Landstar System's Q1 earnings equal to year-ago quarter at US$26.8M as revenue falls to US$628.3M from US$649.0M; company anticipates yearly drop in Q2 revenue amid soft April demand for truck services
Cindy Allen
JACKSONVILLE, Florida
,
April 25, 2013
(press release)
–
Landstar System, Inc. (LSTR) reported 2013 first quarter diluted earnings per share of $0.57 from net income of $26.8 million, equaling the record first quarter net income and diluted earnings per share that were achieved in the 2012 first quarter. Operating margin, representing operating income divided by gross profit (gross profit defined as revenue less the cost of purchased transportation and commissions to agents) was 42.3 percent in the 2013 first quarter compared to 40.8 percent in the 2012 first quarter. Revenue for the 2013 first quarter was the second highest first quarter revenue in Landstar history at $628.3 million compared to $649.0 million in the 2012 first quarter. Truck transportation revenue hauled by independent business capacity owners ("BCOs") and truck brokerage carriers in the 2013 first quarter was $574.7 million, or 91 percent of revenue, compared to $600.2 million, or 92 percent of revenue, in the 2012 first quarter. Revenue hauled by rail, air and ocean cargo carriers was $39.1 million, or 6 percent of revenue, in the 2013 first quarter compared to $35.1 million, or 5 percent of revenue, in the 2012 first quarter.
The resiliency of Landstar's variable cost business model continues to generate outstanding returns and provide a strong balance sheet. Trailing twelve-month return on average shareholder's equity was 35 percent and trailing twelve-month return on invested capital, net income divided by the sum of average equity plus average debt, was 27 percent. As of March 30, 2013, the Company had $139.8 million in cash and short term investments and $25 million in borrowings outstanding under its senior credit facility. As of March 30, 2013, there was $167 million available for borrowing under the Company's senior credit facility. Currently, there are 1,992,000 shares of the Company's common stock available for purchase under Landstar's authorized share purchase program. Commenting on Landstar's 2013 first quarter performance, Landstar Chairman, President and CEO, Henry Gerkens said, "Diluted earnings per share was $0.57 in the 2013 first quarter, matching the first quarter record of $0.57, which was set last year. Operating margin in the 2013 first quarter of 42.3 percent was the highest first quarter operating margin in Landstar history. The Company's annual agent meeting was held in the 2013 second quarter versus in the 2012 first quarter, which resulted in a favorable comparison of the 2013 first quarter operating margin to the 2012 first quarter operating margin. From a revenue standpoint, revenue in the 2013 first quarter was the second highest first quarter revenue in Landstar history. Demand for the Company's truck services was choppy throughout the 2013 first quarter due in large part to inclement weather. Additionally, the 2013 first quarter had 2 fewer full work days than the 2012 first quarter. In general, Landstar experienced softness throughout the 2013 first quarter in both the number of loads and revenue per load on loads hauled via truck with much of the softness coming from revenue hauled on heavy/specialized platform equipment." Gerkens continued, "Demand for the Company's truck services continued to be soft during the first few weeks of April. Based on current trends, I anticipate 2013 second quarter revenue to be below revenue for the 2012 second quarter, similar to the shortfall experienced in the 2013 first quarter over the 2012 first quarter. Diluted earnings per share in the 2013 second quarter will be negatively impacted when compared to the 2012 second quarter by approximately $0.03 per diluted share related to the Company's annual agent meeting held in April 2013, as described above. In addition, estimated insurance and claims expense for the 2013 second quarter, calculated using a historical 5 year average of insurance and claims expense as a percentage of BCO revenue, is projected to be higher than insurance and claims expense in the 2012 second quarter. Including the $0.03 per diluted share charge for the Company's annual agent meeting and what amounts to a normalized insurance and claims expense, I anticipate diluted earnings per share to be within a range of $0.68 to $0.73 for the 2013 second quarter." Landstar will provide a live webcast of its quarterly earnings conference call this afternoon at 2:00 pm ET. To access the webcast, visit the Company's website at www.landstar.com; click on "Investor Relations" and "Webcasts," then click on "Landstar's First Quarter 2013 Earnings Release Conference Call." The following is a "safe harbor" statement under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Statements contained in this press release that are not based on historical facts are "forward-looking statements". This press release contains forward-looking statements, such as statements which relate to Landstar's business objectives, plans, strategies, expectations and intentions. Terms such as "anticipates," "believes," "estimates," "expects," "plans," "predicts," "projects," "may," "should," "will," the negative thereof and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. Such statements are by nature subject to uncertainties and risks, including but not limited to: an increase in the frequency or severity of accidents or other claims; unfavorable development of existing accident claims; dependence on third party insurance companies; dependence on independent commission sales agents; dependence on third-party capacity providers; decreased demand for transportation services; substantial industry competition; disruptions or failures in our computer systems; dependence on key vendors; changes in fuel taxes; status of independent contractors; regulatory and legislative changes; catastrophic loss of a Company facility; acquired businesses; intellectual property; and other operational, financial or legal risks or uncertainties detailed in Landstar's Form 10K for the 2012 fiscal year, described in Item 1A Risk Factors, and in other SEC filings from time-to-time. These risks and uncertainties could cause actual results or events to differ materially from historical results or those anticipated. Investors should not place undue reliance on such forward-looking statements, and Landstar undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements. About Landstar: (Tables follow) Landstar System, Inc. and Subsidiary Consolidated Statements of Income (Dollars in thousands, except per share amounts) (Unaudited) Thirteen Weeks Ended March 30, March 31, 2013 2012 Revenue $ 628,321 $ 649,023 Investment income 374 387 Costs and expenses: Purchased transportation 476,605 492,922 Commissions to agents 49,088 50,232 Other operating costs, net of gains on asset dispositions 5,325 6,472 Insurance and claims 11,806 11,095 Selling, general and administrative 35,226 38,799 Depreciation and amortization 7,183 6,740 Total costs and expenses 585,233 606,260 Operating income 43,462 43,150 Interest and debt expense 740 724 Income before income taxes 42,722 42,426 Income taxes 15,942 15,579 Net income $ 26,780 $ 26,847 Earnings per common share $ 0.58 $ 0.57 Diluted earnings per share $ 0.57 $ 0.57 Average number of shares outstanding: Earnings per common share 46,507,000 46,800,000 Diluted earnings per share 46,722,000 47,061,000 Dividends paid per common share $ - $ 0.055 Landstar System, Inc. and Subsidiary Consolidated Balance Sheets (Dollars in thousands, except per share amounts) (Unaudited) Mar. 30, Dec. 29, 2013 2012 ASSETS Current assets: Cash and cash equivalents $ 90,782 $ 74,284 Short-term investments 48,974 35,528 Trade accounts receivable, less allowance of $8,333 and $8,650 378,931 408,787 Other receivables, including advances to independent contractors, less allowance of $4,227 and $4,657 64,017 55,278 Deferred income taxes and other current assets 14,629 18,067 Total current assets 597,333 591,944 Operating property, less accumulated depreciation and amortization of $161,007 and $158,999 161,459 158,953 Goodwill 57,470 57,470 Other assets 68,772 71,054 Total assets $ 885,034 $ 879,421 LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY Current liabilities: Cash overdraft $ 27,385 $ 33,647 Accounts payable 179,014 188,981 Current maturities of long-term debt 20,673 19,016 Insurance claims 65,857 64,509 Other current liabilities 41,890 38,186 Total current liabilities 334,819 344,339 Long-term debt, excluding current maturities 82,448 95,125 Insurance claims 21,427 21,896 Deferred income taxes and other non-current liabilities 38,538 38,607 Shareholders' equity: Common stock, $0.01 par value, authorized 160,000,000 shares, issued 66,973,215 and 66,859,864 shares 670 669 Additional paid-in capital 175,841 173,976 Retained earnings 1,069,736 1,042,956 Cost of 20,412,020 and 20,411,736 shares of common stock in treasury (839,532) (839,517) Accumulated other comprehensive income 1,087 1,370 Total shareholders' equity 407,802 379,454 Total liabilities and shareholders' equity $ 885,034 $ 879,421 Landstar System, Inc. and Subsidiary Supplemental Information (Unaudited) Thirteen Weeks Ended March 30, March 31, 2013 2012 Revenue generated through (in thousands): Business Capacity Owners (1) $ 304,049 $ 329,362 Truck Brokerage Carriers 270,641 270,842 Rail intermodal 18,011 17,382 Ocean and air cargo carriers 21,103 17,669 Other (2) 14,517 13,768 $ 628,321 $ 649,023 Number of loads: Business Capacity Owners (1) 187,770 199,200 Truck Brokerage Carriers 163,960 158,030 Rail intermodal 7,020 7,160 Ocean and air cargo carriers 3,970 3,980 362,720 368,370 Revenue per load: Business Capacity Owners (1) $ 1,619 $ 1,653 Truck Brokerage Carriers 1,651 1,714 Rail intermodal 2,566 2,428 Ocean and air cargo carriers 5,316 4,439 March 30, March 31, 2013 2012 Truck Capacity Providers Business Capacity Owners (1) (3) 7,851 7,825 Truck Brokerage Carriers: Approved and active (4) 20,571 18,946 Approved 11,200 9,382 31,771 28,328 Total available truck capacity providers 39,622 36,153 (1) Business Capacity Owners are independent contractors who provide truck capacity to the Company under exclusive lease arrangements. (2) Includes premium revenue generated by the insurance segment and warehousing and transportation management fee revenue generated by the transportation logistics segment. (3) Trucks provided by Business Capacity Owners were 8,348 and 8,350 at March 30, 2013 and March 31, 2012, respectively. (4) Active refers to Truck Brokerage Carriers who have moved at least one load in the past 180 days.
Landstar System, Inc. is a non-asset based provider of integrated supply chain solutions. Landstar delivers safe, specialized transportation and logistics services to a broad range of customers worldwide utilizing a network of agents, third-party capacity owners and employees. All Landstar transportation services companies are certified to ISO 9001:2008 quality management system standards and RC14001:2008 environmental, health, safety and security management system standards. Landstar System, Inc. is headquartered in Jacksonville, Florida. Its common stock trades on The NASDAQ Stock Market® under the symbol LSTR.
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