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8-K - FORM 8-K - USA TRUCK INCusak20161101_8k.htm

Exhibit 99.1

 

 

USA Truck Reports Third Quarter 2016 Results

 

3Q16 EPS of ($0.09) Narrowed Compared to ($0.15) for 2Q16

Operating Income for 3Q16 Improved $0.6 Million from 2Q16 $0.6 Million Operating Loss

Improvements in Trucking Segment Offset by Weak Freight Environment

Moves Forward in Expanding USAT Logistics’ Scope and Offerings

 

Van Buren, AR – November 4, 2016 – USA Truck, Inc. (NASDAQ: USAK), a leading capacity solutions provider, today announced its financial results for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2016.

 

For the quarter ended September 30, 2016, operating revenue was $105.5 million compared to $123.5 million for the prior-year period. Base revenue, which excludes fuel surcharges, was $94.7 million compared to $109.8 million for the 2015 period. Net income (loss) was ($0.7) million, or ($0.09) per diluted share, compared to $2.7 million, or $0.26 per diluted share, a year earlier. Included in earnings per share for the September 30, 2015 quarter was $2.9 million, or $0.17, net-of-tax, per share of restructuring costs.

 

President and CEO Randy Rogers commented, “We marked significant progress toward our goals of expanding the scope of USAT Logistics, improving service levels in our truckload business and reducing operating costs in the third quarter. Those gains were, and for the near term will likely be, offset by a weak freight environment and unfavorable comparisons versus prior periods due to the loss of certain dedicated account customers earlier this year. While encouraged by our progress, we recognize our results have not reached our goals and are committed to achieving substantial improvements in profitability as we move into the 2017 bid season and benefit from the extensive operating changes made over the past year.

 

“As previously discussed, one of our principal goals is for our higher margin, asset-light brokerage operations to contribute 50% of the company’s consolidated revenue. In support of this objective, during the quarter we expanded its sales channels to include agents in secondary markets and since have consolidated operations from smaller, inefficient offices into our larger regional centers while maintaining existing client manager relationships. We also completed the migration to a more efficient operating model featuring carrier and customer specialization, which has already begun to benefit productivity and effectiveness. While net revenue for the quarter of $6.0 million represented a 16.1% decline versus the 2015 period due to a soft freight environment and lower volumes, gross margin remained favorable at 18.1%.

 

“In Trucking, we achieved modest improvement in loaded rate per mile to $1.725 despite the difficult rate environment and posted a 4.3% decrease in operating expenses on a sequential basis, bringing O&M expenses per mile down to $0.182, the lowest in over four years. Further, in light of market conditions, we reduced company-owned tractors by 6.3% through the elimination of our 2012 and 30% of our 2013 tractors, which were high cost, challenging for our drivers and placed significant burdens on our maintenance operations. On a sequential basis, Trucking’s adjusted operating ratio improved slightly from 103.0% for this year’s second quarter as the operating loss narrowed from $2.0 million to $1.5 million, reflecting the benefits of our improvement plan in a tough environment.

 

“Cost reduction remains a critical focus area. In the third quarter, we completed and executed a thorough maintenance review, identifying internal and external cost reduction opportunities that for the quarter produced an 18% decrease in maintenance cost per mile. Key initiatives included the insourcing of our road assistance program from an outside vendor, negotiations with third-party vendors to leverage spend on parts and tires, retirement of higher cost tractors, and further downsizing of the trailer fleet as well as continued general expense controls.”

 

Mr. Rogers concluded, “As we move into the 2017 bid season, we expect our improved service performance and more focused network to drive meaningful rate improvement. We have identified pricing and utilization opportunities throughout our network and expect our enhanced support programs and more efficient and aligned compensation structures to increase the number of independent contractors and help offset the phase-out of our older tractor fleet. We are confident that our planned transition to an increasingly asset-light model is the right one for our organization and we expect to achieve positive earnings per share for the full year 2017.”

 

For the nine months ended September 30, 2016, operating revenue was $326.0 million compared to $390.0 million for the prior-year period. Consolidated base revenue was $296.2 million compared to $342.4 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2015. Consolidated net income (loss) was ($3.9) million, or ($0.44) per diluted share, for the 2016 period, compared to $7.1 million, or $0.68 per diluted share, for the 2015 period. Included in loss per diluted share for the nine months ended September 30, 2016 was $6.0 million, or $0.42, net-of-tax, per diluted share relating to restructuring, impairment and other costs. Included in earnings per share for the nine months ended September 30, 2015 was $0.8 million, or $0.04, net-of-tax, per diluted share relating to loss on extinguishment of debt and $2.9 million, or $0.17, net-of-tax, per share of restructuring costs.

 

 

 
 

 

 

The following table includes key operating results and statistics by reportable segment:

 

 

   

Three Months Ended

   

Nine months Ended

 
   

September 30,

   

September 30,

 
   

2016

   

2015

   

2016

   

2015

 

Trucking:

                               

Operating revenue (in thousands)

  $ 73,367     $ 84,982     $ 224,573     $ 274,196  

Operating (loss) income (in thousands) (1)

  $ (1,505 )   $ 2,460     $ (8,607 )   $ 6,565  

Adjusted operating ratio (2)

    102.3

%

    92.8

%

    101.5

%

    96.0

%

Total miles (in thousands) (3)

    43,365       44,559       132,216       143,927  

Deadhead percentage (4)

    13.2

%

    12.3

%

    12.8

%

    12.3

%

Base revenue per loaded mile

  $ 1.725     $ 1.902     $ 1.743     $ 1.871  

Average number of in-service tractors (5)

    1,742       1,838       1,797       2,025  

Average number of seated tractors (6)

    1,648       1,718       1,717       1,858  

Average miles per seated tractor per week

    2,002       1,973       1,967       1,986  

Base revenue per seated tractor per week

  $ 2,997     $ 3,293     $ 2,992     $ 3,260  

Average loaded miles per trip

    590       577       582       596  
                                 

USAT Logistics:

                               

Operating revenue (in thousands)

  $ 32,091     $ 38,508     $ 101,391     $ 115,754  

Operating income (in thousands) (1)

  $ 1,547     $ 2,999     $ 5,729     $ 9,234  

Net revenue (in thousands) (7)

  $ 6,050       7,211     $ 19,481     $ 21,466  

Gross margin percentage (8)

    18.1

%

    18.3

%

    18.3

%

    17.9

%

 

 

(1)

Operating (loss) income is calculated by deducting operating expenses from operating revenues.

 

(2)

Adjusted operating ratio is calculated as operating expenses less restructuring, impairment and other costs, and severance costs included in salaries, wages and employee benefits, net of fuel surcharge revenue, as a percentage of operating revenue excluding fuel surcharge revenue. See GAAP to non-GAAP reconciliation below.

 

(3)

Total miles include both loaded and empty miles.

 

(4)

Deadhead percentage is calculated by dividing empty miles into total miles.

 

(5)

Tractors include company-operated tractors in service, plus tractors operated by independent contractors.

 

(6)

Seated tractors are those occupied by drivers.

 

(7)

Net revenue is calculated by taking revenue less purchased transportation.

 

(8)

Gross margin percentage is calculated by taking revenue less purchased transportation expense and dividing that amount by revenue. This calculation includes intercompany revenues and expenses.

 

Balance Sheet and Liquidity

As of September 30, 2016, our total debt and capital lease obligations, net of cash (“Net Debt”), was $151.0 million and our stockholders’ equity was $62.1 million. Net Debt to Adjusted EBITDA(a) increased year-over-year to 3.7x compared with 1.1x as of September 30, 2015. The Company had approximately $51.0 million available under its credit facility as of September 30, 2016.

  

Third-Quarter 2016 Conference Call Information

USA Truck will hold a conference call to discuss its third-quarter 2016 results on Friday, November 4, 2016 at 8:00 AM CT / 9:00 AM ET. To participate in the call, please dial 1-844-824-3828 (U.S./Canada) or 1-412-317-5138 (International). A live webcast of the conference call will be broadcast in the Investor Relations section of the Company’s website www.usa-truck.com, under the “Events & Presentations” tab of the “Investor Relations” menu. For those who cannot listen to the live broadcast, the presentation materials and an audio replay of the call will be available at our website, www.usa-truck.com, under the “Events & Presentations” tab of the “Investor Relations” menu. A telephone replay of the call will also be available through Friday, November 11, 2016, and may be accessed by calling 1-877-344-7529 (U.S./Canada) or 1-412-317-0088 (International) and by referencing conference ID #10094198.

 

(a) About Non-GAAP Financial Information

In addition to our GAAP results, this press release also includes certain non-GAAP financial measures, as defined by the SEC. The terms base revenue, “EBITDA”, “Adjusted EBITDA”, “Adjusted operating ratio”, and “Adjusted earnings per diluted share”, as we define them, are not presented in accordance with GAAP.

 

 
 

 

 

The Company defines EBITDA as net income (loss), plus interest expense net of interest income, provision for income taxes and depreciation and amortization. It defines Adjusted EBITDA as these items plus non-cash equity compensation, loss on extinguishment of debt, restructuring, impairment and other costs, and severance costs included in salaries, wages and employee benefits. Adjusted operating ratio is calculated as operating expenses less restructuring, impairment and other costs and severance costs included in salaries, wages and employee benefits, net of fuel surcharges, as a percentage of operating revenue excluding fuel surcharge revenue. Adjusted earnings per diluted share is defined as earnings or loss before income taxes plus loss on extinguishment of debt, restructuring, impairment and other costs, and severance costs included in salaries, wages and employee benefits reduced by our statutory income tax rate, divided by weighted average diluted shares outstanding. These financial measures supplement our GAAP results in evaluating certain aspects of our business. We believe that using these measures improves comparability in analyzing our performance because they remove the impact of items from our operating results that, in our opinion, do not reflect our core operating performance. Management and the board of directors focus on EBITDA, Adjusted EBITDA, Adjusted operating ratio and Adjusted earnings per diluted share as key measures of our performance, all of which are reconciled to the most comparable GAAP financial measures and further discussed below. We believe our presentation of these non-GAAP financial measures is useful because it provides investors and securities analysts the same information that we use internally for purposes of assessing our core operating performance.

 

EBITDA, Adjusted EBITDA, Adjusted operating ratio and Adjusted earnings per diluted share are not substitutes for their comparable GAAP financial measures, such as net income, cash flows from operating activities, operating margin, or other measures prescribed by GAAP. There are limitations to using non-GAAP financial measures. Although we believe that they improve comparability in analyzing our period to period performance, they could limit comparability to other companies in our industry if those companies define these measures differently. Because of these limitations, our non-GAAP financial measures should not be considered measures of income generated by our business or discretionary cash available to us to invest in the growth of our business. Management compensates for these limitations by primarily relying on GAAP results and using non-GAAP financial measures on a supplemental basis.

 

Pursuant to the requirements of Regulation G and Regulation S-K, we have provided reconciliations of EBITDA, Adjusted EBITDA, Adjusted earnings per diluted share and Adjusted operating ratio to GAAP financial measures at the end of this press release.

 

Cautionary Statement Concerning Forward-Looking Statements

Financial information in this press release is preliminary and based upon information available to the Company as of the date of this press release. As such, this information remains subject to the completion of our quarterly review procedures, and the filing of the related Form 10-Q, which could result in changes, some of which could be material, to the preliminary information provided in this press release.

 

This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. Such forward-looking statements are made pursuant to the provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements generally may be identified by their use of terms or phrases such as “expects,” “estimates,” “anticipates,” “projects,” “believes,” “plans,” “goals,” “intends,” “may,” “will,” “should,” “could,” “potential,” “continue,” “strategy,” “future” and terms or phrases of similar substance. Forward-looking statements are based upon the current beliefs and expectations of our management and are inherently subject to risks and uncertainties, some of which cannot be predicted or quantified, which could cause future events and actual results to differ materially from those set forth in, contemplated by, or underlying the forward-looking statements. Accordingly, actual results may differ materially from those set forth in the forward-looking statements. Readers should review and consider the factors that may affect future results and other disclosures by the Company in its press releases, Annual Report on Form 10-K and other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Any forward-looking statement speaks only as of the date on which it is made. We disclaim any obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements to reflect actual results or changes in the factors affecting the forward-looking information, except as required by law. In light of these risks and uncertainties, the forward-looking events and circumstances discussed in this press release might not occur. All forward-looking statements attributable to us, or persons acting on our behalf, are expressly qualified in their entirety by this cautionary statement.

 

 
 

 

 

References to the “Company,” “we,” “us,” “our” and words of similar import refer to USA Truck, Inc. and its subsidiary.

 

About USA Truck 

USA Truck provides comprehensive capacity solutions to a broad and diverse customer base throughout North America. Our Trucking and USAT Logistics divisions blend an extensive portfolio of asset and asset-light services, offering a balanced approach to supply chain management including customized truckload, dedicated contract carriage, intermodal and third-party logistics freight management services. For more information, visit usa-truck.com or usatlogistics.com.

 

This press release and related information will be available to interested parties at our website, www.usa-truck.com, under the “Financial Releases” tab of the “Investor Relations” menu.

 

 

Company Contact

USA Truck, Inc.

Randy Rogers

President and CEO

(479) 471-6590

Randy.Rogers@usa-truck.com

 

 

Investor Relations Contact

Harriet Fried / Jody Burfening

LHA

(212) 838-3777

hfried@lhai.com

 

 
 

 

 

USA TRUCK, INC.

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS AND COMPREHENSIVE (LOSS) INCOME

(UNAUDITED)

(in thousands, except per share data)

 

   

Three Months Ended

   

Nine months Ended

 
   

September 30,

   

September 30,

 
   

2016

   

2015

   

2016

   

2015

 

Revenue:

                               

Operating revenue

  $ 105,458     $ 123,490     $ 325,964     $ 389,950  
                                 

Operating expenses:

                               

Salaries, wages and employee benefits

    29,131       32,028       92,332       105,536  

Fuel and fuel taxes

    10,932       12,960       32,512       47,195  

Depreciation and amortization

    7,411       8,702       22,282       29,951  

Insurance and claims

    5,620       5,405       15,826       17,502  

Equipment rent

    1,861       1,094       5,582       2,743  

Operations and maintenance

    8,170       10,439       27,682       31,340  

Purchased transportation

    37,218       40,613       111,650       122,029  

Operating taxes and licenses

    1,003       1,439       3,384       4,221  

Communications and utilities

    673       989       2,404       2,732  

Gain on disposal of assets, net

    (181 )     (3,008 )     (759 )     (5,766 )

Restructuring, impairment and other costs

    --       2,893       5,264       2,893  

Other

    3,578       4,477       10,683       13,775  

Total operating expenses

    105,416       118,031       328,842       374,151  

Operating income (loss)

    42       5,459       (2,878 )     15,799  
                                 

Other expenses:

                               

Interest expense, net

    913       493       2,209       1,672  

Loss on extinguishment of debt

    --       --       --       750  

Other, net

    87       78       423       650  

Total other expenses, net

    1,000       571       2,632       3,072  

(Loss) income before income taxes

    (958 )     4,888       (5,510 )     12,727  

Income tax (benefit) expense

    (224 )     2,161       (1,623 )     5,595  
                                 

Net (loss) income and comprehensive (loss) income

  $ (734 )   $ 2,727     $ (3,887 )   $ 7,132  
                                 

Net (loss) income per share information:

                               

Average shares outstanding (basic)

    8,069       10,442       8,736       10,439  

Basic (loss) earnings per share

  $ (0.09 )   $ 0.26     $ (0.44 )   $ 0.68  
                                 

Average shares outstanding (diluted)

    8,069       10,470       8,736       10,515  

Diluted (loss) earnings per share

  $ (0.09 )   $ 0.26     $ (0.44 )   $ 0.68  

 

 
 

 

 

GAAP TO NON-GAAP RECONCILIATIONS

(UNAUDITED)

(dollar amounts in thousands, except per share amounts)

 

ADJUSTED EARNINGS BEFORE INTEREST, TAXES, DEPRECIATION AND AMORTIZATION  

 

    Three Months Ended  
   

09/30/2016

   

06/30/2016

   

3/31/2016

   

12/31/2015

 
                                 

Net (loss) income

  $ (734 )   $ (1,346 )   $ (1,807 )   $ 3,937  

Add:

                               

Depreciation and amortization

    7,411       7,599       7,272       7,529  

Income tax (benefit) expense

    (224 )     (75 )     (1,324 )     2,677  

Interest expense, net

    913       731       565       565  
                                 

EBITDA

    7,366       6,909       4,706       14,708  

Add:

                               

Non-cash equity compensation

    302       262       131       291  

Restructuring, impairment and other costs

    --       --       5,264       (151 )

Severance costs included in salaries, wages and employee benefits

    --       697       --       --  
                                 

Adjusted EBITDA

  $ 7,668     $ 7,868     $ 10,101     $ 14,848  

 

 

ADJUSTED (LOSS) EARNINGS PER SHARE RECONCILIATION

 

 

   

Three Months Ended

   

Nine months Ended

 
   

September 30,

   

September 30,

 
   

2016

   

2015

   

2016

   

2015

 

(Loss) earnings per diluted share

  $ (0.09 )   $ 0.26     $ (0.44 )   $ 0.68  

Adjusted for:

                               

Loss on debt extinguishment

    --       --       --       0.07  

Severance costs included in salaries, wages and employee benefits

    --       --       0.08       --  

Restructuring, impairment and other costs

    --       0.28       0.60       0.28  

Income tax expense effect of adjustments

    --       (0.11 )     (0.26 )     (0.14 )

Adjusted diluted (loss) earnings per share

  $ (0.09 )   $ 0.43     $ (0.02 )   $ 0.89  

 

 
 

 

 

ADJUSTED OPERATING RATIO RECONCILIATION

(UNAUDITED)

(dollar amounts in thousands)

 

Consolidated

 

Three Months Ended

   

Nine months Ended

 
   

September 30,

   

September 30,

 
   

2016

   

2015

   

2016

   

2015

 

Operating revenue

  $ 105,458     $ 123,490     $ 325,964     $ 389,950  

Less:

                               

Fuel surcharge revenue

    10,797       13,738       29,773       47,506  

Base revenue

    94,661       109,752       296,191       342,444  

Operating expense

    105,416       118,031       328,842       374,151  

Adjusted for:

                               

Restructuring, impairment and other costs

    --       (2,893 )     (5,264 )     (2,893 )

Severance costs in salaries, wages and employee benefits

    --       --       (697 )     --  

Fuel surcharge revenue

    (10,797 )     (13,738 )     (29,773 )     (47,506 )

Adjusted operating expense

  $ 94,619     $ 101,400     $ 293,108     $ 323,752  

Operating ratio

    100.0

%

    95.6

%

    100.9

%

    95.9

%

Adjusted operating ratio

    100.0

%

    92.4

%

    99.0

%

    94.5

%

 

 

Trucking Segment

 

Three Months Ended

   

Nine months Ended

 
   

September 30,

   

September 30,

 
   

2016

   

2015

   

2016

   

2015

 

Revenue

  $ 73,644     $ 85,369     $ 225,430     $ 275,617  

Less: intersegment eliminations

    277       387       857       1,421  

Operating revenue

    73,367       84,982       224,573       274,196  

Less: fuel surcharge revenue

    8,451       10,635       23,499       37,953  

Base revenue

    64,916       74,347       201,074       236,243  

Operating expense

    74,872       82,522       233,180       267,631  

Adjusted for:

                               

Restructuring, impairment and other costs

    --       (2,893 )     (4,848 )     (2,893 )

Severance costs in salaries, wages and employee benefits

    --       --       (697 )     --  

Fuel surcharge revenue

    (8,451 )     (10,635 )     (23,499 )     (37,953 )

Adjusted operating expense

  $ 66,421     $ 68,994     $ 204,136     $ 226,785  

Operating ratio

    102.1

%

    97.1

%

    103.8

%

    97.6

%

Adjusted operating ratio

    102.3

%

    92.8

%

    101.5

%

    96.0

%

 

 

USAT Logistics Segment

 

Three Months Ended

   

Nine months Ended

 
   

September 30,

   

September 30,

 
   

2016

   

2015

   

2016

   

2015

 

Revenue

  $ 33,476     $ 39,505     $ 106,473     $ 119,781  

Less: intersegment eliminations

    1,385       997       5,082       4,027  

Operating revenue

    32,091       38,508       101,391       115,754  

Less: fuel surcharge revenue

    2,346       3,103       6,274       9,553  

Base revenue

    29,745       35,405       95,117       106,201  

Operating expense

    30,544       35,509       95,662       106,520  

Adjusted for:

                               

Restructuring, impairment and other costs

    --       --       (416 )     --  

Fuel surcharge revenue

    (2,346 )     (3,103 )     (6,274 )     (9,553 )

Adjusted operating expense

  $ 28,198     $ 32,406     $ 88,972     $ 96,967  

Operating ratio

    95.2

%

    92.2

%

    94.3

%

    92.0

%

Adjusted operating ratio

    94.8

%

    91.5

%

    93.5

%

    91.3

%

 

 
 

 

  

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

(UNAUDITED)

(in thousands, except share data)

 

   

September 30,

   

December 31,

 
   

2016

   

2015

 

Assets

               

Current assets:

               

Cash

  $ 142     $ 87  

Accounts receivable, net of allowance for doubtful accounts of $607 and $608, respectively

    54,361       53,324  

Other receivables

    3,642       5,094  

Inventories

    382       748  

Assets held for sale

    9,067       7,979  

Income taxes receivable

    9,373       6,159  

Prepaid expenses and other current assets

    3,667       4,876  

Total current assets

    80,634       78,267  

Property and equipment:

               

Land and structures

    32,463       32,910  

Revenue equipment

    277,670       289,045  

Service, office and other equipment

    24,519       22,156  

Property and equipment, at cost

    334,652       344,111  

Accumulated depreciation and amortization

    (105,539 )     (137,327 )

Property and equipment, net

    229,113       206,784  

Other assets

    1,243       1,405  

Total assets

  $ 310,990     $ 286,456  

Liabilities and Stockholders’ Equity

               

Current liabilities:

               

Accounts payable

  $ 28,075     $ 24,473  

Current portion of insurance and claims accruals

    11,470       10,706  

Accrued expenses

    8,969       8,836  

Current maturities of capital leases

    17,071       12,190  

Total current liabilities

    65,585       56,205  

Deferred gain

    651       701  

Long-term debt, less current maturities

    99,700       70,400  

Capital leases, less current maturities

    34,357       18,845  

Deferred income taxes

    40,082       37,943  

Insurance and claims accruals, less current portion

    8,558       8,585  

Total liabilities

    248,933       192,679  

Commitments and contingencies

               

Stockholders’ equity:

               

Preferred Stock, $.01 par value; 1,000,000 shares authorized

    --       --  

Common Stock, $.01 par value; 30,000,000 shares authorized; issued 12,157,843 shares, and 11,946,253 shares, respectively

    121       119  

Additional paid-in capital

    67,907       67,370  

Retained earnings

    61,984       65,871  

Less treasury stock, at cost (3,865,481 shares, and 2,286,608 shares, respectively)

    (67,955 )     (39,583 )

Total stockholders’ equity

    62,057       93,777  

Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity

  $ 310,990     $ 286,456