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Knight Transportation Reports Second Quarter 2016 Revenue and Earnings

July 27, 2016 4:01 PM EDT

PHOENIX--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- 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.

Knight Transportation, Inc.
David A. Jackson, President and CEO
or
Adam W. Miller, CFO
602-606-6315

Source: Knight Transportation, Inc.



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