C.H. Robinson Worldwide, Inc.
14701 Charlson Road
Eden Prairie, Minnesota 55347
Chad Lindbloom, senior vice president and chief financial officer (952) 937-7779
Angie Freeman, vice president, investor relations and public affairs (952) 937-7847
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
C.H. ROBINSON REPORTS FOURTH QUARTER RESULTS
MINNEAPOLIS, February 2, 2010 - C.H. Robinson Worldwide, Inc. ("C.H. Robinson") (NASDAQ: CHRW), today reported financial results for the quarter ended December 31, 2009.
Summarized financial results for the quarter ended December 31 are as follows (dollars in thousands, except per share data):
| Three months ended December 31, | | Twelve months ended December 31, |
| 2009 | 2008 | % change | | 2009 | 2008 | % change |
| | | | | | | |
Total revenues | $ 2,008,366 | $ 1,955,103 | 2.7% | | $7,577,189 | $8,578,614 | -11.7% |
Net revenues: | | | | | | | |
Transportation | | | | | | | |
Truck | 250,063 | 256,043 | -2.3% | | 1,040,703 | 1,030,070 | 1.0% |
Intermodal | 8,637 | 11,788 | -26.7% | | 35,245 | 43,618 | -19.2% |
Ocean | 13,610 | 18,641 | -27.0% | | 54,188 | 62,094 | -12.7% |
Air | 9,268 | 9,155 | 1.2% | | 32,662 | 35,390 | -7.7% |
Miscellaneous | 12,255 | 10,410 | 17.7% | | 44,784 | 41,407 | 8.2% |
Total transportation | 293,833 | 306,037 | -4.0% | | 1,207,582 | 1,212,579 | -0.4% |
Sourcing | 33,105 | 26,073 | 27.0% | | 128,582 | 111,634 | 15.2% |
Information services | 12,148 | 12,050 | 0.8% | | 45,795 | 50,750 | -9.8% |
Total net revenues | 339,086 | 344,160 | -1.5% | | 1,381,959 | 1,374,963 | 0.5% |
Operating expenses | 196,328 | 201,776 | -2.7% | | 797,148 | 803,377 | -0.8% |
Operating income | 142,758 | 142,384 | 0.3% | | 584,811 | 571,586 | 2.3% |
Net income | $ 87,734 | $ 88,881 | -1.3% | | $ 360,830 | $ 359,177 | 0.5% |
Diluted EPS | $ 0.52 | $ 0.52 | 0.0% | | $ 2.13 | $ 2.08 | 2.4% |
"We're proud of our results in 2009. Our focus on gaining market share through sales and account management, our variable-cost business model, and our expanded menu of services enabled us to be flexible and continue to find opportunities in the marketplace," said John P. Wiehoff, chairman and chief executive officer of C.H. Robinson.
Wiehoff continued, "The trends of margin compression and accelerating volume growth in our North American truckload service during the fourth quarter of 2009 have continued into January. On a per business day basis, in January 2010 our total net revenues are roughly flat. Although we're pleased with our continued volume growth, our margin comparisons will continue to be challenging."
Our total revenues increased 2.7 percent in the fourth quarter of 2009 compared to the fourth quarter of 2008. Our Transportation revenue was flat in the fourth quarter of 2009, driven by falling transportation rates offset by volume increases in many of our transportation modes. Transportation rates declined primarily due to decreased pricing to our customers and a reduction in fuel prices.
Our Sourcing revenues increased 16.0 percent in the fourth quarter of 2009 primarily due to the previously announced acquisition of Rosemont Farms, Inc. ("Rosemont") on September 15, 2009 and volume growth. Our Information Services revenues increased 0.8 percent in the fourth quarter of 2009 due to an increase in transactions offset by declines in some fees that are impacted by fuel prices.
Total Transportation net revenues decreased 4.0 percent to $293.8 million in the fourth quarter of 2009 from $306.0 million in the fourth quarter of 2008. Our Transportation net revenue margin decreased to 18.3 percent in 2009 from 19.0 percent in 2008 largely driven by decreased customer transportation rates.
Our truck net revenues, which consist of truckload and less-than-truckload ("LTL") services, decreased 2.3 percent in the fourth quarter of 2009. Our truckload volumes increased approximately 13 percent in the fourth quarter of 2009 compared to the fourth quarter of 2008. Our truckload net revenue margins decreased due to declining transportation rates compared to the fourth quarter of 2008. Excluding the estimated impacts of the change in fuel, on average our truckload rates to our customers decreased approximately 6 percent in the fourth quarter of 2009 compared to the fourth quarter of 2008. Our LTL net revenues increased due to volume increases, largely offset by price declines and decreased net revenue margin.
Our intermodal net revenue decrease of 26.7 percent in the fourth quarter was driven by price declines which decreased our net revenue margin. This decline was offset slightly by volume increases.
Our ocean transportation net revenues decreased 27.0 percent in the fourth quarter of 2009 driven by decreased volumes and price declines. Excluding our previously announced acquisition of Walker Logistics Overseas Ltd. ("Walker") on June 12, 2009, our ocean transportation net revenues would have declined approximately 29 percent.
Our air transportation net revenue increased 1.2 percent in the fourth quarter of 2009. Excluding the Walker acquisition, our air transportation net revenues decreased approximately 10 percent.
Miscellaneous transportation net revenues consist primarily of transportation management fees and customs brokerage fees. The increase of 17.7 percent was driven by an increase in management fees as well as the previously announced acquisition of International Trade & Commerce, Inc. ("ITC") on July 7, 2009, offset partially by a decrease in other customs brokerage activity. Excluding the acquisition of ITC, our miscellaneous transportation net revenues increased approximately nine percent in the fourth quarter of 2009.
For the fourth quarter, Sourcing net revenues increased 27.0 percent to $33.1 million in 2009 from $26.1 million in 2008. Excluding the previously disclosed acquisition of Rosemont, Sourcing net revenues increased approximately 3 percent in the fourth quarter of 2009.
Our Information Services revenues increased 0.8 percent in the fourth quarter of 2009, driven by an increase in transactions offset by declines in some fees that are impacted by fuel prices.
For the fourth quarter, operating expenses decreased 2.7 percent to $196.3 million in 2009 from $201.8 million in 2008. This was due to a decrease of 3.6 percent in personnel expenses and a decrease of 0.2 percent in other selling, general, and administrative expenses. As a percentage of net revenues, total operating expenses decreased slightly to 57.9 percent in the fourth quarter of 2009 from 58.6 percent in the fourth quarter of 2008.
Founded in 1905, C.H. Robinson Worldwide, Inc., is one of the largest non-asset based third party logistics companies in the world. C.H. Robinson is a global provider of multimodal transportation services and logistics solutions, currently serving over 35,000 customers through a network of 235 offices in North America, South America, Europe, Asia, Australia, and the Middle East. C.H. Robinson maintains one of the largest networks of motor carrier capacity in North America and works with over 47,000 transportation providers worldwide.
Except for the historical information contained herein, the matters set forth in this release are forward-looking statements that represent our expectations, beliefs, intentions or strategies concerning future events. These forward-looking statements are subject to certain risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from our historical experience or our present expectations, including, but not limited to such factors as changes in economic conditions such as the current recession and decreased consumer confidence, changes in market demand and pressures on the pricing for our services; competition and growth rates within the third party logistics industry; freight levels and availability of truck capacity or alternative means of transporting freight, and changes in relationships with existing truck, rail, ocean and air carriers; changes in our customer base due to possible consolidation among our customers; our ability to integrate the operations of acquired companies with our historic operations successfully; risks associated with litigation and insurance coverage; risks associated with operations outside of the U.S.; risks associated with the potential impacts of changes in government regulations; risks associated with the produce industry, including food safety and contamination issues; fuel prices and availability; and the impact of war on the economy; and other risks and uncertainties detailed in our Annual and Quarterly Reports.
Conference Call Information:
C.H. Robinson Worldwide Fourth Quarter 2009 Earnings Conference Call
Tuesday, February 2, 2010 5:00 p.m. Eastern time
Live webcast available through Investor Relations link at www.chrobinson.com
Telephone access: 877-941-6009; conference ID 4200623
Webcast replay available through February 16, 2010; Investor Relations link at www.chrobinson.com
Telephone audio replay available until 12:59 a.m. Eastern Time on February 5, 2010:800-406-7325;
passcode: 4200623#
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME |
(unaudited, in thousands, except per share data) |
|
| Three months ended December 31, | | Twelve months ended December 31, |
| 2009 | | 2008 | | 2009 | | 2008 |
| | | | | | | |
Revenues: | | | | | | | |
Transportation | $1,606,664 | | $1,607,090 | | $5,976,102 | | $7,129,611 |
Sourcing | 389,554 | | 335,963 | | 1,555,292 | | 1,398,253 |
Information Services | 12,148 | | 12,050 | | 45,795 | | 50,750 |
Total revenues | 2,008,366 | | 1,955,103 | | 7,577,189 | | 8,578,614 |
Costs and expenses: | | | | | | | |
Purchased transportation and related services | 1,312,831 | | 1,301,053 | | 4,768,520 | | 5,917,032 |
Purchased products sourced for resale | 356,449 | | 309,890 | | 1,426,710 | | 1,286,619 |
Personnel expenses | 143,852 | | 149,216 | | 597,568 | | 601,822 |
Other selling, general, and administrative expenses | 52,476 | | 52,560 | | 199,580 | | 201,555 |
Total costs and expenses | 1,865,608 | | 1,812,719 | | 6,992,378 | | 8,007,028 |
| | | | | | | |
Income from operations | 142,758 | | 142,384 | | 584,811 | | 571,586 |
| | | | | | | |
Investment and other income | 592 | | 1,023 | | 2,250 | | 6,801 |
| | | | | | | |
Income before provision for income taxes | 143,350 | | 143,407 | | 587,061 | | 578,387 |
Provision for income taxes | 55,616 | | 54,526 | | 226,231 | | 219,210 |
Net income | $ 87,734 | | $ 88,881 | | $ 360,830 | | $ 359,177 |
| | | | | | | |
Net income per share (basic) | $ 0.53 | | $ 0.53 | | $ 2.15 | | $ 2.12 |
Net income per share (diluted) | $ 0.52 | | $ 0.52 | | $ 2.13 | | $ 2.08 |
Weighted average shares outstanding (basic) | 166,258 | | 167,962 | | 167,695 | | 169,056 |
Weighted average shares outstanding (diluted) | 167,729 | | 171,433 | | 169,194 | | 172,733 |
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS |
(unaudited, in thousands) |
|
| December 31, 2009 | | December 31, 2008 |
Assets | | | |
Current assets: | | | |
Cash and cash equivalents | $ 337,308 | | $ 494,743 |
Available-for-sale securities | 48,310 | | 2,644 |
Receivables, net | 885,543 | | 828,884 |
Other current assets | 36,108 | | 21,600 |
Total current assets | 1,307,269 | | 1,347,871 |
| | | |
Property and equipment, net | 117,699 | | 104,088 |
Intangible and other assets | 409,280 | | 363,762 |
Total Assets | $ 1,834,248 | | $ 1,815,721 |
| | | |
Liabilities and stockholders' investment | | | |
Current liabilities: | | | |
Accounts payable and outstanding checks | $ 606,514 | | $ 568,758 |
Accrued compensation | 90,855 | | 93,431 |
Other accrued expenses | 34,438 | | 35,464 |
Total current liabilities | 731,807 | | 697,653 |
| | | |
Long term liabilities | 22,541 | | 10,847 |
Total liabilities | 754,348 | | 708,500 |
| | | |
Total stockholders' investment | 1,079,900 | | 1,107,221 |
Total liabilities and stockholders' investment | $ 1,834,248 | | $ 1,815,721 |
| | | |
| | | |
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF CASH FLOWS |
(unaudited, in thousands, except operational data) |
|
| Twelve months ended December 31, |
| 2009 | | 2008 |
Operating activities: | | | |
Net income | $ 360,830 | | $ 359,177 |
Stock-based compensation | 21,267 | | 20,804 |
Depreciation and amortization | 30,514 | | 31,164 |
Provision for doubtful accounts | 16,685 | | 14,329 |
Other non-cash change, net | 267 | | 3,206 |
Net changes in operating elements | (56,992) | | 18,899 |
Net cash provided by operating activities | 372,571 | | 447,579 |
| | | |
Investing activities: | | | |
Net property additions | (34,466) | | (23,748) |
Purchases of available-for-sale securities | (52,437) | | (136,954) |
Sales/maturities of available-for-sale securities | 3,975 | | 251,074 |
Cash paid for acquisitions, net | (41,145) | | (59,661) |
Other assets, net | 185 | | 769 |
Net cash (used for) provided by investing activities | (123,888) | | 31,480 |
| | | |
Financing activities: | | | |
Repayment of acquired line of credit | - | | (9,383) |
Net repurchases of common stock | (249,165) | | (177,519) |
Excess tax benefit from stock-based compensation plans | 9,966 | | 12,057 |
Cash dividends | (162,865) | | (151,195) |
Net cash used for financing activities | (402,064) | | (326,040) |
Effect of exchange rates on cash | (4,054) | | 2,839 |
| | | |
Net change in cash and cash equivalents | (157,435) | | 155,858 |
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period | 494,743 | | 338,885 |
Cash and cash equivalents, end of period | $337,308 | | $ 494,743 |
| | | |
| | | |
| As of December 31, |
| 2009 | | 2008 |
Operational Data: | | | |
Employees | 7,347 | | 7,961 |
Branches | 235 | | 228 |
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