Werner Enterprises Reports First Quarter 2023 Results

First Quarter 2023 Highlights (all metrics compared to first quarter 2022)

• Total revenues of $832.7 million, up 9%
• Operating income of $53.4 million, down 36%; non-GAAP adjusted operating income of $57.5 million, down 33%
• Operating margin of 6.4%, down 450 basis points; non-GAAP adjusted operating margin of 6.9%, down 440 basis points
• Diluted EPS of $0.55, down 32%; non-GAAP adjusted diluted EPS of $0.60, down 37% 

Werner Enterprises, Inc. (Nasdaq: WERN), a premier transportation and logistics provider, today reported results for the first quarter ended March 31, 2023.

“While macroeconomic conditions and continued softness in the freight market were increasingly challenging in the first quarter, we achieved our third highest revenue quarter driven by revenue per truck increases in our Dedicated business and our growing Logistics business,” said Derek J. Leathers, Chairman, President and CEO. “We are seeing a more direct impact from inflation on multiple cost categories, which has constrained margins. However, we remain confident in the durability and resilience of our diversified business model, combined with our operational scale, reputation for service excellence, innovation and the efforts of our determined and talented team.”

Total revenues for the quarter were $832.7 million, an increase of $68.1 million compared to the prior year quarter, due to Truckload Transportation Services (“TTS”) revenues growth of $29.9 million and Logistics revenues growth of $39.7 million.

Operating income of $53.4 million decreased $30.1 million, or 36%, while operating margin of 6.4% decreased 450 basis points. On a non-GAAP basis, adjusted operating income of $57.5 million decreased $28.6 million, or 33%. Adjusted operating margin of 6.9% declined 440 basis points from 11.3% for the same quarter last year.

TTS operating income decreased by $25.1 million and adjusted operating income decreased by $24.5 million. Logistics operating income decreased $3.7 million and adjusted operating income decreased by $2.8 million. Corporate and Other (including driving schools) operating income decreased by $1.3 million.

Net interest expense of $6.4 million increased $5.2 million primarily due to higher interest rates for variable rate debt and an increase in average debt outstanding. The effective income tax rate during the quarter was 24.3%, compared to 24.1% in first quarter 2022.

During first quarter 2023, our strategic minority equity investments had market valuation changes causing an unrealized loss on equity securities of $0.1 million, compared to an unrealized loss of $9.8 million, or $0.11 per share, in first quarter 2022. Consistent with prior reporting, market value increases or decreases for these strategic minority investments are adjusted out for determining non-GAAP adjusted net income and non-GAAP adjusted earnings per share.

Net income attributable to Werner of $35.2 million decreased 34%. On a non-GAAP basis, adjusted net income attributable to Werner of $38.3 million decreased 39%. Diluted EPS of $0.55 decreased 32%. On a non-GAAP basis, adjusted diluted EPS of $0.60 decreased 37%.

Key Consolidated Financial Metrics

Truckload Transportation Services (TTS) Segment

• Revenues of $588.3 million increased $29.9 million
• Operating income of $51.0 million decreased $25.1 million; non-GAAP adjusted operating income of $53.7 million decreased $24.5 million due to a much softer freight market, higher operating expenses for supplies and maintenance and insurance and claims
• Operating margin of 8.7% decreased 490 basis points from 13.6%; non-GAAP adjusted operating margin of 9.1% decreased 490 basis points from 14.0%
• Non-GAAP adjusted operating margin, net of fuel, of 10.7% decreased 570 basis points from 16.4%
• Average segment trucks in service totaled 8,561, an increase of 323 trucks year over year, or 3.9%
• Dedicated unit trucks at quarter end totaled 5,345, or 63% of the total TTS segment fleet, compared to 5,185 trucks, or 63%, a year ago
• 0.5% increase in TTS average revenues per truck per week

During first quarter 2023, Dedicated experienced solid and steady freight demand from our customers. One-Way Truckload customer freight demand during first quarter 2023 was seasonally weaker than normal compared to a seasonally strong freight market in first quarter 2022.

Key Truckload Transportation Services Segment Financial Metrics

Werner Logistics Segment

• Revenues of $228.7 million increased $39.7 million, or 21%
• Operating income of $4.9 million decreased $3.7 million
• Operating margin of 2.2% decreased 240 basis points from 4.6%
• Adjusted operating income of $6.4 million decreased $2.8 million
• Adjusted operating margin of 2.8% decreased 210 basis points from 4.9%

Truckload Logistics revenues (78% of Logistics revenues) increased 41%, driven by an increase in shipments due to the ReedTMS acquisition and growth in our organic volumes, partially offset by a decline in revenues per shipment.

Intermodal revenues (12% of Logistics revenues) decreased 33%, due primarily to a decline in shipments.

Final Mile revenues (10% of Logistics revenues) increased $2.4 million.

Logistics operating income decreased $3.7 million and adjusted operating income decreased $2.8 million in first quarter 2023, due to a seasonally soft freight market in first quarter 2023 compared to a seasonally strong freight market in first quarter 2022.

Key Werner Logistics Segment Financial Metrics

Cash Flow and Capital Allocation

Cash flow from operations in first quarter 2023 was $166.8 million compared to $155.0 million in first quarter 2022, an increase of 8%.

Net capital expenditures in first quarter 2023 were $102.7 million compared to $37.1 million in first quarter 2022, an increase of 177%. We plan to continue to invest in new trucks and trailers and our terminals to improve our driver experience, optimize operational efficiency and more effectively manage our maintenance, safety and fuel costs. The average ages of our truck and trailer fleets were 2.2 years and 5.1 years, respectively, as of March 31, 2023.

Gains on sales of property and equipment in first quarter 2023 were $18.3 million, or $0.22 per share, compared to $20.5 million, or $0.23 per share, in first quarter 2022. Year over year, we sold significantly more trucks and trailers and realized substantially lower average gains per truck and trailer. Gains on sales of property and equipment are reflected as a reduction of Other Operating Expenses in our income statement.

We did not repurchase shares of our common stock in first quarter 2023. As of March 31, 2023, we had 2.3 million shares remaining under our share repurchase authorization.

As of March 31, 2023, we had $130 million of cash and cash equivalents and over $1.4 billion of stockholders’ equity. Total debt outstanding was $691 million at March 31, 2023. After considering letters of credit issued, we had available liquidity consisting of cash and cash equivalents and available borrowing capacity as of March 31, 2023 of $544 million.

2023 Guidance Metrics and Assumptions

The following table summarizes our updated 2023 guidance and assumptions:

Assumptions

• Effective income tax rate of 24.3% in 1Q23 compared to 1Q22 of 24.1%. Expect annual effective tax rate in the range of 24.0% to 25.0%.
• Average truck age of 2.2 years and average trailer age of 5.1 years as of 3/31/23. Expect average truck and trailer ages of 2.2 years and 5.0 years, respectively, as of 12/31/23.

Call Information

Werner Enterprises, Inc. will conduct a conference call to discuss first quarter 2023 earnings today beginning at 4:00 p.m. CT. The news release, live webcast of the earnings conference call, and accompanying slide presentation will be available at werner.com in the “Investors” section under “News & Events” and then “Events Calendar.” To participate in the conference call, please dial (844) 701-1165 (domestic) or (412) 317-5498 (international). Please mention to the operator that you are dialing in for the Werner Enterprises call.

A replay of the conference call will be available on May 3, 2023 at approximately 6:00 p.m. CT through June 3, 2023 by dialing (877) 344-7529 (domestic) or (412) 317-0088 (international) and using the access code 4255949. A replay of the webcast will also be available at werner.com in the “Investors” section under “News & Events” and then “Events Calendar.”

About Werner Enterprises

Werner Enterprises, Inc. (Nasdaq: WERN) delivers superior truckload transportation and logistics services to customers across the United States, Mexico and Canada. With 2022 revenues of $3.3 billion, an industry-leading modern truck and trailer fleet, over 14,000 talented associates and our innovative Werner EDGE technology, we are an essential solutions provider for customers who value the integrity of their supply chain and require safe and exceptional on-time service. Werner provides Dedicated and One-Way Truckload services as well as Logistics services that include truckload brokerage, freight management, intermodal and final mile. As an industry leader, Werner is deeply committed to promoting sustainability and supporting diversity, equity and inclusion.

This press release may 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, and made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, as amended. Such forward-looking statements are based on information presently available to the Company’s management and are current only as of the date made. Actual results could also differ materially from those anticipated as a result of a number of factors, including, but not limited to, those discussed in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2022.

For those reasons, undue reliance should not be placed on any forward-looking statement. The Company assumes no duty or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statement, although it may do so from time to time as management believes is warranted or as may be required by applicable securities law. Any such updates or revisions may be made by filing reports with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”), through the issuance of press releases or by other methods of public disclosure.

Consolidated Financial Information

Segment Financial and Operating Statistics Information

Non-GAAP Financial Measures and Reconciliations

To supplement our financial results presented in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States of America (“GAAP”), we provide certain non-GAAP financial measures as defined by the SEC Regulation G, including non-GAAP adjusted operating income; non-GAAP adjusted operating margin; non-GAAP adjusted operating margin, net of fuel surcharge; non-GAAP adjusted net income attributable to Werner; non-GAAP adjusted diluted earnings per share; non-GAAP adjusted operating revenues, net of fuel surcharge; non-GAAP adjusted operating expenses; non-GAAP adjusted operating expenses, net of fuel surcharge; non-GAAP adjusted operating ratio; and non-GAAP adjusted operating ratio, net of fuel surcharge. We believe these non-GAAP financial measures provide a more useful comparison of our performance from period to period because they exclude the effect of items that, in our opinion, do not reflect our core operating performance. Our non-GAAP financial measures are not meant to be considered in isolation or as substitutes for their comparable GAAP measures and should be read only in conjunction with our consolidated financial statements prepared in accordance with GAAP. There are limitations to using non-GAAP financial measures. Although we believe that they improve comparability in analyzing our period to period performance, they could limit comparability to other companies in our industry if those companies define these measures differently. Because of these limitations, our non-GAAP financial measures should not be considered measures of income generated by our business. Management compensates for these limitations by primarily relying on GAAP results and using non-GAAP financial measures on a supplemental basis.

The following tables present reconciliations of each non-GAAP financial measure to its most directly comparable GAAP financial measure as required by SEC Regulation G. In addition, information regarding each of the excluded items as well as our reasons for excluding them from our non-GAAP results is provided below.

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