Universal Truckload Services, Inc. Reports Second Quarter 2015 Financial Results

WARREN, Mich., July 23, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- Universal Truckload Services, Inc. (NASDAQ: UACL) today reported second quarter 2015 net income of $13.3 million, or $0.44 per basic and diluted share, on total operating revenues of $295.0 million.  This compares to $13.6 million, or $0.45 per basic and diluted share, during second quarter 2014 on total operating revenues of $307.5 million.

Operating revenues from transportation services decreased $17.4 million, or 8.8%, to $180.1 million in the quarter ended June 27, 2015, due to a 6.8% year-over-year decrease in loads and a 2.8% decrease in average operating revenues per load, excluding fuel surcharges, compared to the quarter ended June 28, 2014.  As previously communicated, second quarter 2015 operating revenues reflect lower demand, particularly in our steel, energy and other heavy haul operations, but a generally more stable volume and pricing environment for truckload transportation services compared to earlier 2015. 

Value-added services revenues decreased $0.9 million in the most recent quarter, due to fewer operating locations compared to the comparable period last year.  Revenues from intermodal services increased 17.1%, to $39.8 million from $34.0 million in the second quarter of 2014.  The $5.8 million net increase in revenues from intermodal services includes a $5.9 million, or 19.2% increase in our intermodal drayage services, which is benefiting from increased import activity, capacity shifted from other businesses, and a 12.6% increase in average operating revenues per loaded mile, excluding fuel surcharges.

Consolidated income from operations decreased 6.1% to $22.9 million, compared to $24.4 million in second quarter 2014.  EBITDA decreased 1.9% to $31.8 million in second quarter 2015, compared to $32.4 million one year earlier.  Our operating margin and EBITDA margin for second quarter 2015 are 7.8% and 10.8% of operating revenues.  These profitability metrics compare to 7.9% and 10.5%, respectively, in second quarter 2014.  Consolidated income from operations in the quarter ended June 27, 2015 also reflects a $1.2 million decrease in selling, general and administrative expenses, which are partially offset by a $0.8 million increase in depreciation and amortization expense.

Income from operations in our transportation segment decreased $0.6 million, or 6.1%, to $9.2 million in  second quarter 2015 from $9.8 million one year ago, due to a $6.7 million decline in transportation segment revenues.  Income from operations in our logistics segment decreased $3.4 million, or 21.1%, to $12.7 million from $16.1 million in the comparable 2014 quarter.  Logistics segment income, which originates from Universal's value-added services and dedicated transportation operations, is lower in second quarter 2015 compared to a year earlier primarily due to changes in the number of operating locations.  Logistics segment revenue in second quarter 2015 declined 5.2% or $5.9 million, reflecting the impact of customer-dedicated facilities we closed in second quarter 2014 among other factors. 

Universal's Chief Executive Officer, Jeff Rogers, observed, "Demand for our transportation and logistics services met our recent expectations, reflecting continuing weakness in truckload volumes, but steady volumes and firm pricing in other businesses.  We are especially pleased with the continuing strength of our intermodal business, which is prospering due to drayage operations benefiting from increased international trade.  Our value-added services also achieved anticipated revenues and margins in the second quarter, as we began the launch of a large value-added project which will positively impact financial results later this year. 

"Universal's recent tender offer reduced the number of Universal shares outstanding by about 5.3%, returning capital not needed to support our asset-light business model to our shareholders and enhancing future EPS.  Our commercial focus remains driver development, extending relationships with existing customers, and new customer acquisition.  These strategies will drive the growth of our intermodal, brokerage and logistics businesses and, we believe, improve the value of our truckload and dedicated transportation services businesses as well."

Universal calculates and reports selected financial metrics in connection with lending arrangements, or to isolate and exclude the impact of non-operating expenses related to our corporate development activities.  These statistics are described in more detail below in the section captioned "Non-GAAP Financial Measures."

As of June 27, 2015, we held cash and cash equivalents totaling $7.7 million and marketable securities totaling $15.1 million.  Outstanding debt totaled $221.6 million and obligations pursuant to capital leases were valued at $2.5 million.  Capital expenditures in second quarter 2015 totaled $7.0 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 August 3, 2015 and is expected to be paid on August 13, 2015.

Conference call:

We invite analysts and investors to participate in our quarterly financial performance conference call, during which Jeff Rogers and David Crittenden, CFO, will discuss Universal's second quarter 2015 financial performance, the demand outlook in our key markets, trends impacting our business, and the outcome of our modified "Dutch auction" tender offer, which expired on July 8, 2015. 

A replay of the conference will be available beginning two hours after the call through August 21, 2015, by calling (855) 859-2056 (toll free) or +1 (404) 537-3406 (toll) and using conference ID 74274014. The call will also 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, and in Mexico, Canada and Colombia.  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, intermodal, and value-added 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.

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:

(a) EBITDA margin is computed by dividing EBITDA by total operating revenues for each of the periods 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.