Table of Contents

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 

FORM 10-K

 

ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d)

OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2018

 

Commission file number 0-20797

 

RUSH ENTERPRISES, INC .

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

             

  Texas   74-1733016  
  (State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization)   (I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)  
         
  555 IH 35 South, New Braunfels, TX   78130  
  (Address of principal executive offices)    (Zip Code)  

                            

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: (830) 302 -5200

 

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:

Class A and Class B Common Stock, $.01 par value   NASDAQ Global Select Market
Title of each class   Name of each exchange on which registered

          

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act:

None

 

Indicate by check mark if the registrant is a well-known seasoned issuer, as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act.                                         

Yes ☑          No ☐

 

Indicate by check mark if the registrant is not required to file reports pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act.                                   

Yes ☐          No ☑

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days.

                                   Yes ☑          No ☐

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit such files).

Yes ☑                    No ☐

 

Indicate by check mark if disclosure of delinquent filers pursuant to Item 405 of Regulation S-K is not contained herein, and will not be contained, to the best of registrant's knowledge, in definitive proxy or information statements incorporated by reference in Part III of this Form 10-K or any amendment to this Form 10-K. ☑

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, a smaller reporting company, or an emerging growth company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer,” “smaller reporting company,” and “emerging growth company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.

Large accelerated filer ☑ Accelerated filer ☐  Non-accelerated filer ☐ Smaller Reporting company ☐
       
      Emerging growth company ☐

               

If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. ☐

 

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act).                                                  Yes ☐          No ☑

 

The aggregate market value of common stock held by non-affiliates of the registrant as of June 29, 2018 was approximately $1,552,855,317 based upon the last sales price on June 29, 2018 on The NASDAQ Global Select Market SM of $43.38 for the registrant’s Class A Common Stock and $43.90 for the registrant’s Class B Common Stock. Shares of Common Stock held by each executive officer and director and by each shareholder affiliated with a director or an executive officer have been excluded from this calculation because such persons may be deemed to be affiliates. This determination of affiliate status is not necessarily a conclusive determination for other purposes.

 

The registrant had 28,236,569 shares Class A Common Stock and 8,267,802 shares of Class B Common Stock outstanding on February 12, 2019.

 

DOCUMENTS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE

Portions of registrant’s definitive proxy statement for the registrant’s 20 1 9 Annual Meeting of Shareholders, to be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission not later than 120 days after December 31, 2018 , are incorporated by reference into Part III of this Form 10-K.

 

 

 

RUSH ENTERPRISES, INC.

 

Index to Form 10-K

 

Year ended December 31, 201 8

 

 

    Page No.

 

Part I    

Item 1

Business

4

 

Item 1A

Risk Factors

17

 

Item 1B

Unresolved Staff Comments

23

 

Item 2

Properties

23

 

Item 3

Legal Proceedings

23

 

Item 4

Mine Safety Disclosures

23

 
       
       

 

Part II    
       

Item 5

Market for Registrant’s Common Equity, Related Shareholder Matters and Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities

   

Item 6

Selected Financial Data

24

 

Item 7

Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations

27  

Item 7A

Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk

40

 

Item 8

Financial Statements and Supplementary Data

41

 

Item 9

Changes in and Disagreements with Accountants on Accounting and Financial Disclosure

71  

Item 9A

Controls and Procedures

71

 

Item 9B

Other Information

73

 
       

 

Part III    
       

Item 10

Directors, Executive Officers and Corporate Governance

73

 

Item 11

Executive Compensation

73

 

Item 12

Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management and Related Shareholder Matters

73  

Item 13

Certain Relationships and Related Transactions, and Director Independence

73

 

Item 14

Principal Accountant Fees and Services

73

 
       

 

Part IV    
       

Item 15

Exhibits, Financial Statement Schedules

74

 

Item 16

Form 10-K Summary

76

 

 

 

 

NOTE REGARDING FORWARD - LOOKING STATEMENTS

 

Certain statements contained in this Form 10-K (or otherwise made by the Company or on the Company’s behalf from time to time in other reports, filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”), news releases, conferences, website postings or otherwise) that are not statements of historical fact constitute “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), and Section 21E of the Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), notwithstanding that such statements are not specifically identified. Forward-looking statements include statements about the Company’s financial position, business strategy and plans and objectives of management of the Company for future operations. These forward-looking statements reflect the best judgments of the Company about the future events and trends based on the beliefs of the Company’s management as well as assumptions made by and information currently available to the Company’s management. Use of the words “may,” “should,” “continue,” “plan,” “potential,” “anticipate,” “believe,” “estimate,” “expect” and “intend” and words or phrases of similar import, as they relate to the Company or its subsidiaries or Company management, are intended to identify forward-looking statements but are not the exclusive means of identifying such statements. Forward-looking statements reflect our current view of the Company with respect to future events and are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in such statements. Please read Item 1A. “Risk Factors” for a discuss ion of certain of those risks. Other unknown or unpredictable factors could also have a material adverse effect on future results. Although the Company believes that its expectations are reasonable as of the date of this Form 10-K , it can give no assurance that such expectations will prove to be correct. The Company does not intend to update or revise any forward-looking statements unless securities laws require it to do so, and the Company undertakes no obligation to publicly release any revisions to forward-looking statements, whether because of new information, future events or otherwise.

 

NOTE REGARDING TRADEMARKS COMMONLY USED IN THE COMPANY’S FILINGS

 

Peterbilt ® is a registered trademark of Peterbilt Motors Company. PACCAR ® is a registered trademark of PACCAR, Inc. PacLease ® is a registered trademark of PACCAR Leasing Corporation. Navistar ® is a registered trademark of Navistar International Corporation. International ® is a registered trademark of Navistar International Transportation Corp. Idealease is a registered trademark of Idealease, Inc. aka Idealease of North America, Inc. B lue Bird ® is a registered trademark of Blue Bird Investment Corporation . IC Bus ® is a registered trademark of IC Bus, LLC. Fuso ® is a registered trademark of Mitsubishi Fuso Truck and Bus Corporation . Hino ® is a registered trademark of Hino Motors, Ltd. Isuzu ® is a registered trademark of Isuzu Motors Limited. Ford Motor Credit Company ® is a registered trademark of Ford Motor Company. Ford ® is a registered trademark of Ford Motor Company . SAP ® is a registered trademark of SAP Aktiengesellschaft. This report contains additional trade names or trademarks of other companies. Our use of such trade names or trademarks should not imply any endorsement or relationship with such companies.

 

PART I

 

Item 1. Business

 

References herein to “the Company,” “Rush Enterprises,” “we,” “our” or “us” mean Rush Enterprises, Inc., a Texas corporation, and its subsidiaries unless the context requires otherwise.

 

Access to Company Information

 

We electronically file annual reports, quarterly reports, proxy statements and other reports and information statements with the SEC. You may read and copy any of the materials that we have filed with the SEC at the SEC’s Public Reference Room at 100 F Street NE, Washington, DC 20549. You may obtain information about the Public Reference Room by calling the SEC at 1-800-SEC-0330. Our filings are also available to you on the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov.

 

We make certain of our SEC filings available, free of charge, through our website, including annual reports on Form 10-K, quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, current reports on Form 8-K and all amendments to these reports. These filings are available as soon as reasonably practicable after such material is electronically filed with, or furnished to, the SEC. Our website address is www.rushenterprises.com. The information contained on our website, or on other websites linked to our website, is not incorporated into this report or otherwise made part of this report.

 

 

General

 

Rush Enterprises, Inc. was incorporated in Texas in 1965 and consists of one reportable segment, the Truck Segment, and conducts business through its subsidiaries. Our principal offices are located at 555 IH 35 South, Suite 500, New Braunfels, Texas 78130.

 

We are a full-service, integrated retailer of commercial vehicles and related services. The Truck Segment includes the Company’s operation of a network of commercial vehicle dealerships under the name “Rush Truck Centers.” Rush Truck Centers primarily sell commercial vehicles manufactured by Peterbilt, International, Hino, Ford, Isuzu, Mitsubishi Fuso, IC Bus or Blue Bird. Through our strategically located network of Rush Truck Centers, we provide one-stop service for the needs of our commercial vehicle customers, including retail sales of new and used commercial vehicles, aftermarket parts sales, service and repair facilities, financing, leasing and rental, and insurance products.

 

Our Rush Truck Centers are principally located in high traffic areas throughout the United States. Since commencing operations as a Peterbilt heavy-duty truck dealer in 1966, we have grown to operate over 100 Rush Truck Centers in 22 states.

 

Our business strategy consists of providing solutions to the commercial vehicle industry through our network of commercial vehicle dealerships. We offer an integrated approach to meeting customer needs by providing service, parts and collision repairs in addition to new and used commercial vehicle sales and leasing, plus financial services, vehicle upfitting, CNG fuel systems and vehicle telematics products. We intend to continue to implement our business strategy, reinforce customer loyalty and remain a market leader by continuing to develop our Rush Truck Centers as we expand our product offerings and extend our dealership network through strategic acquisitions of new locations and opening new dealerships to enable us to better serve our customers.

 

Rush Truck Centers. Our Rush Truck Centers are located in Alabama, Arizona, California, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Missouri, Nevada, New Mexico, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Texas, Utah and Virginia. The following chart reflects our franchises and parts, service and collision repair operations by location as of February 25, 2019:

 

 

Rush Truck Center Location

Commercial Vehicle Franchise(s)

Truck

Sales

Parts

and

Service

Collision

Center

Alabama

       

Mobile

Peterbilt

Yes

Yes

Yes

Birmingham

None

Yes

Yes

No

Arizona

       

Flagstaff

Peterbilt

No

Yes

No

Phoenix

Peterbilt, Hino

Yes

Yes

Yes

Tucson

Peterbilt, Hino

Yes

Yes

No

Yuma

Peterbilt

Yes

Yes

No

California

       

Bakersfield

None

No

Yes

No

Fontana Heavy-Duty

Peterbilt

Yes

Yes

Yes

Fontana Medium-Duty

Peterbilt, Hino, Isuzu

Yes

Yes

No

Fontana Vocational

None

No

Yes

No

Long Beach

Peterbilt

No

Yes

No

Modesto

Ford

Yes

Yes

No

Pico Rivera

Peterbilt

Yes

Yes

Yes

San Diego

Peterbilt, Hino, Ford

Yes

Yes

No

Sylmar

Peterbilt

Yes

Yes

No

Whittier

Ford, Isuzu

Yes

Yes

No

Colorado

       

Colorado Springs

Peterbilt

Yes

Yes

No

Denver

Peterbilt, Ford, Isuzu

Yes

Yes

Yes

Greeley

Peterbilt

Yes

Yes

No

Pueblo

Peterbilt

Yes

Yes

No

 

 

Rush Truck Center Location

 Commercial Vehicle Franchise(s)

Truck

Sales

Parts

and

Service

Collision

Center

         

Florida

       

Haines City

Peterbilt

Yes

Yes

Yes

Jacksonville

Peterbilt, Hino

Yes

Yes

No

Lake City

Peterbilt

Yes

Yes

No

Orlando Heavy-Duty

Peterbilt, Isuzu

Yes

Yes

No

Orlando Light & Medium-Duty

Ford

Yes

Yes

No

Orlando North

Isuzu

Yes

Yes

No

Orlando South

Isuzu

Yes

Yes

No

Tampa

Peterbilt

Yes

Yes

No

Georgia

       

Atlanta

International, Hino, Isuzu, IC Bus

Yes

Yes

No

Atlanta Bus Center

IC Bus

Yes

Yes

Yes

Adairsville

International

No

Yes

No

Augusta

International, IC Bus

Yes

Yes

No

Blackshear

International, IC Bus

Yes

Yes

No

Columbus

International, Isuzu, IC Bus

Yes

Yes

No

Doraville

International, Hino, Isuzu, IC Bus

Yes

Yes

No

Gainesville

International, IC Bus

Yes

Yes

No

Macon

International

Yes

Yes

No

Savannah

IC Bus

Yes

Yes

No

Smyrna

International, Hino, Isuzu, IC Bus

Yes

Yes

No

Tifton

International, IC Bus

Yes

Yes

No

Valdosta

International

Yes

Yes

No

Idaho

       

Boise

International, Hino, IC Bus

Yes

Yes

Yes

Idaho Falls

International, IC Bus

Yes

Yes

Yes

Lewiston

International

Yes

Yes

No

Twin Falls

International

Yes

Yes

No

Illinois

       

Bloomington

International, Hino

Yes

Yes

No

Carol Stream

International

Yes

Yes

No

Champaign

International

Yes

Yes

Yes

Chicago

International

Yes

Yes

Yes

Effingham

International

Yes

Yes

Yes

Huntley

International

Yes

Yes

No

Joliet

International

Yes

Yes

No

Quincy

International

Yes

Yes

No

Springfield

International

Yes

Yes

Yes

Indiana

       

Gary

International

Yes

Yes

No

Indianapolis

International

Yes

Yes

Yes

Kansas

       

Kansas City

Hino, Isuzu

Yes

Yes

No

Kentucky

       

Bowling Green

Peterbilt

Yes

Yes

No

Missouri

       

St. Peters

International

Yes

Yes

No

St. Louis

International

Yes

Yes

No

Nevada

       

Las Vegas

Peterbilt

Yes

Yes

No

New Mexico

       

Albuquerque

Peterbilt

Yes

Yes

Yes

Farmington

Peterbilt

No

Yes

No

Las Cruces

Peterbilt

Yes

Yes

No

 

 

Rush Truck Center Location

Commercial Vehicle Franchise(s)

Truck

Sales

Parts

and

Service

Collision

Center

         

North Carolina

       

Asheville

International

Yes

Yes

No

Charlotte

International, Hino, Isuzu

Yes

Yes

Yes

Hickory

International

Yes

Yes

No

Ohio

       

Akron

International, IC Bus

Yes

Yes

No

Cincinnati

International, IC Bus, Isuzu, Ford, Mitsubishi Fuso

Yes

Yes

Yes

Cleveland

International, IC Bus

Yes

Yes

No

Columbus

International, IC Bus, Isuzu(1)

Yes

Yes

No

Dayton

International, IC Bus, Isuzu

Yes

Yes

No

Lima

International, IC Bus

Yes

Yes

No

Oklahoma

       

Ardmore

Peterbilt

Yes

Yes

No

Oklahoma City

Peterbilt, Hino, Ford, Isuzu

Yes

Yes

Yes

Tulsa

Peterbilt, Hino

Yes

Yes

Yes

Pennsylvania

       

Greencastle

None

Yes

Yes

No

Tennessee

       

Memphis

None

Yes

Yes

No

Nashville

Peterbilt

Yes

Yes

Yes

Texas

       

Abilene

Peterbilt

Yes

Yes

No

Amarillo

Peterbilt

Yes

Yes

No

Austin

Peterbilt, Hino, Isuzu, Blue Bird, Micro Bird, Elkhart

Yes

Yes

No

Austin North

Peterbilt

No

Yes

No

Beaumont

Peterbilt

Yes

Yes

No

Brownsville

Peterbilt, Elkhart

Yes

Yes

No

College Station

Peterbilt

Yes

Yes

No

Corpus Christi

Peterbilt, Hino, Isuzu, Blue Bird, Elkhart

Yes

Yes

No

Cotulla

Peterbilt

No

Yes

No

Dalhart

Peterbilt

No

Yes

No

Dallas Heavy-Duty

Peterbilt, Blue Bird, Micro Bird, Elkhart

Yes

Yes

Yes

Dallas Medium-Duty

Peterbilt, Hino,

Blue Bird, Micro Bird, Elkhart

Yes

Yes

No

Dallas Light & Medium-Duty

Ford, Isuzu

Yes

Yes

No

El Paso

Peterbilt, Hino, Isuzu

Yes

Yes

Yes

Fort Worth

Peterbilt, Blue Bird, Micro Bird, Elkhart

Yes

Yes

No

Houston

Peterbilt, Hino

Yes

Yes

Yes

Houston Bus Center

Blue Bird, Micro Bird, Elkhart

Yes

Yes

No

Houston Medium-Duty

Peterbilt, Hino

Yes

Yes

No

Laredo

Peterbilt, Blue Bird, Micro Bird, Elkhart

Yes

Yes

Yes

Lubbock

Peterbilt

Yes

Yes

No

Lufkin

Peterbilt, Blue Bird, Micro Bird, Elkhart

Yes

Yes

Yes

Odessa

Peterbilt

Yes

Yes

No

Pharr

Peterbilt, Hino, Blue Bird, Micro Bird, Elkhart

Yes

Yes

Yes

 

  (1)    Our Isuzu franchise is operated out of our Rush Truck Leasing - Columbus location.

 

 

Rush Truck Center Location

Commercial Vehicle Franchise(s)

Truck

Sales

Parts

and

Service

Collision

Center

San Antonio

Peterbilt, Hino, Blue Bird, Micro Bird, Elkhart

Yes

Yes

Yes

San Antonio Bus

Blue Bird, Micro Bird, Elkhart

Yes

Yes

Yes

Sealy

Peterbilt, Isuzu, Blue Bird, Micro Bird, Elkhart

Yes

Yes

No

Texarkana

Peterbilt, Hino, Isuzu,

Blue Bird, Micro Bird, Elkhart

Yes

Yes

No

Tyler

Peterbilt, Blue Bird, Micro Bird, Elkhart

Yes

Yes

No

Victoria

Peterbilt

Yes

Yes

No

Waco

Peterbilt, Hino, Isuzu,

Blue Bird, Micro Bird, Elkhart

Yes

Yes

No

Utah

       

Ogden

International, IC Bus

Yes

Yes

No

Salt Lake City

International, IC Bus, Mitsubishi Fuso

Yes

Yes

Yes

Springville

International, Mitsubishi Fuso

Yes

Yes

No

St. George

International, Mitsubishi Fuso

Yes

Yes

No

Virginia

       

Chester

International, Hino

Yes

Yes

No

Fredericksburg

International

Yes

Yes

No

Richmond

International

Yes

Yes

Yes

 

Le asing and Rental Services. Through certain of our Rush Truck Centers and several stand-alone Rush Truck Leasing Centers, we provide a broad line of product selections for lease or rent, including Class 4, Class 5, Class 6, Class 7 and Class 8 trucks, heavy-duty cranes and refuse vehicles. Our lease and rental fleets are offered on a daily, monthly or long-term basis. Substantially all of our long-term leases also contain a service provision, whereby we agree to service the vehicle through the life of the lease. The following chart reflects our leasing franchises by location:

 

Rush Truck Leasing

Location

Franchise

Standalone or in a

Rush Truck Center

Alabama

   

Birmingham

PacLease

In RTC

Arizona

   

Phoenix

PacLease

Standalone

California

   

Fontana 

PacLease

Standalone

Pico Rivera

PacLease

Standalone

San Diego

PacLease

In RTC

Sylmar

PacLease

In RTC

Colorado

   

Denver 

PacLease

Standalone

Flor ida

   

Orlando

PacLease

Standalone

Tampa

PacLease

In RTC

Jacksonville

PacLease

Standalone

Georgia

   

Macon

Idealease

In RTC

Idaho

   

Boise

Idealease

In RTC

Idaho Falls

Idealease

In RTC

I llinois

   

Carol Stream

Idealease

In RTC

Chicago

Idealease

In RTC

Effingham

Idealease

In RTC

Huntley

Idealease

In RTC

Joliet

Idealease

In RTC

Springfield

Idealease

In RTC

 

 

Rush Truck Leasing

Location

Franchise

Standalone or in a

Rush Truck Center

Indiana

   

Indianapolis

Idealease

In RTC

Gary

Idealease

In RTC

Missouri

   

St. Louis

Idealease

In RTC

St. Peters

Idealease

In RTC

New Mexico

   

Albuquerque

PacLease

Standalone

Nevada

   

Las Vegas

PacLease

In RTC

North Carolina

   

Charlotte

Idealease

Standalone

Ohio

   

Cincinnati

Idealease

Standalone

Cleveland

Idealease

Standalone

Columbus

Idealease

In RTC

Dayton

Idealease

In RTC

Oklahoma

   

Oklahoma City

PacLease

In RTC

Tennessee

   

Nashville

PacLease

In RTC

Texa s

   

Austin

PacLease

Standalone

El Paso

PacLease

In RTC

Fort Worth

PacLease

Standalone

Houston

PacLease

Standalone

Houston NW

PacLease

In RTC

Odessa

PacLease

Standalone

San Antonio

PacLease

In RTC

Tyler

PacLease

Standalone

Virginia

   

Richmond

Idealease

Standalone

Norfolk

Idealease

Standalone

Utah

   

Salt Lake City

Idealease

Standalone

 

In addition to the locations in the above table, Rush Truck Leasing also provides full-service maintenance on customers’ vehicles at several of our customers’ facilities.

 

Financial and Insurance Products . At our Rush Truck Centers, we offer third-party financing to assist customers in purchasing new and used commercial vehicles. Additionally, we sell, as agent through our insurance agency, a complete line of property and casualty insurance, including collision and liability insurance on commercial vehicles, cargo insurance and credit life insurance.

 

Other Businesses . Perfection Equipment offers installation of equipment, equipment repair, parts installation, and paint and body repair at our location in Oklahoma City. Perfection Equipment specializes in up-fitting trucks used by oilfield service providers and other specialized service providers.

 

World Wide Tires stores operate in two locations in Texas. World Wide Tires primarily sells tires for use on commercial vehicles.

 

Custom Vehicle Solutions operates at locations in Denton, Texas and Greencastle, Pennsylvania. Custom Vehicle Solutions provides new vehicle pre-delivery inspections, truck modifications, natural gas fuel system installations, body and chassis upfitting and component installation.

 

The House of Trucks operates at locations in Dallas, Texas, Miami, Florida and Chicago, Illinois. The House of Trucks sells used commercial vehicles, new and used trailers and offers third-party financing and insurance products.

 

 

Momentum Fuel Technologies manufactures compressed natural gas fuel systems and related component parts for commercial vehicles at its facility in Roanoke, Texas.

 

Industry

 

See Part II, Item 7, “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations – Industry” for a description of our industry and the markets in which we operate.

 

Our Business Strategy

 

Operating Strategy. Our strategy is to operate an integrated nationwide dealership network that provides service solutions to the commercial vehicle industry. Our strategy includes the following key elements:

 

 

Management by Dealership Units . At each of our dealerships, we operate one or more of the following departments: new commercial vehicle sales, used commercial vehicle sales, financial services, parts, service or collision center. Our general managers measure and manage the operations of each dealership according to the specific departments operating at that location. We believe that this system enhances the profitability of all aspects of a dealership and increases our overall operating margins. Operating goals for each department at each of our dealerships are established annually and managers are rewarded for performance relative to these goals.

 

 

One-Stop Centers . We have developed our larger commercial vehicle dealerships as “one-stop centers” that offer an integrated approach to meeting customer needs. We provide service, including collision repairs, parts, new and used commercial vehicles sales, leasing and rental, plus financial services including finance and insurance. We believe that this full-service strategy also helps to mitigate cyclical economic fluctuations because our parts, service and collision center operations (referred to herein collectively as “Aftermarket Products and Services”) at our dealerships generally tend to be less volatile than our new and used commercial vehicle sales.

 

 

Aftermarket Products and Services . Our aftermarket capabilities include a wide range of services and products, including a fleet of mobile service units, mobile technicians who work in our customers’ facilities, a proprietary line of parts and accessories, factory-certified service for assembly services for specialized bodies and equipment. We believe that offering a variety of Aftermarket Products and Services at our dealerships and other locations allows us to meet the expanding needs of our customers. We continually strive to leverage our dealership facilities to offer more products and services to our customers.

 

 

Branding Program . We employ a branding program for our new vehicle dealerships through distinctive signage and uniform marketing programs to take advantage of our existing name recognition and to communicate the standardized high quality of our products and reliability of our services throughout our dealership network.

 

Growth Strategy. Through our strategic expansion and acquisition initiatives, we have grown to operate a large, multistate, full-service network of commercial vehicle dealerships. As described below, we intend to continue to grow our business by expanding our product and service offerings, through acquisitions in new geographic areas and by opening new locations to enable us to better serve our customers.

 

 

Expansion of Product and Service Offerings . We intend to continue to expand our product lines within our existing locations by adding product categories and service capabilities that are both complementary to our existing product lines and well suited to our operating model. We will continue to take advantage of technological advances that will provide us with the opportunity to offer vehicle owners more aftermarket options and the ability to maximize the performance of vehicles in their fleets using telematics and other technologies.

 

 

Expansion Into New Geographic Areas . We plan to continue to expand our dealership network by acquiring existing dealerships or opening new locations in areas where we do not already have locations. We believe the geographic diversity of our Rush Truck Center network has significantly expanded our customer base while reducing the effects of local economic cycles.

 

 

Open New Rush Truck Centers in Existing Areas of Operation . We continually evaluate opportunities to increase our market presence by adding new Rush Truck Centers within our current franchises’ areas of operation.

 

 

Management of Our Dealerships

 

Rush Truck Centers

 

Our Rush Truck Centers are responsible for sales of new and used commercial vehicles, as well as related parts and services.

 

Aftermarket Products and Services . Revenues from Aftermarket Products and Services accounted for approximately $1,670.1 million, or 30.3%, of our total revenues for 2018, and 63.4% of our gross profit. Our Aftermarket Products and Services enable our sales function and are a source of recurring revenue. Rush Truck Centers carry a wide variety of commercial vehicle parts in inventory. Certain Rush Truck Centers also feature fully equipped service and collision center facilities, the combination and configuration of which varies by location, capable of handling a broad range of repairs on most commercial vehicles. Each Rush Truck Center with a service department is a warranty service center for the commercial vehicle manufacturers represented at that location, if any, and most are also authorized service centers for other vehicle component manufacturers, including Cummins, Eaton, Caterpillar and Allison. We also have mobile service technicians and technicians who staff our customers’ facilities upon request.

 

Our service departments perform warranty and non-warranty repairs on commercial vehicles. The cost of warranty work is generally reimbursed by the applicable manufacturer at retail commercial rates. Warranty-related parts and service revenues accounted for approximately $121.9 million, or 2.2%, of our total revenues for 2018. Additionally, we provide a wide array of services, including assembly services for specialized commercial vehicle bodies and commercial vehicle mounted equipment. Our goal is to provide our customers any service that they need related to their commercial vehicles.

 

As part of our leasing and rental operations, we also enter into contracts to provide full-service maintenance on certain customers’ vehicles. We had 1,094 vehicles under contract maintenance as of December 31, 2018, and 1,189 vehicles under contract maintenance as of December 31, 2017. The full-service maintenance revenues and retail service revenues are included as Aftermarket Products and Services revenues on our Consolidated Statements of Income.

 

New Commercial Vehicle Sales .   New commercial vehicle sales represent the largest portion of our revenues, accounting for approximately $3,198.5 million, or 58.1%, of our total revenues in 2018. Of this total, new Class 8 heavy-duty truck sales accounted for approximately $2,120.5 million, or 38.5%, of our total revenues for 2018, and 66.3% of our new commercial vehicle revenues for 2018.

 

Our Rush Truck Centers that sell new and used Class 8 heavy-duty trucks manufactured by Peterbilt or International may also sell medium-duty and light-duty commercial vehicles. Certain Rush Truck Centers sell medium-duty commercial vehicles manufactured by Peterbilt, Hino, Isuzu, Ford, International or Mitsubishi Fuso, buses manufactured by Blue Bird, IC Bus or Elkhart and light-duty commercial vehicles manufactured by Ford (see Part I, Item 1, “General – Rush Truck Centers ” for information on which brands we sell at each Rush Truck Center). New medium-duty commercial vehicle sales, excluding new bus sales, accounted for approximately $841.1 million, or 15.3%, of our total revenues for 2018, and 26.3% of our new commercial vehicle revenues for 2018. New light-duty commercial vehicle sales accounted for approximately $86.7 million, or 1.6%, of our total revenues for 2018, and 2.7% of our new commercial vehicle revenues for 2018. New bus sales accounted for approximately $130.2 million, or 2.4%, of our total revenues for 2018, and 4.1% of our new commercial vehicle revenues for 2018.

 

A significant portion of our new commercial vehicle sales are to customers with large fleets of commercial vehicles. Because of the size and geographic scope of our Rush Truck Center network, our strong relationships with our fleet customers and our ability to manage large quantities of used commercial vehicle trade-ins, we are able to successfully market and sell to fleet customers nationwide. We believe that we have a competitive advantage over many dealerships because we can absorb multi-unit trade-ins often associated with fleet sales and effectively disperse the used commercial vehicles for resale throughout our dealership network. We believe that the broad range of products and services we offer to purchasers of commercial vehicles at the time of purchase and post-purchase results in a high level of customer loyalty.

 

 

Used Commercial Vehicle Sales .  Used commercial vehicle sales accounted for approximately $360.1 million, or 6.5%, of our total revenues for 2018. We sell used commercial vehicles at most of our Rush Truck Centers and also at our non-franchised used commercial vehicle facilities. We believe that we are well positioned to market used commercial vehicles due to our ability to recondition them for resale utilizing the service and collision center departments of our Rush Truck Centers and our ability to move used commercial vehicles between our dealerships as customer demand warrants. The majority of our used commercial vehicle inventory consists of commercial vehicles taken as trade-ins from new commercial vehicle customers or retired from our lease and rental fleet, but we also supplement our used commercial vehicle inventory by purchasing used commercial vehicles from third parties for resale, as market conditions warrant.

 

Vehicle Leasing and Rental .   Vehicle leasing and rental revenues accounted for approximately $238.2 million, or 4.3%, of our total revenues for 2018. At our Rush Truck Leasing locations, we engage in full-service commercial vehicle leasing through PacLease and Idealease. Rental vehicles are also generally serviced at our facilities. We had 8,092 vehicles in our lease and rental fleet, including cranes, as of December 31, 2018, compared to 7,993 vehicles as of December 31, 2017. Generally, we sell commercial vehicles that have been retired from our lease and rental fleet through our used commercial vehicles sales operations. Historically, we have realized gains on the sale of used lease and rental commercial vehicles.

 

New and Used Commercial Vehicle Financing and Insurance .  The sale of financial and insurance products accounted for approximately $20.6 million, or 0.4%, of our total revenues for 2018. Finance and insurance revenues have minimal direct costs and therefore, contribute a disproportionate share to our operating profits.

 

Many of our Rush Truck Centers have personnel responsible for arranging third-party financing for our product offerings. Generally, commercial vehicle finance contracts involve an installment contract, which is secured by the commercial vehicle financed, and require a down payment, with the remaining balance generally financed over a two-year to seven-year period. The majority of these finance contracts are sold to third parties without recourse to us. We provide an allowance for repossession losses and early repayment penalties that we may incur under these finance contracts.

 

We sell, as agent, a complete line of property and casualty insurance to commercial vehicle owners. Our agency, which operates at locations around the United States outside of our Rush Truck Centers, is licensed to sell commercial vehicle liability, collision and comprehensive, workers’ compensation, cargo, and credit life insurance coverage offered by a number of leading insurance companies. Our renewal rate in 2018 was approximately 86%. We also have licensed insurance agents at several Rush Truck Centers.

 

Sales and Marketing

 

Our established history of operations in the commercial vehicle business has resulted in a strong customer base that is diverse in terms of geography, industry and scale of operations. Our customers include regional and national truck fleets, corporations, local and state governments and owner-operators. During 2018, no single customer accounted for more than 10% of our sales by dollar volume. We generally promote our products and related services through direct customer contact by our sales personnel and advertising.

 

Facility Management

 

Personnel. Each of our facilities is typically managed by a general manager who oversees the operations, personnel and the financial performance of the location, subject to the direction of a regional manager and personnel at our corporate headquarters. Additionally, each full-service Rush Truck Center is typically staffed by department managers, sales representatives and other employees, as appropriate, given the services offered. The sales staff of each Rush Truck Center is compensated on a salary plus commission, or a commission only basis, while department managers receive a combination of salary and performance bonus. We believe that our employees are among the highest paid in the industry, which enables us to attract and retain qualified personnel.

 

Compliance with Policies and Procedures . Each Rush Truck Center is audited regularly for compliance with corporate policies and procedures. These internal audits objectively measure dealership performance with respect to corporate expectations in the management and administration of sales, commercial vehicle inventory, parts inventory, parts sales, service sales, collision center sales, corporate policy compliance and environmental and safety compliance matters.

 

 

Purchasing and Suppliers. Because of our size, we benefit from volume purchases at favorable prices that permit us to achieve a competitive pricing position in the industry. We purchase our commercial vehicle inventory and proprietary parts and accessories directly from the applicable vehicle manufacturer, wholesale distributors, or other sources that provide the most favorable pricing. Most purchasing commitments are negotiated by personnel at our corporate headquarters. Historically, we have been able to negotiate favorable pricing levels and terms, which enable us to offer competitive prices for our products.

 

Commercial Vehicle Inventory Management . We utilize our management information systems to monitor the inventory level of commercial vehicles at each of our dealerships and transfer new and used commercial vehicle inventory among Rush Truck Centers as needed.

 

Parts D istribution and Inventory Management. We utilize a parts inventory distribution and management system that allows for the prompt transfer of parts inventory among various Rush Truck Centers. The transfer of inventory reduces delays in delivery, helps maximize inventory turns and assists in controlling problems created by overstock and understock situations. Our network is linked to our major suppliers for purposes of ordering parts and managing parts inventory levels. Automated reordering and communication systems allow us to maintain proper parts inventory levels and permit us to have parts inventory delivered to our locations, or directly to customers, typically within 24 hours of an order being placed.

 

Rece nt Acquisitions

 

On December 14, 2017, we acquired certain assets of Transwest San Diego, LLC, which included a Ford truck franchise in San Diego, California. The transaction was valued at approximately $2.2 million, with the purchase price paid in cash.

 

Competition

 

There is, and will continue to be, significant competition both within our current markets and in new markets we may enter. We anticipate that competition between us and other dealership groups will continue to increase in our current markets and on a national level based on the following:

 

 

the ability to keep customers’ vehicles operational, which is dependent on the accessibility of dealership locations;

 

 

the number of dealership locations representing the manufacturers that we represent and other manufacturers, which impacts manufacturers’ ability to provide more consistent, higher quality service in a timely manner across their dealership networks;

 

 

price, value, quality and design of the products sold; and

 

 

our attention to customer service (including technical service).

 

Our dealerships compete with dealerships representing other manufacturers, including commercial vehicles manufactured by Mack, Freightliner, Kenworth and Volvo. We believe that our dealerships are able to compete with other franchised dealerships, independent service centers, parts wholesalers, commercial vehicle wholesalers, rental service companies and industrial auctioneers in distributing our products and providing service because of the following: the overall quality and reputation of the products we sell; the “Rush” brand name recognition and reputation for quality service; the geographic scope of our dealership network; the breadth of commercial vehicles offered in our dealership network; and our ability to provide comprehensive Aftermarket Products and Services, as well as financing, insurance and other customer services.

 

Dealership Agreements

 

Peterbilt. We have entered into nonexclusive dealership agreements with Peterbilt that authorize us to act as a dealer of Peterbilt heavy- and medium-duty trucks. Our Peterbilt areas of responsibility currently encompass areas in the states of Alabama, Arizona, California, Colorado, Florida, Kentucky, New Mexico, Nevada, Oklahoma, Tennessee and Texas. These dealership agreements currently have terms expiring between March 2019 and January 2022 and impose certain operational obligations and financial requirements upon us and our dealerships. Our dealership agreements with Peterbilt may be terminated by Peterbilt in the event that the aggregate voting power of the estate of W. Marvin Rush, W.M. “Rusty” Rush, other members of the Rush family and certain executives of the Company decreases below 22%. Sales of new Peterbilt commercial vehicles accounted for approximately 36.3% of our total revenues for 2018.

 

 

International. We have entered into nonexclusive dealership agreements with Navistar that authorize us to act as a dealer of International heavy- and medium-duty trucks and, in certain markets, IC buses. Our Navistar areas of responsibility currently encompass areas in the states of Georgia, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Missouri, North Carolina, Ohio, Utah and Virginia. These dealership agreements currently have terms expiring between May 2020 and October 2023 and impose certain operational obligations and financial requirements upon us and our dealerships. Sales of new International commercial vehicles accounted for approximately 10.3% of our total revenues for 2018.

 

Other Commercial Vehicle Suppliers. In addition to our dealership agreements with Peterbilt and Navistar, various Rush Truck Centers have entered into dealership agreements with other commercial vehicle manufacturers, including Blue Bird, Micro Bird and Mitsubishi Fuso, which currently have terms expiring between August 2019 and August 2023 and Ford, Hino and Isuzu, which have perpetual terms. These dealership agreements impose operating requirements upon us and require consent from the affected supplier for the sale or transfer of our franchise. Sales of new non-Peterbilt and non-International commercial vehicles accounted for approximately 11.5% of our total revenues for 2018.

 

Any termination or nonrenewal of our dealership agreements must follow certain guidelines established by both state and federal legislation designed to protect motor vehicle dealers from arbitrary termination or nonrenewal of franchise agreements. The federal Automobile Dealers Day in Court Act and certain other similar state laws generally provide that the termination or nonrenewal of a motor vehicle dealership agreement must be done in “good faith” and upon a showing of “good cause” by the manufacturer for such termination or nonrenewal, as such terms have been defined by statute and interpreted in case law.

 

Floor Plan Financing

 

Most of our commercial vehicle purchases are made on terms requiring payment to the manufacturer within 15 days or less from the date the commercial vehicles are invoiced from the factory. We finance the majority of all new commercial vehicle inventory and the loan value of our used commercial vehicle inventory under a credit agreement (the “Floor Plan Credit Agreement”) with BMO Harris Bank N.A. (“BMO Harris”). The Floor Plan Credit Agreement includes an aggregate loan commitment of $875.0 million. Borrowings under the Floor Plan Credit Agreement bear interest at an annual rate equal to (A) the greater of (i) zero and (ii) three month LIBOR rate, determined on the last day of the prior month, plus (B) 1.51% and are payable monthly. In addition, we are required to pay a monthly working capital fee equal to 0.16% per annum multiplied by the amount of voluntary prepayments of new and used inventory loans. Loans under the Floor Plan Credit Agreement for the purchase of used inventory are limited to $150.0 million. We may terminate the Floor Plan Credit Agreement at any time, although if we do so we must pay a prepayment processing fee equal to 1.0% of the aggregate revolving loan commitments if such termination occurs prior to the June 30, 2019 expiration date, subject to specified limited exceptions. On December 31, 2018, we had approximately $798.4 million outstanding under the Floor Plan Credit Agreement. The average daily outstanding borrowings under the Floor Plan Credit Agreement were $682.8 million during the year ended December 31, 2018. We utilize our excess cash on hand to pay down our outstanding borrowings under the Floor Plan Credit Agreement, and the resulting interest earned is recognized as an offset to our gross interest expense under the Floor Plan Credit Agreement.

 

In June 2012, we entered into a wholesale financing agreement with Ford Motor Credit Company that provides for the financing of, and is collateralized by, our Ford new vehicle inventory. This wholesale financing agreement bears interest at a rate of Prime plus 150 basis points minus certain incentives and rebates. As of December 31, 2018, the interest rate on the wholesale financing agreement was 7.0% before considering the applicable incentives. As of December 31, 2018, we had an outstanding balance of approximately $139.0 million under the Ford Motor Credit Company wholesale financing agreement.

 

P roduct Warranties

 

The manufacturers we represent provide retail purchasers of their products with a limited warranty against defects in materials and workmanship, excluding certain specified components that are separately warranted by the suppliers of such components. We provide a warranty on our proprietary line of parts and related service and the fuel systems manufactured by Momentum Fuel Technologies. We also provide an extended warranty beyond the manufacturer’s warranty on new Blue Bird school buses that we sell in the State of Texas, as required by state law.

 

 

We generally sell used commercial vehicles in “as is” condition without a manufacturer’s warranty, although manufacturers sometimes will provide a limited warranty on their used products if such products have been properly reconditioned prior to resale or if the manufacturer’s warranty on such product is transferable and has not expired. Although we do not provide any warranty on used commercial vehicles, we offer for sale third-party warranties.

 

Trademarks

 

The trademarks and trade names of the manufacturers we represent, which are used in connection with our marketing and sales efforts, are subject to limited licenses included in our dealership agreements with each manufacturer. The licenses are for the same periods as our dealership agreements. These trademarks and trade names are widely recognized and are important in the marketing of our products. Each licensor engages in a continuous program of trademark and trade name protection. We hold registered trademarks from the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office for the following names used in this document: “Rush Enterprises,” “Rush Truck Center” and “Momentum Fuel Technologies.”

 

Employees

 

On December 31, 2018, we had 7,214 employees. 

 

We have entered into collective bargaining agreements covering certain employees in Carol Stream, Illinois, which will expire on May 4, 2019, Joliet, Illinois, which will expire on May 7, 2020, and Chicago, Illinois, which will expire on May 8, 2021. 

 

There have been no strikes, work stoppages or slowdowns during the negotiations of the foregoing collective bargaining agreements or at any time in the Company’s history, although no assurances can be given that such actions will not occur.

 

Seasonality

 

Our Truck Segment is moderately seasonal. Seasonal effects on new commercial vehicle sales related to the seasonal purchasing patterns of any single customer type are mitigated by the diverse geographic locations of our dealerships and our diverse customer base, including regional and national fleets, local and state governments, corporations and owner-operators. However, commercial vehicle Aftermarket Products and Services operations historically have experienced higher sales volumes in the second and third quarters.

 

Backlog

 

On December 31, 2018, our backlog of commercial vehicle orders was approximately $1,934.9 million, compared to a backlog of commercial vehicle orders of approximately $1,074.4 million on December 31, 2017. Our backlog is determined quarterly by multiplying the number of new commercial vehicles for each particular type of commercial vehicle ordered by a customer at our Rush Truck Centers by the recent average selling price for that type of commercial vehicle. We include only confirmed orders in our backlog. However, such orders are subject to cancellation. In the event of order cancellation, we have no contractual right to the total revenues reflected in our backlog. The delivery time for a custom-ordered commercial vehicle varies depending on the truck specifications and demand for the particular model ordered. We sell the majority of our new heavy-duty commercial vehicles by customer special order and we sell the majority of our medium- and light-duty commercial vehicles out of inventory. Orders from a number of our major fleet customers are included in our backlog as of December 31, 2018, and we expect to fill the majority of our backlog orders during 2019.

 

Environmental Standards and Other Governmental Regulations

 

We are subject to federal, state and local environmental laws and regulations governing the following: discharges into the air and water; the operation and removal of underground and aboveground storage tanks; the use, handling, storage and disposal of hazardous substances, petroleum and other materials; and the investigation and remediation of environmental impacts. As with commercial vehicle dealerships generally, and vehicle service, parts and collision center operations in particular, our business involves the generation, use, storage, handling and contracting for recycling or disposal of hazardous materials or wastes and other environmentally sensitive materials. We have incurred, and will continue to incur, capital and operating expenditures and other costs in complying with such laws and regulations.

 

 

Our operations involving the use, handling, storage and disposal of hazardous and nonhazardous materials are subject to the requirements of the federal Resource Conservation and Recovery Act, or RCRA, and comparable state statutes. Pursuant to these laws, federal and state environmental agencies have established approved methods for handling, storage, treatment, transportation and disposal of regulated substances with which we must comply. Our business also involves the operation and use of aboveground and underground storage tanks. These storage tanks are subject to periodic testing, containment, upgrading and removal under RCRA and comparable state statutes. Furthermore, investigation or remediation may be necessary in the event of leaks or other discharges from current or former underground or aboveground storage tanks.

 

We may also have liability in connection with materials that were sent to third-party recycling, treatment, or disposal facilities under the federal Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act, or CERCLA, and comparable state statutes. These statutes impose liability for investigation and remediation of environmental impacts without regard to fault or the legality of the conduct that contributed to the impacts. Responsible parties under these statutes may include the owner or operator of the site where impacts occurred and companies that disposed, or arranged for the disposal, of the hazardous substances released at these sites. These responsible parties also may be liable for damages to natural resources. In addition, it is not uncommon for neighboring landowners and other third parties to file claims for personal injury and property damage allegedly caused by the release of hazardous substances or other materials into the environment.

 

The federal Clean Water Act and comparable state statutes require containment of potential discharges of oil or hazardous substances, and require preparation of spill contingency plans. Water quality protection programs govern certain discharges from some of our operations. Similarly, the federal Clean Air Act and comparable state statutes regulate emissions of various air emissions through permitting programs and the imposition of standards and other requirements.

 

The Environmental Protection Agency (“EPA”) and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (“NHTSA”), on behalf of the U.S. Department of Transportation, issued rules associated with reducing greenhouse gas (“GHG”) emissions and improving the fuel efficiency of medium and heavy-duty trucks and buses for model years 2021 through 2027.  We do not believe that these rules will negatively impact our business, however, future legislation or other new regulations that may be adopted to address GHG emissions or fuel efficiency standards may negatively impact our business.  Additional regulations could result in increased compliance costs, additional operating restrictions or changes in demand for our products and services, which could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.

 

We do not believe that we currently have any material environmental liabilities or that compliance with environmental laws and regulations will have a material adverse effect on our results of operations, financial condition or cash flows. However, soil and groundwater impacts are known to exist at some of our dealerships. Further, environmental laws and regulations are complex and subject to change. In addition, in connection with acquisitions, it is possible that we will assume or become subject to new or unforeseen environmental costs or liabilities, some of which may be material. In connection with our dispositions, or prior dispositions made by companies we acquire, we may retain exposure for environmental costs and liabilities, some of which may be material. Compliance with current or amended, or new or more stringent, laws or regulations, stricter interpretations of existing laws or the future discovery of environmental conditions could require additional expenditures by us, and those expenditures could be material.

 

 

Item 1A. Risk Factors

 

An investment in our common stock is subject to certain risks inherent to our business. In addition to the other information contained in this Form 10-K, we recommend that you carefully consider the following risk factors in evaluating our business. If any of the following risks actually occur, our financial condition and results of operations could be materially adversely affected. If this were to happen, the value of our common stock could decline significantly, and you could lose all or part of your investment. This report is qualified in its entirety by these risk factors.

 

Risks Related to Our Business

 

We are dependent upon PACCAR for the supply of Peterbilt trucks and parts, the sale of which generates the majority of our revenues.

 

At certain Rush Truck Centers, we operate as a dealer of Peterbilt trucks and parts pursuant to dealership agreements with Peterbilt, a division of PACCAR. We have no control over the management or operation of Peterbilt or PACCAR. During 2018, the majority of our revenues resulted from sales of trucks purchased from Peterbilt and parts purchased from PACCAR Parts. Due to our dependence on PACCAR and Peterbilt, we believe that our long-term success depends, in large part, on the following:

 

 

our ability to maintain our dealership agreements with Peterbilt;

 

 

the manufacture and delivery of competitively-priced, technologically current, high quality Peterbilt trucks in quantities sufficient to meet our requirements;

 

 

the overall success of PACCAR and Peterbilt;

 

 

PACCAR’s continuation of its Peterbilt division; and

 

 

the maintenance of goodwill associated with the Peterbilt brand, which can be adversely affected by decisions made by PACCAR, Peterbilt and the owners of other Peterbilt dealerships.

 

A negative change in any of the preceding, or a change in control of PACCAR, could have a material adverse effect on our operations, revenues and profitability.

 

We are dependent upon Navistar for the supply of International trucks and parts and IC buses and parts , the sale of which generate a significant portion of our revenues.

 

At certain Rush Truck Centers, we operate as a dealer of International trucks and parts and IC buses and parts pursuant to dealership agreements with International and IC Bus, each of which are divisions of Navistar. We have no control over the management or operation of International, IC Bus or Navistar. During 2018, a significant portion of our revenues resulted from sales of trucks purchased from International, buses purchased from IC Bus and parts purchased from Navistar. Due to our dependence on Navistar, International and IC Bus, we believe that our long-term success depends, in large part, on the following:

 

 

our ability to maintain our dealership agreements with International and IC Bus;

 

 

the manufacture and delivery of competitively-priced, technologically current, high quality International trucks and IC buses in quantities sufficient to meet our requirements;

 

 

the overall success of Navistar; and

 

 

the maintenance of goodwill associated with the International and IC Bus brands, which can be adversely affected by decisions made by Navistar and the owners of other International and IC Bus dealerships.

 

A negative change in any of the preceding, or a change in control of Navistar, could have a material adverse effect on our operations, revenues and profitability.

 

 

Our dealership agreements may be terminable upon a change of control and we cannot control whether our controlling shareholder and management maintain their current ownership positions.

 

We have entered into nonexclusive dealership agreements with Peterbilt that authorize us to act as a dealer of Peterbilt trucks. Peterbilt may terminate our dealership agreements in the event of a change of control of the Company or if we violate any number of provisions in the dealership agreements. Under our Peterbilt dealership agreements, the following constitute a change of control: (i) with respect to the election of directors, the aggregate voting power held by the estate of W. Marvin Rush, W. M. “Rusty” Rush, Barbara Rush, Robin M. Rush, David C. Orf, James Thor, Martin A. Naegelin, Scott Anderson, Derrek Weaver, Steven Keller, Corey Lowe and Rich Ryan (collectively, the “Dealer Principals”) decreases below 22% (such persons controlled 39.2% of the aggregate voting power with respect to the election of directors as of December 31, 2018); or (ii) any person or entity other than the Dealer Principals and their respective associates, or any person or entity who has been approved in writing by PACCAR, owns common stock with a greater percentage of the voting power with respect to the election of our directors than the Dealer Principals and their respective associates, in the aggregate, or any person other than W.M. “Rusty” Rush, Robin M. Rush or any person who has been approved in writing by PACCAR holds the office of Chairman of the Board, President or Chief Executive Officer of the Company. We have no control over the transfer or disposition by the estate of W. Marvin Rush or W.M. “Rusty” Rush, or his estate, of their common stock. If the estate of W. Marvin Rush or W.M. “Rusty” Rush were to sell their Class B Common Stock or bequest their Class B Common Stock to a person or entity other than the Dealer Principals, or if their estates are required to liquidate their Class B Common Stock that they own directly or indirectly, to pay estate taxes or otherwise, the change of control provisions of the Peterbilt dealership agreements may be triggered, which would give Peterbilt the right to terminate our dealership agreements. If our dealership agreements with Peterbilt are terminated, we will lose the right to purchase Peterbilt products and operate as an authorized Peterbilt dealer, which would have a material adverse effect on our operations, revenues and profitability.

 

Our dealership agreements are non-exclusive and have relatively short terms which could result in nonrenewal or imposition of less favorable terms upon renewal.

 

Our dealership agreements generally do not provide us with exclusive dealerships in any of the areas of responsibility assigned in each dealer agreement. The manufacturers we represent could elect to create additional dealers in our areas of responsibility in the future, subject to restrictions imposed by state laws. While dealership agreements typically restrict dealers from operating franchised sales or service facilities outside their areas of responsibility, such agreements do not restrict sales or marketing activity outside the areas of responsibility. Accordingly, we engage in sales and other marketing activities outside our assigned areas of responsibility and other dealers engage in similar activities within our areas of responsibility.

 

Our dealership agreements with the manufacturers we represent have current terms expiring between March 2019 and October 2023. Upon expiration of each agreement, we must negotiate a renewal. Management expects that, consistent with in some cases decades of past practice, each of our dealership agreements will be renewed or otherwise extended before its termination date, provided that we do not breach any of the material terms of such agreement.

 

Management attempts to mitigate the risk that any manufacturer would not renew a dealership agreement by providing superior representation of each brand that we represent in each of our areas of responsibility. We deliver superior representation to our manufacturers by continuously investing substantial capital into our dealership locations, marketing and personnel. Senior members of our management team also communicate with management of the manufacturers that we represent on a regular basis, which we believe allows us to identify any potentially problematic issues as early as possible so that we can begin working on mutually agreeable solutions. In addition to the proactive steps that management takes, the risks that our dealership agreements will not be renewed are also mitigated by dealer protection laws that exist in each of the states that our dealerships are located. Many of these state dealer franchise laws restrict manufacturers’ ability to refuse to renew dealership agreements or to impose new terms upon renewal. However, to the extent such laws did allow for nonrenewal or the imposition of new terms, the relatively short terms would give manufacturers the opportunity to exercise such rights. Any nonrenewal or imposition of less favorable terms upon renewal could have an adverse impact on our business and in the case of the Peterbilt or Navistar dealership agreements, would have an adverse impact on our business.

 

If state dealer laws are repealed or weakened, our dealerships will be more susceptible to termination, nonrenewal or renegotiation of their dealership agreements.

 

We depend on our vehicle dealership agreements for a substantial portion of our revenues and profitability. State dealer laws generally provide that a manufacturer may not terminate or refuse to renew a dealership agreement unless it has first provided the dealer with written notice setting forth good cause and stating the grounds for termination or nonrenewal. Vehicle manufacturers’ lobbying efforts may lead to the repeal or revision of state motor vehicle dealer laws. If motor vehicle dealer laws are repealed or amended in the states in which we operate dealerships, the manufacturers we represent may be able to terminate our vehicle dealership agreements without providing advance notice, an opportunity to cure or a showing of good cause. Without the protection of state dealer laws, or if such laws are weakened, we will be subject to higher risk of termination or nonrenewal of our vehicle dealership agreements. Termination or nonrenewal of our vehicle dealership agreements would have a material adverse effect on our operations, revenues and profitability.

 

 

We may be required to obtain additional financing to maintain adequate inventory levels.

 

Our business requires new and used commercial vehicle inventories held for sale to be maintained at dealer locations in order to facilitate immediate sales to customers on demand. We generally purchase new and used commercial vehicle inventories with the assistance of floor plan financing agreements. Our primary floor plan financing agreement, the Floor Plan Credit Agreement, expires on June 30, 2019, and may be terminated without cause upon 120 days’ notice. In the event that our floor plan financing becomes insufficient to satisfy our future requirements or our floor plan providers are unable to continue to extend credit under our floor plan agreements, we would need to obtain similar financing from other sources. There is no assurance that such additional floor plan financing or alternate financing could be obtained on commercially reasonable terms.

 

Changes in interest rates could have a material adverse effect on our profitability.  

 

      Our Floor Plan Credit Agreement and some of our other debt are subject to variable interest rates. Therefore, our interest expense would rise with any increase in interest rates. A rise in interest rates may also have the effect of depressing demand in the interest rate sensitive aspects of our business, particularly new and used commercial vehicle sales, because many of our customers finance such purchases. As a result, a rise in interest rates may have the effect of simultaneously increasing our costs and reducing our revenues, which could materially affect our business, financial condition and results of operations. See “Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk” for a discussion regarding our interest rate sensitivity.

 

Impairment in the carrying value of goodwill and other indefinite-lived intangible assets could negatively affect our operating results.

 

We have a substantial amount of goodwill on our balance sheet as a result of acquisitions we have completed. Approximately 99% of this goodwill is concentrated in our Truck Segment. The carrying value of goodwill represents the fair value of an acquired business in excess of identifiable assets and liabilities as of the acquisition date. Goodwill is not amortized, but instead is evaluated for impairment at least annually, or more frequently if potential interim indicators exist that could result in impairment. In testing for impairment, if the carrying value of a reporting unit exceeds its current fair value as determined based on the discounted future cash flows of the reporting unit, the goodwill is considered impaired and is reduced to fair value via a non-cash charge to earnings. Events and conditions that could result in impairment include weak economic activity, adverse changes in the regulatory environment, any matters that impact the ability of the manufacturers we represent to provide us with commercial vehicles or parts, issues with our franchise rights, or other factors leading to reductions in expected long-term sales or profitability. Determination of the fair value of a reporting unit includes developing estimates that are highly subjective and incorporate calculations that are sensitive to minor changes in underlying assumptions. Changes in these assumptions or a change in the Company’s reportable segments could result in an impairment charge in the future, which could have a significant adverse impact on our reported earnings.  See “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations — Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates — Goodwill” for more information regarding the potential impact of changes in assumptions.

 

Our business is subject to a number of economic risks.

 

New and used commercial vehicle retail sales tend to experience periods of decline when general economic conditions worsen. We may experience sustained periods of decreased commercial vehicle sales in the future. Any decline or change of this type could materially affect our business, financial condition and results of operations. In addition, adverse regional economic and competitive conditions in the geographic markets in which we operate could materially adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations. Our commercial vehicle sales volume therefore may differ from industry sales fluctuations.

 

Economic conditions and the other factors described above also may materially adversely impact our sales of parts and repair services, and finance and insurance products.

 

 

We depend on relationships with the manufacturers we represent and component suppliers for sales incentives, discounts and similar programs which are material to our operations.

 

We depend on the manufacturers we represent and component suppliers for sales incentives, discounts, warranties and other programs that are intended to promote the sales of their commercial vehicles or our use of their components in the vehicles we sell. Most of the incentives and discounts are individually negotiated and not always the same as those made available to commercial vehicle manufacturers or our competitors. These incentives and discounts are material to our operations. A reduction or discontinuation of a commercial vehicle manufacturer’s or component supplier’s incentive program could have a material adverse effect on our profitability.

 

We are dependent on the ongoing success of the manufacturers we represent and adverse conditions affecting the manufacturers we represent may negatively impact our revenues and profitability.  

 

The success of each of our dealerships is dependent on the manufacturers represented at each dealership. Our ability to sell new vehicles that satisfy our customers’ demands and replacement parts is dependent on the ability of the manufacturers we represent to produce and deliver new vehicles and replacement parts to our dealerships. Additionally, our dealerships perform warranty work for vehicles under manufacturer product warranties, which are billed to the appropriate vehicle manufacturer or component supplier as opposed to invoicing our customer. We generally have significant receivables from vehicle manufacturers and component suppliers for warranty and service work performed for our customers. In addition, we rely on vehicle manufacturers and component suppliers to varying extents for product training, marketing materials, and other items for our stores. Our business, results of operations, and financial condition could be materially adversely affected as a result of any event that has a material adverse effect on the vehicle manufacturers or component suppliers we represent.

 

The manufacturers we represent may be adversely impacted by economic downturns, significant declines in the sales of their new vehicles, labor strikes or similar disruptions (including within their major suppliers), rising raw materials costs, rising employee benefit costs, adverse publicity that may reduce consumer demand for their products (including due to bankruptcy), product defects, vehicle recall campaigns, litigation, poor product mix or unappealing vehicle design, governmental laws and regulations, or other adverse events. Our results of operations, financial condition or cash flows could be adversely affected if one or more of the manufacturers we represent are impacted by any of the foregoing adverse events.

 

Actions taken in response to continued operational losses by manufacturers we represent, including bankruptcy or reorganizations, could have a material adverse effect on our sales volumes and profitability. In addition, such actions could lead to the impairment of one or more of our franchise rights, inventories, fixed assets and other related assets, which in turn could have a material adverse effect on our financial condition and results of operations. Actions taken in response to continued operational losses by manufacturers we represent, including bankruptcy or reorganizations, could also eliminate or reduce such manufacturers’ indemnification obligations to our dealerships, which could increase our risk in products liability actions.

 

The dollar amount of our backlog, as stated at any given time, is not necessarily indicative of our future earnings.

 

As of December 31, 2018, our backlog of new commercial vehicle orders was approximately $1,934.9 million. Our backlog is determined quarterly by multiplying the number of new commercial vehicles for each particular type of commercial vehicle ordered by a customer at our Rush Truck Centers by the recent average selling price for that type of commercial vehicle. We only include confirmed orders in our backlog. However, such orders are subject to cancellation. In the event of order cancellation, we have no contractual right to the total revenues reflected in our backlog.

 

Reductions in backlog due to cancellation by a customer or for other reasons will adversely affect, potentially to a material extent, the revenue and profit we actually receive from orders projected in our backlog. If we were to experience significant cancellations of orders in our backlog, our financial condition could be adversely affected.

 

Our growth strategies may be unsuccessful if we are unable to successfully execute our strategic initiatives or identify and complete futur e acquisitions.

 

Over the past few years, we have spent significant resources and efforts attempting to grow and enhance our Aftermarket Products and Services business and increase profitability through new business process management initiatives.  These efforts require timely and continued investment in technology, facilities, personnel and financial and management systems and controls.  We may not be successful in implementing all of the processes that are necessary to support any of our growth initiatives, which could result in our expenses increasing disproportionately to our incremental revenues, causing our operating margins and profitability to be adversely affected.

 

 

Historically, we have achieved a significant portion of our growth through acquisitions and we will continue to consider potential acquisitions on a selective basis.  There can be no assurance that we will be able to identify suitable acquisition opportunities in the future or that we will be able to consummate any such transactions on terms and conditions acceptable to us.  Moreover, there can be no assurance that we will obtain manufacturers’ consents to acquisitions of additional franchises.

 

Our dealerships are subject to federal, state and local environmental regulations that may result in claims and liabilities, which could be material.

 

We are subject to federal, state and local environmental laws and regulations governing the following: discharges into the air and water; the operation and removal of underground and aboveground storage tanks; the use, handling, storage and disposal of hazardous substances, petroleum and other materials; and the investigation and remediation of contamination. As with commercial vehicle dealerships generally, and service, parts and collision center operations in particular, our business involves the generation, use, storage, handling and contracting for recycling or disposal of hazardous materials or wastes and other environmentally sensitive materials. Any non-compliance with these laws and regulations could result in significant fines, penalties and remediation costs which could adversely affect our results of operations, financial condition or cash flows.

 

We may also have liability in connection with materials that were sent to third party recycling, treatment, or disposal facilities under federal and state statutes. Applicable laws may make us responsible for liability relating to the investigation and remediation of contamination without regard to fault or the legality of the conduct that contributed to the contamination. In connection with our acquisitions, it is possible that we will assume or become subject to new or unforeseen environmental costs or liabilities, some of which may be material. In connection with dispositions of businesses, or dispositions previously made by companies we acquire, we may retain exposure for environmental costs and liabilities, some of which may be material.

 

Further, environmental laws and regulations are complex and subject to change. Compliance with current or amended, or new or more stringent, laws or regulations, stricter interpretations of existing laws or the future discovery of environmental conditions could require additional expenditures by us which could materially adversely affect our results of operations, financial condition or cash flows.

 

Disruptions to our information technology systems and breaches in data security could adversely affect our business.

 

We rely upon our information technology systems to manage all aspects of our business, including processing and recording sales to, and payments from, customers, managing inventory, communicating with manufacturers and vendors and financial reporting. Any inability to manage these systems, including with respect to matters related to system and data security, privacy, reliability, compliance, performance and access, as well as any inability of these systems to fulfill their intended purpose within our business, could have an adverse effect on our business. In addition, in the ordinary course of business, we collect and store sensitive data and information, including our proprietary business information and that of our customers, suppliers and business partners, as well as personally identifiable information about our employees. Despite the security measures we have in place, our facilities and systems, and those of our third-party service providers, could be vulnerable to security breaches, computer viruses, lost or misplaced data, programming errors, human errors, acts of vandalism or other events. Any security breach or event resulting in the misappropriation, loss, or other unauthorized disclosure of confidential information, whether by us directly or our third-party service providers, could adversely affect our business operations, sales, reputation with current and potential customers, associates or vendors and result in litigation or regulatory actions, all of which could have a material adverse effect on our business and reputation.

 

Technological advances in the commercial vehicle industry, including drivetrain electrification or other alternative fuel technologies, in the long-term could have a material adverse effect on our business.

 

The commercial vehicle industry is predicted to experience change over the long-term.  Technological advances, including with respect to drivetrain electrification or other alternative fuel technologies, could potentially have a material adverse effect on our parts and service business, as such vehicles are currently being described as potentially requiring less service and having fewer parts.  The effect of these technological advances on our business is uncertain, as there are many factors that are unknowable at this time, including when such vehicles may be commercially available at price points that would lead to their widespread adoption.  Similarly, although we are aware of ongoing efforts to facilitate the development of driverless commercial vehicles, the eventual timing of the availability of driverless commercial vehicles is uncertain due to regulatory requirements and additional technological requirements.  The effect of driverless commercial vehicles on the commercial vehicle industry is uncertain and could include changes in the level of new and used commercial vehicles sales, the price of new commercial vehicles, and the role of franchised dealers, any of which could materially adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations. 

 

 

Natural disasters and adverse weather events can disrupt our business.  

 

Some of our dealerships are located in regions of the United States where natural disasters and severe weather events (such as hurricanes, earthquakes, fires, floods, tornadoes and hail storms) may disrupt our operations, which may adversely impact our business, results of operations, financial condition and cash flows. In addition to business interruption, our business is subject to substantial risk of property loss due to the significant concentration of property at dealership locations. Although we have substantial insurance to cover this risk, we may be exposed to uninsured or underinsured losses that could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations or cash flows.

 

Risks Related to Our Common Stock

 

We are controlled by two shareholder s and their affiliates.

 

Collectively, the estate of W. Marvin Rush and W. M. “Rusty” Rush and their affiliates own approximately 0.7% of our issued and outstanding shares of Class A Common Stock and 45.9% of our issued and outstanding Class B Common Stock. The estate of W. Marvin Rush and W.M. “Rusty” Rush collectively control approximately 36.6% of the aggregate voting power of our outstanding shares and voting power, which is substantially more than any other person or group. The interests of the estate of W. Marvin Rush and W.M. “Rusty” Rush may not be consistent with the interests of all shareholders, or each other. As a result of such ownership, the estate of W. Marvin Rush and W.M. “Rusty” Rush have the power to effectively control the Company, including the election of directors, the determination of matters requiring shareholder approval and other matters pertaining to corporate governance.

 

Our dealership agreements could discourage another company from acquiring us .

 

Our dealership agreements with Peterbilt impose ownership requirements on certain officers of the Company. All of our dealership agreements include restrictions on the sale or transfer of the underlying franchises. These ownership requirements and restrictions may prevent or deter prospective acquirers from acquiring control of us and, therefore, may adversely impact the value of our common stock.

 

Additionally, W. Marvin Rush and W.M. “Rusty” Rush granted Peterbilt a right of first refusal to purchase their respective shares of common stock in the event that they desire to transfer in excess of 100,000 shares in any 12-month period to any person other than an immediate family member, an associate or another Dealer Principal. However, in the case of the estate of W. Marvin Rush, certain shares of his Class B Common Stock of the Company are exempt from his rights of first refusal agreement. These rights of first refusal, the number of shares owned by the estate of W. Marvin Rush and W.M. “Rusty” Rush and their affiliates, the requirement in our dealership agreements that the Dealer Principals retain a controlling interest in us and the restrictions on the sale or transfer of our franchises contained in our dealer agreements, combined with the ability of the Board of Directors to issue shares of preferred stock without further vote or action by the shareholders, may discourage, delay or prevent a change in control without further action by our shareholders, which could adversely affect the market price of our common stock or prevent or delay a merger or acquisition that our shareholders may consider favorable.

 

Actions by our shareholders or prospective shareholders that would violate any of the above restrictions on our dealership agreements are generally outside of our control. If we are unable to renegotiate these restrictions, we may be forced to terminate or sell one or more of our dealerships, which could have a material adverse effect on us. These restrictions may also inhibit our ability to raise required capital or to issue our stock as consideration for future acquisitions.

 

Class A Common Stock has limited voting power.

 

Each share of Class A Common Stock ranks substantially equal to each share of Class B Common Stock with respect to receipt of any dividends or distributions declared on shares of common stock and the right to receive proceeds on liquidation or dissolution of us after payment of our indebtedness and liquidation preference payments to holders of any preferred shares. However, holders of Class A Common Stock have 1/20th of one vote per share on all matters requiring a shareholder vote, while holders of Class B Common Stock have one full vote per share.

 

 

Our Class B Common Stock has a low average daily trading volume. As a result, sales of our Class B Common Stock could cause the market price of our Class B Common Stock to drop, and it may be difficult for a stockholder to liquidate its position in our Class B Common Stock quickly without adversely affecting the market price of such shares.

 

The volume of trading in our Class B Common Stock varies greatly and may often be light. As of December 31, 2018, the three-month average daily trading volume of our Class B Common Stock was approximately 6,900 shares, with twenty-five days having a trading volume below 5,000 shares. If any large shareholder were to begin selling shares in the market, the added available supply of shares could cause the market price of our Class B Common Stock to drop. In addition, the lack of a robust resale market may require a shareholder to sell a large number of shares of our Class B Common Stock in increments over time to mitigate any adverse impact of the sales on the market price of our Class B Common Stock.

 

Item 1B. Unresolved Staff Comments

 

None.

 

Item 2. Properties

 

Our corporate headquarters are located in New Braunfels, Texas. As of December 2018, we also own or lease numerous facilities used in our operations in the following states: Alabama, Arizona, California, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Missouri, New Mexico, Nebraska, Nevada, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Texas, Utah and Virginia.

 

We lease a hangar in New Braunfels, Texas for the corporate aircraft. We also own and operate a guest ranch of approximately 9,500 acres near Cotulla, Texas, which is used for client development purposes.

 

Item 3. Legal Proceedings

 

From time to time, we are involved in litigation arising out of our operations in the ordinary course of business. We maintain liability insurance, including product liability coverage, in amounts deemed adequate by management. To date, aggregate costs to us for claims, including product liability actions, have not been material. However, an uninsured or partially insured claim, or claim for which indemnification is not available, could have a material adverse effect on our financial condition or results of operations. We believe that there are no claims or litigation pending, the outcome of which could have a material adverse effect on our financial position or results of operations. However, due to the inherent uncertainty of litigation, there can be no assurance that the resolution of any particular claim or proceeding would not have a material adverse effect on our financial condition or results of operations for the fiscal period in which such resolution occurred.

 

Item 4. Mine Safety Disclosures

 

Not applicable.

 

 

PART II

 

Item 5 . Market for Registrant’s Common Equity, Related Shareholder Matters, and Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities

 

Our common stock trades on The NASDAQ Global Select Market SM under the symbols RUSHA and RUSHB. During 2018, our Board of Directors approved two quarterly cash dividends on all outstanding shares of common stock totaling $0.24 per share. We expect to continue paying cash dividends on a quarterly basis. However, there is no assurance as to the payment of future dividends because the declaration and payment of such dividends is subject to the business judgment of our Board of Directors and will depend on historic and projected earnings, capital requirements, covenant compliance, financial conditions and such other factors as the Board of Directors deems relevant.

 

The following table sets forth the high and low sales prices for our Class A Common Stock and Class B Common Stock for the fiscal periods indicated and as quoted on The NASDAQ Global Select Market SM and dividends declared.

 

   

201 8

   

201 7

 
   

Dividends

Declared

   

High

   

Low

   

Dividends

Declared

   

High

   

Low

 

Class A Common Stock

                                               
                                                 

First Quarter

  $     $ 55.40     $ 39.58     $     $ 36.14     $ 30.36  

Second Quarter

          46.66       37.95             39.21       31.99  

Third Quarter

    .12       46.22       38.73             47.00       36.64  

Fourth Quarter

    .12       39.92       31.53             54.11       45.64  
                                                 

Class B Common Stock

                                               
                                                 

First Quarter

  $     $ 52.76     $ 37.23     $     $ 33.32     $ 28.99  

Second Quarter

          46.75       36.61             36.50       30.41  

Third Quarter

    .12       46.99       39.45             44.31       35.30  

Fourth Quarter

    .12       40.38       32.35             51.39       43.14  

 

As of February 8, 2019, there were approximately 20 record holders of Class A Common Stock and approximately 26 record holders of Class B Common Stock.

 

As of December 31, 2018, we have not sold any securities in the last three years that were not registered under the Securities Act.

 

A summary of our stock repurchase activity for the fourth quarter of 2018 is as follows:

 

Period

 

Total

Number of

Shares

Purchased

(1)(2)(3)

   

 

Average

Price Paid

Per Share

(1)

     

Total Number of

Shares Purchased

as Part of

Publicly

Announced Plans

or Programs (2)

   

Approximate

Dollar Value of

Shares that May

Yet be Purchased

Under the Plans

or Programs (3)

 

October 1 – October 31, 2018

    28,622     $ 37.19   (4)     28,622     $ 13,333,871  

November 1 – November 30, 2018

    900,175       37.76   (5)     900,175       115,978,935  

December 1 – December 31, 2018

    942,848       33.75   (6)     942,848       84,134,070  

Total

    1,871,645                 1,871,645       84,134,070  

 

(1)

The calculation of the average price paid per share does not give effect to any fees, commissions or other costs associated with the repurchase of such shares.

(2) The shares represent Class A and Class B Common Stock repurchased by us.
(3)

We repurchased shares in 2018 under a stock repurchase program announced on November 30, 2017, which authorized the repurchase of up to $40.0 million of our shares of Class A Common Stock and/or Class B Common Stock. On March 14, 2018, we announced the approval of an increase of $35.0 million to the stock repurchase program, up to an aggregate of $75.0 million of our shares. On October 31, 2018, our Board of Directors terminated the prior $75 million stock repurchase program and approved a new stock repurchase program authorizing management to repurchase, from time to time, up to an aggregate of $150.0 million of our shares of Class A Common Stock and/or Class B Common Stock. The current stock repurchase program expires on December 31, 2019, and may be suspended or discontinued at any time.

 

 

(4) Represents 28,622 shares of Class B Common Stock at an average price paid per share of $37.19.
(5) Represents 878,984 shares of Class A Common Stock at an average price paid per share of $37.75 and 21,191 shares of Class B Common Stock at an average price paid per share of $38.36.
(6) Represents 924,413 shares of Class A Common Stock at an average price paid per share of $33.72 and 18,435 shares of Class B Common Stock at an average price paid per share of $35.02.

              

Information regarding our equity compensation plans is incorporated by reference from Item 12, “Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management and Related Shareholder Matters,” of this annual report on Form 10-K, and should be considered an integral part of this Item 5.

 

Pe rformance Graph

 

The following graph shows the cumulative 5-Year total return as of December 31, 2018, of a $100 investment in the Company’s common stock made on December 31, 2013 (with dividends reinvested), as compared with similar investments based on (i) the cumulative total returns of the S&P 500 Index (with dividends reinvested) and (ii) the cumulative total returns of a market-weighted Peer Group Index composed of the common stock of PACCAR, Inc., Werner Enterprises, Inc., Penske Automotive Group, Inc. and Lithia Motors, Inc., assuming reinvestment of dividends. The market-weighted Peer Group Index values were calculated from the beginning of the performance period. The historical stock price performance shown below is not necessarily indicative of future stock price performance.

   

December 31,

 
   

2013

   

2014

   

2015

   

2016

   

2017

   

2018

 

Rush Enterprises, Inc.

  $ 100.00     $ 109.18     $ 79.40     $ 113.82     $ 179.55     $ 127.82  

S&P 500

    100.00       113.69       115.26       129.05       157.22       150.33  

Peer Group

    100.00       117.40       91.91       119.74       136.66       113.41  

 

The foregoing performance graph shall not be deemed “soliciting material” or to be “filed” with the SEC for purposes of Section 18 of the Exchange Act, or otherwise subject to the liabilities under that Section, and shall not be deemed to be incorporated by reference into any filing of the Company under the Securities Act or the Exchange Act. The stock price performance included in this graph is not necessarily indicative of future stock price performance.

 

 

Item 6 . Selected Financial Data

 

The information below was derived from the audited consolidated financial statements included in this report and reports we have previously filed with the SEC. This information should be read together with those consolidated financial statements and the notes to those consolidated financial statements. These historical results are not necessarily indicative of the results to be expected in the future. The selected financial data presented below may not be comparable between periods in all material respects or indicative of our future financial position or results of operations due primarily to acquisitions and discontinued operations which occurred during the periods presented. See Note 15 to the Company’s Consolidated Financial Statements for a discussion of such acquisitions. The selected financial data presented below should be read in conjunction with our other financial information included elsewhere herein.

 

   

Year Ended December 31,

 
   

201 8

   

201 7

   

20 1 6

   

20 1 5

   

20 1 4

 
    (in thousands, except per share amounts)  

SUMMARY OF INCOME STATEMENT DATA

 

 

 

Revenues

                                       

New and used commercial vehicle sales

  $ 3,558,637     $ 2,993,015     $ 2,640,019     $ 3,360,808     $ 3,195,873  

Aftermarket products and services sales

    1,670,052       1,471,266       1,332,356       1,382,447       1,315,694  

Lease and rental

    238,238       217,356       208,154       199,867       177,561  

Finance and insurance

    20,535       17,988       18,582       21,150       19,988  

Other

    18,728       14,257       15,503       15,461       18,240  

Total revenues

    5,506,190       4,713,882       4,214,614       4,979,733       4,727,356  

Cost of products sold

    4,527,921       3,883,946       3,496,602       4,194,786       3,971,310  

Gross profit

    978,269       829,936       718,012       784,947       756,046  

Selling, general and administrative

    705,226       631,053       587,778       619,268       573,670  

Depreciation and amortization

    70,489       50,069       51,261       43,859       40,786  

Gain (loss) on sale of assets

    297       (105 )     1,755       (544 )     151  

Operating income

    202,851       148,709       80,728       121,276       141,741  

Interest expense, net

    19,682       12,310       14,279       13,473       11,198  

Income before income taxes

    183,169       136,399       66,449       107,803       130,543  

Provision (benefit) for income taxes

    44,107       (35,730 )     25,867       41,750       50,586  

Net income

  $ 139,062     $ 172,129     $ 40,582     $ 66,053     $ 79,957  
                                         

Net income per common share:

                                       

Basic

  $ 3.55     $ 4.34     $ 1.02     $ 1.64     $ 2.01  

Diluted

  $ 3.45     $ 4.20     $ 1.00     $ 1.61     $ 1.96  
                                         

Cash dividends declared per share

  $ 0.24                          
                                         

Weighted average shares outstanding:

                                       

Basic

    39,223       39,627       39,938       40,271       39,783  

Diluted

    40,293       40,980       40,603       41,093       40,894  

 

 

   

Year Ended December 31,

 
   

201 8

   

2017

   

20 1 6

   

20 1 5

   

20 1 4

 

OPERATING DATA

                                       

Unit vehicle sales −

                                       

New vehicles

    29,776       25,696       23,627       29,780       27,459  

Used vehicles

    8,021       7,060       7,008       7,922       7,893  

Total unit vehicles sales

    37,797       32,756       30,635       37,702       35,352  

Commercial vehicle lease and rental units

    8,092       7,993       7,841       7,800       6,876  

 

   

December 31,

 
   

201 8

   

201 7

   

201 6

   

201 5

   

201 4

 
   

(in thousands)

 

BALANCE SHEET DATA

                                       

Working capital

  $ 194,649     $ 202,891     $ 118,318     $ 79,549     $ 152,517  

Inventories

    1,339,923       1,033,294       840,304       1,061,198       1,024,104  

Total assets

    3,201,350       2,890,139       2,603,047       2,852,008       2,675,875  
                                         

Floor plan notes payable

    1,023,019       778,561       646,945       854,758       845,977  

Long-term debt, including current portion

    601,173       611,528       604,003       647,755       578,254  

Capital lease obligations, including current portion

    69,114       83,141       84,493       83,765       57,250  

Total shareholders’ equity

    1,066,928       1,040,373       862,825       844,897       764,339  

 

Item 7 . Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations

 

Overview

 

We are a full-service, integrated retailer of commercial vehicles and related services. We operate one segment - the Truck Segment. The Truck Segment operates a network of commercial vehicle dealerships primarily under the name “Rush Truck Centers.” Most Rush Truck Centers are a franchised dealer for commercial vehicles manufactured by Peterbilt, International, Hino, Ford, Isuzu, Mitsubishi Fuso, IC Bus or Blue Bird. Through our strategically located network of Rush Truck Centers, we provide one-stop service for the needs of our commercial vehicle customers. We offer an integrated approach to meeting customer needs by providing service, parts and collision repair in addition to new and used commercial vehicle sales and leasing, insurance and financial services, vehicle upfitting, CNG fuel systems and vehicle telematics products. 

 

Our goal is to continue to serve as the premier service solutions provider to the end-users of commercial vehicles. Our strategic efforts to achieve this goal include continuously expanding our portfolio of Aftermarket Products and Services, broadening the diversity of our commercial vehicle product offerings and extending our network of Rush Truck Centers. Our commitment to provide innovative solutions to service our customers’ needs continues to drive our strong Aftermarket Products and Services revenues.

 

Our Aftermarket Products and Services include a wide range of capabilities and products such as providing parts, service and collision repairs at certain of our Rush Truck Centers, a fleet of mobile service units, technicians who work in our customers’ facilities, a proprietary line of commercial vehicle parts and accessories, vehicle upfitting, a broad range of diagnostic and analysis capabilities, a suite of telematics products and assembly services for specialized bodies and equipment. Aftermarket Products and Services accounted for 63.4% of our total gross profits in 2018.

 

Summary of 201 8

 

Our results of operations for the year ended December 31, 2018 are summarized below as follows:

 

 

Our gross revenues totaled $5,506.2 million in 2018, a 16.8% increase from gross revenues of $4,713.9 million in 2017.

 

 

Gross profit increased $148.3 million, or 17.9%, in 2018, compared to 2017. Gross profit as a percentage of sales increased to 17.8% in 2018, from 17.6% in 2017.

 

 

 

Our Class 8 heavy-duty unit sales, which accounted for 5.7% of the total U.S. market, increased 12.1% in 2018 over 2017.

 

 

Our 2018 Class 4-7 medium-duty unit sales, which accounted for 5.0% of the total U.S. market, increased 18.2% over 2017. Light-duty truck unit sales increased 30.1% compared to 2017.

 

 

Aftermarket Products and Services revenues increased $198.8 million, or 13.5%, to $1,670.1 million in 2018, compared to $1,471.3 million in 2017.

 

 

Selling, General and Administrative expenses increased $74.2 million, or 11.8%, in 2018, compared to 2017.

 

 

We opened full-service Peterbilt dealerships in Colorado Springs, Colorado, and Victoria and Beaumont, Texas. We also opened new parts and service locations in Adairsville and Savannah, Georgia, a used truck location in Miami, Florida, and a location in Memphis, Tennessee, which offers used truck sales as well as all-makes parts and service. In addition, we expanded our Rush Truck Leasing facility in Birmingham, Alabama to offer used trucks and all-makes parts.

 

201 9 Outlook

 

According to A.C.T. Research Co., LLC (“A.C.T. Research”), a commercial vehicle industry data and forecasting service provider, U. S. Class 8 retail sales are estimated to total 259,500 units in 2019, a 1.5% increase compared to 255,711 units in 2018. We expect our market share of Class 8 commercial vehicle sales to range between 5.6% and 6.0% in 2019. This market share percentage would result in the sale of approximately 14,500 to 15,500 of Class 8 commercial vehicles in 2019, based on A.C.T. Research’s current U.S. retail sales estimate of 259,500 units.

 

According to A.C.T. Research, U. S. Class 4 through 7 retail sales are estimated to total 262,300 units in 2019, a 1.6% increase compared to 258,200 units in 2018. We expect our market share of Class 4 through 7 commercial vehicle sales to range between 5.1% and 5.4% in 2019. This market share percentage would result in the sale of approximately 13,300 to 14,200 of Class 4 through 7 commercial vehicles in 2019, based on A.C.T. Research’s current U.S. retail sales estimates of 262,300 units.

 

We expect to sell approximately 2,200 light-duty vehicles and approximately 9,000 to 9,300 used commercial vehicles in 2019. We expect lease and rental revenue to increase 5% to 10% during 2019, compared to 2018.

 

We continue to make progress on strategic initiatives to increase our Aftermarket Products and Services revenue.  We believe our Aftermarket Products and Services revenue will increase 9% to 11% in 2019, compared to 2018.

 

On February 6, 2019, we announced that we had entered into an agreement with Tallman Group, the largest International dealership group in Canada, to form Rush Truck Centres of Canada Limited, which will operate Tallman Group’s network of commercial vehicle dealerships in the Province of Ontario, Canada. Under the terms of the agreement, which is subject to customary closing conditions, a subsidiary of ours will purchase 50% of the equity in Rush Truck Centres of Canada Limited for approximately CAD $30.0 million.  The purchase price does not include any of the real estate, which will continue to be leased from the current owners of the real estate.  We do not intend to consolidate Rush Truck Centres of Canada Limited as part of our Truck Segment for financial reporting purposes. Rush Truck Centres of Canada Limited will be accounted for as an equity method investment. We expect the transaction to close on February 25, 2019.

 

Key Performance Indicator

 

Absorption R atio . Management uses several performance metrics to evaluate the performance of our commercial vehicle dealerships and considers Rush Truck Centers’ “absorption ratio” to be of critical importance. Absorption ratio is calculated by dividing the gross profit from the parts, service and collision center departments by the overhead expenses of all of a dealership’s departments, except for the selling expenses of the new and used commercial vehicle departments and carrying costs of new and used commercial vehicle inventory. When 100% absorption is achieved, all of the gross profit from the sale of a commercial vehicle, after sales commissions and inventory carrying costs, directly impacts operating profit. Our commercial vehicle dealerships achieved a 122.4% absorption ratio for the year ended December 31, 2018 and 121.0% absorption ratio for the year ended December 31, 2017.

 

 

Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates

 

Our discussion and analysis of our financial condition and results of operations are based on our consolidated financial statements, which have been prepared in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles. The preparation of these consolidated financial statements requires us to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities at the date of the consolidated financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. There can be no assurance that actual results will not differ from those estimates. We believe the following accounting policies affect our more significant judgments and estimates used in the preparation of our consolidated financial statements.

 

Inventories

 

Inventories are stated at the lower of cost or net realizable value. Cost is determined by specific identification of new and used commercial vehicle inventory and by the first-in, first-out method for tires, parts and accessories. As the market value of our inventory typically declines over time, reserves are established based on historical loss experience and market trends. These reserves are charged to cost of sales and reduce the carrying value of our inventory on hand. An allowance is provided when it is anticipated that cost will exceed net realizable value less a reasonable profit margin.

 

Goodwill

 

Goodwill is tested for impairment by reporting unit utilizing a two-step process at least annually, or more frequently when events or changes in circumstances indicate that the asset might be impaired. The first step requires us to compare the fair value of the reporting unit (we consider our Truck Segment to be a reporting unit for purposes of this analysis), which is the same as the segment, to the respective carrying value. If the fair value of the reporting unit exceeds its carrying value, the goodwill is not considered impaired. If the carrying value is greater than the fair value, there is an indication that impairment may exist and a second step is required. In the second step of the analysis, the implied fair value of the goodwill is calculated as the excess of the fair value of a reporting unit over the fair values assigned to its assets and liabilities. If the implied fair value of goodwill is less than the carrying value of the reporting unit’s goodwill, the difference is recognized as an impairment loss.

 

We determine the fair value of our reporting unit using the discounted cash flow method. The discounted cash flow method uses various assumptions and estimates regarding revenue growth rates, future gross margins, future selling, general and administrative expenses and an estimated weighted average cost of capital. The analysis is based upon available information regarding expected future cash flows of each reporting unit discounted at rates consistent with the cost of capital specific to the reporting unit. This type of analysis contains uncertainties because it requires us to make assumptions and to apply judgment regarding our knowledge of our industry, information provided by industry analysts and our current business strategy in light of present industry and economic conditions. If any of these assumptions change, or fail to materialize, the resulting decline in our estimated fair value could result in a material impairment charge to the goodwill associated with the reporting unit.

 

We do not believe there is a reasonable likelihood that there will be a material change in the future estimates or assumptions we used to test for impairment losses on goodwill. However, if actual results are not consistent with our estimates or assumptions, or certain events occur that might adversely affect the reported value of goodwill in the future, we may be exposed to an impairment charge that could be material.

 

Goodwill was tested for impairment during the fourth quarter of 2018 and no impairment was required. The fair value of our reporting unit exceeded the carrying value of its net assets. As a result, we were not required to conduct the second step of the impairment test. We do not believe our reporting unit is at risk of failing step one of the impairment test.

 

Insurance Accruals

 

We are partially self-insured for a portion of the claims related to our property and casualty insurance programs, which requires us to make estimates regarding expected losses to be incurred. We engage a third-party administrator to assess any open claims and we adjust our accrual accordingly on a periodic basis. We are also partially self-insured for a portion of the claims related to our workers’ compensation and medical insurance programs. We use actuarial information provided from third-party administrators to calculate an accrual for claims incurred but not reported, and for the remaining portion of claims that have been reported.

 

 

Changes in the frequency, severity and development of existing claims could influence our reserve for claims and financial position, results of operations and cash flows. We do not believe there is a reasonable likelihood that there will be a material change in the estimates or assumptions we used to calculate our self-insured liabilities. However, if actual results are not consistent with our estimates or assumptions, we may be exposed to losses or gains that could be material.

 

Accounting for Income Taxes

 

Management’s judgment is required to determine the provisions for income taxes and to determine whether deferred tax assets will be realized in full or in part. Deferred income tax assets and liabilities are measured using enacted tax rates expected to apply to taxable income in the years in which those temporary differences are expected to be recovered or settled. When it is more likely than not that all or some portion of specific deferred income tax assets will not be realized, a valuation allowance must be established for the amount of deferred income tax assets that are determined not to be realizable. Accordingly, the facts and financial circumstances impacting deferred income tax assets are reviewed quarterly and management’s judgment is applied to determine the amount of valuation allowance required, if any, in any given period.

 

Our income tax returns are periodically audited by tax authorities. These audits include questions regarding our tax filing positions, including the timing and amount of deductions. In evaluating the exposures associated with our various tax filing positions, we adjust our liability for unrecognized tax benefits and income tax provision in the period in which an uncertain tax position is effectively settled, the statute of limitations expires for the relevant taxing authority to examine the tax position or when more information becomes available.

 

Our liability for unrecognized tax benefits contains uncertainties because management is required to make assumptions and to apply judgment to estimate the exposures associated with our various filing positions. Our effective income tax rate is also affected by changes in tax law, the level of earnings and the results of tax audits. Although we believe that the judgments and estimates are reasonable, actual results could differ, and we may be exposed to losses or gains that could be material. An unfavorable tax settlement would generally require use of our cash and result in an increase in our effective income tax rate in the period of resolution. A favorable tax settlement would be recognized as a reduction in our effective income tax rate in the period of resolution. Our income tax expense includes the impact of reserve provisions and changes to reserves that we consider appropriate, as well as related interest.

 

Revenue Recognition  

  

Effective January 1, 2018, we adopted ASU 2014-09, “ Revenue from Contracts with Customers ( Topic 606 ) ,” using the modified retrospective transition method.  This standard applies to all contracts with customers, except for contracts that are within the scope of other standards, such as leases, insurance, collaboration arrangements and financial instruments.  Under Topic 606, we recognize revenue when our customer obtains control of promised goods or services, in an amount that reflects the consideration which we expect to receive in exchange for those goods or services.  To determine revenue recognition for arrangements that we determine are within the scope of Topic 606, we perform the following five steps: (i) identify the contract with a customer; (ii) identify the performance obligations in the contract; (iii) determine the transaction price; (iv) allocate the transaction price to the performance obligations in the contract; and (v) recognize revenue when (or as) we satisfy a performance obligation.  We only apply the five-step model to contracts when it is probable that we will collect the consideration we are entitled to in exchange for the goods or services we transfer to the customer.  At contract inception, once the contract is determined to be within the scope of Topic 606, we assess the goods or services promised within each contract and determine those that are performance obligations. We then assess whether each promised good or service is distinct and recognize as revenue the amount of the transaction price that is allocated to the respective performance obligation when (or as) the performance obligation is satisfied.  For a complete discussion of accounting for revenue, see Note 20 – Revenue of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.

 

New Accounting Standards

 

In February 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-02, “ Leases ( Topic 842 ), ” which is intended to increase the transparency and comparability among organizations by recognizing lease assets and lease liabilities on the balance sheet and disclosing key information about leasing arrangements. This standard requires lessees to record assets and liabilities on the balance sheet for all leases with terms longer than twelve months. Leases are classified as either finance or operating, with classification affecting the pattern of expense recognition in the income statement.

 

We adopted Topic 842 on January 1, 2019. We will apply a modified retrospective transition approach for all leases existing at, or entered into after, January 1, 2019. Upon adoption, we are applying the practical expedients permitted within Topic 842, which among other things, allows us to retain our existing assessment of whether an arrangement is, or contains, a lease and is classified as an operating or finance lease. We made an accounting policy election that keeps leases with an initial term of twelve months or less off of the balance sheet and results in recognizing those lease payments in the Consolidated Statements of Income and Comprehensive Income on a straight-line basis over the lease term. We estimate that the adoption of Topic 842 will result in the recognition of right-of-use assets and lease liabilities for operating leases of approximately $51.9 million on our Consolidated Balance Sheets, with no material impact to our Consolidated Statements of Income and Comprehensive Income.

 

 

Results of Operations

 

The following discussion and analysis includes our historical results of operations for 2018, 2017 and 2016. The following table sets forth for the years indicated certain financial data as a percentage of total revenues:

 

   

Year Ended December 31,

 
   

201 8

   

201 7

   

20 1 6

 
                         

New and used commercial vehicle sales

    64.6

%

    63.5

%

    62.6

%

Aftermarket Products and Services sales

    30.3       31.2       31.6  

Lease and rental

    4.3       4.6       5.0  

Finance and insurance

    0.4       0.4       0.4  

Other

    0.4       0.3       0.4  

Total revenues

    100.0       100.0       100.0  
                         

Cost of products sold

    82.2       82.4       83.0  

Gross profit

    17.8       17.6       17.0  
                         

Selling, general and administrative

    12.8       13.4       13.9  

Depreciation and amortization

    1.3       1.0       1.2  

Operating income

    3.7       3.2       1.9  

Interest expense, net

    0.4       0.3       0.3  

Income from continuing operations before income taxes

    3.3       2.9       1.6  

Provision (benefit) for income taxes

    0.8       (0.8 )     0.6  

Net income

    2.5

%

    3.7

%

    1.0

%

 

The following table sets forth the unit sales and revenue for new heavy-duty, new medium-duty, new light-duty and used commercial vehicles and the absorption ratio for the years indicated (revenue in millions):

 

                           

% Change

 
   

20 1 8

   

201 7

   

201 6

   

201 8

v s

201 7

   

2017

v s

2016

 

Vehicle unit sales:

                                       

New heavy-duty vehicles

    14,666       13,083       10,816       12.1 %     21.0 %

New medium-duty vehicles

    12,949       10,952       11,135       18.2 %     -1.6 %

New light-duty vehicles

    2,161       1,661       1,676       30.1 %     -0.9 %

Total new vehicle unit sales

    29,776       25,696       23,627       15.9 %     8.8 %
                                         

Used vehicles sales

    8,021       7,060       7,008       13.6 %     0.7 %
                                         

Vehicle revenue :

                                       

New heavy-duty vehicles

  $ 2,120.5     $ 1,817.3     $ 1,455.8       16.7 %     24.8 %

New medium-duty vehicles

    971.3       806.5       811.7       20.4 %     -0.6 %

New light-duty vehicles

    86.7       64.0       63.6       35.5 %     0.6 %

Total new vehicle revenue

  $ 3,178.5     $ 2,687.8     $ 2,331.1       18.3 %     15.3 %
                                         

Used vehicle revenue

  $ 360.1     $ 291.5     $ 289.4       23.5 %     0.7 %
                                         

Other vehicle revenue:(1)

  $ 20.0     $ 13.7     $ 19.5       46.0 %     -29.7 %
                                         

Dealership absorption ratio :

    122.4 %     121.0 %     112.2 %     1.2 %     7.8 %

(1)  Includes sales of truck bodies, trailers and other new equipment.

 

 

The following table sets forth for the periods indicated the percent of gross profit by revenue source:

 

   

201 8

   

201 7

   

201 6

 

Gross Profit:

                       

New and used commercial vehicle sales

    28.4

%

    27.3

%

    24.6

%

Aftermarket products and services sales

    63.4       64.7       67.0  

Lease and rental

    4.2       4.1       3.6  

Finance and insurance

    2.1       2.2       2.6  

Other

    1.9       1.7       2.2  

Total gross profit

    100.0

%

    100.0

%

    100.0

%

 

 

Industry

 

We operate in the commercial vehicle market. There has historically been a high correlation between new product sales in the commercial vehicle market and the rate of change in U.S. industrial production and the U.S. gross domestic product.

 

Heavy-Duty Truck Market

 

The U.S. retail heavy-duty truck market is affected by a number of factors, including general economic conditions, fuel prices, other methods of transportation, environmental and other government regulation, interest rate fluctuations and customer business cycles. Unit sales of new commercial vehicles have historically been subject to substantial cyclical variation based on general economic conditions. According to data published by A.C.T. Research, over the last 10 years, total U.S. retail sales of new Class 8 trucks have ranged from a low of approximately 97,000 in 2009 to a high of approximately 255,711 in 2018. Class 8 trucks are defined by the American Automobile Association as trucks with a minimum gross vehicle weight rating above 33,000 pounds.

 

Typically, Class 8 trucks are assembled by manufacturers utilizing certain components that may be manufactured by other companies, including engines, transmissions, axles, wheels and other components. As commercial vehicles and certain commercial vehicle components have become increasingly complex, the ability to provide service for commercial vehicles has become an increasingly competitive factor in the industry. The ability to provide such service requires a significant capital investment in diagnostic and other equipment, parts inventory and highly trained service personnel. EPA and DOT regulatory guidelines for service processes, including collision center, paint work and waste disposal, require sophisticated equipment to ensure compliance with environmental and safety standards. Differentiation between commercial vehicle dealers has become less dependent on price competition and is increasingly based on a dealer’s ability to offer a wide variety of services to their clients in a timely manner to minimize vehicle downtime. Such services include the following: efficient, conveniently located and easily accessible commercial vehicle service centers with an adequate supply of replacement parts; financing for commercial vehicle purchases; leasing and rental programs; and the ability to accept multiple unit trade-ins related to large fleet purchases. We believe our one-stop center concept and the size and geographic diversity of our dealership network gives us a competitive advantage in providing these services.

 

A.C.T. Research currently estimates approximately 259,500 new Class 8 trucks will be sold in the United States in 2019, compared to approximately 255,711 new Class 8 trucks sold in 2018. A.C.T. Research currently forecasts sales of new Class 8 trucks in the U.S. to be approximately 194,000 in 2020.

 

Medium-Duty Truck Market

 

Many of our Rush Truck Centers sell medium-duty commercial vehicles manufactured by Peterbilt, International, Hino, Ford, Mitsubishi Fuso or Isuzu, and provide parts and service for medium-duty commercial vehicles. Medium-duty commercial vehicles are principally used in short-haul, local markets as delivery vehicles; they typically operate locally and generally do not leave their service areas overnight. We also sell light-duty vehicles (Class 3 and under) at several of our Ford dealerships.

 

A.C.T. Research currently forecasts sales of new Class 4 through 7 commercial vehicles in the U.S. to be approximately 262,300 units in 2019, compared to 258,200 units in 2018. A.C.T. Research currently forecasts sales of new Class 4 through 7 commercial vehicles in the U.S. to be approximately 266,900 in 2020.

 

Year Ended December 31, 20 1 8 Compared to Year Ended December 31, 20 1 7

 

Revenues

 

Total revenues increased $792.3 million, or 16.8%, in 2018, compared to 2017.

 

Our Aftermarket Products and Services revenues increased $198.8 million, or 13.5%, in 2018, compared to 2017. This increase was primarily due to network-wide all-makes parts product expansion, increased service technician capacity, investment in technology designed to increase the productivity of our parts operations, increases to our aftermarket sales force and a strong economy.

 

 

Our revenues from sales of new and used commercial vehicles increased $565.6 million, or 18.9%, in 2018, compared to 2017.

 

We sold 14,666 heavy-duty trucks in 2018, a 12.1% increase compared to 13,083 heavy-duty trucks in 2017. Our heavy-duty new truck sales in 2018 increased due to strong growth in truck sales to customers in industries we support, including refuse, energy and construction. Our share of the U.S. Class 8 commercial vehicle sales market decreased to approximately 5.7% in 2018, from 6.6% in 2017. In a robust Class 8 truck market, our market share historically declines.

 

We sold 12,949 medium-duty commercial vehicles, including 1,453 buses, in 2018, an 18.2% increase compared to 10,952 medium-duty commercial vehicles, including 1,004 buses, in 2017. In 2018, we achieved a 5.0% share of the Class 4 through 7 market in the U.S.

 

We sold 2,161 light-duty vehicles in 2018, a 30.1% increase compared to 1,661 light-duty vehicles in 2017.

 

We sold 8,021 used commercial vehicles in 2018, a 13.6% increase compared to 7,060 used commercial vehicles in 2017.

 

Commercial vehicle lease and rental revenues increased $20.9 million, or 9.6%, in 2018, compared to 2017. This increase was primarily related to increased utilization of the rental fleet.

 

Finance and insurance revenues increased $2.5 million, or 14.2%, in 2018, compared to 2017. We expect finance and insurance revenue to fluctuate proportionately with our new and used commercial vehicle sales in 2019. Finance and insurance revenues have limited direct costs and, therefore, contribute a disproportionate share of our operating profits.

 

Other income increased $4.5 million, or 31.4% in 2018, compared to 2017. Other income consists primarily of document fees related to commercial vehicle sales.

 

Gross Profit

 

Gross profit increased $148.3 million, or 17.9%, in 2018, compared to 2017. Gross profit as a percentage of sales increased to 17.8% in 2018, from 17.6% in 2017.

 

Gross margins from our Aftermarket Products and Services operations increased to 37.1% in 2018, from 36.5% in 2017. Gross profit for Aftermarket Products and Services increased to $620.4 million in 2018, from $536.9 million in 2017. Historically, parts operations’ gross margins range from 27% to 29% and service and collision center operations range from 66% to 68%. Gross profits from parts sales represented 58.4% of total gross profit for Aftermarket Products and Services operations in 2018 and 56.6% in 2017. Service and collision center operations represented 41.6% of total gross profit for Aftermarket Products and Services operations in 2018 and 43.4% 2017. We expect blended gross margins on Aftermarket Products and Services operations to range from 37.0% to 37.5% in 2019.

 

Gross margins on Class 8 commercial vehicle sales increased to 7.9% in 2018, from 7.8% in 2017. In 2019, we expect overall gross margins from Class 8 commercial vehicle sales of approximately 7.0% to 8.0%.

 

Gross margins on medium-duty commercial vehicle sales decreased to 5.9% in 2018, from 6.0% in 2017. For 2019, we expect overall gross margins from Class 4 through 7 commercial vehicle sales of approximately 5.7% to 6.2%, but this will largely depend upon the mix of purchasers and types of vehicles sold.

 

Gross margins on used commercial vehicle sales increased to 12.0% in 2018, from 10.5% in 2017. This increase is primarily related to the stabilization of used truck values in 2018. We expect margins on used commercial vehicles to range between 8.0% and 10.0% during 2019.

 

Gross margins from commercial vehicle lease and rental sales increased to 17.2% in 2018, from 15.8% in 2017. This increase is primarily related to increased rental fleet utilization. We expect gross margins from lease and rental sales of approximately 17.0% to 18.0% during 2019. Our policy is to depreciate our lease and rental fleet using a straight line method over each customer’s contractual lease term. The lease unit is depreciated to a residual value that approximates fair value at the expiration of the lease term. This policy results in us realizing reasonable gross margins while the unit is in service and a corresponding gain or loss on sale when the unit is sold at the end of the lease term.

 

 

Finance and insurance revenues and other income, as described above, have limited direct costs and, therefore, contribute a disproportionate share of gross profit.

 

Selling, General and Administrative Expenses

 

Selling, General and Administrative (“SG&A”) expenses increased $74.2 million, or 11.8%, in 2018, compared to 2017. SG&A expenses as a percentage of total revenues decreased to 12.8% in 2018, from 13.4% in 2017. SG&A expenses as a percentage of total revenues have ranged from 12.1% to 13.9% over the last five years. In general, when new and used commercial vehicle revenues decrease as a percentage of total revenues, SG&A expenses as a percentage of total revenues will be at, or exceed, the higher end of this range. For 2019, we expect SG&A expenses as a percentage of total revenues to range from 12.5% to 13.0% and the selling portion of SG&A expenses to be approximately 25.0% to 30.0% of new and used commercial vehicle gross profit.

 

Depreciation and Amortization Expense

 

Depreciation and amortization expense increased $20.4 million, or 40.8%, in 2018, compared to 2017. This increase is primarily related to the additional amortization expense related to the replacement of our Enterprise Resource Planning software platform (“ERP Platform”) components. We estimate that amortization expense relating to the ERP Platform will be approximately $1.9 million in 2019.

 

Interest Expense, N et

 

Net interest expense increased $7.4 million, or 59.9%, in 2018, compared to 2017. This increase is primarily related to the increase in the LIBOR rate over the last year and increased inventory levels, compared to 2017. Net interest expense in 2019 will depend on inventory levels, interest rate fluctuations and the amount of cash available to make prepayments on our floor plan arrangements.

 

Income before Income Taxes

 

Income before income taxes increased $46.8 million, or 34.3%, in 2018, compared to 2017, as a result of the factors described above.

 

Income Taxes

 

Income tax expense increased $79.8 million in 2018, compared to 2017. This increase in income tax expense is primarily the result of the tax benefit recorded in 2017 based on the reduction of the U.S. Corporate tax rate from the enactment of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (the "Tax Act") in December 2017. We incurred a one-time income tax benefit, primarily related to the revaluation of certain deferred tax assets and liabilities due to the reduction of the U.S. corporate tax rate from 35% to 21% of $82.9 million in 2017, as a result of the Tax Act.

 

In 2018, we recorded a $278,000 tax benefit related to excess tax benefits of equity compensation, which reduced income tax expense. In 2017, we recorded a $5.3 million tax benefit related to excess tax benefits of equity compensation, which reduced income tax expense.

 

We provided for taxes at a 24.2% effective rate in 2018, compared to an effective rate of 38.25% in 2017, before the tax benefit of $82.9 million related to the Tax Act. We expect our effective tax rate to be approximately 24% to 26% of pretax income in 2018.

 

Year Ended December 31, 201 7 Compared to Year Ended December 31, 201 6

 

Revenues

 

Total revenues increased $497.2 million, or 11.8%, in 2017, compared to 2016.

 

Our Aftermarket Products and Services revenues increased $138.9 million, or 10.4%, in 2017, compared to 2016. This increase was primarily due to strong general economic conditions, an increase in our heavy-duty truck sales, which generally required upfitting and other pre-delivery services, and an increase in the number of service technicians we employed.

 

 

Revenues from sales of new and used commercial vehicles increased $353.0 million, or 13.4%, in 2017, compared to 2016.

 

We sold 13,083 heavy-duty trucks in 2017, a 21.0% increase compared to 10,816 heavy-duty trucks in 2016. Our heavy-duty new truck sales in 2017 increased due to strong growth in truck sales to customers in industries we support, including refuse, energy and construction. According to A.C.T. Research, U.S. Class 8 retail sales totaled 197,226 in 2017, an increase of approximately 0.2%, compared to 2016. Our share of the U.S. Class 8 commercial vehicle sales market increased to approximately 6.6% in 2017, from 5.5% in 2016.

 

We sold 10,952 medium-duty commercial vehicles, including 1,004 buses, in 2017, a 1.6% decrease compared to 11,135 medium-duty commercial vehicles, including 1,132 buses, in 2016. According to A.C.T. Research, U.S. Class 4 through 7 retail sales totaled 242,089 in 2017, an increase of approximately 7.0%, compared to 2016. In 2017, we achieved a 4.5% share of the Class 4 through 7 market in the U.S.

 

We sold 1,661 light-duty vehicles in 2017, a 0.9% decrease compared to 1,676 light-duty vehicles in 2016.

 

We sold 7,060 used commercial vehicles in 2017, a 0.7% increase compared to 7,008 used commercial vehicles in 2016.

 

Commercial vehicle lease and rental revenues increased $9.2 million, or 4.4%, in 2017, compared to 2016.

 

Finance and insurance revenues decreased $0.6 million, or 3.2%, in 2017, compared to 2016. Finance and insurance revenues have limited direct costs and, therefore, contribute a disproportionate share of our operating profits.

 

Other income decreased $1.2 million, or 8.0% in 2017, compared to 2016. Other income consists primarily of document fees related to commercial vehicle sales.

 

Gross Profit

 

Gross profit increased $111.7 million, or 15.6%, in 2017, compared to 2016. Gross profit as a percentage of sales increased to 17.6% in 2017, from 17.0% in 2016.

 

Gross margins from our Aftermarket Products and Services operations increased to 36.5% in 2017, from 36.1% in 2016. Gross profit for Aftermarket Products and Services increased to $536.9 million in 2017, from $480.9 million in 2016. Historically, parts operations’ gross margins range from 27% to 28% and service and collision center operations range from 67% to 68%. Gross profits from parts sales represented 56.6% of total gross profit for Aftermarket Products and Services operations in 2017 and 55.8% in 2016. Service and collision center operations represented 43.4% of total gross profit for Aftermarket Products and Services operations in 2017 and 44.2% 2016.

 

Gross margins on Class 8 commercial vehicle sales increased to 7.8% in 2017, from 7.0% in 2016. This increase was attributable to the sales mix in 2017, which consisted of a lower percentage of sales to large fleet customers than in 2016. We recorded a net charge to cost of sales of $8,500 to increase our new heavy-duty commercial vehicle valuation allowance in 2017, compared to $3.2 million in 2016.

 

Gross margins on medium-duty commercial vehicle sales remained flat at 6.0% in 2017, compared to 2016. We recorded a net charge to cost of sales of $1.9 million to increase our new medium-duty commercial vehicle valuation allowance in 2017, compared to $1.1 million in 2016.

 

Gross margins on used commercial vehicle sales increased to 10.5% in 2017, from 8.1% in 2016. This increase was primarily related to the stabilization of used truck values in 2017. We recorded a net charge to cost of sales of $3.8 million to increase our used commercial vehicle valuation allowance in 2017, compared to $5.1 million in 2016.

 

Gross margins from commercial vehicle lease and rental sales increased to 15.8% in 2017, from 12.5% in 2016. This increase was primarily related to increased rental fleet utilization and improvement in the performance of our full service leases.

 

Finance and insurance revenues and other income, as described above, have limited direct costs and, therefore, contribute a disproportionate share of gross profit.

 

 

Selling, General and Administrative Expenses

 

SG&A expenses increased $43.3 million, or 7.4%, in 2017, compared to 2016. SG&A expenses as a percentage of total revenues decreased to 13.4% in 2017, from 14.0% in 2016.

 

Depreciation and Amortization Expense

 

Depreciation and amortization expense decreased $1.2 million, or 2.3%, in 2017, compared to 2016.

 

Interest Expense, N et

 

Net interest expense decreased $1.9 million, or 13.6%, in 2017, compared to 2016.

 

Income before Income Taxes

 

Income before income taxes increased $70.0 million, or 105.3%, in 2017, compared to 2016, as a result of the factors described above.

 

Income Taxes

 

Income tax expense decreased $61.6 million in 2017, compared to 2016. In 2017, we incurred a one-time income tax benefit of $82.9 million, primarily related to the revaluation of certain deferred tax assets and liabilities due to the reduction of the U.S. corporate tax rate from 35% to 21%, as a result of the Tax Act.

 

ASU No. 2016-09, “Improvements to Employee Share-Based Payment Accounting (Topic 718)” requires excess tax benefits and tax deficiencies to be recorded in the income statement when equity awards issued pursuant to our equity compensation plans vest or are settled. We recorded a $5.3 million tax benefit related to excess tax benefits in 2017, which reduced income tax expense.

 

We provided for taxes at a 38.25% effective rate in 2017, compared to an effective rate of 38.9% in 2016.

   

Liquidity and Capital Resources

 

Our short-term cash requirements are primarily for working capital, inventory financing, the renovation and expansion of existing facilities and the construction or purchase of new facilities. Historically, these cash requirements have been met through the retention of profits, borrowings under our floor plan arrangements and bank financings. As of December 31, 2018, we had working capital of approximately $194.6 million, including $131.7 million in cash, available to fund our operations. We believe that these funds, together with expected cash flows from operations, are sufficient to meet our operating requirements for at least the next twelve months. From time to time, we utilize our excess cash on hand to pay down our outstanding borrowings under our Floor Plan Credit Agreement with BMO Harris, and the resulting interest earned is recognized as an offset to our gross interest expense under the Floor Plan Credit Agreement.

 

We have a secured line of credit that provides for a maximum borrowing of $17.5 million. There were no advances outstanding under this secured line of credit on December 31, 2018, however, $11.6 million was pledged to secure various letters of credit related to self-insurance products, leaving $5.9 million available for future borrowings as of December 31, 2018.

 

On March 21, 2017, we entered into a working capital facility with BMO Harris (the “Working Capital Facility”). The Working Capital Facility includes up to $100 million of revolving credit loans available to us for working capital, capital expenditures and other general corporate purposes. The amount of the borrowings under the Working Capital Facility are subject to borrowing base limitations based on the value of our eligible parts inventory and company vehicles. The Working Capital Facility includes a $20 million letter of credit sublimit. Borrowings under the Working Capital Facility bear interest at rates based on LIBOR or the Base Rate (as such terms are defined in the Working Capital Facility), plus an applicable margin determined based on outstanding borrowing under the Working Capital Facility. In addition, we are required to pay a commitment fee on the amount unused under the Working Capital Facility. The Working Capital Facility expires on the earlier of (i) March 21, 2020 and (ii) the date on which all commitments under the Working Capital Facility shall have terminated, whether as a result of the occurrence of the Commitment Termination Date (as defined in the Working Capital Facility) or otherwise. There were no advances outstanding under the Working Capital Facility as of December 31, 2018.

 

 

Our long-term real estate debt, floor plan financing agreements and the Working Capital Facility require us to satisfy various financial ratios such as the debt-to-worth ratio, leverage ratio and the fixed charge coverage ratio and certain requirements for tangible net worth and GAAP net worth. As of December 31, 2018, we were in compliance with all debt covenants related to debt secured by real estate, lease and rental units, our floor plan credit agreements and the Working Capital Facility. We do not anticipate any breach of the covenants in the foreseeable future.

 

We expect to purchase or lease trucks worth approximately $165.0 million to $190.0 million for our leasing operations during 2019, depending on customer demand, all of which will be financed. We also expect to make capital expenditures for recurring items such as computers, shop tools and equipment and company vehicles of approximately $30.0 million to $40.0 million during 2019.

 

We have purchase obligations of approximately $10.0 million as of December 31, 2018 related to a remodel of our facility in Atlanta, Georgia and the purchase of real estate in Irving, Texas.

 

During the fourth quarter of 2018, we paid a cash dividend of $4.7 million. Additionally, on February 13, 2019, our Board of Directors declared a cash dividend of $0.12 per share of Class A and Class B Common Stock, to be paid on March 15, 2019, to all shareholders of record as of February 25, 2019. The total dividend disbursement is estimated at approximately $4.7 million. We expect to continue paying cash dividends on a quarterly basis. However, there is no assurance as to future dividends because the declaration and payment of such dividends is subject to the business judgment of our Board of Directors and will depend on historic and projected earnings, capital requirements, covenant compliance and financial conditions and such other factors as the Board of Directors deems relevant.

 

On October 31, 2018, our Board of Directors approved a stock repurchase program authorizing management to repurchase, from time to time, up to an aggregate of $150.0 million of our shares of Class A Common Stock and/or Class B Common Stock. Repurchases, if any, will be made at times and in amounts as we deem appropriate and may be made through open market transactions at prevailing market prices, privately negotiated transactions or by other means in accordance with federal securities laws. The actual timing, number and value of repurchases under the stock repurchase program will be determined by management at its discretion and will depend on a number of factors, including market conditions, stock price and other factors, including those related to the ownership requirements of our dealership agreements with Peterbilt. As of December 31, 2018, we had repurchased $65.9 million of our shares of common stock under the stock repurchase program. The current stock repurchase program expires on December 31, 2019, and may be suspended or discontinued at any time.

 

We anticipate funding the capital expenditures for the improvement and expansion of existing facilities and recurring expenses through our operating cash flows. We have the ability to fund the construction or purchase of new facilities through our operating cash flows or by financing.

 

We have no other material commitments for capital expenditures as of December 31, 2018. However, we will continue to purchase vehicles for our lease and rental division and authorize capital expenditures for improvement and expansion of our existing dealership facilities and construction or purchase of new facilities based on market opportunities.

 

Cash Flows

 

Cash and cash equivalents increased by $7.2 million during the year ended December 31, 2018, compared to the year ended December 31, 2017, and increased by $42.5 million during the year ended December 31, 2017, compared to the year ended December 31, 2016. The major components of these changes are discussed below.

 

Cash Flows from Operating Activities

 

Cash flows from operating activities include net income adjusted for non-cash items and the effects of changes in working capital. During 2018, operating activities resulted in net cash provided by operations of $215.4 million. Net cash provided by operating activities primarily consisted of $139.1 million in net income, as well as non-cash adjustments related to depreciation and amortization of $185.1 million, deferred income tax of $6.0 million and stock-based compensation of $18.1 million. Cash used in operating activities included an aggregate of $132.6 million net change in operating assets and liabilities. Included in the net change in operating assets and liabilities were cash inflows of $76.6 million from the net increase in borrowings on floor plan (trade), $42.8 million from the increases in accounts payable and accrued liabilities, $8.8 million from the increase in customer deposits and $1.9 million from the decrease in other current assets, which were offset by cash outflows of $ 7.7 million from an increase in accounts receivable and $255.0 million from the increase in inventory. The majority of commercial vehicle inventory is financed through our floor plan credit agreements.

 

 

During 2017, operating activities resulted in net cash provided by operations of $152.7 million. Net cash provided by operating activities primarily consisted of $172.1 million in net income, as well as non-cash adjustments related to depreciation and amortization of $158.0 million, deferred income tax benefit of $62.2 million and stock-based compensation of $15.6 million. Cash used in operating activities included an aggregate of $130.8 million net change in operating assets and liabilities. Included in the net change in operating assets and liabilities were cash inflows of $19.4 million from the net increase in borrowings on floor plan (trade), $21.1 million from the increases in accounts payable and accrued liabilities, and $8.9 million from the increase in customer deposits, which were offset by cash outflows of $29.4 million from an increase in accounts receivable, $147.5 million from the increase in inventory and $3.2 million from the increase in other current assets.

 

In June 2012, we entered into a wholesale financing agreement with Ford Motor Credit Company that provides for the financing of, and is collateralized by, our Ford new vehicle inventory. This wholesale financing agreement bears interest at a rate of Prime plus 150 basis points minus certain incentives and rebates. As of December 31, 2018, the interest rate on the wholesale financing agreement was 7.0% before considering the applicable incentives. As of December 31, 2018, we had an outstanding balance of approximately $139.0 million under the Ford Motor Credit Company wholesale financing agreement.

 

Cash Flows from Investing Activities

 

During 2018, cash used in investing activities was $227.2 million. Cash flows used in investing activities consist primarily of cash used for capital expenditures. Capital expenditures totaled $238.3 million during 2018 and consisted primarily of purchases of property and equipment, improvements to our existing dealership facilities and $157.4 million for purchases of rental and lease vehicles for the rental and leasing operations, which were directly offset by borrowings of long-term debt. We expect to purchase or lease commercial vehicles worth approximately $165.0 million to $190.0 million for our leasing operations in 2019, depending on customer demand, all of which will be financed. During 2019, we expect to make capital expenditures for recurring items such as computers, shop equipment and company vehicles of $30.0 million to $40.0 million.

 

During 2017, cash used in investing activities was $206.6 million. Cash flows used in investing activities consisted primarily of cash used for capital expenditures. Capital expenditures of $211.8 million consisted primarily of $55.9 million for purchases of property and equipment and improvements to our existing dealership facilities and $155.9 million for additional units for our rental and leasing operations. Purchases of additional units for our rental and leasing operations were directly offset by borrowings of long-term debt.

 

Cash Flows from Financing Activities

 

Cash flows provided by financing activities include borrowings and repayments of long-term debt and net payments of floor plan notes payable. During 2018, our financing activities provided $19.1 million. The cash outflows consisted primarily of $179.5 million used for principal repayments of long-term debt and capital lease obligations and $120.6 million used to purchase 2,857,580 shares of Rush Class A common stock and 405,606 shares of Rush Class B common stock during 2018. Additionally, during 2018, we paid cash dividends of $9.3 million. These cash outflows were partially offset by borrowings of $156.8 million of long-term debt for the purchase of additional units for our rental and leasing operations, $167.8 million from net draws on floor plan notes payable (non-trade) and $3.9 million from the issuance of shares related to equity compensation plans.

 

During 2017, we used $96.3 million for financing activities. The cash outflows consisted primarily of $157.5 million used for principal repayments of long-term debt and capital lease obligations, $112.3 million used for net payments on floor plan notes payable (non-trade), and $33.8 million used to purchase 974,690 shares of Rush Class B common stock during 2017. These cash outflows were partially offset by borrowings of $152.6 million of long-term debt for the purchase of additional units for our rental and leasing operations and $23.3 million from the issuance of shares related to equity compensation plans.

 

 

Most of our commercial vehicle purchases are made on terms requiring payment to the manufacturer within 15 days or less from the date the commercial vehicles are invoiced from the factory. We finance the majority of all new commercial vehicle inventory and the loan value of our used commercial vehicle inventory under the Floor Plan Credit Agreement. The Floor Plan Credit Agreement includes an aggregate loan commitment of $875.0 million. Borrowings under the Floor Plan Credit Agreement bear interest at an annual rate equal to (A) the greater of (i) zero and (ii) three month LIBOR rate, determined on the last day of the prior month, plus (B) 1.51% and are payable monthly. In addition, we are required to pay a monthly working capital fee equal to 0.16% per annum multiplied by the amount of voluntary prepayments of new and used inventory loans. Loans under the Floor Plan Credit Agreement for the purchase of used inventory are limited to $150.0 million. We may terminate the Floor Plan Credit Agreement at any time, although if we do so we must pay a prepayment processing fee equal to 1.0% of the aggregate revolving loan commitments if such termination occurs prior to the June 30, 2019 expiration date, subject to specified limited exceptions. On December 31, 2018, we had approximately $798.4 million outstanding under the Floor Plan Credit Agreement. The average daily outstanding borrowings under the Floor Plan Credit Agreement were $682.8 million during the year ended December 31, 2018. We utilize our excess cash on hand to pay down our outstanding borrowings under the Floor Plan Credit Agreement, and the resulting interest earned is recognized as an offset to our gross interest expense under the Floor Plan Credit Agreement.

 

Navistar Financial Corporation and Peterbilt offer trade terms that provide an interest-free inventory stocking period for certain new commercial vehicles.  If the commercial vehicle is not sold within the interest-free period, we then finance the commercial vehicle under the Floor Plan Credit Agreement. 

 

Cyclicality

 

Our business is dependent on a number of factors including general economic conditions, fuel prices, interest rate fluctuations, credit availability, environmental and other government regulations and customer business cycles. Unit sales of new commercial vehicles have historically been subject to substantial cyclical variation based on these general economic conditions. According to data published by A.C.T. Research, in recent years, total U.S. retail sales of new Class 8 commercial vehicles have ranged from a low of approximately 97,000 in 2009, to a high of approximately 255,711 in 2018. Through geographic expansion, concentration on higher margin Aftermarket Products and Services and diversification of our customer base, we have attempted to reduce the negative impact of adverse general economic conditions or cyclical trends affecting the Class 8 commercial vehicle industry on our earnings.

 

Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements

 

Other than operating leases, we do not have any obligation under any transaction, agreement or other contractual arrangement to which an entity unconsolidated with the Company is a party, that has or is reasonably likely to have a material effect on our financial condition, changes in financial condition, revenues or expenses, results of operations, liquidity, capital expenditures or capital resources that is material to investors. A summary of our operating lease obligations by fiscal year is included in the “Contractual Obligations” section below.

 

Contractual Obligations  

 

We have certain contractual obligations that will impact both our short and long-term liquidity. As of December 31, 2018, such obligations were as follows (in thousands):

 

   

Payments Due by Period

 

Contractual Obligations

 


Total

   

Less than 1
year

   

1-3
years

   

3-5
years

   

More than
5 years

 
   

(in thousands)

 

Long-term debt obligations (1)

  $ 601,173     $ 161,955     $ 259,507     $ 149,090     $ 30,621  

Capital lease obligations(2)

    75,160       22,033       34,007       16,157       2,963  

Operating lease obligations(3)

    65,688       12,295       18,656       12,274       22,463  

Floor plan debt obligation

    1,023,019       1,023,019                    

Interest obligations (4)

    97,835       60,940       27,473       8,743       679  

Purchase obligations (5)

    12,850       10,962       1,888              

Total

  $ 1,875,725     $ 1,291,204     $ 341,531     $ 186,264     $ 56,726  

 

(1)

Refer to Note 8 of Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.

 

(2)

Refer to Note 10 of Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements. Amounts include interest.

 

(3)

Refer to Note 10 of Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.

 

 

(4)

In computing interest expense, we used our weighted average interest rate outstanding on fixed rate debt to estimate our interest expense on fixed rate debt. We used our weighted average variable interest rate on outstanding variable rate debt as of December 31, 2018, and added 0.25 percent per year to estimate our interest expense on variable rate debt.

 

(5)

Purchase obligations represent non-cancelable contractual obligations as of December 31, 2018, related to our construction contract for a facility in Atlanta, Georgia, purchase of a building in Irving, Texas and our contract with SAP America, Inc. with respect to the software license agreement for the ERP Platform that we use.

 

Item 7A. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk

 

Market risk represents the risk of loss that may impact the financial position, results of operations, or cash flows of the Company due to adverse changes in financial market prices, including interest rate risk, and other relevant market rate or price risks.

 

We are exposed to market risk through interest rates related to our floor plan financing agreements, the Working Capital Facility, variable rate real estate debt and discount rates related to finance sales. The majority of floor plan debt and variable rate real estate debt is based on LIBOR. As of December 31, 2018, we had floor plan borrowings and variable interest rate real estate debt of approximately $1,103.4 million. Assuming an increase or decrease in LIBOR of 100 basis points, annual interest expense could correspondingly increase or decrease by approximately $11.0 million.

 

 

Item 8 . Financial Statements and Supplementary Data

 

Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

42

   

Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm on Internal Control over Financial Reporting

72

   

Consolidated Balance Sheets as of December 31, 2018 and 2017

43

   

Consolidated Statements of Income for the Years Ended December 31, 2018, 2017 and 2016

44

   

Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income for the Years Ended December 31, 2018, 2017 and 2016

45

   

Consolidated Statements of Shareholders’ Equity for the Years Ended December 31, 2018, 2017 and 2016

46

   

Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the Years Ended December 31, 2018, 2017 and 2016

47

   

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

48

 

 

Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

 


The Shareholders and the Board of Directors of Rush Enterprises, Inc.

 

Opinion on the Financial Statements

 

We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of Rush Enterprises, Inc. and subsidiaries (the Company) as of December 31, 2018 and 2017, and the related consolidated statements of income, comprehensive income, shareholders’ equity, and cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2018, and the related notes (collectively referred to as the “consolidated financial statements”). In our opinion, the consolidated financial statements present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of the Company at December 31, 2018 and 2017, and the results of its operations and its cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2018, in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles.

We also have audited, in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) (PCAOB), the Company’s internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2018, based on criteria established in Internal Control-Integrated Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (2013 Framework), and our report dated February 25, 2019, expressed an unqualified opinion thereon.

 

Basis for Opinion

 

These financial statements are the responsibility of the Company’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the Company’s financial statements based on our audits. We are a public accounting firm registered with the PCAOB and are required to be independent with respect to the Company in accordance with the U.S. federal securities laws and the applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and the PCAOB.

We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the PCAOB. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement, whether due to error or fraud. Our audits included performing procedures to assess the risks of material misstatement of the financial statements, whether due to error or fraud, and performing procedures that respond to those risks. Such procedures included examining, on a test basis, evidence regarding the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. Our audits also included evaluating the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall presentation of the financial statements. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.

 

/s/ Ernst & Young LLP

 

We have served as the Company’s auditor since 2002.

 

San Antonio, Texas

 

February 25, 2019

 

 

 

R USH ENTERPRISES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

(In Thousands, Except Shares and Per Share Amounts)

 

 

   

December 31,

   

December 31,

 
   

201 8

   

201 7

 
                 

Assets

               

Current assets:

               

Cash and cash equivalents

  $ 131,726     $ 124,541  

Accounts receivable, net

    190,650       183,875  

Note receivable affiliate

    12,885       11,914  

Inventories, net

    1,339,923       1,033,294  

Prepaid expenses and other

    10,491       11,969  

Assets held for sale

    2,269       9,505  

Total current assets

    1,687,944       1,375,098  

Investments

          6,375  

Property and equipment, net

    1,184,053       1,159,595  

Goodwill, net

    291,391       291,391  

Other assets, net

    37,962       57,680  

Total assets

  $ 3,201,350     $ 2,890,139  
                 

Liabilities and shareholders’ equity

               

Current liabilities:

               

Floor plan notes payable

  $ 1,023,019     $ 778,561  

Current maturities of long-term debt

    161,955       145,139  

Current maturities of capital lease obligations

    19,631       17,119  

Trade accounts payable

    127,451       107,906  

Customer deposits

    36,183       27,350  

Accrued expenses

    125,056       96,132  

Total current liabilities

    1,493,295       1,172,207  

Long-term debt, net of current maturities

    439,218       466,389  

Capital lease obligations, net of current maturities

    49,483       66,022  

Other long-term liabilities

    11,118       9,837  

Deferred income taxes, net

    141,308       135,311  

Shareholders’ equity:

               

Preferred stock, par value $.01 per share; 1,000,000 shares authorized; 0 shares outstanding in 2018 and 2017

           

Common stock, par value $.01 per share; 60,000,000 Class A shares and 20,000,000 Class B shares authorized; 28,709,636 Class A shares and 8,290,277 Class B shares outstanding in 2018; and 31,345,116 Class A shares and 8,469,247 Class B shares outstanding in 2017

    458       454  

Additional paid-in capital

    370,025       348,044  

Treasury stock, at cost: 3,791,751 Class A shares and 5,030,787 Class B shares in 2018 and 934,171 Class A shares and 4,625,181 Class B shares in 2017

    (245,842 )     (120,682 )

Retained earnings

    942,287       812,557  

Total shareholders’ equity

    1,066,928       1,040,373  

Total liabilities and shareholders’ equity

  $ 3,201,350     $ 2,890,139  

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.

 

 

 

RUSH ENTERPRISES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME

(In Thousands, Except Per Share Amounts)

 

 

   

Year Ended December 31,

 
   

201 8

   

20 1 7

   

201 6

 
                         

Revenues:

                       

New and used commercial vehicle sales

  $ 3,558,637     $ 2,993,015     $ 2,640,019  

Aftermarket products and services sales

    1,670,052       1,471,266       1,332,356  

Lease and rental

    238,238       217,356       208,154  

Finance and insurance

    20,535       17,988       18,582  

Other

    18,728       14,257       15,503  

Total revenue

    5,506,190       4,713,882       4,214,614  

Cost of products sold :

                       

New and used commercial vehicle sales

    3,280,966       2,766,461       2,463,124  

Aftermarket products and services sales

    1,049,684       934,394       851,438  

Lease and rental

    197,271       183,091       182,040  

Total cost of products sold

    4,527,921       3,883,946       3,496,602  

Gross profit

    978,269       829,936       718,012  

Selling, general and administrative

    705,226       631,053       587,778  

Depreciation and amortization

    70,489       50,069       51,261  

Gain (loss) on sale of assets

    297       (105 )     1,755  

Operating income

    202,851       148,709       80,728  

Interest income (expense):

                       

Interest income

    1,376       891       621  

Interest expense

    (21,058 )     (13,201 )     (14,900 )

Total interest expense, net

    19,682       12,310       14,279  

Income before taxes

    183,169       136,399       66,449  

Income tax provision (benefit)

    44,107       (35,730 )     25,867  

Net income

  $ 139,062     $ 172,129     $ 40,582  
                         

Earnings per common share :

                       

Basic

  $ 3.55     $ 4.34     $ 1.02  

Diluted

  $ 3.45     $ 4.20     $ 1.00  

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.

 

 

 

RUSH ENTERPRISES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME

(In Thousands)

 

 

   

Year Ended December 31,

 
   

201 8

   

201 7

   

201 6

 
                         

Net income

  $ 139,062     $ 172,129     $ 40,582  

Other comprehensive income before tax and net of reclassification adjustments:

                       

Change in fair value of available-for-sale securities

          469       32  

Other comprehensive income, before tax

          469       32  

Income tax expense related to components of other comprehensive income

          183       13  

Other comprehensive income, net of tax

          286       19  

Comprehensive income

  $ 139,062     $ 172,415     $ 40,601  

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.

 

 

 

RUSH ENTERPRISES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY

(In Thousands)

 

 

   

Common Stock

                                   

Accumulated

         
   

Shares

Outstanding

   

$0.01

Par

   

Additional

Paid-In

   

 

Treasury

   

 

Retained

   

Other

Comprehensive

         
    Class A     Class B     Value     Capital     Stock     Earnings     Loss     Total  
                                                                 

Balance, December 31, 201 5

    30,304       10,093     $ 430     $ 288,294     $ (43,368 )   $ 599,846     $ (305 )   $ 844,897  
                                                                 

Stock options exercised and stock awards (including tax expense of $294)

    494             5       6,152                         6,157  

Stock-based compensation related to stock options, restricted shares and employee stock purchase plan

                      12,875                         12,875  

Vesting of restricted share awards

    6       186       2       (725 )                       (723 )

Issuance of common stock under employee stock purchase plan

    137             1       2,531                         2,532  

Common stock repurchases

    (934 )     (1,034 )                 (43,514 )                 (43,514 )

Other comprehensive income

                                        19       19  

Net income

                                  40,582             40,582  
                                                                 

Balance, December 31, 201 6

    30,007       9,245     $ 438     $ 309,127     $ (86,882 )   $ 640,428     $ (286 )   $ 862,825  
                                                                 

Stock options exercised and stock awards

    1,219             12       22,355                         22,367  

Stock-based compensation related to stock options, restricted shares and employee stock purchase plan

                      15,606                         15,606  

Vesting of restricted share awards

    7       199       3       (1,518 )                       (1,515 )

Issuance of common stock under employee stock purchase plan

    113             1       2,474                         2,475  

Common stock repurchases

          (975 )                 (33,800 )                 (33,800 )

Other comprehensive income

                                        286       286  

Net income

                                  172,129             172,129  
                                                                 

Balance, December 31, 2017

    31,345       8,469     $ 454     $ 348,044     $ (120,682 )   $ 812,557     $     $ 1,040,373  
                                                                 

Stock options exercised and stock awards

    138             1       2,742                         2,743  

Stock-based compensation related to stock options, restricted shares and employee stock purchase plan

                      18,059                         18,059  

Vesting of restricted share awards

          227       2       (1,749 )                       (1,747 )

Issuance of common stock under employee stock purchase plan

    84             1       2,929                         2,930  

Common stock repurchases

    (2,857 )     (406 )                 (125,160 )                 (125,160 )

Cash dividends declared on Class A common stock

                                            (7,324 )             (7,324 )

Cash dividends declared on Class B common stock

                                            (2,008 )             (2,008 )

Net income

                                  139,062             139,062  
                                                                 

Balance, December 31, 201 8

    28,710       8,290     $ 458     $ 370,025     $ (245,842 )   $ 942,287     $     $ 1,066,928  

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.

 

 

 

RUSH ENTERPRISES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

(In Thousands)

 

   

Year Ended December 31,

 
   

201 8

   

201 7

   

201 6

 

Cash flows from operating activities:

                       

Net income

  $ 139,062     $ 172,129     $ 40,582  

Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities

                       

Depreciation and amortization

    185,122       157,951       157,627  

(Gain) loss on sale of property and equipment, net

    (297 )     105       (1,755 )

Loss on impairment of assets

                8,247  

Stock-based compensation expense related to employee stock options and employee stock purchases

    18,059       15,606       12,875  

Provision (benefit) for deferred income tax expense

    5,997       (62,203 )     8,331  

Excess tax expense from stock-based compensation

                294  

Change in accounts receivable, net

    (7,746 )     (29,424 )     1,673  

Change in inventories

    (255,040 )     (147,453 )     291,773  

Change in prepaid expenses and other, net

    1,907       (3,383 )     24,155  

Change in trade accounts payable

    18,490       8,964       (22,411 )

Draws on floor plan notes payable – trade, net

    76,646       19,355       3,989  

Change in customer deposits

    8,833       8,932       (4,020 )

Change in accrued expenses

    24,331       12,158       (190 )

Net cash provided by operating activities

    215,364       152,737       521,170  

Cash flows from investing activities:

                       

Acquisition of property and equipment

    (238,260 )     (209,917 )     (196,965 )

Proceeds from the sale of property and equipment

    6,325       3,968       12,494  

Business acquisitions

          (2,180 )     (681 )

Proceeds from the sale of available for sale securities

    6,375       325       450  

Other

    (1,683 )     1,241       (4,708 )

Net cash used in investing activities

    (227,243 )     (206,563 )     (189,410 )

Cash flows from financing activities:

                       

Draws (payments) on floor plan notes payable – non-trade, net

    167,812       112,261       (211,802 )

Proceeds from long-term debt

    156,751       152,563       121,188  

Principal payments on long-term debt

    (167,106 )     (145,038 )     (164,940 )

Principal payments on capital lease obligations

    (12,429 )     (12,449 )     (23,479 )

Proceeds from issuance of shares relating to employee stock options and employee stock purchases

    3,926       23,327       8,260  

Excess tax expense from stock-based compensation

                (294 )

Common stock repurchased

    (120,558 )     (33,800 )     (43,514 )

Payments of cash dividends

    (9,332 )            

Debt issuance costs

          (523 )      

Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities

    19,064       96,341       (314,581 )

Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents

    7,185       42,515       17,179  

Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of year

    124,541       82,026       64,847  

Cash and cash equivalents, end of year

  $ 131,726     $ 124,541     $ 82,026  

Supplemental disclosure of cash flow information:

                       

Cash paid during the year for:

                       

Interest

  $ 42,752     $ 34,149     $ 37,904  

Income taxes paid (refunded), net

  $ 28,674     $ 31,323     $ (10,939 )

Noncash investing and financing activities:

                       

Assets acquired under capital leases

  $ 4,914     $ 15,205     $ 24,207  

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.

 

 

RUSH ENTERPRISES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

 

 

 

1.

ORGANIZATION AND OPERATIONS :

 

Rush Enterprises, Inc. (the “Company”) was incorporated in 1965 under the laws of the State of Texas. The Company operates a network of commercial vehicle dealerships that primarily sell commercial vehicles manufactured by Peterbilt, International, Hino, Ford, Isuzu, Mitsubishi Fuso, IC Bus or Blue Bird. Through its strategically located network of Rush Truck Centers, the Company provides one-stop service for the needs of its commercial vehicle customers, including retail sales of new and used commercial vehicles, aftermarket parts sales, service and repair facilities, financing, leasing and rental, and insurance products.

 

 

2.

SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES :

 

Principles of Consolidation

 

The consolidated financial statements presented herein include the accounts of Rush Enterprises, Inc. together with its consolidated subsidiaries. All significant inter-company balances and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation.

 

Estimates in Financial Statements

 

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results may differ from those estimates.

 

Cash and Cash Equivalents

 

Cash and cash equivalents generally consist of cash and other money market instruments. The Company considers all highly liquid investments with an original maturity of ninety days or less to be cash equivalents.

 

Allowance for Doubtful Receivables and Repossession Losses

 

The Company provides an allowance for doubtful receivables and repossession losses after considering historical loss experience and other factors that might affect the collection of accounts receivable and the ability of customers to meet their obligations on finance contracts sold by the Company.

 

Inventories

 

Inventories are stated at the lower of cost or net realizable value. Cost is determined by specific identification of new and used commercial vehicle inventory and by the first-in, first-out method for tires, parts and accessories. As the market value of the Company’s inventory typically declines over time, reserves are established based on historical loss experience and market trends. These reserves are charged to cost of sales and reduce the carrying value of the Company’s inventory on hand. An allowance is provided when it is anticipated that cost will exceed net realizable value less a reasonable profit margin.

 

 

P roperty and Equipment

 

Property and equipment are stated at cost and depreciated over their estimated useful lives. Leasehold improvements are amortized over the useful life of the improvement, or the term of the lease, whichever is shorter. Provision for depreciation of property and equipment is calculated primarily on a straight-line basis. The Company capitalizes interest on borrowings during the active construction period of major capital projects. Capitalized interest, when incurred, is added to the cost of underlying assets and is amortized over the estimated useful life of such assets. The Company capitalized interest of approximately $357,600 related to major capital projects during 2018. The cost, accumulated depreciation and amortization and estimated useful lives of certain of the Company’s assets are summarized as follows (in thousands):

 

   

 

2018

   

 

2017

   

Estimated Life (Years)

 

Land

  $ 134,873     $ 129,805            

Buildings and improvements

    434,049       404,679       10 39  

Leasehold improvements

    27,165       26,765       2 39  

Machinery and shop equipment

    73,578       65,694       5 20  

Furniture, fixtures and computers

    67,330       63,475       3 15  

Transportation equipment

    92,385       81,158       2 15  

Lease and rental vehicles

    914,708       894,905       2 8  

Construction in progress

    16,310       8,043              

Accumulated depreciation and amortization

    (576,345 )     (514,929 )            
                             

Total

  $ 1,184,053     $ 1,159,595              

 

The Company recorded depreciation expense of $149.1 million and amortization expense of $36.0 million for the year ended December 31, 2018, depreciation expense of $140.3 million and amortization expense of $17.6 million for the year ended December 31, 2017 and depreciation expense of $140.6 million and amortization expense of $17.0 million for the year ended December 31, 2016.

 

As of December 31, 2018, the Company had $66.4 million in lease and rental vehicles under various capital leases included in property and equipment, net of accumulated amortization of $44.6 million. The Company recorded depreciation and amortization expense of $114.6 million related to lease and rental vehicles in lease and rental cost of products sold for the year ended December 31, 2018, $107.9 million for the year ended December 31, 2017 and $106.3 million for the year ended December 31, 2016.

 

Goodwill  

 

Goodwill is the excess of the purchase price over the fair value of identifiable net assets acquired in business combinations accounted for under the purchase method. The Company tests goodwill for impairment annually during the fourth quarter, or when indications of potential impairment exist. These indicators would include a significant change in operating performance, or a planned sale or disposition of a significant portion of the business, among other factors. The Company tests for goodwill impairment utilizing a fair value approach at the reporting unit level. The Company has deemed its reporting unit to be the Truck Segment, as all components of the Truck Segment are similar.

 

The impairment test for goodwill involves comparing the fair value of a reporting unit to its carrying amount, including goodwill. If the carrying amount of the reporting unit exceeds its fair value, a second step is required to measure the goodwill impairment loss. The second step includes hypothetically valuing all the tangible and intangible assets of the reporting unit as if the reporting unit had been acquired in a business combination and comparing the hypothetical implied fair value of the reporting unit’s goodwill to the carrying amount of that goodwill. If the carrying amount of the reporting unit’s goodwill exceeds the hypothetical implied fair value of the goodwill, the Company would recognize an impairment loss in an amount equal to the excess, not to exceed the carrying amount. The Company determines the fair values calculated in an impairment test using the discounted cash flow method, which requires assumptions and estimates regarding future revenue, expenses and cash flow projections. The analysis is based upon available information regarding expected future cash flows of its reporting unit discounted at rates consistent with the cost of capital specific to the reporting unit.

 

No impairment write down was required in the fourth quarter of 2018. However, the Company cannot predict the occurrence of certain events that might adversely affect the reported value of goodwill in the future.

 

The following table sets forth the change in the carrying amount of goodwill for the Company for the years ended December 31, 2018 and 2017 (in thousands):

 

Balance January 1, 2017

  $ 290,191  

Acquisition

    1,200  

Balance December 31, 2017 and 2018

  $ 291,391  

 

 

Other Assets  

 

ERP Platform

 

The total capitalized costs of the Company’s SAP enterprise resource planning software platform (“ERP Platform”) of $10.8 million are recorded on the Consolidated Balance Sheet in Other Assets. Amortization expense relating to the ERP Platform, which is recognized in depreciation and amortization expense in the Consolidated Statements of Income and Comprehensive Income, was $21.7 million for the year ended December 31, 2018 and $3.4 million for the year ended December 31, 2017. The Company estimates that amortization expense relating to the ERP Platform will be approximately $1.9 million for each of the next five years.

 

In the first quarter of 2018, as part of an assessment that involved a technical feasibility study of the then current ERP Platform, the Company determined that a majority of the components of this ERP Platform would require replacement earlier than originally anticipated; in prior disclosures, the Company had referred to the ERP Platform separately as the SAP enterprise software and SAP dealership management system. In accordance with Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) Topic 350-40, in the first quarter of 2018, the Company adjusted the useful life of these components that were replaced so that the respective net book values of the components were fully amortized upon replacement in May 2018. The Company amortized the remaining net book value of the components that were replaced on a straight-line basis in February 2018 through May 2018. The Company recognized $19.9 million of amortization expense in 2018 related to the components of the ERP Platform that were replaced. The ERP Platform asset and related amortization are reflected in the Truck Segment.

 

Franchise Rights

 

The Company’s only significant identifiable intangible assets, other than goodwill, are rights under franchise agreements with manufacturers. The fair value of the franchise right is determined at the acquisition date by discounting the projected cash flows specific to each acquisition. The carrying value of the Company’s manufacturer franchise rights was $7.0 million at December 31, 2018 and December 31, 2017, and is included in Other Assets on the accompanying consolidated balance sheets. The Company has determined that manufacturer franchise rights have an indefinite life, as there are no economic or other factors that limit their useful lives and they are expected to generate cash flows indefinitely due to the historically long lives of the manufacturers’ brand names. Furthermore, to the extent that any agreements evidencing manufacturer franchise rights have expiration dates, the Company expects that it will be able to renew those agreements in the ordinary course of business. Accordingly, the Company does not amortize manufacturer franchise rights.

 

Due to the fact that manufacturer franchise rights are specific to geographic region, the Company has determined that evaluating and including all locations acquired in the geographic region is the appropriate level for purposes of testing franchise rights for impairment. Management reviews indefinite-lived manufacturer franchise rights for impairment annually during the fourth quarter, or more often if events or circumstances indicate that an impairment may have occurred. The Company is subject to financial statement risk to the extent that manufacturer franchise rights become impaired due to decreases in the fair market value of its individual franchises.

 

The significant estimates and assumptions used by management in assessing the recoverability of manufacturer franchise rights include estimated future cash flows, present value discount rate and other factors. Any changes in these estimates or assumptions could result in an impairment charge. The estimates of future cash flows, based on reasonable and supportable assumptions and projections, require management’s subjective judgment. Depending on the assumptions and estimates used, the estimated future cash flows projected in the evaluations of manufacturer franchise rights can vary within a range of outcomes.

 

No impairment write down was required in the fourth quarter of 2018. The Company cannot predict the occurrence of certain events that might adversely affect the reported value of manufacturer franchise rights in the future.

 

Income Taxes

 

Significant management judgment is required to determine the provisions for income taxes and to determine whether deferred tax assets will be realized in full or in part. Deferred income tax assets and liabilities are measured using enacted tax rates expected to apply to taxable income in the years in which those temporary differences are expected to be recovered or settled. When it is more likely than not that all or some portion of specific deferred income tax assets will not be realized, a valuation allowance must be established for the amount of deferred income tax assets that are determined not to be realizable. Accordingly, the facts and financial circumstances impacting deferred income tax assets are reviewed quarterly and management’s judgment is applied to determine the amount of valuation allowance required, if any, in any given period.

 

 

In determining its provision for income taxes, the Company uses an annual effective income tax rate based on annual income, permanent differences between book and tax income, and statutory income tax rates. The effective income tax rate also reflects its assessment of the ultimate outcome of tax audits. The Company adjusts its annual effective income tax rate as additional information on outcomes or events becomes available. Discrete events such as audit settlements or changes in tax laws are recognized in the period in which they occur.

 

The Company’s income tax returns are periodically audited by U.S. federal, state and local tax authorities. These audits include questions regarding the Company’s tax filing positions, including the timing and amount of deductions. At any time, multiple tax years are subject to audit by the various tax authorities. In evaluating the tax benefits associated with the Company’s various tax filing positions, the Company records a tax benefit for uncertain tax positions. A number of years may elapse before a particular matter for which the Company has established a liability is audited and effectively settled. The Company adjusts its liability for unrecognized tax benefits in the period in which it determines the issue is effectively settled with the tax authorities, the statute of limitations expires for the relevant taxing authority to examine the tax position, or when more information becomes available. The Company includes its liability for unrecognized tax benefits, including accrued interest, in accrued liabilities on the Company’s Consolidated Balance Sheet and in income tax expense in the Company’s Consolidated Statements of Income. Unfavorable settlement of any particular issue would require use of the Company’s cash and a charge to income tax expense. Favorable resolution would be recognized as a reduction to income tax expense at the time of resolution.

 

Additionally, despite the Company’s belief that its tax return positions are consistent with applicable tax law, management expects that certain positions may be challenged by taxing authorities. Settlement of any challenge can result in no change, a complete disallowance, or some partial adjustment reached through negotiations. The Company records interest and penalties, if any, related to federal and state unrecognized tax benefits in income tax expense.

 

Revenue Recognition Policies

 

Effective January 1, 2018, the Company adopted ASU 2014-09, “ Revenue from Contracts with Customers ( Topic 606 ) ,” using the modified retrospective transition method.  This standard applies to all contracts with customers, except for contracts that are within the scope of other standards, such as leases, insurance, collaboration arrangements and financial instruments.  Under Topic 606, the Company recognizes revenue when a customer obtains control of promised goods or services, in an amount that reflects the consideration which the Company expects to receive in exchange for those goods or services.  To determine revenue recognition for arrangements that the Company determines are within the scope of Topic 606, the Company performs the following five steps: (i) identify the contract with a customer; (ii) identify the performance obligations in the contract; (iii) determine the transaction price; (iv) allocate the transaction price to the performance obligations in the contract; and (v) recognize revenue when (or as) the Company satisfies a performance obligation.  The Company only applies the five-step model to contracts when it is probable that it will collect the consideration it is entitled to in exchange for the goods or services it transfers to the customer.  At contract inception, once the contract is determined to be within the scope of Topic 606, the Company assesses the goods or services promised within each contract and determines those that are performance obligations. The Company then assess whether each promised good or service is distinct and recognizes as revenue the amount of the transaction price that is allocated to the respective performance obligation when (or as) the performance obligation is satisfied.  For a complete discussion of accounting for revenue, see Note 20 – Revenue of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.

 

Lease and rental revenue is recognized over the period of the related lease or rental agreement. Contingent rental revenue is recognized when it is earned.

 

Cost of Sales

 

For the Company’s new and used commercial vehicle operations, cost of sales consists primarily of the Company’s actual purchase price plus make-ready expenses, less any applicable manufacturers’ incentives. For the Company’s parts operations, cost of sales consists primarily of the Company’s actual purchase price, less any applicable manufacturers’ incentives. For the Company’s service and collision center operations, technician labor cost is the primary component of cost of sales. For the Company’s rental and leasing operations, cost of sales consists primarily of depreciation and amortization, rent, maintenance costs, license costs and interest expense on the lease and rental fleet owned and leased by the Company. There are no costs of sales associated with the Company’s finance and insurance revenue or other revenue.

 

 

Taxes Assessed by a Governmental Authority

 

The Company accounts for sales taxes assessed by a governmental authority that are directly imposed on a revenue-producing transaction on a net (excluded from revenues) basis.

 

Selling, General and Administrative Expenses

 

Selling, general and administrative expenses consist primarily of incentive based compensation for sales, finance and general management personnel, salaries for administrative personnel and expenses for rent, marketing, insurance, utilities, research and development and other general operating purposes.

 

Stock Based Compensation

 

The Company applies the provisions of ASC topic 718-10, “Compensation – Stock Compensation,” which requires the measurement and recognition of compensation expense for all share-based payment awards made to employees and directors, including grants of employee stock options, restricted stock units, restricted stock awards and employee stock purchases under the Employee Stock Purchase Plan, based on estimated fair values.

 

The Company uses the Black-Scholes option-pricing model to estimate the fair value of share-based payment awards on the date of grant. The value of the portion of the award that is ultimately expected to vest is recognized as expense over the requisite service periods.

 

Compensation expense for all share-based payment awards is recognized using the straight-line single-option method. Stock-based compensation expense is recognized based on awards expected to vest. Accordingly, stock based compensation expense has been reduced for estimated forfeitures. Forfeitures are estimated at the time of grant and revised, if necessary, in subsequent periods if actual forfeitures differ from those estimates.

 

The Company’s determination of fair value of share-based payment awards on the date of grant using an option-pricing model is affected by the Company’s stock price as well as assumptions regarding a number of highly complex and subjective variables. These variables include the Company’s expected stock price volatility over the term of the awards and actual and projected stock option exercise behaviors. Option-pricing models were developed for use in estimating the value of traded options that have no vesting or hedging restrictions and are fully transferable. Because the Company’s stock options have characteristics that are significantly different from traded options and because changes in the subjective assumptions can materially affect the estimated value, in management’s opinion, the existing valuation models may not provide an accurate measure of the fair value that value may not be indicative of the fair value observed in a market transaction between a willing buyer and a willing seller.

 

The following table reflects the weighted-average fair value of stock options granted during each period using the Black-Scholes option valuation model with the following weighted-average assumptions used:

 

   

2018

   

2017

   

2016

 

Expected stock volatility

    31.68 %     33.54 %     35.63 %

Weighted-average stock volatility

    31.68 %     33.54 %     35.63 %

Expected dividend yield

    0.00 %     0.00 %     0.00 %

Risk-free interest rate

    2.69 %     2.17 %     1.64 %

Expected life (years)

    6.0       6.0       6.0  

Weighted-average fair value of stock options granted

  $ 15.46     $ 12.33     $ 6.54  

 

The Company computes its historical stock price volatility in accordance with ASC topic 718-10. The risk-free interest rate for periods within the contractual life of the option is based on the U.S. Treasury yield curve in effect at the time of grant. The dividend yield assumption is based on the Company’s history and expectation of dividend payouts. The expected life of stock options represents the weighted-average period the stock options are expected to remain outstanding.

 

 

Advertising Costs

 

Advertising costs are expensed as incurred. Advertising and marketing expense was $10.4 million for 2018, $9.5 million for 2017 and $6.8 million for 2016. Advertising and marketing expense is included in selling, general and administrative expense.

 

Accounting for Internal Use Software

 

The Company’s accounting policy with respect to accounting for computer software developed or obtained for internal use is consistent with ASC topic 350-40, which provides guidance on accounting for the costs of computer software developed or obtained for internal use and identifies characteristics of internal-use software.  The Company has capitalized software costs, including capitalized interest, of approximately $10.8 million at December 31, 2018, net of accumulated amortization of $8.3 million, and had $31.9 million, net of accumulated amortization of $20.0 million at December 31, 2017. 

 

Insurance

 

The Company is partially self-insured for a portion of the claims related to its property and casualty insurance programs. Accordingly, the Company is required to estimate expected losses to be incurred. The Company engages a third-party administrator to assess any open claims and the Company adjusts its accrual accordingly on an annual basis. The Company is also partially self-insured for a portion of the claims related to its worker’s compensation and medical insurance programs. The Company uses actuarial information provided from third-party administrators to calculate an accrual for claims incurred, but not reported, and for the remaining portion of claims that have been reported.

 

Fair Value Measurements

 

The Company has various financial instruments that it must measure at fair value on a recurring basis. See Note 9 – Financial Instruments and Fair Value of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements, for further information. The Company also applies the provisions of fair value measurement to various nonrecurring measurements for its financial and nonfinancial assets and liabilities.

 

Applicable accounting standards define fair value as the price that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date (an exit price). The Company measures its assets and liabilities using inputs from the following three levels of the fair value hierarchy:

 

Level 1 inputs are unadjusted quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities that the Company has the ability to access at the measurement date.

 

Level 2 inputs include quoted prices for similar assets and liabilities in active markets, quoted prices for identical or similar assets or liabilities in markets that are not active, inputs other than quoted prices that are observable for the asset or liability (i.e., interest rates, yield curves, etc.), and inputs that are derived principally from or corroborated by observable market data by correlation or other means (market corroborated inputs).

 

Level 3 includes unobservable inputs that reflect the Company’s assumptions about what factors market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability. The Company develops these inputs based on the best information available, including its own data.

 

Acquisitions

 

The Company uses the acquisition method of accounting for the recognition of assets acquired and liabilities assumed through acquisitions at their estimated fair values as of the date of acquisition. Any excess consideration transferred over the estimated fair values of the identifiable net assets acquired is recorded as goodwill. While the Company uses its best estimates and assumptions to measure the fair value of the identifiable assets acquired and liabilities assumed at the acquisition date, the estimates are inherently uncertain and subject to refinement. As a result, during the measurement period, which is not to exceed one year from the date of acquisition, any changes in the estimated fair values of the net assets recorded for the acquisitions will result in an adjustment to goodwill. Upon the conclusion of the measurement period or final determination of the values of assets acquired or liabilities assumed, whichever comes first, any subsequent adjustments are recorded to the Consolidated Statements of Income.

 

 

  New Accounting Pronouncements

 

In February 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-02, “ Leases ( Topic 842 ), ” which is intended to increase the transparency and comparability among organizations by recognizing lease assets and lease liabilities on the balance sheet and disclosing key information about leasing arrangements. The new standard requires lessees to record assets and liabilities on the balance sheet for all leases with terms longer than twelve months. Leases will be classified as either finance or operating, with classification affecting the pattern of expense recognition in the income statement.

 

The Company adopted Topic 842 on January 1, 2019. The Company will apply a modified retrospective transition approach for all leases existing at, or entered into after, January 1, 2019. Upon adoption, the Company is applying the practical expedients permitted within Topic 842, which among other things, allows it to retain its existing assessment of whether an arrangement is, or contains, a lease and is classified as an operating or finance lease. The Company made an accounting policy election that keeps leases with an initial term of twelve months or less off of the balance sheet and results in recognizing those lease payments in the Consolidated Statements of Income and Comprehensive Income on a straight-line basis over the lease term. The Company estimates that the adoption of Topic 842 will result in the recognition of right-of-use assets and lease liabilities for operating leases of approximately $51.9 million on its Consolidated Balance Sheets, with no material impact to its Consolidated Statements of Income and Comprehensive Income.

 

 

3.

SUPPLIER CONCENTRATION :

 

Major Suppliers and Dealership Agreements

 

The Company has entered into dealership agreements with various manufacturers of commercial vehicles and buses (“Manufacturers”). These agreements are nonexclusive agreements that allow the Company to stock, sell at retail and service commercial vehicles and sell parts from the Manufacturers in the Company’s defined market. The agreements allow the Company to use the Manufacturers’ names, trade symbols and intellectual property and expire as follows:

 

Manufacturer

 

Expiration Dates

Peterbilt

 

March 2019 through January 2022

International

 

May 2020 through October 2023

Isuzu

 

Indefinite

Hino

 

Indefinite

Ford

 

Indefinite

Blue Bird

 

August 2019

IC Bus

 

May 2020 through December 2022

 

These agreements, as well as agreements with various other Manufacturers, impose a number of restrictions and obligations on the Company, including restrictions on a change in control of the Company and the maintenance of certain required levels of working capital. Violation of these restrictions could result in the loss of the Company’s right to purchase the Manufacturers’ products and use the Manufacturers’ trademarks.

 

The Company purchases its new Peterbilt vehicles from Peterbilt and most of the parts sold at its Peterbilt dealerships from PACCAR, Inc, the parent company of Peterbilt, at prevailing prices charged to all franchised dealers. Sales of new Peterbilt trucks accounted for approximately 62.5% of the Company’s new vehicle sales revenue for the year ended December 31, 2018, 65.2% of the Company’s new vehicle sales revenue for the year ended December 31, 2017, and 61.0% of the Company’s new vehicle sales revenue for the year ended December 31, 2016.

 

Primary Lenders

 

The Company purchases its new and used commercial vehicle inventories with the assistance of floor plan financing programs as described in Note 7 to these Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements. The Company’s floor plan financing agreements provide that the occurrence of certain events will be considered events of default. In the event that the Company’s floor plan financing becomes insufficient, or its relationship with any of its current primary lenders terminates, the Company would need to obtain similar financing from other sources. Management believes it can obtain additional floor plan financing or alternative financing if necessary.

 

 

The Company also acquires lease and rental vehicles with the assistance of financing agreements with PACCAR Leasing Company, Bank of America and Wells Fargo. The financing agreements are secured by a lien on the acquired vehicle. The terms of the financing agreements are similar to the corresponding lease agreements with the Company’s customers.

 

Concentrations of Credit Risks

 

Financial instruments that potentially subject the Company to significant concentrations of credit risk consist principally of cash and cash equivalents and accounts receivable. The Company places its cash and cash equivalents with what it considers to be quality financial institutions based on periodic assessments of such institutions. The Company’s cash and cash equivalents may be uninsured or in deposit accounts that exceed the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation insurance limit.

 

The Company controls credit risk through credit approvals and by selling a majority of its trade receivables, other than vehicle accounts receivable, without recourse. Concentrations of credit risk with respect to trade receivables are reduced because a large number of geographically diverse customers make up the Company’s customer base; however, substantially all of the Company’s business is concentrated in the United States commercial vehicle markets and related aftermarkets.

 

The Company generally sells finance contracts it enters into with customers to finance the purchase of commercial vehicles to third parties. These finance contracts are sold by the Company both with and without recourse. A majority of the Company’s finance contracts are sold without recourse. The Company provides an allowance for doubtful receivables and a reserve for repossession losses related to finance contracts sold with recourse. Historically, the Company’s allowances and reserves have covered losses inherent in these receivables.

 

 

4.

ACCOUNTS RECEIVABLE :

 

The Company’s accounts receivable, net, consisted of the following (in thousands):

 

   

December 31,

 
   

2018

   

2017

 
                 

Trade accounts receivable from sale of vehicles

  $ 100,013     $ 104,779  

Trade receivables other than vehicles

    60,716       57,697  

Warranty claims

    10,427       9,473  

Other accounts receivable

    20,910       12,753  

Less allowance for bad debt and warranty claims

    (1,416 )     (826 )
                 

Total

  $ 190,650     $ 183,875  

 

 

5.

INVENTORIES :

 

The Company’s inventories, net, consisted of the following (in thousands):

 

   

December 31,

 
   

2018

   

2017

 
                 

New commercial vehicles

  $ 976,464     $ 747,531  

Used commercial vehicles

    96,126       76,488  

Parts and accessories

    259,396       205,534  

Other

    19,573       15,924  

Less allowance

    (11,636 )     (12,183 )
                 

Total

  $ 1,339,923     $ 1,033,294  

 

 

 

6.

VALUATION ACCOUNTS:

 

Valuation and allowance accounts include the following (in thousands):

 

   

 

Balance

Beginning

of Year

   

Net

Charged to

Costs and

Expenses

   

 

 

Net Write-

Offs

   

 

Balance

End

of Year

 
                                 

2018

                               

Reserve for accounts receivable

  $ 616     $ 2,183     $ (1,812 )   $ 987  

Reserve for warranty receivables

    210       2,031       (1,812 )     429  

Reserve for parts inventory

    6,230       2,744       (1,924 )     7,050  

Reserve for commercial vehicle inventory

    5,953       3,550       (4,916 )     4,587  
                                 

2017

                               

Reserve for accounts receivable

  $ 549     $ 625     $ (558 )   $ 616  

Reserve for warranty receivables

    114       713       (617 )     210  

Reserve for parts inventory

    4,885       1,414       (69 )     6,230  

Reserve for commercial vehicle inventory

    5,102       5,997       (5,146 )     5,953  
                                 

2016

                               

Reserve for accounts receivable

  $ 506     $ 1,415     $ (1,372 )   $ 549  

Reserve for warranty receivables

    105       833       (824 )     114  

Reserve for parts inventory

    7,291       3,400       (5,806 )     4,885  

Reserve for commercial vehicle inventory

    6,541       9,623       (11,062 )     5,102  

 

Allowance for Doubtful Receivables

 

The Company sells a majority of its customer accounts receivable on a non-recourse basis to a third-party that is responsible for qualifying the customer for credit at the point of sale. If the third-party approves the customer for credit, then the third-party assumes all credit risk related to the transaction. For accounts receivable that the Company does not sell or that are sold with recourse to the Company, an allowance for doubtful receivables is provided after considering historical loss experience and other factors that might affect the collection of such accounts receivable.

 

The Company provides an allowance for uncollectible warranty receivables. The Company evaluates the collectability of its warranty claims receivable based on a combination of factors, including aging and correspondence with the applicable manufacturer. Management reviews the warranty claims receivable aging and adjusts the allowance based on historical experience. The Company records charge-offs related to warranty receivables after it is determined that a receivable will not be fully collected.

 

Inventory

 

The Company provides a reserve for obsolete and slow moving parts. The reserve is reviewed and, if necessary, adjustments are made on a quarterly basis. The Company relies on historical information to support its reserve. Once the inventory is written down, the Company does not reverse any reserve balance until the inventory is sold.

 

The valuation for new and used commercial vehicle inventory is based on specific identification. A detail of new and used commercial vehicle inventory is reviewed and, if necessary, adjustments to the value of specific vehicles are made on a quarterly basis.

 

 

7.

FLOOR PLAN NOTES PAYABLE AND LINES OF CREDIT :

 

Floor Plan Notes Payable  

 

Floor plan notes are financing agreements to facilitate the Company’s purchase of new and used commercial vehicle inventory. These notes are collateralized by the inventory purchased and accounts receivable arising from the sale thereof. The Company’s Floor Plan Credit Agreement provides for a loan commitment of up to $875.0 million and has the interest rate benchmarked to LIBOR, as defined in the agreement.

 

 

The interest rate under the Company’s Floor Plan Credit Agreement is the three month LIBOR rate plus 1.51%. The interest rate applicable to the Company’s Floor Plan Credit Agreement was approximately 4.26% at December 31, 2018. The Company utilizes its excess cash on hand to pay down its outstanding borrowings under its Floor Plan Credit Agreement, and the resulting interest earned is recognized as an offset to the Company’s gross interest expense under the Floor Plan Credit Agreement. The Company is required to pay a monthly working capital fee equal to 0.16% per annum multiplied by the amount of voluntary prepayments of new and used inventory loans.

 

The Company finances substantially all of the purchase price of its new commercial vehicle inventory, and the loan value of its used commercial vehicle inventory, under its Floor Plan Credit Agreement, under which BMO Harris pays the manufacturer directly with respect to new commercial vehicles. Amounts borrowed under the Company’s Floor Plan Credit Agreement are due when the related commercial vehicle inventory (collateral) is sold and the sales proceeds are collected by the Company. The Company’s Floor Plan Credit Agreement expires June 30, 2019, although BMO Harris has the right to terminate the Floor Plan Credit Agreement at any time upon 120 days’ written notice. The Company may terminate the Floor Plan Credit Agreement at any time, although if it does so, it must pay a prepayment processing fee equal to $500,000 if such termination occurs prior to June 30, 2019, subject to specified limited exceptions. On December 31, 2018, the Company had approximately $798.4 million outstanding under its Floor Plan Credit Agreement.

 

In June 2012, the Company entered into a wholesale financing agreement with Ford Motor Credit Company that provides for the financing of, and is collateralized by, the Company’s new Ford vehicle inventory. This wholesale financing agreement bears interest at a rate of Prime plus 150 basis points minus certain incentives and rebates. As of December 31, 2018, the interest rate on the wholesale financing agreement was 7.0% before considering the applicable incentives. On December 31, 2018, the Company had an outstanding balance of approximately $139.0 million under the Ford Motor Credit Company wholesale financing agreement.

 

The Company’s weighted average interest rate for floor plan notes payable was 1.9% for the year ended December 31, 2018, and 1.4% for the year ended December 31, 2017, which is net of interest related to prepayments of new and used inventory loans.

 

Assets pledged as collateral were as follows (in thousands):

 

   

December 31,

 
   

2018

   

2017

 

Inventories, new and used vehicles at cost based on specific identification, net of allowance

  $ 1,068,003     $ 818,066  

Vehicle sale related accounts receivable

    100,013       104,779  
                 

Total

  $ 1,168,016     $ 922,845  
                 

Floor plan notes payable related to vehicles

  $ 1,023,019     $ 778,561  

 

Lines of Credit

 

The Company has a secured line of credit that provides for a maximum borrowing of $17.5 million. There were no advances outstanding under this secured line of credit at December 31, 2018; however, $11.6 million was pledged to secure various letters of credit related to self-insurance products, leaving $5.9 million available for future borrowings as of December 31, 2018.

 

The Company has a Working Capital Facility with BMO Harris. The Working Capital Facility includes up to $100 million of revolving credit loans available to us for working capital, capital expenditures and other general corporate purposes. The amount of the borrowings under the Working Capital Facility are subject to borrowing base limitations based on the value of our eligible parts inventory and company vehicles. The Working Capital Facility includes a $20 million letter of credit sublimit. Borrowings under the Working Capital Facility bear interest at rates based on LIBOR or the Base Rate (as such terms are defined in the Working Capital Facility), plus an applicable margin determined based on outstanding borrowing under the Working Capital Facility. In addition, we are required to pay a commitment fee on the amount unused under the Working Capital Facility. The Working Capital Facility expires on the earlier of (i) March 21, 2020 and (ii) the date on which all commitments under the Working Capital Facility shall have terminated, whether as a result of the occurrence of the Commitment Termination Date (as defined in the Floor Plan Working Capital Facility) or otherwise. There were no advances outstanding under the Working Capital Facility as of December 31, 2018.

 

 

 

8.

LONG-TERM DEBT :

 

Long-term debt was comprised of the following (in thousands):

 

   

December 31,

 
   

2018

   

2017

 
                 

Variable interest rate term notes

  $ 80,355     $ 96,157  

Fixed interest rate term notes

    520,818       515,371  
                 

Total debt

    601,173       611,528  
                 

Less: current maturities

    (161,955 )     (145,139 )
                 

Total long-term debt, net of current maturities

  $ 439,218     $ 466,389  

 

As of December 31, 2018, long-term debt maturities were as follows (in thousands):

 

2019

  $ 161,955  

2020

    158,815  

2021

    103,938  

2022

    88,155  

2023

    57,689  

Thereafter

    30,621  
         

Total

  $ 601,173  

 

The interest rates on the Company’s variable interest rate notes are based on various LIBOR benchmark rates. The interest rates on the notes ranged from approximately 4.0% to 4.5% on December 31, 2018. Payments on the notes range from approximately $5,330 to $125,833 per month, plus interest. Maturities of these notes range from May 2019 to June 2025.

 

The Company’s fixed interest rate notes had interest rates that ranged from approximately 2.95% to 7.61% on December 31, 2018. Payments on the notes range from $255 to $72,315 per month. Maturities of these notes range from January 2019 to September 2028.

 

The proceeds from the issuance of the notes were used primarily to acquire land, buildings and improvements and vehicles for the Company’s lease and rental fleet. The notes are secured by the assets acquired with the proceeds of such notes.

 

The Company’s long-term real estate debt agreements, floor plan financing arrangements and the Working Capital Facility require the Company to satisfy various financial ratios such as the debt to worth ratio, leverage ratio, the fixed charge coverage ratio and certain requirements for tangible net worth and GAAP net worth. As of December 31, 2018, the Company was in compliance with all debt covenants. The Company does not anticipate any breach of the covenants in the foreseeable future.

 

 

9.

FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS AND FAIR VALUE :

 

 

The Company measures certain financial assets and liabilities at fair value on a recurring basis. Financial instruments consist primarily of cash, accounts receivable, accounts payable and floor plan notes payable. The carrying values of the Company’s financial instruments approximate fair value due either to their short-term nature or existence of variable interest rates, which approximate market rates. Certain methods and assumptions were used by the Company in estimating the fair value of financial instruments at December 31, 2018, and 2017. The carrying value of current assets and current liabilities approximates the fair value due to the short maturity of these items.

 

 

The fair value of the Company’s long-term debt is based on secondary market indicators. Because the Company’s debt is not quoted, estimates are based on each obligation’s characteristics, including remaining maturities, interest rate, credit rating, collateral and liquidity. Accordingly, the Company concluded that the valuation measurement inputs of its long-term debt represent, at its lowest level, current market interest rates available to the Company for similar debt and the Company’s current credit standing. The Company has categorized such debt within Level 2 of the hierarchy framework. The carrying amount approximates fair value.

 

Auction Rate Securities

 

In prior years, the Company invested in interest-bearing short-term investments primarily consisting of investment-grade auction rate securities classified as available-for-sale and reported at fair value. These types of investments were designed to provide liquidity through an auction process that reset the applicable interest rates at predetermined periods ranging from 1 to 35 days. This reset mechanism was intended to allow existing investors to continue to own their respective interest in the auction rate security or to gain immediate liquidity by selling their interests at par.

 

On December 31, 2018, the Company did not hold any auction rate securities. The issuer redeemed, at par, all of the remaining auction rate securities in the third quarter of 2018. On December 31, 2017, the Company held auction rate securities with underlying tax-exempt municipal bonds that matured in 2030 and had a fair value and a cost basis of $6.4 million.

 

Long-Lived Assets

 

During the first quarter of 2016, the Company instituted plans to consolidate its dealership network. In 2016, the Company recorded an impairment charge related to the value of the real estate in the affected locations and a write-down of certain excess real estate in the amount of $7.5 million.

 

The fair value measurements for the Company’s long-lived assets are based on Level 3 inputs. Fair values of the value of the real estate were determined based on evaluations by a third-party real estate broker that utilized its knowledge and historical experience in real estate markets and transactions. During 2016 and 2017, the Company sold seven of the properties previously classified as held for sale with a fair value of $8.3 million. In 2018, the Company sold four of the properties with an aggregate fair value of $4.7 million. During the third quarter of 2017, the Company made the decision to put one of the properties previously classified as “held for sale” with a fair value of $1.4 million back into service. During the fourth quarter of 2018, the Company made the decision to put one of the properties previously classified as “held for sale” with a fair value of $2.6 million back into service. As of December 31, 2018, the remaining real estate associated with the restructuring activities is included in assets held for sale on the Consolidated Balance Sheets.

 

The following table presents long-lived assets measured and recorded at fair value on a nonrecurring basis (in thousands):

 

 

Description

 

Fair Value

Measurements

Using Significant

Unobservable

Inputs

December 31 ,

201 8

 

Long-lived assets held for sale

  $ 2,269  

 

For further discussion of assets held for sale, see Note 19 – Restructuring Costs of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.

 

 

10.

LEAS ING ACTIVITIES :

 

Vehicle Leases as Lessee

 

The Company leases vehicles, as lessee, primarily over periods ranging from one to ten years under operating lease and capital lease arrangements. Generally, the Company is required to incur all operating costs and pay a minimum rental. The Company usually guarantees the residual value of vehicles under operating lease and capital lease arrangements. At December 31, 2018, the Company guaranteed vehicle residual values of approximately $38.0 million under operating lease and capital lease arrangements. Historically, the Company purchases these vehicles at the end of the lease term and recognizes a gain on the subsequent sale of the vehicle. Vehicle lease expenses were approximately $2.5 million for the year ended December 31, 2018, $0.9 million for the year ended December 31, 2017 and $1.3 million for the year ended December 31, 2016.

 

 

As discussed below, these vehicles are then subleased by the Company to customers under various agreements. Future minimum sublease rentals to be received by the Company under non-cancelable subleases, as described below, are $72.8 million.

 

Future minimum lease payments under capital and non-cancelable vehicle leases as of December 31, 2018, are as follows (in thousands):

 

   

Capital

Leases

   

Operating

Leases

 

2019

  $ 22,033     $ 3,580  

2020

    19,113       3,264  

2021

    14,894       2,764  

2022

    11,062       2,479  

2023

    5,095       1,957  

Thereafter

    2,963       1,246  
                 

Total minimum lease payments

  $ 75,160     $ 15,290  

Less amount representing interest

    (6,046 )        

Present value of net minimum capital lease payments

    69,114          

Less current portion

    (19,631 )        

Obligations under capital leases less current portion

  $ 49,483          

 

Customer Vehicle Leases as Lessor

 

The Company, through its PacLease and Idealease franchises, leases vehicles that the Company owns or leases to customers primarily over periods of one to ten years, under operating lease arrangements that require a minimum rental payment and a contingent rental payment based on usage. Rental income during the year ended December 31, 2018 consisted of minimum rental payments of approximately $209.3 million and contingent rental payments of $30.0 million. Rental income during the year ended December 31, 2017 consisted of minimum rental payments of approximately $187.4 million and contingent rental payments of $29.0 million. Rental income during the year ended December 31, 2016 consisted of minimum rental payments of approximately $182.1 million and contingent rental payments of $27.8 million. Minimum rental payments to be received for non-cancelable leases and subleases in effect as of December 31, 2018, are as follows (in thousands):

 

2019

  $ 97,906  

2020

    79,784  

2021

    57,486  

2022

    37,212  

2023

    21,813  

Thereafter

    12,980  
         

Total

  $ 307,181  

 

As of December 31, 2018, the Company had $576.0 million of lease and rental vehicles included in property and equipment, net of accumulated depreciation of $338.7 million. As of December 31, 2017, the Company had $584.4 million of lease and rental vehicles included in property and equipment, net of accumulated depreciation of $310.5 million.

 

 

Other Leases - Land and Buildings

 

The Company leases various assets under operating leases with expiration dates ranging from February 2019 through June 2102. Monthly rental payments range from approximately $275 per month to $38,091 per month. Rental expense was $10.7 million for the year ended December 31, 2018, $9.5 million for the year ended December 31, 2017, and $10.3 million for the year ended December 31, 2016. Future minimum lease payments under non-cancelable leases at December 31, 2018, are as follows (in thousands):

 

2019

  $ 8,715  

2020

    7,202  

2021

    5,426  

2022

    4,599  

2023

    3,239  

Thereafter

    21,217  
         

Total

  $ 50,398  

 

 

11.

SHARE BASED COMPENSATION AND EMPLOYEE BENEFIT PLANS :

 

Employee Stock Purchase Plan

 

The Company’s 2004 Employee Stock Purchase Plan, as amended and restated (the “Employee Stock Purchase Plan”) allows eligible employees to contribute up to $10,625 of their base earnings every six months toward the semi-annual purchase of the Company’s Class A Common Stock. The employee’s purchase price is 85% of the lesser of the closing price of the Class A Common Stock on the first business day or the last business day of the semi-annual offering period, as reported by The NASDAQ Global Select Market. Employees may purchase shares having a fair market value of up to $25,000 (measured as of the first day of each semi-annual offering period) for each calendar year. Under the Employee Stock Purchase Plan, there are approximately 331,000 shares remaining of the 1,400,000 shares of the Company’s Class A Common Stock that have been reserved for issuance. The Company issued 84,192 shares under the Employee Stock Purchase Plan during the year ended December 31, 2018 and 112,754 shares during the year ended December 31, 2017. Of the 7,214 employees eligible to participate, approximately 1,495 elected to participate in the plan as of December 31, 2018.

 

Non-Employee Director Stock Option Plan

 

The Rush Enterprises, Inc. 2006 Non-Employee Director Stock Option Plan, as amended and restated (the “Director Plan”), reserved 500,000 shares of Class A Common Stock for issuance upon exercise of any awards granted under the plan. The Director Plan is designed to attract and retain highly qualified non-employee directors. Currently, each non-employee director receives a grant of the Company’s Class A Common Stock, or up to 40% cash, equivalent to a compensation value of $125,000. In 2018, two non-employee directors received a grant of 2,926 shares of the Company’s Class A Common Stock, one non-employee director received a grant of 2,048 shares of the Company’s Class A Common Stock and $37,500 cash and two non-employee director received a grant of 1,756 shares of the Company’s Class A Common Stock and $50,000 cash, for total compensation equivalent to $125,000 each. In 2017, two non-employee directors received a grant of 3,307 shares of the Company’s Class A Common Stock, one non-employee director received a grant of 1,984 shares of the Company’s Class A Common Stock and $50,000 cash, one non-employee director received a grant of 2,315 shares of the Company’s Class A Common Stock and $37,500 cash, and one non-employee director received a grant of 2,480 shares of the Company’s Class A Common Stock and $31,250 cash, for total compensation equivalent to $125,000 each. Under the Director Plan, there are approximately 140,300 shares remaining for issuance of the 500,000 shares of the Company’s Class A Common Stock that have been reserved for issuance. The Company granted 11,412 shares of Class A Common Stock under the Director Plan during the year ended December 31, 2018 and 13,393 shares of Class A Common Stock under the Director Plan during the year ended December 31, 2017.

 

Employee Incentive Plans

 

In May 2007, the Board of Directors and shareholders adopted the Rush Enterprises, Inc. 2007 Long-Term Incentive Plan (the “2007 Incentive Plan”). The 2007 Incentive Plan provides for the grant of stock options (which may be nonqualified stock options or incentive stock options for tax purposes), stock appreciation rights issued independent of or in tandem with such options (“SARs”), restricted stock awards and performance awards. The 2007 Incentive Plan was amended and restated on May 20, 2014 and again on May 16, 2017 to increase the number of shares available for issuance under the plan to 7,800,000 shares of Class A Common Stock and 2,200,000 shares of Class B Common Stock and to make certain other changes intended to bring the 2007 Incentive Plan into conformance with current best practices.

 

 

The aggregate number of shares of common stock subject to stock options or SARs that may be granted to any one participant in any year under the 2007 Incentive Plan is 100,000 shares of Class A Common Stock or 100,000 shares of Class B Common Stock. Each option granted pursuant to the 2007 Incentive Plan has a ten year term from the grant date and vests in three equal annual installments beginning on the third anniversary of the grant date. The Company has 7,800,000 shares of Class A Common Stock and 2,200,000 shares of Class B Common Stock reserved for issuance upon exercise of any awards granted under the Company’s 2007 Incentive Plan. As of December 31, 2018, approximately 1,781,000 shares of Class A Common Stock and 762,000 shares of Class B Common Stock are available for issuance upon the exercise of any awards granted under the Company’s 2007 Incentive Plan. The Company issues new shares of its Class A or Class B Common Stock upon the exercise of stock options or vesting of restricted stock units. During the year ended December 31, 2018, the Company granted 459,663 options to purchase Class A Common Stock and 306,590 restricted Class B Common Stock units under the 2007 Incentive Plan. During the year ended December 31, 2017, the Company granted 472,463 options to purchase Class A Common Stock and 274,390 restricted Class B Common Stock units under the 2007 Incentive Plan.

 

Valuation and Expense Information  

 

Stock-based compensation expense related to stock options, restricted stock awards, restricted stock units and employee stock purchases was $18.1 million for the year ended December 31, 2018, $15.6 million for the year ended December 31, 2017, and $12.9 million for the year ended December 31, 2016. Cash received from options exercised and shares purchased under all share-based payment arrangements was $5.7 million for the year ended December 31, 2018, $24.8 million for the year ended December 31, 2017, and $6.5 million for the year ended December 31, 2016.

 

A summary of the Company’s stock option activity and related information for the year ended December 31, 2018, follows:

 

                   

Weighted

         
           

Weighted

   

Average

         
           

Average

   

Remaining

   

Aggregate

 
           

Exercise

   

Contractual

   

Intrinsic

 

Options

 

Shares

   

Price

   

Life (in Years)

   

Value

 
                                 

Balance of Outstanding Options at January 1, 2018

    2,724,308     $ 24.78                  

Granted

    459,663       42.99                  

Exercised

    (126,027 )     21.77                  

Forfeited

    (73,664 )     28.21                  

Balance of Outstanding Options at December 31, 2018

    2,984,280     $ 27.63       6.04     $ 24,290,404  

Expected to vest after December 31, 2018

    1,750,298     $ 30.62       7.63     $ 10,524,034  

Vested and exercisable at December 31, 2018

    1,187,924     $ 23.15       3.64     $ 13,457,583  

 

The aggregate intrinsic value in the preceding table represents the total pretax intrinsic value, based on the weighted-average of the closing price as of December 31, 2018, of the Company’s Class A Common Stock of $34.48. The total intrinsic value of options exercised was $2.7 million during the year ended December 31, 2018, $25.0 million during the year ended December 31, 2017, and $4.8 million during the year ended December 31, 2016.

 

A summary of the status of the number of shares underlying Company’s non-vested stock options as of December 31, 2018, and changes during the year ended December 31, 2018, is as follows:

 

           

Weighted

 
           

Average

 
   

Number of

   

Grant Date

 

Non-vested Shares

 

Shares

   

Fair Value

 
                 

Non-vested at January 1, 2018

    1,836,062     $ 11.12  

Granted

    459,663       15.46  

Vested

    (430,040 )     13.26  

Forfeited

    (69,329 )     10.73  
                 

Non-vested at December 31, 2018

    1,796,356     $ 11.74  

 

The total fair value of vested options was $5.7 million during the year ended December 31, 2018, $6.3 million during the year ended December 31, 2017, and $5.6 million during the year ended December 31, 2016. The weighted-average grant date fair value of options granted was $15.46 per share during the year ended December 31, 2018, $12.33 per share during the year ended December 31, 2017, and $6.54 per share during the year ended December 31, 2016.

 

 

Stock Awards

 

The Company granted restricted stock units to certain of its employees under the 2007 Incentive Plan and unrestricted stock awards to its non-employee directors under the Director Plan during the year ended December 31, 2018. The restricted stock units granted to employees vest in three equal installments on the first, second and third anniversary of the grant date and are forfeited in the event the recipient’s employment or relationship with the Company is terminated prior to vesting, except as a result of retirement or under certain circumstances associated with a change of control or involuntary termination, as further described in the Company’s executive transition plan. The fair value of the restricted stock units to the Company’s employees is amortized to expense on a straight-line basis over the restricted stock’s vesting period. The shares granted to non-employee directors are expensed on the grant date.

 

The following table presents a summary of the Company’s non-vested restricted stock units outstanding at December 31, 2018:

 

           

Weighted

                 
           

Average

           

Weighted

 
           

Remaining

   

Aggregate

   

Average

 
           

Contractual

   

Intrinsic

   

Grant Date

 

Stock Awards and Units

 

Shares

   

Life (in Years)

   

Value

   

Fair Value

 
                                 

Outstanding non-vested shares at January 1, 2018

    540,132                     $ 25.71  

Granted

    306,590                       40.46  

Vested

    (267,588 )                     24.57  

Forfeited

    (6,000 )                     33.62  
                                 

Outstanding non-vested at December 31, 2018

    573,134       8.6     $ 20,402,823     $ 34.07  
                                 

Expected to vest after December 31, 2018

    571,974       8.6     $ 20,361,531          

 

The total fair value of the shares issued upon the vesting of stock awards during the year ended December 31, 2018 was $6.6 million. The weighted-average grant date fair value of stock awards and units granted was $40.46 per share during the year ended December 31, 2018, $31.37 per share during the year ended December 31, 2017 and $17.57 per share during the year ended December 31, 2016.

 

As of December 31, 2018, the Company had $8.1 million of unrecognized compensation expense related to non-vested employee stock options to be recognized over a weighted-average period of 3.3 years and $7.1 million of unrecognized compensation cost related to non-vested restricted stock units to be recognized over a weighted-average period of 1.9 years.

 

  Defined Contribution Plan

 

The Company has a defined contribution plan (the “Rush 401k Plan”), which is available to all Company employees. Each employee who has completed 30 days of continuous service is entitled to enter the Rush 401k Plan on the first day of the following month. Participating employees may contribute from 1% to 50% of total gross compensation. However, certain highly compensated employees are limited to a maximum contribution of 15% of total gross compensation. For the first 10% of an employee’s contribution, the Company contributes an amount equal to 20% of the employees’ contributions for those employees with less than five years of service and an amount equal to 40% of the employees’ contributions for those employees with more than five years of service. The Company incurred expenses related to the Rush 401k Plan of approximately $8.9 million during the year ended December 31, 2018, $7.0 million during the year ended December 31, 2017 and $6.5 million during the year ended December 31, 2016.

 

Deferred Compensation Plan

 

On November 6, 2010, the Board of Directors of the Company adopted the Rush Enterprises, Inc. Deferred Compensation Plan (the “Deferred Compensation Plan”) pursuant to which selected employees and directors may elect to defer a portion of their annual compensation. The Deferred Compensation Plan also provides the Company with the discretion to make matching contributions to participants’ accounts. The Company established a rabbi trust to finance obligations under the Deferred Compensation Plan with corporate-owned variable life insurance contracts. Participants are 100% vested in their respective deferrals and the earnings thereon. The first deferral election period began on January 1, 2011. The Company’s liability related to the Deferred Compensation Plan was $11.1 million on December 31, 2018 and $9.8 million on December 31, 2017. The related cash surrender value of the life insurance contracts was $8.9 million on December 31, 2018 and $9.6 million on December 31, 2017.

 

 

The Company currently does not provide any post-retirement benefits nor does it provide any post-employment benefits.

 

 

12.

EARNINGS PER SHARE :

 

Basic earnings per share (“EPS”) were computed by dividing income from continuing operations by the weighted average number of shares of common stock outstanding during the period. Diluted EPS differs from basic EPS due to the assumed conversions of potentially dilutive options and restricted shares that were outstanding during the period.

 

Each share of Class A Common Stock ranks equal to each share of Class B Common Stock with respect to receipt of any dividends or distributions declared on shares of common stock and the right to receive proceeds on liquidation or dissolution of the Company after payment of its indebtedness and liquidation preference payments to holders of any preferred shares. However, holders of Class A Common Stock have 1/20th of one vote per share on all matters requiring a shareholder vote, while holders of Class B Common Stock have one full vote per share.

 

The following is a reconciliation of the numerators and the denominators of the basic and diluted per share computations for income from continuing operations (in thousands, except per share amounts):

 

   

2018

   

2017

   

2016

 

Numerator-

                       

Numerator for basic and diluted earnings per share −

                       

Net income available to common shareholders

  $ 139,062     $ 172,129     $ 40,582  

Denominator-

                       

Denominator for basic earnings per share – weighted average shares outstanding

    39,223       39,627       39,938  

Effect of dilutive securities−

                       

Employee and director stock options and restricted share awards

    1,070       1,353       665  

Denominator for diluted earnings per share − adjusted weighted average shares outstanding and assumed conversions

    40,293       40,980       40,603  

Basic earnings per common share

  $ 3.55     $ 4.34     $ 1.02  

Diluted earnings per common share and common share equivalents

  $ 3.45     $ 4.20     $ 1.00  

 

Options to purchase shares of common stock that were outstanding for the years ended December 31, 2018, 2017 and 2016 that were not included in the computation of diluted earnings per share because the effect would have been anti-dilutive are as follows (in thousands):

 

   

2018

   

2017

   

2016

 

Anti-dilutive options – weighted average

    513       449       2,043  

 

 

13.

INCOME TAXE S:

 

The tax provisions are summarized as follows (in thousands):

 

   

Year Ended December 31,

 
   

2018

   

2017

   

2016

 

Current provision −

                       

Federal

  $ 31,819     $ 22,443     $ 15,236  

State

    6,291       4,030       2,300  
      38,110       26,473       17,536  

Deferred provision −

                       

Federal

    6,082       (64,821 )     8,260  

State

    (85 )     2,618       71  
      5,997       (62,203 )     8,331  

Provision (benefit) for income taxes

  $ 44,107     $ (35,730 )   $ 25,867  

 

 

A reconciliation of taxes based on the federal statutory rates and the provisions (benefits) for income taxes are summarized as follows (in thousands):

 

   

Year Ended December 31,

 
   

2018

   

2017

   

2016

 

Income taxes at the federal statutory rate

  $ 38,469     $ 47,749     $ 23,255  

State income taxes, net of federal benefit

    4,913       3,246       1,552  

Tax effect of permanent differences

    596       (4,097 )     887  

Revaluation of deferred taxes

          (82,862 )      

Other, net

    129       234       173  

(Benefit) provision for income taxes

  $ 44,107     $ (35,730 )   $ 25,867  

 

The components of income taxes recorded in other comprehensive income and paid in capital consisted of the following (in thousands):

 

   

Year Ended December 31,

 
   

2018

   

2017

   

2016

 

Income tax expense (benefit) related to components of other comprehensive income:

                       

Change in fair value of available-for-sale securities

          183       13  

Total

  $     $ 183     $ 13  
                         

Paid in capital – stock based compensation

  $     $     $ 294  

 

The following summarizes the components of net deferred income tax liabilities included in the balance sheet (in thousands):

 

   

December 31,

 
   

2018

   

2017

 

Deferred income tax (assets) liabilities:

               

Inventory

  $ (4,076 )   $ (3,637 )

Accounts receivable

    (231 )     (157 )

Capital lease obligations

    (16,202 )     (19,480 )

Stock options

    (9,026 )     (6,899 )

Accrued liabilities

    (2,481 )     (2,533 )

State net operating loss carry forward

    (2,463 )     (2,262 )

State tax credit

    (312 )     (410 )

Other

    (3,276 )     (3,627 )

Difference between book and tax basis- Depreciation and amortization

    179,325       174,266  
      141,258       135,261  

Valuation allowance

    50       50  

Net deferred income tax liability

  $ 141,308     $ 135,311  

 

On December 22, 2017, the Tax Act was enacted. The Tax Act included, among other items, a reduction of the U.S. federal corporate tax rate from 35% to 21% effective January 1, 2018. The Tax Act made broad and complex changes to the U.S. tax code, some of which affected the Company’s 2017 year end results. Staff Accounting Bulletin No. 118 (SAB 118) provided guidance that allowed registrants to provide a reasonable estimate of the Tax Act in their financial statements and adjust the reported impact in a measurement period not to exceed one year. We applied the guidance in SAB 118 when accounting for the enactment-date effects of the Tax Act in 2017 and throughout 2018. At December 31, 2017, we had not completed our accounting for all of the enactment-date income tax effects of the Tax Act under ASC 740, Income Taxes , for the remeasurement of deferred tax assets and liabilities. At December 31, 2018, we have now completed our accounting for all of the enactment-date income tax effects of the Tax Act. As further discussed below, during 2018, we did not identify any material or significant adjustments to the provisional amounts recorded at December 31, 2017.

 

At December 31, 2017, the Company recognized a net tax benefit of $82.9 million, which was included as a component of income tax expense. The benefit recorded was primarily a result of the remeasurement of the Company’s deferred tax assets and liabilities at the rate in which they will reverse. Upon further analysis of certain aspects of the Tax Act and refinement of our calculations during the 12 months ended December 31, 2018, we adjusted our provisional amount by less than $100,000 which is included as a component of income tax expense from continuing operations.

 

 

As of December 31, 2018, the Company had approximately $51.0 million in state net operating loss carry forwards that expire from 2018 to 2038. The Company has evaluated whether its state net operating losses are realizable and has recorded a valuation allowance of $50,000 against them. The valuation allowance remained unchanged in 2018.

 

The Company had unrecognized income tax benefits totaling $2.4 million as a component of accrued liabilities as of December 31, 2018, and $2.6 million at December 31, 2017, the total of which, if recognized, would impact the Company’s effective tax rate. An unfavorable settlement would require a charge to income tax expense and a favorable resolution would be recognized as a reduction to income tax expense. The Company recognizes interest accrued related to unrecognized tax benefits in income tax expense. During the years ended December 31, 2018, 2017 and 2016, the Company recognized approximately $(27,450), $21,050, and $34,800 in interest expense (income). No amounts were accrued for penalties. The Company had approximately $139,000, $166,000 and $145,000 for the payment of interest accrued as of December 31, 2018, 2017 and 2016, respectively.

 

The Company does not anticipate a significant change in the amount of unrecognized tax benefits in the next 12 months. As of December 31, 2018, the tax years ended December 31, 2015 through 2018 remained subject to audit by federal tax authorities and the tax years ended December 31, 2014 through 2018, remained subject to audit by state tax authorities.

 

A reconciliation of the change in the unrecognized tax benefits is as follows (in thousands):

 

   

2018

   

2017

   

2016

 

Unrecognized tax benefits at beginning of period

  $ 2,555     $ 2,401     $ 2,332  

Gross increases – tax positions in current year

    504       619       429  

Reductions due to lapse of statute of limitations

    (670 )     (465 )     (360 )

Unrecognized tax benefits at end of period

  $ 2,389     $ 2,555     $ 2,401  

 

 

14.

COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES :

 

From time to time, the Company is involved in litigation arising out of its operations in the ordinary course of business. The Company maintains liability insurance, including product liability coverage, in amounts deemed adequate by management. To date, aggregate costs to the Company for claims, including product liability actions, have not been material. However, an uninsured or partially insured claim, or claim for which indemnification is not available, could have a material adverse effect on the Company’s financial condition or results of operations. The Company believes that there are no claims or litigation pending, the outcome of which could have a material adverse effect on its financial position or results of operations. However, due to the inherent uncertainty of litigation, there can be no assurance that the resolution of any particular claim or proceeding would not have a material adverse effect on the Company’s financial condition or results of operations for the fiscal period in which such resolution occurred.

 

The Company has purchase obligations of approximately $10.0 million as of December 31, 2018 related to the Company’s construction contract for a facility in Atlanta, Georgia and the purchase of real estate in Irving, Texas. The Company also has a contractual obligation of approximately $2.8 million with SAP America, Inc. with respect to the software license agreement for the ERP Platform.

 

 

15.

ACQUISITIONS :

 

The following acquisition was considered a business combination and accounted for under ASC 805 “Business Combinations.” Pro forma information is not included in accordance with ASC 805 because this acquisition was not considered material.

 

On December 14, 2017, the Company acquired certain assets of Transwest San Diego, LLC, which included a Ford truck franchise in San Diego, California. The transaction was valued at approximately $2.2 million, with the purchase price paid in cash.

 

 

 

16.

UNAUDITED QUARTERLY FINANCIAL DATA :

(In thousands, except per share amounts.)

 

   

First

   

Second

   

Third

   

Fourth

 
   

Quarter

   

Quarter

   

Quarter

   

Quarter

 

201 8

                               
                                 

Revenues

  $ 1,240,781     $ 1,348,831     $ 1,376,136     $ 1,540,442  

Gross profit

    226,995       243,377       249,057       258,840  

Operating income

    32,389       43,426       58,649       68,387  

Income before income taxes

    28,083       38,932       54,181       61,973  

Net income

  $ 21,039     $ 29,389     $ 41,665     $ 46,969  
                                 

Earnings per share:

                               

Basic

  $ 0.53     $ 0.75     $ 1.06     $ 1.22  

Diluted

  $ 0.51     $ 0.72     $ 1.03     $ 1.20  
                                 

201 7

                               
                                 

Revenues

  $ 1,044,797     $ 1,203,523     $ 1,257,459     $ 1,208,103  

Gross profit

    187,907       209,072       220,048       212,909  

Operating income

    24,849       37,407       48,436       38,017  

Income before income taxes

    22,058       34,583       45,335       34,423  

Net income

  $ 14,479     $ 21,999     $ 29,784     $ 105,867  
                                 

Earnings per share:

                               

Basic

  $ 0.37     $ 0.55     $ 0.75     $ 2.65  

Diluted

  $ 0.36     $ 0.54     $ 0.72     $ 2.54  

 

 

17.

SEGMENTS :

 

The Company currently has one reportable business segment - the Truck Segment. The Truck Segment includes the Company’s operation of a nationwide network of commercial vehicle dealerships that provide an integrated one-stop source for the commercial vehicle needs of its customers, including retail sales of new and used commercial vehicles; aftermarket parts, service and collision center facilities; and a wide array of financial services, including the financing of new and used commercial vehicle purchases, insurance products and truck leasing and rentals. The commercial vehicle dealerships are deemed a single reporting unit because they have similar economic characteristics. The Company’s chief operating decision maker considers the entire Truck Segment, not individual dealerships or departments within its dealerships, when making decisions about resources to be allocated to the segment and assessing its performance.

 

The Company also has revenues attributable to three other operating segments. These segments include a retail tire company, an insurance agency and a guest ranch operation and are included in the All Other column below. None of these segments has ever met any of the quantitative thresholds for determining reportable segments.

 

The accounting policies of the segments are the same as those described in the summary of significant accounting policies. The Company evaluates performance based on income before income taxes, not including extraordinary items.

 

The Company accounts for intersegment sales and transfers as if the sales or transfers were to third parties, that is, at current market prices. There were no material intersegment sales during the years ended December 31, 2018, 2017 or 2016.

 

 

The following table contains summarized information about reportable segment revenue, segment income or loss from continuing operations and segment assets for the periods ended December 31, 2018, 2017 and 2016 (in thousands):

 

   

Truck

   

All

         
   

Segment

   

Other

   

Totals

 

201 8

                       

Revenues from external customers

  $ 5,488,787     $ 17,403     $ 5,506,190  

Interest income

    1,376             1,376  

Interest expense

    20,850       208       21,058  

Depreciation and amortization

    70,170       319       70,489  

Segment operating income

    202,725       126       202,851  

Segment income (loss) from continuing operations before taxes

    183,251       (82 )     183,169  

Segment assets

    3,166,174       35,176       3,201,350  

Goodwill

    288,831       2,560       291,391  

Expenditures for segment assets

    238,229       31       238,260  
                         

201 7

                       

Revenues from external customers

  $ 4,698,035     $ 15,847     $ 4,713,882  

Interest income

    891             891  

Interest expense

    13,024       177       13,201  

Depreciation and amortization

    49,634       435       50,069  

Segment operating income (loss)

    149,338       (629 )     148,709  

Segment income (loss) from continuing operations before taxes

    137,205       (806 )     136,399  

Segment assets

    2,855,001       35,138       2,890,139  

Goodwill

    288,831       2,560       291,391  

Expenditures for segment assets

    209,852       65       209,917  
                         

201 6

                       

Revenues from external customers

  $ 4,199,348     $ 15,266     $ 4,214,614  

Interest income

    621             621  

Interest expense

    14,740       160       14,900  

Depreciation and amortization

    50,771       490       51,261  

Segment operating income (loss)

    81,483       (756 )     80,728  

Segment income (loss) from continuing operations before taxes

    67,364       (915 )     66,449  

Segment assets

    2,570,016       33,031       2,603,047  

Goodwill

    287,631       2,560       290,191  

Expenditures for segment assets

    196,704       261       196,965  

 

 

18.

RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS :

 

The Company has entered into a loan and security agreement with Central California Truck & Trailer Sales, LLC (“CCTTS”), a related party. The fifth amendment to the loan and security agreement provides for advances up to $17.0 million to finance commercial vehicle inventory and bears interest at the three month LIBOR rate plus 4.0%. Principal amounts advanced under the loan agreement are due when the related commercial vehicle inventory is sold by CCTTS and the interest is payable monthly. The Company had a $12.9 million receivable under the loan agreement as of December 31, 2018, and an $11.9 million receivable as of December 31, 2017.

 

 

19.

RESTRUCTURING COSTS :

 

During 2016, the Company instituted plans to consolidate its dealership network and incurred pre-tax expenses of approximately $8.9 million related to costs associated with the restructuring activities, including asset impairment charges.

 

The restructuring charges included $8.2 million associated with impairment charges related to certain fixed assets, the value of the real estate underlying the affected locations and a write-down of certain excess real estate, which was reported in selling, general and administrative expenses in the Consolidated Statements of Income and Comprehensive Income. See Note 9 – Financial Instruments and Fair Value, for further discussion on the impairment charge related to the value of real estate in the affected locations.

 

During 2016 and 2017, the Company sold seven of the properties previously classified as held for sale with a fair value of $8.3 million. In 2018, the Company sold four of the properties with an aggregate fair value of $4.7 million. During the third quarter of 2017, the Company made the decision to put one of the properties previously classified as “held for sale” with a fair value of $1.4 million back into service. During the fourth quarter of 2018, the Company made the decision to put one of the properties previously classified as “held for sale” with a fair value of $2.6 million back into service. As of December 31, 2018, the remaining real estate associated with the restructuring activities is included in assets held for sale on the Consolidated Balance Sheets.

 

 

The restructuring costs and the assets held for sale are reported under the Truck Segment.

 

 

20.

RE VENUE :

 

In May 2014, the FASB issued ASU No. 2014-09, “ Revenue from Contracts with Customers (“Topic 606”) ,” which amended the accounting standards for revenue recognition. The Company adopted Topic 606 on January 1, 2018, and is applying the modified retrospective method. There was not a material impact to revenues as a result of applying Topic 606 for the year ended December 31, 2018, and there have not been significant changes to our business processes, systems or internal controls as a result of implementing the standard. Adoption of the new standard does not materially change the timing or amount of revenue recognized in the Company’s Consolidated Statements of Income and Comprehensive Income.

 

The Company’s revenues are primarily generated from the sale of finished products to customers. Those sales predominantly contain a single delivery element and revenue for such sales is recognized when the customer obtains control, which is typically when the finished product is delivered to the customer. The Company’s material revenue streams have been identified as the following: the sale of new and used commercial vehicles, arrangement of associated commercial vehicle financing and insurance contracts, the performance of commercial vehicle repair services and the sale of commercial vehicle parts. Taxes collected from customers relating to product sales and remitted to governmental authorities are excluded from revenues.  

 

The following table summarizes the Company’s disaggregated revenue by revenue source for the year ended December 31, 2018 (in thousands):

 

   

Year Ended

December 31, 2018

 

Commercial vehicle sales revenue

  $ 3,558,637  

Parts revenue

    937,241  

Commercial vehicle repair service revenue

    732,811  

Finance revenue

    10,795  

Insurance revenue

    9,740  

Other revenue

    18,728  

Total

  $ 5,267,952  

 

All of the Company's performance obligations and associated revenues are generally transferred to customers at a point in time. The Company does not have any material contract assets or contract liabilities on the Balance Sheet as of December 31, 2018. Revenues related to commercial vehicle sales, parts sales, commercial vehicle repair service, finance and the majority of other revenues are related to the Truck Segment.

 

For the sale of new and used commercial vehicles, revenue is recognized at a point in time when control is transferred to the customer, which is when delivery of the commercial vehicle occurs. Revenue is measured as the amount of consideration the Company expects to receive in exchange for transferring the commercial vehicle. When control is transferred to the customer, the Company has an unconditional right to payment and a receivable is recorded for any consideration not received.

 

The Company controls the commercial vehicle before it is transferred to the customer and it obtains all of the remaining benefits from the commercial vehicle relating to the sale, ability to pledge the asset or hold the asset. The Company is a principal in all commercial vehicle transactions. The Company retains inventory risk, determines the selling price to the customer and delivers the commercial vehicle to the customer. The Company generally pays a commission to internal sales representatives for the sale of a commercial vehicle. The Company will continue to expense the commission and recognize it concurrently with the respective commercial vehicle sale revenue upon delivery of the commercial vehicle to a customer.

 

 

Revenue from the sale of parts is recognized when the Company transfers control of the goods to the customer and consideration has been received in the form of cash or a receivable from the customer. The Company provides its customers the right to return certain eligible parts, estimates the expected returns based on an analysis of historical experience and records an allowance for estimated returns, which has historically not been material.

 

Revenue from the sale of commercial vehicle repair service is recognized when the service performed by the Company on a customer’s vehicle is complete and the customer accepts the repair. Because the Company does not have an enforceable right to payment while the repair is being performed, revenue is recognized when the repair is complete. After a customer’s acceptance, the Company has no remaining obligations to transfer goods or services to the customer and consideration has been received in the form of cash or a receivable from the customer.

 

Any remaining performance obligations represent service orders for which work has not been completed. The Company’s service contracts are predominantly short-term in nature with a contract term of one month or less. For those contracts, the Company has utilized the practical expedient in Topic 606 exempting the Company from disclosure of the transaction price allocated to remaining performance obligations if the performance obligation is part of a contract that has an original expected duration of one year or less.

 

The Company receives commissions from third-party lenders for arranging customer financing for the purchase of commercial vehicles. The receipt of such commissions is deemed to be a single performance obligation that is satisfied when a financing agreement is executed and accepted by the financing provider. Once the contract has been accepted by the financing provider, the Company’s performance obligation has been satisfied and the Company generally has no further obligations under the contract. The Company is the agent in this transaction, as it does not have control over the acceptance of the customer’s financing arrangement by the financing provider. Consideration paid to the Company by the financing provider is based on the agreement between the Company and the financing provider.

 

The Company receives commissions from third-party insurance companies for arranging insurance coverage for customers. The receipt of such commissions is deemed to be a single performance obligation that is satisfied when the insurance coverage is bound. The Company has no further obligations under the contract. The Company is the agent in this transaction because it does not have control over the insurance coverage provided by the insurance carrier. Consideration paid to the Company by the insurance provider is based on the agreement between the Company and the insurance provider.

 

The Company records revenues from finance and insurance products at the net commission amount, which includes estimates of chargebacks that can occur if the underlying contract is not fulfilled.  Chargeback amounts for commissions from financing companies are estimated assuming financing contracts are terminated before the customer has made six monthly payments.  Chargeback amounts for commissions from insurance companies are estimated assuming insurance contracts are terminated before the underlying insurance contractual term has expired. Chargeback reserve amounts are based on historical chargebacks and have historically been immaterial.  The Company does not have any right to retrospective commissions based on future profitability of finance and insurance contracts arranged.

 

Other revenue is mostly documentation fees that are charged to customers in connection with the sale of a commercial vehicle and recognized as other revenue when a truck is sold. The Company recognizes the documentation fees at the point in time when the commercial vehicle is delivered to the customer.

 

 

21.

SUBSEQUENT EVENT :

 

On February 6, 2019, the Company announced that it had entered into an agreement with Tallman Group, the largest International dealership group in Canada, to form Rush Truck Centres of Canada Limited, which will operate Tallman Group’s network of commercial vehicle dealerships in the Province of Ontario, Canada. Under the terms of the agreement, which is subject to customary closing conditions, a subsidiary of the Company will purchase 50% of the equity in Rush Truck Centres of Canada Limited for approximately CAD $30.0 million.  The purchase price does not include any of the real estate, which will continue to be leased from the existing owners of the real estate.  The Company does not intend to consolidate Rush Truck Centres of Canada Limited as part of its Truck Segment for financial reporting purposes. Rush Truck Centres of Canada Limited will be accounted for as an equity method investment. The parties expect the transaction to close on February 25, 2019.

 

 

 

Item 9 . Changes in and Disagreements with Accountants on Accounting and Financial Disclosure

 

None.

 

Item 9 A. Controls and Procedures

 

Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures

 

In accordance with Exchange Act Rules 13a-15 and 15d-15, the Company carried out an evaluation, under the supervision and with the participation of management, including its Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, of the effectiveness of its disclosure controls and procedures as of the end of the period covered by this report. Based on that evaluation, the Company’s Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer concluded that its disclosure controls and procedures were effective as of December 31, 2018, to ensure that information required to be disclosed in its reports filed or submitted under the Exchange Act is (1) recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the Securities and Exchange Commission’s rules and forms and (2) accumulated and communicated to the Company’s management, including its Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, as appropriate to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure.

 

Changes in Internal Control Over Financial Reporting

 

There were no changes in the Company’s internal control over financial reporting during the quarter ended December 31, 2018, that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, the Company’s internal control over financial reporting.

 

Management’s Annual Report on Internal Control over Financial Reporting

 

The Company’s management is responsible for establishing and maintaining adequate internal control over financial reporting for the Company. The Company’s internal control over financial reporting is a process designed under the supervision of the Company’s President and Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of the Company’s financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles.

 

As of December 31, 2018, management assessed the effectiveness of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting based on the criteria for effective internal control over financial reporting established in “Internal Control – Integrated Framework,” issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations (COSO) of the Treadway Commission (2013 Framework). Based on the assessment, management determined that the Company maintained effective internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2018, based on those criteria.

 

Ernst & Young LLP, the independent registered public accounting firm that audited the consolidated financial statements of the Company included in this annual report on Form 10-K, has issued an attestation report on the effectiveness of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2018. The report, which expresses an unqualified opinion on the effectiveness of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2018, is included in this Item 9A under the heading “Attestation Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm.”

 

 

Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

 

The Shareholders and Board of Directors of Rush Enterprises, Inc.

 

Opinion on Internal Control over Financial Reporting

 

We have audited Rush Enterprises, Inc. and subsidiaries’ internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2018, based on criteria established in Internal Control—Integrated Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (2013 framework) (the COSO criteria). In our opinion, Rush Enterprises, Inc. and subsidiaries (the Company) maintained, in all material respects, effective internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2018, based on the COSO criteria.

 

We also have audited, in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) (PCAOB), the consolidated balance sheets of the Company as of December 31, 2018 and 2017, the related consolidated statements of income, comprehensive income, shareholders’ equity, and cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2018, and the related notes and our report dated February 25, 2019, expressed an unqualified opinion thereon.

 

Basis for Opinion

 

The Company’s management is responsible for maintaining effective internal control over financial reporting and for its assessment of the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting included in the accompanying Management’s Annual Report on Internal Control over Financial Reporting. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the Company’s internal control over financial reporting based on our audit. We are a public accounting firm registered with the PCAOB and are required to be independent with respect to the Company in accordance with the U.S. federal securities laws and the applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and the PCAOB.

 

We conducted our audit in accordance with the standards of the PCAOB. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether effective internal control over financial reporting was maintained in all material respects.

 

Our audit included obtaining an understanding of internal control over financial reporting, assessing the risk that a material weakness exists, testing and evaluating the design and operating effectiveness of internal control based on the assessed risk, and performing such other procedures as we considered necessary in the circumstances. We believe that our audit provides a reasonable basis for our opinion.

 

Definition and Limitations of Internal Control over Financial Reporting

 

A company’s internal control over financial reporting is a process designed to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles. A company’s internal control over financial reporting includes those policies and procedures that (1) pertain to the maintenance of records that, in reasonable detail, accurately and fairly reflect the transactions and dispositions of the assets of the company; (2) provide reasonable assurance that transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, and that receipts and expenditures of the company are being made only in accordance with authorizations of management and directors of the company; and (3) provide reasonable assurance regarding prevention or timely detection of unauthorized acquisition, use or disposition of the company’s assets that could have a material effect on the financial statements.

 

 

Because of its inherent limitations, internal control over financial reporting may not prevent or detect misstatements. Also, projections of any evaluation of effectiveness to future periods are subject to the risk that controls may become inadequate because of changes in conditions, or that the degree of compliance with the policies or procedures may deteriorate.

 

/s/ Ernst & Young LLP

 

San Antonio, Texas

February 25, 2019

 

 

Item 9 B. Other Information

 

None.

 

PART III

 

Item 10 . Directors , Executive Officers and Corporate Governance

 

The information called for by Item 10 of Form 10-K is incorporated herein by reference to such information included in the Company’s Proxy Statement for the 2019 Annual Meeting of Shareholders.

 

Code of Ethics

 

We maintain a code of ethics applicable to our principal executive officer, principal financial officer, principal accounting officer or controller, and other persons performing similar functions. To view this code of ethics free of charge, please visit our website at www.rushenterprises.com (This website address is not intended to function as a hyperlink, and the information contained in our website is not incorporated in to this report or otherwise made part of this report). We intend to satisfy the disclosure requirements under Item 5.05 of Form 8-K regarding an amendment to, or waiver from, a provision of this code of ethics, if any, by posting such information on our website set forth above.

 

Item 1 1 . Executive Compensation

 

The information called for by Item 11 of Form 10-K is incorporated herein by reference to such information included in the Company’s Proxy Statement for the 2019 Annual Meeting of Shareholders.

 

Item 1 2 . Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management and Related Shareholder Matters

 

The information called for by Item 12 of Form 10-K, other than the equity compensation plan information set forth below, is incorporated herein by reference to such information included in the Company’s Proxy Statement for the 2019 Annual Meeting of Shareholders.

 

Item 1 3 . Certain Relationships and Related Transactions , and Director Independence

 

The information called for by Item 13 of Form 10-K is incorporated herein by reference to such information included in the Company’s Proxy Statement for the 2019 Annual Meeting of Shareholders.

 

Item 1 4 . Principal Accountant Fees and Services

 

The information called for by Item 14 of Form 10-K is incorporated herein by reference to such information included in the Company’s Proxy Statement for the 2019 Annual Meeting of Shareholders.

 

 

PART IV

 

Item 1 5 . Exhibits , Financial Statement Schedules

 

(a)(1) Financial Statements

 

Included in Item 8 of Part II of this annual report on Form 10-K are the following:

 

Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm;

Consolidated Balance Sheets as of December 31, 2018, and 2017;

Consolidated Statements of Income for the years ended December 31, 2018, 2017, and 2016;

Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income for the years ended December 31, 2018, 2017, and 2016;

Consolidated Statements of Shareholders’ Equity for the years ended December 31, 2018, 2017, and 2016;

Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the years ended December 31, 2018, 2017, and 2016; and

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.

 

(a)(2) Financial Statement Schedules

 

These schedules are omitted as the required information is inapplicable or the information is presented in the consolidated financial statements or related notes.

 

(a)(3) Exhibits

 

Index to Exhibits:

Exhibit

No.

Identification of Exhibit

3.1

Restated Articles of Incorporation of Rush Enterprises, Inc. (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 3.1 of the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q (File No. 000-20797) for the quarter ended June 30, 2008)

   

3.2

Rush Enterprises, Inc. Amended and Restated Bylaws (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 3.1 of the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K (File No. 000-20797) filed May 21, 2013)

   

4.1

Specimen of certificate representing Common Stock (now Class B Common Stock), $.01 par value, of Rush Enterprises, Inc. (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 4.1 of the Company’s Registration Statement No. 333-03346 on Form S-1 filed April 10, 1996)

   

4.2

Specimen of certificate representing Class A Common Stock, $.01 par value, of the Registrant (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 4.1 of the Company’s Registration Statement on Form 8-A filed July 9, 2002)

   

10.1

Right of First Refusal dated December 19, 2012 between Peterbilt Motors Company and W. Marvin Rush (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.2 of the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K (File No. 000-20797) filed December 20, 2012)

   

10.2

Right of First Refusal dated December 19, 2012 between Peterbilt Motors Company and W.M. “Rusty” Rush (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.3 of the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K (File No. 000-20797) filed December 20, 2012)

   

10.3+

Rush Enterprises, Inc. 2004 Employee Stock Purchase Plan, as amended (as Amended and Restated Effective February 23, 2016) (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.5 of the Company’s Form 10-K (File No. 000-20797) for the year ended December 31, 2016)

 

 

10.4+

Rush Enterprises, Inc. Amended and Restated 2006 Non-Employee Director Stock Plan (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.10 of the Company’s Form 10-K (File No. 000-20797) for the year ended December 31, 2010)

   

10.5+

Form of Rush Enterprises, Inc. 2006 Non-Employee Director Stock Option Agreement (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 4.4 of the Company’s Registration Statement No. 333-138556 on Form S-8 filed November 9, 2006)

   

10.6+

Form of Rush Enterprises, Inc. 2006 Non-Employee Director Stock Plan Restricted Stock Unit Award Agreement (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.1 of the Company’s Form 10-Q (File No. 000-20797) for the quarter ended June 30, 2012)

   

10.7+

Rush Enterprises, Inc. Amended and Restated 2007 Long-Term Incentive Plan (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.1 of the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K (File No. 000-20797) filed May 22, 2017)

   

10.8+

Form of Rush Enterprises, Inc. 2007 Long-Term Incentive Plan Restricted Stock Unit Agreement (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.1 of the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K (File No. 000-20797) filed March 14, 2012)

   

10.9+

Form of Rush Enterprises, Inc. 2007 Long-Term Incentive Plan Stock Option Agreement (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 4.4 of the Company’s Form S-8 (File No. 333-144821) filed July 24, 2007)

   

10.10+

Rush Enterprises, Inc. Deferred Compensation Plan (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.1 of the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K (File No. 000-20797) filed November 12, 2010)

   

10.11+

Form of Indemnity Agreement (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.1 of the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K (File No. 000-20797) filed January 7, 2015)

   

10.12+

Rush Enterprises, Inc. Executive Transition Plan (as Amended and Restated Effective as of February 20, 2018) (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.1 of the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K (File No. 000-20797) filed February 26, 2018)

   

10.13

Form of dealer agreement between Peterbilt Motors Company and Rush Truck Centers (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.18 of the Company’s Form 10-K (File No. 000-20797) for the year ended December 31, 1999)

   

10.14

Amended and Restated Amendment to Dealer Sales and Service Agreements, dated December 19, 2012, by and among Peterbilt Motors Company, a division of PACCAR, Inc., Rush Enterprises, Inc. and the subsidiaries of Rush Enterprises, Inc. named a party therein (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.1 of the Company's Form 8-K (File No. 000-20797) filed December 20, 2012)

   

10.15

Guaranty Agreement, dated December 31, 2010, by Rush Enterprises, Inc. and each other Guarantor party thereto in favor of General Electric Capital Corporation. (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.2 of the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K (File No. 000-20797) filed January 6, 2011)

 

 

   

10.16

Third Amended and Restated Credit Agreement, dated as of July 7, 2016 by and among the Company, the Lenders signatory thereto, as Administrative Agent and Collateral Agent (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.1 of the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K (File No. 000-20797) filed July 8, 2016)

   

10.17

Credit Agreement, dated as of March 21, 2017 by and among the Company, the Lenders signatory thereto and BMO Harris Bank N.A., as Administrative Agent incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.1 of the Company's Form 8-K (File No. 000-20797) filed March 27, 2017)

   

10.18

Security Agreement, dated as of March 21, 2017, made by the Company in favor of BMO Harris Bank N.A., as Administrative Agent incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.2 of the Company's Form 8-K (File No. 000-20797) filed March 27, 2017)

   

10.19

Intercreditor Agreement, dated as of March 21, 2017, by and among BMO Harris Bank N.A., as Administrative Agent under the Credit Agreement, BMO Harris Bank N.A., as Administrative Agent and Collateral Agent under the Third Amended and Restated Credit Agreement, dated as of July 7, 2016, and the Company incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.3 of the Company's Form 8-K (File No. 000-20797) filed March 27, 2017)

   

21.1*

Subsidiaries of the Company

   

23.1*

Consent of Ernst & Young LLP

   

31.1*

Certification of President and Chief Executive Officer pursuant to Rules 13a-14(a) and 15d-14(a), as adopted pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002

   

31.2*

Certification of Chief Financial Officer pursuant to Rules 13a-14(a) and 15d-14(a), as adopted pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002

   

32.1++

Certification Pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as Adopted Pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002

   

32.2++

Certification Pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as Adopted Pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002

   

101.INS*

XBRL Instance Document.

   

101.SCH*

XBRL Taxonomy Extension Schema Document.

   

101.CAL*

XBRL Taxonomy Extension Calculation Linkbase Document.

   

101.DEF*

XBRL Taxonomy Extension Definition Linkbase Document.

   

101.LAB*

XBRL Taxonomy Extension Label Linkbase Document

   

101.PRE*

XBRL Taxonomy Extension Presentation Linkbase Document

 

     

* Filed herewith.
+ Management contract or compensatory plan or arrangement.

++

This exhibit shall not be deemed “filed” for purposes of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, or otherwise subject to the liability of that section, and shall not be deemed to be incorporated by reference into any filing under the Securities Act of 1933 or the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.

 

Item 16. Form 10-K Summary

 

Intentionally left blank.

 

 

S IGNATURES

 

Pursuant to the requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.

 

  RUSH ENTERPRISES, INC.    
       
       
  By:     /s/ W. M.”RUSTY” RUSH      Date: February 25, 2019
 

W. M. “Rusty” Rush

President, Chief Executive Officer and

Chairman of the Board

   

 

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, this report has been signed below by the following persons on behalf of the registrant and in the capacities on the dates indicated:

 

Signature Capacity Date
     
     

/s/ W. M. “RUSTY” RUSH

President, Chief Executive Officer and

February 25, 2019

W. M. “Rusty” Rush

Chairman of the Board

 

 

(Principal Executive Officer)  
     

/s/ STEVEN L. KELLER

Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer

February 25, 2019

Steven L. Keller

(Principal Financial and Accounting Officer)

 
     
     

/s/ THOMAS A. AKIN

Director

February 25, 2019

Thomas A. Akin

   
     
     

/s/ JAMES C. UNDERWOOD

Director

February 25, 2019

James C. Underwood

   
     
     

/s/ RAYMOND J. CHESS

Director

February 25, 2019

Raymond J. Chess

   
     
     

/s/ DR. KENNON GUGLIELMO   

Director

February 25, 2019

Dr. Kennon Guglielmo

   
     
     

/s/ WILLIAM H. CARY

Director

February 25, 2019

William H. Cary

   

 

77

 

 

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