Forward Air Corporation Reports First Quarter 2017 Results and Quarterly Cash Dividend

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GREENEVILLE, Tenn.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Forward Air Corporation (NASDAQ:FWRD) today reported operating revenue, income from operations, net income and diluted earnings per share for the three months ended March 31, 2017.

Operating revenue for the quarter ended March 31, 2017 increased 7.6% to $247.0 million from $229.5 million for the same quarter in 2016. Income from operations was $23.2 million, compared to $21.4 million in the prior year quarter. Net income during the period was $14.2 million compared to $13.1 million in the first quarter of 2016. Net income per diluted share for the first quarter of 2017 was $0.47 compared to $0.43 in the prior year quarter.

Bruce A. Campbell, Chairman, President, and CEO, commenting on the first quarter results said, “Our first quarter results were ahead of our guidance. Our Expedited LTL group drove strong volume growth towards the end of March and maintained its operating efficiencies to deliver a great quarter. Truckload Premium Services grew its revenue but incurred higher broker utilization as it recruited owner operators to support new business. Our Intermodal group performed well, continuing to benefit from the integration of Triumph while announcing the acquisition of Atlantic. Pool Distribution also had a great quarter driven by its recent new business wins and solid cost controls.”

Commenting on the Company’s second quarter 2017 guidance, Michael J. Morris, Senior Vice President and CFO, said, “We expect second quarter year-on-year revenue growth to be up 6% to 10%. We expect net income per diluted share to be between $0.55 and $0.59, compared to a $0.33 net loss per share in the prior year quarter. Our second quarter outlook does not reflect proceeds we may receive as a result of our recent efforts to finalize certain indemnification claims related to the Towne purchase, nor does it include the impact of Atlantic.” The second quarter of 2016 includes a one-time non-cash charge of $42.4 million primarily resulting from intangible asset impairments related to the Company’s TQI acquisition. Net of tax effects, the TQI impairment charge accounted for $27.4 million or $0.90 per diluted share of the second quarter of 2016 net loss. After excluding the net impact of the TQI impairment charge, adjusted earnings per diluted share, a non-GAAP measure, for the second quarter of 2016 was $0.57.

A tabular reconciliation of non-GAAP financial measures to reported results prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States (“GAAP”) is contained in the financial summary statements attached to this press release.

On April 25, 2017, our Board of Directors declared a quarterly cash dividend of $0.15 per share of common stock. The dividend is payable to shareholders of record at the close of business on May 25, 2017, and is expected to be paid on June 9, 2017.

This quarterly dividend is pursuant to a cash dividend policy approved by the Board of Directors, which anticipates a total annual dividend of $0.60 per share of common stock, payable in quarterly increments of $0.15 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 first quarter 2017 results on Thursday, April 27, 2017 at 9:00 a.m. EDT. The Company’s conference call will be available online at www.forwardair.com or by dialing (800) 553-0326. 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’s (“the Company”, “we”, “our”) services are classified into four principal reportable segments: Expedited LTL, Truckload Premium Services (“TLS”), Intermodal and Pool Distribution.

In our Expedited LTL segment, we provide time-definite transportation services to the North American deferred air freight market. Our Expedited LTL service operates a comprehensive national network for the time-definite surface transportation of expedited ground freight. The Expedited LTL service offers customers local pick-up and delivery and scheduled surface transportation of cargo as a cost effective, reliable alternative to air transportation. Expedited LTL’s other services include shipment consolidation and deconsolidation, warehousing, customs brokerage, and other handling. The Expedited LTL segment primarily provides its transportation services through a network of terminals located at or near airports in the United States and Canada.

In our TLS segment, we provide expedited truckload brokerage, dedicated fleet services and maximum security and temperature-controlled logistics services. We are able to expedite this service by utilizing a dedicated fleet of team owner operators, some team company drivers as well as third party transportation providers. The TLS segment provides full truckload service in the United States and Canada.

In our Intermodal segment, we provide container and intermodal drayage services primarily within the Midwest region of the United States. Drayage is essentially the first and last mile of the movement of an intermodal container. We are providing this service both to and from ports and rail heads. Our Intermodal segment also provides dedicated contract and Container Freight Station (“CFS”) warehouse and handling services.

In our Pool Distribution segment, we provide pool distribution services throughout the Mid-Atlantic, Southeast, Midwest and Southwest continental United States. Pool Distribution involves managing high-frequency handling and distribution of time-sensitive product to numerous destinations in specific geographic regions. Our primary customers for this service are regional and nationwide distributors and retailers, such as mall, strip mall and outlet based retail chains.

 
Forward Air Corporation
Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income
(In thousands, except per share data)
(Unaudited)
   
Three months ended

March 31,
2017

   

March 31,
2016

Operating revenue:
Expedited LTL $ 140,598 $ 134,379
Truckload Premium Services 41,785 38,620
Pool Distribution 37,823 33,192
Intermodal 28,291 24,624
Eliminations and other operations   (1,515 )   (1,266 )
Operating revenue 246,982 229,549
 
Operating expenses:
Purchased transportation 103,083 96,476
Salaries, wages and employee benefits 61,998 58,678
Operating leases 15,601 13,868
Depreciation and amortization 10,033 9,668
Insurance and claims 5,806 5,395
Fuel expense 3,680 2,961
Other operating expenses   23,592     21,098  
Total operating expenses   223,793     208,144  
Operating (loss) income:
Expedited LTL 18,400 17,084
Truckload Premium Services 1,704 1,565
Pool Distribution 1,367 114
Intermodal 2,580 2,372
Other operations   (862 )   270  
Income from operations   23,189     21,405  
 
Other income (expense):
Interest expense (282 ) (553 )
Other, net   (26 )   (29 )
Total other income (expense)   (308 )   (582 )
Income before income taxes 22,881 20,823
Income tax expense   8,638     7,724  
Net income and comprehensive income $ 14,243   $ 13,099  
 
Net income per share:
Basic $ 0.47   $ 0.43  
Diluted $ 0.47   $ 0.43  
 
Dividends per share: $ 0.15   $ 0.12  
 
 
Expedited LTL Segment Information
(In millions)
(Unaudited)
                       
Three months ended
March 31, Percent of March 31, Percent of Percent
2017 Revenue 2016 Revenue Change Change
Operating revenue $ 140.6 100.0 % $ 134.4 100.0 % $ 6.2 4.6 %
 
Operating expenses:
Purchased transportation 55.4 39.4 53.5 39.8 1.9 3.6
Salaries, wages and employee benefits 34.9 24.8 34.9 26.0 — —
Operating leases 9.2 6.5 8.0 5.9 1.2 15.0
Depreciation and amortization 5.6 4.0 5.5 4.1 0.1 1.8
Insurance and claims 2.9 2.1 2.8 2.1 0.1 3.6
Fuel expense 0.9 0.6 0.7 0.5 0.2 28.6
Other operating expenses   13.3 9.5     11.9 8.9     1.4 11.8  
Total operating expenses   122.2 86.9     117.3 87.3     4.9 4.2  
Income from operations $ 18.4 13.1 % $ 17.1 12.7 % $ 1.3 7.6 %
 
 
Expedited LTL Operating Statistics
           
Three months ended
March 31, March 31, Percent
2017 2016 Change
 
Operating ratio 86.9 % 87.3 % (0.5 )%
 
Business days 64.0 64.0 —
Business weeks 12.8 12.8 —
 
Expedited LTL:
Tonnage

Total pounds 1

566,454 563,727 0.5

Average weekly pounds 1

44,254 44,041 0.5
 
Linehaul shipments
Total linehaul 896,311 876,476 2.3
Average weekly 70,024 68,475 2.3
 
Forward Air Complete shipments 210,002 177,973 18.0
As a percentage of linehaul shipments 23.4 % 20.3 % 15.3
 
Average linehaul shipment size 632 643 (1.7 )
 
Revenue per pound 2
Linehaul yield $ 17.50 $ 17.86 (1.7 )
Fuel surcharge impact 1.22 0.80 1.9
Forward Air Complete impact   3.81     3.07   3.4  
Total Expedited LTL yield $ 22.53   $ 21.73   3.7 %
 

1 - In thousands

2 - In dollars per hundred pound; percentage change is expressed as a percent of total yield.
 
 
Truckload Premium Services Segment Information
(In millions)
(Unaudited)
                       
Three months ended
March 31, Percent of March 31, Percent of Percent
2017 Revenue 2016 Revenue Change Change
Operating revenue $ 41.8 100.0 % $ 38.6 100.0 % $ 3.2 8.3 %
 
Operating expenses:
Purchased transportation 29.3 70.1 26.5 68.6 2.8 10.6
Salaries, wages and employee benefits 5.2 12.4 5.0 13.0 0.2 4.0
Operating leases 0.1 0.3 0.1 0.3 — —
Depreciation and amortization 1.5 3.6 1.7 4.4 (0.2 ) (11.8 )
Insurance and claims 1.1 2.6 0.9 2.3 0.2 22.2
Fuel expense 0.8 1.9 0.6 1.6 0.2 33.3
Other operating expenses   2.1 5.0     2.2 5.7     (0.1 ) (4.5 )
Total operating expenses   40.1 95.9     37.0 95.9     3.1   8.4  
Income from operations $ 1.7 4.1 % $ 1.6 4.1 % $ 0.1   6.3 %
 
 
Truckload Premium Services Operating Statistics
     
Three months ended
March 31,     March 31,     Percent
2017 2016 Change
 
Company driver 1 1,907 1,769 7.8 %
Owner operator 1 11,743 12,052 (2.6 )
Third party 1   9,082   7,074 28.4  
Total Miles 22,732 20,895 8.8
 
Revenue per mile $ 1.79 $ 1.81 (1.1 )
 
Cost per mile $ 1.38 $ 1.38 — %
 

1 - In thousands

 
 
Pool Distribution Segment Information
(In millions)
(Unaudited)
                       
Three months ended
March 31, Percent of March 31, Percent of Percent
2017 Revenue 2016 Revenue Change Change
Operating revenue $ 37.8 100.0 % $ 33.2 100.0 % $ 4.6 13.9 %
 
Operating expenses:
Purchased transportation 9.9 26.2 8.9 26.8 1.0 11.2
Salaries, wages and employee benefits 14.4 38.1 12.7 38.3 1.7 13.4
Operating leases 3.2 8.5 2.9 8.7 0.3 10.3
Depreciation and amortization 1.8 4.7 1.5 4.5 0.3 20.0
Insurance and claims 1.0 2.6 1.2 3.6 (0.2 ) (16.7 )
Fuel expense 1.2 3.2 1.0 3.0 0.2 20.0
Other operating expenses   4.9 13.0     4.9 14.8     —   —  
Total operating expenses   36.4 96.3     33.1 99.7     3.3   10.0  
Income from operations $ 1.4 3.7 % $ 0.1 0.3 % $ 1.3   1,300.0 %
 
 
Intermodal Segment Information
(In millions)
(Unaudited)
                       
Three months ended
March 31, Percent of March 31, Percent of Percent
2017 Revenue 2016 Revenue Change Change
Operating revenue $ 28.3 100.0 % $ 24.6 100.0 % $ 3.7 15.0 %
 
Operating expenses:
Purchased transportation 9.7 34.3 8.4 34.1 1.3 15.5
Salaries, wages and employee benefits 6.7 23.7 6.0 24.4 0.7 11.7
Operating leases 3.1 10.9 3.0 12.2 0.1 3.3
Depreciation and amortization 1.1 3.9 0.9 3.7 0.2 22.2
Insurance and claims 0.8 2.8 0.8 3.2 — —
Fuel expense 0.7 2.5 0.6 2.4 0.1 16.7
Other operating expenses   3.6 12.7     2.5 10.2     1.1 44.0  
Total operating expenses   25.7 90.8     22.2 90.2     3.5 15.8  
Income from operations $ 2.6 9.2 % $ 2.4 9.8 % $ 0.2 8.3 %
 
 
Forward Air Corporation
Consolidated Balance Sheets
(In thousands)
(Unaudited)
 
   

March 31,
2017

   

December 31,
2016 (a)

Assets
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents $ 14,335 $ 8,511
Accounts receivable, net 116,473 116,602
Other current assets   8,394   11,157
Total current assets 139,202 136,270
 
Property and equipment 376,623 379,021
Less accumulated depreciation and amortization   182,686   178,816
Net property and equipment 193,937 200,205
Goodwill and other acquired intangibles:
Goodwill 184,675 184,675
Other acquired intangibles, net of accumulated amortization   104,259   106,650
Total net goodwill and other acquired intangibles 288,934 291,325
Other assets   13,795   13,491
Total assets $ 635,868 $ 641,291
 
Liabilities and Shareholders’ Equity
Current liabilities:
Accounts payable $ 15,800 $ 18,012
Accrued expenses 34,007 31,833
Income taxes payable 8,326 70
Current portion of debt and capital lease obligations   352   28,012
Total current liabilities 58,485 77,927
 
Debt and capital lease obligations, less current portion 13,529 725
Other long-term liabilities 21,440 21,699
Deferred income taxes 41,786 41,871
 
Shareholders’ equity:
Common stock 300 301
Additional paid-in capital 182,999 179,512
Retained earnings   317,329   319,256
Total shareholders’ equity   500,628   499,069
Total liabilities and shareholders’ equity $ 635,868 $ 641,291
 
(a) Taken from audited financial statements, which are not presented in their entirety.
 
 
Forward Air Corporation
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows
(In thousands)
(Unaudited)
   
Three months ended

March 31,
2017

   

March 31,
2016

Operating activities:
Net income $ 14,243 $ 13,099
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities
Depreciation and amortization 10,033 9,668
Share-based compensation 1,962 1,952
Loss on disposal of property and equipment 488 93
Provision for loss (recovery) on receivables 22 (196 )
Provision for revenue adjustments 718 799
Deferred income tax expense (85 ) 5,031
Excess tax benefit for stock options exercised — (38 )
Changes in operating assets and liabilities
Accounts receivable (611 ) 4,245
Prepaid expenses and other current assets 2,153 2,582
Accounts payable and accrued expenses   8,137     206  
Net cash provided by operating activities 37,060 37,441
 
Investing activities:
Proceeds from disposal of property and equipment 790 155
Purchases of property and equipment (2,652 ) (2,688 )
Acquisition of business, net of cash acquired — (1,700 )
Other   129     22  
Net cash used in investing activities (1,733 ) (4,211 )
 
Financing activities:
Payments of debt and capital lease obligations (27,857 ) (13,969 )
Proceeds from senior credit facility 13,000 —
Proceeds from exercise of stock options 1,524 881
Payments of cash dividends (4,539 ) (3,678 )
Repurchase of common stock (repurchase program) (9,996 ) (9,995 )
Excess tax benefit for stock options exercised — 38
Cash settlement of share-based awards for tax withholdings   (1,635 )   (1,782 )
Net cash used in financing activities   (29,503 )   (28,505 )
Net increase in cash 5,824 4,725
Cash at beginning of period   8,511     33,312  
Cash at end of period $ 14,335   $ 38,037  
 

Forward Air Corporation Reconciliation of U.S. GAAP and Non-GAAP Financial Measures

The Company reports its financial results in accordance with GAAP (also referred to herein as “reported”). However, the Company also uses “non-GAAP financial measures” that are derived on the basis of methodologies other than in accordance with GAAP. Specifically, the Company believes that meaningful analysis of its financial performance in 2017 and 2016 requires an understanding of the factors underlying that performance, including an understanding of items that are non-operational. Management uses these non-GAAP financial measures in making financial, operating, compensation and planning decisions and in evaluating the Company’s performance.

This press release contains the following non-GAAP financial measures: adjusted income from operations, adjusted net income, adjusted earnings per diluted share, adjusted effective income tax rate and guidance with respect to adjusted net income per diluted share. These measures exclude intangible asset impairment costs and tax ramifications related to TQI for the three months ended June 30, 2016. The Company believes that excluding these items will assist investors in understanding our core operating performance and allow for more accurate comparisons of results.

Non-GAAP financial measures should be viewed in addition to, and not as an alternative for, the Company’s reported results prepared in accordance with GAAP. Our non-GAAP financial information does not represent a comprehensive basis of accounting. As required by the Securities and Exchange Act of 1933 and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder, the tables below present, for the periods indicated, a reconciliation of our presented non-GAAP financial measures to the most directly comparable GAAP financial measures.

 
Forward Air Corporation
Guidance Range
Reconciliation to U.S. GAAP
(In millions, except per share data)
(Unaudited)
     
Three months ended June 30, 2016

Operating
Income

   

Other,
Net

   

Income
before
taxes

   

Income
taxes

   

Effective
tax
rate

    Net Income    

Diluted
earnings
per share

Reported (GAAP) $ (14.3 )     $ (0.6 )     $ (14.9 )     $ (4.8 )     32.2 %     $ (10.1 )     $ (0.33 )
Items impacting comparability:
TQI impairment charge  

42.4

       

—

       

42.4

       

15.0

      4.9 %      

27.4

       

0.90

 
After considering items (Non-GAAP) $ 28.1 $ (0.6 ) $ 27.5 $ 10.2 37.1 % $ 17.3 $ 0.57
 

The following table summarizes supplemental full year 2017 guidance information that management believes to be useful. The following guidance does not include Atlantic.

 
Forward Air Corporation
Additional Guidance Data
(In thousands)
(Unaudited)
   

2017

Projected tax rate

37.1

%

 
Projected year end fully diluted share count (before consideration of future share repurchases)

30,400

 
Projected capital expenditures, net $ 46,500
 

Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the safe harbor provisions of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements can be identified by words such as: “anticipate,” “intend,” “plan,” “goal,” “seek,” “believe,” “project,” “estimate,” “expect,” “strategy,” “future,” “likely,” “may,” “should,” “will” and similar references to future periods. Examples of forward-looking statements include, among others, statements we make regarding expected operating results, such as revenue growth and earnings, and guidance relating to income per diluted share, adjusted income per diluted share and adjusted effective tax rate for the second quarter.

Forward-looking statements are neither historical facts nor assurances of future performance. Instead, they are based only on our current beliefs, expectations and assumptions regarding the future of our business, future plans and strategies, projections, anticipated events and trends, the economy and other future conditions. Because forward-looking statements relate to the future, they are subject to inherent uncertainties, risks and changes in circumstances that are difficult to predict and many of which are outside of our control. Our actual results and financial condition may differ materially from those indicated in the forward-looking statements. Therefore, you should not rely on any of these forward-looking statements. Important factors that could cause our actual results and financial condition to differ materially from those indicated in the forward-looking statements include, among others, the following: 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, our inability to successfully integrate acquisitions and the risks described in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2016.

Any forward-looking statement made by us in this press release is based only on information currently available to us and speaks only as of the date on which it is made. We undertake no obligation to publicly update any forward-looking statement, whether written or oral, that may be made from time to time, whether as a result of new information, future developments or otherwise.

Forward Air Corporation
Michael J. Morris, 404-362-8933
mmorris@forwardair.com

Source: Forward Air Corporation

Released April 26, 2017