News Release Details

Yellow Roadway Corporation Reports Highest Quarterly EPS in Company History

Oct 27, 2005 at 12:00 AM EDT
Yellow Roadway Corporation Reports Highest Quarterly EPS in Company History

OVERLAND PARK, Kan., Oct 27, 2005 /PRNewswire-FirstCall via COMTEX News Network/ -- Yellow Roadway Corporation (Nasdaq: YELL) today announced third quarter 2005 adjusted diluted earnings per share ("EPS") of $1.53 compared to last year's third quarter of $1.38. Third quarter 2005 EPS includes $.04 per share of dilution from the company's contingent convertible notes based on an average YELL stock price of $48.84 for the quarter. No related dilution was included in the third quarter of 2004. Adjusted diluted EPS for the third quarter 2005 excludes $.04 for executive severance, $.05 of acquisition charges, and $.02 for losses on property disposals. The company excludes these charges when evaluating performance and does not consider them part of core operations. Reported diluted EPS for the third quarter 2005 was $1.42 per share compared to reported third quarter 2004 diluted EPS of $1.15 per share.

"We delivered another solid quarter of financial results," stated Bill Zollars, Chairman, President and CEO of Yellow Roadway. "Synergies from the Roadway acquisition remain on track while synergy initiatives from the USF acquisition are well under way."

Yellow Roadway reported the following consolidated results for the third quarter 2005:

-- Operating revenue of $2.49 billion compared to third quarter 2004 revenue of $1.77 billion. The third quarter of 2005 included the results of the USF companies, which were not included in third quarter 2004.

-- Adjusted operating income of $168 million compared to third quarter 2004 adjusted operating income of $120 million. Adjustments in the third quarter 2005 totaled $11 million and related to executive severance, acquisition charges and property disposals. Reported operating income was $157 million compared to reported operating income of $121 million in the third quarter of 2004.

For the nine months ended September 30, 2005, Yellow Roadway reported the following consolidated results:

-- Adjusted diluted EPS of $3.88, up 42% compared to $2.73 for the same period last year. Reported diluted EPS of $3.77 compared to $2.50 for the same period in 2004.



-- Operating revenue of $6.26 billion compared to $4.99 billion in the same period last year.

-- Adjusted operating income of $392 million compared to $250 million for the same period in 2004, an increase of $142 million. Adjustments in 2005 totaled $9 million and related to executive severance, acquisition charges and property disposals. Reported operating income was $383 million compared to reported operating income of $250 million for the same period last year.



Selected Segment Highlights for Third Quarter 2005

"Our operating companies are working well as they continue to improve efficiencies and better serve customers," Zollars said.

-- Yellow Transportation

  • Record quarterly revenue of $892 million, up 7.7% from third quarter last year.


  • Record quarterly operating income of $73 million.
  • LTL tonnage growth of 0.1% from third quarter 2004.
  • LTL revenue per hundred weight, including fuel surcharge, up 7.2%, and excluding fuel surcharge and adjustments for business mix, up 1.6%, when compared to third quarter 2004.



-- Roadway Express

  • Third quarter revenue of $858 million, up 5.7% from third quarter last year.


  • Third quarter adjusted operating income of $60 million. Reported operating income of $58 million.
  • Adjusted operating ratio of 93.0% and reported operating ratio of 93.2%.
  • LTL revenue per hundred weight, including fuel surcharge, up 6.9%, and excluding fuel surcharge and adjustments for business mix, up 1.6%, when compared to third quarter 2004.



-- YRC Regional Transportation



  • Third quarter revenue of $607 million.
  • Adjusted operating income of $33 million. Reported operating income of $28 million.
  • LTL revenue per hundred weight, including fuel surcharge, up 6.0%, and excluding fuel surcharge, up 1.4% when compared to third quarter 2004.*
  • LTL tonnage per day up 10.5% from third quarter 2004.*



-- Meridian IQ

  • Third quarter revenue of $142 million, up 149% from third quarter last year when including USF Logistics. Third quarter revenue up 37% when excluding USF Logistics.
  • Operating income of $6.3 million compared to $1.1 million in third quarter 2004.

*Includes the operating companies of New Penn Motor Express, USF Bestway, USF Holland and USF Reddaway.

For complete statistical information, refer to the company's website at http://yellowroadway.com under Investor Relations and then select Earnings Releases & Operating Statistics.

Outlook

The company's expectations for the fourth quarter and full year 2005 include the following:

  • Fourth quarter 2005 EPS between $1.30 and $1.35, including $.01 per share of dilution from the contingent convertibles. The estimated dilution is based on the fourth quarter-to-date average YELL stock price of $41.35.
  • Full year 2005 EPS in the range of $5.18 to $5.23, including $.19 per share of dilution from the contingent convertibles. The full year estimated dilution is based on the year-to-date average YELL stock price of $51.62.
  • 2005 consolidated revenue of $8.7 billion.
  • 2005 interest expense of $63 million with $20 million in the fourth quarter.


  • A consolidated tax rate of 38.1%.
  • Diluted average shares of 59 million for the fourth quarter and 57 million for the full year.



Review of Financial Results

Yellow Roadway Corporation (Nasdaq: YELL) will host a conference call for the investment community on Friday, October 28, 2005, beginning at 9:30 a.m. ET, 8:30 a.m. CT.

Investors and analysts should dial 1.888.609.3912 at least 10 minutes prior to the start of the call. The conference call will be open to listeners through a live webcast via StreetEvents at http://streetevents.com and via the Yellow Roadway Internet site http://yellowroadway.com .

An audio playback will be available beginning two hours after the call ends until midnight on November 11, 2005 by calling 1.800.642.1687 and then entering the access code 8410636. An audio playback also will be available for 30 days after the call via the StreetEvents and Yellow Roadway web sites.



The preceding disclosures contain references to 'reported' and 'adjusted' operating income and operating ratios. Reported numbers include property gains and losses, one-time charges related to the acquisition of USF Corporation, and executive severance, while adjusted numbers exclude these items. Management adjusts for these items when evaluating operating performance to more accurately compare the results among periods. Refer to the attached "Supplemental Financial Information" for more details.

This news release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. The words "expect" and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. It is important to note that the company's actual future results could differ materially from those projected in such forward-looking statements because of a number of factors, including (without limitation), inflation, inclement weather, price and availability of fuel, sudden changes in the cost of fuel or the index upon which the company bases its fuel surcharge, competitor pricing activity, expense volatility, ability to capture cost synergies, the company's ability to improve productivity results at its Roadway Express subsidiary and its resulting effects on efficiencies, service and yield, a downturn in general or regional economic activity, changes in equity and debt markets, effects of a terrorist attack, and labor relations, including (without limitation), the impact of work rules, any obligations to multi-employer health, welfare and pension plans, wage requirements and employee satisfaction.

Yellow Roadway Corporation, a Fortune 500 company, is one of the largest transportation service providers in the world. Through its brands including Yellow Transportation, Roadway Express, Reimer Express, USF, New Penn Motor Express and Meridian IQ, Yellow Roadway provides a wide range of asset and non-asset-based transportation services. The portfolio of brands represents a comprehensive array of services for the shipment of industrial, commercial and retail goods domestically and internationally. Headquartered in Overland Park, Kansas, Yellow Roadway Corporation employs approximately 70,000 people.

STATEMENTS OF CONSOLIDATED OPERATIONS
                 Yellow Roadway Corporation and Subsidiaries
           For the Three Months and Nine Months Ended September 30
                 (Amounts in thousands except per share data)
                                 (Unaudited)

                                       Three Months             Nine Months
                                     2005        2004        2005        2004

    OPERATING REVENUE          $2,491,650  $1,767,082  $6,258,457  $4,993,348

    OPERATING EXPENSES:
      Salaries, wages and
       employees' benefits      1,450,548   1,083,027   3,721,462   3,107,697
      Operating expenses and
       supplies                   412,949     251,261   1,002,998     738,746
      Purchased transportation    274,568     196,070     686,552     546,718
      Depreciation and
       amortization                75,800      43,158     180,848     126,746
      Other operating expenses    110,147      73,833     274,272     223,880
      (Gains) losses on
       property disposals, net      1,638        (859)       (346)       (590)
      Acquisition and
       executive severance
       charges                      9,213           -      10,077           -

         Total operating
          expenses              2,334,863   1,646,490   5,875,863   4,743,197

    OPERATING INCOME              156,787     120,592     382,594     250,151

    NONOPERATING (INCOME)
     EXPENSES:
       Interest expense            19,949      11,041      42,753      34,448
       Write off of deferred
        debt issuance costs             -      18,279           -      18,279
       Other                         (943)        364      (1,488)        706

         Nonoperating expenses,
          net                      19,006      29,684      41,265      53,433

    INCOME BEFORE INCOME TAXES    137,781      90,908     341,329     196,718
    INCOME TAX PROVISION           52,496      34,999     130,046      75,736

    NET INCOME                    $85,285     $55,909    $211,283    $120,982

    AVERAGE SHARES
     OUTSTANDING-BASIC             57,994      48,204      53,177      47,993
    AVERAGE SHARES
     OUTSTANDING-DILUTED           60,194      48,778      56,018      48,492
    BASIC EARNINGS PER SHARE        $1.47       $1.16       $3.97       $2.52
    DILUTED EARNINGS PER SHARE      $1.42       $1.15       $3.77       $2.50



                      SUPPLEMENTAL FINANCIAL INFORMATION
                 Yellow Roadway Corporation and Subsidiaries
                   For the Three Months Ended September 30
                 (Amounts in thousands except per share data)
                                 (Unaudited)


                                                      Three Months
                                                2005          2004          %

    Operating revenue:
      Yellow Transportation                 $892,451      $828,993        7.7
      Roadway Express                        858,353       812,359        5.7
      YRC Regional Transportation            606,543        70,680        n/m
      Meridian IQ                            142,027        57,028        n/m
      Corporate and other                     (7,724)       (1,978)
    Consolidated                           2,491,650     1,767,082

    Reported operating income (loss):
      Yellow Transportation                   73,464        63,678       15.4
      Roadway Express                         58,255        52,097       11.8
      YRC Regional Transportation             27,766        10,284        n/m
      Meridian IQ                              6,314         1,092        n/m
      Corporate and other                     (9,012)       (6,559)
    Consolidated                             156,787       120,592

    Adjustments to operating income by
     segment (a):
       Yellow Transportation                    (321)       (1,236)
       Roadway Express                         1,855           340
       YRC Regional Transportation             5,104            39
       Meridian IQ                               (11)           (2)
       Corporate and other                     4,224           -
    Consolidated                              10,851          (859)

    Adjusted operating income (loss) (a):
      Yellow Transportation                   73,143        62,442       17.1
      Roadway Express                         60,110        52,437       14.6
      YRC Regional Transportation             32,870        10,323        n/m
      Meridian IQ                              6,303         1,090        n/m
      Corporate and other                     (4,788)       (6,559)
    Consolidated                            $167,638      $119,733

    Reported operating ratio:
      Yellow Transportation                    91.8%         92.3%
      Roadway Express                          93.2%         93.6%
      YRC Regional Transportation              95.4%         85.4%
      Consolidated                             93.7%         93.2%

    Adjusted operating ratio:
      Yellow Transportation                    91.8%         92.5%
      Roadway Express                          93.0%         93.5%
      YRC Regional Transportation              94.6%         85.4%
      Consolidated                             93.3%         93.2%

    Reconciliation of reported diluted
     earnings per share (EPS) to adjusted
     diluted EPS:
    Reported diluted EPS                       $1.42         $1.15
    (Gains) losses on property disposals        0.02         (0.01)
    Acquisition charges                         0.05           -
    Executive severance                         0.04           -
    Write off debt issuance costs -
     nonoperating                                -            0.24
    Adjusted diluted EPS                       $1.53         $1.38



                      SUPPLEMENTAL FINANCIAL INFORMATION
                 Yellow Roadway Corporation and Subsidiaries
                    For the Nine Months Ended September 30
                 (Amounts in thousands except per share data)
                                 (Unaudited)

                                                      Nine Months
                                                2005          2004          %

    Operating revenue:
      Yellow Transportation               $2,534,769    $2,356,099        7.6
      Roadway Express                      2,455,992     2,297,700        6.9
      YRC Regional Transportation            986,447 (b)   191,102        n/m
      Meridian IQ                            294,078 (b)   153,338        n/m
      Corporate and other                    (12,829)       (4,891)
    Consolidated                           6,258,457     4,993,348

    Reported operating income (loss):
      Yellow Transportation                  190,782       135,818       40.5
      Roadway Express                        146,522       103,494       41.6
      YRC Regional Transportation             55,656 (b)    25,229        n/m
      Meridian IQ                             10,922 (b)     2,254        n/m
      Corporate and other                    (21,288)      (16,644)
    Consolidated                             382,594       250,151

    Adjustments to operating income by
     segment (a):
       Yellow Transportation                  (2,833)         (784)
       Roadway Express                         2,352           202
       YRC Regional Transportation             5,475            (8)
       Meridian IQ                               (11)          -
       Corporate and other                     4,748           -
    Consolidated                               9,731          (590)

    Adjusted operating income (loss) (a):
      Yellow Transportation                  187,949       135,034       39.2
      Roadway Express                        148,874       103,696       43.6
      YRC Regional Transportation             61,131        25,221        n/m
      Meridian IQ                             10,911         2,254        n/m
      Corporate and other                    (16,540)      (16,644)
    Consolidated                            $392,325      $249,561

    Reported operating ratio:
      Yellow Transportation                    92.5%         94.2%
      Roadway Express                          94.0%         95.5%
      YRC Regional Transportation              94.4%         86.8%
      Consolidated                             93.9%         95.0%

    Adjusted operating ratio:
      Yellow Transportation                    92.6%         94.3%
      Roadway Express                          93.9%         95.5%
      YRC Regional Transportation              93.8%         86.8%
      Consolidated                             93.7%         95.0%

    Reconciliation of reported diluted
     EPS to adjusted diluted EPS:
    Reported diluted EPS                       $3.77         $2.50
    Gains on property disposals                  -           (0.01)
    Acquisition charges                         0.07
    Executive severance                         0.04           -
    Write off debt issuance costs -
     nonoperating                                -            0.24
    Adjusted diluted EPS                       $3.88         $2.73


    (a) Management excludes these items when evaluating operating income and
        segment performance to more accurately compare the results of our core
        operations among periods.  This measurement should not be construed as
        a better measurement than operating income as defined by generally
        accepted accounting principles.  Adjustments presented in the 2005
        period herein consist of property gains and losses, acquisition
        related charges and executive severance charges.  Adjustments
        presented in the 2004 period herein consist entirely of property gains
        and losses.
    (b) Includes the revenue and operating income of USF operating companies
        since May 25, 2005, the date of acquisition.



                           Selected Financial Data
                 Yellow Roadway Corporation and Subsidiaries
                (Amounts in thousands unless otherwise noted)
                                 (Unaudited)

                                               For the Nine Months
                                               Ended September 30,
                                                2005          2004
    Net cash from operating activities      $256,336      $274,663
    Net cash used in investing activities (1,011,366)     (152,761)
    Net cash provided by (used in)
     financing activities                    706,015      (171,066)
    Gross capital expenditures              (231,644)     (155,165)
    Net capital expenditures                (213,278)     (142,298)
    Proceeds from exercise of stock options    4,293         9,321
    Free cash flow (a)                        47,351       141,686


                                        September 30,  December 31,
                                                2005          2004
    Cash and cash equivalents                $57,474      $106,489
    Accounts receivable, net               1,249,604       778,596
    Net property and equipment             2,258,792     1,422,718
    Total assets                           5,796,654     3,627,169
    Asset backed securitization borrowings   456,000           -
    Current maturities of contingently
     convertible notes                           -         250,000
    Long-term debt, less current portion   1,170,483       403,535
    Total debt                             1,630,922       657,935
    Total shareholders' equity             1,894,916     1,214,191
    Debt to capitalization (b)                 46.3%         35.1%
    Debt to capitalization, less available
     cash                                      45.4%         31.2%


    (a) Management uses free cash flow as an indication of the cash available
        to fund additional capital expenditures, to reduce outstanding debt
        (including current maturities), or to invest in our growth strategies.
        Free cash flow is calculated as net cash from operating activities
        plus stock option proceeds less net capital expenditures.  This
        measurement is used for internal management purposes and should not be
        construed as a better measurement than net cash from operating
        activities as defined by generally accepted accounting principles.

    (b) We calculate debt to capitalization as total debt divided by total
        debt plus total shareholders' equity.

SOURCE: Yellow Roadway Corporation

Investors, Phil Gaines of Yellow Roadway Corporation, +1-913-696-6108,
phil.gaines@yellowroadway.com , or Media, Suzanne Dawson of Linden Alschuler &
Kaplan, +1-212-329-1420, sdawson@lakpr.com