Thursday, July 22, 2004, For Immediate Release

 

Press Release

 

Heartland Express, Inc. Reports Revenues and Earnings for the Second Quarter of 2004.

 

CORALVILLE, IOWA – July 22, 2004 – Heartland Express, Inc. (Nasdaq: HTLD) announced today financial results for the second quarter ended June 30, 2004.  Gross revenues for the quarter increased 10.4% to $113.5 million from $102.8 million in the second quarter of 2003.  Net income increased 24.2% to $15.7 million from $12.6 million in the 2003 period.  Basic earnings per share were $0.31 compared to $0.25 for the second quarter of 2003. 

 

For the six months, revenue increased 11.5% to $220.3 from $197.6 during the same period in 2003.  Net income increased 21.7% to $28.8 million from $23.7 million in the 2003 period.  Basic earnings per share were $0.58 compared with $0.47 for the 2003 period.

           

For the quarter, Heartland Express, Inc. posted an operating ratio (operating expenses as a percentage of gross revenues) of 79.3% and a 13.8% net margin.  The Company ended the six months ended June 30, 2004 with an operating ratio of 80.4% and a 13.1% net margin.

 

The Company ended the second quarter with cash, cash equivalents, and investments of $229.1 million, a $26.7 million increase from the $202.4 million reported on December 31, 2003.  The Company’s balance sheet continues to be debt-free.  The Company opened its newly acquired (December, 2003) Carlisle, Pennsylvania facility in June, 2004.  This location is much larger than the previously leased facility and will provide a solid base of operations in the Northeast.

 

In June, 2004 the Company began the replacement of their entire tractor fleet.  The current fleet will be replaced with the International 9400i. Currently the Company has taken delivery of 315 new Internationals. The delivery of new trucks and the trade-in of the current fleet are scheduled to be completed by December 31, 2006. In addition, the Company purchased 400 new Wabash trailers during the second quarter of 2004.

 

During the quarter, Heartland Express declared a regular quarterly cash dividend.  The quarterly dividend of $1,000,000 at the rate of $0.02 per share was paid on July 2, 2004 to shareholders of record at the close of business on June 21, 2004.

 

This press release may contain statements that might be considered as forward-looking statements or predictions of future operations.  Such statements are based on management’s belief or interpretation of information currently available.  These statements and assumptions involve certain risks and uncertainties.  Actual events may differ from these expectations as specified from time to time in filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

 

Contact: Heartland Express, Inc.

John Cosaert

319-545-2728

 

 

 

 

 

HEARTLAND EXPRESS, INC.

AND SUBSIDIARIES

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME

(UNAUDITED)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Three months ended

Six months ended

 

June 30,

June 30,

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2004

 

2003

 

2004

 

2003

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

OPERATING REVENUE

$113,511,541

 

$102,799,789

 

$ 220,348,453

 

$197,639,524

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

OPERATING EXPENSES:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

   Salaries, wages, benefits

$  39,091,825

 

$  35,190,604

 

$   78,857,921

 

$   67,502,911

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

   Rent and purchased transportation

   9,522,915

 

13,151,043

 

20,041,540

 

27,104,114

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

   Operations and maintenance

22,710,926

 

18,141,646

 

43,656,478

 

37,451,826

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

   Taxes and licenses

2,204,958

 

2,125,293

 

4,495,240

 

3,998,699

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

   Insurance and claims

5,395,577

 

4,164,378

 

7,892,218

 

6,535,371

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

   Communications and utilities

980,349

 

923,038

 

1,942,532

 

1,816,883

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

   Depreciation

6,757,757

 

6,926,441

 

13,371,461

 

12,293,984

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

   Other operating expenses

3,411,410

 

3,551,159

 

6,915,444

 

6,105,931

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

   (Gain) on disposal of fixed assets

(65,638)

 

(27,110)

 

(101,889)

 

(30,771)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

$  90,010,079

 

$  84,146,492

 

$ 177,070,945

 

$ 162,778,948

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Operating income

$  23,501,462

  

$  18,653,297

  

$   43,277,508

  

$   34,860,576

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

   Interest income

     651,871

 

     492,404

 

1,219,387

 

1,031,021

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

   Income before income taxes

$  24,153,333

 

$  19,145,701

 

$   44,496,895

 

$   35,891,597

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

   Federal and state income taxes

     8,453,664

 

6,509,537

 

15,675,629

 

12,203,141

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

   Net income

$  15,699,669

 

$  12,636,164

 

$   28,821,266

 

$   23,688,456

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

   Earnings per common share:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

       Basic earnings per share

$             0.31

 

$             0.25

 

$              0.58

 

$              0.47

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

   Basic weighted average shares

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

   outstanding

   50,000,000

 

   50,000,000

 

     50,000,000

 

     50,000,000

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


 

HEARTLAND EXPRESS, INC.

AND SUBSIDIARIES

 

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

 

 

 

 

 

ASSETS

 

 

 

 

 

 

June 30,

 

December 31,

 

 

2004

 

2003

 

 

(unaudited)

 

 

CURRENT ASSETS

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

     Cash and short term investments

 

 $       229,089,575

 

 $          202,431,155

     Trade receivables

 

38,065,754

 

36,836,728

     Prepaid tires

 

2,113,480

 

2,529,580

     Deferred income taxes

 

24,467,000

 

21,308,000

     Other current assets

 

3,611,629

 

673,101

                  Total current assets

 

 $       297,347,438

 

 $          263,778,564

 

 

 

 

 

PROPERTY AND EQUIPMENT

 

$       241,470,443

 

 $          232,650,992

     Less accumulated depreciation

 

         65,500,979

 

56,951,186

 

 

 $       175,969,464           

 

 $          175,699,806

      OTHER ASSETS

 

 $           8,796,373

 

 $              8,928,186

 

 

 $       482,113,275

 

 $          448,406,556

 

 

 

 

 

LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

CURRENT LIABILITIES

 

 

 

 

     Accounts payable & accrued liabilities

 $         13,612,430

 

 $            15,684,826

     Accrued expenses

 

61,597,080

 

            53,724,940

     Income taxes payable

 

           8,514,370

 

7,720,875

             Total current liabilities

 

 $         83,723,880

 

 $            77,130,641

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

DEFERRED INCOME TAXES

 

 $         39,862,000

 

 $            39,760,000

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY

 

 

 

 

     Capital stock: Common, $.01 par value;

 

 

 

     authorized 395,000,000 shares; issued and

 

 

 

 

     outstanding 50,000,000

 

 $              500,000

 

 $                 500,000

     Additional paid-in capital

 

           8,510,305

 

              8,510,305

     Retained earnings

 

350,531,562

 

323,710,296

 

 

 $       359,541,867

 

 $          332,720,601

     Less unearned compensation

 

(1,014,472)

 

              (1,204,686)

 

 

 $       358,527,395

 

 $          331,515,915

 

 

 $       482,113,275

 

 $          448,406,556