News - 2017

• Second Quarter 2017 Revenue:$1.73 billion; up 7%
• Second Quarter 2017 Operating Income:$164 million; down 7%
• Second Quarter 2017 EPS:88 cents vs. 92 cents

LOWELL, Ark.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- J.B. Hunt Transport Services, Inc., (NASDAQ: JBHT) announced second quarter 2017 net earnings of $97.9 million, or diluted earnings per share of 88 cents vs. second quarter 2016 net earnings of $105 million, or 92 cents per diluted share.

Total operating revenue for the current quarter was $1.73 billion, compared with $1.62 billion for the second quarter 2016, an increase of 7%. Current quarter total operating revenue, excluding fuel surcharges, increased 5% vs. the comparable quarter 2016. Load growth of 5% in Intermodal (JBI), a 5% increase in revenue producing trucks in Dedicated Contract Services (DCS) and a 20% increase in volume in Integrated Capacity Solutions (ICS) contributed to the increase in consolidated revenue compared to prior year.

Operating income for the current quarter totaled $164 million versus $176 million for the second quarter 2016. The benefits of volume growth and increases in revenue producing truck counts were substantially offset by lower customer rates, increases in rail and over the road purchased transportation costs, start-up costs associated with new DCS contracts, higher driver wages and recruiting costs, increased insurance and claims costs, increased equipment and facility maintenance costs and increased technology costs.

Interest expense in the current quarter increased due to higher interest rates compared to the same period last year. The effective income tax rate for the quarter was 37.4% versus 38.0% for the second quarter 2016. The 2017 annual tax rate is expected to be approximately 35.0% primarily from the one-time tax benefit recognized in the first quarter 2017.

The Company posted revised full year 2017 Financial Expectations on its website under the Investors tab at www.jbhunt.com.

Segment Information:

Intermodal (JBI)

• Second Quarter 2017 Segment Revenue:$1.0 billion; up 7%
• Second Quarter 2017 Operating Income:$110 million; up 4%

JBI load volumes grew 5% over the same period in 2016. Transcontinental loads grew 10% while Eastern network volumes were down 2% compared to a year ago. Revenue increased 7% reflecting the 5% volume growth and an approximate 2% increase in revenue per load, which is the combination of customer rate changes, fuel surcharges and freight mix. Revenue per load, excluding fuel surcharge revenue decreased 1% from second quarter 2016.

Operating income increased 4% from prior year. Benefits from volume growth and dray fleet productivity were offset by cost increases in rail purchased transportation, driver pay and retention costs, driver recruiting costs, technology development and modernization costs and equipment ownership costs. The current period ended with approximately 85,600 units of trailing capacity and 5,300 power units assigned to the dray fleet.

Dedicated Contract Services (DCS)

• Second Quarter 2017 Segment Revenue: $412 million; up 8%
• Second Quarter 2017 Operating Income:$49 million; down 4%

DCS revenue increased 8% during the current quarter over the same period in 2016. Productivity, defined as revenue per truck per week, increased approximately 2% vs. 2016. Productivity excluding fuel surcharges was flat over a year ago. Increased revenue from better integration of assets between customer accounts and customer rate increases was partially offset by lower productivity at new contracts implemented during the current quarter. A net additional 486 revenue producing trucks, 226 net additions compared to first quarter 2017, were in the fleet by the end of the quarter compared to prior year. Approximately 71% of these additions represent private fleet conversions versus traditional dedicated capacity fleets. Customer retention rates remain above 98%.

Operating income decreased 4% over the prior year quarter primarily from increases in driver wages, increased accident frequency driving higher insurance and claims costs and higher start-up expenses for new customer contracts compared to the second quarter 2016.

Integrated Capacity Solutions (ICS)

• Second Quarter 2017 Segment Revenue:$222 million; up 9%
• Second Quarter 2017 Operating Loss:$(0.2) million; down 102%

ICS revenue was up 9% compared to the second quarter 2016. Volumes increased 20% while revenue per load decreased 9%, primarily due to freight mix changes driven by customer demand, compared to second quarter 2016. Spot volumes increased 20% and contractual volumes increased 22% from a year ago. Contractual volumes represented approximately 73% of total load volume and 58% of total revenue compared to 72% and 65%, respectively, in second quarter 2016.

Operating income decreased 102% over the same period 2016 primarily from lower gross profit margins, increased claims cost, a higher number of branches open less than two years (16 vs. 10 in 2016), and higher technology development costs. Gross profit margins decreased to 11.6% in the current quarter versus 15.0% in the same period last year. The decrease in gross margin percentage is primarily the result of higher purchased transportation costs on dry van volumes that outpaced customer rate increases implemented on contractual business compared to second quarter 2016. Total branch count increased to 42 from 35 at second quarter 2016. The carrier base increased 9% and the employee count increased 21% vs. second quarter 2016.

Truck (JBT)

• Second Quarter 2017 Segment Revenue:$95 million; down 4%
• Second Quarter 2017 Operating Income:$5.6 million; down 37%

JBT revenue for the current quarter was down 4% compared to the same period in 2016. Revenue excluding fuel surcharges decreased 6% from a year ago. Rate per loaded mile excluding fuel surcharges was up approximately 0.9% primarily from customer driven freight mix changes, including a 6.3% decrease in length of haul. Customer contract rates decreased approximately 0.4% compared to the same period in 2016. At the end of the period, JBT operated 2,072 tractors compared to 2,186 a year ago.

Operating income decreased 37% compared to the same quarter 2016. The benefit from higher customer rates per mile was more than offset by increased driver pay and hiring costs, higher independent contractor cost per mile and increased tractor maintenance costs compared to the second quarter 2016.

Cash Flow and Capitalization:

At June 30, 2017, we had a total of $943 million outstanding on various debt instruments compared to $958 million at June 30, 2016 and $986 million at December 31, 2016.

Our net capital expenditures for the six months ended June 30, 2017 approximated $165 million compared to $258 million for the same period 2016. At June 30, 2017, we had cash and cash equivalents of $7.3 million.

We purchased approximately 564,000 shares of our common stock during the second quarter 2017 for approximately $50 million. At June 30, 2017, we had approximately $521 million remaining under our combined current and new share repurchase authorizations. Actual shares outstanding at June 30, 2017 approximated 109.4 million.

This press release may contain forward-looking statements, which are based on information currently available. Actual results may differ materially from those currently anticipated due to a number of factors, including, but not limited to, those discussed in Item 1A of our Annual Report filed on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2016. We assume no obligation to update any forward-looking statement to the extent we become aware that it will not be achieved for any reason. This press release and additional information will be available immediately to interested parties on our website, www.jbhunt.com.