WERN - Werner Enterprises Reports Second Quarter 2022 Results

Second Quarter 2022 Highlights (all metrics compared to second quarter 2021)

• Total revenues of $836.3 million, up 29%
• Operating income of $74.9 million, down 3%; non-GAAP adjusted operating income of $77.6 million, down 2%
• Operating margin of 9.0%, down 280 bps; non-GAAP adjusted operating margin of 9.3%, down 290 bps
• Diluted EPS of $1.12, up 6%; non-GAAP adjusted diluted EPS of $0.87, up 1%

OMAHA, Neb., Aug. 03, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Werner Enterprises, Inc. (Nasdaq: WERN), a premier transportation and logistics provider, today reported results for the second quarter ended June 30, 2022.

“Our second quarter results showed progress, but did not meet our expectations. We achieved our eighth consecutive quarter of record quarterly earnings per share, despite unusually large insurance and claims expense in the quarter, with the majority of the increase related to recent unexpected and unfortunate developments related to two prior year accidents,” said Derek J. Leathers, Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer. “I would like to specifically call out our Logistics team this quarter for a job well done serving our customers with valued and innovative capacity solutions, while at the same time expanding their revenues and operating income. As the economic landscape begins to change, our durable and resilient model is built to thrive, regardless of the economic or freight market conditions.”

Total revenues for the quarter were $836.3 million, an increase of $186.5 million compared to the prior year quarter, due to Truckload Transportation Services (“TTS”) revenues growth of $122.4 million and Logistics revenues growth of $62.2 million.

Operating income of $74.9 million decreased $1.9 million, or 3%, while operating margin of 9.0% decreased 280 basis points. On a non-GAAP basis, adjusted operating income of $77.6 million decreased $1.5 million, or 2%. Adjusted operating margin of 9.3% decreased 290 basis points from 12.2% for the same quarter last year. Unusually high insurance and claims expense that was $20.3 million higher year-over-year resulted in lower operating income and adjusted operating income and reduced diluted earnings per share (“EPS”) by 24 cents per share. The majority of this year-over-year increase in insurance and claims expense related to recent unexpected and unfortunate legal developments for two prior year accidents that have been settled.

Operating income in the TTS segment decreased $9.1 million, or 12%, due to the higher insurance and claims costs referenced above and other operating cost increases, offset by fleet growth, higher freight rates and increased gains on sale of equipment. On a non-GAAP basis, adjusted operating income in TTS decreased $8.2 million, or 11%. Werner Logistics operating income increased $8.6 million, or 218%, resulting from improved revenue growth and an expanded operating margin. On a non-GAAP basis, adjusted operating income in Logistics increased $9.1 million, or 231%.

Interest expense of $1.8 million increased $1.1 million primarily due to an increase in average debt outstanding and higher interest rates. The effective income tax rate during the quarter was 24.4%, compared to 25.5% in second quarter 2021.

During second quarter 2022, our strategic minority equity investments had market valuation changes causing a net unrealized gain on equity securities, which resulted in higher non-operating income of $24.1 million, or $0.28 per share, compared to a gain of $20.2 million, or $0.22 per share, in second quarter 2021. Consistent with prior reporting, market value increases or decreases for these strategic minority investments are adjusted out for determining non-GAAP adjusted net income and non-GAAP adjusted earnings per share.

Net income attributable to Werner increased slightly to $72.3 million. On a non-GAAP basis, adjusted net income attributable to Werner of $56.1 million decreased 4%. Diluted EPS of $1.12 increased 6%. On a non-GAAP basis, adjusted diluted EPS of $0.87 increased 1%.

Key Consolidated Financial Metrics

(1) See attached Reconciliation of Non-GAAP Financial Measures - Consolidated.

Truckload Transportation Services (TTS) Segment

• Revenues of $613.6 million increased $122.4 million
• Operating income of $64.0 million decreased $9.1 million; non-GAAP adjusted operating income of $66.2 million decreased $8.2 million; both operating income and non-GAAP adjusted operating income were reduced by $19.8 million due to the higher year-over-year insurance and claims costs referenced on page one
• Operating margin of 10.4% decreased 450 basis points from 14.9%; non-GAAP adjusted operating margin of 10.8% decreased 430 basis points from 15.1%
• Non-GAAP adjusted operating margin, net of fuel, of 13.4% decreased 370 basis points from 17.1%
• Average segment trucks in service totaled 8,286, an increase of 622 trucks year over year, or 8.1%
• Dedicated unit trucks at quarter end totaled 5,320 or 63% of the total TTS segment fleet, compared to 5,040 trucks, or 66%, a year ago
• 5.4% increase in TTS average revenues per truck per week

During second quarter 2022, Dedicated continued to experience strong and steady freight demand from its customers. One-Way Truckload customer freight demand during second quarter 2022 moderated from strong in April to seasonally normal by June. During July, Dedicated freight demand remained strong, and One-Way Truckload demand remained seasonally normal.

Comparisons of key financial metrics for the TTS segment, including operating ratios (actual and net of fuel surcharge revenues), are shown in the table below.

Key Truckload Transportation Services Segment Financial Metrics

(1) See attached Reconciliation of Non-GAAP Financial Measures - Truckload Transportation Services (TTS) Segment.

Werner Logistics Segment

• Revenues of $203.9 million increased $62.2 million, or 44%
• Operating income of $12.5 million increased $8.6 million
• Operating margin of 6.1% increased 330 bps from 2.8%
• Adjusted operating income of $13.0 million increased $9.1 million
• Adjusted operating margin of 6.4% increased 360 bps from 2.8%

Truckload Logistics revenues (65% of total Logistics revenues) increased 36%, driven by a 17% increase in revenues per shipment and a 16% increase in shipments.

Intermodal revenues (23% of Logistics revenues) increased 18%, supported by a 35% increase in revenues per shipment, partially offset by a 13% decrease in shipments.

Final Mile revenues (12% of Logistics revenues) increased $21.1 million, due to the November 2021 acquisition of NEHDS and continued growth from our national final mile agent network.

Logistics adjusted operating income improved $9.1 million in second quarter due to the 44% revenue growth and 360 bps of adjusted operating margin expansion.

Key Werner Logistics Segment Financial Metrics

(1) See attached Reconciliation of Non-GAAP Financial Measures - Werner Logistics Segment.

Cash Flow and Capital Allocation

Cash flow from operations in second quarter 2022 was $112.6 million compared to $53.6 million in second quarter 2021, an increase of 110%, due to working capital improvements.

Net capital expenditures in second quarter 2022 were $116.3 million compared to $65.1 million in second quarter 2021, an increase of 79%. We plan to continue to invest in new trucks and trailers and our terminals to improve our driver experience, optimize operational efficiency and more effectively manage our maintenance, safety and fuel costs. The average ages of our truck and trailer fleets were 2.3 years and 4.7 years, respectively, as of June 30, 2022.

Gains on sales of equipment in second quarter 2022 were $20.7 million, or $0.24 per share, compared to $13.5 million, or $0.15 per share, in second quarter 2021. Year over year, we sold fewer trucks and trailers and realized substantially higher average gains per truck and trailer due to the significantly stronger pricing market for our used equipment. Gains on sales of assets are reflected as a reduction of Other Operating Expenses in our income statement.

During the quarter, we repurchased 1,650,000 shares of common stock for a total cost of $65.9 million, or an average price of $39.96 per share. As of June 30, 2022, we had 2.5 million shares remaining under our share repurchase authorization.

As of June 30, 2022, we had $54 million of cash and over $1.3 billion of stockholders’ equity. Total debt outstanding was $445 million at June 30, 2022. After considering letters of credit issued, we had available liquidity consisting of cash and available borrowing capacity as of June 30, 2022 of $340 million.

2022 Guidance Metrics and Assumptions

The following table summarizes our updated 2022 guidance and assumptions:

* Net of fuel surcharge revenues

Call Information

Werner Enterprises, Inc. will conduct a conference call to discuss second quarter 2022 earnings today beginning at 4:00 p.m. CT. The news release, live webcast of the earnings conference call, and accompanying slide presentation will be available at werner.com in the “Investors” section under “News & Events” and then “Events Calendar.” To participate in the conference call, please dial (844) 701-1165 (domestic) or (412) 317-5498 (international). Please mention to the operator that you are dialing in for the Werner Enterprises call.

A replay of the conference call will be available on August 3, 2022 at approximately 6:00 p.m. CT through September 3, 2022 by dialing (877) 344-7529 (domestic) or (412) 317-0088 (international) and using the access code 4899496. A replay of the webcast will also be available at werner.com in the “Investors” section under “News & Events” and then “Events Calendar.”

About Werner Enterprises

Werner Enterprises, Inc. (Nasdaq: WERN) delivers superior truckload transportation and logistics services to customers across the United States, Mexico and Canada. With 2021 revenues of $2.7 billion, an industry-leading modern truck and trailer fleet, over 14,000 talented associates and our innovative Werner EDGE technology, we are an essential solutions provider for customers who value the integrity of their supply chain and require safe and exceptional on-time service. Werner provides Dedicated and One-Way Truckload services as well as Logistics services that include truckload brokerage, freight management, intermodal and final mile. As an industry leader, Werner is deeply committed to promoting sustainability and supporting diversity, equity and inclusion.

This press release may contain forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, as amended. Such forward-looking statements are based on information presently available to the Company’s management and are current only as of the date made. Actual results could also differ materially from those anticipated as a result of a number of factors, including, but not limited to, those discussed in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2021 and subsequently filed Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q.

For those reasons, undue reliance should not be placed on any forward-looking statement. The Company assumes no duty or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statement, although it may do so from time to time as management believes is warranted or as may be required by applicable securities law. Any such updates or revisions may be made by filing reports with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”), through the issuance of press releases or by other methods of public disclosure.

Contact:
John J. Steele
Executive Vice President, Treasurer
and Chief Financial Officer
(402) 894-3036

Source: Werner Enterprises, Inc.

Consolidated Financial Information

(1) Under the terms of our insurance policies, we are the primary obligor for the settlement of a previously disclosed motor vehicle accident lawsuit arising from a May 24, 2020 accident, and as such, we have recorded a $140.0 million receivable from our third-party insurance providers in other receivables and a corresponding liability of the same amount in the current portion of insurance and claims accruals in the unaudited condensed balance sheets as of June 30, 2022.
(2) Under the terms of our insurance policies, we are the primary obligor of the damage award in a previously disclosed adverse jury verdict, and as such, we have recorded a $79.2 million receivable from our third-party insurance providers in other non-current assets and a corresponding liability of the same amount in the long-term portion of insurance and claims accruals in the unaudited condensed balance sheets as of June 30, 2022 and December 31, 2021.

Segment Financial and Operating Statistics Information

(1) Other includes our driver training schools, transportation-related activities such as third-party equipment maintenance and equipment leasing, and other business activities.

(2) Inter-segment eliminations represent transactions between reporting segments that are eliminated in consolidation.

(1) Net of fuel surcharge revenues

Non-GAAP Financial Measures and Reconciliations

To supplement our financial results presented in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States of America (“GAAP”), we provide certain non-GAAP financial measures as defined by the SEC Regulation G, including non-GAAP adjusted operating income; non-GAAP adjusted operating margin; non-GAAP adjusted operating margin, net of fuel surcharge; non-GAAP adjusted net income attributable to Werner; non-GAAP adjusted diluted earnings per share; non-GAAP adjusted operating revenues, net of fuel surcharge; non-GAAP adjusted operating expenses; non-GAAP adjusted operating expenses, net of fuel surcharge; non-GAAP adjusted operating ratio; and non-GAAP adjusted operating ratio, net of fuel surcharge. We believe these non-GAAP financial measures provide a more useful comparison of our performance from period to period because they exclude the effect of items that, in our opinion, do not reflect our core operating performance. Our non-GAAP financial measures are not meant to be considered in isolation or as substitutes for their comparable GAAP measures and should be read only in conjunction with our consolidated financial statements prepared in accordance with GAAP. There are limitations to using non-GAAP financial measures. Although we believe that they improve comparability in analyzing our period to period performance, they could limit comparability to other companies in our industry if those companies define these measures differently. Because of these limitations, our non-GAAP financial measures should not be considered measures of income generated by our business. Management compensates for these limitations by primarily relying on GAAP results and using non-GAAP financial measures on a supplemental basis.

The following tables present reconciliations of each non-GAAP financial measure to its most directly comparable GAAP financial measure as required by SEC Regulation G. In addition, information regarding each of the excluded items as well as our reasons for excluding them from our non-GAAP results is provided below.

RECONCILIATION OF NON-GAAP FINANCIAL MEASURES – CONSOLIDATED
(unaudited)
(In thousands, except per share amounts)

RECONCILIATION OF NON-GAAP FINANCIAL MEASURES – TRUCKLOAD TRANSPORTATION SERVICES (TTS) SEGMENT
(unaudited)
(In thousands)