Matson, Inc. Announces First Quarter 2021 Results

HONOLULU, April 27, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Matson, Inc. ("Matson" or the "Company") (NYSE: MATX), a leading U.S. carrier in the Pacific, today reported net income of $87.2 million, or $1.99 per diluted share, for the quarter ended March 31, 2021.  Net income for the quarter ended March 31, 2020 was $3.8 million, or $0.09 per diluted share.  Consolidated revenue for the first quarter 2021 was $711.8 million compared with $513.9 million for the first quarter 2020.

"Matson is off to a strong start to 2021 with continued solid performance in both Ocean Transportation and Logistics," said Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Matt Cox.  "Within Ocean Transportation, our China service continued to see significant demand for its CLX and CLX+ expedited ocean services as volume for e-commerce and other high demand goods remained elevated, which resulted in very strong pre- and post-Lunar New Year volumes.  Our financial performance in the China service was the primary driver of the increase in consolidated operating income year-over-year.  Currently, significant supply chain congestion continues, particularly at the California ports, and these conditions will most likely persist through the second quarter and into the traditional peak season.  We also expect demand in the Transpacific tradelane to remain favorable as elevated consumption trends, including heightened e-commerce activity, are expected to continue beyond the second quarter.  Consequently, we expect significant demand for our expedited CLX and CLX+ services to remain throughout the peak season into late October."  

Mr. Cox added, "In our other core tradelanes, we continued to see steady demand for sustenance and home improvement goods with higher year-over-year volumes.  Logistics operating income increased year-over-year as a result of continued elevated goods consumption and inventory restocking in addition to favorable supply and demand fundamentals in our core markets."

First Quarter 2021 Discussion and Update on Business Conditions

Ocean Transportation:  The Company's container volume in the Hawaii service in the first quarter 2021 was 0.6 percent higher year-over-year primarily due to higher demand for sustenance and home improvement goods, partially offset by one less westbound sailing and lower tourism activity as a result of the pandemic.  The low tourism levels during the COVID-19 pandemic have had a meaningfully negative impact on Hawaii's economy.  With eased visitor travel restrictions and increased vaccinations on the mainland, tourism to the Hawaiian islands has recently picked up and is expected to accelerate into the summer as vaccinations become more widespread.  The recovery in tourism is expected to lead to gradually improving economic conditions in the state, but the economic recovery trajectory continues to remain uncertain.  

In China, the Company's container volume in the first quarter 2021 increased 218.6 percent year-over-year primarily due to volume from the CLX+ service in addition to higher volume on the CLX service as a result of our increased capacity in the tradelane.  Matson continued to realize a significant rate premium in the first quarter 2021 and achieved average freight rates that were considerably higher than in the year ago period.  At present, significant supply chain congestion continues, particularly at the California ports, and these conditions will most likely persist through the second quarter 2021 and into the traditional peak season.  We also expect demand in the Transpacific tradelane to remain favorable as elevated consumption trends, including heightened e-commerce activity, are expected to continue beyond the second quarter.  Accordingly, we expect significant demand for our expedited CLX and CLX+ services to remain throughout the peak season into late October.

In Guam, the Company's container volume in the first quarter 2021 increased 2.0 percent year-over-year primarily due to higher demand for sustenance and home improvement goods, partially offset by lower tourism activity as a result of the pandemic.  In the near-term, we expect depressed tourism levels to have a negative impact on the Guam economy.

In Alaska, the Company's container volume for the first quarter 2021 decreased 4.9 percent year-over-year as a result of lower northbound volume primarily due to one less sailing this year and volume related to a competitor's dry-docking in the year ago period and lower southbound volume, partially offset by volume from the Alaska-to-Asia Express service.  Normalizing for the one less sailing this year and volume related to a competitor's dry-docking in the year ago period, Alaska volume increased approximately 2.5 percent.  In the near-term, we expect the Alaska economy to slowly recover, but remain challenged until the pandemic subsides and the unemployment rate improves.    

The contribution in the first quarter 2021 from the Company's SSAT joint venture investment was $9.2 million, or $5.2 million higher than the first quarter 2020.  The increase was driven by higher lift volume.    

Logistics:  In the first quarter 2021, operating income for the Company's Logistics segment was $6.1 million, or $1.0 million higher compared to the operating income achieved in the first quarter 2020.  The increase was due primarily to higher contributions from transportation brokerage and supply chain management as a result of elevated goods consumption and inventory restocking in addition to tight supply and demand fundamentals in our core markets.    

Ocean Transportation revenue increased $159.6 million during the three months ended March 31, 2021, compared with the three months ended March 31, 2020.  The increase was primarily due to higher freight revenue in the China service, including revenue associated with the CLX+ service, partially offset by lower fuel-related surcharge revenue and lower service revenue in Alaska. 

On a year-over-year FEU basis, Hawaii container volume increased 0.6 percent primarily due to higher demand for sustenance and home improvement goods, partially offset by one less westbound sailing and lower tourism activity as a result of the pandemic; Alaska volume decreased 4.9 percent due to lower northbound volume primarily due to one less sailing this year and volume related to a competitor's dry-docking in the year ago period and lower southbound volume, partially offset by volume from the Alaska-to-Asia Express service; China volume was 218.6 percent higher primarily due to volume from the CLX+ service in addition to higher volume on the CLX service as a result of our increased capacity in the tradelane; Guam volume was 2.0 percent higher primarily due to higher demand for sustenance and home improvement goods, partially offset by lower tourism activity as a result of the pandemic; and Other containers volume decreased 2.4 percent.

Ocean Transportation operating income increased $106.2 million during the three months ended March 31, 2021, compared with the three months ended March 31, 2020.  The increase was primarily due to a higher contribution from China, including the contribution from the CLX+ service, and a higher contribution from SSAT, partially offset by a lower contribution from the Alaska service and higher depreciation.

The Company's SSAT terminal joint venture investment contributed $9.2 million during the three months ended March 31, 2021, compared to a contribution of $4.0 million during the three months ended March 31, 2020.  The increase was driven by higher lift volume.

Logistics revenue increased $38.3 million, or 33.9 percent, during the three months ended March 31, 2021, compared with the three months ended March 31, 2020.  The increase was primarily due to higher transportation brokerage revenue.

Logistics operating income increased $1.0 million, or 19.6 percent, for the three months ended March 31, 2021, compared with the three months ended March 31, 2020.  The increase was primarily due to higher contributions from transportation brokerage and supply chain management.

Liquidity, Cash Flows and Capital Allocation

Matson's Cash and Cash Equivalents decreased by $2.6 million from $14.4 million at December 31, 2020 to $11.8 million at March 31, 2021.  Matson generated net cash from operating activities of $122.9 million during the three months ended March 31, 2021, compared to $68.6 million during the three months ended March 31, 2020.  Capital expenditures totaled $38.5 million for the three months ended March 31, 2021, compared with $35.2 million for the three months ended March 31, 2020.  Total debt decreased by $61.2 million during the three months to $698.9 million as of March 31, 2021, of which $639.7 million was classified as long-term debt.

Under the recently amended debt agreements, as of March 31, 2021 Matson had available borrowings under its revolving credit facility of $616.9 million and a leverage ratio per the amended debt agreements of approximately 1.25x. 

As previously announced, Matson's Board of Directors declared a cash dividend of $0.23 per share payable on June 3, 2021 to all shareholders of record as of the close of business on May 6, 2021.

Teleconference and Webcast

A conference call is scheduled for 4:30 p.m. ET when Matt Cox, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, and Joel Wine, Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, will discuss Matson's first quarter results.

The conference call will be broadcast live along with a slide presentation on the Company's website at www.matson.com, under Investors.  A replay of the conference call will be available approximately two hours after the call through May 4, 2021 by dialing 1-855-859-2056 or 1-404-537-3406 and using the conference number 7354223.  The slides and audio webcast of the conference call will be archived for one full quarter on the Company's website at www.matson.com, under Investors.

About the Company

Founded in 1882, Matson (NYSE: MATX) is a leading provider of ocean transportation and logistics services.  Matson provides a vital lifeline to the domestic non-contiguous economies of Hawaii, Alaska, and Guam, and to other island economies in Micronesia.  Matson also operates two premium, expedited services from China to Long Beach, California, provides service to Okinawa, Japan and various islands in the South Pacific, and operates an international export service from Dutch Harbor to Asia.  The Company's fleet of owned and chartered vessels includes containerships, combination container and roll-on/roll-off ships and custom-designed barges.  Matson Logistics, established in 1987, extends the geographic reach of Matson's transportation network throughout the continental U.S.  Its integrated, asset-light logistics services include rail intermodal, highway brokerage, warehousing, freight consolidation, Asia supply chain services, and forwarding to Alaska.  Additional information about the Company is available at www.matson.com.

GAAP to Non-GAAP Reconciliation

This press release, the Form 8-K and the information to be discussed in the conference call include non-GAAP measures.  While Matson reports financial results in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles ("GAAP"), the Company also considers other non-GAAP measures to evaluate performance, make day-to-day operating decisions, help investors understand our ability to incur and service debt and to make capital expenditures, and to understand period-over-period operating results separate and apart from items that may, or could, have a disproportional positive or negative impact on results in any particular period.  These non-GAAP measures include, but are not limited to, Earnings Before Interest, Income Taxes, Depreciation and Amortization ("EBITDA") and Net Debt-to-EBITDA.

Forward-Looking Statements

Statements in this news release that are not historical facts are "forward-looking statements," within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, including without limitation those statements regarding performance and financial results, the COVID-19 pandemic and related economic effects, vaccinations, demand for expedited CLX and CLX+ services, supply and demand dynamics in the Transpacific tradelane, supply chain congestion, consumption trends, retail and e-commerce demand, retail inventory/sales ratio, tourism levels, vessel deployments and operating efficiencies, duration and availability of vessel charters, vessel transit times, organic growth opportunities, demand and volume levels in the China service and in the Hawaii, Alaska and Guam tradelanes, economic growth and drivers in Hawaii, Alaska and Guam, lift volumes at SSAT, capital expenditures and reducing debt. These statements involve a number of risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contemplated by the relevant forward-looking statement, including but not limited to risks and uncertainties relating to repeal, substantial amendment or waiver of the Jones Act or its application, or our failure to maintain our status as a United States citizen under the Jones Act; regional, national and international economic conditions; new or increased competition or improvements in competitors' service levels; fuel prices, our ability to collect fuel-related surcharges and/or the cost or limited availability of low-sulfur fuel; delays or cost overruns related to the installation of scrubbers; our relationship with vendors, customers and partners and changes in related agreements; the actions of our competitors; our ability to offer a differentiated service in China for which customers are willing to pay a significant premium; the imposition of tariffs or a change in international trade policies; the magnitude and timing of the impact of public health crises, including COVID-19; any unanticipated dry-dock or repair expenses; any delays or cost overruns related to the modernization of terminals; consummating and integrating acquisitions; changes in general economic and/or industry-specific conditions; competition and growth rates within the logistics industry; freight levels and increasing costs and availability of truck capacity or alternative means of transporting freight; changes in relationships with existing truck, rail, ocean and air carriers; changes in customer base due to possible consolidation among customers; conditions in the financial markets; changes in our credit profile and our future financial performance; our ability to obtain future debt financings; continuation of the Title XI and CCF programs; the impact of future and pending legislation and regulations, including environmental legislation and regulations; government regulations and investigations; relations with our unions; satisfactory negotiation and renewal of expired collective bargaining agreements without significant disruption to Matson's operations; war, terrorist attacks or other acts of violence; the use of our information technology and communication systems and cybersecurity attacks; and the occurrence of marine accidents, poor weather or natural disasters.  These forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance.  This release should be read in conjunction with our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2020 and our other filings with the SEC through the date of this release, which identify important factors that could affect the forward-looking statements in this release.  We do not undertake any obligation to update our forward-looking statements.

SOURCE Matson, Inc.

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