Knight Transportation, Inc. (NYSE: KNX), one of North America’s largest and most diversified truckload transportation companies, today reported revenue and net income for the first quarter ended March 31, 2014.

Key financial highlights for the first quarter of 2014 and 2013 were as follows:

 
(dollars in thousands, except per share data) Three Months Ended March 31,
2014   2013   % Diff
Total revenue $ 249,163 $ 235,400 5.8 %
Revenue, excluding trucking fuel surcharge $ 205,596 $ 189,600 8.4 %
Operating income $ 31,250 $ 25,544 22.3 %
Net income $ 19,064 $ 15,183 25.6 %
Earnings per diluted share $ 0.23 $ 0.19

23.7

%
 

The company previously announced a quarterly cash dividend of $0.06 per share to shareholders of record on March 7, 2014, which was paid on March 28, 2014.

Kevin Knight, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, commented on the quarter, ''We are pleased with our success in growing our revenue and improving our operating margin. During the quarter we experienced greater demand for our capacity as well as a stronger used equipment market. Our improved performance was a result of our focus on improving production, recruiting and developing driving associates, providing industry-leading service, intensifying our cost control efforts, and realizing the benefits of a solid used equipment market.

''Revenue per tractor increased 5.1%, year over year, as a result of a 4.9% improvement in revenue per loaded mile, a 4.2% increase in our length of haul, a 140 basis point improvement in our non-paid empty mile percentage, and a 1.3% decrease in miles per tractor. In the first quarter of 2014 our trucking businesses improved their operating ratio to 82.0% from 85.3% in the same quarter last year. Our brokerage business continues to grow rapidly and increased revenue 94.4%, increased gross margin 91.2%, and increased operating income 89.2%, when compared to the same quarter last year. As the trucking environment remains strong, we feel well positioned to continue to execute our model and bring needed capacity to our customers, quality careers to our driving associates, and superior returns to our shareholders.''

The following chart reflects the financial performance of our trucking (asset based) and our logistics (non-asset based) businesses for the first quarter of 2014 and 2013.

             
(dollars in thousands, except operating ratio) Three Months Ended March 31,
2014   2013   Diff
Trucking (Asset based)
Revenue, excluding trucking fuel surcharges $ 161,827 $ 157,703 2.6 %
Operating Income $ 29,121 $ 23,234 25.3 %
Operating Ratio(1) 82.0 % 85.3 % -330 bps
Logistics (Non-asset based)
Revenue $ 43,769 $ 31,897 37.2 %
Operating Income $ 2,129 $ 2,310 -7.8 %
Operating Ratio(1) 95.1 % 92.8 % 230 bps
Consolidated
Revenue, excluding trucking fuel surcharges $ 205,596 $ 189,600 8.4 %
Operating Income $ 31,250 $ 25,544 22.3 %
Operating Ratio(1) 84.8 % 86.5 % -170 bps

(1)Operating ratio is defined in our Trucking segment as total operating expenses, net of trucking fuel surcharge, as a percentage of revenue before trucking fuel surcharge. Operating ratio is defined in our Logistics segment as total operating expenses as a percentage of total revenue.

 

In the first quarter, operating income in our trucking businesses improved 25.3% while our revenue, excluding trucking fuel surcharge, grew 2.6%. We experienced this growth despite operating 2.2% fewer average tractors, year over year. Our specific efforts to improve yield, strengthen our network, and drive operational efficiencies have yielded positive results. We experienced a 4.2% longer length of haul and reduced our non-paid empty mile percentage to an all-time low 9.6%. The industry continues to be faced with multiple inflationary pressures, including rising driver pay, increased regulation, additional maintenance cost associated with the 2010 EPA emission engines, and rising equipment cost. We continue to intensify our cost control efforts in order to manage these pressures.

Our brokerage business continues to show meaningful growth as we gain market share, source additional capacity, and strategically align our service offering with the supply chain needs of our customers. Our other businesses within our logistics segment, including our intermodal and sourcing businesses, underperformed during the first quarter, which contributed to the deterioration in our year over year operating ratio for the logistics segment. The operating ratio in our intermodal business deteriorated 630 basis points when compared to the same quarter last year, however, improved 160 basis points sequentially from fourth quarter 2013. We expect continued improvement in this business and to return to profitability within the next two quarters.

Developing and retaining high quality drivers continue to challenge the industry and are critical to improving the productivity of our assets, providing industry leading customer service, and growing our fleet. Our driver development and training program remains a primary focus area for our management team, and we feel well positioned to continue to make progress in the coming quarters.

The DOE national average diesel fuel price decreased 1.6% when compared to the first quarter last year. Fuel remains a major cost focus for us as we continue our work towards cost effective, industry leading fuel economy while at the same time reducing the environmental impact of our operations.

Our tractor fleet remains one of the most modern fleets in the industry with an average age of 1.9 years. The used equipment market showed signs of strength during the quarter and resulted in gain on sale of revenue equipment in the first quarter of 2014 of $4.3 million, compared to $1.4 million in the first quarter of 2013.

We have returned $78.7 million to our shareholders in the form of quarterly dividends over the two years ended March 31, 2014. We paid down $26.0 million of borrowing under our revolving credit facility during the quarter, ending with $12.0 million of long term debt, and $574.8 million of shareholders' equity. Our first quarter 2014 net capital expenditures were $5.7 million while our cash flow from operations was $36.5 million. As of March 31, 2014 we did not have any tractor or trailers held under operating leases.

The company will hold a conference call on April 23, 2014, at 4:30 PM EDT, to further discuss its results of operations for the quarter ended March 31, 2014. The dial in number for this conference call is 1-855-733-9163. Slides to accompany this call will be posted on the company’s website and will be available to download prior to the scheduled conference time. To view the presentation, please visit http://investor.knighttrans.com/events, ''First Quarter 2014 Conference Call Presentation.''

Knight Transportation, Inc. is a provider of multiple truckload transportation and logistics services using a nationwide network of service centers in the U.S. to serve customers throughout North America. In addition to operating one of the country’s largest tractor fleets, Knight also contracts with third-party equipment providers to provide a broad range of truckload services to its customers while creating quality driving jobs for our driving associates and successful business opportunities for owner-operators.

   
INCOME STATEMENT DATA:
 
Three Months Ended March 31,

(Unaudited, in thousands, except per share amounts)

 

2014

2013

REVENUE:
Revenue, before fuel surcharge $ 205,596 $ 189,600
Fuel surcharge   43,567       45,800  
TOTAL REVENUE   249,163       235,400  
 
OPERATING EXPENSES:
Salaries, wages and benefits 60,733 57,654
Fuel 52,009 55,693
Operations and maintenance 17,020 15,910
Insurance and claims 7,422 7,155
Operating taxes and licenses 4,065 3,908
Communications 1,279 1,172
Depreciation and amortization 21,788

 

21,507
Purchased transportation 51,969 42,792
Miscellaneous operating expenses   1,628       4,065  
  217,913      

209,856

 
 
Income From Operations   31,250       25,544  
 
 
Interest income 114 109
Interest expense (117 ) (141 )
Other income   866       220  
Income before income taxes 32,113 25,732
INCOME TAXES   12,780       10,298  
Net Income 19,333 15,434
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interest   (269 )     (251 )
NET INCOME ATTRIBUTABLE TO KNIGHT TRANSPORTATION $ 19,064     $ 15,183  
 
Basic Earnings Per Share $ 0.24 $ 0.19
Diluted Earnings Per Share $ 0.23 $ 0.19
 
Weighted Average Shares Outstanding - Basic 80,501 79,841
Weighted Average Shares Outstanding - Diluted 81,336 80,124
 
BALANCE SHEET DATA:

3/31/2014

12/31/2013

ASSETS (Unaudited, in thousands)
Cash and cash equivalents $ 9,601 $ 992
Trade receivables, net of allowance for doubtful accounts 123,015 116,391
Notes receivable, net of allowance for doubtful accounts 773 774
Related party notes and interest receivable - 748
Prepaid expenses 17,784 15,026
Assets held for sale 14,055 16,476
Other current assets 9,548 11,066
Current deferred tax assets   3,544       3,359  
Total Current Assets   178,320       164,832  
 
Property and equipment, net 583,330 591,791
Notes receivable, long-term 3,850 4,047
Goodwill 10,252 10,257
Other long-term assets and restricted cash and investments   38,443       36,194  
Total Long-term Assets 635,875 642,289
 
Total Assets $ 814,195     $ 807,121  
 
LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY
Accounts payable $ 13,204 $ 14,354
Accrued payroll and purchased transportation 16,511 13,864
Accrued liabilities 31,421 18,800
Claims accrual - current portion 16,516 15,616
Dividend payable - current portion   187       168  
Total Current Liabilities 77,839 62,802
 
Claims accrual - long-term portion 9,513 8,889
Long-term dividend payable and other liabilities 2,357 2,486
Deferred tax liabilities 136,639 142,504
Long-term debt   12,000       38,000  
Total Long-term Liabilities 160,509 191,879
 
Total Liabilities   238,348       254,681  
 
Common stock 807 802
Additional paid-in capital 158,905 150,079

Accumulated other comprehensive income

5,662 4,582
Retained earnings   409,432       396,032  
Total Knight Transportation Shareholders' Equity 574,806 551,495
Noncontrolling interest   1,041       945  
Total Shareholders' Equity   575,847       552,440  
Total Liabilities and Shareholders' Equity $ 814,195     $ 807,121  
 
                 
Three Months Ended March 31, %

2014

  

2013

 Change
(Unaudited)
 
OPERATING STATISTICS
 
Average Revenue Per Tractor* $ 40,549 $ 38,573 5.1 %
 
Non-paid Empty Mile Percent 9.6 % 11.0 % -12.7 %
 
Average Length of Haul 500 480 4.2 %
 
Operating Ratio** 84.8 % 86.5 %

 

 
Average Tractors - Total 3,985 4,076
 
Trailers - End of Quarter 8,996 9,468
 
Net Capital Expenditures (in thousands) $ 5,726 ($1,758 )
 
Cash Flow From Operations (in thousands) $ 36,487 $ 40,322
 

* Includes dry van, refrigerated, and port services revenue excluding fuel surcharge, brokerage revenue, intermodal revenue, and other revenue.

 

** Operating ratio as reported in this press release is based upon total operating expenses, net of fuel surcharge, as a percentage of revenue before fuel surcharge.  We measure our revenue, before fuel surcharge, and our operating expenses, net of fuel surcharge, because we believe that eliminating this sometimes volatile source of revenue affords a more consistent basis for comparing our results of operations from period to period.

 

This press release contains 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 generally may be identified by their use of terms or phrases such as ''expects,'' ''estimates,'' ''anticipates,'' ''projects,'' ''believes,'' ''plans,'' ''intends,'' ''may,'' ''will,'' ''should,'' ''could,'' ''potential,'' ''continue,'' ''future,'' and terms or phrases of similar substance.  

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.

Accordingly, actual results may differ from those set forth in the forward-looking statements.  Readers should review and consider the factors that may affect future results and other disclosures by the Company in its press releases, stockholder reports, Annual Report on Form 10-K, and other filings with the Securities and 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.