Landstar System, Inc. (NASDAQ:LSTR) reported record quarterly revenue of $1.183 billion in the 2018 second quarter, a 36 percent increase over the $870 million revenue reported in the 2017 second quarter. Net income of $62.5 million and diluted earnings per share of $1.51 were each second quarter records and increased 67 percent and 70 percent, respectively, over net income and diluted earnings per share in the 2017 second quarter. Gross profit (defined as revenue less the cost of purchased transportation and commissions to agents) in the 2018 second quarter was $171.4 million, 29 percent above the 2017 second quarter, while 2018 second quarter operating income was $83.4 million, 37 percent above the 2017 second quarter. Gross profit and operating income in the 2018 second quarter were both all-time quarterly records.
“I am extremely pleased with the financial performance of the Landstar model during the 2018 second quarter,” said Landstar’s President and Chief Executive Officer Jim Gattoni. “The 2018 second quarter established all-time Landstar quarterly records for revenue, gross profit and operating income while diluted earnings per share was a second quarter record. The Company also set new all-time Landstar records for trucks provided by BCOs with 10,155 as of the end of the quarter and net truck additions in a single quarter with the net addition of 287 trucks in the second quarter.”
Gattoni continued, “Demand for our services was strong throughout the 2018 first half. The number of loads hauled via truck in the 2018 second quarter was an all-time quarterly record and increased 11 percent over the 2017 second quarter, driven by a 13 percent increase in the number of loads hauled via van equipment, an 8 percent increase in the number of loads hauled via unsided/platform equipment and an 8 percent increase in less-than-truckload volume. The number of loads hauled via railroads, ocean cargo carriers and air cargo carriers was 23 percent higher in the 2018 second quarter compared to the 2017 second quarter, primarily due to a 32 percent increase in rail intermodal volume.”
Gattoni further commented, “As expected, the pricing environment for our truckload services continued to be very strong in the 2018 second quarter, as industry-wide truck capacity continued to be very tight. Revenue per load on loads hauled via van equipment increased 25 percent over the 2017 second quarter and revenue per load on loads hauled via unsided/platform equipment increased 19 percent over the 2017 second quarter. As a result, revenue per load on loads hauled via truck was 22 percent higher than the 2017 second quarter.”
Gattoni continued, “Through the first few weeks of July our truck load volumes continue to reflect strong demand. I expect that demand to continue through the 2018 third quarter and, therefore, expect the number of loads hauled via truck in the 2018 third quarter to approximate the number of loads hauled in the 2018 second quarter. My expectation is that pricing conditions for truck services in the 2018 third quarter will continue to be very strong with little change in the level of demand or available truck capacity. Assuming those conditions remain, I expect 2018 third quarter truck revenue per load to be higher than the 2017 third quarter in a 19 to 22 percent range. I anticipate record revenue for the 2018 third quarter in a range of $1.175 billion to $1.225 billion. Assuming that range of estimated revenue and insurance and claims expense at 3.5 percent of projected BCO revenue, representing average insurance and claims costs as a percent of BCO revenue over the past five years, I would anticipate record diluted earnings per share in the 2018 third quarter in a range of $1.58 to $1.64 per share compared to $1.01 per diluted share in the 2017 third quarter.”
Landstar System Reports Record Quarterly Revenue of $1.183 Billion and Record Second Quarter Diluted Earnings Per Share of $1.51 | Landstar System, Inc. - IR site
