EX-99.1 3 dex991.htm PRESS RELEASE DATED FEBRUARY 4, 2003 Press Release dated February 4, 2003

Exhibit 99.1

 

 

C.H. Robinson Worldwide, Inc.

8100 Mitchell Road, Suite 200

Eden Prairie, Minnesota 55344

 

Chad Lindbloom, vp and chief financial officer (952) 937-7779

Angie Freeman, investor relations (952) 937-7847

 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

 

C.H. ROBINSON REPORTS FOURTH QUARTER RESULTS

Income From Operations Up 17.4 Percent For the Quarter

 

MINNEAPOLIS, February 4, 2003 — C.H. Robinson Worldwide, Inc. (“C.H. Robinson”) (Nasdaq:CHRW), today reported financial results for the three months and twelve months ended December 31, 2002.

 

For the fourth quarter of 2002, gross profit increased 12.0 percent to $125.5 million from $112.1 million in 2001. Income from operations increased 17.4 percent to $39.4 million from $33.6 million in 2001. Net income increased 18.2 percent to $24.3 million from $20.6 million in 2001. Basic net income per share increased 20.8 percent to $0.29 from $0.24 per share in 2001. Diluted net income per share increased 16.7 percent to $0.28 from $0.24 per share in 2001. The results from the fourth quarter of 2002 include a previously disclosed $4.25 million charge with respect to a lawsuit settlement.

 

For 2002, gross profit increased 6.0 percent to $483.8 million from $456.6 million in 2001. Income from operations increased 16.6 percent to $156.6 million from $134.3 million in 2001. Net income increased 14.7 percent to $96.3 million from $84.0 million in 2001. Basic net income per share increased 14.0 percent to $1.14 from $1.00 per share in 2001. Diluted net income per share increased 14.3 percent to $1.12 from $0.98 per share in 2001. The results for the year 2002 include a previously disclosed $4.25 million charge with respect to a lawsuit settlement.

 

“We’re very pleased to have returned to double-digit gross profit growth this quarter, despite the continuing challenges of the economy,” said John P. Wiehoff, chief executive officer of C.H. Robinson. “Our strong results reflect the successes our branch offices have had aggressively selling and marketing through this difficult period. In addition, we believe the normal seasonal tightness of the truckload capacity market benefited us as we gained additional spot market business. While there remains a lot of uncertainty in the operating environment, we’re hoping to maintain double-digit revenue growth in the coming year, and business activity in the month of January showed growth trends comparable to the fourth quarter of 2002. We’re confident that our long-term growth strategy, supported by our flexible, variable-cost business model, will put us in a strong competitive position for the future.”

 

For the fourth quarter, Transportation gross profit increased 12.3 percent. The increase in our truck transportation business of 12.3 percent was driven by volume growth in both truckload and less-than-truckload shipments. Gross profit per transaction in our truckload business declined due to rising costs of capacity. During the fourth quarter of 2002, we experienced tight truckload

 

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C.H. Robinson Worldwide, Inc.

February 4, 2003

Page 2

 

 

capacity in many North American markets, leading to less margin per load than a year ago. Growth in load volumes was driven by increased spot market freight opportunities, which is typical during periods of tight truck capacity as motor carriers find it difficult to cover all of their load commitments.

 

Our intermodal gross profit growth in the fourth quarter of 2002 was the result of increased volumes. Our growth in intermodal was driven by shippers’ focus on cost savings and our aggressive sales efforts to further penetrate the market. Gross profit per transaction in our third-party intermodal business was down slightly, due largely to the mix of freight.

 

Our air and ocean business combined declined 8.9 percent this quarter compared to the fourth quarter of 2001. In the fourth quarter of 2001, volumes for a few customers increased significantly due to their promotional activities. Those promotions did not occur in the fourth quarter of 2002, impacting our volume growth. Overall, we have added many new, smaller customers that have helped our international forwarding growth and will be important as our international business grows.

 

Miscellaneous transportation gross profit consists of customs brokerage fees, transportation management fees, warehouse and cross-dock services, and other miscellaneous transportation related services. The increase of 16.9 percent in the fourth quarter was driven by an increase in both customs brokerage business and in transportation management fees.

 

For the fourth quarter of 2002, Sourcing gross profit increased 0.9 percent. We are experiencing a transition in the customer base of our Sourcing business, which is primarily the buying and selling of fresh fruits and vegetables. We continue to see increases in volume and gross profit with large retailers, offset by the trend of less volume with our traditional business with produce wholesalers.

 

Information Services is comprised entirely of our subsidiary, T-Chek Systems. For the fourth quarter of 2002, Information Services gross profit increased 28.2 percent, primarily due to significant transaction growth. Changes in industry pricing, including growth in transaction fees charged to truckstops, also contributed to gross profit growth.

 

Our consolidated headcount increased by 63 to 3,814 during the fourth quarter of 2002. Personnel expense, as a percentage of gross profit, decreased in the fourth quarter of 2002 compared to the fourth quarter of 2001. While our compensation system is largely variable cost, pay-for-performance, we do have some fixed personnel costs that have not grown as fast as gross profit growth.

 

For the quarter, selling, general, and administrative expenses were $26.2 million, an increase of 16.3 percent from $22.5 million in 2001. We recorded a charge of $4.25 million in the fourth quarter of 2002 related to a previously disclosed lawsuit settlement, covering the first of three wrongful death lawsuits stemming from an accident in 1999. Our insurance carriers settled the second of these lawsuits without a contribution from us. Amortization of certain intangible assets has been eliminated due to new accounting rules, which reduced amortization expense by $1.3

 

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C.H. Robinson Worldwide, Inc.

February 4, 2003

Page 3

 

 

million in the fourth quarter of 2002. Excluding the lawsuit charge and the amortization change, selling, general, and administrative expenses in the fourth quarter of 2002 increased 3.5 percent, but decreased as a percentage of gross profit. This was due to declines in communications costs and credit and finance expense, along with slower growth in travel and occupancy expenses. Absent any major acquisitions or unforeseen changes to our business or the environment we operate in, we believe our annual operating expenses, in relation to gross profit, are at a sustainable level.

 

Founded in 1905, C.H. Robinson Worldwide, Inc., is one of the largest third-party logistics companies in North America. C.H. Robinson is a global provider of multimodal transportation services and logistics solutions, serving 15,000 customers through a network of 150 offices in North America, South America, Europe and Asia. C.H. Robinson maintains one of the single largest networks of motor carrier capacity in North America through contracts with more than 20,000 motor carriers, and is one of the largest third-party providers of intermodal services in the United States.

 

Except for the historical information contained herein, the matters set forth in this release are forward-looking statements which are based on certain assumptions and expectations of future events. These assumptions and expectations are dependent on and subject to certain risks and uncertainties including, but not limited to such factors as market demand, pricing, and risks associated with litigation and insurance coverage, and risks associated with operations outside of the U.S., changing economic conditions such as general economic slowdown and decreased consumer confidence, war, and other risk factors detailed under “Cautionary Statement” in Exhibit 99 to C.H. Robinson’s Annual Report on Form 10-K filed on March 15, 2002.

 

 

 

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C.H. Robinson Worldwide, Inc.

February 4, 2003

Page 4

 

 

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME

 

(In thousands, except per share data)

    

Three months ended

  

Twelve months ended

 
    

December 31,


  

December 31,


 
    

2002


  

2001


  

2002


    

2001


 

Gross revenues and management fees

  

$

839,477

  

$

776,377

  

$

3,294,473

 

  

$

3,090,072

 

    

  

  


  


Gross profits:

                               

Transportation:

                               

Truck

  

$

94,678

  

$

84,309

  

$

361,353

 

  

$

347,991

 

Intermodal

  

 

6,141

  

 

4,472

  

 

21,111

 

  

 

16,119

 

Ocean

  

 

4,528

  

 

5,187

  

 

17,007

 

  

 

16,345

 

Air

  

 

839

  

 

706

  

 

3,068

 

  

 

2,699

 

Miscellaneous

  

 

2,319

  

 

1,984

  

 

8,772

 

  

 

7,286

 

    

  

  


  


Total transportation

  

 

108,505

  

 

96,658

  

 

411,311

 

  

 

390,440

 

Sourcing

  

 

10,089

  

 

10,002

  

 

46,536

 

  

 

45,154

 

Information services

  

 

6,933

  

 

5,408

  

 

25,931

 

  

 

20,978

 

    

  

  


  


Total gross profits

  

 

125,527

  

 

112,068

  

 

483,778

 

  

 

456,572

 

    

  

  


  


Operating costs and expenses:

                               

Personnel expenses

  

 

59,919

  

 

55,964

  

 

236,673

 

  

 

224,997

 

Selling, general and administrative

  

 

26,201

  

 

22,531

  

 

90,525

 

  

 

97,301

 

    

  

  


  


Total operating costs and expenses

  

 

86,120

  

 

78,495

  

 

327,198

 

  

 

322,298

 

    

  

  


  


Income from operations

  

 

39,407

  

 

33,573

  

 

156,580

 

  

 

134,274

 

Investment and other income:

                               

Interest income and other

  

 

397

  

 

237

  

 

1,740

 

  

 

4,198

 

NQDC investment gain/(loss)

  

 

77

  

 

109

  

 

(406

)

  

 

(99

)

    

  

  


  


Total investment and other income

  

 

474

  

 

346

  

 

1,334

 

  

 

4,099

 

Income before provision for income taxes

  

 

39,881

  

 

33,919

  

 

157,914

 

  

 

138,373

 

Provision for income taxes

  

 

15,555

  

 

13,331

  

 

61,589

 

  

 

54,381

 

    

  

  


  


Net income

  

$

24,326

  

$

20,588

  

$

96,325

 

  

$

83,992

 

    

  

  


  


Net income per share (basic)

  

$

0.29

  

$

0.24

  

$

1.14

 

  

$

1.00

 

Net income per share (diluted)

  

$

0.28

  

$

0.24

  

$

1.12

 

  

$

0.98

 

Weighted average shares outstanding (basic)

  

 

84,273

  

 

84,478

  

 

84,368

 

  

 

84,374

 

Weighted average shares outstanding (diluted)

  

 

85,569

  

 

85,767

  

 

85,757

 

  

 

85,774

 

 

 

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C.H. Robinson Worldwide, Inc.

February 4, 2003

Page 5

 

 

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

(In thousands)

    

December 31,

2002


  

December 31, 2001


Assets

             

Current assets:

             

Cash and cash equivalents

  

$

132,999

  

$

115,741

Investments

  

 

45,227

  

 

—  

Receivables

  

 

391,670

  

 

370,378

Other current assets

  

 

18,676

  

 

17,096

    

  

Total current assets

  

 

588,572

  

 

503,215

Net property and equipment

  

 

26,476

  

 

30,920

Intangible and other assets

  

 

162,103

  

 

149,355

    

  

    

$

777,151

  

$

683,490

    

  

Liabilities and stockholders’ investment

             

Current liabilities:

             

Accounts payable

  

$

275,157

  

$

267,708

Accrued compensation

  

 

39,533

  

 

32,098

Other accrued expenses

  

 

28,784

  

 

23,722

    

  

Total current liabilities

  

 

343,474

  

 

323,528

Long term liabilities:

             

Deferred tax liability

  

 

6,280

  

 

3,241

Nonqualified deferred compensation obligation

  

 

1,567

  

 

906

    

  

Total long term liabilities

  

 

7,847

  

 

4,147

    

  

Total liabilities

  

 

351,321

  

 

327,675

Total stockholders’ investment

  

 

425,830

  

 

355,815

    

  

    

$

777,151

  

$

683,490

    

  

 

 

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C.H. Robinson Worldwide, Inc.

February 4, 2003

Page 6

 

 

 

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

(In thousands, except operational data)

    

Twelve months ended

December 31,


 
    

2002


    

2001


 

Operating activities:

                 

Net income

  

$

96,325

 

  

$

83,992

 

Depreciation and amortization

  

 

14,029

 

  

 

19,136

 

Other non-cash expenses

  

 

8,979

 

  

 

20,135

 

Net changes in operating elements

  

 

(5,194

)

  

 

(48,811

)

    


  


Net cash provided by operating activities

  

 

114,139

 

  

 

74,452

 

Investing activities:

                 

Net property additions

  

 

(7,325

)

  

 

(12,101

)

Cash paid for acquisition

  

 

(15,716

)

  

 

—  

 

Net purchases of investments

  

 

(45,209

)

  

 

—  

 

Other assets, net

  

 

(1,993

)

  

 

(573

)

    


  


Net cash used for investing activities

  

 

(70,243

)

  

 

(12,674

)

Financing activities:

                 

Net repurchases of common stock

  

 

(5,512

)

  

 

(8,505

)

Cash dividends

  

 

(20,267

)

  

 

(16,901

)

    


  


Net cash used for financing activities

  

 

(25,779

)

  

 

(25,406

)

Effect of exchange rates on cash

  

 

(859

)

  

 

(543

)

Net increase in cash

  

 

17,258

 

  

 

35,829

 

Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period

  

 

115,741

 

  

 

79,912

 

    


  


Cash and cash equivalents, end of period

  

$

132,999

 

  

$

115,741

 

    


  


 

 

    

As of December 31,


Operational data:

  

2002


  

2001


Employees

  

3,814

  

3,727

Branches

  

150

  

139

 

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