INDIANAPOLIS, Jan. 27, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Celadon Group Inc. (NYSE: CGI) today reported its financial and operating results for the three months and six months ended December 31, 2015, the second fiscal quarter of the Company's fiscal year ending June 30, 2016.

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Revenue for the quarter increased 23.8% to $275.4 million in the 2016 quarter from $222.4 million in the 2015 quarter. Freight revenue, which excludes fuel surcharges, increased 33.2% to $249.3 million in the 2016 quarter from $187.2 million in the 2015 quarter. Net income decreased 22.4% to $6.6 million in the 2016 quarter from $8.5 million for the same quarter last year. Earnings per diluted share decreased 33.3% to $0.24 in the 2016 quarter from $0.36 for the same quarter last year.

Revenue for the six months ended December 31, 2015 increased 30.2% to $541.5 million from $415.8 million for the same period last year. Freight revenue, which excludes fuel surcharges, increased 41.2% to $487.1 million in the December 2015 period from $344.9 million in the December 2014 period. Net income increased 8.4% to $18.0 million in the December 2015 period from $16.6 million for the same period last year. Earnings per diluted share decreased 7.2% to $0.64 in the December 2015 period from $0.69 for the same period last year.

Paul Will, Chief Executive Officer, made the following comments: "We had great success in the quarter growing top line revenues in a less than robust freight environment. We believe these efforts position us well to continue to focus on improving our key operating metrics. We saw improvement in some of our key operating statistics that we believe will be beneficial long term as capacity is challenged by a very competitive driver recruiting market, in addition to the numerous pending and proposed federal safety initiatives such as electronic logging devices (ELD's) and mandatory truck speed limiters. The increase in average seated tractor count of 1,693 or 46.8%, to 5,314 in the December 2015 quarter compared with 3,621 in the December 2014 quarter was a significant operating metric improvement that resulted in increased revenue for the quarter, although the ending seated tractor count decreased sequentially to 5,337 at the end of December, from 5,375 at the end of September. Our average revenue per tractor per week decreased $374, or 11.9%, to $2,775 in the December 2015 quarter, from $3,149 in the December 2014 quarter. This decrease is a result of a lackluster freight environment coupled with the significant growth in our seated tractor count. We continue to increase our customer freight to better align with our increased fleet size. In addition, our average revenue per loaded mile increased to $1.917 per mile in the December 2015 quarter from $1.798 in the December 2014 quarter, which is a 6.6% increase.

"Included in our December 2015 operating results were two items that negatively impacted our earnings. We incurred approximately $1.2 million of transition related expenses from our previously announced acquisition of the truckload assets of Tango Transport during the quarter. These costs related to the transitioning of customer freight and the assisting in the wind down of the Tango operations. We have retained a large portion of the selected business from the transaction to date. The second item was associated with decreased earnings related to the lower sales volume of assets in the quarter related primarily to the holiday season as well as the timing of funding within the period.

"We continue to work on driver recruitment and retention as the market remains challenging for qualified drivers. As a result, our costs related to driver training, advertising for experienced drivers, and other recruitment and retention efforts have continued to increase, however, we have taken steps to more efficiently recruit drivers that will result in a reduction of these costs in the coming quarters. This, along with economic and safety regulatory issues, should result in a more constrained truckload capacity for shippers in the future. In addition to initiating and implementing sustainable rate increases, we are continuing to work on cost reduction initiatives as we strive to improve our operating results."

"The average age of the Company's tractor fleet was 1.6 years as of December 2015. Gains on sales of assets were $5.5 million in the December 2015 quarter compared with $4.0 million in the December 2014 quarter. The gain on sale of equipment in the quarter, which is net of any trade expenses, resulted primarily from the sale of third party equipment by our sales and leasing division. As Celadon has completed its tractor refresh cycle, we expect all gains going forward to be related to third party sales and leasing.

"Our balance sheet remains solid and we retain significant liquidity to support the growth of our business. At December 31, 2015, we had $369.1 million of stockholders' equity and our earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization was $33.3 million in the current December 2015 quarter. At December 31, 2015, we had $126.9 million outstanding borrowings on our operating bank line of $300 million, leaving $173.1 million of available borrowings to fund operations. Our increased cash flow generated from operations will allow us to effectively continue to execute on our growth strategy."

On January 27, 2016, the Board of Directors approved a regular cash dividend to shareholders for the quarter ending March 31, 2016. The quarterly cash dividend of two cents ($0.02) per share of common stock will be payable on April 22, 2016 to shareholders of record at the close of business on April 8, 2016.

Conference Call Information

Participants can pre-register for the conference call by navigating to Celadon's Investor Relations website, http://investors.celadontrucking.com, under the Report Center menu option. Those without Internet access or unable to pre-register may join the conference by dialing 1-800-659-2953. A replay of the webcast will be available through February 28, 2016 at http://investors.celadontrucking.com.

Celadon Group, Inc. (www.celadongroup.com), through its subsidiaries, provides long-haul, regional, local, dedicated, intermodal, temperature-protect, flatbed and expedited freight service across the United States, Canada and Mexico. The company also owns Celadon Logistics Services, which provides freight brokerage services, freight management, as well as supply chain management solutions, including warehousing and distribution.

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. Such statements may be identified by their use of terms or phrases such as "expects," "estimates," "projects," "believes," "anticipates," "plans," "intends," and similar terms and phrases. Forward-looking statements are based upon the current beliefs and expectations of our management and are inherently subject to risks and uncertainties, some of which cannot be predicted or quantified, which could cause future events and actual results to differ materially from those set forth in, contemplated by, or underlying the forward-looking statements. Actual results may differ from those set forth in the forward-looking statements. The following factors, among others, could cause actual results to differ materially from those in forward-looking statements: the risk that our perception of additional capacity due to seating trucks and perceived benefits thereof are inaccurate; the risk that our perception of changes in our customer base and perceived benefits thereto are inaccurate; the risk that managing our tractor fleet age does not result in greater flexibility and lower operating expenses; excess tractor and trailer capacity in the trucking industry; decreased demand for our services or loss of one or more of our major customers; surplus inventories; recessionary economic cycles and downturns in customers' business cycles; strikes, work slow downs, or work stoppages at our facilities, or at customer, port, border crossing, or other shipping related facilities; increases in compensation for and difficulty in attracting and retaining qualified drivers and independent contractors; increases in insurance premiums and deductible amounts; elevated experience in the frequency or severity of claims relating to accident, cargo, workers' compensation, health, and other matters; fluctuations in claims expenses that result from high self-insured retention amounts and differences between estimates used in establishing and adjusting claims reserves and actual results over time; increases or rapid fluctuations in fuel prices, as well as fluctuations in hedging activities and surcharge collection, the volume and terms of diesel purchase commitment, interest rates, fuel taxes, tolls, and license and registration fees; fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates; increases in the prices paid for new revenue equipment and changes in the resale value of our used equipment; increases in interest rates or decreased availability of capital or other sources of financing for revenue equipment; seasonal factors such as harsh weather conditions that increase operating costs; competition from trucking, rail, and intermodal competitors; regulatory requirements that increase costs or decrease efficiency, including revised hours-of-service requirements for drivers and new emissions control regulations; our ability to identify acceptable acquisition candidates, consummate acquisitions, and integrate acquired operations; the timing of, and any rules relating to, the opening of the border to Mexican drivers; challenges associated with doing business internationally; our ability to retain key employees; and the effects of actual or threatened military action or terrorist attacks or responses, including security measures that may impede shipping efficiency, especially at border crossings.

Readers should review and consider these factors along with the various disclosures by the company in its press releases, stockholder reports, and filings with the Securities Exchange Commission. We disclaim any obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements to reflect actual results or changes in the factors affecting the forward-looking information.

- Tables Follow -




                                                                      CELADON GROUP, INC.

                                                          CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME

                                                   (Dollars and shares in thousands except per share amounts)

                                                                          (Unaudited)


                                                                                                              For the three months            For the six months
                                                                                                                    ended                       ended

                                                                                                                December 31,                December 31,
                                                                                                                ------------                ------------

                                                                                                                   2015                2014                  2015       2014
                                                                                                                   ----                ----                  ----       ----


    REVENUE:

            Freight revenue                                                                                    $249,311            $187,205               487,123   $344,909

            Fuel surcharge revenue                                                                               26,088              35,166                54,397     70,878
                                                                                                                 ------              ------                ------     ------

                    Total revenue                                                                               275,399             222,371               541,520    415,787


    OPERATING EXPENSES:

            Salaries, wages, and employee benefits                                                               85,877              63,569               167,354    120,791

            Fuel                                                                                                 26,688              39,199                54,416     79,184

            Purchased transportation                                                                             93,948              58,228               182,978    101,865

            Revenue equipment rentals                                                                             2,201               2,648                 4,423      5,238

            Operations and maintenance                                                                           18,243              12,990                35,849     24,229

            Insurance and claims                                                                                  7,709               7,221                14,637     12,898

            Depreciation and amortization                                                                        19,187              17,734                40,788     33,291

            Communications and utilities                                                                          2,611               2,097                 4,955      3,927

            Operating taxes and licenses                                                                          5,532               3,699                10,504      7,013

            General and other operating                                                                           4,803               3,427                 9,085      6,882

            Gain on disposition of equipment                                                                    (5,479)            (4,010)             (18,721)   (8,568)
                                                                                                                 ------              ------               -------     ------

                    Total operating expenses                                                                    261,320             206,802               506,268    386,750
                                                                                                                -------             -------               -------    -------


                    Operating income                                                                             14,079              15,569                35,252     29,037


    Interest expense                                                                                              3,758               2,008                 6,910      3,177

    Interest income                                                                                                 ---                (3)                  ---       (7)

    Other income                                                                                                     21                (36)                  121      (110)
                                                                                                                    ---                 ---                   ---       ----

                    Income before income taxes                                                                   10,300              13,600                28,221     25,977

    Income tax expense                                                                                            3,685               5,057                10,239      9,387
                                                                                                                  -----               -----                ------      -----

    Net income                                                                                                   $6,615              $8,543               $17,982    $16,590
                                                                                                                 ======              ======               =======    =======


    Income per common share:

            Diluted                                                                                               $0.24               $0.36                 $0.64      $0.69

            Basic                                                                                                 $0.24               $0.37                 $0.65      $0.71


            Diluted weighted average shares                                                                      27,940              23,991                27,953     23,963
    outstanding

            Basic weighted average shares                                                                        27,480              23,327                27,467     23,284
    outstanding



                                                                 CELADON GROUP, INC

                                                       CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

                                                        December 31, 2015 and June 30, 2015

                                             (Dollars and shares in thousands except par value amounts)


                                                                                  (unaudited)
                                                                                   ----------

                                                                                  December 31,             June 30,

    ASSETS                                                                                            2015                2015
                                                                                                      ----                ----


    Current assets:

    Cash and cash equivalents                                                                       $7,728             $24,699

    Trade receivables, net of allowance for
     doubtful accounts of $1,446                                                                   135,544             130,892
         and $1,002 at December 31, 2015 and June 30, 2015,
          respectively

    Prepaid expenses and other current assets                                                       43,143              33,267

    Tires in service                                                                                 2,471               1,857

    Leased revenue equipment held for sale                                                          49,298              52,591

    Revenue equipment held for sale                                                                 81,016              49,856

    Income Tax Receivable                                                                           15,228              17,926

    Deferred income taxes                                                                            6,401               7,083
                                                                                                     -----               -----

    Total current assets                                                                           340,829             318,171

    Property and equipment                                                                         900,051             935,976

    Less accumulated depreciation and
     amortization                                                                                  147,242             147,446
                                                                                                   -------             -------

    Net property and equipment                                                                     752,809             788,530

    Tires in service                                                                                 2,871               2,173

    Goodwill                                                                                        58,919              55,357

    Investment in unconsolidated companies                                                           2,000

    Other assets                                                                                    11,951              11,458
                                                                                                    ------              ------

    Total assets                                                                                $1,169,379          $1,175,689
                                                                                                ==========          ==========


    LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY

    Current liabilities:

    Accounts payable                                                                               $22,747             $13,699

    Accrued salaries and benefits                                                                   14,452              16,329

    Accrued insurance and claims                                                                    17,180              14,808

    Accrued fuel expense                                                                             8,717              10,979

    Accrued purchase transportation                                                                 18,194              16,259

    Accrued equipment purchases                                                                     15,264                 775

    Deferred leasing revenue                                                                        26,828              31,872

    Other accrued expenses                                                                          25,550              31,835

    Current maturities of long term debt                                                               616                 948

    Current maturities of capital lease
     obligations                                                                                    57,762              62,992
                                                                                                    ------              ------

    Total current liabilities                                                                      207,310             200,496

    Capital lease obligations, net of current
     maturities                                                                                    344,541             366,452

    Long term debt, net of current maturities                                                      127,496             133,199

    Other long term liabilities                                      Other long term liabilities                               953

    Deferred income taxes                                                                          120,904             108,246

    Stockholders' equity:

    Common stock, $0.033 par value,
     authorized  40,000 shares; issued                                                                 936                 935
         and outstanding 28,375 and 28,342 shares at December 31,
          2015
         and June 30, 2015, respectively

    Treasury stock at cost; 500 and 500
     shares at December 31, 2015                                                                   (3,453)            (3,453)
    and June 30, 2015, respectively

    Additional paid-in capital                                                                     197,194             195,682

    Retained earnings                                                                              212,295             195,412

    Accumulated other comprehensive loss                                                          (37,844)           (22,233)
                                                                                                   -------             -------

    Total stockholders' equity                                                                     369,128             366,343
                                                                                                   -------             -------

    Total liabilities and stockholders'
     equity                                                                                     $1,169,379          $1,175,689
                                                                                                ==========          ==========



                                                      Key Operating Statistics


                                                                                        For the three months ended    For the six months ended

                                                                                               December 31,                 December 31,
                                                                                               ------------                 ------------

                                                                                               2015             2014         2015            2014
                                                                                               ----             ----         ----            ----


    Average revenue per loaded mile (*)                                                      $1.917           $1.798       $1.891          $1.718

    Average revenue per total mile (*)                                                       $1.629           $1.598       $1.621          $1.523

    Average revenue per tractor per week (*)                                                 $2,775           $3,149       $2,842          $3,067

    Average miles per seated tractor per week(**)                                             1,704            1,971        1,753           2,015

    Average seated line-haul tractors (**)                                                    5,314            3,621        5,128           3,438

    *Freight revenue excluding fuel surcharge.

    **Total seated fleet, including equipment operated by independent contractors and our Mexican subsidiary, Jaguar.


    Adjusted Trucking Revenue (^)                                                          $217,816         $183,394     $433,279        $345,044

    Asset Light Revenue                                                                      32,943           21,775       63,527          38,322

    Intermodal Revenue                                                                       10,177            8,607       21,308          17,847

    Other Revenue                                                                            14,463           8,8596       23,406          14,574
                                                                                             ------           ------       ------          ------

    Total Revenue                                                                          $275,399         $222,372     $541,520        $415,787
                                                                                           ========         ========     ========        ========

    ^Trucking Revenue for US, Canada, Mexico.  Includes Fuel Surcharge.

For more information:
Joe Weigel
Director of Marketing and Communications
(800) CELADON Ext. 27006
(317) 972-7006 Direct
jweigel@celadongroup.com

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