Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis
Item 7.
Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations
Forward-Looking Statements
The following is a “safe harbor” statement under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Statements contained in this document that are not based on historical facts are “forward-looking statements.” This Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations and other sections of this Form 10-K
contain forward-looking statements, such as statements which relate to Landstar’s business objectives, plans, strategies and expectations. Terms such as “anticipates,” “believes,” “estimates,” “intention,” “expects,” “plans,” “predicts,” “may,” “should,” “could,” “will,” the negative thereof and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. Such statements are by nature subject to uncertainties and risks, including but not limited to: the impact of the coronavirus (COVID-19)
pandemic; an increase in the frequency or severity of accidents or other claims; unfavorable development of existing accident claims; dependence on third party insurance companies; dependence on independent commission sales agents; dependence on third party capacity providers; decreased demand for transportation services; U.S. foreign trade relationships; substantial industry competition; disruptions or failures in the Company’s computer systems; cyber and other information security incidents; dependence on key vendors; changes in fuel taxes; status of independent contractors; regulatory and legislative changes; regulations focused on diesel emissions and other air quality matters; catastrophic loss of a Company facility; intellectual property; unclaimed property; and other operational, financial or legal risks or uncertainties detailed in this and Landstar’s other SEC filings from time to time and described in Item 1A in this Form 10-K
under the heading “Risk Factors.” These risks and uncertainties could cause actual results or events to differ materially from historical results or those anticipated. Investors should not place undue reliance on such forward-looking statements and the Company undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements.
Introduction
Landstar System, Inc. and its subsidiary, Landstar System Holdings, Inc. (collectively referred to herein with their subsidiaries and other affiliated companies as “Landstar” or the “Company”), is a worldwide asset-light provider of integrated transportation management solutions. The Company offers services to its customers across multiple transportation modes, with the ability to arrange for individual shipments of freight to comprehensive third party logistics solutions to meet all of a customer’s transportation needs. Landstar provides services principally throughout the United States and to a lesser extent in Canada and Mexico, and between the United States and Canada, Mexico and other countries around the world. The Company’s services emphasize safety, information coordination and customer service and are delivered through a network of over 1,100 independent commission sales agents and approximately 79,000 third party capacity providers, primarily truck capacity providers, linked together by a series of digital technologies which are provided and coordinated by the Company. The nature of the Company’s business is such that a significant portion of its operating costs varies directly with revenue.
Landstar markets its integrated transportation management solutions primarily through independent commission sales agents and exclusively utilizes third party capacity providers to transport customers’ freight. Landstar’s independent commission sales agents enter into contractual arrangements with the Company and are responsible for locating freight, making that freight available to Landstar’s capacity providers and coordinating the transportation of the freight with customers and capacity providers. The Company’s third party capacity providers consist of independent contractors who provide truck capacity to the Company under exclusive lease arrangements (the “BCO Independent Contractors”), unrelated trucking companies who provide truck capacity to the Company under non-exclusive
contractual arrangements (the “Truck Brokerage Carriers”), air cargo carriers, ocean cargo carriers and railroads. Through this network of agents and capacity providers linked together by Landstar’s series of digital technologies, Landstar operates an integrated transportation management solutions business primarily throughout North America with revenue of $4.1 billion during the most recently completed fiscal year. The Company reports the results of two operating segments: the transportation logistics segment and the insurance segment.
The transportation logistics segment provides a wide range of integrated transportation management solutions. Transportation services are provided by Landstar’s “Operating Subsidiaries”: Landstar Ranger, Inc., Landstar Inway, Inc., Landstar Ligon, Inc., Landstar Gemini, Inc., Landstar Transportation Logistics, Inc., Landstar Global Logistics, Inc., Landstar Express America, Inc., Landstar Canada, Inc., and as further described below, Landstar Metro, Landstar Servicios and Landstar Blue. Transportation services offered by the Company include truckload and less-than-truckload transportation, rail intermodal, air cargo, ocean cargo, expedited
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ground and air delivery of time-critical freight, heavy-haul/specialized, U.S.-Canada and U.S.-Mexico cross-border, intra-Mexico, intra-Canada, project cargo and customs brokerage. Examples of the industries serviced by the transportation logistics segment include automotive parts and assemblies, consumer durables, building products, metals, chemicals, foodstuffs, heavy machinery, retail, electronics and military equipment. In addition, the transportation logistics segment provides transportation services to other transportation companies, including third party logistics and less-than-truckload service providers. Each of the independent commission sales agents has the opportunity to market all of the services provided by the transportation logistics segment. Billings for freight transportation services are typically charged to customers on a per shipment basis for the physical transportation of freight and are referred to as transportation revenue. During fiscal year 2020, revenue generated by BCO Independent Contractors, Truck Brokerage Carriers and railroads represented approximately 45%, 47% and 3%, respectively, of the Company’s consolidated revenue. Collectively, revenue generated by air and ocean cargo carriers represented approximately 3% of the Company’s consolidated revenue during fiscal year 2020.
During 2017, the Company incorporated Landstar Metro, S.A.P.I. de C.V., a transportation logistics company (“Landstar Metro”), and Landstar Metro Servicios S.A.P.I. de C.V., a services company (“Landstar Servicios”), each based in Mexico City, Mexico. Landstar Metro provides freight and logistics services within the country of Mexico and in conjunction with Landstar’s U.S./Mexico cross-border services. Landstar Servicios provides various administrative, financial, operational, safety and compliance services to Landstar Metro. The results of operations from Landstar Metro and Landstar Servicios are presented as part of the Company’s transportation logistics segment. On September 20, 2017, Landstar Metro acquired substantially all of the assets of the asset-light transportation logistics business of a Mexican transportation logistics company. In connection with the acquisition, individuals affiliated with the seller subscribed for equity interests in Landstar Metro and Landstar Servicios, and as of December 29, 2018, owned in the aggregate approximately 21% of the equity interests of each of them. On January 29, 2019, Landstar acquired all of the remaining equity interests in Landstar Metro and Landstar Servicios held by their former minority equityholders. Accordingly, as of such date, Landstar Metro and Landstar Servicios each became wholly owned subsidiaries of the Company. Revenue from Landstar Metro represented less than 1% of the Company’s transportation logistics segment revenue during fiscal year 2020.
On May 6, 2020, the Company formed a new subsidiary that was subsequently renamed Landstar Blue, LLC (“Landstar Blue”). Landstar Blue arranges truckload brokerage services while helping the Company to develop and test digital technologies and processes for the benefit of all Landstar independent commission sales agents. On June 15, 2020, Landstar Blue completed the acquisition of an independent agent of the Company whose business focused on truckload brokerage services. The results of operations from Landstar Blue are presented as part of the Company’s transportations logistics segment. Revenue from Landstar Blue represented less than 1% of the Company’s transportation logistics segment revenue during fiscal year 2020.
The insurance segment is comprised of Signature Insurance Company (“Signature”), a wholly owned offshore insurance subsidiary, and Risk Management Claim Services, Inc. The insurance segment provides risk and claims management services to certain of Landstar’s Operating Subsidiaries. In addition, it reinsures certain risks of the Company’s BCO Independent Contractors and provides certain property and casualty insurance directly to certain of Landstar’s Operating Subsidiaries. Revenue at the insurance segment represents reinsurance premiums from third party insurance companies that provide insurance programs to BCO Independent Contractors where all or a portion of the risk is ultimately borne by Signature. Revenue at the insurance segment represented approximately 1% of the Company’s consolidated revenue for fiscal year 2020.
Changes in Financial Condition and Results of Operations
Management believes the Company’s success principally depends on its ability to generate freight through its network of independent commission sales agents and to safely and efficiently deliver that freight utilizing third party capacity providers. Management believes the most significant factors to the Company’s success include increasing revenue, sourcing capacity and controlling costs, including insurance and claims.
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While customer demand, which is subject to overall economic conditions, ultimately drives increases or decreases in revenue, the Company primarily relies on its independent commission sales agents to establish customer relationships and generate revenue opportunities. Management’s emphasis with respect to revenue growth is on revenue generated by independent commission sales agents who on an annual basis generate $1 million or more of Landstar revenue. Management believes future revenue growth is primarily dependent on its ability to increase both the revenue generated by Million Dollar Agents and the number of Million Dollar Agents through a combination of recruiting new agents, increasing the revenue opportunities generated by existing independent commission sales agents and providing its independent commission sales agents with digital technologies they may use to grow revenue and increase efficiencies at their businesses. The following table shows the number of Million Dollar Agents, the average revenue generated by these agents and the percent of consolidated revenue generated by these agents during the past three fiscal years:
Fiscal Years
2020
2019
2018
Number of Million Dollar Agents
508
555
608
Average revenue generated per Million Dollar Agent
$
7,489,000
$
6,880,000
$
7,150,000
Percent of consolidated revenue generated by Million Dollar Agents
92
%
93
%
94
%
The change in the number of Million Dollar Agents on a year-over-year basis is influenced by many factors and is not solely the result of terminations of contractual relationships between agents and the Company, whether such terminations are initiated by the agent or the Company. Such other factors include consolidations among agencies or transactions in connection with ownership changes often due to retirement planning, estate planning or similar transitional issues. The change in the number of Million Dollar Agents on a year-over-year basis may also be affected by agents that remain with the Company yet experienced lower year-over-year revenue that resulted in such agent moving below the Million Dollar Agent category. Revenue from accounts formerly handled by terminated Million Dollar Agents is often retained by the Company as the customer may choose to transfer its account to an existing Landstar agent.
Historically, the Company has experienced very few terminations of its Million Dollar Agents, whether such terminations are initiated by the agent or the Company. Annual terminations of Million Dollar Agents have typically been less than 3% of the total number of Million Dollar Agents. In fiscal year 2020, the change in the number of Million Dollar Agents was entirely attributable to agents generating under $5 million of Landstar revenue per year, as the Company experienced no change in fiscal year 2020 compared to fiscal year 2019 in the number of independent sales agents generating $5 million or more of Landstar revenue. During fiscal year 2020, the COVID-19
pandemic impacted the number of agents generating under $5 million of Landstar revenue both with respect to existing agents, some of whom had difficulty operating their small businesses during the pandemic due to personal issues, staffing issues and/or customer issues, and with respect to the Company’s ability to recruit new independent sales agents to the Landstar network, given the uncertain operating environment and challenges we experienced in building personal relationships with prospective agent candidates during the pandemic.
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Management monitors business activity by tracking the number of loads (volume) and revenue per load by mode of transportation. Revenue per load can be influenced by many factors other than a change in price. Those factors include the average length of haul, freight type, special handling and equipment requirements, fuel costs and delivery time requirements. For shipments involving two or more modes of transportation, revenue is generally classified by the mode of transportation having the highest cost for the load. The following table summarizes this information by trailer type for truck transportation and by mode for all others for the past three fiscal years:
Fiscal Years
2020
2019
2018
Revenue generated through (in thousands)
:
Truck transportation
Truckload:
Van equipment
$
2,515,940
$
2,371,188
$
2,791,494
Unsided/platform equipment
1,202,295
1,295,817
1,386,387
Less-than-truckload
97,546
98,324
102,531
Total truck transportation
3,815,781
3,765,329
4,280,412
Rail intermodal
114,313
118,305
128,976
Ocean and air cargo carriers
132,180
121,485
134,577
Other (1)
70,707
79,458
71,179
$
4,132,981
$
4,084,577
$
4,615,144
Revenue on loads hauled via BCO Independent Contractors included in total truck transportation
$
1,866,526
$
1,831,752
$
2,001,665
Number of loads
:
Truck transportation
Truckload:
Van equipment
1,318,768
1,337,089
1,398,388
Unsided/platform equipment
487,348
513,579
516,613
Less-than-truckload
163,024
155,592
145,269
Total truck transportation
1,969,140
2,006,260
2,060,270
Rail intermodal
46,280
47,590
53,030
Ocean and air cargo carriers
31,900
30,110
28,970
2,047,320
2,083,960
2,142,270
Loads hauled via BCO Independent Contractors included in total truck transportation
945,210
954,990
949,330
Revenue per load
:
Truck transportation
Truckload:
Van equipment
$
1,908
$
1,773
$
1,996
Unsided/platform equipment
2,467
2,523
2,684
Less-than-truckload
598
632
706
Total truck transportation
1,938
1,877
2,078
Rail intermodal
2,470
2,486
2,432
Ocean and air cargo carriers
4,144
4,035
4,645
Revenue per load on loads hauled via BCO Independent Contractors
$
1,975
$
1,918
$
2,109
Revenue by capacity type (as a % of total revenue)
:
Truck capacity providers:
BCO Independent Contractors
45
%
45
%
43
%
Truck Brokerage Carriers
47
%
47
%
49
%
Rail intermodal
3
%
3
%
3
%
Ocean and air cargo carriers
3
%
3
%
3
%
Other
2
%
2
%
2
%
(1)
Includes primarily reinsurance premium revenue generated by the insurance segment and intra-Mexico transportation services revenue generated by Landstar Metro.
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Also critical to the Company’s success is its ability to secure capacity, particularly truck capacity, at rates that allow the Company to profitably transport customers’ freight. The following table summarizes the number of available truck capacity providers as of the end of the three most recent fiscal years:
Dec. 26,
2020
Dec. 28,
2019
Dec. 29,
2018
BCO Independent Contractors
10,242
9,554
9,884
Truck Brokerage Carriers:
Approved and active (1)
46,053
39,497
41,069
Other approved
22,972
16,820
17,985
69,025
56,317
59,054
Total available truck capacity providers
79,267
65,871
68,938
Trucks provided by BCO Independent Contractors
10,991
10,243
10,599
(1)
Active refers to Truck Brokerage Carriers who moved at least one load in the 180 days immediately preceding the fiscal year end.
The Company incurs costs that are directly related to the transportation of freight that include purchased transportation and commissions to agents. The Company incurs indirect costs associated with the transportation of freight that include other operating costs and insurance and claims. In addition, the Company incurs selling, general and administrative costs essential to administering its business operations. Management continually monitors all components of the costs incurred by the Company and establishes annual cost budgets which, in general, are used to benchmark costs incurred on a monthly basis.
Purchased transportation represents the amount a BCO Independent Contractor or other third party capacity provider is paid to haul freight. The amount of purchased transportation paid to a BCO Independent Contractor is primarily based on a contractually agreed-upon percentage of revenue generated by loads hauled by the BCO Independent Contractor. Purchased transportation paid to a Truck Brokerage Carrier is based on either a negotiated rate for each load hauled or, to a lesser extent, a contractually agreed-upon fixed rate per load. Purchased transportation paid to railroads is based on either a negotiated rate for each load hauled or a contractually agreed-upon fixed rate per load. Purchased transportation paid to air cargo carriers is generally based on a negotiated rate for each load hauled and purchased transportation paid to ocean cargo carriers is generally based on contractually agreed-upon fixed rates per load. Purchased transportation as a percentage of revenue for truck brokerage, rail intermodal and ocean cargo services is normally higher than that of BCO Independent Contractor and air cargo services. Purchased transportation is the largest component of costs and expenses and, on a consolidated basis, increases or decreases as a percentage of consolidated revenue in proportion to changes in the percentage of consolidated revenue generated through BCO Independent Contractors and other third party capacity providers and external revenue from the insurance segment, consisting of reinsurance premiums. Purchased transportation as a percent of revenue also increases or decreases in relation to the availability of truck brokerage capacity and with changes in the price of fuel on revenue generated from shipments hauled by Truck Brokerage Carriers. The Company passes 100% of fuel surcharges billed to customers for freight hauled by BCO Independent Contractors to its BCO Independent Contractors. These fuel surcharges are excluded from revenue and the cost of purchased transportation. Purchased transportation costs are recognized over the freight transit period as the performance obligation to the customer is completed.
Commissions to agents are based on contractually agreed-upon percentages of revenue or net revenue, defined as revenue less the cost of purchased transportation, or net revenue less a contractually agreed upon percentage of revenue retained by Landstar. Commissions to agents as a percentage of consolidated revenue will vary directly with fluctuations in the percentage of consolidated revenue generated by the various modes of transportation and reinsurance premiums and with changes in net revenue margin, defined as net revenue divided by revenue, on services provided by Truck Brokerage Carriers, railroads, air cargo carriers and ocean cargo carriers. Commissions to agents are recognized over the freight transit period as the performance obligation to the customer is completed.
The Company defines gross profit as revenue less the cost of purchased transportation and commissions to agents. Gross profit divided by revenue is referred to as gross profit margin. The Company’s operating margin is defined as operating income divided by gross profit.
In general, gross profit margin on revenue generated by BCO Independent Contractors represents a fixed percentage of revenue due to the nature of the contracts that pay a fixed percentage of revenue to both the BCO Independent Contractors and independent commission sales agents. For revenue generated by Truck Brokerage Carriers, gross profit margin is either fixed or variable as a percent of revenue, depending on the contract with each individual independent commission sales agent. Under certain contracts with independent commission sales agents, the Company retains a fixed percentage of revenue and the agent retains the amount remaining less the cost of purchased transportation (the “retention contracts”). Gross profit margin on revenue generated from shipments hauled
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by railroads, air cargo carriers, ocean cargo carriers and Truck Brokerage Carriers, other than those under retention contracts, is variable in nature as the Company’s contracts with independent commission sales agents provide commissions to agents at a contractually agreed upon percentage of net revenue for these types of shipments. Approximately 50% of the Company’s consolidated revenue in fiscal year 2020 was generated under contracts that have a fixed gross profit margin while 50% was under contracts that have a variable gross profit margin.
Maintenance costs for Company-provided trailing equipment and BCO Independent Contractor recruiting and qualification costs are the largest components of other operating costs. Also included in other operating costs are trailer rental costs, the provision for uncollectible advances and other receivables due from BCO Independent Contractors and independent commission sales agents and gains/losses, if any, on sales of Company-owned trailing equipment.
With respect to insurance and claims cost, potential liability associated with accidents in the trucking industry is severe and occurrences are unpredictable.
Effective May 1, 2019, the Company entered into a new three year commercial auto liability insurance arrangement for losses incurred between $5,000,000 and $10,000,000 (the “Initial Excess Policy”) with a third party insurance company. For commercial trucking claims incurred on or after May 1, 2019 through April 30, 2022, the Initial Excess Policy provides for a limit for a single loss of $5,000,000, with an aggregate limit of $15,000,000 for each policy year, an aggregate limit of $20,000,000 for the thirty-six
month term ended April 30, 2022, and options to increase such aggregate limits for pre-established
amounts of additional premium. If aggregate losses under the Initial Excess Policy exceed either the annual aggregate limit or the aggregate limit for the three year period ending April 30, 2022, and the Company did not elect to increase such aggregate limits for a pre-established
amount of additional premium, Landstar would retain liability of up to $10,000,000 per occurrence, inclusive of its $5,000,000 self-insured retention for commercial trucking claims during the remainder of the applicable policy year(s). Moreover, as a result of the Company’s aggregate loss experience since it entered into the Initial Excess Policy, the Initial Excess Policy required the Company to pay additional premium up to a pre-established
maximum amount of $3,500,000, which was provided for in insurance and claims costs for the Company’s 2020 fiscal first quarter.
The Company also maintains third party insurance arrangements providing excess coverage for commercial trucking liabilities in excess of $10,000,000. These third party arrangements provide coverage on a per occurrence or aggregated basis. Due to the increasing cost of commercial auto liability claims throughout the United States in recent years, the availability of such excess coverage has significantly decreased and the pricing associated with such excess coverage, to the extent available, has significantly increased. Effective May 1, 2020 with respect to the annual policy year ending April 30, 2021, the Company experienced an increase of approximately $14 million, or over 170%, in the premiums charged by third party insurance companies to the Company for excess coverage for commercial trucking liabilities in excess of $10,000,000. No assurances can be given that the availability of excess coverage for commercial trucking claims will not continue to deteriorate, that the pricing associated with such excess coverage, to the extent available, will not continue to increase, nor that insurance coverage from third party insurers for excess coverage of commercial trucking claims will even be available on commercially reasonable terms at certain levels.
Further, the Company retains liability of up to $1,000,000 for each general liability claim, up to $250,000 for each workers’ compensation claim and up to $250,000 for each cargo claim. In addition, under reinsurance arrangements by Signature of certain risks of the Company’s BCO Independent Contractors, the Company retains liability of up to $500,000, $1,000,000 or $2,000,000 with respect to certain occupational accident claims and up to $750,000 with respect to certain workers’ compensation claims. The Company’s exposure to liability associated with accidents incurred by Truck Brokerage Carriers, railroads and air and ocean cargo carriers who transport freight on behalf of the Company is reduced by various factors including the extent to which such carriers maintain their own insurance coverage. A material increase in the frequency or severity of accidents, cargo claims or workers’ compensation claims or the material unfavorable development of existing claims could have a material adverse effect on Landstar’s cost of insurance and claims and its results of operations.
During the 2020 fiscal year, employee compensation and benefits accounted for approximately sixty-six
percent of the Company’s selling, general and administrative costs.
Depreciation and amortization primarily relate to depreciation of trailing equipment and information technology hardware and software.
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The following table sets forth the percentage relationship of purchased transportation and commissions to agents, both being direct costs, to revenue and indirect costs as a percentage of gross profit for the periods indicated:
Fiscal Years
2020
2019
2018
Revenue
100.0
%
100.0
%
100.0
%
Purchased transportation
77.3
76.6
77.4
Commissions to agents
8.2
8.4
8.2
Gross profit margin
14.5
%
15.1
%
14.5
%
Gross profit
100.0
%
100.0
%
100.0
%
Investment income
0.6
0.8
0.6
Indirect costs and expenses:
Other operating costs, net of gains on asset sales/dispositions
5.1
6.1
4.8
Insurance and claims
14.6
13.1
11.3
Selling, general and administrative
28.0
25.9
28.2
Depreciation and amortization
7.7
7.2
6.5
Impairment of intangible and other assets
0.4
—
—
Commission program termination costs
2.6
—
—
Total costs and expenses
58.4
52.2
50.9
Operating margin
42.2
%
48.6
%
49.7
%
Management believes that a discussion of indirect costs as a percentage of gross profit is useful and meaningful to investors for the following principal reasons: (1) disclosure of these relative measures (i.e., each indirect operating cost line item as a percentage of gross profit) allows investors to better understand the underlying trends in the Company’s results of operations; (2) due to the generally fixed nature of these indirect costs (other than insurance and claims costs), these relative measures are meaningful to investors’ evaluations of the Company’s management of its indirect costs attributable to operations; (3) management considers this financial information in its decision-making, such as budgeting for infrastructure, trailing equipment and selling, general and administrative costs; and (4) this information facilitates comparisons by investors of the Company’s results to the results of other non-asset
or asset-light companies in the transportation and logistics services industry who report “net revenue” in Management’s Discussion and Analysis, which represents revenue less the cost of purchased transportation. The difference between the Company’s use of the term “gross profit” and the use of the term “net revenue” by other companies in the transportation and logistics services industry is due to the direct cost of commissions to agents under the Landstar business model, whereas other companies in this industry generally have no commissions to agents.
Also, as previously mentioned, the Company reports two operating segments: the transportation logistics segment and the insurance segment. External revenue at the insurance segment, representing reinsurance premiums, has historically been relatively consistent on an annual basis at 2% or less of consolidated revenue and generally corresponds directly with the number of trucks provided by BCO Independent Contractors. The discussion of indirect cost line items in Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations considers the Company’s costs on a consolidated basis rather than on a segment basis. Management believes this presentation format is the most appropriate to assist users of the financial statements in understanding the Company’s business for the following reasons: (1) the insurance segment has no other operating costs; (2) discussion of insurance and claims at either segment without reference to the other may create confusion amongst investors and potential investors due to intercompany arrangements and specific deductible programs that affect comparability of financial results by segment between various fiscal periods but that have no effect on the Company from a consolidated reporting perspective; (3) selling, general and administrative costs of the insurance segment comprise less than 10% of consolidated selling, general and administrative costs and have historically been relatively consistent on a year-over-year basis; and (4) the insurance segment has no depreciation and amortization.
Fiscal Year Ended December 26, 2020 Compared to Fiscal Year Ended December 28, 2019
Revenue for fiscal year 2020 was $4,132,981,000, an increase of $48,404,000, or 1%, compared to fiscal year 2019. Transportation revenue increased $48,183,000, or 1%. The increase in transportation revenue was attributable to an increased revenue per load of approximately 3%, partially offset by a decreased number of loads hauled of approximately 2% in fiscal year 2020 compared to fiscal year 2019. Reinsurance premiums were $56,462,000 and $56,241,000 for fiscal years 2020 and 2019, respectively.
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Truck transportation revenue generated by BCO Independent Contractors and Truck Brokerage Carriers (together, the “third party truck capacity providers”) for fiscal year 2020 was $3,815,781,000, representing 92% of total revenue, an increase of $50,452,000, or 1%, compared to fiscal year 2019. Revenue per load on loads hauled by third party truck capacity providers increased approximately 3% in fiscal year 2020 compared to fiscal year 2019, while the number of loads hauled by third party truck capacity providers decreased approximately 2% in fiscal year 2020 compared to fiscal year 2019.
The increase in revenue per load on loads hauled via truck was entirely due to a comparatively tighter market for van truckload capacity during the second half of 2020. The decrease in the number of loads hauled via truck compared to fiscal year 2019 was due to the unfavorable impact of the COVID-19
pandemic on demand for the Company’s truck transportation services at the onset of the pandemic and the relative softness in the U.S. manufacturing sector in the 2020 period compared to the 2019 period, mostly offset by consumer driven demand for van services that began mid-summer
2020. The increasingly tight market for van truckload capacity during the 2020 second half was attributable to strong demand for e-commerce,
foodstuffs, building products and other consumer durables.
During the 2020 fiscal year compared to the 2019 fiscal year, revenue per load on loads hauled via van equipment increased 8%, reflecting increased consumer demand, while revenue per load on loads hauled via unsided/platform equipment decreased 2%, reflecting softness in the U.S. manufacturing sector. Also adversely impacting revenue per load on loads hauled via unsided/platform equipment was a decrease in revenue per load on heavy specialized loadings of 10% in the 2020 fiscal year compared to the 2019 fiscal year. Additionally, revenue per load on less-than-truckload loadings decreased 5% from fiscal year 2019 to fiscal year 2020.
During fiscal year 2020 as compared to fiscal year 2019, loads hauled via van equipment decreased 1% and loads hauled via unsided/platform equipment decreased 5%, for similar reasons as described above with respect to the overall decrease in the number of loads hauled via truck in fiscal year 2020 compared to fiscal year 2019. Less-than-truckload volumes increased 5% in fiscal year 2020 compared to fiscal year 2019.
Fuel surcharges billed to customers on revenue generated by BCO Independent Contractors are excluded from revenue. Fuel surcharges on Truck Brokerage Carrier revenue identified separately in billings to customers and included as a component of Truck Brokerage Carrier revenue were $60,118,000 and $79,486,000 in fiscal years 2020 and 2019, respectively. It should be noted that billings to many customers of the Company’s truck brokerage services include a single all-in
rate that does not separately identify fuel surcharges on loads hauled via Truck Brokerage Carriers. Accordingly, the overall impact of changes in fuel prices on revenue and revenue per load on loads hauled via truck is likely to be greater than that indicated.
Transportation revenue generated by rail intermodal, air cargo and ocean cargo carriers (collectively, the “multimode capacity providers”) for fiscal year 2020 was $246,493,000, or 6% of total revenue, an increase of $6,703,000, or 3%, compared to fiscal year 2019. Revenue per load on revenue generated by multimode capacity providers increased approximately 2% in the 2020 fiscal year compared to the 2019 fiscal year, and the number of loads hauled by multimode capacity providers increased approximately 1% over the same period. The increase in revenue per load of 2% on loads hauled by multimode capacity providers was primarily attributable to increased revenue per load on ocean shipments. Revenue per load on revenue generated by multimode capacity providers is influenced by many factors, including revenue mix among the various modes of transportation used, length of haul, complexity of freight, density of freight lanes, fuel costs and availability of capacity. The increase in the number of loads hauled by multimode capacity providers was primarily due to a 14% increase in air loadings, primarily attributable to increased loadings at two specific agencies.
Purchased transportation was 77.3% and 76.6% of revenue in fiscal years 2020 and 2019, respectively. The increase in purchased transportation as a percentage of revenue was primarily due to an increased rate of purchased transportation paid on Truck Brokerage Carrier revenue and COVID-19
pandemic relief incentive payments made to BCO Independent Contractors. Under the pandemic relief program, for each load delivered by a BCO Independent Contractor with a confirmed delivery date from April 1, 2020 through May 30, 2020, the Company paid each of the BCO Independent Contractor who hauled the load and the independent commission sales agent who dispatched the load an extra $50. Commissions to agents were 8.2% and 8.4% of revenue in fiscal years 2020 and 2019, respectively. Commissions to agents on Truck Brokerage Carrier revenue were lower as compared to the 2019 fiscal year due to the impact of a decreased net revenue margin on revenue generated by Truck Brokerage Carriers, whereas commissions to agents on BCO Independent Contractor revenue were higher during the 2020 fiscal year due to the impact of COVID-19
pandemic relief incentive payments. The Company paid a total of $12,593,000 in COVID-19
pandemic relief incentive payments to BCO Independent Contractors and independent commission sales agents in April and May 2020.
Investment income was $3,399,000 and $5,041,000 in fiscal years 2020 and 2019, respectively. The decrease in investment income was primarily attributable to lower average rates of return on investments during fiscal year 2020, partially offset by a slightly higher average investment balance held by the insurance segment during fiscal year 2020.
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Other operating costs decreased $6,811,000 in fiscal year 2020 compared to fiscal year 2019 and represented 5.1% of gross profit in fiscal year 2020 compared to 6.1% in fiscal year 2019. The decrease in other operating costs compared to the prior year was primarily due to a decreased provision for contractor bad debt, the impact of the cancellation of an event for the Company’s BCO Independent Contractors due to the COVID-19
pandemic, increased gains on the sales of used trailing equipment, decreased trailer rental costs and decreased BCO recruiting and on-boarding
costs due to the impact of the COVID-19
pandemic. The decrease in other operating costs as a percentage of gross profit was caused by the decrease in other operating costs, partially offset by the effect of decreased gross profit.
Insurance and claims increased $7,454,000 in fiscal year 2020 compared to fiscal year 2019 and represented 14.6% of gross profit in fiscal year 2020 compared to 13.1% in fiscal year 2019. The increase in insurance and claims expense compared to the prior year was primarily due to a $5,000,000 charge for the Company’s self-insured retention with respect to a tragic vehicular accident involving a fatality, a $3,500,000 charge relating to additional premium the Company paid under the Initial Excess Policy in connection with certain aggregated losses, increased insurance premiums incurred for commercial trucking liability coverage following the Company’s May 1, 2020 insurance renewal and increased severity of current year claims, partially offset by decreased net unfavorable development of prior years’ claims in the 2020 period. During fiscal years 2020 and 2019, insurance and claims costs included $9,196,000 and $16,679,000 of net unfavorable adjustments to prior years’ claims estimates, respectively. The increase in insurance and claims as a percentage of gross profit was caused by the increase in insurance and claims costs and the effect of decreased gross profit.
Selling, general and administrative costs increased $8,680,000 in fiscal year 2020 compared to fiscal year 2019 and represented 28.0% of gross profit in fiscal year 2020 compared to 25.9% of gross profit in fiscal year 2019. The increase in selling, general and administrative costs compared to prior year was attributable to an increased provision for incentive compensation, increased information technology costs and an increased provision for customer bad debt, partially offset by decreased travel and entertainment costs related to the impact of the COVID-19
pandemic and decreased agent convention costs. Included in selling, general and administrative costs was incentive compensation expense of $7,841,000 and $1,517,000 for the 2020 and 2019 fiscal years, respectively. The increase in selling, general and administrative costs as a percentage of gross profit was due to the increase in selling, general and administrative costs and the effect of decreased gross profit.
Depreciation and amortization increased $1,387,000 in fiscal year 2020 compared to fiscal year 2019 and represented 7.7% of gross profit in fiscal year 2020 compared to 7.2% of gross profit in fiscal year 2019. The increase in depreciation and amortization expenses was primarily due to increased depreciation on information technology assets, partially offset by a decrease in trailing equipment depreciation. The increase in depreciation and amortization as a percentage of gross profit was due to increased depreciation and the effect of decreased gross profit.
During the 2020 second fiscal quarter, the Company recorded a non-cash
impairment charge of $2,582,000, representing 0.4% of gross profit, in respect of certain assets, primarily customer contract and related customer relationship intangible assets, acquired on September 20, 2017, along with substantially all of the other assets of the asset-light transportation logistics business of Fletes Avella, S.A. de C.V. (“Fletes Avella”). As previously disclosed in Item 1A. Risk Factors in the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q
for the 2020 first quarter, negative macroeconomic trends in Mexico caused significant disruptions in the Mexican economy. Accordingly, management performed impairment tests of the carrying values of certain assets that primarily relate to intra-Mexico business acquired as a part of the Fletes Avella acquisition. The impairment tests resulted in an impairment charge of $2,582,000, as the negative macroeconomic trends in Mexico resulted in updated financial projections relating to these intangible assets to be substantially below those originally anticipated at the acquisition date. There was no corresponding goodwill impairment charge recorded as the fair value of the Company’s Mexico and cross-border reporting unit continues to significantly exceed its carrying value as of December 26, 2020.
During the 2020 fourth fiscal quarter, the Company recorded commission program termination costs of $15,494,000, representing 2.6% of gross profit, related to buyouts of certain incentive commission arrangements with several of its independent sales agents due to the Company’s discontinuation of a truck owner-operator recruitment and retention program formerly involving those agents.
Interest and debt expense in fiscal year 2020 increased $812,000 compared to fiscal year 2019. The increase in interest and debt expense was primarily attributable to decreased interest income earned on cash balances held by the transportation logistics segment.
The provisions for income taxes for both the 2020 and 2019 fiscal years were based on estimated annual effective income tax rates of 24.2%, adjusted for discrete events, such as benefits resulting from stock-based awards. The actual effective income tax rate for fiscal year 2020 was 22.8%, which was higher than the statutory federal income tax rate of 21%, primarily attributable to state taxes
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and the meals and entertainment exclusion, partially offset by excess tax benefits realized on stock-based awards, the favorable resolution of certain tax matters during the 2020 fiscal year and state tax refunds. The actual effective income tax rate for fiscal year 2019 was 23.0%, which was higher than the statutory federal income tax rate of 21% primarily attributable to state taxes and the meals and entertainment exclusion, partially offset by excess tax benefits realized on stock-based awards. The effective income tax rate in the 2020 fiscal year of 22.8% was lower than the 24.2% estimated annual effective income tax rate primarily due to excess tax benefits recognized on stock-based compensation arrangements, the favorable resolution of certain tax matters during the 2020 fiscal year and state tax refunds in the 2020 fiscal year. The effective income tax rate in the 2019 fiscal year of 23.0% was lower than the 24.2% estimated effective income tax rate primarily due to excess tax benefits recognized on stock-based compensation arrangements in the 2019 fiscal year.
Net income was $192,106,000, or $4.98 per common share ($4.98 per diluted share), in fiscal year 2020. Net income attributable to the Company was $227,720,000, or $5.72 per common share ($5.72 per diluted share), in fiscal year 2019. Net income during fiscal year 2020 was unfavorably impacted by $15,494,000, or $0.31 per common share ($0.31 per diluted share) related to a one-time
cost to buyout certain incentive commission arrangements with several agents, $12,593,000, or $0.25 per common share ($0.25 per diluted share) related to the impact of the COVID-19
pandemic relief incentive payments and $2,582,000, or $0.05 per common share ($0.05 per diluted share) of non-cash
impairment charges related to certain assets, primarily customer contract and related customer relationship intangible assets of the Company’s Mexico subsidiaries.
Fiscal Year Ended December 28, 2019 Compared to Fiscal Year Ended December 29, 2018
Revenue for fiscal year 2019 was $4,084,577,000, a decrease of $530,567,000, or 11%, compared to fiscal year 2018. Transportation revenue decreased $534,460,000, or 12%. The decrease in transportation revenue was attributable to decreased revenue per load of approximately 9% and a decreased number of loads hauled of approximately 3% in fiscal year 2019 compared to fiscal year 2018. Reinsurance premiums were $56,241,000 and $52,348,000 for fiscal years 2019 and 2018, respectively. The increase in revenue from reinsurance premiums was primarily attributable to the increase in the average number of trucks provided by BCO Independent Contractors and an increase in the aggregate value of equipment insured by BCO Independent Contractors under a physical damage program reinsured by Signature in the 2019 fiscal year compared to the 2018 fiscal year.
Truck transportation revenue generated by third party truck capacity providers for fiscal year 2019 was $3,765,329,000, representing 92% of total revenue, a decrease of $515,083,000, or 12%, compared to fiscal year 2018. Revenue per load on loads hauled by third party truck capacity providers decreased approximately 10% in fiscal year 2019 compared to fiscal year 2018, and the number of loads hauled by third party truck capacity providers decreased approximately 3% in fiscal year 2019 compared to fiscal year 2018. The decrease in revenue per load on loads hauled via truck was primarily due to a softer freight demand environment experienced during the 2019 fiscal year, which resulted in more readily available truck capacity as compared to the 2018 fiscal year. Revenue per load on loads hauled via van equipment decreased 11%, revenue per load on loads hauled via unsided/platform equipment decreased 6% and revenue per load on less-than-truckload loadings decreased 10% as compared to the 2018 fiscal year. The decrease in the number of loads hauled via truck compared to fiscal year 2018 was primarily attributable to a decrease in demand for the Company’s truckload services provided via van equipment. Fuel surcharges billed to customers on revenue generated by BCO Independent Contractors are excluded from revenue. Fuel surcharges on Truck Brokerage Carrier revenue identified separately in billings to customers and included as a component of Truck Brokerage Carrier revenue were $79,486,000 and $101,346,000 in fiscal years 2019 and 2018, respectively. It should be noted that billings to many customers of the Company’s truck brokerage services include a single all-in
rate that does not separately identify fuel surcharges on loads hauled via Truck Brokerage Carriers. Accordingly, the overall impact of changes in fuel prices on revenue and revenue per load on loads hauled via truck is likely to be greater than that indicated.
Transportation revenue generated by multimode capacity providers for fiscal year 2019 was $239,790,000, or 6% of total revenue, a decrease of $23,763,000, or 9%, compared to fiscal year 2018. The number of loads hauled by multimode capacity providers decreased approximately 5% in the 2019 fiscal year compared to the 2018 fiscal year, and revenue per load on revenue generated by multimode capacity providers decreased approximately 4% over the same period. The decrease in the number of loads hauled by multimode capacity providers was primarily due to a 10% decrease in rail intermodal loadings, mostly attributable to decreased loadings at three specific agencies. The decrease in revenue per load of 4% on loads hauled by multimode capacity providers was primarily attributable to decreased revenue per load on air loadings due to the impact of air loadings provided in support of disaster relief efforts during fiscal year 2018. Also, revenue per load on revenue generated by multimode capacity providers is influenced by many factors, including revenue mix among the various modes of transportation used, length of haul, complexity of freight, density of freight lanes, fuel costs and availability of capacity.
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Purchased transportation was 76.6% and 77.4% of revenue in fiscal years 2019 and 2018, respectively. The decrease in purchased transportation as a percentage of revenue was primarily due to a decreased rate of purchased transportation paid on Truck Brokerage Carrier revenue and an increased percentage of revenue contributed by BCO Independent Contractors. Commissions to agents were 8.4% and 8.2% of revenue in fiscal years 2019 and 2018, respectively. The increase in commissions to agents as a percentage of revenue was primarily attributable to an increased net revenue margin on revenue generated by Truck Brokerage Carriers.
Investment income was $5,041,000 and $3,816,000 in fiscal years 2019 and 2018, respectively. The increase in investment income was primarily attributable to higher average rates of return on investments and a higher average investment balance held by the insurance segment during fiscal year 2019.
Other operating costs increased $5,471,000 in fiscal year 2019 compared to fiscal year 2018 and represented 6.1% of gross profit in fiscal year 2019 compared to 4.8% in fiscal year 2018. The increase in other operating costs compared to the prior fiscal year was primarily due to increased trailing equipment maintenance costs as a result of an increased number of Company-owned trailers and an increased provision for contractor bad debt. The increase in other operating costs as a percentage of gross profit was caused by the increase in other operating costs and the effect of decreased gross profit.
Insurance and claims increased $4,642,000 in fiscal year 2019 compared to fiscal year 2018 and represented 13.1% of gross profit in fiscal year 2019 compared to 11.3% in fiscal year 2018. The increase in insurance and claims expense compared to the prior fiscal year was primarily due to increased net unfavorable development of prior years’ claims and increased severity of current year claims in the BCO programs reinsured by Signature. Net unfavorable development of prior years’ claims was $16,679,000 and $13,960,000 in fiscal years 2019 and 2018, respectively. The increase in insurance and claims as a percentage of gross profit was caused by the increase in insurance and claims costs and the effect of decreased gross profit.
Selling, general and administrative costs decreased $29,259,000 in fiscal year 2019 compared to fiscal year 2018 and represented 25.9% of gross profit in fiscal year 2019 compared to 28.2% of gross profit in fiscal year 2018. The decrease in selling, general and administrative costs compared to prior fiscal year was attributable to a decreased provision for incentive compensation and decreased stock-based compensation expense, partially offset by increased wages. Included in selling, general and administrative costs was incentive compensation expense of $1,517,000 and $19,210,000 for the 2019 and 2018 fiscal years, respectively, and stock-based compensation expense of $4,236,000 and $18,256,000 for the 2019 and 2018 fiscal years, respectively. The decrease in selling, general and administrative costs as a percentage of gross profit was due to the decrease in selling, general and administrative costs, partially offset by the effect of decreased gross profit.
Depreciation and amortization increased $898,000 in fiscal year 2019 compared to fiscal year 2018 and represented 7.2% of gross profit in fiscal year 2019 compared to 6.5% of gross profit in fiscal year 2018. The increase in depreciation and amortization expenses was primarily due to increased depreciation on information technology assets. The increase in depreciation and amortization as a percentage of gross profit was due to the effect of decreased gross profit and increased depreciation costs.
Interest and debt expense in fiscal year 2019 decreased $213,000 compared to fiscal year 2018. The decrease in interest and debt expense was primarily attributable to increased interest income earned on cash balances held by the transportation logistics segment.
The provisions for income taxes for the 2019 and 2018 fiscal years were based on estimated annual effective income tax rates of 24.2% and 24.5%, respectively, adjusted for discrete events, such as benefits resulting from stock-based awards. The actual effective income tax rate for fiscal year 2019 was 23.0%, which was higher than the statutory federal income tax rate of 21% primarily attributable to state taxes and the meals and entertainment exclusion, partially offset by excess tax benefits realized on stock-based awards. The actual effective income tax rate for fiscal year 2018 was 22.3%, which was higher than the statutory federal income tax rate of 21% primarily attributable to state taxes, the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act’s (the “Tax Reform Act”) elimination of the performance-based compensation exception under Section 162(m) and the meals and entertainment exclusion. The effective income tax rate in the 2019 fiscal year of 23.0% was lower than the 24.2% estimated effective income tax rate primarily due to excess tax benefits recognized on stock-based compensation arrangements in the 2019 fiscal year. The effective income tax rate in the 2018 fiscal year of 22.3% was lower than the 24.5% estimated annual effective income tax rate primarily due to excess tax benefits recognized on stock-based compensation arrangements in the 2018 fiscal year, favorable adjustments recognized during the 2018 fiscal year relating to federal domestic production activities deductions and research and development credits and the favorable resolution of certain tax matters during the 2018 fiscal year.
The net loss attributable to noncontrolling interest of $17,000 and $68,000 in the 2019 and 2018 fiscal years, respectively, represents the former noncontrolling investors’ share of the net loss incurred by Landstar Metro and Landstar Servicios.
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Net income attributable to the Company was $227,720,000, or $5.72 per common share ($5.72 per diluted share), in fiscal year 2019. Net income attributable to the Company was $255,281,000, or $6.19 per common share ($6.18 per diluted share), in fiscal year 2018.
Capital Resources and Liquidity
Working capital and the ratio of current assets to current liabilities were $402,038,000 and 1.5 to 1, respectively, at December 26, 2020, compared with $444,984,000 and 1.8 to 1, respectively, at December 28, 2019, and $435,611,000 and 1.8 to 1, respectively, at December 29, 2018. Landstar has historically operated with current ratios within the range of 1.5 to 1 to 2.0 to 1. Cash provided by operating activities was $210,717,000, $307,840,000, and $297,901,000 in fiscal years 2020, 2019 and 2018, respectively. The decrease in cash flow provided by operating activities for fiscal year 2020 was primarily attributable to the increase in trade and other accounts receivable as of the end of the 2020 fiscal year as compared to as of the end of the 2019 fiscal year driven by the significant growth in revenue during the fourth fiscal quarter of 2020. The increase in cash flow provided by operating activities for fiscal year 2019 was primarily attributable to the timing of collections of trade receivables.
The Company declared and paid $0.79 per share, or $30,557,000 in the aggregate, in cash dividends during fiscal year 2020 and, during such period, also paid $78,947,000 of dividends payable which were declared during fiscal year 2019 and included in current liabilities in the consolidated balance sheet at December 28, 2019. In addition, on December 8, 2020, the Company announced that its Board of Directors declared a special cash dividend of $2.00 per share, or $76,770,000 in the aggregate, payable on January 22, 2021 to stockholders of record of its Common Stock as of January 8, 2021. Dividends payable of $76,770,000 related to this special dividend were included in current liabilities in the consolidated balance sheet at December 26, 2020. The Company declared and paid $0.70 per share, or $27,891,000 in the aggregate, in cash dividends during fiscal year 2019. The Company declared and paid $0.63 per share, or $25,933,000 in the aggregate, in cash dividends during fiscal year 2018 and, during such period, also paid $62,985,000 of dividends payable which were declared during fiscal year 2017 and included in current liabilities in the consolidated balance sheet at December 30, 2017. Since paying its first cash dividend in August 2005, the Company has paid approximately $506,000,000 in cash dividends in the aggregate to its stockholders, inclusive of the $2.00 per share special dividend paid on January 22, 2021.
During fiscal year 2020, the Company purchased 1,178,970 shares of its Common Stock at a total cost of $115,962,000. During fiscal year 2019, the Company purchased 849,068 shares of its Common Stock at a total cost of $88,578,000. During fiscal year 2018, the Company purchased 2,000,000 shares of its Common Stock at a total cost of $208,087,000. The Company has used cash provided by operating activities to fund the purchases. Since January 1997, the Company has purchased approximately $1,791,000,000 of its Common Stock under programs authorized by the Board of Directors of the Company in open market and private block transactions. As of December 26, 2020, the Company may purchase in the aggregate up to 1,821,030 shares of its Common Stock under its authorized stock purchase programs. Long-term debt, including current maturities, was $100,774,000 at December 26, 2020, compared to $112,844,000 at December 28, 2019 and $128,425,000 at December 29, 2018.
Equity was $691,835,000, or 87% of total capitalization (defined as long-term debt including current maturities plus equity), at December 26, 2020, compared to $721,469,000, or 86% of total capitalization, at December 28, 2019 and $689,133,000, or 84% of total capitalization, at December 29, 2018. The decrease in equity in fiscal year 2020 was primarily the result of purchases of shares of the Company’s Common Stock and dividends declared by the Company in fiscal year 2020, partially offset by net income. The increase in equity in fiscal year 2019 was primarily the result of net income, partially offset by purchases of shares of the Company’s Common Stock and dividends declared by the Company in fiscal year 2019.
On August 18, 2020, Landstar entered into an amended and restated credit agreement with a syndicate of banks and JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., as administrative agent (the “Credit Agreement”). The Credit Agreement, which matures on August 18, 2023, provides $250,000,000 of borrowing capacity in the form of a revolving credit facility, $35,000,000 of which may be utilized in the form of letters of credit. The Credit Agreement includes an “accordion” feature providing for a possible increase up to an aggregate borrowing capacity of $400,000,000.
The Credit Agreement contains a number of covenants that limit, among other things, the incurrence of additional indebtedness. The Company is required to, among other things, maintain a minimum Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio, as defined in the Credit Agreement, and maintain a Leverage Ratio, as defined in the Credit Agreement, below a specified maximum. The Credit Agreement provides for a restriction on cash dividends and other distributions to stockholders on the Company’s capital stock to the extent there is a default under the Credit Agreement. In addition, the Credit Agreement under certain circumstances limits the amount of such cash dividends and other distributions to stockholders to the extent that, after giving effect to any payment made to effect such cash
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dividend or other distribution, the Leverage Ratio would exceed 2.5 to 1 on a pro forma basis as of the end of the Company’s most recently completed fiscal quarter. The Credit Agreement provides for an event of default in the event that, among other things, a person or group acquires 35% or more of the outstanding capital stock of the Company or obtains power to elect a majority of the Company’s directors or the directors cease to consist of a majority of Continuing Directors, as defined in the Credit Agreement. None of these covenants are presently considered by management to be materially restrictive to the Company’s operations, capital resources or liquidity. The Company is currently in compliance with all of the debt covenants under the Credit Agreement.
At December 26, 2020, the Company had no borrowings outstanding and $33,618,000 of letters of credit outstanding under the Credit Agreement. At December 26, 2020, there was $216,382,000 available for future borrowings under the Credit Agreement. In addition, the Company has $64,934,000 in letters of credit outstanding as collateral for insurance claims that are secured by investments totaling $72,149,000 at December 26, 2020. Investments, all of which are carried at fair value, include primarily investment-grade bonds and U.S. Treasury obligations having maturities of up to five years. Fair value of investments is based primarily on quoted market prices. See “Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements” included herein for further discussion on measurement of fair value of investments.
Historically, the Company has generated sufficient operating cash flow to meet its debt service requirements, fund continued growth, both organic and through acquisitions, complete or execute share purchases of its Common Stock under authorized share purchase programs, pay dividends and meet working capital needs. As an asset-light provider of integrated transportation management solutions, the Company’s annual capital requirements for operating property are generally for trailing equipment and information technology hardware and software. In addition, a significant portion of the trailing equipment used by the Company is provided by third party capacity providers, thereby reducing the Company’s capital requirements. During fiscal years 2020, 2019 and 2018, the Company acquired $31,633,000, $29,054,000 and $46,595,000, respectively, of trailing equipment by entering into finance leases. During fiscal years 2020, 2019 and 2018, the Company also purchased $30,626,000, $19,416,000 and $9,747,000, respectively, of operating property. Included in the $9,747,000 of purchases of operating property during the 2018 fiscal year was $2,162,000 related to the completion of its Laredo, Texas facility for which the Company accrued a corresponding liability in accounts payable as of December 30, 2017. During fiscal year 2020, Landstar acquired $500,000 of operating property for which the Company accrued a corresponding liability in accounts payable as of December 26, 2020. Landstar anticipates acquiring either by purchase or lease financing approximately $77,000,000 in new trailing equipment primarily to replace older trailing equipment in fiscal 2021. Landstar anticipates spending approximately $23,000,000 on information technology hardware and software in fiscal 2021, $16,000,000 of which relates to either building or buying software applications that enhance or add to the Company’s technology ecosystem.
As previously disclosed in the Company’s 2019 Annual Report on Form 10-K,
on January 29, 2019, Landstar acquired all of the remaining equity interests in Landstar Metro and Landstar Servicios held by their former minority equityholders. As of such date, Landstar Metro and Landstar Servicios each became wholly owned subsidiaries of the Company. Cash consideration paid in the 2019 fiscal year to purchase these remaining equity interests was $600,000. Further, on June 15, 2020, Landstar Blue completed the acquisition of an independent agent of the Company. Cash consideration paid for the acquisition was approximately $2,766,000.
Management believes that cash flow from operations combined with the Company’s borrowing capacity under the Credit Agreement will be adequate to meet Landstar’s debt service requirements, fund continued growth, both internal and through acquisitions, pay dividends, complete the authorized share purchase programs and meet working capital needs.
Legal Proceedings
The Company is involved in certain claims and pending litigation arising from the normal conduct of business. Many of these claims are covered in whole or in part by insurance. Based on knowledge of the facts and, in certain cases, opinions of outside counsel, management believes that adequate provisions have been made for probable losses with respect to the resolution of all such claims and pending litigation and that the ultimate outcome, after provisions therefor, will not have a material adverse effect on the financial condition of the Company, but could have a material effect on the results of operations in a given quarter or year.
Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates
Landstar provides for the estimated costs of self-insured claims primarily on an actuarial basis. The amount recorded for the estimated liability for claims incurred is based upon the facts and circumstances known on the applicable balance sheet date. The ultimate resolution of these claims may be for an amount greater or less than the amount estimated by management. The Company continually revises its existing claim estimates as new or revised information becomes available on the status of each claim. Historically, the Company has experienced both favorable and unfavorable development of prior years’ claims estimates. During fiscal
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years 2020, 2019 and 2018, insurance and claims costs included $9,196,000, $16,679,000 and $13,960,000 of net unfavorable adjustments to prior years’ claims estimates, respectively. The unfavorable development of prior years’ claims in the 2020 and 2019 fiscal years was attributable in each year to several specific claims as well as to actuarially determined adjustments to prior year commercial trucking loss estimates. It is reasonably likely that the ultimate outcome of settling all outstanding claims will be more or less than the estimated claims liability at December 26, 2020.
Significant variances from management’s estimates for the ultimate resolution of self-insured claims could be expected to positively or negatively affect Landstar’s earnings in a given quarter or year. However, management believes that the ultimate resolution of these items, given a range of reasonably likely outcomes, will not significantly affect the long-term financial condition of Landstar or its ability to fund its continuing operations.