Forward Air Corporation Reports Fourth Quarter and Fiscal 2012 Results and Announces Quarterly Cash Dividend

GREENEVILLE, Tenn.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Forward Air Corporation (NASDAQ:FWRD) today reported results for the fourth quarter and year ended December 31, 2012.

Operating revenue for the quarter ended December 31, 2012 increased 4.9% to $155.5 million from $148.2 million for the same quarter in 2011. Income from operations was $24.0 million, compared with $23.6 million for the fourth quarter of 2011, an increase of 1.7%. Net income per diluted share for the fourth quarter of 2012 was $0.54 compared with $0.50 in the same quarter of 2011, an increase of 8.0%.

Operating revenue for the year ended December 31, 2012 increased 8.9% to $584.4 million from $536.4 million for the year ended December 31, 2011. Income from operations was $83.5 million, compared with $77.1 million in 2011. Net income per diluted share for the year ended December 31, 2012 was $1.78 compared with $1.60 in 2011.

Bruce A. Campbell, Chairman, President and CEO, said, “Overall, we achieved the fourth quarter Forward Air, Inc. operating segment results that we anticipated.” Commenting on the Forward Air Solutions business segment, Mr. Campbell said, “Over the course of 2012, we made good progress within our Solutions service offering. In the fourth quarter, we grew revenue 12.5% primarily on revenues from newly-won business. While the profitability from our new business wins is initially offset by the start-up costs associated with any new business launch, we are encouraged by how robust our new business pipeline looks for the first quarter.”

In closing, Mr. Campbell said, “As always, I would like to acknowledge our employees and independent contractors. Their contributions were critical to our delivering another solid year for Forward Air and continued value to our shareholders.”

In commenting on the Company’s guidance for the first quarter, Rodney L. Bell, Senior Vice President and CFO said, “We anticipate our first quarter 2013 revenues will increase in the range of 5% to 8% over the comparable 2012 period, and we expect income per diluted share to be between $0.36 and $0.40 per share. This compares to $0.35 per share in the first quarter of 2012.”

On February 8, 2013, our Board of Directors declared a quarterly cash dividend of $0.10 per share of common stock. The dividend is payable to shareholders of record at the close of business on March 8, 2013, and is expected to be paid on March 22, 2013.

This quarterly dividend is pursuant to a cash dividend policy approved by the Board of Directors, which anticipates a total annual dividend of $0.40 per share of common stock, payable in quarterly increments of $0.10 per share of common stock. The actual declaration of future cash dividends, and the establishment of record and payment dates, is subject to final determination by the Board of Directors each quarter after its review of the Company’s financial performance.

Review of Financial Results

Forward Air will hold a conference call to discuss fourth quarter and year end 2012 results on Tuesday, February 12, 2013 at 9:00 a.m. EST. The Company’s conference call will be available online at www.forwardair.com or by dialing 800-230-1059. A replay of the conference call will be available at www.forwardair.com beginning shortly after the completion of the live call.

About Forward Air Corporation

Forward Air Corporation operates two business segments, Forward Air, Inc. and Forward Air Solutions, Inc.

Forward Air, Inc. is a high-service-level contractor to the air cargo industry providing time-definite ground transportation services through a network of terminals located on or near major airports in 87 cities in the United States and Canada. It provides these services as a cost-effective alternative to air transportation of cargo that must be delivered at a specific time but is relatively less time-sensitive than traditional air freight or when air transportation is not economical.

Forward Air Solutions, Inc. is a provider of pool distribution services. Pool distribution involves the consolidation and shipment of several smaller less-than-truckload shipments to a common area or region. Once at the regional destination, the loads are deconsolidated, then grouped with other shipments with common delivery points, and delivered in a very precise, time-sensitive manner. Our pool distribution network consists of terminals and service locations in 19 cities within the Mid-Atlantic, Southeast, Midwest and Southwestern United States.

Important Information

This press release contains “forward-looking statements,” as defined in Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. Forward-looking statements are statements other than historical information or statements of current condition and relate to future events or our future financial performance. Some forward-looking statements may be identified by use of such terms as “believes,” “anticipates,” “intends,” “plans,” “estimates,” “projects” or “expects.” Such forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause our actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. The following is a list of factors, among others, that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contemplated by the forward-looking statements: economic factors such as recessions, inflation, higher interest rates and downturns in customer business cycles, our inability to maintain our historical growth rate because of a decreased volume of freight moving through our network or decreased average revenue per pound of freight moving through our network, increasing competition and pricing pressure, surplus inventories, loss of a major customer, the creditworthiness of our customers and their ability to pay for services rendered, our ability to secure terminal facilities in desirable locations at reasonable rates, the inability of our information systems to handle an increased volume of freight moving through our network, changes in fuel prices, claims for property damage, personal injuries or workers’ compensation, employment matters including rising health care costs, enforcement of and changes in governmental regulations, environmental and tax matters, the handling of hazardous materials, the availability and compensation of qualified independent owner-operators and freight handlers needed to serve our transportation needs and our inability to successfully integrate acquisitions. As a result of the foregoing, no assurance can be given as to future financial condition, cash flows or results of operations. We undertake no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

Forward Air Corporation
Rodney L. Bell, 423-636-7000
rbell@forwardair.com

Source: Forward Air Corporation

Released February 11, 2013