Landstar System (LSTR) Tops Q2 EPS by 3c

Landstar System (NASDAQ: LSTR) reported Q2 EPS of $0.92, $0.03 better than the analyst estimate of $0.89. Revenue for the quarter came in at $868 million versus the consensus estimate of $861.65 million.

"I am extremely pleased with our 2015 second quarter operating performance," said Landstar's President and Chief Executive Officer, Jim Gattoni. "Demand for Landstar's services was strong throughout the quarter. Revenue, gross profit, operating income and diluted earnings per share from continuing operations in the 2015 second quarter were all second quarter records. The number of loads hauled via truck exceeded the 2014 second quarter by 9 percent and the number of loads hauled via railroads, ocean cargo carriers and air cargo carriers increased 31 percent over the 2014 second quarter. The growth in the number of loads hauled via truck was driven by increased volumes for unsided/platform equipment, van equipment and less-than-truckload of 10 percent, 8 percent and 20 percent, respectively. As expected, revenue per load on loads hauled via truck softened in the 2015 second quarter as compared to the 2014 second quarter. Truck revenue per load in the 2015 second quarter was 3 percent lower as compared to the 2014 second quarter mostly due to the record truck revenue per load experienced in 2014 and the impact of lower diesel fuel costs on loads hauled via truck brokerage carriers in 2015. Operating income for the 2015 second quarter was $66.0 million, the highest second quarter operating income in Landstar history, and operating margin was 50.5 percent. Finally, diluted earnings per share in the 2015 second quarter increased 15 percent over the 2014 second quarter."

Gattoni continued, "Demand for Landstar's services thus far in July remains very strong. I expect the number of loads hauled via truck in the 2015 third quarter to increase in a mid-to-upper single digit percentage range over the 2014 third quarter. As it pertains to revenue per load on loads hauled via truck, year-over-prior-year comparisons continue to be difficult due to the all-time high revenue per load reported in the 2014 third quarter along with the effect of lower diesel fuel costs on loads hauled via truck brokerage carriers in 2015. During the first few weeks of fiscal July, revenue per load on loads hauled via truck is consistent with that experienced in fiscal June, yet lower than fiscal July 2014. I do not expect a significant change in these recent trends over the balance of the 2015 third quarter. As such, I expect revenue per load on loads hauled via truck in the 2015 third quarter to be below the 2014 third quarter in a low-to-mid-single digit percentage range, as experienced in the first few weeks of July. Assuming the current environment continues throughout the 2015 third quarter, I anticipate revenue for the 2015 third quarter to be in a range of $830 million to $880 million and, assuming that range of estimated revenue, I would anticipate 2015 third quarter diluted earnings per share to be in a range of $0.87 to $0.92 per share compared to $0.82 per diluted share in the 2014 third quarter."

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

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