Hub Group, Inc. Reports Third Quarter 2021 Results

Rhea-AI Summary

Hub Group reported record Q3 2021 revenue of $1.1 billion, up 16% year-over-year, driven by strong demand and operational efficiency.

Net income surged to $43 million, or $1.28 per diluted share, reflecting a 73% increase from Q3 2020. Operating income also improved, reaching 5.6% of revenue. The company expanded through the acquisition of Choptank Transport for approximately $130 million, enhancing its service offerings.

Full-year EPS guidance is now $3.90 to $4.00.

Positive

• Record revenue of $1.1 billion, 16% increase from Q3 2020.
• Net income of $43 million, representing a 73% year-over-year growth.
• Record gross margin of $158 million, 14.7% of revenue.
• Expansion of brokerage and refrigerated transportation services via Choptank acquisition.

Negative

• 7% decline in dedicated revenue due to reduced business from existing customers.
• 8% decline in intermodal volume due to supply chain congestion.

Highlights:        

• Record quarterly revenue of $1.1 billion, up 16% as compared to last year, driven by strong demand conditions and the benefits of our continued investment in the business
• Record gross margin of $158 million (14.7% of revenue) driven by favorable pricing and yield improvement, combined with our continued focus on operating efficiency, resulted in third quarter operating income margin of 5.6% of revenue
• Record net income of $43 million or $1.28 of diluted earnings per share (EPS), which represents year-on-year growth of 73%
• Generated EBITDA (non-GAAP)¹ of $92 million in the quarter
• Expanded our brokerage and refrigerated transportation offerings through the acquisition of Choptank Transport in October
• Increased expected full year 2021 diluted earnings per share to $3.90 - $4.00

OAK BROOK, Ill., Oct. 28, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Hub Group, Inc. (NASDAQ:HUBG) announced third quarter 2021 net income of $43 million, or diluted earnings per share of $1.28.   Net income for third quarter 2020 was $25 million, or $0.74 per diluted share.  

“Continued strong freight demand and favorable market conditions, combined with our drive to provide a world-class customer experience, resulted in 16% revenue growth in the quarter compared to Q3 2020. Our ongoing focus on yield improvement and operating efficiency led to record profitability. We reported record quarterly diluted EPS of $1.28, which represents growth of 73% as compared to the prior year. Finally, we are very excited about the additional scale and expanded service offerings from our recent acquisition of Choptank Transport,” said Dave Yeager, Hub Group’s Chairman and Chief Executive Officer.  

Third Quarter 2021 Results

Revenue for the third quarter of 2021 increased by 16% to $1.1 billion compared with $925 million for the third quarter of 2020. Operating income for the quarter was $60 million (5.6% of revenue) versus $34 million (3.7% of revenue) for the third quarter of 2020.   EBITDA (non-GAAP)¹ for the third quarter was $92 million.

Third quarter intermodal revenue increased 17% to $633 million due to a 26% increase in revenue per load, partially offset by an 8% decline in volume due to ongoing challenges with congestion across the supply chain. Intermodal gross margin increased compared to the prior year as higher prices and cost recovery more than offset increased purchased transportation costs and lower volume.  

Third quarter logistics revenue increased 17% to $224 million due to growth of our retail supplier solutions services and from the addition of our final mile business in December 2020. Gross margin increased due to revenue growth, yield management initiatives and the acquisition of final mile, partially offset by higher warehousing and transportation costs.

Truck brokerage revenue grew 28% in the quarter to $153 million due to a 31% increase in revenue per load partially offset by a 3% decline in volume. Contractual freight represented 51% of total brokerage volume in the third quarter of 2021 as compared to 61% in 2020. Gross margin increased relative to third quarter 2020 due to revenue per load growth in both contractual and transactional freight, partially offset by the impact of higher purchased transportation costs.

Dedicated revenue decreased 7% compared to the prior year to $64 million due to declines from existing customers and the impact of business we exited, partially offset by growth with new customers. Dedicated gross margin decreased primarily due to lower revenue, higher insurance and claims, and maintenance and repair expenses.

Costs and expenses increased to $98 million in the third quarter of 2021 due primarily to higher variable compensation expense, operating costs of our final mile acquisition, expenses related to legal settlements, and costs related to the acquisition of Choptank Transport (“Choptank”), partially offset by higher gains on the sale of equipment.

Capital expenditures for the third quarter of 2021 totaled $58 million. At September 30, 2021, we had cash and cash equivalents of $231 million.   In October we acquired Choptank for approximately $130 million in cash and in connection with the acquisition we issued $20 million of restricted stock to Choptank’s owners and senior management team.

2021 Outlook

We expect that our 2021 diluted earnings per share will range from $3.90 to $4.00. We estimate revenue will grow in the high-teens percentage range for 2021, and that gross margin as a percentage of revenue will range from 13.3% to 13.7%. We estimate our costs and expenses will range from $365 to $375 million for the year. We project our effective tax rate for the fourth quarter will be approximately 24%.

We expect capital expenditures for fiscal year 2021 to range from $150 to $160 million.   For 2021 we expect to add 3,000 containers, which will result in net growth of approximately 2,750 after retirements of containers that have reached end of life. In 2021 we ordered over 650 tractors to replace older units and support growth in our drayage and dedicated fleets, however we expect approximately 150 of these will be delivered in early 2022.

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 October 28, 2021 to discuss our third 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=UrwfgPrJQQNDwx

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 NSD and Choptank and any other acquisitions and expenses relating thereto; the future performance of Hub’s Intermodal, Truck Brokerage, Dedicated 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 September 30,
			2021					2020
						% of					% of
			Amount			Revenue		Amount			Revenue
Revenue			$	1,075,107		100.0%		$	924,812		100.0%
Transportation costs				917,507		85.3%			816,777		88.3%
	Gross margin			157,600		14.7%			108,035		11.7%
Costs and expenses:
	Salaries and benefits			65,370		6.1%			45,576		4.9%
	General and administrative			23,445		2.2%			20,845		2.3%
	Depreciation and amortization			8,912		0.8%			7,697		0.8%
		Total costs and expenses		97,727		9.1%			74,118		8.0%
Operating income				59,873		5.6%			33,917		3.7%
Other income (expense):
	Interest expense			(1,793	)	-0.2%			(2,237	)	-0.3%
	Other, net			(96	)	0.0%			(122	)	0.0%
		Total other expense		(1,889	)	-0.2%			(2,359	)	-0.3%
Income before provision for income taxes				57,984		5.4%			31,558		3.4%
Provision for income taxes				14,646		1.4%			6,777		0.7%
Net income			$	43,338				$	24,781
Earnings per share
	Basic		$	1.30				$	0.75
	Diluted		$	1.28				$	0.74
Basic weighted average number of shares outstanding				33,433					33,177
Diluted weighted average number of shares outstanding				33,873					33,597

HUB GROUP, INC.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF EARNINGS
(in thousands, except per share amounts)
(unaudited)
			Nine Months Ended September 30,
			2021					2020
						% of					% of
			Amount			Revenue		Amount			Revenue
Revenue			$	2,975,980		100.0%		$	2,542,914		100.0%
Transportation costs				2,589,072		87.0%			2,223,036		87.4%
	Gross margin			386,908		13.0%			319,878		12.6%
Costs and expenses:
	Salaries and benefits			176,696		5.9%			146,128		5.7%
	General and administrative			63,058		2.1%			76,151		3.0%
	Depreciation and amortization			26,282		0.9%			22,945		0.9%
		Total costs and expenses		266,036		8.9%			245,224		9.6%
Operating income				120,872		4.1%			74,654		3.0%
Other income (expense):
	Interest expense			(5,555	)	-0.2%			(7,698	)	-0.3%
	Other, net			(382	)	0.0%			106		0.0%
		Total other expense		(5,937	)	-0.2%			(7,592	)	-0.3%
Income before provision for income taxes				114,935		3.9%			67,062		2.7%
Provision for income taxes				27,775		0.9%			15,891		0.6%
Net income			$	87,160				$	51,171
Earnings per share
	Basic		$	2.61				$	1.54
	Diluted		$	2.58				$	1.53
Basic weighted average number of shares outstanding				33,427					33,169
Diluted weighted average number of shares outstanding				33,842					33,513

HUB GROUP, INC.
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
(in thousands, except share data)
(unaudited)
					September 30,				December 31,
						2021				2020
ASSETS
	CURRENT ASSETS:
		Cash and cash equivalents			$	230,656			$	124,506
		Accounts receivable trade, net				613,443				518,975
		Accounts receivable other				4,049				1,265
		Prepaid taxes				87				1,336
		Prepaid expenses and other current assets				32,772				26,753
				TOTAL CURRENT ASSETS		881,007				672,835
	Restricted investments					23,100				23,353
	Property and equipment, net					661,346				671,101
	Right-of-use assets - operating leases					41,335				43,573
	Right-of-use assets - financing leases					1,789				3,557
	Other intangibles, net					142,592				163,953
	Goodwill, net					522,360				508,555
	Other assets					17,951				18,469
				TOTAL ASSETS	$	2,291,480			$	2,105,396
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
	CURRENT LIABILITIES:
		Accounts payable trade			$	355,714			$	285,320
		Accounts payable other				24,192				12,680
		Accrued payroll				56,390				23,044
		Accrued other				103,183				102,613
		Lease liability - operating leases				10,390				10,093
		Lease liability - financing leases				1,789				1,793
		Current portion of long term debt				92,598				93,562
				TOTAL CURRENT LIABILITIES		644,256				529,105
	Long term debt					165,652				176,797
	Non-current liabilities					43,512				42,910
	Lease liability - operating leases					33,104				36,328
	Lease liability - financing leases					2				8
	Deferred taxes					149,829				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; 33,685,717 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				191,765				186,058
		Purchase price in excess of predecessor basis, net of tax
		benefit of $10,306				(15,458	)			(15,458	)
		Retained earnings				1,340,320				1,253,160
		Accumulated other comprehensive loss				(201	)			(191	)
		Treasury stock; at cost, 7,539,075 shares in 2021
			and 7,675,084 shares in 2020			(261,720	)			(266,065	)
			TOTAL STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY			1,255,125				1,157,923
				TOTAL LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY	$	2,291,480			$	2,105,396

HUB GROUP, INC.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
(in thousands)
(unaudited)
					Nine Months Ended September 30,
						2021				2020
Cash flows from operating activities:
	Net income				$	87,160			$	51,171
	Adjustments to reconcile net income
		to net cash provided by operating activities:
			Depreciation and amortization			95,959				91,798
			Deferred taxes			(12,553	)			7,436
			Compensation expense related to share-based compensation plans			14,090				12,676
			(Gain) loss on sale of assets			(8,978	)			94
			Donated equipment			-				5,626
	Changes in operating assets and liabilities:
			Restricted investments			253				1,085
			Accounts receivable, net			(100,102	)			(105,918	)
			Prepaid taxes			1,248				(1,154	)
			Prepaid expenses and other current assets			(6,059	)			10,379
			Other assets			(1,670	)			(429	)
			Accounts payable			81,908				61,549
			Accrued expenses			33,424				(17,834	)
			Non-current liabilities			(6,622	)			6,209
				Net cash provided by operating activities		178,058				122,688
Cash flows from investing activities:
	Proceeds from sale of equipment					30,558				1,298
	Purchases of property and equipment					(84,076	)			(55,352	)
	Cash used in acquisitions					(90	)			-
				Net cash used in investing activities		(53,608	)			(54,054	)
Cash flows from financing activities:
	Repayments of long term debt					(82,804	)			(174,419	)
	Stock withheld for payments of withholding taxes					(4,038	)			(4,041	)
	Finance lease payments					(2,142	)			(2,278	)
	Proceeds from issuance of debt					70,695				128,762
				Net cash used in financing activities		(18,289	)			(51,976	)
	Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents					(11	)			(51	)
Net increase in cash and cash equivalents						106,150				16,607
Cash and cash equivalents beginning of period						124,506				168,729
Cash and cash equivalents end of period					$	230,656			$	185,336

HUB GROUP, INC.
FINANCIAL INFORMATION BY BUSINESS LINE
(in thousands)
(unaudited)
	Three Months						Nine Months
	Ended September 30,						Ended September 30,
		2021			2020			2021			2020
Intermodal	$	633,427		$	543,464		$	1,689,617		$	1,468,624
Logistics		224,136			192,187			663,620			569,682
Truck brokerage		153,270			119,994			420,523			304,686
Dedicated		64,274			69,167			202,220			199,922
		-			-			-
Total Revenue	$	1,075,107		$	924,812		$	2,975,980		$	2,542,914

RECONCILIATION OF NET INCOME TO EBITDA
(in thousands)
(unaudited)
	Three Months
	Ended September 30,
							Change				Change
		2021			2020		$				%
Net income	$	43,338		$	24,781		$	18,557			74.9%
Interest expense		1,793			2,237			(444	)		-19.8%
Depreciation and amortization		31,926			30,039			1,887			6.3%
Provision for income taxes		14,646			6,777			7,869			116.1%
EBITDA	$	91,703		$	63,834		$	27,869			43.7%

RECONCILIATION OF NET INCOME TO EBITDA
(in thousands)
(unaudited)
	Nine Months
	Ended September 30,
							Change				Change
		2021			2020		$				%
Net income	$	87,160		$	51,171		$	35,989			70.3%
Interest expense		5,555			7,698			(2,143	)		-27.8%
Depreciation and amortization		95,959			91,798			4,161			4.5%
Provision for income taxes		27,775			15,891			11,884			74.8%
EBITDA	$	216,449		$	166,558		$	49,891			30.0%

____________________________
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 was Hub Group's revenue in Q3 2021?

Hub Group reported a revenue of $1.1 billion in Q3 2021, a 16% increase from the previous year.

How much did Hub Group's net income grow in Q3 2021?

In Q3 2021, Hub Group's net income grew to $43 million, a 73% increase compared to Q3 2020.

What is Hub Group's earnings per share guidance for 2021?

Hub Group expects its diluted earnings per share for 2021 to be between $3.90 and $4.00.

What acquisition did Hub Group complete in October 2021?

Hub Group acquired Choptank Transport for approximately $130 million in cash.

What was the operating income margin for Hub Group in Q3 2021?

The operating income margin for Hub Group in Q3 2021 was 5.6% of revenue.