Hub Group, Inc. Reports First Quarter 2022 Results


Highlights:        

  • Strong freight demand conditions, combined with the attractive value proposition of our service offerings, led to record quarterly revenue of $1.3 billion, up 41% as compared to last year
  • Record quarterly gross margin of $215 million (16.6% of revenue) driven by favorable pricing and yield management, combined with our continued focus on operating efficiency, resulted in operating income margin of 8.9%
  • Record quarterly diluted earnings per share (EPS) of $2.58
  • Generated net income of $88 million and EBITDA (non-GAAP)(1) of $150 million, and ended the quarter with solid liquidity and a conservative capital structure
  • Increased full year 2022 outlook, with expected revenue of $5.3 - $5.5 billion and diluted EPS of $9.00 - $10.00

OAK BROOK, Ill., April 28, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Hub Group, Inc. (NASDAQ:HUBG) announced first quarter 2022 net income of $88 million, and diluted earnings per share of $2.58.   Net income for first quarter 2021 was $17 million, or $0.51 per diluted share.  

“Hub Group continues to perform extremely well in today’s environment, delivering record revenue and profit as we support our customers’ strong freight demand with high service levels and innovative supply chain solutions. Our ongoing focus on yield improvement, operating efficiency and fixed cost leverage led to record profitability. We reported record quarterly diluted EPS of $2.58, which is over five times the prior year’s diluted EPS. We continue to expect a strong 2022 and are increasing our financial guidance for the year, while also investing in our business to support our customers’ needs for capacity, service and innovative solutions,” said Dave Yeager, Hub Group’s Chairman and Chief Executive Officer.  

First Quarter 2022 Results

Revenue for the first quarter of 2022 increased by 41% to $1.3 billion compared with $920 million in the first quarter of 2021. Gross margin for the quarter was 16.6% of revenue, as compared with 11.8% last year. Operating income was $115 million (8.9% of revenue) versus $24 million (2.6% of revenue) in 2021.   EBITDA (non-GAAP)1 for the quarter was $150 million.

As part of our profit improvement initiatives we have focused on realizing efficiencies between our dedicated and drayage trucking operations, including through the sharing of equipment and drivers, and by leveraging a combined driver support services function. Our dedicated and drayage teams now operate as one combined organization. As a result, beginning in first quarter 2022 we now report revenue for these operations under the “Intermodal and Transportation Solutions” line of business.

First quarter Intermodal and Transportation Solutions (“ITS”) revenue increased 35% to $774 million. Intermodal volume increased 4% and revenue per load increased 35%. ITS gross margin increased compared to the prior year as pricing and cost recovery more than offset increased purchased transportation costs and lower volume.

Truck Brokerage revenue grew 132% in the quarter to $296 million due to the acquisition of Choptank Transport (“Choptank”) as well as revenue growth from truckload and LTL. Gross margin increased relative to first quarter 2021 due to the acquisition, higher revenue per load and growth in cross selling with our customers.

First quarter Logistics revenue increased 6% to $229 million due to the growth of our final mile and consolidation services, as well as the contribution from new managed transportation customer onboardings. Gross margin increased due to growth with existing customers, new business onboardings and yield management initiatives, partially offset by higher warehousing and transportation costs.

Costs and expenses increased to $100 million in the first quarter of 2022 due to incremental operating costs from Choptank and higher compensation expense, partially offset by $3 million of higher gains on the sale of equipment as compared to prior year.

Capital expenditures for the first quarter of 2022 totaled $31 million. At March 31, 2022, we had cash and cash equivalents of $207 million.  

2022 Outlook

We expect that our 2022 diluted earnings per share will range from $9.00 to $10.00. We estimate revenue will range from $5.3 to $5.5 billion, and that gross margin as a percentage of revenue will range from 15.6% to 16.0%. We estimate our costs and expenses will range from $420 to $440 million for the year. We project our effective tax rate for the year will be 24-25%. We expect capital expenditures for 2022 to range from $240 to $265 million.  

Non-GAAP Financial Measure

In this press release, we present EBITDA, a non-GAAP financial measure of profitability defined as earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization. As required by the rules of the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”), we have provided herein a reconciliation of this non-GAAP financial measure to Net Income, the most directly comparable measure under GAAP. Management believes that EBITDA provides relevant and useful information, which is used by our management as well as by many analysts, investors and competitors in our industry. By providing this non-GAAP measure, management intends to provide investors with a meaningful, consistent comparison of the Company’s profitability for the periods presented. EBITDA should be viewed in addition to, and not as an alternative to or substitute for, measures determined in accordance with GAAP, and is not necessarily comparable to non-GAAP measures that may be presented by other companies.   

CONFERENCE CALL

Hub Group, Inc. will hold a conference call at 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time on April 28, 2022 to discuss our first quarter 2022 results.

Hosting the conference call will be Dave Yeager, Chairman and CEO. Also participating on the call will be Phil Yeager, President and Chief Operating Officer, and Geoff DeMartino, Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer.

This call is being webcast and can be accessed through the Investors link on Hub Group’s web site at www.hubgroup.com. The webcast is listen-only. Those interested in participating in the question and answer session should follow the telephone dial-in instructions below.

To participate in the conference call by telephone, please pre-register at:

https://event-registration.arkadin.com/62461a6d820c352429f21a25

For those who do not prefer to preregister, on the day of the call, dial (866) 374-5140 approximately ten minutes prior to the scheduled call time; enter the participant PIN code 93210627#. The call will be limited to 60 minutes, including questions and answers.   An audio replay will be available through the Investors link on the Company's web site at www.hubgroup.com. This replay will be available for 30 days.

CERTAIN FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS: Statements in this press release that are not historical may express or imply projections of revenues or expenditures, statements of plans and objectives or future operations or statements of future economic performance. Forward-looking statements are inherently uncertain and subject to risks, uncertainties and other factors that might cause the actual performance of Hub Group, Inc. to differ materially from those expressed or implied by this discussion and, therefore, should be viewed with caution. All forward-looking statements and information are provided pursuant to the safe harbor established under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and should be evaluated in the context of these factors. Forward-looking statements generally may be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as “trends”, “assumptions”, “target”, “guidance”, “outlook”, “opportunity”, “future”, “plans”, “goals”, “objectives”, “expects”, “anticipate”, “expected”, “may”, “will”, “would”, “could”, “intend”, “believe”, “potential”, “projected”, “estimate” (or the negative or derivative of each of these terms), or similar words, and include our statements regarding our outlook, profit improvement initiatives and capital expenditures. These forward-looking statements are based on management's experience and perception of trends, current conditions, and anticipated future developments, as well as other factors believed to be appropriate. We believe these statements and the assumptions and estimates contained in this release are reasonable based on information that is currently available to us. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially include general or regional economic conditions and health concerns; the effect of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, including any spikes, outbreaks or variants of the virus, as well as any future government actions taken in response to the pandemic, including on our business operations, as well as its impact on general economic and financial market conditions and on our customers, counterparties, employees and third-party service providers; our ability to sustain or the effects of plans intended to improve operational execution and performance; changes in or implementation of governmental or regulatory rules and interpretations affecting tax, wage and hour matters, health and safety, labor and employment, insurance or other undeterminable areas; intermodal costs and prices, the integration of acquisitions and expenses relating thereto; the future performance of Hub’s Intermodal and Transportation Solutions, Truck Brokerage and Logistics business lines; driver shortages; the amount and timing of strategic investments or divestitures by Hub; the failure to implement and integrate critical information technology systems; cyber security incidents; retail and other customers encountering adverse economic conditions and other factors described from time to time in Hub Group's SEC reports, press releases and other communications. Hub Group assumes no obligation to update any such forward-looking statements.  

SOURCE: Hub Group, Inc.                CONTACT: Maralee Volchko of Hub Group, Inc., +1-630-271-3745

 
HUB GROUP, INC.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF EARNINGS
(in thousands, except per share amounts)
(unaudited)
        
   Three Months Ended March 31,
   2022
 2021
    % of  % of
   AmountRevenue AmountRevenue
Revenue$1,298,123 100.0% $919,553 100.0%
        
Transportation costs 1,083,106 83.4%  810,806 88.2%
 Gross margin 215,017 16.6%  108,747 11.8%
        
Costs and expenses:     
 Salaries and benefits 68,926 5.3%  56,951 6.2%
 General and administrative 20,076 1.6%  19,243 2.1%
 Depreciation and amortization 10,955 0.8%  8,502 0.9%
  Total costs and expenses 99,957 7.7%  84,696 9.2%
        
Operating income 115,060 8.9%  24,051 2.6%
        
Other income (expense):     
 Interest expense (1,698)-0.1%  (1,904)-0.2%
 Other, net 131 0.0%  (93)-0.0%
  Total other expense (1,567)-0.1%  (1,997)-0.2%
        
Income before provision for income taxes 113,493 8.8%  22,054 2.4%
        
Provision for income taxes 25,990 2.0%  4,824 0.5%
        
Net income$87,503   $17,230  
        
Earnings per share     
 Basic$2.60   $0.52  
 Diluted$2.58   $0.51  
        
Basic weighted average number of shares outstanding 33,644    33,419  
Diluted weighted average number of shares outstanding 33,966    33,775  
        


 
HUB GROUP, INC.
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
(in thousands, except share data)
        
        
     March 31, December 31,
     2022 2021
     (unaudited)  
ASSETS   
 CURRENT ASSETS:   
  Cash and cash equivalents$206,896  $159,784 
  Accounts receivable trade,net 766,579   701,512 
  Accounts receivable other 3,153   3,022 
  Prepaid taxes 1,657   2,191 
  Prepaid expenses and other current assets 24,378   27,779 
    TOTAL CURRENT ASSETS 1,002,663   894,288 
        
 Restricted investments 21,497   24,256 
 Property and equipment, net 689,779   681,451 
 Right-of-use assets - operating leases 44,118   44,036 
 Right-of-use assets - financing leases 2,750   1,252 
 Other intangibles, net 190,252   196,672 
 Goodwill, net 576,847   576,913 
 Other assets 19,228   18,426 
    TOTAL ASSETS$2,547,134  $2,437,294 
        
        
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY   
 CURRENT LIABILITIES:   
  Accounts payable trade$418,509  $424,923 
  Accounts payable other 26,674   12,493 
  Accrued payroll 47,521   56,938 
  Accrued other 103,111   82,827 
  Lease liability - operating leases 12,131   11,364 
  Lease liability - financing leases 2,062   1,251 
  Current portion of long term debt 97,571   97,273 
    TOTAL CURRENT LIABILITIES 707,579   687,069 
        
 Long term debt 174,669   177,479 
 Non-current liabilities 42,183   41,572 
 Lease liability - operating leases 34,194   34,916 
 Lease liability - financing leases 681   - 
 Deferred taxes 160,857   155,944 
        
 STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY:   
  Preferred stock, $.01 par value; 2,000,000 shares authorized;   
   no shares issued or outstanding in 2022 and 2021 -   - 
  Common stock   
   Class A: $.01 par value; 97,337,700 shares authorized and   
    41,224,792 shares issued in 2022 and 2021; 33,988,791 shares   
    outstanding in 2022 and 33,907,734 shares outstanding in 2021 412   412 
   Class B: $.01 par value; 662,300 shares authorized;   
    662,296 shares issued and outstanding in 2022 and 2021 7   7 
  Additional paid-in capital 189,168   189,256 
  Purchase price in excess of predecessor basis, net of tax   
   benefit of $10,306 (15,458)  (15,458)
  Retained earnings 1,512,137   1,424,634 
  Accumulated other comprehensive loss (187)  (207)
  Treasury stock; at cost, 7,236,001 shares in 2022   
   and 7,317,058 shares in 2021 (259,108)  (258,330)
   TOTAL STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY 1,426,971   1,340,314 
    TOTAL LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY$2,547,134  $2,437,294 
        


 
HUB GROUP, INC.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
(in thousands)
(unaudited)
      
     Three Months Ended March 31,
     2022 2021
        
        
Cash flows from operating activities:   
 Net income$87,503  $17,230 
 Adjustments to reconcile net income   
  to net cash provided by operating activities:   
   Depreciation and amortization 35,192   32,111 
   Deferred taxes 5,286   4,325 
   Compensation expense related to share-based compensation plans 4,719   5,117 
   Gain on sale of assets (4,745)  (1,924)
 Changes in operating assets and liabilities, net of acquisitions:   
   Restricted investments 2,759   1,618 
   Accounts receivable, net (65,288)  8,389 
   Prepaid taxes 535   350 
   Prepaid expenses and other current assets 3,403   8,825 
   Other assets (1,516)  (189)
   Accounts payable 7,771   36,820 
   Accrued expenses 7,130   18,695 
   Non-current liabilities (2,539)  (3,994)
    Net cash provided by operating activities 80,210   127,373 
        
Cash flows from investing activities:   
 Proceeds from sale of equipment 6,444   14,933 
 Purchases of property and equipment (30,927)  (9,522)
    Net cash (used in) provided by investing activities (24,483)  5,411 
        
Cash flows from financing activities:   
 Repayments of long term debt (26,024)  (33,381)
 Stock withheld for payments of withholding taxes (5,585)  (3,759)
 Finance lease payments (526)  (772)
 Proceeds from issuance of debt 23,512   6,894 
    Net cash used in financing activities (8,623)  (31,018)
        
        
 Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents 8   (8)
        
Net increase in cash and cash equivalents 47,112   101,758 
Cash and cash equivalents beginning of period 159,784   124,506 
Cash and cash equivalents end of period$206,896  $226,264 
        


 
HUB GROUP, INC.
FINANCIAL INFORMATION BY BUSINESS LINE
(in thousands)
(unaudited)
    
 Three Months
 Ended March 31,
    
 2022
 2021
    
Intermodal and transportation solutions$773,576  $575,256 
    
Truck brokerage 295,605   127,262 
    
Logistics 228,942   217,035 
    
Total Revenue$1,298,123  $919,553 
    


 
RECONCILIATION OF NET INCOME TO EBITDA (1)
(in thousands)
(unaudited)
        
 Three Months
 Ended March 31,
     Change Change
 2022
 2021
 $ %
        
Net income$87,503  $17,230  $70,273  407.9%
        
Interest expense 1,698   1,904   (206) -10.8%
        
Depreciation and amortization 35,192   32,111   3,081  9.6%
        
Provision for income taxes 25,990   4,824   21,166  438.8%
        
EBITDA$150,383  $56,069  $94,314  168.2%
        

(1) See the “Non-GAAP Financial Measure” section of this release for the definition of EBITDA and a discussion of this non-GAAP financial measure.