Wabash National Corporation Announces First Quarter 2019 Results


  • Strong demand drives 9 percent year-over-year increase in Q1 2019 revenue, quarterly sales of $533M
  • Q1 2019 backlog increased 29 percent year-over-year to $1.6 billion
  • Q1 2019 operating margin of 4.7% shows sequential improvement from Q4 2018, Final Mile Products achieves 390 bps of sequential operating margin improvement
  • Earnings per share of $0.27 in Q1 2019, slightly ahead of expectations
  • 2019 full year EPS outlook maintained at $1.50 to $1.70 per diluted share

LAFAYETTE, Ind., May 01, 2019 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Wabash National Corporation (NYSE: WNC), a diversified industrial manufacturer and a leading producer of semi-trailers, truck bodies and liquid transportation systems, today reported results for the quarter ended March 31, 2019.

Net sales for the first quarter 2019 increased 9 percent to $533 million from $491 million in the prior year quarter, while each of the Company’s three segments contributed to top-line growth as market demand remained strong. The company achieved an operating margin of 4.7% during first quarter 2019, which represents an improvement of 100 basis points sequentially from the fourth quarter of 2018, highlighting the progress the company has made in addressing continuing challenges in the manufacturing environment.  Operating income was $25.2 million in the first quarter of 2019.

“We are off to a good start in 2019, with the first quarter coming in slightly ahead of our initial expectations. We delivered revenue of $533 million which is a record amount for the first quarter and a 9 percent increase over the same quarter of last year." explained Brent Yeagy, president and chief executive officer. "Although the manufacturing environment remains challenging, the operating decisions and commercial strategies that we launched last year to offset these pressures pulled through as expected in the form of a sequential increase in margins.  We expect that our execution of the Wabash Management System will allow us to continue to deliver on our guidance for improved margins in 2019.”

Net income for the first quarter 2019 was $14.8 million, or 27 cents per diluted share. Adjusted non-GAAP net income for the first quarter was $15.1 million or 27 cents per share, compared to 28 cents in the first quarter of 2018. Operating EBITDA, a non-GAAP measure that excludes the effects of certain items, for the first quarter 2019 was $38.3 million, or 7.2 percent of net sales.

Mr. Yeagy continued, “Industry volumes are proving to be strong in 2019, as reflected by the strength of our backlog.  We continue to work diligently to mitigate the operational and supply chain headwinds that accompany such high levels of demand.  Based on the positive results from our actions to address our operational environment in Q1 and continued strong market conditions, we're pleased to maintain our full-year EPS outlook of $1.50 to $1.70.”

Business Segment Highlights

The table below is a summary of select segment operating and financial results prior to the elimination of intersegment sales for the first quarter of 2019 and 2018. A complete disclosure of the results by individual segment is included in the tables following this release.

  Commercial Trailer Products Diversified Products Final Mile Products
Three Months Ended March 31, 2019 2018 2019 2018 2019 2018
  (dollars in thousands)
New trailers shipped 12,400  12,650  700  550     
Net sales $341,045  $327,422  $99,648  $95,203  $100,849  $75,459 
Gross profit $35,940  $36,522  $20,099  $17,298  $13,524  $11,532 
Gross profit margin 10.5% 11.2% 20.2% 18.2% 13.4% 15.3%
Income (loss) from operations $26,321  $29,481  $8,044  $5,028  $1,869  $609 
Income (loss) from operations margin 7.7% 9.0% 8.1% 5.3% 1.9% 0.8%

Commercial Trailer Products’ net sales for the first quarter increased $13.6 million, or 4.2 percent, to $341 million. Gross profit margin for the first quarter decreased 70 basis points as compared to the prior year period primarily due to the impact of higher material costs and supplier disruptions.  Operating income decreased $3.2 million, or 10.7 percent, from the first quarter last year to $26.3 million, or 7.7 percent of net sales.

Diversified Products’ net sales for the first quarter were $100 million, an increase of $4.4 million, or 4.7 percent, as compared to the prior year, due primarily to increased demand for liquid tank trailers. Gross profit and profit margin as compared to the prior year period increased $2.8 million and 200 basis points, respectively, as pricing initiatives took hold to recover cost increases from the prior year. Operating income in the first quarter of 2019 was $8.0 million, or 8.1 percent of net sales, representing an increase of $3.0 million as compared to the prior year period.

Final Mile Products’ net sales for the first quarter totaled $101 million, an increase of $25.4 million, or 33.6 percent, as compared to the prior year, due to market strength and the operational and technology advantages Wabash brings to the truck body space. Gross profit margin for the first quarter decreased 190 basis points as compared to the prior year period primarily due to product mix as well as higher wage costs. Operating income was $1.9 million, or 1.9 percent of net sales, compared to $0.6 million, or 0.8 percent of net sales in the prior year period.

Non-GAAP Measures

In addition to disclosing financial results calculated in accordance with United States generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP), the financial information included in this release contains non-GAAP financial measures, including operating EBITDA, operating EBITDA margin, adjusted operating income, adjusted net income and adjusted earnings per diluted share.  These non-GAAP measures should not be considered a substitute for, or superior to, financial measures and results calculated in accordance with GAAP, including net income, and reconciliations to GAAP financial statements should be carefully evaluated.

Operating EBITDA is defined as earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, amortization, stock-based compensation, acquisition expenses and related charges, impairments, and other non-operating income and expense. Management believes providing operating EBITDA is useful for investors to understand the Company’s performance and results of operations period to period with the exclusion of the items identified above. Management believes the presentation of operating EBITDA, when combined with the GAAP presentations of operating income and net income, is beneficial to an investor’s understanding of the Company’s operating performance. A reconciliation of operating EBITDA to net income is included in the tables following this release.

Adjusted operating income, a non-GAAP financial measure, excludes certain costs, expenses, other charges, gains or income that are included in the determination of operating income under U.S. GAAP, but that management would not consider important in evaluating the quality of the Company’s operating results as they are not indicative of the Company’s core operating results or may obscure trends useful in evaluating the Company’s continuing activities. Accordingly, the Company presents adjusted operating income excluding these Special Items to help investors evaluate our operating performance and trends in our business consistent with how management evaluates such performance and trends. Further, the Company presents adjusted operating income to provide investors with a better understanding of the Company’s view of our results as compared to prior periods.  A reconciliation of adjusted operating income to operating income, the most comparable GAAP financial measure, is included in the tables following this press release.

Adjusted net income and adjusted earnings per diluted share, each reflect adjustments for acquisition expenses, the losses attributable to the Company’s extinguishment of debt, impairment charges, executive severance costs, income or losses recognized on the sale and/or closure of former Company locations, adjustments related to the Company’s deferred tax assets as a result of IRS guidance on application of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017, and reversal of reserves for uncertain tax positions. Management believes providing adjusted measures and excluding certain items facilitates comparisons to the Company’s prior year periods and, when combined with the GAAP presentation of net income and diluted net income per share, is beneficial to an investor’s understanding of the Company’s performance. A reconciliation of each of adjusted net income and adjusted earnings per diluted share to net income and net income per diluted share is included in the tables following this release.

First Quarter 2019 Conference Call

Wabash National will discuss its results during its quarterly investor conference call on Wednesday, May 1, 2019, beginning at 10:00 a.m. EDT.  The call and an accompanying slide presentation will be accessible on the "Investors" section of the Company’s website www.wabashnational.com. The conference call will also be accessible by dialing (844) 778-4139, conference ID 6886327.  A replay of the call will be available on the site shortly after the conclusion of the presentation.

About Wabash National Corporation

Headquartered in Lafayette, Indiana, Wabash National Corporation (NYSE: WNC) is a diversified industrial manufacturer and a leading producer of semi-trailers, truck bodies and liquid transportation systems. Established in 1985, the Company manufactures a diverse range of products including: dry freight and refrigerated trailers, platform trailers, bulk tank trailers, dry and refrigerated truck bodies, truck-mounted tanks, intermodal equipment, structural composite panels and products, trailer aerodynamic solutions, and specialty food grade and pharmaceutical equipment. Its innovative products are sold under the following brand names: Wabash National®, Beall®, Benson®, Brenner® Tank, Bulk Tank International, DuraPlate®, Extract Technology®, Supreme®, Transcraft®, Walker Engineered Products, and Walker Transport. Learn more at www.wabashnational.com.

Safe Harbor Statement

This press release contains certain forward-looking statements as defined by the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements convey the Company’s current expectations or forecasts of future events. All statements contained in this press release other than statements of historical fact are forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements include, among other things, all statements regarding the Company’s outlook for trailer and truck body shipments, backlog, expectations regarding demand levels for trailers, truck bodies, non-trailer equipment and our other diversified product offerings, pricing, profitability and earnings, cash flow and liquidity, opportunity to capture higher margin sales, new product innovations, our growth and diversification strategies, our expectations for improved financial performance during the course of the year and our expectations with regards to capital allocation. These and the Company’s other forward-looking statements are subject to certain risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those implied by the forward-looking statements. Without limitation, these risks and uncertainties include the continued integration of Supreme into the Company’s business, adverse reactions to the transaction by customers, suppliers or strategic partners, uncertain economic conditions including the possibility that customer demand may not meet our expectations, increased competition, reliance on certain customers and corporate partnerships, risks of customer pick-up delays, shortages and costs of raw materials including the impact of tariffs or other international trade developments, risks in implementing and sustaining improvements in the Company’s manufacturing operations and cost containment, dependence on industry trends and timing, supplier constraints, labor costs and availability, customer acceptance of and reactions to pricing changes and costs of indebtedness. Readers should review and consider the various disclosures made by the Company in this press release and in the Company’s reports to its stockholders and periodic reports on Forms 10-K and 10-Q.

 
WABASH NATIONAL CORPORATION
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
(Unaudited - dollars in thousands)
 
 
 March 31,
2019
 December 31,
2018
Assets   
Current assets:   
Cash and cash equivalents$151,916  $132,690 
Accounts receivable, net185,745  181,064 
Inventories256,980  184,404 
Prepaid expenses and other52,669  51,261 
Total current assets647,310  549,419 
Property, plant, and equipment, net206,719  206,991 
Deferred income taxes   
Goodwill311,049  311,084 
Intangible assets205,232  210,328 
Other assets38,322  26,571 
Total assets$1,408,632  $1,304,393 
Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity   
Current liabilities:   
Current portion of long-term debt$1,880  $1,880 
Current portion of finance lease obligations313  299 
Accounts payable231,168  153,113 
Other accrued liabilities127,222  116,384 
Total current liabilities360,583  271,676 
Long-term debt502,757  503,018 
Finance lease obligations625  714 
Deferred income taxes32,624  34,905 
Other non-current liabilities28,437  20,231 
Total liabilities925,026  830,544 
Commitments and contingencies   
Stockholders' equity:   
Common stock 200,000,000 shares authorized, $0.01 par value, 55,424,133 and 55,135,788 shares outstanding, respectively749  744 
Additional paid-in capital631,674  629,039 
Retained earnings160,512  150,244 
Accumulated other comprehensive loss(3,859) (3,343)
Treasury stock at cost, 19,555,383 and 19,372,735 common shares, respectively(305,470) (302,835)
Total stockholders' equity483,606  473,849 
Total liabilities and stockholders' equity$1,408,632  $1,304,393 
        



 
WABASH NATIONAL CORPORATION
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
(Unaudited - dollars in thousands, except per share amounts)
 
 Three Months Ended March 31,
 2019 2018
Net sales$533,174  $491,319 
Cost of sales464,484  427,200 
Gross profit68,690  64,119 
General and administrative expenses30,140  25,109 
Selling expenses8,223  8,345 
Amortization of intangible assets5,129  4,941 
Acquisition expenses  68 
Impairment   
Income from operations25,198  25,656 
Other income (expense):   
Interest expense(7,090) (7,454)
Other, net(169) 7,916 
Other expense, net(7,259) 462 
Income before income tax17,939  26,118 
Income tax expense3,159  4,846 
Net income$14,780  $21,272 
Net income per share:   
Basic$0.27  $0.37 
Diluted$0.27  $0.35 
Weighted average common shares outstanding (in thousands):   
Basic55,268  57,793 
Diluted55,770  60,850 
    
Dividends declared per share$0.080  $0.075 



 
WABASH NATIONAL CORPORATION
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
(Unaudited - dollars in thousands)
 
 Three Months Ended March 31,
 2019 2018
Cash flows from operating activities:   
Net income$14,780  $21,272 
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:   
Depreciation5,420  5,163 
Amortization of intangibles5,129  4,941 
Net loss (gain) on sale of property, plant and equipment486  (6,013)
Loss on debt extinguishment  174 
Deferred income taxes(2,281) (23)
Stock-based compensation2,586  2,657 
Non-cash interest expense

 
260  675 
Changes in operating assets and liabilities   
Accounts receivable(4,681) (45,910)
Inventories(72,576) (58,393)
Prepaid expenses and other(1,279) 591 
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities84,770  63,943 
Other, net1,152  (1,120)
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities33,766  (12,043)
Cash flows from investing activities:   
Capital expenditures(6,802) (6,060)
Proceeds from sale of property, plant and equipment29  9,523 
Other, net  3,060 
Net cash (used in) provided by investing activities(6,773) 6,523 
Cash flows from financing activities:   
Proceeds from exercise of stock options55  861 
Dividends paid(4,627) (4,692)
Borrowings under revolving credit facilities140  254 
Payments under revolving credit facilities(140) (254)
Principal payments under finance lease obligations(75) (71)
Principal payments under term loan credit facility(470) (471)
Principal payments under industrial revenue bond  (92)
Debt issuance costs paid(15)  
Convertible senior notes repurchase  (17,183)
Stock repurchase(2,635) (5,412)
Net cash used in financing activities(7,767) (27,060)
Cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash:   
Net increase (decrease) for the period19,226  (32,580)
At beginning of period132,690  191,521 
At end of period$151,916  $158,941 
Supplemental disclosures of cash flow information:   
Cash paid for interest$2,403  $2,094 
Cash paid for income taxes$111  $(845)



 
WABASH NATIONAL CORPORATION
SEGMENTS AND RELATED INFORMATION
(Unaudited - dollars in thousands)
 
Three Months Ended March 31, Commercial
Trailer Products
 Diversified
Products
 Final Mile
Products
 Corporate and
Eliminations
 Consolidated
2019          
New trailers shipped 12,400  700      13,100 
Used trailers shipped 50  25      75 
           
New Trailers $325,819  $45,799  $  $  $371,618 
Used Trailers 137  587      724 
Components, parts and service 10,333  35,884  3,416  (7,920) 41,713 
Equipment and other 4,756  17,378  97,433  (448) 119,119 
Total net external sales $341,045  $99,648  $100,849  $(8,368) $533,174 
Gross profit $35,940  $20,099  $13,524  $(873) $68,690 
Income (Loss) from operations $26,321  $8,044  $1,869  $(11,036) $25,198 
           
2018          
New trailers shipped 12,650  550      13,200 
Used trailers shipped 500  50      550 
           
New Trailers $310,318  $33,839  $  $  $344,157 
Used Trailers 4,407  1,086      5,493 
Components, parts and service 8,648  33,968  2,413  (6,762) 38,267 
Equipment and other 4,049  26,310  73,046  (3) 103,402 
Total net external sales $327,422  $95,203  $75,459  $(6,765) $491,319 
Gross profit $36,522  $17,298  $11,532  $(1,233) $64,119 
Income (Loss) from operations $29,481  $5,028  $609  $(9,462) $25,656 



 
WABASH NATIONAL CORPORATION
SEGMENT AND COMPANY FINANCIAL INFORMATION
(Unaudited - dollars in thousands)
 
 Three Months Ended
March 31,
 2019 2018
Commercial Trailer Products   
Income from operations$26,321  $29,481 
    
Diversified Products   
Income from operations8,044  5,028 
    
Final Mile Products   
Income from operations1,869  609 
Adjustments:   
Acquisition expenses and related charges  915 
Adjusted operating income1,869  1,524 
    
Corporate   
Income from operations(11,036) (9,462)
Adjustments:   
Acquisition expenses and related charges  68 
Adjusted operating income(11,036) (9,394)
    
Consolidated   
Income from operations25,198  25,656 
Adjustments:   
Acquisition expenses and related charges  983 
Adjusted operating income$25,198  $26,639 
        


 
WABASH NATIONAL CORPORATION
RECONCILIATION OF GAAP FINANCIAL MEASURES TO
NON-GAAP FINANCIAL MEASURES
(Unaudited - dollars in thousands, except per share amounts)
 
Operating EBITDA1:Three Months Ended March 31,
 2019 2018
Net income$14,780  $21,272 
Income tax expense3,159  4,846 
Interest expense7,090  7,454 
Depreciation and amortization10,549  10,104 
Stock-based compensation2,586  2,657 
Acquisition expenses  567 
Other non-operating income169  (7,916)
Operating EBITDA$38,333  $38,984 


Adjusted Net Income2:Three Months Ended March 31,
 2019 2018
Net income$14,780  $21,272 
Adjustments:   
Facility transactions3488  (7,123)
Loss on debt extinguishment  174 
Acquisition expenses and related charges  983 
Tax effect of aforementioned items(126) 1,551 
Adjusted net income$15,142  $16,857 


Adjusted Diluted Earnings Per Share2:Three Months Ended March 31,
 2019 2018
Diluted earnings per share$0.27  $0.35 
Adjustments:   
Facility transactions3  (0.12)
Acquisition expenses and related charges  0.02 
Tax effect of aforementioned items  0.03 
Adjusted diluted earnings per share$0.27  $0.28 
    
Weighted average number of diluted shares outstanding (in thousands)55,770  60,850 

1Operating EBITDA is defined as earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, amortization, stock-based compensation, acquisition expenses and related charges, and other non-operating income and expense.

2Adjusted net income and adjusted earnings per diluted share reflect adjustments for acquisition expenses, the losses attributable to the Company’s extinguishment of debt, income or losses recognized on the sale and/or closure of former Company locations, adjustments related to the Company’s deferred tax assets as a result of IRS guidance on application of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017, and reversal of reserves for uncertain tax positions.

3Facility transactions in 2018 and 2019 relate to gains and/or losses incurred for the sale or closure of former Company locations.

Media Contact:
Dana Stelsel
Director, Corporate Communications
(765) 771-5766
dana.stelsel@wabashnational.com

Investor Relations:
Ryan Reed
Director of Investor Relations
(765) 771-5805
ryan.reed@wabashnational.com