EX-99.1 2 wern-20151231x8kxex99.htm EXHIBIT 99.1 Exhibit

Exhibit 99.1
WERNER ENTERPRISES, INC.
14507 Frontier Road
P. O. Box 45308
Omaha, Nebraska 68145

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: John J. Steele
 
Executive Vice President, Treasurer and
 
Chief Financial Officer
 
  (402) 894-3036
WERNER ENTERPRISES REPORTS FOURTH QUARTER AND ANNUAL 2015 REVENUES AND RECORD EARNINGS

Omaha, Nebraska, January 28, 2016:

Werner Enterprises, Inc. (NASDAQ: WERN), one of the nation's largest transportation and logistics companies, reported revenues and record earnings for the fourth quarter and year ended December 31, 2015.

Summarized financial results for fourth quarter and year 2015 compared to fourth quarter and year 2014 are as follows (dollars in thousands, except per share data):
 
Three Months Ended
December 31,
 
 
 
Year Ended
December 31,
 
 
  
2015
 
2014
 
% Change
 
2015
 
2014
 
% Change
Total revenues
$
528,783

 
$
553,186

 
(4
)%
 
$
2,093,529

 
$
2,139,289

 
(2
)%
Trucking revenues, net of fuel surcharge
368,790

 
354,812

 
4
 %
 
1,411,099

 
1,332,879

 
6
 %
Value Added Services (“VAS”) revenues
96,715

 
98,500

 
(2
)%
 
393,174

 
390,645

 
1
 %
Operating income
57,261

 
52,627

 
9
 %
 
200,456

 
160,088

 
25
 %
Net income
36,648

 
32,709

 
12
 %
 
123,714

 
98,650

 
25
 %
Earnings per diluted share
0.51

 
0.45

 
12
 %
 
1.71

 
1.36

 
26
 %

2015 was a strong earnings year for Werner Enterprises. We would like to take this opportunity to thank the hard working men and women of Werner for keeping America moving and helping us achieve this significant milestone. Their relentless commitment to excellence and outstanding customer service are the keys to our success as we enter our 60th year in business.

Our freight demand in fourth quarter 2015 was less robust than the strong fourth quarter of 2014; however, it was consistent with our average freight demand in the fourth quarters of 2013, 2012 and 2011. Demand was less than expected in the first half of fourth quarter 2015, picked up significant strength in latter November and early December and then tapered to seasonally solid freight levels for the remainder of the year. Freight demand to date in January 2016 has been seasonally softer and in-line with the same periods of 2013, 2012 and 2011. Compared to the same periods in January 2015 and January 2014, freight demand is not as strong.

2014 and 2015 were cyclically contrasting years. 2014 provided the benefits of gradually improving demand from a strengthening economy and constrained supply due to a tight driver market and increasing safety regulations. Freight demand in 2015 did not strengthen as the year progressed, as the rate of economic growth slowed. The truckload sector also experienced supply increases in 2015 as small carrier confidence rose as a result of better rates in 2014 and much lower fuel prices beginning in late 2014. Finally, as 2015



Werner Enterprises, Inc. - Release of January 28, 2016
Page 2

ended, truckload supply began to stabilize as truck orders declined significantly and safety regulators finalized the long awaited electronic logging device regulations in December 2015.
  
Noting the difficult comparisons to the strong freight market in fourth quarter 2014, average revenues per tractor per week, net of fuel surcharge, decreased 2.3% in fourth quarter 2015 compared to fourth quarter 2014. We continued to focus on securing driver friendly, highly productive freight in a market with fewer surge and project opportunities than we had in fourth quarter 2014. Our average miles per truck declined by 2.8% in fourth quarter 2015 compared to fourth quarter 2014.
 
Average revenues per total mile, net of fuel surcharge, increased 0.5% in fourth quarter 2015 compared to fourth quarter 2014. Our average length of haul in fourth quarter 2015 was essentially flat compared to fourth quarter 2014.
We are continuing to work with our customers to recoup the cost increases associated with more expensive equipment, a shrinking supply of qualified drivers and an increasingly challenging regulatory environment. Strategic customers understand the collective capacity and service challenges facing our company and our industry and are supportive of Werner's ongoing initiatives to provide sustainable transportation solutions in support of their supply chain needs.
 
In fourth quarter 2015, we averaged 7,469 trucks in service in the Truckload segment and 64 intermodal drayage trucks in the VAS segment. Following an ongoing and intense company-wide focus to improve our driver recruiting and retention, we ended fourth quarter 2015 with 7,450 trucks in the Truckload segment, a year-over-year improvement of 400 trucks compared to the end of fourth quarter 2014. Our Specialized Services unit, primarily Dedicated, ended 2015 with 3,675 trucks (or 49% of our total Truckload segment fleet).
 
Diesel fuel prices were $1.02 per gallon lower in fourth quarter 2015 than in fourth quarter 2014 and were 19 cents per gallon lower than in third quarter 2015. For the first 28 days of January 2016, the average diesel fuel price per gallon was 60 cents lower than the average diesel fuel price per gallon in the same period of 2015 and 78 cents lower than in first quarter 2015. The components of the Company's total fuel cost consist of and are recorded in our income statement as follows: (i) Fuel (fuel expense for company trucks excluding federal and state fuel taxes); (ii) Taxes and Licenses (federal and state fuel taxes); and (iii) Rent and Purchased Transportation (fuel component of our independent contractor costs, including the base cost of fuel and additional fuel surcharge reimbursement for costs exceeding the fuel base).
 
Total revenues declined by 4% in fourth quarter 2015 compared to fourth quarter 2014. However, trucking revenues, net of fuel surcharge revenues, grew 4% in fourth quarter 2015 compared to fourth quarter 2014. The significantly lower fuel prices in fourth quarter 2015 compared to fourth quarter 2014 primarily caused a reduction in fuel surcharge revenues by $36 million in the Truckload segment and revenues by an estimated $6 million in the VAS segment. This had the effect of reducing total consolidated revenues by an estimated 8 percentage points in fourth quarter 2015 compared to fourth quarter 2014.
 
We continue to invest in equipment solutions to improve our driver experience, raise operational efficiency and better manage maintenance and safety costs. We increased our capital expenditures in 2015 to lower the average age of our truck fleet and attained an average age of 1.9 years as of December 31, 2015, which compares to an average age of 2.2 years as of December 31, 2014. Net capital expenditures in 2015 were $351.5 million compared to $212.3 million in 2014. We estimate net capital expenditures for 2016 to be in the range of $400 million to $450 million, assuming mid-single digit fleet growth and a continuing reduction in our truck average age. However, if the freight market shows significant weakness during 2016, we will consider adjusting our capital expenditures accordingly. We remain committed to investing in a best in class fleet for the benefit of our customers, our drivers and the Werner brand.
 
The driver recruiting market remained challenging during fourth quarter 2015. Several difficult market factors persist including a declining number of, and increased competition for, driver training school graduates, a gradually declining national unemployment rate, aging truck driver demographics and increased



Werner Enterprises, Inc. - Release of January 28, 2016
Page 3

truck safety regulations. During fourth quarter 2015, we announced strategic and targeted driver and owner-operator per mile increases in our Van 48-state business units totaling slightly more than $10 million on an annualized basis to nearly 20% of our drivers. Most of these increases became effective January 2016. Over time, we expect the cost benefits of improved retention, higher mileage productivity and lower safety costs will more than offset these pay increases.
  
Gains on sales of assets were $4.4 million in fourth quarter 2015. This compares to gains on sales of assets of $5.0 million in fourth quarter 2014 and gains on sales of assets of $6.7 million in third quarter 2015 (which included a $0.7 million gain from a real estate sale). In fourth quarter 2015, we sold fewer trucks and more trailers than in fourth quarter 2014. We realized lower average gains per truck and higher average gains per trailer in fourth quarter 2015 compared to fourth quarter 2014. The used truck market weakened in fourth quarter 2015 causing lower pricing. This trend is expected to continue into 2016. Gains on sales of assets are reflected as a reduction of Other Operating Expenses in our income statement.
 
To provide shippers with additional sources of managed capacity and network analysis, we continue to develop our non-asset-based VAS segment. VAS includes Brokerage, Freight Management, Intermodal and Werner Global Logistics (International).
 
Three Months Ended
December 31,
 
Year Ended
December 31,
  
2015
 
2014
 
2015
 
2014
Value Added Services (amounts in thousands)
$
 
%
 
$
 
%
 
$
 
%
 
$
 
%
Operating revenues
$
96,715

 
100.0
 
$
98,500

 
100.0
 
$
393,174

 
100.0
 
$
390,645

 
100.0
Rent and purchased transportation expense
80,762

 
83.5
 
85,100

 
86.4
 
332,168

 
84.5
 
338,625

 
86.7
Gross margin
15,953

 
16.5
 
13,400

 
13.6
 
61,006

 
15.5
 
52,020

 
13.3
Other operating expenses
11,529

 
11.9
 
10,997

 
11.2
 
44,108

 
11.2
 
44,485

 
11.4
Operating income
$
4,424

 
4.6
 
$
2,403

 
2.4
 
$
16,898

 
4.3
 
$
7,535

 
1.9
In fourth quarter 2015, VAS revenues decreased $1.8 million or 2%, and operating income dollars increased $2.0 million or 84%, compared to fourth quarter 2014. Adjusting for lower fuel prices that reduced operating revenues by an estimated $6 million, operating revenues would have increased 4%. The VAS gross margin percentage in fourth quarter 2015 of 16.5% improved 290 basis points year over year compared to the gross margin percentage of 13.6% in fourth quarter 2014. The VAS operating income percentage in fourth quarter 2015 of 4.6% improved 220 basis points from fourth quarter 2014 of 2.4%.
 
Comparisons of the operating ratios for the Truckload segment (net of fuel surcharge revenues of $45.3 million and $81.2 million in fourth quarters 2015 and 2014, respectively, and $212.5 million and $349.8 million in 2015 and 2014, respectively) and the VAS segment are shown below.
 
Three Months Ended
December 31,
 
 
 
Year Ended
December 31,
 
 
Operating Ratios
2015
 
2014
 
Difference
 
2015
 
2014
 
Difference
Truckload Transportation Services
84.5
%
 
84.8
%
 
(0.3
)%
 
86.7
%
 
88.7
%
 
(2.0
)%
Value Added Services
95.4
%
 
97.6
%
 
(2.2
)%
 
95.7
%
 
98.1
%
 
(2.4
)%
  
Fluctuating fuel prices and fuel surcharge revenues impact the total company operating ratio and the Truckload segment's operating ratio when fuel surcharges are reported on a gross basis as revenues versus netting against fuel expenses. Eliminating fuel surcharge revenues, which are generally a more volatile source of revenue, provides a more consistent basis for comparing the results of operations from period to period. The Truckload segment's operating ratios for fourth quarter 2015 and fourth quarter 2014 are 86.2% and 87.6%, respectively, and for 2015 and 2014 are 88.5% and 91.0%, respectively, when fuel surcharge revenues are reported as revenues instead of a reduction of operating expenses.
 
Our financial position remains strong. As of December 31, 2015, we had $75.0 million of debt outstanding and $935.7 million of stockholders' equity.



Werner Enterprises, Inc. - Release of January 28, 2016
Page 4

 
INCOME STATEMENT
 
(Unaudited)
 
(In thousands, except per share amounts)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Three Months Ended
December 31,
 
Year Ended
December 31,
 
2015
 
2014
 
2015
 
2014
 
$
 
%
 
$
 
%
 
$
 
%
 
$
 
%
Operating revenues
$
528,783

 
100.0

 
$
553,186

 
100.0

 
$
2,093,529

 
100.0

 
$
2,139,289

 
100.0

Operating expenses:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Salaries, wages and benefits
160,766

 
30.4

 
155,581

 
28.1

 
639,908

 
30.6

 
584,006

 
27.3

Fuel
43,587

 
8.2

 
76,032

 
13.7

 
204,583

 
9.8

 
346,058

 
16.2

Supplies and maintenance
45,786

 
8.7

 
48,169

 
8.7

 
190,114

 
9.1

 
188,437

 
8.8

Taxes and licenses
23,187

 
4.4

 
21,905

 
4.0

 
89,646

 
4.3

 
85,468

 
4.0

Insurance and claims
20,814

 
3.9

 
21,200

 
3.8

 
80,848

 
3.9

 
80,375

 
3.7

Depreciation
50,144

 
9.5

 
45,106

 
8.2

 
193,209

 
9.2

 
176,984

 
8.3

Rent and purchased transportation
119,918

 
22.7

 
125,004

 
22.6

 
480,624

 
22.9

 
498,782

 
23.3

Communications and utilities
3,820

 
0.7

 
3,623

 
0.7

 
15,121

 
0.7

 
14,220

 
0.7

Other
3,500

 
0.7

 
3,939

 
0.7

 
(980
)
 
(0.1
)
 
4,871

 
0.2

Total operating expenses
471,522

 
89.2

 
500,559

 
90.5

 
1,893,073

 
90.4

 
1,979,201

 
92.5

Operating income
57,261

 
10.8

 
52,627

 
9.5

 
200,456

 
9.6

 
160,088

 
7.5

Other expense (income):
 
 
 
Interest expense
405

 

 
511

 
0.1

 
1,974

 
0.1

 
881

 

Interest income
(787
)
 
(0.1
)
 
(609
)
 
(0.1
)
 
(2,875
)
 
(0.1
)
 
(2,538
)
 
(0.1
)
Other
(61
)
 

 
(31
)
 

 
196

 

 
(29
)
 

Total other expense (income)
(443
)
 
(0.1
)
 
(129
)
 

 
(705
)
 

 
(1,686
)
 
(0.1
)
Income before income taxes
57,704


10.9

 
52,756

 
9.5

 
201,161

 
9.6

 
161,774

 
7.6

Income taxes
21,056

 
4.0

 
20,047

 
3.6

 
77,447

 
3.7

 
63,124

 
3.0

Net income
$
36,648

 
6.9

 
$
32,709

 
5.9

 
$
123,714

 
5.9

 
$
98,650

 
4.6

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Diluted shares outstanding
72,417

 
 
 
72,508

 
 
 
72,556

 
 
 
72,738

 
 
Diluted earnings per share
$
0.51

 
 
 
$
0.45

 
 
 
$
1.71

 
 
 
$
1.36

 
 

 
SEGMENT INFORMATION
 
(Unaudited)
 
(In thousands)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Three Months Ended
December 31,
 
Year Ended
December 31,
 
2015
 
2014
 
2015
 
2014
Revenues
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Truckload Transportation Services
$
419,435

 
$
440,943

 
$
1,644,874

 
$
1,702,137

Value Added Services
96,715

 
98,500

 
393,174

 
390,645

Driving Schools and Other
12,516

 
13,473

 
54,512

 
46,588

Corporate
417

 
728

 
2,297

 
2,803

    Subtotal
529,083

 
553,644

 
2,094,857

 
2,142,173

Inter-segment eliminations (1)
(300
)
 
(458
)
 
(1,328
)
 
(2,884
)
     Total
$
528,783

 
$
553,186

 
$
2,093,529

 
$
2,139,289

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Operating Income
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Truckload Transportation Services
$
57,949

 
$
54,754

 
$
189,850

 
$
152,992

Value Added Services
4,424

 
2,403

 
16,898

 
7,535

Driving Schools and Other
(5,475
)
 
(5,236
)
 
(7,513
)
 
(3,991
)
Corporate
363

 
706

 
1,221

 
3,552

     Total
$
57,261

 
$
52,627

 
$
200,456

 
$
160,088



(1) Inter-segment eliminations represent transactions between reporting segments that are eliminated in consolidation.




Werner Enterprises, Inc. - Release of January 28, 2016
Page 5

 
OPERATING STATISTICS BY SEGMENT
 
(Unaudited)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Three Months Ended
December 31,
 
 
 
Year Ended
December 31,
 
 
 
2015
 
2014
 
% Change
 
2015
 
2014
 
% Change
Truckload Transportation Services segment
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Average percentage of empty miles
12.63
%
 
12.08
%
 
4.6
 %
 
12.39
%
 
12.06
%
 
2.7
%
Average trip length in miles (loaded)
485

 
484

 
0.2
 %
 
482

 
473

 
1.9
%
Average tractors in service
7,469

 
7,021

 
6.4
 %
 
7,271

 
7,013

 
3.7
%
Average revenues per tractor per week (1)
$
3,798

 
$
3,888

 
(2.3
)%
 
$
3,732

 
$
3,655

 
2.1
%
Total trailers (at quarter end)
22,630

 
22,305

 
 
 
22,630

 
22,305

 
 
Total tractors (at quarter end)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
    Company
6,635

 
6,400

 
 
 
6,635

 
6,400

 
 
    Independent contractor
815

 
650

 
 
 
815

 
650

 
 
        Total tractors
7,450

 
7,050

 
 
 
7,450

 
7,050

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Value Added Services segment
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Average tractors in service
64

 
55

 
 
 
56

 
50

 
 
Total trailers (at quarter end)
1,460

 
1,670

 
 
 
1,460

 
1,670

 
 
Total tractors (at quarter end)
62

 
55

 
 
 
62

 
55

 
 

(1) Net of fuel surcharge revenues.


 
SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION
 
(Unaudited)
 
(In thousands)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Three Months Ended
December 31,
 
Year Ended
December 31,
 
2015
 
2014
 
2015
 
2014
Capital expenditures, net
$
100,374

 
$
65,455

 
$
351,483

 
$
212,294

Cash flow from operations
87,620

 
41,354

 
370,392

 
206,565

Return on assets (annualized)
9.2
%
 
8.9
%
 
8.0
%
 
7.0
%
Return on equity (annualized)
15.9
%
 
15.9
%
 
14.1
%
 
12.4
%





Werner Enterprises, Inc. - Release of January 28, 2016
Page 6

 
CONDENSED BALANCE SHEET
 
(In thousands, except share amounts)
 
 
 
 
 
December 31, 2015
 
December 31, 2014
 
(Unaudited)
 
 
 
 
 
 
ASSETS
 
 
 
Current assets:
 
 
 
Cash and cash equivalents
$
31,833

 
$
22,604

Accounts receivable, trade, less allowance of $10,298 and $10,017, respectively
251,023

 
266,727

Other receivables
17,241

 
20,316

Inventories and supplies
16,415

 
17,824

Prepaid taxes, licenses and permits
15,657

 
14,914

Current deferred income taxes
28,037

 
34,066

Income taxes receivable
20,052

 
23,435

Other current assets
27,281

 
26,458

Total current assets
407,539

 
426,344

 
 
 
 
Property and equipment
1,908,600

 
1,786,229

Less – accumulated depreciation
754,130

 
772,447

Property and equipment, net
1,154,470

 
1,013,782

 
 
 
 
Other non-current assets
51,675

 
40,336

Total assets
$
1,613,684

 
$
1,480,462

 
 
 
 
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY
 
 
 
Current liabilities:
 
 
 
Accounts payable
$
70,643

 
$
64,827

Insurance and claims accruals
64,106

 
73,814

Accrued payroll
25,233

 
28,121

Other current liabilities
23,720

 
19,768

Total current liabilities
183,702

 
186,530

 
 
 
 
Long-term debt, net of current portion
75,000

 
75,000

Other long-term liabilities
19,832

 
20,021

Insurance and claims accruals, net of current portion
125,195

 
123,445

Deferred income taxes
274,301

 
241,606

 
 
 
 
Stockholders’ equity:
 
 
 
Common stock, $.01 par value, 200,000,000 shares authorized; 80,533,536
 
 
 
shares issued; 71,998,750 and 72,038,368 shares outstanding, respectively
805

 
805

Paid-in capital
102,734

 
101,803

Retained earnings
1,022,966

 
915,085

Accumulated other comprehensive loss
(13,063
)
 
(9,375
)
Treasury stock, at cost; 8,534,786 and 8,495,168 shares, respectively
(177,788
)
 
(174,458
)
Total stockholders’ equity
935,654

 
833,860

Total liabilities and stockholders' equity
$
1,613,684

 
$
1,480,462





Werner Enterprises, Inc. - Release of January 28, 2016
Page 7

On January 27, 2016, Gary L. Werner provided notice of his intent to retire from the Board of Directors and as the Vice Chairman of the company, effective February 12, 2016. Mr. Werner is retiring after more than 40 years of service and the Company is very thankful for his many years of valued service.

Werner Enterprises, Inc. was founded in 1956 and is a premier transportation and logistics company, with coverage throughout North America, Asia, Europe, South America, Africa and Australia. Werner maintains its global headquarters in Omaha, Nebraska and maintains offices in the United States, Canada, Mexico, China and Australia. Werner is among the five largest truckload carriers in the United States, with a diversified portfolio of transportation services that includes dedicated van, temperature-controlled and flatbed; medium-to-long-haul, regional and local van; and expedited services. Werner's Value Added Services portfolio includes freight management, truck brokerage, intermodal, and international services. International services are provided through Werner's domestic and global subsidiary companies and include ocean, air and ground transportation; freight forwarding; and customs brokerage.

Werner Enterprises, Inc.'s common stock trades on The NASDAQ Global Select MarketSM under the symbol WERN. For further information about Werner, visit the Company's website at www.werner.com.

This press release may contain forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, as amended. Such forward-looking statements are based on information presently available to the Company's management and are current only as of the date made. Actual results could also differ materially from those anticipated as a result of a number of factors, including, but not limited to, those discussed in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2014.

For those reasons, undue reliance should not be placed on any forward-looking statement. The Company assumes no duty or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statement, although it may do so from time to time as management believes is warranted or as may be required by applicable securities law. Any such updates or revisions may be made by filing reports with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, through the issuance of press releases or by other methods of public disclosure.