U.S. Xpress Enterprises, Inc. Reports Third Quarter 2018 Results

U.S. Xpress Enterprises, Inc. (the “Company”) today announced results for the third quarter of 2018.

Third Quarter 2018 Highlights

 

·	Operating revenue of $460.2 million, an increase of 18.0% compared to the third quarter of 2017
·	Operating income of $22.9 million compared to $11.5 million reported in the third quarter of 2017
·	Operating ratio of 95.0%, a 200 basis point improvement compared to the third quarter of 2017
·	Adjusted operating ratio, a non-GAAP measure, of 94.5%, a 230 basis point improvement compared to the third quarter of 2017
·	Net income attributable to controlling interest of $16.1 million, or $0.33 per diluted share, compared to a net loss attributable to controlling interest of $0.7 million in the third quarter of 2017

 

Third Quarter Financial Performance

		Three Months Ended September 30,								Nine Months Ended September 30,
		2018				2017				2018				2017
Operating revenue		$	460,227			$	390,126			$	1,335,693			$	1,124,152
Revenue, excluding fuel surcharge		$	413,887			$	356,379			$	1,199,553			$	1,026,684
Operating income		$	22,892			$	11,534			$	57,764			$	16,151
Adjusted operating income1		$	22,892			$	11,534			$	64,201			$	18,512
Operating ratio			95.0	%			97.0	%			95.7	%			98.6	%
Adjusted operating ratio1			94.5	%			96.8	%			94.6	%			98.2	%
Net income (loss) attributable to controlling interest		$	16,129			$	(675	)		$	17,903			$	(13,559	)
Adjusted net income (loss) attributable to controlling interest1		$	16,129			$	(675	)		$	28,573			$	(12,084	)
Earnings per diluted share		$	0.33			$	(0.11	)		$	0.76			$	(2.12	)
Adjusted earnings per diluted share1		$	0.33			$	(0.11	)		$	1.21			$	(1.89	)
1 See GAAP to non-GAAP reconciliation in the schedules following this release

Eric Fuller, CEO and President, commented, “We continued to see the results of our initiatives and cultural overhaul in the third quarter of 2018 as we experienced our fifth consecutive quarter of year over year improvements in our operating ratio while generating the largest amount of net income during a single quarter in our Company’s history, a testament to our team’s efforts and dedication. However, we are far from satisfied with our operating performance for the third quarter, as we believe our seated truck count and miles per tractor could have performed better had we executed more effectively during the quarter.  We have taken steps internally to address the relevant issues and both average seated truck count and average miles per tractor per working day have increased in October compared with the third quarter.  Based on the strong freight volumes, rate environment and the capacity currently being requested from our customers for the upcoming peak season during the fourth quarter, we feel well positioned to make 2018 the most profitable year in our history.”

 

Enterprise Update

Total revenue for the third quarter of 2018 increased by $70.1 million to $460.2 million as compared to the third quarter of 2017. The increase was primarily the result of an 11.2% increase in the Company’s rate per mile, a 54.0% increase in brokerage revenues to $65.1 million, and a $12.6 million increase in fuel surcharge revenues. Excluding the impact of fuel surcharges, third quarter revenue increased $57.5 million to $413.9 million, an increase of 16.1% as compared to the year ago quarter.

Operating income for the third quarter of 2018 was $22.9 million which compares favorably to the $11.5 million achieved in the third quarter of 2017. This improvement was achieved despite incurring $7.6 million of incremental insurance and claims expense in the third quarter of 2018, as compared to the prior year period, partially offset by a $4.0 million gain on life insurance reflected in a reduction in salaries, wages, and benefits, or a net negative impact of approximately $0.05 to earnings per share. The spike in insurance and claims expense, which primarily related to two events during the quarter, reflected the Company’s highest-ever level of insurance and claims expense and is not expected to be ongoing. The third quarter also included a $3.3 million, or approximately $0.07 earnings per share, tax benefit relating to the resolution of a legacy tax position.  The aforementioned items are not included as adjustments in adjusted operating income, adjusted operating ratio, or adjusted net income.

The third quarter 2018 adjusted operating ratio was 94.5%, a 230 basis point improvement as compared to the third quarter of 2017.  Excluding the net $3.6 million of incremental insurance expense discussed above, adjusted operating ratio would have been 93.6%.

Net income attributable to controlling interest for the third quarter of 2018 was $16.1 million as compared to a net loss attributable to controlling interest of $0.7 million in the prior year quarter and is the highest level of net income earned in a single quarter in the Company’s history. In addition to record operating income, interest expense was $8.1 million lower, as compared to the 2017 quarter, resulting in earnings per share of $0.33 for the third quarter of 2018.

Truckload Segment

 

		Three Months Ended September 30,								Nine Months Ended September 30,
		2018				2017				2018				2017
Over the road
Average revenue per tractor per week1		$	3,957			$	3,533			$	3,917			$	3,375
Average revenue per mile1		$	2.072			$	1.861			$	2.022			$	1.804
Average revenue miles per tractor per week			1,910				1,898				1,937				1,871
Average tractors			3,511				3,765				3,574				3,810
Dedicated
Average revenue per tractor per week1		$	3,791			$	3,612			$	3,663			$	3,629
Average revenue per mile1		$	2.281			$	2.068			$	2.234			$	2.074
Average revenue miles per tractor per week			1,662				1,747				1,640				1,750
Average tractors			2,690				2,440				2,678				2,392
Consolidated
Average revenue per tractor per week1		$	3,885			$	3,564			$	3,808			$	3,473
Average revenue per mile1		$	2.156			$	1.938			$	2.104			$	1.903
Average revenue miles per tractor per week			1,802				1,839				1,810				1,824
Average tractors			6,201				6,205				6,252				6,202
1 Excluding fuel surcharge revenues
The above table excludes revenue, miles and tractors for services performed in Mexico.

 

Mr. Fuller said, “Market conditions remained strong in the third quarter as we saw our rates increase sequentially from the second quarter and are continuing to experience further increases into the fourth quarter. Market conditions for drivers, however, remained challenging during the quarter as we were unable to increase our tractor count despite improvements in our turnover percentage. The modest decline was primarily due to a deceleration in the pace of hiring through the first half of the quarter which has since reversed. We continue to execute on our initiatives that are focused on being a valued partner to our professional drivers by offering them increased miles, modern equipment, and a driver centric operations team.”

The Truckload segment achieved an adjusted operating ratio of 94.3% for the third quarter of 2018, a 240 bps improvement as compared to the adjusted operating ratio of 96.7% achieved in the third quarter of 2017. This improvement was a result of the continued successful implementation of the Company’s strategic initiatives, disciplined cost management, and increased rates, despite additional insurance and claims expense incurred during the quarter.

In the over the road division, average revenue per tractor per week increased 12.0% in the third quarter of 2018, as compared to the third quarter of 2017. The increase was primarily the result of an 11.3% increase in the division’s rate per mile. It is worth noting that utilization was essentially flat in the third quarter of 2018, from the year ago period, with headwinds from temporary support of our dedicated division. Looking forward, the Company sees additional opportunities to improve the division’s results through the continued execution of its driver and utilization centric initiatives.

The dedicated division’s average revenue per tractor per week increased 5.0% in the third quarter of 2018 as compared to the third quarter of 2017. The increase was primarily the result of a 10.3% increase in the division’s revenue per mile partially offset by a 4.9% decrease in the division’s revenue miles per tractor per week. The division’s results continue to be impacted by certain accounts’ shipping patterns performing differently than expected which was first experienced in the second quarter of 2018. The Company made progress addressing the issue which resulted in a sequential improvement in utilization to a decline of 5.0% in the third quarter of 2018 from the 9.8% decline in utilization experienced in the second quarter of 2018.

Brokerage Segment

		Three Months Ended September 30,								Nine Months Ended September 30,
		2018				2017				2018				2017
Brokerage revenue		$	65,060			$	42,255			$	177,962			$	117,405
Gross margin %			13.6	%			13.7	%			13.3	%			12.8	%
Load Count			42,891				36,929				124,276				105,102

Conference Call

As previously announced, the Company will hold a conference call to discuss its third quarter results at 5:00 p.m. (Eastern Time) on November 1^st, 2018.  The conference call can be accessed live over the by phone dialing 1-877-423-9813 or, for international callers, 1-201-689-8573 and requesting to be joined to the U.S. Xpress Third Quarter Earnings Conference Call. A replay will be available starting at 8:00 p.m. (Eastern Time) on November 1^st, 2018 and can be accessed by dialing 1-844-512-2921 or, for international callers, 1-412-317-6671. The passcode for the replay is 13683659. The replay will be available until 11:59 p.m. (Eastern Time) on November 8^th, 2018.

Interested investors and other parties may also listen to a simultaneous webcast of the conference call by logging onto the investor relations section of the Company’s website at investor.usxpress.com. The online replay will remain available for a limited time beginning immediately following the call. Supplementary information for the conference call also will be available on this website.

Non-GAAP Financial Measures

In addition to our net income determined in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (‘‘GAAP’’), we evaluate operating performance using certain non-GAAP measures, including Adjusted Operating Ratio, Adjusted Operating Expenses, Adjusted Operating Income and Adjusted EPS (on both a consolidated and segment basis). Management believes the use of non-GAAP measures assists investors and securities analysts in understanding the ongoing operating performance of our business by allowing more effective comparison between periods. The non-GAAP information provided is used by our management and may not be comparable to similar measures disclosed by other companies, Adjusted Operating Ratio, Adjusted Operating Expenses, Adjusted Operating Income and Adjusted EPS. The non-GAAP measures used herein have limitations as analytical tools, and you should not consider them in isolation or as substitutes for analysis of our results as reported under GAAP. Management compensates for these limitations by relying primarily on GAAP results and using non-GAAP financial measures on a supplemental basis.

About U.S. Xpress Enterprises

Founded in 1985, U.S. Xpress Enterprises, Inc. is the nation’s fifth largest asset-based truckload carrier by revenue, providing services primarily throughout the United States. We offer customers a broad portfolio of services using our own truckload fleet and third‐party carriers through our non‐asset‐based truck brokerage network. Our modern fleet of tractors is backed up by a team of committed professionals whose focus lies squarely on meeting the needs of our customers and our drivers.

 

Forward-Looking Statements

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, and such statements are subject to the safe harbor created by those sections and the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, as amended. Such statements may be identified by their use of terms or phrases such as "expects," "estimates," "projects," "believes," "anticipates," "plans," "intends," “outlook,” “strategy,” “focus,” “continue,” “will,” “could,” “should,” “may,” and similar terms and phrases. In this press release, such statements may include, but are not limited to, statements concerning: any projections of earnings, revenues, cash flows, capital expenditures, or other financial items; any statement of plans, strategies, or objectives for future operations; any statements regarding future economic or industry conditions or performance; and any statements of belief and any statements of assumptions underlying any of the foregoing. 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. The following factors, among others, could cause actual results to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements: general economic conditions, including inflation and consumer spending; political conditions and regulations, including future changes thereto; changes in tax laws or in their interpretations and changes in tax rates; future insurance and claims experience, including adverse changes in claims experience and loss development factors, or additional changes in management's estimates of liability based upon such experience and development factors that cause our expectations of insurance and claims expense to be inaccurate or otherwise impacts our results; impact of pending or future legal proceedings; future market for used revenue equipment and real estate; future revenue equipment prices; future capital expenditures, including equipment purchasing and leasing plans and equipment turnover (including expected trade-ins); expected fleet age; future depreciation and amortization; changes in management’s estimates of the need for new tractors and trailers; future ability to generate sufficient cash from operations and obtain financing on favorable terms to meet our significant ongoing capital requirements; our ability to maintain compliance with the provisions of our credit agreement; expected freight environment, including freight demand, rates, capacity, and volumes; future asset utilization; loss of one or more of our major customers; our ability to renew dedicated service offering contracts on the terms and schedule we expect; surplus inventories, recessionary economic cycles, and downturns in customers' business cycles; strikes, work slowdowns, or work stoppages at the Company, customers, ports, or other shipping related facilities; increases or rapid fluctuations in fuel prices, as well as fluctuations in surcharge collection, including, but not limited to, changes in customer fuel surcharge policies and increases in fuel surcharge bases by customers; interest rates, fuel taxes, tolls, and license and registration fees; increases in compensation for and difficulty in attracting and retaining qualified professional drivers and independent contractors; seasonal factors such as harsh weather conditions that increase operating costs; competition from trucking, rail, and intermodal competitors; regulatory requirements that increase costs, decrease efficiency, or reduce the availability of drivers, including revised hours-of-service requirements for drivers and the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration’s Compliance, Safety, Accountability program that implemented new driver standards and modified the methodology for determining a carrier’s Department of Transportation safety rating; future safety performance; our ability to reduce, or control increases in, operating costs; future third-party service provider relationships and availability; execution of the Company’s current business strategy or changes in the Company’s business strategy; the ability of the Company’s infrastructure to support future organic or inorganic growth; our ability to identify acceptable acquisition candidates, consummate acquisitions, and integrate acquired operations; and our ability to adapt to changing market conditions and technologies. 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 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:

U.S. Xpress Enterprises, Inc.

Brian Baubach

Source: U.S. Xpress Enterprises, Inc.

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