News - 2020

• Second Quarter 2020 Revenue: $2.15 billion; down 5%
• Second Quarter 2020 Operating Income: $175.2 million; down 9%
• Second Quarter 2020 EPS: $1.14 vs. $1.23

LOWELL, Ark.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- J.B. Hunt Transport Services, Inc., (NASDAQ: JBHT) announced second quarter 2020 net earnings of $121.7 million, or diluted earnings per share of $1.14 vs. second quarter 2019 net earnings of $133.6 million, or $1.23 per diluted share.

Total operating revenue for the current quarter was $2.15 billion, compared with $2.26 billion for the second quarter 2019, a decrease of 5%. Current quarter total operating revenue, excluding fuel surcharge revenue, decreased 0.5% vs. the comparable quarter 2019. Revenue performance, excluding fuel surcharge revenue, was primarily driven by a 2% volume decline in Intermodal (JBI), 11% volume decline in Integrated Capacity Solutions (ICS), and 5% fewer stops in Final Miles Services (FMS), partially offset by a 17% increase in loads in Truckload (JBT), compared to the prior year period.

The amount of ICS operating revenue executed through the marketplace for J.B. Hunt 360°^® increased to $229 million from $222 million in second quarter 2019. In addition, JBI executed approximately $24 million of third-party dray cost and JBT executed approximately $28 million of its independent contractor costs through the platform during second quarter 2020.

Operating income for the current quarter totaled $175.2 million versus $193.1 million for the second quarter 2019. The prior year quarter included a $20.0 million pre-tax charge in settlement of a FMS claim. Lower revenue and higher purchased transportation costs, continued investment in technology across all segments, and employee and operating supplies costs related to COVID-19, were partially offset by benefits of lower driver turnover, decreased insurance and claims costs and significantly reduced travel and entertainment costs compared to the prior year. Additionally, operating income was lower due to approximately $4.6 million of additional charges for uncollectible customer accounts.

Interest expense in the current quarter decreased due to lower average debt levels and lower interest rates compared to the same period last year. The effective income tax rate for the quarter was 25% consistent with second quarter 2019.

Segment Information:

Intermodal (JBI)

• Second Quarter 2020 Segment Revenue: $1.07 billion; down 7%
• Second Quarter 2020 Operating Income: $107.0 million; down 14%

JBI load volumes declined 2% over the same period in 2019. Transcontinental loads increased approximately 3% and Eastern network volumes declined 7% from second quarter 2019. As previously released, COVID-19 related volume disruptions began to materialize in March and deteriorated further in April, followed by a steady rebound in demand for the remainder of the quarter. Revenue decreased 7% reflecting the 2% volume decline and an approximate 6% decline in revenue per load, which is the combination of customer rate changes, fuel surcharges, and freight mix. Revenue per load excluding fuel surcharge revenue was flat from second quarter 2019.

Operating income decreased by 14% from the prior year. Lower volumes, higher rail purchased transportation costs, and inefficiencies in the network related to less predictable demand patterns, were partially offset by lower driver turnover related costs and a decrease in insurance and claims costs. The current period ended with approximately 96,500 units of trailing capacity and 5,340 power units assigned to the dray fleet.

Dedicated Contract Services (DCS)

• Second Quarter 2020 Segment Revenue: $533 million; down 1%
• Second Quarter 2020 Operating Income: $83.1 million; up 9%

DCS revenue decreased 1% during the current quarter over the same period in 2019. Productivity, defined as revenue per truck per week, decreased approximately 3% vs. 2019. Productivity excluding fuel surcharge revenue was flat compared to a year ago. A net additional 130 revenue producing trucks were in the fleet by the end of the quarter compared to the prior year. Customer retention rates remain above 97%.

Operating income increased 9% over the prior year quarter. Benefits from lower driver turnover, travel and entertainment, and safety related costs were partially offset by higher bad debt costs for uncollectible customer accounts.

Integrated Capacity Solutions (ICS)

• Second Quarter 2020 Segment Revenue: $304 million; down 9%
• Second Quarter 2020 Operating Loss: $(13.1) million; compared to $(0.6) million in 2Q’19

ICS revenue decreased 9% compared to the second quarter 2019. Volumes decreased 11% but revenue per load increased approximately 2% primarily due to customer freight mix. Contractual volumes represented approximately 71% of the total load volume and 63% of the total revenue in the current quarter compared to 68% and 55%, respectively, in second quarter 2019. Of the total reported ICS revenue, approximately $229 million was executed through the marketplace for J.B. Hunt 360 compared to $222 million in second quarter 2019.

Operating income decreased by $12.5 million from the second quarter 2019 from lower gross profit margins, increased costs to expand capacity and functionality of the marketplace for J.B. Hunt 360 and higher personnel costs. Gross profit margins decreased to 11.8% in the current period versus 13.4% in the same period last year primarily from a competitive pricing environment, weaker spot market activity, and tightening supply dynamics at various points throughout the quarter. ICS carrier base increased 12% vs. second quarter 2019.

Final Miles Services (FMS)

• Second Quarter 2020 Segment Revenue: $140 million; down 2%
• Second Quarter 2020 Operating Loss: $(5.2) million; compared to $(15.8) million in 2Q’19

FMS revenue decreased 2% compared to the same period 2019. Stop count within FMS decreased 5% during the current quarter vs. a year ago, primarily from the temporary suspension of operations at several of our customers’ sites as a result of COVID-19. Productivity, defined as revenue per stop, increased approximately 2% compared to the prior year period primarily from a shift in the mix of services as different customers within our FMS network were affected by COVID-19 to varying degrees throughout the quarter.

Operating losses decreased from a year ago by approximately $10.5 million primarily from the absence of the $20 million pre-tax claim settlement incurred in 2019. Operating losses in the second quarter 2020 were primarily the result of lost revenue related to the temporary suspension of operations at several of our customers’ sites and higher costs related to operating supplies as a result of COVID-19.

Truckload (JBT)

• Second Quarter 2020 Segment Revenue: $108.3 million; up 9%
• Second Quarter 2020 Operating Income: $3.5 million; down 61%

JBT revenue increased 9% from the same period in 2019. Revenue excluding fuel surcharge revenue increased 13% primarily from a 17% increase in load count partially offset by a 4% decrease in revenue per load excluding fuel surcharge revenue compared to a year ago. Revenue per loaded mile excluding fuel surcharge revenue decreased approximately 7% year-over-year while comparable contractual customer rates were down approximately 5% compared to the same period 2019. At the end of the period, JBT operated 1,897 tractors and 7,985 trailers compared to 1,879 and 6,829 one year ago, respectively.

Operating income decreased 61% compared to the same quarter 2019. Benefits from the increased load count were offset by increases in purchased transportation expense, higher insurance and claims costs, increased investment in technology and the continued rollout of 360box.

Cash Flow and Capitalization:

At June 30, 2020, we had approximately $1.3 billion outstanding on various debt instruments compared to $1.4 billion at June 30, 2019 and $1.3 billion at December 31, 2019.

Our net capital expenditures for the six months ended June 30, 2020 approximated $265 million compared to $475 million for the same period 2019. At June 30, 2020, we had cash and cash equivalents of approximately $275 million.

We had no purchases of our stock during the second quarter 2020. At June 30, 2020, we had approximately $520 million remaining under our share repurchase authorization. Actual shares outstanding at June 30, 2020 approximated 105.5 million.

Conference Call Information:

The Company will hold a conference call today at 4:00–5:00 pm CT to discuss the quarterly earnings. To participate in the call, dial 1-833-397-0851 (domestic) or 516-575-8759 (international) 15 minutes prior to the start of the call and provide the following conference ID: 6252006. A replay of the call will be posted on its website here later this evening.

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, 2019 and Quarterly Report filed on Form 10-Q for the period ended March 31, 2020. 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 to interested parties on our website, www.jbhunt.com.

About J.B. Hunt

J.B. Hunt Transport Services, Inc., an S&P 500 company, provides innovative supply chain solutions for a variety of customers throughout North America. Utilizing an integrated, multimodal approach, the company applies technology-driven methods to create the best solution for each customer, adding efficiency, flexibility, and value to their operations. J.B. Hunt services include intermodal, dedicated, refrigerated, truckload, less-than-truckload, flatbed, single source, final mile, and more. J.B. Hunt Transport Services, Inc. stock trades on NASDAQ under the ticker symbol JBHT and is a component of the Dow Jones Transportation Average. J.B. Hunt Transport, Inc. is a wholly owned subsidiary of JBHT. For more information, visit www.jbhunt.com.

J.B. HUNT TRANSPORT SERVICES, INC.
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Earnings
(in thousands, except per share data)
(unaudited)
		Three Months Ended June 30
		2020				2019
				% Of				% Of
		Amount		Revenue		Amount		Revenue
Operating revenues, excluding fuel surcharge revenues	$	1,986,130			$	1,996,266
Fuel surcharge revenues		159,443				265,381
Total operating revenues		2,145,573		100.0%		2,261,647		100.0%
Operating expenses
Rents and purchased transportation		1,034,297		48.2%		1,086,416		48.0%
Salaries, wages and employee benefits		554,136		25.8%		535,147		23.7%
Depreciation and amortization		130,298		6.1%		123,995		5.5%
Fuel and fuel taxes		75,459		3.5%		118,037		5.2%
Operating supplies and expenses		79,134		3.7%		84,264		3.7%
General and administrative expenses, net of asset dispositions		44,599		2.1%		46,539		2.1%
Insurance and claims		30,899		1.4%		52,013		2.3%
Operating taxes and licenses		13,567		0.6%		13,565		0.6%
Communication and utilities		8,001		0.4%		8,578		0.4%
Total operating expenses		1,970,390		91.8%		2,068,554		91.5%
Operating income		175,183		8.2%		193,093		8.5%
Net interest expense		12,818		0.6%		14,763		0.6%
Earnings before income taxes		162,365		7.6%		178,330		7.9%
Income taxes		40,667		1.9%		44,697		2.0%
Net earnings