Hub Group Reports Second Quarter 2024 Results

Rhea-AI Summary

Hub Group (NASDAQ: HUBG) reported Q2 2024 results with diluted EPS of $0.47 and revenue of $1.0 billion. Key highlights include:

- Quarterly operating income of $40 million (4.0% of revenue)
- $48 million returned to shareholders YTD ($15M dividends, $33M stock repurchases)
- Strong balance sheet with $220 million cash and 0.3x net debt/EBITDA
- 8% Intermodal volume growth
- Awarded Domestic Partner of the Year by Target®

The company faced challenging market conditions but benefited from disciplined market approach and diversification efforts. 2024 outlook: diluted EPS $1.75-$2.05, revenue $4.0-$4.3 billion, 24% effective tax rate, and $45-65 million in capital expenditures.

Positive

• 8% growth in Intermodal volume
• Strong balance sheet with $220 million cash and 0.3x net debt/EBITDA
• $48 million returned to shareholders year-to-date
• Awarded Domestic Partner of the Year by Target®
• Final Mile acquisition contributing to revenue growth

Negative

• Diluted EPS decreased from $0.72 in Q2 2023 to $0.47 in Q2 2024
• Revenue declined 5.2% year-over-year to $986 million
• Operating income decreased from $62 million (6.0% of revenue) in Q2 2023 to $40 million (4.0% of revenue) in Q2 2024
• ITS segment operating income declined from $32 million to $14 million
• Logistics segment operating income decreased by $4 million year-over-year

Insights

Financial Analyst

Hub Group's Q2 2024 results reveal a mixed financial picture, with some concerning trends but also signs of resilience. Revenue declined by 5.2% year-over-year to $986 million, primarily due to challenging market conditions and lower revenue per load in key segments. However, the company managed to maintain $1 billion in quarterly revenue, showcasing its ability to navigate a difficult environment.

The most significant concern is the sharp drop in diluted EPS, falling from $0.72 to $0.47, a 34.7% decrease. This decline in profitability is reflected in the operating income, which fell from $62 million (6.0% of revenue) to $40 million (4.0% of revenue). This compression in margins suggests that Hub Group is facing challenges in maintaining its pricing power and cost efficiency in the current market.

On a positive note, the company's balance sheet remains strong, with $220 million in cash and cash equivalents and a low net debt/EBITDA ratio of 0.3x. This financial stability provides Hub Group with flexibility to weather market volatility and potentially capitalize on strategic opportunities. The company's commitment to shareholder returns, evidenced by $48 million returned through dividends and stock repurchases, is also noteworthy.

Looking ahead, Hub Group's full-year guidance of $1.75 to $2.05 EPS and $4.0 to $4.3 billion in revenue suggests cautious optimism. However, investors should closely monitor the company's ability to improve margins and adapt to ongoing market challenges in the coming quarters.

Logistics Industry Expert

Hub Group's Q2 2024 performance reflects the broader challenges facing the logistics industry, but also highlights the company's strategic positioning. The 8% growth in Intermodal volume is particularly impressive given the current market conditions, indicating Hub Group's strong competitive position in this segment.

The acquisition and integration of Final Mile services is proving to be a wise diversification move. This segment contributed positively to revenue, partially offsetting declines in other areas. As e-commerce continues to drive demand for last-mile delivery services, this could become an increasingly important growth driver for Hub Group.

However, the pressure on margins across segments is concerning. The ITS segment saw operating income drop from $32 million to $14 million, while the Logistics segment declined by $4 million. This suggests that Hub Group is facing intense pricing pressure and may need to focus on cost optimization to protect profitability.

The company's focus on yield management and service excellence is important in this environment. The award from Target as Domestic Partner of the Year underscores Hub Group's commitment to customer service, which could help maintain and potentially grow market share despite challenging conditions.

Overall, while Hub Group is navigating a difficult market, its strategic initiatives and strong balance sheet position it well for when market conditions improve. The key will be managing the near-term margin pressures while continuing to invest in growth areas like Final Mile services.

Highlights:

• Diluted earnings per share (EPS) of $0.47 for the quarter
• Second quarter revenue of $1.0 billion
• Quarterly operating income of $40 million or 4.0% of revenue
• Executing on Capital Allocation Plan by returning $48 million to shareholders year-to-date through dividend payments of $15 million and stock repurchases of $33 million
• Strong balance sheet with cash and cash equivalents of $220 million and net debt/EBITDA of 0.3x (non-GAAP) as of June 30, 2024
• Awarded Domestic Partner of the Year by Target^®

OAK BROOK, Ill., Aug. 01, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Hub Group, Inc. (Nasdaq: HUBG) announced second quarter 2024 net income of $29 million and diluted earnings per share of $0.47. Net income for second quarter 2023 was $47 million or $0.72 per diluted share.

“I am pleased with the team’s performance in the second quarter with Intermodal volume growth of 8% and the strong contribution from Final Mile, resulting in $1.0 billion of revenue. Although market conditions remain challenging, Hub Group benefitted from our disciplined market approach, recent diversification efforts, and strong balance sheet. We continue to enhance earnings stability and growth over the long term by focusing on yield management, our capital structure, and providing excellent service to our customers,” said Phil Yeager, Hub Group’s President, Chief Executive Officer and Vice Chairman.

Second Quarter 2024 Results

Consolidated revenue for the second quarter of 2024 was $986 million, down 5.2% from the $1,040 million reported in second quarter of 2023. Revenue was impacted by the freight market, lower revenue per load including fuel and accessorial revenue in Intermodal and Brokerage, partially offset by higher volumes in Intermodal and contributions from the Final Mile acquisition.

Purchased transportation and warehousing costs of $727 million were $36 million lower than prior year. Salaries and benefits of $142 million were comparable to prior year as we continue to manage headcount. Total legacy headcount, which excludes acquisition employees, drivers and warehouse employees, declined by 7%. Depreciation and amortization increased $2.4 million, or 40 basis points, due to the Final Mile acquisition. Insurance and claims increased by 20 basis points due to higher claim costs. General and administrative expenses increased 20 basis points as compared to prior year driven by costs associated with the Final Mile acquisition, partially offset by cost management efforts. Gain on sale was $0.4 million in the quarter.

Operating income for the second quarter was $40 million, or 4.0% of revenue, as compared to $62 million or 6.0% of revenue in the prior year. EBITDA (non-GAAP) was $89 million and net debt/EBITDA (non-GAAP) was 0.3x for the quarter.

Intermodal and Transportation Solutions (“ITS”) Segment revenue was $561 million in the second quarter, down from $615 million in the prior year. Higher Intermodal volume and Dedicated revenue partially offset lower revenue per load, accessorial revenue and fuel revenue. ITS operating income was $14 million, or 2.4% of revenue, down from $32 million in the prior year.

Second quarter Logistics Segment revenue of $459 million increased $6 million from prior year, as higher Final Mile revenue more than offset lower revenue in our Brokerage business. Second quarter operating income was $26 million, or 5.6% of revenue, a decline of $4 million from prior year as positive contribution from the acquisition only partially offset lower Brokerage margin.

Capital expenditures for the second quarter of 2024 totaled $14 million as we continued to invest in our tractor fleet, technology, and expansion of our multipurpose warehouse footprint. As of June 30, 2024, we had cash and cash equivalents of $220 million. Year-to-date the company returned $48 million to shareholders through dividend payments of $15 million and stock repurchases of $33 million.

2024 Outlook

We expect our 2024 diluted earnings per share will range from $1.75 to $2.05. We estimate revenue of approximately $4.0 to $4.3 billion for the full year. We continue to project an effective tax rate of approximately 24% and capital expenditures in the range of $45 million to $65 million for the full year.

Non-GAAP Financial Measure

In this press release, we present certain non-GAAP financial measures. As required by the rules of the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”), we have provided herein a reconciliation of these non-GAAP financial measures to the most directly comparable measures under GAAP, along with an explanation why management believes these non-GAAP financial measures provide relevant and useful information. This non-GAAP financial measures should be viewed in addition to, and not as an alternative to or substitute for, measures determined in accordance with GAAP, and are not necessarily comparable to non-GAAP measures that may be presented by other companies.

Certain Forward-Looking Statements:

Statements in this press release that are not historical facts are forward-looking statements, provided pursuant to the safe harbor established under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward- looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and involve risks, uncertainties and other factors that might cause the actual performance of Hub Group to differ materially from those expressed or implied by this discussion and, therefore, should be viewed with caution. Further information on the risks that may affect Hub Group’s business is included in filings it makes with the SEC from time to time, including those discussed under the “Risk Factors” section in Hub Group’s most recently filed periodic reports on Form 10-K and Form 10-Q and subsequent filings. Hub Group assumes no obligation to update any such forward-looking statements.

Conference Call

Hub Group, Inc. will hold a conference call at 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time on August 1, 2024, to discuss our second quarter 2024 results. Hosting the conference call will be Phil Yeager, President, CEO and Vice Chairman. Also participating on the call will be Brian Alexander, Executive Vice President, Chief Operating Officer, and Kevin Beth, 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://register.vevent.com/register/BI21706b737b064d989a92b2348172f8d3 to receive the dial-in number and unique PIN. On the day of the call, dial in approximately ten minutes prior to the scheduled call time and enter the unique participant PIN received during registration. 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.

About Hub Group

Hub Group offers comprehensive transportation and logistics management solutions. Keeping our customers’ needs in focus, Hub Group designs, continually optimizes, and applies industry-leading technology to our customers’ supply chains for better service, greater efficiency, and total visibility. As an award-winning, publicly traded company (Nasdaq: HUBG) with over $4 billion in revenue, our nearly 6,000 employees and drivers across the globe are always in pursuit of “The Way Ahead” – a commitment to service, integrity and innovation. For more information, visit hubgroup.com.

SOURCE: Hub Group, Inc.
CONTACT: Lorna Williams, Investor Relations, lornawilliams@hubgroup.com

HUB GROUP, INC. CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF EARNINGS
(in thousands, except per share amounts) (unaudited)
	Three Months Ended June 30,
	2024					2023
		Amount		% of Revenue			Amount		% of Revenue
Operating revenue	$	986,495		100.0%		$	1,040,462		100.0%
Operating expenses:
Purchased transportation and warehousing		727,236		73.7%			763,609		73.4%
Salaries and benefits		141,856		14.4%			141,823		13.6%
Depreciation and amortization		37,772		3.8%			35,386		3.4%
Insurance and claims		12,639		1.3%			11,676		1.1%
General and administrative		27,877		2.8%			26,757		2.6%
Gain on sale of assets, net		(413	)	0.0%			(859	)	-0.1%
Total operating expenses		946,967		96.0%			978,392		94.0%
Operating income		39,528		4.0%			62,070		6.0%
Other income (expense):
Interest expense, net		(1,881	)	-0.2%			(1,029	)	-0.1%
Other, net		(66	)	0.0%			69		0.0%
Total other expense, net		(1,947	)	-0.2%			(960	)	-0.1%
Income before provision for income taxes		37,581		3.8%			61,110		5.9%
Provision for income taxes		8,566		0.9%			14,605		1.4%
Net income	$	29,015				$	46,505
Earnings per share
Basic	$	0.48				$	0.73
Diluted	$	0.47				$	0.72
Basic weighted average number of shares outstanding		60,710					64,074
Diluted weighted average number of shares outstanding		61,108					64,586

HUB GROUP, INC. CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF EARNINGS
(in thousands, except per share amounts) (unaudited)
	Six Months Ended June 30,
	2024					2023
		Amount		% of Revenue			Amount		% of Revenue
Operating revenue	$	1,985,988		100.0%		$	2,192,727		100.0%
Operating expenses:
Purchased transportation and warehousing		1,467,408		73.9%			1,630,540		74.4%
Salaries and benefits		286,352		14.4%			279,254		12.7%
Depreciation and amortization		76,103		3.8%			70,835		3.2%
Insurance and claims		25,257		1.3%			24,359		1.1%
General and administrative		55,111		2.8%			52,298		2.4%
Gain on sale of assets, net		(910	)	-0.1%			(4,834	)	-0.2%
Total operating expenses		1,909,321		96.1%			2,052,452		93.6%
Operating income		76,667		3.9%			140,275		6.4%
Other income (expense):
Interest expense, net		(4,387	)	-0.2%			(2,623	)	-0.1%
Other, net		(236	)	0.0%			108		0.0%
Total other expense, net		(4,623	)	-0.2%			(2,515	)	-0.1%
Income before provision for income taxes		72,044		3.7%			137,760		6.3%
Provision for income taxes		15,976		0.8%			29,475		1.3%
Net income	$	56,068				$	108,285
Earnings per share
Basic	$	0.92				$	1.68
Diluted	$	0.91				$	1.66
Basic weighted average number of shares outstanding		61,018					64,586
Diluted weighted average number of shares outstanding		61,387					65,132

 

HUB GROUP, INC. CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
(in thousands, except share data)
			June 30,					December 31,
			2024					2023
			(unaudited)
ASSETS
CURRENT ASSETS:
Cash and cash equivalents	$		220,247			$		187,270
Accounts receivable trade, net			583,759					600,197
Accounts receivable other			3,771					3,358
Prepaid taxes			12,791					17,331
Prepaid expenses and other current assets			16,139					41,089
TOTAL CURRENT ASSETS			836,707					849,245
Restricted investments		21,044					20,763
Property and equipment, net		759,779					791,692
Right-of-use assets - operating leases		196,465					210,742
Right-of-use assets - financing leases		1,538					2,522
Other intangibles, net		248,391					304,607
Goodwill		771,894					733,695
Other non-current assets		22,885					22,781
TOTAL ASSETS	$	2,858,703				$	2,936,047

LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
CURRENT LIABILITIES:
Accounts payable trade	$		325,569			$		349,378
Accounts payable other			24,143					14,471
Accrued payroll			29,429					21,731
Accrued other			111,874					121,253
Lease liability - operating leases			40,142					44,690
Lease liability - financing leases			805					1,579
Current portion of long-term debt			103,192					105,108
TOTAL CURRENT LIABILITIES			635,154					658,210
Long-term debt			209,875					245,574
Other non-current liabilities			53,213					55,287
Lease liability - operating leases			163,669					177,699
Lease liability - financing leases			664					865
Deferred taxes			154,998					163,767
STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY:
Preferred stock, $.01 par value; 2,000,000 shares authorized;
no shares issued or outstanding in 2024 and 2023.		-			-
Common stock
Class A: $.01 par value; 97,337,700 shares authorized; 72,303,228
shares issued in 2024 and 75,524,189 shares issued in 2023;
61,653,003 shares outstanding in 2024 and 62,200,921 shares outstanding in 2023.		723			755
Class B: $.01 par value; 662,300 shares authorized;
574,903 shares issued and outstanding in both 2024 and 2023.		6					6
Additional paid-in capital		211,346					209,830
Retained earnings		1,989,600					1,949,110
Accumulated other comprehensive loss		(200		)			(129		)
Treasury stock; at cost, 10,650,225 shares in 2024
and 13,323,268 shares in 2023		(560,345		)			(524,927		)
TOTAL STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY		1,641,130					1,634,645
TOTAL LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY	$	2,858,703				$	2,936,047

HUB GROUP, INC. CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
(in thousands) (unaudited)
		Six Months Ended June 30,
		2024				2023
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net income	$	56,068			$	108,285
Adjustments to reconcile net income
to net cash provided by operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization of intangibles and right-of-use assets		99,100				91,474
Impairment of right-of-use asset		-				2,012
Deferred taxes		(9,249	)			10,837
Non-cash share-based compensation expense		9,433				10,615
Gain on sale of assets, net		(910	)			(4,834	)
Changes in operating assets and liabilities, net of acquisitions:
Restricted investments		(281	)			(2,197	)
Accounts receivable, net		15,784				103,270
Prepaid taxes		4,537				1,729
Prepaid expenses and other current assets		19,697				17,469
Other non-current assets		(1,503	)			(1,899	)
Accounts payable		(14,270	)			(55,085	)
Accrued expenses		(6,542	)			(47,700	)
Non-current liabilities		(21,399	)			(12,595	)
Net cash provided by operating activities		150,465				221,381
Cash flows from investing activities: Proceeds from sale of equipment		5,750				15,135
Purchases of property and equipment		(31,255	)			(65,635	)
Acquisitions, net of cash acquired		3,701				108
Net cash used in investing activities		(21,804	)			(50,392	)
Cash flows from financing activities: Repayments of long term debt		(53,233	)			(56,191	)
Purchase of treasury stock		(32,938	)			(100,026	)
Dividends paid		(15,230	)			-
Stock withheld for payments of withholding taxes		(8,664	)			(7,818	)
Finance lease payments		(1,217	)			(1,501	)
Proceeds from issuance of debt		15,618				50,289
Net cash used in financing activities		(95,664	)			(115,247	)
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents		(20	)			45
Net increase in cash and cash equivalents		32,977				55,787
Cash and cash equivalents beginning of period		187,270				286,642
Cash and cash equivalents end of period	$	220,247			$	342,429

HUB GROUP, INC. FINANCIAL INFORMATION BY SEGMENT
(in thousands) (unaudited)
	Three Months Ended June 30,
Operating Revenue		2024				2023
Intermodal and Transportation Services	$	561,033			$	614,632
Logistics		459,088				453,549
Inter-segment eliminations		(33,626	)			(27,719	)
Total operating revenue	$	986,495			$	1,040,462

	Three Months Ended June 30,
Operating Income		2024				2023
Intermodal and Transportation Services	$	13,639			$	31,777
Logistics		25,889				30,293
Totaloperatingincome	$	39,528			$	62,070

	Three Months Ended June 30,
Depreciation and Amortization		2024				2023
Intermodal and Transportation Services	$	27,270			$	27,117
Logistics		10,502				8,269
Total depreciation and amortization	$	37,772			$	35,386

HUB GROUP, INC. FINANCIAL INFORMATION BY SEGMENT
(in thousands) (unaudited)
	Six Months Ended June 30,
Operating Revenue	2024				2023
Intermodal and Transportation Services	$	1,113,066			$	1,323,881
Logistics		939,312				922,690
Inter-segment eliminations		(66,390	)			(53,844	)
Total operating revenue	$	1,985,988			$	2,192,727

	Six Months Ended June 30,
Operating Income		2024				2023
Intermodal and Transportation Services	$	26,670			$	80,981
Logistics		49,997				59,294
Total operating income	$	76,667			$	140,275

	Six Months Ended June 30,
Depreciation and Amortization		2024				2023
Intermodal and Transportation Services	$	54,319			$	54,003
Logistics		21,784				16,832
Total depreciation and amortization	$	76,103			$	70,835

RECONCILIATION OF NET INCOME TO EBITDA (1) AND NET DEBT / EBITDA LEVERAGE
(in thousands)
(unaudited)
	2024			2024					2023			2023			2023			2023
	Q1			Q2					Q1			Q2			Q3			Q4
Net Income	$	27,053		$	29,015				$	61,780		$	46,505		$	30,459		$	28,785
Interest Expense, net		2,506			1,881					1,594			1,029			699			103
Depreciation and Amortization (2)		49,605			49,495					45,810			45,664			45,301			47,674
Provision for Income Taxes		7,410			8,566					14,870			14,605			11,209			992
EBITDA	$	86,574		$	88,957				$	124,054		$	107,803		$	87,668		$	77,554
EBITDA LTM (3)	$	359,599		$	340,753
Net Debt (4)	$	141,524		$	94,289
Net Debt / EBITDA LTM		0.4			0.3

(1)		By providing this non-GAAP measure of EBITDA and Net Debt / EBITDA Leverage, management intends to provide investors with a meaningful, consistent comparison of the Company’s profitability for the periods presented.
(2)		Includes depreciation of property and equipment, amortization of intangible assets and amortization of right-of-use assets.
(3)		Last twelve months
(4)		Total debt (including finance leases) less cash and cash equivalents

FAQ

What was Hub Group's (HUBG) revenue for Q2 2024?

Hub Group reported revenue of $986 million for Q2 2024, down 5.2% from $1,040 million in Q2 2023.

How much did Hub Group (HUBG) earn per share in Q2 2024?

Hub Group reported diluted earnings per share (EPS) of $0.47 for Q2 2024, compared to $0.72 in Q2 2023.

What is Hub Group's (HUBG) financial outlook for 2024?

Hub Group expects 2024 diluted EPS to range from $1.75 to $2.05, with revenue between $4.0 to $4.3 billion, and capital expenditures of $45-65 million.

How much cash did Hub Group (HUBG) have as of June 30, 2024?

As of June 30, 2024, Hub Group had cash and cash equivalents of $220 million.

What was Hub Group's (HUBG) Intermodal volume growth in Q2 2024?

Hub Group reported an 8% growth in Intermodal volume for Q2 2024.