Hub Group, Inc. Reports Fourth Quarter and Full Year 2021 Results

Rhea-AI Summary

Hub Group, Inc. (NASDAQ:HUBG) reported fourth quarter 2021 revenue of $1.3 billion, a 32% increase from the previous year, driven by strong freight demand. Net income rose to $84 million, with diluted EPS reaching $2.48. For the full year, revenue grew 21% to $4.2 billion, and net income was $171 million, or EPS of $5.06. The company expects 2022 revenue between $4.9 and $5.1 billion and diluted EPS between $5.90 and $6.30. The strong financial performance reflects ongoing investments in capacity and service enhancements.

Positive

• Record quarterly revenue of $1.3 billion, up 32% year-over-year.
• Diluted EPS reached $2.48, nearly four times the previous year's EPS.
• Gross margin for the quarter was a record 16.9% of revenue.
• Full year revenue increased 21% to a record $4.2 billion.
• Expectation of 2022 revenue between $4.9 and $5.1 billion.

Negative

• Dedicated revenue decreased 8% in the quarter due to declines from existing customers.
• Intermodal volume declined by 9% due to ongoing network fluidity challenges.

Highlights:        

• Strong freight demand conditions, combined with the attractive value proposition of our service offerings, led to record quarterly revenue of $1.3 billion, up 32% as compared to last year; full year revenue grew 21% to a record $4.2 billion
• Record quarterly and annual gross margin of $213 million (16.9% of revenue) and $600 million (14.2%), respectively, driven by favorable pricing and yield management, combined with our continued focus on operating efficiency, resulted in fourth quarter and full year operating income margin of 9.3% and 5.6% of revenue, respectively
• Record diluted earnings per share (EPS) of $2.48 in the quarter and $5.06 for the full year
• Generated net income of $84 million and EBITDA (non-GAAP)⁽¹⁾ of $152 million in the quarter, and ended the year with solid liquidity and a conservative capital structure
• Introduced full year 2022 outlook, including expected revenue of $4.9 - $5.1 billion and diluted EPS of $5.90 - $6.30

OAK BROOK, Ill., Feb. 08, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Hub Group, Inc. (NASDAQ:HUBG) announced fourth quarter 2021 net income of $84 million, or diluted earnings per share of $2.48.   Net income for fourth quarter 2020 was $22 million, or $0.67 per diluted share.  

“In our 50th year in business we delivered record revenue and profit as our organization continues to position itself to support our customers through innovative supply chain solutions. Revenue grew 32% in the quarter due to exceptionally strong freight demand. Our ongoing focus on yield improvement, operating efficiency and fixed cost leverage led to record profitability. We reported record quarterly diluted EPS of $2.48, which is nearly four times the prior year’s EPS. As 2022 begins, we continue to see robust demand from our customers and favorable market conditions. We continue to make investments in our business to support our customers’ needs for capacity, service, and innovative solutions,” said Dave Yeager, Hub Group’s Chairman and Chief Executive Officer.  

Fourth Quarter 2021 Results

Revenue for the fourth quarter of 2021 increased by 32% to $1.3 billion compared with $953 million in the fourth quarter of 2020. Gross margin for the quarter was 16.9% of revenue, as compared with 11.1% last year. Operating income was $118 million (9.3% of revenue) versus $31 million (3.3% of revenue) in 2020.   EBITDA (non-GAAP)¹ for the quarter was $152 million.

Fourth quarter intermodal revenue increased 25% to $702 million due to a 37% increase in revenue per load, partially offset by a 9% decline in volume resulting from ongoing network fluidity challenges. Intermodal gross margin increased compared to the prior year as pricing and cost recovery more than offset increased purchased transportation costs and lower volume.

Dedicated revenue decreased 8% in the quarter compared to the prior year to $62 million due to declines from existing customers and the impact of business we exited, partially offset by revenue from new customers. Dedicated gross margin decreased primarily due to lower revenue and higher driver costs, partially offset by lower insurance and claims expenses.

Fourth quarter logistics revenue increased 13% to $224 million due to the growth of our final mile and consolidation services. Gross margin increased due to growth with existing customers, new business onboardings and yield management initiatives, partially offset by higher warehousing and transportation costs.

Truck brokerage revenue grew 112% in the quarter to $268 million primarily due to the acquisition of Choptank Transport (“Choptank”) in October as well as from growth in revenue per load. Contractual freight represented 49% of total brokerage volume in the fourth quarter of 2021 as compared to 57% in 2020. Gross margin increased relative to fourth quarter 2020 due to the acquisition, higher revenue per load and growth in cross selling with our customers, partially offset by higher purchased transportation costs.

Costs and expenses increased to $95 million in the fourth quarter of 2021 due to operating costs of our final mile and Choptank acquisitions, and higher compensation expense, partially offset by $10 million of gain on the sale of equipment.

Capital expenditures for the fourth quarter of 2021 totaled $49 million. At December 31, 2021, we had cash and cash equivalents of $160 million.  

Full Year 2021 Results

Full year net income was $171 million, or diluted earnings per share of $5.06. For the full year, revenue grew 21% to $4.2 billion, and full year operating income was $238 million. Operating income as a percentage of revenue for fiscal year 2021 was 5.6%.

2022 Outlook

We expect that our 2022 diluted earnings per share will range from $5.90 to $6.30. We estimate revenue will range from $4.9 to $5.1 billion, and that gross margin as a percentage of revenue will range from 13.9% to 14.3%. We estimate our costs and expenses will range from $425 to $445 million for the year. We project our effective tax rate for the year will be approximately 25%.

We expect capital expenditures for 2022 to range from $240 to $270 million.   For 2022, we expect to order 6,550 containers, including 550 refrigerated containers, resulting in net growth of approximately 6,000 after retirements of containers that have reached end of life. We expect to receive over 750 tractors in 2022, including deliveries from our 2021 order, to replace older units and support growth in our drayage and dedicated fleets. We also expect to incur approximately $40 million for IT investments and to complete the expansion of our headquarters facility.

Non-GAAP Financial Measure

In this press release, we present EBITDA, a non-GAAP financial measure of profitability defined as earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization. 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 Net Income, the most directly comparable measure under GAAP. Management believes that EBITDA provides relevant and useful information, which is used by our management as well as by many analysts, investors and competitors in our industry. By providing this non-GAAP measure, management intends to provide investors with a meaningful, consistent comparison of the Company’s profitability for the periods presented. EBITDA should be viewed in addition to, and not as an alternative to or substitute for, measures determined in accordance with GAAP, and is 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 February 8, 2022 to discuss our fourth quarter 2021 results.

Hosting the conference call will be Dave Yeager, Chairman and CEO. Also participating on the call will be Phil Yeager, President and Chief Operating Officer, and Geoff DeMartino, 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 register at: https://www.yourconferencecenter.com/confcenter/PinCode/Pin_Code.aspx?100374&o=UcNaSJujBcPGSa

Registrants will be issued a passcode and PIN to use when dialing into the live call which will provide quickest access to the conference. You may register at any time, including up to and after the call start time. On the day of the call, dial (888) 206-4064 approximately ten minutes prior to the scheduled call time; enter the participant passcode and 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 may express or imply projections of revenues or expenditures, statements of plans and objectives or future operations or statements of future economic performance. Forward-looking statements are inherently uncertain and subject to risks, uncertainties and other factors that might cause the actual performance of Hub Group, Inc. to differ materially from those expressed or implied by this discussion and, therefore, should be viewed with caution. All forward-looking statements and information are provided pursuant to the safe harbor established under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and should be evaluated in the context of these factors. Forward-looking statements generally may be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as “trends”, “assumptions”, “target”, “guidance”, “outlook”, “opportunity”, “future”, “plans”, “goals”, “objectives”, “expects”, “anticipate”, “expected”, “may”, “will”, “would”, “could”, “intend”, “believe”, “potential”, “projected”, “estimate” (or the negative or derivative of each of these terms), or similar words, and include our statements regarding our outlook, profit improvement initiatives and capital expenditures. These forward-looking statements are based on management's experience and perception of trends, current conditions, and anticipated future developments, as well as other factors believed to be appropriate. We believe these statements and the assumptions and estimates contained in this release are reasonable based on information that is currently available to us. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially include general or regional economic conditions and health concerns; the effect of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, including any spikes, outbreaks or variants of the virus, as well as any future government actions taken in response to the pandemic, including on our business operations, as well as its impact on general economic and financial market conditions and on our customers, counterparties, employees and third-party service providers; our ability to sustain or the effects of plans intended to improve operational execution and performance; changes in or implementation of governmental or regulatory rules and interpretations affecting tax, wage and hour matters, health and safety, labor and employment, insurance or other undeterminable areas; intermodal costs and prices, the integration of acquisitions and expenses relating thereto; the future performance of Hub’s Intermodal, Dedicated, Truck Brokerage and Logistics business lines; driver shortages; the amount and timing of strategic investments or divestitures by Hub; the failure to implement and integrate critical information technology systems; cyber security incidents; retail and other customers encountering adverse economic conditions and other factors described from time to time in Hub Group's SEC reports, press releases and other communications. Hub Group assumes no obligation to update any such forward-looking statements.  

SOURCE:   Hub Group, Inc.                CONTACT: Maralee Volchko of Hub Group, Inc., +1-630-271-3745

HUB GROUP, INC.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF EARNINGS
(in thousands, except per share amounts)
(unaudited)
							Three Months Ended December 31,
								2021						2020
										% of						% of
							Amount			Revenue			Amount			Revenue
Revenue							$	1,256,403		100.0	%		$	952,730		100.0	%
Transportation costs								1,043,671		83.1	%			847,171		88.9	%
	Gross margin							212,732		16.9	%			105,559		11.1	%
Costs and expenses:
	Salaries and benefits							70,544		5.6	%			42,649		4.5	%
	General and administrative							13,418		1.1	%			23,446		2.4	%
	Depreciation and amortization							11,185		0.9	%			8,292		0.9	%
		Total costs and expenses						95,147		7.6	%			74,387		7.8	%
Operating income								117,585		9.3	%			31,172		3.3	%
Other income (expense):
	Interest expense							(1,747	)	-0.1	%			(2,048	)	-0.2	%
	Other, net							137		0.0	%			(86	)	-0.0	%
		Total other expense						(1,610	)	-0.1	%			(2,134	)	-0.2	%
Income before provision for income taxes								115,975		9.2	%			29,038		3.1	%
Provision for income taxes								31,661		2.5	%			6,650		0.7	%
Net income							$	84,314					$	22,388
Earnings per share
	Basic						$	2.52					$	0.67
	Diluted						$	2.48					$	0.67
Basic weighted average number of shares outstanding								33,456						33,212
Diluted weighted average number of shares outstanding								33,983						33,630

HUB GROUP, INC.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF EARNINGS
(in thousands, except per share amounts)
(unaudited)
							Twelve Months Ended December 31,
								2021						2020
										% of						% of
							Amount			Revenue			Amount			Revenue
Revenue							$	4,232,383		100.0	%		$	3,495,644		100.0	%
Transportation costs								3,632,743		85.8	%			3,070,207		87.8	%
	Gross margin							599,640		14.2	%			425,437		12.2	%
Costs and expenses:
	Salaries and benefits							247,240		5.9	%			188,777		5.4	%
	General and administrative							76,476		1.8	%			99,597		2.9	%
	Depreciation and amortization							37,467		0.9	%			31,237		0.9	%
		Total costs and expenses						361,183		8.6	%			319,611		9.2	%
Operating income								238,457		5.6	%			105,826		3.0	%
Other income (expense):
	Interest expense							(7,302	)	-0.2	%			(9,746	)	-0.3	%
	Other, net							(245	)	-0.0	%			20		0.0	%
		Total other expense						(7,547	)	-0.2	%			(9,726	)	-0.3	%
Income before provision for income taxes								230,910		5.5	%			96,100		2.7	%
Provision for income taxes								59,436		1.4	%			22,541		0.6	%
Net income							$	171,474					$	73,559
Earnings per share
	Basic						$	5.13					$	2.22
	Diluted						$	5.06					$	2.19
Basic weighted average number of shares outstanding								33,434						33,180
Diluted weighted average number of shares outstanding								33,892						33,543

HUB GROUP, INC.
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
(in thousands, except share data)
(unaudited)
								December 31,				December 31,
									2021				2020
ASSETS
	CURRENT ASSETS:
		Cash and cash equivalents						$	159,784			$	124,506
		Accounts receivable trade,net							701,512				518,975
		Accounts receivable other							3,022				1,265
		Prepaid taxes							2,191				1,336
		Prepaid expenses and other current assets							27,779				26,753
				TOTAL CURRENT ASSETS					894,288				672,835
	Restricted investments								24,256				23,353
	Property and equipment, net								681,451				671,101
	Right-of-use assets - operating leases								44,036				43,573
	Right-of-use assets - financing leases								1,252				3,557
	Other intangibles, net								196,672				163,953
	Goodwill, net								576,913				508,555
	Other assets								18,426				18,469
				TOTAL ASSETS				$	2,437,294			$	2,105,396
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
	CURRENT LIABILITIES:
		Accounts payable trade						$	424,923			$	285,320
		Accounts payable other							12,493				12,680
		Accrued payroll							56,938				23,044
		Accrued other							82,827				102,613
		Lease liability - operating leases							11,364				10,093
		Lease liability - financing leases							1,251				1,793
		Current portion of long term debt							97,273				93,562
				TOTAL CURRENT LIABILITIES					687,069				529,105
	Long term debt								177,479				176,797
	Non-current liabilities								41,572				42,910
	Lease liability - operating leases								34,916				36,328
	Lease liability - financing leases								-				8
	Deferred taxes								155,944				162,325
	STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY:
		Preferred stock, $.01 par value; 2,000,000 shares authorized;
			no shares issued or outstanding in 2021 and 2020						-				-
		Common stock
			Class A: $.01 par value; 97,337,700 shares authorized and
				41,224,792 shares issued in 2021 and 2020; 33,907,734 shares
				outstanding in 2021 and 33,549,708 shares outstanding in 2020					412				412
			Class B: $.01 par value; 662,300 shares authorized;
				662,296 shares issued and outstanding in 2021 and 2020					7				7
		Additional paid-in capital							189,256				186,058
		Purchase price in excess of predecessor basis, net of tax
		benefit of $10,306							(15,458	)			(15,458	)
		Retained earnings							1,424,634				1,253,160
		Accumulated other comprehensive loss							(207	)			(191	)
		Treasury stock; at cost, 7,317,058 shares in 2021
			and 7,675,084 shares in 2020						(258,330	)			(266,065	)
			TOTAL STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY						1,340,314				1,157,923
				TOTAL LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY				$	2,437,294			$	2,105,396

HUB GROUP, INC.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
(in thousands)
(unaudited)
									Twelve Months Ended December 31,
										2021				2020
Cash flows from operating activities:
	Net income								$	171,474			$	73,559
	Adjustments to reconcile net income
		to net cash provided by operating activities:
			Depreciation and amortization							130,629				123,679
			Deferred taxes							(3,992	)			7,463
			Compensation expense related to share-based compensation plans							20,056				17,053
			(Gain) loss on sale of assets							(19,173	)			907
			Other operating activities							-				6,385
	Changes in operating assets and liabilities, net of acquisitions:
			Restricted investments							(903	)			(752	)
			Accounts receivable, net							(115,568	)			(47,219	)
			Prepaid taxes							(856	)			(707	)
			Prepaid expenses and other current assets							(647	)			(2,508	)
			Other assets							(2,883	)			(2,177	)
			Accounts payable							78,448				5,594
			Accrued expenses							9,686				(4,408	)
			Non-current liabilities							(13,436	)			(1,915	)
				Net cash provided by operating activities						252,835				174,954
Cash flows from investing activities:
	Proceeds from sale of equipment									45,177				3,289
	Purchases of property and equipment									(132,952	)			(115,306	)
	Acquisitions, net of cash acquired									(122,360	)			(84,845	)
				Net cash used in investing activities						(210,135	)			(196,862	)
Cash flows from financing activities:
	Repayments of long term debt									(107,608	)			(198,741	)
	Stock withheld for payments of withholding taxes									(9,123	)			(7,963	)
	Finance lease payments									(2,682	)			(3,066	)
	Proceeds from issuance of debt									112,001				187,475
				Net cash used in financing activities						(7,412	)			(22,295	)
	Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents									(10	)			(20	)
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents										35,278				(44,223	)
Cash and cash equivalents beginning of period										124,506				168,729
Cash and cash equivalents end of period									$	159,784			$	124,506

HUB GROUP, INC.
FINANCIAL INFORMATION BY BUSINESS LINE
(in thousands)
(unaudited)
	Three Months						Twelve Months
	Ended December 31,						Ended December 31,
		2021			2020			2021			2020
Intermodal	$	701,878		$	560,562		$	2,391,494		$	2,029,186
Logistics		223,767			197,597			887,388			767,279
Truck brokerage		268,344			126,441			688,867			431,127
Dedicated		62,414			68,130			264,634			268,052
Total Revenue	$	1,256,403		$	952,730		$	4,232,383		$	3,495,644

RECONCILIATION OF NET INCOME TO EBITDA
(in thousands)
(unaudited)
	Three Months
	Ended December 31,
							Change				Change
		2021			2020		$				%
Net income	$	84,314		$	22,388		$	61,926			276.6	%
Interest expense		1,747			2,048			(301	)		-14.7	%
Depreciation and amortization		34,670			31,881			2,789			8.7	%
Provision for income taxes		31,661			6,650			25,011			376.1	%
EBITDA	$	152,392		$	62,967		$	89,425			142.0	%

RECONCILIATION OF NET INCOME TO EBITDA
(in thousands)
(unaudited)
	Twelve Months
	Ended December 31,
							Change				Change
		2021			2020		$				%
Net income	$	171,474		$	73,559		$	97,915			133.1	%
Interest expense		7,302			9,746			(2,444	)		-25.1	%
Depreciation and amortization		130,629			123,679			6,950			5.6	%
Provision for income taxes		59,436			22,541			36,895			163.7	%
EBITDA	$	368,841		$	229,525		$	139,316			60.7	%

See the “Non-GAAP Financial Measure” section of this release for the definition of EBITDA and a discussion of this non-GAAP financial measure.

(1)   See the “Non-GAAP Financial Measure” section of this release for the definition of EBITDA and a discussion of this non-GAAP financial measure.

FAQ

What were Hub Group's fourth quarter 2021 earnings results for HUBG?

Hub Group reported $1.3 billion in revenue, a 32% increase, and net income of $84 million with diluted EPS of $2.48.

How did Hub Group perform financially in 2021?

For the full year 2021, Hub Group's revenue grew 21% to $4.2 billion, with net income of $171 million and diluted EPS of $5.06.

What is Hub Group's revenue outlook for 2022?

Hub Group expects 2022 revenue to range between $4.9 billion and $5.1 billion.

What factors contributed to Hub Group's record profitability in Q4 2021?

Record profitability was driven by strong freight demand, favorable pricing, and improved operating efficiency.

Did Hub Group face any challenges in Q4 2021?

Yes, dedicated revenue decreased 8% due to losses from existing customers, and intermodal volume declined by 9%.