Roadrunner Transportation Systems (NYSE: RRTS) reported Q3 revenue for the quarter came in at $459.15 million versus the consensus estimate of $380.6 million.

• Revenue and Adjusted EBITDA declined in 2019 third quarter primarily due to continued lower market demand and rates amplified by the strike at the company’s largest customer, General Motors, which reduced revenue by approximately $17 million in September and an estimated $31 million in October
• Malware attack was successfully managed; quarantined servers and applications primarily impacted the LTL segment which reduced revenue by approximately $7 million in September and an estimated $3 million in October
• PeakTM enterprise logistics technology platform implementation on track in Active On-Demand and Ascent segments; increased technology investments in LTL segment
• Initiated dry van downsizing and path to improved operational performance
• Successful divestiture of intermodal services business within the Truckload segment for $51.25 million; closed on November 5, 2019
• Progress made on narrowing strategic focus to value-added logistics and asset-light LTL businesses

Diluted loss per share available to common stockholders was $2.60 for the third quarter of 2019, compared to diluted loss per share of $26.99 for the third quarter of 2018. On April 5, 2019, the company executed a 1-for-25 reverse stock split. All share and per common share data have been retroactively adjusted for all periods presented. The weighted average common stock outstanding used in the calculation of diluted loss per share was significantly higher in the third quarter of 2019 due to the company’s issuance of 36 million shares of common stock in the rights offering that was completed in February 2019.

CEO Comments on Third Quarter Results

“In the third quarter, we experienced a number of challenges that impacted our operating performance. At the end of the third quarter, we announced the downsizing of our dry van business, which is proceeding as planned. The General Motors strike has now ended, and we are fully recovered from the server and applications quarantine caused by the malware attack. After quarter end, we successfully completed the divestiture of our intermodal services business,” said Curt Stoelting, Chief Executive Officer of Roadrunner.

“Our Ascent International and Retail Distribution businesses continued to show positive operating performance in the third quarter. Demand and rates in the Active On-Demand, Ascent Domestic and Truckload Segment tracked well below prior year comparisons throughout the quarter. Excluding the impact of the malware attack, the LTL segment would have grown revenue in the third quarter compared to the prior year third quarter by 1.8%, despite lower fuel surcharge revenue and a softening in the overall LTL market. In the fourth quarter, we expect to file insurance claims to recover the impact on lost business from the malware attack,” said Stoelting.

“We continue to invest in enhanced technology in our Active On-Demand and Ascent segments where our new Peak enterprise brokerage platform will allow us to maximize our go-to-market capabilities across both segments and harmonize our customer service and back office functions. We also continue to drive strategic investments in our LTL segment including dock automation and productivity applications, optimized line-haul and pricing management tools and improved customer and partner facing visibility technologies,” said Stoelting.

Stoelting concluded, “Despite a very challenging third quarter, we are making progress on executing our longer-term strategic and business improvement plans and technology investments. External events and soft market conditions can delay realizing the benefits from these improvements and investments. We continue to be encouraged by the efforts of our leadership teams and their commitment to the business. With the recent divestiture of the intermodal services business and the downsizing of the dry van business, we are simplifying our portfolio by narrowing our strategic focus to the value-added logistics and asset-light LTL businesses. The goal of this strategy is to improve our operating performance, increase our returns on invested capital, and add significant value-creation opportunities. We continue to evaluate additional divestitures that will enable this strategy.”

For earnings history and earnings-related data on Roadrunner Transportation Systems (RRTS) click here.