UNIVERSAL LOGISTICS HOLDINGS, INC. 
By WARREN, Mich., April 24, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Universal Truckload Services, Inc. (NASDAQ: UACL) today reported first quarter 2014 net income of $8.1 million, or $0.27 per basic and diluted share, on total operating revenues of $279.4 million. This compares to $11.4 million, or $0.38 per basic and diluted share, during the first quarter of 2013 on total operating revenues of $248.1 million.
Included in first quarter 2014 results are $25.3 million of revenues from Westport Axle Corporation, which we acquired on December 19, 2013. Excluding results from this acquisition, Universal's operating revenues grew a composite 2.4% in the first quarter of 2014 to $254.1 million, compared to $248.1 million in the first quarter of 2013. Revenues from transportation services increased to $179.8 million in the fiscal quarter ended March 29, 2014, a 7.7% increase from the comparable period last year. Revenues from value-added services, excluding Westport's results, declined $3.5 million in the first quarter of 2014 compared to the first quarter of 2013. A general increase in demand for Universal's logistics services and the expansion of services for an automotive OEM was offset by the wind downs of two value-added operations that delivered services to industrial and aerospace customers. Our revenues from intermodal services declined 10.0%, to $30.1 million from $33.4 million in the first quarter of 2013, primarily due to an anticipated reduction in domestic intermodal services to a single customer, which had a $5.1 million adverse impact.
Income from operations declined 24.0%, to $14.6 million or 5.2% of operating revenues, compared to $19.3 million or 7.8% of operating revenues for the first quarter of 2013. Income from operations in our transportation segment decreased 7.1% to $5.3 million or 3.0% of segment operating revenues for the first quarter of 2014, which compares to $5.7 million or 3.4% of segment operating revenues for the first quarter of 2013. Income from operations in our logistics segment, which includes value-added services and dedicated transportation services, decreased 29.6% to $9.7 million or 9.3% of operating revenues for the first quarter of 2014. This compares to $13.8 million or 17.5% of operating revenues one year earlier. First quarter 2014 income from operations in our logistics segment includes $3.0 million from Westport.
Scott Wolfe, Chief Executive Officer, commented, "Universal's first quarter financial results reflect anticipated top line demand across our business units, including from Westport, which is benefiting from solid demand for heavy truck manufacturing. Our truckload transportation business and intermodal drayage business, in particular, also benefited from good demand in certain markets throughout the first quarter and improved pricing as the quarter proceeded.
"Universal's profitability, though, reflects the cost impact and service performance challenges caused by harsh weather conditions that endured through February, which especially affected our continuing logistics operations.
"Looking ahead, we anticipate stable demand and a good pricing environment for our transportation services, particularly in the energy and steel industries, and a return to normalized margins from the operations that we include and report in our logistics segment. Revenue growth in value-added services, which moderated in recent quarters, will depend on conversion of opportunities in our sales pipeline."
We calculate and report selected financial metrics in connection with lending arrangements, and also to isolate and separately identify the impact of corporate development activities, which can include non-operating transaction costs and amortization of intangible assets recognized as the result of prior acquisitions. These statistics are described in more detail below in the section captioned "Non-GAAP Financial Measures."
For the thirteen weeks ended March 29, 2014, our EBITDA decreased 8.4% to $22.3 million, from $24.3 million for the thirteen weeks ended March 30, 2013. Expressed as a percentage of operating revenues, first quarter 2014 EBITDA was 8.0%, compared to 9.8% for the first quarter of 2013. Trends in EBITDA expressed as a percentage of operating revenues are substantially similar to trends in income from operations.
As of March 29, 2014, we held cash and cash equivalents totaling $7.3 million and marketable securities totaling $11.8 million. Outstanding debt totaled $235.4 million and obligations pursuant to capital leases were valued at $4.3 million.
Universal Truckload Services, Inc. also announced today that our Board of Directors has declared a quarterly cash dividend of $0.07 per share of common stock. The dividend is payable to shareholders of record at the close of business on May 5, 2014 and is expected to be paid on May 15, 2014.
Conference call:
We invite analysts and investors to participate in a conference call on Friday, April 25, 2014 at 10:00 AM ET. During the call, we will discuss Universal's first quarter 2014 financial performance, the current demand outlook in key markets we serve, and trends impacting our business. Hosting the call will be Scott Wolfe, Chief Executive Officer, Don Cochran, President, and David Crittenden, CFO.
Dial-in details:
Call Toll Free: (866) 622-0924
International Dial-in: +1 (660) 422-4956
Conference ID: 18551769
A replay of the conference will be available two hours after the call through May 23, 2014, by calling (855) 859-2056 (toll free) or +1 (800) 585-8367 (toll) and using conference ID 18551769. Additionally, the call will be available on investors.goutsi.com.
About Universal:
Universal Truckload Services, Inc. is a leading asset-light provider of customized transportation and logistics solutions throughout the United States, Mexico and Canada. We provide our customers with supply chain solutions that can be scaled to meet their changing demands and volumes. We offer our customers a broad array of services across their entire supply chain, including transportation, value-added, and intermodal services.
Forward Looking Statements
Some of the statements contained in this press release might be considered forward-looking statements. These statements identify prospective information. Forward-looking statements are based on information available at the time and/or management's good faith belief with respect to future events, and are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual performance or results to differ materially from those expressed in the statements. These forward-looking statements are subject to a number of factors that may cause actual results to differ materially from the expectations described. Additional information about the factors that may adversely affect these forward-looking statements is contained in the Company's reports and filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The Company assumes no obligation to update forward-looking statements to reflect actual results, changes in assumptions or changes in other factors affecting forward-looking information except to the extent required by applicable securities laws.
UNIVERSAL TRUCKLOAD SERVICES, INC.
Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income
(In thousands, except per share data)
Thirteen Weeks Ended
--------------------
March 29, March 30,
2014 2013
---- ----
Operating revenues:
Transportation services $179,816 $166,927
Value-added services 69,480 47,770
Intermodal services 30,068 33,412
------ ------
Total operating revenues 279,364 248,109
Operating expenses:
Purchased transportation and
equipment rent 140,425 134,514
Direct personnel and related
benefits 52,901 43,347
Commission expense 9,731 9,335
Operating expense (exclusive of
items shown separately) 30,490 19,160
Occupancy expense 6,835 4,962
Selling, general and
administrative 10,091 7,802
Insurance and claims 6,621 4,678
Depreciation and amortization 7,641 5,060
----- -----
Total operating expenses 264,735 228,858
------- -------
Income from operations 14,629 19,251
Interest expense, net (1,575) (1,102)
Other non-operating income 89 134
--- ---
Income before provision for
income taxes 13,143 18,283
Provision for income taxes 5,019 6,909
Net income $8,124 $11,374
====== =======
Earnings per common share:
Basic $0.27 $0.38
Diluted $0.27 $0.38
Weighted average number of common
shares outstanding:
Basic 30,112 30,054
Diluted 30,158 30,196
Dividends paid per common share $0.07 $ -
===== ===============
UNIVERSAL TRUCKLOAD SERVICES, INC.
Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets
(In thousands)
March 29, 2014 December 31, 2013
-------------- -----------------
Assets
Cash and cash equivalents $7,333 $10,223
Marketable securities 11,828 11,626
Accounts receivable - net 154,133 132,001
Other current assets 48,095 49,539
------ ------
Total current assets 221,389 203,389
Property and equipment - net 147,990 142,656
Other long-term assets - net 141,965 144,091
------- -------
Total assets $511,344 $490,136
======== ========
Liabilities and shareholders' equity
Current liabilities, excluding current
maturities of capital lease
obligations and debt $114,420 $93,896
Capital lease obligations 4,295 4,643
Debt 235,357 237,500
Other long-term liabilities 46,009 48,532
------ ------
Total liabilities 400,081 384,571
Total shareholders' equity 111,263 105,565
------- -------
Total liabilities and shareholders'
equity $511,344 $490,136
======== ========
UNIVERSAL TRUCKLOAD SERVICES, INC.
Unaudited Summary of Operating Data
Thirteen Weeks Ended
--------------------
March 29, March 30,
2014 2013
---- ----
Transportation Services:
Average operating revenues per loaded mile (a) $2.96 $2.69
Average operating revenues per loaded mile,
excluding fuel surcharges, where separately identifiable (a) $2.56 $2.31
Average operating revenues per load (a) $1,049 $997
Average operating revenues per load, excluding
fuel surcharges, where separately identifiable (a) $905 $855
Average length of haul (a) (b) 354 370
Number of loads (a) 150,361 151,041
Value Added Services:
Number of facilities (d)
Customer provided 18 16
Company leased 28 28
--- ---
Total 46 44
Intermodal Services:
Drayage (in thousands) $26,944 $24,862
Domestic Intermodal (in thousands) 804 5,948
Depot (in thousands) 2,320 2,602
Total (in thousands) $30,068 $33,412
Average operating revenues per loaded mile (c) $5.10 $4.44
Average operating revenues per loaded mile,
excluding fuel surcharges, where separately identifiable (c) $4.12 $3.55
Average operating revenues per load (c) $398 $320
Average operating revenues per load, excluding
fuel surcharges, where separately identifiable (c) $322 $256
Number of loads (c) 67,621 77,657
Number of container yards 11 11
(a) Excludes operating data from Universal Logistics Solutions, Inc., and Universal Logistics
Solutions International, Inc., in order to improve the relevance of the statistical data
related to our brokerage services and improve the comparability to our peer companies.
Also excludes final mile delivery and shuttle service loads.
(b) Average length of haul is computed using loaded miles, excluding final mile delivery and
shuttle service loads.
(c) Excludes operating data from Universal Logistics Solutions, Inc. in order to improve the
relevance of the statistical data related to our intermodal services and improve the
comparability to our peer companies.
(d) Excludes storage yards, terminals and office facilities.
UNIVERSAL TRUCKLOAD SERVICES, INC.
Unaudited Summary of Operating Data - Continued
Thirteen Weeks Ended
--------------------
March 29, March 30,
2014 2013
---- ----
Average Headcount
Employees 4,208 2,876
Full time equivalents 1,619 2,083
Total 5,827 4,959
Average number of tractors
Provided by owner-operators 3,294 3,372
Owned 757 685
Third party lease 86 45
Total 4,137 4,102
Operating Revenues by Segment:
Transportation $175,349 $169,542
Logistics 103,906 78,462
Other 109 105
$279,364 $248,109
======== ========
Income from Operations by Segment:
Transportation $5,310 $5,716
Logistics 9,681 13,754
Other (362) (219)
$14,629 $19,251
======= =======
Non-GAAP Financial Measures
In addition to providing consolidated financial statements based on generally accepted accounting principles in the United States of America (GAAP), we are providing additional financial measures that are not required by or prepared in accordance with GAAP (non-GAAP). We present EBITDA as supplemental measures of our performance. We define EBITDA as net income plus (i) interest expense, net, (ii) provision for income taxes and (iii) depreciation and amortization, and less other non-operating income, or EBITDA. You are encouraged to evaluate these adjustments and the reasons we consider them appropriate for supplemental analysis.
In accordance with the requirements of Regulation G issued by the Securities and Exchange Commission, we are presenting the most directly comparable GAAP financial measure and reconciling the non-GAAP financial measure to the comparable GAAP measure. Set forth below is a reconciliation of net income, the most comparable GAAP measure, to EBITDA for each of the periods indicated:
Thirteen Weeks Ended
--------------------
March 29, March 30,
2014 2013
---- ----
( in thousands)
EBITDA
Net income $8,124 $11,374
Provision for income taxes 5,019 6,909
Interest expense, net 1,575 1,102
Depreciation and amortization 7,641 5,060
Other non-operating income (89) (134)
--- ----
EBITDA $22,270 $24,311
======= =======
EBITDA margin (a) 8.0% 9.8%
EBITDA margin is computed
by dividing EBITDA by
total operating revenues
for each of the periods
(a) indicated.
We present EBITDA because we believe it assists investors and analysts in comparing our performance across reporting periods on a consistent basis by excluding items that we do not believe are indicative of our core operating performance.
EBITDA has limitations as an analytical tool. Some of these limitations are:
-- EBITDA does not reflect our cash expenditures, or future requirements,
for capital expenditures or contractual commitments;
-- EBITDA does not reflect changes in, or cash requirements for, our
working capital needs;
-- EBITDA does not reflect the significant interest expense, or the cash
requirements necessary to service interest or principal payments, on our
debts;
-- Although depreciation and amortization are non-cash charges, the assets
being depreciated and amortized will often have to be replaced in the
future, and EBITDA does not reflect any cash requirements for such
replacements; and
-- Other companies in our industry may calculate EBITDA differently than we
do, limiting its usefulness as a comparative measure.
Because of these limitations, EBITDA should not be considered in isolation or as a substitute for performance measures calculated in accordance with GAAP. We compensate for these limitations by relying primarily on our GAAP results and EBITDA only supplementally.
SOURCE Universal Truckload Services, Inc.
