Schneider National(SNDR) - 2025 Q1 - Earnings Call Transcript

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - The company reported enterprise revenues excluding fuel surcharge of $1.26 billion, an 8% increase year over year [18] - Adjusted income from operations was $44 million, a 47% increase year over year [18] - Adjusted diluted earnings per share for the first quarter was $0.16 compared to $0.11 last year [19] - The enterprise adjusted operating ratio improved by 90 basis points compared to the first quarter of 2024 [19] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - Truckload revenues excluding fuel surcharge were $614 million, a 14% increase year over year, driven by the acquisition of Cowen and higher revenue per truck per week [19] - Truckload operating income was $25 million, up nearly 70% year over year [20] - Intermodal revenues excluding fuel surcharge were $260 million, a 5% increase year over year, with operating income increasing by 97% [20][21] - Logistics revenues, excluding fuel surcharge, were $332 million, a 2% increase year over year, with operating income up 50% [21] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - The market remains highly competitive, with truck network achieving low to mid single-digit percentage increases [10] - Intermodal rates remained largely flat year over year, with increased volume allocations in certain geographies [11][12] - The company noted a potential drop in intermodal volume due to tariff uncertainty, but new business wins are expected to offset this impact [32] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company is focused on optimizing capital allocation across dedicated truck, intermodal, and logistics [6] - A commitment to cost containment across all expense categories is critical to enhance competitive positioning and margins [13] - The company aims to transition to a more variable cost model by expanding owner-operator relationships [15] - The strategic focus includes enhancing asset efficiency and exploring inorganic growth opportunities [28] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed that the freight market remains resilient, but forward sentiment for customer freight demand is less clear due to tariff-driven uncertainty [12] - The company expects continued year-over-year improvement in results through 2025, despite moderating pricing improvements [25] - Management acknowledged the challenges posed by a competitive landscape and the need for disciplined pricing strategies [10][25] Other Important Information - The company has established targets of more than $40 million in additional cost reductions across the enterprise [13] - The updated full-year 2025 guidance for adjusted earnings per share is $0.75 to $1, reflecting current trade policy and economic uncertainty [24] Q&A Session Summary Question: What are you seeing regarding the expected deceleration of imports? - Management noted that intermodal is approximately 15% to 25% tied to imports and expects some drop-off in volume, but new business wins are anticipated to offset this [32] Question: Can you characterize the new business wins within intermodal? - New business wins are expected to start implementing in the second quarter, with strengths noted in Mexico and other areas [38] Question: How do you expect to achieve EPS growth year over year? - Management expects year-over-year growth in price and margin but does not provide quarterly guidance [45] Question: What is the outlook for dedicated growth? - Management believes there is still meaningful room for expansion in the dedicated segment, despite current competitiveness [95] Question: How is the company managing pricing conversations in the current environment? - Management emphasized the importance of stating assumptions with customers and remaining flexible in negotiations [63]