Attached files

file filename
8-K - FORM 8-K (THIRD QUARTER FISCAL 2015 EARNINGS RELEASE) - CELADON GROUP INCform8k.htm

Exhibit 99.1

 
celadon logo
 
9503 East 33rd Street
Indianapolis, IN  46235-4207
(800) CELADON
(317) 972-7000
 
For more information:
Joe Weigel
Director of Marketing & Communications
(800) CELADON Ext. 7006
(317) 972-7006 Direct
jweigel@celadontrucking.com
 
April 28, 2015

CELADON GROUP REPORTS MARCH QUARTER RESULTS
AND DECLARES DIVIDEND


INDIANAPOLIS – Celadon Group Inc. (NYSE : CGI) today reported its financial and operating results for the three months and nine months ended March 31, 2015, the third fiscal quarter of the Company’s fiscal year ending June 30, 2015.

Revenue for the quarter increased $38.5 million, or 19.9%, to $231.7 million in the March 2015 quarter from $193.2 million in the March 2014 quarter.  Freight revenue, which excludes fuel surcharges, increased $46.1 million, or 29.6%, to $201.7 million in the March 2015 quarter from $155.6 million in the March 2014 quarter.  Net income increased $5.1 million, or 146.7%, to $8.6 million in the 2015 quarter from $3.5 million for the same quarter last year.  Earnings per diluted share increased $0.21, or 140.0 %, to $0.36 in the March 2015 period from $0.15 for the same quarter last year.

For the nine months ended March 31, 2015, revenue increased $85.6 million, or 15.2%, to $647.5 million in 2015 from $561.9 million for the same period last year.  Freight revenue, which excludes fuel surcharges, increased $91.8 million, or 20.2% to $546.6 million in 2015 from $454.8 million for the same period last year.  Net income increased $10.0 million, or 65.8%, to $25.2 million in 2015 from $15.2 million for the same period last year.  Earnings per diluted share increased $0.41, or 64.1%, to $1.05 in 2015 from $0.64 for the same period last year.

Paul Will, President and Chief Executive Officer, made the following comments: “Freight demand improved during the quarter and was not as negatively impacted from severe weather conditions in the March 2015 quarter as what was experienced in the same period last year.  Operations, maintenance and fuel expenses all decreased as a percentage of revenue in the March 2015 quarter as compared with the March 2014 quarter, which was a result of a newer fleet with more fuel efficient equipment.

“The average age of the Company’s tractor fleet was 1.6 years as of March 2015, which is a reduction from 2.2 years in March 2014.  We have on order 500 trucks to complete the tractor equipment refresh, which is expected to result in continued improved fuel economy and lower overall maintenance costs.  Gains on sales of assets were $5.6 million in the March 2015 quarter compared with $2.3 million in the March 2014 quarter.  Included in the gains on sales of assets is equipment sold independent of the disposition of equipment operated in the existing Celadon fleet by Celadon’s wholly owned Quality Equipment Sales and Leasing entity.

 
 

 


“Our operating statistics continued to improve during the March 2015 quarter, which we believe is continuing to position the Company for future growth.  We increased our average seated tractor count by 731, or 21.2%, to 4,171 in the March 2015 quarter compared to 3,440 in the March 2014 quarter, a significant operating metric improvement that resulted in increased revenue for the quarter.  This increase was a result of increasing the number of Celadon driving school locations, our successful acquisition strategy, and the expansion of our independent contractor fleet.  Our Asset Light Revenue increased $10.5 million, or 72.9%, to $24.9 million in March 2015 from $14.4 million in the same period last year.

“Our primary focus over the past couple of years has been to expand our service offerings to our customers and grow our capacity of seated tractors, which has resulted in freight revenue growth for the March 2015 quarter of approximately 30% over the March 2014 quarter.  This growth strategy should position Celadon to better serve our customers, especially in the near future as we believe truck capacity will continue to tighten for the truckload industry.

“Our average revenue per tractor per week increased $282, or 10.2%, to $3,034 in the March 2015 quarter, from $2,752 in the March 2014 quarter.  This was attributable to the increased revenue per loaded mile, which is a combination of rate increases and higher rate levels from acquired businesses.  Our average revenue per loaded mile increased to $1.80 per mile in the March 2015 quarter from $1.60 in the March 2014 quarter.

“Our balance sheet remains solid and we retain significant liquidity to support the growth of our business.  At March 31, 2015 we had $273.0 million of stockholders’ equity.  Our cash flow generated from operations will allow us to effectively continue to execute on our growth strategy.”

On April 28, 2015, the Board of Directors approved a regular cash dividend to shareholders for the quarter ending June 30, 2015.  The quarterly cash dividend of two cents ($0.02) per share of common stock will be payable on July 24, 2015 to shareholders of record at the close of business on July 10, 2015.

Conference Call Information

An investor conference call is scheduled for Wednesday, April 29 at 11:00 a.m. ET.  Management will discuss the results of the quarter.  To pre-register for the call please follow the links on our website at http://investors.celadontrucking.com.  For those without internet access or unable to pre-register, please dial in by calling 1-866-652-5200 (or 412-317-6060) a few minutes prior to the start time.  A replay will be available through May 28 at http://investors.celadontrucking.com.

Celadon Group Inc. (www.celadongroup.com), through its subsidiaries, primarily provides long-haul, full-truckload freight service across the United States, Canada and Mexico.  The company also owns Celadon Logistics Services, which provides freight brokerage; Celadon Dedicated Services, which provides supply chain management solutions, such as warehousing and dedicated fleet services.
 
This press release contains certain statements that may be considered forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.  Such statements may be identified by their use of terms or phrases such as "expects," "estimates," "projects," "believes," "anticipates," "plans," "intends," and similar terms and phrases.  Forward-looking statements are based upon the current beliefs and expectations of our management and are inherently subject to risks and uncertainties, some of which cannot be predicted or quantified, which could cause future events and actual results to differ materially from those set forth in, contemplated by, or underlying the forward-looking statements.  Actual results may differ from those set forth in the forward-looking statements.  The following factors, among others, could cause actual results to differ materially from those in forward-looking statements: the risk that our perception of additional capacity due to seating trucks and perceived benefits thereof are inaccurate; the risk that our perception of changes in our customer base and perceived benefits thereto are inaccurate; the risk that managing our tractor fleet age does not result in greater flexibility and lower operating expenses; excess tractor and trailer capacity in the trucking industry; decreased demand for our services or loss of one or more of our major customers; surplus inventories; recessionary economic cycles and downturns in customers' business cycles; strikes, work slow downs, or work stoppages at our facilities, or at customer, port, border crossing, or other shipping related facilities; increases in compensation for and difficulty in attracting and retaining qualified drivers and independent contractors; increases in insurance premiums and deductible amounts; elevated experience in the frequency or severity of claims relating to accident, cargo, workers' compensation, health, and other matters; fluctuations in claims expenses that result from high self-insured retention amounts and differences between estimates used in establishing and adjusting claims reserves and actual results over time; increases or rapid fluctuations in fuel prices, as well as fluctuations in hedging activities and surcharge collection, the volume and terms of diesel purchase commitment, interest rates, fuel taxes, tolls, and license and registration fees; fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates; increases in the prices paid for new revenue equipment and changes in the resale value of our used equipment; increases in interest rates or decreased availability of capital or other sources of financing for revenue equipment; seasonal factors such as harsh weather conditions that increase operating costs; competition from trucking, rail, and intermodal competitors; regulatory requirements that increase costs or decrease efficiency, including revised hours-of-service requirements for drivers and new emissions control regulations; our ability to identify acceptable acquisition candidates, consummate acquisitions, and integrate acquired operations; the timing of, and any rules relating to, the opening of the border to Mexican drivers; challenges associated with doing business internationally; our ability to retain key employees; and the effects of actual or threatened military action or terrorist attacks or responses, including security measures that may impede shipping efficiency, especially at border crossings.
 
Readers should review and consider these factors along with the various disclosures by the company in its press releases, stockholder reports, and filings with the Securities Exchange Commission.  We disclaim any obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements to reflect actual results or changes in the factors affecting the forward-looking information.
 
- tables follow -

 
 

 


CELADON GROUP, INC.
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME
(Dollars in thousands except per share amounts)
(Unaudited)

   
For the three months ended
March 31,
   
For the nine months ended
March 31,
 
   
2015
   
2014
   
2015
   
2014
 
                         
REVENUE:
                       
Freight revenue
  $ 201,727     $ 155,552     $ 546,636     $ 454,750  
Fuel surcharge revenue
    29,975       37,676       100,852       107,176  
Total revenue
    231,702       193,228       647,488       561,926  
                                 
OPERATING EXPENSES:
                               
Salaries, wages, and employee benefits
    68,257       52,948       189,048       153,506  
Fuel
    33,713       46,782       112,897       127,304  
Purchased transportation
    64,408       43,263       166,273       130,606  
Revenue equipment rentals
    1,620       1,760       6,859       4,989  
Operations and maintenance
    15,539       14,449       39,768       37,375  
Insurance and claims
    7,729       5,617       20,626       14,352  
Depreciation and amortization
    20,457       15,916       53,747       48,707  
Communications and utilities
    2,183       1,837       6,110       4,676  
Operating taxes and licenses
    4,369       3,414       11,382       9,539  
General and other operating
    3,682       2,808       10,564       7,906  
Gain on disposition of equipment
    (5,583 )     (2,348 )     (14,151 )     (4,290 )
Total operating expenses
    216,374       186,446       603,123       534,670  
                                 
Operating income
    15,328       6,782       44,365       27,256  
                                 
Interest expense
    2,130       1,357       5,308       3,844  
Interest income
    ---       (4 )     (7 )     (8 )
Other income, net
    (64 )     (300 )     (175 )     (701 )
Income before income taxes
    13,262       5,729       39,239       24,121  
Income tax expense
    4,670       2,247       14,057       8,947  
Net income
  $ 8,592     $ 3,482     $ 25,182     $ 15,174  
                                 
Income per common share:
                               
Diluted
  $ 0.36     $ 0.15     $ 1.05     $ 0.64  
Basic
  $ 0.37     $ 0.15     $ 1.08     $ 0.66  
                                 
Diluted weighted average shares outstanding
    24,150       23,803       24,025       23,715  
Basic weighted average shares outstanding
    23,538       23,006       23,368       22,977  


 
 

 


CELADON GROUP, INC.
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
March 31, 2015 and June 30, 2014
(Dollars and shares in thousands except par value)

   
(unaudited)
       
   
March 31,
   
June 30,
 
ASSETS
 
2015
   
2014
 
             
Current assets:
           
Cash and cash equivalents
  $ 17,688     $ 15,508  
Trade receivables, net of allowance for doubtful accounts of $966 and $942 at March 31, 2015 and June 30, 2014, respectively
    125,307       105,968  
Prepaid expenses and other current assets
    35,855       26,288  
Tires in service
    1,643       2,227  
Equipment for resale
    41,270       3,148  
Income tax receivable
    ---       6,395  
Deferred income taxes
    6,452       7,651  
Total current assets
    228,215       167,185  
Property and equipment
    801,582       643,888  
Less accumulated depreciation and amortization
    137,372       151,059  
Net property and equipment
    664,210       492,829  
Tires in service
    1,953       2,720  
Goodwill
    62,487       22,810  
Other assets
    4,744       5,271  
Total assets
  $ 961,609     $ 690,815  
                 
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
               
                 
Current liabilities:
               
Accounts payable
  $ 14,210     $ 11,017  
Accrued salaries and benefits
    14,371       13,902  
Accrued insurance and claims
    11,767       11,568  
Accrued fuel expense
    7,524       11,306  
Accrued purchase transportation
    16,394       10,213  
Accrued equipment purchases
    21,139       ---  
Other accrued expenses
    45,531       25,490  
Current maturities long term debt
    2,650       1,440  
Current maturities of capital  lease obligations
    56,936       67,439  
Income taxes payable
    469       ---  
Total current liabilities
    190,991       152,375  
Capital lease obligations, net of current maturities
    261,639       119,665  
Long term debt, net of current maturities
    154,191       75,436  
Other long term liabilities
    438       8,061  
Deferred income taxes
    81,305       76,275  
Stockholders' equity:
               
Common stock, $0.033 par value, authorized 40,000 shares; issued and outstanding 24,761 and 24,060 shares at March 31, 2015 and June 30, 2014, respectively
    817       794  
Treasury stock at cost; 500 and 500 shares at March 31, 2015 and June 30, 2014, respectively
    (3,453 )     (3,453 )
Additional paid-in capital
    115,166       107,579  
Retained earnings
    183,853       160,068  
Accumulated other comprehensive loss
    (23,338 )     (5,985 )
Total stockholders' equity
    273,045       259,003  
Total liabilities and stockholders' equity
  $ 961,609     $ 690,815  


 
 

 


Key Operating Statistics

   
For the three months
ended March 31,
   
For the nine months ended
March 31,
 
   
2015
   
2014
   
2015
   
2014
 
                         
Average revenue per loaded mile (*)
  $ 1.798     $ 1.597     $ 1.747     $ 1.608  
Average revenue per total mile (*)
  $ 1.615     $ 1.402     $ 1.556     $ 1.411  
Average revenue per tractor per week (*)
  $ 3,034     $ 2,752     $ 3,055     $ 2,843  
Average miles per seated tractor per week(**)
    1,878       1,963       1,963       2,014  
Average seated line-haul tractors (**)
    4,171       3,440       3,682       3,294  
*Freight revenue excluding fuel surcharge.
                               
**Total seated fleet, including equipment operated by independent contractors and our Mexican subsidiary, Jaguar.
 
                                 
Adjusted Trucking Revenue (^)
  $ 194,474     $ 160,634     $ 539,519     $ 472,405  
Asset Light Revenue
    24,913       14,410       63,235       41,669  
Intermodal Revenue
    7,842       10,475       25,689       27,733  
Other Revenue
    4,473       7,708       19,045       20,119  
Total Revenue
  $ 231,702     $ 193,228     $ 647,488     $ 561,926  
^Trucking Revenue for US, Canada, Mexico. Includes Fuel Surcharge.