-24-002185
- JSON: https://secwatch.observer/filing/0001437749-24-002185.json
- Plain text: https://secwatch.observer/filing/0001437749-24-002185.txt

## Key facts
- Earnings Releases
  MARTEN TRANSPORT LTD reported the fourth quarter ended December 31, 2023 results: revenue $268.2 million, net income $12.4 million, EPS 15 cents per diluted share.
  - Period: the fourth quarter ended December 31, 2023
  - Revenue: $268.2 million
  - Net income: $12.4 million
  - EPS: 15 cents per diluted share
  - Result: reported results
  source text: Operating revenue was $268.2 million for the fourth quarter of 2023 compared with $322.6 million for the fourth quarter of 2022.
  evidence_url: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/799167/000143774924002185/0001437749-24-002185-index.htm
- Earnings Releases
  MARTEN TRANSPORT LTD reported the year ended December 31, 2023 results: revenue $1.131 billion, net income $70.4 million, EPS 86 cents per diluted share.
  - Period: the year ended December 31, 2023
  - Revenue: $1.131 billion
  - Net income: $70.4 million
  - EPS: 86 cents per diluted share
  - Result: reported results
  source text: Operating revenue was $1.131 billion for 2023 compared with $1.264 billion for 2022.
  evidence_url: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/799167/000143774924002185/0001437749-24-002185-index.htm

This AI-assisted summary is a reading aid. Review the linked SEC EDGAR filing before relying on any specific claim.