Hub Group, Inc. Reports First Quarter 2024 Results

Rhea-AI Summary

Hub Group, Inc. reported first quarter 2024 results with diluted earnings per share of $0.44, revenue of $1.0 billion, and operating income of $37 million. The company executed its Capital Allocation Plan, completed a stock split, repurchased $26 million of shares, and paid a cash dividend. The integration of Final Mile acquisition exceeded expectations, contributing $64 million to revenue. Hub Group received accolades from The Home Depot® and Target®. The company's net income for Q1 2024 was $27 million, with a positive outlook for the full year with expected diluted earnings per share ranging from $1.80 to $2.25, revenue forecasted at $4.3 to $4.7 billion, and an estimated effective tax rate of 24%.

Positive

• Diluted earnings per share of $0.44 for Q1 2024.
• First quarter revenue reached $1.0 billion.
• Operating income of $37 million representing 3.7% of revenue.
• Capital Allocation Plan execution included stock split, share repurchase, and cash dividend payment.
• Integration of Final Mile acquisition contributed $64 million to revenue.
• Received recognition from The Home Depot® and Target®.
• Net income for Q1 2024 was $27 million.
• 2024 outlook projects diluted earnings per share of $1.80 to $2.25, revenue of $4.3 to $4.7 billion, and an effective tax rate of approximately 24%.

Negative

• Revenue decline from $1.2 billion in Q1 2023 to $1.0 billion in Q1 2024.
• Operating income decreased to $37 million (3.7% of revenue) from $78 million (6.8% of revenue) in the previous year.
• ITS segment revenue declined due to soft market conditions, lower accessorial revenue, lower fuel revenue, and lower volumes.
• Logistics segment operating income experienced a decline of 1.1% from the prior year.
• General and administrative expenses increased by $1.7 million driven by costs related to the Final Mile acquisition.
• Operating income for the first quarter was $37 million (3.7% of revenue) compared to $78 million (6.8% of revenue) in the prior year.
• ITS operating income decreased to $13 million (2.4% of revenue) due to various factors including January storms and start-up costs.
• Depreciation and amortization expense increased compared to the prior year due to the Final Mile acquisition.

Insights

Financial Analyst

Hub Group, Inc.'s first quarter results indicate a mixed financial picture. The reported diluted EPS of $0.44 reflects a substantial decrease from the previous year's $0.94. This decline is significant as EPS is a important indicator of a company's profitability. However, Hub Group's revenue has remained stable quarter-over-quarter, indicating resilience in the face of seasonal declines and market challenges. Their capital allocation strategy, involving a stock split, share buybacks and initiation of a dividend payout, suggests a proactive approach to delivering shareholder value. The successful integration of Final Mile, contributing $64 million to revenue, is a positive development, indicating strategic expansion and diversification. Investors should note the operating margin improvement to 3.7%, which may signal improving operational efficiency despite a year-over-year revenue drop from $1.2 billion to $1.0 billion. Such financial dynamics are pivotal for evaluating the company's future earnings stability and potential for growth.

Market Research Analyst

The logistics and supply chain industry is highly sensitive to macroeconomic factors, as seen with the impact of the January winter storm on Hub Group's operations. The decline in revenue, although partially offset by the Final Mile acquisition, underscores the vulnerability to external events. Yet, the company's ability to maintain its revenue sequentially demonstrates adaptability. The decrease in headcount by 9%, excluding the acquisition, is indicative of stringent cost management. Additionally, the recognition by partners such as The Home Depot and Target highlights Hub Group's strong industry positioning and operational excellence. For investors, such acknowledgments, while non-financial, can be indicative of a company's competency and reputation, which may translate into sustained business and potential market share gains in the long term.

Transportation Industry Expert

From a transportation sector perspective, Hub Group's focus on diversification through the Final Mile acquisition is strategic. It allows the company to capitalize on the growing demand for last-mile delivery services, a segment that has seen increased importance with the rise of e-commerce. Yet, the challenges faced, such as the soft market conditions and declining volumes in ITS and brokerage, reflect industry-wide headwinds. The company's ability to navigate these conditions by leveraging yield management and cost containment is key for future profitability. For investors, understanding the intricacies of the transportation and logistics sector, such as the impact of fuel revenue fluctuations and the importance of diversification strategies, is essential to assess the future performance of Hub Group within the context of the broader industry.

Highlights:        

• Diluted earnings per share (EPS) of $0.44 for the quarter
• First quarter revenue of $1.0 billion
• GAAP Quarterly operating income of $37 million (3.7% of revenue)
• Executing on Capital Allocation Plan including completing our stock split, purchasing $26 million of shares during the quarter and paying the company’s first quarterly cash dividend of $0.125 per common share
• Ended the quarter with cash and cash equivalents of $195 million
• Integration of Final Mile acquisition is ahead of our expectations and contributed $64 million to revenue in the first quarter
• Recognized by The Home Depot^® as the 2023 Intermodal Carrier of the Year, Online Big & Bulky Carrier of the Year, and the Dedicated Van Carrier of the Year. Named Outstanding Partnership of the Year by Target^®.
  

OAK BROOK, Ill., April 25, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) --  Hub Group, Inc. (NASDAQ: HUBG) announced first quarter 2024 net income of $27 million and diluted earnings per share of $0.44. Net income for first quarter 2023 was $62 million, or $0.94 per diluted share.

“I am pleased with the team’s performance in the first quarter, resulting in $1.0 billion of revenue, in-line with fourth quarter performance despite normal seasonal declines and challenging market conditions. Our yield management, cost containment and operating efficiency initiatives resulted in operating income margin of 3.7% of revenue, an improvement over the fourth quarter. The team continues to execute on our key strategic priorities including diversification of our business and a focus on cost management that will lead to enhanced earnings stability and growth over the long term,” said Phil Yeager, Hub Group’s Vice Chairman of the Board of Directors, President and Chief Executive Officer.

First Quarter 2024 Results

Consolidated revenue for the first quarter of 2024 was $1.0 billion as compared to $1.2 billion in first quarter 2023. The revenue decline was driven by the impact of the January winter storm, lower volumes in ITS and brokerage, and lower fuel revenue, partially offset by contributions from the Final Mile acquisition. Purchased transportation and warehousing costs as a percent of revenue decreased 1.1% to prior year due to the impact of the Final Mile acquisition and Hub’s cost management efforts as drayage, equipment, rail and repositioning costs decreased in the quarter. As anticipated, salaries and benefits increased from the prior year due to merit and incentive compensation increases as well as headcount associated with the acquisition, excluding the acquisition, legacy headcount declined by 9%. Insurance and claims costs were in-line with prior year as we continue to make safety a top priority. Depreciation and amortization expense increased as compared to prior year driven by the Final Mile acquisition. General and administrative expenses increased $1.7 million as compared to prior year driven by costs associated with the integration of the Final Mile acquisition of $2.7 million, partially offset by cost management efforts. Gain on sale was minimal, whereas the prior year benefitted from strong used truck pricing resulting in a headwind of $3.5 million. Operating income for the first quarter was $37 million (3.7% of revenue) as compared to $78 million (6.8% of revenue) in the prior year. EBITDA (non-GAAP) for the quarter was $87 million.

First quarter Intermodal and Transportation Solutions (“ITS”) Segment revenue was $552 million, as compared to $709 million in the prior year due to soft market conditions, lower accessorial revenue, lower fuel revenue of $32 million, and lower volumes of 10%. ITS operating income decreased to $13 million (2.4% of revenue) due to January storms, as well as start-up costs and a larger than expected auto claim settlement in our Dedicated line of business.

First quarter Logistics Segment revenue was $480 million, an increase of 2.4% compared to $469 million in the prior year, as Final Mile revenue more than offset lower revenue per load in our brokerage business. First quarter operating income was $24 million, or 5.0% of revenue a decline of 1.1% from prior year as positive contribution from the acquisition only partially offset lower brokerage margin.

Capital expenditures for the first quarter of 2024 totaled $18 million as we continued to invest in our tractor fleet, technology, and expansion of our multipurpose warehouse footprint. As of March 31, 2024, we had cash and cash equivalents of $195 million following the acquisition of Final Mile for $261 million in the fourth quarter. In the first quarter, we completed our 2-for-1 stock split, purchased $26 million of HUBG shares and paid the company’s first quarterly cash dividend of $0.125 per common share.

2024 Outlook

We expect our 2024 diluted earnings per share will range from $1.80 to $2.25. We estimate revenue of approximately $4.3 to $4.7 billion for the full year and we continue to project an effective tax rate of approximately 24%. We expect capital expenditures for the full year in the range of $45 million to $65 million.

Non-GAAP Financial Measure

In this press release, we present a certain non-GAAP financial measure. As required by the rules of the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”), we have provided herein a reconciliation of this non-GAAP financial measure to the most directly comparable measures under GAAP, along with an explanation why management believes this non-GAAP financial measure provide relevant and useful information. This non-GAAP financial measure should be viewed in addition to, and not as an alternative to or substitute for, measures determined in accordance with GAAP, and are not necessarily comparable to non-GAAP measures that may be presented by other companies.

CONFERENCE CALL

Hub Group, Inc. will hold a conference call at 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time on April 25, 2024 to discuss our first quarter 2024 results.

Hosting the conference call will be Phil Yeager, Vice Chairman of the Board of Directors, President and CEO. Also participating on the call will be Brian Alexander, Executive Vice President, Chief Operating Officer, and Kevin Beth, Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer.

This call is being webcast and can be accessed through the Investors link on Hub Group’s web site at www.hubgroup.com. The webcast is listen-only. Those interested in participating in the question-and-answer session should follow the telephone dial-in instructions below.

To participate in the conference call by telephone, please pre-register at https://register.vevent.com/register/BIa963a2fc05ca4d6e8871ed6c9e9f700e to receive the dial-in number and unique PIN. On the day of the call, dial in approximately ten minutes prior to the scheduled call time and enter the unique participant PIN received during registration. The call will be limited to 60 minutes, including questions and answers. An audio replay will be available through the Investors link on the Company's web site at www.hubgroup.com. This replay will be available for 30 days.

CERTAIN FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS: Statements in this press release that are not historical facts are forward-looking statements, provided pursuant to the safe harbor established under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and involve risks, uncertainties and other factors that might cause the actual performance of Hub Group to differ materially from those expressed or implied by this discussion and, therefore, should be viewed with caution. Further information on the risks that may affect Hub Group’s business is included in filings it makes with the SEC from time to time, including those discussed under the “Risk Factors” section in Hub Group’s most recently filed periodic reports on Form 10-K and Form 10-Q and subsequent filings. Hub Group assumes no obligation to update any such forward-looking statements.

SOURCE: Hub Group, Inc.

CONTACT- Lorna Williams, Investor Relations, +1-630-481-3632, lornawilliams@hubgroup.com

HUB GROUP, INC.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF EARNINGS
(in thousands, except per share amounts)
(unaudited)
							Three Months Ended March 31,
								2024						2023
										% of						% of
							Amount			Revenue			Amount			Revenue
Operating revenue							$	999,493		100.0	%		$	1,152,265		100.0	%
Operating expenses:
	Purchased transportation and warehousing							740,172		74.1	%			866,931		75.2	%
	Salaries and benefits							144,497		14.4	%			137,431		11.9	%
	Depreciation and amortization							38,331		3.8	%			35,449		3.1	%
	Insurance and claims							12,618		1.3	%			12,683		1.1	%
	General and administrative							27,234		2.7	%			25,541		2.2	%
	Gain on sale of assets, net							(498	)	-0.0	%			(3,975	)	-0.3	%
Total operating expenses								962,354		96.3	%			1,074,060		93.2	%
Operating income								37,139		3.7	%			78,205		6.8	%
Other income (expense):
	Interest expense, net							(2,506	)	-0.3	%			(1,593	)	-0.1	%
	Other, net							(170	)	-0.0	%			38		0.0	%
Total other expense, net								(2,676	)	-0.3	%			(1,555	)	-0.1	%
Income before provision for income taxes								34,463		3.4	%			76,650		6.7	%
Provision for income taxes								7,410		0.7	%			14,870		1.3	%
Net income							$	27,053					$	61,780
Earnings per share
	Basic						$	0.44					$	0.95
	Diluted						$	0.44					$	0.94
Basic weighted average number of shares outstanding								61,325						65,098
Diluted weighted average number of shares outstanding								61,666						65,676

HUB GROUP, INC.
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
(in thousands, except share data)
								March 31,				December 31,
									2024				2023
								(unaudited)
ASSETS
	CURRENT ASSETS:
		Cash and cash equivalents						$	195,362			$	187,270
		Accounts receivable trade, net							588,957				600,197
		Accounts receivable other							4,940				3,358
		Prepaid taxes							10,078				17,331
		Prepaid expenses and other current assets							28,621				41,089
				TOTAL CURRENT ASSETS					827,958				849,245
	Restricted investments								20,393				20,763
	Property and equipment, net								777,209				791,692
	Right-of-use assets - operating leases								209,171				210,742
	Right-of-use assets - financing leases								2,152				2,522
	Other intangibles, net								295,943				304,607
	Goodwill								735,460				733,695
	Other non-current assets								22,984				22,781
				TOTAL ASSETS				$	2,891,270			$	2,936,047
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
	CURRENT LIABILITIES:
		Accounts payable trade						$	320,919			$	349,378
		Accounts payable other							18,179				14,471
		Accrued payroll							31,964				21,731
		Accrued other							126,475				121,253
		Lease liability - operating leases							45,775				44,690
		Lease liability - financing leases							1,253				1,579
		Current portion of long term debt							104,035				105,108
				TOTAL CURRENT LIABILITIES					648,600				658,210
	Long term debt								230,775				245,574
	Other non-current liabilities								52,932				55,287
	Lease liability - operating leases								175,481				177,699
	Lease liability - financing leases								823				865
	Deferred taxes								160,443				163,767
	STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY:
		Preferred stock, $.01 par value; 2,000,000 shares authorized;
			no shares issued or outstanding in 2024 and 2023.						-				-
		Common stock
			Class A: $.01 par value; 97,337,700 shares authorized; 72,303,228
				shares issued in 2024 and 75,524,189 shares issued in 2023;
				61,847,444 shares outstanding in 2024 and 62,200,921 shares outstanding in 2023.					755				755
			Class B: $.01 par value; 662,300 shares authorized;
				574,903 shares issued and outstanding in both 2024 and 2023.					6				6
		Additional paid-in capital							208,932				209,830
		Retained earnings							1,968,361				1,949,110
		Accumulated other comprehensive loss							(137	)			(129	)
		Treasury stock; at cost, 10,455,784 shares in 2024
			and 13,323,268 shares in 2023						(555,701	)			(524,927	)
			TOTAL STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY						1,622,216				1,634,645
				TOTAL LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY				$	2,891,270			$	2,936,047

HUB GROUP, INC.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
(in thousands)
(unaudited)
								Three Months Ended March 31,
									2024				2023
Cash flows from operating activities:
	Net income							$	27,053			$	61,780
	Adjustments to reconcile net income
		to net cash provided by operating activities:
			Depreciation and amortization of intangibles and right-of-use assets						49,605				45,810
			Deferred taxes						(3,025	)			4,901
			Non-cash share-based compensation expense						4,040				5,238
			Gain on sale of assets, net						(498	)			(3,975	)
	Changes in operating assets and liabilities, net of acquisitions:
			Restricted investments						370				(1,122	)
			Accounts receivable, net						9,652				18,951
			Prepaid taxes						7,253				7,605
			Prepaid expenses and other current assets						12,468				13,617
			Other non-current assets						(880	)			(653	)
			Accounts payable						(24,755	)			(17,705	)
			Accrued expenses						11,462				(40,065	)
			Non-current liabilities						(12,229	)			(5,007	)
				Net cash provided by operating activities					80,516				89,375
Cash flows from investing activities:
	Proceeds from sale of equipment								3,442				10,172
	Purchases of property and equipment								(17,524	)			(26,845	)
	Acquisitions, net of cash acquired								-				108
				Net cash used in investing activities					(14,082	)			(16,565	)
Cash flows from financing activities:
	Repayments of long term debt								(27,422	)			(29,237	)
	Purchase of treasury stock								(25,756	)			-
	Stock withheld for payments of withholding taxes								(8,486	)			(7,606	)
	Dividends paid								(7,626	)			-
	Finance lease payments								(606	)			(888	)
	Proceeds from issuance of debt								11,550				20,831
				Net cash used in financing activities					(58,346	)			(16,900	)
	Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents								4				18
Net increase in cash and cash equivalents									8,092				55,928
Cash and cash equivalents beginning of period									187,270				286,642
Cash and cash equivalents end of period								$	195,362			$	342,570

HUB GROUP, INC.
FINANCIAL INFORMATION BY SEGMENT
(in thousands)
(unaudited)
	Three Months
	Ended March 31,
Operating Revenue		2024				2023
Intermodal and Transportation Services	$	552,033			$	709,249
Logistics		480,224				469,141
Inter-segment eliminations		(32,764	)			(26,125	)
Total operating revenue	$	999,493			$	1,152,265
	Three Months
	Ended March 31,
Operating Income		2024				2023
Intermodal and Transportation Services	$	13,031			$	49,379
Logistics		24,108				28,826
Total operating income	$	37,139			$	78,205
	Three Months
	Ended March 31,
Depreciation and Amortization		2024				2023
Intermodal and Transportation Services	$	27,049			$	27,142
Logistics		11,282				8,307
Total depreciation and amortization	$	38,331			$	35,449

RECONCILIATION OF NET INCOME TO EBITDA (1)
(in thousands)
(unaudited)
	Three Months
	Ended March 31,
		2024			2023
Net Income	$	27,053		$	61,780
Interest Expense, net		2,506			1,593
Depreciation and Amortization (2)		49,605			45,810
Provision for Income Taxes		7,410			14,870
EBITDA	$	86,574		$	124,053

(1)   By providing this non-GAAP measure of EBITDA, management intends to provide investors with a meaningful, consistent comparison of the Company’s profitability for the periods presented.

(2)   Includes depreciation of property and equipment, amortization of intangible assets and amortization of right-of-use assets.

 

FAQ

What were Hub Group's diluted earnings per share for the first quarter of 2024?

Hub Group reported diluted earnings per share of $0.44 for the first quarter of 2024.

What was Hub Group's first quarter revenue in 2024?

Hub Group's first quarter revenue in 2024 was $1.0 billion.

What was Hub Group's operating income for the first quarter of 2024?

Hub Group's operating income for the first quarter of 2024 was $37 million.

What was the revenue contribution from the Final Mile acquisition in the first quarter of 2024?

The Final Mile acquisition contributed $64 million to revenue in the first quarter of 2024.

What is Hub Group's expected range for diluted earnings per share in 2024?

Hub Group expects their diluted earnings per share to range from $1.80 to $2.25 in 2024.

What recognition did Hub Group receive from The Home Depot® and Target®?

Hub Group was recognized by The Home Depot® as the 2023 Intermodal Carrier of the Year, Online Big & Bulky Carrier of the Year, and the Dedicated Van Carrier of the Year. They were also named Outstanding Partnership of the Year by Target®.