Yellow Roadway Corporation Reports Record First Quarter at All Business Units
"Our first quarter results reflect the strong and sustained performance of all of our operating companies supported by a good economy, cost synergies and firm pricing," stated Bill Zollars, Chairman, President and CEO of Yellow Roadway. "We remain focused on operational execution as we continue to build a global transportation services company and further establish a strong presence in the next day market with our acquisition of USF."
Yellow Roadway reported the following consolidated results for the first quarter of 2005:
-- Operating revenue of $1.68 billion compared to first quarter 2004 revenue of $1.55 billion, an 8.1% increase.
-- Adjusted operating income of $87 million, more than double first quarter 2004 adjusted operating income of $42 million. Adjustments in the first quarter of 2005 and 2004 related entirely to property disposals. Reported operating income was $90 million compared to reported operating income of $41 million in the first quarter of 2004.
Selected Segment Highlights for First Quarter 2005
"The record first quarter performance at each of our business units demonstrates their continued commitment to deliver solid results," Zollars said.
-- Yellow Transportation
- Record first quarter revenue of $791 million, up 7.7% from first quarter last year
- Record first quarter adjusted operating income of $46 million ($18 million more than the previous record set in 1989) and reported operating income of $49 million
- Adjusted operating ratio of 94.2% and reported operating ratio of 93.8%
- LTL revenue per hundred weight, excluding fuel surcharge, up 3.4%, and with further adjustments for business mix, up 4.6%, when compared to first quarter 2004
- Record first quarter revenue of $767 million, up 6.9% from first quarter last year
- Record first quarter operating income of $37 million, up $21 million from first quarter 2004
- Operating ratio of 95.2%
- LTL revenue per hundred weight, excluding fuel surcharge, up 2.2%, and with further adjustments for business mix, up 2.8%, when compared to first quarter 2004
- Record first quarter revenue of $65 million, up 16.6% from first quarter of 2004
- Operating ratio of 87.7%
- LTL tonnage per workday up 9.7%, when compared to first quarter last year
-- Meridian IQ
- Record first quarter revenue of $56 million, up 23.5% from first quarter last year
- Operating income of $1.0 million compared to $0.6 million in first quarter 2004
For complete statistical information, refer to the company's website at http://www.yellowroadway.com under Investor Relations and then select Earnings Releases & Operating Statistics.
Outlook
"Our business volumes are healthy and pricing remains firm," said Zollars. Based on the continuation of these trends, the company's expectations are as follows:
-- Second quarter 2005 EPS between $1.25 and $1.35, including $.07 per share of dilution from the contingent convertibles. The estimated dilution is based on the second quarter-to-date average YELL stock price of $54.69.
-- Consistent with previous guidance, full year 2005 EPS in the range of $5.10 to $5.30, including $.29 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 $56.65.
-- Full year revenue, interest expense and the effective tax rate are expected to be consistent with previous guidance.
-- Gross capital expenditures for 2005 are still expected to be between $235 and $245 million.
The guidance above does not include any impact from the pending acquisition of USF Corporation.
Update on Acquisition of USF Corporation (Nasdaq: USFC)
-- Yellow Roadway and USF Corporation established April 21, 2005 as shareholder record dates, and announced special shareholder meetings regarding the transaction to be held May 23, 2005. The parties will mail a joint proxy statement/prospectus describing the transaction and the meetings in greater detail to shareholders of record shortly after the record date.
-- In accordance with the merger agreement, the transaction will close one business day after all conditions have been met.
Review of Financial Results
Yellow Roadway Corporation (Nasdaq: YELL) will host a conference call for the investment community on Friday, April 22, 2005, beginning at 9:30 a.m. ET, 8:30 a.m. CT.
Investors and analysts should dial 1.888.428.4478 at least 15 minutes prior to the start of the call. The conference call will be open to listeners through a live webcast via StreetEvents at http://www.streetevents.com and via the Yellow Roadway Internet site http://www.yellowroadway.com .
An audio playback will be available beginning two hours after the call ends until midnight on May 6, 2005 by calling 1.800.475.6701 and then entering the access code, 776452. An audio playback also will be available for 30 days after the call via the StreetEvents and Yellow Roadway web sites.
* * * * *
This news release (and oral statements made regarding the subjects of this release, including on the conference call announced herein) contain 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, competitor pricing activity, expense volatility, ability to capture cost synergies, 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 subsidiaries including Yellow Transportation, Roadway Express, New Penn Motor Express, Reimer Express, Meridian IQ and Yellow Roadway Technologies, Yellow Roadway provides a wide range of asset and non-asset-based transportation services integrated by technology. The portfolio of brands provided through Yellow Roadway Corporation subsidiaries 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 over 50,000 people.
STATEMENTS OF CONSOLIDATED OPERATIONS
Yellow Roadway Corporation and Subsidiaries
For the Three Months Ended March 31
(Amounts in thousands except per share data)
(Unaudited)
2005 2004
OPERATING REVENUE $1,677,961 $1,552,135
OPERATING EXPENSES:
Salaries, wages and employees' benefits 1,033,447 993,550
Operating expenses and supplies 256,457 238,357
Operating taxes and licenses 42,819 40,565
Claims and insurance 28,862 30,013
Depreciation and amortization 45,968 40,606
Purchased transportation 183,653 167,264
(Gains) losses on property
disposals, net (3,234) 462
Total operating expenses 1,587,972 1,510,817
OPERATING INCOME 89,989 41,318
NONOPERATING (INCOME) EXPENSES:
Interest expense 8,615 11,910
Other 771 (120)
Nonoperating expenses, net 9,386 11,790
INCOME BEFORE INCOME TAXES 80,603 29,528
INCOME TAX PROVISION 30,710 11,372
NET INCOME $49,893 $18,156
AVERAGE SHARES OUTSTANDING-BASIC 48,797 47,874
AVERAGE SHARES OUTSTANDING-DILUTED 52,193 48,246
BASIC EARNINGS PER SHARE $1.02 $0.38
DILUTED EARNINGS PER SHARE $0.96 $0.38
SUPPLEMENTAL FINANCIAL INFORMATION
Yellow Roadway Corporation and Subsidiaries
For the Three Months Ended March 31
(Amounts in thousands except per share data)
(Unaudited)
2005 2004 %
Operating revenue:
Yellow Transportation $791,166 $734,470 7.7
Roadway Express 766,769 717,138 6.9
New Penn 65,414 56,104 16.6
Meridian IQ 56,409 45,670 23.5
Corporate and other (1,797) (1,247) (44.1)
Consolidated 1,677,961 1,552,135 8.1
Reported operating income (loss):
Yellow Transportation 48,827 26,421 84.8
Roadway Express 37,080 15,037 146.6
New Penn 8,045 5,751 39.9
Meridian IQ 1,041 585 77.9
Corporate and other (5,004) (6,476) 22.7
Consolidated 89,989 41,318 117.8
Adjustments to operating income by
segment(a):
Yellow Transportation (2,660) 467
Roadway Express (558) (7)
New Penn (23) (5)
Meridian IQ (2) 7
Corporate and other 9 -
Consolidated (3,234) 462
Adjusted operating income (loss):
Yellow Transportation 46,167 26,888 71.7
Roadway Express 36,522 15,030 143.0
New Penn 8,022 5,746 39.6
Meridian IQ 1,039 592 75.5
Corporate and other (4,995) (6,476) 22.9
Consolidated $86,755 $41,780 107.6
Reported operating ratio:
Yellow Transportation 93.8% 96.4%
Roadway Express 95.2% 97.9%
New Penn 87.7% 89.7%
Consolidated 94.6% 97.3%
Adjusted operating ratio:
Yellow Transportation 94.2% 96.3%
Roadway Express 95.2% 97.9%
New Penn 87.7% 89.8%
Consolidated 94.8% 97.3%
Reconciliation of reported diluted
earnings per share (EPS) to adjusted
diluted EPS:
Reported diluted EPS $0.96 $0.38
Gains on property disposals (0.04) -
Adjusted diluted EPS $0.92 $0.38
(a) Management excludes these items when evaluating operating income and
segment performance to more accurately compare the results of our core
operations among periods. Adjustments presented in the 2005 and 2004
periods herein consist entirely of property gains and losses.
Selected Financial Data
Yellow Roadway Corporation and Subsidiaries
(Amounts in thousands unless otherwise noted)
(Unaudited)
For the Three Months Ended March 31,
2005 2004
Net cash from operating activities $31,222 $89,729
Net cash used in investing activities (36,994) (65,462)
Net cash provided by (used in)
financing activities 668 (78,745)
Gross capital expenditures (42,723) (57,931)
Net capital expenditures (33,792) (57,581)
Proceeds from exercise of stock options 668 1,769
Free cash flow (a) (1,902) 33,917
March 31, December 31,
2005 2004
Cash and cash equivalents $101,385 $106,489
Accounts receivable, net 814,202 778,596
Net property and equipment 1,415,005 1,422,718
Total assets 3,645,974 3,627,169
Asset backed securitization
borrowings - -
Current maturities of contingently
convertible notes 400,000 250,000
Long-term debt, less current portion 252,320 403,535
Total debt 656,720 657,935
Total shareholders' equity 1,270,322 1,214,191
Debt to capitalization (b) 34.1% 35.1%
Debt to capitalization, less
available cash 30.4% 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
CONTACT: Investors, Stephen Bruffett of Yellow Roadway Corporation, 1-913-696-6108, steve.bruffett@yellowroadway.com , or Media, Suzanne Dawson of Linden Alschuler & Kaplan, 1-212-329-1420, sdawson@lakpr.com
Web site: http://www.yellowroadway.com