Marten Transport Announces First Quarter Results

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MONDOVI, Wis., April 16, 2019 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Marten Transport, Ltd. MRTN today reported a 31.1% improvement in net income to $13.5 million, or 25 cents per diluted share, for the first quarter ended March 31, 2019, from $10.3 million, or 19 cents per diluted share, for the first quarter of 2018.

Operating revenue improved 6.5% to $199.0 million for the first quarter of 2019 from $187.0 million for the first quarter of 2018, and improved 12.3% to $799.7 million for the trailing twelve months ended March 31, 2019 from $711.9 million for the similar period ended March 31, 2018. Excluding fuel surcharges, operating revenue improved 7.1% to $175.5 million for the 2019 quarter from $163.8 million for the 2018 quarter. Fuel surcharge revenue increased slightly to $23.6 million from $23.1 million over the same periods.

Operating income improved 30.4% to $17.7 million for the first quarter of 2019 from $13.6 million for the first quarter of 2018, and improved 31.8% to $74.5 million for the trailing twelve months ended March 31, 2019 from $56.5 million for the similar period ended March 31, 2018. 

Operating expenses as a percentage of operating revenue improved to 91.1% for the first quarter of 2019 from 92.7% for the first quarter of 2018. Operating expenses as a percentage of operating revenue, with both amounts net of fuel surcharges, improved to 89.9% from 91.7% over the same periods.

Operating expenses as a percentage of operating revenue improved to 90.7% for the trailing twelve months ended March 31, 2019 from 92.1% for the similar period ended March 31, 2018. Operating expenses as a percentage of operating revenue, with both amounts net of fuel surcharges, improved to 89.3% from 91.1% over the same periods.

    
 Operating Results Comparison  
    
 Net income and diluted earnings per common share presented below for the TTM ended Mar. 31, 2018 exclude a $56.5 million deferred income tax benefit in the fourth quarter of 2017. Net income including the benefit for the TTM ended Mar. 31, 2018 was $92.4 million, or $1.68 per diluted share.   
    
   Percentage  Percentage 
   Change  Change 
   Three Months TrailingTrailing Twelve 
  Three MonthsEnded Twelve MonthsMonths Ended 
  Ended Mar. 31,Mar. 31, Ended Mar. 31,Mar. 31, 
 (Dollars in thousands, except share information)201920182019 vs. 2018 201920182019 vs. 2018 
                 
 Operating revenue $199,023$186,960 6.5  $799,657$711,921  12.3% 
                  
 Operating income $17,733$13,594   30.4%  $74,487$56,518 31.8% 
                  
 Net income$13,546$10,331 31.1% $58,242$35,936 62.1% 
                  
 Diluted earnings per common share$0.25$0.19 31.2% $1.06$0.65 61.6% 
                 
 Operating ratio, excluding fuel surcharges 89.9%91.7%    89.3%91.1%   
    

Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Randolph L. Marten said, "We are pleased to report our continued strong top- and bottom-line results for this quarter, which produced our best-ever first-quarter operating revenue, operating income and net income. Our 30.4% year-over-year improvement in operating income for the first quarter consistently furthers our 31.8% operating income increase in the last twelve months. We expect to see strong demand throughout 2019 for our premium services with our diversified base of over 650 customers. We added 65 Truckload and 51 Dedicated tractors during the first quarter, and we expect to build on this success in recruiting and retaining the industry's top, experienced drivers to increase our capacity to service our existing and new customers. In addition, we enhanced our balance sheet position with $85.5 million in cash at March 31, 2019, up from $56.8 million at the beginning of the year."

"A number of our customer agreements included a shift beginning mid-first quarter last year from line haul to fuel surcharge revenue, which reduced our Dedicated and Truckload revenue excluding fuel surcharges by $2.9 million and $782,000, respectively, for this year's first quarter, and by $1.4 million and $282,000, respectively, for the first quarter of 2018. Our fuel surcharge revenue increased in both periods by the same amounts."

Marten Transport, with headquarters in Mondovi, Wis., is a multifaceted business offering a network of truck-based transportation capabilities across the Company's five distinct business platforms - Truckload, Dedicated, Intermodal, Brokerage and MRTN de Mexico. Marten is one of the leading temperature-sensitive truckload carriers in the United States, specializing in transporting and distributing food and other consumer packaged goods that require a temperature-controlled or insulated environment. Marten's dry freight services are expanding, with 1,596 dry vans operating as of March 31, 2019. The Company offers service in the United States, Canada and Mexico, concentrating on expedited movements for high-volume customers. Marten's common stock is traded on the Nasdaq Global Select Market under the symbol MRTN.

This press release contains certain statements that may be considered 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. These statements include a discussion of the Company's prospects for future growth and by their nature involve substantial risks and uncertainties, and actual results may differ materially from those expressed in such forward-looking statements. Important factors known to the Company that could cause actual results to differ materially from those discussed in the forward-looking statements are discussed in Item 1A of the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2018. The Company undertakes no obligation to correct or update any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

CONTACTS: Tim Kohl, President, and Jim Hinnendael, Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, of Marten Transport, Ltd., 715-926-4216.

                                                                                

MARTEN TRANSPORT, LTD.
CONSOLIDATED CONDENSED BALANCE SHEETS

  March 31,  December 31, 
(In thousands, except share information) 2019  2018 
   (Unaudited)     
ASSETS        
Current assets:        
Cash and cash equivalents $85,526  $56,763 
Receivables:        
      Trade, net  84,443   83,033 
     Other  5,273   3,808 
Prepaid expenses and other  18,025   19,924 
         Total current assets  193,267   163,528 
         
Property and equipment:        
Revenue equipment, buildings and land, office equipment and other  819,809   816,430 
Accumulated depreciation  (241,658)  (228,200)
         Net property and equipment  578,151   588,230 
Other noncurrent assets  3,109   2,146 
             Total assets $774,527  $753,904 
         
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY        
Current liabilities:        
Accounts payable $18,512  $15,704 
Insurance and claims accruals  29,381   28,103 
Accrued and other current liabilities  31,649   28,166 
         Total current liabilities  79,542   71,973 
Deferred income taxes  106,796   105,977 
Noncurrent operating lease liabilities  452   - 
         Total liabilities  186,790   177,950 
         
Stockholders' equity:        
Preferred stock, $.01 par value per share; 2,000,000 shares authorized;
  no shares issued and outstanding
  -   - 
Common stock, $.01 par value per share; 192,000,000 shares
  authorized; 54,572,289 shares at March 31, 2019, and 54,466,691
  shares at December 31, 2018, issued and outstanding
  546   545 
Additional paid-in capital  76,687   76,814 
Retained earnings  510,504   498,595 
         Total stockholders' equity  587,737   575,954 
             Total liabilities and stockholders' equity $774,527  $753,904 
         


MARTEN TRANSPORT, LTD.
CONSOLIDATED CONDENSED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
(Unaudited)

  Three Months 
  Ended March 31, 
(In thousands, except per share information)   2019    2018 
         
Operating revenue $199,023  $186,960 
         
Operating expenses (income):        
Salaries, wages and benefits  63,524   58,822 
Purchased transportation  38,249   35,026 
Fuel and fuel taxes  27,677   29,044 
Supplies and maintenance  11,121   10,436 
Depreciation  22,543   21,815 
Operating taxes and licenses  2,333   2,287 
Insurance and claims  9,875   10,290 
Communications and utilities  1,950   1,683 
Gain on disposition of revenue equipment  (1,548)  (1,211)
Other  5,566   5,174 
         
                  Total operating expenses  181,290   173,366 
         
Operating income  17,733   13,594 
         
Other  (278)  (189)
         
Income before income taxes  18,011   13,783 
         
Income taxes expense  4,465   3,452 
         
Net income $13,546  $10,331 
         
Basic earnings per common share $0.25  $0.19 
         
Diluted earnings per common share $0.25  $0.19 
         
Dividends declared per common share $0.03  $0.025 
         

                                                                                      

MARTEN TRANSPORT, LTD.
SEGMENT INFORMATION
(Unaudited)   

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          Dollar  Percentage 
          Change  Change 
  Three Months  Three Months  Three Months 
  Ended  Ended  Ended 
  March 31,  March 31,  March 31, 
(Dollars in thousands) 2019  2018  2019 vs. 2018  2019 vs. 2018 
Operating revenue:                
Truckload revenue, net of fuel surcharge revenue $80,167  $80,216  $(49)  (0.1)%
Truckload fuel surcharge revenue  11,555   12,801   (1,246)  (9.7)
Total Truckload revenue  91,722   93,017   (1,295)  (1.4)
                 
Dedicated revenue, net of fuel surcharge revenue  48,924   42,364   6,560   15.5 
Dedicated fuel surcharge revenue  8,801   6,469   2,332   36.0 
Total Dedicated revenue  57,725   48,833   8,892   18.2 
                 
Intermodal revenue, net of fuel surcharge revenue  19,755   20,808   (1,053)  (5.1)
Intermodal fuel surcharge revenue  3,216   3,844   (628)  (16.3)
Total Intermodal revenue  22,971   24,652   (1,681)  (6.8)
                 
Brokerage revenue  26,605   20,458   6,147   30.0 
                 
   Total operating revenue $199,023  $186,960  $12,063   6.5%
                 
Operating income:                
Truckload $7,555  $6,815  $740   10.9%
Dedicated  5,515   2,488   3,027   121.7 
Intermodal  2,394   2,978   (584)  (19.6)
Brokerage  2,269   1,313   956   72.8 
   Total operating income $17,733  $13,594  $4,139   30.4%
                 
Operating ratio:                
Truckload  91.8%  92.7%        
Dedicated  90.4   94.9         
Intermodal  89.6   87.9         
Brokerage  91.5   93.6         
   Consolidated operating ratio  91.1%  92.7%        
                 

                                                                                                                                           

MARTEN TRANSPORT, LTD.
OPERATING STATISTICS
(Unaudited)

  Three Months 
  Ended March 31, 
  2019  2018 
Truckload Segment:        
Revenue (in thousands) $91,722  $93,017 
Average revenue, net of fuel surcharges, per tractor per week(1) $3,859  $3,679 
Average tractors(1)  1,616   1,696 
Average miles per trip  562   603 
Non-revenue miles percentage(2)  11.3%  6.8%
Total miles (in thousands)  37,236   40,582 
         
Dedicated Segment:        
Revenue (in thousands) $57,725  $48,833 
Average revenue, net of fuel surcharges, per tractor per week(1) $3,382  $3,267 
Average tractors(1)  1,125   1,009 
Average miles per trip  322   297 
Non-revenue miles percentage(2)  0.6%  1.1%
Total miles (in thousands)  23,643   21,135 
         
Intermodal Segment:        
Revenue (in thousands) $22,971  $24,652 
Loads  9,251   10,737 
Average tractors  87   82 
         
Brokerage Segment:        
Revenue (in thousands) $26,605  $20,458 
Loads  15,266   11,889 
         
At March 31, 2019 and March 31, 2018:        
Total tractors(1)  2,867   2,785 
Average age of company tractors (in years)  1.8   1.6 
Total trailers  5,313   5,308 
Average age of company trailers (in years)  2.5   2.6 
Ratio of trailers to tractors(1)  1.9   1.9 

   

  Three Months 
  Ended March 31, 
(In thousands) 2019  2018 
         
Net cash provided by operating activities $36,803  $23,182 
Net cash (used for) investing activities  (5,911)  (27,392)
Net cash (used for) financing activities  (2,129  (1,183)
         
Weighted average shares outstanding:        
Basic  54,553   54,572 
Diluted  55,046   55,095 


(1) Includes tractors driven by both company-employed drivers and independent contractors. Independent contractors provided 46 and 55 tractors as of March 31, 2019 and 2018, respectively. 
  
(2) Represents the percentage of miles for which the company is not compensated.

 

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