Exhibit 99.1
For further information:
Robert Sigler
Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
586.920.0100
Universal Truckload Services, Inc. Announces Financial Results for the Thirteen weeks Ended March 29, 2008
Warren, MI – April 24, 2008 — Universal Truckload Services, Inc. (NASDAQ: UACL) announced today its financial results for the thirteen weeks ended March 29, 2008.
For the thirteen weeks ended March 29, 2008, operating revenues increased 7.1%, or $11.3 million, to $170.1 million from $158.9 million for the thirteen weeks ended March 31, 2007. Included in operating revenues are fuel surcharges of $19.3 million and $13.8 million for the first quarters of 2008 and 2007, respectively. Net income increased 5.0%, or $0.2 million, to $3.3 million, or $0.21 per share for the first quarter of 2008, from $3.2 million, or $0.20 per share, for the first quarter of 2007. Operating margin was 3.1% for the first quarter of 2008 compared to 3.2% for the first quarter of 2007.
Universal’s truckload revenue in the first quarter of 2008 increased by 6.6% to $99.2 million from $93.1 million in the corresponding period of 2007. Included in truckload revenue in the first quarter of 2008 is $4.5 million from our acquisition completed in the fourth quarter of 2007. Brokerage revenue in the first quarter of 2008 increased by 7.6% to $44.1 million from $41.0 million in the corresponding period of 2007. Included in brokerage revenue in the first quarter of 2008 is $0.5 million from our acquisitions completed in the fourth quarter of 2007 and first quarter of 2008. Intermodal revenue in the first quarter of 2008 increased by 8.0% to $26.8 million from $24.8 million in the corresponding period of 2007. Included in intermodal revenue in the first quarter of 2008 is $1.2 million from our acquisition completed in the first quarter of 2008.
In the first quarter of 2008, Universal purchased an additional 5,100 shares of its common stock for a total cost of $84 thousand. Through the first quarter of 2008, Universal has purchased a total of 34,300 shares of its common stock at a total cost of $565 thousand and is authorized to purchase an additional 765,700 shares of its common stock under the previously announced stock repurchase plan.
“Overall, we had an acceptable first quarter,” stated Don Cochran, President and CEO of Universal Truckload Services, Inc. “Operating revenues increased by 7.1% and despite a difficult freight environment, we were able to increase overall load volumes and achieve modest price increases. We appreciate the efforts of our Agents, Owner Operators, and Staff.”
Universal Truckload Services, Inc. is a primarily non-asset based provider of transportation services to shippers throughout the United States and in the Canadian provinces of Ontario and Quebec. The Company’s trucking services include both flatbed and dry van operations and the Company provides rail-truck and steamship-truck intermodal support services. The Company also offers truck brokerage services.
Some of the statements contained in this press release might be considered forward-looking statements. These statements identify prospective information. Forward-looking statements are based on information available at the time and/or management’s good faith belief with respect to future events, and are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual performance or results to differ materially from those expressed in the statements. These forward-looking statements are subject to a number of factors that may cause actual results to differ materially from the expectations described. Additional information about the factors that may adversely affect these forward-looking statements is contained in the Company’s reports and filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The Company assumes no obligation to update forward-looking statements to reflect actual results, changes in assumptions or changes in other factors affecting forward-looking information except to the extent required by applicable securities laws.
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UNIVERSAL TRUCKLOAD SERVICES, INC.
Unaudited Consolidated Statements of Income
(In thousands, except per share data)
| | | | | | |
| | | Thirteen Weeks Ended |
| | | March 29,
2008 | | March 31,
2007 |
Operating revenues: | | | | | | |
Truckload | | $ | 99,244 | | $ | 93,068 |
Brokerage | | | 44,093 | | | 40,989 |
Intermodal | | | 26,798 | | | 24,820 |
| | | | | | |
Total operating revenues | | | 170,135 | | | 158,877 |
| | | | | | |
Operating expenses: | | | | | | |
Purchased transportation | | | 131,600 | | | 121,648 |
Commissions expense | | | 10,566 | | | 10,599 |
Other operating expense, net | | | 2,290 | | | 2,560 |
Selling, general, and administrative | | | 12,691 | | | 12,193 |
Insurance and claims | | | 5,545 | | | 4,872 |
Depreciation and amortization | | | 2,232 | | | 1,907 |
| | | | | | |
Total operating expenses | | | 164,924 | | | 153,779 |
| | | | | | |
Income from operations | | | 5,211 | | | 5,098 |
Non Operating Income | | | 233 | | | 135 |
Interest income, net | | | 20 | | | 59 |
| | | | | | |
Income before provision for income taxes | | | 5,464 | | | 5,292 |
Provision for income taxes | | | 2,120 | | | 2,108 |
| | | | | | |
Net income | | $ | 3,344 | | $ | 3,184 |
| | | | | | |
Earnings per common share: | | | | | | |
Basic | | $ | 0.21 | | $ | 0.20 |
Diluted | | $ | 0.21 | | $ | 0.20 |
Average common shares outstanding: | | | | | | |
Basic | | | 16,088 | | | 16,118 |
Diluted | | | 16,088 | | | 16,140 |
UNIVERSAL TRUCKLOAD SERVICES, INC.
Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets
(In thousands)
| | | | | | |
| | | March 29,
2008 | | December 31,
2007 |
Assets | | | | | | |
Cash and cash equivalents | | $ | 4,772 | | $ | 5,416 |
Marketable securities | | | 14,536 | | | 17,961 |
Accounts receivable—net | | | 91,959 | | | 86,626 |
Other current assets | | | 12,883 | | | 8,248 |
| | | | | | |
Total current assets | | | 124,150 | | | 118,251 |
Property and equipment—net | | | 57,242 | | | 57,149 |
Other long-term assets—net | | | 32,881 | | | 31,788 |
| | | | | | |
Total assets | | $ | 214,273 | | $ | 207,188 |
| | | | | | |
Liabilities and shareholders’ equity | | | | | | |
Total current liabilities | | $ | 53,111 | | $ | 48,443 |
Total long-term liabilities | | | 6,809 | | | 7,303 |
| | | | | | |
Total liabilities | | | 59,920 | | | 55,746 |
Total shareholders’ equity | | | 154,353 | | | 151,442 |
| | | | | | |
Total liabilities and shareholders’ equity | | $ | 214,273 | | $ | 207,188 |
| | | | | | |
UNIVERSAL TRUCKLOAD SERVICES, INC.
Summary of Operating Data
(Unaudited)
| | | | | | |
| | | Thirteen Weeks Ended |
| | | March 29,
2008 | | March 31,
2007 |
Average number of tractors provided by owner-operators | | | | | | |
Truckload | | | 2,770 | | | 2,964 |
Intermodal | | | 880 | | | 859 |
| | |
Truckload Revenues: | | | | | | |
Average operating revenues per loaded mile (1) | | $ | 2.63 | | $ | 2.37 |
Average operating revenues per loaded mile, excluding fuel surcharges (1) | | $ | 2.23 | | $ | 2.09 |
Average operating revenues per load (1) | | $ | 960 | | $ | 940 |
Average operating revenues per load, excluding fuel surcharges (1) | | $ | 814 | | $ | 829 |
Average length of haul (1)(2) | | | 365 | | | 396 |
Number of loads (1) | | | 103,398 | | | 99,004 |
| | |
Brokerage Revenues: | | | | | | |
Average operating revenues per loaded mile (1) | | $ | 2.16 | | $ | 1.97 |
Average operating revenues per load (1) | | $ | 1,307 | | $ | 1,237 |
Average length of haul (1)(2) | | | 606 | | | 629 |
Number of loads (1) | | | 29,561 | | | 26,501 |
| | |
Intermodal Revenues: | | | | | | |
Drayage (in thousands) | | $ | 25,067 | | $ | 22,801 |
Depot (in thousands) | | $ | 1,731 | | $ | 2,019 |
| | | | | | |
Total (in thousands) | | $ | 26,798 | | $ | 24,820 |
| | | | | | |
Average operating revenues per loaded mile | | $ | 4.74 | | $ | 4.40 |
Average operating revenues per loaded mile, excluding fuel surcharges | | $ | 3.95 | | $ | 3.85 |
Average operating revenues per load | | $ | 319 | | $ | 272 |
Average operating revenues per load, excluding fuel surcharges | | $ | 266 | | $ | 238 |
Number of loads | | | 78,665 | | | 83,716 |
| (1) | Excludes operating data from CrossRoad Carriers, Inc. in order to improve the relevance of the statistical data related to our truckload and brokerage services and improve the comparability to our peer companies. |
| (2) | Average length of haul is computed using loaded miles. |
