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Published: 2021-01-27 16:24:07 ET
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EX-99.1 2 d16781dex991.htm EX-99.1 EX-99.1

Exhibit 99.1

 

LOGO

 

For Immediate Release

   Contact: Jim Gattoni
   Landstar System, Inc.
   www.landstar.com

January 27, 2021

   904-398-9400

LANDSTAR SYSTEM REPORTS ALL-TIME QUARTERLY RECORDS

WITH REVENUE OF $1.296 BILLION AND DILUTED EARNINGS

PER SHARE OF $1.70 IN THE 2020 FOURTH QUARTER

Jacksonville, FL - Landstar System, Inc. (NASDAQ: LSTR) reported all-time quarterly records with revenue of $1.296 billion and diluted earnings per share of $1.70 in the 2020 fourth quarter. Diluted earnings per share in the quarter included a previously announced one-time cost of $15.5 million, or $0.31 per diluted share, related to buyouts of certain incentive commission arrangements with several of its independent sales agents due to the Company’s discontinuation of a truck owner-operator recruitment and retention program formerly involving those agents. Landstar reported revenue of $994.9 million and diluted earnings per share of $1.27 in the 2019 fourth quarter. Gross profit in the 2020 fourth quarter of $182.4 million, 23 percent above 2019 fourth quarter gross profit of $148.7 million, was also an all-time Landstar quarterly record.

Truck transportation revenue hauled by independent business capacity owners (“BCOs”) and truck brokerage carriers in the 2020 fourth quarter was $1,201.7 million, or 93 percent of revenue, compared to $911.8 million, or 92 percent of revenue, in the 2019 fourth quarter. Truckload transportation revenue hauled via van equipment in the 2020 fourth quarter was $821.0 million compared to $571.8 million in the 2019 fourth quarter. Truckload transportation revenue hauled via unsided/platform equipment in the 2020 fourth quarter was $354.1 million compared to $315.2 million in the 2019 fourth quarter. Revenue hauled by rail, air and ocean cargo carriers was $75.7 million, or 6 percent of revenue, in the 2020 fourth quarter compared to $63.0 million, or 6 percent of revenue, in the 2019 fourth quarter.


LANDSTAR SYSTEM/ 2

 

Return on average shareholders’ equity was 28 percent and return on invested capital, representing net income divided by the sum of average equity plus average debt, was 25 percent in fiscal year 2020. Landstar purchased approximately 1,179,000 shares of its common stock during fiscal year 2020 at an aggregate cost of approximately $116.0 million. The Company currently is authorized to purchase up to 1,821,030 shares of the Company’s common stock under its previously announced share purchase program. As previously disclosed by the Company in a Form 8-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on December 9, 2020, its Board of Directors declared a special one-time cash dividend in the amount of $2.00 per share that was paid on January 22, 2021, to stockholders of record as of the close of business on January 8, 2021. In addition, Landstar announced today that its Board of Directors has declared a quarterly dividend of $0.21 per share payable on March 12, 2021, to stockholders of record as of the close of business on February 15, 2021. It is currently the intention of the Board to pay dividends on a quarterly basis going forward. As of December 26, 2020, the Company had $291 million in cash and short-term investments and $216 million available for borrowings under the Company’s senior credit facility, with the ability to increase borrowings to $366 million using the facility’s accordion feature.

“Landstar’s 2020 fourth quarter performance was outstanding,” said Landstar President and CEO Jim Gattoni. “Revenue, gross profit, and diluted earnings per share were each all-time quarterly records. Additionally, excluding the $15.5 million one-time cost to buyout certain incentive commission arrangements with several agents, operating income and operating margin in the 2020 fourth quarter would have achieved all-time quarterly records. Revenue from truck loads hauled via van equipment exceeded the 2019 fourth quarter by 44 percent and revenue from truck loads hauled via unsided/platform equipment exceeded the 2019 fourth quarter by 12 percent. Consumer demand for durables, building products and e-commerce drove record van quarterly revenue. For loads hauled via van equipment in the 2020 fourth quarter compared to the 2019 fourth quarter, the number of loads increased 16 percent and revenue per load increased 24 percent. Moreover, the fourth quarter was the only quarter of fiscal year 2020 in which revenue from truck loads hauled via unsided/platform equipment exceeded that of the corresponding prior year quarter. The number of loads and revenue per load on loads hauled via unsided/platform equipment in the 2020 fourth quarter exceeded the 2019 fourth quarter by 7 percent and 5 percent, respectively.”


LANDSTAR SYSTEM/ 3

 

Gattoni continued, “In our third quarter earnings release on October 21, 2020, we provided fourth quarter revenue guidance of $1.15 billion to $1.20 billion and fourth quarter diluted earnings per share guidance of $1.32 to $1.42. On November 17, 2020, we disclosed in a Form 8-K filed with the SEC and further explained at a webcast investor conference the next day that based on overall market conditions, we expected 2020 fourth quarter revenue and diluted earnings per share for the 2020 fourth quarter to be slightly above the high end of the previously issued guidance. The updated guidance provided on November 17, 2020 reflected truck load volume that at the time was trending near the high end of the previous guidance of high single digit percentage growth and revenue per load on loads hauled via truck trending above the 2019 fourth quarter in a mid-teen percentage range, as compared to the low double-digit percentage range reflected in our previously issued guidance. The year-over-year growth in the number of loads and revenue per load on loads hauled via truck in November and December continued to improve from October, with exceptional strength in substitute line haul services provided in support of e-commerce related demand during the holiday peak season. The number of loads hauled via truck in October, November and December exceeded the corresponding months of 2019 by 10 percent, 13 percent and 15 percent, respectively, while revenue per load on loads hauled via truck increased in October, November and December over the corresponding months of 2019 by 15 percent, 17 percent and 18 percent, respectively. Overall, truck load volume increased in the 2020 fourth quarter by 13% as compared to the 2019 fourth quarter, and truck revenue per load increased by 17% as compared to the 2019 fourth quarter. Ultimately, revenue in the 2020 fourth quarter was $1.296 billion and diluted earnings per share for the 2020 fourth quarter was $1.70.

Gattoni commented, “The achievement of revenue in excess of our guidance updated on November 17, 2020, primarily resulted from the continuing sequential increases Landstar experienced in the number of loads and revenue per load on loads hauled via truck from mid-November through the end of the fiscal year. Diluted earnings per share of $1.70 in the 2020 fourth quarter significantly exceeded the high end of our inital guidance of $1.42 due to the increase in revenue, actual insurance and claims costs that came in below the 4.8 percent of BCO revenue used in our previous guidance, and a lower effective income tax rate in the fourth quarter than initially anticipated.”


LANDSTAR SYSTEM/ 4

 

Gattoni further stated, “Landstar’s financial performance in 2020 was exceptional given the unprecedented impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the U.S. economy and supply chains throughout the world, the softness in the U.S. manufacturing sector throughout the year, the transition of over 80 percent of the Company’s employees to work remotely beginning in March and the many other challenges experienced by Landstar customers, employees, agents, BCOs and other third party capacity providers in managing through the business and personal disruptions caused by the pandemic. The sudden closing of manufacturing facilities in the U.S. adversely impacted the financial results of Landstar’s 2020 second quarter with a decrease in diluted earnings per share of almost 60 percent compared to the 2019 second quarter. In light of the softness in U.S. manufacturing that continued beyond the 2020 second quarter, the Company’s financial performance in the back half of 2020 was remarkable. Revenue, gross profit, operating income and diluted earnings per share exceeded the back half of 2019 by 19 percent, 14 percent, 22 percent and 27 percent, respectively. Additionally, the Company ended the year with a record number of trucks provided by BCOs and a record number of approved third-party truck brokerage carriers. The resiliency of Landstar’s variable cost, light asset-based business model continues to shine.”

Gattoni continued, “January of any given year is typically the slowest month of the year. Through the first several weeks of January, the macroeconomic environment experienced throughout the back half of 2020 continued, characterized by strong consumer demand, relative softness in the U.S. industrial/manufacturing sector relative to sectors servicing consumers, and tight available truck capacity. I anticipate demand for substitute line haul services in the 2021 first quarter will return to the still very strong levels we experienced throughout September and October, before the steep spike in demand that took place during the holiday peak season. I expect these market conditions throughout the remainder of the 2021 first quarter and, as a result, revenue and diluted earnings per share in the 2021 first quarter to be well above that of the 2020 first quarter. From a revenue standpoint, I expect the number of loads hauled via truck in the 2021 first quarter to exceed the 2020 first quarter in a high single-digit percentage range.


LANDSTAR SYSTEM/ 5

 

I expect revenue per load on loads hauled via truck in the 2021 first quarter to exceed the 2020 first quarter in a mid-teen percentage range. As such, I anticipate revenue for the 2021 first quarter to be in a range of $1.10 billion to $1.15 billion.”

Gattoni concluded, “Based on the range of revenue estimated for the 2021 first quarter, I would anticipate diluted earnings per share to be in a range of $1.55 to $1.65. This range of diluted earnings per share includes insurance and claims expense estimated at 4.6 percent of BCO revenue.”

Landstar will provide a live webcast of its quarterly earnings conference call tomorrow morning at 8:00 a.m. ET. To access the webcast, visit the Company’s website at www.landstar.com; click on “Investor Relations” and “Webcasts,” then click on “Landstar’s Fourth Quarter 2020 Earnings Release Conference Call.”

The following is a “safe harbor” statement under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Statements contained in this press release that are not based on historical facts are “forward-looking statements”. This press release contains forward-looking statements, such as statements which relate to Landstar’s business objectives, plans, strategies and expectations. Terms such as “anticipates,” “believes,” “estimates,” “intention,” “expects,” “plans,” “predicts,” “may,” “should,” “could,” “will,” the negative thereof and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. Such statements are by nature subject to uncertainties and risks, including but not limited to: the impact of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic; an increase in the frequency or severity of accidents or other claims; unfavorable development of existing accident claims; dependence on third party insurance companies; dependence on independent commission sales agents; dependence on third party capacity providers; decreased demand for transportation services; U.S. foreign trade relationships; substantial industry competition; disruptions or failures in the Company’s computer systems; cyber and other information security incidents; dependence on key vendors; changes in fuel taxes; status of independent contractors; regulatory and legislative changes; regulations focused on diesel emissions and other air quality matters; catastrophic loss of a Company facility; intellectual property; unclaimed property; and other operational, financial or legal risks or uncertainties detailed in Landstar’s Form 10K for the 2019 fiscal year, described in Item 1A Risk Factors, and in other SEC filings from time to time.


LANDSTAR SYSTEM/ 6

 

These risks and uncertainties could cause actual results or events to differ materially from historical results or those anticipated. Investors should not place undue reliance on such forward-looking statements, and the Company undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements.

About Landstar:

Landstar System, Inc. is a worldwide, asset-light provider of integrated transportation management solutions delivering safe, specialized transportation services to a broad range of customers utilizing a network of agents, third-party capacity providers and employees. Landstar transportation services companies are certified to ISO 9001:2015 quality management system standards and RC14001:2015 environmental, health, safety and security management system standards. Landstar System, Inc. is headquartered in Jacksonville, Florida. Its common stock trades on The NASDAQ Stock Market® under the symbol LSTR.


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Landstar System, Inc. and Subsidiary

Consolidated Statements of Income

(Dollars in thousands, except per share amounts)

(Unaudited)

 

     Fiscal Years Ended     Fiscal Quarters Ended  
     December 26,      December 28,     December 26,      December 28,  
     2020      2019     2020      2019  

Revenue

   $ 4,132,981      $ 4,084,577     $ 1,296,355      $ 994,879  

Investment income

     3,399        5,041       683        1,305  

Costs and expenses:

          

Purchased transportation

     3,192,850        3,127,474       1,009,707        761,828  

Commissions to agents

     340,780        342,226       104,290        84,364  

Other operating costs, net of gains/losses on asset sales/dispositions

     30,463        37,274       7,428        8,743  

Insurance and claims

     87,773        80,319       21,210        25,071  

Selling, general and administrative

     167,633        158,953       42,854        38,236  

Depreciation and amortization

     45,855        44,468       11,643        11,423  

Impairment of intangible and other assets

     2,582        —         —          —    

Commission program termination costs

     15,494        —         15,494        —    
  

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total costs and expenses

     3,883,430        3,790,714       1,212,626        929,665  
  

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

 

Operating income

     252,950        298,904       84,412        66,519  

Interest and debt expense

     3,953        3,141       1,017        863  
  

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

 

Income before income taxes

     248,997        295,763       83,395        65,656  

Income taxes

     56,891        68,060       18,324        15,608  
  

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

 

Net income

     192,106        227,703       65,071        50,048  

Less: Net loss attributable to noncontrolling interest

     —          (17     —          —    
  

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

 

Net income attributable to Landstar System, Inc. and subsidiary

   $ 192,106      $ 227,720     $ 65,071      $ 50,048  
  

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

 

Earnings per common share attributable to Landstar System, Inc. and subsidiary

   $ 4.98      $ 5.72     $ 1.70      $ 1.27  
  

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

 

Diluted earnings per share attributable to Landstar System, Inc. and subsidiary

   $ 4.98      $ 5.72     $ 1.70      $ 1.27  
  

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

 

Average number of shares outstanding:

          

Earnings per common share

     38,602,000        39,786,000       38,389,000        39,472,000  
  

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

 

Diluted earnings per share

     38,602,000        39,786,000       38,389,000        39,472,000  
  

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

 

Dividends per common share

   $ 2.790      $ 2.700     $ 2.210      $ 2.185  
  

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

 


LANDSTAR SYSTEM/ 8

 

Landstar System, Inc. and Subsidiary

Consolidated Balance Sheets

(Dollars in thousands, except per share amounts)

(Unaudited)

 

     December 26,     December 28,  
     2020     2019  

ASSETS

    

Current assets:

    

Cash and cash equivalents

   $ 249,354     $ 319,515  

Short-term investments

     41,375       32,901  

Trade accounts receivable, less allowance of $8,670 and $7,284

     764,169       588,549  

Other receivables, including advances to independent contractors, less allowance of $7,239 and $7,667

     134,757       35,553  

Other current assets

     18,520       21,370  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total current assets

     1,208,175       997,888  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Operating property, less accumulated depreciation and amortization of $299,407 and $280,849

     296,996       285,855  

Goodwill

     40,949       38,508  

Other assets

     107,679       105,460  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total assets

   $ 1,653,799     $ 1,427,711  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

LIABILITIES AND EQUITY

    

Current liabilities:

    

Cash overdraft

   $ 74,748     $ 53,878  

Accounts payable

     380,505       271,996  

Current maturities of long-term debt

     35,415       42,632  

Insurance claims

     149,774       44,532  

Dividends payable

     76,770       78,947  

Other current liabilities

     88,925       60,919  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total current liabilities

     806,137       552,904  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Long-term debt, excluding current maturities

     65,359       70,212  

Insurance claims

     38,867       33,575  

Deferred income taxes and other non-current liabilities

     51,601       49,551  

Shareholders’ equity:

    

Common stock, $0.01 par value, authorized 160,000,000 shares, issued 68,183,702 and 68,083,419 shares

     682       681  

Additional paid-in capital

     228,875       226,123  

Retained earnings

     2,046,238       1,962,161  

Cost of 29,797,639 and 28,609,926 shares of common stock in treasury

     (1,581,961     (1,465,284

Accumulated other comprehensive loss

     (1,999     (2,212
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total shareholders’ equity

     691,835       721,469  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total liabilities and shareholders’ equity

   $ 1,653,799     $ 1,427,711  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 


LANDSTAR SYSTEM/ 9

 

Landstar System, Inc. and Subsidiary

Supplemental Information

(Unaudited)

 

     Fiscal Years Ended     Fiscal Quarters Ended  
     December 26,     December 28,     December 26,     December 28,  
     2020     2019     2020     2019  

Revenue generated through (in thousands):

        

Truck transportation

        

Truckload:

        

Van equipment

   $ 2,515,940     $ 2,371,188     $ 821,024     $ 571,767  

Unsided/platform equipment

     1,202,295       1,295,817       354,108       315,202  

Less-than-truckload

     97,546       98,324       26,562       24,849  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total truck transportation

     3,815,781       3,765,329       1,201,694       911,818  

Rail intermodal

     114,313       118,305       32,566       30,750  

Ocean and air cargo carriers

     132,180       121,485       43,178       32,227  

Other (1)

     70,707       79,458       18,917       20,084  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 
   $ 4,132,981     $ 4,084,577     $ 1,296,355     $ 994,879  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Revenue on loads hauled via BCO Independent Contractors (2) included in total truck transportation

   $ 1,866,526     $ 1,831,752     $ 554,523     $ 441,617  

Number of loads:

        

Truck transportation

        

Truckload:

        

Van equipment

     1,318,768       1,337,089       372,651       322,517  

Unsided/platform equipment

     487,348       513,579       130,678       122,467  

Less-than-truckload

     163,024       155,592       43,491       39,976  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total truck transportation

     1,969,140       2,006,260       546,820       484,960  

Rail intermodal

     46,280       47,590       12,870       12,220  

Ocean and air cargo carriers

     31,900       30,110       9,180       7,960  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 
     2,047,320       2,083,960       568,870       505,140  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Loads hauled via BCO Independent Contractors (2) included in total truck transportation

     945,210       954,990       251,350       232,120  

Revenue per load:

        

Truck transportation

        

Truckload:

        

Van equipment

   $ 1,908     $ 1,773     $ 2,203     $ 1,773  

Unsided/platform equipment

     2,467       2,523       2,710       2,574  

Less-than-truckload

     598       632       611       622  

Total truck transportation

     1,938       1,877       2,198       1,880  

Rail intermodal

     2,470       2,486       2,530       2,516  

Ocean and air cargo carriers

     4,144       4,035       4,703       4,049  

Revenue per load on loads hauled via BCO Independent Contractors (2)

   $ 1,975     $ 1,918     $ 2,206     $ 1,903  

Revenue by capacity type (as a % of total revenue)

        

Truck capacity providers:

        

BCO Independent Contractors (2)

     45     45     43     44

Truck Brokerage Carriers

     47     47     50     47

Rail intermodal

     3     3     3     3

Ocean and air cargo carriers

     3     3     3     3

Other

     2     2     1     2

Truck Capacity Providers

               December 26,
2020
    December 28,
2019
 

BCO Independent Contractors (2)

         10,242       9,554  
      

 

 

   

 

 

 

Truck Brokerage Carriers:

        

Approved and active (3)

         46,053       39,497  

Other approved

         22,972       16,820  
      

 

 

   

 

 

 
         69,025       56,317  
      

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total available truck capacity providers

         79,267       65,871  
      

 

 

   

 

 

 

Trucks provided by BCO Independent Contractors (2)

         10,991       10,243  

 

(1)

Includes primarily reinsurance premium revenue generated by the insurance segment and intra-Mexico transportation services revenue generated by Landstar Metro.

(2)

BCO Independent Contractors are independent contractors who provide truck capacity to the Company under exclusive lease arrangements.

(3)

Active refers to Truck Brokerage Carriers who moved at least one load in the 180 days immediately preceding the fiscal quarter end.