UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, DC 20549
FORM 10-Q
(Mark One)
[X] QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(D) OF THE
SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
FOR THE QUARTERLY PERIOD ENDED SEPTEMBER 30, 2003
OR
[ ] TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(D) OF THE
SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 FOR THE TRANSITION
PERIOD FROM TO
COMMISSION FILE NUMBER 1-10006
FROZEN FOOD EXPRESS INDUSTRIES, INC.
(Exact name of registrant as specified on its charter)
Texas 75-1301831
(State or other jurisdiction of (I.R.S. Employer
organization) Identification no.)
1145 Empire Central Place, Dallas, Texas 75247-4309
(Address of principal executive offices) (Zip code)
(214) 630-8090
(Registrant's telephone number, including area code)
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (l) has filed all reports re-
quired to be filed by section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of
1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the
registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to
filing requirements for the past 90 days.
[x] Yes [ ] No
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an accelerated filer (as
defined in Rule 12B-2 of the Exchange Act).
[ ] Yes [x] No
As of November 10, 2003, 17,148,908 shares of the registrant's common stock,
$1.50 par value, were outstanding.
INDEX
PART I - FINANCIAL INFORMATION
--------------------- Page No.
Item l. Financial Statements
--------------------
Consolidated Condensed Balance Sheets -
September 30, 2003 and December 31, 2002 2
Consolidated Statements of Income -
Three and nine months ended September 30, 2003 and 2002 3
Consolidated Condensed Statements of Cash Flows -
Nine months ended September 30, 2003 and 2002 4
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements 5
Item 2. Management's Discussion and Analysis of
Financial Condition and Results of Operations 7
Item 3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market 13
Risk
Item 4. Controls and Procedures 13
PART II - OTHER INFORMATION
-----------------
Item 6. Exhibits and reports on Form 8-K. 13
PART I - FINANCIAL INFORMATION
---------------------
Item 1. Financial Statements
--------------------
FROZEN FOOD EXPRESS INDUSTRIES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
Consolidated Condensed Balance Sheets
(In thousands)
(Unaudited)
Sep. 30, Dec. 31,
2003 2002
---- ----
Current assets
Cash $ 1,243 $ 2,861
Accounts receivable, net 54,477 45,345
Inventories 6,514 7,024
Tires 5,985 5,113
Other current assets 8,433 7,924
------- -------
Total current assets 76,652 68,267
Property and equipment, net 65,362 57,462
Other assets 11,796 11,857
------- -------
$153,810 $137,586
======= =======
Liabilities and Shareholders' Equity
Current liabilities
Trade accounts payable $ 25,977 $ 20,315
Accrued claims liabilities 6,309 7,639
Accrued payroll 5,909 4,068
Capital lease obligations - 2,562
Other 3,387 2,331
------- -------
Total current liabilities 41,582 36,915
Long-term debt 14,000 6,000
Other and deferred credits, net 15,440 16,121
------- -------
71,022 59,036
------- -------
Shareholders' equity
Common stock 25,921 25,921
Paid-in capital 1,481 2,569
Retained earnings 57,163 53,579
------- -------
84,565 82,069
Less - Treasury stock 1,777 3,519
------- -------
Total shareholders' equity 82,788 78,550
------- -------
$153,810 $137,586
======= =======
See accompanying notes.
FROZEN FOOD EXPRESS INDUSTRIES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
Consolidated Statements of Income
For the Three and Nine Months Ended September 30, 2003
(In thousands, except per-share amounts)
(Unaudited)
Three Months Nine Months
2003 2002 2003 2002
---- ---- ---- ----
(Restated) (Restated)
Revenue
Freight revenue $101,700 $88,282 $286,642 $250,156
Non-freight revenue 4,725 4,573 13,694 10,284
------- ------- ------- -------
106,425 92,855 300,336 260,440
------- ------- ------- -------
Costs and expenses
Freight operating expenses
Salaries, wages and
related expenses 27,286 23,225 77,851 68,975
Purchased transportation 24,164 21,230 69,571 57,686
Supplies and expenses 28,251 25,848 81,474 72,825
Revenue equipment rent 7,001 5,738 20,764 20,579
Depreciation 3,845 3,607 10,596 9,204
Communications and utilities 1,051 1,001 3,074 2,917
Claims and insurance 4,067 4,907 9,863 11,686
Operating taxes and licenses 1,155 1,042 3,046 3,077
Miscellaneous expense 933 641 3,509 1,650
------- ------- ------- -------
97,753 87,239 279,748 248,599
Non-freight costs and
operating expenses 5,156 5,729 15,101 12,080
------- ------- ------- -------
102,909 92,968 294,849 260,679
------- ------- ------- -------
Income (loss) from operations 3,516 (113) 5,487 (239)
Interest and other 691 497 (70) 1,250
------- ------- ------- -------
Income (loss) before income tax 2,825 (610) 5,557 (1,489)
Provision for (benefit from)
income tax 1,120 (3,948) 1,973 (4,089)
------- ------- ------- -------
Net income $1,705 $ 3,338 $3,584 $ 2,600
======= ======= ======= =======
Net income per share of common stock
Basic $ .10 $ .20 $ .21 $ .16
======= ======= ======= =======
Diluted $ .10 $ .20 $ .21 $ .16
======= ======= ======= =======
Weighted average shares outstanding
Basic 16,823 16,604 16,765 16,545
======= ======= ======= =======
Diluted 17,494 16,741 17,329 16,691
======= ======= ======= =======
See accompanying notes.
FROZEN FOOD EXPRESS INDUSTRIES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
Consolidated Condensed Statements of Cash Flows
(In thousands)
(Unaudited)
For the Nine
Months Ended September 30,
2003 2002
---- ----
Net cash provided by operating activities $ 8,648 $ 6,564
------ ------
Cash flows from investing activities
Expenditures for property and equipment (25,307) (23,121)
Proceeds from sale of property and equipment 8,811 6,020
Other 638 (511)
------ ------
Net cash used in investing activities (15,858) (17,612)
------ ------
Cash flows from financing activities
Borrowings under revolving credit agreement 38,700 35,700
Payments against revolving credit agreement (30,700) (17,700)
Capital leases and other (2,408) -
------ ------
Net cash provided by financing activities 5,592 18,000
------ ------
Net (decrease) increase in cash
and cash equivalents (1,618) 6,952
Cash and cash equivalents at January 1 2,861 3,236
------ ------
Cash and cash equivalents at September 30 $ 1,243 $10,188
====== ======
See accompanying notes.
FROZEN FOOD EXPRESS INDUSTRIES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
September 30, 2003 and 2002
(Unaudited)
1. BASIS OF PRESENTATION
---------------------
These consolidated financial statements include Frozen Food Express
Industries, Inc. and its subsidiary companies, all of which are wholly-
owned. All significant intercompany accounts and transactions have been
eliminated in consolidation. These financial statements have been pre-
pared pursuant to the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange
Commission ("SEC"). In the opinion of management, all adjustments neces-
sary to present fairly our financial position,cash flows and results of
operations have been made. Pursuant to SEC rules and regulations, certain
information and disclosures normally included in financial statements pre-
pared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the
United States of America, have been condensed or omitted from these state-
ments unless significant changes have taken place since the end of the
most recent fiscal year. We believe that the disclosures contained here-
in, when read in conjunction with the financial statements, notes and the
other information included (or incorporated by reference) in our Form 10-K
filed with the SEC on March 28, 2003, are adequate to make the information
presented not misleading. It is suggested, therefore, that these state-
ments be read in conjunction with the statements, notes and the other in-
formation (included, or incorporated by reference) in our most recent
Annual Report on Form 10-K.
2. STOCK-BASED COMPENSATION
------------------------
In April of 2003, the Financial Accounting Standards Board ("FASB")an-
nounced that it had voted to rescind the option that companies have to
apply APB Opinion No. 25 to account for stock options. The rescission
will come into effect at a future date which has not yet been determined.
Until such time as the new accounting standard takes effect, we intend to
apply APB Opinion No. 25 to account for our stock options. Accordingly,
no expense has been recognized for stock option grants to employees and
we have included the dilutive effect of our stock options in the computa-
tion of our diluted earnings per share. The following table illustrates
how our net income and our diluted net income per share would have been
impacted for each of the three and nine month periods ended September 30,
2003 and 2002 had we elected to apply FASB Statement of Financial Account-
ing Standards ("SFAS") No. 123 to account for our stock options (in mil-
lions, except per-share amounts):
Three Months Nine Months
2003 2002 2003 2002
---- ---- ---- ----
(restated) (restated)
Net income:
As reported $ 1.7 $ 3.3 $ 3.6 $ 2.6
Impact of SFAS No. 123 (0.1) (0.3) (0.2) (0.5)
---- ---- ---- ----
$ 1.6 $ 3.0 $ 3.4 $ 2.1
==== ==== ==== ====
Net income per share:
As reported $0.10 $0.20 $0.21 $ 0.16
Impact of SFAS No. 123 (0.01) (0.02) (0.02) (0.03)
---- ---- ---- ----
$0.09 $0.18 $0.19 $ 0.13
==== ==== ==== ====
In calculating the above amounts we assumed that expenses from employee
stock options would accrue over each option's vesting period.
3. LONG-LIVED ASSETS
-----------------
We periodically evaluate whether the remaining useful life of our long-
lived assets may require revision or whether the remaining unamortized
balance is recoverable. When factors indicate that an asset should be
evaluated for possible impairment, we use an estimate of the asset's un-
discounted cash flow in evaluating whether an impairment exists. If an
impairment exists, the asset is written down to net realizable value.
Included in other non-current assets is the cash surrender value of life
insurance policies and related investments.
For many years, we have based our trailer depreciation on a seven-year
replacement cycle. Based on the results of a study we completed in the
third quarter of 2003, beginning in the last three months of 2003, we will
increase our replacement cycle for owned non-refrigerated trailers from
seven to ten years. Owned refrigerated,leased refrigerated and leased
non-refrigerated trailers will remain on a seven-year replacement cycle.
We expect that this change will reduce our 2003 depreciation expense by
about $150,000 during the fourth quarter from what would have been report-
ed without this change. The impact of this change on our income is ex-
pected to diminish in 2004 and beyond, because we expect that gains we may
realize on the ultimate sale of these trailers will be less than they
otherwise would have been.
4. SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY
--------------------
As of September 30, 2003 and December 31, 2002, respectively, there were
17,078,000 and 16,848,000 shares of stock outstanding.
5. COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES
-----------------------------
We have accrued for costs related to public liability, cargo and work-
related injury claims. When an incident occurs we record a reserve for
the incident's estimated outcome. As additional information becomes
available, adjustments are often made. Accrued claims liabilities in-
clude all such reserves and our estimate for incidents which have been
incurred but not reported.
6. PRIOR PERIOD RESTATEMENT
------------------------
In the fourth quarter of 2002, we identified certain expenses which should
have been included in, but were omitted from our operating expenses during
the first three quarters of 2002. We have reflected the corrections of
those omissions in our financial statements. For the third quarter and
first nine months of 2002, we have reflected increases of $70,000 and
$349,000, respectively, in our lossss from operations to include payroll
and other operating expenses that should have been, but were not, recorded
by our non-freight subsidiary during those periods. Net of income taxes,
the adjustments increased our first quarter of 2002 net loss by $85,000
and reduced our net income for the second and third quarters of 2002 by
$97,000 and $45,000, respectively.
7. NET INCOME PER SHARE OF COMMON STOCK
------------------------------------
Our basic net income per share was computed by dividing our net income by
the weighted average number of shares of common stock outstanding during
the year. Our diluted net income per share was computed by dividing our
net income by diluted shares of common stock. Diluted shares are the sum
of our basic shares plus common stock equivalents ("CSE's"). The table
below sets forth for the three and nine-month periods ended September 30,
2003 and 2002 information regarding weighted average basic and diluted
shares (in thousands):
Three Months Nine Months
2003 2002 2003 2002
---- ---- ---- ----
Basic shares 16,823 16,604 16,765 16,545
Common stock equivalents 671 137 564 146
------ ------ ------ ------
Diluted shares 17,494 16,741 17,329 16,691
====== ====== ====== ======
For the quarters ended September 30, 2003 and 2002, respectively, we ex-
cluded 1.2 million and 2.0 million stock options from our calculation of
CSEs because their exercise prices exceeded the market price of our stock,
which would have caused anti-dilution. For the nine months ended September
30, 2003 and 2002, respectively, we excluded 1.3 million and 2.2 million
stock options from our calculation of CSEs because their exercise prices
exceeded the market price of our stock, which would have caused anti-
dilution.
8. OPERATING SEGMENTS
------------------
We have two operating segments. The large segment consists of our motor
carrier operations, which are conducted in a number of divisions and sub-
sidiaries and are similar in nature. We report all of our motor carrier
operations as one segment.
Our non-freight segment is engaged in the sale and service of air condi-
tioning and refrigeration components. For each segment, we have presented
below financial information for each of the three and nine-month periods
ended September 30, 2003 and 2002 (in millions):
Three Months Nine Months
2003 2002 2003 2002
---- ---- ---- ----
(restated) (restated)
Freight Operations
Revenue $101.7 $ 88.3 $286.6 $250.2
Operating income 3.9 1.0 6.9 1.6
Total assets 154.2 148.2 154.2 148.2
Non-Freight Operations
Revenue $ 4.7 $ 4.6 $ 13.7 $ 10.3
Operating loss (0.4) (1.1) (1.4) (1.8)
Total assets 18.4 18.1 18.4 18.1
Intercompany Eliminations
Total assets $(18.8) $(17.7) $(18.8) $(17.7)
Consolidated
Revenue $106.4 $ 92.9 $300.3 $260.4
Operating income (loss) 3.5 (0.1) 5.5 (0.2)
Total assets 153.8 148.6 153.8 148.6
9. NEW ACCOUNTING PRONOUNCEMENTS
-----------------------------
In January 2003, the FASB issued Interpretation No. 46, "Consolidation of
Variable Interest Entities, an Interpretation of ARB No. 51" (FIN No.
46). FIN No. 46 addresses the consolidation by business enterprises of
variable interest entities as defined in FIN No. 46. We have reviewed
our relationships with entities with whom we have transactional rela-
tionships, and determined none of those entities are variable interest
entities which would require consolidation pursuant to the provisions of
FIN No. 46. Accordingly, the application of FIN No. 46 is not expected
to have an effect on our financial statements.
Item 2. Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
of Operations
-------------
Results of Operations - Three and Nine Months Ended September 30, 2003
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------
Freight Revenue
- ---------------
The rates we charge for our freight transportation services include fuel ad-
justment charges. In periods when the price we incur for diesel fuel is high,
we raise our prices to recover this increase from our customers. During the
three and nine month periods ended September 30, 2003, fuel adjustment charges
comprised 3.6% and 4.0%, respectively, of our freight revenue, as compared to
2.1% and 1.5%, respectively, during the three and nine months ended September
30, 2002.
The following comments about our freight revenue for the three and nine month
periods ended September 30, 2003 as compared to the comparable periods of 2002
exclude fluctuations due to our fuel adjustment charges.
Our freight business serves two related markets with separate revenues, but
with many shared costs. Full-truckload freight services typically include the
transportation of a single shipment from a single origin to one or a few desti-
nations. Full-truckload shipments typically weigh about 35,000 pounds. Al-
though we principally transport full-truckload shipments of products that re-
quire temperature control while in transit, we also have a fleet of trucks
that focuses on full-truckload transportation of non-perishable commodities.
Less-than-truckload ("LTL") freight services typically involve the transpor-
tation of multiple shipments at the same time in one load. Each load of LTL
freight involves multiple shipments, each with different origins and desti-
nations. LTL shipments typically weigh 3,000 pounds or less and more than
90% of our LTL shipments are of commodities requiring temperature control.
Full-truckload shipments usually travel directly between pickup origins and
delivery destinations while LTL shipments typically travel from the origin
through one or more of our freight terminals and then to the destination.
The following table sets forth information regarding revenue from our full-
truckload and LTL freight services for the three and nine-month periods ended
September 30, 2003 and 2002 (in thousands):
Three Months Nine Months
2003 2002 2003 2002
---- ---- ---- ----
Full-truckload:
Revenue $66,454 $61,705 $187,267 $179,863
Shipments 52.3 47.9 151.4 141.9
Total miles 51,599 49,228 149,142 146,083
LTL:
Revenue $31,597 $24,701 $ 87,887 $ 66,449
Shipments 86.0 69.0 244.3 190.0
Total miles 10,883 8,552 30,717 23,534
Full-truckload revenue for the three and nine month periods ended September 30,
2003 increased by 7.7% and 4.1%, respectively, as compared to the year-ago per-
iods. Although the number of full-truckload shipments increased at rates in
excess of the rate of full-truckload revenue growth, the increases in shipment
count were tempered by a shortened average length of haul. This resulted in
lower average revenue per full-truckload shipment.
LTL revenue for the three and nine month periods ended September 30, 2003 in-
creased by 28% and 32%, respectively, as compared to the year-ago periods. For
decades, most of the market for nationwide refrigerated LTL service has been
shared between Alterman Transport Lines ("ATL") and ourselves. We competed
primarily on price and breadth of service. In recent years, ATL's annual LTL
revenue was about half as much as our LTL revenue. During December 2002, ATL
announced that it planned to cease operations and liquidate, a process that
began in January 2003. As a result, we have experienced a significant in-
crease in our volume of LTL shipments. Although we expect this increased
activity to carry over into future periods, there can be no assurance that will
occur.
The sharp increase in our LTL activities has caused us to re-deploy some of our
vehicles from primarily hauling full-truckload freight to LTL. That has result-
ed in a somewhat diminished rate of growth for our full-truckload revenue.
During the past few years, capacity in the trucking industry has often exceed-
ed demand for trucking services. This imbalance was a result of generally weak
economic conditions. In the temperature-controlled sector of the trucking in-
dustry, several of our competitors have ceased or reduced the scope of their
operations, but this reduced capacity has not yet enabled us to significantly
increase the prices we charge for our trucking services.
Beginning in the third quarter of 2003 as the economy has improved, demand for
trucking services has grown. We have begun to increase some of our rates.
This increased demand may afford us more opportunity to increase more of our
rates by the middle of 2004.
We continue to see upward pressure on our operating expenses, and we believe
that reduced competition and expanding demand for our services will enable us
to mitigate some of our increased operating expenses.
Also, beginning in January of 2004, the federal government will begin to impose
new hours of service ("HOS") rules, which restrict the number of hours that
truck drivers are allowed to work and drive each day. The new rules generally
require that drivers have more off-duty time. That requirement is expected to
cause an industry-wide decline in the amount of freight trucks can transport,
further restricting trucking industry capacity during a time of potentially
continuing economic expansion. We anticipate that the increased costs assoc-
iated with this reduced ability of our trucking assets to transport freight
should result in an increased likelihood that we will succeed in passing the
associated costs on to our customers.
Freight Operating Expenses
- --------------------------
The following table sets forth, as a percentage of freight revenue, certain
major operating expenses for the three-month and nine-month periods ended
September 30, 2003 and 2002:
Three Months Nine Months
2003 2002 2003 2002
---- ---- ---- ----
Salaries, wages and related expenses 26.8% 26.3% 27.2% 27.6%
Purchased transportation 23.8 24.0 24.3 23.1
Supplies and expenses 27.8 29.3 28.4 29.1
Revenue equipment rent and depreciation 10.7 10.6 10.9 11.9
Claims and insurance 4.0 5.6 3.4 4.7
Other 3.0 3.0 3.4 3.0
---- ---- ---- ----
Total freight operating expenses 96.1% 98.8% 97.6% 99.4%
==== ==== ==== ====
Compared to 2002, our salaries and wages and related expenses increased by $4.1
million (17.5%) and $8.9 million (12.9%), respectively, during the three and
nine month periods ended September 30, 2003. The sharp increase in our LTL
freight activities was a significant contributor to higher payroll costs for
employee drivers, administrative personnel and our expanded sales team. Also,
and especially during the third quarter of 2003, our expenses for employee
health insurance and work-related injuries increased at a faster pace than did
the underlying direct payroll costs.
Compared to 2002, our purchased transportation expenses increased by $2.9 mil-
lion (13.8%) and $11.9 million (20.6%) during the three and nine month periods
ended September 30, 2003. Purchased transportation expense includes the pay-
ments we make to owner-operators for equipment used in our freight transporta-
tion business. We use owner-operator equipment in both our full-truckload and
our LTL operations. On a percentage basis, our fleet of LTL trucks is com-
prised of more owner-operator trucks than is our fleet of full-truckload
trucks. Therefore, the sharp increase in the level of our LTL operations has
increased purchased transportation expense on a quarterly and year-to-date
basis during 2003.
About 60% of the increases in our quarterly and year-to-date purchased trans-
portation came from higher payments in our LTL operation. For the three months
ended September 30, 2003, about 17.5% of the increase was due to our expanded
use of intermodal services, which typically involve full-truckload services in
the course of which we place loaded trailers on railroad flat cars for the
transport of the trailer between cities. By using intermodal service pro-
viders, we are able to efficiently move our freight over long distances without
the need to utilize a tractor.
Supplies and expenses principally consist of costs for fuel, maintenance, re-
pairs, freight handling services and over-the-road expenses incurred in the
operation of our company-operated assets. During the three and nine-month per-
iods ended September 30, 2003, supplies and expenses increased by $2.4 million
(9.3%) and $8.6 million (11.9%) as compared to the same quarter of 2002.
About 50% of 2003's quarterly increase and nearly two-thirds of the year-to-
date increase in supplies and expenses were due to the increased prices we paid
for diesel fuel as compared to the comparable 2002 periods. The per-gallon price
we have incurred for fuel during the nine and three-month periods ended Sep-
tember 30, 2003 were 17% and 6%, respectively, more than in the comparable
year-ago periods. The rates we charge for our services are designed to pass
much of these higher fuel costs on to our customers.
In late 2002, we began to take delivery of new trucks equipped with federally-
mandated diesel engines which are designed to reduce the level of exhaust par-
ticulates. The new engines were expected to be less fuel efficient and more
expensive to maintain, and are significantly more expensive to acquire than the
engines that were in trucks manufactured prior to late 2002. Most of the
trucks currently in our fleet were manufactured before mid-2002 and will con-
tinue to operate with the older model engines. They will be replaced with
newer engine trucks over a three to four-year period. Although it is too soon
to tell what impact the newer engines will have on our maintenance expenses, we
have seen some increased fuel consumption in our newer engine equipped trucks.
That has added to the increased level of our fuel expenses during 2003.
For the three and nine-month periods ended September 30, 2003, the total of our
revenue equipment rent and depreciation expenses increased by $1.5 million
(16.1%) and $1.6 million (5.3%) from the comparable periods of 2002. Between
October 1, 2002 and September 20, 2003, the number of tractors in our company-
operated fleets increased by 10% to approximately 1,540. The number of trac-
tors we own and lease to independent contractors increased by 46%, to about 310
and the size of our trailer fleet increased by 16% to about 3,730. These in-
creases in fleet size are designed to enhance our capability to effectively
meet the expanded customer demand for our LTL and full-truckload freight trans-
portation services.
For many years, we have based our trailer depreciation on a seven-year replace-
ment cycle. Based on the results of a study we completed in the third quarter
of 2003, beginning in the last three months of 2003, we will increase our re-
placement cycle for owned non-refrigerated trailers from seven to ten years.
Owned refrigerated, leased refrigerated and leased non-refrigerated trailers
will remain on a seven-year replacement cycle. We expect that this change
will reduce our 2003 depreciation expense by about $150,000 during the fourth
quarter from what would have been reported without this change. The impact of
this change on our income is expected to diminish in 2004 and beyond, because
we expect that gains we may realize on the ultimate sale of these trailers will
be less than they otherwise would have been.
For the three and nine-month periods ended September 30, 2003, our claims and
insurance expenses declined by $840,000 (17.1%) and $1.8 million (15.6%), re-
spectively. These expenses vary with the severity and frequency of personal
injury and property damage claims. Because we retain a $5 million deductible
for our personal injury claims, the occurrence of any single event can pro-
foundly and negatively impact our periodic earnings. During the third quarter
of 2003, we incurred losses of greater severity and magnitude than we incurred
during the previous quarters of the year. The presence of the large deduct-
ible increases periodic volatility of our claims and insurance expense.
Miscellaneous expenses are reported net of gains on the sale of operating
assets. Between the three and nine-month periods ended September 30, 2002 and
2003, such gains declined by $429,000 and $313,000, respectively. The amount
of our quarterly gains on sale of operating assets can vary significantly
depending upon the quantity of equipment we offer for sale and the demand for
that equipment. The other components of miscellaneous expenses in the aggre-
gate fell by about $137,000 between the third quarters of 2002 and 2003 and
rose by $567,000 between the nine-month periods ended September 30, 2002 and
2003. These fluctuations are due to varying expenses associated with pro-
fessional fees and the write-down of intangible assets during the second
quarter of 2003. The professional fees are related to legal and auditing ex-
penses for general corporate matters and our efforts to comply with new
corporate governance and financial reporting requirements. The intangible
assets we wrote down were related to trade names and other assets we pre-
viously acquired but have now effectively abandoned.
Between the third quarters of 2002 and 2003, operating income from our freight
operations improved from $1.0 million to $3.9 million. For the first nine
months of 2003, income from our freight operations improved from $1.6 million
to $6.9 million.
Non-Freight Operations
- ----------------------
For the first nine months of 2003, revenue from our non-freight business im-
proved by 33.2% to $13.7 million from $10.3 million during the first three
quarters of 2002, but our third quarter non-freight revenue improved by only
3.3% to $4.7 million. Our operating expenses for the nine month period of
2003 increased by 25%. For the quarter ended September 30, 2003 non-freight
operating expenses declined by 10% to $5.2 million.
As previously reported, we have been dissatisfied with the lack of our progress
in turning our non-freight operations into positive contributors to our profit-
ability. Accordingly, in November, 2003 we engaged a consulting firm to manage
our non-freight operations. The principal of the consulting firm was appointed
as the Interim President of our non-freight subsidiaries.
The consulting firm has been retained to lead our efforts to eliminate the
potential for future losses from our non-freight operations, and to conduct a
review of strategic alternatives. At this time we cannot predict what the
results might be.
As we develop our plans for our non-freight operations, periodic quarterly
fluctuations of non-freight revenue and expense have become more erratic than
before. This result has to do with our continuing efforts to liquidate inven-
tories of products that have been identified as non-core to the basic opera-
tions of our non-freight business. It is likely that these periodic fluctu-
ations will continue until the review of our strategic alternatives is com-
pleted.
As a result of these fluctuations in our non-freight activities, our non-
freight operating loss improved from $1,156,000 to $431,000 between the third
quarters of 2002 and 2003, and from $1.8 million to $1.4 million between the
nine-month periods ended September 30, 2002 and 2003.
Interest and Other
- ------------------
Interest and other income or expense consists primarily of amounts we pay for
borrowed money and transactions involving life insurance policies that we own.
For the first nine months of both 2002 and 2003, interest expense was approxi-
mately $400,000, but for the three months ended September 30, 2003, interest
expense increased by 126%, to $158,000. Increased borrowings, principally to
finance increased working capital and capital expenditures were the primary
causes of the third quarter increase.
The non-interest components of interest and other expenses were abnormally
accretive to pre-tax income during the second quarter of 2003, which resulted
in the $70,000 contribution to pre-tax income during the first nine months of
2003. Such non-interest components typically serve to reduce pre-tax income,
as was the case during both of the quarters ended September 30, 2002 and 2003.
Income Taxes
- ------------
During 2002's third quarter, we incurred a pre-tax loss of $610,000 and a bene-
fit from income tax of $3,948,000, resulting in net income of $3,338,000. In
prior years, we had maintained a reserve for certain life insurance related
income tax deductions that could have been challenged by the Internal Revenue
Service. The tax deductions were permissible at the time they were taken. When
the time allotted for such a challenge expired during September 2002, we re-
corded an income tax benefit of nearly $4 million when we recognized the can-
cellation of the reserve. That action resulted in the proportionately large
benefit from income taxes for the three and nine month periods ended September
30, 2002.
For the three and nine-month periods ended September 30, 2003, our provision
for income tax was 39.6% and 35.5%, respectively, of our pre-tax income. The
presence of non-taxable income or expense in pre-tax income causes our effect-
ive tax rate to periodically vary from the federal statutory rate of approxi-
mately 35%. Our effective tax rate also includes our estimated liability for
state income taxes which we generally incur on a proportional basis relative
to the level of our trucking operations through the various United States.
Liquidity and Capital Resources
- -------------------------------
We believe that our current cash position, funds from our operations, and the
availability of funds under our credit agreement will be sufficient to meet an-
ticipated liquidity requirements for the next twelve months. At September 30,
2003, our working capital was $35.1 million as compared to $31.4 million at
December 31, 2002.
During the nine month periods ended September 30, 2003 and 2002, net cash pro-
vided by operating activities was $8.6 million and $6.6 million respectively.
Improved profitability, excluding the adjustment to our income tax liability,
was the principal factor impacting operating cash flows.
Our primary needs for capital resources are to finance working capital, capital
expenditures and, from time to time, acquisitions. Working capital investment
typically increases during periods of sales expansion when higher levels of
receivables and, with regard to non-freight operations, inventory are present.
At September 30, 2003, we had long-term debt of $14.0 million. The unused
portion of our $40 million revolving credit facility was approximately $19.5
million. As of September 30, 2003, approximately $6.5 million of our credit
facility was used as collateral for various letters of credit our bank has
issued to third-party beneficiaries.
Outlook
- -------
This report contains information and forward-looking statements that are based
on our current beliefs and expectations and assumptions we made based upon in-
formation currently available. Forward-looking statements include statements
relating to our plans,strategies, objectives, expectations, intentions, and
adequacy of resources, and may be identified by words such as "will", "could",
"should", "believe", "expect", intend", "plan", "schedule", "estimate", "pro-
ject" and similar expressions. These statements are based on current expecta-
tions and are subject to uncertainty and change.
Although we believe that the expectations reflected in such forward-looking
statements are reasonable, actual results could differ materially from the ex-
pectations reflect in such forward-looking statements. Should one or more of
the risks or uncertainties underlying such expectations not materialize, or
should underlying assumptions prove incorrect, actual results may vary mater-
ially from those we expect.
Factors that are not within our control which could contribute to such dif-
ferences and may have a bearing on operating results include demand for our
services and products, and our ability to meet that demand, which may be af-
fected by, among other things, competition, weather conditions and the general
economy, the availability and cost of labor, our ability to negotiate favor-
ably with lenders and lessors, the effects of terrorism and war, the avail-
ability and cost of equipment, fuel and supplies, the market for previously-
owned equipment, the impact of changes in the tax and regulatory environment
in which we operate, operational risks and insurance, risks associated with
the technologies and systems used and the other risks and uncertainties de-
scribed elsewhere in our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
Item 3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk
----------------------------------------------------------
As of September 30, 2003, our debt stood at $14.0 million, which approximated
fair market value. We sponsor a Rabbi Trust for the benefit of participants
in a supplemental executive retirement plan. As of September 30, 2003, the
trust held about 123,000 shares of our stock. To the extent that trust assets
are invested in our stock, our future compensation expenses and pre-tax income
will reflect changes in the market value of our stock.
We own life insurance policies that have cash surrender value. The investment
returns earned by the insurance company serve to pay insurance costs and alter
cash surrender value, which is a key determinant of the amount that we could
receive pursuant to the policies as of the date of our financial statements.
Accordingly, changes in the market value of and returns from those investments
could impact the value of our life insurance policies. Changes in those values
directly impact the level of on pre-tax and net income.
Item 4. Controls and Procedures
-----------------------
As of the end of the period covered by this report, we evaluated, under the
supervision and with the participation of our management, including the Chief
Executive Officer and the Chief Financial Officer, the effectiveness of, the
design and the operation of our disclosure controls and procedures pursuant to
Exchange Act Rules 13a-14 and 15d-14. Based on the evaluation, our Chief Exe-
cutive Officer and Chief Financial Officer concluded that our disclosure con-
trols and procedures are effective for the purposes of gathering, analyzing
and disclosing the information that we are required to disclose in the reports
we file under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, within the time periods
specified in the SEC's rules and forms. There have been no significant changes
in our internal controls or in other factors that could significantly affect
internal controls subsequent to the date of the evaluation.
PART II - OTHER INFORMATION
-----------------
Items 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 of Part II are omitted due to a lack of updated in-
formation to disclose pursuant to said items.
Item 6. Exhibits and Reports on Form 8-K.
a. Exhibits
31.1 Certification of Chief Executive Officer Required by Rule 13a-14(a)(17
CFR 240.13a-14(a)).
31.2 Certification of Chief Financial Officer Required by Rule 13a-14(a)(17
CFR 240.13a-14(a)).
Exhibits 32.1 and 32.2 are furnished herewith and should not be deemed
to be "filed" under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.
32.1 Certification of Chief Executive Officer Pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section
1350, as Adopted Pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of
2002.
32.2 Certification of Chief Financial Officer Pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section
1350, as Adopted Pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of
2002.
b. On July 30, 2003, we filed a current report on Form 8-K announcing our
results of operations for the six month period ended June 30, 2003.
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities and Exchange Act of l934, the
registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the under-
signed, hereunto duly authorized.
Frozen Food Express Industries, Inc.
------------------------------------
(Registrant)
November 14, 2003 By: /s/ Stoney M. Stubbs, Jr.
------------------------------------
Stoney M. Stubbs, Jr.
Chairman of the Board
and Chief Executive Officer
November 14, 2003 By: /s/ F. Dixon McElwee, Jr.
------------------------------------
F. Dixon McElwee, Jr.
Senior Vice President,
Principal Financial and
Accounting Officer