SAIA | Saia, Inc. Reports Third Quarter 2009 ResultsOctober 23,

Jack Knife

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Saia, Inc. Reports Third Quarter 2009 ResultsOctober 23, 2009 7:30 AM ET advertisement

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Third Quarter 2009 Compared to Third Quarter 2008 Results from Continuing Operations

Revenues were $222 million, a decrease of 19 percent from the prior year quarter. Operating income was $7.8 million compared to operating income of $7.5 million in the prior year quarter. Results included $8.4 million in reduced expenses due to a change in vacation policy. Earnings per share were $0.24 vs. earnings per share of $0.21 in the prior year quarter. Operating ratio was 96.5 vs. 97.3 in the prior year quarter. LTL tonnage was down 4.4 percent from the prior year quarter as LTL shipments per workday were down 2.3 percent with a 2.2 percent decrease in weight per shipment. LTL yield was down 14.2 percent from the prior year quarter primarily due to the impact of reduced fuel surcharges and competitive pricing. “As in prior periods, our results continue to be affected by a weak shipping environment and lower yields driven by continued pricing pressure. The quarterly results included favorable effects from our change in vacation policy as well as other prudent cost actions taken this year such as multiple reductions in force, a salary and wage reduction and other cost control measures. Unfavorable costs in the quarter included workers’ compensation and group health insurance. We continue to address the challenging environment by taking aggressive actions to control costs and improve productivity through focused engineered initiatives,” said Rick O’Dell, president and chief executive officer.

“While our results remain affected by the economy and overcapacity in the industry, we continue to focus on Saia specific initiatives to improve customer service, invest in technology to enhance efficiency and take prudent balance sheet management actions. We believe that Saia is taking the appropriate measures to be well positioned to take advantage of any future industry consolidations and improvements in the economy. Saia’s dedicated employees remain focused on cost efficiencies to improve profits while providing a strong customer experience delivering over 97% on-time service again this quarter,” O’Dell said.

Year to Date 2009 Compared to Year to Date 2008 Results from Continuing Operations

Revenues were $647 million compared to $800 million in the prior year period. Operating loss was $100 thousand compared to operating income of $20.4 million in the prior year period. Net loss was $4.7 million compared to net income of $8.3 million in the prior year period. Losses per share were $0.36 compared to earnings per share of $0.61 in the prior year period. Financial Position and Capital Expenditures

Total debt was $116.3 million at September 30, 2009. Net of the Company’s $18.2 million cash balance at quarter-end, net debt to total capital was 35.2 percent. Total debt has been reduced by $20.1 million during the first nine months from $136.4 million at December 31, 2008.

Net capital expenditures for the first nine months of 2009 were $6.2 million. This compares to $20.5 million in the prior year period. The Company is planning net capital expenditures in 2009 of approximately $10 million. This reduced level is due to the uncertain economic environment and will be reevaluated as tonnage improves.

Conference Call

The Company will hold a conference call to discuss these results today at 11:00 a.m. Eastern Time. To participate in the call, please dial 1-877-558-9192 or dial 706-758-1748 for international calls and using conference ID #34026406. Callers should dial in five to 10 minutes in advance of the conference call. This call will be webcast live via the Company web site at Saia Inc. LTL Carrier and will be archived on the site. A replay of the call will be available two hours after the completion of the call through October 30, 2009. The replay is available by dialing 1-800-642-1687 or 706-645-9291.

The webcast is also being distributed through the Thomson StreetEvents Network. Individual investors can listen to the call at www.earnings.com, Thomson’s individual investor portal, powered by StreetEvents. Institutional investors can access the call via Thomson StreetEvents (www.streetevents.com), a password-protected event management site.

Saia, Inc. SAIA is a less-than-truckload provider of regional, interregional and guaranteed services covering 34 states. With headquarters in Georgia and a network of 148 terminals, Saia employs 7,700 people. For more information, visit the Investor Relations section at Saia Inc. LTL Carrier.

The Securities and Exchange Commission encourages companies to disclose forward-looking information so that investors can better understand the future prospects of a company and make informed investment decisions. This news release contains these types of statements, which are "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995.

Words such as “anticipate,” “estimate,” “expect,” “project,” “intend,” “may,” “plan,” “predict,” “believe,” “should” and similar words or expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. Investors should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements, and the Company undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements.

All forward-looking statements reflect the present expectation of future events of our management and are subject to a number of important factors, risks, uncertainties and assumptions that could cause actual results to differ materially from those described in any forward-looking statements. These factors and risks include, but are not limited to, general economic conditions including downturns in the business cycle; the creditworthiness of our customers and their ability to pay for services; competitive initiatives and pricing pressures, including in connection with fuel surcharge; the Company’s need for capital and uncertainty of the current credit markets; the possibility of defaults under the Company’s debt agreements (including violation of financial covenants); the possibility that a reduction of our credit rating would result in an increase in interest rates; potential issuance of equity which would dilute stock ownership; indemnification obligations associated with the 2006 sale of Jevic Transportation, Inc.; the effect of ongoing litigation including class action lawsuits; cost and availability of qualified drivers, fuel, purchased transportation, property, revenue equipment and other operating assets; governmental regulations, including but not limited to Hours of Service, engine emissions, compliance with legislation requiring companies to evaluate their internal control over financial reporting, changes in interpretation of accounting principles and Homeland Security; dependence on key employees; inclement weather; labor relations, including the adverse impact should a portion of the Company’s workforce become unionized; effectiveness of company-specific performance improvement initiatives; terrorism risks; self-insurance claims and other expense volatility; and other financial, operational and legal risks and uncertainties detailed from time to time in the Company’s SEC filings.


Saia, Inc.

Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets

(Amounts in thousands)

(Unaudited)

September 30, December 31,
2009 2008
ASSETS

CURRENT ASSETS:
Cash and cash equivalents $ 18,203 $ 27,061
Accounts receivable, net 97,444 93,691
Prepaid expenses and other 41,546 35,282
Total current assets 157,193 156,034

PROPERTY AND EQUIPMENT:
Cost 617,323 615,212
Less: accumulated depreciation 284,593 259,410
Net property and equipment 332,730 355,802

OTHER ASSETS 6,618 3,916
Total assets $ 496,541 $ 515,752

LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY

CURRENT LIABILITIES:
Accounts payable $ 51,164 $ 46,572
Wages and employees' benefits 25,718 28,148
Other current liabilities 43,522 43,262
Current portion of long-term debt 17,500 28,899
Total current liabilities 137,904 146,881

OTHER LIABILITIES:
Long-term debt, less current portion 98,750 107,500
Deferred income taxes 50,967 50,584
Claims, insurance and other 28,367 27,215
Total other liabilities 178,084 185,299

SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY:
Common stock 14 14
Additional paid-in capital 175,770 174,079
Deferred compensation trust (2,723 ) (2,757 )
Retained earnings 7,492 12,236
Total shareholders' equity 180,553 183,572
Total liabilities and shareholders' equity $ 496,541 $ 515,752


Saia, Inc.

Consolidated Statements of Operations

For the Quarters and Nine Months Ended September 30, 2009 and 2008

(Amounts in thousands, except per share data)

(Unaudited)

Third Quarter Nine Months
2009 2008 2009 2008

OPERATING REVENUE $ 222,205 $ 274,181 $ 646,740 $ 799,560

OPERATING EXPENSES:
Salaries, wages and employees' benefits 118,053 139,745 371,367 409,963
Purchased transportation 18,004 21,026 49,370 61,714
Fuel, operating expenses and supplies 52,340 78,895 145,560 225,308
Operating taxes and licenses 8,905 8,970 26,757 27,015
Claims and insurance 7,343 7,824 24,017 24,743
Depreciation and amortization 9,797 10,299 29,819 30,841
Operating (gains) loss, net 11 (112 ) (50 ) (410 )
Total operating expenses 214,453 266,647 646,840 779,174

OPERATING INCOME (LOSS) 7,752 7,534 (100 ) 20,386

NONOPERATING EXPENSES:
Interest expense 3,053 2,892 8,369 9,180
Other, net (106 ) 155 (160 ) 222
Nonoperating expenses, net 2,947 3,047 8,209 9,402

INCOME (LOSS) BEFORE INCOME TAXES 4,805 4,487 (8,309 ) 10,984
Income tax expense (benefit) 1,513 1,592 (3,565 ) 2,718
INCOME (LOSS) FROM CONTINUING OPERATIONS 3,292 2,895 (4,744 ) 8,266
Loss from discontinued operations, net – (123 ) – (994 )
NET INCOME (LOSS) $ 3,292 $ 2,772 $ (4,744 ) $ 7,272

Average common shares outstanding - basic 13,363 13,328 13,351 13,306
Average common shares outstanding - diluted 13,867 13,561 13,351 13,528

Basic earnings (loss) per share-continuing operations $ 0.25 $ 0.22 $ (0.36 ) $ 0.62
Basic loss per share-discontinued operations – (0.01 ) – (0.07 )
Basic earnings (loss) per share $ 0.25 $ 0.21 $ (0.36 ) $ 0.55

Diluted earnings (loss) per share-continuing operations $ 0.24 $ 0.21 $ (0.36 ) $ 0.61
Diluted loss per share-discontinued operations – (0.01 ) – (0.07 )
Diluted earnings (loss) per share $ 0.24 $ 0.20 $ (0.36 ) $ 0.54


Saia, Inc.

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows

For the Nine Months Ended September 30, 2009 and 2008

(Amounts in thousands)

(Unaudited)

2009 2008

OPERATING ACTIVITIES:
Net cash provided by operating activities - continuing operations $ 23,413 $ 56,627
Net cash from (used in) discontinued operations (3,444 ) 12,868
Net cash provided by operating activities 19,969 69,495

INVESTING ACTIVITIES:
Acquisition of property and equipment (6,812 ) (21,908 )
Proceeds from disposal of property and equipment 579 1,397
Net cash used in investing activities (6,233 ) (20,511 )

FINANCING ACTIVITIES:
Proceeds from long-term debt – 25,000
Repayment of long-term debt (20,250 ) (60,094 )
Payment of debt issuance costs (2,638 ) –
Proceeds from stock option exercises 294 588
Net cash used in financing activities (22,594 ) (34,506 )

NET INCREASE (DECREASE) IN CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS (8,858 ) 14,478
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS, BEGINNING OF PERIOD 27,061 6,656
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS, END OF PERIOD $ 18,203 $ 21,134


Saia, Inc.
Financial Information
For the Quarters Ended September 30, 2009 and 2008
(Amounts in thousands)
(Unaudited)

Third Quarter
Third Quarter % Amount/Workday %
2009 2008 Change 2009 2008 Change

Workdays 64 64

Operating ratio 96.5 97.3

F/S Revenue LTL 208,062 254,134 (18.1 ) 3,251.0 3,970.8 (18.1 )
TL 14,143 20,047 (29.4 ) 221.0 313.2 (29.4 )
Total 222,205 274,181 (19.0 ) 3,472.0 4,284.1 (19.0 )


Revenue excluding LTL 207,940 253,610 (18.0 ) 3,249.1 3,962.7 (18.0 )
revenue recognition TL 14,135 20,005 (29.3 ) 220.9 312.6 (29.3 )
adjustment Total 222,075 273,615 (18.8 ) 3,469.9 4,275.2 (18.8 )

Tonnage LTL 912 955 (4.4 ) 14.26 14.92 (4.4 )
TL 162 192 (15.8 ) 2.53 3.00 (15.8 )
Total 1,074 1,147 (6.3 ) 16.79 17.92 (6.3 )

Shipments LTL 1,687 1,726 (2.3 ) 26.36 26.97 (2.3 )
TL 23 26 (12.5 ) 0.36 0.41 (12.5 )
Total 1,710 1,752 (2.4 ) 26.71 27.38 (2.4 )

Revenue/cwt. LTL 11.39 13.28 (14.2 )
TL 4.37 5.21 (16.1 )
Total 10.34 11.93 (13.4 )

Revenue/shipment LTL 123.27 146.93 (16.1 )
TL 616.69 763.92 (19.3 )
Total 129.89 156.15 (16.8 )

Pounds/shipment LTL 1,082 1,106 (2.2 )
TL 14,121 14,672 (3.8 )
Total 1,257 1,309 (4.0 )
 
It will be interesting to see 1st quarter results of these companies in 2010, when they can no longer that take from their employees, and really have to show results. Its not just SAIA doing this I lot of other companies and industries are doing it also. I hope the stock market doesn' t take another crash.
 
The taking will continue until truck drivers are pushed down to minimum wage, rules and regulations will be changed to fit the "new" drivers (unqualified), government regulations will be relaxed and companies start to make money. Will it ever return to the good old days of making a good living in exchange of 8 to 12 hours of your day? That's yet to be seen. Right now we have to deal with the corporate bosses trying to stay in the game. I personally don't think I would go back to a corporate entity. I quite enjoy the benefits of a job with a small business person. I have had to make some serious concessions but I can't see trading them for a job that is threatened everyday. Not everyone is able to make the changes in their life that we have made, and some simply would not do it. To the first group I say do what you have to do. To the second group I say it's your life, you live it as you want. Everybody has a reason for what they do, be it money, family, health, or just satisfaction. Whatever yours is, hang in there. Better times are coming whether we see them or not. Better times are coming.
 
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