C.H. Robinson Worldwide, Inc. (“C.H. Robinson”) (Nasdaq: CHRW) today reported financial results for the quarter ended March 31, 2023.

First Quarter Key Metrics:

• Gross profits decreased 24.7% to $678.3 million
• Income from operations decreased 53.4% to $161.0 million
• Adjusted operating margin⁽¹⁾ decreased 1,460 basis points to 23.5%
• Diluted earnings per share (EPS) decreased 53.2% to $0.96
• Adjusted EPS⁽¹⁾ decreased 52.2% to $0.98
• Cash generated by operations improved to $254.5 million

"Our first quarter financial results reflect the softening market conditions that have transpired in the freight transportation market over the past twelve months," said Scott Anderson, Interim Chief Executive Officer. "With shippers continuing to manage through elevated inventories amidst slowing economic growth, the balance of supply and demand has shifted from a tight market a year ago to one that is now oversupplied. As spot rates approach the breakeven cost per mile to operate a truck, the market is likely at or near the bottom of the industry cycle, which typically results in capacity exiting the market. Contract rates are also declining as transportation providers adjust to the changing market. During this transition, we’ve continued to increase our focus on delivering an improved customer and carrier experience and a more efficient business model, and we're taking steps to foster profitable growth through cycles. We are executing on the restructuring plan that was initiated in November, and we're lowering our 2023 personnel expense by $100 million at the mid-point of our guidance, reflecting actions that have already been taken and additional opportunities to further reduce our costs."

Summary of First Quarter Results Compared to the First Quarter of 2022

• Total revenues decreased 32.3% to $4.6 billion, primarily driven by lower pricing in our ocean and truckload services.
• Gross profits decreased 24.7% to $678.3 million. Adjusted gross profits decreased 24.3% to $685.6 million, primarily driven by lower adjusted gross profit per transaction in ocean and truckload.
• Operating expenses decreased 6.4% to $524.6 million. Personnel expenses decreased 7.3% to $383.1 million, primarily due to cost optimization efforts, including reduced headcount, and lower variable compensation. Selling, general and administrative ("SG&A") expenses of $141.5 million decreased 4.0%, primarily due to a decrease in credit losses.
• Income from operations totaled $161.0 million, down 53.4% due to the decrease in adjusted gross profits, partially offset by the decline in operating expenses. Adjusted operating margin of 23.5% declined 1,460 basis points.
• Interest and other income/expense, net totaled $28.3 million of expense, consisting primarily of $23.5 million of interest expense, which increased $9.0 million versus last year due primarily to higher variable interest rates, and $9.6 million of foreign currency revaluation and realized foreign currency gains and losses, which increased $8.1 million versus last year primarily due to foreign currency revaluation on intercompany assets and liabilities.
• The effective tax rate in the quarter was 13.5% compared to 18.4% in the first quarter last year. The lower rate in the first quarter of this year was driven by incremental tax benefits of stock-based compensation deliveries and U.S. tax credits and the impact of those benefits in proportion to lower pre-tax income.
• Net income totaled $114.9 million, down 57.5% from a year ago. Diluted EPS of $0.96 decreased 53.2%. Adjusted EPS of $0.98 decreased 52.2%.

North American Surface Transportation ("NAST") Results

Summarized financial results of our NAST segment are as follows (dollars in thousands):

First quarter total revenues for the NAST segment totaled $3.3 billion, a decrease of 19.7% over the prior year, primarily driven by lower truckload pricing, reflecting softening freight demand. NAST adjusted gross profits decreased 15.7% in the quarter to $426.7 million. Adjusted gross profits in truckload decreased 21.9% due to a 19.0% decrease in adjusted gross profit per shipment and a 3.5% decline in truckload shipments. Our average truckload linehaul rate per mile charged to our customers, which excludes fuel surcharges, decreased approximately 27.5% in the quarter compared to the prior year, while truckload linehaul cost per mile, excluding fuel surcharges, decreased approximately 28.5%, resulting in a 20.5% decrease in truckload adjusted gross profit per mile. LTL adjusted gross profits decreased 9.1% versus the year-ago period, as volume declined 5.0% and adjusted gross profit per order decreased 4.5%. NAST overall volume growth was down 4.5% for the quarter. Operating expenses decreased 9.6% primarily due to lower variable compensation and lower average employee headcount. NAST average employee headcount was down 6.5% in the quarter. Income from operations decreased 26.5% to $134.0 million, and adjusted operating margin declined 460 basis points to 31.4%.

Global Forwarding Results

Summarized financial results of our Global Forwarding segment are as follows (dollars in thousands):

First quarter total revenues for the Global Forwarding segment decreased 64.0% to $790.0 million, primarily driven by lower pricing in our ocean service, reflecting softening freight demand. Adjusted gross profits decreased 44.7% in the quarter to $177.9 million. Ocean adjusted gross profits decreased 50.3%, driven by a 41.5% decrease in adjusted gross profit per shipment and a 14.5% decline in shipments. Adjusted gross profits in air decreased 49.0%, driven by a 37.5% decrease in adjusted gross profit per metric ton shipped and a 18.5% decline in metric tons shipped. Customs adjusted gross profits decreased 15.1%, driven by a 14.0% reduction in transaction volume. Operating expenses decreased 4.2%, primarily driven by lower variable compensation and lower average employee headcount. First quarter average employee headcount decreased 2.5%. Income from operations decreased 82.0% to $30.1 million, and adjusted operating margin declined 3,520 basis points to 16.9% in the quarter.

All Other and Corporate Results

Total revenues and adjusted gross profits for Robinson Fresh, Managed Services and Other Surface Transportation are summarized as follows (dollars in thousands):

First quarter Robinson Fresh adjusted gross profits increased 2.1% to $31.1 million, primarily driven by integrated supply chain solutions for foodservice and retail customers. Managed Services adjusted gross profits increased 3.2% in the quarter, due to growth with existing and new customers. Other Surface Transportation adjusted gross profits increased 6.6% to $21.0 million, primarily due to a 5.9% increase in Europe truckload adjusted gross profits.

Other Income Statement Items

The first quarter effective tax rate was 13.5%, down from 18.4% last year. The lower rate in the first quarter of this year was driven by incremental tax benefits of stock-based compensation deliveries and U.S. tax credits and the impact of those benefits in proportion to lower pre-tax income. We expect our 2023 full-year effective tax rate to be 19% to 21%.

Interest and other income/expense, net totaled $28.3 million of expense, consisting primarily of $23.5 million of interest expense, which increased $9.0 million versus the first quarter of 2022 due primarily to higher variable interest rates, and $9.6 million of foreign currency revaluation and realized foreign currency gains and losses.

Diluted weighted average shares outstanding in the quarter were down 9.3% due primarily to share repurchases over the past twelve months.

Cash Flow Generation and Capital Distribution

Cash generated from operations totaled $254.5 million in the first quarter, compared to $13.9 million of cash used by operations in the first quarter of 2022. The $268.5 million improvement was primarily due to a $234.9 million sequential decrease in net operating working capital in the first quarter of 2023, compared to a $288.5 million sequential increase in the first quarter of 2022. The decrease in net operating working capital in the first quarter of 2023 resulted primarily from a $376.1 million sequential decrease in accounts receivable and contract assets, partially offset by a $141.2 million sequential decrease in total accounts payable and accrued transportation expense.

In the first quarter of 2023, cash returned to shareholders totaled $124.7 million, with $73.4 million in cash dividends and $51.2 million in repurchases of common stock.

Capital expenditures totaled $27.0 million in the quarter. Capital expenditures for 2023 are expected to be $90 million to $100 million.

Outlook

"As inflationary pressures continue to weigh on global economic growth and freight markets present cyclical challenges, the competitive landscape has changed," Anderson stated. "With lower available demand, the competition for volume is intense, and shippers are looking for stable and innovative logistics partners. We've shown the strength of our model through cycles, our balance sheet continues to be strong, and we plan to continue investing in initiatives that we expect to provide innovative solutions and generate profitable growth. At the same time, we’re continuing to evolve our organization to bring greater focus to our highest strategic priorities, including keeping the needs of our customers and carriers at the center of what we do while lowering our overall cost structure. We expect this initiative will continue to drive improvements in our customer and carrier experience and amplify the expertise of our people, all of which we expect to drive market share gains and growth, and lead to improved returns for our shareholders."

"We have some of the best people in the logistics industry, and they're dedicated to solving challenges for our customers. As a result of the exceptional service that our people provided to customers during the period of extended market disruption, our customer experience scores are very high, and we’re having more strategic customer discussions about our ability to provide an integrated service solution. So while the near-term freight environment presents some challenges, our differentiated value proposition and the strength of our people, processes and technology provide many opportunities," Anderson concluded.

About C.H. Robinson

C.H. Robinson solves logistics problems for companies across the globe and across industries, from the simple to the most complex. With $30 billion in freight under management and 20 million shipments annually, we are one of the world’s largest logistics platforms. Our global suite of services accelerates trade to seamlessly deliver the products and goods that drive the world’s economy. With the combination of our multimodal transportation management system and expertise, we use our information advantage to deliver smarter solutions for our 100,000 customers and 96,000 contract carriers. Our technology is built by and for supply chain experts to bring faster, more meaningful improvements to our customers’ businesses. As a responsible global citizen, we are also proud to contribute millions of dollars to support causes that matter to our company, our Foundation and our employees. For more information, visit us at www.chrobinson.com (Nasdaq: CHRW).

Except for the historical information contained herein, the matters set forth in this release are forward-looking statements that represent our expectations, beliefs, intentions or strategies concerning future events. These forward-looking statements are subject to certain risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from our historical experience or our present expectations, including, but not limited to, factors such as changes in economic conditions, including uncertain consumer demand; changes in market demand and pressures on the pricing for our services; fuel price increases or decreases, or fuel shortages; competition and growth rates within the global logistics industry; freight levels and increasing costs and availability of truck capacity or alternative means of transporting freight; risks associated with significant disruptions in the transportation industry; changes in relationships with existing contracted truck, rail, ocean, and air carriers; changes in our customer base due to possible consolidation among our customers; risks with reliance on technology to operate our business; cyber-security related risks; risks associated with operations outside of the United States; our ability to successfully integrate the operations of acquired companies with our historic operations; risks related to our search for a permanent CEO and retention of key management personnel; climate change related risks; risks associated with our indebtedness, interest rates related risks; risks associated with litigation, including contingent auto liability and insurance coverage; risks associated with the potential impact of changes in government regulations; risks associated with the changes to income tax regulations; risks associated with the produce industry, including food safety and contamination issues; the impact of war on the economy; changes to our capital structure; changes due to catastrophic events including pandemics such as COVID-19; and other risks and uncertainties detailed in our Annual and Quarterly Reports.

Any forward-looking statement speaks only as of the date on which such statement is made, and we undertake no obligation to update such statement to reflect events or circumstances arising after such date. All remarks made during our financial results conference call will be current at the time of the call, and we undertake no obligation to update the replay.

Conference Call Information:

C.H. Robinson Worldwide First Quarter 2023 Earnings Conference Call

Wednesday, April 26, 2023; 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time

Presentation slides and a simultaneous live audio webcast of the conference call may be accessed through the Investor Relations link on C.H. Robinson’s website at www.chrobinson.com.

To participate in the conference call by telephone, please call ten minutes early by dialing: 877-269-7756

International callers dial +1-201-689-7817

CHRW-IR

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