Landstar System Achieves Record-Breaking Annual Performance in 2021 With Record Diluted Earnings Per Share Of $2.99 in the 2021 Fourth Quarter


JACKSONVILLE, Fla., Jan. 26, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Landstar System, Inc. (NASDAQ:LSTR) reported record quarterly revenue of $1.945 billion in the 2021 fourth quarter, a 50 percent increase over revenue of $1.296 billion in the 2020 fourth quarter. The Company also reported net income of $113.3 million, or diluted earnings per share (“DEPS”) of $2.99, in the 2021 fourth quarter compared to net income in the 2020 fourth quarter of $65.1 million, or DEPS of $1.70. It should be noted that DEPS in the 2020 fourth quarter included a one-time charge of $15.5 million, or $0.31 per diluted share, related to buyouts of certain incentive commission arrangements with several Landstar independent sales agents. Operating income grew to an all-time quarterly record of $148.7 million in the 2021 fourth quarter, compared to operating income of $84.4 million in the 2020 fourth quarter. To put the strength of our 2021 fourth quarter performance into perspective, revenue, operating income, net income and DEPS increased 50 percent, 76 percent, 74 percent and 76 percent, respectively, over the 2020 fourth quarter, which at the time represented the highest amounts achieved for each of these financial metrics in any quarter in the Company’s history.

Gross profit in the 2021 fourth quarter was $209.8 million, an all-time quarterly record, compared to $141.7 million in the 2020 fourth quarter. Variable contribution (defined as revenue less the costs of purchased transportation and commissions to agents) also reached an all-time quarterly record of $263.3 million in the 2021 fourth quarter compared to $182.4 million in the 2020 fourth quarter. A reconciliation of gross profit to variable contribution and gross profit margin to variable contribution margin for the 2021 and 2020 fourth quarters and year-to-date periods is provided in the Company’s accompanying financial disclosures.  

Trailing twelve-month return on average shareholders’ equity was 47 percent and return on invested capital, representing net income divided by the sum of average equity plus average debt, was 42 percent. During the 2021 fourth quarter, Landstar purchased approximately 417,000 shares of its common stock, bringing the total number of shares purchased in fiscal year 2021 to approximately 734,000 at an aggregate cost of $122.7 million. The Company is currently authorized to purchase up to 3,000,000 additional shares of the Company’s common stock under its previously announced share purchase programs. Landstar announced today that its Board of Directors has declared a quarterly dividend of $0.25 per share payable on March 11, 2022, to stockholders of record as of the close of business on February 14, 2022. It is currently the intention of the Board to pay dividends on a quarterly basis going forward.

Truck transportation revenue hauled by independent business capacity owners (“BCOs”) and truck brokerage carriers in the 2021 fourth quarter was $1.745 billion, or 90 percent of revenue, compared to $1.202 billion, or 93 percent of revenue, in the 2020 fourth quarter. Revenue hauled by rail, air and ocean cargo carriers was $174.6 million, or 9 percent of revenue, in the 2021 fourth quarter compared to approximately $75.7 million, or 6 percent of revenue, in the 2020 fourth quarter.

Truckload transportation revenue hauled via van equipment in the 2021 fourth quarter was $1.024 billion, an increase of 45 percent compared to $706.7 million in the 2020 fourth quarter.   Truckload transportation revenue hauled via unsided/platform equipment in the 2021 fourth quarter was $436.7 million, an increase of 40 percent compared to $311.3 million in the 2020 fourth quarter.   Other truck transportation revenue, which includes power only, expedited, straight truck, cargo van and miscellaneous other truck transportation revenue, in the 2021 fourth quarter was $252.4 million, an increase of 61 percent compared to $157.1 million in the 2020 fourth quarter.  

“Following a record-breaking 2021 third quarter, the 2021 fourth quarter once again reset the standard as the best quarterly financial performance in Landstar history. 2021 fourth quarter revenue, gross profit, variable contribution, net income and diluted earnings per share each set all-time quarterly records,” said Landstar President and CEO Jim Gattoni. “Our load volume hauled by truck in the 2021 fourth quarter grew 22 percent compared to the 2020 fourth quarter, which at the time was the highest quarterly load volume hauled by truck in Landstar history. Additionally, fourth quarter truck loadings increased from the 2021 third quarter by 7 percent, the largest ever increase in truck loadings from the third quarter to a 13-week fourth quarter in Landstar history. Our 2021 fourth quarter performance was particularly impressive considering we were following an already record-setting third quarter, and, in most years, load volume hauled by truck stays relatively flat sequentially from the third quarter to the fourth quarter. We attribute this unseasonal increase in volume to ongoing, broad-based demand for freight transportation services, with particular strength in sectors benefiting from consumer spending that, similar to the rest of 2021, continued to be a big driver of freight activity.”

Gattoni continued, “In our 2021 third quarter earnings release on October 20, 2021, we provided fourth quarter revenue and diluted earnings per share guidance. We updated that initial guidance on November 30, 2021, via a Form 8-K filed with the SEC that revised our initial guidance upwards based on trends in volume and rates through the first eight weeks of the fourth quarter. Based on our expectations for volume and pricing on loads hauled by truck, our November 30th updated guidance anticipated that revenue would be in the range of $1.85 billion to $1.90 billion and diluted earnings per share would be in the range of $2.83 to $2.93. Actual 2021 fourth quarter revenue was $1.945 billion and DEPS was $2.99, each exceeding the top end of our November 30th updated guidance ranges. The revenue upside to our updated guidance was entirely due to continued strength in revenue generated by ocean and air cargo carriers. The DEPS performance above our updated guidance was attributable to higher than anticipated revenue and approximately a $0.04 DEPS benefit generated by a slightly lower than anticipated effective income tax rate.”

Gattoni continued, “As we look to the 2022 first quarter, we anticipate continued solid performance on the expectation that ongoing capacity constraints will support a strong freight environment in the near term. The strength in revenue per load on loads hauled via truck and the number of loads hauled via truck experienced in 2021 has continued into the first few weeks of January. Typically, revenue in the first quarter is expected to be lower than the revenue of the immediately preceding fourth quarter. Regardless, I expect the strong trends in revenue per load and loads hauled via truck to continue as we move through the remainder of the 2022 first quarter. As such, I expect revenue per load on loads hauled via truck to increase 14 to 17 percent and loads hauled via truck to increase by 12 to 14 percent, respectively, in the 2022 first quarter over the 2021 first quarter. Given those assumptions, I anticipate revenue for the 2022 first quarter to be in a range of $1.70 billion to $1.75 billion.   Based on that range of revenue and assuming insurance and claims costs of 4.2 percent of BCO revenue and an effective income tax rate of 22.4 percent, which represents the Company’s annual estimated effective income tax rate of 24.2 percent, net of a discrete item related to equity compensation specific to the 2022 first quarter, I anticipate diluted earnings per share to be in a range of $2.70 to $2.80 in the 2022 first quarter.”

Gattoni continued, “Landstar’s financial performance in fiscal year 2021 was by far the best in the Company’s history. Revenue in fiscal 2021 was approximately $6.5 billion, an annual record, and was approximately $1.9 billion higher than the previous record set in 2018. Gross profit and variable contribution in 2021 were $721 million and $916 million, respectively, both also representing new annual records. Operating income in 2021 was an annual record of $506 million and represented year-over-year growth of 100 percent. Diluted earnings per share in 2021 was an annual record of $9.98, an increase of $3.80, or 61 percent from our prior fiscal year record of $6.18 in 2018. The Company also established numerous operational high-water marks in fiscal year 2021 on the strength of over 2.4 million loads hauled via truck capacity, the highest number of loads hauled via truck in any year in Landstar history. We ended 2021 with a year-end record number of trucks provided by BCOs and a record approved third-party truck brokerage carrier count.”

Gattoni concluded, “These 2021 achievements speak to the strength and depth of the Landstar network, the ability of the Company and our agents to profitably scale operations to handle significantly higher volumes, and the power of our unique capacity network to execute.  I am extremely pleased by our continued organic load volume growth and our ability to attract productive agents and capacity to the network. Landstar’s performance in 2021 was truly remarkable, and we now enter 2022 with a sense of accomplishment, looking forward to another exciting year for the Company, its employees, and the thousands of business owners who participate in the Landstar network.”

Landstar will provide a live webcast of its quarterly earnings conference call tomorrow morning at 8:00 a.m. ET. To access the webcast, visit the Company’s website at www.landstar.com; click on “Investor Relations” and “Webcasts,” then click on “Landstar’s Fourth Quarter 2021 Earnings Release Conference Call.”

About Landstar:
Landstar System, Inc. is a worldwide, technology-enabled, asset-light provider of integrated transportation management solutions delivering safe, specialized transportation services to a broad range of customers utilizing a network of agents, third-party capacity providers and employees. Landstar transportation services companies are certified to ISO 9001:2015 quality management system standards and RC14001:2015 environmental, health, safety and security management system standards. Landstar System, Inc. is headquartered in Jacksonville, Florida. Its common stock trades on The NASDAQ Stock Market® under the symbol LSTR.

Non-GAAP Financial Measures:
In this earnings release and accompanying financial disclosures, the Company provides the following information that may be deemed a non-GAAP financial measure: variable contribution and variable contribution margin. The Company believes variable contribution and variable contribution margin are useful measures of the variable costs that we incur at a shipment-by-shipment level attributable to our transportation network of third-party capacity providers and independent agents in order to provide services to our customers. The Company also believes that it is appropriate to present each of the financial measures that may be deemed a non-GAAP financial measure, as referred to above, for the following reasons: (1) disclosure of these matters will allow investors to better understand the underlying trends in the Company’s financial condition and results of operations; (2) this information will facilitate comparisons by investors of the Company’s results as compared to the results of peer companies; and (3) management considers this financial information in its decision making.

Forward Looking Statements Disclaimer:
The following is a “safe harbor” statement under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Statements contained in this press release that are not based on historical facts are “forward-looking statements”. This press release contains forward-looking statements, such as statements which relate to Landstar’s business objectives, plans, strategies and expectations. Terms such as “anticipates,” “believes,” “estimates,” “intention,” “expects,” “plans,” “predicts,” “may,” “should,” “could,” “will,” the negative thereof and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. Such statements are by nature subject to uncertainties and risks, including but not limited to: the impact of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic; an increase in the frequency or severity of accidents or other claims; unfavorable development of existing accident claims; dependence on third party insurance companies; dependence on independent commission sales agents; dependence on third party capacity providers; decreased demand for transportation services; substantial industry competition; disruptions or failures in the Company’s computer systems; cyber and other information security incidents; dependence on key vendors; changes in fuel taxes; status of independent contractors; regulatory and legislative changes; regulations focused on diesel emissions and other air quality matters; catastrophic loss of a Company facility; intellectual property; and other operational, financial or legal risks or uncertainties detailed in Landstar’s Form 10K for the 2020 fiscal year, described in Item 1A Risk Factors, and in other SEC filings from time to time. These risks and uncertainties could cause actual results or events to differ materially from historical results or those anticipated. Investors should not place undue reliance on such forward-looking statements, and the Company undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements.


Landstar System, Inc. and Subsidiary
Consolidated Statements of Income
(Dollars in thousands, except per share amounts)
(Unaudited)
             
      Fiscal Years Ended Fiscal Quarters Ended
      December 25, December 26, December 25, December 26,
      2021 2020 2021 2020
             
Revenue   $6,537,568 $4,132,981 $1,945,017 $1,296,355
Investment income   2,857  3,399  719  683
             
Costs and expenses:         
 Purchased transportation  5,114,667  3,192,850  1,531,470  1,009,707
 Commissions to agents  507,209  340,780  150,212  104,290
 Other operating costs, net of gains on asset sales/dispositions  36,531  30,463  9,414  7,428
 Insurance and claims   105,463  87,773  30,265  21,210
 Selling, general and administrative  221,278  167,633  62,558  42,854
 Depreciation and amortization  49,609  45,855  13,077  11,643
 Impairment of intangible and other assets  -  2,582  -  -
 Commission program termination costs  -  15,494  -  15,494
             
  Total costs and expenses  6,034,757  3,883,430  1,796,996  1,212,626
             
Operating income   505,668  252,950  148,740  84,412
Interest and debt expense  3,976  3,953  1,002  1,017
             
Income before income taxes  501,692  248,997  147,738  83,395
Income taxes    120,168  56,891  34,423  18,324
             
Net income   $381,524 $192,106 $113,315 $65,071
             
Diluted earnings per share $9.98 $4.98 $2.99 $1.70
             
Average diluted shares outstanding  38,235,000  38,602,000  37,917,000  38,389,000
             
Dividends per common share $2.92 $2.79 $2.25 $2.21
             


Landstar System, Inc. and Subsidiary
Consolidated Balance Sheets
(Dollars in thousands, except per share amounts)
(Unaudited)
          
       December 25, December 26,
        2021   2020 
ASSETS       
Current assets:      
 Cash and cash equivalents  $215,522  $249,354 
 Short-term investments   35,778   41,375 
 Trade accounts receivable, less allowance   
  of $7,074 and $8,670   1,154,314   764,169 
 Other receivables, including advances to independent   
  contractors, less allowance of $8,125 and $7,239 101,124   134,757 
 Other current assets   16,162   18,520 
  Total current assets   1,522,900   1,208,175 
          
Operating property, less accumulated depreciation   
   and amortization of $344,099 and $299,407 317,386   296,996 
Goodwill     40,768   40,949 
Other assets    164,411   107,679 
Total assets   $2,045,465  $1,653,799 
          
LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY   
Current liabilities:     
 Cash overdraft  $116,478  $74,748 
 Accounts payable   604,130   380,505 
 Current maturities of long-term debt 36,561   35,415 
 Insurance claims   46,896   149,774 
 Dividends payable   75,387   76,770 
 Other current liabilities   130,531   88,925 
  Total current liabilities   1,009,983   806,137 
          
Long-term debt, excluding current maturities 75,243   65,359 
Insurance claims   49,509   38,867 
Deferred income taxes and other non-current liabilities 48,720   51,601 
          
Shareholders' equity:     
 Common stock, $0.01 par value, authorized 160,000,000   
  shares, issued 68,232,975 and 68,183,702 682   682 
 Additional paid-in capital   255,148   228,875 
 Retained earnings   2,317,184   2,046,238 
 Cost of 30,539,235 and 29,797,639 shares of common   
  stock in treasury   (1,705,601)  (1,581,961)
 Accumulated other comprehensive loss (5,403)  (1,999)
  Total shareholders' equity   862,010   691,835 
Total liabilities and shareholders' equity$2,045,465  $1,653,799 
          


 Landstar System, Inc. and Subsidiary
 Supplemental Information
 (Unaudited)
             
     Fiscal Years Ended  Fiscal Quarters Ended
     December 25, December 26,  December 25, December 26,
      2021   2020    2021   2020 
Revenue generated through (in thousands):         
             
 Truck transportation         
  Truckload:         
   Van equipment $3,525,830  $2,192,254   $1,023,805  $706,702 
   Unsided/platform equipment  1,549,037   1,119,272    436,679   311,306 
  Less-than-truckload  117,505   97,546    31,954   26,562 
      770,846   406,709    252,374   157,124 
   Total truck transportation  5,963,218   3,815,781    1,744,812   1,201,694 
 Rail intermodal  159,974   114,313    39,434   32,566 
 Ocean and air cargo carriers  327,160   132,180    135,209   43,178 
      87,216   70,707    25,562   18,917 
     $6,537,568  $4,132,981   $1,945,017  $1,296,355 
             
             
  included in total truck transportation $2,612,188  $1,866,526   $712,875  $554,523 
             
Number of loads:         
             
 Truck transportation         
  Truckload:         
   Van equipment  1,422,734   1,141,261    385,218   318,839 
   Unsided/platform equipment  521,891   458,550    140,297   119,854 
  Less-than-truckload  183,975   163,024    48,937   43,491 
      300,710   206,305    92,308   64,636 
   Total truck transportation  2,429,310   1,969,140    666,760   546,820 
 Rail intermodal  52,310   46,280    11,890   12,870 
 Ocean and air cargo carriers  41,450   31,900    11,800   9,180 
      2,523,070   2,047,320    690,450   568,870 
             
             
  included in total truck transportation  1,039,630   945,210    266,360   251,350 
             
Revenue per load:         
             
 Truck transportation         
  Truckload:         
   Van equipment $2,478  $1,921   $2,658  $2,216 
   Unsided/platform equipment  2,968   2,441    3,113   2,597 
  Less-than-truckload  639   598    653   611 
      2,563   1,971    2,734   2,431 
   Total truck transportation  2,455   1,938    2,617   2,198 
 Rail intermodal  3,058   2,470    3,317   2,530 
 Ocean and air cargo carriers  7,893   4,144    11,458   4,703 
             
     $2,513  $1,975   $2,676  $2,206 
             
Revenue by capacity type (as a % of total revenue):         
             
 Truck capacity providers:         
      40%  45%   37%  43%
  Truck Brokerage Carriers  51%  47%   53%  50%
 Rail intermodal  2%  3%   2%  3%
 Ocean and air cargo carriers  5%  3%   7%  3%
 Other   1%  2%   1%  1%
             
             
          December 25, December 26,
           2021   2020 
Truck Capacity Providers         
             
           11,057   10,242 
 Truck Brokerage Carriers:         
           64,476   46,053 
      Other approved       25,870   22,972 
           90,346   69,025 
 Total available truck capacity providers       101,403   79,267 
             
           11,864   10,991 
             
(1) Includes power-only, expedited, straight truck, cargo van, and miscellaneous other truck transportation revenue generated by the transportation logistics segment. Power-only refers to shipments
             
(2) Includes primarily reinsurance premium revenue generated by the insurance segment and intra-Mexico transportation services revenue generated by Landstar Metro.
             
(3) BCO Independent Contractors are independent contractors who provide truck capacity to the Company under exclusive lease arrangements.  
             
(4) Active refers to Truck Brokerage Carriers who moved at least one load in the 180 days immediately preceding the fiscal quarter end.  
             


Landstar System, Inc. and Subsidiary
Reconciliation of Gross Profit to Variable Contribution
(Dollars in thousands)
(Unaudited)
             
      Fiscal Years Ended Fiscal Quarters Ended
      December 25, December 26, December 25, December 26,
       2021   2020   2021   2020 
             
Revenue   $6,537,568  $4,132,981  $1,945,017  $1,296,355 
             
Costs of revenue:         
  Purchased transportation  5,114,667   3,192,850   1,531,470   1,009,707 
  Commissions to agents  507,209   340,780   150,212   104,290 
             
 Variable costs of revenue  5,621,876   3,533,630   1,681,682   1,113,997 
             
  Trailing equipment depreciation  35,204   34,892   8,842   8,550 
  Information technology costs (1)  13,560   9,791   4,026   2,770 
  Insurance-related costs (2)  109,387   90,778   31,212   21,939 
  Other operating costs  36,531   30,463   9,414   7,428 
             
 Other costs of revenue  194,682   165,924   53,494   40,687 
             
 Total costs of revenue  5,816,558   3,699,554   1,735,176   1,154,684 
             
Gross profit   $721,010  $433,427  $209,841  $141,671 
             
Gross profit margin   11.0%  10.5%  10.8%  10.9%
             
 Plus: other costs of revenue  194,682   165,924   53,494   40,687 
             
Variable contribution  $915,692  $599,351  $263,335  $182,358 
             
Variable contribution margin  14.0%  14.5%  13.5%  14.1%
             
(1)Includes costs of revenue incurred related to internally developed software including ASC 350-40 amortization, implementation costs, hosting costs and other support costs utilized to support the Company's independent commission sales agents, third party capacity providers, and customers, included as a portion of depreciation and amortization and of selling, general and administrative in the Company's Consolidated Statements of Income.
             
(2)Primarily includes (i) insurance premiums paid for commercial auto liability, general liability, cargo and other lines of coverage related to the transportation of freight; (ii) the related cost of claims incurred under those programs; and (iii) brokerage commissions and other fees incurred relating to the administration of insurance programs available to BCO Independent Contractors that are reinsured by the Company, which are included in selling, general and administrative in the Company's Consolidated Statements of Income.

 

Contact Data