SANTOS, Brazil, Oct. 09, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- DP World has renewed a long-term agreement – started in 2014 – with Hapag-Lloyd, one of the world’s largest shipping lines, to continue container-handling operations at its multipurpose terminal in the Port of Santos. The renewed contract secures collaboration between the two companies for the next decade, reinforcing their shared commitment to advancing Brazil’s trade competitiveness. The renewal comes as DP World undertakes a major expansion of its Santos ...

Core Insights - ZTO Express is set to report its second-quarter 2025 results on August 19, with earnings estimated at $1.55 per share, reflecting a 7.2% decline from 2024 actuals, while revenues are projected to reach $6.83 billion, indicating an 11.1% increase from 2024 [1] Group 1: Financial Performance - The company's bottom-line performance is expected to be negatively impacted by high operating expenses, despite strong parcel volumes driving top-line growth [2] - ZTO Express reported first-quarter 2025 earnings of 37 cents per share, matching the previous year's quarter, but total revenues of $1.50 billion fell short of the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $1.67 billion [4] Group 2: Market Conditions - The ongoing trade war between the United States and China is anticipated to affect the upcoming quarter's results [3][10] - Parcel volumes are forecasted to increase by 20-24% in 2025, which is expected to enhance ZTO's top-line growth, although revenues from freight forwarding services may decline due to weak demand [10] Group 3: Competitive Landscape - ZTO currently holds a Zacks Rank of 4 (Sell), indicating a less favorable outlook compared to other companies in the sector [5]

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - The company reported a 39% year-over-year increase in income from operations for Q1 [6] - Total operating expenses declined by $34 million or 6.5% year-over-year [28] - The average headcount in Q1 was down 11% compared to Q1 of last year [28] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - In North American Surface Transportation (NAST), the company outgrew the market in both truckload and LTL, with truckload volume down 4.5% year-over-year and LTL volume growing 1% year-over-year [14][15] - NAST gross margin improved by 140 basis points year-over-year [17] - Global Forwarding saw continued new business wins and expense optimization, contributing to overall margin expansion [6][10] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - The Q1 CAS freight shipment index was down 6.3% year-over-year, while the company's overall NAST volume declined by only 1% year-over-year [14] - The percentage of ocean and air volume from the China to US trade lane decreased from approximately 35% to less than 25% from 2024 [10] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company is focused on disciplined execution of strategies to take market share and expand margins, regardless of market conditions [5][10] - There is an emphasis on leveraging artificial intelligence and automation to enhance customer and carrier experiences [6][21] - The company aims to diversify supply chains and reduce dependence on specific trade lanes [9][10] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management acknowledged challenges from new tariffs and fluid trade policies, which have created market uncertainty [8] - The company remains confident in its strategy and the resilience of its workforce to navigate through market dynamics [10][11] - Management expressed optimism about the runway for further improvement due to the disciplined execution of the new operating model [32] Other Important Information - The effective tax rate for Q1 was 13.7%, with expectations for the full year to be in the range of 18% to 20% [30] - The company generated $106.5 million in cash from operations in Q1 [30] - The company returned $175 million to shareholders in Q1 through share repurchases and dividends [31] Q&A Session Summary Question: Weather impact on trucking market - Management acknowledged weather impacts in January and March but emphasized their improved operating model allowed for proactive management of these events [41][44] Question: International markets and global forwarding - Management discussed the ongoing scenario planning due to market volatility and the benefits of diversifying supply chains away from China [51][52] Question: April performance and truckload capacity - Management refrained from providing specific guidance for April but noted that Q2 is typically stronger seasonally [63][66] - There is a continued exit of truckload capacity from the marketplace, but no significant market inflections have been observed [68] Question: AGP deceleration and CapEx - Management clarified that the AGP deceleration was due to tougher comparisons and not indicative of a significant trend [74] - The reduction in CapEx was described as a strategic adjustment rather than a cut to essential initiatives [75] Question: Headcount and market aggressiveness - Management explained that the headcount decline was influenced by the divestiture of the European Surface Transportation business and emphasized dynamic management of personnel expenses [86] - The company is being smarter in the marketplace, leveraging technology to make informed decisions [89][90]