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8-K - 8-K - HEARTLAND EXPRESS INCearningsrelease8k2015q1.htm


Exhibit 99.1

April 22, 2015 For Immediate Release

Press Release

Heartland Express, Inc. Reports Revenues and Earnings for the First Quarter of 2015 - EPS increased 25% along with Record Cash Flows from Operations

NORTH LIBERTY, IOWA - April 22, 2015 - Heartland Express, Inc. (Nasdaq: HTLD) announced today financial results for the quarter ended March 31, 2015. Highlights of the quarter included:

Net Income increased 25.1%,
Earnings per share increased 25%,
Record cash flows from operations of $55.7 million,
Repaid all long-term debt within 14 months of initial borrowing,
Operating results increased cash reserves by $34.9 million,
Year-over-year operating ratio improvement from 90.8% to 84.9%,
13% increase in average driver wages, including detention pay after 1 hour.

Financial Results

Heartland Express (the "Company") ended the first quarter of 2015 with net income of $17.6 million, compared to $14.1 million in the first quarter of 2014, a 25.1% increase. Basic earnings per share were $0.20 during the quarter compared to $0.16 earnings per share in the first quarter of 2014, a 25.0% increase. Operating revenues were $187.5 million, a 16.5% decrease, compared to $224.5 million in the first quarter of 2014. Operating revenues for the quarter included fuel surcharge revenues of $26.1 million compared to $45.9 million in the same period of 2014, a $19.8 million decrease. Operating revenues decreased 9.6% excluding the impact of fuel surcharge revenues. Operating income for the three-month period was positively impacted by a $8.1 million increase in gains on disposal of property and equipment and a $9.6 million decrease in net fuel expense. The Company posted an operating ratio (operating expenses as a percentage of operating revenues) of 84.9% and a 9.4% net margin (net income as a percentage of operating revenues) in the first quarter of 2015 compared to 90.8% and 6.3%, respectively in the first quarter of 2014.

Balance Sheet, Liquidity, and Capital Expenditures

At March 31, 2015, the Company had $52.2 million in cash balances and no borrowings under the Company's unsecured line of credit. The Company had $220.6 million in available borrowing capacity on the line of credit at March 31, 2015 after consideration of outstanding letters of credit. The Company is in compliance with associated financial covenants. The Company's debt balance decreased $24.6 million from December 31, 2014 due to repayments during the three months ended March 31, 2015. Since the high point of the Company's debt borrowings of $76.7 million in December of 2013, the Company has repaid the borrowings in full and returned to a balance sheet without long-term debt. The Company ended the quarter with total assets of $780.5 million.

The average age of the Company's tractor fleet was 1.7 years as of March 31, 2015 compared to 2.6 years at March 31, 2014. During the first quarter of 2015 the Company took delivery of approximately 250 new tractors and has approximately 1,300 new tractors scheduled for delivery prior to the end of the year. The new tractors have been and will continue to be a mix of International ProStar Plus and Freightliner Cascadia models in 2015. The average age of tractors is currently expected to decrease throughout the remainder of 2015. The average age of the Company's trailer fleet was 4.5 years at March 31, 2015 compared to 4.8 years at March 31, 2014. During the first quarter of 2015 the Company took delivery of 50 new trailers and has 450 new trailers scheduled for delivery prior to the end of 2015. The Company will continue to take





advantage of a favorable used trailer market during the remainder of 2015. It is currently estimated that the Company's dry-van trailer fleet, excluding specialty equipment, will be 100% 2011 and newer model years by the end of 2015.
 
Net cash flows from operations for the first three months of 2015 was an all-time record high of 29.7% of operating revenues or $55.7 million. The primary use of cash during the three month period ended March 31, 2015 was $24.6 million for the repayment of long-term debt obligations. The Company currently anticipates a total of approximately $80 to $90 million in net capital expenditures for the calendar year. The Company ended the past twelve months with a return on total assets of 11.6% and a 19.0% return on equity.
 
The Company continues its commitment to stockholders through the payment of cash dividends. A dividend of $0.02 per share was declared during the quarter and was paid on April 2, 2015. The Company has now paid cumulative cash dividends of $452.2 million, including three special dividends, ($2.00 in 2007, $1.00 in 2010, and $1.00 in 2012) over the past forty-seven consecutive quarters. The Company has also repurchased approximately $80.5 million of common stock over the past five years.

We continued to deliver award-winning service and safety to our customers as evidenced by the following awards received during the quarter:

Unilever - Excellence Award (2014)
Winegard - Truckload Carrier of the Year (2014)
Quaker/Gatorade - Carrier of the Year (Central Region - West, 2014)
Quaker/Gatorade - Carrier of the Year (Northwest Region, 2014)
Exel - Truckload EDI Compliance Award (2014)
Eastman - Supplier Excellence Award (2014)

Other Information

This press release may contain statements that might be considered as forward-looking statements or predictions of future operations. Such statements are based on management's belief or interpretation of information currently available. These statements and assumptions involve certain risks and uncertainties. Actual events may differ from these expectations as specified from time to time in filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
 
Contact: Heartland Express, Inc.
Mike Gerdin, Chief Executive Officer
John Cosaert, Chief Financial Officer
319-626-3600







HEARTLAND EXPRESS, INC.
AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME
(In thousands, except per share amounts)
(unaudited)
 
 
Three Months Ended March 31,
 
 
2015
 
2014
OPERATING REVENUE
 
$
187,523

 
$
224,481

 
 
 
 
 
OPERATING EXPENSES:
 
 
 
 
Salaries, wages, and benefits
 
$
70,996

 
$
70,945

Rent and purchased transportation
 
9,327

 
14,510

Fuel
 
34,256

 
63,225

Operations and maintenance
 
8,134

 
10,121

Operating taxes and licenses
 
4,813

 
4,846

Insurance and claims
 
6,644

 
7,095

Communications and utilities
 
1,543

 
1,830

Depreciation and amortization
 
25,974

 
24,573

Other operating expenses
 
7,757

 
8,691

Gain on disposal of property and equipment
 
(10,181
)
 
(2,043
)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
159,263

 
203,793

 
 
 
 
 
Operating income
 
28,260

 
20,688

 
 
 
 
 
Interest income
 
31

 
36

 
 
 
 
 
Interest expense
 
(19
)
 
(155
)
 
 
 
 
 
Income before income taxes
 
28,272

 
20,569

 
 
 
 
 
Federal and state income taxes
 
10,661

 
6,490

 
 
 
 
 
Net income
 
$
17,611

 
$
14,079

 
 
 
 
 
Earnings per share
 
 
 
 
Basic
 
$
0.20

 
$
0.16

Diluted
 
$
0.20

 
$
0.16

 
 
 
 
 
Weighted average shares outstanding
 
 
 
 
Basic
 
87,791

 
87,704

Diluted
 
87,965

 
87,917

 
 
 
 
 
Dividends declared per share
 
$
0.02

 
$
0.02







HEARTLAND EXPRESS, INC.
AND SUBSIDIARIES 
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
(in thousands, except per share amounts)
(unaudited)
 
 
March 31,
 
December 31,
ASSETS
 
2015
 
2014
CURRENT ASSETS
 
 
 
 
Cash and cash equivalents
 
$
52,171

 
$
17,303

Trade receivables, net
 
73,744

 
77,034

Prepaid tires
 
9,424

 
10,160

Prepaid shop supplies
 
1,840

 
2,056

Other current assets
 
34,061

 
8,992

Income tax receivable
 
7,191

 
19,920

Deferred income taxes, net
 
16,855

 
14,767

Total current assets
 
195,286

 
150,232

 
 
 
 
 
PROPERTY AND EQUIPMENT
 
655,616

 
678,566

Less accumulated depreciation
 
197,306

 
198,007

 
 
458,310

 
480,559

GOODWILL
 
100,212

 
100,212

OTHER INTANGIBLES, NET
 
15,754

 
16,380

OTHER ASSETS
 
10,953

 
12,611

 
 
$
780,515

 
$
759,994

LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
 
 
 
 
CURRENT LIABILITIES
 
 
 
 
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities
 
$
33,918

 
$
8,261

Compensation and benefits
 
28,220

 
26,303

Insurance accruals
 
19,534

 
19,249

Other accruals
 
13,544

 
14,475

Total current liabilities
 
95,216

 
68,288

LONG-TERM LIABILITIES
 
 
 
 
Income taxes payable
 
17,257

 
18,296

Long-term debt
 

 
24,600

Deferred income taxes, net
 
102,169

 
101,605

Insurance accruals less current portion
 
60,729

 
59,300

Other long-term liabilities
 
12,418

 
11,318

Total long-term liabilities
 
192,573

 
215,119

COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES
 
 
 
 
STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
 
 
 
 
Capital stock, common, $.01 par value; authorized 395,000 shares; issued 90,689 in 2015 and 2014; outstanding 87,791 in 2015 and 87,781 in 2014, respectively
 
907

 
907

Additional paid-in capital
 
4,210

 
4,058

Retained earnings
 
525,686

 
509,834

Treasury stock, at cost; 2,898 in 2015 and 2,908 in 2014, respectively
 
(38,077
)
 
(38,212
)
 
 
492,726

 
476,587

 
 
$
780,515

 
$
759,994