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8-K - FORM 8-K (THIRD QUARTER EARNINGS AND DIVIDEND RELEASE) - CELADON GROUP INCform8k.htm

Exhibit 99.1
 
 
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9503 East 33rd Street
Indianapolis, IN  46235-4207
(800) CELADON
(317) 972-7000

For more information:
 
Joe Weigel
Director of Marketing and Communications
(800) CELADON Ext. 27006
(317) 972-7006 Direct
jweigel@celadongroup.com
 April 27, 2016
 
 
 
 
  
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, 2016, the third fiscal quarter of the Company’s fiscal year ending June 30, 2016.

Revenue for the quarter increased 12.0% to $259.6 million in the March 2016 quarter from $231.7 million in the March 2015 quarter.  Freight revenue, which excludes fuel surcharges, increased 18.9% to $239.9 million in the March 2016 quarter from $201.7 million in the March 2015 quarter.  Net income decreased 39.5% to $5.2 million in the 2016 quarter from $8.6 million for the same quarter last year.  Earnings per diluted share decreased 47.2% to $0.19 in the March 2016 quarter from $0.36 for the same quarter last year, on a 16.6% increase in weighted average diluted shares resulting primarily from the company’s public offering of 3,500,000 common shares, completed in May 2015.

Revenue for the nine months ended March 31, 2016 increased 23.7% to $801.1 million from $647.5 million for the same period last year.  Freight revenue, which excludes fuel surcharges, increased 33.0% to $727.0 million in the March 2016 period from $546.6 million in the March 2015 period.  Net income decreased 7.9% to $23.2 million in the March 2016 period from $25.2 million for the same period last year.  Earnings per diluted share decreased 21.0% to $0.83 in the March 2016 period from $1.05 for the same period last year.

Operating expenses as a percentage of operating revenue, with both amounts net of fuel surcharges, was 95.6% for the March 2016 quarter and 94.2% for the nine months ended March 31, 2016.

Paul Will, Chief Executive Officer, made the following comments:  “Despite weaker freight volumes and pricing pressure experienced in the March 2016 quarter, we have continued to focus on our four key business initiatives which include moving the business model to more dedicated and committed customer freight, increasing our asset light model which broadens our value-added customer service offering at good margins, creating more lane density in our core operating lanes, and increasing our brokerage portion of our business in lanes that do not create lane density.  We have seen improvement in several of our key operating statistics sequentially as a result of this increased focus.  Although we have been able to grow our top line revenues year over year as a result of a larger fleet size, we have reduced the average seated line haul tractors sequentially by 232 tractors to 5,082 in the March 2016 quarter from 5,314 in the December 2015 quarter as we continue to focus on utilization improvements and revenue enhancements to our operating assets.  We believe these efforts will position us well to continue to focus on improving our key operating metrics in future quarters and will be beneficial long term as capacity is challenged by a very competitive driver recruiting market, in addition to the numerous pending and proposed federal safety initiatives such as electronic logging devices (ELD’s) and mandatory truck speed limiters.  Our average revenue per tractor per week decreased $230, or 7.6%, to $2,804 in the March 2016 quarter, from $3,034 in the March 2015 quarter.  This decrease is a result of a lackluster freight environment coupled with the significant growth in our seated tractor count year over year.  However, our average revenue per tractor per week increased sequentially by $29, or 1.0%, from $2,775 in the December 2015 quarter.  We have continued to increase our customer freight to better align with our increased fleet size.  This has already resulted in an increase in our average miles per seated tractor per week by 45 miles, or 2.6%, increase to 1,749 in the March 2016 quarter from 1,704 in the December 2015 quarter.

 
 

 
 
“We successfully increased our number of dedicated trucks and trucks committed to specific customers during the quarter to 1,792 at the end of March 2016, from 1,330 at the end of March 2015.  We believe this will allow us to continue to generate more consistent earnings levels in future quarters with this movement of our equipment into this portion of our service offering.
 
“We are transitioning our Quality business from a model heavily weighted in equipment sales and related gains to one focused on an annuity based income model related to multiple service offerings to better serve our customers.  These service offerings include sales, leasing, business services, maintenance, and insurance.  As a result, we recorded a lower gain on disposition of equipment of $2.0 million in the March 2016 quarter compared with $5.6 million in the March 2015 quarter, while making significant progress in the model transformation to generate ongoing revenue and a more consistent income stream that we believe will continue to grow in future periods.  We will continue to sell and lease the remaining equipment included in our equipment held for sale over the next couple of quarters, which will result in a corresponding reduction in our debt.
 
“We continue to work on driver recruitment and retention as the market remains challenging for qualified drivers.    A shrinking supply of qualified drivers along with economic and safety regulatory issues, should result in a more constrained truckload capacity for shippers in the future.  In this environment of soft freight and pricing pressure, we are continuing to focus on our customer relationships that can provide us with freight opportunities that will drive better equipment utilization through lane density and lower deadhead, while being more driver friendly that will drive better overall margins.  We are continuing to work on cost reduction initiatives as we strive to improve our operating results.”
 
 
 

 
 
“At March 31, 2016, we had $380.0 million of stockholders' equity and our earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization were $31.1 million in the current March 2016 quarter and $149.7 for the year ending March 31, 2016.  At March 31, 2016, we had $151.9 million outstanding borrowings on our operating bank line of $300 million.”

On April 26, 2016, the Board of Directors approved a regular cash dividend to shareholders for the quarter ending June 30, 2016.  The quarterly cash dividend of two cents ($0.02) per share of common stock will be payable on July 22, 2016 to shareholders of record at the close of business on July 8, 2016.

Conference Call Information

Participants can pre-register for the conference call by navigating to Celadon's Investor Relations Website, http://investors.celadontrucking.com, under the Report Center menu option.  Those without internet access or unable to pre-register may join the conference by dialing 1-800-695-3244.  A replay of the webcast will be available through June 1, 2016 at http://investors.celadontrucking.com.

Celadon Group, Inc. (www.celadongroup.com), through its subsidiaries, provides long-haul, regional, local, dedicated, intermodal, temperature-protect, flatbed and expedited freight service across the United States, Canada and Mexico.  The company also owns Celadon Logistics Services, which provides freight brokerage services, freight management, as well as supply chain management solutions, including warehousing and distribution.
 
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 and shares in thousands except per share amounts)
(Unaudited)

   
For the three months ended
   
For the nine months ended
 
   
March 31,
   
March 31,
 
   
2016
   
2015
   
2016
   
2015
 
                         
REVENUE:
                       
     Revenue, before fuel surcharge
  $ 239,851     $ 201,727     $ 726,974     $ 546,636  
     Fuel surcharge revenue
    19,723       29,975       74,120       100,852  
          Total revenue
    259,574       231,702       801,094       647,488  
                                 
OPERATING EXPENSES:
                               
     Salaries, wages, and employee benefits
    78,251       68,257       245,605       189,048  
     Fuel
    22,725       33,713       77,141       112,897  
     Purchased transportation
    84,956       64,408       267,934       166,273  
     Revenue equipment rentals
    5,932       1,620       10,355       6,859  
     Operations and maintenance
    17,394       15,539       53,243       39,768  
     Insurance and claims
    8,830       7,729       23,466       20,626  
     Depreciation and amortization
    19,611       20,457       60,399       53,747  
     Communications and utilities
    2,643       2,183       7,598       6,110  
     Operating taxes and licenses
    5,143       4,369       15,647       11,382  
     General and other operating
    4,590       3,682       13,676       10,564  
     Gain on disposition of equipment
    (2,032 )     (5,583 )     (20,752 )     (14,151 )
          Total operating expenses
    248,043       216,374       754,312       603,123  
                                 
          Operating income
    11,531       15,328       46,782       44,365  
                                 
Interest expense
    3,573       2,130       10,483       5,308  
Interest income
    ---       ---       ---       (7 )
Other (income) expense, net
    102       (64 )     223       (175 )
Minority income
    (43 )     ---       (43 )     ---  
     Income before income taxes
    7,899       13,262       36,119       39,239  
Income tax expense
    2,660       4,670       12,899       14,057  
Net income
  $ 5,239     $ 8,592     $ 23,220     $ 25,182  
                                 
Income per common share:
                               
     Diluted
  $ 0.19     $ 0.36     $ 0.83     $ 1.05  
     Basic
  $ 0.19     $ 0.37     $ 0.85     $ 1.08  
                                 
     Diluted weighted average shares outstanding
    28,170       24,150       28,025       24,025  
     Basic weighted average shares outstanding
    27,481       23,538       27,471       23,368  


 
 

 



CELADON GROUP, INC
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
March 31, 2016 and June 30, 2015
(Dollars and shares in thousands except par value amounts)

   
(unaudited)
       
   
March 31,
   
June 30,
 
ASSETS
 
2016
   
2015
 
             
Current assets:
           
     Cash and cash equivalents
  $ 5,294     $ 24,699  
 Trade receivables, net of allowance for doubtful accounts of $1,526  and $1,002 at March 31, 2016 and June 30, 2015, respectively
    131,178       130,892  
     Prepaid expenses and other current assets
    41,420       33,267  
     Tires in service
    3,448       1,857  
     Leased revenue equipment held for sale
    56,374       52,591  
     Revenue equipment held for sale
    78,822       49,856  
     Income Tax Receivable
    16,846       17,926  
     Deferred income taxes
    5,109       7,083  
Total current assets
    338,491       318,171  
Property and equipment
    908,431       935,976  
Less accumulated depreciation and amortization
    163,626       147,446  
Net property and equipment
    744,805       788,530  
Tires in service
    3,739       2,173  
Goodwill
    61,278       55,357  
Investment in unconsolidated companies
    2,043       ---  
Other assets
    27,550       11,458  
Total assets
  $ 1,177,906     $ 1,175,689  
                 
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
               
Current liabilities:
               
     Accounts payable
  $ 23,104     $ 13,699  
     Accrued salaries and benefits
    16,603       16,329  
     Accrued insurance and claims
    19,169       14,808  
     Accrued fuel expense
    7,523       10,979  
     Accrued purchase transportation
    20,000       16,259  
     Accrued equipment purchases
    464       775  
     Deferred leasing revenue
    21,135       31,872  
     Other accrued expenses
    19,282       31,835  
     Current maturities of long-term debt
    218       948  
     Current maturities of capital lease obligations
    59,156       62,992  
Total current liabilities
    186,654       200,496  
Capital lease obligations, net of current maturities
    323,799       366,452  
Long term debt, net of current maturities
    152,414       133,199  
Other long term liabilities
    ---       953  
Deferred income taxes
    135,042       108,246  
Stockholders' equity:
               
Common stock, $0.033 par value, authorized  40,000 shares; issued and outstanding 28,719 and 28,342 shares at March 31, 2016 and June 30, 2015, respectively
    948       935  
Treasury stock at cost; 500 shares at March 31, 2016 and June 30, 2015
    (3,453 )     (3,453 )
Additional paid-in capital
    197,885       195,682  
Retained earnings
    216,984       195,412  
Accumulated other comprehensive loss
    (32,367 )     (22,233 )
Total stockholders' equity
    379,997       366,343  
Total liabilities and stockholders' equity
  $ 1,177,906     $ 1,175,689  


 
 

 

Key Operating Statistics

   
For the three months ended
   
For the nine months ended
 
   
March 31,
   
March 31,
 
   
2016
   
2015
   
2016
   
2015
 
 
 
Average revenue per loaded mile (*)
  $  1.889     $  1.798     $  1.896     $  1.747  
Average revenue per total mile (*)
  $ 1.604     $ 1.615     $ 1.623     $ 1.556  
Average revenue per tractor per week (*)
  $ 2,804     $ 3,034     $ 2,841     $ 3,055  
Average miles per seated tractor per week(**)
    1,749       1,878       1,751       1,963  
Average seated line-haul tractors (**)
    5,082       4,171       5,092       3,682  
*Freight revenue excluding fuel surcharge.
                               
**Total seated fleet, including equipment operated by independent contractors and our Mexican subsidiary, Jaguar.
 
                                 
Adjusted Trucking Revenue (^)
  $ 204,998     $ 194,474     $ 638,277     $ 539,519  
Asset Light Revenue
    31,362       24,913       94,901       63,235  
Intermodal Revenue
    9,095       7,842       30,403       25,689  
Other Revenue
    14,119       4,473       37,513       19,045  
Total Revenue
  $ 259,574     $ 231,702     $ 801,094     $ 647,488  
^Trucking Revenue for US, Canada, Mexico. Includes Fuel Surcharge.