J.B. Hunt Transport Services, Inc. Reports Earnings for the Second Quarter 2019

J.B. Hunt Transport Services, Inc., (NASDAQ: JBHT) announced second quarter 2019 net earnings of $133.6 million, or diluted earnings per share of $1.23 vs. second quarter 2018 net earnings of $151.7 million, or $1.37 per diluted share.

Total operating revenue for the current quarter was $2.26 billion, compared with $2.14 billion for the second quarter 2018, an increase of 6%. Current quarter total operating revenue, excluding fuel surcharges, increased 6.5% vs. the comparable quarter 2018. Revenue growth was driven primarily by a 19% increase in revenue producing trucks and an 8% increase in truck productivity in Dedicated Contract Services (DCS), but partially offset by an 8% decline in volume in Intermodal (JBI), a 7% decline in volume in Integrated Capacity Solutions (ICS), and fewer tractors operating in Truck (JBT) compared to prior year.

The amount of ICS operating revenue executed through Marketplace for J.B. Hunt 360° increased to $222 million from $137 million in second quarter 2018. JBI executed approximately $41 million of third-party dray cost and JBT executed approximately $5 million of its independent contractor costs through the platform during this quarter.

Operating income for the current quarter totaled $193.1 million versus $214.8 million for the second quarter 2018. The benefits of customer rate increases and increases in revenue producing truck counts were partially offset by increases in insurance and claims costs (particularly a $20.0 million pre-tax charge, $0.14 per diluted share, in settlement of a DCS Final Mile claim), increases in rail purchased transportation costs, start-up costs associated with expansion and integration of DCS Final Mile network, higher driver wages and recruiting costs, increased technology costs for modernization and further development of J.B. Hunt 360°, and increased facility costs all compared to the same period 2018.

Interest expense in the current quarter increased due to higher debt levels compared to the same period last year. The effective income tax rate for the quarter was 25% versus 26.0% for the second quarter 2018.

Segment Information:

Intermodal (JBI)

• Second Quarter 2019 Segment Revenue: $1.15 billion; down 1%
• Second Quarter 2019 Operating Income: $124.4 million; down 7%

JBI load volumes declined 8% over the same period in 2018. Transcontinental loads decreased approximately 5% and Eastern network volumes declined 11% from second quarter 2018. A softer freight market limited the ability to offset rail network rationalization effects in the Eastern network though loads per workday trends improved throughout the quarter particularly in the Transcontinental network. Revenue decreased 1% reflecting the 8% volume decline and an approximate 7% increase in revenue per load, which is the combination of customer rate changes, fuel surcharges, and freight mix. Revenue per load excluding fuel surcharge revenue increased 8% from second quarter 2018.

Operating income decreased 7% from prior year. Benefits from customer rate increases were offset by the volume decline, higher rail purchased transportation costs, higher driver pay, retention and recruiting costs, increased technology modernization costs, and increased equipment and facilities ownership costs. The current period ended with approximately 96,700 units of trailing capacity and 5,640 power units assigned to the dray fleet.

Dedicated Contract Services (DCS)

• Second Quarter 2019 Segment Revenue: $680 million; up 28%
• Second Quarter 2019 Operating Income: $60.5 million; up 3%

DCS revenue increased 28% during the current quarter over the same period in 2018. Productivity, defined as revenue per truck per week, increased approximately 8% vs. 2018. Productivity excluding fuel surcharges increased approximately 9% over a year ago primarily from 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 $49 million (primarily from the February 2019 acquisition) compared to second quarter 2018. A net additional 1,755 revenue producing trucks, 259 net additions compared to first quarter 2019, were in the fleet by the end of the quarter compared to prior year. Approximately 44% of these additions represent private fleet conversions and 8% represent FMS versus traditional dedicated capacity fleets. Customer retention rates remain above 98%.

Operating income increased 3% over the prior year quarter. Benefits from increased productivity, additional trucks under contract, and a $4.3 million reduction in salaries and wages accruals were partially offset by increased insurance and claims costs (primarily a $20.0 million pre-tax charge to settle a Final Mile claim), increased technology and facilities costs in the expanding FMS network, increased driver wages and recruiting costs, and an incremental $1.7 million in non-cash amortization expense attributable to the February 2019 acquisition compared to second quarter 2018.

Integrated Capacity Solutions (ICS)

• Second Quarter 2019 Segment Revenue: $334 million; down 4%
• Second Quarter 2019 Operating Loss: $(0.6) million; down 104%

ICS revenue was down 4% compared to the second quarter 2018. Volumes decreased 7% while revenue per load increased approximately 4%, primarily due to customer freight mix. Higher contractual truckload volume was offset by a 33% decrease in less-than-truckload shipments and weaker spot market activity compared to second quarter 2018. Contractual volumes represented approximately 68% of total load volume and 55% of total revenue compared to 68% and 45%, respectively, in second quarter 2018. Of the total reported ICS revenue, $222 million was executed through Marketplace for J.B. Hunt 360° compared to $137 million in second quarter 2018.

Operating income decreased approximately 104% from the same period 2018 primarily from lower gross profit margin, higher personnel costs, increased digital marketing costs, and higher technology development costs as investments continue to be made to expand capacity and functionality of Marketplace for J.B. Hunt 360°. Gross profit margins decreased to 13.4% in the current quarter versus 14.8% in the same period last year due to weaker spot market activity and lower contractual rates on committed business. The carrier base increased 26% and the employee count increased 15% from a year ago.

Truck (JBT)

• Second Quarter 2019 Segment Revenue: $99.6 million; down 2%
• Second Quarter 2019 Operating Income: $8.9 million; up 19%

JBT revenue decreased 2% from the same period in 2018. Revenue excluding fuel surcharges was flat compared to second quarter 2018 on flat load count. Revenue per load excluding fuel surcharges was up approximately 1% from a 4% increase in rates per loaded mile and a 3% decrease in length of haul compared to the same period in 2018. At the end of the period, JBT operated 1,879 tractors compared to 1,976 a year ago.

Operating income increased 19% compared to the same quarter 2018. The benefits from lower equipment ownership costs and decreased non-driver personnel expense were partially offset by higher driver and independent contractor costs per mile compared to the second quarter 2018.

Cash Flow and Capitalization:
At June 30, 2019, we had approximately $1.4 billion outstanding on various debt instruments compared to $1.0 billion at June 30, 2018 and $1.15 billion at December 31, 2018.

Our net capital expenditures for the six months ended June 30, 2019 approximated $475 million compared to $354 million for the same period 2018. At June 30, 2019, we had cash and cash equivalents of $6.9 million.

We purchased approximately 1.98 million shares of our common stock during the second quarter 2019 for approximately $190 million. At June 30, 2019, we had approximately $181 million remaining under our share repurchase authorization. Actual shares outstanding at June 30, 2019 approximated 106.8 million.

Conference Call Information:
The Company will hold a conference call today at 4:00 – 5:00 pm CDT to discuss the quarterly earnings. The call-in number for participants is [phone], access code: 0620659##. A replay of the call will be posted on its website later this evening.

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 immediately 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 June 30
		2019				2018
				% Of				% Of
		Amount		Revenue		Amount		Revenue
Operating revenues, excluding fuel surcharge revenues	$	1,996,266			$	1,874,388
Fuel surcharge revenues		265,381				264,639
Total operating revenues		2,261,647		100.0%		2,139,027		100.0%
Operating expenses
Rents and purchased transportation		1,086,416		48.0%		1,073,164		50.2%
Salaries, wages and employee benefits		535,147		23.7%		465,326		21.8%
Depreciation and amortization		123,995		5.5%		107,423		5.0%
Fuel and fuel taxes		118,037		5.2%		115,541		5.4%
Operating supplies and expenses		84,264		3.7%		76,446		3.6%
General and administrative expenses, net of asset dispositions		46,539		2.1%		37,306		1.7%
Insurance and claims		52,013		2.3%		28,371		1.3%
Operating taxes and licenses		13,565		0.6%		12,234		0.6%
Communication and utilities		8,578		0.4%		8,404		0.4%
Total operating expenses		2,068,554		91.5%		1,924,215		90.0%
Operating income		193,093		8.5%		214,812		10.0%
Net interest expense		14,763		0.6%		9,855		0.4%
Earnings before income taxes		178,330		7.9%		204,957		9.6%
Income taxes		44,697		2.0%		53,305		2.5%
Net earnings	$	133,633		5.9%	$	151,652		7.1%
Average diluted shares outstanding		108,373				110,682
Diluted earnings per share	$	1.23			$	1.37
J.B. HUNT TRANSPORT SERVICES, INC.
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Earnings
(in thousands, except per share data)
(unaudited)
		Six Months Ended June 30
		2019				2018
				% Of				% Of
		Amount		Revenue		Amount		Revenue
Operating revenues, excluding fuel surcharge revenues	$	3,851,608			$	3,587,321
Fuel surcharge revenues		499,666				499,951
Total operating revenues		4,351,274		100.0%		4,087,272		100.0%
Operating expenses
Rents and purchased transportation		2,086,305		47.9%		2,038,057		49.9%
Salaries, wages and employee benefits		1,051,472		24.2%		915,592		22.4%
Depreciation and amortization		243,924		5.6%		213,006		5.2%
Fuel and fuel taxes		230,162		5.3%		223,422		5.5%
Operating supplies and expenses		162,436		3.7%		147,126		3.6%
General and administrative expenses, net of asset dispositions		91,578		2.1%		69,630		1.6%
Insurance and claims		81,007		1.9%		56,870		1.4%
Operating taxes and licenses		26,725		0.6%		23,822		0.6%
Communication and utilities		16,777		0.4%		16,153		0.4%
Total operating expenses		3,990,386		91.7%		3,703,678		90.6%
Operating income		360,888		8.3%		383,594		9.4%
Net interest expense		27,796		0.6%		19,008		0.5%
Earnings before income taxes		333,092		7.7%		364,586		8.9%
Income taxes		79,858		1.9%		94,792		2.3%
Net earnings	$	253,234		5.8%	$	269,794		6.6%
Average diluted shares outstanding		109,015				110,771
Diluted earnings per share	$	2.32			$	2.44

Financial Information By Segment
(in thousands)
(unaudited)
			Three Months Ended June 30
			2019				2018
					% Of				% Of
			Amount		Total		Amount		Total
Revenue
Intermodal		$	1,149,723		51%	$	1,164,508		54%
Dedicated			679,871		30%		529,982		25%
Integrated Capacity Solutions			334,267		15%		347,295		16%
Truck			99,627		4%		101,241		5%
Subtotal			2,263,488		100%		2,143,026		100%
Intersegment eliminations			(1,841)		(0%)		(3,999)		(0%)
Consolidated revenue		$	2,261,647		100%	$	2,139,027		100%
Operating income
Intermodal		$	124,357		64%	$	133,993		62%
Dedicated			60,489		31%		58,452		27%
Integrated Capacity Solutions			(570)		(0%)		14,934		7%
Truck			8,889		5%		7,484		4%
Other (1)			(72)		(0%)		(51)		(0%)
Operating income		$	193,093		100%	$	214,812		100%
			Six Months Ended June 30
			2019				2018
					% Of				% Of
			Amount		Total		Amount		Total
Revenue
Intermodal		$	2,237,822		51%	$	2,234,772		54%
Dedicated			1,281,783		29%		1,024,462		25%
Integrated Capacity Solutions			635,078		15%		643,400		16%
Truck			201,479		5%		193,959		5%
Subtotal			4,356,162		100%		4,096,593		100%
Intersegment eliminations			(4,888)		(0%)		(9,321)		(0%)
Consolidated revenue		$	4,351,274		100%	$	4,087,272		100%
Operating income
Intermodal		$	227,674		63%	$	248,235		65%
Dedicated			110,734		31%		99,013		26%
Integrated Capacity Solutions			6,395		2%		23,810		6%
Truck			16,128		4%		12,614		3%
Other (1)			(43)		(0%)		(78)		(0%)
Operating income		$	360,888		100%	$	383,594		100%
(1) Includes corporate support activity

Operating Statistics by Segment
(unaudited)
		Three Months Ended June 30
		2019			2018
Intermodal
Loads		480,938			520,341
Average length of haul		1,660			1,634
Revenue per load	$	2,391		$	2,238
Average tractors during the period *		5,652			5,496
Tractors (end of period)
Company-owned		4,969			4,873
Independent contractor		668			666
Total tractors		5,637			5,539
Net change in trailing equipment during the period		847			1,082
Trailing equipment (end of period)		96,659			90,575
Average effective trailing equipment usage		82,367			86,451
Dedicated
Loads		915,033			731,137
Average length of haul		169			179
Revenue per truck per week**	$	4,915		$	4,565
Average trucks during the period***		10,710			8,973
Trucks (end of period)
Company-owned		10,311			8,526
Independent contractor		41			57
Customer-owned (Dedicated operated)		462			476
Total trucks		10,814			9,059
Trailing equipment (end of period)		27,882			25,501
Average effective trailing equipment usage		28,357			26,540
Integrated Capacity Solutions
Loads		306,817			331,278
Revenue per load	$	1,089		$	1,048
Gross profit margin		13.4%			14.8%
Employee count (end of period)		1,198			1,043
Approximate number of third-party carriers (end of period)		80,000			63,500
Marketplace for J.B. Hunt 360°:
Approximate carrier tractor count (end of period)		600,600			412,100
Revenue (millions)	$	222.4		$	136.8
Truck
Loads		87,994			88,301
Average length of haul		418			433
Loaded miles (000)		36,744			38,221
Total miles (000)		45,155			45,468
Average nonpaid empty miles per load		95.6			82.1
Revenue per tractor per week**	$	3,940		$	3,935
Average tractors during the period *		1,973			2,003
Tractors (end of period)
Company-owned		946			1,262
Independent contractor		933			714
Total tractors		1,879			1,976
Trailers (end of period)		6,829			6,928
Average effective trailing equipment usage		6,580			6,497
* Includes company-owned and independent contractor tractors
** Using weighted workdays
*** Includes company-owned, independent contractor, and customer-owned trucks

Operating Statistics by Segment
(unaudited)
		Six Months Ended June 30
		2019			2018
Intermodal
Loads		940,862			1,016,105
Average length of haul		1,656			1,648
Revenue per load	$	2,378		$	2,199
Average tractors during the period *		5,656			5,495
Tractors (end of period)
Company-owned		4,969			4,873
Independent contractor		668			666
Total tractors		5,637			5,539
Net change in trailing equipment during the period		1,757			1,965
Trailing equipment (end of period)		96,659			90,575
Average effective trailing equipment usage		82,798			86,858
Dedicated
Loads		1,740,207			1,419,487
Average length of haul		171			180
Revenue per truck per week**	$	4,757		$	4,453
Average trucks during the period***		10,522			8,906
Trucks (end of period)
Company-owned		10,311			8,526
Independent contractor		41			57
Customer-owned (Dedicated operated)		462			476
Total trucks		10,814			9,059
Trailing equipment (end of period)		27,882			25,501
Average effective trailing equipment usage		27,977			26,804
Integrated Capacity Solutions
Loads		595,750			582,799
Revenue per load	$	1,066		$	1,104
Gross profit margin		14.9%			14.6%
Employee count (end of period)		1,198			1,043
Approximate number of third-party carriers (end of period)		80,000			63,500
Marketplace for J.B. Hunt 360°:
Approximate carrier tractor count (end of period)		600,600			412,100
Revenue (millions)	$	408.9		$	233.2
Truck
Loads		172,922			169,800
Average length of haul		427			443
Loaded miles (000)		73,712			75,146
Total miles (000)		90,852			89,313
Average nonpaid empty miles per load		99.3			83.5
Revenue per tractor per week**	$	3,913		$	3,857
Average tractors during the period*		2,024			1,973
Tractors (end of period)
Company-owned		946			1,262
Independent contractor		933			714
Total tractors		1,879			1,976
Trailers (end of period)		6,829			6,928
Average effective trailing equipment usage		6,583			6,529
* 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)
		June 30, 2019				December 31, 2018
ASSETS
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	$	6,875			$	7,600
Accounts Receivable, net		1,040,153				1,051,698
Prepaid expenses and other, net		337,336				443,683
Total current assets		1,384,364				1,502,981
Property and equipment		5,635,867				5,329,243
Less accumulated depreciation		1,957,782				1,884,132
Net property and equipment		3,678,085				3,445,111
Other assets, net		358,290				143,555
	$	5,420,739			$	5,091,647
LIABILITIES & STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
Current liabilities:
Current debt	$	-			$	250,706
Trade accounts payable		640,324				709,736
Claims accruals		277,669				275,139
Accrued payroll		59,282				80,922
Other accrued expenses		84,247				35,845
Total current liabilities		1,061,522				1,352,348
Long-term debt		1,372,143				898,398
Other long-term liabilities		175,656				96,056
Deferred income taxes		676,062				643,461
Stockholders' equity		2,135,356				2,101,384
	$	5,420,739			$	5,091,647
Supplemental Data
(unaudited)
		June 30, 2019				December 31, 2018
Actual shares outstanding at end of period (000)		106,768				108,711
Book value per actual share outstanding at end of period	$	20.00			$	19.33
		Six Months Ended June 30
		2019				2018
Net cash provided by operating activities (000)	$	606,661			$	529,033
Net capital expenditures (000)	$	475,331			$	354,131

 

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