JACKSONVILLE, Fla., Oct. 29, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Landstar System, Inc. (NASDAQ: LSTR) (“Landstar” or the “Company”) today reported basic and diluted earnings per share (“EPS”) of $1.41 in the 2024 third quarter on revenue of $1.214 billion. “Consistent with the first half of 2024, the freight environment during the third quarter remained challenging. The Landstar team of independent business owners and employees continued to perform admirably given this backdrop,” said Landstar President and Chief Executive Officer Frank Lonegro. “I was encouraged that Landstar achieved a 3.2% sequential increase in truck revenue per load compared to the 2024 second quarter, outperforming typical seasonality. This result was driven by a strong month-over-month truck revenue per load increase in July, but tapered off as we moved through August and September, in part due to tougher prior month comparisons. Regardless of the freight environment, the thousands of Landstar BCOs, agents and employees in our network continue to strive each day to improve our safety performance and deliver great service to our customers.”

Landstar continues to return capital to stockholders through the Company’s stock purchase program and dividends. During the 2024 third quarter, Landstar purchased approximately 121,000 shares of its common stock at an aggregate cost of $22.4 million. The Company is currently authorized to purchase up to an additional 2,563,081 shares of the Company’s common stock under its longstanding share purchase program. Landstar also announced today that its Board of Directors declared a quarterly dividend of $0.36 per share payable on December 10, 2024, to stockholders of record as of the close of business on November 19, 2024.

	3Q 2024			3Q 2023
Revenue	$	1,213,867		$	1,289,345
Gross profit	$	112,693		$	128,079
Variable contribution	$	171,359		$	187,358
Operating income	$	63,116		$	80,348
Basic and diluted earnings per share	$	1.41		$	1.71

(1) Dollars above in thousands, except per share amounts

(2) Please refer to the Consolidated Statements of Income and Reconciliation of Gross Profit to Variable Contribution included below

Total revenue was $1,214 million in the 2024 third quarter, compared to $1,289 million in the 2023 third quarter. Truck transportation revenue hauled by independent business capacity owners (“BCOs”) and truck brokerage carriers in the 2024 third quarter was $1,091 million, or 90% of revenue, compared to $1,174 million, or 91% of revenue, in the 2023 third quarter. Truckload transportation revenue hauled via van equipment in the 2024 third quarter was $604 million, compared to $666 million in the 2023 third quarter. Truckload transportation revenue hauled via unsided/platform equipment in the 2024 third quarter was $370 million, compared to $378 million in the 2023 third quarter. Revenue from other truck transportation, which is largely related to power-only services, in the 2024 third quarter was $93 million, compared to $102 million in the 2023 third quarter. Revenue hauled by rail, air and ocean cargo carriers was $97 million, or 8% of revenue, in the 2024 third quarter, compared to $89 million, or 7% of revenue, in the 2023 third quarter.

The number of loads hauled via truck declined 7.7% in the 2024 third quarter as compared to the 2023 third quarter, slightly ahead of the mid-point of the Company’s guidance included in its 2024 second quarter earnings release slide presentation, dated July 30, 2024. Truck revenue per load increased 0.7% in the 2024 third quarter as compared to the 2023 third quarter, within the lower half of the range of the Company’s previously provided guidance.

Gross profit in the 2024 third quarter was $113 million and variable contribution (defined as revenue less the cost of purchased transportation and commissions to agents) in the 2024 third quarter was $171 million. Gross profit in the 2023 third quarter was $128 million and variable contribution in the 2023 third quarter was $187 million. Reconciliations of gross profit to variable contribution and gross profit margin to variable contribution margin for the 2024 and 2023 third quarters and year-to-date periods are provided in the Company’s accompanying financial disclosures.

The Company’s balance sheet continues to be very strong, with cash and short-term investments of approximately $531 million as of September 28, 2024. Trailing twelve-month return on average shareholders’ equity was 21%, and return on invested capital, representing net income divided by the sum of average equity plus average debt, was 19%. 

Landstar will provide a live webcast of its quarterly earnings conference call this evening at 4:30 p.m. ET. To access the webcast, visit www.investor.landstar.com; click on “Webcasts,” then click on “Landstar’s Third Quarter 2024 Earnings Release Conference Call.” A slide presentation to accompany the webcast presentation is also available on Landstar’s investor relations website at https://investor.landstar.com/.

About Landstar:
Landstar System, Inc., is a 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: 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; the impact of the Russian conflict with Ukraine on the operations of certain independent commission sales agents, including the Company’s largest such agent by revenue in the 2023 fiscal year; decreased demand for transportation services; U.S. trade relationships; substantial industry competition; disruptions or failures in the Company’s computer systems; cyber and other information security incidents; dependence on key vendors; potential changes in taxes; status of independent contractors; regulatory and legislative changes; regulations focused on diesel emissions and other air quality matters; regulations requiring the purchase and use of zero-emission vehicles; intellectual property; and other operational, financial or legal risks or uncertainties detailed in Landstar’s Form 10-K for the 2023 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)
			Thirty-Nine Weeks Ended								Thirteen Weeks Ended
			September 28,				September 30,				September 28,				September 30,
				2024				2023				2024				2023
Revenue			$	3,609,915			$	4,098,877			$	1,213,867			$	1,289,345
Investment income				10,988				6,874				3,922				3,022
Costs and expenses:
	Purchased transportation			2,799,384				3,141,234				943,805				986,743
	Commissions to agents			295,801				363,397				98,703				115,244
	Other operating costs, net of gains on asset sales/dispositions			44,138				40,998				15,144				15,158
	Insurance and claims			83,830				86,971				30,398				29,540
	Selling, general and administrative			162,613				159,071				51,252				50,975
	Depreciation and amortization			44,001				44,498				15,371				14,359
		Total costs and expenses		3,429,767				3,836,169				1,154,673				1,212,019
Operating income				191,136				269,582				63,116				80,348
Interest and debt (income) expense				(4,455	)			(2,079	)			(1,169	)			(1,046	)
Income before income taxes				195,591				271,661				64,285				81,394
Income taxes				45,838				65,254				14,252				19,741
Net income			$	149,753			$	206,407			$	50,033			$	61,653
Basic and diluted earnings per share			$	4.21			$	5.74			$	1.41			$	1.71
Average basic and diluted shares outstanding				35,608,000				35,958,000				35,420,000				35,951,000
Dividends per common share			$	1.02			$	0.93			$	0.36			$	0.33

Landstar System, Inc. and Subsidiary
Consolidated Balance Sheets
(Dollars in thousands, except per share amounts)
(Unaudited)
				September 28,				December 30,
					2024				2023
ASSETS
Current assets:
	Cash and cash equivalents			$	468,830			$	481,043
	Short-term investments				62,451				59,661
	Trade accounts receivable, less allowance
		of $12,134 and $11,738			694,633				743,762
	Other receivables, including advances to independent
		contractors, less allowance of $16,759 and $14,010			51,533				43,339
	Other current assets				33,947				24,936
		Total current assets			1,311,394				1,352,741
Operating property, less accumulated depreciation
			and amortization of $456,770 and $436,682		289,248				284,300
Goodwill					41,122				42,275
Other assets					115,491				122,530
Total assets				$	1,757,255			$	1,801,846
LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY
Current liabilities:
	Cash overdraft			$	50,746			$	61,541
	Accounts payable				397,908				395,980
	Current maturities of long-term debt				27,672				27,876
	Insurance claims				43,370				41,825
	Dividends payable				-				71,433
	Contractor escrow				30,244				28,498
	Other current liabilities				42,712				48,071
		Total current liabilities			592,652				675,224
Long-term debt, excluding current maturities					44,834				43,264
Insurance claims					59,861				58,922
Deferred income taxes and other non-current liabilities					43,990				40,513
Shareholders' equity:
	Common stock, $0.01 par value, authorized 160,000,000
		shares, issued 68,559,269 and 68,497,324			686				685
	Additional paid-in capital				255,398				254,642
	Retained earnings				2,897,073				2,783,645
	Cost of 33,228,096 and 32,780,651 shares of common
		stock in treasury			(2,128,684	)			(2,048,184	)
	Accumulated other comprehensive loss				(8,555	)			(6,865	)
		Total shareholders' equity			1,015,918				983,923
Total liabilities and shareholders' equity				$	1,757,255			$	1,801,846

	Landstar System, Inc. and Subsidiary
	Supplemental Information
	(Unaudited)
					Thirty-Nine Weeks Ended									Thirteen Weeks Ended
					September 28,				September 30,					September 28,				September 30,
						2024				2023					2024				2023
Revenue generated through (in thousands):
	Truck transportation
		Truckload:
			Van equipment		$	1,851,237			$	2,123,693				$	603,993			$	665,569
			Unsided/platform equipment			1,093,753				1,150,483					369,758				378,147
		Less-than-truckload				77,902				90,770					24,195				28,097
		Other truck transportation (1)				242,853				379,471					93,178				101,951
			Total truck transportation			3,265,745				3,744,417					1,091,124				1,173,764
	Rail intermodal					65,981				73,953					20,979				23,064
	Ocean and air cargo carriers					201,729				202,358					76,349				65,824
	Other (2)					76,460				78,149					25,415				26,693
					$	3,609,915			$	4,098,877				$	1,213,867			$	1,289,345
	Revenue on loads hauled via BCO Independent Contractors (3)
		included in total truck transportation			$	1,374,915			$	1,543,634				$	456,844			$	508,753
Number of loads:
	Truck transportation
		Truckload:
			Van equipment			887,895				966,867					287,922				311,831
			Unsided/platform equipment			362,627				389,471					118,220				126,286
		Less-than-truckload				119,346				134,580					36,496				41,514
		Other truck transportation (1)				114,552				157,112					43,112				46,739
			Total truck transportation			1,484,420				1,648,030					485,750				526,370
	Rail intermodal					21,420				22,150					7,040				6,760
	Ocean and air cargo carriers					26,120				25,380					8,880				8,630
						1,531,960				1,695,560					501,670				541,760
	Loads hauled via BCO Independent Contractors (3)
		included in total truck transportation				620,640				689,260					198,340				225,350
Revenue per load:
	Truck transportation
		Truckload:
			Van equipment		$	2,085			$	2,196				$	2,098			$	2,134
			Unsided/platform equipment			3,016				2,954					3,128				2,994
		Less-than-truckload				653				674					663				677
		Other truck transportation (1)				2,120				2,415					2,161				2,181
			Total truck transportation			2,200				2,272					2,246				2,230
	Rail intermodal					3,080				3,339					2,980				3,412
	Ocean and air cargo carriers					7,723				7,973					8,598				7,627
	Revenue per load on loads hauled via BCO Independent Contractors (3)				$	2,215			$	2,240				$	2,303			$	2,258
Revenue by capacity type (as a % of total revenue):
	Truck capacity providers:
		BCO Independent Contractors (3)				38	%			38	%				38	%			39	%
		Truck Brokerage Carriers				52	%			54	%				52	%			52	%
	Rail intermodal					2	%			2	%				2	%			2	%
	Ocean and air cargo carriers					6	%			5	%				6	%			5	%
	Other					2	%			2	%				2	%			2	%
														September 28,				September 30,
															2024				2023
Truck Capacity Providers
	BCO Independent Contractors (3)														8,266				9,455
	Truck Brokerage Carriers:
		Approved and active (4)													44,828				51,717
	Other approved														25,714				27,925
															70,542				79,642
	Total available truck capacity providers														78,808				89,097
	Trucks provided by BCO Independent Contractors (3)														9,027				10,253
(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 where the Company furnishes a power unit and an operator but not trailing equipment, which is typically provided by the shipper or consignee.
(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)
			Thirty-Nine Weeks Ended								Thirteen Weeks Ended
			September 28,				September 30,				September 28,				September 30,
				2024				2023				2024				2023
Revenue			$	3,609,915			$	4,098,877			$	1,213,867			$	1,289,345
Costs of revenue:
		Purchased transportation		2,799,384				3,141,234				943,805				986,743
		Commissions to agents		295,801				363,397				98,703				115,244
	Variable costs of revenue			3,095,185				3,504,631				1,042,508				1,101,987
		Trailing equipment depreciation		20,764				24,240				6,930				7,721
		Information technology costs (1)		18,115				19,791				6,129				6,298
		Insurance-related costs (2)		85,122				88,484				30,463				30,102
		Other operating costs		44,138				40,998				15,144				15,158
	Other costs of revenue			168,139				173,513				58,666				59,279
	Total costs of revenue			3,263,324				3,678,144				1,101,174				1,161,266
Gross profit			$	346,591			$	420,733			$	112,693			$	128,079
Gross profit margin				9.6	%			10.3	%			9.3	%			9.9	%
	Plus: other costs of revenue			168,139				173,513				58,666				59,279
Variable contribution			$	514,730			$	594,246			$	171,359			$	187,358
Variable contribution margin				14.3	%			14.5	%			14.1	%			14.5	%
(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:
Jim Todd
Chief Financial Officer
904-398-9400

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