Knight-Swift Transportation reported a messy first quarter but the company is becoming increasingly bullish on truckload market fundamentals.
Knight-Swift (NYSE: KNX) reported a headline net loss of $1.3 million for the first quarter on Wednesday after the market closed. Adjusted earnings per share of 9 cents were in line with the negative preannouncement last week, which was well below the consensus estimate of 25 cents at the time.
The result included several items that are not expected to recur. The quarter included 8 cents per share in negative claims development in its less-than-truckload unit, 5 to 6 cents per share from weather and fuel headwinds, and 2 cents per share from an adverse value-added tax ruling in its Mexico business.
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“The first quarter had its challenges, but these were largely transitory and even bring some upside as the weather disruption exposed market tightness that has served to accelerate the pricing environment, and the spike in fuel prices adds one more headwind to truckload capacity,” said Knight-Swift CEO Adam Miller in a news release.
Miller said the TL market is continuing to tighten as heightened regulation and surging fuel costs are forcing capacity to the sidelines. The carrier is now targeting high-single- to low-double-digit rate increases during bid season versus its expectation for low- to mid-single-digit increases at the beginning of the year.
“While the pricing environment is improving, we are still seeing carrier failures, as the damage done over a prolonged downcycle is not quickly recovered, especially with the cash flow crunch brought on by the recent fuel spike,” Miller said.
The company reiterated second-quarter adjusted EPS guidance of 45 to 49 cents. That outlook was also issued last week and bracketed the consensus estimate at the time.
First-quarter consolidated revenue of $1.85 billion was 1% higher year over year.
Revenue in the TL unit was in line with the prior year at $1.05 billion. Average tractors in service declined 4%, which was offset by a 4% increase in revenue per tractor, excluding fuel surcharges. The increase in revenue per tractor was driven by a 2.3% increase in loaded miles per tractor and a 1.6% increase in revenue per loaded mile (excluding fuel).
The TL unit reported a 96.3% adjusted operating ratio (3.7% operating margin), which was 70 basis points worse y/y. Fuel and weather, among other headwinds, negatively impacted the period.
The LTL unit reported a 3% y/y revenue increase to $313 million. A 1% decline in daily shipments was offset by a 4% increase in revenue per shipment (excluding fuel). Weight per shipment reached the highest level recorded since 2021, and rate renewals continued to come in higher by a mid-single-digit percentage.
The segment booked a 99.6% adjusted OR in the quarter; however, the adverse claim development was a 570-bp headwind.
Knight-Swift will host a call at 5:30 p.m. EDT on Wednesday to discuss first-quarter results.
Click for full story – “Knight-Swift says shippers already seeking peak-season capacity”
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