Universal Logistics Holdings, Inc. Reports Third Quarter 2025 Financial Results; Declares Dividend
WARREN, Mich., Nov. 6, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Universal Logistics Holdings, Inc. (NASDAQ: ULH) today reported consolidated operating revenues of $396.8 million, a loss from operations of $(74.2) million, a net loss of $(74.8) million, and $(2.84) earnings per basic and diluted share.
Universal's reported loss in the third quarter 2025 includes non-cash impairment charges totaling $81.2 million related to its intermodal reporting segment. These charges consisted of $58.0 million of goodwill impairment and $23.2 million of impairment related to certain customer-relationship intangible assets.
For comparative purposes, Universal reported total operating revenues of $426.8 million, income from operations of $42.6 million, net income of $26.5 million, and $1.01 earnings per basic and diluted share for the corresponding period last year. Included in third quarter 2024 results were previously disclosed impairment charges totaling $3.7 million.
Excluding the impact of the impairment charge in the third quarter 2025, the Company's adjusted income from operations, a non-GAAP measure, was $7.0 million. As a percentage of operating revenue, Universal's adjusted operating margin, also a non-GAAP measure, for the third quarter 2025 was 1.8%, compared to an adjusted operating margin of 10.9% during the same period last year.
The Company's adjusted EBITDA, a non-GAAP measure, during the third quarter 2025 was $43.3 million, compared to adjusted EBITDA of $76.6 million one year earlier. As a percentage of operating revenue, Universal's adjusted EBITDA margin, a non-GAAP measure, for the third quarter 2025 was 10.9%, compared to adjusted EBITDA margin of 18.0% during the same period last year.
The Company provides reconciliations of each non-GAAP financial measure used in this release to the most directly comparable financial measures calculated and presented in accordance with GAAP. These quantitative reconciliations, together with management's explanation of the purposes for which the non-GAAP measures are used, are presented in the accompanying tables and related disclosures.
"Despite the impact of certain non-cash impairment charges recorded in the third quarter 2025, Universal's core business model remains intact," stated Universal's CEO Tim Phillips. "Our contract logistics segment once again delivered favorable results and remains a central driver of our performance. Continued strong demand for our specialized heavy-haul services has contributed to the resilient performance of our trucking segment. Although the reversal of performance trends in our intermodal franchise is taking longer to materialize, we continue to make operational improvements and will strive to return this business segment to profitability. We believe that Universal's diversified service offerings continue to differentiate us in the market, and we remain focused on the execution of our strategy to drive long-term success."
Segment Information:
Contract Logistics
In the contract logistics segment, which includes our value-added and dedicated services, third quarter 2025 operating revenues increased 7.8% to $264.4 million, compared to $245.2 million for the same period last year. This segment's operating revenues in the quarter included $50.2 million from the recent acquisition of Parsec, while its revenues in the same period last year included $36.8 million attributable to our specialty development project in Stanton, TN completed last year. At the end of the second quarter of 2025, we managed 82 value-added programs, including 18 rail terminal operations compared to a total of 70 programs at the end of the third quarter 2024. This segment's revenues included $8.1 million in separately identified fuel surcharges from dedicated transportation services, compared to $7.0 million during the same period last year. Third quarter 2025 income from operations decreased $31.9 million to $13.7 million, compared to $45.6 million during the same period last year. As a percentage of revenue, operating margin in the contract logistics segment for the third quarter 2025 was 5.2%, compared to 18.6% during the same period last year.
Intermodal
Operating revenues in the intermodal segment decreased 16.7% to $64.7 million in the third quarter 2025, compared to $77.6 million for the same period last year. The intermodal segment's revenues for the recently completed quarter included $7.6 million in separately identified fuel surcharges, compared to $10.0 million during the same period last year. Intermodal segment revenues also include other accessorial charges such as detention, demurrage and storage, which totaled $9.0 million during the third quarter 2025, compared to $8.9 million one year earlier. Load volumes declined 1.9%, and the average operating revenue per load, excluding fuel surcharges, fell an additional 14.2% on a year-over-year basis. In the third quarter 2025, the intermodal segment experienced an operating loss of $(92.0) million, including the $81.2 million previously discussed impairment charges, compared to an operating loss of $(1.1) million during the same period last year.
Trucking
In the trucking segment, third quarter 2025 operating revenues decreased 22.2% to $67.7 million, compared to $87.0 million for the same period last year. Third quarter 2025 revenues in this segment included $17.3 million of brokerage services, compared to $24.3 million during the same period last year. Also included in our trucking segment revenues were $3.6 million in separately identified fuel surcharges during the third quarter of 2025, compared to $4.8 million in fuel surcharges during the same period last year. On a year-over-year basis, load volumes declined by 19.4%, and the average operating revenue per load, excluding fuel surcharges, fell an additional 2.3%. Income from operations in the third quarter of 2025 decreased $3.2 million to $3.9 million compared to $7.1 million during the same period last year. As a percentage of revenue, operating margin in the trucking segment for the third quarter 2025 was 5.8% compared to 8.2% during the same period last year.
Cash Dividend
Universal Logistics Holdings, Inc. also announced today that its Board of Directors declared a cash dividend of $0.105 per share of common stock. The dividend is payable to shareholders of record at the close of business on December 1, 2025 and is expected to be paid on January 2, 2026.
Other Matters
As of September 27, 2025, Universal held cash and cash equivalents totaling $27.4 million, and $9.8 million in marketable securities. Outstanding debt at the end of the third quarter 2025 was $827.0 million, and capital expenditures totaled $54.5 million.
Based on currently available information, Universal expects fourth quarter 2025 operating revenues to range from $365 million to $385 million, operating margins to range from 4% to 6%, and EBITDA margins between 12% and 14%.
Universal calculates and reports selected financial metrics not only for purposes of our lending arrangements but also in an effort to isolate and exclude the impact of non-operating expenses related to our corporate development activities. These statistics and the corresponding reconciliations to GAAP are described in more detail below in the section captioned "Non-GAAP Financial Measures."
About Universal:
Universal Logistics Holdings, Inc. ("Universal") is a holding company whose subsidiaries provide a variety of customized transportation and logistics solutions throughout the United States and in Mexico, Canada and Colombia. Our operating subsidiaries provide our customers with supply chain solutions that can be scaled to meet their changing demands. We offer our customers a broad array of services across their entire supply chain, including truckload, brokerage, intermodal, dedicated and value-added services. In this press release, the terms "us," "we," "our," or the "Company" refer to Universal and its consolidated subsidiaries.
Forward Looking Statements
Some of the statements contained in this press release might be considered forward-looking statements. These statements identify prospective information. Forward-looking statements can be identified by words such as: "expect," "anticipate," "intend," "plan," "goal," "prospect," "seek," "believe," "targets," "project," "estimate," "future," "likely," "may," "should" and similar references to future periods. Forward-looking statements are based on information available at the time and/or management's good faith belief with respect to future events and are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual performance or results to differ materially from those expressed in the statements. These forward-looking statements are subject to a number of factors that may cause actual results to differ materially from the expectations described. Additional information about the factors that may adversely affect these forward-looking statements is contained in Universal's reports and filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Universal assumes no obligation to update forward-looking statements to reflect actual results, changes in assumptions or changes in other factors affecting forward-looking information except to the extent required by applicable securities laws.
UNIVERSAL LOGISTICS HOLDINGS, INC.
Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income
(In thousands, except per share data)
Thirteen Weeks Ended
Thirty-nine Weeks Ended
September 27,
2025
September 28,
2024
September 27,
2025
September 28,
2024
Operating revenues:
Truckload services
$
50,419
$
63,641
$
134,119
$
172,547
Brokerage services
18,011
42,440
57,847
155,714
Intermodal services
63,966
75,558
200,165
230,342
Dedicated services
86,171
87,357
253,007
266,389
Value-added services
178,219
157,837
527,832
555,912
Total operating revenues
396,786
426,833
1,172,970
1,380,904
Operating expenses:
Purchased transportation and equipment rent
80,063
120,700
241,314
382,628
Direct personnel and related benefits
176,572
132,081
509,105
408,381
Operating supplies and expenses
57,523
60,532
159,186
216,914
Commission expense
4,271
6,985
12,922
22,485
Occupancy expense
13,738
11,179
36,794
32,189
General and administrative
13,625
13,037
40,828
41,242
Insurance and claims
8,494
5,681
23,057
20,722
Depreciation and amortization
35,499
30,284
107,190
87,795
Impairment expense
81,245
3,720
81,245
3,720
Total operating expenses
471,030
384,199
1,211,641
1,216,076
Income (loss) from operations
(74,244)
42,634
(38,671)
164,828
Interest expense, net
(9,985)
(7,416)
(27,061)
(20,378)
Other non-operating income
833
4
1,560
2,007
Income (loss) before income taxes
(83,396)
35,222
(64,172)
146,457
Income tax expense (benefit)
(8,624)
8,682
(3,730)
36,726
Net income (loss)
$
(74,772)
$
26,540
$
(60,442)
$
109,731
Earnings per common share:
Basic
$
(2.84)
$
1.01
$
(2.30)
$
4.17
Diluted
$
(2.84)
$
1.01
$
(2.29)
$
4.17
Weighted average number of common shares outstanding:
Basic
26,330
26,318
26,327
26,314
Diluted
26,340
26,353
26,341
26,345
Dividends declared per common share:
$
0.105
$
0.105
$
0.315
$
0.315
UNIVERSAL LOGISTICS HOLDINGS, INC.
Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets
(In thousands)
September 27,
2025
December 31,
2024
Assets
Cash and cash equivalents
$
27,381
$
19,351
Marketable securities
9,791
11,590
Accounts receivable - net
277,603
293,646
Other current assets
114,237
85,226
Total current assets
429,012
409,813
Property and equipment - net
831,833
742,366
Other long-term assets - net
556,263
634,658
Total assets
$
1,817,108
$
1,786,837
Liabilities and shareholders' equity
Current liabilities, excluding current maturities of debt
$
219,038
$
215,756
Debt - net
824,181
759,085
Other long-term liabilities
195,817
164,973
Total liabilities
1,239,036
1,139,814
Total stockholders' equity
578,072
647,023
Total liabilities and stockholders' equity
$
1,817,108
$
1,786,837
UNIVERSAL LOGISTICS HOLDINGS, INC.
Unaudited Summary of Operating Data
Thirteen Weeks Ended
Thirty-nine Weeks Ended
September 27,
2025
September 28,
2024
September 27,
2025
September 28,
2024
Contract Logistics Segment:
Average number of value-added direct employees
7,596
5,189
7,418
5,300
Average number of value-added full-time equivalents
43
76
42
118
Number of active value-added programs
82
70
82
70
Intermodal Segment:
Number of loads (a)
102,028
103,970
297,825
317,333
Average operating revenue per load, excluding fuel surcharges (a)
$
478
$
557
$
519
$
559
Average number of tractors
1,363
1,596
1,385
1,629
Number of depots
8
8
8
8
Trucking Segment:
Number of loads
29,731
36,909
89,804
119,220
Average operating revenue per load, excluding fuel surcharges
$
2,172
$
2,222
$
1,991
$
1,936
Average number of tractors
594
755
610
790
Average length of haul
371
395
377
373
(a)
Excludes operating data from freight forwarding division in order to improve the relevance of the statistical data related to our intermodal segment and improve the comparability to our peer companies.
UNIVERSAL LOGISTICS HOLDINGS, INC.
Unaudited Summary of Operating Data - Continued
(Dollars in thousands)
Thirteen Weeks Ended
Thirty-nine Weeks Ended
September 27,
2025
September 28,
2024
September 27,
2025
September 28,
2024
Operating Revenues by Segment:
Contract logistics
$
264,390
$
245,194
$
780,839
$
822,301
Intermodal
64,679
77,632
204,290
235,649
Trucking
67,716
87,047
187,368
248,142
Other
1
16,960
473
74,812
Total
$
396,786
$
426,833
$
1,172,970
$
1,380,904
Income (loss) from Operations by Segment:
Contract logistics
$
13,720
$
45,623
$
59,349
$
179,990
Intermodal
(91,950)
(1,127)
(108,335)
(18,058)
Trucking
3,914
7,122
9,443
15,175
Other
72
(8,984)
872
(12,279)
Total
$
(74,244)
$
42,634
$
(38,671)
$
164,828
Non-GAAP Financial Measures
This press release contains financial measures that are not calculated in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles ("GAAP"). These non-GAAP financial measures include adjusted income from operations, adjusted operating margin, adjusted earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization ("adjusted EBITDA"), and adjusted EBITDA margin.
The Company believes these non-GAAP financial measures provide useful supplemental information to investors by facilitating comparisons of operating performance across periods and by excluding certain items and impairment charges that may not be indicative of our core operating results. These measures are used internally by management to analyze operating performance, develop budgets, and forecast future periods. However, these non-GAAP measures should not be considered in isolation or as a substitute for GAAP financial measures, and other companies may calculate similarly titled measures differently.
Reconciliation to GAAP Measures
Reconciliations of each non-GAAP measure to the most directly comparable GAAP measure are included in the accompanying tables in this press release. Set forth below is a reconciliation of income from operations, the most comparable GAAP measure, to adjusted income from operations; and of net income, the most comparable GAAP measure, to adjusted EBITDA for each of the periods indicated. The Company encourages investors to review these reconciliations in conjunction with our GAAP results.
Thirteen Weeks Ended
Thirty-nine Weeks Ended
September 27,
2025
September 28,
2024
September 27,
2025
September 28,
2024
( in thousands, except percentages
and per share data)
( in thousands, except percentages
and per share data)
Adjusted income from operations
Income (loss) from operations
$
(74,244)
$
42,634
$
(38,671)
$
164,828
Impairment expense
81,245
3,720
81,245
3,720
Adjusted income from operations
$
7,001
$
46,354
$
42,574
$
168,548
Adjusted operating margin (a)
1.8
%
10.9
%
3.6
%
12.2
%
Adjusted EBITDA
Net income (loss)
$
(74,772)
26,540
(60,442)
109,731
Income tax expense (benefit)
(8,624)
8,682
(3,730)
36,726
Interest expense, net
9,985
7,416
27,061
20,378
Depreciation
32,719
25,536
93,304
73,490
Amortization
2,780
4,748
13,886
14,305
EBITDA
(37,912)
72,922
70,079
254,630
Impairment expense
81,245
3,720
81,245
3,720
Adjusted EBITDA
$
43,333
$
76,642
$
151,324
$
258,350
Adjusted EBITDA margin (b)
10.9
%
18.0
%
12.9
%
18.7
%
(a)
Adjusted operating margin is computed by dividing adjusted income from operations by total operating revenues for each of the periods indicated.
(d)
Adjusted EBITDA margin is computed by dividing adjusted EBITDA by total operating revenues for each of the periods indicated.
We present adjusted income from operations, adjusted operating margin, adjusted EBITDA, and adjusted EBITDA margin because we believe they assist investors and analysts in comparing our performance across reporting periods on a consistent basis by excluding items that we do not believe are indicative of our core operating performance.
Adjusted income from operations and adjusted EBITDA have limitations as an analytical tool. Some of these limitations are:
Because of these limitations, adjusted income from operations, adjusted operating margin, adjusted EBITDA and adjusted EBITDA margin should not be considered in isolation or as a substitute for performance measures calculated in accordance with GAAP. We compensate for these limitations by relying primarily on our GAAP results and only supplementally adjusted income from operations, adjusted operating margin, adjusted EBITDA and adjusted EBITDA margin.
SOURCE Universal Logistics Holdings, Inc.