Universal Logistics (NASDAQ:ULH) Releases Earnings Results, Misses Expectations By $0.22 EPS

Key Points

• Earnings miss: Universal Logistics reported a loss of $0.13 EPS versus a $0.09 consensus (a $0.22 miss) and revenue of $367.6M versus $372.3M expected, with a negative net margin of 3.64%, sending the stock down about 7% to $22.40.
• Dividend maintained: The company paid a quarterly dividend of $0.105 (annualized $0.42, ~1.9% yield) despite a negative dividend payout ratio of -19.53%.
• Mixed analyst view: Analysts are split (average rating: Hold, average target: $20) with upgrades from Zacks and Stifel but a sell from Weiss; market cap is roughly $590M and the P/E is negative (-10.42).

Universal Logistics (NASDAQ:ULH - Get Free Report) released its earnings results on Friday. The transportation company reported ($0.13) earnings per share for the quarter, missing analysts' consensus estimates of $0.09 by ($0.22), Zacks reports. Universal Logistics had a negative net margin of 3.64% and a positive return on equity of 4.13%. The company had revenue of $367.58 million during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $372.30 million.

Universal Logistics Stock Down 7.0%

ULH stock traded down $1.68 on Friday, reaching $22.40. 59,904 shares of the company traded hands, compared to its average volume of 54,301. Universal Logistics has a one year low of $12.78 and a one year high of $30.76. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.26, a current ratio of 1.20 and a quick ratio of 1.20. The company has a market cap of $590.24 million, a P/E ratio of -10.42 and a beta of 0.71. The firm has a fifty day simple moving average of $19.64 and a 200-day simple moving average of $17.57.

Universal Logistics Announces Dividend

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, April 3rd. Investors of record on Monday, March 23rd were given a dividend of $0.105 per share. This represents a $0.42 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 1.9%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Monday, March 23rd. Universal Logistics's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is -19.53%.

Analyst Ratings Changes

A number of equities research analysts have recently weighed in on the company. Stifel Nicolaus boosted their target price on Universal Logistics from $17.00 to $20.00 and gave the company a "hold" rating in a research note on Tuesday, April 7th. Zacks Research raised Universal Logistics from a "hold" rating to a "strong-buy" rating in a research note on Tuesday, March 17th. Weiss Ratings reissued a "sell (d)" rating on shares of Universal Logistics in a research note on Friday, March 27th. Finally, Wall Street Zen raised Universal Logistics from a "sell" rating to a "hold" rating in a research note on Saturday, March 14th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, one has assigned a Hold rating and one has issued a Sell rating to the company's stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the stock has an average rating of "Hold" and an average target price of $20.00.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

A number of institutional investors and hedge funds have recently added to or reduced their stakes in ULH. BNP Paribas Financial Markets boosted its stake in shares of Universal Logistics by 102.3% in the 3rd quarter. BNP Paribas Financial Markets now owns 1,428 shares of the transportation company's stock worth $33,000 after buying an additional 722 shares during the last quarter. Barclays PLC boosted its stake in shares of Universal Logistics by 10.7% in the 4th quarter. Barclays PLC now owns 10,557 shares of the transportation company's stock worth $160,000 after buying an additional 1,019 shares during the last quarter. Lazard Asset Management LLC boosted its stake in shares of Universal Logistics by 7.1% in the 2nd quarter. Lazard Asset Management LLC now owns 20,569 shares of the transportation company's stock worth $520,000 after buying an additional 1,361 shares during the last quarter. Tower Research Capital LLC TRC boosted its stake in shares of Universal Logistics by 403.5% in the 2nd quarter. Tower Research Capital LLC TRC now owns 2,130 shares of the transportation company's stock worth $54,000 after buying an additional 1,707 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Wells Fargo & Company MN boosted its stake in shares of Universal Logistics by 46.2% in the 4th quarter. Wells Fargo & Company MN now owns 7,579 shares of the transportation company's stock worth $115,000 after buying an additional 2,396 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors own 25.50% of the company's stock.

Universal Logistics Company Profile

Universal Logistics Holdings, Inc is a diversified, asset-light third-party logistics provider offering transportation and supply chain solutions across North America and around the globe. Its service portfolio encompasses truckload, less-than-truckload, intermodal, and specialized freight services, supported by dedicated brokerage, warehousing, and distribution management capabilities.

Originally incorporated as Universal Truckload Services, Inc, the company has evolved beyond its core truckload heritage to a one-stop logistics platform.

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