Landstar System Reports Record First Quarter Revenue of $1.048 Billion and Record First Quarter Diluted Earnings Per Share of $1.37


JACKSONVILLE, Fla., April 25, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Landstar System, Inc. (NASDAQ:LSTR) reported record first quarter diluted earnings per share of $1.37 in the 2018 first quarter, on record first quarter revenue of $1.048 billion.  Landstar reported diluted earnings per share of $0.77 on revenue of $781 million in the 2017 first quarter. Gross profit (defined as revenue less the cost of purchased transportation and commissions to agents) was $155.5 million, a record quarterly gross profit, in the 2018 first quarter compared to $121.6 million in the 2017 first quarter.  Operating margin, representing operating income divided by gross profit, was 48.3 percent in the 2018 first quarter.

Truck transportation revenue hauled by independent business capacity owners (“BCOs”) and truck brokerage carriers in the 2018 first quarter was $979.1 million, or 93 percent of revenue, compared to $726.8 million, or 93 percent of revenue, in the 2017 first quarter.  Truckload transportation revenue hauled via van equipment in the 2018 first quarter was $656.1 million compared to $470.0 million in the 2017 first quarter.  Truckload transportation revenue hauled via unsided/platform equipment in the 2018 first quarter was $299.4 million compared to $237.2 million in the 2017 first quarter. Revenue hauled by rail, air and ocean cargo carriers was $52.8 million, or 5 percent of revenue, in the 2018 first quarter compared to $42.4 million, or 5 percent of revenue, in the 2017 first quarter.

Trailing twelve-month return on average shareholders’ equity was 32 percent and trailing twelve-month return on invested capital, representing net income divided by the sum of average equity plus average debt, was 27 percent.  Currently, the Company is authorized to purchase up to approximately 2,986,000 shares of the Company’s common stock under Landstar’s previously announced share purchase programs.  As of March 31, 2018, the Company had $260 million in cash and short term investments and $217 million available for borrowings under the Company’s senior credit facility.

In addition, Landstar announced today that its Board of Directors has declared a quarterly dividend of $0.15 per share payable on June 1, 2018, to stockholders of record as of the close of business on May 10, 2018.  It is currently the intention of the Board to pay dividends on a quarterly basis going forward.

“I am extremely pleased with the execution of the Landstar model during the 2018 first quarter,” said Landstar’s President and Chief Executive Officer Jim Gattoni.   “Diluted earnings per share was $1.37 in the 2018 first quarter, the highest first quarter diluted earnings per share in Landstar history. Revenue and the number of loads hauled via truck each set new all-time Landstar first quarter records.  All-time quarterly records were set for both gross profit and operating income and the Company also set a new all-time record for trucks provided by BCOs with 9,868 as of the end of the quarter.”

Gattoni continued, “The number of loads hauled via truck in the 2018 first quarter increased 12 percent over the 2017 first quarter, driven by a 13 percent increase in the number of loads hauled via van equipment, an 8 percent increase in the number of loads hauled via unsided/platform equipment and a 12 percent increase in less-than-truckload volume.  The number of loads hauled via railroads, ocean cargo carriers and air cargo carriers was 20 percent higher in the 2018 first quarter compared to the 2017 first quarter, primarily due to a 25 percent increase in rail intermodal volume.”

Gattoni further commented, “As expected, the pricing environment for our truckload services continued to be very strong in the 2018 first quarter, as industry-wide truck capacity continued to be very tight. Revenue per load on loads hauled via van equipment increased 24 percent over the 2017 first quarter and revenue per load on loads hauled via unsided/platform equipment increased 17 percent over the 2017 first quarter. As a result, revenue per load on loads hauled via truck was 21 percent higher than the 2017 first quarter.”

Gattoni continued, “Through the first few weeks of April, load growth on a year-over-year basis in loads hauled via truck was consistent with the load growth experienced in the first quarter. I expect that trend to continue and, therefore, expect the number of loads hauled via truck in the 2018 second quarter to increase in a 10 to 12 percent range over the 2017 second quarter.  My expectation is that pricing conditions for truck services in the 2018 second quarter will continue to be very strong with little change in the level of available truck capacity. Assuming those truck conditions remain, I expect 2018 second quarter truck revenue per load to be higher than the 2017 second quarter in a 19 to 22 percentage range.  I anticipate revenue for the 2018 second quarter to be in a range of $1.115 billion to $1.165 billion.  Assuming that range of estimated revenue and insurance and claims expense at 3.5 percent of BCO revenue, representing average insurance and claims costs as a percent of BCO revenue over the past five years, I would anticipate 2018 second quarter diluted earnings per share to be in a range of $1.48 to $1.54 per share compared to $0.89 per diluted share in the 2017 second quarter.”

Landstar will provide a live webcast of its quarterly earnings conference call tomorrow morning at 8:00 a.m. ET.  To access the webcast, visit the Company’s website at www.landstar.com; click on “Investor Relations” and “Webcasts,” then click on “Landstar’s First Quarter 2018 Earnings Release Conference Call.”

The following is a “safe harbor” statement under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Statements contained in this press release that are not based on historical facts are “forward-looking statements”. This press release contains forward-looking statements, such as statements which relate to Landstar’s business objectives, plans, strategies and expectations. Terms such as “anticipates,” “believes,” “estimates,” “intention,” “expects,” “plans,” “predicts,” “may,” “should,” “could,” “will,” the negative thereof and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. Such statements are by nature subject to uncertainties and risks, including but not limited to: an increase in the frequency or severity of accidents or other claims; unfavorable development of existing accident claims; dependence on third party insurance companies; dependence on independent commission sales agents; dependence on third party capacity providers; decreased demand for transportation services; U.S. foreign trade relationships; substantial industry competition; disruptions or failures in the Company’s computer systems; cyber and other information security incidents; dependence on key vendors; changes in fuel taxes; status of independent contractors; regulatory and legislative changes; regulations focused on diesel emissions and other air quality matters; catastrophic loss of a Company facility; intellectual property; unclaimed property; and other operational, financial or legal risks or uncertainties detailed in Landstar’s Form 10K for the 2017 fiscal year, described in Item 1A Risk Factors, and in other SEC filings from time to time. These risks and uncertainties could cause actual results or events to differ materially from historical results or those anticipated. Investors should not place undue reliance on such forward-looking statements, and the Company undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements.

About Landstar:
Landstar System, Inc. is a worldwide, asset-light provider of integrated transportation management solutions delivering safe, specialized transportation services to a broad range of customers utilizing a network of agents, third-party capacity providers and employees.  All Landstar transportation services companies are certified to ISO 9001:2008 quality management system standards and RC14001:2013 environmental, health, safety and security management system standards.  Landstar System, Inc. is headquartered in Jacksonville, Florida. Its common stock trades on The NASDAQ Stock Market® under the symbol LSTR.

(Tables follow)

 
Landstar System, Inc. and Subsidiary
Consolidated Statements of Income
(Dollars in thousands, except per share amounts)
(Unaudited)
         
      Thirteen Weeks Ended
      March 31, April 1,
       2018   2017
         
Revenue   $  1,047,926  $  780,908
Investment income     861     414
         
Costs and expenses:     
 Purchased transportation    810,297     595,523
 Commissions to agents    82,125     63,798
 Other operating costs, net of gains on asset sales/dispositions    7,604     6,897
 Insurance and claims     17,360     14,513
 Selling, general and administrative    45,251     38,323
 Depreciation and amortization    10,997     9,934
         
  Total costs and expenses    973,634     728,988
         
Operating income     75,153     52,334
Interest and debt expense     800     1,083
         
Income before income taxes    74,353     51,251
Income taxes      16,880     18,868
         
Net income      57,473     32,383
Less: Net loss attributable to noncontrolling interest     (44)    -
Net income attributable to Landstar System,    
 Inc. and subsidiary  $  57,517  $  32,383
         
Earnings per common share attributable to    
 Landstar System, Inc. and subsidiary $  1.37  $  0.77
         
Diluted earnings per share attributable to    
 Landstar System, Inc. and subsidiary $  1.37  $  0.77
         
Average number of shares outstanding:    
 Earnings per common share     42,038,000     41,879,000
 Diluted earnings per share    42,098,000     41,998,000
         
Dividends per common share $  0.15  $  0.09
         


Landstar System, Inc. and Subsidiary
Consolidated Balance Sheets
(Dollars in thousands, except per share amounts)
(Unaudited)
          
       March 31, December 30,
        2018   2017 
ASSETS      
Current assets:      
 Cash and cash equivalents  $220,605  $242,416 
 Short-term investments   39,014   48,928 
 Trade accounts receivable, less allowance   
  of $6,496 and $6,131   631,828   631,164 
 Other receivables, including advances to independent   
  contractors, less allowance of $6,796 and $6,012 27,880   24,301 
 Other current assets   9,373   14,394 
  Total current assets   928,700   961,203 
          
Operating property, less accumulated depreciation   
   and amortization of $224,042 and $218,700 265,540   276,011 
Goodwill     39,363   39,065 
Other assets    86,670   76,181 
Total assets   $1,320,273  $1,352,460 
          
LIABILITIES AND EQUITY     
Current liabilities:      
 Cash overdraft   $36,320  $42,242 
 Accounts payable   282,480   285,132 
 Current maturities of long-term debt  39,931   42,051 
 Insurance claims   39,547   38,919 
 Dividends payable   -   62,985 
 Accrued compensation   12,459   30,103 
 Other current liabilities   62,206   47,211 
  Total current liabilities   472,943   548,643 
          
Long-term debt, excluding current maturities 73,350   83,062 
Insurance claims    30,252   30,141 
Deferred income taxes and other non-current liabilities 37,448   36,737 
          
Equity       
Landstar System, Inc. and subsidiary shareholders' equity   
 Common stock, $0.01 par value, authorized 160,000,000   
  shares, issued 67,836,164 and 67,740,380 shares 678   677 
 Additional paid-in capital   211,933   209,599 
 Retained earnings   1,663,140   1,611,158 
 Cost of 25,768,669 and 25,749,493 shares of common   
  stock in treasury   (1,169,458)  (1,167,600)
 Accumulated other comprehensive loss (3,551)  (3,162)
  Total Landstar System, Inc. and subsidiary shareholders'   
   equity    702,742   650,672 
Noncontrolling interest   3,538   3,205 
  Total equity    706,280   653,877 
Total liabilities and equity  $1,320,273  $1,352,460 
          


Landstar System, Inc. and Subsidiary
 
Supplemental Information
 
(Unaudited) 
         
     Thirteen Weeks Ended 
     March 31, April 1, 
     2018
 2017
 
Revenue generated through (in thousands):     
         
 Truck transportation     
  Truckload:     
   Van equipment $656,135  $469,783  
   Unsided/platform equipment  299,369   237,177  
  Less-than-truckload  23,584   19,857  
   Total truck transportation  979,088   726,817  
 Rail intermodal  29,292   22,842  
 Ocean and air cargo carriers  23,477   19,590  
 Other (1)  16,069   11,659  
     $1,047,926  $780,908  
         
 Revenue on loads hauled via BCO Independent Contractors (2)     
  included in total truck transportation $471,150  $364,908  
         
Number of loads:     
         
 Truck transportation     
  Truckload:     
   Van equipment  336,919   298,066  
   Unsided/platform equipment  119,791   111,185  
  Less-than-truckload  33,420   29,919  
   Total truck transportation  490,130   439,170  
 Rail intermodal  13,280   10,650  
 Ocean and air cargo carriers  6,330   5,730  
      509,740   455,550  
         
 Loads hauled via BCO Independent Contractors (2)     
  included in total truck transportation  233,180   218,230  
         
Revenue per load:     
         
 Truck transportation     
  Truckload:     
   Van equipment $1,947  $1,576  
   Unsided/platform equipment  2,499   2,133  
  Less-than-truckload  706   664  
   Total truck transportation  1,998   1,655  
 Rail intermodal  2,206   2,145  
 Ocean and air cargo carriers  3,709   3,419  
         
 Revenue per load on loads hauled via BCO Independent Contractors (2) $2,021  $1,672  
         
Revenue by capacity type (as a % of total revenue);     
         
 Truck capacity providers:     
  BCO Independent Contractors (2)  45%   47%  
  Truck Brokerage Carriers  48%   46%  
 Rail intermodal  3%   3%  
 Ocean and air cargo carriers  2%   3%  
 Other   2%   1%  
         
         
     March 31, April 1, 
     2018
 2017
 
Truck Capacity Providers     
         
 BCO Independent Contractors (2)  9,243   8,772  
 Truck Brokerage Carriers:     
 Approved and active (3)  34,659   31,566  
 Other approved  15,687   15,889  
      50,346   47,455  
 Total available truck capacity providers  59,589   56,227  
         
 Trucks provided by BCO Independent Contractors (2)  9,868   9,370  
         
         
(1) Includes primarily reinsurance premium revenue generated by the insurance segment and, during the 2018 fiscal quarter, intra-Mexico transportation 
services revenue generated by Landstar Metro.
 
         
(2) BCO Independent Contractors are independent contractors who provide truck capacity to the Company under exclusive lease arrangements. 
         
(3) Active refers to Truck Brokerage Carriers who moved at least one load in the 180 days immediately preceding the fiscal quarter end. 


            

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