News - 2018

• Second Quarter 2018 Revenue:$2.14 billion; up 24%
• Second Quarter 2018 Operating Income:$214.8 million; up 31%
• Second Quarter 2018 EPS:$1.37 vs. 88 cents

LOWELL, Ark.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- J.B. Hunt Transport Services, Inc., (NASDAQ:JBHT) announced second quarter 2018 net earnings of $151.7 million, or diluted earnings per share of $1.37 vs. second quarter 2017 net earnings of $97.9 million, or 88 cents per diluted share.

Total operating revenue for the current quarter was $2.14 billion, compared with $1.73 billion for the second quarter 2017, an increase of 24%. Current quarter total operating revenue, excluding fuel surcharges, increased 21% vs. the comparable quarter 2017. An increase in revenue per load of 12% and load growth of 4% in Intermodal (JBI), a 17% increase in revenue producing trucks and a 10% increase in truck productivity in Dedicated Contract Services (DCS), a 38% increase in volume and a 13% increase in revenue per load in Integrated Capacity Solutions (ICS), and a 14% increase in rates per loaded mile in Truck (JBT) contributed to the increase in consolidated revenue compared to prior year.

Operating income for the current quarter totaled $214.8 million vs. $163.6 million for the second quarter 2017. The benefits of customer rate increases, volume growth, and increases in revenue producing truck counts were partially offset by increases in rail, over the road and outsourced dray purchased transportation costs, start-up costs associated with new DCS contracts, higher driver wages and recruiting costs, increased office and support personnel costs, increased technology costs for structural upgrades, and further development of J.B. Hunt 360, increased losses on the sale of equipment and increased equipment maintenance and facility 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 26.0% vs. 37.4% for the second quarter 2017.

Segment Information:

Intermodal (JBI)

• Second Quarter 2018 Segment Revenue:$1.16 billion; up 16%
• Second Quarter 2018 Operating Income:$134 million; up 22%

JBI load volumes grew 4% over the same period in 2017. Transcontinental loads decreased approximately 2% from second quarter 2017 mainly from network congestion and freight mix changes away from higher cost dray movements. Eastern network volumes grew approximately 13% compared to a year ago. Revenue increased 16% reflecting the 4% volume growth and an approximate 12% 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, increased 8% from second quarter 2017.

Operating income increased 22% from prior year. Benefits from customer rate increases and volume growth were partially offset by increases in rail purchased transportation costs, driver pay and retention costs, driver recruiting costs, outsourced dray costs, costs to install and integrate container tracking solutions, and equipment ownership costs. The current period ended with approximately 90,600 units of trailing capacity and 5,540 power units assigned to the dray fleet.

Dedicated Contract Services (DCS)

• Second Quarter 2018 Segment Revenue: $530 million; up 29%
• Second Quarter 2018 Operating Income:$58.5 million; up 20%

DCS revenue increased 29% during the current quarter over the same period in 2017. Productivity, defined as revenue per truck per week, increased approximately 10% vs. 2017. Productivity excluding fuel surcharges increased approximately 7% over a year ago primarily from customer rate increases, improved integration of assets between customer accounts, and increased customer supply chain fluidity. Included in the DCS revenue growth, Final Mile Services (FMS) recorded an increase in revenue of $39 million (including approximately $25.8 million from the July 2017 acquisition) compared to second quarter 2017. A net additional 1,284 revenue producing trucks, 148 net additions compared to first quarter 2018, were in the fleet by the end of the quarter compared to the prior year. Approximately 55% of these additions represent private fleet conversions and 39% represent FMS vs. traditional dedicated capacity fleets. Customer retention rates remain above 98%.

Operating income increased 20% over the prior year quarter primarily from increased productivity and additional trucks under contract; partially offset by increased costs in the expanding FMS network, increased driver wages and recruiting costs, increased maintenance costs on equipment scheduled to be traded in 2018, increased insurance and claims costs, and approximately $1.9 million in non-cash amortization expense compared to the second quarter 2017.

Integrated Capacity Solutions (ICS)

• Second Quarter 2018 Segment Revenue:$347 million; up 56%
• Second Quarter 2018 Operating Income:$14.9 million vs. an Operating Loss of $(0.2) million in 2017

ICS revenue was up 56% compared to the second quarter 2017. Volumes increased 38% while revenue per load increased approximately 13%, primarily due to increased contractual and spot rates compared to second quarter 2017. Spot volumes increased 63% and contractual volumes increased 28% from a year ago. Contractual volumes represented approximately 68% of total load volume and 45% of total revenue compared to 73% and 58%, respectively, in second quarter 2017. Of the total reported ICS revenue, approximately $137 million was executed through the marketplace for J.B. Hunt 360 compared to $96 million in first quarter 2018.

Operating income increased $15.1 million over the same period 2017 primarily from a higher gross profit margin, improved operating leverage in branches open more than two years and lower insurance and claims costs partially offset by higher personnel costs and higher technology development costs as the marketplace for J.B. Hunt 360 continues expansion. Gross profit margins increased to 14.8% in the current quarter vs. 11.6% in the same period last year due to both improved contractual margins and a continuing active spot market. Total branch count increased to 44 from 42 at second quarter 2017. The carrier base increased 19% and the employee count increased 19% vs. second quarter 2017.

Truck (JBT)

• Second Quarter 2018 Segment Revenue:$101 million; up 7%
• Second Quarter 2018 Operating Income:$7.5 million; up 35%

JBT revenue increased 7% compared to the same period in 2017 primarily from customer rate increases and freight mix changes. Revenue excluding fuel surcharges increased approximately 4%, primarily from an increase in revenue per load partially offset by a decrease in load count. Revenue per load excluding fuel surcharges was up approximately 14% from an equivalent increase in rates per loaded mile compared to the same period in 2017. Customer contract rates increased approximately 7.2% compared to the same period in 2017. At the end of the period, JBT operated 1,976 tractors compared to 2,072 a year ago.

Operating income increased 35% compared to the same quarter 2017. The benefits from higher revenue per load and lower equipment ownership costs were partially offset by increased driver wage costs, higher independent contractor cost per mile, increased driver and independent contractor recruiting costs, and an average of 180 unseated trucks during the current period compared to the second quarter 2017.

Cash Flow and Capitalization:

At June 30, 2018, we had approximately $1.0 billion outstanding on various debt instruments compared to $943 million at June 30, 2017, and $1.09 billion at December 31, 2017.

Our net capital expenditures for the six months ended June 30, 2018, approximated $354 million compared to $165 million for the same period 2017. At June 30, 2018, we had cash and cash equivalents of $15.2 million.

We purchased approximately 420,000 shares of our common stock during the second quarter 2018 for approximately $50 million. At June 30, 2018, we had approximately $471 million remaining under our share repurchase authorization. Actual shares outstanding at June 30, 2018 approximated 109.3 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, 2017. 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.