Schneider (SNDR) Q1 Earnings & Revenues Lag, '19 EPS View Cut

Schneider National, Inc.’s (NYSE:SNDR) first-quarter 2019 earnings of 21 cents per share lagged the Zacks Consensus Estimate of 31 cents and also decreased 22.2% year over year. Results were hampered by a decline in Truckload revenues. Although operating revenues increased 4.8% to $1.19 billion, the same fell short of the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $1.24 billion. Revenues (excluding fuel surcharge) improved 6% to $1.08 billion.

Meanwhile, income from operations (on a reported basis) plunged 24% to $51.5 million in the first quarter. Also, adjusted operating ratio deteriorated 180 basis points to 95.2%.

Segmental Highlights

Truckload revenues (excluding fuel surcharge) slid 3% to $531.8 million. Revenue per truck per week for the segment slipped 2%. This downside was due to lower volume and asset utilization.Dedicated standard revenue per truck per week dipped slightly on a year-over-year basis.

Income from operations at the segment tumbled 50% due to lower volumes, reduction in productivity and higher variable costs. Operating ratio deteriorated 320 basis points to 95.6% in the first quarter of 2019.

Intermodal revenues (excluding fuel surcharge) rose 18% to $237.6 million on 3% growth in orders and a 13% rise in revenue per order. This improvement in revenue per order was primarily owing to carryover of rate renewals and an extended length of haul. In a bid to meet the surge in intermodal orders, the company increased its containers and trucks by 2.1% and 16.4%, respectively, on a year-over-year basis.

Segmental income from operations decreased 10% as a result of adverse weather conditions. Intermodal operating ratio deteriorated to 91.6% in the quarter from 89% in the year-ago period.

Logistics revenues (excluding fuel surcharge) augmented 10% to $243.9 million, driven by 20% brokerage volume growth. Brokerage accounted for 76.7% of logistics revenues (excluding fuel surcharge) in the quarter compared with 76.9% in the prior year.

Expanded brokerage volumes and net revenue management resulted in 32% surge in segmental income from operations. Operating ratio at the segment improved 70 basis points to 95.8% in the reported quarter.

2019 EPS View Bearish

This Zacks Rank #5 (Strong Sell) company expects earnings per share between $1.50 and $1.60 for 2019, lower than the previous projection of $1.65-$1.75. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for the same stands at $1.61. Net capital expenditures are reiterated at approximately $340 million.

You can see the complete list of today's Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.

Upcoming Releases

Investors interested in the broader Transportation sector are keenly awaiting first-quarter earnings reports from key players, namely Expeditors International of Washington, Inc. (NASDAQ:EXPD) , Air Lease Corporation (NYSE:AL) and Azul (NYSE:AZUL) . While Expeditors will release first-quarter earnings on May 7, Air Lease and Azul will announce the same on May 9.

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