Universal Logistics Q4 profit plunges as intermodal losses deepen

Universal Logistics Holdings reported sharply weaker fiscal results for the 4th fourth of 2025, arsenic declines crossed respective proscription segments — peculiarly intermodal — weighed connected the company’s earnings.

The Warren, Michigan-based logistics supplier reported fourth-quarter operating gross of $385.4 million, down from $465.1 cardinal a twelvemonth earlier, portion nett income fell to $3.7 million, oregon 14 cents per share, compared with $20.2 million, oregon 77 cents per share, successful the 4th fourth of 2024.

Operating income besides dropped significantly, falling to $17.5 cardinal from $38.3 cardinal a twelvemonth earlier arsenic operating margins compressed to 4.5% from 8.2%.

“The 4th fourth of 2025 yielded mixed results wrong our work portfolio,” CEO Tim Phillips said successful a quality release. “Our declaration logistics and trucking segments performed successful enactment with expectations, portion underperformance successful intermodal remained a meaningful headwind to our wide results.”

Universal’s declaration logistics segment, which includes value-added and dedicated services, remained the company’s largest concern enactment but inactive posted little revenue.

Contract logistics generated $268.6 cardinal successful revenue, down 12.6% twelvemonth implicit twelvemonth from $307.4 million. The diminution was partially owed to the completion of a specialty improvement task successful Stanton, Tennessee, that contributed much than $51 cardinal successful gross successful the prior-year quarter.

The conception recorded operating income of $23.2 million, compared with $39.1 cardinal successful the prior-year quarter.

Universal’s intermodal conception posted the steepest operational pressure, with gross dropping to $52.7 million, down 27.9% from $73.1 cardinal a twelvemonth earlier.

Load volumes declined 19.1%, portion pricing fell further, pushing the conception to an operating nonaccomplishment of $10.6 million, compared with a $9.7 cardinal nonaccomplishment successful the aforesaid 4th of 2024.

The company’s trucking conception reported gross of $64.1 million, down 23.6% twelvemonth implicit twelvemonth from $83.8 million.

Within that segment, brokerage services gross fell to $16.1 million, compared with $25.5 cardinal a twelvemonth earlier arsenic shipment volumes declined.

Load volumes successful the trucking conception fell 25.9% twelvemonth implicit year, though gross per load accrued modestly.

Despite the weaker earnings, Universal’s committee declared a quarterly dividend of 10.5 cents per share, payable April 3, to shareholders of grounds connected March 23.

The institution ended the 4th with $26.8 cardinal successful currency and currency equivalents and $802.3 cardinal successful outstanding debt.