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8-K - FORM 8-K (SECOND QUARTER 2016 EARNINGS RELEASE) - KNIGHT TRANSPORTATION INCform8k.htm

Exhibit 99
 
July 27, 2016
 
Phoenix, Arizona
 
Knight Transportation Reports Second Quarter 2016 Revenue and Earnings
 
Knight Transportation, Inc. (NYSE: KNX), one of North America’s largest and most diversified truckload transportation companies, today reported revenue and net income for the second quarter ended June 30, 2016.
 
The following table reflects key financial highlights for the second quarter and first six months of 2016 and 2015.  The second quarter of 2015 included $7.2 million of expense ($4.4 million after-tax) related to two class action lawsuits.  We have provided adjusted financial information that excludes these expenses from our results of operations.  We believe the comparability of our results is improved by excluding these infrequent expenses that are unrelated to our core operations.
 
(dollars in thousands, except per share data)
 
Three Months Ended June 30,
   
Six Months Ended June 30,
 
   
2016
   
2015
   
Chg
   
2016
   
2015
   
Chg
 
Total Revenue
  $ 276,318     $ 301,822       -8.5 %   $ 548,406     $ 592,103       -7.4 %
Revenue, excluding trucking fuel surcharge
  $ 253,859     $ 268,623       -5.5 %   $ 507,442     $ 525,837       -3.5 %
                                                 
Operating Income
  $ 38,081     $ 41,619       -8.5 %   $ 76,808     $ 87,922       -12.6 %
Adjusted Operating Income(1)
  $ 38,081     $ 48,782       -21.9 %   $ 76,808     $ 95,085       -19.2 %
                                                 
Net Income, attributable to Knight
  $ 24,675     $ 27,638       -10.7 %   $ 47,245     $ 57,200       -17.4 %
Adjusted net income attributable to Knight(2)
  $ 24,675     $ 32,033       -23.0 %   $ 47,245     $ 61,595       -23.3 %
                                                 
Earnings per diluted share
  $ 0.31     $ 0.33       -8.4 %   $ 0.58     $ 0.69       -15.4 %
Adjusted earnings per diluted share(2)
  $ 0.31     $ 0.39       -21.0 %   $ 0.58     $ 0.74       -21.5 %
 
The company previously announced a quarterly cash dividend of $0.06 per share to shareholders of record on June 3, 2016, which was paid on June 24, 2016.
 
Dave Jackson, President and Chief Executive Officer, commented on the quarter, “The freight environment in the second quarter of 2016 was less attractive than the same quarter a year ago.  We attribute the change to excess trucking capacity in the markets we serve.  Although a surplus of trucking capacity remains currently, significantly declining new truck orders, increased bankruptcies, reductions in the driver workforce, low returns on invested capital, and additional regulatory burdens expected to phase in over the coming quarters has and will continue to reduce available capacity. We believe this will begin to lead to an improvement in the supply/demand relationship in the coming quarters. During the second quarter, the more competitive freight environment and fewer non-contract opportunities continued to pressure our overall revenue per loaded mile.
 
 
 

 
 
“We continue to focus on improving the productivity of our assets in our trucking segment and expanding load volumes and margins in our logistics segment.   During the second quarter, when compared to the same quarter last year, we improved our miles per tractor 1.7%, grew our brokerage load volumes 28.4%, and expanded our brokerage gross margin by 110 basis points.
 
“Our earnings per diluted share for the quarter were $0.31, compared to our adjusted earnings per diluted share of $0.39 in the same quarter last year.  During the quarter, revenue per loaded mile, excluding fuel surcharge, decreased 2.4% and negatively impacted our results by approximately $0.04 per share when compared to the same period last year. Less gain on sale of revenue equipment, increased net fuel cost, and lower other income also negatively impacted our results by approximately $0.04 per share.  Driver pay continues to be inflationary when compared to the same quarter last year, but was partially offset by our cost control efforts in operations and maintenance.  The effective income tax rate for the quarter was 37.6% versus 36.3% for the second quarter of 2015.”
 
The following table reflects our consolidated financial performance and that of our trucking and our logistics segments for the second quarter and first six months of 2016 and 2015.  The second quarter of 2015 included $7.2 million of expense related to two class action lawsuits.  We have provided adjusted financial information that excludes these expenses from our results of operations.  We believe the comparability of our results is improved by excluding these infrequent expenses that are unrelated to our core operations.
 
(dollars in thousands)
 
Three Months Ended June 30,
   
Six Months Ended June 30,
 
   
2016
   
2015
   
Chg
   
2016
   
2015
   
Chg
 
Consolidated
                                   
Revenue, excluding trucking fuel surcharge
  $ 253,859     $ 268,623       -5.5 %   $ 507,442     $ 525,837       -3.5 %
Operating Income
  $ 38,081     $ 41,619       -8.5 %   $ 76,808     $ 87,922       -12.6 %
Adjusted Operating Income(1)
  $ 38,081     $ 48,782       -21.9 %   $ 76,808     $ 95,085       -19.2 %
Adjusted Operating Ratio(1)
    85.0 %     81.8 %  
320 bps
      84.9 %     81.9 %  
300 bps
 
                                                 
Trucking Segment
                                               
Revenue, excluding trucking fuel surcharge
  $ 203,930     $ 212,368       -4.0 %   $ 403,343     $ 414,573       -2.7 %
Operating Income
  $ 35,286     $ 37,944       -7.0 %   $ 71,208     $ 80,091       -11.1 %
Adjusted Operating Income(3)
  $ 35,286     $ 45,107       -21.8 %   $ 71,208     $ 87,254       -18.4 %
Adjusted Operating Ratio(3)
    82.7 %     78.8 %  
390 bps
      82.3 %     79.0 %  
330 bps
 
                                                 
Logistics Segment
                                               
Revenue
  $ 49,929     $ 56,255       -11.2 %   $ 104,099     $ 111,264       -6.4 %
Operating Income
  $ 2,795     $ 3,675       -23.9 %   $ 5,600     $ 7,831       -28.5 %
Operating Ratio
    94.4 %     93.5 %  
90 bps
      94.6 %     93.0 %  
160 bps
 
 
 
 

 

In the second quarter, the trucking segment achieved an adjusted operating ratio of 82.7% compared to 78.8% from the same quarter last year.  Increased net fuel expense and less gain on sale of revenue equipment impacted the operating ratio by approximately 210 basis points.  Revenue per tractor, excluding fuel surcharge, decreased 1.5%, year over year, attributable to a 2.4% decrease in average revenue per loaded mile, a 1.7% increase in average miles per tractor, and a 70 basis point increase in our non-paid empty mile percentage.  We remain focused on improving the productivity of our assets, developing our freight network, and intensely controlling our costs.
 
During the second quarter of 2016, the logistics segment produced an operating ratio of 94.4% compared to 93.5% for the same quarter last year, with revenue declining 11.2%. Our logistics segment consists of brokerage, intermodal, and other logistics services.  The year over year revenue decline in the second quarter was primarily a result of exiting our agriculture sourcing business in the first quarter of 2016.  Compared to the same quarter last year, our brokerage business expanded gross margins 110 basis points and increased load volume by 28.4%, which resulted in operating income increasing 6.2%.  Brokerage revenue increased 2.1% when compared to the same quarter last year as increased load volume was offset by a 20.4% decline in revenue per load as a result of lower fuel surcharge, a shorter length of haul, and lower non-contract pricing.  We plan to continue to invest in our logistics service offerings, which should continue to improve our return on capital.
 
Attracting and retaining safe, high-quality driving associates remains a priority.  Our driver development and training programs remain a focus area for our management team, and we feel well positioned to continue to make progress around the development of our driving associates in the coming quarters.  However, while the freight market remains challenging we remain cost conscious in our approach of recruiting and training driving associates.
 
The used equipment market remained soft during the quarter and resulted in gain on sale of revenue equipment in the second quarter of 2016 of $2.7 million, compared to $5.2 million in the second quarter of 2015. Our tractor fleet remains one of the most modern fleets in the industry with an average age of 1.8 years.  We anticipate the average age to increase as we extend the duration in which we operate our tractors as a result of the rate environment and weak used equipment market.
 
During the second quarter of 2016 we repurchased 372,094 shares of our common stock for $9.5 million. We currently have approximately 4.4 million shares available under our stock repurchase authorization. Over the last twelve months ended June 30, 2016, we have returned $71.3 million to our shareholders in the form of quarterly dividends and stock repurchases.  We ended the quarter with $9.6 million of cash, $60.0 million of long-term debt, and $746.6 million of shareholders' equity.  During the second quarter our net capital expenditures were $23.7 million, while our cash flow from operations was $65.5 million.  We expect to continue to generate meaningful free cash flow as we do not plan to grow our tractor fleet until we see significant strength in customer demand combined with stronger non-contract and contract rate markets.
 
The company will hold a conference call on July 27, 2016, at 4:30 PM EDT, to further discuss its results of operations for the quarter ended June 30, 2016. The dial in number for this conference call is 1-855-733-9163. Slides to accompany this call will be posted on the company’s website and will be available to download prior to the scheduled conference time.  To view the presentation, please visit http://investor.knighttrans.com/events, “Second Quarter 2016 Conference Call Presentation.”
 
Adjusted operating income, adjusted operating ratio, adjusted net income attributable to Knight, and adjusted earnings per diluted share (EPS) are non-GAAP financial measures and are not intended to replace financial measures calculated in accordance with GAAP. These non-GAAP financial measures supplement our GAAP results in evaluating certain parts of our business.  We believe that using these measures affords a more consistent basis for comparing our results of operations from period to period. The information required by Item 10(e) of Regulation S-K under the Securities Act of 1933 and the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and Regulation G under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, including a reconciliation to their most directly comparable financial measures calculated in accordance with GAAP, is included in the tables at the end of this press release.
 
Knight Transportation, Inc. is a provider of multiple truckload transportation and logistics services using a nationwide network of business units and service centers in the U.S. to serve customers throughout North America.  In addition to operating one of the country’s largest tractor fleets, Knight also contracts with third-party equipment providers to provide a broad range of truckload services to its customers while creating quality driving jobs for our driving associates and successful business opportunities for independent contractors.
 
 
 

 
 
 
INCOME STATEMENT DATA:
                       
                         
   
Three Months Ended June 30,
   
Six Months Ended June 30,
 
   
2016
   
2015
   
2016
   
2015
 
   
(Unaudited, in thousands, except per share amounts)
 
REVENUE:
                       
  Revenue, before fuel surcharge
  $ 253,859     $ 268,623     $ 507,442     $ 525,837  
  Fuel surcharge
    22,459       33,199       40,964       66,266  
TOTAL REVENUE
    276,318       301,822       548,406       592,103  
                                 
OPERATING  EXPENSES:
                               
    Salaries, wages and benefits
    84,440       84,381       168,043       164,407  
    Fuel expense - gross
    33,429       42,362       60,200       80,451  
    Operations and maintenance
    19,094       21,547       37,104       41,675  
    Insurance and claims
    8,257       7,995       17,080       16,928  
    Operating taxes and licenses
    4,612       4,725       10,099       10,581  
    Communications
    1,043       1,077       2,248       2,217  
    Depreciation and amortization
    28,955       27,364       57,357       54,524  
    Purchased transportation
    53,918       60,619       111,703       120,164  
    Miscellaneous operating expenses
    4,489       10,133       7,764       13,234  
           Total operating expenses
    238,237       260,203       471,598       504,181  
                                 
    Income from operations
    38,081       41,619       76,808       87,922  
                                 
                                 
    Interest income
    82       104       176       236  
    Interest expense
    (258 )     (211 )     (559 )     (493 )
    Other income
    1,927       2,436       3,213       4,899  
    Income before income taxes
    39,832       43,948       79,638       92,564  
INCOME  TAXES
    14,861       15,759       31,645       34,434  
Net income
    24,971       28,189       47,993       58,130  
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interest
    (296 )     (551 )     (748 )     (930 )
NET INCOME ATTRIBUTABLE TO KNIGHT TRANSPORTATION
  $ 24,675     $ 27,638     $ 47,245     $ 57,200  
 
                               
     Basic Earnings Per Share
  $ 0.31     $ 0.34     $ 0.59     $ 0.70  
     Diluted Earnings Per Share
  $ 0.31     $ 0.33     $ 0.58     $ 0.69  
 
                               
     Weighted Average Shares Outstanding - Basic
    80,105       81,894       80,407       81,959  
     Weighted Average Shares Outstanding - Diluted
    80,781       82,852       81,079       83,020  
 
 
 
 

 
 

BALANCE SHEET DATA:
           
   
06/30/16
   
12/31/15
 
ASSETS
 
(Unaudited, in thousands)
 
Cash and cash equivalents
  $ 9,564     $ 8,691  
Trade receivables, net of allowance for doubtful accounts
    134,753       131,945  
Notes receivable, net of allowance for doubtful accounts
    549       648  
Prepaid expenses
    11,894       17,320  
Assets held for sale
    21,091       29,327  
Other current assets
    9,171       14,215  
Income Tax Receivable
    17,923       41,967  
     Total Current Assets
    204,945       244,113  
                 
Property and equipment, net
    804,133       803,643  
Notes receivable, long-term
    3,435       3,419  
Goodwill
    47,040       47,050  
Intangible Assets, net
    2,825       3,075  
Other assets and restricted cash
    24,416       18,932  
     Total Long-term Assets
    881,849       876,119  
                 
     Total Assets
  $ 1,086,794     $ 1,120,232  
                 
LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY
               
Accounts payable
  $ 28,491     $ 14,818  
Accrued payroll and purchased transportation
    21,567       23,776  
Accrued liabilities
    16,504       21,609  
Claims accrual - current portion
    20,315       19,471  
Dividend payable - current portion
    314       349  
     Total Current Liabilities
    87,191       80,023  
                 
Claims accrual - long-term portion
    12,192       11,508  
Long-term dividend payable and other liabilities
    1,888       2,164  
Deferred tax liabilities
    177,200       174,165  
Long-term debt
    60,000       112,000  
     Total Long-term Liabilities
    251,280       299,837  
                 
     Total Liabilities
    338,471       379,860  
                 
Common stock
    800       810  
Additional paid-in capital
    216,022       205,648  
Accumulated other comprehensive income
    733       2,573  
Retained earnings
    529,017       529,367  
     Total Knight Transportation Shareholders' Equity
    746,572       738,398  
     Noncontrolling interest
    1,751       1,974  
     Total Shareholders' Equity
    748,323       740,372  
     Total Liabilities and Shareholders' Equity
  $ 1,086,794     $ 1,120,232  
 

 
 

 

 
   
Three Months Ended June 30,
 
     Six Months Ended June 30,    
   
2016
   
2015
   
% Change
   
2016
   
2015
   
% Change
 
   
(Unaudited)
         
(Unaudited)
       
OPERATING  STATISTICS
                                   
                                     
Average Revenue Per Tractor*
  $ 43,414     $ 44,087       -1.5 %   $ 85,943     $ 86,532       -0.7 %
                                                 
Non-paid Empty Mile Percent
    12.3 %     11.6 %     6.0 %     12.5 %     11.6 %     7.8 %
                                                 
Average Length of Haul
    505       510       -1.0 %     500       505       -1.0 %
                                                 
Adjusted Operating Ratio (1)
    85.0 %     81.8 %             84.9 %     81.9 %        
                                                 
Average Tractors - Total
    4,697       4,817               4,693       4,791          
                                                 
Average Trailers - Total
    12,289       11,588               12,128       11,491          
                                                 
Net Capital Expenditures (in thousands)
  $ 23,678     $ 33,852             $ 35,396     $ 39,610          
                                                 
Cash Flow From Operations (in thousands)
  $ 65,537     $ 49,195             $ 133,126     $ 107,467          
 
* Includes trucking segment revenue excluding fuel surcharge.
       
               
GAAP to Non-GAAP Reconciliation Schedules:
           
(1)
             
Non-GAAP reconciliation
                       
Adjusted operating income, operating ratio, and adjusted operating ratio reconciliation (a)
 
                         
   
Three Months Ended June 30,
   
Six Months Ended June 30,
 
   
2016
   
2015
   
2016
   
2015
 
   
(Unaudited, in thousands, except per share amounts)
 
                         
Total revenue
  $ 276,318     $ 301,822     $ 548,406     $ 592,103  
Less: Trucking fuel surcharge
    22,459       33,199       40,964       66,266  
Revenue, excluding trucking fuel surcharge
  $ 253,859     $ 268,623     $ 507,442     $ 525,837  
Operating expense
    238,237       260,203       471,598       504,181  
Adjusted for:
                               
Trucking fuel surcharge
    (22,459 )     (33,199 )     (40,964 )     (66,266 )
Accrual for class action lawsuits (b)
    -       (7,163 )     -       (7,163 )
Adjusted operating expenses
    215,778       219,841       430,634       430,752  
Adjusted operating income
  $ 38,081     $ 48,782     $ 76,808     $ 95,085  
Operating ratio
    86.2 %     86.2 %     86.0 %     85.2 %
Adjusted operating ratio (a)
    85.0 %     81.8 %     84.9 %     81.9 %
 
(2)
           
Non-GAAP reconciliation
                       
Adjusted net income attributable to Knight and adjusted earnings per diluted share reconciliation:
 
                         
                         
   
Three Months Ended June 30,
 
Six Months Ended June 30,
 
   
2016
   
2015
   
2016
   
2015
 
   
(Unaudited, in thousands, except per share amounts)
 
                         
Net Income attributable to Knight
  $ 24,675     $ 27,638     $ 47,245     $ 57,200  
Adjusted for:
                               
Accrual for class action lawsuits (net of tax)(b)
    -       4,395       -       4,395  
Adjusted net income attributable to Knight
  $ 24,675     $ 32,033     $ 47,245     $ 61,595  
                                 
Weighted Average Shares Outstanding - Diluted
    80,781       82,852       81,079       83,020  
                                 
Earnings per diluted share
  $ 0.31     $ 0.33     $ 0.58     $ 0.69  
Adjusted for:
                               
Accrual for class action lawsuits (b)
    -       0.05       -       0.05  
Adjusted earnings per diluted  share
  $ 0.31     $ 0.39     $ 0.58     $ 0.74  

 
 

 

 
(3)
           
Non-GAAP reconciliation
                       
Operating ratio and adjusted operating ratio for trucking segment (a)
             
                         
   
Three Months Ended June 30,
   
Six Months Ended June 30,
 
   
2016
   
2015
   
2016
   
2015
 
   
(Unaudited, in thousands, except per share amounts)
 
Trucking
                       
Total revenue
  $ 226,389     $ 245,567     $ 444,307     $ 480,839  
Less: Trucking fuel surcharge
    22,459       33,199       40,964       66,266  
Revenue, excluding trucking fuel surcharge
  $ 203,930     $ 212,368     $ 403,343     $ 414,573  
Operating expense
    191,103       207,623       373,099       400,748  
Adjusted for:
                               
Trucking fuel surcharge
    (22,459 )     (33,199 )     (40,964 )     (66,266 )
Accrual for class action lawsuits (b)
    -       (7,163 )     -       (7,163 )
Adjusted operating expenses
    168,644       167,261       332,135       327,319  
Adjusted operating income
  $ 35,286     $ 45,107     $ 71,208     $ 87,254  
Operating ratio
    84.4 %     84.5 %     84.0 %     83.3 %
Adjusted operating ratio (a)
    82.7 %     78.8 %     82.3 %     79.0 %
 
(a) Adjusted operating ratio as reported in this press release is based upon total operating expenses, net of fuel surcharge, as a percentage of revenue before fuel surcharge.  We measure our revenue, before fuel surcharge, and our operating expenses, net of fuel surcharge, because we believe that eliminating this sometimes volatile source of revenue affords a more consistent basis for comparing our results of operations from period to period.
             
(b) During the second quarter of 2015 we accrued $7.2 million of expense ($4.4 million after-tax) related to two class action lawsuits involving employment related claims.
 
This press release contains 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. These statements generally may be identified by their use of terms or phrases such as "expects," "estimates," "anticipates," "projects," "believes," "plans," "intends," "may," "will," "should," "could," "potential," "continue," "future," and terms or phrases of similar substance.  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.  Accordingly, actual results may differ from those set forth in the forward-looking statements.  Readers should review and consider the factors that may affect future results and other disclosures by the Company in its press releases, stockholder reports, Annual Report on Form 10-K, and other filings with the Securities and 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.

Contact:  David A. Jackson, President and CEO, or Adam W. Miller, CFO at (602) 606-6315