Matson Q1 Results Show Improved Performance

Matson, Inc. today reported net income of $25 million, or $0.57 per diluted share for the quarter ended March 31, 2015. Net income for the quarter ended March 31, 2014 was $3.4 million, or $0.08 per diluted share. Consolidated revenue for the first quarter 2015 was $398.2 million compared with $392.5 million reported for the first quarter 2014.

 

Matt Cox, Matson's president and chief executive officer, commented, "As expected, Matson carried strong momentum into the first quarter of 2015. Performance improved across all lines of business, led by continued levels of exceptional demand for our expedited China service, modest yield improvements in Hawaii and Guam, and further improvements in Logistics operations and SSAT. In addition, lower bunker fuel prices positively impacted our results, primarily due to timing differences as fuel surcharge collections outpaced fuel expenditures. Our businesses are performing well and continue to generate substantial cash flow that, combined with our strong balance sheet, provides ample capacity to close our pending Alaska acquisition, fund new vessel construction commitments, and comfortably sustain our dividend."

 

Cox added, "We continue to be encouraged by our prospects in Hawaii, and in a strengthening broader economy that will produce volume growth in our Jones Act markets and in Logistics. However, with new vessel capacity expected to enter our core Hawaii market in the second quarter of this year, we expect our Hawaii container volume for the year to be relatively flat with 2014. Our premium expedited service offering from China is expected to remain in high demand and we anticipate modest profit at SSAT. Overall, we remain well positioned to deliver 2015 operating results moderately higher than those we achieved in 2014."

 

The company expects to close the pending transaction with Horizon Lines, Inc. by the end of the second quarter. However, the closing remains dependent upon a number of conditions, including the closing of Pasha's acquisition of Horizon's Hawaii business. The company's 2015 outlook continues to exclude any future effects of the pending transaction. Assuming the pending transaction closes by the end of the second quarter, the company expects to update its outlook for the effects of the acquisition during its second quarter 2015 earnings conference call, currently scheduled for early August 2015.

 

Ocean Transportation: The company believes that the Hawaii economy is in a multi-year recovery and is anticipating modest market growth in the trade in 2015. However, containership capacity is projected to increase in the second quarter of 2015 as a competitor has announced plans to launch an additional new vessel into the trade in May. As a result, the company expects its 2015 Hawaii container volume to approximate the 2014 level.

 

During the first quarter 2015, Matson continued to realize significantly higher freight rates in its China trade, reflecting the high demand for its expedited transpacific service, which was amplified by cargo availability delays experienced by other ocean carriers associated with port congestion on the U.S. West Coast. International vessel overcapacity is expected to continue in 2015 with vessel deliveries outpacing demand growth. The company expects strong demand for its expedited service to continue in 2015 resulting in high vessel utilization levels and premium freight rates. In 2015, the company expects market growth in Guam to result in flat to modestly higher container volume compared to 2014, assuming no new competitors enter the market.

 

Notwithstanding the productivity challenges resulting from the port congestion on the U.S. West Coast, the company expects modest profit at the company's terminal joint venture, SSAT, for 2015. 

 

For the full year 2015, Ocean Transportation operating income is expected to be moderately higher than 2014. 

 

The company's outlook for 2015 also excludes any future effects from the September 2013 molasses incident. 

 

Logistics: The company expects full year 2015 operating income to exceed the 2014 level of $8.9 million, driven by volume growth, expense control and improvements in warehouse operations.

 

Interest Expense: The company expects its interest expense in 2015 to decrease slightly from the 2014 amount of $17.3 million. 

 

Income Tax Expense: The company expects its 2015 effective tax rate to be approximately 38.5 percent.

 

Other: The company expects maintenance capital expenditures for 2015 to be approximately $40.0 million and, in addition, has scheduled contract payments of $33.4 million in 2015 relating to its two vessels under construction. The company also expects to make additional contributions to its CCF in 2015, which are expected to exceed the $65.5 million net contribution made in 2014.

 

Ocean transportation revenue increased $10.9 million, or 3.7 percent, during the first quarter 2015 compared with the first quarter 2014. This increase was due primarily to higher freight rates in the company's expedited China service and container yield improvements in Hawaii and Guam, partially offset by lower fuel surcharge revenue and lower automobile volume. 

 

On a year over year basis, Hawaii container volume was essentially flat as modest westbound market growth was largely offset by lower eastbound backhaul freight; China volume increased 5.1 percent, reflecting continued strong demand for the company's premium expedited service; and Guam volume decreased 5.0 percent due to the timing of select shipments. Hawaii automobile volume decreased 31.5 percent primarily due to certain customer losses.

 

Ocean transportation operating income increased $34.5 million during the first quarter 2015 compared with the first quarter 2014. The increase was primarily due to the timing of fuel surcharge collections and higher freight rates in China, and container yield improvements in Hawaii and Guam, partially offset by higher general and administrative expenses and higher outside transportation and terminal handling expenses. In addition, the company incurred $0.2 million in legal and other expenses related to the molasses released into Honolulu Harbor in September 2013. 

 

The company's SSAT terminal joint venture investment contributed $3.4 million during the first quarter 2015, compared to a $0.2 million contribution in the first quarter 2014. The increase was partially attributable to increased lift volume.

 

Logistics revenue decreased $5.2 million, or 5.3 percent, during the first quarter 2015 compared with the first quarter 2014. This decrease was primarily the result of lower international intermodal volume related to port congestion on the U.S. West Coast and lower fuel surcharge revenue, partially offset by changes in customer and business mix. 

 

Logistics operating income increased by $0.5 million, during the first quarter 2015 compared with the first quarter 2014, primarily due to warehouse operating improvements and yield improvements in highway and intermodal services.

 

Matson generated EBITDA of $61.5 million during the first quarter 2015 compared to $27.3 million in the first quarter 2014, an increase of $34.2 million, due primarily to the increase in ocean transportation operating income.

 

Maintenance capital expenditures for the first quarter 2015 totaled $3.3 million compared with $4.9 million in the first quarter 2014. On April 23, 2015, Matson's Board of Directors declared a cash dividend of $0.17 per share payable on June 4, 2015 to shareholders of record on May 7, 2015. 

 

Total debt as of March 31, 2015 was $371.2 million, of which $349.6 million was long-term debt. During the first quarter 2015, cash and cash equivalents increased by $32.4 million to $325.8 million. The ratio of Net Debt to last twelve month EBITDA was 0.1 as of March 31, 2015.