Hub Group, Inc. Reports Fourth Quarter, Full Year 2003 Results
Revenue in the fourth quarter was $359.2 million, an increase of 3.8% compared with the $346.1 million reported for the fourth quarter of 2002. Intermodal revenue for the fourth quarter was $259.5 million up 3% from the prior year. Supply Chain Solutions logistics revenue was $37.2 million, which represents a 79.6% increase from the prior year. Truckload brokerage revenue of $48.1 million and Hub Group Distribution Services revenue of $14.4 million were down 6.6% and 34.3%, respectively. Gross margin was down from 12.4% to 11.6% solely due to Hub Group Distribution Services. Costs and expenses decreased 9.6% in the fourth quarter of 2003 to $34.9 million compared to $38.6 million in 2002, reflecting the benefits from the Company's cost reduction efforts. Other expense, which primarily includes interest expense, decreased to $1.6 million in the fourth quarter of 2003 compared to $2.3 million in the same period of 2002, due to lower debt levels in 2003.
FULL YEAR 2003
Revenue for the year was $1,359.6 million compared to $1,335.7 million in 2002, or an increase of 1.8%. Gross margin increased to 12.6% of revenue compared to 12.2% in 2002 and costs and expenses decreased to 10.8% of revenue versus 11.4% in 2002.
Net income was $8.4 million for 2003 or $1.07 diluted earnings per share compared to last year's net income of $1.5 million or 19 cents diluted earnings per share.
Commenting on the results, David P. Yeager, Vice-Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Hub Group stated, "Our results demonstrate further evidence of our ongoing turnaround. With our field realignment in place, we are now positioned more than ever to improve our business for our stakeholders."
FULL YEAR 2004
Hub expects its 2004 diluted earnings per share to be in the range of $1.25 to $1.40.
ABOUT HUB GROUP: Hub Group, Inc. is a leading non-asset based freight transportation management company providing comprehensive intermodal, truckload, LTL, railcar, airfreight and related logistics and distribution services. The Company operates through a network of over 30 offices throughout the United States, Canada and Mexico.
Certain prior year amounts have been reclassified to conform to the current year presentation.
CERTAIN FORWARD LOOKING STATEMENTS: Statements in this press release that are not historical, including statements regarding Hub Group's or management's intentions, beliefs, expectations, representations, projections, plans or predictions of the future, are forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements are inherently uncertain and subject to risks. Such statements should be viewed with caution. Actual results or experience could differ materially from the forward-looking statements as a result of many factors. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially include the factors listed from time to time in Hub Group's SEC reports including, but not limited to, the annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2002, and the quarterly reports on Form 10-Q for the quarters ended March 31, 2003, June 30, 2003 and September 30, 2003. Hub Group assumes no liability to update any such forward-looking statements.
HUB GROUP, INC.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
(in thousands, except per share amounts)
Unaudited
Three Months
Ended December 31, Years Ended December 31,
2003 2002 2003 2002
Revenue $359,196 $346,100 $1,359,614 $1,335,660
Transportation costs 317,485 303,174 1,188,932 1,172,848
Gross margin 41,711 42,926 170,682 162,812
Costs and expenses:
Salaries and benefits 21,291 23,237 89,980 93,476
Selling, general and
administrative 10,718 11,879 45,650 46,824
Depreciation and
amortization of property
and equipment 2,892 3,512 10,757 11,371
Total costs and expenses 34,901 38,628 146,387 151,671
Operating income 6,810 4,298 24,295 11,141
Other income (expense):
Interest expense (1,711) (2,146) (7,691) (9,453)
Interest income 43 64 160 230
Other, net 72 (178) 131 97
Total other expense (1,596) (2,260) (7,400) (9,126)
Income before minority
interest and provision
for income taxes 5,214 2,038 16,895 2,015
Minority interest - - - (524)
Income before provision for
income taxes 5,214 2,038 16,895 2,539
Provision for income taxes 2,576 632 8,465 1,041
Net Income $2,638 $1,406 $8,430 $1,498
Diluted EPS $0.33 $0.18 $1.07 $0.19