hubg-10q_20170930.htm

 

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, DC 20549

 

FORM 10-Q

 

QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(D) OF THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the quarterly period ended September 30, 2017 or

TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(D) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the transition period from           to          

Commission file number:  0-27754

 

HUB GROUP, INC.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

 

Delaware

 

36-4007085

(State or other jurisdiction of

incorporation or organization)

 

(I.R.S. Employer

Identification No.)

2000 Clearwater Drive

Oak Brook, Illinois 60523

(Address, including zip code, of principal executive offices)

(630) 271-3600

(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days.    Yes      No  

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate Web site, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit and post such files).    Yes      No  

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, a smaller reporting company or an emerging growth company.  See definition of “large accelerated filer”, “accelerated filer”, “smaller reporting company” and “emerging growth company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.  (Check one):

Large Accelerated Filer

 

Accelerated Filer

 

Non-Accelerated Filer

 

Smaller Reporting Company

Emerging Growth Company

If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act.   

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act).    Yes      No  

On October 26, 2017, the registrant had 33,451,445 outstanding shares of Class A common stock, par value $.01 per share, and 662,296 outstanding shares of Class B common stock, par value $.01 per share.

 

 

 


 

HUB GROUP, INC.

INDEX

 

 

Page

PART I.  Financial Information:

 

Consolidated Balance Sheets – September 30, 2017 (unaudited) and December 31, 2016

3

Unaudited Consolidated Statements of Income and Comprehensive Income – Three Months and Nine Months Ended September 30, 2017 and 2016

4

Unaudited Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows – Nine Months Ended September 30, 2017 and 2016

5

Notes to Unaudited Consolidated Financial Statements

6

Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations

16

Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk

25

Controls and Procedures

25

PART II.  Other Information

25

 

 

 

 

2


 

HUB GROUP, INC.

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

(in thousands, except share amounts)

 

September 30,

 

 

December 31,

 

 

2017

 

 

2016

 

ASSETS

(unaudited)

 

 

 

 

 

CURRENT ASSETS:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cash and cash equivalents

$

18,558

 

 

$

127,404

 

Accounts receivable trade, net

 

532,538

 

 

 

473,608

 

Accounts receivable other

 

10,017

 

 

 

4,331

 

Prepaid taxes

 

12,134

 

 

 

294

 

Prepaid expenses and other current assets

 

21,216

 

 

 

16,653

 

TOTAL CURRENT ASSETS

 

594,463

 

 

 

622,290

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Restricted investments

 

24,066

 

 

 

20,877

 

Property and equipment, net

 

547,881

 

 

 

438,594

 

Other intangibles, net

 

75,772

 

 

 

11,844

 

Goodwill, net

 

348,506

 

 

 

262,376

 

Other assets

 

9,175

 

 

 

4,278

 

TOTAL ASSETS

$

1,599,863

 

 

$

1,360,259

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

CURRENT LIABILITIES:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Accounts payable trade

$

313,511

 

 

$

266,555

 

Accounts payable other

 

30,115

 

 

 

21,070

 

Accrued payroll

 

25,245

 

 

 

36,223

 

Accrued other

 

53,609

 

 

 

46,013

 

Current portion of capital lease

 

2,754

 

 

 

2,697

 

Current portion of long term debt

 

73,052

 

 

 

45,163

 

TOTAL CURRENT LIABILITIES

 

498,286

 

 

 

417,721

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Long term debt

 

214,032

 

 

 

115,529

 

Non-current liabilities

 

29,181

 

 

 

23,595

 

Long term portion of capital lease

 

8,418

 

 

 

10,576

 

Deferred taxes

 

182,464

 

 

 

164,659

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Preferred stock, $.01 par value;  2,000,000 shares authorized;  no shares issued or outstanding in 2017 and 2016

-

 

 

-

 

Common stock

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Class A:  $.01 par value;  97,337,700 shares authorized and 41,224,792 shares issued in 2017 and 2016; 33,451,445 shares outstanding in 2017 and 33,192,982 shares outstanding in 2016

 

412

 

 

 

412

 

Class B:  $.01 par value; 662,300 shares authorized; 662,296 shares issued and outstanding in 2017 and 2016

 

7

 

 

 

7

 

Additional paid-in capital

 

170,355

 

 

 

173,565

 

Purchase price in excess of predecessor basis, net of tax benefit of $10,306

 

(15,458

)

 

 

(15,458

)

Retained earnings

 

770,773

 

 

 

735,563

 

Accumulated other comprehensive loss

 

(172

)

 

 

(273

)

Treasury stock; at cost, 7,773,347 shares in 2017 and 8,031,810 shares in 2016

 

(258,435

)

 

 

(265,637

)

TOTAL STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY

 

667,482

 

 

 

628,179

 

TOTAL LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY

$

1,599,863

 

 

$

1,360,259

 

See notes to unaudited consolidated financial statements.

 

 

 

3


 

HUB GROUP, INC.

UNAUDITED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME

AND COMPREHENSIVE INCOME

(in thousands, except per share amounts)

 

 

Three Months

 

 

Nine Months

 

 

Ended September 30,

 

 

Ended September 30,

 

 

2017

 

 

2016

 

 

2017

 

 

2016

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Revenue

$

1,054,360

 

 

$

932,814

 

 

$

2,872,321

 

 

$

2,594,230

 

Transportation costs

 

937,836

 

 

 

821,360

 

 

 

2,552,895

 

 

 

2,259,899

 

Gross margin

 

116,524

 

 

 

111,454

 

 

 

319,426

 

 

 

334,331

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Costs and expenses:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Salaries and benefits

 

49,126

 

 

 

42,610

 

 

 

137,343

 

 

 

130,075

 

Agent fees and commissions

 

19,072

 

 

 

19,072

 

 

 

54,103

 

 

 

54,334

 

General and administrative

 

22,403

 

 

 

17,641

 

 

 

63,341

 

 

 

50,368

 

Depreciation and amortization

 

4,254

 

 

 

2,276

 

 

 

9,215

 

 

 

6,559

 

Total costs and expenses

 

94,855

 

 

 

81,599

 

 

 

264,002

 

 

 

241,336

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Operating income

 

21,669

 

 

 

29,855

 

 

 

55,424

 

 

 

92,995

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Other income (expense):

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Interest expense

 

(2,345

)

 

 

(888

)

 

 

(4,474

)

 

 

(2,655

)

Interest and dividend income

 

58

 

 

 

104

 

 

 

388

 

 

 

286

 

Other, net

 

404

 

 

 

27

 

 

 

597

 

 

 

1,178

 

Total other expense

 

(1,883

)

 

 

(757

)

 

 

(3,489

)

 

 

(1,191

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Income before provision for income taxes

 

19,786

 

 

 

29,098

 

 

 

51,935

 

 

 

91,804

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Provision for income taxes

 

4,452

 

 

 

11,174

 

 

 

16,725

 

 

 

35,243

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net income

$

15,334

 

 

$

17,924

 

 

$

35,210

 

 

$

56,561

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Other comprehensive income:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Foreign currency translation adjustments

 

9

 

 

 

(10

)

 

 

101

 

 

 

(63

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total comprehensive income

$

15,343

 

 

$

17,914

 

 

$

35,311

 

 

$

56,498

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Basic earnings per common share

$

0.46

 

 

$

0.54

 

 

$

1.06

 

 

$

1.66

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Diluted earnings per common share

$

0.46

 

 

$

0.54

 

 

$

1.06

 

 

$

1.66

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Basic weighted average number of shares outstanding

 

33,227

 

 

 

33,212

 

 

 

33,217

 

 

 

34,098

 

Diluted weighted average number of shares outstanding

 

33,335

 

 

 

33,366

 

 

 

33,323

 

 

 

34,172

 

 

See notes to unaudited consolidated financial statements.

 

 

 

 

4


 

HUB GROUP, INC.

UNAUDITED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

(in thousands)

 

 

Nine Months Ended September 30,

 

 

2017

 

 

2016

 

Cash flows from operating activities:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net income

$

35,210

 

 

$

56,561

 

Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Depreciation and amortization

 

43,531

 

 

 

32,665

 

Deferred taxes

 

19,983

 

 

 

13,269

 

Compensation expense related to share-based compensation plans

 

7,402

 

 

 

6,318

 

Loss (gain) on sale of assets

 

360

 

 

 

(382

)

Excess tax benefits from share based compensation

 

-

 

 

 

(524

)

Changes in operating assets and liabilities:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Restricted investments

 

(3,189

)

 

 

545

 

Accounts receivable, net

 

(37,448

)

 

 

(62,324

)

Prepaid taxes

 

(11,839

)

 

 

(1,609

)

Prepaid expenses and other current assets

 

(3,059

)

 

 

1,244

 

Other assets

 

(3,505

)

 

 

961

 

Accounts payable

 

51,459

 

 

 

37,080

 

Accrued expenses

 

(13,179

)

 

 

(6,968

)

Non-current liabilities

 

1,419

 

 

 

2,181

 

Net cash provided by operating activities

 

87,145

 

 

 

79,017

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cash flows from investing activities:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Proceeds from sale of equipment

 

3,052

 

 

 

1,573

 

Purchases of property and equipment

 

(39,936

)

 

 

(59,883

)

Acquisitions, net of cash acquired

 

(165,933

)

 

 

-

 

Net cash used in investing activities

 

(202,817

)

 

 

(58,310

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cash flows from financing activities:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Proceeds from issuance of debt

 

73,606

 

 

 

36,100

 

Repayments of long term debt

 

(59,921

)

 

 

(25,074

)

Stock tendered for payments of withholding taxes

 

(3,410

)

 

 

(2,484

)

Purchase of treasury stock

 

-

 

 

 

(100,000

)

Capital lease payments

 

(2,101

)

 

 

(1,965

)

Excess tax benefits from share-based compensation

 

-

 

 

 

212

 

Payment of debt issuance costs

 

(1,397

)

 

 

-

 

Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities

 

6,777

 

 

 

(93,211

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents

 

49

 

 

 

(50

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net decrease in cash and cash equivalents

 

(108,846

)

 

 

(72,554

)

Cash and cash equivalents beginning of the period

 

127,404

 

 

 

207,749

 

Cash and cash equivalents end of the period

$

18,558

 

 

$

135,195

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Supplemental disclosures of cash paid for:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Interest

$

4,033

 

 

$

2,636

 

Income taxes

$

12,880

 

 

$

26,826

 

See notes to unaudited consolidated financial statements.

 

 

 

5


 

HUB GROUP, INC.

NOTES TO UNAUDITED

CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

 

 

NOTE 1.

Interim Financial Statements

Our accompanying unaudited consolidated financial statements of Hub Group, Inc. (“we”, “us” or “our”) have been prepared pursuant to the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission.  Certain information and footnote disclosures normally included in annual financial statements have been omitted pursuant to those rules and regulations.  However, we believe that the disclosures contained herein are adequate to make the information presented not misleading.

The financial statements reflect, in our opinion, all material adjustments (which include only normal recurring adjustments) necessary to fairly present our financial position as of September 30, 2017 and results of operations for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2017 and 2016.

These unaudited consolidated financial statements and notes thereto should be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements and notes thereto included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2016.  Results of operations in interim periods are not necessarily indicative of results to be expected for a full year due partially to seasonality.

 

 

NOTE 2.

Acquisition  

Hub Group Trucking (HGT), a wholly owned subsidiary of Hub Group, Inc., acquired all of the outstanding equity interests of Estenson Logistics, LLC (“Estenson”) on July 1, 2017 (the “Estenson Acquisition”).  Estenson is now our wholly owned subsidiary, operating under the name Hub Group Dedicated (“HGD”).  As a result of the Estenson Acquisition, HGT acquired substantially all of the assets of Estenson, which include tractors and trailers, as well as assumed certain liabilities, including equipment debt.  HGD is included in the Hub segment.

HGD has an operating fleet of approximately 1,000 tractors and over 3,600 trailers.  Dedicated services have been requested by our customers and we believe HGD is an excellent service offering that we can provide to our customers.

The base purchase price for Estenson was approximately $285 million, including contingent consideration related to an earn-out provision included in the Purchase Agreement, which will not exceed $6 million and is based on Estenson’s EBITDA results through June 30, 2019.  In accordance with the agreement, the base purchase price was adjusted by the assumed debt to arrive at the final consideration of $172 million.  To facilitate the acquisition, we assumed $113 million of Estenson debt and paid $166 million in cash, including $55 million of cash, which was borrowed under our new line of credit (See Note 6).

The following table summarizes the total purchase price allocated to the net assets acquired (in thousands):

 

 

 

 

Cash paid

$

165,945

 

Consideration payable

 

1,366

 

Contingent consideration, fair value

 

4,703

 

Total consideration

 

172,014

 

Equipment debt assumed

 

112,677

 

Total base purchase price

$

284,691

 

Pending finalization of the fair market value of assets acquired and liabilities assumed, revenue and lease contracts, and deferred taxes related to tax valuation/tax goodwill the measurement period remains open.  The following table summarizes the preliminary allocation of the total consideration to the assets acquired and liabilities assumed as of the date of the acquisition (in thousands):

 

6


 

 

 

July 1, 2017

 

Cash and cash equivalents

$

12

 

Accounts receivable trade

 

27,000

 

Accounts receivable other

 

165

 

Prepaid expenses and other current assets

 

1,500

 

Property and equipment

 

128,477

 

Other intangibles

 

66,400

 

Goodwill

 

86,294

 

Other assets

 

64

 

Total assets acquired

$

309,912

 

 

 

 

 

Accounts payable trade

$

4,542

 

Accrued payroll

 

5,661

 

Accrued other

 

15,018

 

Equipment debt

 

112,677

 

Total liabilities assumed

$

137,898

 

 

 

 

 

Total consideration

$

172,014

 

The Estenson acquisition was accounted for as a purchase business combination in accordance with ASC 805 “Business Combinations.” Assets acquired and liabilities assumed were recorded in the accompanying consolidated balance sheet at their estimated fair values as of July 1, 2017 with the remaining unallocated purchase price recorded as goodwill. The goodwill recognized in the Estenson acquisition was primarily attributable to potential expansion and future development of the acquired business.  The fair value assigned to the customer relationships identifiable intangible was determined using an income approach based on management’s estimates and assumptions. The fair value assigned to the property and equipment was determined based on a market approach. A probability weighted expected return model was used to estimate the value of the contingent consideration.  Equipment debt was valued using a discounted cash flow analysis whereby future contractual principal repayments and interest payments for each instrument were discounted to the purchase date at a risk-adjusted discount rate.

We incurred approximately $1.6 million of acquisition costs associated with this transaction prior to the closing date that are reflected in general and administrative expense in the Unaudited Consolidated Statements of Income for the nine months ended September 30, 2017.

The components of “Other intangibles” listed in the above table as of the acquisition date are preliminarily estimated as follows (in thousands):

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Accumulated

 

 

Balance at

 

 

Estimated Useful

 

 

Amount

 

 

Amortization

 

 

September 30, 2017

 

 

Life

Customer relationships

 

$

66,000

 

 

$

1,100

 

 

$

64,900

 

 

15 years

Trade name

 

 

400

 

 

 

400

 

 

-

 

 

3 months

The above intangible assets are amortized using the straight-line method.  Amortization expense related to this acquisition for both the three and nine month periods ended September 30, 2017 was $1.5 million.  The intangible assets have a weighted average useful life of approximately 15 years.  Amortization expense related to HGD for the next five years is as follows (in thousands):

 

Remainder 2017

 

$

1,100

 

2018

 

 

4,400

 

2019

 

 

4,400

 

2020

 

 

4,400

 

2021

 

 

4,400

 

 

7


 

 

The following unaudited pro forma consolidated results of operations for 2017 and 2016 assume that the acquisition of Estenson was completed as of January 1, 2016 (in thousands, except for per share amounts):

 

 

 

 

Three Months

 

 

 

 

Ended

 

 

 

 

September 30, 2016

 

Revenue

 

 

$

988,345

 

Net income

 

 

$

20,249

 

Earnings per share

 

 

 

 

 

Basic

 

 

$

0.61

 

Diluted

 

 

$

0.61

 

 

 

Nine Months

 

 

Nine Months

 

 

Ended

 

 

Ended

 

 

September 30, 2017

 

 

September 30, 2016

 

Revenue

$

2,986,342

 

 

$

2,752,660

 

Net income

$

39,387

 

 

$

62,212

 

Earnings per share

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Basic

$

1.19

 

 

$

1.82

 

Diluted

$

1.18

 

 

$

1.82

 

The unaudited pro forma consolidated results for the three and nine month periods were prepared using the acquisition method of accounting and are based on the historical financial information of Hub and HGD. The historical financial information has been adjusted to give effect to the pro forma adjustments that are: (i) directly attributable to the acquisition, (ii) factually supportable and (iii) expected to have a continuing impact on the combined results. The unaudited pro forma consolidated results are not necessarily indicative of what our consolidated results of operations actually would have been had we completed the acquisition on January 1, 2016.

 

NOTE 3.

Business Segments

We report two distinct business segments.  The first segment is Mode, which includes the Mode Transportation, LLC (“Mode LLC”) business we acquired on April 1, 2011.  The second segment is Hub, which is all business other than Mode.

Hub offers comprehensive intermodal, truck brokerage, dedicated and logistics services.  Our employees operate the freight through a network of operating centers located in the United States, Canada and Mexico.  Each operating center is strategically located in a market with a significant concentration of shipping customers and one or more railheads.  Hub has full time employees located throughout the United States, Canada and Mexico.

Mode LLC has Independent Business Owners (“IBOs”) who sell and operate the business throughout North America, as well as sales only agents.  Mode LLC also has a corporate office in Dallas, TX, a temperature protected services division, Temstar, located in Oak Brook, IL and corporate offices in Memphis, TN.

Mode LLC markets and operates its freight transportation services, consisting of intermodal, truck brokerage and logistics, primarily through agents who enter into contractual arrangements with Mode LLC.

 

8


 

The following is a summary of operating results and certain other financial data for our business segments (in thousands):

 

 

Three Months

 

 

Three Months

 

 

Ended September 30, 2017

 

 

Ended September 30, 2016

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Inter-

 

Hub

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Inter-

 

Hub

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Segment

 

Group

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Segment

 

Group

 

 

Hub

 

Mode

 

Elims

 

Total

 

 

Hub

 

Mode

 

Elims

 

Total

 

Revenue

$

820,802

 

$

258,696

 

$

(25,138

)

$

1,054,360

 

 

$

716,699

 

$

251,611

 

$

(35,496

)

$

932,814

 

Transportation costs

 

734,747

 

 

228,227

 

 

(25,138

)

 

937,836

 

 

 

638,154

 

 

218,702

 

 

(35,496

)

 

821,360

 

Gross margin

 

86,055

 

 

30,469

 

 

-

 

 

116,524

 

 

 

78,545

 

 

32,909

 

 

-

 

 

111,454

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Costs and expenses:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Salaries and benefits

 

45,727

 

 

3,399

 

 

-

 

 

49,126

 

 

 

38,775

 

 

3,835

 

 

-

 

 

42,610

 

Agent fees and commissions

 

15

 

 

19,057

 

 

-

 

 

19,072

 

 

 

20

 

 

19,052

 

 

-

 

 

19,072

 

General and administrative

 

20,520

 

 

1,883

 

 

-

 

 

22,403

 

 

 

15,969

 

 

1,672

 

 

-

 

 

17,641

 

Depreciation and amortization

 

3,962

 

 

292

 

 

-

 

 

4,254

 

 

 

1,959

 

 

317

 

 

-

 

 

2,276

 

Total costs and expenses

 

70,224

 

 

24,631

 

 

-

 

 

94,855

 

 

 

56,723

 

 

24,876

 

 

-

 

 

81,599

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Operating income

$

15,831

 

$

5,838

 

$

-

 

$

21,669

 

 

$

21,822

 

$

8,033

 

$

-

 

$

29,855

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Capital Expenditures

$

10,170

 

$

173

 

$

-

 

$

10,343

 

 

$

34,411

 

$

255

 

$

-

 

$

34,666

 

 

The following tables summarize our revenue by segment and business line (in thousands) for the quarter ended September 30:

 

 

Three Months

 

 

Three Months

 

 

Ended September 30, 2017

 

 

Ended September 30, 2016

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Inter-

 

Hub

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Inter-

 

Hub

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Segment

 

Group

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Segment

 

Group

 

 

Hub

 

Mode

 

Elims

 

Total

 

 

Hub

 

Mode

 

Elims

 

Total

 

Intermodal

$

473,998

 

$

123,194

 

$

(13,665

)

$

583,527

 

 

$

466,283

 

$

126,052

 

$

(21,857

)

$

570,478

 

Truck brokerage

 

113,179

 

 

87,242

 

 

(634

)

 

199,787

 

 

 

96,906

 

 

79,627

 

 

(174

)

 

176,359

 

Logistics

 

175,679

 

 

48,260

 

 

(10,794

)

 

213,145

 

 

 

153,510

 

 

45,932

 

 

(13,465

)

 

185,977

 

Dedicated

 

57,946

 

 

-

 

 

(45

)

 

57,901

 

 

 

-

 

 

-

 

 

-

 

 

-

 

Total revenue

$

820,802

 

$

258,696

 

$

(25,138

)

$

1,054,360

 

 

$

716,699

 

$

251,611

 

$

(35,496

)

$

932,814

 

 

The following is a summary of operating results and certain other financial data for our business segments (in thousands):

 

 

Nine Months

 

 

Nine Months

 

 

Ended September 30, 2017

 

 

Ended September 30, 2016

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Inter-

 

Hub

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Inter-

 

Hub

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Segment

 

Group

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Segment

 

Group

 

 

Hub

 

Mode

 

Elims

 

Total

 

 

Hub

 

Mode

 

Elims

 

Total

 

Revenue

$

2,203,142

 

$

743,621

 

$

(74,442

)

$

2,872,321

 

 

$

1,980,450

 

$

692,366

 

$

(78,586

)

$

2,594,230

 

Transportation costs

 

1,972,725

 

 

654,612

 

 

(74,442

)

 

2,552,895

 

 

 

1,739,676

 

 

598,809

 

 

(78,586

)

 

2,259,899

 

Gross margin

 

230,417

 

 

89,009

 

 

-

 

 

319,426

 

 

 

240,774

 

 

93,557

 

 

-

 

 

334,331

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Costs and expenses:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Salaries and benefits

 

126,891

 

 

10,452

 

 

-

 

 

137,343

 

 

 

118,658

 

 

11,417

 

 

-

 

 

130,075

 

Agent fees and commissions

 

46

 

 

54,057

 

 

-

 

 

54,103

 

 

 

47

 

 

54,287

 

 

-

 

 

54,334

 

General and administrative

 

57,330

 

 

6,011

 

 

-

 

 

63,341

 

 

 

44,917

 

 

5,451

 

 

-

 

 

50,368

 

Depreciation and amortization

 

8,319

 

 

896

 

 

-

 

 

9,215

 

 

 

5,603

 

 

956

 

 

-

 

 

6,559

 

Total costs and expenses

 

192,586

 

 

71,416

 

 

-

 

 

264,002

 

 

 

169,225

 

 

72,111

 

 

-

 

 

241,336

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Operating income

$

37,831

 

$

17,593

 

$

-

 

$

55,424

 

 

$

71,549

 

$

21,446

 

$

-

 

$

92,995

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Capital Expenditures

$

39,732

 

$

204

 

$

-

 

$

39,936

 

 

$

59,356

 

$

527

 

$

-

 

$

59,883

 

 

9


 

 

 

 

 

As of September 30, 2017

 

 

As of December 31, 2016

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Inter-

 

Hub

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Inter-

 

Hub

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Segment

 

Group

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Segment

 

Group

 

 

Hub

 

Mode

 

Elims

 

Total

 

 

Hub

 

Mode

 

Elims

 

Total

 

Total assets

$

1,421,628

 

$

184,996

 

$

(6,761

)

$

1,599,863

 

 

$

1,178,110

 

$

191,374

 

$

(9,225

)

$

1,360,259

 

Goodwill

 

319,117

 

 

29,389

 

 

-

 

 

348,506

 

 

 

232,987

 

 

29,389

 

 

-

 

 

262,376

 

 

The following tables summarize our revenue by segment and business line (in thousands) for the nine months ended September 30:

 

 

Nine Months

 

 

Nine Months

 

 

Ended September 30, 2017

 

 

Ended September 30, 2016

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Inter-

 

Hub

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Inter-

 

Hub

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Segment

 

Group

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Segment

 

Group

 

 

Hub

 

Mode

 

Elims

 

Total

 

 

Hub

 

Mode

 

Elims

 

Total

 

Intermodal

$

1,350,187

 

$

357,516

 

$

(41,768

)

$

1,665,935

 

 

$

1,318,223

 

$

355,379

 

$

(61,974

)

$

1,611,628

 

Truck brokerage

 

324,823

 

 

248,311

 

 

(1,330

)

 

571,804

 

 

 

261,456

 

 

228,350

 

 

(676

)

 

489,130

 

Logistics

 

470,186

 

 

137,794

 

 

(31,299

)

 

576,681

 

 

 

400,771

 

 

108,637

 

 

(15,936

)

 

493,472

 

Dedicated

 

57,946

 

 

-

 

 

(45

)

 

57,901

 

 

 

-

 

 

-

 

 

-

 

 

-

 

Total revenue

$

2,203,142

 

$

743,621

 

$

(74,442

)

$

2,872,321

 

 

$

1,980,450

 

$

692,366

 

$

(78,586

)

$

2,594,230

 

 

 

NOTE 4.

Earnings Per Share

The following is a reconciliation of our earnings per share (in thousands, except for per share data):

 

 

Three Months Ended, September 30,

 

 

Nine Months Ended, September 30,

 

 

2017

 

 

2016

 

 

2017

 

 

2016

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net income for basic and diluted earnings per share

$

15,334

 

 

$

17,924

 

 

$

35,210

 

 

$

56,561

 

Weighted average shares outstanding - basic

 

33,227

 

 

 

33,212

 

 

 

33,217

 

 

 

34,098

 

Dilutive effect of  stock options and restricted stock

 

108

 

 

 

154

 

 

 

106

 

 

 

74

 

Weighted average shares outstanding - diluted

 

33,335

 

 

 

33,366

 

 

 

33,323

 

 

 

34,172

 

Earnings per share - basic

$

0.46

 

 

$

0.54

 

 

$

1.06

 

 

$

1.66

 

Earnings per share - diluted

$

0.46

 

 

$

0.54

 

 

$

1.06

 

 

$

1.66

 

 

 

NOTE 5.

Fair Value Measurement

The carrying value of cash and cash equivalents, accounts receivable and accounts payable and long term debt approximated fair value as of September 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016 due to their short-term nature.

We consider as cash equivalents all highly liquid instruments with an original maturity of three months or less.  As of September 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016, our cash and temporary investments were with high quality financial institutions in Demand Deposit Accounts (DDAs) and Savings Accounts.

Restricted investments, as of September 30, 2017 of $24.1 million and December 31, 2016 of $20.9 million, included mutual funds which are reported at fair value.  

Our assets and liabilities measured at fair value are based on valuation techniques which consider prices and other relevant information generated by market transactions involving identical or comparable assets and liabilities. These valuation methods are based on either quoted market prices (Level 1) or inputs, other than quoted prices in active markets, that are observable either directly or indirectly (Level 2). Cash and cash equivalents, accounts receivable and accounts payable are defined as “Level 1”, while long term debt is defined as “Level 2” of the fair value hierarchy in the Fair Value Measurements and Disclosures Topic of the Codification.  

 

 

 

10


 

NOTE 6.

Long-Term Debt and Financing Arrangements

We have standby letters of credit that expire at various dates in 2017 and 2018.  As of September 30, 2017, our letters of credit were $13.5 million.

On July 1, 2017, we entered into a $350 million unsecured credit agreement (the "Credit Agreement"). The Credit Agreement replaces the Amended and Restated Credit Agreement dated December 12, 2013 (“2013 Credit Agreement”). The Company used the Credit Agreement to finance, in part, the Estenson Acquisition.

Our unused and available borrowings under our new Credit Agreement were $286.5 million as of September 30, 2017. Our unused and available borrowings under the 2013 Credit Agreement were $38.2 million as of December 31, 2016. We were in compliance with our debt covenants as of September 30, 2017.

Borrowings under the Credit Agreement generally bear interest at a variable rate equal to (i) LIBOR plus a specified margin based upon the Borrowers' total net leverage ratio (as defined in the Credit Agreement) (the "Total Net Leverage Ratio"), or (ii) the base rate (which is the highest of (a) the administrative agent's prime rate, (b) the federal funds rate plus 0.50% or (c) the sum of 1% plus one-month LIBOR) plus a specified margin based upon the Total Net Leverage Ratio. The specified margin for Eurodollar loans varies from 100.0 to 200.0 basis points per annum. The specified margin for base rate loans varies from 0.0 to 100.0 basis points per annum. The Borrowers must also pay (1) a commitment fee ranging from 10.0 to 25.0 basis points per annum (based upon the Total Net Leverage Ratio) on the aggregate unused commitments and (2) a letter of credit fee ranging from 100.0 to 200.0 basis points per annum (based upon the Total Net Leverage Ratio) on the undrawn amount of letters of credit.

The Credit Agreement contains various restrictions and covenants, including negative covenants that limit or restrict dividends, indebtedness of subsidiaries, mergers and fundamental changes, asset sales, acquisitions, liens and encumbrances, transactions with affiliates, changes in fiscal year and other matters customarily restricted in such agreements. The Company must maintain a Total Net Leverage Ratio of (a) total funded debt as of such date, minus up to $50,000,000 in unrestricted cash and cash equivalents (each as defined in the Credit Agreement) to (b) consolidated EBITDA (as defined in the credit agreement) of not more than 3.00 to 1.00; provided that as of the close of each of the four fiscal quarters occurring after the consummation of a permitted acquisition (as defined in the Credit Agreement) with an aggregate consideration of $150,000,000 or more, such ratio shall not be more than 3.25 to 1.00. The Company must maintain an interest coverage ratio of consolidated EBITDA to consolidated cash interest expense of not less than 3.00 to 1.00.

We incurred $1.4 million of financing costs related to the Credit Agreement during the third quarter of 2017, which we capitalized and will amortize to interest expense over the term of the agreement.  The unamortized balance of $1.3 million is included in Other assets in the Unaudited Consolidated Balance Sheet as of September 30, 2017.

 

11


 

In addition to borrowings under our new credit agreement, we have entered into various Equipment Notes (“Notes”) for the purchase of tractors and containers.  The Notes are secured by the underlying equipment financed in the agreements.

 

 

Period Ended

 

 

September 30,

 

 

December 31,

 

 

2017

 

 

2016

 

 

(in thousands except principal and interest payments)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Revolving line of credit

$

50,000

 

 

$

-

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Secured Equipment Notes due on various dates in 2024 with monthly principal and interest payments between $403 and $83,000 commencing on various dates in 2017; interest is paid monthly at a fixed annual rate between 2.85% and 3.28%

 

12,388

 

 

 

-

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Secured Equipment Notes due on various dates in 2023 with monthly principal and interest payments between $669 and $41,238 commencing on various dates in 2016 and 2017; interest is paid monthly at a fixed annual rate between 2.23% and 3.12%

 

11,554

 

 

 

-

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Secured Equipment Notes due on various dates in  2022 with monthly principal and interest payments between $3,030 and $254,190 commencing on various dates from 2015 to 2017; interest is paid monthly at a fixed annual rate of between 2.16% and 2.87%

 

32,517

 

 

 

-

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Secured Equipment Notes due on various dates in 2021 with monthly principal and interest payments between $1,940 and $326,333 commencing on various dates from 2014 to 2017; interest is paid monthly at a fixed annual rate between 2.04% and 2.96%

 

81,176

 

 

 

59,836

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Secured Equipment Notes due on various dates in 2020 with monthly principal and interest payments between $6,175 and $398,496 commencing on various dates from 2013 to 2016; interest is paid monthly at a fixed annual rate between 1.72% and 2.78%

 

57,305

 

 

 

48,633

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Secured Equipment Notes due on various dates in 2019 with monthly principal and interest payments between $1,594 and $444,000 commencing on various dates from 2013 to 2015; interest is paid monthly at a fixed annual rate between 1.87% and 2.62%

 

40,803

 

 

 

49,464

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Secured Equipment Notes due in June 2018 with monthly or quarterly principal and interest payments between $542 and $480,000 commencing on various dates from 2012 to 2014; interest is paid quarterly at a fixed annual rate between 1.89% and 4.45%

 

1,280

 

 

 

2,759

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Secured Equipment Notes due on various dates in 2017 with monthly principal and interest payments between $12,964 and $19,792 commencing on various dates in 2012 and 2013; interest is paid monthly at a fixed annual rate between 2.06% and 2.11%

 

61

 

 

 

-

 

 

 

287,084

 

 

 

160,692

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Less current portion

 

(73,052

)

 

 

(45,163

)

Total long-term debt

$

214,032

 

 

$

115,529

 

 

 

 

 

 

NOTE 7.

Commitments and Contingencies

 

In November 2016, we committed to acquire 4,000 53’ containers.  We expect the total purchase price of these containers to be approximately $40 million.  As of October 21, 2017, we have received 2,156 containers.  We anticipate receiving another 394 containers by the end of the year, with the remaining 1,450 to be delivered in 2018. We will be financing the purchase of this equipment with secured fixed rate debt.

 

We have entered in various agreements to purchase 154 tractors for a purchase price of approximately $18 million.  The equipment is expected to be delivered from October 2017 to January 2018.  We will be financing the purchase of this equipment with secured fixed rate debt.

 

 

12


 

 

 

NOTE 8.

Legal Matters  

 

Robles

On January 25, 2013, a complaint was filed in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of California (Sacramento Division) by Salvador Robles against our subsidiary, Comtrak Logistics, Inc., now known as Hub Group Trucking, Inc.  Mr. Robles drove a truck for Hub Group Trucking in California, first as an independent contractor and then as an employee.  The action was brought on behalf of a class comprised of present and former California-based truck drivers for Hub Group Trucking who were classified as independent contractors, from January 2009 to August 2014.  The complaint alleges Hub Group Trucking has misclassified such drivers as independent contractors and that such drivers were employees.  The complaint asserts various violations of the California Labor Code and claims that Hub Group Trucking has engaged in unfair competition practices.  The complaint seeks, among other things, declaratory and injunctive relief, compensatory damages and attorney’s fees.  In May 2013, the complaint was amended to add similar claims based on Mr. Robles’ status as an employed company driver.  These additional claims are only on behalf of Mr. Robles and not a putative class.  

The Company believes that the California independent contractor truck drivers were properly classified as independent contractors at all times.  Nevertheless, because lawsuits are expensive, time-consuming and could interrupt our business operations, Hub Group Trucking decided to make settlement offers to individual drivers with respect to the claims alleged in this lawsuit, without admitting liability.  As of September 30, 2017, 93% of the California drivers have accepted the settlement offers which were paid in 2015 or earlier.  In late 2014, Hub Group Trucking decided to convert its model from independent contractors to employee drivers in California.  In early 2016, Hub Group Trucking closed its operations in Southern California.

On April 3, 2015, the Robles case was transferred to the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Tennessee (Western Division) in Memphis.  In May 2015, the plaintiffs in the Robles case filed a Second Amended Complaint (“SAC”) which names 334 current and former Hub Group Trucking drivers as “interested putative class members.”  In addition to reasserting their existing claims, the SAC includes claims post-conversion, added two new plaintiffs and seeks a judicial declaration that the settlement agreements are unenforceable.  In June 2015, Hub Group Trucking filed a motion to dismiss the SAC and on July 19, 2016, Hub Group Trucking’s motion to dismiss was granted in part, and denied in part, by the District Court.  The motion to dismiss was granted for the claims of all purported class members who have signed settlement agreements and on plaintiffs’ claims based on quantum merit and it was denied with respect to federal preemption and choice of law.  On August 11, 2016, Plaintiffs filed a motion to clarify whether the Court’s dismissal of the claims of all purported class members who signed settlement agreements was with or without prejudice and, if the dismissal was with prejudice, Plaintiffs moved the Court to revise and reconsider the order.  Plaintiffs’ motion to clarify is fully briefed and the parties are awaiting a decision by the Court.  

Adame

On August 5, 2015, the Plaintiffs’ law firm in the Robles case filed a lawsuit in state court in San Bernardino County, California on behalf of 63 named Plaintiffs against Hub Group Trucking and five Company employees.  The lawsuit alleges claims similar to those being made in Robles and seeks monetary penalties under the Private Attorneys General Act.  Of the 63 named Plaintiffs, at least 58 of them previously accepted the settlement offers referenced above.

On October 29, 2015, Defendants filed a notice of removal to remove the case from state court in San Bernardino to federal court in the Central District of California. On November 19, 2015, Defendants filed a motion to transfer the case to federal court in Memphis, Tennessee and also filed a motion to dismiss the case pursuant to a clause in the independent contractor agreement stating that Tennessee law applies.  Also on November 19, 2015, Plaintiffs filed a motion to remand the case back to state court, claiming that the federal court lacks jurisdiction over the case.  The court granted Plaintiffs’ motion to remand to the state court in San Bernardino County on April 7, 2016, mooting Defendants’ motions to transfer and dismiss.

On July 11, 2016, Defendants filed several motions in state court, asking the court to dismiss and/or stay the Plaintiffs’ suit for various reasons.  During a hearing on October 5, 2016, the judge issued an oral tentative ruling stating that the choice of forum provision was unenforceable.  On Defendants’ motion to dismiss the individual defendants, the court allowed for supplemental briefing for additional arguments regarding individual liability under PAGA.  The court did not reach a decision regarding the motion to stay pending the outcome in Robles.  Plaintiffs filed their supplemental brief on November 9, 2016 to which Defendants responded on December 6, 2016.  

On February 17, 2017, with the stipulation of the parties, the Court entered an Order dismissing, without prejudice, all of the individual Defendants and accepting the parties’ agreement that jurisdiction and venue are proper in the San Bernardino Superior Court and that Defendants will not seek to remove the case to federal district court.  On April 12, 2017, the Court denied Defendants’

 

13


 

motion to dismiss based on insufficiency of the PAGA letter notice.  On October 5, 2017, Plaintiffs served an amended complaint, in part dismissing the previously named individuals as Defendants.

Lubinski

On September 12, 2014, a complaint was filed in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois (Eastern Division) by Christian Lubinski against Hub Group Trucking.  The action was brought on behalf of a class comprised of present and former owner-operators providing delivery services in Illinois for Hub Group Trucking.  The complaint alleged Hub Group Trucking misclassified such drivers as independent contractors and that such drivers were employees.  The complaint also alleged that Hub Group Trucking made illegal deductions from the drivers’ pay and failed to properly compensate the drivers for all hours worked, reimburse business expenses, pay employment taxes, and provide workers’ compensation and other employment benefits.  The complaint asserted various violations of the Illinois Wage Payment and Collections Act and claimed that Hub Group Trucking was unjustly enriched.  The complaint sought, among other things, monetary damages for the relevant statutory period and attorneys’ fees.  

On October 24, 2014, the Lubinski case was transferred to the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Tennessee (Western Division), in Memphis.  On September 22, 2015, the court granted Hub Group Trucking’s motion to dismiss Lubinski’s Illinois law claims with prejudice based on the contractual choice of law provision, which provided that Tennessee law governed.  The court denied as moot Hub Group Trucking’s motion to dismiss based on federal preemption.  On October 2, 2015, Lubinski appealed this order to the United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit in Cincinnati.

On December 17, 2015, Lubinski filed his brief in support of his appeal of the motion to dismiss, asserting for the first time that the federal court did not have jurisdiction over the case due to a lack of diversity of citizenship.  Hub Group Trucking filed its response brief on January 19, 2016, in part arguing that Lubinski had himself alleged diversity of citizenship in his complaint.  Lubinski filed his reply brief on February 5, 2016.  On April 1, 2016, the Sixth Circuit remanded the case to the district court—without ruling on the merits—for the district court “to consider the argument and admit the evidence necessary to determine the question of federal subject-matter jurisdiction.”  

On July 11, 2016, with his federal district court case still pending, Lubinski filed an additional putative class action Complaint, with the same claims, in Illinois state court.  On the same day, Hub Group Trucking filed a declaratory judgment complaint in Tennessee state court, seeking a declaration that Lubinski’s claims must be heard in Tennessee (based on the contractual choice-of-forum provision) and that the claims must be dismissed because Tennessee law controls and Lubinski’s claims are preempted by federal law.

On October 26, 2016, Lubinski filed a motion to dismiss for lack of federal subject-matter jurisdiction and a motion for leave to file an amended complaint, attempting to “clarify” the putative class definition and arguing that the Class Action Fairness Act’s exceptions to jurisdiction apply.    In early 2017, Plaintiff’s counsel advised Hub Group Trucking that Lubinski would no longer challenge federal jurisdiction.  On February 15, 2017, the District Court adopted the parties’ stipulation and found that there is federal subject-matter jurisdiction.  On March 22, 2017, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit granted Plaintiff’s motion to recall the mandate and reinstate Lubinski’s appeal of the district court’s order dismissing the case.  On June 8, 2017, the Sixth Circuit issued an Opinion affirming the District Court’s dismissal of Plantiff’s claims.  On June 30, 2017, the Sixth Circuit issued the Mandate in the case, which terminates the 6th Circuit appeal proceedings.  Plaintiff had until September 6, 2017, to ask the U.S. Supreme Court to review the case.  Plaintiff did not file any petition with the Supreme Court, so the case is completed.

We cannot reasonably estimate at this time the possible loss or range of loss, if any, that may arise from the remaining unresolved claims in the above mentioned lawsuits.

We are a party to other litigation incident to our business, including claims for personal injury and/or property damage, bankruptcy preference claims, and claims regarding freight lost or damaged in transit, improperly shipped or improperly billed.  Some of the lawsuits to which we are party are covered by insurance and are being defended by our insurance carriers.  Some of the lawsuits are not covered by insurance and we defend those ourselves.  We do not believe that the outcome of this litigation will have a materially adverse effect on our financial position or results of operations.

 

 

NOTE 9.New Pronouncements

 

In May 2014, the FASB issued Update No. 2014-09—Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606).  This Standard provides guidance on how to recognize revenue to depict the transfer of promised goods or services to customers in an amount that reflects the consideration to which the entity expects to be entitled in exchange for those goods or services.  In addition, the standard requires disclosure of the nature, amount, timing, and uncertainty of revenue and cash flows arising from contracts with customers.

 

14


 

The FASB has recently issued several amendments to the standard, including clarification on the accounting for principal vs agent and identifying performance obligations.  

The guidance permits two methods of adoption: retrospectively to each prior reporting period presented (full retrospective method), or retrospectively with the cumulative effect of initially applying the guidance recognized at the date of initial application (the cumulative catch-up transition method). We currently anticipate adopting the standard using the full retrospective method to restate each prior reporting period presented, if material.  We will elect to record sales tax on a net basis.  We do not expect this election to have a material impact on our consolidated financial statements.

Early application is permitted for annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2016.  We plan to adopt this standard January 1, 2018, as required.  

While we are continuing to assess all potential impacts of the standard, other than additional disclosures, we do not anticipate that this standard will have a material impact on our consolidated financial statements.  We have identified and analyzed our revenue streams and continue to analyze our current and historical contracts.

In February 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-02, Leases, which requires lessees to recognize a right-to-use asset and a lease obligation for all leases.  Lessees are permitted to make an accounting policy election to not recognize an asset and liability for leases with a term of twelve months or less.  The new standard will become effective beginning with the first quarter of 2019.  Early adoption of the standard is permitted.  We plan to adopt this standard January 1, 2019, as required.  We are currently evaluating the impacts the adoption of this accounting guidance will have on the consolidated financial statements.

In March 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-09, Improvements to Employee Share-Based Payment Accounting, which simplifies several aspects of the accounting for employee share-based payment transactions including the accounting for income taxes, forfeitures, and statutory tax withholding requirements, as well as classification of related amounts within the statement of cash flows. The new standard became effective beginning with the first quarter of 2017.  We adopted ASU 2016-09 in the first quarter of 2017 and the adoption did not have a material impact on our consolidated financial statements.  We have applied the reclassification of excess tax benefits prospectively and therefore the prior period has not been adjusted.

In 2016, the FASB issued new guidance that requires credit losses on financial assets measured at amortized cost basis to be presented at the net amount expected to be collected, not based on incurred lossesThe new standard is effective for fiscal years, and interim periods within those fiscal years, beginning after December 15, 2019. Early adoption for fiscal years, and interim periods within those fiscal years, beginning after December 15, 2018 is permitted. We are evaluating the impact of adopting this new accounting guidance on our consolidated financial statements.

In 2016, the FASB issued new guidance which clarifies the classification of certain cash receipts and cash payments in the statement of cash flows, including debt prepayment or extinguishment costs, settlement of contingent consideration arising from a business combination, insurance settlement proceeds, and distributions from certain equity method investees. The new standard is effective for fiscal years, and interim periods within those fiscal years, beginning after December 15, 2017. Early adoption is permitted. We are evaluating the impact of adopting this new accounting guidance on our consolidated financial statements.

NOTE 10.Income Taxes

The provision for income taxes is based on a current estimate of the annual effective income tax rate adjusted to reflect the impact of discrete items.  Our effective income tax rate was 22.5% and 32.2% for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2017, respectively, as compared to 38.4% for both the three and nine months ended September 30, 2016.  The lower tax rates for 2017 were driven primarily by the impact of domestic production activities deductions.

NOTE 11.Subsequent Events

In October 2017, we entered into various agreements to purchase 38 tractors and 45 trailers for a purchase price of approximately $6 million.  The equipment is expected to be delivered by the end of 2017.  We will be financing the purchase of this equipment with secured fixed rate debt.

 

 

 

 

15


 

HUB GROUP, INC.

 

Item 2.

MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

The information contained in this quarterly report contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995.  Words such as “expects,” “hopes,” “believes,” “intends,” “estimates,” “anticipates,” “predicts,” “projects,” “potential,” “may,” “could,” “might,” “should,” and variations of these words and similar expressions are intended to identify these forward-looking statements.  Forward-looking statements are inherently uncertain and subject to risks. Such statements should be viewed with caution. Actual results or experience could differ materially from the forward-looking statements as a result of many factors. All forward-looking statements are based upon information available to us on the date of this report.  Except as required by law, we expressly disclaim any obligations to publicly release any revisions to forward-looking statements to reflect events after the date of this report.  Factors that could cause our actual results to differ materially include:

 

the degree and rate of market growth in the domestic intermodal, truck brokerage, dedicated and logistics markets served by us;

 

deterioration in our relationships with existing railroads or adverse changes to the railroads’ operating rules;

 

changes in rail service conditions or adverse weather conditions;

 

further consolidation of railroads;

 

the impact of competitive pressures in the marketplace, including entry of new competitors, aggressive pricing, direct marketing efforts by the railroads or marketing efforts of asset-based carriers;

 

our inability to price our services at high enough rates to maintain our historical margin levels;

 

changes in rail, drayage and trucking company capacity;

 

railroads moving away from ownership of intermodal assets;

 

equipment shortages or equipment surplus;

 

changes in the cost of services from rail, drayage, trucking, owner-operator drivers or other vendors and market pressures on company driver compensation;

 

increases in costs related to any reclassification or change in our treatment of drivers or owner-operators due to regulatory, judicial and legal changes;

 

labor unrest in the rail, drayage or trucking company communities;

 

general economic and business conditions;

 

inability to successfully protect our data against cyber-attacks;

 

significant deterioration in our customers’ financial condition or bankruptcy, particularly in the retail, consumer products and durable goods sectors;

 

fuel shortages or fluctuations in fuel prices;

 

increases in interest rates;

 

acts of terrorism and military action and the resulting effects on security;

 

difficulties in maintaining, enhancing and transforming our information technology systems;

 

increases in costs associated with changes to or new governmental regulations;

 

significant increases to employee health insurance costs;

 

loss of several of our largest customers;

 

awards received during annual customer bids not materializing;

 

loss of Mode LLC sales only agents or independent business owners (“IBOs”);

 

16


 

 

inability to recruit and retain key personnel and Mode LLC sales-only agents and IBOs;

 

inability to recruit and maintain company drivers and owner-operators;

 

changes in insurance costs and claims expense;

 

union organizing efforts and changes to current laws which will aid in these efforts;

 

inability to integrate the HGD business;

 

inability to identify, close and/or successfully integrate any future business combinations; and

 

imposition of new tariffs or trade barriers or withdrawal from or renegotiation of existing free trade agreements which could reduce international trade and economic activity.

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

Hub Group, Inc.  (“we”, “us” or “our”) reports two distinct business segments.  The first segment is “Mode,” which includes the acquired Mode LLC business only.  The second segment is “Hub,” which is all business other than Mode. Hub Group (as opposed to just Hub), refers to the consolidated results for the whole company, including both the Mode and Hub segments.  For the segment financial results, refer to Note 3 to the unaudited consolidated financial statements.

We are one of the largest intermodal marketing companies (“IMC”) in the United States and a multi modal transportation provider offering intermodal, truck brokerage, dedicated and logistics services.  We operate through a nationwide network of operating centers and independent business owners.

As an IMC, we arrange for the movement of our customers’ freight in containers and trailers over long distances.  We contract with railroads to provide transportation for the long-haul portion of the shipment and with local trucking companies, known as “drayage companies,” for local pickup and delivery.  As part of the intermodal services, we negotiate rail and drayage rates, electronically track shipments in transit, consolidate billing and handle claims for freight loss or damage on behalf of our customers.

For the quarter ended September 30, 2017, approximately 53% of Hub’s drayage needs were met by our subsidiary, Hub Group Trucking, Inc., which assists us in providing reliable, cost effective intermodal services to our customers.  As of September 30, 2017, Hub Group Trucking leased or owned 915 tractors, owned 345 trailers, employed 1,011 drivers and contracted with 1,586 owner-operators for their services and equipment.

We also arrange for the transportation of freight by truck, providing customers with another option for their transportation needs.   We match the customers’ needs with carriers’ capacity to provide the most effective service and price combinations.  As part of our truck brokerage services, we negotiate rates, track shipments in transit and handle claims for freight loss or damage on behalf of our customers.

Our new dedicated service line, HGD, contracts with customers looking to outsource a portion of their transportation needs. We offer an exclusive dedicated fleet of equipment and drivers, as well as the management and infrastructure to operate according to the customer’s high service expectations. Our dedicated service line currently operates a fleet of approximately 986 tractors and 3,665 trailers at 119 locations throughout the United States.  As of September 30, 2017, HGD employed 1,269 drivers.

Our logistics service consists of complex transportation management services, including load consolidation, mode optimization and carrier management.  These service offerings are designed to take advantage of the increasing trend for shippers to outsource all or a greater portion of their transportation needs.

Hub has full time marketing representatives throughout North America who service local, regional and national accounts.  We believe that fostering long-term customer relationships is critical to our success and allows us to better understand our customers’ needs and specifically tailor our transportation services to them.

Hub’s yield management group works with pricing, account management and operations to enhance Hub’s customer margins.  We are working on margin enhancement projects including increasing prices, matching up inbound and outbound loads, reducing empty miles, improving our recovery of accessorial costs, reducing our drayage and accessorial costs, and reviewing and improving low contribution freight.

Hub’s top 50 customers represent approximately 64% of the Hub segment revenue for the nine months ended September 30, 2017.  We use various performance indicators to manage our business.  We closely monitor margin and volume for our top 50

 

17


 

customers.  We also evaluate on-time performance, cost per load and daily sales outstanding by customer account.  Vendor cost changes and vendor service issues are also monitored closely.

Mode has approximately 175 agents, consisting of 102 sales/operating agents, known as Independent Business Owners (“IBOs”), who sell and operate the business throughout North America and 73 sales only agents.  Mode also has a corporate offices in Dallas, a temperature protected services division, Temstar, located in Oak Brook, IL and corporate offices in Memphis.  Mode’s top 20 customers represent approximately 39% of the Mode segment revenue for the nine months ended September 30, 2017.  We closely monitor revenue and margin for these customers.  We believe Mode brings us highly complementary service offerings, more scale and a talented sales channel that allows us to better reach small and midsize customers.  

RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

Three Months Ended September 30, 2017 Compared to the Three Months Ended September 30, 2016

The following table summarizes our revenue by segment and business line (in thousands) for the three months ended September 30:

 

Three Months

 

 

Three Months

 

 

Ended September 30, 2017

 

 

Ended September 30, 2016

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Inter-

 

Hub

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Inter-

 

Hub

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Segment

 

Group

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Segment

 

Group

 

 

Hub

 

Mode

 

Elims

 

Total

 

 

Hub

 

Mode

 

Elims

 

Total

 

Intermodal

$

473,998

 

$

123,194

 

$

(13,665

)

$

583,527

 

 

$

466,283

 

$

126,052

 

$

(21,857

)

$

570,478

 

Truck brokerage

 

113,179

 

 

87,242

 

 

(634

)

 

199,787

 

 

 

96,906

 

 

79,627

 

 

(174

)

 

176,359

 

Logistics

 

175,679

 

 

48,260

 

 

(10,794

)

 

213,145

 

 

 

153,510

 

 

45,932

 

 

(13,465

)

 

185,977

 

Dedicated

 

57,946

 

 

-

 

 

(45

)

 

57,901

 

 

 

-

 

 

-

 

 

-

 

 

-

 

Total revenue

$

820,802

 

$

258,696

 

$

(25,138

)

$

1,054,360

 

 

$

716,699

 

$

251,611

 

$

(35,496

)

$

932,814

 

Revenue

Hub Group’s revenue increased 13.0% to $1,054.4 million in 2017 from $932.8 million in 2016.

The Hub segment revenue increased 14.5% to $820.8 million. Intermodal revenue increased 1.7% to $474.0 million primarily due to an increase in fuel revenue and freight rates, partially offset by a slightly unfavorable mix. Truck brokerage revenue increased 16.8% to $113.2 million due to a 3.2% increase in volume, with fuel, price, and mix combined up 13.6%. Logistics revenue increased 14.4% to $175.7 million due to growth with new customers on-boarded this year. Dedicated’s revenue for the quarter was $57.9 million.

Mode’s revenue increased 2.8% to $258.7 million in 2017 from $251.6 million in 2016. Mode’s truck brokerage revenue increased 9.6% and logistics revenue increased 5.1% while intermodal revenue decreased 2.3%.

The following is a summary of operating results for our business segments (in thousands):

 

 

Three Months

 

 

Three Months

 

 

Ended September 30, 2017

 

 

Ended September 30, 2016

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Inter-

 

Hub

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Inter-

 

Hub

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Segment

 

Group

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Segment

 

Group

 

 

Hub

 

Mode

 

Elims

 

Total

 

 

Hub

 

Mode

 

Elims

 

Total

 

Revenue

$

820,802

 

$

258,696

 

$

(25,138

)

$

1,054,360

 

 

$

716,699

 

$

251,611

 

$

(35,496

)

$

932,814

 

Transportation costs

 

734,747

 

 

228,227

 

 

(25,138

)

 

937,836

 

 

 

638,154

 

 

218,702

 

 

(35,496

)

 

821,360

 

Gross margin

 

86,055

 

 

30,469

 

 

-

 

 

116,524

 

 

 

78,545

 

 

32,909

 

 

-

 

 

111,454

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Costs and expenses:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Salaries and benefits

 

45,727

 

 

3,399

 

 

-

 

 

49,126

 

 

 

38,775

 

 

3,835

 

 

-

 

 

42,610

 

Agent fees and commissions

 

15

 

 

19,057

 

 

-

 

 

19,072

 

 

 

20

 

 

19,052

 

 

-

 

 

19,072

 

General and administrative

 

20,520

 

 

1,883

 

 

-

 

 

22,403

 

 

 

15,969

 

 

1,672

 

 

-

 

 

17,641

 

Depreciation and amortization

 

3,962

 

 

292

 

 

-

 

 

4,254

 

 

 

1,959

 

 

317

 

 

-

 

 

2,276

 

Total costs and expenses

 

70,224

 

 

24,631

 

 

-

 

 

94,855

 

 

 

56,723

 

 

24,876

 

 

-

 

 

81,599

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Operating income

$

15,831

 

$

5,838

 

$

-

 

$

21,669

 

 

$

21,822

 

$

8,033

 

$

-

 

$

29,855

 

 

18


 

Transportation Costs

Hub Group’s transportation costs increased 14.2% to $937.8 million in 2017 from $821.4 million in 2016.  Transportation costs in 2017 consisted of purchased transportation costs of $804.0 million and equipment and driver related costs of $133.8 million compared to 2016 costs of purchased transportation of $728.7 million and equipment and driver related costs of $92.7 million.

The Hub segment transportation costs increased 15.1% to $734.7 million in 2017 from $638.2 million in 2016.  Hub segment transportation costs in 2017 included $601.8 million in purchased transportation, up from $546.5 million in 2016. The 10.1% increase in purchased transportation costs was due primarily to rail cost increases, an increase in fuel costs and higher volumes.  Equipment and driver related costs increased 44.9% to $132.9 million in 2017 from $91.7 million in 2016 due primarily to the equipment and driver related costs of HGD.

The Mode segment transportation costs increased 4.4% to $228.2 million in 2017 from $218.7 million in 2016.  Mode segment transportation costs are primarily purchased transportation costs which increased due to growth in brokerage and logistics and rail cost increases in intermodal.    

Gross Margin

Hub Group’s gross margin increased 4.5% to $116.5 million in 2017 from $111.5 million in 2016. Hub Group’s gross margin as a percentage of sales decreased to 11.1% as compared to last year’s 11.9% margin.

The Hub segment gross margin increased 9.6% to $86.1 million.  The Hub segment margin increase of $7.5 million resulted from the addition of HGD and growth in truck brokerage margin partially offset by a decline in intermodal and logistics margin.  Intermodal gross margin decreased primarily because of rail cost increases and higher equipment costs, resulting partially from longer rail transits, partially offset by higher prices and improvement in loaded miles.  Truck brokerage gross margin increased due to changes in customer mix, higher value added business and more spot business.  Logistics gross margin declined primarily due to start-up costs related to new business on boarded this quarter, tighter truck capacity that resulted in higher purchased transportation costs, and changes in customer mix.

As a percentage of revenue, the Hub segment gross margin decreased slightly to 10.5% in 2017 from 11.0% in 2016.  Logistics gross margin as a percentage of sales decreased 250 basis points due to start-up costs related to new business on boarded this quarter, tighter truck capacity that resulted in higher purchased transportation costs, and changes in customer mix.  Intermodal gross margin as a percentage of sales decreased 160 basis points because of rail cost increases and higher equipment costs resulting partially from longer rail transits.  Truck brokerage gross margin as a percentage of sales decreased 100 basis points because of changes in customer mix and higher purchased transportation costs for contractual business.  These decreases were partially offset by the addition of HGD.

Mode’s gross margin decreased to $30.5 million in 2017 from $32.9 million in 2016 due to a decrease in intermodal and truck brokerage margin, partially offset by an increase in logistics gross margin.  Mode’s gross margin as a percentage of revenue decreased to 11.8% in 2017 from 13.1% in 2016 due to a 220 basis point decline in truck brokerage yields, a 130 basis point decline in intermodal yields, and a 30 basis point decline in logistics yields.

 

19


 

CONSOLIDATED OPERATING EXPENSES

The following table includes certain items in the consolidated statements of income as a percentage of revenue:

 

 

Three Months Ended

 

 

September 30,

 

 

2017

 

 

2016

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Revenue

 

100.0%

 

 

 

100.0%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Transportation costs

 

88.9

 

 

 

88.1

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Gross margin

 

11.1

 

 

 

11.9

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Costs and expenses:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

     Salaries and benefits

 

4.7

 

 

 

4.6

 

     Agent fees and commissions

 

1.8

 

 

 

2.0

 

     General and administrative

 

2.1

 

 

 

1.9

 

     Depreciation and amortization

 

0.4

 

 

 

0.2

 

Total costs and expenses

 

9.0

 

 

 

8.7

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Operating income

 

2.1

 

 

 

3.2

 

Salaries and Benefits

Hub Group’s salaries and benefits expense increased to $49.1 million in 2017 from $42.6 million in 2016.  As a percentage of revenue, Hub Group’s salaries and benefits increased to 4.7% in 2017 from 4.6% in 2016.

 

The Hub segment salaries and benefits expense increase of $7.0 million was primarily due to the acquisition of HGD and an increase in salaries expense of $1.2 million, partially offset by a decrease in bonus expense of $1.9 million.

Mode’s salaries and benefits expense decreased to $3.4 million in 2017 from $3.8 million in 2016 due primarily to decreases in employee bonus expense and salaries expense of $0.2 million each.

Hub Group’s headcount as of September 30, 2017 and 2016 was 2,034 and 1,746, respectively, which excludes drivers, as driver costs are included in transportation costs.  As of September 30, 2017 and 2016, Mode had 115 and 129 employees, respectively.

Agent Fees and Commissions

Hub Group’s agent fees and commissions expense remained consistent at $19.1 million in both 2017 and 2016.  As a percentage of revenue, these expenses decreased to 1.8% in 2017 from 2.0% in 2016.

The Mode segment agent fees and commissions expense remained consistent at $19.1 million in both 2017 and 2016.

General and Administrative

Hub Group’s general and administrative expense increased to $22.4 million in 2017 from $17.6 million in 2016.  These expenses, as a percentage of revenue, increased to 2.1% in 2017 from 1.9% in 2016.

The Hub segment increase in general and administrative expense of $4.6 million was due primarily to the acquisition of HGD and increases in IT consulting and professional service expense of $1.2 million, expenses related to a network optimization study of $0.6 million, temporary labor expense of $0.3 million and bad debt expense of $0.2 million, partially offset by a decrease in travel and entertainment expense of $0.3 million.

Mode’s general and administrative expense increased to $1.9 million 2017 from $1.7 million in 2016 due to increased IT maintenance expense, consulting and professional service expenses and bad debt expense.

 

20


 

Depreciation and Amortization

Hub Group’s depreciation and amortization expense increased to $4.3 million in 2017 from $2.3 million in 2016.  This expense as a percentage of revenue increased to 0.4% in 2017 from 0.2% in 2016.

The Hub segment depreciation and amortization expense increased to $4.0 million in 2017 from $2.0 million in 2016.  This increase was related primarily to the amortization of the HGD trade name and customer relationships as well as depreciation of additional software.

Mode’s depreciation and amortization expense remained consistent at $0.3 million in both 2017 and 2016.

Other Income (Expense)

Total other expense increased to $1.9 million in 2017 from $0.8 million in 2016 due primarily to the acquisition of HGD and an increase in interest expense related to our equipment debt, partially offset by higher foreign currency translation gains in 2017.

Provision for Income Taxes

The provision for income taxes decreased to $4.5 million in 2017 from $11.2 million in 2016.  We provided for income taxes using an effective rate of 22.5% in 2017 and an effective rate of 38.4% in 2016.  The 2017 effective tax rate was lower primarily due to claiming a deduction for domestic production activities incurred during the 2013, 2016, and 2017 tax years.  We expect our effective tax rate for the remainder of 2017 to be between 31.5% and 32.5%.

Net Income

Net income decreased to $15.3 million in 2017 from $17.9 million in 2016 due primarily to higher operating expenses and interest expense, partially offset by increased margin and lower income tax expense in 2017.  All of the above are inclusive of the HGD acquisition.

 

Nine Months Ended September 30, 2017 Compared to the Nine Months Ended September 30, 2016

 

The following table summarizes our revenue by segment and business line (in thousands) for the nine months ended September 30:

 

 

Nine Months

 

 

Nine Months

 

 

Ended September 30, 2017

 

 

Ended September 30, 2016

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Inter-

 

Hub

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Inter-

 

Hub

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Segment

 

Group

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Segment

 

Group

 

 

Hub

 

Mode

 

Elims

 

Total

 

 

Hub

 

Mode

 

Elims

 

Total

 

Intermodal

$

1,350,187

 

$

357,516

 

$

(41,768

)

$

1,665,935

 

 

$

1,318,223

 

$

355,379

 

$

(61,974

)

$

1,611,628

 

Truck brokerage

 

324,823

 

 

248,311

 

 

(1,330

)

 

571,804

 

 

 

261,456

 

 

228,350

 

 

(676

)

 

489,130

 

Logistics

 

470,186

 

 

137,794

 

 

(31,299

)

 

576,681

 

 

 

400,771

 

 

108,637

 

 

(15,936

)

 

493,472

 

Dedicated

 

57,946

 

 

-

 

 

(45

)

 

57,901

 

 

 

-

 

 

-

 

 

-

 

 

-

 

Total revenue

$

2,203,142

 

$

743,621

 

$

(74,442

)

$

2,872,321

 

 

$

1,980,450

 

$

692,366

 

$

(78,586

)

$

2,594,230

 

Revenue

Hub Group’s revenue increased to $2.9 billion in 2017 from $2.6 billion 2016.  

 

The Hub segment revenue increased 11.2% to $2.2 billion. Intermodal revenue increased 2.4% to $1.4 billion primarily due to higher fuel revenue and 0.7% higher volume. This increase was partially offset by a decrease in price. Truck brokerage revenue increased 24.2% to $324.8 million due to an 11.5% volume increase as well as a 12.7% increase in fuel, mix and price combined. Logistics revenue increased 17.3% to $470.2 million related primarily to growth of new customers on-boarded in late 2016 and during 2017. Dedicated’s revenue was $57.9 million.

 

Mode’s revenue increased 7.4% to $743.6 million in 2017 from $692.4 million in 2016.  Mode’s intermodal revenue increased 0.6%, truck brokerage revenue increased 8.7% and logistics revenue increased 26.8%.

 

 

21


 

The following is a summary of operating results for our business segments (in thousands):

 

 

Nine Months

 

 

Nine Months

 

 

Ended September 30, 2017

 

 

Ended September 30, 2016

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Inter-

 

Hub

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Inter-

 

Hub

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Segment

 

Group

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Segment

 

Group

 

 

Hub

 

Mode

 

Elims

 

Total

 

 

Hub

 

Mode

 

Elims

 

Total

 

Revenue

$

2,203,142

 

$

743,621

 

$

(74,442

)

$

2,872,321

 

 

$

1,980,450

 

$

692,366

 

$

(78,586

)

$

2,594,230

 

Transportation costs

 

1,972,725

 

 

654,612

 

 

(74,442

)

 

2,552,895

 

 

 

1,739,676

 

 

598,809

 

 

(78,586

)

 

2,259,899

 

Gross margin

 

230,417

 

 

89,009

 

 

-

 

 

319,426

 

 

 

240,774

 

 

93,557

 

 

-

 

 

334,331

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Costs and expenses:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Salaries and benefits

 

126,891

 

 

10,452

 

 

-

 

 

137,343

 

 

 

118,658

 

 

11,417

 

 

-

 

 

130,075

 

Agent fees and commissions

 

46

 

 

54,057

 

 

-

 

 

54,103

 

 

 

47

 

 

54,287

 

 

-

 

 

54,334

 

General and administrative

 

57,330

 

 

6,011

 

 

-

 

 

63,341

 

 

 

44,917

 

 

5,451

 

 

-

 

 

50,368

 

Depreciation and amortization

 

8,319

 

 

896

 

 

-

 

 

9,215

 

 

 

5,603

 

 

956

 

 

-

 

 

6,559

 

Total costs and expenses

 

192,586

 

 

71,416

 

 

-

 

 

264,002

 

 

 

169,225

 

 

72,111

 

 

-

 

 

241,336

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Operating income

$

37,831

 

$

17,593

 

$

-

 

$

55,424

 

 

$

71,549

 

$

21,446

 

$

-

 

$

92,995

 

Transportation Costs

Hub Group’s transportation costs increased to $2.6 billion in 2017 from $2.3 billion in 2016.  Transportation costs in 2017 consisted of purchased transportation costs of $2.2 billion and equipment and driver related costs of $316.0 million compared to 2016 costs of purchased transportation of $2.0 billion and equipment and driver related costs of $271.4 million.  

The Hub segment transportation cost increased by 13.4% to $2.0 billion in 2017 from $1.7 billion in 2016.  Hub segment transportation costs in 2017 included $1.66 billion in purchased transportation up from $1.47 billion in 2016. The 12.8% increase was due primarily to rail cost increases, an increase in fuel costs and higher volumes. Equipment and driver related costs increased 16.5% to $313.5 million in 2017 from $269.1 million in 2016 due primarily to the equipment and driver related costs of HGD.

The Mode segment transportation costs increased 9.3% to $654.6 million in 2017 from $598.8 million in 2016.  Mode segment transportation costs are primarily purchased transportation costs which increased due to higher rail costs, fuel costs, and increased business levels in logistics.

Gross Margin

 

Hub Group’s gross margin decreased 4.5% to $319.4 million in 2017 from $334.3 million in 2016.  

 

The Hub segment gross margin decreased 4.3% to $230.4 million.  Hub’s $10.4 million gross margin decrease resulted from a decrease in margin in intermodal and logistics partially offset by an increase in truck brokerage and dedicated margins.  Intermodal gross margin decreased primarily because of lower customer prices than last year and rail cost increases partially offset by slightly improved volume.  Logistics gross margin decreased due to changes in customer mix and start-up costs associated with new customer on-boardings.  Truck brokerage gross margin increased resulting from growth with targeted customer accounts.  The addition of HGD partially offset the overall gross margin decline.

 

As a percentage of Hub segment revenue, gross margin decreased to 10.5% in 2017 from 12.2% in 2016. Intermodal gross margin as a percentage of sales decreased 230 basis points because of lower customer prices than last year and rail cost increases partially offset by improved volume.  Truck brokerage gross margin as a percentage of sales was down 260 basis points due to lower customer contract rates, increased costs, and a change in customer mix. Logistics gross margin as a percentage of sales was down 170 basis points due to changes in customer mix and start-up costs associated with new customer on-boardings. The addition of HGD partially offset these declines.

 

Mode’s gross margin decreased 4.9% to $89.0 million in 2017 from $93.6 million in 2016 due primarily to decreases in intermodal and truck brokerage offset by an increase in logistics. Mode’s gross margin as a percentage of revenue decreased to 12.0% in 2017 from 13.5% in 2016.

 

 

22


 

CONSOLIDATED OPERATING EXPENSES

 

The following table includes certain items in the consolidated statements of income as a percentage of revenue:

 

 

Nine Months Ended

 

 

September 30,

 

 

2017

 

 

2016

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Revenue

 

100.0%

 

 

 

100.0%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Transportation costs

 

88.9

 

 

 

87.1

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Gross margin

 

11.1

 

 

 

12.9

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Costs and expenses:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

     Salaries and benefits

 

4.8

 

 

 

5.0

 

     Agent fees and commissions

 

1.9

 

 

 

2.1

 

     General and administrative

 

2.2

 

 

 

1.9

 

     Depreciation and amortization

 

0.3

 

 

 

0.3

 

Total costs and expenses

 

9.2

 

 

 

9.3

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Operating income

 

1.9

 

 

 

3.6

 

Salaries and Benefits

 

Hub Group’s salaries and benefits expense increased to $137.3 million in 2017 from $130.1 million in 2016.  As a percentage of revenue, salaries and benefits decreased to 4.8% in 2017 from 5.0% in 2016.

 

The Hub segment salaries and benefits expense increase of $8.2 million to $126.9 million in 2017 from $118.7 million in 2016 was due primarily to the acquisition of HGD and an increase in salaries expense of $7.9 million, which includes increased severance expense of $2.4 million, partially offset by a decrease in bonus expense of $7.5 million.

Mode’s salaries and benefits expense decreased to $10.5 million in 2017 from $11.4 million in 2016.  The decrease was due primarily to decreases of $0.7 million related to employee bonus expense and $0.1 million related to both salaries expense and employee benefits expense.

Agent Fees and Commissions

 

Hub Group’s agent fees and commissions expense decreased to $54.1 million in 2017 from $54.3 million in 2016.  As a percentage of revenue, these expenses decreased to 1.9% in 2017 from 2.1% in 2016.

The Mode segment agent fees and commissions expense decrease of $0.2 million was due primarily to the decrease in Mode’s gross margin.

General and Administrative

Hub Group’s general and administrative expense increased to $63.3 million in 2017 from $50.4 million in 2016.  As a percentage of revenue, these expenses increased to 2.2% in 2017 from 1.9% in 2016.  

The Hub segment increase in general and administrative expense to $57.3 million in 2017 from $44.9 million in 2016 was due primarily to the acquisition of HGD and increases in IT consulting and professional service expense of $4.0 million, expenses related to due diligence and acquisition costs of $2.1 million, increased IT maintenance expense of $1.0 million, additional losses on the sale of fixed assets in 2017 of $0.6 million, expenses related to a network optimization study of $0.6 million in 2017, increases in temporary labor expense of $0.5 million, bad debt and rent expense of $0.4 million each, meals and entertainment and equipment lease expense of $0.3 million each, partially offset by a decrease in outside sales commissions and office expense of $0.3 million each.

Mode’s general and administrative expense increased to $6.0 million in 2017 from $5.5 million in 2016.  The increase was due primarily to an increase in IT consulting expense of $0.4 million and IT maintenance expense of $0.2 million, partially offset by a decrease in travel and entertainment expense of $0.1 million.

 

23


 

Depreciation and Amortization

Hub Group’s depreciation and amortization expense increased to $9.2 million in 2017 from $6.6 million in 2016.  This expense as a percentage of revenue remained consistent at 0.3% in both 2017 and 2016.  

The Hub segment’s depreciation and amortization expense increased to $8.3 million in 2017 from $5.6 million in 2016.  This increase was related primarily to the amortization of the HGD trade name and customer relationships as well as depreciation of additional computer software.

Mode’s depreciation and amortization expense decreased to $0.9 million in 2017 from $1.0 in 2016.  

Other Income (Expense)

 

Total other expense increased to $3.5 million in 2017 from $1.2 million in 2016 due primarily to the acquisition of HGD, an increase in interest expense related to our equipment debt and by less foreign currency translation gains in 2017.

Provision for Income Taxes

 

The provision for income taxes decreased to $16.7 million in 2017 from $35.2 million in 2016.  Our effective rate was 32.2% in 2017 and 38.4% in 2016The 2017 effective tax rate was lower primarily due to claiming a deduction for domestic production activities incurred during the 2013, 2016, and 2017 tax years.  We expect our effective tax rate for the 2017 year to be between 32.0% and 33.0%.

Net Income

 

Net income decreased to $35.2 million in 2017 from $56.6 million in 2016 due primarily to decreased margin, higher operating expenses and interest expense, partially offset by lower income tax expense in 2017.  All of the above are inclusive of the HGD acquisition.

LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES

During the first nine months of 2017, we funded operations, capital expenditures, an acquisition, capital leases, repayments of debt and stock buy backs related to employee withholding upon vesting of restricted stock through cash flows from operations, proceeds from the issuance of long-term debt and cash on hand.  We believe that our cash, cash flows from operations and borrowings available under our Credit Agreement will be sufficient to meet our cash needs for at least the next twelve months.

Cash provided by operating activities for the nine months ended September 30, 2017 was approximately $87.1 million, which resulted primarily from income of $35.2 million adjusted for non-cash charges of $71.3 million and a decrease in operating assets and liabilities of $19.3 million.

Cash provided by operating activities increased $8.1 million in 2017 versus 2016.  The increase was due to an increase in non-cash charges of $20.0 million resulting primarily from increased depreciation and amortization expense and an increase in operating assets and liabilities of $9.5 million due to the timing of customer and vendor payments in 2017 versus 2016.  These increases were partially offset by a decrease in net income of $21.4 million in 2017.

Net cash used in investing activities for the nine months ended September 30, 2017 was $202.8 million.  Acquisition payments related to HGD were $165.9 million. Capital expenditures of $39.9 million related primarily to containers of $14.6 million, technology investments of $14.5 million, transportation equipment of $7.6 million and the remainder for leasehold improvements.

In 2017, we expect to purchase 2,550 containers, which will be financed with debt.  As of the date of this report, we had already received 2,156 of the containers.  We are also investing in technology projects including transportation management systems and satellite tracking.  

We estimate our capital expenditures will range from $80 million to $85 million for the year.  

Net cash used in investing activities for the nine months ended September 30, 2016 was $58.3 million. The net cash used in investing activities increased $144.5 million in 2017 from 2016 and was due primarily to the acquisition of HGD and technology investments.

 

24


 

The net cash provided by financing activities for the nine months ended September 30, 2017 was $6.8 million, which resulted from proceeds from the issuance of debt of $73.6 million, partially offset by the repayment of long-term debt of $59.9 million, stock tendered for payments of withholding taxes of $3.4 million, capital lease payments of $2.1 million and payment of debt issuance costs of $1.4 million.

The increase in net cash provided by financing activities of $100.0 million from 2016 to 2017 is primarily due to a decrease in the purchases of treasury stock of $100.0 million.

In 2017, we expect our cash paid for taxes to be significantly less than 2016 because of lower pretax income and large favorable timing differences between the 2017 tax depreciation and financial statement depreciation.

We have standby letters of credit that expire at various dates in 2017 and 2018.  As of September 30, 2017, our letters of credit were $13.5 million.

Our unused and available borrowings under our new Credit Agreement were $286.5 million as of September 30, 2017. Our unused and available borrowings under the 2013 Credit Agreement were $38.2 million as of December 31, 2016. We were in compliance with our debt covenants as of September 30, 2017.

 

 

 

Item 3.

QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK

We are exposed to market risk related to changes in interest rates on our bank line of credit which may adversely affect our results of operations and financial condition.  Although we conduct business in foreign countries, international operations are not material to our consolidated financial position, results of operations, or cash flows. Additionally, foreign currency transaction gains and losses were not material to our results of operations for the nine months ended September 30, 2017. Accordingly, we are not currently subject to material foreign currency exchange rate risks from the effects that exchange rate movements of foreign currencies would have on our future costs or on future cash flows we would receive from our foreign investment. To date, we have not entered into any foreign currency forward exchange contracts or other derivative financial instruments to hedge the effects of adverse fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates.   We do not use financial instruments for trading purposes.

We have both fixed and variable rate debt as described in Note 6 to the unaudited consolidated financial statements.  Any material increase in market interest rates would not have a material impact on the results of operations for the quarter ended September 30, 2017.

As of September 30, 2017, other than our outstanding letters of credit, we had $50.0 million of outstanding obligations under our bank line of credit arrangement.  As of December 31, 2016, other than our outstanding letters of credit, we had no outstanding obligations under our bank line of credit arrangement.

 

 

Item 4.

CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES

As of September 30, 2017, an evaluation was carried out under the supervision and with the participation of our management, including our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, of the effectiveness of our disclosure controls and procedures. Based upon this evaluation, the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer concluded that these disclosure controls and procedures were effective as of September 30, 2017.  Except as noted below, there have been no changes in our internal control over financial reporting identified in connection with such evaluation that occurred during the last fiscal quarter that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.

On July 1, 2017, we completed the acquisition of HGD.  We are currently integrating processes, employees, technologies and operations.  Management will continue to evaluate our internal controls over financial reporting as we complete the integration.

 

PART II.

Other Information

 

Item 1.

Legal Proceedings

During the nine months ended September 30, 2017, there have been no material developments from the legal proceedings disclosed in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for our fiscal year ended December 31, 2016, except those disclosed in Note 8 to the unaudited consolidated financial statements under “Legal Matters,” which is incorporated herein by reference.

 

 

25


 

Item 1A.

Risk Factors

During the nine months ended September 30, 2017, there have been no material changes from the risk factors disclosed in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for our year ended December 31, 2016.

 

Item 2.

Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds

We do not currently have a share repurchase plan in place.  During the third quarter of 2017, we purchased 3,058 shares at a weighted average price of $38.50 per share related to employee withholding upon vesting of restricted stock.

 

Item 6.

Exhibits

The exhibits included as part of the Form 10-Q are set forth in the Exhibit Index immediately preceding such Exhibits and are incorporated herein by reference.

 

26


 

EXHIBIT INDEX

 

Exhibit No.

Description

 

 

2.2

 

Amendment No. 1 to Purchase agreement dated July 1, 2017 by and between Estenson Logistics, LLC, Truline Corporation, the equity holders named therein, and Hub Group Trucking, Inc. (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.2 to our current report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on July 6, 2017).

 

 

 

2.3

 

Credit Agreement dated July 1, 2017 among Hub Group, Inc., Hub City Terminals, the Guarantors, the Lenders and Bank of Montreal (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to our current report on Form 8-Kfile with the SEC on July 6, 2017).

 

 

 

3.1

Amended and Restated Bylaws of Hub Group, Inc. (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1 to the Registrant’s report on Form 8-K dated February 18, 2016 and filed February 23, 2016, File No. 000-27754)

 

 

14

Hub Group, Inc. Code of Business Conduct and Ethics (incorporated by reference from Exhibit 14 to the Registrant’s report on Form 8-K dated February 17, 2017 and filed February 23, 2017, File No. 000-27754)

 

 

31.1

Certification of David P. Yeager, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.

 

 

31.2

Certification of Terri A. Pizzuto, Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer, Pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.

 

 

32.1

Certification of David P. Yeager and Terri A. Pizzuto, Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, respectively, Pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350.

 

 

101

The following financial statements and footnotes from the Hub Group Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2017 formatted in XBRL: (i) Consolidated Balance Sheets; (ii) Unaudited Consolidated Statements of Income and Other Comprehensive Income; (iii) Unaudited Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows; and (iv) Notes to Unaudited Consolidated Financial Statements.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

27


 

 

 

 

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.

 

 

HUB GROUP, INC.

 

 

DATE:

October 31, 2017

/s/ Terri A. Pizzuto

 

Terri A. Pizzuto

 

Executive Vice President, Chief Financial

 

Officer and Treasurer

 

(Principal Financial Officer)

 

 

28