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Old Dominion Freight Line Earns $0.48 Per Diluted Share for Fourth Quarter 2006

THOMASVILLE, N.C.--Old Dominion Freight Line, Inc. today announced financial results for the fourth quarter and twelve months ended December 31, 2006. For the quarter, revenue was $319.4 million, an increase of 12.0% from $285.2 million for the fourth quarter of 2005. Net income for the fourth quarter of 2006 rose 21.5% to $17.8 million from $14.7 million for the fourth quarter of 2005, and earnings per diluted share increased 23.1% to $0.48 from $0.39. Old Dominions operating ratio improved to 90.1% for the fourth quarter of 2006 from 90.8% for the fourth quarter of the prior year.

Revenues increased 20.5% for 2006 to $1.28 billion from $1.06 billion for 2005. Net income rose 35.7% to $72.6 million from $53.5 million. Earnings per diluted share for 2006 were $1.95, up 36.4% from $1.43 for 2005. Old Dominions operating ratio for 2006 improved to 89.8% from 90.8% for 2005.

Earl E. Congdon, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Old Dominion, remarked, We are pleased with Old Dominions operating performance in the fourth quarter and resulting earnings per diluted share that exceeded our established guidance of $0.40 to $0.43. While our financial results reflect tonnage growth during the quarter that was slightly higher than anticipated, we attribute most of the earnings in excess of our guidance to a reduction in our effective tax rate and favorable experience in our reserves for insurance claims.

Our total tons shipped increased 10.6% for the fourth quarter of 2006 as a result of a 12.7% increase in total shipments with a 1.8% decrease in weight per shipment. We view this decline in weight per shipment to be consistent with the economic environment during the fourth quarter that proved to be challenging. We experienced a sudden decline in daily tonnage in October; however, that trend stabilized in December.

Old Dominion continues to produce the great majority of its revenues 98% for 2006 within its network of service centers that have been open for more than one year. As a result, we were able to increase freight density and capacity utilization within our network that led to a 70 basis-point improvement in our operating ratio for the quarter. This continued improvement allowed the Company to finish 2006 with its annual operating ratio below 90.0% for the first time since becoming a public company in 1991.

We added 28 new service centers to our network during 2006, including four in the fourth quarter, and completed 2006 with 182 service centers in operation. The four service centers added in the fourth quarter were Rockford, Illinois; Saginaw, Michigan; Bismarck, North Dakota; and Fort Worth, Texas. We now operate service centers in 47 states, up from 44 at the end of 2005, and provide full-state coverage in 37 of those states compared with 33 at the end of 2005. We intend to continue expanding our service center network, subject to real estate availability and market potential, to achieve our strategic goal of providing full-state coverage throughout the continental U.S. and to provide a platform for future growth.

We were encouraged by our operating trends in the latter part of the fourth quarter, but we remain cautious in establishing our earnings guidance for 2007 due to the current economic environment and the severity of a number of winter storms that have already occurred. As a result, we are today establishing our guidance for earnings per diluted share for 2007 in a range of $2.00 to $2.05. In addition, the Company today established its earnings guidance for the first quarter of 2007 in a range of $0.32 to $0.35, compared with $0.35 for the first quarter of 2006. Through the consistent implementation of our long-term growth strategies throughout the economic cycle, we expect to continue producing profitable growth at a rate in excess of industry averages in 2007 and progressing toward our longer-term goal of $2 billion in revenue for 2010."

Mr. Congdon concluded, Old Dominions performance for the fourth quarter and for full-year 2006 again demonstrates the strength of our differentiated market position. In addition to our extensive service center network, which enables us to provide comprehensive, single-source products and services regionally and inter-regionally, our technology infrastructure and our flexible, non-union workforce all combine to drive a customer service culture and capability that is the basis for our success. We are confident in our ability to capitalize on market opportunities and to continue our long-term record of profitable growth in the years ahead.

Old Dominion will hold a conference call to discuss this release today at 11:00 a.m. Eastern Standard Time. Investors will have the opportunity to listen to the conference call live over the Internet by going to www.odfl.com or by going to www.InvestorCalendar.com. Please log on at least 15 minutes early to register, download and install any necessary audio software. For those who cannot listen to the live broadcast, a replay will be available at these Web sites shortly after the call through March 1, 2007. A telephonic replay will also be available through February 8, 2007, at (719) 457-0820, Confirmation Number 5637459.

Forward-looking statements in this news release are made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Investors are cautioned that such forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties that could cause actual events and results to be materially different from those expressed or implied herein, including, but not limited to, the following: (1) the competitive environment with respect to industry capacity and pricing; (2) the negative impact of any unionization of the Companys employees; (3) the challenges associated with executing the Companys growth strategy; (4) various economic factors such as economic recessions and downturns in customers' business cycles and shipping requirements; (5) the availability and cost of fuel; (6) difficulty in attracting or retaining qualified drivers; (7) the Company's exposure to claims related to cargo loss and damage, property damage, personal injury, workers' compensation, long-term disability and group health and the cost of insurance coverage above retention levels; (8) the Company's significant ongoing cash requirements; (9) the availability and cost of new equipment; (10) the costs of compliance with, or liability for, violation of existing or future governmental regulation; (11) seasonal trends in the industry, including the possibility of harsh weather conditions; (12) the Company's dependence on key employees; (13) changes in the Company's goals and strategies, which are subject to change at any time at the discretion of the Company; and (14) other risks and uncertainties indicated from time to time in the Company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Old Dominion Freight Line, Inc. is a less-than-truckload multi-regional motor carrier providing one-to-five day service among five regions in the United States and next-day and second-day service within these regions. Through its four product groups, OD-Domestic, OD-Expedited, OD-Global and OD- Technology, the Company offers an array of innovative products and services that provide direct service to 47 states within the Southeast, South Central, Northeast, Midwest and West regions of the country, including 37 states within which it provides full-state coverage. In addition, through marketing and carrier relationships, Old Dominion provides service to and from the remaining states as well as international services around the globe.

OLD DOMINION FREIGHT LINE, INC.

Financial Highlights

(In thousands, except per share amounts)

 
Three Months Ended Twelve Months Ended
December 31, % December 31, %

2006 

2005  Chg. 2006  2005  Chg.
Revenue from operations $319,419  $285,211  12.0%

$1,279,431 

$1,061,403 

20.5%
Operating income $31,625  $26,315  20.2%

$130,485 

$97,585 

33.7%
Operating ratio

90.1%

90.8%

89.8%

90.8%

Net income $17,841  $14,689  21.5%

$72,569 

$53,475 

35.7%

Basic and diluted earnings per share

$0.48  $0.39  23.1%

$1.95 

$1.43 

36.4%

Weighted average shares outstanding

Basic 37,285  37,285  0.0% 37,285  37,273  0.0%
Diluted 37,285  37,285  0.0% 37,285  37,276  0.0%

OLD DOMINION FREIGHT LINE, INC.

Statements of Operations
(In thousands, except per share amounts)
 
Fourth Quarter Year To Date
 
2006  2005  %Chg. 2006  2005  %Chg.
 
Revenue $ 319,419  100.0% $ 285,211  100.0% 12.0% $ 1,279,431  100.0% $ 1,061,403  100.0% 20.5%
 
Operating expenses:
Salaries, wages & benefits 172,634  54.1% 159,363  55.9% 8.3% 682,886  53.4% 585,879  55.2% 16.6%
Operating supplies & expenses 49,638  15.5% 45,402  15.9% 9.3% 204,386  16.0% 158,029  14.9% 29.3%
General supplies & expenses 8,911  2.8% 7,755  2.7% 14.9% 37,507  2.9% 31,940  3.0% 17.4%
Operating taxes & licenses 12,005  3.8% 10,231  3.6% 17.3% 46,693  3.6% 38,961  3.7% 19.8%
Insurance & claims 8,961  2.8% 5,060  1.8% 77.1% 33,080  2.6% 28,143  2.6% 17.5%
Communications & utilities 3,351  1.1% 3,177  1.1% 5.5% 14,278  1.1% 12,573  1.2% 13.6%
Depreciation & amortization 17,865  5.6% 15,183  5.3% 17.7% 67,634  5.3% 55,897  5.3% 21.0%
Purchased transportation 9,719  3.0% 9,261  3.3% 4.9% 43,933  3.4% 35,005  3.3% 25.5%
Building and office equipment rents 2,661  0.8% 2,651  0.9% 0.4% 11,143  0.9% 9,490  0.9% 17.4%
Miscellaneous expenses, net 2,049  0.6% 813  0.3% 152.0% 7,406  0.6% 7,901  0.7% (6.3%)
 
Total operating expenses 287,794  90.1% 258,896  90.8% 11.2% 1,148,946  89.8% 963,818  90.8% 19.2%
 
Operating income 31,625  9.9% 26,315  9.2% 20.2% 130,485  10.2% 97,585  9.2% 33.7%
 
Other deductions:
Interest expense, net 3,111  1.0% 1,622  0.6% 91.8% 10,206  0.8% 6,527  0.6% 56.4%
Other expense, net 81  0.0% 73  0.0% 11.0% 936  0.1% 787  0.1% 18.9%
 

Income before income taxes and cumulative effect of accounting change

28,433  8.9% 24,620  8.6% 15.5% 119,343  9.3% 90,271  8.5% 32.2%
 
Provision for income taxes 10,592  3.3% 9,931  3.4% 6.7% 46,774  3.6% 36,388  3.4% 28.5%

Income before cumulative effect of accounting change

17,841  5.6% 14,689  5.2% 21.5% 72,569  5.7% 53,883  5.1% 34.7%
 

Cumulative effect of accounting change (net of income tax effect of $272)

0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 408  0.1% (100.0%)
 
Net income $ 17,841  5.6% $ 14,689  5.2% 21.5% $ 72,569  5.7% $ 53,475  5.0% 35.7%
 
Earnings per share:
 
Basic $ 0.48  $ 0.39  23.1% $ 1.95  $ 1.43  36.4%
Diluted $ 0.48  $ 0.39  23.1% $ 1.95  $ 1.43  36.4%

 

Weighted average outstanding shares:
Basic 37,285  37,285  0.0% 37,285  37,273  0.0%
Diluted 37,285  37,285  0.0% 37,285  37,276  0.0%

OLD DOMINION FREIGHT LINE, INC.

 
Fourth Quarter Year to Date
 
Operating Statistics 2006    2005    % Chg. 2006  2005  % Chg.
 
Operating ratio 90.1% 90.8% (0.8%) 89.8% 90.8% (1.1%)

Intercity miles (a)

74,204  66,530  11.5% 296,464  257,900  15.0%

Total tons (a)

1,206  1,090  10.6% 4,859  4,203  15.6%

Total shipments (a)

1,593  1,413  12.7% 6,428  5,751  11.8%
Revenue per intercity mile $ 4.30  $ 4.29  0.2% $ 4.32  $ 4.12  4.9%

Rev/cwt (b)

$ 13.16  $ 12.92  1.9% $ 13.16  $ 12.63  4.2%

Rev/cwt excluding fuel surcharges (b)

$ 11.73  $ 11.30  3.8% $ 11.60  $ 11.33  2.4%

Rev/shp (b)

$ 199.27  $ 199.27  0.0% $ 199.03  $ 184.61  7.8%

Rev/shp excluding fuel surcharges (b)

$ 177.58  $ 174.33  1.9% $ 175.38  $ 165.54  5.9%
Weight per shipment 1,514  1,542  (1.8%) 1,512  1,462  3.4%
Average length of haul 935  926  1.0% 934  926  0.9%
 

(a) - In thousands

(b) - For statistical purposes only, revenue does not include adjustments for undelivered freight required for financial statement purposes in accordance with the Company's revenue recognition policy.

 
December 31, December 31,
Balance Sheets 2006  2005 
(In thousands)
 
Current assets $ 256,367  $ 150,213 
Net property and equipment 607,588  466,071 
Other assets 28,238  25,364 
Total assets $ 892,193  $ 641,648 
 
Current maturities of long-term debt $ 12,697  $ 17,930 
Other current liabilities 108,849  93,098 
Total current liabilities 121,546  111,028 
Long-term debt 261,885  111,026 
Other non-current liabilities 91,142  74,543 
Total liabilities 474,573  296,597 
Shareholders' equity 417,620  345,051 
Total liabilities & shareholders' equity $ 892,193  $ 641,648 
 
 
Note: Financial statements and operating statistics are unaudited.