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Ryder (R) Gains 7.9% Since Q3 Earnings Release: Here's Why

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Shares of Ryder (R - Free Report) have been performing well on the bourses since it released third-quarter 2022 earnings results on Oct 26. Shares have been up 7.9% since the earnings release. R reported better-than-expected earnings per share and revenues for third-quarter 2022. Results were aided by strong rental demand and favorable pricing. The favorable result and strong guidance pleased investors, leading to an uptick in stock price.

Q3 Earnings Report in Detail

Quarterly earnings of $4.45 per share (excluding 36 cents from non-recurring items) surpassed the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $4.10. The bottom line increased 74.5% year over year on the back of higher revenues.

Total revenues of $3,035.5 million also outperformed the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $2,934.9 million. The top line increased 3.4% year over year on strong segmental performances.

Let’s look at the segmental performances:

Fleet Management Solutions: Total revenues of $1,582 million were up 10% year over year. Operating revenues summed $1,303 million, up 4% year over year. Segmental revenues benefited from higher rental revenues, driven by strong demand and higher pricing.

Supply-Chain Solutions: Total revenues in the segment were $1,207 million, up 50% year over year. Operating revenues rose 49% year over year to $835 million on the back of contributions from acquisitions and double-digit revenue growth in all industry verticals reflecting new business, higher volumes and favorable pricing.

Dedicated Transportation Solutions: Total revenues amounted to $454 million, up 19% from the year-ago quarter’s figure. Operating revenues climbed 17% to $317 million. The revenue uptick was driven by a new business and favorable pricing.

Liquidity

Ryder exited the third quarter with cash and cash equivalents of $456.3 million compared with $234 million at the end of 2021. R’s total debt (including the current portion) declined to $6,334.1 million at the end of the third quarter from $6,579.7 million reported at 2021 end. 

During the first nine months of 2022, gross capital expenditures came in at $2032.4 million. Free cash flow in the period was $886.5 million compared with $829 million in the first nine months of 2021.

Currently, Ryder carries a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.

Q4 EPS Outlook

For the fourth quarter of 2022, Ryder expects its adjusted earnings per share (EPS) in the range of $3.18-$3.38. The Zacks Consensus Estimate is currently pegged at $3.58. 

2022 Outlook

Ryder now expects total revenues and operating revenues to increase approximately 23% and 18%, respectively, in 2022 (previous view: rise 22% and 16%, respectively).

Adjusted EPS for the whole year is estimated in the range of $15.65-$15.85. The Zacks Consensus Estimate is currently pegged at $15.79, above the midpoint ($15.75) of the guided range. 

R expects free cash flow in the range of $800-900 million (previous view: $750-$850 million) in 2022.  Adjusted ROE (return on investment) is expected to be 26-27% (previous view: 25-26%).

Performance of Other Transportation Companies

Delta Air Lines’ (DAL - Free Report) third-quarter 2022 earnings (excluding 42 cents from non-recurring items) of $1.51 per share fell short of the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $1.56. Escalated operating expenses induced the earnings miss. Multiple flight cancelations and booking weaknesses due to Hurricane Ian also hurt results. DAL reported earnings of 30 cents per share a year ago, muted in comparison to the current scenario, as air-travel demand was not so buoyant then.

DAL reported revenues of $13,975 million, which lagged the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $14,157.2 million. Driven by high air-travel demand, total revenues increased more than 52% on a year-over-year basis.

United Airlines’ (UAL - Free Report) third-quarter 2022 earnings (excluding 5 cents from non-recurring items) of $2.81 per share beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $2.21 and our estimate of $2.17. Upbeat air-travel demand aided results.

In the year-ago quarter, UAL incurred a loss of $1.02 per share when air-travel demand was not as buoyant as in the current scenario. The third quarter of 2022 was the second consecutive profitable quarter at UAL since the onset of the pandemic.

Operating revenues of $12,877 million beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $12,709.5 million and our estimate of $12, 631.6 million. UAL’s revenues increased more than 66% year over year owing to an uptick in air-travel demand. The optimistic air-travel demand scenario is also evident from the fact that total operating revenues increased 13.2% from third-quarter 2019 (pre-coronavirus) levels.

J.B. Hunt Transport Services, Inc. (JBHT - Free Report) reported better-than-expected third-quarter 2022 results, wherein both earnings and revenues outperformed the respective Zacks Consensus Estimate. JBHT’s quarterly earnings of $2.57 per share surpassed the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $2.45 and improved 36.7% year over year.

JBHT’s operating revenues of $3,838.3 million also outperformed the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $3803.4 million. The top line jumped 22.1% year over year on the back of strength across Dedicated Contract Services, Intermodal, Truckload and Final Mile Services segments. Total operating revenues, excluding fuel surcharges, rose 12.4% year over year.

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