Werner Enterprises Reports Third Quarter 2009 Revenues and Earnings

October 19, 2009 4:06 PM EDT

OMAHA, Neb.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Werner Enterprises, Inc. (NASDAQ: WERN), one of the nation's largest transportation and logistics companies, reported revenues and earnings for the third quarter ended September 30, 2009.

Revenues decreased 27% to $429.3 million in third quarter 2009 compared to $584.1 million in third quarter 2008. Trucking revenues, excluding fuel surcharges, declined 13% to $319.3 million in third quarter 2009 compared to $367.4 million in third quarter 2008. Value Added Services ("VAS") revenues declined 22% for the reasons explained later in this earnings release and were $57.7 million in third quarter 2009 compared to $73.6 million in third quarter 2008. VAS revenues increased 14% from second quarter 2009 to third quarter 2009. Earnings per diluted share decreased 16% to 26 cents in third quarter 2009 compared to 31 cents in third quarter 2008. Earnings per diluted share increased from 10 cents in first quarter 2009 to 18 cents in second quarter 2009 to 26 cents in third quarter 2009.

The freight market continued to be challenging in third quarter 2009, however freight volumes showed some encouraging seasonal improvement as the quarter progressed. Shipper destocking of inventory that occurred earlier this year has slowed and stabilized inventory levels, which had a sequentially positive impact on freight shipments. Also, management believes a portion of the Company's improving freight demand is caused by shippers acknowledging and adjusting to the increasing risk of relying on highly leveraged carriers. Freight shipment trends in fourth quarter 2009 will depend on the strength of consumer demand during the holiday season. Pricing remains extremely competitive, due principally to the high level of customer bid programs that occurred in the first half of 2009.

Werner proactively adapted to the softer freight market conditions by reducing its average fleet size by 10% when comparing third quarter 2009 to third quarter 2008. Fewer trucks and 1% lower miles per truck reduced the Company's total miles by 11% over this same period. Having fewer trucks in service also lowered the Company's freight requirements and thereby reduced the Company's need to book less attractive and less profitable freight to keep its trucks and drivers productive. Management believes that excess capacity in the trucking industry continues to be supported by lender leniency that is not ultimately sustainable. Based on current market conditions and as a commitment to its customer base, the Company does not plan to make further reductions to its fleet, unless there is a significant decline in the freight market or a loss of customer business.

Werner continues to diversify its business model with the goal of a balanced portfolio of One-Way Truckload (which includes the Regional, medium-to-long-haul Van, and Expedited fleets), Dedicated, and Logistics. Within One-Way Truckload, the Company continues to reduce its medium-to-long-haul Van fleet and grow its Regional fleet. The Company's specialized services division, primarily Dedicated, increased its fleet in a difficult market to over 3,350 trucks.

Diesel fuel prices were lower by about $1.60 per gallon in third quarter 2009 compared to third quarter 2008. Diesel fuel prices rose during second quarter 2008 and into July 2008, before declining rapidly during the last five months of 2008. Lower diesel fuel prices in third quarter 2009 helped to reduce the cost of non-billable gallons used for truck idle time, empty miles, and out-of-route miles. In addition, the Company continued to achieve meaningful fuel miles per gallon ("mpg") improvements through its ongoing fuel management programs, which also helped reduce the Company's fuel costs. Due strictly to mpg improvements from these fuel management programs, which began in March 2008, Werner purchased 1.2 million fewer gallons of diesel fuel in third quarter 2009 compared to third quarter 2008. This fuel savings alone reduced the Company's carbon emissions by nearly 13,000 tons.

For the first 19 days of October 2009 fuel prices have increased 29 cents per gallon and averaged 81 cents per gallon less than the same period of 2008. During periods of rising fuel prices, a lag occurs between the timing of the fuel cost increases and the delayed recovery of fuel surcharge revenues. As noted in the Company's prior earnings releases, the large decline in diesel fuel prices in the second half of 2008 had a temporary favorable impact on net fuel costs (fuel expense, less fuel surcharge revenues) in third quarter 2008 and fourth quarter 2008.

In the latter months of 2008, the Company intensified its efforts to aggressively manage controllable costs and adapt to a smaller fleet. In addition to raising fuel mpg, during the first nine months of 2009 Werner improved its trucking tractor-to-non-driver ratio by 14% and reduced numerous other operating expenses. Superior service to customers, both external and internal, was not compromised. In addition, a broad-based, company-wide safety campaign was implemented in June 2009 with the objective of reducing the frequency and severity of accidents and lowering insurance and claims expense. Initial results from this safety initiative, while in the early stages of development, are encouraging.

Werner's wholly owned subsidiary, Fleet Truck Sales, realized lower gains on sales of assets, primarily trucks and trailers, of $0.9 million in third quarter 2009 compared to $2.8 million in third quarter 2008. Buyer demand for used trucks and trailers remains low due to the weak freight market and recessionary economy. As a result, the average gains per truck and trailer sold decreased in third quarter 2009 compared to third quarter 2008. Gains on sales are reflected as a reduction of Other Operating Expenses in the Company's income statement.

To provide shippers with additional sources of managed capacity and network analysis, Werner continues to develop its non-asset-based VAS segment. VAS includes Brokerage, Freight Management, Intermodal and Werner Global Logistics.


Value Added Services (amounts in    3Q09                   3Q08
000's)

Revenues                            $ 57,685    100.0 %    $ 73,586    100.0 %

Rent and purchased transportation     47,840    82.9         62,838    85.4
expense

Gross margin                          9,845     17.1         10,748    14.6

Other operating                       6,040     10.5         6,429     8.7
expenses

Operating income                    $ 3,805     6.6        $ 4,319     5.9

                                    YTD09                  YTD08

Revenues                            $ 155,627   100.0 %    $ 203,401   100.0 %

Rent and purchased transportation     129,119   83.0         173,358   85.2
expense

Gross margin                          26,508    17.0         30,043    14.8

Other operating                       18,179    11.7         18,373    9.1
expenses

Operating income                    $ 8,329     5.3        $ 11,670    5.7



VAS revenues, gross margins, and operating income declined in third quarter 2009 compared to third quarter 2008 due to three factors: (1) a reduction in the average revenue per shipment of 19% due to lower fuel prices and lower customer rates, (2) shifting significantly more shipments not committed to third-party capacity providers to the Truckload Transportation Services ("Truckload") segment to help cushion the impact of a soft freight market, which resulted in lower revenues and gross margin in the VAS segment and (3) a reduction in the number of industry freight shipments because of the weaker freight market and recessionary economy. The following table shows the change in shipment volume and average revenue (excluding logistics fee revenue) per shipment for all VAS shipments:


                       3Q09          3Q08          Difference     % Change

Total VAS shipments      64,679        60,950      3,729          6        %

Less: Non-committed
shipments to             (25,290 )     (17,655 )   (7,635     )   43       %
Truckload segment

Net VAS shipments        39,389        43,295      (3,906     )   -9       %

Average revenue per    $ 1,325       $ 1,642       ($317      )   -19      %
shipment



Brokerage revenues declined due to the factors described in the paragraph above, however its gross margin percentage improved by 160 basis points. Freight Management revenues declined due to reduced shipments with existing customers. Intermodal revenues and gross margins declined due to an extremely weak and competitive intermodal market in third quarter 2009. Werner Global Logistics achieved meaningful revenue and profit improvement.

Comparisons of the operating ratios (net of fuel surcharge revenues) for the Truckload segment and VAS segment for third quarters 2009 and 2008 and year-to-date 2009 and 2008 are shown below.


Operating Ratios                     3Q09      3Q08      Difference

Truckload Transportation Services    90.5 %    91.0 %    (0.5 )%

Value Added Services                 93.4      94.1      (0.7 )

                                     YTD09     YTD08     Difference

Truckload Transportation Services    93.8 %    93.8 %    0.0  %

Value Added Services                 94.7      94.3      0.4



Fluctuating fuel prices and fuel surcharge collections impact the total company operating ratio and the Truckload segment's operating ratio when fuel surcharges are reported on a gross basis as revenues versus netting against fuel expenses. Eliminating fuel surcharge revenues, which are generally a more volatile source of revenue, provides a more consistent basis for comparing the results of operations from period to period. The Truckload segment's operating ratios for third quarter 2009 and third quarter 2008 are 91.8% and 93.4%, respectively, and for year-to-date 2009 and 2008 are 94.5% and 95.3%, respectively, when fuel surcharge revenues are reported as revenues instead of a reduction of operating expenses.

The Company's financial position remains strong. The Company ended third quarter 2009 with no debt and $105.8 million of cash. Stockholder's equity was $776.4 million.


                  INCOME STATEMENT DATA

                  (Unaudited)

                  (In thousands, except per share amounts)

                  Quarter           % of           Quarter           % of

                  Ended             Operating      Ended             Operating

                  9/30/09           Revenues       9/30/08           Revenues

Operating         $ 429,273         100.0          $ 584,057         100.0
revenues

Operating
expenses:

Salaries, wages     130,885         30.5             150,616         25.8
and benefits

Fuel                66,001          15.4             145,280         24.9

Supplies and        34,403          8.0              41,566          7.1
maintenance

Taxes and           23,665          5.5              26,733          4.6
licenses

Insurance and       20,016          4.7              28,727          4.9
claims

Depreciation        37,708          8.8              41,653          7.1

Rent and
purchased           79,948          18.6             107,948         18.5
transportation

Communications      3,841           0.9              4,769           0.8
and utilities

Other               1               0.0              (1,257      )   (0.2      )

Total operating     396,468         92.4             546,035         93.5
expenses

Operating           32,805          7.6              38,022          6.5
income

Other expense
(income):

Interest            3               0.0              3               0.0
expense

Interest income     (418        )   (0.1      )      (1,012      )   (0.2      )

Other               (100        )   0.0              27              0.0

Total other
expense             (515        )   (0.1      )      (982        )   (0.2      )
(income)

Income before       33,320          7.7              39,004          6.7
income taxes

Income taxes        14,328          3.3              16,558          2.9

Net income        $ 18,992          4.4            $ 22,446          3.8

Diluted shares      72,110                           71,825
outstanding

Diluted
earnings per      $ .26                            $ .31
share

                  OPERATING STATISTICS

                  Quarter Ended                    Quarter Ended

                  9/30/09           % Change       9/30/08

Trucking
revenues, net     $ 319,291         -13.1     %    $ 367,401
of fuel
surcharge (1)

Trucking fuel
surcharge           49,477          -63.5     %      135,525
revenues (1)

Non-trucking
revenues,           58,499          -23.1     %      76,070
including VAS
(1)

Other operating     2,006           -60.4     %      5,061
revenues (1)

Operating         $ 429,273         -26.5     %    $ 584,057
revenues (1)

Average monthly
miles per           10,184          -1.2      %      10,306
tractor

Average
revenues per      $ 1.440           -2.7      %    $ 1.480
total mile (2)

Average
revenues per      $ 1.637           -3.6      %    $ 1.699
loaded mile (2)

Average
percentage of       12.01       %   -6.8      %      12.88       %
empty miles

Average trip
length in miles     463             -14.1     %      539
(loaded)

Total miles
(loaded and         221,675         -10.7     %      248,197
empty) (1)

Average
tractors in         7,256           -9.6      %      8,028
service

Average
revenues per      $ 3,385           -3.9      %    $ 3,521
tractor per
week (2)

Capital
expenditures,     $ 50,004                         $ 14,421
net (1)

Cash flow from    $ 68,956                         $ 69,002
operations (1)

Return on
assets              6.0         %                    6.5         %
(annualized)

Total tractors
(at quarter
end)

Company             6,635                            7,335

Owner-operator      690                              705

Total tractors      7,325                            8,040

Total trailers
(truck and          24,310                           24,140
intermodal,
quarter end)

(1) Amounts in
thousands.

(2) Net of fuel
surcharge
revenues.




                      INCOME STATEMENT DATA

                      (Unaudited)

                      (In thousands, except per share amounts)

                      Nine Months     % of           Nine Months     % of

                      Ended           Operating      Ended           Operating

                      9/30/09         Revenues       9/30/08         Revenues

Operating revenues    $ 1,226,832     100.0          $ 1,675,025     100.0

Operating expenses:

Salaries, wages and     393,456       32.1             442,391       26.4
benefits

Fuel                    174,777       14.2             424,079       25.3

Supplies and            105,627       8.6              123,336       7.4
maintenance

Taxes and licenses      72,022        5.9              82,884        4.9

Insurance and           64,272        5.2              77,366        4.6
claims

Depreciation            117,016       9.5              125,132       7.5

Rent and purchased      220,276       18.0             307,631       18.4
transportation

Communications and      12,232        1.0              14,828        0.9
utilities

Other                   1,083         0.1              (4,930    )   (0.3      )

Total operating         1,160,761     94.6             1,592,717     95.1
expenses

Operating income        66,071        5.4              82,308        4.9

Other expense
(income):

Interest expense        82            0.0              9             0.0

Interest income         (1,344    )   (0.1      )      (3,049    )   (0.2      )

Other                   (352      )   0.0              79            0.0

Total other expense     (1,614    )   (0.1      )      (2,961    )   (0.2      )
(income)

Income before           67,685        5.5              85,269        5.1
income taxes

Income taxes            29,105        2.4              36,336        2.2

Net income            $ 38,580        3.1            $ 48,933        2.9

Diluted shares          72,027                         71,575
outstanding

Diluted earnings      $ .54                          $ .68
per share

                      OPERATING STATISTICS

                      YTD 09          % Change       YTD 08

Trucking revenues,
net of fuel           $ 937,333       -13.6     %    $ 1,084,402
surcharge (1)

Trucking fuel
surcharge revenues      122,636       -66.5     %      366,223
(1)

Non-trucking
revenues, including     158,614       -24.4     %      209,699
VAS (1)

Other operating         8,249         -43.9     %      14,701
revenues (1)

Operating revenues    $ 1,226,832     -26.8     %    $ 1,675,025
(1)

Average monthly         9,866         -3.2      %      10,189
miles per tractor

Average revenues      $ 1.439         -1.8      %    $ 1.466
per total mile (2)

Average revenues      $ 1.650         -2.4      %    $ 1.691
per loaded mile (2)

Average percentage      12.76     %   -4.1      %      13.31     %
of empty miles

Average trip length     463           -14.3     %      540
in miles (loaded)

Total miles (loaded     651,257       -11.9     %      739,571
and empty) (1)

Average tractors in     7,334         -9.1      %      8,065
service

Average revenues
per tractor per       $ 3,277         -5.0      %    $ 3,448
week (2)

Capital
expenditures, net     $ 76,749                       $ 80,391
(1)

Cash flow from        $ 169,306                      $ 189,212
operations (1)

Return on assets        4.1       %                    4.8       %
(annualized)

Total tractors (at
quarter end)

Company                 6,635                          7,335

Owner-operator          690                            705

Total tractors          7,325                          8,040

Total trailers
(truck and              24,310                         24,140
intermodal, quarter
end)

(1) Amounts in
thousands.

(2) Net of fuel
surcharge revenues.




                                            BALANCE SHEET DATA

                                            (In thousands, except share amounts)

                                            9/30/09             12/31/08

                                            (Unaudited)

ASSETS

Current assets:

Cash and cash equivalents                   $ 105,750           $ 48,624

Accounts receivable, trade, less
allowance

of $9,438 and $9,555, respectively            180,390             185,936

Other receivables                             11,514              18,739

Inventories and supplies                      12,486              10,644

Prepaid taxes, licenses and permits           6,544               16,493

Current deferred income taxes                 33,343              30,789

Other current assets                          18,730              20,659

Total current assets                          368,757             331,884

Property and equipment                        1,579,769           1,613,102

Less - accumulated depreciation               687,993             686,463

Property and equipment, net                   891,776             926,639

Other non-current assets                      16,167              16,795

                                            $ 1,276,700         $ 1,275,318

LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY

Current liabilities:

Accounts payable                            $ 48,122            $ 46,684

Current portion of long-term debt             -                   30,000

Insurance and claims accruals                 76,297              79,830

Accrued payroll                               27,838              25,850

Other current liabilities                     22,603              19,006

Total current liabilities                     174,860             201,370

Other long-term liabilities                   8,199               7,406

Insurance and claims accruals, net of         120,500             120,500
current portion

Deferred income taxes                         196,739             200,512

Stockholders' equity:

Common stock, $.01 par value, 200,000,000
shares

authorized; 80,533,536 shares issued;
71,755,881

and 71,576,267 shares outstanding,            805                 805
respectively

Paid-in capital                               92,897              93,343

Retained earnings                             854,345             826,511

Accumulated other comprehensive loss          (7,149    )         (7,146    )

Treasury stock, at cost; 8,777,655 and
8,957,269

shares, respectively                          (164,496  )         (167,983  )

Total stockholders' equity                    776,402             745,530

                                            $ 1,276,700         $ 1,275,318



Werner Enterprises, Inc. was founded in 1956 and is a premier transportation and logistics company, with coverage throughout North America, Asia, Europe, South America, Africa and Australia. Werner maintains its global headquarters in Omaha, Nebraska and maintains offices in the United States, Canada, Mexico, China and Australia. Werner is among the five largest truckload carriers in the United States, with a diversified portfolio of transportation services that includes dedicated, medium-to-long-haul, regional and local van capacity, expedited, temperature-controlled and flatbed services. Werner's Value Added Services portfolio includes freight management, truck brokerage, intermodal, load/mode and network optimization and freight forwarding. Werner, through its subsidiary companies, is a licensed U.S. NVOCC, U.S. Customs Broker, Class A Freight Forwarder in China, licensed China NVOCC, TSA-approved Indirect Air Carrier, and IATA Accredited Cargo Agent.

Werner Enterprises, Inc.'s common stock trades on The NASDAQ Global Select MarketSM under the symbol "WERN". For further information about Werner, visit the Company's website at www.werner.com.

Note: This press release may contain 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 made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, as amended. Such forward-looking statements are based on information presently available to the Company's management and are current only as of the date made. Actual results could also differ materially from those anticipated as a result of a number of factors, including, but not limited to, those discussed in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2008 and Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarterly period ended March 31, 2009. For those reasons, undue reliance should not be placed on any such forward-looking statement. The Company assumes no duty or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statement, although it may do so from time to time as management believes is warranted or as may be required by applicable securities law. Any such updates or revisions may be made by filing reports with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, through the issuance of press releases or by other methods of public disclosure.


    Source: Werner Enterprises, Inc.


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