Landstar System (LSTR) Tops Q1 EPS by 6c, Revenues Miss; Offers 2Q EPS Mid-Point Guidance Below Consensus, 2Q Revenue Guidance Below Consensus

Landstar System (NASDAQ: LSTR) reported Q1 EPS of $1.58, $0.06 better than the analyst estimate of $1.52. Revenue for the quarter came in at $1.03 billion versus the consensus estimate of $1.05 billion.

“I am pleased with Landstar’s financial performance during the 2019 first quarter,” said Landstar’s President and Chief Executive Officer Jim Gattoni. “We began the quarter facing very difficult year over year comparisons plus decelerating rates of growth in both truck revenue per load and truck loadings that began in late 2018. Truck capacity became more readily available at the end of 2018 and that market condition carried through the 2019 first quarter putting additional pressure on rates. Landstar performed very well during the 2019 first quarter given the softening environment. Diluted earnings per share was $1.58 in the 2019 first quarter, the highest first quarter diluted earnings per share in Landstar history. Gross profit, operating income and the number of loads hauled via truck each also set new all-time Landstar first quarter records. The Company set a new all-time record for trucks provided by BCOs with 10,637 as of the end of the quarter.”

Gattoni continued, “The number of loads hauled via truck was higher than any first quarter in Landstar history. Given the freight environment during the quarter, I am pleased with the increase in truckload volumes. The number of loads hauled via truck in the 2019 first quarter increased 2 percent over the 2018 first quarter, driven by a 1 percent increase in the number of loads hauled via van equipment, a 4 percent increase in the number of loads hauled via unsided/platform equipment and a 6 percent increase in less-than-truckload volume. The number of loads hauled via railroads, ocean cargo carriers and air cargo carriers was 2 percent higher in the 2019 first quarter compared to the 2018 first quarter.”

GUIDANCE:

Landstar System sees Q2 2019 EPS of $1.56-$1.62, versus the consensus of $1.61. Landstar System sees Q2 2019 revenue of $1.075-1.125 billion, versus the consensus of $1.18 billion.

Gattoni further commented, “As expected, the pricing environment for our truck services softened in the 2019 first quarter, as industry-wide truck capacity was more readily available than during the 2018 first quarter. The Company’s guidance issued on January 30, 2019 called for a decrease in revenue per load on loads hauled via truck in a low single-digit percentage range from the 2018 first quarter. Revenue per load on loads hauled via van equipment decreased 7 percent from the 2018 first quarter and revenue per load on loads hauled via unsided/platform equipment decreased 1 percent from the 2018 first quarter. As a result, revenue per load on loads hauled via truck was 5 percent lower than the 2018 first quarter.”

Gattoni continued, “Through the first few weeks of April, the number of loads hauled via truck was consistent with the volumes experienced in the corresponding period of 2018. I expect that trend to continue during the remainder of the 2019 second quarter. Accordingly, I expect the number of loads hauled via truck in the 2019 second quarter to approximate the number of loads hauled by truck in the 2018 second quarter. My expectation is that pricing conditions for truck services in the 2019 second quarter will continue to come under pressure with little change in the level of truck capacity available in the marketplace. Assuming those capacity market conditions continue throughout the rest of the second quarter, I expect 2019 second quarter truck revenue per load to be lower than the 2018 second quarter in a high single-digit percentage range. I anticipate revenue for the 2019 second quarter to be in a range of $1.075 billion to $1.125 billion. Assuming that range of estimated revenue and insurance and claims expense at 3.6 percent of BCO revenue, representing average insurance and claims costs as a percent of BCO revenue over the past five years, I would anticipate 2019 second quarter diluted earnings per share to be in a range of $1.56 to $1.62 per share compared to $1.51 per diluted share in the 2018 second quarter.”

For earnings history and earnings-related data on Landstar System (LSTR) click here.

You May Also Be Interested In

• Freightos Limited (CRGO) Tops Q2 EPS by 3c ; Offers Guidance
• Bonk, Inc. posts $5.5M revenue in H1 2026, reports $7.88M net loss
• Bimergen Energy Corporation (BESS) Reports Q2 EPS of $0.22