NASDAQ$FWRD

Forward Air Corporation · Q4 2023 earnings

Q4 2023 earnings · · Investor relations

Briefing

Reported positive volume trends and improved freight quality metrics amidst softer freight conditions.

Forward Air Corporation reported a 16% decline in revenue compared to the previous year, driven by challenging market conditions and decreased demand for intermodal and truckload brokerage services, partially offset by positive trends in less-than-truckload services. The company's adjusted net income per diluted share was $0.81, exceeding the guidance range. The acquisition of Omni Logistics was completed, positioning the combined entity as a premier provider for mission-critical freight transportation.

  • Less-than-Truckload volume trending positive with pounds per day growth of +6% and weight per shipment increased +11% year-over-year.
  • Comprehensive efforts are underway to integrate Omni Logistics.
  • The company remains committed to delivering exceptional service to customers, with on-time service performance at 98% and a cargo claims ratio of 0.09%.
  • The Board of Directors has decided to suspend Forward’s quarterly dividend while the Company continues to execute on de-risking the capital structure.

Headline financials

Total Revenue

$338M

Previous: $481M-29.7%
EPS (adj)

$0.81

Previous: $1.65-50.9%
Expedited Freight Total Pounds

689.6M

No prior period
Expedited Freight Pounds per Day

10.9K

No prior period
Expedited Freight Total Shipments

846.0K

No prior period
Expedited Freight Shipments per Day

13.4

No prior period
Expedited Freight Weight per Shipment

815

No prior period
Expedited Freight Revenue per Hundredweight

$31.52

No prior period
Expedited Freight Revenue per Hundredweight ex Fuel

$23.99

No prior period
Expedited Freight Revenue per Shipment

$256.90

No prior period
Expedited Freight Revenue per Shipment ex Fuel

$195.52

No prior period
Intermodal Drayage Shipments

65.8K

No prior period
Drayage Revenue per Shipment

$821.00

Previous: $1.29K-36.3%
Capital Expenditures

-$7.31M

Previous: $15.3M-147.7%
Net Income

-$14.7M

Previous: $42.9M-134.3%
Operating Income

$3M

Previous: $61.4M-95.1%
Gross Profit

$3M

Previous: $139M-97.8%
Stock-Based Comp

$2.14M

Previous: $2.63M-18.6%

Revenue & EPS history

Forward Air · Revenue · Quarterly

$338M

Q4 2023-29.7%vs Q4 2022
Beat estimate in 3 of 15 quarters(20%)
ActualEstimate

Revenue by segment

Forward Air · $414M total across 2 segments · Q3 2023

  • Expedited Freight
    $351M-11.2%
  • Intermodal
    $62.2M-45.7%

Forward guidance

Forward Air has temporarily discontinued providing earnings guidance due to the ongoing integration of Omni Logistics.

Historical earnings impact

How earnings announcements have historically affected this stock's price.

Avg. return before/after earnings

Based on 19 quarterly earnings reports · overlaid with Q4 2023

Historical avgQ4 2023

+0.1%

Avg return

Earnings day

+0.2%

Avg return

5 days after

+1.8%

Avg return

30 days after

55%

37 / 67 earnings

Positive

+27.5%

Q2 2024

Best reaction

-19.8%

Q1 2024

Worst reaction

Earnings price reactions
QuarterReport dateReaction (Day 0)+5 days+30 days
Q1 2026+6.1%-11.3%+24.3%
Q4 2025+4.6%+0.0%-32.5%
Q3 2025+0.7%+16.1%+41.9%
Q1 2025+0.3%+9.7%+8.5%
Q4 2024-10.7%-14.0%-19.5%
Q3 2024+6.6%+3.4%+0.2%
Q2 2024+27.5%+15.9%+49.5%
Q1 2024-19.8%-22.7%-1.1%
Q4 2023-7.5%-20.8%-22.5%
Q3 2023-8.5%-5.9%-9.7%
Q2 2023-5.4%-6.3%-39.5%
Q1 2023-6.5%-7.8%-7.8%
Q4 2022-15.3%-11.1%-8.7%
Q3 2022+0.6%+4.9%+9.7%
Q2 2022+6.9%+10.0%+7.2%
Q1 2022+6.7%+8.1%+2.5%
Q4 2021-5.0%-5.5%-5.7%
Q3 2021+3.2%+11.4%+7.6%
Q2 2021+2.0%+2.9%+2.8%
Q1 2021+1.1%+11.8%+11.0%
Q4 2020+1.6%+5.8%+17.0%
Q3 2020+4.9%+11.0%+23.6%
Q2 2020-1.6%+2.8%+11.8%
Q1 2020-9.3%-11.2%-7.1%
Q4 2019-4.7%-7.1%-15.6%
Q3 2019+6.8%+8.2%+5.6%
Q2 2019+3.8%+1.4%-5.0%
Q1 2019-1.5%-6.5%-13.8%
Q4 2018+9.0%+10.2%+4.7%
Q3 2018-8.3%-7.4%-1.7%
Q2 2018+8.4%+7.6%+10.7%
Q1 2018+5.2%+3.1%+14.1%
Q4 2017-6.0%-4.5%-3.9%
Q3 2017-1.1%-2.1%-6.1%
Q2 2017-6.7%-4.8%-6.3%
Q1 2017+7.8%+4.1%+2.6%
Q4 2016+6.1%+6.8%+1.6%
Q3 2016-1.5%-0.7%+16.4%
Q2 2016+4.9%+4.4%+2.7%
Q1 2016+0.3%
Q4 2015-13.4%
Q3 2015+3.7%
Q2 2015-5.1%
Q1 2015+3.2%
Q4 2014+6.1%
Q3 2014-4.5%
Q2 2014+0.3%
Q1 2014-3.2%
Q4 2013-0.5%
Q3 2013+1.2%
Q2 2013-5.2%
Q1 2013+0.0%
Q4 2012+0.6%
Q3 2012+5.8%
Q2 2012+4.6%
Q1 2012-0.7%
Q4 2011-2.3%
Q3 2011-2.9%
Q2 2011-2.5%
Q1 2010+1.6%
Q4 2010+1.6%
Q1 2011+6.4%
Q4 2008+2.4%
Q2 2009-1.9%
Q3 2009-1.9%
Q2 2010+2.3%
Q4 2009+2.3%

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