U.S. Xpress Enterprises Reports Fourth Quarter 2020 Results

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn.--()--U.S. Xpress Enterprises, Inc. (NYSE: USX) (the “Company”) today announced results for the fourth quarter of 2020.

Fourth Quarter 2020 Highlights

  • Operating revenue of $455.6 million compared to $449.6 million in the fourth quarter of 2019
  • Operating income of $15.1 million compared to $1.4 million in the fourth quarter of 2019
  • Net income attributable to controlling interest of $7.6 million, or $0.15 per diluted share
  • Brokerage revenue grew to $76.4 million, up 41% as compared to the year ago quarter, with 60% of volumes processed across the Company’s digital platform
  • Variant exited the year with 688 tractors, providing 9.4% of Truckload revenues in the quarter

Fourth Quarter Financial Performance

Quarter Ended December 31,

Year Ended December 31,

 

2020

 

 

2019

 

 

2020

 

 

2019

 

Operating revenue

$

455,587

 

$

449,633

 

$

1,742,101

 

$

1,707,361

 

Revenue, excluding fuel surcharge

$

428,736

 

$

405,288

 

$

1,619,199

 

$

1,538,450

 

Operating income

$

15,051

 

$

1,363

 

$

43,551

 

$

26,070

 

Adjusted operating income1

$

15,051

 

$

1,202

 

$

43,551

 

$

29,839

 

Operating ratio

 

96.7

%

 

99.7

%

 

97.5

%

 

98.5

%

Adjusted operating ratio1

 

96.5

%

 

99.7

%

 

97.3

%

 

98.1

%

Net income (loss) attributable to controlling interest

$

7,574

 

$

(9,594

)

$

18,552

 

$

(3,647

)

Adjusted net income (loss) attributable to controlling interest1

$

7,574

 

$

(2,820

)

$

20,552

 

$

6,228

 

Earnings (losses) per diluted share

$

0.15

 

$

(0.20

)

$

0.35

 

$

(0.07

)

Adjusted earnings (losses) per diluted share1

$

0.15

 

$

(0.05

)

$

0.39

 

$

0.12

 

Eric Fuller, President and CEO, commented, “2020 was one of the most important years in our Company’s history as we successfully launched and scaled Variant, our digital fleet, from 0% to more than 9.4% of truckload revenues in the fourth quarter, grew our digital brokerage from 1.4% to more than 60% of brokerage transactions in the fourth quarter, and continued to invest in the future of our business. At the same time, we improved profitability and de-leveraged our balance sheet. We intend to continue successfully developing and implementing the digital initiatives that we believe are re-engineering our company to be a market leader in growth and profitability over the next decade.

We believe Variant represents an entirely new paradigm for operating trucks in an Over-the-Road environment utilizing artificial intelligence and digital platforms to recruit, plan, dispatch and manage its fleet. The division’s operating model, powered by cutting edge technology, has generated a more than 20% improvement in utilization while significantly reducing driver turnover, and safety incidents per million miles, all as compared to our legacy OTR fleet. Variant’s improved operating metrics all held steady as we grew this division by 40% to 688 tractors through the fourth quarter, and we remain firmly on track to meet or exceed our phase one goal of converting 900 legacy OTR tractors, in total, by the end of the first quarter of 2021.

Longer term, we see an opportunity to significantly grow Variant given the expected scalability of the operating model which we believe will believe will drive further cost and profitability improvements. Given the highly fragmented nature of the $800 billion U.S. trucking market, we believe this presents us with a long runway for growth. Our plans include accelerated growth of Variant as we target more than 1,500 tractors in the division by the end of 2021, and at least 20% growth in our brokerage division.”

Mr. Fuller continued, “While we experienced earnings degradation in our Dedicated division as driver and capacity costs accelerated faster than we were able to pass them through to our customers in the fourth quarter, our long-term expectations for improved Company-wide profitability have not changed. We are addressing customer pricing in certain Dedicated accounts and intend to continue to aggressively scale Variant. Taken together, we expect our profitability and earnings to improve over the course of 2021.”

Enterprise Update

Operating revenue was $455.6 million, an increase of $6.0 million compared to the fourth quarter of 2019. The increase was primarily attributable to increased revenues in the Company’s Brokerage division of $22.2 million, an increase of $1.2 million in Truckload revenue, and partially offset by decreased fuel surcharge revenues of $17.5 million. Excluding the impact of fuel surcharges, fourth quarter revenue increased $23.4 million to $428.7 million, an increase of 5.8% as compared to the prior year quarter.

Operating income for the fourth quarter of 2020 was $15.1 million which compares favorably to $1.4 million in the fourth quarter of 2019. The operating ratio for the fourth quarter of 2020 was 96.7% compared to 99.7% in the prior year quarter.

Net income attributable to controlling interest for the fourth quarter of 2020 was $7.6 million compared to a loss of $9.6 million in the prior year quarter. Earnings per diluted share were $0.15 for the fourth quarter of 2020 and adjusted earnings per diluted share1 were $0.15, which compares favorably to a loss per diluted share of $0.20 in the fourth quarter of 2019 and an adjusted loss per diluted share of $0.05.

Truckload Segment

Quarter Ended December 31, Year Ended December 31,

2020

2019

2020

2019

Over-the-Road
Average revenue per tractor per week*

$3,937

$3,517

$3,650

$3,558

Average revenue per mile*

$2.165

$1.949

$1.976

$1.949

Average revenue miles per tractor per week

1,819

1,805

1,847

1,825

Average tractors

3,355

3,835

3,675

3,712

Dedicated
Average revenue per tractor per week*

$4,081

$4,032

$4,084

$4,007

Average revenue per mile*

$2.373

$2.398

$2.363

$2.375

Average revenue miles per tractor per week

1,720

1,681

1,728

1,687

Average tractors

2,789

2,828

2,735

2,727

Consolidated
Average revenue per tractor per week*

$4,003

$3,735

$3,835

$3,748

Average revenue per mile*

$2.256

$2.132

$2.135

$2.122

Average revenue miles per tractor per week

1,774

1,752

1,796

1,767

Average tractors

6,144

6,663

6,410

6,439

* Excluding fuel surcharge revenues

The Truckload segment achieved an operating ratio of 96.2% for the fourth quarter of 2020, representing a 290 basis point improvement as compared to the 99.1% operating ratio achieved in the fourth quarter of 2019. The segment delivered an adjusted operating ratio1 of 96.0% for the fourth quarter of 2020, representing a 310 basis point improvement as compared to the adjusted operating ratio1 of 99.1% achieved in the year ago quarter. This improvement was primarily the result of higher rate per mile combined with lower claims expense and other costs partially offset by fewer average tractors in the quarter.

In the OTR division, average revenue per tractor per week increased 11.9% compared with the fourth quarter of 2019. The improvement primarily reflected an 11.1% increase in average revenue per mile and a 0.8% increase in revenue miles per tractor per week.

In the Dedicated division, average revenue per tractor per week increased $49 per tractor per week, or 1.2%, compared to the fourth quarter of 2019 primarily a result of a 2.3% increase in revenue miles per tractor per week partially offset by a 1.0% reduction in average revenue per mile.

Mr. Fuller added, “The market remained robust through the fourth quarter which contributed to improved demand and spot pricing. That said, qualified driver availability continues to be challenging given the large number of drivers who have left the industry as a result of the Drug and Alcohol Clearinghouse combined with fewer new drivers entering the industry due in part to lower school capacity related to COVID-19. Given this backdrop, we experienced higher driver and capacity costs in certain accounts within our Dedicated division without the offsetting benefit of improved rates which typically adjust more slowly up and down under the dedicated contracts. These driver and capacity challenges in Dedicated drove an approximate 400 basis point sequential decline in the division’s operating margins in the fourth quarter. Looking forward, we are actively engaged with our Dedicated customers and expect to address the increase in capacity costs over the course of the first quarter. We believe our corrective actions will allow that division to return to historical margins over the following two quarters, and are optimistic that the growth in Variant will deliver further improved profitability over the balance of the year.”

Variant Update

The Company continues to make progress on its initiative to have 900 tractors in the digital fleet component of its OTR division by the end of the first quarter of 2021. The average number of tractors in this division increased approximately 40% to 688 tractors sequentially from the third quarter of 2020. This growth in truck count combined with improved utilization compared to the Company’s legacy OTR division allowed Variant’s revenue to grow to 9.4% of Truckload revenues, sequentially, from 7.1% in the third quarter.

Brokerage Segment

Quarter Ended December 31,

Year Ended December 31,

 

2020

 

 

2019

 

 

2020

 

 

2019

 

Brokerage revenue

$

76,350

 

$

54,130

 

$

228,825

 

$

185,867

 

Gross margin %

 

13.3

%

 

7.2

%

 

8.5

%

 

12.9

%

Load Count

 

42,155

 

 

42,208

 

 

165,360

 

 

142,362

 

Percentage of loads processed on digital platform

 

62.1

%

 

1.4

%

 

36.8

%

< 1.0%

The Brokerage segment continues to provide additional selectivity for the Company’s assets to optimize yield while at the same time offering more capacity solutions to customers. Brokerage segment revenue increased to $76.4 million in the fourth quarter of 2020 compared to $54.1 million in the fourth quarter of 2019, primarily as a result of increased revenue per load. Brokerage operating income was $0.8 million in the fourth quarter of 2020 as compared to an operating loss of $2.0 million in the year ago quarter.

Mr. Fuller noted, “I am very pleased with our progress in improving the profitability of our Brokerage segment in the fourth quarter. The segment’s operating ratio improved 920 bps to 98.9%, as compared to the third quarter of 2020, and this significant margin expansion was achieved while growing revenues by more than 35% sequentially. This improvement was driven by a shift in the business mix between spot and contract pricing combined with an increase in our contract pricing. Additionally, our team processed 62.1% of our Brokerage transactions digitally in the fourth quarter, a significant increase from 1.4% in the prior year quarter. As we drive more volume over our digital platform, our Brokerage segment becomes much more scalable allowing us to profitably drive growth as we look to the years ahead.”

Liquidity and Capital Resources

At the end of the fourth quarter 2020, the Company had $175.3 million of liquidity (defined as cash plus availability under the Company’s revolving credit facility), $353.5 million of net debt (defined as long-term debt, including current maturities, less cash balances), and $260.9 million of total stockholders' equity.

Capital expenditures, net of proceeds, related primarily to tractors and trailers were $111.6 million for 2020, excluding equipment financed under operating leases. The Company expects its net capital expenditures to approximate $130 to $150 million for the full year of 2021.

Outlook

Mr. Fuller concluded, “Our Company is at a clear inflection point as we proved the Variant business model over the last year while also implementing a digital platform in our Brokerage Segment, which we believe positions the Brokerage business for profitable growth. Looking ahead, we see a large, fragmented market where we believe we can take meaningful share as we scale our digital platforms. In Variant, our goal is to transition our entire legacy OTR fleet to our digital fleet, over the medium term, which will drive improved profitability and revenue growth. In Brokerage, we are targeting more than 20% annual revenue growth given the scale advantages that our digital platform provides. Taken together, we expect revenue growth to accelerate and profitability to improve in the years ahead.”

Conference Call

The Company will hold a conference call to discuss its fourth quarter and full year 2020 results at 5:00 p.m. (Eastern Time) on January 28, 2021. The conference call can be accessed live over the by phone dialing 1-877-423-9813 or, for international callers, 1-201-689-8573 and requesting to be joined to the U.S. Xpress Fourth Quarter and Full Year 2020 Earnings Conference Call. A replay will be available starting at 8:00 p.m. (Eastern Time) on January 28, 2021, and can be accessed by dialing 1-844-512-2921 or, for international callers, 1-412-317-6671. The passcode for the replay is 13714800. The replay will be available until 11:59 p.m. (Eastern Time) on February 4, 2021.

Interested investors and other parties may also listen to a simultaneous webcast of the conference call by logging onto the investor relations section of the Company’s website at investor.usxpress.com. The online replay will remain available for a limited time beginning immediately following the call. Supplementary information for the conference call will also be available on this website.

(1) Non-GAAP Financial Measures

In addition to our net income determined in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (‘‘GAAP’’), we evaluate operating performance using certain non-GAAP measures, including Adjusted Operating Ratio, Adjusted Operating Income, Adjusted Net Income Attributable to Controlling Interest, and Adjusted EPS (on a consolidated and, as applicable, segment basis). Management believes the use of non-GAAP measures assists investors and securities analysts in understanding the ongoing operating performance of our business by allowing more effective comparison between periods. Further, management uses non-GAAP Adjusted Operating Ratio, Adjusted Operating Income, Adjusted Net Income Attributable to Controlling Interest, and Adjusted EPS measures on a supplemental basis to remove items that may not be an indicator of performance from period-to-period. The non-GAAP information provided is used by our management and may not be comparable to similar measures disclosed by other companies. The non-GAAP measures used herein have limitations as analytical tools and 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. You should not consider the non-GAAP measures used herein in isolation or as substitutes for analysis of our results as reported under GAAP. Management compensates for these limitations by relying primarily 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 Adjusted Operating Ratio, Adjusted Operating Income, Adjusted Net Income Attributable to Controlling Interest, and Adjusted EPS to the most comparable GAAP financial measures at the end of this press release.

About U.S. Xpress Enterprises

Through its subsidiaries, U.S. Xpress Enterprises, Inc. (NYSE: USX), offers customers over-the-road, dedicated, and brokerage services. Founded in 1985, the Company utilizes a combination of smart technology, a modern fleet of tractors and a network of highly trained, professional drivers to efficiently move freight for a wide variety of customers. U.S. Xpress implements a range of digital initiatives and technology to drive innovation in the industry, streamline the value chain for customers and improve the overall driver experience. For more, visit usxpress.com.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains certain statements that may be considered 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, and such statements are subject to the safe harbor created by those sections and the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, as amended. Such statements may be identified by their use of terms or phrases such as "expects," "estimates," "projects," "believes," "anticipates," "plans," "intends," “outlook,” “strategy,” “optimistic,” “will,” “could,” “should,” “may,” “focus,” “seek,” “potential,” “continue,” “goal,” “target,” “objective,” derivations thereof, and similar terms and phrases. In this press release, such statements may include, but are not limited to, statements in the "Outlook" section, statements regarding the freight environment, expected rates, expected margins, future growth of our digital fleet, digital brokerage, and Dedicated division, expected net capital expenditures, the expected impact of our driver, digital fleet, and other initiatives, and any other statements concerning: any projections of earnings, revenues, cash flows, capital expenditures, compliance with financial covenants, or other financial items; any statement of plans, strategies, or objectives for future operations; any statements regarding future economic or industry conditions or performance; any statements regarding our responses to COVID-19 and the associated economic conditions; and any statements of belief and any statements of assumptions underlying any of the foregoing. 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. The following factors, among others, could cause actual results to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements: general economic conditions, including inflation and consumer spending; political conditions and regulations, including future changes thereto; changes in tax laws or in their interpretations and changes in tax rates; future insurance and claims experience, including adverse changes in claims experience and loss development factors, or additional changes in management's estimates of liability based upon such experience and development factors that cause our expectations of insurance and claims expense to be inaccurate or otherwise impacts our results; impact of pending or future legal proceedings; future market for used revenue equipment and real estate; future revenue equipment prices; future capital expenditures, including equipment purchasing and leasing plans and equipment turnover (including expected trade-ins); fleet age; future depreciation and amortization; changes in management’s estimates of the need for new tractors and trailers; future ability to generate sufficient cash from operations and obtain financing on favorable terms to meet our significant ongoing capital requirements; our ability to maintain compliance with the provisions of our credit agreement; freight environment, including freight demand, rates, capacity, and volumes; future asset utilization; loss of one or more of our major customers; our ability to renew dedicated service offering contracts on the terms and schedule we expect; surplus inventories, recessionary economic cycles, and downturns in customers' business cycles; strikes, work slowdowns, or work stoppages at the Company, customers, ports, or other shipping related facilities; increases or rapid fluctuations in fuel prices, as well as fluctuations in surcharge collection, including, but not limited to, changes in customer fuel surcharge policies and increases in fuel surcharge bases by customers; interest rates, fuel taxes, tolls, and license and registration fees; increases in compensation for and difficulty in attracting and retaining qualified professional drivers and independent contractors; seasonal factors such as harsh weather conditions that increase operating costs; competition from trucking, rail, intermodal, and brokerage (including digital brokerage) competitors; regulatory requirements that increase costs, decrease efficiency, or reduce the availability of drivers, including revised hours-of-service requirements for drivers and the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration’s Compliance, Safety, Accountability program that implemented new driver standards and modified the methodology for determining a carrier’s Department of Transportation safety rating; future safety performance; our ability to reduce, or control increases in, operating costs; future third-party service provider relationships and availability; execution of the Company’s current business strategy or changes in the Company’s business strategy; the ability of the Company’s infrastructure to support future organic or inorganic growth; our ability to identify acceptable acquisition candidates, consummate acquisitions, and integrate acquired operations; our ability to adapt to changing market conditions and technologies, including the future use of autonomous tractors; disruptions to our information technology; the cost of and our ability to effectively and efficiently implement technology initiatives; costs, diversion of management’s attention, and potential payments made in connection with the multiple class action lawsuits a stockholder derivative lawsuit arising out of our IPO; changes in methods of determining LIBOR or replacement of LIBOR; credit, reputational and relationship risks of certain of our current and former equity investments; risks arising from our Mexican operations; our ability to maintain effective internal controls without material weaknesses, as well as remediate the existing material weakness; and the impact of the recent coronavirus outbreak or other similar outbreaks. Readers should review and consider these factors along with the various disclosures by the Company in its press releases, stockholder reports, and filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. 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.

 
Condensed Consolidated Income Statements (unaudited)

Quarter Ended December 31,

Year Ended December 31,

(in thousands, except per share data)

 

2020

 

2019

 

 

2020

 

 

2019

 

Operating Revenue:
Revenue, excluding fuel surcharge

$

428,736

$

405,288

 

$

1,619,199

 

$

1,538,450

 

Fuel surcharge

 

26,851

 

44,345

 

 

122,902

 

 

168,911

 

Total operating revenue

 

455,587

 

449,633

 

 

1,742,101

 

 

1,707,361

 

Operating Expenses:
Salaries, wages and benefits

 

143,618

 

140,894

 

 

556,507

 

 

530,801

 

Fuel and fuel taxes

 

33,412

 

47,922

 

 

136,677

 

 

189,174

 

Vehicle rents

 

22,516

 

23,039

 

 

86,684

 

 

80,064

 

Depreciation and amortization, net of (gain) loss

 

24,956

 

19,839

 

 

102,827

 

 

94,337

 

Purchased transportation

 

143,079

 

132,572

 

 

516,196

 

 

481,589

 

Operating expense and supplies

 

32,107

 

37,504

 

 

133,356

 

 

142,248

 

Insurance premiums and claims

 

21,912

 

25,770

 

 

87,053

 

 

88,959

 

Operating taxes and licenses

 

4,328

 

3,737

 

 

15,084

 

 

13,849

 

Communications and utilities

 

2,095

 

2,269

 

 

8,990

 

 

8,928

 

Gain on sale of subsidiary

 

-

 

(161

)

 

-

 

 

(831

)

General and other operating

 

12,513

 

14,885

 

 

55,176

 

 

52,173

 

Total operating expenses

 

440,536

 

448,270

 

 

1,698,550

 

 

1,681,291

 

Operating Income

 

15,051

 

1,363

 

 

43,551

 

 

26,070

 

Other Expenses:
Interest Expense, net

 

4,183

 

5,269

 

 

18,847

 

 

21,635

 

Equity in loss of affiliated companies

 

-

 

6,793

 

 

-

 

 

7,063

 

Other, net

 

-

 

-

 

 

2,000

 

 

26

 

 

4,183

 

12,062

 

 

20,847

 

 

28,724

 

Income (Loss) Before Income Taxes

 

10,868

 

(10,699

)

 

22,704

 

 

(2,654

)

Income Tax Provision (Benefit)

 

3,205

 

(1,114

)

 

5,072

 

 

389

 

Net Income (Loss)

 

7,663

 

(9,585

)

 

17,632

 

 

(3,043

)

Net Income (Loss) attributable to non-controlling interest

 

89

 

9

 

 

(920

)

 

604

 

Net Income (Loss) attributable to controlling interest

$

7,574

$

(9,594

)

$

18,552

 

$

(3,647

)

 
Income (Loss) Per Share
Basic earnings (losses) per share

$

0.15

$

(0.20

)

$

0.37

 

$

(0.07

)

Basic weighted average shares outstanding

 

49,724

 

49,022

 

 

49,528

 

 

48,788

 

Diluted earnings (losses) per share

$

0.15

$

(0.20

)

$

0.35

 

$

(0.07

)

Diluted weighted average shares outstanding

 

51,186

 

49,022

 

 

50,674

 

 

48,788

 

 
Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets (unaudited)

December 31,

December 31,

(in thousands)

 

2020

 

 

2019

 

Assets
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents

$

5,505

 

$

5,687

 

Customer receivables, net of allowance of $157 and $63, respectively

 

189,869

 

 

183,706

 

Other receivables

 

19,203

 

 

15,253

 

Prepaid insurance and licenses

 

14,265

 

 

11,326

 

Operating supplies

 

8,953

 

 

7,193

 

Assets held for sale

 

12,382

 

 

17,732

 

Other current assets

 

16,263

 

 

15,831

 

Total current assets

 

266,440

 

 

256,728

 

Property and equipment, at cost

 

896,264

 

 

880,101

 

Less accumulated depreciation and amortization

 

(394,603

)

 

(388,318

)

Net property and equipment

 

501,661

 

 

491,783

 

Other assets:
Operating lease right-of-use assets

 

287,251

 

 

276,618

 

Goodwill

 

59,221

 

 

57,708

 

Intangible assets, net

 

25,513

 

 

27,214

 

Other

 

39,504

 

 

30,058

 

Total other assets

 

411,489

 

 

391,598

 

Total assets

$

1,179,590

 

$

1,140,109

 

Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity
Current liabilities:
Accounts payable

$

83,621

 

$

68,918

 

Book overdraft

 

-

 

 

1,313

 

Accrued wages and benefits

 

40,095

 

 

24,110

 

Claims and insurance accruals

 

47,667

 

 

51,910

 

Other accrued liabilities

 

5,986

 

 

9,127

 

Current portion of operating leases

 

78,193

 

 

69,866

 

Current maturities of long-term debt and finance leases

 

103,690

 

 

80,247

 

Total current liabilities

 

359,252

 

 

305,491

 

Long-term debt and finance leases, net of current maturities

 

255,287

 

 

315,797

 

Less debt issuance costs

 

(314

)

 

(1,223

)

Net long-term debt and finance leases

 

254,973

 

 

314,574

 

Deferred income taxes

 

25,162

 

 

20,692

 

Other long-term liabilities

 

14,615

 

 

5,249

 

Claims and insurance accruals, long-term

 

55,420

 

 

56,910

 

Noncurrent operating lease liability

 

209,311

 

 

206,357

 

Commitments and contingencies

 

-

 

 

-

 

Stockholders' Equity:
Common Stock

 

497

 

 

490

 

Additional paid-in capital

 

261,338

 

 

250,700

 

Accumulated deficit

 

(2,430

)

 

(20,982

)

Stockholders' equity

 

259,405

 

 

230,208

 

Noncontrolling interest

 

1,452

 

 

628

 

Total stockholders' equity

 

260,857

 

 

230,836

 

Total liabilities and stockholders' equity

$

1,179,590

 

$

1,140,109

 

Condensed Consolidated Cash Flow Statements (unaudited)

Year Ended December 31,

(in thousands)

 

2020

 

 

2019

 

Operating activities
Net income (loss)

$

17,632

 

$

(3,043

)

Adjustments to reconcile net income (loss) to net cash provided by operating activities:
Deferred income tax provision

 

4,470

 

 

714

 

Impairment of equity method investment

 

-

 

 

6,793

 

Equity in loss of affiliated company

 

-

 

 

270

 

Depreciation and amortization

 

90,116

 

 

90,484

 

Losses on sale of property and equipment

 

12,711

 

 

3,853

 

Share based compensation

 

4,395

 

 

3,846

 

Other

 

3,367

 

 

660

 

Gain on sale of subsidiary

 

-

 

 

(831

)

Changes in operating assets and liabilities
Receivables

 

(10,048

)

 

7,149

 

Prepaid insurance and licenses

 

(2,939

)

 

(3,294

)

Operating supplies

 

(900

)

 

70

 

Other assets

 

(3,718

)

 

(7,790

)

Accounts payable and other accrued liabilities

 

19,940

 

 

5,572

 

Accrued wages and benefits

 

15,863

 

 

(704

)

Net cash provided by operating activities

 

150,889

 

 

103,749

 

Investing activities
Payments for purchases of property and equipment

 

(186,122

)

 

(151,751

)

Proceeds from sales of property and equipment

 

81,399

 

 

77,966

 

Other

 

(6,880

)

 

(2,000

)

Proceeds from sale of subsidiary, net of cash

 

-

 

 

(5,845

)

Net cash used in investing activities

 

(111,603

)

 

(81,630

)

Financing activities
Borrowings under lines of credit

 

278,654

 

 

107,300

 

Payments under lines of credit

 

(278,654

)

 

(107,300

)

Borrowings under long-term debt

 

263,992

 

 

106,341

 

Payments of long-term debt and finance leases

 

(301,059

)

 

(136,228

)

Payments of financing costs

 

(1,391

)

 

(190

)

Net proceeds from issuance of common stock under ESPP

 

851

 

 

349

 

Tax withholding related to net share settlement of restricted stock awards

 

(135

)

 

(44

)

Purchase of noncontrolling interest

 

-

 

 

(8,659

)

Payments of long-term consideration for business acquisition

 

(1,000

)

 

(990

)

Proceeds from long-term consideration for sale of subsidiary

 

587

 

 

-

 

Book overdraft

 

(1,313

)

 

1,313

 

Net cash used in financing activities

 

(39,468

)

 

(38,108

)

Change in cash balances of assets held for sale

 

-

 

 

11,784

 

Net change in cash and cash equivalents

 

(182

)

 

(4,205

)

Cash and cash equivalents
Beginning of year

 

5,687

 

 

9,892

 

End of period

$

5,505

 

$

5,687

 

Key Operating Factors & Truckload Statistics (unaudited)
 

Quarter Ended December 31,

%

Year Ended December 31,

%

 

2020

 

 

2019

 

Change

 

2020

 

 

2019

 

Change

Operating Revenue:
Truckload1

$

352,386

 

$

351,158

 

0.3

%

$

1,390,374

 

$

1,352,583

 

2.8

%

Fuel Surcharge

 

26,851

 

 

44,345

 

-39.4

%

 

122,902

 

 

168,911

 

-27.2

%

Brokerage

 

76,350

 

 

54,130

 

41.0

%

 

228,825

 

 

185,867

 

23.1

%

Total Operating Revenue

$

455,587

 

$

449,633

 

1.3

%

$

1,742,101

 

$

1,707,361

 

2.0

%

 
Operating Income (Loss):
Truckload

$

14,232

 

$

3,382

 

320.8

%

$

56,267

 

$

24,071

 

133.8

%

Brokerage

$

819

 

$

(2,019

)

-140.6

%

$

(12,716

)

$

1,999

 

-736.1

%

$

15,051

 

$

1,363

 

1004.3

%

$

43,551

 

$

26,070

 

67.1

%

 
Operating Ratio:
Operating Ratio

 

96.7

%

 

99.7

%

-3.0

%

 

97.5

%

 

98.5

%

-1.0

%

Adjusted Operating Ratio2

 

96.5

%

 

99.7

%

-3.2

%

 

97.3

%

 

98.1

%

-0.8

%

 
Truckload Operating Ratio

 

96.2

%

 

99.1

%

-2.9

%

 

96.3

%

 

98.4

%

-2.1

%

Adjusted Truckload Operating Ratio2

 

96.0

%

 

99.1

%

-3.1

%

 

96.0

%

 

97.9

%

-2.0

%

Brokerage Operating Ratio

 

98.9

%

 

103.7

%

-4.6

%

 

105.6

%

 

98.9

%

6.8

%

 
Truckload Statistics:
Revenue Per Mile1

$

2.256

 

$

2.132

 

5.8

%

$

2.135

 

$

2.122

 

0.6

%

 
Average Tractors -
Company Owned

 

4,532

 

 

4,808

 

-5.7

%

 

4,689

 

 

4,681

 

0.2

%

Owner Operators

 

1,612

 

 

1,855

 

-13.1

%

 

1,721

 

 

1,758

 

-2.1

%

Total Average Tractors

 

6,144

 

 

6,663

 

-7.8

%

 

6,410

 

 

6,439

 

-0.5

%

 
Average Revenue Miles Per Tractor
Per Week

 

1,774

 

 

1,752

 

1.3

%

 

1,796

 

 

1,767

 

1.6

%

 
Average Revenue Per Tractor
Per Week1

$

4,003

 

$

3,735

 

7.2

%

$

3,835

 

$

3,748

 

2.3

%

 
Total Miles

 

158,511

 

 

171,351

 

-7.5

%

 

668,731

 

 

658,705

 

1.5

%

 
Total Company Miles

 

116,425

 

 

120,322

 

-3.2

%

 

479,307

 

 

466,821

 

2.7

%

 
Total Independent Contractor Miles

 

42,086

 

 

51,029

 

-17.5

%

 

189,424

 

 

191,884

 

-1.3

%

 
Independent Contractor fuel surcharge

 

6,225

 

 

12,275

 

-49.3

%

$

31,585

 

 

46,862

 

-32.6

%

 
1 Excluding fuel surcharge revenues
2 See GAAP to non-GAAP reconciliation in the schedules following this release
Non-GAAP Reconciliation - Adjusted Operating Income and Adjusted Operating Ratio (unaudited)
 

Quarter Ended December 31,

Year Ended December 31,

(in thousands)

 

2020

 

 

2019

 

 

2020

 

 

2019

 

GAAP Presentation:
Total revenue

$

455,587

 

$

449,633

 

$

1,742,101

 

$

1,707,361

 

Total operating expenses

 

(440,536

)

 

(448,270

)

 

(1,698,550

)

 

(1,681,291

)

Operating income

$

15,051

 

$

1,363

 

$

43,551

 

$

26,070

 

Operating ratio

 

96.7

%

 

99.7

%

 

97.5

%

 

98.5

%

 
Non-GAAP Presentation
Total revenue

$

455,587

 

$

449,633

 

$

1,742,101

 

$

1,707,361

 

Fuel surcharge

 

(26,851

)

 

(44,345

)

 

(122,902

)

 

(168,911

)

Revenue, excluding fuel surcharge

 

428,736

 

 

405,288

 

 

1,619,199

 

 

1,538,450

 

 
Total operating expenses

 

440,536

 

 

448,270

 

 

1,698,550

 

 

1,681,291

 

Adjusted for:
Fuel surcharge

 

(26,851

)

 

(44,345

)

 

(122,902

)

 

(168,911

)

Mexico transition costs1

 

-

 

 

-

 

 

-

 

 

(4,600

)

Gain on sale of subsidiary2

 

-

 

 

161

 

 

-

 

 

831

 

Adjusted operating expenses

 

413,685

 

 

404,086

 

 

1,575,648

 

 

1,508,611

 

Adjusted Operating Income

$

15,051

 

$

1,202

 

$

43,551

 

$

29,839

 

Adjusted operating ratio

 

96.5

%

 

99.7

%

 

97.3

%

 

98.1

%

1During the year ended December 31, 2019, we incurred expenses related to the exit of our Mexico business totaling $4,600
2During the fourth quarter and year ending December 31, 2019, we recognized a gain on the sale of our Mexico business totaling $161 and $831
Non-GAAP Reconciliation - Truckload Adjusted Operating Income and Adjusted Operating Ratio (unaudited)

 

Quarter Ended December 31,

Year Ended December 31,

(in thousands)

 

2020

 

 

2019

 

 

2020

 

 

2019

 

Truckload GAAP Presentation:
Total Truckload revenue

$

379,237

 

$

395,503

 

$

1,513,276

 

$

1,521,494

 

Total Truckload operating expenses

 

(365,005

)

 

(392,121

)

 

(1,457,009

)

 

(1,497,423

)

Truckload operating income

$

14,232

 

$

3,382

 

$

56,267

 

$

24,071

 

Truckload operating ratio

 

96.2

%

 

99.1

%

 

96.3

%

 

98.4

%

 
Truckload Non-GAAP Presentation
Total Truckload revenue

$

379,237

 

$

395,503

 

$

1,513,276

 

$

1,521,494

 

Fuel surcharge

 

(26,851

)

 

(44,345

)

 

(122,902

)

 

(168,911

)

Revenue, excluding fuel surcharge

 

352,386

 

 

351,158

 

 

1,390,374

 

 

1,352,583

 

 
Total Truckload operating expenses

 

365,005

 

 

392,121

 

 

1,457,009

 

 

1,497,423

 

Adjusted for:
Fuel surcharge

 

(26,851

)

 

(44,345

)

 

(122,902

)

 

(168,911

)

Mexico transition costs1

 

-

 

 

-

 

 

-

 

 

(4,600

)

Gain on sale of subsidiary2

 

-

 

 

161

 

 

-

 

 

831

 

Truckload Adjusted operating expenses

 

338,154

 

 

347,937

 

 

1,334,107

 

 

1,324,743

 

Truckload Adjusted operating income

$

14,232

 

$

3,221

 

$

56,267

 

$

27,840

 

Truckload Adjusted operating ratio

 

96.0

%

 

99.1

%

 

96.0

%

 

97.9

%

1During the year ended December 31, 2019, we incurred expenses related to the exit of our Mexico business totaling $4,600
2During the fourth quarter and year ending December 31, 2019, we recognized a gain on the sale of our Mexico business totaling $161 and $831
Non-GAAP Reconciliation - Adjusted Net Income and EPS (unaudited)
 

Quarter Ended December 31,

Year Ended December 31,

(in thousands, except per share data)

 

2020

 

2019

 

 

2020

 

2019

 

GAAP: Net income (loss) attributable to controlling interest

$

7,574

$

(9,594

)

$

18,552

$

(3,647

)

Adjusted for:
Income tax provision (benefit)

 

3,205

 

(1,114

)

 

5,072

 

389

 

Income (loss) before income taxes attributable to controlling interest

$

10,779

$

(10,708

)

$

23,624

$

(3,258

)

Loss on sale of equity method investments1

 

-

 

-

 

 

2,000

 

-

 

Mexico transition costs2

 

-

 

-

 

 

-

 

4,600

 

Gain on sale of subsidiary3

 

-

 

(161

)

 

-

 

(831

)

Impairment of other equity method investment4

 

-

 

6,793

 

 

-

 

7,063

 

Adjusted income (loss) before income taxes

 

10,779

 

(4,076

)

 

25,624

 

7,574

 

Adjusted income tax provision (benefit)

 

3,205

 

(1,256

)

 

5,072

 

1,346

 

Non-GAAP: Adjusted net income (loss) attributable to controlling interest

$

7,574

$

(2,820

)

$

20,552

$

6,228

 

 
GAAP: Earnings per diluted share

$

0.15

$

(0.20

)

$

0.35

$

(0.07

)

Adjusted for:
Income tax (benefit) expense attributable to controlling interest

 

0.06

 

(0.02

)

 

0.10

 

0.01

 

Income (loss) before income taxes attributable to controlling interest

$

0.21

$

(0.22

)

$

0.45

$

(0.06

)

Loss on sale of equity method investments1

 

-

 

-

 

 

0.04

 

-

 

Mexico transition costs2

 

-

 

-

 

 

-

 

0.09

 

Gain on sale of subsidiary3

 

-

 

(0.00

)

 

-

 

(0.02

)

Impairment of assets held for sale and other equity method investments3&4

 

-

 

0.14

 

 

-

 

0.14

 

Adjusted income (loss) before income taxes

 

0.21

 

(0.08

)

 

0.49

 

0.15

 

Adjusted income tax provision (benefit)

 

0.06

 

(0.03

)

 

0.10

 

0.03

 

Non-GAAP: Adjusted net income (loss) attributable to controlling interest

$

0.15

$

(0.05

)

$

0.39

$

0.12

 

1During the first quarter of 2020, we incurred loss on sale related to an equity method investment in a former wholly owned subsidiary
2During the year ended December 31, 2019, we incurred expenses related to the exit of our Mexico business totaling $4,600
3During the fourth quarter and year ending December 31, 2019, we recognized a gain on the sale of our Mexico business totaling $161 and $831
4During the fourth quarter of 2019, we incurred impairment charges related to an equity method investment in a former wholly owned subsidiary

USX Financial

Contacts

U.S. Xpress Enterprises, Inc.
Brian Baubach
Sr. Vice President Corporate Finance
investors@usxpress.com

Contacts

U.S. Xpress Enterprises, Inc.
Brian Baubach
Sr. Vice President Corporate Finance
investors@usxpress.com