Bon Voyage

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PPG 4th Quarter Earnings Released

Coatings giant PPG Industries' ( PPG ) recorded adjusted earnings from continuing operations (excluding acquisition-related expenses of $4 million or 3 cents per share) of $1.81 a share for fourth-quarter 2013, up 45% year over year from $1.25 per share reported in the year-ago quarter. The results exceeded the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $1.73 per share.
The company has delivered 14 straight quarters of record adjusted earnings (including the fourth quarter), fueled by a strong coatings portfolio, broad global footprint, prudent cash deployment and measurable results from the strategic actions.

Profit from continued operation (as reported) was $254 million or $1.78 per share in the fourth quarter, surging roughly 33% from $191 million or $1.23 per share posted in the prior-year quarter. Healthy results in the fourth quarter were also backed by continuing operating and cost discipline coupled with a higher level of organic sales growth.

Central Region December 2013 Driver of the Month

 

Please join us in congratulating Tony Skrip, our Central Region Driver of the Month. Tony deserves to be the driver of the month for our region due to the help he provides his team in Monroe. He keeps the office staff in the loop in regards to maintenance of the yard trucks, supplies needed for the yard, and is our trainer for new switchers.

 

Tony is able to work with new hires on the computer system for the yard trucks and also going over the safety procedures of the account.

 

 

Tony has an excellent relationship with our customer. Tony works daily with Rick Purnell and Troy Williams in regards to where trailers are on the yard and what is actually wrong with them. If Rick has a question regarding anything, he will reach out to Tony for an answer. Tony also knows more about the Yard Management System than some of the employees at Home Depot. He has been working with the customer to help fix minor bugs in the system that hinder productivity.

Tony has over 1 million collision free miles while working for J.B. Hunt. Jeff Holle came to visit in December and told us a remarkable story a driver had told Jeff about Tony Skrip. A support driver had come to Home Depot from C&S and when they arrived they were unsure of where they needed to go. The support driver told Jeff Holle that one of the switchers was very helpful in showing him how to check in at the office and where his trailer would be.

 

It is rare that drivers from other accounts will remark on how helpful a driver was for them.

 

Congratulations Tony......You've earned it!

TIKI Takes the Road Less Traveled

Rich Schwartz did his good deed at Kickoff this week.  He gave TIKI back to me to return to Arkansas.  This item has made its way across our region and touched more states and famous sites than many people you know (NYC, St Louis Arch, Vermont ski resorts, etc). 

Today TIKI took the road less traveled across I-64 West and touched Kentucky, Indiana, Illinois, Missouri and Arkansas.  I will take TIKI up to Montana in two weeks and see if we can't get a few more states under Tiki's belt.

News from Central Region Kickoff 2014-Destination Louisville

DJ Jerry Hoban built a playlist that we did not get to play this weekend at Kickoff.  We played it on the drive home and thought it was so impressive we had to share.  Enjoy this transportation related list of songs:

1. Running Down the Road......Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers
2. Crossroads.............................Cream
3. Truck Driving Man................Lynyrd Skynyrd
4. Easily.....................................Red Hot Chili Peppers
5. Hey Tonight...........................Creedence Clearwater Revival
6. Just What I Needed................The Cars
7. Name......................................Goo Goo Dolls
8. Right As Rain........................Adele
9. Stickshifts and Safetybelts....Cake
10. Soul Kitchen..........................The Doors
11. Saturday Morning..................Eels
12. Shine......................................Collective Soul

These are all great songs to celebrate our accomplishments in our region with our drivers and office employees.  Thanks Jerry!

Weak Sales Impact L Brands

L Brands reported weak December sales figures and cut its prediction for fourth-quarter profits, joining other retailers who had a disappointing holiday season.

Columbus-based L Brands, formerly known as Limited Brands, reported sales for December of $2.1 billion, up from sales of $1.9 billion at the same time the year before.

Comparable-store sales, a key indicator of a retailer’s health, were up 2 percent. Analysts had expected a 3.7 percent rise, according to Retail Metrics.

“Mall traffic was sluggish virtually all season with modest upticks immediately pre- and post-Christmas,” said Ken Perkins, president of Retail Metrics, a research firm.

Overall, heavy discounting cut into profit margins, L Brands officials said.

“The merchandise margin rate was down significantly to last year, and below expectations, driven by incremental promotional activity across all businesses,” said Amie Preston, chief investor relations officer.

As a result of the heavy discounting, L Brands had to lower its fourth quarter earnings estimate to $1.60 per share, down from the retailer’s previous forecast of $1.67 per share and well down from analysts’ expectations of $1.79 per share.

Retailers were faced with a “Faustian choice” this holiday season, Perkins said. “Either jump on the band wagon and discount heavily at the expense of margins,” he said, “or not participate and experience steep revenue and traffic declines.”

L Brands’ chains all posted disappointing comparable-store sales.

Victoria’s Secret saw an increase of 3 percent, driven by good sales in lingerie and the chain’s youth-oriented Pink brand. But analysts had expected a 4.4 percent increase.

Marco's Continues to Grow

Marco's Pizza opened 109 new locations across the country in 2013 and increased system-wide sales by more than 32 percent, resulting from a growth strategy that focused on implementing best practices and efficient systems and building a positive company culture. Overall, the approach contributed to doubling the company's size in five years.

Currently, the company has 437 units open in 33 states and the Bahamas. 2014 will see Puerto Rico open its first store by spring, and by year-end Marco's will have over 600 restaurants open in three countries. With more than 1,500 new franchise deals already signed, Marco's is on track to quadruple its store count in the coming 5 years.

Also in 2013 Marco's Pizza added to its impressive executive talent, including naming Cathy Hull (formerly head of Marketing for Fazoli's and Papa Johns) as Chief Marketing Officer. Hull is among several top-grade industry executives who have migrated to Marco's Pizza from other well-known brands, including COO Bryon Stephens from YUM Brands, Vice President General Counsel/Chief Legal Officer Todd Watson from Metromedia Restaurant Group, among others.
Marco's credits the growth first to the quality of its Authentic Italian pizza (including dough made fresh daily at every restaurant, a proprietary sauce created by its Italian founder, and the company's unique blend of three fresh cheeses) as well as attracting top talent among its Franchisees and corporate staff.

Other 2013 highlights include considerable recognition in the industry. For example, the prestigious Second 100 rankings, in which Nation's Restaurant News reviews the second-largest 100 restaurant chains, saw Marco's rise to the No. 2 spot this year on its list of Top 10 Newcomers. On the overall list of restaurant chains ranked from 101-200, Marco's came in at No. 166 this year, up 23 from No. 189 in 2012. In addition, Pizza Today also named Marco's # 1 on their 2013 Up and Comers list, which recognizes the country's fastest-growing pizza franchises.

Averaging over two restaurant openings per week, the franchise is offering exciting opportunities to be a part of the company's nationwide growth.