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8-K - Q1 2014 EARNINGS RELEASE 8K - HEARTLAND EXPRESS INCearningsrelease8k2014q1.htm


Exhibit 99.1

April 23, 2014 For Immediate Release

Press Release

Heartland Express, Inc. Reports Revenues and Earnings for the First Quarter of 2014

NORTH LIBERTY, IOWA - April 23, 2014 - Heartland Express, Inc. (Nasdaq: HTLD) announced today financial results for the quarter ended March 31, 2014.

Financial Results

Heartland Express ended the first quarter of 2014 with record operating revenues of $224.5 million, a net income of $14.1 million, and $0.16 earnings per share. Operating revenues increased 67.2% primarily due to the November 11, 2013 acquisition of Gordon Trucking, Inc. ("GTI"). Operating revenues for the quarter included fuel surcharge revenues of $45.9 million compared to $28.0 million in the same period of 2013. Operating income for the three-month period was positively impacted by a $1.4 million reduction in depreciation expense attributable to changing to the 125% declining balance method in the third quarter of 2013 and was negatively impacted by a $9.1 million decrease in gains on disposal of property and equipment. The Company posted an operating ratio (operating expenses as a percentage of operating revenues) of 90.8% and a 6.3% net margin (net income as a percentage of operating revenues) in the first quarter of 2014.

Fleet utilization and operating results for the quarter were negatively impacted by severe winter weather across the eastern half of the U.S. The Company continues to be challenged by the impact of government hours-of-service regulations including the thirty-four hour restart and a thirty minute break within the first eight hours of driving that were effective July 1, 2013.

Balance Sheet, Liquidity, and Capital Expenditures

At March 31, 2014, the Company had $16.9 million in cash balances and $62.0 million in borrowings under the Company's $250 million unsecured line of credit. Borrowings under the line of credit bore interest at a weighted average interest rate of 0.78%. The Company had $182.5 million in available borrowing capacity on the line of credit at March 31, 2014, after consideration of outstanding letters of credit, and was in compliance with associated financial covenants. The Company's debt balance decreased $13.0 million from December 31, 2013 due to net repayments during the quarter on the Company's line of credit. The Company ended the quarter with total assets of $723.7 million, net debt (total borrowing less cash on hand) of $45.1 million, and a net debt to total capitalization ratio of approximately 9.9%.

During the quarter ended March 31, 2014 the Company finalized the post-closing true-up of working capital balances related to the acquisition of GTI. As a result, the Company paid cash of $3.0 million during the quarter to the previous owners of GTI, which included $1.5 million for a difference between estimated and actual cash balances delivered at the close of the transaction. The Company continues to work towards the full integration of the two companies on a single information technology platform which it expects to complete during 2014.
 





The average age of the Company's tractor fleet was 2.6 years as of March 31, 2014 compared to 2.1 at March 31, 2013. The Company took delivery of 151 new trucks during the first quarter. Approximately 1,000 new trucks are currently scheduled to be delivered throughout 2014 which is expected to decrease the overall age of the Company's tractor fleet throughout 2014. The new trucks to be delivered will be a mix of International ProStar Plus and Freightliner Cascadia models. The average age of the Company's trailer fleet was 4.8 years at March 31, 2014 compared to 3.1 years at March 31, 2013. The increase in the trailer average age was primarily due to the age of the GTI fleet upon acquisition on November 11, 2013. The Company is continuing its process of updating GTI's trailer fleet exiting model years 2007 and prior. The Company began taking delivery of 1,000 new Wabash dry van trailers during March 2014 which will reduce the average age of the trailer fleet throughout 2014.
 
Net cash flows from operations continued to be strong at 14.3% of operating revenues during 2014 or $32.0 million. The primary uses of cash were $13.0 million for the repayment of long-term debt obligations, net capital expenditures during the quarter of $16.7 million mainly related to tractor fleet upgrades, and an additional payment of $3.0 million related to the acquisition of GTI. The Company currently anticipates net capital expenditures of approximately $115.0 million for the 2014 calendar year. The Company ended the past twelve months with a return on total assets of 10.4% and a 17.6% return on equity compared to 12.4% and 19.3%, respectively, during the twelve month period ending March 31, 2013.
 
The Company continued its commitment to stockholders through the payment of cash dividends. A dividend of $0.02 per share was declared during the quarter and was paid on April 2, 2014. The Company has now paid cumulative cash dividends of $445.2 million, including three special dividends, over the past forty-three consecutive quarters.

Other Information

Heartland Express and GTI have had a long history of offering safe, high-quality service to their customers. Recently Heartland was recognized by Nestle Waters as their 2013 Southeast Region Carrier of the Year. GTI was named a top 20 national carrier to drive for by the Truckload Carriers Association (TCA) for the third year in a row. In addition, GTI has been named the safest U. S. based trucking company in its division (carriers over 100 million miles per year) by the TCA for the fifth consecutive year. GTI was also recognized by the California Trucking Association with two 2014 Fleet Safety Awards. This marks the fourth time in five years that GTI has been recognized as an outstanding and safe carrier by the State of California. These awards are a direct reflection upon our combined safety and operational excellence which starts with our outstanding group of drivers.

This press release may contain statements that might be considered as forward-looking statements or predictions of future operations. Such statements are based on management's belief or interpretation of information currently available. These statements and assumptions involve certain risks and uncertainties. Actual events may differ from these expectations as specified from time to time in filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
 
Contact: Heartland Express, Inc.
Mike Gerdin, Chief Executive Officer
John Cosaert, Chief Financial Officer
319-626-3600












HEARTLAND EXPRESS, INC.
AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME
(In thousands, except per share amounts)
(unaudited)
 
Three Months Ended March 31,
 
2014
 
2013
OPERATING REVENUE
$
224,481

 
$
134,273

 
 
 
 
OPERATING EXPENSES:
 
 
 
Salaries, wages, and benefits
$
70,945

 
$
40,598

Rent and purchased transportation
14,510

 
1,298

Fuel
63,225

 
42,978

Operations and maintenance
10,121

 
5,441

Operating taxes and licenses
4,846

 
2,416

Insurance and claims
7,095

 
2,860

Communications and utilities
1,830

 
774

Depreciation and amortization
24,573

 
15,066

Other operating expenses
8,691

 
3,813

Gain on disposal of property and equipment
(2,043
)
 
(11,178
)
 
 
 
 
 
203,793

 
104,066

 
 
 
 
Operating income
20,688

 
30,207

 
 
 
 
Interest income
36

 
123

 
 
 
 
Interest expense
(155
)
 

 
 
 
 
Income before income taxes
20,569

 
30,330

 
 
 
 
Federal and state income taxes
6,490

 
10,596

 
 
 
 
Net income
$
14,079

 
$
19,734

 
 
 
 
Earnings per share
 
 
 
Basic
$
0.16

 
$
0.23

Diluted
$
0.16

 
$
0.23

 
 
 
 
Weighted average shares outstanding
 
 
 
Basic
87,704

 
84,770

Diluted
87,917

 
85,046

 
 
 
 
Dividends declared per share
$
0.02

 
$
0.02







HEARTLAND EXPRESS, INC.
AND SUBSIDIARIES 
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
(in thousands, except per share amounts)
(unaudited)
 
 
March 31,
 
December 31,
ASSETS
 
2014
 
2013
CURRENT ASSETS
 
 
 
 
Cash and cash equivalents
 
$
16,931

 
$
17,763

Trade receivables, net
 
91,165

 
84,400

Prepaid tires
 
7,955

 
6,999

Prepaid shop supplies
 
3,287

 
4,194

Other current assets
 
12,410

 
11,061

Income tax receivable
 
2,179

 
5,706

Deferred income taxes, net
 
13,773

 
14,177

Total current assets
 
147,700

 
144,300

 
 
 
 
 
PROPERTY AND EQUIPMENT
 
638,351

 
622,864

Less accumulated depreciation
 
194,612

 
173,605

 
 
443,739

 
449,259

GOODWILL
 
100,212

 
98,686

OTHER INTANGIBLES, NET
 
18,155

 
18,746

OTHER ASSETS
 
13,940

 
13,850

 
 
$
723,746

 
$
724,841

LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
 
 
 
 
CURRENT LIABILITIES
 
 
 
 
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities
 
$
26,539

 
$
26,912

Compensation and benefits
 
27,333

 
28,084

Insurance accruals
 
20,250

 
20,945

Other accruals
 
11,860

 
12,627

Total current liabilities
 
85,982

 
88,568

LONG-TERM LIABILITIES
 
 
 
 
Income taxes payable
 
18,915

 
20,089

Long-term debt
 
62,000

 
75,000

Deferred income taxes, net
 
65,260

 
61,948

Insurance accruals less current portion
 
67,736

 
67,965

Other long-term liabilities
 
13,618

 
13,618

Total long-term liabilities
 
227,529

 
238,620

COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES
 
 
 
 
STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
 
 
 
 
Capital stock, common, $.01 par value; authorized 395,000 shares; issued 90,689 in 2014 and 2013; outstanding 87,705 in 2014 and 2013, respectively
 
907

 
907

Additional paid-in capital
 
6,158

 
5,897

Retained earnings
 
444,355

 
432,034

Treasury stock, at cost; 2,984 in 2014 and 2013, respectively
 
(41,185
)
 
(41,185
)
 
 
410,235

 
397,653

 
 
$
723,746

 
$
724,841