ArcBest Announces Solid Third Quarter 2022 Results

Delivers Double-Digit Percentage Revenue Growth In Each Operating Segment; On Track To Deliver Record Annual Revenues in 2022

• Third quarter 2022 revenue of $1.4 billion increased 33.0 percent over third quarter 2021.
• Net income improved to $88.8 million, or $3.50 per diluted share. On a non-GAAP basis, third quarter 2022 net income was $96.4 million, or $3.80 per diluted share.

FORT SMITH, Ark., Nov. 1, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- ArcBest^® (Nasdaq: ARCB), a leader in supply chain logistics, today reported third quarter 2022 revenue of $1.4 billion, an increase of $335.2 million compared to third quarter 2021. Each operating segment achieved double-digit percentage revenue growth over the prior year period. Third quarter 2022 results include the impact of the acquisition of MoLo Solutions, LLC ("MoLo"), which was completed in November 2021.

ArcBest's third quarter 2022 operating income was $115.8 million and net income was $88.8 million, or $3.50 per diluted share, compared to operating income of $87.6 million and net income of $63.7 million, or $2.38 per diluted share, in the third quarter of 2021. 

Excluding certain items in both periods as identified in the attached reconciliation tables, third quarter non-GAAP operating income was $131.1 million, compared to $98.4 million in the prior-year period. On a non-GAAP basis, net income was $96.4 million, or $3.80 per diluted share, compared to $70.9 million, or $2.65 per diluted share, in the third quarter of 2021.

"Our third quarter results reflect the benefits of our growth strategy and continue a track record of impressive performances as we bring our best-in-class approach to customers more efficiently and effectively every single day," said Judy R. McReynolds, ArcBest chairman, president and CEO. "Despite a more challenging economic environment, we continue to invest in our team, solutions and facilities. We remain focused on delivering for our customers to provide them the reliability, flexibility and sustainability they need in their supply chains. This year we are on track to deliver more than $5 billion in annual revenue for the first time in our hundred-year history. We are confident that future growth opportunities remain bright as we work to achieve our long-term financial targets."

Third Quarter Results of Operations Comparisons

Asset-Based

Third Quarter 2022 Versus Third Quarter 2021

• Revenue of $791.5 million compared to $681.2 million, a per-day increase of 16.2 percent.
• Total tonnage per day increase of 4.4 percent, including an increase of 1.9 percent in LTL-rated weight per shipment.
• Total shipments per day increased 2.8 percent.
• Total billed revenue per hundredweight increased 11.1 percent and was positively impacted by higher fuel surcharges. Revenue per hundredweight on LTL-rated business, excluding fuel surcharge, improved by a percentage in the high single digits.
• Operating income of $109.3 million and an operating ratio of 86.2 percent compared to operating income of $83.6 million and an operating ratio of 87.7 percent. On a non-GAAP basis, operating income of $116.6 million and an operating ratio of 85.3 percent compared to operating income of $90.5 million and an operating ratio of 86.7 percent.

ArcBest's Asset-Based business continued its recent pattern of revenue growth as customer demand softened some but remained at a good level. Higher third quarter shipments and tonnage, combined with an increase in average weight per shipment, resulted in a revenue increase versus the same period last year.  Following the robust year-over-year increase in third quarter 2021, current pricing levels remain solid and were enhanced by higher fuel surcharges. To facilitate continued growth, ABF Freight continues its successful actions to add personnel in key locations. Despite experiencing cost pressures across the network, ArcBest's Asset-Based business improved its third quarter profitability due to the collaborative efforts of all employees and the careful management of resources. Shippers are currently navigating a more challenging economic environment while seeking to return consistency to their supply chains. The equipment and network resources offered by ABF Freight, as part of a comprehensive set of ArcBest logistics solutions, are valued by customers which positions ArcBest for growth. 

Asset-Light^‡
      Third Quarter 2022 Versus Third Quarter 2021 (including the results of MoLo)

• Revenue of $604.5 million compared to $371.7 million, a per-day increase of 62.6 percent.
• Operating income of $16.3 million compared to $11.5 million. On a non‑GAAP basis, operating income of $19.9 million compared to $12.4 million.
• Adjusted earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization ("Adjusted EBITDA") of $21.8 million compared to $14.2 million, as detailed in the attached non-GAAP reconciliation tables.

Compared to the previous year, revenue growth in the ArcBest Asset-Light segment moderated throughout the third quarter as a result of a softer economic environment, which led to lower average revenue per shipment, and changes in business mix. The positive impact of additional truckload business from MoLo was the main contributor to increased third quarter revenue and shipment totals versus last year. Further progress was made on the MoLo integration and all of ArcBest's Asset-Light truckload shipments are now being managed in one operating platform. In addition to truckload, third quarter revenue growth was positively impacted by managed transportation and dedicated services. In the third quarter, overall rates charged for customer shipments decreased sequentially at a more rapid pace than the cost reductions associated with securing carrier partner equipment capacity in the marketplace. The resulting sequential margin compression contributed to reduced profitability in the Asset-Light business compared to earlier quarters this year.

At FleetNet, despite revenue growth resulting from increases in both total events and revenue per event, higher costs contributed to a decrease in profitability versus the prior year period.

NOTE
 ‡ - The ArcBest and FleetNet reportable segments, combined, represent Asset-Light operations.

ArcBest will host a conference call with company executives to discuss the 2022 third quarter results. The call will be today, Tuesday, November 1, at 9:30 a.m. EDT (8:30 a.m. CDT). Interested parties are invited to listen by calling (800) 916-9049 or by joining the webcast which can be found on ArcBest's website at arcb.com. Slides to accompany this call are included in Exhibit 99.3 of the Form 8-K filed on November 1, 2022, will be posted and available to download on the company's website prior to the scheduled conference time, and will be included in the webcast. Following the call, a recorded playback will be available through the end of the day on December 15, 2022. To listen to the playback, dial (800) 633‑8284 or (402) 977‑9140 (for international callers). The conference call ID for the playback is 22020814. The conference call and playback can also be accessed, through December 15, 2022, on ArcBest's website at arcb.com.

ArcBest^® (Nasdaq: ARCB) is a multibillion-dollar integrated logistics company that helps keep the global supply chain moving. Founded in 1923 and now with over 15,000 employees across more than 250 campuses and service centers, the company is a logistics powerhouse, fueled by the simple notion of finding a way to get the job done. Through innovative thinking, agility and trust, ArcBest leverages their full suite of shipping and logistics solutions to meet customers' critical needs, each and every day. For more information, visit arcb.com.

The following is a "safe harbor" statement under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995: Certain statements and information in this press release concerning results for the three months ended September 30, 2022 may constitute "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, including, among others, statements regarding (i) our expectations about our intrinsic value or our prospects for growth and value creation and (ii) our financial outlook, position, strategies, goals, and expectations. Terms such as "anticipate," "believe," "could," "estimate," "expect," "forecast," "foresee," "intend," "may," "plan," "predict," "project," "scheduled," "should," "would," and similar expressions and the negatives of such terms are intended to identify forward-looking statements. These statements are based on management's beliefs, assumptions, and expectations based on currently available information, are not guarantees of future performance, and involve certain risks and uncertainties (some of which are beyond our control). Although we believe that the expectations reflected in these forward-looking statements are reasonable as and when made, we cannot provide assurance that our expectations will prove to be correct. Actual outcomes and results could materially differ from what is expressed, implied, or forecasted in these statements due to a number of factors, including, but not limited to: the effects of widespread outbreak of an illness or disease, including the COVID-19 pandemic, or any other public health crisis, as well as regulatory measures implemented in response to such events; external events which may adversely affect us or the third parties who provide services for us, for which our business continuity plans may not adequately prepare us, including acts of war or terrorism or military conflicts; a failure of our information systems, including disruptions or failures of services essential to our operations or upon which our information technology platforms rely, data breach, and/or cybersecurity incidents; interruption or failure of third-party software or information technology systems or licenses; untimely or ineffective development and implementation of, or failure to realize potential benefits associated with, new or enhanced technology or processes, including the pilot test program at ABF Freight; the loss or reduction of business from large customers; the ability to manage our cost structure, and the timing and performance of growth initiatives; the cost, integration, and performance of any recent or future acquisitions, including the acquisition of MoLo Solutions, LLC, and the inability to realize the anticipated benefits of the acquisition within the expected time period or at all; market fluctuations and interruptions affecting the price of our stock or the price or timing of our share repurchase programs; maintaining our corporate reputation and intellectual property rights; nationwide or global disruption in the supply chain increasing volatility in freight volumes; competitive initiatives and pricing pressures; increased prices for and decreased availability of new revenue equipment, decreases in value of used revenue equipment, and higher costs of equipment-related operating expenses such as maintenance, fuel, and related taxes; availability of fuel, the effect of volatility in fuel prices and the associated changes in fuel surcharges on securing increases in base freight rates, and the inability to collect fuel surcharges; relationships with employees, including unions, and our ability to attract, retain, and develop employees; unfavorable terms of, or the inability to reach agreement on, future collective bargaining agreements or a workforce stoppage by our employees covered under ABF Freight's collective bargaining agreement; union employee wages and benefits, including changes in required contributions to multiemployer plans; availability and cost of reliable third-party services; our ability to secure independent owner operators and/or operational or regulatory issues related to our use of their services; litigation or claims asserted against us; governmental regulations; environmental laws and regulations, including emissions-control regulations; default on covenants of financing arrangements and the availability and terms of future financing arrangements; self-insurance claims and insurance premium costs; potential impairment of goodwill and intangible assets; general economic conditions and related shifts in market demand that impact the performance and needs of industries we serve and/or limit our customers' access to adequate financial resources; increasing costs due to inflation; seasonal fluctuations and adverse weather conditions; and other financial, operational, and legal risks and uncertainties detailed from time to time in ArcBest Corporation's public filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC").

For additional information regarding known material factors that could cause our actual results to differ from our projected results, please see our filings with the SEC, including our Annual Report on Form 10-K, Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, and Current Reports on Form 8-K.

Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date hereof. We undertake no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements after the date they are made, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise.

The following tables show financial data and operating statistics on ArcBest^® and its reportable segments.

ARCBEST CORPORATION
RECONCILIATIONS OF GAAP TO NON-GAAP FINANCIAL MEASURES

Non-GAAP Financial Measures
We report our financial results in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles ("GAAP"). However, management believes that certain non-GAAP performance measures and ratios utilized for internal analysis provide analysts, investors, and others the same information that we use internally for purposes of assessing our core operating performance and provides meaningful comparisons between current and prior period results, as well as important information regarding performance trends. The use of certain non-GAAP measures improves comparability in analyzing our performance because it removes the impact of items from operating results that, in management's opinion, do not reflect our core operating performance. Other companies may calculate non-GAAP measures differently; therefore, our calculation may not be comparable to similarly titled measures of other companies. Certain information discussed in the scheduled conference call could be considered non-GAAP measures. Non-GAAP financial measures should be viewed in addition to, and not as an alternative for, our reported results. These financial measures should not be construed as better measurements than operating income, operating cash flow, net income or earnings per share, as determined under GAAP.

Adjusted Earnings Before Interest, Taxes, Depreciation, and Amortization (Adjusted EBITDA)
Management uses Adjusted EBITDA as a key measure of performance and for business planning. The measure is particularly meaningful for analysis of operating performance because it excludes amortization of acquired intangibles and software of the Asset-Light businesses and changes in the fair value of contingent consideration, which are significant expenses resulting from strategic decisions rather than core daily operations. Additionally, Adjusted EBITDA is a primary component of the financial covenants contained in our credit agreement. The calculation of Consolidated Adjusted EBITDA as presented below begins with net income, which is the most directly comparable GAAP measure. The calculation of Asset-Light Adjusted EBITDA as presented below begins with operating income, as other income (costs), income taxes, and net income are reported at the consolidated level and not included in the operating segment financial information evaluated by management to make operating decisions.

Notes to Non-GAAP Financial Tables

The following footnotes apply to the non-GAAP financial tables presented in this press release.

SOURCE ArcBest