XPO cruises past Q1 consensus estimate

LTL unit records 85.7% adjusted OR to start year

Network service improvements are driving better financial results for XPO. (Photo: Jim Allen/FreightWaves)

Less-than-truckload carrier XPO handily beat first-quarter expectations Friday ahead of the market open.

XPO (NYSE: XPO) reported adjusted earnings per share of 81 cents for the 2024 first quarter, 14 cents ahead of the consensus estimate and 25 cents higher year over year (y/y). The adjusted result excluded transaction and restructuring costs of 25 cents per share.

“Our strong first quarter financial results exceeded expectations, giving us a solid start to 2024,” said CEO Mario Harik in a news release.

Click for full report – “XPO sees Q1 strength carrying forward”

Revenue in the company’s LTL segment increased 9% y/y to $1.22 billion as tonnage per day increased 3% and revenue per hundredweight, or yield, was up 7% (10% higher excluding fuel surcharges). The tonnage increase was the combination of a 5% increase in daily shipments, which was partially offset by a 2% decline in weight per shipment.

Compared to the fourth quarter, tonnage increased 2%, with yield declining 1% excluding fuel.

The unit recorded an 85.7% adjusted operating ratio, 390 basis points better y/y and 80 bps improved from the fourth quarter. The sequential OR change in the quarter was 120 bps better than the normal change rate.

Purchased transportation expense as a percentage of revenue was down 250 bps y/y as the company continues to outsource fewer linehaul miles.

Adjusted earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization in the unit was $255 million, a 40% y/y increase.

XPO’s European transportation segment saw revenue increase 1% y/y to $797 million. It recorded an adjusted EBITDA margin of 4.8%, which was 10 bps higher y/y.

Consolidated adjusted EBITDA increased 37% y/y to $288 million in the quarter.

Shares of XPO were up 8.3% in premarket trading on Friday.

The company will host a call to discuss first-quarter results with analysts on Friday at 8:30 a.m. EDT.

Click for full report – “XPO sees Q1 strength carrying forward”

Table: XPO’s key performance indicators

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Todd Maiden

Based in Richmond, VA, Todd is the finance editor at FreightWaves. Prior to joining FreightWaves, he covered the TLs, LTLs, railroads and brokers for RBC Capital Markets and BB&T Capital Markets. Todd began his career in banking and finance before moving over to transportation equity research where he provided stock recommendations for publicly traded transportation companies.