Wabash National Corporation Announces First Quarter 2020 Results


  • First Quarter GAAP Earnings Per Share of $(2.01) or non-GAAP Adjusted Earnings Per Share of $(0.04)
  • First Quarter Backlog of $1.0 billion shows relative stability
  • Strong liquidity position, patient debt structure with no financial covenants at present borrowing levels
  • Capital allocation focused on liquidity, maintaining dividend and debt reduction
  • Strategy deployment being accelerated during pandemic, new organizational structure takes shape

LAFAYETTE, Ind., May 14, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Wabash National Corporation (NYSE: WNC), the innovation leader of engineered solutions for the transportation, logistics and distribution industries, today reported results for the quarter ended March 31, 2020.

Net sales for the first quarter 2020 were $387 million as customer pickups of equipment trailed expectations. Operating loss was $110 million principally driven by goodwill impairment of $107 million during the quarter, while non-GAAP adjusted operating loss was $2.9 million resulting from lower revenue and previously anticipated manufacturing inefficiencies in the company's Final Mile segment compounded by the initial impact of COVID-19. GAAP earnings per share was $(2.01) while non-GAAP earnings per share was $(0.04) for the quarter.

Total Company backlog ending March 2020 was approximately $1.0 billion compared to backlog of $1.1 billion ending December 2019.

“While the environment we encountered during the first quarter began as expected, the end of the quarter did not align to anyone's plans. Our primary objective has been the safety and well-being of our employees. Thanks to their dedication and rapid adaptation to working under social distancing protocols, we have continued to support our customers' equipment needs as they facilitate the movement of essential goods throughout our nation's economy. The COVID-19 pandemic is sure to have a significant impact on the economy in 2020, though we have been encouraged by the relative stability of our backlog through this time,” explained Brent Yeagy, president and chief executive officer.

Liquidity as of the end of the first quarter was $277 million with cash of $155 million and available borrowings of $122 million. The company's nearest debt maturity, amounting to $135 million, is in March of 2022. Additionally, the Company's debt carries no financial covenants at present borrowing levels. 

"Over the last several years we have been preparing the company for an eventual downturn in our end markets and have taken steps to fortify our balance sheet by building cash, repaying debt and ensuring credit availability. These steps have positioned us well to successfully navigate this extraordinary time, while the continued execution of our strategic plan during this period will allow us to emerge stronger," continued Yeagy. "While we are diligently managing our cash position, the resilience we are seeing in our business allows us to maintain our dividend and evaluate opportunities for further debt reduction."

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 2020 and 2019. 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, 2020 2019 2020 2019 2020 2019
  (dollars in thousands)
New trailers shipped 8,525  12,400  625  700     
Net sales $250,975  $341,045  $82,958  $99,648  $60,270  $100,849 
Gross profit $23,843  $35,940  $15,141  $20,099  $(244) $13,524 
Gross profit margin 9.5% 10.5% 18.3% 20.2% (0.4%) 13.4%
Income (loss) from operations $15,871  $26,321  $(6,070) $8,044  $(108,041) $1,869 
Income (loss) from operations margin 6.3% 7.7% (7.3%) 8.1% (179.3%) 1.9%
Adjusted income (loss) from operations $16,248  $26,321  $4,901  $8,044  $(12,275) $1,869 
Adjusted income (loss) from operations margin 6.5% 7.7% 5.9 % 8.1% (20.4%) 1.9%

Commercial Trailer Products’ net sales for the first quarter were $251 million, a decrease of $90.1 million, or 26.4 percent as compared to the prior year quarter as a result of an anticipated normalization of market demand as well as slower customer pickups of equipment. Operating income decreased $10.5 million, or 39.7 percent, from the first quarter last year to $15.9 million as a result of volume leverage on lower revenues during the quarter.

Diversified Products’ net sales for the first quarter were $83 million, a decrease of $16.7 million, or 16.7 percent, as compared to the prior year. While the tank trailer business showed relative stability, revenue was more than offset by lower volumes in the composites business. Operating loss in the first quarter of 2020 was $6.1 million, impacted by a noncash goodwill impairment of $11.0 million during the quarter related to the 2012 acquisition of the Walker Group. Operating income on a non-GAAP adjusted basis was $4.9 million

Final Mile Products’ net sales for the first quarter totaled $60 million, a decrease of $40.6 million, or 40.2 percent, as compared to the prior year, due to slower customer pickups and softer demand compounded by COVID-19. Operating loss was $108 million after a noncash goodwill impairment charge of $95.8 million during the quarter related to the 2017 acquisition of Supreme Industries. Operating loss on a non-GAAP adjusted basis was $12.3 million due to previously anticipated manufacturing inefficiencies related to demand patterns and product mix as well as negative impacts from COVID-19.

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, adjusted operating income, adjusted net (loss) income and adjusted earnings per 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 (loss) 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, impairment, 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 (loss) income and net (loss) income, is beneficial to an investor’s understanding of the Company’s operating performance. A reconciliation of operating EBITDA to net (loss) income is included in the tables following this release.

Adjusted operating (loss) income, a non-GAAP financial measure, excludes certain costs, expenses, other charges, gains or income that are included in the determination of operating (loss) 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 (loss) 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 (loss) 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 (loss) income to operating (loss) income, the most comparable GAAP financial measure, is included in the tables following this press release.

Adjusted net (loss) income and adjusted earnings per basic (2020) or diluted (2019) share, each reflect adjustments for non-cash goodwill impairment and gains and/or losses incurred for the sale or closure of former Company locations, and the related tax effects of these adjustments. 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 (loss) income and basic (2020) and diluted (2019) net (loss) income per share, is beneficial to an investor’s understanding of the Company’s performance. A reconciliation of each of adjusted net (loss) income and adjusted earnings per basic or diluted share to net (loss) income and net (loss) income per basic or diluted share is included in the tables following this release.

First Quarter 2020 Conference Call

Wabash National will discuss its results during its quarterly investor conference call on Thursday, May 14, 2020, 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 8099552. 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 a continued or prolonged shutdown or reduction of our operations, substantially reduced customer orders or sales volumes and supply disruptions due to the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak, 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,
2020
 December 31,
2019
Assets    
Current assets:    
Cash and cash equivalents $154,587  $140,516 
Accounts receivable, net 138,215  172,737 
Inventories 245,915  186,914 
Prepaid expenses and other 38,340  41,222 
Total current assets 577,057  541,389 
Property, plant, and equipment, net 220,546  221,346 
Goodwill 204,420  311,026 
Intangible assets, net 184,332  189,898 
Other assets 39,056  40,932 
Total assets $1,225,411  $1,304,591 
Liabilities and Stockholders’ Equity    
Current liabilities:    
Current portion of long-term debt $  $ 
Current portion of finance lease obligations 332  327 
Accounts payable 148,331  134,821 
Other accrued liabilities 120,872  124,230 
Total current liabilities 269,535  259,378 
Long-term debt 500,591  455,386 
Finance lease obligations 293  378 
Deferred income taxes 34,276  37,576 
Other non-current liabilities 26,747  30,885 
Total liabilities 831,442  783,603 
Commitments and contingencies    
Stockholders’ equity:    
Common stock 200,000,000 shares authorized, $0.01 par value, 52,848,721 and 53,473,620 shares outstanding, respectively 753  750 
Additional paid-in capital 637,997  638,917 
Retained earnings 111,309  221,841 
Accumulated other comprehensive losses (9,497) (3,978)
Treasury stock at cost, 22,498,930 and 21,640,109 common shares, respectively (346,593) (336,542)
Total stockholders' equity 393,969  520,988 
Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity $1,225,411  $1,304,591 


WABASH NATIONAL CORPORATION
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
(Unaudited - dollars in thousands, except per share amounts)

  Three Months Ended March 31,
  2020 2019
Net sales $387,074  $533,174 
Cost of sales 350,331  464,484 
Gross profit 36,743  68,690 
General and administrative expenses 26,192  30,140 
Selling expenses 7,998  8,223 
Amortization of intangible assets 5,495  5,129 
Impairment 107,114   
(Loss) income from operations (110,056) 25,198 
Other income (expense):    
Interest expense (6,272) (7,090)
Other, net 120  (169)
Other expense, net (6,152) (7,259)
(Loss) income before income tax (benefit) expense (116,208) 17,939 
Income tax (benefit) expense (9,561) 3,159 
Net (loss) income $(106,647) $14,780 
     
Net (loss) income per share:    
Basic $(2.01) $0.27 
Diluted $(2.01) $0.27 
Weighted average common shares outstanding (in thousands):    
Basic 53,156  55,268 
Diluted 53,156  55,770 
     
Dividends declared per share $0.08  $0.08 


WABASH NATIONAL CORPORATION
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
(Unaudited - dollars in thousands)

  Three Months Ended March 31,
  2020 2019
Cash flows from operating activities    
Net (loss) income $(106,647) $14,780 
Adjustments to reconcile net (loss) income to net cash (used in) provided by operating activities    
Depreciation 5,624  5,420 
Amortization of intangibles 5,495  5,129 
Net gain on sale of property, plant and equipment (3) 486 
Deferred income taxes (1,849) (2,281)
Stock-based compensation (917) 2,586 
Impairment 107,114   
Non-cash interest expense 265  260 
Accounts receivable 34,522  (4,681)
Inventories (59,001) (72,576)
Prepaid expenses and other (838) (1,279)
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities 8,235  84,770 
Other, net (2,054) 1,152 
Net cash (used in) provided by operating activities $(10,054) $33,766 
Cash flows from investing activities    
Capital expenditures (6,278) (6,802)
Proceeds from the sale of property, plant, and equipment 25  29 
Net cash used in investing activities $(6,253) $(6,773)
Cash flows from financing activities    
Proceeds from exercise of stock options   55 
Dividends paid (4,482) (4,627)
Borrowings under revolving credit facilities 45,040  140 
Payments under revolving credit facilities (40) (140)
Principal payments under finance lease obligations (80) (75)
Principal payments under term loan credit facility   (470)
Debt issuance costs paid (9) (15)
Stock repurchase (10,051) (2,635)
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities $30,378  $(7,767)
Cash and cash equivalents:    
Net increase in cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash $14,071  $19,226 
Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash at beginning of period 140,516  132,690 
Cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash at end of period $154,587  $151,916 



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
2020          
New trailers shipped 8,525  625      9,150 
Used trailers shipped 35  35      70 
           
New Trailers $237,901  $43,312  $  $  $281,213 
Used Trailers 318  1,210      1,528 
Components, parts and service 9,272  26,082  3,722  (7,100) 31,976 
Equipment and other 3,484  12,354  56,548  (29) 72,357 
Total net external sales $250,975  $82,958  $60,270  $(7,129) $387,074 
Gross profit $23,843  $15,141  $(244) $(1,997) $36,743 
Income (loss) from operations $15,871  $(6,070) $(108,041) $(11,816) $(110,056)
           
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 


WABASH NATIONAL CORPORATION
SEGMENT AND COMPANY FINANCIAL INFORMATION
(Unaudited - dollars in thousands)

  Three Months Ended
March 31,
  2020 2019
Commercial Trailer Products    
Income from operations $15,871  $26,321 
Adjustments:    
Impairment 377   
Adjusted operating income $16,248  $26,321 
     
Diversified Products    
(Loss) income from operations (6,070) 8,044 
Adjustments:    
Impairment 10,971   
Adjusted operating income 4,901  8,044 
     
Final Mile Products    
(Loss) income from operations (108,041) 1,869 
Adjustments:    
Impairment 95,766   
Adjusted operating (loss) income (12,275) 1,869 
     
Corporate    
Loss from operations (11,816) (11,036)
     
Consolidated    
(Loss) income from operations (110,056) 25,198 
Adjustments:    
Impairment 107,114   
Adjusted operating (loss) income $(2,942) $25,198 


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,
  2020 2019
Net (loss) income $(106,647) $14,780 
Income tax (benefit) expense (9,561) 3,159 
Interest expense 6,272  7,090 
Depreciation and amortization 11,119  10,549 
Stock-based compensation (917) 2,586 
Impairment 107,114   
Other, net (120) 169 
Operating EBITDA $7,260  $38,333 


Adjusted Net (Loss) Income²: Three Months Ended March 31,
  2020 2019
Net (loss) income $(106,647) $14,780 
Adjustments:    
Facility transactions³   488 
Impairment 107,114   
Tax effect of aforementioned items (2,786) (126)
Adjusted net (loss) income $(2,319) $15,142 


Adjusted Basic (2020) and Diluted (2019) Earnings Per Share²: Three Months Ended March 31,
  2020 2019
Basic (2020) and diluted (2019) earnings per share $(2.01) $0.27 
Adjustments:    
Facility transactions³    
Impairment 2.02   
Tax effect of aforementioned items (0.05)  
Adjusted basic (2020) and diluted (2019) earnings per share $(0.04) $0.27 
     
Weighted average basic (2020) and diluted (2019) shares outstanding (in thousands) 53,156  55,770 

¹Operating EBITDA is defined as earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, amortization, stock-based compensation, impairment, and other non-operating income and expense.
²Adjusted net (loss) income and adjusted basic (2020) and diluted (2019) earnings per share reflect adjustments for non-cash impairment and gains and/or losses incurred for the sale or closure of former Company locations, and the related tax effects of these adjustments.
³Facility transactions in 2019 relate to gains and/or losses incurred for the sale or closure of former Company locations.


WABASH NATIONAL CORPORATION
RECONCILIATION OF FREE CASH FLOW AND
FREE CASH FLOW CONVERSION
(Unaudited - dollars in thousands)

  Three Months Ended March 31,
  2020 2019
Net cash (used in) provided by operating activities $(10,054) $33,766 
Capital expenditures (6,278) (6,802)
Free cash flow¹ $(16,332) $26,964 

¹Free cash flow is defined as net cash (used in) provided by operating activities minus capital expenditures.


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

Investor Relations:
Ryan Reed
Director, Investor Relations
(765) 490-5664
ryan.reed@wabashnational.com