Rush Enterprises, Inc. Reports Third Quarter 2017 Results

• Revenues of $1.257 billion, net income of $29.8 million
  
• Earnings per diluted share of $0.72, a record high
• Solid activity in most market segments drove new truck sales and aftermarket performance
• Absorption ratio of 120.9%

SAN ANTONIO, Texas, Oct. 25, 2017 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Rush Enterprises, Inc. (NASDAQ:RUSHA) (NASDAQ:RUSHB), which operates the largest network of commercial vehicle dealerships in North America, today announced that for the quarter ended September 30, 2017, the Company achieved revenues of $1.257 billion and net income of $29.8 million, or $0.72 per diluted share, compared with revenues of $1.096 billion and net income of $14.9 million, or $0.37 per diluted share, in the quarter ended September 30, 2016. 

“Continued broad-based strength in the U.S. economy and most of the customer segments we support helped us achieve record-high profitability in the third quarter,” said W.M. “Rusty” Rush, Chairman, Chief Executive Officer and President of Rush Enterprises, Inc. “Further, we continued to advance our strategic initiatives, particularly in the areas of all-makes parts and service, which also contributed to our strong performance this quarter,” he said.

“In the third quarter, many of our employees were impacted by Hurricanes Harvey and Irma.  Employees nationwide rallied to support them, donating money, time and valuable goods to help not just their fellow employees in need, but also the affected communities as well.  I am sincerely grateful for our employees for not only their hard work and extraordinary results this quarter, but also for their generosity and dedication to each other and their communities, which I greatly admire,” Rush said.

Operations

Aftermarket Solutions
Aftermarket products and services accounted for approximately 62.9% of the Company's total gross profits in the third quarter, with parts, service and body shop revenues up 11.7% as compared to the same timeframe in 2016.  This contributed to a quarterly absorption ratio of 120.9%.

“The growth in our aftermarket revenues in the third quarter was driven by continued activity in the energy and construction sectors, as well as increasing activity from over-the-road fleet customers, and by the successful execution of certain strategic initiatives designed to increase aftermarket sales and gross profits, ” Rush said.  “Looking ahead, we expect customer demand for aftermarket products and services to remain solid, however we expect our aftermarket revenues to be negatively impacted by the seasonal decline we typically experience during the fourth quarter,” Rush explained.

“We remain focused on our long-term plans and are now benefiting financially from our strategic initiatives, which include our all-makes parts and service business,” said Rush.  “It is also important to note our mobile service business is growing and positively impacted our aftermarket revenues in the third quarter,” Rush said.  “Though the alternative fuel market is relatively flat, our Momentum Fuel Systems product line is beginning to gain market share,” he added.

Truck Sales
U.S. Class 8 retail sales were 51,574 units in the third quarter, up 11% over the same time period last year, according to ACT Research.  Rush’s Class 8 sales outpaced the industry in the third quarter, increasing 20.6% as compared to the third quarter of 2016 and accounting for 7.1% of the U.S. Class 8 truck market.  ACT Research forecasts U.S. retail sales for Class 8 vehicles to be 190,000 units in 2017, a 3.5% decrease compared to 2016, but considerably higher than their original 2017 forecast of 154,000 units.   

“The increase in our Class 8 new truck sales compared to the third quarter of 2016 is attributable in large part to increased activity from energy customers,” said Rush. “Additionally, vehicle sales activity remains solid in construction, refuse, general freight and the majority of the other industries we support around the country.  We believe our Class 8 new truck sales in the fourth quarter will remain solid, due to this general economic strength,” he explained.

“Used truck valuations have stabilized, and we believe our used truck inventory is appropriately positioned to support current market dynamics and new truck sales,” Rush said.

Rush’s Class 4-7 medium-duty sales increased 14.5% from the third quarter of 2016, accounting for 4.6% of the total U.S. market.  U.S. Class 4-7 retail sales were 61,538 units in the third quarter of 2017, up approximately 9.0% over the third quarter of 2016.  ACT Research forecasts U.S. retail sales for Class 4-7 vehicles to reach 238,475 units in 2017, a 5.4% increase over 2016. 

“We had another strong quarter for our medium-duty truck sales, which were also positively impacted by continued strength in a wide variety of industries across the country,” said Rush.  “Our continued ability to stock bodied-up medium-duty trucks allows us to meet our customers’ immediate needs,” he said.  “We expect our Class 4-7 new truck sales to also remain solid throughout the remainder of the year,” Rush added.  

Financial Highlights

In the third quarter of 2017, the Company’s gross revenues totaled $1.257 billion, a 14.7% increase from gross revenues of $1.096 billion reported for the quarter ended September 30, 2016.  Net income for the quarter was $29.8 million, or $0.72 per diluted share, compared to net income of $14.9 million, or $0.37 per diluted share, in the quarter ended September 30, 2016.

Parts, service and body shop revenues were $375.8 million in the third quarter of 2017, compared to $336.5 million in the third quarter of 2016.  The Company delivered 3,647 new heavy-duty trucks, 2,828 new medium-duty commercial vehicles, 447 new light-duty commercial vehicles and 1,743 used commercial vehicles during the third quarter of 2017, compared to 3,024 new heavy-duty trucks, 2,469 new medium-duty commercial vehicles, 523 new light-duty commercial vehicles and 1,795 used commercial vehicles during the third quarter of 2016.

During the third quarter of 2017, the Company repurchased $1.2 million of its common stock and ended the quarter with $127.9 million in cash and cash equivalents, an increase of $4.1 million from June 30, 2017. 

Conference Call Information

Rush Enterprises will host its quarterly conference call to discuss earnings for the third quarter on Thursday, October 26, 2017, at 10 a.m. Eastern/9 a.m. Central.  The call can be heard live by dialing 877-638-4557 (US) or 914-495-8522 (International), Conference ID 94625029 or via the Internet at http://investor.rushenterprises.com/events.cfm. 

For those who cannot listen to the live broadcast, the webcast will be available on our website at the above link until February 9, 2018.  Listen to the audio replay until November 2, 2017, by dialing 855-859-2056 (US) or 404-537-3406 (International) and entering the Conference ID 94625029.

About Rush Enterprises, Inc.

Rush Enterprises, Inc. is the premier solutions provider to the commercial vehicle industry. The Company owns and operates Rush Truck Centers, the largest network of commercial vehicle dealerships in the United States, with more than 100 dealership locations in 21 states. These vehicle centers, strategically located in high traffic areas on or near major highways throughout the United States, represent truck and bus manufacturers, including Peterbilt, International, Hino, Isuzu, Ford, Mitsubishi, IC Bus and Blue Bird. They offer an integrated approach to meeting customer needs — from sales of new and used vehicles to aftermarket parts, service and body shop operations plus financing, insurance, leasing and rental. Rush Enterprises' operations also provide CNG fuel systems, telematics products and other vehicle technologies, as well as vehicle up-fitting, chrome accessories and tires. Additional information about Rush Enterprises’ products and services is available at www.rushenterprises.com. Follow our news on Twitter at @rushtruckcenter and on Facebook at facebook.com/rushtruckcenters.

Certain statements contained herein, including those concerning current and projected market conditions, sales forecasts, market share forecasts, demand for the Company’s services and the impact of strategic initiatives are “forward-looking” statements (as such term is defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995). Because such statements include risks and uncertainties, actual results may differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, competitive factors, general U.S. economic conditions, economic conditions in the new and used commercial vehicle markets, customer relations, relationships with vendors, the interest rate environment, governmental regulation and supervision, product introductions and acceptance, changes in industry practices, one-time events and other factors described herein and in filings made by the Company with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

-Tables and Additional Information to Follow-

This press release and the attached financial tables contain certain non-GAAP financial measures as defined under SEC rules, such as Adjusted total debt, Adjusted net (cash) debt, EBITDA, Adjusted EBITDA, Free cash flow, Adjusted free cash flow and Adjusted invested capital, which exclude certain items disclosed in the attached financial tables.  The Company provides reconciliations of these measures to the most directly comparable GAAP measures. 

Management believes the presentation of these non-GAAP financial measures provides useful information about the results of operations of the Company for the current and past periods.  Management believes that investors should have the same information available to them that management uses to assess the Company’s operating performance and capital structure.  These non-GAAP financial measures should not be considered in isolation or as a substitute for the most comparable GAAP financial measures.  Investors are cautioned that non-GAAP financial measures utilized by the Company may not be comparable to similarly titled non-GAAP financial measures used by other companies. 

Absorption Ratio
Management uses several performance metrics to evaluate the performance of its commercial vehicle dealerships and considers Rush Truck Centers’ “absorption ratio” to be of critical importance.  Absorption ratio is calculated by dividing the gross profit from the parts, service and body shop departments by the overhead expenses of all of a dealership’s departments, except for the selling expenses of the new and used commercial vehicle departments and carrying costs of new and used commercial vehicle inventory.  When 100% absorption is achieved, then gross profit from the sale of a commercial vehicle, after sales commissions and inventory carrying costs, directly impacts operating profit.

Management uses “Adjusted Total Debt” to reflect the Company’s estimated financial obligations less debt related to lease and rental fleet (L&RFD) and floor plan notes payable (FPNP), and “Adjusted Net (Cash) Debt” to present the amount of Adjusted Total Debt net of cash and cash equivalents on the Company’s balance sheet.  The FPNP is used to finance the Company’s new and used inventory, with its principal balance changing daily as vehicles are purchased and sold and the sale proceeds are used to repay the notes.  Consequently, in managing the business, management views the FPNP as interest bearing accounts payable, representing the cost of acquiring the vehicle that is then repaid when the vehicle is sold, as the Company’s credit agreements require it to repay loans used to purchase vehicles when such vehicles are sold.  The Company’s lease & rental fleet are fully financed and are either (i) leased to customers under long-term lease arrangements or (ii), to a lesser extent, dedicated to the Company’s rental business.  In both cases, the lease and rental payments fully cover the capital costs of the lease & rental fleet (i.e., the principal repayments and interest expense on the borrowings used to acquire the vehicles and the depreciation expense associated with the vehicles), plus a profit margin for the Company. The Company believes excluding the FPNP and L&RFD from the Company’s total debt for this purpose provides management with supplemental information regarding the Company’s capital structure and leverage profile and assists investors in performing analysis that is consistent with financial models developed by Company management and research analysts.  “Adjusted Total Debt” and “Adjusted Net (Cash) Debt” are both non-GAAP financial measures and should be considered in addition to, and not as a substitute for, the Company’s debt obligations, as reported in the Company’s consolidated balance sheet in accordance with U.S. GAAP.  Additionally, these non-GAAP measures may vary among companies and may not be comparable to similarly titled non-GAAP measures used by other companies.

The Company presents EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA, for the twelve months ended each period presented, as additional information about its operating results.  The presentation of Adjusted EBITDA that excludes the addition of interest expense associated with FPNP to EBITDA is consistent with management’s presentation of Adjusted Total Debt, in each case reflecting management’s view of interest expense associated with the FPNP as an operating expense of the Company, and to provide management with supplemental information regarding operating results and to assist investors in performing analysis that is consistent with financial models developed by management and research analyst.  Management recorded a charge to selling, general and administrative expense during the first and second quarters of 2016 related to the closing of certain dealerships and the disposition of excess real estate.  Management believes adding back this charge to EBITDA provides both the investors and management with supplemental information regarding the Company’s core operating results. “EBITDA” and “Adjusted EBITDA” are both non-GAAP financial measures and should be considered in addition to, and not as a substitute for, net income of the Company, as reported in the Company’s consolidated statements of income in accordance with U.S. GAAP.  Additionally, these non-GAAP measures may vary among companies and may not be comparable to similarly titled non-GAAP measures used by other companies.

“Free Cash Flow” and “Adjusted Free Cash Flow” are key financial measures of the Company’s ability to generate cash from operating its business.  Free Cash Flow is calculated by subtracting the acquisition of property and equipment included in the Cash flows from investing activities from Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities.  For purposes of deriving Adjusted Free Cash Flow from the Company’s operating cash flow, Company management makes the following adjustments: (i) adds back draws (or subtracts payments) on the floor plan financing that are included in Cash flows from financing activities as their purpose is to finance the vehicle inventory that is included in Cash flows from operating activities; (ii) adds back proceeds from notes payable related specifically to the financing of the lease and rental fleet that are reflected in Cash flows from financing activities; (iii) subtracts draws on floor plan financing, net and proceeds from L&RFD related to business acquisition assets that are included in Cash flows from investing activities; (iv) subtracts principal payments on notes payable related specifically to the financing of the lease and rental fleet that are included in Cash flows from financing activities; and (v) adds back non-maintenance capital expenditures that are for growth and expansion (i.e. building of new dealership facilities) that are not considered necessary to maintain the current level of cash generated by the business.  “Free Cash Flow” and “Adjusted Free Cash Flow” are both presented so that investors have the same financial data that management uses in evaluating the Company’s cash flows from operating activities.  “Free Cash Flow” and “Adjusted Free Cash Flow” are both non-GAAP financial measures and should be considered in addition to, and not as a substitute for, net cash provided by (used in) operations of the Company, as reported in the Company’s consolidated statement of cash flows in accordance with U.S. GAAP.  Additionally, these non-GAAP measures may vary among companies and may not be comparable to similarly titled non-GAAP measures used by other companies. 

“Adjusted Invested Capital” is a key financial measure used by the Company to calculate its return on invested capital.  For purposes of this analysis, management excludes L&RFD, FPNP, and cash and cash equivalents, for the reasons provided in the debt analysis above and uses Adjusted Net Debt in the calculation.  The Company believes this approach provides management a more accurate picture of the Company’s leverage profile and capital structure, and assists investors in performing analysis that is consistent with financial models developed by Company management and research analysts.  “Adjusted Net (Cash) Debt” and “Adjusted Invested Capital” are both non-GAAP financial measures.  Additionally, these non-GAAP measures may vary among companies and may not be comparable to similarly titled non-GAAP measures used by other companies. 

Contact:                                                                                                                
Rush Enterprises, Inc., San Antonio
Steven L. Keller, 830-302-5226