J.B. Hunt Transport Services, Inc. Reports Revenues, Net Earnings and Earnings Per Share for Both the Fourth Quarter and Year Ended December 31, 2019

17 Jan by Vitaliy Dadalyan

J.B. Hunt Transport Services, Inc. Reports Revenues, Net Earnings and Earnings Per Share for Both the Fourth Quarter and Year Ended December 31, 2019

  • Fourth quarter 2019 Revenue: $2.45 billion; up 6%
  • Fourth quarter 2019 Operating Income: $205.1 million; up 67%
  • Fourth quarter 2019 EPS: $1.35 vs. $0.81; up 67%

  • Full Year 2019 Revenue: $9.17 billion; up 6%
  • Full Year 2019 Operating Income: $733.8 million; up 8%
  • Full Year 2019 EPS: $4.75 vs. $4.43; up 7%

 

LOWELL, Ark.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–J.B. Hunt Transport Services, Inc. (NASDAQ: JBHT) announced fourth quarter 2019 net earnings of $144.7 million, or diluted earnings per share of $1.35 vs. fourth quarter 2018 net earnings of $88.7 million, or $0.81 per diluted share. Fourth quarter 2018 net earnings included pretax charges of $134.0 million for contingent liabilities related to the arbitration with BNSF Railway Company.

Total operating revenue for the current quarter was $2.45 billion, compared with $2.32 billion for the fourth quarter 2018. A 2% increase in load volume in Intermodal (JBI), partially offset with a lower revenue per load, contributed to a less than 1% increase in segment revenue. Dedicated Contract Services (DCS) segment revenue increased by 20%, primarily from the February 2019 acquisition and the addition of new customer accounts. Integrated Capacity Solutions (ICS) segment revenue increased by 9% primarily from a 3% increase in load growth and a favorable change in customer freight mix. Truck (JBT) segment revenue decreased 20% primarily from lower loaded miles and lower rates per loaded mile. Current quarter total operating revenue, excluding fuel surcharges, increased approximately 7% vs. the comparable quarter 2018.

Total freight transactions in the Marketplace for J.B. Hunt 360° increased to $289 million compared to $174 million in the prior year quarter. ICS revenue on the platform increased to $225 million with an approximate 60% increase in average monthly active carrier users vs. the year ago period. JBI and JBT executed approximately $47 million and $17 million, respectively, of their third-party dray and independent contractor costs through the platform during the quarter.

Operating income for the current quarter totaled $205.1 million vs. $122.7 million for the fourth quarter 2018. Operating income in fourth quarter 2018 included $134.0 million in charges for contingent liabilities related to the arbitration with BNSF Railway Company. Excluding these charges, operating income decreased 20% from fourth quarter 2018. The benefit from increased revenues was offset with cost increases in rail purchase transportation rates; higher building rental expense in the Final Mile Services network; lower gross margins in ICS; increased technology spend on new applications, primarily in ICS, and legacy system upgrades affecting all segments; increased driver wages; increased driver and independent contractor recruiting costs and higher salary and wage expenses for non-driving personnel.

Interest expense increased from fourth quarter 2018 primarily from increased debt levels at higher interest rates. The fourth quarter effective tax rates for 2019 and 2018 were 24.8% and 20.5%, respectively. The annual effective tax rates for 2019 and 2018 were 24.2% and 23.6%, respectively.

Segment Information:

Intermodal (JBI)

  • Fourth quarter 2019 Segment Revenue: $1.27 billion; flat
  • Fourth quarter 2019 Operating Income: $131.1 million; up 304%

JBI total volumes increased 2% over the same period in 2018. Eastern network loads decreased by 8% and transcontinental loads grew by 8% compared to the fourth quarter 2018. Revenue increased less than one percent, reflecting the 2% increase in volume offset by a 1% decrease in revenue per load, the combination of freight mix, customer rate increases, and fuel surcharges. Revenue per load excluding fuel surcharges was flat compared to a year ago.

Operating income increased 304% from the prior year. In fourth quarter 2018, JBI recorded $134.0 million in charges for contingent liabilities related to the arbitration. Excluding these charges, operating income decreased by $35.3 million or approximately 21% from the comparable quarter 2018. Benefits from increased volumes were offset by higher rail purchase transportation rates, increased box repositioning costs due to a lack of balance in the intermodal network, increased costs to recover from rail service interruptions including a derailment in Southern California and increased costs to attract and retain drivers. The current period ended with approximately 96,700 units of trailing capacity and approximately 5,560 power units in the dray fleet.

Dedicated Contract Services (DCS)

  • Fourth quarter 2019 Segment Revenue: $717 million; up 20%
  • Fourth quarter 2019 Operating Income: $79.6 million; up 34%

DCS revenue increased 20% during the current quarter over the same period 2018. Productivity (revenue per truck per week) increased approximately 9% vs. 2018. Productivity excluding fuel surcharge revenue increased approximately 11% from a year ago primarily from the February 2019 acquisition, customer rate increases, improved integration of assets between customer accounts, and increased customer supply chain fluidity. Included in the DCS revenue growth, Final Mile Services (FMS) recorded an increase in revenue of $59 million (primarily from the February 2019 acquisition) compared to fourth quarter 2018. A net additional 972 revenue producing trucks, 153 net additions sequentially from third quarter 2019, were in the fleet by the end of the quarter. Approximately 58% of these additions represent private fleet conversions and 15% represent FMS versus traditional dedicated capacity fleets. Customer retention rates remain above 98%.

Operating income increased by 34% from a year ago. The benefits from additional trucks under contract, higher productivity and more predictable and consistent start-up costs were partially offset by increased costs expanding the FMS network, increased driver wages and increased driver recruiting costs and an incremental $1.0 million in noncash amortization expense attributable to the February 2019 acquisition compared to the same period a year ago.

Integrated Capacity Solutions (ICS)

  • Fourth Quarter 2019 Segment Revenue: $377 million; up 9%
  • Fourth Quarter 2019 Operating Loss: $(11.8 million); compared to $16.1 million Operating Income in 2018

ICS revenue increased 9% in the current quarter vs. the fourth quarter 2018. Volume increased 3% and revenue per load increased 5.5%, mostly due to customer mix changes, compared to the prior year. Contractual volumes represent approximately 73% of the total load volume and 65% of the total revenue in the current quarter compared to 71% and 53%, respectively, in fourth quarter 2018. Of the total reported ICS revenue, approximately $225 million was executed through the Marketplace for J.B. Hunt 360 compared to $174 million in fourth quarter 2018.

Operating income decreased $28.0 million compared to the same period in 2018 primarily from a lower gross profit margin, a 150% increase in expenditures to expand capacity and functionality of the Marketplace for J.B. Hunt 360, higher personnel costs, and increased digital marketing and advertising costs. Gross profit margin decreased to 10.6% in the current period from 16.9% last year primarily from a competitive pricing environment in the contractual business and a softer overall spot market. ICS carrier base increased 15% and the employee count increased 6% from a year ago.

Truck (JBT)

  • Fourth quarter 2019 Segment Revenue: $94 million; down 20%
  • Fourth quarter 2019 Operating Income: $6.3 million; down 57%

JBT revenue decreased 20% from the same period in 2018. Revenue excluding fuel surcharges also decreased approximately 21% primarily from an 11% decrease in rates per loaded mile and a 9% decrease in load count compared to a year ago. Comparable contractual customer rates were flat compared to the same period 2018. At the end of the period, JBT operated 1,831 tractors compared to 2,112 a year ago.

Operating income decreased 57% from fourth quarter 2018. A decrease in spot market loads moved, an increase in empty miles and an overall lower load count compared to fourth quarter 2018 all contributed to lower operating income.

Cash Flow and Capitalization:

At December 31, 2019, we had total debt outstanding of $1.30 billion on various debt instruments compared to $1.15 billion at December 31, 2018, and $1.29 billion at September 30, 2019.

Our net capital expenditures for 2019 approximated $688 million vs. $885 million in 2018. At December 31, 2019, we had cash and cash equivalents of $35 million.

In the fourth quarter 2019, we purchased approximately 441,000 shares of our common stock for approximately $50 million. At December 31, 2019, we had approximately $95 million remaining under our share repurchase authorization. Actual shares outstanding at December 31, 2019, approximated 106.2 million.

Conference Call Information:

The company will hold a conference call today at 9:00 a.m.–10:00 a.m. CST to discuss the quarterly earnings. To receive a dial-in number and personal access code, participants must register here. A replay of the call will be posted on its website later today.

This press release may contain forward-looking statements, which are based on information currently available. Actual results may differ materially from those currently anticipated due to a number of factors, including, but not limited to, those discussed in Item 1A of our Annual Report filed on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2018. We assume no obligation to update any forward-looking statement to the extent we become aware that it will not be achieved for any reason. This press release and additional information will be available to interested parties on our web site, www.jbhunt.com.

J.B. HUNT TRANSPORT SERVICES, INC.
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Earnings
(in thousands, except per share data)
(unaudited)
   
Three Months Ended December 31

2019

 

2018

% Of   % Of
Amount Revenue   Amount Revenue
   
Operating revenues, excluding fuel surcharge revenues

$

2,168,497

 

$

2,033,674

Fuel surcharge revenues

281,826

 

284,168

Total operating revenues

2,450,323

100.0%

 

2,317,842

100.0%

   
Operating expenses

 

 
Rents and purchased transportation

1,246,130

50.9%

 

1,271,097

54.8%

Salaries, wages and employee benefits

561,507

22.9%

 

515,271

22.2%

Depreciation and amortization

128,418

5.2%

 

114,086

4.9%

Fuel and fuel taxes

118,269

4.8%

 

117,613

5.1%

Operating supplies and expenses

83,633

3.4%

 

77,178

3.3%

General and administrative expenses, net of asset dispositions

51,277

2.1%

 

51,191

2.3%

Insurance and claims

32,289

1.3%

 

26,941

1.2%

Operating taxes and licenses

14,345

0.6%

 

14,055

0.6%

Communication and utilities

9,381

0.4%

 

7,670

0.3%

Total operating expenses

2,245,249

91.6%

 

2,195,102

94.7%

Operating income

205,074

8.4%

 

122,740

5.3%

Net interest expense

12,776

0.6%

 

11,235

0.5%

Earnings before income taxes

192,298

7.8%

 

111,505

4.8%

Income taxes

47,622

1.9%

 

22,824

1.0%

Net earnings

$

144,676

5.9%

 

$

88,681

3.8%

Average diluted shares outstanding

107,529

 

109,940

Diluted earnings per share

$

1.35

 

$

0.81

   
J.B. HUNT TRANSPORT SERVICES, INC.
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Earnings
(in thousands, except per share data)
(unaudited)
   
Twelve Months Ended December 31

2019

 

2018

% Of   % Of
Amount Revenue   Amount Revenue
   
Operating revenues, excluding fuel surcharge revenues

$

8,122,600

 

 

$

7,557,648

Fuel surcharge revenues

1,042,658

 

1,057,226

Total operating revenues

9,165,258

100.0%

 

8,614,874

100.0%

   
Operating expenses  
Rents and purchased transportation

4,528,812

49.4%

 

4,434,540

51.5%

Salaries, wages and employee benefits

2,167,851

23.7%

 

1,926,213

22.4%

Depreciation and amortization

499,145

5.4%

 

435,893

5.1%

Fuel and fuel taxes

463,195

5.1%

 

459,011

5.3%

Operating supplies and expenses

333,113

3.6%

 

303,529

3.5%

General and administrative expenses, net of asset dispositions

191,933

2.1%

 

163,270

1.8%

Insurance and claims

157,251

1.7%

 

129,406

1.5%

Operating taxes and licenses

55,336

0.6%

 

51,080

0.6%

Communication and utilities

34,797

0.4%

 

30,911

0.4%

Total operating expenses

8,431,433

92.0%

 

7,933,853

92.1%

Operating income

733,825

8.0%

 

681,021

7.9%

Net interest expense

52,930

0.6%

 

40,203

0.5%

Earnings before income taxes

680,895

7.4%

 

640,818

7.4%

Income taxes

164,575

1.8%

 

151,233

1.7%

Net earnings

$

516,320

5.6%

 

$

489,585

5.7%

Average diluted shares outstanding

108,599

 

110,428

Diluted earnings per share

$

4.75

 

$

4.43

   
Financial Information By Segment
(in thousands)
(unaudited)
   
   
Three Months Ended December 31

2019

 

2018

% Of   % Of
Amount Total   Amount Total
   
Revenue  
   
Intermodal

$

1,267,142

52%

 

$

1,263,469

54%

Dedicated

716,940

29%

 

595,809

26%

Integrated Capacity Solutions

376,537

15%

 

345,400

15%

Truck

93,640

4%

 

117,707

5%

Subtotal

2,454,259

100%

 

2,322,385

100%

Intersegment eliminations

(3,936)

(0%)

 

(4,543)

(0%)

Consolidated revenue

$

2,450,323

100%

 

$

2,317,842

100%

   
   
Operating income  
   
Intermodal

$

131,097

64%

 

$

32,445

27%

Dedicated

79,565

39%

 

59,416

48%

Integrated Capacity Solutions

(11,843)

(6%)

 

16,142

13%

Truck

6,321

3%

 

14,737

12%

Other (1)

(66)

0%

 

0%

Operating income

$

205,074

100%

 

$

122,740

100%

   
   
Twelve Months Ended December 31

2019

 

2018

% Of   % Of
Amount Total   Amount Total
Revenue  
   
Intermodal

$

4,744,636

52%

 

$

4,716,649

55%

Dedicated

2,694,811

29%

 

2,163,155

25%

Integrated Capacity Solutions

1,348,336

15%

 

1,334,629

15%

Truck

389,301

4%

 

417,351

5%

Subtotal

9,177,084

100%

 

8,631,784

100%

Intersegment eliminations

(11,826)

(0%)

 

(16,910)

(0%)

Consolidated revenue

$

9,165,258

100%

 

$

8,614,874

100%

   
   
Operating income  
   
Intermodal

$

447,479

61%

 

$

400,999

59%

Dedicated

268,579

37%

 

193,419

29%

Integrated Capacity Solutions

(11,088)

(2%)

 

50,167

7%

Truck

29,046

4%

 

36,568

5%

Other (1)

(191)

(0%)

 

(132)

(0%)

Operating income

$

733,825

100%

 

$

681,021

100%

   
(1) Includes corporate support activity
                 
Operating Statistics by Segment
(unaudited)
                 
    Three Months Ended December 31
   

2019

     

2018

   
                 
Intermodal                
                 
     Loads  

           520,898

     

           512,935

   
     Average length of haul  

               1,707

     

               1,660

   
     Revenue per load

$

               2,433

   

$

               2,463

   
     Average tractors during the period *  

               5,587

     

               5,632

   
                 
     Tractors (end of period)                
          Company-owned  

               4,989

     

               5,017

   
          Independent contractor  

                 570

     

                 633

   
               Total tractors  

               5,559

     

               5,650

   
                 
     Net change in trailing equipment during the period  

                   54

     

               1,750

   
     Trailing equipment (end of period)  

             96,743

     

             94,902

   
     Average effective trailing equipment usage  

             92,571

     

             91,785

   
                 
                 
Dedicated                
                 
     Loads  

           945,907

     

           808,043

   
     Average length of haul  

                 166

     

                 173

   
     Revenue per truck per week**

$

               5,128

   

$

               4,715

   
     Average trucks during the period***  

             11,019

     

               9,914

   
                 
     Trucks (end of period)                
          Company-owned  

             10,542

     

               9,652

   
          Independent contractor  

                   40

     

                   51

   
          Customer-owned (Dedicated operated)  

                 505

     

                 412

   
               Total trucks  

             11,087

     

             10,115

   
                 
     Trailing equipment (end of period)  

             28,118

     

             26,710

   
     Average effective trailing equipment usage  

             28,300

     

             27,014

   
                 
                 
Integrated Capacity Solutions                
                 
     Loads  

           328,060

     

           317,512

   
     Revenue per load

$

               1,148

   

$

               1,088

   
     Gross profit margin  

10.6%

     

16.9%

   
     Employee count (end of period)  

               1,213

     

               1,142

   
     Approximate number of third-party carriers (end of period)  

             84,400

     

             73,100

   
     Marketplace for J.B. Hunt 360°:                
         Approximate carrier tractor count (end of period)  

           682,000

     

           529,000

   
         Revenue (millions)  

               225.5

     

               174.4

   
                 
                 
Truck                
                 
     Loads  

             86,891

     

             95,747

   
     Average length of haul  

                 396

     

                 405

   
     Loaded miles (000)  

34,388

     

38,828

   
     Total miles (000)  

42,544

     

47,555

   
     Average nonpaid empty miles per load  

94.1

     

91.3

   
     Revenue per tractor per week**

$

               4,017

   

$

               4,513

   
     Average tractors during the period *  

               1,875

     

               2,108

   
                 
     Tractors (end of period)                
          Company-owned  

                 845

     

               1,139

   
          Independent contractor  

                 986

     

                 973

   
               Total tractors  

               1,831

     

               2,112

   
                 
     Trailers (end of period)  

               6,975

     

               6,800

   
     Average effective trailing equipment usage  

               6,444

     

               6,532

   
                 
                 
* Includes company-owned and independent contractor tractors
** Using weighted workdays
*** Includes company-owned, independent contractor, and customer-owned trucks
                 
                 
Operating Statistics by Segment
(unaudited)
                 
    Twelve Months Ended December 31
   

2019

     

2018

   
                 
Intermodal                
                 
     Loads  

        1,979,169

     

        2,049,014

   
     Average length of haul  

               1,679

     

               1,648

   
     Revenue per load

$

               2,397

   

$

               2,302

   
     Average tractors during the period *  

               5,635

     

               5,551

   
                 
     Tractors (end of period)                
          Company-owned  

               4,989

     

               5,017

   
          Independent contractor  

                 570

     

                 633

   
               Total tractors  

               5,559

     

               5,650

   
                 
     Net change in trailing equipment during the period  

               1,841

     

               6,262

   
     Trailing equipment (end of period)  

             96,743

     

             94,902

   
     Average effective trailing equipment usage  

             86,836

     

             88,739

   
                 
                 
Dedicated                
                 
     Loads  

        3,615,580

     

        2,981,344

   
     Average length of haul  

                 169

     

                 177

   
     Revenue per truck per week**

$

               4,895

   

$

               4,534

   
     Average trucks during the period***  

             10,725

     

               9,264

   
                 
     Trucks (end of period)                
          Company-owned  

             10,542

     

               9,652

   
          Independent contractor  

                   40

     

                   51

   
          Customer-owned (Dedicated operated)  

                 505

     

                 412

   
               Total trucks  

             11,087

     

             10,115

   
                 
     Trailing equipment (end of period)  

             28,118

     

             26,710

   
     Average effective trailing equipment usage  

             28,147

     

             26,806

   
                 
                 
Integrated Capacity Solutions                
                 
     Loads  

        1,243,992

     

        1,234,632

   
     Revenue per load

$

               1,084

   

$

               1,081

   
     Gross profit margin  

13.1%

     

15.4%

   
     Employee count (end of period)  

               1,213

     

               1,142

   
     Approximate number of third-party carriers (end of period)  

             84,400

     

             73,100

   
     Marketplace for J.B. Hunt 360°:                
         Approximate carrier tractor count (end of period)  

           682,000

     

           529,000

   
         Revenue (millions)  

               839.8

     

               557.8

   
                 
                 
Truck                
                 
     Loads  

           346,459

     

           355,038

   
     Average length of haul  

                 415

     

                 427

   
     Loaded miles (000)  

143,511

     

151,322

   
     Total miles (000)  

177,035

     

181,718

   
     Average nonpaid empty miles per load  

96.9

     

85.5

   
     Revenue per tractor per week**

$

               3,917

   

$

               4,148

   
     Average tractors during the period*  

               1,958

     

               1,990

   
                 
     Tractors (end of period)                
          Company-owned  

                 845

     

               1,139

   
          Independent contractor  

                 986

     

                 973

   
               Total tractors  

               1,831

     

               2,112

   
                 
     Trailers (end of period)  

               6,975

     

               6,800

   
     Average effective trailing equipment usage  

               6,497

     

               6,513

   
                 
                 
* Includes company-owned and independent contractor tractors
** Using weighted workdays
*** Includes company-owned, independent contractor, and customer-owned trucks
                 
J.B. HUNT TRANSPORT SERVICES, INC.
Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets
(in thousands)
(unaudited)
                 
    December 31, 2019       December 31, 2018    
ASSETS                
     Current assets:                
          Cash and cash equivalents

$

35,000

   

$

7,600

   
          Accounts Receivable  

1,011,829

     

1,051,698

   
          Prepaid expenses and other  

434,470

     

443,683

   
               Total current assets  

1,481,299

     

1,502,981

   
     Property and equipment  

5,640,806

     

5,329,243

   
          Less accumulated depreciation  

2,019,940

     

1,884,132

   
               Net property and equipment  

3,620,866

     

3,445,111

   
     Other assets, net  

368,689

     

143,555

   
 

$

5,470,854

   

$

5,091,647

   
                 
                 
LIABILITIES & STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY                
     Current liabilities:                
          Current debt

$

 – 

   

$

250,706

   
          Trade accounts payable  

602,601

     

709,736

   
          Claims accruals  

279,590

     

275,139

   
          Accrued payroll  

68,220

     

80,922

   
          Other accrued expenses  

85,355

     

35,845

   
               Total current liabilities  

1,035,766

     

1,352,348

   
                 
     Long-term debt  

1,295,740

     

898,398

   
     Other long-term liabilities  

173,241

     

96,056

   
     Deferred income taxes  

699,078

     

643,461

   
     Stockholders’ equity  

2,267,029

     

2,101,384

   
 

$

5,470,854

   

$

5,091,647

   
                 
                 
                   
Supplemental Data
(unaudited)
                   
      December 31, 2019   December 31, 2018
   
Actual shares outstanding at end of period (000)    

106,213

     

108,711

   
   
Book value per actual share outstanding at end of period  

$

21.34

   

$

19.33

   
                   
                   
                   
      Twelve Months Ended December 31    
     

2019

     

2018

   
                   
Net cash provided by operating activities (000)  

$

1,098,347

   

$

1,087,841

   
                 
Net capital expenditures (000)  

$

688,197

   

$

885,485

   
                   

Contacts

David G. Mee

Executive Vice President,

Finance/Administration

and Chief Financial Officer

(479) 820-8363

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