XPO reports highest revenue of any quarter in its history

Significantly raises full year 2021 adjusted EBITDA guidance range to $1.825 billion to $1.875 billion

XPO Logistics, Inc. announced its financial results for the first quarter 2021. Revenue increased to $4.77 billion for the first quarter, compared with $3.86 billion for the same period in 2020. Net income attributable to common shareholders was $115 million for the first quarter, compared with $21 million for the same period in 2020. Operating income was $202 million for the first quarter, compared with $81 million for the same period in 2020. Diluted earnings per share was $1.02 for the first quarter, compared with $0.20 for the same period in 2020.

Adjusted net income attributable to common shareholders, a non-GAAP financial measure, was $164 million for the first quarter, compared with $71 million for the same period in 2020. Adjusted diluted earnings per share, a non-GAAP financial measure, was $1.46 for the first quarter, compared with $0.69 for the same period in 2020.

Adjusted earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization (“adjusted EBITDA”), a non-GAAP financial measure, increased to $443 million for the first quarter, compared with $333 million for the same period in 2020.

For the first quarter 2021, the company generated $173 million of cash flow from operations and $69 million of free cash flow, a non-GAAP financial measure.

Brad Jacobs, chairman and chief executive officer of XPO Logistics, said, “In the first quarter, we reported the highest revenue of any quarter in our history, appreciably outpacing a macro that’s recovering faster than expected. Our net income and adjusted EBITDA were both first quarter records, and we grew adjusted EPS by 112% year-over-year.

“Our truck brokerage business is continuing to outperform the market, powered by the growth of our XPO Connect digital platform. We increased our first quarter brokerage revenue by 83% year-over-year, and grew net revenue by 132%.

“In North American less-than-truckload, we improved our first quarter adjusted operating ratio, excluding real estate sales, by 220 basis points year-over-year to 84.3%. Our LTL business has strong momentum: our technology is expanding margin, and the recovery in the industrial economy is stimulating demand for our services.

“In logistics, our record first quarter revenue of $1.82 billion was propelled by the ‘big three’ logistics tailwinds: e-commerce, outsourcing and warehouse automation. We’ve won a tremendous amount of logistics business in the first four months of this year, including a $1.8 billion contract with a longstanding customer that extends and expands our relationship through 2032. This is the largest contract in our company’s history.”

Jacobs continued, “We now expect to grow our 2021 adjusted EBITDA by 31% to 35% year-over-year to a range of $1.825 billion to $1.875 billion, with strong contributions from both of our business segments.”