Hub Group, Inc. Reports Record Third Quarter 2018 Results

Highlights of the quarter

• 13% revenue growth
• 33% gross margin growth
• 121% increase in operating income
• Sold Mode Transportation, LLC for approximately $238.5 million

OAK BROOK, Ill., Oct. 25, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Hub Group, Inc. (NASDAQ:HUBG) announced third quarter 2018 net income of $114.6 million, or diluted earnings per share of $3.41 versus third quarter 2017 net income of $15.3 million, or $0.46 per diluted share. Income from continuing operations for the current quarter was $25.8 million, or $0.77 per diluted share versus third quarter 2017 income from continuing operations of $11.6 million, or $0.35 per diluted share.

On August 31, 2018, Hub Group, Inc. closed on the sale of Mode Transportation, LLC.  Mode’s temperature protected services division (“Temstar”) was not included in the sale and was retained by Hub and is reported in the intermodal line of business.  The comparative results of Mode have been reported as “discontinued operations” in the Consolidated Financial Statements. 

Results of Continuing Operations

Revenue for the current quarter was $933.2 million compared with $824.8 million for the third quarter 2017 as a result of our success in providing integrated supply chain solutions.   Operating income for the current quarter increased to $34.7 million versus $15.7 million for the third quarter 2017. Operating income increased 121%.

Third quarter intermodal revenue increased 20% to $576.5 million due to a 3% increase in load volume, price increases and higher fuel revenue. Transcon volume was up 7%, local west was up 6%, and local east was down 2%. Intermodal gross margin increased compared to the third quarter of 2017 primarily due to higher pricing, improved mix and accessorial recovery, better network balance and increased volume.  These gains were partially offset by higher rail and drayage costs and one day worse utilization than 2017.  We ended the third quarter of 2018 with approximately 36,800 containers and 1,100 tractors assigned to the dray fleet.

Truck brokerage revenue increased 8% to $122.1 million in the third quarter of 2018 compared to the same quarter of last year.  Truck brokerage handled 1% fewer loads while fuel, price and mix combined were up 9%.  Contractual volume represented 78% of total load volume compared to 82% in the third quarter of 2017. Truck brokerage gross margin increased compared to the third quarter of 2017 primarily because of growth with strategic customers and increased spot activity. 

Third quarter logistics revenue decreased 11% to $156.0 million due primarily to lost customers partially offset by growth with existing customers.  Logistics gross margin decreased compared to the third quarter of 2017 due to lost customers, changes in customer mix, and increased purchased transportation costs.

Dedicated revenue increased 36% to $78.6 million compared to the same quarter in the prior year.  Dedicated gross margin decreased compared to the third quarter of 2017 due to higher usage of outside carriers, startup costs associated with new contracts and higher driver wages.  We ended the third quarter of 2018 with approximately 1,500 tractors and 5,100 trailers in Dedicated. 

Costs and expenses increased $9.7 million to $80.3 million in the third quarter of 2018 compared to $70.6 million in the third quarter of 2017 due primarily to a $7.5 million increase in incentive compensation, $1.6 million increase in salaries due to higher headcount and employee raises, $1.4 million of higher commissions, and $1.0 million of higher professional fees partially offset by a $1.4 million increase in gain on sale of assets. Professional fees include $0.5 million for due diligence associated with potential acquisitions.

Operating income was $34.7 million compared to $15.7 million in the third quarter 2017.

Discontinued Operations

Income from discontinued operations, net of income taxes, for the third quarter 2018 was $88.8 million or diluted earnings per share of $2.64, versus third quarter 2017 net income of $3.7 million or $0.11 per diluted share.  Third quarter 2018 includes a gain on sale of Mode Transportation, LLC, net of transaction costs and income tax, of $86.3 million or diluted earnings per share of $2.57. We recorded one time incentive payments of approximately $0.6 million or approximately $0.02 per diluted share in the third quarter of 2018.

Cash Flow and Capitalization

Our capital expenditures for the third quarter 2018 totaled $69.6 million, primarily for tractors, containers, trailers and technology investments.  At September 30, 2018, we had cash and cash equivalents of $267.5 million. 

At September 30, 2018, we had total debt outstanding of $311.8 million on various debt instruments compared to $302.5 million at December 31, 2017. 

2018 Fourth Quarter Outlook

We expect that our fourth quarter 2018 diluted earnings per share will range from $0.85 to $0.95.  We estimate that our 2018 fourth quarter capital expenditures will range from $60 million to $80 million.  We project our effective tax rate for the fourth quarter will range from 22.0% to 22.4%.

CONFERENCE CALL

Hub will hold a conference call at 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time on Thursday, October 25^th 2018 to discuss its third quarter 2018 results.

Hosting the conference call will be Dave Yeager, Chief Executive Officer.  Also participating on the call will be Don Maltby, Chief Operating Officer, and Terri Pizzuto, Chief Financial Officer.

This call is being webcast and can be accessed through the Investors link on Hub Group’s web site at www.hubgroup.com.  The webcast is listen-only.  Those interested in participating in the question and answer session should follow the telephone dial-in instructions below.

To participate in the conference call by telephone, please register at http://www.yourconferencecenter.com/r.aspx?p=1&a=ULNKzderGUmOTD. Registrants will be issued a passcode and PIN to use when dialing into the live call which will provide quickest access to the conference.  You may register at any time, including up to and after the call start time.  On the day of the call, dial (888) 206-4064 approximately ten minutes prior to the scheduled call time; enter the participant passcode and PIN received during registration.   The call will be limited to 60 minutes, including questions and answers.

An audio replay will be available through the Investors link on the Company’s Web site at www.hubgroup.com. This replay will be available for 30 days.

On October 25 2018, the company will make available on its website an Investor Presentation, which includes updated business information and third quarter 2018 results, among other things. The presentation can be accessed by going to www.hubgroup.com, selecting the “Investors” tab, and then selecting the “Presentations” tab. The presentation will be available on the company’s website until the next regular update.

CERTAIN FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS: Statements in this press release that are not historical, including statements about Hub Group’s or management’s earnings guidance, intentions, beliefs, expectations, representations, projections, plans or predictions of the future, are forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements are inherently uncertain and subject to risks, and should be viewed with caution. Forward-looking statements may contain words such as “expects”, “expected”, “believe”, “projected”, “estimate”, or similar words, and are based on management’s experience and perception of historical trends, current conditions, and anticipated future developments, as well as other factors believed to be appropriate. We believe these statements and the assumptions and estimates contained in this release are reasonable based on information that is currently available to us. Such statements should be viewed with caution. Actual results or experience could differ materially from the forward-looking statements as a result of many factors. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially include intermodal costs and prices, the integration of any acquisitions and expenses relating thereto, the future performance of Hub’s Intermodal, Truck Brokerage, Dedicated and Unyson Logistics business lines, driver shortages, the amount and timing of strategic investments or divestitures by Hub, the failure to integrate critical information technology systems, retail customers encountering adverse economic conditions and the factors listed from time to time in Hub Group’sSEC reports including, but not limited to, the annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2017.  Hub Group assumes no liability to update any such forward-looking statements.

HUB GROUP, INC.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF EARNINGS
(in thousands, except per share amounts)
(unaudited)
							Three Months Ended September 30,
							2018						2017
										% of						% of
							Amount			Revenue			Amount			Revenue
Revenue							$	933,224		100.0	%		$	824,809		100.0	%
Transportation costs								818,240		87.7	%			738,482		89.5	%
	Gross margin							114,984		12.3	%			86,327		10.5	%
Costs and expenses:
	Salaries and benefits							57,123		6.1	%			45,978		5.6	%
	General and administrative							19,327		2.1	%			20,637		2.5	%
	Depreciation and amortization							3,800		0.4	%			3,966		0.5	%
		Total costs and expenses						80,250		8.6	%			70,581		8.6	%
Operating income								34,734		3.7	%			15,746		1.9	%
Other income (expense):
	Interest expense							(2,411	)	-0.2	%			(2,345	)	-0.2	%
	Interest and dividend income							340		0.0	%			42		0.0	%
	Other, net							251		0.0	%			355		0.0	%
		Total other expense						(1,820	)	-0.2	%			(1,948	)	-0.2	%
Income from continuing operations before income taxes								32,914		3.5	%			13,798		1.7	%
Provision for income taxes								7,150		0.7	%			2,210		0.3	%
Income from continuing operations								25,764		2.8	%			11,588		1.4	%
Income from discontinued operations, net of income taxes								88,846						3,746
Net income							$	114,610					$	15,334
Earnings per share from continuing operations
	Basic						$	0.77					$	0.35
	Diluted						$	0.77					$	0.35
Earnings per share from discontinued operations
	Basic						$	2.66					$	0.11
	Diluted						$	2.64					$	0.11
Earnings per share net income
	Basic						$	3.43					$	0.46
	Diluted						$	3.41					$	0.46
Basic weighted average number of shares outstanding								33,399						33,227
Diluted weighted average number of shares outstanding								33,605						33,335

HUB GROUP, INC.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF EARNINGS
(in thousands, except per share amounts)
(unaudited)
							Nine Months Ended September 30,
							2018						2017
										% of						% of
							Amount			Revenue			Amount			Revenue
Revenue							$	2,665,300		100.0	%		$	2,213,824		100.0	%
Transportation costs								2,358,286		88.5	%			1,982,800		89.6	%
	Gross margin							307,014		11.5	%			231,024		10.4	%
Costs and expenses:
	Salaries and benefits							163,496		6.1	%			127,643		5.7	%
	General and administrative							55,557		2.1	%			57,681		2.6	%
	Depreciation and amortization							11,286		0.4	%			8,331		0.4	%
		Total costs and expenses						230,339		8.6	%			193,655		8.7	%
Operating income								76,675		2.9	%			37,369		1.7	%
Other income (expense):
	Interest expense							(6,702	)	-0.3	%			(4,474	)	-0.2	%
	Interest and dividend income							365		0.0	%			332		0.0	%
	Other, net							20		0.0	%			533		0.0	%
		Total other expense						(6,317	)	-0.3	%			(3,609	)	-0.2	%
Income from continuing operations before income taxes								70,358		2.6	%			33,760		1.5	%
Provision for income taxes								16,371		0.6	%			10,060		0.4	%
Income from continuing operations								53,987		2.0	%			23,700		1.1	%
Income from discontinued operations, net of income taxes								98,842						11,510
Net income							$	152,829					$	35,210
Earnings per share from continuing operations
	Basic						$	1.62					$	0.71
	Diluted						$	1.61					$	0.71
Earnings per share from discontinued operations
	Basic						$	2.96					$	0.35
	Diluted						$	2.95					$	0.35
Earnings per share net income
	Basic						$	4.58					$	1.06
	Diluted						$	4.56					$	1.06
Basic weighted average number of shares outstanding								33,387						33,217
Diluted weighted average number of shares outstanding								33,548						33,323

HUB GROUP, INC.
FINANCIAL INFORMATION BY BUSINESS LINE
(in thousands)
(unaudited)
					Three Months						Nine Months
					Ended September 30,						Ended September 30,
					2018			2017			2018			2017
Intermodal					$	576,478		$	478,531		$	1,597,254		$	1,362,564
Truck brokerage						122,062			112,653			357,016			323,128
Logistics						156,041			175,679			498,139			470,186
Dedicated						78,643			57,946			212,891			57,946
	Total Revenue				$	933,224		$	824,809		$	2,665,300		$	2,213,824

HUB GROUP, INC.
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
(in thousands, except share data)
(unaudited)
								September 30,				December 31,
								2018				2017
ASSETS
	CURRENT ASSETS:
		Cash and cash equivalents						$	267,507			$	28,557
		Accounts receivable trade, net							457,694				424,679
		Accounts receivable other							4,575				5,704
		Prepaid taxes							171				12,088
		Prepaid expenses and other current assets							25,001				25,414
		Current assets held for sale							–				159,616
				TOTAL CURRENT ASSETS					754,948				656,058
	Restricted investments								22,168				20,143
	Property and equipment, net								662,755				561,214
	Other intangibles, net								61,116				64,747
	Goodwill, net								318,662				319,272
	Other assets								3,552				5,491
	Non-current assets held for sale								–				44,016
				TOTAL ASSETS				$	1,823,201			$	1,670,941
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY
	CURRENT LIABILITIES:
		Accounts payable trade						$	247,332			$	242,316
		Accounts payable other							13,959				13,903
		Accrued payroll							46,443				26,674
		Accrued other							84,559				53,507
		Current portion of capital lease							2,820				2,777
		Current portion of long term debt							95,946				77,267
		Current liabilities held for sale							–				103,099
				TOTAL CURRENT LIABILITIES					491,059				519,543
	Long term debt								207,596				214,808
	Non-current liabilities								36,634				33,599
	Long term capital lease								5,472				7,696
	Deferred taxes								154,485				121,095
	Non-current liabilities held for sale								–				4,328
	STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY:
		Preferred stock, $.01 par value; 2,000,000 shares authorized;
			no shares issued or outstanding in 2018 and 2017						–				–
		Common stock
			Class A: $.01 par value; 97,337,700 shares authorized and
				41,224,792 shares issued in 2018 and 2017; 33,612,071 shares
				outstanding in 2018 and 33,447,070 shares outstanding in 2017					412				412
			Class B:  $.01 par value; 662,300 shares authorized;
				662,296 shares issued and outstanding in 2018 and 2017					7				7
		Additional paid-in capital							175,442				173,011
		Purchase price in excess of predecessor basis, net of tax
		benefit of $10,306							(15,458	)			(15,458	)
		Retained earnings							1,023,545				870,715
		Accumulated other comprehensive loss							(168	)			(193	)
		Treasury stock; at cost, 7,612,721 shares in 2018
			and 7,777,722 shares in 2017						(255,825	)			(258,622	)
			TOTAL STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY						927,955				769,872
				TOTAL LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY				$	1,823,201			$	1,670,941

HUB GROUP, INC.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
(in thousands)
(unaudited)
									Nine Months Ended September 30,
									2018				2017
Cash flows from operating activities:
	Net income								$	152,829			$	35,210
	Adjustments to reconcile net income
		to net cash provided by operating activities:
			Depreciation and amortization							59,184				43,531
			Deferred taxes							33,989				19,983
			Compensation expense related to share-based compensation plans							9,490				7,402
			Contingent consideration adjustment							(4,703	)			–
			(Gain) loss on sale of assets							(1,458	)			360
			(Gain) on disposition of discontinued operations							(113,601	)			–
	Changes in operating assets and liabilities:
			Restricted investments							(2,454	)			(3,189	)
			Accounts receivable, net							(44,138	)			(37,448	)
			Prepaid taxes							11,918				(11,839	)
			Prepaid expenses and other current assets							438				(3,059	)
			Other assets							1,572				(3,505	)
			Accounts payable							8,070				51,459
			Accrued expenses							30,951				(13,179	)
			Non-current liabilities							4,358				1,419
				Net cash provided by operating activities						146,445				87,145
Cash flows from investing activities:
	Proceeds from sale of equipment									4,035				3,052
	Purchases of property and equipment									(138,847	)			(39,936	)
	Acquisitions, net of cash acquired									–				(165,933	)
	Proceeds from the disposition of discontinued operations									222,322				–
				Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities						87,510				(202,817	)
Cash flows from financing activities:
	Proceeds from issuance of debt									118,809				73,606
	Repayments of long term debt									(107,341	)			(59,921	)
	Stock tendered for payments of withholding taxes									(4,262	)			(3,410	)
	Capital lease payments									(2,181	)			(2,101	)
	Payment of debt issuance costs									–				(1,397	)
				Net cash provided by financing activities						5,025				6,777
	Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents									(30	)			49
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents										238,950				(108,846	)
Cash and cash equivalents beginning of period										28,557				127,404
Cash and cash equivalents end of period									$	267,507			$	18,558

 

CONTACT: Maralee Volchko of Hub Group, Inc., +1-630-271-3745

Source: Hub Group, Inc.