WERNER ENTERPRISES INC
10-Q, 1998-05-12
TRUCKING (NO LOCAL)
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                     SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                           WASHINGTON, D.C.  20549
                                      
                                  FORM 10-Q
                                      
              Quarterly Report Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d)
                   of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934


For the quarter ended                                 Commission file number
March 31, 1998                                                       0-14690


                          WERNER ENTERPRISES, INC.
           (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)


NEBRASKA                                                          47-0648386
(State or other jurisdiction of         (I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)
 incorporation or organization)


14507 FRONTIER ROAD
POST OFFICE BOX 45308
OMAHA, NEBRASKA                  68145-0308                    (402)895-6640
(Address of principal            (Zip Code)  (Registrant's telephone number)
   executive offices)


                ________________________________________________   

      Indicate by check mark whether the registrant(1) has filed all  reports
required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of
1934  during  the  preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period  that  the
registrant  was required to file such reports), and (2) has been  subject  to
such filing requirements for the past 90 days.


                            YES [X]        NO [ ]


      As  of  April  30,  1998, 38,305,519 shares of the registrant's  common
stock, par value $.01 per share, were outstanding.

<PAGE>
                                   PART I

                            FINANCIAL INFORMATION

Item 1.  Financial Statements.

      The  interim consolidated financial statements contained herein reflect
all adjustments which, in the opinion of management, are necessary for a fair
statement  of  the  financial condition and results  of  operations  for  the
periods   presented.   They  have  been  prepared  in  accordance  with   the
instructions  to  Form  10-Q  and  do not include  all  the  information  and
footnotes  required by generally accepted accounting principles for  complete
financial statements.

      Operating results for the three-month period ended March 31,  1998  are
not  necessarily indicative of the results that may be expected for the  year
ending December 31, 1998.  In the opinion of management, the information  set
forth  in  the accompanying consolidated condensed balance sheets  is  fairly
stated  in  all  material  respects in relation to the  consolidated  balance
sheets from which it has been derived.

      These  interim  consolidated financial statements  should  be  read  in
conjunction with the Company's latest annual report (which is incorporated by
reference in the Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1997).


Consolidated Statements of Income for the
     Three Months Ended March 31, 1998 and 1997..................... Page 3

Consolidated Condensed Balance Sheets as of
     March 31, 1998 and December 31, 1997........................... Page 4

Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the
     Three Months Ended March 31, 1998 and 1997..................... Page 5

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
     as of March 31, 1998........................................... Page 6

                                     2
<PAGE>

                          WERNER ENTERPRISES, INC.
                      CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME

                                                      Three Months Ended
(Amounts in thousands, except per share data)              March 31
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                      1998          1997
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                         (Unaudited)

Operating revenues                                  $199,707     $172,049
                                                    ---------------------
Operating expenses:
  Salaries, wages and benefits                        74,303       63,273
  Fuel                                                14,698       17,265
  Supplies and maintenance                            17,509       14,945
  Taxes and licenses                                  15,852       12,719
  Insurance and claims                                 6,645        6,350
  Depreciation                                        19,459       17,248
  Rent and purchased transportation                   33,377       27,648
  Communications and utilities                         2,559        2,184
  Other                                               (2,838)      (1,036)
                                                    ---------------------
     Total operating expenses                        181,564      160,596
                                                    ---------------------

Operating income                                      18,143       11,453
                                                    ---------------------
Other expense (income):
  Interest expense                                     1,006          447
  Interest income                                       (420)        (415)
  Other                                                   20           29
                                                    ---------------------
     Total other expense                                 606           61
                                                    ---------------------
Income before income taxes                            17,537       11,392

Income taxes                                           6,664        3,943
                                                    ---------------------
Net income                                          $ 10,873     $  7,449
                                                    =====================
Average common shares outstanding                     38,256       37,990
                                                    =====================
Earnings per share (Note 1)                         $    .28     $    .20
                                                    =====================
Diluted shares outstanding (Note 1)                   38,531       38,224
                                                    =====================
Diluted earnings per share (Note 1)                 $    .28     $    .19
                                                    =====================
Dividends declared per share (Note 1)               $   .025     $   .025
                                                    =====================
                                     
                                     3
<PAGE>

                           WERNER ENTERPRISES, INC.
                    CONSOLIDATED CONDENSED BALANCE SHEETS

(In thousands)                                       March 31    December 31
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                       1998          1997
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                   (Unaudited)
ASSETS

Current assets:
  Cash and cash equivalents                          $ 24,924      $ 22,294
  Accounts receivable, net                             85,390        93,461
  Prepaid taxes, licenses and permits                   7,499         8,405
  Other current assets                                 22,408        21,632
                                                     ----------------------
     Total current assets                             140,221       145,792
                                                     ----------------------
Property and equipment                                726,244       698,099
Less - accumulated depreciation                       185,141       176,253
                                                     ----------------------
  Property and equipment, net                         541,103       521,846
                                                     ----------------------
                                                     $681,324      $667,638
                                                     ======================
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY

Current liabilities:
  Accounts payable                                   $ 28,861      $ 44,167
  Insurance and claims accruals                        24,005        22,161
  Accrued payroll                                      12,442         9,116
  Income taxes payable                                  7,136         6,983
  Other current liabilities                             9,579         9,364
                                                     ----------------------
     Total current liabilities                         82,023        91,791
                                                     ----------------------
Long-term debt                                         70,000        60,000

Insurance, claims and other long-term accruals         29,301        29,329

Deferred income taxes                                  93,846        91,400

Stockholders' equity                                  406,154       395,118
                                                     ----------------------
                                                     $681,324      $667,638
                                                     ======================

                                     4
<PAGE>

                         WERNER ENTERPRISES, INC.
                   CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

                                                        Three Months Ended
(In thousands)                                               March 31
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                       1998           1997
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                            (Unaudited)
Cash flows from operating activities:
  Net income                                         $ 10,873      $  7,449
  Adjustments to reconcile net income to net
     cash provided by operating activities:
       Depreciation                                    19,459        17,248
       Deferred income taxes                            2,446         1,512
       Gain on disposal of operating equipment         (3,142)       (1,256)
       Insurance, claims and other long-term accruals     (28)       (1,002)
       Tax benefit from exercise of stock options         247             -
       Changes in certain working capital items:
          Accounts receivable, net                      8,071        (8,108)
          Prepaid expenses and other current assets       130           584
          Accounts payable                            (15,306)       11,489
          Other current liabilities                     5,538         5,384
                                                     ----------------------
     Net cash provided by operating activities         28,288        33,300
                                                     ----------------------
Cash flows from investing activities:
  Additions to property and equipment                 (56,260)      (38,464)
  Retirements of property and equipment                20,686         7,442
                                                     ----------------------
     Net cash used in investing activities            (35,574)      (31,022)
                                                     ----------------------
Cash flows from financing activities:
  Proceeds from issuance of long-term debt             10,000             -
  Dividends on common stock                              (958)         (950)
  Stock options exercised                                 874           127
     Net cash provided by (used in) financing        ----------------------
       activities                                       9,916          (823)
                                                     ----------------------
Net increase in cash and cash equivalents               2,630         1,455
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period         22,294        22,136
                                                     ----------------------
Cash and cash equivalents, end of period             $ 24,924      $ 23,591
                                                     ======================
Supplemental disclosures of cash flow information:
Cash paid during the period for:
  Interest                                           $    821      $    458
  Income taxes                                          3,424           776

                                     5
<PAGE>

                         WERNER ENTERPRISES, INC.

                NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS


(1) Common Stock Split

      On  April 15, 1998, the Company announced that its Board of Directors
declared  a  five-for-four split of the Company's common stock effected  in
the  form of a 25 percent stock dividend.  The stock split will be  payable
on or about May 13, 1998 to stockholders of record at the close of business
on  April 27, 1998.  No fractional shares of common stock will be issued in
connection  with  the stock split.  Stockholders entitled to  a  fractional
share  will receive a proportional cash payment based on the closing  price
of a share of common stock on April 27, 1998.

      The  Company's  average common shares outstanding  and  earnings  per
share,  after giving retroactive effect for the five-for-four stock  split,
are as follows:

                                                     Three Months Ended
                                                          March 31
                                                     ------------------
                                                       1998      1997
                                                     ------------------
     Average common shares outstanding                47,820    47,488
                                                      ======    ======
     Earnings per share                               $  .23    $  .16
                                                      ======    ======
     Diluted shares outstanding                       48,164    47,780
                                                      ======    ======
     Diluted earnings per share                       $  .23    $  .16
                                                      ======    ======

(2) Commitments

      As  of  March  31,  1998,  the Company has  commitments  for  capital
expenditures of approximately $63,000,000.

                                     6
<PAGE>


Item  2.   Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition  and
Results of Operations.

      This  report contains forward-looking statements which are  based  on
information  currently  available  to  the  Company's  management.   Actual
results  could  differ materially from those anticipated in forward-looking
statements  as a result of a number of factors, including, but not  limited
to,  those  discussed in Item 7, "Management's Discussion and  Analysis  of
Results  of  Operations and Financial Condition", of the  Company's  Annual
Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1997.

Financial Condition:

      During  the three months ended March 31, 1998, the Company  generated
cash  flow  from  operations of $28.3 million.  Cash flow  from  operations
decreased due to a reduction in accounts payable resulting from the  timing
of  payments for tractors and trailers.  At December 31, 1997, most of  the
accounts  payable  of $44.2 million was for tractors and trailers  received
not  yet  paid.   Accounts payable was $28.9 million  at  March  31,  1998.
Accounts  receivable  collections improved during  first  quarter  1998  as
accounts  receivable  declined from $93.5 million to  $85.4  million.   The
Company  made long-term borrowings of $10.0 million, which, along with  the
cash  flow  from  operations,  enabled the Company  to  make  net  property
additions,  primarily revenue equipment, of $35.6 million, and  pay  common
stock  dividends of $1.0 million.  If the Company continues to grow at  its
current  rate  (as  described below), additional financing  activities  may
occur.   Based  on  the  Company's  strong financial  position,  management
foresees  no  significant  barriers to obtaining sufficient  financing,  if
necessary, to continue with its growth plans.

      The  Company's long-term debt to equity ratio at March 31,  1998  was
17.2%, compared with 15.2% at December 31, 1997.

Results of Operations:

Three Months Ended March 31, 1998 and 1997
- ------------------------------------------
      Operating revenues increased 16% for the three months ended March 31,
1998, compared to the same period of the prior year, primarily due to a 14%
increase  in the average number of tractors in service.  Revenue per  mile,
excluding fuel surcharges, increased 1% compared to first quarter  of  1997
due  partially to rate increases.  A $2.9 million increase in revenues from
logistics transportation services also contributed to the overall  increase
in operating revenues.

      Operating expenses, expressed as a percentage of operating  revenues,
were 90.9% for the three months ended March 31, 1998, compared to 93.3% for
the three months ended March 31, 1997.  The Company's increase in logistics

                                     7
<PAGE>

transportation  services contributed to a shift in costs to  the  rent  and
purchased  transportation  expense  category  from  several  other  expense
categories, as described below.

     Salaries, wages and benefits increased from 36.8% to 37.2% of revenues
due  primarily to an increase in experienced drivers and to a lesser degree
higher  workers compensation costs, partially offset by increased  revenues
from   logistics  transportation  services.   At  times,  there  have  been
shortages  of drivers in the trucking industry, particularly the medium-to-
long  haul  segment.   The  Company anticipates that  the  competition  for
qualified  drivers will continue to be high, and cannot predict whether  it
will  experience shortages in the future.  If such a shortage were to occur
and  increases in driver pay rates became necessary to attract  and  retain
drivers,  the Company's results of operations would be negatively  impacted
to the extent that corresponding freight rate increases were not obtained.

      Fuel  decreased from 10.0% to 7.4% of revenues, due mainly  to  lower
average fuel prices during the quarter compared to the same quarter of  the
prior  year, and increased revenues from logistics transportation services.
Taxes and licenses increased from 7.4% to 7.9% of revenues due primarily to
the  effect of refunds and state sales tax incentives during first  quarter
1997.  Insurance and claims decreased from 3.7% to 3.3% of revenues due  to
favorable claims experience during the quarter and increased revenues  from
logistics  transportation services. Depreciation decreased  from  10.0%  to
9.7%  of revenues due primarily to the increase in logistics transportation
revenues  and  a slight increase in miles per tractor. Rent  and  purchased
transportation increased from 16.1% to 16.7% of revenues due  primarily  to
the   Company's  increase  in  logistics  transportation  services.   Other
operating  expenses  changed from (.6%) to (1.4%) of  revenues  due  to  an
increase  in gains on sales of revenue equipment to third parties resulting
from an increase in the number of units sold.

      The Company's effective income tax rate (income taxes as a percentage
of  income  before  income taxes) was 38% and 34.6%  for  the  three  month
periods ended March 31, 1998 and 1997, respectively.  The increase was  due
to favorable settlement of income tax issues during the prior year.

                                     8
<PAGE>

                                  PART II
                                     
                             OTHER INFORMATION

Item 6.  Exhibits and Reports on Form 8-K.

(a)  Exhibits

    Exhibit                                Page Number or Incorporated
     Number            Description               by Reference to
    -------            -----------         ---------------------------
       11        Statement Re Computation         Filed herewith
                  of Per Share Earnings

       27        Financial Data Schedule          Filed herewith

(b)  Reports on Form 8-K.

     A  report on Form 8-K, filed January 23, 1998, regarding  a  news
     release  on January 21, 1998, announcing the Company's  operating
     revenues  and  earnings  for the fourth quarter  and  year  ended
     December 31, 1997.

     A  report on Form 8-K, filed February 17, 1998, regarding a  news
     release   on   February  12,  1998,  announcing   the   Company's
     transportation agreement with Dollar General Corporation.

                                     9
<PAGE>

                                SIGNATURES

      Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of  1934,
the  Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its  behalf  by
the undersigned thereunto duly authorized.

                                    WERNER ENTERPRISES, INC.


Date:        May 11, 1998               By:  /s/John J. Steele
                                        John J. Steele
                                        Vice President, Treasurer and
                                        Chief Financial Officer




Date:        May 11, 1998               By:  /s/James L. Johnson
                                        James L. Johnson
                                        Corporate Secretary and Controller

                                    10
<PAGE>




                                EXHIBIT 11
                                     
                                     
                                     
                                     
              STATEMENT RE COMPUTATION OF PER SHARE EARNINGS
                 (in thousands, except per share amounts)


                                                    Three Months Ended
                                                         March 31
                                                  ---------------------
                                                   1998           1997
                                                  ---------------------
Net income                                        $10,873        $7,449
                                                  =====================
Average common shares outstanding                 38,256         37,990

Common stock equivalents (1)                         275            234
                                                  ---------------------
Diluted shares outstanding                        38,531         38,224
                                                  =====================
Earnings per share                                $  .28         $  .20
                                                  =====================
Diluted earnings per share                        $  .28         $  .19
                                                  =====================


(1)  Common stock equivalents represent the dilutive effect of outstanding
stock options for all periods presented.

<PAGE>

<TABLE> <S> <C>

<ARTICLE> 5
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
       
<S>                             <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   3-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1998
<PERIOD-START>                             JAN-01-1998
<PERIOD-END>                               MAR-31-1998
<CASH>                                          24,924
<SECURITIES>                                         0
<RECEIVABLES>                                   85,390
<ALLOWANCES>                                         0
<INVENTORY>                                          0
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                               140,221
<PP&E>                                         726,244
<DEPRECIATION>                                 185,141
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                 681,324
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                           82,023
<BONDS>                                              0
                                0
                                          0
<COMMON>                                           387
<OTHER-SE>                                     405,767
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                   681,324
<SALES>                                        199,707
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                               199,707
<CGS>                                                0
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                  181,564
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                                 (400)
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                     0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                               1,006
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                 17,537
<INCOME-TAX>                                     6,664
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                             10,873
<DISCONTINUED>                                       0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0
<CHANGES>                                            0
<NET-INCOME>                                    10,873
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                      .28
<EPS-DILUTED>                                      .28
        

</TABLE>


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