Forward Air Corporation Reports Third Quarter 2020 Results

Forward Air Corporation (NASDAQ:FWRD) (the “Company,” “we,” “our,” or “us”) today reported financial results for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2020 as presented in the tables below on a continuing operations basis (Pool Distribution is being reported as a discontinued operation).

Tom Schmitt, Chairman, President and CEO, commenting on the Company's third quarter results said, “During the third quarter our teams did a great job of continuing to restore volumes in response to COVID-19. To support our efforts to grow our fleet and enhance our network capabilities, we implemented several pricing actions during the back half of the quarter which will drive continued improvements in our operational performance and shipment-level profitability.”

Continuing Operations		Three months ended
(in thousands, except per share data)		September 30, 2020 1				September 30, 2019				Change				Percent Change
Operating revenue		$	331,997			$	313,683			$	18,314			5.8	%
Income from operations		$	23,510			$	29,186			$	(5,676	)		(19.4	)%
Operating margin		7.1		%		9.3		%		(220) bps
Net income		$	16,992			$	21,054			$	(4,062	)		(19.3	)%
Net income per diluted share		$	0.61			$	0.74			$	(0.13	)		(17.6	)%
Cash provided by operating activities		$	20,564			$	43,553			$	(22,989	)		(52.8	)%
Non-GAAP Financial Measures: 2
EBITDA		$	32,682			$	38,203			$	(5,521	)		(14.5	)%
Free cash flow		$	18,766			$	35,213			$	(16,447	)		(46.7	)%
1 Results for the three months ended September 30, 2020 include a $2.3 million one-time charge related to a litigated contract dispute.
2 EBITDA and free cash flow are non-GAAP financial measures and reconciliations of these non-GAAP financial measures are provided in the below financial tables.

Commenting on the Company's third quarter results, Michael J. Morris, CFO, said, “Our third quarter earnings per share of $0.61 exceeded our guidance range, and reflected a $0.06 one-time charge related to a litigated contract dispute.” Regarding the Company's fourth quarter 2020 guidance, Mr. Morris said, “We expect fourth quarter year-on-year revenue growth to be 6% to 10% and net income per diluted share to be between $0.71 and $0.75 in the fourth quarter of 2020.”

On October 27, 2020, our Board of Directors approved a 16.7% increase to the Company’s quarterly dividend, raising it from $0.18 to $0.21 per share of common stock. The dividend is payable to shareholders of record at the close of business on November 25, 2020 and is expected to be paid on December 10, 2020.

This quarterly dividend is made pursuant to a cash dividend policy approved by the Board of Directors, which anticipates a total annual dividend of $0.75 per share of common stock for 2020 and $0.84 for the full year 2021, payable in quarterly increments of $0.21 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.

Commenting on the increased dividend payment, Mr. Morris said, “This increase reflects our confidence in the growth potential of our businesses, and the Company’s continued focus on returning a portion of its free cash flow back to shareholders. In the past five years, we have returned approximately $358 million to shareholders in the form of dividends and share repurchases.”

On April 23, 2020, the Board approved a strategy to divest the Pool Distribution business (“Pool”). Accordingly, the results of operations and cash flows for Pool have been presented as discontinued operations and have been excluded from continuing operations in this release for all periods presented. In addition, Pool assets and liabilities are reflected as “held for sale” on the Consolidated Balance Sheets in this release. For more information regarding Pool discontinued operations, please see the Company’s Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2020 expected to be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) on October 30, 2020.

Review of Financial Results

Forward Air will hold a conference call to discuss third quarter 2020 results on Friday, October 30, 2020 at 9:00 a.m. EDT. The Company’s conference call will be available online on the Investor Relations portion of the Company’s website at www.forwardaircorp.com, or by dialing [phone], Access Code: 7690610.

A replay of the conference call will be available on the Investor Relations portion of the Company’s website at www.forwardaircorp.com, which we use as a primary mechanism to communicate with our investors. Investors are urged to monitor the Investors Relations portion of the Company's website to easily find or navigate to current and pertinent information about us.

About Forward Air Corporation

Forward Air is a leading asset-light freight and logistics company that provides services across the United States and Canada. We provide expedited less-than-truckload (“LTL”) services, including local pick-up and delivery, shipment consolidation/deconsolidation, warehousing, and customs brokerage by utilizing a comprehensive national network of terminals; final mile services, including delivery of heavy-bulky freight; truckload brokerage services, including dedicated fleet services, high-security and temperature-controlled logistics services; intermodal first-and last-mile high-value drayage services both to and from seaports and railheads, dedicated contract and Container Freight Station warehouse and handling services; and pool distribution services, including high-frequency handling and distribution of time sensitive product to numerous destinations within a specific geographic region. For more information, visit our website at www.forwardaircorp.com.

Forward Air Corporation
Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income
(Unaudited, in thousands, except per share data)
	Three months ended								Nine months ended
	September 30, 2020				September 30, 2019				September 30, 2020				September 30, 2019
					(As Adjusted)								(As Adjusted)
Operating revenue:
Expedited Freight	$	283,514			$	256,115			$	772,801			$	735,055
Intermodal	48,948				58,346				147,836				163,000
Eliminations and other operations	(465		)		(778		)		(1,405		)		(2,524		)
Operating revenue	331,997				313,683				919,232				895,531
Operating expenses:
Purchased transportation	173,054				150,296				465,721				426,283
Salaries, wages and employee benefits	66,927				68,532				200,258				192,330
Operating leases	17,327				15,860				52,598				46,861
Depreciation and amortization	9,172				9,016				27,919				27,531
Insurance and claims	8,671				9,532				26,437				29,276
Fuel expense	2,715				4,637				9,247				13,219
Other operating expenses	30,621				26,624				83,854				78,071
Total operating expenses	308,487				284,497				866,034				813,571
Income (loss) from continuing operations:
Expedited Freight	23,461				27,131				50,394				76,222
Intermodal	4,837				6,900				12,963				18,326
Other operations	(4,788		)		(4,845		)		(10,159		)		(12,588		)
Income from continuing operations	23,510				29,186				53,198				81,960
Other expense:
Interest expense	(1,304		)		(761		)		(3,355		)		(1,917		)
Other, net	—				1				—				(1		)
Total other expense	(1,304		)		(760		)		(3,355		)		(1,918		)
Income before income taxes	22,206				28,426				49,843				80,042
Income tax expense	5,214				7,372				12,209				20,055
Net income from continuing operations	16,992				21,054				37,634				59,987
(Loss) income from discontinued operations, net of tax	(345		)		1,141				(9,458		)		2,945
Net income and comprehensive income	$	16,647			$	22,195			$	28,176			$	62,932
Net income per share:
Basic net income (loss) per share:
Continuing operations	$	0.61			$	0.74			$	1.35			$	2.10
Discontinued operations	(0.01		)		0.04				(0.34		)		0.10
Net income per share	$	0.60			$	0.78			$	1.01			$	2.20
Diluted net income (loss) per share:
Continuing operations	$	0.61			$	0.74			$	1.35			$	2.09
Discontinued operations	(0.01		)		0.04				(0.34		)		0.10
Net income per share	$	0.60			$	0.78			$	1.01			$	2.19
Dividends per share:	$	0.18			$	0.18			$	0.54			$	0.54

Expedited Freight Segment Information
(In millions)
(Unaudited)
	Three months ended
	September 30,				Percent of			September 30,				Percent of							Percent
	2020 1				Revenue			2019				Revenue			Change				Change
								(As Adjusted)
Operating revenue:
Network 2	$	169.3			59.7	%		$	169.3			66.1	%		$	—			—	%
Truckload	49.8				17.6			48.1				18.8			1.7				3.5
Final Mile	57.0				20.1			31.6				12.3			25.4				80.4
Other	7.4				2.6			7.1				2.8			0.3				4.2
Total operating revenue	283.5				100.0			256.1				100.0			27.4				10.7
Operating expenses:
Purchased transportation	156.1				55.1			129.8				50.7			26.3				20.3
Salaries, wages and employee benefits	54.1				19.1			52.2				20.4			1.9				3.6
Operating leases	13.4				4.7			11.5				4.5			1.9				16.5
Depreciation and amortization	6.8				2.4			6.5				2.5			0.3				4.6
Insurance and claims	5.8				2.0			5.4				2.1			0.4				7.4
Fuel expense	1.4				0.5			2.5				1.0			(1.1		)		(44.0	)
Other operating expenses	22.4				7.9			21.1				8.2			1.3				6.2
Total operating expenses	260.0				91.7			229.0				89.4			31.0				13.5
Income from operations	$	23.5			8.3	%		$	27.1			10.6	%		$	(3.6	)		(13.3	)%
1 Includes revenues and operating expenses from the acquisition of Linn Star which was acquired in January 2020. Linn Star results are not included in the prior period.
2 Network revenue is comprised of all revenue, including linehaul, pickup and/or delivery, and fuel surcharge revenue, excluding accessorial, Truckload and Final Mile revenue.

Expedited Freight Operating Statistics
	Three months ended
	September 30,				September 30,				Percent
	2020				2019				Change
					(As Adjusted)
Business days	64				64				—	%
Tonnage 1,2
Total pounds	636,194				613,812				3.6
Pounds per day	9,941				9,591				3.6
Shipments 1,2
Total shipments	1,018				977				4.2
Shipments per day	15.9				15.3				4.2
Weight per shipment	625				628				(0.5	)
Revenue per hundredweight 3	$	26.84			$	27.65			(2.9	)
Revenue per hundredweight, ex fuel 3	$	23.41			$	23.23			0.8
Revenue per shipment 3	$	166			$	176			(5.7	)
Revenue per shipment, ex fuel 3	$	145			$	148			(2.0	)
Network revenue from door-to-door shipments as a percentage of network revenue 3,4	51.3		%		40.7		%		26.0
Network gross margin 5	49.7		%		55.6		%		(10.6	)%
1 In thousands
2 Excludes accessorial, Truckload and Final Mile products
3 Includes intercompany revenue between the Network and Truckload revenue streams
4 Door-to-door shipments include all shipments with a pickup and/or delivery
5 Network revenue less Network purchased transportation as a percentage of Network revenue

Intermodal Segment Information
(In millions)
(Unaudited)
	Three months ended
	September 30,				Percent of			September 30,				Percent of							Percent
	2020 1				Revenue			2019				Revenue			Change				Change
Operating revenue	$	48.9			100.0	%		$	58.3			100.0	%		$	(9.4	)		(16.1	)%
Operating expenses:
Purchased transportation	17.3				35.4			21.0				36.0			(3.7		)		(17.6	)
Salaries, wages and employee benefits	11.6				23.7			14.2				24.4			(2.6		)		(18.3	)
Operating leases	3.9				8.0			4.3				7.4			(0.4		)		(9.3	)
Depreciation and amortization	2.4				4.9			2.6				4.5			(0.2		)		(7.7	)
Insurance and claims	2.1				4.3			1.8				3.1			0.3				16.7
Fuel expense	1.2				2.5			2.2				3.8			(1.0		)		(45.5	)
Other operating expenses	5.6				11.5			5.3				9.1			0.3				5.7
Total operating expenses	44.1				90.2			51.4				88.2			(7.3		)		(14.2	)
Income from operations	$	4.8			9.8	%		$	6.9			11.8	%		$	(2.1	)		(30.4	)%
1 Includes revenues and operating expenses from the acquisition of OST, which was acquired in July 2019 (and is partially included in the prior period).

Intermodal Operating Statistics
	Three months ended
	September 30,				September 30,				Percent
	2020				2019				Change
Drayage shipments	74,506				84,230				(11.5	)%
Drayage revenue per shipment	$	562			$	597			(5.9	)
Number of locations	24				21				14.3	%

Forward Air Corporation
Consolidated Balance Sheets
(In thousands)
(Unaudited)
	September 30, 2020				December 31, 2019
Assets
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	$	42,990			$	64,749
Accounts receivable, net	153,070				136,214
Other current assets	22,062				20,403
Current assets held for sale	16,925				14,952
Total current assets	235,047				236,318
Property and equipment	379,306				373,571
Less accumulated depreciation and amortization	189,042				180,815
Total property and equipment, net	190,264				192,756
Operating lease right-of-use assets	115,551				105,170
Goodwill and other acquired intangibles:
Goodwill	240,933				215,699
Other acquired intangibles, net of accumulated amortization	145,086				124,857
Total goodwill and other acquired intangibles, net	386,019				340,556
Other assets	43,266				39,374
Noncurrent assets held for sale	78,063				76,704
Total assets	$	1,048,210			$	990,878
Liabilities and Shareholders’ Equity
Current liabilities:
Accounts payable	$	32,581			$	25,411
Accrued expenses	52,454				44,154
Other current liabilities	4,277				5,318
Current portion of debt and finance lease obligations	1,557				1,421
Current portion of operating lease obligations	40,258				35,886
Current liabilities held for sale	26,006				24,974
Total current liabilities	157,133				137,164
Debt and finance lease obligations, less current portion	116,583				72,249
Operating lease obligations, less current portion	76,003				69,678
Other long-term liabilities	61,536				56,448
Deferred income taxes	45,532				41,214
Noncurrent liabilities held for sale	39,227				36,943
Shareholders’ equity:
Common stock	273				279
Additional paid-in capital	237,497				226,869
Retained earnings	314,426				350,034
Total shareholders’ equity	552,196				577,182
Total liabilities and shareholders’ equity	$	1,048,210			$	990,878

Forward Air Corporation
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows
(In thousands)
(Unaudited)
	Three months ended
	September 30, 2020				September 30, 2019
Operating activities:
Net income from continuing operations	$	16,992			$	21,054
Adjustments to reconcile net income of continuing operations to net cash provided by operating activities of continuing operations
Depreciation and amortization	9,172				9,016
Change in fair value of earn-out liability	493				890
Share-based compensation	2,345				2,626
Loss on disposal of property and equipment, net	99				999
(Recovery of) provision for loss on receivables	(82		)		184
Provision for revenue adjustments	1,185				962
Deferred income tax (benefit) expense	(351		)		2,591
Changes in operating assets and liabilities
Accounts receivable	(23,415		)		144
Prepaid expenses and other current assets	(484		)		462
Income taxes	1,767				(375		)
Accounts payable and accrued expenses	12,843				5,000
Net cash provided by operating activities of continuing operations	20,564				43,553
Investing activities:
Proceeds from disposal of property and equipment	427				685
Purchases of property and equipment	(2,225		)		(9,025		)
Acquisition of business, net of cash acquired	—				(12,000		)
Net cash used in investing activities of continuing operations	(1,798		)		(20,340		)
Financing activities:
Payments of finance lease obligations	147				(391		)
Proceeds from senior credit facility	—				10,000
Payments on senior credit facility	(20,000		)		—
Proceeds from exercise of stock options	1,901				785
Payments of cash dividends	(5,003		)		(5,088		)
Repurchase of common stock (repurchase program)	(29,989		)		(9,289		)
Cash settlement of share-based awards for tax withholdings	(158		)		(262		)
(Distributions to) contributions from subsidiary held for sale	(3,590		)		1,079
Net cash used in financing activities from continuing operations	(56,692		)		(3,166		)
Net (decrease) increase in cash of continuing operations	(37,926		)		20,047
Cash from discontinued operations:
Cash (used in) provided by operating activities of discontinued operations, net	(3,418		)		2,412
Cash used in investing activities of discontinued operations, net	(172		)		(1,334		)
Cash provided by (used in) financing activities of discontinued operations, net	3,590				(1,078		)
Net (decrease) increase in cash	(37,926		)		20,047
Cash at beginning of period of continuing operations	80,916				14,777
Cash at beginning of period of discontinued operations/held for sale	—				—
Net (decrease) increase in cash	(37,926		)		20,047
Less: cash at end of period of discontinued operations/held for sale	—				—
Cash at end of period of continuing operations	$	42,990			$	34,824

Forward Air Corporation
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows
(In thousands)
(Unaudited)
	Nine months ended
	September 30, 2020				September 30, 2019
Operating activities:
Net income from continuing operations	$	37,634			$	59,987
Adjustments to reconcile net income of continuing operations to net cash provided by operating activities of continuing operations
Depreciation and amortization	27,919				27,531
Change in fair value of earn-out liability	(2,209		)		890
Share-based compensation	7,852				8,536
Loss on disposal of property and equipment, net	108				781
Provision for loss on receivables	606				819
Provision for revenue adjustments	2,972				2,239
Deferred income tax expense	4,317				5,881
Changes in operating assets and liabilities
Accounts receivable	(20,436		)		(3,778		)
Prepaid expenses and other current assets	(173		)		(4,380		)
Income taxes	1,426				(2,557		)
Accounts payable and accrued expenses	20,477				11,876
Net cash provided by operating activities of continuing operations	80,493				107,825
Investing activities:
Proceeds from disposal of property and equipment	1,415				1,693
Purchases of property and equipment	(16,439		)		(23,240		)
Acquisition of business, net of cash acquired	(55,931		)		(39,000		)
Net cash used in investing activities of continuing operations	(70,955		)		(60,547		)
Financing activities:
Payments of finance lease obligations	(529		)		(528		)
Proceeds from senior credit facility	65,000				20,000
Payments on senior credit facility	(20,000		)		—
Payments on earn-out liability	(5,284		)		—
Proceeds from exercise of stock options	1,901				2,063
Payments of cash dividends	(15,090		)		(15,421		)
Repurchase of common stock (repurchase program)	(45,248		)		(47,906		)
Proceeds from common stock issued under employee stock purchase plan	294				261
Cash settlement of share-based awards for tax withholdings	(3,444		)		(3,032		)
(Distributions to) contributions from subsidiary held for sale	(8,897		)		6,452
Net cash used in financing activities from continuing operations	(31,297		)		(38,111		)
Net (decrease) increase in cash of continuing operations	(21,759		)		9,167
Cash from discontinued operations:
Cash (used in) provided by operating activities of discontinued operations, net	(8,090		)		9,906
Cash used in investing activities of discontinued operations, net	(807		)		(3,454		)
Cash provided by (used in) financing activities of discontinued operations, net	8,897				(6,452		)
Net (decrease) increase in cash	(21,759		)		9,167
Cash at beginning of period of continuing operations	64,749				25,657
Cash at beginning of period of discontinued operations/held for sale	—				—
Net (decrease) increase in cash	(21,759		)		9,167
Less: cash at end of period of discontinued operations/held for sale	—				—
Cash at end of period of continuing operations	$	42,990			$	34,824

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 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.

For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2020 and 2019, this press release contains the following non-GAAP financial measures: earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization (“EBITDA”) and free cash flow. All non-GAAP financial measures are presented on a continuing operations basis.

The Company believes that EBITDA from continuing operations improves comparability from period to period by removing the impact of its capital structure (interest and financing expenses), asset base (depreciation and amortization) and tax impacts as set out in the below tables. The Company believes that free cash flow from continuing operations is an important measure of its ability to repay maturing debt or fund other uses of capital that it believes will enhance stockholder value.

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. 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 the Company's presented non-GAAP financial measures to the most directly comparable GAAP financial measures.

Forward Air Corporation
Reconciliation to U.S. GAAP
(In thousands)
(Unaudited)
		Three months ended								Nine months ended
Continuing Operations		September 30, 2020				September 30, 2019				September 30, 2020				September 30, 2019
Net income (GAAP)		$	16,992			$	21,054			$	37,634			$	59,987
Interest expense		1,304				761				3,355				1,917
Income tax expense		5,214				7,372				12,209				20,055
Depreciation and amortization		9,172				9,016				27,919				27,531
EBITDA (Non-GAAP)		$	32,682			$	38,203			$	81,117			$	109,490
		Three months ended								Nine months ended
Continuing Operations		September 30, 2020				September 30, 2019				September 30, 2020				September 30, 2019
Net cash provided by operating activities (GAAP)		$	20,564			$	43,553			$	80,493			$	107,825
Proceeds from disposal of property and equipment		427				685				1,415				1,693
Purchases of property and equipment		(2,225		)		(9,025		)		(16,439		)		(23,240		)
Free cash flow (Non-GAAP)		$	18,766			$	35,213			$	65,469			$	86,278

The following table summarizes supplemental guidance information that management believes to be useful.

Forward Air Corporation
Additional Guidance Data
(In thousands, except per share data)
(Unaudited)
		Three months ended
Actual - Continuing Operations		September 30, 2020
Net income from continuing operations		$	16,992
Income allocated to participating securities		(150		)
Numerator for diluted income per share - net income		$	16,842
Fully diluted share count		27,606
Diluted earnings per share from continuing operations		$	0.61
Projected		Full year 2020
Projected continuing operations and consolidated tax rate		25.5		%
Projected capital expenditures, net		$	26,000
Projected		December 31, 2020
Projected year-end fully diluted share count		27,500

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. Forward-looking statements included in this press release relate to expected continued improvements in our operational performance and profitability, expected impact of COVID-19, fourth quarter 2020 revenue growth and net income per diluted share, full year 2020 projected tax rate, share count, capital expenditures and the declaration of dividends.

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. 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: prolonged impact of COVID-19 and actions taken to mitigate those impacts, economic factors such as recessions, inflation, higher interest rates and downturns in customer business cycles, the creditworthiness of our customers and their ability to pay for services rendered, more limited liquidity than expected which limits our ability to make key investments, the availability and compensation of qualified independent owner-operators and freight handlers as well as contracted, third-party carriers needed to serve our customers’ transportation needs, the inability of our information systems to handle an increased volume of freight moving through our network, changes in fuel prices, our inability to maintain our historical growth rate because of a decreased volume of freight or decreased average revenue per pound of freight moving through our network, loss of a major customer, increasing competition and pricing pressure, our ability to secure terminal facilities in desirable locations at reasonable rates, our inability to successfully integrate acquisitions, claims for property damage, personal injuries or workers’ compensation, enforcement of and changes in governmental regulations, environmental and tax matters, insurance matters, the handling of hazardous materials, the outcome and impact of the 2020 presidential election and the risks described in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2019.

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.

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