Financial Release

JOHNS CREEK, Ga., Oct. 27, 2017 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Saia, Inc. (NASDAQ:SAIA), a leading transportation provider offering multi-regional less-than-truckload (LTL), non-asset truckload, expedited and logistics services, today reported third quarter 2017 financial results.

Third Quarter 2017 Compared to Third Quarter 2016 Results

• Revenues were $350 million, a 10.6% increase
• LTL Shipments and LTL Tonnage per workday rose 3.1% and 3.6%, respectively
• LTL Revenue per hundredweight increased 8.0%
• Operating ratio rose by 20 basis points to 93.0%
• Operating income increased by 8.6% to $24.6 million
• Net income rose 4.2% to $14.4 million
• Diluted earnings per share were $0.55 compared to $0.54

“Third quarter operations were disrupted for a number of days by hurricanes Harvey and Irma.  We estimate that third quarter shipments and tonnage per workday growth would have been approximately 1% higher had the storms not occurred,” said Saia President and Chief Executive Officer, Rick O’Dell.  “Saia also experienced higher than normal operating costs for routing freight around weather impacted areas,” O’Dell continued.

“We were very fortunate that our employees and their families were safe during the storms and the Company had minimal damage to facilities and equipment.  With the dedicated effort of employees, we were able to get terminals in the impacted areas open within a few days.  The impact of the storms notwithstanding, we continue to see strong demand and stable pricing in our business,” said O’Dell.

“I am also pleased that we opened our 5^th new terminal of the year on October 16^th.  The terminal is located in Laurel, Md. and will help us to serve customers in and around the markets of Baltimore, Md. and Washington, D.C.  We are planning to open a terminal in Allentown, Pa. in December and have two additional Northeast expansion properties identified.  The early results from our Northeast expansion have modestly exceeded our expectations,” concluded Mr. O’Dell. 
                                                                                                               
Financial Position and Capital Expenditures

Total debt was $127.2 million at September 30, 2017 and inclusive of the cash on-hand, net debt to total capital was 19.3%.  This compares to total debt of $94.2 million and net debt to total capital of 16.6% at September 30, 2016.

Net capital expenditures in the year-to-date period through September were $183.9 million including equipment acquired with capital leases.  This compares to $142.5 million in net capital expenditures in the first nine months of 2016.  For the full year 2017, net capital expenditures are planned to be approximately $230 million.

Conference Call
Management will hold a conference call to discuss quarterly results today at 10:00 a.m. Eastern Time. To participate in the call, please dial 800-239-9838 or 323-794-2551 referencing conference ID #9666253.  Callers should dial in five to ten minutes in advance of the conference call.  This call will be webcast live via the Company web site at www.saiacorp.com.  A replay of the call will be offered two hours after the completion of the call through December 22, 2017 at 1:00 p.m. Eastern Time.  The replay will be available by dialing 888-203-1112 or 719-457-0820.

Saia, Inc. (NASDAQ:SAIA) offers customers a wide range of less-than-truckload, non-asset truckload, expedited and logistics services.  With headquarters in Georgia, Saia LTL Freight operates 153 terminals across 39 states.  For more information on Saia, Inc. visit the Investor Relations section at www.saiacorp.com.

The Securities and Exchange Commission encourages companies to disclose forward-looking information so that investors can better understand the future prospects of a company and make informed investment decisions. This news release contains these types of statements, which are “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995.

Words such as “anticipate,” “estimate,” “expect,” “project,” “intend,” “may,” “plan,” “predict,” “believe,” “should” and similar words or expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. Investors should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements and the Company undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements. All forward-looking statements reflect the present expectation of future events of our management as of the date of this news release and are subject to a number of important factors, risks, uncertainties and assumptions that could cause actual results to differ materially from those described in any forward-looking statements. These factors, risks, uncertainties and assumptions include, but are not limited to, (1) general economic conditions including downturns in the business cycle; (2) effectiveness of Company-specific performance improvement initiatives, including management of the cost structure to match shifts in customer volume levels; (3) the creditworthiness of our customers and their ability to pay for services; (4) failure to achieve acquisition synergies; (5) failure to operate and grow acquired businesses in a manner that supports the value allocated to these acquired businesses, including their goodwill; (6) economic declines in the geographic regions or industries in which our customers operate; (7) competitive initiatives and pricing pressures, including in connection with fuel surcharge; (8) loss of significant customers; (9) the Company’s need for capital and uncertainty of the credit markets; (10) the possibility of defaults under the Company’s debt agreements (including violation of financial covenants); (11) possible issuance of equity which would dilute stock ownership; (12) integration risks; (13) the effect of litigation including class action lawsuits; (14) cost and availability of qualified drivers, fuel, purchased transportation, real property, revenue equipment and other assets; (15) governmental regulations, including but not limited to Hours of Service, engine emissions, the Compliance, Safety, Accountability (CSA) initiative, compliance with legislation requiring companies to evaluate their internal control over financial reporting, Homeland Security, environmental regulations and the Food and Drug Administration; (16) changes in interpretation of accounting principles; (17) dependence on key employees; (18) inclement weather; (19) labor relations, including the adverse impact should a portion of the Company’s workforce become unionized; (20) terrorism risks; (21) self-insurance claims and other expense volatility; (22) cost and availability of insurance coverage; (23) increased costs of healthcare and prescription drugs, including as a result of healthcare reform legislation; (24) social media risks; (25) cyber security risk;  (26) failure to successfully execute the strategy to expand the Company’s service geography into the Northeastern United States; and (27) other financial, operational and legal risks and uncertainties detailed from time to time in the Company’s SEC filings.  As a result of these and other factors, no assurance can be given as to our future results and achievements.  A forward looking statement is neither a prediction nor a guarantee of future events or circumstances and those future events or circumstances may not occur.

Saia, Inc. and Subsidiaries
Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets
(Amounts in thousands)
(Unaudited)
		September 30, 2017				December 31, 2016
ASSETS
CURRENT ASSETS:
Cash and cash equivalents		$	81			$	1,539
Accounts receivable, net			172,119				135,083
Prepaid expenses and other			28,399				29,857
Total current assets			200,599				166,479
PROPERTY AND EQUIPMENT:
Cost			1,260,856				1,101,946
Less: accumulated depreciation			538,065				497,827
Net property and equipment			722,791				604,119
OTHER ASSETS			29,329				29,772
Total assets		$	952,719			$	800,370
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
CURRENT LIABILITIES:
Accounts payable		$	63,742			$	45,149
Wages and employees' benefits			44,140				31,700
Other current liabilities			58,545				51,333
Current portion of long-term debt			17,072				16,762
Total current liabilities			183,499				144,944
OTHER LIABILITIES:
Long-term debt, less current portion			110,161				57,042
Deferred income taxes			90,064				80,199
Claims, insurance and other			37,242				35,107
Total other liabilities			237,467				172,348
STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY:
Common stock			25				25
Additional paid-in capital			243,382				237,846
Deferred compensation trust			(3,448	)			(3,190	)
Retained earnings			291,794				248,397
Total stockholders' equity			531,753				483,078
Total liabilities and stockholders' equity		$	952,719			$	800,370

 

Saia, Inc. and Subsidiaries
Consolidated Statements of Operations
For the Quarters and Nine Months Ended September 30, 2017 and 2016
(Amounts in thousands, except per share data)
(Unaudited)
		Third Quarter								Nine Months
		2017				2016				2017				2016
OPERATING REVENUE		$	350,062			$	316,442			$	1,025,259			$	918,258
OPERATING EXPENSES:
Salaries, wages and employees' benefits			194,920				178,687				572,211				524,877
Purchased transportation			23,074				15,657				60,212				42,439
Fuel, operating expenses and supplies			66,679				59,345				196,761				172,411
Operating taxes and licenses			10,631				10,061				32,088				30,227
Claims and insurance			8,535				9,988				28,010				28,949
Depreciation and amortization			22,338				19,927				64,607				56,910
Loss (gain) from property disposals, net			(717	)			133				(469	)			496
Total operating expenses			325,460				293,798				953,420				856,309
OPERATING INCOME			24,602				22,644				71,839				61,949
NONOPERATING EXPENSES (INCOME):
Interest expense			1,313				1,183				3,762				3,410
Other, net			(131	)			(104	)			57				(147	)
Nonoperating expenses, net			1,182				1,079				3,819				3,263
INCOME BEFORE INCOME TAXES			23,420				21,565				68,020				58,686
Income tax expense			9,013				7,739				24,623				21,010
NET INCOME		$	14,407			$	13,826			$	43,397			$	37,676
Average common shares outstanding - basic			25,527				25,038				25,494				25,022
Average common shares outstanding - diluted			26,113				25,658				26,050				25,625
Basic earnings per share		$	0.56			$	0.55			$	1.70			$	1.51
Diluted earnings per share		$	0.55			$	0.54			$	1.67			$	1.47

 

Saia, Inc. and Subsidiaries
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows
For the Nine Months Ended September 30, 2017 and 2016
(Amounts in thousands)
(Unaudited)
		Nine Months
		2017				2016
OPERATING ACTIVITIES:
Net cash provided by operating activities (1)		$	127,737			$	118,309
Net cash provided by operating activities			127,737				118,309
INVESTING ACTIVITIES:
Acquisition of property and equipment			(155,676	)			(108,871	)
Proceeds from disposal of property and equipment			3,090				1,046
Net cash used in investing activities			(152,586	)			(107,825	)
FINANCING ACTIVITIES:
Repayment of long-term debt			(3,571	)			(3,571	)
Borrowing (repayment) of revolving credit agreement, net			34,499				(35	)
Proceeds from stock option exercises			2,531				248
Shares withheld for taxes (1)			(1,249	)			(650	)
Other financing activity			(8,819	)			(5,811	)
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities			23,391				(9,819	)
NET INCREASE (DECREASE) IN CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS			(1,458	)			665
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS, BEGINNING OF PERIOD			1,539				124
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS, END OF PERIOD		$	81			$	789
NON-CASH ITEMS:
Equipment financed with capital leases		$	31,320			$	34,683
(1)  September 30, 2016 balances have been reclassified to conform with the 2017 adoption of the Financial Accounting Standards Board Accounting Standards Update 2016-09, Improvement to Employee Share-Based Payment Accounting.

 

Saia, Inc. and Subsidiaries
Financial  Information
For the Quarters Ended September 30, 2017 and 2016
(Unaudited)
															Third Quarter
				Third Quarter								%			Amount/Workday				%
				2017				2016				Change			2017		2016		Change
Workdays															63		64
Operating ratio					93.0	%			92.8	%
Tonnage (1)			LTL		931				913			2.0			14.77		14.26		3.6
			TL		195				182			7.0			3.09		2.85		8.7
Shipments (1)			LTL		1,662				1,638			1.5			26.39		25.59		3.1
			TL		27				26			7.2			0.44		0.40		8.9
Revenue/cwt. (2)			LTL	$	17.36			$	16.08			8.0
			TL	$	5.92			$	5.51			7.4
Revenue/shipment (2)			LTL	$	194.36			$	179.17			8.5
			TL	$	840.17			$	783.61			7.2
Pounds/shipment			LTL		1,120				1,114			0.5
			TL		14,201				14,229			(0.2	)
Length of Haul (3)					813				789			3.0
(1)		In thousands
(2)		Revenue does not include the adjustment required for financial statement purposes in accordance with the Company's revenue recognition policy and other revenue.
(3)		In miles

 

CONTACT:  Saia, Inc.
Doug Col
dcol@saia.com
678.542.3910

Source: Saia, Inc.