Forward Air Corporation Reports First Quarter 2021 Results

Reports record first quarter revenue

Guides for record second quarter net income per diluted share

GREENEVILLE, Tenn.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Forward Air Corporation (NASDAQ:FWRD) (the “Company,” “we,” “our,” or “us”) today reported financial results for the three months ended March 31, 2021 as presented in the tables below on a continuing operations basis (Pool Distribution is being reported as a discontinued operation).

Tom Schmitt, Chairman, President and CEO, commenting on first quarter results from continuing operations said, “Our growth strategies drove our record first quarter revenue, which came in above the high end of our guidance range. Business momentum continued during the quarter and accelerated in March, when our LTL business achieved an operating margin higher than in March of peak economy year 2018.”

“Our net income per diluted share of $0.60 exceeded the high end of our guidance range. This guidance included approximately $0.07 of anticipated professional fees related to cybersecurity and shareholder engagement activities. However, during the first quarter these fees were approximately $0.20 (driven predominately by shareholder engagement activities that resulted in us entering into a cooperation agreement), all of which was recorded in Other Operations. We also experienced an estimated $0.06 impact in February from adverse weather (which had a $0.04 impact on our Expedited Freight segment and a $0.02 impact on our Intermodal segment). When adjusting for this approximate $0.26 total impact, we believe the underlying performance of our business during the first quarter greatly exceeded what we expected in our first quarter guidance.”

Regarding the Company’s second quarter 2021 continuing operations guidance, Mr. Schmitt said, “We expect our year-over-year revenue growth will be 35% to 40%, and our net income per diluted share to be between $0.96 to $1.00, compared to $0.33 in the second quarter of 2020 and, more meaningfully compared to $0.79 in the second quarter of 2018.”

In closing, Mr. Schmitt said, “The first quarter was all about a determined focus of the entire team. In the midst of a tight market and winter storms, our teammates and independent contractors went above and beyond to keep our customer commitments. We feel very strongly about our momentum which we will further enhance over the next few months and years. As the country continues its vaccine rollout, we will continue to bring back business together with our customers who were directly impacted by the pandemic such as cruise lines, conferences and trade shows.”

Continuing Operations	Three Months Ended
(in thousands, except per share data)	March 31, 2021^1			March 31, 2020			Change			Percent Change
Operating revenue	$	362,202		$	305,557		$	56,645		18.5	%
Income from operations	$	22,724		$	15,772		$	6,952		44.1	%
Operating margin		6.3	%		5.2	%	110 bps
Net income	$	16,714		$	11,415		$	5,299		46.4	%
Net income per diluted share	$	0.60		$	0.41		$	0.19		46.3	%
Cash provided by operating activities	$	16,913		$	30,828		$	(13,915	)	(45.1	)%
Non-GAAP Financial Measures: ^2
EBITDA	$	31,961		$	25,106		$	6,855		27.3	%
Free cash flow	$	14,883		$	28,897		$	(14,014	)	(48.5	)%
^1Results for the three months ended March 31, 2021 includes a $7.0 million charge for professional fees related to cyber security and shareholder engagement activities.
^2 EBITDA and free cash flow are non-GAAP financial measures and reconciliations of these non-GAAP financial measures are provided in the below financial tables.

On April 26, 2021, our Board of Directors declared a quarterly cash dividend of $0.21 per share of common stock. The dividend is payable to shareholders of record at the close of business on May 27, 2021 and is expected to be paid on June 14, 2021. This quarterly dividend is made pursuant to a cash dividend policy approved by the Board of Directors, which anticipates a total annual dividend of $0.84 for the full year 2021, payable in quarterly increments of $0.21 per share of common stock. The actual declaration of future cash dividends, and the establishment of record and payment dates, is subject to final determination by the Board of Directors each quarter after its review of the Company’s financial performance and position.

The Board approved a strategy to divest the Pool Distribution business (“Pool”) on April 23, 2020, and the sale of Pool was completed on February 12, 2021. Accordingly, the results of operations and cash flows for Pool have been presented as a discontinued operation and have been excluded from continuing operations in this release for all periods presented. In addition, Pool assets and liabilities were reflected as “held for sale” on the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets in this press release for the prior period.

Review of Financial Results
Forward Air will hold a conference call to discuss first quarter 2021 results on Friday, April 30, 2021 at 9:00 a.m. EDT. The Company’s conference call will be available online on the Investor Relations portion of the Company’s website at www.forwardaircorp.com, or by dialing [phone], Access Code: 6464581.

A replay of the conference call will be available on the Investor Relations portion of the Company’s website at www.forwardaircorp.com, which we use as a primary mechanism to communicate with our investors. Investors are urged to monitor the Investors Relations portion of the Company’s website to easily find or navigate to current and pertinent information about us.

About Forward Air Corporation
Forward Air is a leading asset-light freight and logistics company that provides services across the United States and Canada. We provide expedited less-than-truckload (“LTL”) services, including local pick-up and delivery, shipment consolidation/deconsolidation, warehousing, and customs brokerage by utilizing a comprehensive national network of terminals; final mile services, including delivery of heavy-bulky freight; truckload brokerage services, including dedicated fleet services, high-security and temperature-controlled logistics services; intermodal first-and last-mile high-value drayage services both to and from seaports and railheads, dedicated contract and Container Freight Station warehouse and handling services; and pool distribution services, including high-frequency handling and distribution of time sensitive product to numerous destinations within a specific geographic region. For more information, visit our website at www.forwardaircorp.com.

Forward Air Corporation
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income
(Unaudited, in thousands, except per share data)
	Three Months Ended
	March 31, 2021			March 31, 2020
Operating revenue:
Expedited Freight	$	304,186		$	253,625
Intermodal		58,514			52,460
Eliminations and other operations		(498	)		(528	)
Operating revenue		362,202			305,557
Operating expenses:
Purchased transportation		184,608			150,598
Salaries, wages and employee benefits		74,897			69,559
Operating leases		19,167			17,884
Depreciation and amortization		9,237			9,334
Insurance and claims		9,741			10,044
Fuel expense		3,702			4,013
Other operating expenses		38,126			28,353
Total operating expenses		339,478			289,785
Income (loss) from continuing operations:
Expedited Freight		24,530			15,179
Intermodal		4,509			3,713
Other Operations		(6,315	)		(3,120	)
Income from continuing operations		22,724			15,772
Other expense:
Interest expense		(1,165	)		(853	)
Total other expense		(1,165	)		(853	)
Income before income taxes		21,559			14,919
Income tax expense		4,845			3,504
Net income from continuing operations		16,714			11,415
Loss from discontinued operation, net of tax		(5,533	)		(3,040	)
Net income and comprehensive income	$	11,181		$	8,375
Net income per share:
Basic net income (loss) per share
Continuing operations	$	0.61		$	0.41
Discontinued operation		(0.20	)		(0.11	)
Net income per share^1	$	0.40		$	0.30
Diluted net income (loss) per share
Continuing operations	$	0.60		$	0.41
Discontinued operation		(0.20	)		(0.11	)
Net income per share	$	0.40		$	0.30
Dividends per share	$	0.21		$	0.18
^1 Rounding may impact summation of amounts.

Expedited Freight Segment Information
(In thousands)
(Unaudited)
	Three Months Ended
	March 31,		Percent of		March 31,		Percent of					Percent
	2021		Revenue		2020		Revenue		Change			Change
Operating revenue:
Network^1	$	178,627	58.7	%	$	152,009	59.9	%	$	26,618		17.5	%
Truckload		52,380	17.2			47,529	18.7			4,851		10.2
Final Mile		62,256	20.5			47,802	18.8			14,454		30.2
Other		10,923	3.6			6,285	2.5			4,638		73.8
Total operating revenue		304,186	100.0			253,625	100.0			50,561		19.9
Operating expenses:
Purchased transportation		164,364	54.0			132,790	52.4			31,574		23.8
Salaries, wages and employee benefits		61,687	20.3			55,435	21.9			6,252		11.3
Operating leases		14,218	4.7			13,602	5.4			616		4.5
Depreciation and amortization		6,798	2.2			6,695	2.6			103		1.5
Insurance and claims		7,611	2.5			6,613	2.6			998		15.1
Fuel expense		1,993	0.7			2,144	0.8			(151	)	(7.0	)
Other operating expenses		22,985	7.6			21,167	8.3			1,818		8.6
Total operating expenses		279,656	91.9			238,446	94.0			41,210		17.3
Income from operations	$	24,530	8.1	%	$	15,179	6.0	%	$	9,351		61.6	%
^1Network revenue is comprised of all revenue, including linehaul, pickup and/or delivery, and fuel surcharge revenue, excluding accessorial, Truckload and Final Mile revenue.

Expedited Freight Operating Statistics
	Three Months Ended
	March 31,			March 31,			Percent
	2021			2020			Change
Business days		63			64		(1.6	)%
Tonnage ^1,2
Total pounds		651,339			569,956		14.3
Pounds per day		10,339			8,906		16.1
Shipments ^1,2
Total shipments		1,026			885		15.9
Shipments per day		16.3			13.8		18.1
Weight per shipment		635			644		(1.4	)
Revenue per hundredweight ^3	$	27.56		$	27.16		1.5
Revenue per hundredweight, ex fuel ^3	$	23.86		$	23.09		3.3
Revenue per shipment ^3	$	174		$	172		1.2
Revenue per shipment, ex fuel ^3	$	151		$	145		4.1
Network revenue from door-to-door shipments as a percentage of network revenue ^3,4		48.4	%		44.3	%	9.3
Network gross margin ^5		51.9	%		53.4	%	(2.8	)%
^1 In thousands
^2 Excludes accessorial, Truckload and Final Mile products
^3 Includes intercompany revenue between the Network and Truckload revenue streams
^4 Door-to-door shipments include all shipments with a pickup and/or delivery
^5 Network revenue less Network purchased transportation as a percentage of Network revenue

Intermodal Segment Information
(In thousands)
(Unaudited)
	Three Months Ended
	March 31,		Percent of		March 31,		Percent of					Percent
	2021^1		Revenue		2020		Revenue		Change			Change
Operating revenue	$	58,514	100.0	%	$	52,460	100.0	%	$	6,054		11.5	%
Operating expenses:
Purchased transportation		20,603	35.2			18,166	34.6			2,437		13.4
Salaries, wages and employee benefits		14,063	24.0			12,930	24.6			1,133		8.8
Operating leases		4,837	8.3			4,428	8.4			409		9.2
Depreciation and amortization		2,436	4.2			2,621	5.0			(185	)	(7.1	)
Insurance and claims		2,402	4.1			1,973	3.8			429		21.7
Fuel expense		1,710	2.9			1,869	3.6			(159	)	(8.5	)
Other operating expenses		7,954	13.6			6,760	12.9			1,194		17.7
Total operating expenses		54,005	92.3			48,747	92.9			5,258		10.8
Income from operations	$	4,509	7.7	%	$	3,713	7.1	%	$	796		21.4	%
^1Includes revenues and operating expenses from the acquisition of Proficient Transport, which was acquired in February 2021.

Intermodal Operating Statistics
	Three Months Ended
	March 31,		March 31,		Percent
	2021		2020		Change
Drayage shipments		89,909		82,474	9.0	%
Drayage revenue per shipment	$	553	$	551	0.4	%
Number of locations		27		24	12.5	%

Forward Air Corporation
Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets
(In thousands)
(Unaudited)
	March 31, 2021		December 31, 2020
Assets
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	$	24,396	$	40,254
Accounts receivable, net		186,504		156,490
Other receivables		16,847		—
Other current assets		20,239		28,150
Current assets held for sale		—		21,002
Total current assets		247,986		245,896
Property and equipment		379,566		380,519
Less accumulated depreciation and amortization		192,622		190,652
Total property and equipment, net		186,944		189,867
Operating lease right-of-use assets		130,859		123,338
Goodwill		250,736		244,982
Other acquired intangibles, net of accumulated amortization		147,668		145,032
Other assets		51,708		45,181
Noncurrent assets held for sale		—		53,097
Total assets	$	1,015,901	$	1,047,393
Liabilities and Shareholders’ Equity
Current liabilities:
Accounts payable	$	40,676	$	38,371
Accrued expenses		74,625		51,264
Other current liabilities		6,817		10,580
Current portion of debt and finance lease obligations		1,908		1,801
Current portion of operating lease liabilities		45,107		43,680
Current liabilities held for sale		—		25,924
Total current liabilities		169,133		171,620
Debt and finance lease obligations, less current portion		117,156		117,408
Operating lease liabilities, less current portion		86,212		80,346
Other long-term liabilities		57,131		54,129
Deferred income taxes		41,538		41,986
Noncurrent liabilities held for sale		—		34,575
Shareholders’ equity:
Common stock		273		273
Additional paid-in capital		247,678		242,916
Retained earnings		296,780		304,140
Total shareholders’ equity		544,731		547,329
Total liabilities and shareholders’ equity	$	1,015,901	$	1,047,393

Forward Air Corporation
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows
(In thousands)
(Unaudited)
	Three Months Ended
	March 31, 2021			March 31, 2020
Operating activities:
Net income from continuing operations	$	16,714		$	11,415
Adjustments to reconcile net income of continuing operations to net cash provided by operating activities of continuing operations
Depreciation and amortization		9,237			9,334
Change in fair value of earn-out liability		(48	)		(594	)
Share-based compensation expense		2,597			3,078
Provision for revenue adjustments		1,777			1,042
Deferred income tax (benefit) expense		(505	)		1,225
Other		92			(265	)
Changes in operating assets and liabilities, net of effects from the purchase of an acquired business:
Accounts receivable		(28,023	)		3,040
Other receivables		(13,339	)		—
Other current and noncurrent assets		7,085			2,776
Accounts payable and accrued expenses		21,326			(223	)
Net cash provided by operating activities of continuing operations		16,913			30,828
Investing activities:
Proceeds from sale of property and equipment		665			720
Purchases of property and equipment		(2,695	)		(2,651	)
Purchases of a business, net of cash acquired		(15,000	)		(55,931	)
Net cash used in investing activities of continuing operations		(17,030	)		(57,862	)
Financing activities:
Repayments of finance lease obligations		(467	)		(336	)
Proceeds from revolving credit facility		—			65,000
Proceeds from issuance of common stock upon stock option exercises		2,147			—
Payments of dividends to stockholders		(5,797	)		(5,050	)
Repurchases of common stock		(9,998	)		(15,259	)
Payment of minimum tax withholdings on share-based awards		(2,744	)		(2,672	)
Contributions from (distributions to) subsidiary held for sale		1,118			(2,153	)
Net cash (used in) provided by financing activities from continuing operations		(15,741	)		39,530
Net (decrease) increase in cash of continuing operations		(15,858	)		12,496
Cash from discontinued operation:
Net cash used in operating activities of discontinued operation		(6,902	)		(1,662	)
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities of discontinued operation		8,020			(491	)
Net cash (used in) provided by financing activities of discontinued operation		(1,118	)		2,153
Net (decrease) increase in cash and cash equivalents		(15,858	)		12,496
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period of continuing operations		40,254			64,749
Cash at beginning of period of discontinued operation		—			—
Net (decrease) increase in cash and cash equivalents		(15,858	)		12,496
Less: cash at end of period of discontinued operation		—			—
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period of continuing operations	$	24,396		$	77,245

Forward Air Corporation Reconciliation of Non-GAAP Financial Measures

In this press release, the Company uses non-GAAP financial measures that are derived on the basis of methodologies other than in accordance with GAAP. The Company believes that meaningful analysis of its financial performance requires an understanding of the factors underlying that performance, including an understanding of items that are non-operational. Management uses these non-GAAP financial measures in making financial, operating, compensation and planning decisions as well as evaluating the Company’s performance.

For the three months ended March 31, 2021 and 2020, this press release contains the following non-GAAP financial measures: earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization (“EBITDA”) and free cash flow. All non-GAAP financial measures are presented on a continuing operations basis.

The Company believes that EBITDA from continuing operations improves comparability from period to period by removing the impact of its capital structure (interest and financing expenses), asset base (depreciation and amortization) and tax impacts. The Company believes that free cash flow from continuing operations is an important measure of its ability to repay maturing debt or fund other uses of capital that it believes will enhance stockholder value.

Non-GAAP financial measures should be viewed in addition to, and not as an alternative for, the Company’s financial results prepared in accordance with GAAP. Non-GAAP financial information does not represent a comprehensive basis of accounting. As required by the Securities and Exchange Act of 1933 and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder, the Company has included, for the periods indicated, a reconciliation of the non-GAAP financial measure to the most directly comparable GAAP financial measure.

The following is a reconciliation of net income from continuing operations to EBITDA from continuing operations for the three months ended March 31, 2021 and 2020 (in thousands):

	Three Months Ended
Continuing Operations	March 31, 2021		March 31, 2020
Net income	$	16,714	$	11,415
Interest expense		1,165		853
Income tax expense		4,845		3,504
Depreciation and amortization		9,237		9,334
EBITDA	$	31,961	$	25,106

The following is a reconciliation of net cash provided by operating activities of continuing operations to free cash flow from continuing operations for the three months ended March 31, 2021 and 2020 (in thousands):

	Three Months Ended
Continuing Operations	March 31, 2021			March 31, 2020
Net cash provided by operating activities	$	16,913		$	30,828
Proceeds from sale of property and equipment		665			720
Purchases of property and equipment		(2,695	)		(2,651	)
Free cash flow	$	14,883		$	28,897

The following information is provided to supplement this press release.

	Three Months Ended
Actual - Continuing Operations	March 31, 2021
Net income from continuing operations	$	16,714
Income allocated to participating securities		(101	)
Numerator for diluted income per share - net income	$	16,613
Weighted-average shares outstanding - diluted		27,497
Diluted net income per share	$	0.60
Projected	Full year 2021
Projected tax rate - continuing operations		24.4	%
Projected purchases of property and equipment, net of proceeds from sale of property and equipment^1	$	43,000
^1Includes $23,500 for the Columbus, Ohio hub expansion
Projected	December 31, 2021
Projected weighted-average shares outstanding - diluted		26,900

Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the safe harbor provisions of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements can be identified by words such as: “anticipate,” “intend,” “plan,” “goal,” “seek,” “believe,” “project,” “estimate,” “expect,” “strategy,” “future,” “likely,” “may,” “should,” “will” and similar references to future periods. Forward-looking statements included in this press release relate to expected second quarter 2021 revenue growth and net income per diluted share, expectations regarding increased momentum in our business, expectations regarding full year 2021 projected tax rate, fully diluted share count (before consideration of future share repurchase), and projected capital expenditures, and the future declaration of dividends.

Forward-looking statements are neither historical facts nor assurances of future performance. Instead, they are based only on our current beliefs, expectations and assumptions regarding the future of our business, future plans and strategies, projections, anticipated events and trends, the economy and other future conditions. Because forward-looking statements relate to the future, they are subject to inherent uncertainties, risks and changes in circumstances that are difficult to predict and many of which are outside of our control. Our actual results and financial condition may differ materially from those indicated in the forward-looking statements. Therefore, you should not rely on any of these forward-looking statements. The following is a list of factors, among others, that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contemplated by the forward-looking statements: economic factors such as recessions, inflation, higher interest rates and downturns in customer business cycles, the COVID-19 pandemic, our ability to manage our growth and ability to grow, in part, through acquisitions, while being able to successfully integrate such acquisitions, our ability to secure terminal facilities in desirable locations at reasonable rates, more limited liquidity than expected which limits our ability to make key investments, the creditworthiness of our customers and their ability to pay for services rendered, our inability to maintain our historical growth rate because of a decreased volume of freight or decreased average revenue per pound of freight moving through our network, the availability and compensation of qualified Leased Capacity Providers and freight handlers as well as contracted, third-party carriers needed to serve our customers’ transportation needs, our inability to manage our information systems and inability of our information systems to handle an increased volume of freight moving through our network, the occurrence of cybersecurity risks and events, market acceptance of our service offerings, claims for property damage, personal injuries or workers’ compensation, enforcement of and changes in governmental regulations, environmental, tax, insurance and accounting matters, the handling of hazardous materials, changes in fuel prices, loss of a major customer, increasing competition and pricing pressure, our dependence on our senior management team and the potential effects of changes in employee status, seasonal trends, the occurrence of certain weather events, restrictions in our charter and bylaws and the risks described in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2020.

Any forward-looking statement made by us in this press release is based only on information currently available to us and speaks only as of the date on which it is made. We undertake no obligation to publicly update any forward-looking statement, whether written or oral, that may be made from time to time, whether as a result of new information, future developments or otherwise.