GREENEVILLE, Tenn.- (BUSINESS WIRE) - February 28, 2024 - Forward Air Corporation (NASDAQ:FWRD) (the “Company”, “we”, “our”, or “us”) today reported financial results for the three and twelve months ended December 31, 2023 as presented in the tables below on a continuing operations basis (Final Mile is being reported as a discontinued operation).

Michael Hance, Interim Chief Executive Officer said, “Execution of our revenue growth strategies in the fourth quarter led to positive volume trends and improved freight quality metrics. While the softer freight conditions persisted throughout the fourth quarter of 2023, we saw momentum in our less-than-truckload line of business with pounds per day growth of +6% over the same period in the prior year and improvement in our freight quality as our weight per shipment increased +11% over the same period in the prior year. A continuation of the challenging market conditions led to decreased customer demand for our intermodal and truckload brokerage services throughout the fourth quarter. The softer demand for our intermodal and truckload brokerage services, partially offset by the positive trends in the less-than-truckload services, resulted in a 16% decline in revenue over the prior year on a consolidated, continuing operations basis, within the guidance range of a decline of 9% to 19%. Adjusted net income per diluted share on a continuing operations basis was $0.81 for the fourth quarter, above the guidance range of $0.78 to $0.80.”

Mr. Hance continued, “On January 25, 2024, we closed on the acquisition of Omni Logistics, positioning the combined entity to be the premier provider of choice for mission-critical freight transportation to a larger customer base with an expanded footprint. As I have gotten to know our new teammates from Omni Logistics, it is clear to me that Forward and Omni share a common DNA focused on the delivery of excellent customer experience. I am excited about what is ahead for our combined company.

We are taking a thoughtful approach to the integration of the two entities aimed at driving measurable value to our customers, creating opportunities for employees and generating long-term value for shareholders. We began executing our comprehensive integration plan promptly after closing on the acquisition with the first meaningful operational cost synergy realized from folding the Omni Logistics linehaul into the Forward linehaul network. We look forward to keeping shareholders updated on our progress.”

Mr. Hance concluded, “While our customer base has expanded, we remain committed to enabling our freight forwarder customers to continue to grow with us. Volumes from that channel remain strong. Our unwavering pledge is to provide a less-than-truckload service that is the best in the industry for damage-free, intact, on-time shipments, making us the most compelling choice for customers with mission-critical freight needs. For the fourth quarter, we are pleased to share our on-time service performance was 98% and our cargo claims ratio was 0.09%. I would like to thank our employees and independent contractors for their remarkable efforts to consistently provide excellent service to our customers.”

Rebecca J. Garbrick, Chief Financial Officer, said, “In the past we provided revenue and net income per diluted share guidance, with updates as deemed necessary. However, we have decided to temporarily discontinue our practice of giving earnings guidance due to the on-going integration of Omni Logistics, which we began executing on three weeks ago. Forward is dedicated to maintaining transparency and fostering open communications with its shareholders. We plan to regularly reevaluate our approach to guidance and to provide updates on key milestones and achievements.”

The Board of Directors approved a strategy to divest the Final Mile business (“Final Mile”) and the sale of Final Mile was completed on December 20, 2023. Accordingly, the results of operations and cash flows for Final Mile have been presented as a discontinued operation and have been excluded from continuing operations in this release for all periods presented. In addition, Final Mile assets and liabilities were reflected as “held for sale” on the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets in the press release for the prior period.

In line with the Company’s prudent approach to capital allocation and the focus on reducing leverage, the Board of Directors has made the decision to suspend Forward’s quarterly dividend while the Company continues to execute on de-risking the capital structure. This change will begin with the first quarter of 2024 dividend that would have been paid in March. The Board of Directors and management will continue to monitor progress and will reevaluate the quarterly dividend as leverage targets are achieved.

Forward Air will hold a conference call to discuss fourth quarter 2023 results on Thursday, February 29, 2024 at 9:00 a.m. ET. The Company’s conference call will be available online on the Investor Relations portion of the Company’s website at www.forwardaircorp.com, or by dialing (800) 579-2543, Conference ID: FWRDQ423.

A replay of the conference call will be available on the Investor Relations portion of the Company’s website at www.forwardaircorp.com, which we use as a primary mechanism to communicate with our investors. Investors are urged to monitor the Investors Relations portion of the Company’s website to easily find or navigate to current and pertinent information about us.

Forward Air is a leading asset-light provider of transportation services across the United States, Canada and Mexico. We provide expedited less-than-truckload (“LTL”) services, including local pick-up and delivery, shipment consolidation/deconsolidation, warehousing, and customs brokerage by utilizing a comprehensive national network of terminals. In addition, we offer truckload brokerage services, including dedicated fleet services; and intermodal, first-and last-mile, high-value drayage services, both to and from seaports and railheads, dedicated contract and Container Freight Station warehouse and handling services. Forward also operates a full portfolio of multimodal solutions, both domestically and internationally, via Omni Logistics. Omni Logistics is a global provider of air, ocean and ground services for mission-critical freight. We are more than a transportation company. Forward is a single resource for your shipping needs. For more information, visit our website at www.forwardaircorp.com.

1 Rounding may impact summation of amounts.

In this press release, the Company uses non-GAAP financial measures that are derived on the basis of methodologies other than in accordance with GAAP. The Company believes that meaningful analysis of its financial performance requires an understanding of the factors underlying that performance, including an understanding of items that are non-operational. Management uses these non-GAAP financial measures in making financial, operating, compensation and planning decisions as well as evaluating the Company’s performance.

For the three and twelve months ended December 31, 2023 and 2022, this press release contains the following non-GAAP financial measures: earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization (“EBITDA”), adjusted EBITDA, free cash flow, adjusted income from continuing operations, adjusted net income, and adjusted net income per diluted share. All non-GAAP financial measures are presented on a continuing operations basis.

The Company believes that EBITDA improves comparability from period to period by removing the impact of its capital structure (interest and financing expenses), asset base (depreciation and amortization) and tax impacts. The Company believes that free cash flow is an important measure of its ability to repay maturing debt or fund other uses of capital that it believes will enhance shareholder value. The Company believes providing adjusted EBITDA, adjusted income from operations, adjusted net income and adjusted net income per diluted share allows investors to compare Company performance consistently over various periods without regard to the impact of unusual, nonrecurring or nonoperational items.

Non-GAAP financial measures should be viewed in addition to, and not as an alternative for, the Company’s financial results prepared in accordance with GAAP. Non-GAAP financial information does not represent a comprehensive basis of accounting. As required by the Securities and Exchange Act of 1933 and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder, the Company has included, for the periods indicated, a reconciliation of the non-GAAP financial measure to the most directly comparable GAAP financial measure.

The following is a reconciliation of net income to adjusted EBITDA for the three and twelve months ended December 31, 2023 and 2022 (in thousands):

The following is a reconciliation of net cash provided by operating activities to free cash flow for the three and twelve months ended December 31, 2023 and 2022 (in thousands):

The following is a reconciliation of reported income from operations, net income, and net income per diluted share to adjusted income from operations, net income, and net income per diluted share for the three and twelve months ended December 31, 2023 and 2022 (in thousands, except net income per diluted share):

Forward-looking statements are neither historical facts nor assurances of future performance. Instead, they are based only on our current beliefs, expectations and assumptions regarding the future of our business, future plans and strategies, projections, anticipated events and trends, the economy and other future conditions. Because forward-looking statements relate to the future, they are subject to inherent uncertainties, risks and changes in circumstances that are difficult to predict and many of which are outside of our control. Our actual results and financial condition may differ materially from those indicated in the forward-looking statements. Therefore, you should not rely on any of these forward-looking statements. The following is a list of factors, among others, that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contemplated by the forward-looking statements: economic factors such as recessions, inflation, higher interest rates and downturns in customer business cycles, the Company's ability to achieve the expected strategic, financial and other benefits of the acquisition of Omni Logistics, including the realization of expected synergies and the achievement of deleveraging targets within the expected timeframes or at all, the risk that the businesses will not be integrated successfully or that integration may be more difficult, time-consuming or costly than expected, the risk that operating costs, customer loss, management and employee retention and business disruption (including, without limitation, difficulties in maintaining relationships with employees, customers, clients or suppliers) as a result of the acquisition of Omni Logistics may be greater than expected continued weakening of the freight environment, future debt and financing levels, our ability to deleverage, including, without limitation, through capital allocation or divestitures of non-core businesses, our ability to secure terminal facilities in desirable locations at reasonable rates, more limited liquidity than expected which limits our ability to make key investments, the creditworthiness of our customers and their ability to pay for services rendered, our inability to maintain our historical growth rate because of a decreased volume of freight or decreased average revenue per pound of freight moving through our network, the availability and compensation of qualified Leased Capacity Providers and freight handlers as well as contracted, third-party carriers needed to serve our customers’ transportation needs, our inability to manage our information systems and inability of our information systems to handle an increased volume of freight moving through our network, the occurrence of cybersecurity risks and events, market acceptance of our service offerings, claims for property damage, personal injuries or workers’ compensation, enforcement of and changes in governmental regulations, environmental, tax, insurance and accounting matters, the handling of hazardous materials, changes in fuel prices, loss of a major customer, increasing competition, and pricing pressure, our dependence on our senior management team and the potential effects of changes in employee status, seasonal trends, the occurrence of certain weather events, restrictions in our charter and bylaws and the risks described in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2022, and as may be identified in our subsequent Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q and Current Reports on Form 8-K.

SOURCE: Forward Air Corporation

Forward Air Corporation

Justin Moss, 404-362-8933

jmoss@forwardair.com