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Forward Air Corporation Reports First Quarter 2025 Results

FWRD

Consolidated Financial Results Improved Year-Over-Year

Operational Execution Leads to Sequential Pricing and Margin Improvement at the Expedited Freight Segment

Strong Liquidity Position Increased to $393 Million

Forward Air Corporation (NASDAQ:FWRD) (the “Company”, “Forward”, “we”, “our”, or “us”) today reported financial results for the three months ended March 31, 2025 as presented in the tables below.

“Our team made progress in the first quarter by focusing our efforts on meeting customers’ needs with award-winning service and solid operational execution,” said Shawn Stewart, Chief Executive Officer. “I am proud of our team’s ability to manage through a backdrop of economic and tariff uncertainty. Income from operations improved by $70 million and Consolidated EBITDA improved by $6 million compared to a year ago.”

“An area of emphasis has been improving pricing at the Expedited Freight segment. We began taking corrective actions late last year and finished implementing the strategy in February. The preliminary pricing results are meeting internal expectations with first quarter revenue per hundredweight, excluding fuel surcharge, up 4.3 percent compared to the fourth quarter 2024, and up 2.5 percent compared to a year ago. The segment’s reported EBITDA margin in the first quarter was 10.4 percent, a nearly a 400-basis point sequential improvement compared to the fourth quarter 2024. We continue to keep our focus on the customer, execute our strategy, grow the company and enhance shareholder value,” concluded Stewart.

Jamie Pierson, Chief Financial Officer added, “For the first quarter 2025, we reported consolidated revenue of $613 million compared to $542 million a year ago. Income from operations improved to $5 million compared to a $66 million loss from operations last year. For year-over-year comparison purposes the Omni acquisition closed on January 25, 2024 so the prior year numbers do not include the first 24 days of Omni’s results for that year.

“For the first quarter, Consolidated EBITDA ("Consolidated EBITDA"), a non-GAAP measure calculated pursuant to our Senior Secured Term Loan Credit Agreement (the "Credit Agreement"), was $69 million. The last twelve months Consolidated EBITDA as of March 31, 2025, was $313 million, which resulted in an approximate $66 million cushion per the terms of the Credit Agreement’s consolidated first lien net leverage ratio covenant.”

“Liquidity at the end of the first quarter was $393 million compared to $382 million at the end of the fourth quarter 2024. The increase was driven by operating cash flow partially offset by interest payments and transaction and integration professional fees. I am pleased with the cash flow performance in the first quarter and with the increase in liquidity to nearly $400 million,” concluded Pierson.

Three Months Ended

(in thousands, except per share data)

March 31, 2025

March 31, 2024

Change

Percent Change

Operating revenue

$

613,281

$

541,813

$

71,468

13.2

%

Income (loss) from operations

$

4,763

$

(65,732

)

$

70,495

107.2

%

Operating margin

0.8

%

(12.1

)%

1,290 bps

Net loss

$

(61,191

)

$

(88,794

)

$

27,603

31.1

%

Net loss per basic and diluted share

$

(1.68

)

$

(2.81

)

$

1.13

40.2

%

Cash provided (used in) by operating activities

$

27,615

$

(51,719

)

$

79,334

153.4

%

Non-GAAP Financial Measures: 1

Consolidated EBITDA

$

68,959

$

63,360

$

5,599

8.8

%

Free cash flow

$

16,400

$

(55,840

)

$

72,240

129.4

%

1 Reconciliation of these non-GAAP financial measures are provided in the financial tables below.

Review of Financial Results

Forward will hold a conference call to discuss first quarter 2025 results on Wednesday, May 7, 2025 at 4:30 p.m. ET. The Company’s conference call will be available online on the Investor Relations portion of the Company’s website at ir.forwardaircorp.com, or by dialing (800) 267-6316, Access Code: FWRDQ125.

A replay of the conference call will be available on the Investor Relations portion of the Company’s website at www.forwardaircorp.com, which we use as a primary mechanism to communicate with our investors. Investors are urged to monitor the Investor Relations portion of the Company’s website to easily find or navigate to current and pertinent information about us.

About Forward Air Corporation

Forward is a leading asset-light provider of transportation services across the United States, Canada and Mexico. We provide expedited less-than-truckload services, including local pick-up and delivery, shipment consolidation/deconsolidation, warehousing, and customs brokerage by utilizing a comprehensive national network of terminals. In addition, we offer truckload brokerage services, including dedicated fleet services, and intermodal, first- and last-mile, high-value drayage services, both to and from seaports and railheads, dedicated contract and Container Freight Station warehouse and handling services. Forward also operates a full portfolio of multimodal solutions, both domestically and internationally, via Omni Logistics. Omni Logistics is a global provider of air, ocean and ground services for mission-critical freight. We are more than a transportation company. Forward is a single resource for your shipping needs. For more information, visit our website at www.forwardaircorp.com.

Forward Air Corporation

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Loss

(Unaudited, in thousands, except per share data)

Three Months Ended

March 31, 2025

March 31, 2024

Operating revenues:

Expedited Freight

$

249,381

$

273,295

Omni Logistics

323,470

224,838

Intermodal

62,492

56,292

Corporate

142

Eliminations and other operations

(22,204

)

(12,612

)

Operating revenues

613,281

541,813

Operating expenses:

Purchased transportation

304,262

277,015

Salaries, wages and employee benefits

141,915

128,867

Operating leases

48,792

38,803

Depreciation and amortization

37,360

31,786

Insurance and claims

15,007

12,881

Fuel expense

5,649

5,246

Other operating expenses

55,533

112,947

Total operating expenses

608,518

607,545

Income (loss) from operations:

Expedited Freight

15,634

19,498

Omni Logistics

3,375

(28,585

)

Intermodal

5,542

3,586

Other Operations

(19,788

)

(60,231

)

Income (loss) from operations

4,763

(65,732

)

Other expense:

Interest expense, net

(45,547

)

(40,753

)

Foreign exchange loss

(922

)

(668

)

Other income, net

104

9

Total other expense

(46,365

)

(41,412

)

Net loss before income taxes

(41,602

)

(107,144

)

Income tax (benefit) expense

19,589

(18,350

)

Net loss

(61,191

)

(88,794

)

Net loss attributable to non-controlling interest

(10,554

)

(27,082

)

Net loss attributable to Forward Air

$

(50,637

)

$

(61,712

)

Basic and diluted loss per share attributable to Forward Air

$

(1.68

)

$

(2.81

)

Net loss

$

(61,191

)

$

(88,794

)

Other comprehensive income (loss):

Foreign currency translation adjustments

265

(151

)

Comprehensive loss

(60,926

)

(88,945

)

Comprehensive loss attributable to non-controlling interest

(10,554

)

(27,082

)

Comprehensive loss attributable to Forward Air

$

(50,372

)

$

(61,863

)

Expedited Freight Segment Information

(In thousands)

(Unaudited)

Three Months Ended

March 31, 2025

Percent of
Revenue

March 31, 2024

Percent of
Revenue

Change

Percent
Change

Operating revenues:

Network 1

$

190,162

76.3

%

$

214,493

78.5

%

$

(24,331

)

(11.3

)%

Truckload

39,255

15.7

37,055

13.6

2,200

5.9

Other

19,964

8.0

21,747

7.9

(1,783

)

(8.2

)

Total operating revenues

249,381

100.0

273,295

100.0

(23,914

)

(8.8

)

Operating expenses:

Purchased transportation

120,680

48.4

127,760

46.7

(7,080

)

(5.5

)

Salaries, wages and employee benefits

52,577

21.1

62,553

22.9

(9,976

)

(15.9

)

Operating leases

15,433

6.2

14,982

5.5

451

3.0

Depreciation and amortization

10,379

4.2

10,290

3.8

89

0.9

Insurance and claims

10,308

4.1

10,652

3.9

(344

)

(3.2

)

Fuel expense

2,471

1.0

2,581

0.9

(110

)

(4.3

)

Other operating expenses

21,899

8.7

24,979

9.2

(3,080

)

(12.3

)

Total operating expenses

233,747

93.7

253,797

92.9

(20,050

)

(7.9

)

Income from operations

$

15,634

6.3

%

$

19,498

7.1

%

$

(3,864

)

(19.8

)%

1 Network revenue is comprised of all revenue, including linehaul, pickup and/or delivery, and fuel surcharge revenue, excluding accessorial and Truckload revenue.

Expedited Freight Operating Statistics

Three Months Ended

March 31, 2025

March 31, 2024

Percent Change

Business days

63

64

(1.6

)%

Tonnage 1,2

Total pounds

610,635

684,995

(10.9

)

Pounds per day

9,693

10,703

(9.4

)

Shipments 1,2

Total shipments

727

828

(12.2

)

Shipments per day

11.5

12.9

(10.9

)

Weight per shipment

840

827

1.6

Revenue per hundredweight 3

$

31.19

$

31.32

(0.4

)

Revenue per hundredweight, ex fuel 3

$

24.76

$

24.15

2.5

Revenue per shipment 3

$

262.04

$

259.14

1.1

Revenue per shipment, ex fuel 3

$

208.03

$

199.78

4.1

1 In thousands

2 Excludes accessorial and Truckload and products

3 Includes intercompany revenue between the Network and Truckload revenue streams

Omni Logistics Segment Information

(In thousands)

(Unaudited)

Three Months Ended

March 31,
2025

Percent of
Revenue

March 31,
2024

Percent of
Revenue

Change

Percent
Change

Operating revenue

$

323,470

100.0

%

$

224,838

100.0

%

$

98,632

43.9

%

Operating expenses:

Purchased transportation

185,734

57.4

144,424

64.2

41,310

28.6

Salaries, wages and employee benefits

56,783

17.6

48,775

21.7

8,008

16.4

Operating leases

27,090

8.4

19,127

8.5

7,963

41.6

Depreciation and amortization

22,230

6.9

16,869

7.5

5,361

31.8

Insurance and claims

2,615

0.8

2,053

0.9

562

27.4

Fuel expense

1,017

0.3

304

0.1

713

234.5

Other operating expenses

24,626

7.6

21,871

9.8

2,755

12.6

Total operating expenses

320,095

99.0

253,423

112.7

66,672

26.3

Income (loss) from operations

$

3,375

1.0

%

$

(28,585

)

(12.7

)%

$

31,960

111.8

%

Intermodal Segment Information

(In thousands)

(Unaudited)

Three Months Ended

March 31,
2025

Percent of
Revenue

March 31,
2024

Percent of
Revenue

Change

Percent
Change

Operating revenue

$

62,492

100.0

%

$

56,292

100.0

%

$

6,200

11.0

%

Operating expenses:

Purchased transportation

20,176

32.3

17,443

31.0

2,733

15.7

Salaries, wages and employee benefits

15,931

25.5

15,082

26.8

849

5.6

Operating leases

5,778

9.2

4,692

8.3

1,086

23.1

Depreciation and amortization

4,720

7.6

4,627

8.2

93

2.0

Insurance and claims

2,791

4.5

2,606

4.6

185

7.1

Fuel expense

2,155

3.4

2,361

4.2

(206

)

(8.7

)

Other operating expenses

5,399

8.6

5,895

10.5

(496

)

(8.4

)

Total operating expenses

56,950

91.1

52,706

93.6

4,244

8.1

Income from operations

$

5,542

8.9

%

$

3,586

6.4

%

$

1,956

54.5

%

Intermodal Operating Statistics

Three Months Ended

March 31, 2025

March 31, 2024

Percent Change

Drayage shipments

64,449

62,659

2.9

%

Drayage revenue per shipment

$

883

$

822

7.4

%

Forward Air Corporation

Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets

(In thousands)

(Unaudited)

March 31, 2025

December 31, 2024

Assets

Current assets:

Cash and cash equivalents

$

116,311

$

104,903

Restricted cash and restricted cash equivalents

363

363

Accounts receivable, less allowance of $3,264 in 2025 and $3,269 in 2024

336,398

322,291

Prepaid expenses

29,398

29,053

Other current assets

10,895

15,890

Total current assets

493,365

472,500

Property and equipment, net of accumulated depreciation and amortization of $302,998 in 2025 and $292,855 in 2024

331,208

326,188

Operating lease right-of-use assets

408,642

410,084

Goodwill

522,712

522,712

Other acquired intangibles, net of accumulated amortization of $235,999 in 2025 and $212,905 in 2024

976,122

999,216

Other long term assets

71,793

71,941

Total assets

$

2,803,842

$

2,802,641

Liabilities and Shareholders' Equity

Current liabilities:

Accounts payable

$

111,510

$

105,692

Accrued expenses

143,533

119,836

Other current liabilities

68,197

45,148

Current portion of debt and finance lease obligations

17,446

16,930

Current portion of operating lease liabilities

97,578

96,440

Total current liabilities

438,264

384,046

Finance lease obligations, less current portion

34,332

30,858

Long-term debt, less current portion

1,678,647

1,675,930

Liabilities under tax receivable agreement

13,295

13,295

Operating lease liabilities, less current portion

324,957

325,640

Other long-term liabilities

52,164

48,835

Deferred income taxes

35,177

38,169

Shareholders' equity:

Preferred stock, $0.01 par value: Authorized shares - 5,000,000; no shares issued or outstanding in 2025 and 2024

Preferred stock, Class B, $0.01 par value: Authorized shares - 15,000; issued and outstanding shares - 9,511 in 2025 and 10,088 in 2024

Common stock, $0.01 par value: Authorized shares - 50,699,707; issued and outstanding shares - 30,413,067 in 2025 and 29,761,197 in 2024

304

298

Additional paid-in capital

546,556

542,392

Accumulated deficit

(389,759

)

(338,230

)

Accumulated other comprehensive loss

(2,467

)

(2,732

)

Total Forward Air shareholders' equity

154,634

201,728

Noncontrolling interest

72,372

84,140

Total shareholders' equity

227,006

285,868

Total liabilities and shareholders' equity

$

2,803,842

$

2,802,641

Forward Air Corporation

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows

(In thousands)

(Unaudited)

Three Months Ended

March 31, 2025

March 31, 2024

Operating activities:

Net loss

$

(61,191

)

$

(88,794

)

Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash provided by (used in) operating activities:

Depreciation and amortization

37,360

31,786

Share-based compensation expense

2,958

1,567

Provision for revenue adjustments

647

1,038

Deferred income tax expense (benefit)

(2,792

)

2,945

Other

3,799

4,169

Changes in operating assets and liabilities, net of effects from the purchase of acquired businesses:

Accounts receivable

(21,145

)

(20,495

)

Other receivables

(434

)

5,367

Other current and noncurrent assets

767

(7,104

)

Accounts payable and accrued expenses

67,646

17,802

Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities

27,615

(51,719

)

Investing activities:

Proceeds from sale of property and equipment

691

849

Purchases of property and equipment

(11,906

)

(4,970

)

Purchases of a business, net of cash acquired

(1,565,242

)

Other

(24

)

(89

)

Net cash used in investing activities

(11,239

)

(1,569,452

)

Financing activities:

Repayments of finance lease obligations

(4,431

)

(4,562

)

Proceeds from credit facility

25,000

Payments on credit facility

(25,000

)

(80,000

)

Payment of debt issuance costs

(60,591

)

Payment of earn-out liability

(12,247

)

Payment of minimum tax withholdings on share-based awards

(894

)

(1,326

)

Net cash used in financing activities

(5,325

)

(158,726

)

Effect of exchange rate changes on cash

357

94

Net increase (decrease) in cash, cash equivalents, restricted cash, and restricted cash equivalents

11,408

(1,779,803

)

Cash, cash equivalents, restricted cash and restricted cash equivalents at beginning of period

105,266

1,952,073

Cash, cash equivalents, restricted cash and restricted cash equivalents at end of period

$

116,674

$

172,270

Forward Air Corporation Reconciliation of Non-GAAP Financial Measures

In this press release, the Company includes financial measures that are derived on the basis of methodologies other than in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States (GAAP). The Company believes that meaningful analysis of its financial performance requires an understanding of the factors underlying that performance, including an understanding of items that are non-operational. Management uses these non-GAAP financial measures in making financial, operating, compensation and planning decisions as well as evaluating the Company’s performance.

For the three months ended March 31, 2025 and 2024, this press release contains the following non-GAAP financial measures: Consolidated EBITDA, Reported EBITDA and free cash flow.

All non-GAAP financial measures are presented on a continuing operations basis.

The Company believes that Consolidated EBITDA and Reported EBITDA improves comparability from period to period by removing the impact of its capital structure (interest and financing expenses), asset base (depreciation and amortization) and tax impacts. The Company believes that free cash flow is an important measure of its ability to repay maturing debt or fund other uses of capital that it believes will enhance shareholder value.

The Company is also providing Consolidated EBITDA calculated in accordance with our credit agreement as we believe it provides investors with important information regarding our financial condition and compliance with our obligations under our credit agreement.

Non-GAAP financial measures should be viewed in addition to, and not as an alternative to or substitute for, the Company’s financial results prepared in accordance with GAAP. The Company has included, for the periods indicated, a reconciliation of the non-GAAP financial measure to the most directly comparable GAAP financial measure. Investors and other readers are encouraged to review the related U.S. GAAP financial measures and the reconciliations of the non-GAAP measures to their most directly comparable U.S. GAAP measures set forth below.

The following is a reconciliation of net income to Consolidated EBITDA for the three months ended March 31, 2025 and 2024 (in thousands):

Three Months Ended

March 31, 2025

March 31, 2024

Net (loss) income

$

(61,191

)

$

(88,794

)

Interest expense

45,547

40,753

Income tax (benefit) expense

19,589

(18,350

)

Depreciation and amortization

37,360

31,786

Reported EBITDA

41,305

(34,605

)

Transaction and integration costs

13,926

61,924

Severance costs

1,574

7,556

Optimization project costs

1,031

Pro forma synergies

10,507

Pro forma savings

11,447

Other

11,123

6,531

Consolidated EBITDA

$

68,959

$

63,360

The following is a reconciliation of net cash provided by operating activities to free cash flow for the three months ended March 31, 2025 and 2024 (in thousands):

Three Months Ended

March 31, 2025

March 31, 2024

Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities

$

27,615

$

(51,719

)

Proceeds from sale of property and equipment

691

849

Purchases of property and equipment

(11,906

)

(4,970

)

Free cash flow

$

16,400

$

(55,840

)

Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the safe harbor provisions of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements can be identified by words such as: “anticipate,” “intend,” “plan,” “goal,” “seek,” “believe,” “project,” “estimate,” “expect,” “strategy,” “future,” “likely,” “may,” “should,” “will” and similar references to future periods. Forward-looking statements included in this press release relate to the Company’s expectations for long-term growth; ability to achieve and expand synergistic service offerings; expectations regarding the corrective pricing actions that the Company has taken as well as the impact that may have on the business and the Company’s expectations regarding the Company’s financial performance, including Consolidated EBITDA, and the impact it may have on the business and results of operations.

Forward-looking statements are neither historical facts nor assurances of future performance. Instead, they are based only on our current beliefs, expectations and assumptions regarding the future of our business, future plans and strategies, projections, anticipated events and trends, the economy and other future conditions. Because forward-looking statements relate to the future, they are subject to inherent uncertainties, risks and changes in circumstances that are difficult to predict and many of which are outside of our control. Our actual results and financial condition may differ materially from those indicated in the forward-looking statements. Therefore, you should not unduly rely on any of these forward-looking statements. The following is a list of factors, among others, that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contemplated by the forward-looking statements: economic factors such as recessions, inflation, higher interest rates and downturns in customer business cycles, the Company's ability to achieve the expected strategic, financial and other benefits of the acquisition of Omni Logistics, the risk that the businesses will not be integrated successfully or that integration may be more difficult, time-consuming or costly than expected, the risk that operating costs, customer loss, management and employee retention and business disruption (including, without limitation, difficulties in maintaining relationships with employees, customers, clients or suppliers) as a result of the acquisition of Omni Logistics may be greater than expected, continued weakening of the freight environment, future debt and financing levels, our ability to deleverage, including, without limitation, through capital allocation or divestitures of non-core businesses, our ability to secure terminal facilities in desirable locations at reasonable rates, more limited liquidity than expected which limits our ability to make key investments, the creditworthiness of our customers and their ability to pay for services rendered, our inability to maintain our historical growth rate because of a decreased volume of freight or decreased average revenue per pound of freight moving through our network, the availability and compensation of qualified Leased Capacity Providers and freight handlers as well as contracted, third-party carriers needed to serve our customers’ transportation needs, our inability to manage our information systems and inability of our information systems to handle an increased volume of freight moving through our network, the occurrence of cybersecurity risks and events, market acceptance of our service offerings, claims for property damage, personal injuries or workers’ compensation, enforcement of and changes in governmental regulations, environmental, tax, insurance and accounting matters, the handling of hazardous materials, changes in fuel prices, loss of a major customer, increasing competition, and pricing pressure, our dependence on our senior management team and the potential effects of changes in employee status, seasonal trends, the occurrence of certain weather events, restrictions in our charter and bylaws and the risks described in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2024, and as may be identified in our subsequent Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q and Current Reports on Form 8-K.

We caution readers that any forward-looking statement made by us in this press release is based only on information currently available to us and they should not place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which reflect management's opinion as of the date on which it is made. We undertake no obligation to publicly update any forward- looking statement, whether written or oral, that may be made from time to time, whether as a result of new information, future developments or otherwise unless required by law.



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