Wabash National Corporation Announces First Quarter 2018 Results; Increases Full-Year 2018 Guidance on Continued Strong Demand

May 1, 2018
  • First quarter GAAP and non-GAAP earnings of $0.35 and $0.28 per diluted share, respectively
  • Achieved best-ever first quarter net sales of $491 million, an increase from prior year of 36 percent
  • Strong quote and order activity increases backlog to record level of $1.3 billion
  • Company increases full-year 2018 guidance for new trailer shipments to 58,000 to 62,000 trailers and GAAP and non-GAAP earnings to $2.01 to $2.13 per diluted share and $1.94 to $2.06 per diluted share, respectively

LAFAYETTE, Ind., May 01, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Wabash National Corporation (NYSE:WNC), a diversified industrial manufacturer and a leading producer of semi-trailers, truck bodies and liquid transportation systems, today reported results for the quarter ending March 31, 2018.

Net sales for the first quarter 2018 increased 36 percent to $491 million from $363 million in the prior year quarter.  This increase reflects growth in each of the Company’s three operating segments due to strong demand and the favorable impact of the acquisition of Supreme Industries, Inc. (“Supreme”) in September 2017.  Operating income decreased 15 percent to $25.7 million compared to operating income of $30.3 million for the first quarter 2017 due primarily to increased material costs, new product development initiatives and labor costs attributable to increased production to meet current demand.

“We are pleased to report record first quarter top-line results, driven by a strong overall demand environment, greater than anticipated new trailer shipments of 13,200, and further supported by the revenue delivered from our expanded Final Mile business,” stated Dick Giromini, chief executive officer.  “Backlog grew once again, reaching record levels of $1.3 billion, with significant sequential backlog increases of 40% and 50% within the Diversified Products and Final Mile segments, respectively.  Additionally, trailer orders received during the quarter within our Commercial Trailer segment remained strong, leading to its third highest first quarter backlog on record.  As expected and previously discussed, raw material inflation, along with normal seasonally higher operating costs, further impacted margins throughout the quarter.  However, expectations are that this past quarter will represent the low-water mark of operating performance for the year as a combination of higher shipments, lower operating costs, and repricing actions already taken to offset the impact of material cost increases, will all help to contribute strong results throughout the balance of the year.  As such, we are increasing our previous full-year guidance for 2018 new trailer shipment to 58,000 to 62,000 units and GAAP and non-GAAP earnings to $2.01 to $2.13 per diluted share and $1.94 to $2.06 per diluted share, respectively.”

Net income for the first quarter 2018 was $21.3 million, or $0.35 per diluted share, compared to the first quarter 2017 net income of $20.2 million, or $0.32 per diluted share.  First quarter 2018 non-GAAP adjusted earnings were $16.8 million, or $0.28 per diluted share, a $2.7 million decrease as compared to the prior year period.  Non-GAAP adjusted earnings for the first quarter 2018 excludes net gains on sale of former facilities offset by expenses related to acquisition and integration costs associated with the Company’s acquisition of Supreme and the early extinguishment of debt in connection with the Company’s repurchase of a portion of its outstanding convertible senior notes.  Non-GAAP adjusted earnings for the first quarter 2017 excluded net gains on sale of former facilities offset by charges related to the early extinguishment of debt in connection with the Company’s amendment to its term loan credit facility.

Operating EBITDA, a non-GAAP measure that excludes the effects of certain items, for the first quarter 2018 was $39.0 million, a decrease of $2.9 million compared to operating EBITDA for the prior year period.  On a trailing twelve month basis, net sales totaled $1.9 billion, generating operating EBITDA of $186.1 million, or 9.8 percent of net sales.

The following is a summary of select operating and financial results for the past five quarters:

   
Three Months Ended  
(Dollars in thousands, except per
share amounts)
March 31,   June 30,   September 30,   December 31,   March 31,   
2017   2017   2017   2017   2018  
                     
Net Sales $   362,716     $   435,903     $   425,098     $   543,444     $    491,319    
                     
Gross Profit Margin   16.4 %     15.5 %     14.3 %     13.4 %     13.1 %  
                     
Income from Operations $   30,264     $   38,668     $   26,591     $   35,293     $    25,656    
                     
Income from Operations Margin   8.3 %     8.9 %     6.3 %     6.5 %     5.2 %  
                     
Net Income $   20,173     $   22,945     $   18,947     $   49,356     $    21,272    
                     
Diluted EPS $   0.32     $   0.36     $   0.30     $   0.80     $    0.35    
                     
Non-GAAP Measures(1):                    
                                         
Operating EBITDA $   41,930     $   49,450     $   46,561     $   51,062     $    38,984    
                     
Operating EBITDA Margin   11.6 %     11.3 %     11.0 %     9.4 %     7.9 %  
                     
Adjusted Earnings $   19,517     $   23,189     $   21,214     $   22,250     $    16,857    
                     
Adjusted Diluted EPS $   0.31     $   0.37     $   0.34     $   0.36     $    0.28    
       

Notes:

 

  (1)  See “Non-GAAP Measures” below for explanation of the non-GAAP results included above.

Business Segment Highlights
The table below is a summary of select segment operating and financial results prior to the elimination of intersegment sales for the first quarter of 2018 and 2017.  Final Mile Products segment did not exist as a separate segment in the first quarter of 2017; therefore, only 2018 highlights are shown.  A complete disclosure of the results by individual segment is included in the tables following this release.

                         
(dollars in thousands)   Commercial Trailer Products   Diversified Products   Final Mile
Products
 
                         
Three months ended March 31                    
        2018       2017       2018       2017       2018    
New trailers shipped       12,650         10,400         550         500         -    
Net sales   $    327,422     $   274,789     $    95,203     $   89,910     $    75,459    
Gross profit   $    36,522     $   42,127     $    17,298     $   17,593     $    11,532    
Gross profit margin     11.2 %     15.3 %     18.2 %     19.6 %     15.3 %  
Income from operations   $    29,481     $   33,392     $    5,028     $   4,604     $    609    
Income from operations margin   9.0 %     12.2 %     5.3 %     5.1 %     0.8 %  
                         

Commercial Trailer Products’ net sales for the first quarter were $327 million, an increase of $53 million, or 19 percent, as compared to the prior year.  Gross profit margin for the first quarter decreased 410 basis points as compared to the prior year period primarily due to increases in material costs, start-up expenses associated with the ramp-up of new product initiatives, as well as increased labor costs resulting from higher wage rates and increased overtime requirements to meet current demand.  Operating income decreased $3.9 million, or 12 percent, from the first quarter last year to $29.5 million, or 9.0 percent of net sales.

Diversified Products’ net sales for the first quarter were $95 million, an increase of $5 million, or 6 percent, as compared to the prior year, due primarily to the increased demand for liquid tank trailers as compared to the previous year period.  Gross profit and profit margins as compared to the prior year period decreased $0.3 million and 140 basis points, respectively, primarily due to increased material and labor costs related to the ramp-up of production in order to meet higher demand requirements.  Operating income for the first quarter 2018 was $5.0 million, or 5.3 percent of net sales, an increase of $0.4 million compared to the prior year. 

Final Mile Products’ net sales for the first quarter totaled $75 million.  Gross profit and gross profit margin for the first quarter were $11.5 million and 15.3 percent, respectively.  Excluding non-recurring acquisition and integration related costs, gross profit and operating margins for the first quarter were 16.1 percent and 2.0 percent, respectively.  Truck body demand continues to be strong as backlog increased 50 percent compared to the prior quarter.

Non-GAAP Measures

In addition to disclosing financial results calculated in accordance with United States generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP), the financial information included in this release contains non-GAAP financial measures, including operating EBITDA, operating EBITDA margin, adjusted earnings and adjusted earnings per diluted share.

These non-GAAP measures should not be considered a substitute for, or superior to, financial measures and results calculated in accordance with GAAP, including net income, and reconciliations to GAAP financial statements should be carefully evaluated.

Operating EBITDA is defined as earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, amortization, stock-based compensation, charges incurred in connection with the acquisition and integration of Supreme, and other non-operating income and expense.  Management believes providing operating EBITDA is useful for investors to understand the Company’s performance and results of operations period to period with the exclusion of the items identified above.  Management believes the presentation of operating EBITDA, when combined with the GAAP presentations of operating income and net income, is beneficial to an investor’s understanding of the Company’s operating performance.  A reconciliation of operating EBITDA to net income is included in the tables following this release.

Adjusted earnings and adjusted earnings per diluted share for the three-month period ending March 31, 2018 and 2017 reflect adjustments for charges incurred in connection with acquisition and integration of Supreme, the losses attributable to the Company’s extinguishment of debt, executive severance costs, income or losses recognized on sale of former branch locations as well as tax benefits associated with the adjustment of the Company’s net deferred income tax liability as a result of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 and reversal of reserves for uncertain tax positions.  Management believes providing adjusted measures and excluding certain items facilitates comparisons to the Company’s prior year periods and, when combined with the GAAP presentation of net income and diluted net income per share, is beneficial to an investor’s understanding of the Company’s performance.  A reconciliation of adjusted earnings and adjusted earnings per diluted share to net income and net income per diluted share is included in the tables following this release.

First Quarter and Full-Year 2018 Conference Call
Wabash National will conduct a conference call to review and discuss its first quarter results on May 2, 2018 at 10:00 a.m. EDT.  Access to the live webcast will be available on the Company’s website at www.wabashnational.com.  For those unable to participate in the live webcast, the call will be archived at www.wabashnational.com within three hours of the conclusion of the live call and will remain available through July 25, 2018.  Meeting access also will be available via conference call at 800-708-4539, participant code 46816128.

About Wabash National Corporation

Headquartered in Lafayette, Indiana, Wabash National Corporation (NYSE:WNC) is a diversified industrial manufacturer and a leading producer of semi-trailers, truck bodies and liquid transportation systems. Established in 1985, the Company manufactures a diverse range of products including: dry freight and refrigerated trailers, platform trailers, bulk tank trailers, dry and refrigerated truck bodies, truck-mounted tanks, intermodal equipment, aircraft refueling equipment, structural composite panels and products, trailer aerodynamic solutions, and specialty food grade and pharmaceutical equipment. Its innovative products are sold under the following brand names: Wabash National®, Beall®, Benson®, Brenner® Tank, Bulk Tank International, DuraPlate®, Extract Technology®, Garsite, Progress Tank, Supreme®, Transcraft®, Walker Engineered Products, and Walker Transport. Learn more at www.wabashnational.com.

Safe Harbor Statement

This press release contains certain forward-looking statements as defined by the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995.  Forward-looking statements convey the Company’s current expectations or forecasts of future events.  All statements contained in this press release other than statements of historical fact are forward-looking statements.  These forward-looking statements include, among other things, all statements regarding the Company’s outlook for trailer and truck body shipments, backlog, expectations regarding demand levels for trailers, truck bodies, non-trailer equipment and our other diversified product offerings, pricing, profitability and earnings, cash flow and liquidity, opportunity to capture higher margin sales, new product innovations, our growth and diversification strategies, our expectations for improved financial performance during the course of the year and our expectations with regards to capital allocation.  These and the Company’s other forward-looking statements are subject to certain risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those implied by the forward-looking statements.  Without limitation, these risks and uncertainties include the continued integration of Supreme into the Company’s business, adverse reactions to the transaction by customers, suppliers or strategic partners, uncertain economic conditions including the possibility that customer demand may not meet our expectations, increased competition, reliance on certain customers and corporate partnerships, risks of customer pick-up delays, shortages and costs of raw materials, risks in implementing and sustaining improvements in the Company’s manufacturing operations and cost containment, dependence on industry trends and timing, customer acceptance of and reactions to pricing changes and costs of indebtedness.  Readers should review and consider the various disclosures made by the Company in this press release and in the Company’s reports to its stockholders and periodic reports on Forms 10-K and 10-Q.

 
WABASH NATIONAL CORPORATION
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
(Dollars in thousands, except per share amounts)
(Unaudited)
             
      Three Months Ended
March 31,
 
      2018   2017  
             
Net sales   $   491,319     $   362,716    
Cost of sales       427,200         303,360    
    Gross profit       64,119         59,356    
             
General and administrative expenses       25,109         18,418    
Selling expenses       8,345         6,173    
Amortization of intangibles       4,941         4,501    
Acquisition expenses       68         -     
  Income from operations       25,656         30,264    
             
Other income (expense):          
  Interest expense       (7,454 )       (2,990 )  
  Other, net       7,916         1,333    
  Income before income taxes       26,118         28,607    
Income tax expense       4,846         8,434    
Net income    $   21,272     $   20,173    
Dividends declared per share   $   0.075     $   0.06    
Basic net income per share   $   0.37     $   0.34    
Diluted net income per share   $   0.35     $   0.32    
                     
Comprehensive income          
  Net income   $   21,272     $   20,173    
  Foreign currency translation adjustment       474         478    
  Unrealized holding loss on investments       (65 )       -     
Net comprehensive income   $   21,681     $   20,651    
                     
             
Basic net income per share:          
  Net income applicable to common stockholders   $   21,272     $   20,173    
  Weighted average common shares outstanding       57,793         65,037    
  Basic net income per share   $   0.37     $   0.31    
                     
Diluted net income per share:          
  Net income applicable to common stockholders   $   21,272     $   20,173    
             
  Weighted average common shares outstanding       57,793         60,143    
  Dilutive shares from assumed conversion of convertible senior notes       1,789         1,683    
  Dilutive stock options and restricted stock       1,268         1,564    
  Diluted weighted average common shares outstanding       60,850         63,390    
  Diluted net income per share   $   0.35     $   0.32    
                     

 

   
WABASH NATIONAL CORPORATION  
SEGMENTS AND RELATED INFORMATION  
(Dollars in thousands)  
(Unaudited)  
                         
      Commercial    Diversified   Final Mile   Corporate and      
Three Months Ended March 31,   Trailer Products   Products   Products   Eliminations   Consolidated  
  2018                      
New trailers shipped       12,650       550       -        -          13,200  
Used trailers shipped       500       50       -        -          550  
                         
New Trailers   $   310,318   $   33,839   $   -    $   -      $   344,157  
Used Trailers   $   4,407   $   1,086   $   -    $   -          5,493  
Components, parts and service   $   8,648   $   33,968   $   2,413   $   (6,762 )       38,267  
Equipment and other   $   4,049   $   26,310   $   73,046   $   (3 )       103,402  
    Total net external sales   $   327,422   $   95,203   $   75,459   $   (6,765 )   $   491,319  
                         
Gross profit   $   36,522   $   17,298   $   11,532   $   (1,233 )   $   64,119  
Income (Loss) from operations   $   29,481   $   5,028   $   609   $   (9,462 )   $   25,656  
                         
  2017                      
New trailers shipped       10,400       500       -        -          10,900  
Used trailers shipped       50       50       -        -          100  
                         
New Trailers   $   257,190   $   30,695   $   -    $   -      $   287,885  
Used Trailers   $   887   $   1,219   $   -    $   -          2,106  
Components, parts and service   $   12,743   $   33,675   $   -    $   (1,983 )       44,435  
Equipment and other   $   3,969   $   24,321   $   -    $   -          28,290  
  Total net external sales   $   274,789   $   89,910   $   -    $   (1,983 )   $   362,716  
                         
Gross profit   $   42,127   $   17,593   $   -    $   (364 )   $   59,356  
Income (Loss) from operations   $   33,392   $   4,604   $   -    $   (7,732 )   $   30,264  
                         

 

 
WABASH NATIONAL CORPORATION
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
(Dollars in thousands)
             
        March 31,   December 31,
        2018   2017
        (Unaudited)    
ASSETS
Current assets        
  Cash and cash equivalents   $   152,529   $   191,521
  Accounts receivable       192,796       146,836
  Inventories       236,715       180,735
  Prepaid expenses and other       55,167       57,299
    Total current assets   $   637,207   $   576,391
             
Property, plant and equipment       196,298       195,363
             
Goodwill         317,778       317,464
             
Intangible assets       231,658       237,030
             
Other assets       26,607       25,265
        $   1,409,548   $   1,351,513
             
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
Current liabilities        
  Current portion of long-term debt   $   37,106   $   46,020
  Current portion of capital lease obligations       285       290
  Accounts payable       168,532       108,448
  Other accrued liabilities       128,461       128,910
    Total current liabilities   $   334,384   $   283,668
             
Long-term debt       503,825       504,091
             
Capital lease obligations       946       1,012
             
Deferred income taxes       36,932       36,955
             
Other noncurrent liabilities       20,190       19,724
             
Stockholders' equity       513,271       506,063
        $   1,409,548   $   1,351,513
                 

 

   
WABASH NATIONAL CORPORATION  
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS  
(Dollars in thousands)  
(Unaudited)  
   
  Three Months Ended March 31,  
  2018   2017  
         
Cash flows from operating activities            
  Net income $   21,272     $   20,173    
  Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities        
  Depreciation     5,163         4,202    
    Amortization of intangibles     4,941         4,501    
    Net gain on the sale of assets         (6,013 )       (2,456 )  
    Loss on debt extinguishment     174         640    
    Deferred income taxes     (23 )       (13 )  
  Stock-based compensation     2,657         2,963    
    Non-cash interest expense     675         520    
  Changes in operating assets and liabilities        
  Accounts receivable     (45,910 )       36,353    
  Inventories     (58,393 )       (51,692 )  
  Prepaid expenses and other     591         8,286    
  Accounts payable and accrued liabilities     63,943         41,395    
  Other, net     (1,120 )       428    
  Net cash (used in) provided by operating activities $   (12,043 )   $   65,300    
                         
Cash flows from investing activities            
  Capital expenditures     (6,060 )       (3,173 )  
  Proceeds from the sale of property, plant, and equipment       9,523         3,761    
  Other, net             3,060         1,218    
  Net cash provided by investing activities $   6,523     $   1,806    
                         
Cash flows from financing activities            
    Proceeds from exercise of stock options         861         5,408    
  Dividends paid             (4,692 )       (3,893 )  
  Borrowings under revolving credit facilities       254         152    
  Payments under revolving credit facilities         (254 )       (152 )  
  Principal payments under capital lease obligations       (71 )       (171 )  
  Proceeds from issuance of term loan credit facility       -          189,470    
  Principal payments under term loan credit facility       (471 )       (189,944 )  
  Principal payments under industrial revenue bond       (92 )       (177 )  
  Debt issuance costs paid           -          (354 )  
  Convertible senior notes repurchase         (17,183 )       -     
  Stock repurchase             (5,412 )       (16,625 )  
  Net cash used in financing activities $   (27,060 )   $   (16,286 )  
                         
Net (decrease) increase in cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash $   (32,580 )   $   50,820    
Cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash at beginning of period     191,521         163,467    
Cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash at end of period $   158,941     $   214,287    
                 

 

   
WABASH NATIONAL CORPORATION  
RECONCILIATION OF GAAP FINANCIAL MEASURES TO  
NON-GAAP FINANCIAL MEASURES  
(Dollars in thousands, except per share amounts)  
(Unaudited)  
                           
Operating EBITDA1:                          
  Three Months Ended
March 31,
                   
  2018   2017                    
Net income $   21,272     $   20,173                      
Income tax expense     4,846         8,434                      
Interest expense     7,454         2,990                      
Depreciation and amortization     10,104         8,704                      
Stock-based compensation     2,657         2,963                      
Acquisition expenses     567         -                       
Other non-operating (income) expense     (7,916 )       (1,333 )                    
Operating EBITDA $   38,984     $   41,930                      
                           
                           
  Three Months Ended   Trailing Twelve Months        
  June 30,
2017
  September 30,
2017
  December 31,
2017
  March 31,
2018
  March 31,
2018
       
Net income  $   22,945     $   18,947     $   49,356     $   21,272     $   112,520          
Income tax expense     13,160         10,728         (21,204 )       4,846         7,530          
Interest expense     2,888         3,187         7,335         7,454         20,864          
Depreciation and amortization     8,315         8,386         9,651         10,104         36,456          
Stock-based compensation     2,467         2,881         2,117         2,657         10,122          
Acquisition expenses     -          8,704         4,002         567         13,273          
Other non-operating (income) expense     (325 )       (6,271 )       (194 )       (7,916 )       (14,706 )        
Operating EBITDA $   49,450     $   46,561     $   51,062     $   38,984     $   186,057          
                           
                           
Adjusted Earnings2:                          
  Three Months Ended March 31,            
  2018   2017            
  $   Per Share   $   Per Share            
                           
Net Income $   21,272     $   0.35     $   20,173     $   0.32              
                           
Adjustments:                          
Facility transactions3     (7,123 )       (0.12 )       (1,665 )       (0.03 )            
Loss on debt extinguishment     174         -          640         0.01              
  Acquisition expenses and related charges     983         0.02         -          -               
Tax effect of aforementioned items     1,551         0.03         369         0.01              
                           
Adjusted earnings $   16,857     $   0.28     $   19,517     $   0.31              
                           
Weighted Average # of Diluted Shares O/S     60,850             63,390                  
                           
                           
  Three Months Ended    
  June 30, 2017   September 30, 2017   December 31, 2017    
  $   Per Share   $   Per Share   $   Per Share    
                           
Net Income $   22,945     $   0.36     $   18,947     $   0.30     $   49,356     $   0.80      
                           
Adjustments:                          
Facility transactions3     18         -          (5,165 )       (0.08 )       274         -       
Loss on debt extinguishment     125         -          3         -          32         -       
Executive severance expense     238         -          -          -          -          -       
  Acquisition expenses and related charges     -          -          8,704         0.14         6,308         0.10      
Tax effect of aforementioned items     (137 )       -          (1,275 )       (0.02 )       (2,381 )       (0.04 )    
Tax reform and other discrete tax adjustments     -          -          -          -          (31,339 )       (0.51 )    
                           
Adjusted earnings $   23,189     $   0.37     $   21,214     $   0.34     $   22,250     $   0.36      
                           
Weighted Average # of Diluted Shares O/S     63,207             62,236             61,567          
                           
1Operating EBITDA is defined as earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, amortization, stock-based compensation, acquisition expenses and related charges, and other non-operating income and expense.   
                           
2Adjusted earnings and adjusted earnings per diluted share reflect adjustments for charges incurred in connection with acquisition expense and related costs, the losses attributable to the Company's extinguishment of debt, income or losses recognized on the sale and/or closure of former Company locations, and one-time executive severance costs.  
                           
3Facility transactions in 2017 and 2018 relate to gains and/or losses incurred for the sale or closure of former Company locations.  
                           

Media Contact:
Dana Stelsel
Corporate Communications Manager
(765) 771-5766
dana.stelsel@wabashnational.com

Investor Relations:
Jeff Taylor
Senior Vice President, Chief Financial Officer
(765) 771-5310
jeff.taylor@wabashnational.com

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Source: Wabash National Corporation