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Exhibit 99.1

 

      MARTEN TRANSPORT ANNOUNCES THIRD QUARTER RESULTS

Reports highest operating income and operating revenue for any quarter in Company history

 

MONDOVI, Wis., October 16, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Marten Transport, Ltd. (Nasdaq/GS:MRTN) today reported the highest operating income and operating revenue for any quarter in its history. For the third quarter ended September 30, 2018, net income improved 94.2% to $15.3 million, or 28 cents per diluted share, from $7.9 million, or 14 cents per diluted share, for the third quarter of 2017. For the first nine months of 2018, net income improved 55.9% to $39.3 million, or 71 cents per diluted share, from $25.2 million, or 46 cents per diluted share, for the first nine months of 2017. Earnings for the third quarter of 2018 include an additional income tax benefit of $493,000, or one cent per diluted share, net of related expenses.

 

Operating income improved 45.9% to a record $19.0 million for the third quarter of 2018 from $13.0 million for the third quarter of 2017, and improved 19.5% to $50.8 million for the first nine months of 2018 from $42.5 million for the 2017 nine-month period. The third quarter operating income also improved 4.2% sequentially from second quarter of 2018 operating income of $18.2 million.

 

Operating revenue improved 17.0% to a record $199.6 million for the third quarter of 2018 from $170.7 million for the third quarter of 2017, and improved 13.3% to $583.6 million for the first nine months of 2018 from $515.3 million for the 2017 nine-month period. Excluding fuel surcharges, operating revenue improved 10.8% to $171.8 million for the 2018 quarter from $155.0 million for the 2017 quarter, and improved 8.0% to $504.9 million for the first nine months of 2018 from $467.5 million for the 2017 nine-month period. Fuel surcharge revenue increased to $27.9 million for the 2018 quarter from $15.6 million for the 2017 quarter, and increased to $78.8 million for the first nine months of 2018 from $47.8 million for the 2017 nine-month period.

 

Operating expenses for the third quarter of 2018 improved to 90.5% of operating revenue from 92.4% for the third quarter of 2017. Operating expenses as a percentage of operating revenue, with both amounts net of fuel surcharges, improved to 88.9% for the third quarter of 2018 from 91.6% for the third quarter of 2017.

 

Operating expenses for the first nine months of 2018 improved to 91.3% of operating revenue from 91.7% for the 2017 nine-month period. Operating expenses as a percentage of operating revenue, with both amounts net of fuel surcharges, improved to 89.9% for the first nine months of 2018 from 90.9% for the 2017 nine-month period.

 

Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Randolph L. Marten said, “We are encouraged by our record operating income and operating revenue in this quarter, along with our best operating ratio, net of fuel surcharges, over the last 14 quarters. These top- and bottom-line results are a direct result of the continued disciplined execution of our unique multifaceted business model by our dedicated and experienced Marten workforce while capitalizing on the strengthened freight environment. We also improved our balance sheet position with $35.7 million in cash at September 30, 2018 compared with $15.8 million at the beginning of the year. We expect to drive continued growth across all of our operating platforms with increasing compensation for our premium services, additional freight with existing and new customers, and our emphasis on operating efficiencies and cost controls.”

 

“Our agreements with a number of customers included a shift beginning in this year’s first quarter from line haul to fuel surcharge revenue, which reduced our Dedicated and Truckload revenue, net of fuel surcharges, by $200 and $43 per tractor per week in the third quarter, and by $171 and $33 per tractor per week in the first nine months of this year. The change reduced our revenue excluding fuel surcharges by $3.8 million for the third quarter and by $9.3 million for this year’s first nine months, while increasing our fuel surcharge revenue by the same amounts.”

 

 

 

 

Marten Transport, with headquarters in Mondovi, Wis., is one of the leading temperature-sensitive truckload carriers in the United States, specializing in transporting and distributing food and other consumer packaged goods that require a temperature-controlled or insulated environment. Marten’s dry freight services are expanding, with 1,580 dry trailers operating as of September 30, 2018. Marten offers service in the United States, Canada and Mexico, concentrating on expedited movements for high-volume customers. Marten’s common stock is traded on the Nasdaq Global Select Market under the symbol MRTN.

 

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. These statements include a discussion of the Company’s prospects for future growth and by their nature involve substantial risks and uncertainties, and actual results may differ materially from those expressed in such forward-looking statements. Important factors known to the Company that could cause actual results to differ materially from those discussed in the forward-looking statements are discussed in Item 1A of the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2017. The Company undertakes no obligation to correct or update any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

 

CONTACTS: Tim Kohl, President, and Jim Hinnendael, Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, of Marten Transport, Ltd., 715-926-4216.

 

 

 

 

MARTEN TRANSPORT, LTD.

CONSOLIDATED CONDENSED BALANCE SHEETS

 

 

 

   

September 30,

   

December 31,

 

(In thousands, except share information)

 

2018

   

2017

 
   

(Unaudited)

         

ASSETS

               

Current assets:

               

Cash and cash equivalents

  $ 35,739     $ 15,791  

Receivables:

               

Trade, net

    84,055       74,886  

Other

    6,993       6,131  

Prepaid expenses and other

    18,816       19,810  

Total current assets

    145,603       116,618  
                 

Property and equipment:

               

Revenue equipment, buildings and land, office equipment and other

    820,523       783,648  

Accumulated depreciation

    (223,087

)

    (211,728

)

Net property and equipment

    597,436       571,920  

Other assets

    2,281       1,865  

Total assets

  $ 745,320     $ 690,403  
                 

LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY

               

Current liabilities:

               

Accounts payable and accrued liabilities

  $ 48,259     $ 38,100  

Insurance and claims accruals

    25,295       26,177  

Total current liabilities

    73,554       64,277  

Deferred income taxes

    107,696       100,626  

Total liabilities

    181,250       164,903  
                 

Stockholders’ equity:

               

Preferred stock, $.01 par value per share; 2,000,000 shares authorized; no shares issued and outstanding

    -       -  

Common stock, $.01 par value per share; 192,000,000 shares authorized; 54,662,924 shares at September 30, 2018, and 54,533,455 shares at December 31, 2017, issued and outstanding

    547       545  

Additional paid-in capital

    79,304       76,413  

Retained earnings

    484,219       448,542  

Total stockholders’ equity

    564,070       525,500  

Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity

  $ 745,320     $ 690,403  

  

 

 

 

MARTEN TRANSPORT, LTD.

CONSOLIDATED CONDENSED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS

(Unaudited)

 

 

 

   

Three Months

   

Nine Months

 
   

Ended September 30,

   

Ended September 30,

 

(In thousands, except per share information)

 

2018

   

2017

   

2018

   

2017

 
                                 

Operating revenue

  $ 199,649     $ 170,679     $ 583,633     $ 515,349  
                                 

Operating expenses (income):

                               

Salaries, wages and benefits

    64,051       53,594       186,123       166,709  

Purchased transportation

    35,867       28,668       105,941       85,546  

Fuel and fuel taxes

    31,658       26,143       92,444       77,106  

Supplies and maintenance

    10,574       10,381       31,261       31,912  

Depreciation

    22,272       21,186       66,280       63,875  

Operating taxes and licenses

    2,404       2,314       7,055       6,813  

Insurance and claims

    8,567       11,336       27,798       29,098  

Communications and utilities

    1,663       1,463       4,993       4,531  

Gain on disposition of revenue equipment

    (1,835

)

    (1,908

)

    (5,206

)

    (4,882

)

Other

    5,435       4,480       16,134       12,112  
                                 

Total operating expenses

    180,656       157,657       532,823       472,820  
                                 

Operating income

    18,993       13,022       50,810       42,529  
                                 

Other

    (120

)

    14       (447

)

    280  
                                 

Income before income taxes

    19,113       13,008       51,257       42,249  
                                 

Income taxes expense

    3,856       5,153       11,967       17,039  
                                 

Net income

  $ 15,257     $ 7,855     $ 39,290     $ 25,210  
                                 

Basic earnings per common share

  $ 0.28     $ 0.14     $ 0.72     $ 0.46  
                                 

Diluted earnings per common share

  $ 0.28     $ 0.14     $ 0.71     $ 0.46  
                                 

Dividends declared per common share

  $ 0.025     $ 0.025     $ 0.075     $ 0.055  

 

 

 

 

MARTEN TRANSPORT, LTD.

SEGMENT INFORMATION

(Unaudited)

 

 

 

                   

Dollar

   

Percentage

 
                   

Change

   

Change

 
   

Three Months

   

Three Months

   

Three Months

 
   

Ended

   

Ended

   

Ended

 
   

September 30,

   

September 30,

   

September 30,

 

(Dollars in thousands)

 

2018

   

2017

   

2018 vs. 2017

   

2018 vs. 2017

 

Operating revenue:

                               

Truckload revenue, net of fuel surcharge revenue

  $ 80,563     $ 81,836     $ (1,273

)

    (1.6

)%

Truckload fuel surcharge revenue

    13,357       10,172       3,185       31.3  

Total Truckload revenue

    93,920       92,008       1,912       2.1  
                                 

Dedicated revenue, net of fuel surcharge revenue

    48,500       39,154       9,346       23.9  

Dedicated fuel surcharge revenue

    10,291       2,995       7,296       243.6  

Total Dedicated revenue

    58,791       42,149       16,642       39.5  
                                 

Intermodal revenue, net of fuel surcharge revenue

    21,735       17,423       4,312       24.7  

Intermodal fuel surcharge revenue

    4,204       2,472       1,732       70.1  

Total Intermodal revenue

    25,939       19,895       6,044       30.4  
                                 

Brokerage revenue

    20,999       16,627       4,372       26.3  
                                 

Total operating revenue

  $ 199,649     $ 170,679     $ 28,970       17.0

%

                                 

Operating income:

                               

Truckload

  $ 10,026     $ 5,764     $ 4,262       73.9

%

Dedicated

    5,249       4,514       735       16.3  

Intermodal

    2,507       1,588       919       57.9  

Brokerage

    1,211       1,156       55       4.8  

Total operating income

  $ 18,993     $ 13,022     $ 5,971       45.9

%

                                 

Operating ratio:

                               

Truckload

    89.3

%

    93.7

%

               

Dedicated

    91.1       89.3                  

Intermodal

    90.3       92.0                  

Brokerage

    94.2       93.0                  

Consolidated operating ratio

    90.5

%

    92.4

%

               

 

 

 

 

MARTEN TRANSPORT, LTD.

SEGMENT INFORMATION

(Unaudited)

 

 

 

                   

Dollar

   

Percentage

 
                   

Change

   

Change

 
   

Nine Months

   

Nine Months

   

Nine Months

 
   

Ended

   

Ended

   

Ended

 
   

September 30,

   

September 30,

   

September 30,

 

(Dollars in thousands)

 

2018

   

2017

   

2018 vs. 2017

   

2018 vs. 2017

 

Operating revenue:

                               

Truckload revenue, net of fuel surcharge revenue

  $ 241,304     $ 251,127     $ (9,823

)

    (3.9

)%

Truckload fuel surcharge revenue

    40,037       31,453       8,584       27.3  

Total Truckload revenue

    281,341       282,580       (1,239

)

    (0.4

)

                                 

Dedicated revenue, net of fuel surcharge revenue

    138,096       114,654       23,442       20.4  

Dedicated fuel surcharge revenue

    26,499       9,274       17,225       185.7  

Total Dedicated revenue

    164,595       123,928       40,667       32.8  
                                 

Intermodal revenue, net of fuel surcharge revenue

    63,834       51,111       12,723       24.9  

Intermodal fuel surcharge revenue

    12,227       7,085       5,142       72.6  

Total Intermodal revenue

    76,061       58,196       17,865       30.7  
                                 

Brokerage revenue

    61,636       50,645       10,991       21.7  
                                 

Total operating revenue

  $ 583,633     $ 515,349     $ 68,284       13.3

%

                                 

Operating income:

                               

Truckload

  $ 25,530     $ 19,249     $ 6,281       32.6

%

Dedicated

    13,321       14,075       (754

)

    (5.4

)

Intermodal

    7,997       5,777       2,220       38.4  

Brokerage

    3,962       3,428       534       15.6  

Total operating income

  $ 50,810     $ 42,529     $ 8,281       19.5

%

                                 

Operating ratio:

                               

Truckload

    90.9

%

    93.2

%

               

Dedicated

    91.9       88.6                  

Intermodal

    89.5       90.1                  

Brokerage

    93.6       93.2                  

Consolidated operating ratio

    91.3

%

    91.7

%

               

 

 

 

 

MARTEN TRANSPORT, LTD.

OPERATING STATISTICS

(Unaudited)

 

 

 

   

Three Months

   

Nine Months

 
   

Ended September 30,

   

Ended September 30,

 
   

2018

   

2017

   

2018

   

2017

 

Truckload Segment:

                               

Revenue (in thousands)

  $ 93,920     $ 92,008     $ 281,341     $ 282,580  

Average revenue, net of fuel surcharges, per tractor per week(1)

  $ 3,925     $ 3,484     $ 3,797     $ 3,455  

Average tractors(1)

    1,561       1,787       1,629       1,863  

Average miles per trip

    564       592       578       598  

Non-revenue miles percentage(2)

    10.4

%

    8.1

%

    8.9

%

    8.9

%

Total miles (in thousands)

    37,259       43,340       117,343       135,136  
                                 

Dedicated Segment:

                               

Revenue (in thousands)

  $ 58,791     $ 42,149     $ 164,595     $ 123,928  

Average revenue, net of fuel surcharges, per tractor per week(1)

  $ 3,287     $ 3,441     $ 3,279     $ 3,463  

Average tractors(1)

    1,123       866       1,080       849  

Average miles per trip

    317       299       305       297  

Non-revenue miles percentage(2)

    0.6

%

    0.6

%

    0.8

%

    0.7

%

Total miles (in thousands)

    24,362       19,705       69,244       57,641  
                                 

Intermodal Segment:

                               

Revenue (in thousands)

  $ 25,939     $ 19,895     $ 76,061     $ 58,196  

Loads

    10,573       10,265       31,932       29,642  

Average tractors

    89       78       87       79  
                                 

Brokerage Segment:

                               

Revenue (in thousands)

  $ 20,999     $ 16,627     $ 61,636     $ 50,645  

Loads

    12,781       11,672       36,790       36,604  
                                 

At September 30, 2018 and September 30, 2017:

                               

Total tractors(1)

    2,751       2,649                  

Average age of company tractors (in years)

    1.6       1.4                  

Total trailers

    5,397       4,915                  

Average age of company trailers (in years)

    2.6       2.8                  

Ratio of trailers to tractors(1)

    2.0       1.9                  

   

   

Three Months

   

Nine Months

 
   

Ended September 30,

   

Ended September 30,

 

(In thousands)

 

2018

   

2017

   

2018

   

2017

 
                                 

Net cash provided by operating activities

  $ 44,722     $ 29,490     $ 112,097     $ 94,710  

Net cash (used for) investing activities

    (29,665

)

    (37,050

)

    (88,842

)

    (84,015

)

Net cash (used for) financing activities

    (1,321

)

    (1,339

)

    (3,307

)

    (10,024

)

                                 

Weighted average shares outstanding:

                               

Basic

    54,661       54,517       54,615       54,479  

Diluted

    55,194       54,890       55,151       54,803  

            

(1) 

Includes tractors driven by both company-employed drivers and independent contractors. Independent contractors provided 50 and 63 tractors as of September 30, 2018 and 2017, respectively. 

 

 

(2)

Represents the percentage of miles for which the company is not compensated.