ulh-8k_20181025.htm

 

 

 

 

 

 

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

FORM 8-K

Current Report

Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported) October 25, 2018

Universal Logistics Holdings, Inc.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

Michigan

0-51142

38-3640097

(State or other jurisdiction

of incorporation)

(Commission

File Number)

(I.R.S. Employer

Identification No.)

12755 E. Nine Mile Road, Warren, Michigan

(Address of principal executive offices)

48089

(Zip Code)

(586) 920-0100

(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)

(Former name, former address and former fiscal year, if changed since last report)

Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions (see General Instruction A.2. below):

Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)

Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)

Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))

Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an emerging growth company as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1933 (§230.405 of this chapter) or Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (§240.12b-2 of this chapter).

Emerging growth company        

If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act.    

 

 

 

 


Item 2.02 Results of Operations and Financial Condition.

On October 25, 2018, the Company issued a press release announcing the Company's financial and operating results for the thirteen weeks and thirty-nine weeks ended September 29, 2018, a copy of which is furnished as Exhibit 99.1 to this Form 8-K.

Item 7.01 Regulation FD Disclosure.

On October 25, 2018, the Company issued a press release announcing that the Company’s Board of Directors declared a quarterly cash dividend of $0.105 per share of common stock.  The dividend is payable to the Company's shareholders of record at the close of business on November 5, 2018, and is expected to be paid on November 15, 2018.  A copy of the press release is furnished as Exhibit 99.1 to this Form 8-K.

Item 9.01 Financial Statements and Exhibits.

(d) Exhibits.

 

Exhibit No.

Description

 

 

99.1

Press Release dated October 25, 2018.

 


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.

 

 

 

 

UNIVERSAL LOGISTICS HOLDINGS, INC.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Date: October 25, 2018

 

 

/s/ Steven Fitzpatrick

 

 

 

 

Steven Fitzpatrick

 

 

 

 

Secretary

 

 

ulh-ex991_6.htm

Exhibit 99.1

 

Universal Logistics Holdings, Inc. Reports Consolidated Third Quarter 2018 Financial Results

 

-

Third Quarter 2018 Operating Revenues:  $374.3 million, highest quarterly revenue in our history

 

-

Third Quarter 2018 Operating Income:  $22.5 million, most third quarter operating income ever

 

-

Third Quarter 2018 EPS:  $0.53, best third quarter earnings per share ever reported

Warren, MI – October 25, 2018 — Universal Logistics Holdings, Inc. (NASDAQ: ULH), a leading asset-light provider of customized transportation and logistics solutions, today reported consolidated third quarter 2018 net income of $15.1 million, or $0.53 per basic and diluted share.  Universal also reported third quarter 2018 total operating revenues of $374.3 million, the highest quarterly revenue ever reported.  These results compare to a net loss of $3.3 million, or $(0.12) per basic and diluted share, during third quarter 2017 on total operating revenues of $313.0 million. Included in the reported loss in 2017 was $17.4 million of pre-tax charges, or approximately $0.38 per share, for pending litigation.

Operating revenues from truckload services decreased $2.6 million to $80.2 million, compared to $82.8 million for the same period last year. Included in truckload revenues for the recently completed quarter were $8.7 million in separately identified fuel surcharges compared to $7.1 million during the same period last year.  The decrease in truckload services reflects a 7.4% decrease in the number of loads hauled.  During the quarter ended September 29, 2018, Universal moved 73,117 loads compared to 78,965 during the same period last year.  Truckload service revenues in the third quarter of 2017 also included $4.7 million of revenue from FEMA loads.  The decreases in truckload services were partially offset by a 9.6% increase in average operating revenue per load, excluding fuel surcharges.  

Revenues for the third quarter 2018 from brokerage services increased $25.5 million, or 34.8%, to $98.8 million compared to $73.3 million one year earlier. The growth in brokerage revenues is due to increases in the average operating revenue per load and in the number of loads hauled.  Universal’s average operating revenue per load increased 18.0% to $1,643 per load, up from $1,392 per load one year earlier. The number of brokerage loads hauled in the third quarter 2018 increased 19.0% to 58,147 compared to 48,870 during the same period last year.  

Intermodal services revenues increased $26.6 million, or 68.0%, to $65.7 million in the third quarter 2018, up from $39.1 million during the same period last year.  Intermodal revenues for the recently completed quarter included $18.8 million of revenues attributable to Fore Transportation and Southern Counties Express, each of which Universal acquired in 2018.  Included in third quarter 2018 intermodal revenues were $8.4 million in separately identified fuel surcharges, compared to $3.9 million during the same period last year.  Intermodal services growth included increases both in the average operating revenue per load, excluding fuel surcharges, and in the number of loads hauled.  During the quarter ended September 29, 2018, Universal moved 119,410 intermodal loads, compared to 87,342 loads during the same period last year, an increase of 36.7%, while also increasing its average operating revenue per load, excluding fuel surcharges, by 22.0%.

Third quarter 2018 operating revenues from dedicated services increased 39.8% to $30.9 million compared to $22.1 million one year earlier. Dedicated services revenues included $4.4 million in separately identified fuel surcharges in the third quarter 2018 compared to $2.9 million during the same period last year.  Increases in dedicated services revenues are also attributable to increases in the number of loads hauled and in the average operating revenue per mile, excluding fuel surcharges.  During the quarter ended September 29, 2018, Universal moved 55,563 dedicated services loads, compared to 44,069 loads one year earlier, and the average rate per mile, excluding fuel surcharges increased 5.6%.  Universal’s average dedicated operating revenue per load, excluding fuel surcharges, decreased 3.5%, primarily driven by a decrease in the average length of haul.    

Revenues from value-added services increased $2.9 million to $98.6 million in the quarter ended September 29, 2018.  This compares to $95.7 million from value-added services one year earlier.  Operations supporting heavy-truck production continued to drive overall growth in value-added services, growing $4.6 million, or 20.6% on a year-over-year basis.  Overall, revenues from value-added services grew by 3.1% compared to the same period last year.


Consolidated income from operations increased $26.0 million to $22.5 million compared to an operating loss of $3.5 million one year earlier. The operating loss in 2017 included $17.4 million in accruals made for pending litigation, which were attributed to Universal’s transportation segment. Universal’s transportation and logistics segments both outperformed the same period last year. Excluding the $17.4 million of pre-tax charges accruals for pending litigation in 2017, income from operations in the transportation segment, which is primarily comprised of truckload, brokerage and intermodal services operations, increased 22.3% to $11.9 million in the quarter ended September 29, 2018.  In the logistics segment, which includes value-added and dedicated services, operating income increased $5.8 million to $10.5 million in the third quarter 2018 compared to $4.7 million one year earlier.

The effective tax rate for the third quarter 2018 was 24.6%, and reflected the estimated impact of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act.  This compares to an effective tax rate of 37.3% during the same period last year.  Included in other non-operating income were $1.0 million of gains from life insurance policies in the third quarter 2018.

During the third quarter of 2018, EBITDA, a non-GAAP measure, increased $29.3 million to $38.3 million, compared to $9.0 million in the same period last year.  As a percentage of total operating revenues, operating income and EBITDA margins for the third quarter 2018 were 6.0% and 10.2%, respectively.  These profitability metrics compare to (1.1%) and 2.9%, respectively, in third quarter 2017.  

“We have so much to be excited about at Universal,” stated Jeff Rogers, Universal’s Chief Executive Officer.  “We had another quarter of record breaking revenues, the highest ever, and the third quarter of 2018 was also our best third quarter earnings ever reported.  On the acquisition front, our deal team is working extremely hard at identifying and executing our M&A strategy, and the pipeline is very robust.  I want to give a special thanks to the folks working so hard out at our new southern California terminal, Southern Counties Express, and to recognize Specialized Rail Service, which we welcomed to the Universal family in mid-October.  We have great momentum, an excellent transportation environment, and we have no intention of taking our foot off the gas.  We expect to continue to deliver excellent customer service, execute on our long-term strategy and deliver solid results. We are Team Universal.”

Universal calculates and reports selected financial metrics for purposes of our lending arrangements and in an effort to isolate and exclude the impact of non-operating expenses related to our corporate development activities.  These statistics are described in more detail below in the section captioned “Non-GAAP Financial Measures.”

As of September 29, 2018, Universal held cash and cash equivalents totaling $2.5 million and $10.4 million in marketable securities.  Outstanding debt at the end of the third quarter 2018 was $330.4 million and capital expenditures during the quarter totaled $22.6 million.

Universal Logistics Holdings, Inc. also announced today that its Board of Directors has declared a quarterly cash dividend of $0.105 per share of common stock.  The dividend is payable to shareholders of record at the close of business on November 5, 2018 and will be paid on November 15, 2018.

Conference call:

We invite investors and analysts to our quarterly earnings conference call.  

Quarterly Earnings Conference Call Dial-in Details:

Time:  10:00 AM Eastern Time

Date:  Friday, October 26, 2018

Call Toll Free:  (866) 622-0924

International Dial-in:  +1 (660) 422-4956

Conference ID:  5299735

A replay of the conference call will be available beginning two hours after the call through November 30, 2018, by calling (855) 859-2056 (toll free) or +1 (404) 537-3406 (toll) and using conference ID 5299735. The call will also be available on investors.universallogistics.com.  

 

Source: Universal Logistics Holdings, Inc.

 

For Further Information:

Steven Fitzpatrick, Investor Relations

SFitzpatrick@UniversalLogistics.com


About Universal:

Universal Logistics Holdings, Inc. is a leading asset-light provider of customized transportation and logistics solutions throughout the United States, and in Mexico, Canada and Colombia.  We provide our customers with supply chain solutions that can be scaled to meet their changing demands and volumes.  We offer our customers a broad array of services across their entire supply chain, including truckload, brokerage, intermodal, dedicated, and value-added services. 

Forward Looking Statements

Some of the statements contained in this press release might be considered forward-looking statements. These statements identify prospective information. Forward-looking statements can be identified by words such as: “expect,” “anticipate,” “intend,” “plan,” “goal,” “seek,” “believe,” “project,” “estimate,” “future,” “likely,” “may,” “should” and similar references to future periods. Forward-looking statements are based on information available at the time and/or management’s good faith belief with respect to future events, and are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual performance or results to differ materially from those expressed in the statements. These forward-looking statements are subject to a number of factors that may cause actual results to differ materially from the expectations described. Additional information about the factors that may adversely affect these forward-looking statements is contained in the Company’s reports and filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The Company assumes no obligation to update forward-looking statements to reflect actual results, changes in assumptions or changes in other factors affecting forward-looking information except to the extent required by applicable securities laws.


UNIVERSAL LOGISTICS HOLDINGS, INC.

Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income

(In thousands, except per share data)

 

 

Thirteen Weeks Ended

 

 

Thirty-nine Weeks Ended

 

 

 

September 29,

 

 

September 30,

 

 

September 29,

 

 

September 30,

 

 

 

2018

 

 

2017

 

 

2018

 

 

2017

 

Operating revenues:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Truckload services

 

$

80,204

 

 

$

82,812

 

 

$

240,053

 

 

$

231,046

 

Brokerage services

 

 

98,801

 

 

 

73,285

 

 

 

269,446

 

 

 

195,988

 

Intermodal services

 

 

65,710

 

 

 

39,057

 

 

 

167,190

 

 

 

113,713

 

Dedicated services

 

 

30,941

 

 

 

22,135

 

 

 

87,725

 

 

 

71,406

 

Value-added services

 

 

98,636

 

 

 

95,712

 

 

 

310,916

 

 

 

290,489

 

Total operating revenues

 

 

374,292

 

 

 

313,001

 

 

 

1,075,330

 

 

 

902,642

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Operating expenses:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Purchased transportation and equipment rent

 

 

186,239

 

 

 

153,277

 

 

 

526,502

 

 

 

427,104

 

Direct personnel and related benefits

 

 

87,189

 

 

 

77,570

 

 

 

260,548

 

 

 

234,352

 

Operating supplies and expenses

 

 

32,119

 

 

 

28,306

 

 

 

90,547

 

 

 

88,757

 

Commission expense

 

 

9,653

 

 

 

8,503

 

 

 

28,298

 

 

 

24,284

 

Occupancy expense

 

 

7,410

 

 

 

7,504

 

 

 

22,574

 

 

 

23,001

 

General and administrative

 

 

7,750

 

 

 

8,968

 

 

 

23,354

 

 

 

23,421

 

Insurance and claims

 

 

7,419

 

 

 

20,562

 

 

 

18,173

 

 

 

35,958

 

Depreciation and amortization

 

 

13,983

 

 

 

11,795

 

 

 

39,448

 

 

 

33,663

 

Total operating expenses

 

 

351,762

 

 

 

316,485

 

 

 

1,009,444

 

 

 

890,540

 

Income from operations

 

 

22,530

 

 

 

(3,484

)

 

 

65,886

 

 

 

12,102

 

Interest expense, net

 

 

(4,303

)

 

 

(2,508

)

 

 

(9,810

)

 

 

(7,225

)

Other non-operating income

 

 

1,746

 

 

 

721

 

 

 

1,688

 

 

 

1,253

 

Income before income taxes

 

 

19,973

 

 

 

(5,271

)

 

 

57,764

 

 

 

6,130

 

Income tax expense

 

 

4,918

 

 

 

(1,966

)

 

 

14,606

 

 

 

2,378

 

Net income

 

$

15,055

 

 

$

(3,305

)

 

$

43,158

 

 

$

3,752

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Earnings per common share:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Basic

 

$

0.53

 

 

$

(0.12

)

 

$

1.52

 

 

$

0.13

 

Diluted

 

$

0.53

 

 

$

(0.12

)

 

$

1.52

 

 

$

0.13

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Weighted average number of common shares outstanding:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Basic

 

 

28,382

 

 

 

28,441

 

 

 

28,388

 

 

 

28,440

 

Diluted

 

 

28,392

 

 

 

28,444

 

 

 

28,396

 

 

 

28,440

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Dividends declared per common share:

 

$

0.105

 

 

$

0.070

 

 

$

0.315

 

 

$

0.210

 

 


UNIVERSAL LOGISTICS HOLDINGS, INC.

Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets

(In thousands)

 

 

September 29,

2018

 

 

December 31,

2017

 

Assets

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cash and cash equivalents

 

$

2,545

 

 

$

1,672

 

Marketable securities

 

 

10,433

 

 

 

15,144

 

Accounts receivable - net

 

 

224,619

 

 

 

171,036

 

Other current assets

 

 

46,708

 

 

 

40,814

 

Total current assets

 

 

284,305

 

 

 

228,666

 

Property and equipment - net

 

 

298,633

 

 

 

267,195

 

Other long-term assets - net

 

 

195,929

 

 

 

114,731

 

Total assets

 

$

778,867

 

 

$

610,592

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Liabilities and shareholders' equity

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Current liabilities, excluding current maturities of debt

 

$

195,241

 

 

$

158,200

 

Debt - net

 

 

329,261

 

 

 

247,978

 

Other long-term liabilities

 

 

49,644

 

 

 

35,649

 

Total liabilities

 

 

574,146

 

 

 

441,827

 

Total shareholders' equity

 

 

204,721

 

 

 

168,765

 

Total liabilities and shareholders' equity

 

$

778,867

 

 

$

610,592

 

 


UNIVERSAL LOGISTICS HOLDINGS, INC.

Unaudited Summary of Operating Data

 

 

Thirteen Weeks Ended

 

 

Thirty-nine Weeks Ended

 

 

 

September 29,

 

 

September 30,

 

 

September 29,

 

 

September 30,

 

 

 

2018

 

 

2017

 

 

2018

 

 

2017

 

Truckload Services:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Number of loads

 

 

73,117

 

 

 

78,965

 

 

 

220,961

 

 

 

239,220

 

Average operating revenue per load, excluding fuel surcharges

 

$

984

 

 

$

898

 

 

$

963

 

 

$

858

 

Average operating revenue per mile, excluding fuel surcharges

 

$

3.03

 

 

$

2.54

 

 

$

2.85

 

 

$

2.46

 

Average length of haul

 

 

325

 

 

 

354

 

 

 

339

 

 

 

349

 

Average number of tractors

 

 

1,772

 

 

 

1,965

 

 

 

1,813

 

 

 

1,951

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Brokerage Services:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Number of loads (a)

 

 

58,147

 

 

 

48,870

 

 

 

157,246

 

 

 

139,996

 

Average operating revenue per load (a)

 

$

1,643

 

 

$

1,392

 

 

$

1,650

 

 

$

1,315

 

Average length of haul (a)

 

 

613

 

 

 

527

 

 

 

588

 

 

 

556

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Intermodal Services:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Number of loads

 

 

119,410

 

 

 

87,342

 

 

 

311,907

 

 

 

258,847

 

Average operating revenue per load, excluding fuel surcharges

 

$

490

 

 

$

402

 

 

$

474

 

 

$

392

 

Average number of tractors

 

 

1,185

 

 

 

929

 

 

 

1,059

 

 

 

910

 

Number of depots

 

 

14

 

 

 

12

 

 

 

14

 

 

 

12

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Dedicated Services:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Number of loads

 

 

55,563

 

 

 

44,069

 

 

 

177,784

 

 

 

148,375

 

Average operating revenue per load, excluding fuel surcharges

 

$

393

 

 

$

407

 

 

$

375

 

 

$

396

 

Average operating revenue per mile, excluding fuel surcharges

 

$

2.07

 

 

$

1.96

 

 

$

2.00

 

 

$

1.96

 

Average length of haul

 

 

189

 

 

 

208

 

 

 

187

 

 

 

202

 

Average number of tractors

 

 

696

 

 

 

813

 

 

 

729

 

 

 

785

 

 

(a)

Excludes operating data from Universal Logistics Solutions International, Inc., in order to improve the relevance of the statistical data related to our brokerage services and improve the comparability to our peer companies.


UNIVERSAL LOGISTICS HOLDINGS, INC.

Unaudited Summary of Operating Data - Continued

 

 

Thirteen Weeks Ended

 

 

Thirty-nine Weeks Ended

 

 

 

September 29,

 

 

September 30,

 

 

September 29,

 

 

September 30,

 

 

 

2018

 

 

2017

 

 

2018

 

 

2017

 

Value-added Services

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Average number of direct employees

 

 

3,664

 

 

 

3,944

 

 

 

3,869

 

 

 

4,217

 

Average number of full-time equivalents

 

 

1,413

 

 

 

1,970

 

 

 

1,385

 

 

 

1,767

 

Number of active programs

 

 

49

 

 

 

51

 

 

 

49

 

 

 

51

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Operating Revenues by Segment:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Transportation

 

$

248,529

 

 

$

199,013

 

 

$

688,794

 

 

$

552,442

 

Logistics

 

 

125,385

 

 

 

113,667

 

 

 

385,431

 

 

 

349,252

 

Other

 

 

378

 

 

 

321

 

 

 

1,105

 

 

 

948

 

Total

 

$

374,292

 

 

$

313,001

 

 

$

1,075,330

 

 

$

902,642

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Income from Operations by Segment:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Transportation

 

$

11,885

 

 

$

(7,641

)

 

$

32,273

 

 

$

7,208

 

Logistics

 

 

10,503

 

 

 

4,692

 

 

 

32,950

 

 

 

6,359

 

Other

 

 

142

 

 

 

(535

)

 

 

663

 

 

 

(1,465

)

Total

 

$

22,530

 

 

$

(3,484

)

 

$

65,886

 

 

$

12,102

 

 

 



Non-GAAP Financial Measures

In addition to providing consolidated financial statements based on generally accepted accounting principles in the United States of America (GAAP), we are providing additional financial measures that are not required by or prepared in accordance with GAAP (non-GAAP). We present EBITDA, a non-GAAP measure, as supplemental measures of our performance. We define EBITDA as net income plus (i) interest expense, net, (ii) income taxes and (iii) depreciation and amortization, or EBITDA. You are encouraged to evaluate these adjustments and the reasons we consider them appropriate for supplemental analysis.

In accordance with the requirements of Regulation G issued by the Securities and Exchange Commission, we are presenting the most directly comparable GAAP financial measure and reconciling the non-GAAP financial measure to the comparable GAAP measure. Set forth below is a reconciliation of net income, the most comparable GAAP measure, to EBITDA for each of the periods indicated:

 

 

Thirteen Weeks Ended

 

 

Thirty-nine Weeks Ended

 

 

 

September 29,

 

 

September 30,

 

 

September 29,

 

 

September 30,

 

 

 

2018

 

 

2017

 

 

2018

 

 

2017

 

 

 

( in thousands)

 

 

( in thousands)

 

EBITDA

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net income

 

$

15,055

 

 

$

(3,305

)

 

$

43,158

 

 

$

3,752

 

Income tax expense

 

 

4,918

 

 

 

(1,966

)

 

 

14,606

 

 

 

2,378

 

Interest expense, net

 

 

4,303

 

 

 

2,508

 

 

 

9,810

 

 

 

7,225

 

Depreciation and amortization

 

 

13,983

 

 

 

11,795

 

 

 

39,448

 

 

 

33,663

 

EBITDA

 

$

38,259

 

 

$

9,032

 

 

$

107,022

 

 

$

47,018

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

EBITDA margin (a)

 

 

10.2

%

 

 

2.9

%

 

 

10.0

%

 

 

5.2

%

 

(a)

EBITDA margin is computed by dividing EBITDA by total operating revenues for each of the periods indicated.

We present EBITDA because we believe it assists investors and analysts in comparing our performance across reporting periods on a consistent basis by excluding items that we do not believe are indicative of our core operating performance.

EBITDA has limitations as an analytical tool. Some of these limitations are:

EBITDA does not reflect our cash expenditures, or future requirements, for capital expenditures or contractual commitments;

EBITDA does not reflect changes in, or cash requirements for, our working capital needs;

EBITDA does not reflect the significant interest expense, or the cash requirements necessary to service interest or principal payments, on our debts;

Although depreciation and amortization are non-cash charges, the assets being depreciated and amortized will often have to be replaced in the future, and EBITDA does not reflect any cash requirements for such replacements; and

Other companies in our industry may calculate EBITDA differently than we do, limiting its usefulness as a comparative measure.

Because of these limitations, EBITDA should not be considered in isolation or as a substitute for performance measures calculated in accordance with GAAP. We compensate for these limitations by relying primarily on our GAAP results and EBITDA only supplementally.