Document


 
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
______________________________________
FORM 10-Q
______________________________________
 (Mark One)
x
QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
For the quarterly period ended June 30, 2018
OR
o
TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
For the transition period from             to             
Commission File Number: 0-13468
___________________________________________
EXPEDITORS INTERNATIONAL OF WASHINGTON, INC.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
___________________________________________
Washington
  
91-1069248
(State or other jurisdiction of
incorporation or organization)
  
(IRS Employer
Identification Number)
 
 
 
1015 Third Avenue, Seattle, Washington
  
98104
(Address of principal executive offices)
  
(Zip Code)
(206) 674-3400
(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)
______________________________________________________
 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 x  No  o
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate Web site, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit and post such files). Yes x No o
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, 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. (Check one):
Large accelerated filer
x
 
  
Accelerated filer
 o
 
 
 
 
 
 
Non-accelerated filer
 o
(Do not check if a smaller reporting company)
  
Smaller reporting company
 o
 
 
 
 
 
 
Emerging growth company
 o
 
 
 
 
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.
 o
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act). 
Yes o No x
At August 6, 2018, the number of shares outstanding of the issuer’s Common Stock was 174,335,501.
 




PART I. FINANCIAL INFORMATION
Item 1. Financial Statements

EXPEDITORS INTERNATIONAL OF WASHINGTON, INC.
AND SUBSIDIARIES
Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets
(In thousands, except per share data)
(Unaudited)
 
 
June 30, 2018
 
December 31, 2017
Current Assets:
 
 
 
Cash and cash equivalents
$
1,020,854

 
$
1,051,099

Accounts receivable, less allowance for doubtful accounts of $12,272 at June 30, 2018 and $12,858 at December 31, 2017
1,337,716

 
1,414,741

Deferred contract costs
136,133

 

Other
69,438

 
75,612

Total current assets
2,564,141

 
2,541,452

Property and equipment, less accumulated depreciation and amortization of $435,159 at June 30, 2018 and $420,282 at December 31, 2017
515,547

 
525,203

Goodwill
7,927

 
7,927

Deferred Federal and state income taxes, net
16,779

 
13,207

Other assets, net
28,438

 
29,219

Total assets
$
3,132,832

 
$
3,117,008

Current Liabilities:
 
 
 
Accounts payable
$
832,011

 
$
866,305

Accrued expenses, primarily salaries and related costs
227,148

 
206,320

Contract liabilities
161,870

 

Federal, state and foreign income taxes
19,244

 
20,494

Total current liabilities
1,240,273

 
1,093,119

Noncurrent Federal income taxes payable

 
29,516

 
 
 
 
Commitments and contingencies

 

 
 
 
 
Shareholders’ Equity:
 
 
 
Preferred stock, none issued

 

Common stock, par value $0.01 per share. Issued and outstanding 173,577 shares at June 30, 2018 and 176,374 shares at December 31, 2017
1,736

 
1,764

Additional paid-in capital
1,607

 
546

Retained earnings
1,977,121

 
2,063,512

Accumulated other comprehensive loss
(90,712
)
 
(73,964
)
Total shareholders’ equity
1,889,752

 
1,991,858

Noncontrolling interest
2,807

 
2,515

Total equity
1,892,559

 
1,994,373

Total liabilities and equity
$
3,132,832

 
$
3,117,008

See accompanying notes to condensed consolidated financial statements.


2



EXPEDITORS INTERNATIONAL OF WASHINGTON, INC.
AND SUBSIDIARIES
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Earnings
(In thousands, except per share data)
(Unaudited)
 
 
Three months ended
 
Six months ended
 
June 30,
 
June 30,
 
2018
 
2017
 
2018
 
2017
Revenues:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Airfreight services
$
801,761

 
$
671,868

 
$
1,532,988

 
$
1,287,413

Ocean freight and ocean services
530,008

 
528,585

 
1,050,891

 
1,022,344

Customs brokerage and other services
625,790

 
471,826

 
1,227,942

 
907,654

Total revenues
1,957,559

 
1,672,279

 
3,811,821

 
3,217,411

Operating Expenses:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Airfreight services
593,325

 
499,418

 
1,106,829

 
942,822

Ocean freight and ocean services
385,156

 
385,927

 
764,574

 
751,990

Customs brokerage and other services
336,532

 
223,301

 
662,034

 
431,361

Salaries and related costs
350,948

 
318,529

 
690,843

 
611,109

Rent and occupancy costs
38,071

 
29,163

 
74,984

 
57,293

Depreciation and amortization
13,576

 
12,042

 
27,498

 
23,969

Selling and promotion
10,788

 
10,953

 
21,753

 
21,868

Other
45,579

 
24,706

 
86,904

 
62,645

Total operating expenses
1,773,975

 
1,504,039

 
3,435,419

 
2,903,057

Operating income
183,584

 
168,240

 
376,402

 
314,354

Other Income (Expense):
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Interest income
5,153

 
3,380

 
9,467

 
6,121

Other, net
1,167

 
2,190

 
1,791

 
2,488

Other income (expense), net
6,320

 
5,570

 
11,258

 
8,609

Earnings before income taxes
189,904

 
173,810

 
387,660

 
322,963

Income tax expense
48,958

 
65,055

 
110,514

 
120,641

Net earnings
140,946

 
108,755

 
277,146

 
202,322

Less net earnings (loss) attributable to the noncontrolling interest
341

 
(96
)
 
849

 
207

Net earnings attributable to shareholders
$
140,605

 
$
108,851

 
$
276,297

 
$
202,115

Diluted earnings attributable to shareholders per share
$
0.79

 
$
0.60

 
$
1.54

 
$
1.11

Basic earnings attributable to shareholders per share
$
0.80

 
$
0.60

 
$
1.58

 
$
1.12

Dividends declared and paid per common share
$
0.45

 
$
0.42

 
$
0.45

 
$
0.42

Weighted average diluted shares outstanding
178,603

 
182,033

 
179,120

 
182,091

Weighted average basic shares outstanding
174,754

 
180,012

 
175,324

 
180,037

See accompanying notes to condensed consolidated financial statements.



3



EXPEDITORS INTERNATIONAL OF WASHINGTON, INC.
AND SUBSIDIARIES
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income
(In thousands)
(Unaudited)

 
Three months ended
 
Six months ended
 
June 30,
 
June 30,
 
2018
 
2017
 
2018
 
2017
Net earnings
$
140,946

 
$
108,755

 
$
277,146

 
$
202,322

Other comprehensive (loss) income, net of tax:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Foreign currency translation adjustments, net of tax of $15,171 and $5,016 for the three months ended June 30, 2018 and 2017 and $9,660 and $9,892 for the six months ended June 30, 2018 and 2017
(26,051
)
 
9,236

 
(17,200
)
 
18,096

Other comprehensive (loss) income
(26,051
)
 
9,236

 
(17,200
)
 
18,096

Comprehensive income
114,895

 
117,991

 
259,946

 
220,418

Less comprehensive income (loss) attributable to the noncontrolling interest
10

 
(31
)
 
397

 
218

Comprehensive income attributable to shareholders
$
114,885

 
$
118,022

 
$
259,549

 
$
220,200

See accompanying notes to condensed consolidated financial statements.


4



EXPEDITORS INTERNATIONAL OF WASHINGTON, INC.
AND SUBSIDIARIES
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows
(In thousands)
(Unaudited)
 
Three months ended
 
Six months ended
 
June 30,
 
June 30,
 
2018
 
2017
 
2018
 
2017
Operating Activities:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Net earnings
$
140,946

 
$
108,755

 
$
277,146

 
$
202,322

Adjustments to reconcile net earnings to net cash from operating activities:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Provision for losses on accounts receivable
528

 
515

 
263

 
1,446

Deferred income tax expense
3,235

 
7,261

 
6,088

 
12,854

Stock compensation expense
18,002

 
17,203

 
29,269

 
27,826

Depreciation and amortization
13,576

 
12,042

 
27,498

 
23,969

Other, net
56

 
(174
)
 
104

 
(525
)
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
(Increase) decrease in accounts receivable
(46,876
)
 
(73,142
)
 
53,771

 
2,312

Decrease in accounts payable and accrued expenses
58,075

 
52,623

 
12,231

 
34,299

Increase in deferred contract costs
(20,019
)
 

 
(16,612
)
 

Increase in contract liabilities
20,294

 

 
12,893

 

Decrease in income taxes payable, net
(38,059
)
 
(47,159
)
 
(18,550
)
 
(27,335
)
(Increase) decrease in other current assets
(1,202
)
 
3,290

 
(68
)
 
(275
)
Net cash from operating activities
148,556

 
81,214

 
384,033

 
276,893

Investing Activities:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Purchase of property and equipment
(12,113
)
 
(20,380
)
 
(25,909
)
 
(33,141
)
Other, net
(1,564
)
 
40

 
(1,995
)
 
(631
)
Net cash from investing activities
(13,677
)
 
(20,340
)
 
(27,904
)
 
(33,772
)
Financing Activities:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Proceeds from issuance of common stock
95,363

 
51,501

 
121,760

 
96,866

Repurchases of common stock
(235,572
)
 
(84,052
)
 
(407,932
)
 
(137,960
)
Dividends paid
(79,180
)
 
(75,726
)
 
(79,180
)
 
(75,726
)
Payments for taxes related to net share settlement of equity awards
(3,215
)
 

 
(3,215
)
 

Net cash from financing activities
(222,604
)
 
(108,277
)
 
(368,567
)
 
(116,820
)
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents
(24,322
)
 
6,270

 
(17,807
)
 
14,174

(Decrease) increase in cash and cash equivalents
(112,047
)
 
(41,133
)
 
(30,245
)
 
140,475

Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period
1,132,901

 
1,156,043

 
1,051,099

 
974,435

Cash and cash equivalents at end of period
$
1,020,854

 
$
1,114,910

 
$
1,020,854

 
$
1,114,910

Taxes Paid:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Income taxes
$
85,612

 
$
103,508

 
$
124,131

 
$
132,654

See accompanying notes to condensed consolidated financial statements.

5



EXPEDITORS INTERNATIONAL OF WASHINGTON, INC.
AND SUBSIDIARIES
Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements
(In thousands, except per share data)
(Unaudited)

Note 1.
Summary of Significant Accounting Policies
A.
Basis of Presentation
Expeditors International of Washington, Inc. (the Company) is a non-asset based provider of global logistics services operating through a worldwide network of offices and exclusive or non-exclusive agents. The Company’s customers include retailing and wholesaling, electronics, industrial and manufacturing companies around the world.
The condensed consolidated financial statements have been prepared pursuant to the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission. As a result, certain information and note disclosures normally included in financial statements prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States (U.S. GAAP) have been condensed or omitted. The Company believes that the disclosures made are adequate to make the information presented not misleading. The condensed consolidated financial statements reflect all adjustments, consisting of normal recurring items, which are, in the opinion of management, necessary to a fair statement of the results for the interim periods presented. These condensed consolidated financial statements should be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements and related notes included in the Company's Form 10-K as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on February 23, 2018.
All significant intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation. All dollar amounts in the notes are presented in thousands except for per share data or unless otherwise specified.
B.
Revenue Recognition
Effective January 1, 2018, revenue is recognized upon transfer of control of promised services to customers, which occurs over time. The Company has determined that in general each shipment transaction or service order constitutes a separate contract with the customer. However, when the Company provides multiple services to a customer, different contracts may be present for different services. The Company combines the contracts, which form a single performance obligation, and accounts for the contracts as a single contract when certain criteria are met.
The Company typically satisfies its performance obligations as services are rendered over time. A typical shipment would include services rendered at origin, such as pick-up and delivery to port, freight services from origin to destination port and destination services, such as customs clearance and final delivery. The Company measures the performance of its obligations as services are completed over the life of a shipment, including services at origin, freight and destination.
This method of measurement of progress depicts the pattern of the Company's actual performance under the contracts with the customer. There are no significant judgments involved in measuring the progress of the performance obligations. Amounts allocated to the services for each performance obligation are typically based on standalone selling prices. The Company does not have significant variable consideration in its contracts. Taxes assessed concurrently with a specific revenue-producing transaction that are collected by the Company from a customer are excluded from revenue.
Typically, transaction prices for each of the Company's services are quoted as separate components; however, customers on occasion will request an all-inclusive rate for a set of services known in the industry as “door-to-door service.” This means that the customer is billed a single rate for all services from pickup at origin to delivery at destination. In these instances, the transaction price is allocated to each service on a relative selling price basis.
The Company fulfills nearly all of its performance obligations within a one to two month-period and contracts with customers have an original expected duration of less than one year. The Company generally has an unconditional right to consideration when the services are initiated or soon thereafter. The amount due from the customer is recorded as accounts receivable. The amounts related to services that are not yet completed at the reporting date are presented as contract liabilities, with corresponding direct costs to fulfill the performance obligation that will be satisfied in the future presented as deferred contract costs. The Company generally does not incur incremental costs to obtain the contract with the customer. The Company may incur costs to fulfill the contract with the customers, such as set-up costs. However, the amount incurred is insignificant to the Company’s consolidated financial statements.
The Company evaluates whether amounts billed to customers should be reported as gross or net revenue. Generally, revenue is recorded on a gross basis when the Company is primarily responsible for fulfilling the promise to provide the

6



services, when it assumes risk of loss, when it has discretion in setting the prices for the services to the customers, and when the Company has the ability to direct the use of the services provided by the third party.
C.
Accounts Receivable
The Company maintains an allowance for doubtful accounts, which is reviewed at least monthly for estimated losses resulting from the inability of its customers to make required payments for services and advances. Additional allowances may be necessary in the future if the ability of customers to pay deteriorates. The Company has recorded an allowance for doubtful accounts in the amounts of $12,272 as of June 30, 2018 and $12,858 as of December 31, 2017. Additions and write-offs have not been significant in the periods presented.
D.
Use of Estimates
The preparation of financial statements in conformity with U.S. GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of the assets and liabilities and disclosures of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the period. The Company uses estimates primarily in the following areas: accounts receivable valuation, accrual of costs related to ancillary services the Company provides, accrual of liabilities for the portion of the related exposure that the Company has self-insured, accrual of various tax liabilities including provisional estimates associated with the U.S. enacted Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (the 2017 Tax Act), accrual of loss contingencies and calculation of share-based compensation expense. Actual results could be materially different from the estimated provisions and accruals recorded.
E. Recent Accounting Pronouncements
Leases
In February 2016, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) issued an Accounting Standard Update (ASU) changing the accounting for leases and includes a requirement to record all leases exceeding one year on the consolidated balance sheet as assets and liabilities. The Company expects to adopt the standard using a modified retrospective method and initially apply the standard beginning January 1, 2019. Adoption will impact the consolidated balance sheets as future minimum lease payments under noncancelable operating leases totaled approximately $250 million as of June 30, 2018. The Company is currently evaluating its existing lease portfolio, including accumulating all of the necessary information required to make appropriate accounting policy elections and properly account for the leases under this new standard. Additionally, the Company has begun the implementation of an enterprise-wide lease management system that, along with accompanying process changes, will assist in the accounting and internal control changes necessary to meet the reporting and disclosure requirements of the new standard when it becomes effective.
Taxes
In February 2018, the FASB issued an ASU, which amends existing guidance for reporting comprehensive income to reflect changes resulting from the 2017 Tax Act. The amendment provides the option to reclassify stranded tax effects resulting from the 2017 Tax Act within accumulated other comprehensive income (AOCI) to retained earnings. New disclosures will be required upon adoption, including the accounting policy for releasing income tax effects from AOCI, whether reclassification of stranded income tax effects is elected, and information about other income tax effect reclassifications. The amendment will become effective for the Company on January 1, 2019, though early adoption is permitted. The Company is currently evaluating the impact of adopting this standard on its consolidated financial statements and disclosures.
Note 2. Revenues
Effective January 1, 2018, the Company adopted Topic 606 Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606). The adoption of Topic 606 did not materially impact the Company's revenue recognition policy. The Company adopted the standard using the modified retrospective transition method applied to those contracts not completed as of January 1, 2018, resulting in a $22 million adjustment to the opening balance of retained earnings and the recording of deferred contract costs and contract liabilities of $135 million and $165 million, respectively. The Company satisfied nearly all performance obligations for the contract liabilities recorded upon adoption at January 1, 2018, and recognized the corresponding revenues and costs during the first quarter. The Company also satisfied nearly all performance obligations for the contract liabilities recorded as of March 31, 2018 and recognized the corresponding revenues and costs during the second quarter. In conjunction with the adoption of Topic 606, the Company also changed its presentation of certain warehouse and distribution revenues from a net to a gross basis, which increased customs brokerage and other services revenues and operating expenses by approximately $50 million in both the first and second quarters of 2018.
Comparative prior year information has not been adjusted and continues to be reported under the Company's historical revenue recognition policies described in Note 1.E to the Company's Form 10-K as filed on February 23, 2018.

7



The Company disaggregates its revenues by its three primary service categories in the consolidated financial statements: airfreight, ocean freight and ocean services and customs brokerage and other. Revenues by geographic location are presented within business segment information in Note 9.
Note 3. Share-Based Compensation
The Company has historically granted the majority of its share-based awards during the second quarter of each fiscal year. In the second quarter of 2018 and 2017, the Company awarded 461 and 583 restricted stock units (RSU), respectively, under the Omnibus Incentive Plan (2017 Plan), which was approved by shareholders in 2017. The RSU, awarded to certain employees, were granted at a weighted-average grant date fair value of $69.58 in 2018 and $54.04 in 2017. The RSU vest annually over 3 years based on continued employment and are settled upon vesting in shares of the Company's common stock on a one-for-one basis. The value of an RSU grant is based on the Company's stock price on the date of grant. Additionally, in the second quarter of 2018 and 2017, respectively, 25 and 38 fully vested shares were granted to non-employee directors.
The Company also awarded 18 and 23 performance stock units (PSU) in 2018 and 2017, respectively, under the 2017 Plan. The PSU include performance conditions to be finally measured in 2020 and 2019, respectively. The final number of PSU will be determined using an adjustment factor of up to two times or down to 0.5 of the targeted PSU grant. If the minimum performance thresholds are not achieved, no shares will be issued. Each PSU will convert to one share of the Company's common stock upon vesting.
RSU and PSU granted under the 2017 Plan have dividend equivalent rights, which entitle holders of RSU and PSU to the same dividend value per share as holders of common stock. Dividend equivalent rights are subject to the same vesting and other terms and conditions as the corresponding unvested RSU and PSU and are accumulated and paid in shares when the underlying awards vest.
The grant of employee stock purchase rights and the issuance of shares under the employee stock purchase plan are made in the third quarter of each fiscal year and none were issued in the six-month periods ended June 30, 2018 and 2017.
The Company recognizes stock compensation expense based on an estimate of the fair value of awards granted to employees and directors under the Company’s omnibus incentive, stock option, director restricted stock and employee stock purchase rights plans. This expense, adjusted for expected forfeitures, is recognized in net earnings on a straight-line basis over the service periods as salaries and related costs. RSU awards to certain employees meeting specific retirement eligibility criteria at the time of grant are expensed immediately, as there is no substantive service period associated with those awards. Approximately $4 million of stock compensation expense was recognized in each of the three and six-month periods ended June 30, 2018 and 2017 for RSU grants meeting retirement eligibility criteria.


Note 4. Income Taxes
In December 2017, the 2017 Tax Act was enacted in the United States. Among its many provisions, the 2017 Tax Act imposed a mandatory one-time transition tax on undistributed international earnings (Transition Tax), reduced the U.S. corporate income tax rate from 35% to 21% and created a territorial tax system. As a result of the enactment of the 2017 Tax Act, the Company recognized a provisional net income tax benefit of $39 million in 2017. Beginning January 1, 2018, foreign earnings of the Company's international subsidiaries are exempt from U.S. Federal income tax upon repatriation. Notwithstanding these changes, certain non-U.S. withholding taxes and foreign exchange gains and losses will continue to be applicable upon the future repatriation of foreign earnings.
During the first quarter of 2018, the Company recorded additional provisional tax expense of $1.8 million associated with the Transition Tax reflecting additional guidance issued during the period. The Company expects that the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) will continue to issue additional guidance in the subsequent quarters of 2018 related to the 2017 Tax Act. As this guidance is issued, the Company will continue to evaluate the information to determine whether any additional adjustments to its provisional tax provisions are required. Provisional amounts include any changes as a result of future guidance and interpretations to be issued and any indirect impacts required to be recorded, including for example amounts recorded for state income taxes.
The 2017 Tax Act included provisions for Global Intangible Low-Taxed Income (GILTI) under which taxes on foreign income are imposed on the excess of a deemed return on tangible assets of certain foreign subsidiaries and for Base Erosion and Anti-Abuse Tax (BEAT) under which taxes are imposed on certain base eroding payments to affiliated foreign companies. Consistent with U.S. GAAP, the Company will treat BEAT as discrete adjustments to the income tax provision when incurred in future periods for which no deferred taxes are required to be provided and has made an accounting policy election to treat GILTI taxes in a similar manner. No provision for income taxes related to GILTI has been recorded through June 30, 2018. In 2017 and during the first quarter of 2018 no provision for BEAT was recorded. However, during the second quarter of 2018 estimated BEAT income tax expense of $2.0 million was recognized.

8



The components of the provisional net income tax benefit recorded in 2017 and through the six-month period ended June 30, 2018 are based on the then currently best available information. Additional information needs to be prepared, obtained and/or analyzed to determine the final amounts. The provisional tax expense for the mandatory repatriation of undistributed international earnings will require further analysis of certain foreign exchange gains or losses, substantiation of foreign tax credits, as well as estimated cash and cash equivalents of the Company's foreign subsidiaries.
The provisional tax benefit for the remeasurement of deferred taxes will require additional information necessary for the preparation of the Company's U.S. federal tax return, and further analysis and interpretation of certain provisions of the 2017 Tax Act impacting deferred taxes, for example 100% expensing of qualified assets, could impact the Company's recorded deferred tax balances.
The tax effects for these items will be recorded in subsequent quarters of 2018, as discrete adjustments to the income tax provision, once complete. The Company elected to adopt the Securities and Exchange Commission issued guidance that allows for a measurement period, not to exceed one year after the enactment date of the 2017 Tax Act, to finalize the recording of the related tax impacts. The Company will finalize its tax positions and calculations when it files its 2017 U.S. tax returns. At that point, the Company will conclude finally whether any further adjustments are required to its net current and deferred tax accounts in the U.S. as of December 31, 2017, as well as to the provisional liability associated with the Transition Tax. As of June 30, 2018, the Company reclassified its provisional liability associated with the Transition Tax from a long-term liability to a current obligation, offsetting its prepaid income tax balance, as a result of guidance issued by the IRS during the second quarter.

The Company's consolidated effective income tax rate was 25.8% and 28.5%, respectively, for the three and six-month periods ended June 30, 2018, as compared to 37.4% for the comparable periods in 2017. The lower effective tax rate in 2018 was principally due to the lower U.S. federal tax rate that resulted from the 2017 Tax Act coupled with significant share-based compensation deductions principally as a result of stock option exercises during the quarter ended June 30, 2018. This was partially offset by certain expenses that are no longer deductible under the 2017 Tax Act and the recognition of estimated BEAT income tax expense of $2.0 million.
As discussed, the recorded impacts of the 2017 Tax Act are provisional and the final amount may differ, possibly materially, due to, among other things, changes in estimates, interpretations and assumptions the Company has made, changes in IRS interpretations, the issuance of new guidance, legislative actions, changes in accounting standards or related interpretations in response to the 2017 Tax Act and future actions by states within the United States that have not currently adopted the 2017 Tax Act. For further information and discussion of the potential impact of the 2017 Tax Act, refer to “Item 1A. Risk Factors”, Note 5 to the consolidated financial statements and “Critical Accounting Estimates,” in the Company's 2017 Annual Report on Form 10-K.



9



Note 5. Basic and Diluted Earnings per Share
Diluted earnings attributable to shareholders per share is computed using the weighted average number of common shares and dilutive potential common shares outstanding. Dilutive potential shares represent outstanding stock options, including purchase options under the Company's employee stock purchase plan and unvested restricted stock units. Basic earnings attributable to shareholders per share is calculated using the weighted average number of common shares outstanding without taking into consideration dilutive potential common shares outstanding.
The following table reconciles the numerator and the denominator of the basic and diluted per share computations for earnings attributable to shareholders:
 
Three months ended 
 
June 30,
(Amounts in thousands, except per share amounts)
Net earnings
attributable to
shareholders
 
Weighted average
shares
 
Earnings per share
2018
 
 
 
 
 
Basic earnings attributable to shareholders
$
140,605

 
174,754

 
$
0.80

Effect of dilutive potential common shares

 
3,849

 

Diluted earnings attributable to shareholders
$
140,605

 
178,603

 
$
0.79

2017
 
 
 
 
 
Basic earnings attributable to shareholders
$
108,851

 
180,012

 
$
0.60

Effect of dilutive potential common shares

 
2,021

 

Diluted earnings attributable to shareholders
$
108,851

 
182,033

 
$
0.60


 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Six months ended
 
June 30,
(Amounts in thousands, except per share amounts)
Net earnings
attributable to
shareholders
 
Weighted average
shares
 
Earnings per share
2018
 
 
 
 
 
Basic earnings attributable to shareholders
$
276,297

 
175,324

 
$
1.58

Effect of dilutive potential common shares

 
3,796

 

Diluted earnings attributable to shareholders
$
276,297

 
179,120

 
$
1.54

2017
 
 
 
 
 
Basic earnings attributable to shareholders
$
202,115

 
180,037

 
$
1.12

Effect of dilutive potential common shares

 
2,054

 

Diluted earnings attributable to shareholders
$
202,115

 
182,091

 
$
1.11

The following potential common shares have been excluded from the computation of diluted earnings per share because the effect would have been antidilutive:
 
Three months ended
 
Six months ended
 
June 30,
 
June 30,
 
2018
 
2017
 
2018
 
2017
Shares

 
3,002

 
383

 
3,001



10



Note 6. Components of Equity
The components of equity for the six months ended June 30, 2018 and 2017 are as follows:
 
Shareholders’
equity
 
Noncontrolling
interest
 
Total
equity
Balance at December 31, 2017
$
1,991,858

 
2,515

 
1,994,373

Cumulative effect of accounting change
(22,357
)
 
(105
)
 
(22,462
)
Exercise of stock options and release of restricted awards, net of shares withheld for employee taxes
118,545

 

 
118,545

Shares repurchased under provisions of stock repurchase plans
(407,932
)
 

 
(407,932
)
Stock compensation expense
29,269

 

 
29,269

Net earnings
276,297

 
849

 
277,146

Other comprehensive loss
(16,748
)
 
(452
)
 
(17,200
)
Dividends paid ($0.45 per share)
$
(79,180
)
 
 
 
(79,180
)
Balance at June 30, 2018
$
1,889,752

 
2,807

 
1,892,559

 
 
 
 
 
 
Balance at December 31, 2016
$
1,844,638

 
2,575

 
1,847,213

Exercise of stock options
96,866

 

 
96,866

Shares repurchased under provisions of stock repurchase plans
(137,960
)
 

 
(137,960
)
Stock compensation expense
27,826

 

 
27,826

Net earnings
202,115

 
207

 
202,322

Other comprehensive income
18,085

 
11

 
18,096

Dividends paid ($0.42 per share)
$
(75,726
)
 
 
 
(75,726
)
Balance at June 30, 2017
$
1,975,844

 
2,793

 
1,978,637

The Company has a Non-Discretionary Stock Repurchase Plan to repurchase shares from the proceeds of stock option exercises and employee stock purchases. During the six-month periods ended June 30, 2018 and 2017, 1,441 and 1,651 shares were repurchased at an average price of $72.21 and $55.74 per share, respectively.
The Company also has a Discretionary Stock Repurchase Plan approved by the Board of Directors that authorizes management to reduce issued and outstanding stock down to 170 million shares of common stock. During the six-month period ended June 30, 2018, 4,311 shares were repurchased at an average price of $70.49 per share, compared to 831 shares at an average price of $55.27 per share during the same period in 2017.
Accumulated other comprehensive loss consisted entirely of foreign currency translation adjustments, net of related income tax effects, for all the periods presented.
On May 8, 2018, the Board of Directors declared a semi-annual dividend of $0.45 per share payable on June 15, 2018 to shareholders of record as of June 1, 2018. On May 2, 2017, the Board of Directors declared a semi-annual dividend of $0.42 per share payable on June 15, 2017 to shareholders of record as of June 1, 2017.




11



Note 7. Fair Value of Financial Instruments
The Company’s financial instruments, other than cash, consist primarily of cash equivalents, accounts receivable, accounts payable and accrued expenses. The carrying value of these financial instruments approximates their fair value. All highly liquid investments with a maturity of three months or less at date of purchase are considered to be cash equivalents.
Cash and cash equivalents consist of the following:
 
June 30, 2018
 
December 31, 2017
 
Cost
 
Fair Value
 
Cost
 
Fair Value
Cash and Cash Equivalents:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Cash and overnight deposits
$
527,095

 
527,095

 
383,021

 
383,021

Corporate commercial paper
467,528

 
467,898

 
635,345

 
635,919

Time deposits
26,231

 
26,231

 
32,733

 
32,733

Total cash and cash equivalents
$
1,020,854

 
1,021,224

 
1,051,099

 
1,051,673

The fair value of corporate commercial paper and time deposits is based on the use of market interest rates for identical or similar assets (Level 2 fair value measurement).
Note 8. Contingencies
The Company is involved in claims, lawsuits, government investigations and other legal matters that arise in the ordinary course of business and are subject to inherent uncertainties. Currently, in management's opinion and based upon advice from legal advisors, none of these matters are expected to have a significant effect on the Company's operations, cash flows or financial position. As of June 30, 2018, the amounts accrued for these claims, lawsuits, government investigations and other legal matters are not significant to the Company's operations, cash flows or financial position. At this time, the Company is unable to estimate any additional loss or range of reasonably possible losses, if any, beyond the amounts recorded, that might result from the resolution of these matters.

12



Note 9. Business Segment Information
The Company is organized functionally in geographic operating segments. Accordingly, management focuses its attention on revenues, net revenues1, operating income, identifiable assets, capital expenditures, depreciation and amortization and equity generated in each of these geographical areas when evaluating the effectiveness of geographic management. Transactions among the Company’s various offices are conducted using the same arms-length pricing methodologies the Company uses when its offices transact business with independent agents. Certain costs are allocated among the segments based on the relative value of the underlying services, which can include allocation based on actual costs incurred or estimated cost plus a profit margin.
Financial information regarding the Company’s operations by geographic area is as follows:
(in thousands)
UNITED
STATES
 
OTHER
NORTH
AMERICA
 
LATIN
AMERICA
 
NORTH ASIA
 
SOUTH ASIA
 
EUROPE
 
MIDDLE EAST, AFRICA AND INDIA
 
ELIMI-
NATIONS
 
CONSOLI-
DATED
Three months ended June 30, 2018:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Revenues from unaffiliated customers
$
567,271

 
80,268

 
38,697

 
674,101

 
172,696

 
315,950

 
108,576

 

 
1,957,559

Transfers between geographic areas
30,805

 
3,976

 
3,921

 
6,126

 
6,832

 
14,825

 
5,429

 
(71,914
)
 

Total revenues
$
598,076

 
84,244

 
42,618

 
680,227

 
179,528

 
330,775

 
114,005

 
(71,914
)
 
1,957,559

Net revenues1
$
271,880

 
34,749

 
15,923

 
140,583

 
44,886

 
102,371

 
33,125

 
(971
)
 
642,546

Operating income
$
63,628

 
10,077

 
2,701

 
70,359

 
13,374

 
16,958

 
6,490

 
(3
)
 
183,584

Identifiable assets at period end
$
1,488,060

 
153,827

 
54,186

 
540,954

 
157,479

 
526,607

 
217,716

 
(5,997
)
 
3,132,832

Capital expenditures
$
6,032

 
2,191

 
167

 
559

 
695

 
1,225

 
1,244

 

 
12,113

Depreciation and amortization
$
8,447

 
473

 
395

 
1,303

 
542

 
1,955

 
461

 

 
13,576

Equity
$
1,196,226

 
56,702

 
26,625

 
250,513

 
112,259

 
157,493

 
127,032

 
(34,291
)
 
1,892,559

Three months ended June 30, 2017:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Revenues from unaffiliated customers
$
452,217

 
62,554

 
23,463

 
620,050

 
157,698

 
259,533

 
96,764

 

 
1,672,279

Transfers between geographic areas
28,155

 
2,825

 
3,759

 
4,835

 
5,408

 
9,664

 
5,034

 
(59,680
)
 

Total revenues
$
480,372

 
65,379

 
27,222

 
624,885

 
163,106

 
269,197

 
101,798

 
(59,680
)
 
1,672,279

Net revenues1
$
250,027

 
28,173

 
14,008

 
120,959

 
38,228

 
80,896

 
30,286

 
1,056

 
563,633

Operating income
$
64,265

 
12,317

 
2,246

 
58,093

 
12,513

 
13,419

 
5,390

 
(3
)
 
168,240

Identifiable assets at period end
$
1,487,582

 
129,830

 
48,064

 
576,655

 
129,002

 
437,628

 
207,191

 
6,804

 
3,022,756

Capital expenditures
$
6,852

 
569

 
957

 
663

 
409

 
10,501

 
429

 

 
20,380

Depreciation and amortization
$
7,731

 
386

 
300

 
1,362

 
556

 
1,227

 
480

 

 
12,042

Equity
$
1,147,962

 
61,957

 
24,320

 
402,211

 
117,077

 
135,726

 
124,628

 
(35,244
)
 
1,978,637


13



 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
(in thousands)
UNITED
STATES

OTHER
NORTH
AMERICA

LATIN
AMERICA

NORTH ASIA

SOUTH ASIA

EUROPE

MIDDLE EAST, AFRICA AND INDIA

ELIMI-
NATIONS

CONSOLI-
DATED
Six months ended June 30, 2018:

















Revenues from unaffiliated customers
$
1,102,140


156,793


71,419


1,304,673


341,296


621,742


213,758




3,811,821

Transfers between geographic areas
59,686


7,538


7,308


12,143


13,382


29,013


10,784


(139,854
)


Total revenues
$
1,161,826


164,331


78,727


1,316,816


354,678


650,755


224,542


(139,854
)

3,811,821

Net revenues1
$
549,065


65,196


30,668


277,791


89,292


201,006


66,326


(960
)

1,278,384

Operating income
$
133,276


19,095


5,071


140,282


28,506


36,236


13,928


8


376,402

Identifiable assets at period end
$
1,488,060


153,827


54,186


540,954


157,479


526,607


217,716


(5,997
)

3,132,832

Capital expenditures
$
9,203


3,719


672


1,343


1,024


8,416


1,532




25,909

Depreciation and amortization
$
17,212


871


763


2,679


1,125


3,931


917




27,498

Equity
$
1,196,226


56,702


26,625


250,513


112,259


157,493


127,032


(34,291
)

1,892,559

Six months ended June 30, 2017:

















Revenues from unaffiliated customers
$
878,236


122,453


45,566


1,186,478


304,938


490,990


188,750




3,217,411

Transfers between geographic areas
52,468


5,464


7,394


9,886


10,839


18,986


9,998


(115,035
)


Total revenues
$
930,704


127,917


52,960


1,196,364


315,777


509,976


198,748


(115,035
)

3,217,411

Net revenues1
$
480,812


53,966


28,924


232,792


76,223


156,854


60,017


1,650


1,091,238

Operating income
$
116,611


17,368


5,697


111,445


25,737


25,065


12,433


(2
)

314,354

Identifiable assets at period end
$
1,487,582


129,830


48,064


576,655


129,002


437,628


207,191


6,804


3,022,756

Capital expenditures
$
12,094


803


1,212


1,903


782


15,579


768




33,141

Depreciation and amortization
$
15,484


758


620


2,682


1,087


2,398


940




23,969

Equity
$
1,147,962


61,957


24,320


402,211


117,077


135,726


124,628


(35,244
)

1,978,637

_______________________

1Net revenues are a non-GAAP measure calculated as revenues less directly related operating expenses attributable to the Company's principal services. The Company's management believes that net revenues are a better measure than total revenues when evaluating the Company's operating segment performance since total revenues earned as a freight consolidator include the carriers' charges for carrying the shipment, whereas revenues earned in other capacities include primarily the commissions and fees earned by the Company. Net revenue is one of the Company's primary operational and financial measures and demonstrates the Company's ability to concentrate and leverage purchasing power through effective consolidation of shipments from customers utilizing a variety of transportation carriers and optimal routings.
 

14



The following table presents the calculation of consolidated net revenues:
 
Three months ended
 
Six months ended
 
June 30,
 
June 30,
 
2018
 
2017
 
2018
 
2017
Total revenues
$
1,957,559

 
$
1,672,279

 
$
3,811,821

 
$
3,217,411

Expenses:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Airfreight services
593,325

 
499,418

 
1,106,829

 
942,822

Ocean freight and ocean services
385,156

 
385,927

 
764,574

 
751,990

Customs brokerage and other services
336,532

 
223,301

 
662,034

 
431,361

Net revenues
$
642,546

 
$
563,633

 
$
1,278,384

 
$
1,091,238



15



Item 2. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations
SAFE HARBOR FOR FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS UNDER PRIVATE SECURITIES LITIGATION REFORM ACT OF 1995; CERTAIN CAUTIONARY STATEMENTS
Certain portions of this report on Form 10-Q including the sections entitled “Overview,” "Expeditors' Culture and Strategy," "International Trade and Competition," "Seasonality," “Critical Accounting Estimates,” “Results of Operations,” "Income tax expense," “Currency and Other Risk Factors” and “Liquidity and Capital Resources” contain forward-looking statements. Words such as "will likely result," "are expected to," "would expect," "would not expect," "will continue," "is anticipated," "estimate," "project," "plan," "believe," "probable," "reasonably possible," "may," "could," "should," "intends," "foreseeable future" and variations of such words and similar expressions are intended to identify such forward-looking statements. In addition, any statements that refer to projections of future financial performance, our anticipated growth and trends in the Company's businesses, and other characterizations of future events or circumstances are forward-looking statements. These statements must be considered in connection with the discussion of the important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from the forward-looking statements. Attention should be given to the factors identified and discussed in the Company's annual report on Form 10-K filed on February 23, 2018.
Overview
Expeditors International of Washington, Inc. (herein referred to as "Expeditors," the "Company," "we," "us," "our") provides a full suite of global logistics services. Our services include air and ocean freight consolidation and forwarding, customs brokerage, warehousing and distribution, purchase order management, vendor consolidation, time-definite transportation services, temperature-controlled transit, cargo insurance, specialized cargo monitoring and tracking, and other logistics solutions. We do not compete for overnight courier or small parcel business. As a non-asset based carrier, we do not own or operate transportation assets.
We derive our revenues by entering into agreements that are generally comprised of a single performance obligation, which is that freight is shipped for and received by our customer. Each performance obligation is comprised of one or more of the Company's services. We typically satisfy our performance obligations as services are rendered over time. A typical shipment would include services rendered at origin, such as pick-up and delivery to port, freight services from origin to destination port and destination services, such as customs clearance and final delivery. Our three principal services are the revenue categories presented in our financial statements: 1) airfreight services, 2) ocean freight and ocean services, and 3) customs brokerage and other services. The most significant drivers of changes in gross revenues and related transportation expenses are volume, sell rates and buy rates. Volume has a similar effect on the change in both gross revenues and related transportation expenses in each of our three primary sources of revenue.
We generate the major portion of our air and ocean freight revenues by purchasing transportation services on a wholesale basis from direct (asset-based) carriers and then reselling those services to our customers on a retail basis. The difference between the rate billed to our customers (the sell rate) and the rate we pay to the carrier (the buy rate) is termed “net revenue” (a non-GAAP measure), “yield” or “margin.” By consolidating shipments from multiple customers and concentrating our buying power, we are able to negotiate favorable buy rates from the direct carriers, while at the same time offering lower sell rates than customers would otherwise be able to negotiate themselves.
In most cases, we act as an indirect carrier. When acting as an indirect carrier, we issue a House Airway Bill (HAWB), a House Ocean Bill of Lading (HOBL) or a House Seaway Bill to customers as the contract of carriage. In turn, when the freight is physically tendered to a direct carrier, we receive a contract of carriage known as a Master Airway Bill for airfreight shipments and a Master Ocean Bill of Lading for ocean shipments.
Customs brokerage and other services involve providing services at destination, such as helping customers clear shipments through customs by preparing and filing required documentation, calculating and providing for payment of duties and other taxes on behalf of customers as well as arranging for any required inspections by governmental agencies, and arranging for delivery. These are complicated functions requiring technical knowledge of customs rules and regulations in the multitude of countries in which we have offices.
In these transactions, we evaluate whether it is appropriate to record the gross or net amount as revenue. Generally, revenue is recorded on a gross basis when we are primarily responsible for fulfilling the promise to provide the services, when we assume risk of loss, when we have discretion in setting the prices for the services to the customers, and we have the ability to direct the use of the services provided by the third party. When revenue is recorded on a net basis, the amounts earned are determined using a fixed fee, a per unit of activity fee or a combination thereof. For revenues earned in other capacities, for instance, when we do not issue a HAWB, a HOBL or a House Seaway Bill or otherwise act solely as an agent for the shipper,

16



only the commissions and fees earned for such services are included in revenues. In these transactions, we are not a principal and report only commissions and fees earned in revenue.
We manage our company along five geographic areas of responsibility: Americas; North Asia; South Asia; Europe; and Middle East, Africa and India (MAIR). Each area is divided into sub-regions that are composed of operating units with individual profit and loss responsibility. Our business involves shipments between operating units and typically touches more than one geographic area. The nature of the international logistics business necessitates a high degree of communication and cooperation among operating units. Because of this inter-relationship between operating units, it is very difficult to examine any one geographic area and draw meaningful conclusions as to its contribution to our overall success on a stand-alone basis.
Our operating units share revenue using the same arms-length pricing methodologies that we use when our offices transact business with independent agents. Certain costs are allocated among the segments based on the relative value of the underlying services, which can include allocation based on actual costs incurred or estimated cost plus a profit margin. Our strategy closely links compensation with operating unit profitability, which includes shared revenues and allocated costs. Therefore, individual success is closely linked to cooperation with other operating units within our network.
The mix of services varies by segment based primarily on the import or export orientation of local operations in each of our regions. In accordance with our revenue recognition policy (see Notes 1B and 2 to the condensed consolidated financial statements in this report), almost all freight revenues and related expenses are recorded at origin and shipment profits are split between origin and destination offices by recording a commission fee or profit share revenue at destination and a corresponding commission or profit share expense as a component of origin consolidation costs.
Expeditors' Culture and Strategy
From the inception of our company, management has believed that the elements required for a successful global service organization can only be assured through recruiting, training, and ultimately retaining superior personnel. We believe that our greatest challenge is now and always has been perpetuating a consistent global corporate culture, which demands:
Total dedication to providing superior customer service;
Compliance with our policies and procedures and government regulations;
Aggressive marketing of all of our service offerings;
A positive, safe work environment that is inclusive and free from discrimination and harassment;
Ongoing development of key employees and management personnel;
Creation of unlimited advancement opportunities for employees dedicated to hard work, personal growth and continuous improvement;
Individual commitment to the identification and mentoring of successors for every key position so that when change occurs, at least one qualified and well-trained internal candidate is ready to step forward; and
Continuous identification, design and implementation of system solutions and differentiated service offerings, both technological and otherwise, to meet and exceed the needs of our customers while simultaneously delivering tools to make our employees more efficient and more effective.
We reinforce these values with a compensation system that rewards employees for profitably managing the things they can control. This compensation system has been in place since we became a publicly traded company. There is no limit to how much a key manager can be compensated for success. We believe in a “real world” environment where the employees of our operating units are held accountable for the profit implications of their decisions. If these decisions result in operating losses, management generally must make up these losses with future operating profits, in the aggregate, before any cash incentive compensation can be earned. Executive management, in limited circumstances, makes exceptions at the branch operating unit level. At the same time, our policies, processes and relevant training focus on such things as cargo management, risk mitigation, compliance, accounts receivable collection, cash flow and credit soundness in an attempt to help managers avoid the kinds of errors that might end a career.
We believe that our unique culture is a critical component to our continued success. We strongly believe that it is nearly impossible to predict all events that, individually or in the aggregate, could have a positive or a negative impact on our future operations. As a result, management's focus is on building and maintaining a global corporate culture and an environment where well-trained employees and managers are prepared to identify and react to changes as they develop and thereby help us adapt and thrive as major trends emerge.
Our business growth strategy emphasizes a focus on the right markets and, within each market, on the right customers that lead to profitable business growth. Expeditors' teams are aligned on the specific markets; on the targeted accounts within those markets; and on ways that we can continue to differentiate ourselves from our competitors.

17



Our ability to provide services to customers is highly dependent on good working relationships with a variety of entities including airlines, ocean carriers, ground transportation providers and governmental agencies. The significance of maintaining acceptable working relationships with these entities has gained increased importance as a result of ongoing concern over terrorism, security, changes in governmental regulation and oversight of international trade. A good reputation helps to develop practical working understandings that will assist in meeting security requirements while minimizing potential international trade obstacles, especially as governments promulgate new regulations and increase oversight and enforcement of new and existing laws. We consider our current working relationships with these entities to be satisfactory.
Our business is also highly dependent on the financial stability and operational capabilities of the carriers we utilize. Although airline profitability has improved, many air carriers remain highly leveraged with debt. Moreover, the ocean carrier industry has incurred substantial losses in recent years. Many carriers are highly leveraged with debt and certain carriers are facing significant liquidity challenges. This environment requires that we be selective in determining which carriers to utilize. Further changes in the financial stability, operating capabilities and capacity of asset-based carriers, space allotments available from carriers, governmental regulations, and/or trade accords could adversely affect our business in unpredictable ways.
International Trade and Competition
We operate in over 60 countries in the competitive global logistics industry and our activities are closely tied to the global economy. International trade is influenced by many factors, including economic and political conditions in the United States and abroad, currency exchange rates, and laws and policies relating to tariffs, trade restrictions, foreign investments and taxation. Periodically, governments consider a variety of changes to current tariffs and trade restrictions and accords. We cannot predict which, if any, of these proposals may be adopted, or the effects the adoption of any such proposal will have on our business. Doing business in foreign locations also subjects us to a variety of risks and considerations not normally encountered by domestic enterprises. In addition to being influenced by governmental policies and inter-governmental disputes concerning international trade, our business may also be negatively affected by political developments and changes in government personnel or policies in the United States and other countries, as well as economic turbulence, political unrest and security concerns in the nations in which we conduct business and the future impact that these events may have on international trade and oil prices.
The global logistics services industry is intensely competitive and is expected to remain so for the foreseeable future. Our pricing and terms continue to be pressured by uncertainty in global trade and economic conditions, concerns over volatile fuel costs, disruptions in port services, political unrest and fluctuating currency exchange rates. We expect these operating and competitive conditions to continue.
Ocean carriers have incurred substantial operating losses in recent years, and many are highly leveraged with debt. These financial challenges have resulted in multiple carrier acquisitions and carrier alliance formations. Additionally, while overall global demand has recently increased, carriers continue to take delivery of new and larger ships, which creates additional capacity. Carriers also face new regulatory requirements that become effective in 2020 to reduce the use of marine fuel sulfur, which could increase their operating and capital costs. When the market experiences seasonal peaks or any sort of disruption, the carriers often increase their pricing suddenly. This carrier behavior creates pricing volatility that could impact Expeditors' ability to maintain historical unitary profitability.
Currently, there is uncertainty as to how changes in oil prices will impact future buy rates. Because fuel is an integral part of carriers' costs and impacts both our cargo space buy rates and our sell rates to customers, we would expect our gross revenues and costs to be impacted as carriers adjust rates for the effect of changing fuel prices. To the extent that we are unable to pass through any increases to our customers, this could adversely affect our net revenues.
The global economic environment and trade growth remain uncertain. We cannot predict the impact of future changes in global trade on our operating results, freight volumes, pricing, changes in consumer demand, carrier stability and capacity, customers’ abilities to pay or on changes in competitors' behavior. Additionally, we cannot predict the direct or indirect impact that further changes in consumer purchasing behavior, such as online shopping, could have on our business.
Seasonality
Historically, our operating results have been subject to seasonal demand trends with the first quarter being the weakest and the third and fourth quarters being the strongest; however, there is no assurance this seasonal trend will occur in the future. This pattern has been the result of, or influenced by, numerous factors, including weather patterns, national holidays, consumer demand, new product launches, economic conditions and a myriad of other similar and subtle forces. In addition, this historical quarterly trend has been influenced by the growth and diversification of our international network and service offerings.

18



A significant portion of our revenues is derived from customers in the retail and technology industries whose shipping patterns are tied closely to consumer demand, and from customers in industries whose shipping patterns are dependent upon just-in-time production schedules. Therefore, the timing of our revenues are, to a large degree, impacted by factors out of our control, such as a sudden change in consumer demand for retail goods, product launches and/or manufacturing production delays. Additionally, many customers ship a significant portion of their goods at or near the end of a quarter and, therefore, we may not learn of a shortfall in revenues until late in a quarter. 
To the extent that a shortfall in revenues or earnings was not expected by securities analysts or investors, any such shortfall from levels predicted by securities analysts or investors could have an immediate and adverse effect on the trading price of our stock. We cannot accurately forecast many of these factors, nor can we estimate accurately the relative influence of any particular factor and, as a result, there can be no assurance that historical patterns will continue in future periods.
Critical Accounting Estimates
The preparation of consolidated financial statements in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States requires us to make estimates and judgments. We base our estimates on historical experience and on assumptions that we believe are reasonable. Our critical accounting estimates are discussed in Part II, Item 7, "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations" section of our annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2017, filed on February 23, 2018. There have been no material changes to the critical accounting estimates previously disclosed in that report.
Results of Operations
The following table shows the revenues and directly related expenses for our principal services and total net revenues (a non-GAAP measure calculated as revenues less directly related operating expenses attributable to our principal services) and our expenses for the three and six-month periods ended June 30, 2018 and 2017, expressed as percentages of net revenues. Management believes that net revenues are a better measure than total revenues when analyzing and discussing management's effectiveness in managing our principal services since total revenues earned by Expeditors as a freight consolidator include the carriers’ charges to us for carrying the shipment, whereas revenues earned by Expeditors in our other capacities include primarily the commissions and fees actually earned by us. Net revenue is one of our primary operational and financial measures and demonstrates our ability to manage sell rates to customers with our ability to concentrate and leverage our purchasing power through effective consolidation of shipments from multiple customers utilizing a variety of transportation carriers and optimal routings. Using net revenue also provides a commonality for comparison among various services.
The table and the accompanying discussion and analysis should be read in conjunction with the condensed consolidated financial statements and related notes thereto in this quarterly report.
 
Three months ended June 30,
 
Six months ended June 30,
 
 
2018
 
2017
 
2018
 
2017
 
 
Amount
 
Percent
of net
revenues
 
Amount
 
Percent
of net
revenues
 
Amount
 
Percent
of net
revenues
 
Amount
 
Percent
of net
revenues
 
(in thousands)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Airfreight services:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Revenues
$
801,761

 
 
 
$
671,868

 
 
 
$
1,532,988

 
 
 
$
1,287,413

 
 
 
Expenses
593,325

 
 
 
499,418

 
 
 
1,106,829

 
 
 
942,822

 
 
 
Net revenues
208,436

 
32
%
 
172,450

 
31
%
 
426,159

 
33
%
 
344,591

 
31
%
 
Ocean freight services and ocean services:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Revenues
530,008

 
 
 
528,585

 
 
 
1,050,891

 
 
 
1,022,344

 
 
 
Expenses
385,156

 
 
 
385,927

 
 
 
764,574

 
 
 
751,990

 
 
 
Net revenues
144,852

 
23

 
142,658

 
25

 
286,317

 
23

 
270,354

 
25

 
Customs brokerage and other services:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Revenues
625,790

 
 
 
471,826

 
 
 
1,227,942

 
 
 
907,654

 
 
 
Expenses
336,532

 
 
 
223,301

 
 
 
662,034

 
 
 
431,361

 
 
 
Net revenues
289,258

 
45

 
248,525

 
44

 
565,908

 
44

 
476,293

 
44

 
Total net revenues
642,546

 
100

 
563,633

 
100

 
1,278,384

 
100

 
1,091,238

 
100

 
Overhead expenses:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Salaries and related costs
350,948

 
54

 
318,529

 
56

 
690,843

 
54

 
611,109

 
56

 
Other
108,014

 
17

 
76,864

 
14

 
211,139

 
17

 
165,775

 
15

 
Total overhead expenses
458,962

 
71

 
395,393

 
70

 
901,982

 
71

 
776,884

 
71

 
Operating income
183,584

 
29

 
168,240

 
30

 
376,402

 
29

 
314,354

 
29

 
Other income (expense), net
6,320

 
1

 
5,570

 
1

 
11,258

 
1

 
8,609

 
1

 
Earnings before income taxes
189,904

 
30

 
173,810

 
31

 
387,660

 
30

 
322,963

 
30

 
Income tax expense
48,958

 
8

 
65,055

 
12

 
110,514

 
8

 
120,641

 
11

 
Net earnings
140,946

 
22

 
108,755

 
19

 
277,146

 
22

 
202,322

 
19

 
Less net earnings (losses) attributable to the noncontrolling interest
341

 

 
(96
)
 

 
849

 

 
207

 

 
Net earnings attributable to shareholders
$
140,605

 
22
%
 
$
108,851

 
19
%
 
$
276,297

 
22
%
 
$
202,115

 
19
%
 
Airfreight services:
Airfreight services revenues increased 19% in both the three and six-month periods ended June 30, 2018, as compared with the same periods for 2017, primarily due to 4% and 5% growth in tonnage and higher sell rates in response to increased buy rates resulting from higher overall market demand. Airfreight services expenses increased 19% and 17% in the three and six-month periods ended June 30, 2018, principally as a result of the increase in tonnage and higher buy rates due to tighter carrier capacity and increased fuel prices.
Airfreight services net revenues increased 21% in the three-month period ended June 30, 2018, as compared with the same period for 2017. This was due to 4% tonnage growth and a 19% increase in net revenue per kilo, resulting from adjustments to average sell rates that increased commensurate with higher average buy rates. North America and Europe net revenues increased by 16% and 24%, respectively, primarily due to tonnage increases of 11% and 3% and higher sell rates in North America. North Asia and South Asia net revenues increased by 28% and 15%, respectively, while tonnage remained flat and decreased 3%, respectively.
Airfreight services net revenues increased 24% for the six-month period ended June 30, 2018, as compared with the same period for 2017. This was principally due to a 24% increase in net revenue per kilo and 5% growth in tonnage. Average net revenue per kilo increased in most regions primarily due to higher average sell rates that increased commensurate with higher average buy rates. In 2017, carriers significantly increased pricing in North Asia as a result of higher demand relative to available capacity. North America and Europe net revenues increased by 24% and 23%, respectively, while tonnage increased 11% and 9%, respectively. North Asia and South Asia net revenues increased by 30% and 14%, respectively, despite tonnage decreases of 2% and 1%, respectively.
Since late 2016, the global airfreight market has been experiencing imbalances between carrier capacity and demand in certain lanes, which is resulting in higher average buy rates. Customers remain focused on improving supply-chain efficiency, reducing overall logistics costs by negotiating lower rates and utilizing ocean freight whenever possible. Customers are increasingly utilizing airfreight to improve speed to market. We expect these trends to continue in conjunction with carriers' efforts to manage available capacity and the evolution of consumer purchasing behavior, such as online shopping. These conditions could be affected by new product launches and customer responses to governmental trade policies during periods that have historically experienced higher demand. These conditions, should they continue to occur, could create a higher degree of volatility in volumes and, ultimately, buy and sell rates.
Ocean freight and ocean services:
Ocean freight consolidation, direct ocean forwarding and order management are the three basic services that constitute and are collectively referred to as ocean freight and ocean services. Ocean freight and ocean services revenues remained flat and increased 3%, respectively, for the three and six-month periods ended June 30, 2018, as compared with the same periods in 2017. The increase in the first half of the year resulted primarily from a 2% increase in container volume. Ocean freight and ocean services expenses remained flat and increased 2%, respectively, for the three and six-month periods ended June 30, 2018.
Ocean freight and ocean services net revenues increased 2% and 6%, respectively, for the three and six-month periods ended June 30, 2018, as compared with the same periods in 2017. The largest component of our ocean freight net revenue was derived from ocean freight consolidation, which represented 44% and 46% of ocean freight net revenue for the six-month periods ended June 30, 2018 and 2017, respectively.
Ocean freight consolidation net revenues decreased 5% in the second quarter of 2018, as compared with the same period in 2017, due primarily to a 7% decrease in net revenue per container, partially offset by a 1% growth in volume. Ocean consolidation net revenues increased 3% in the first half of 2018, due primarily to the 2% growth in container volume and a 1% increase in net revenue per container. Direct ocean freight forwarding net revenues increased 6% and 4%, respectively, for the three and six-month periods ended June 30, 2018, primarily due to higher volumes in Europe. Order management net revenues increased 7% and 14%, respectively, for the three and six-month periods ended June 30, 2018, mostly resulting from higher volumes with new and existing customers primarily in North Asia and North America.
North America ocean freight and ocean services net revenues increased 1% and 3%, respectively, for the three and six-month periods ended June 30, 2018, primarily due to higher export volumes. Europe net revenues increased 14% and 20% due primarily to growth in direct ocean freight forwarding and higher net revenue per container. North Asia net revenues decreased 2% in the second quarter as volumes decreased 3%. North Asia net revenues increased 5% in the first half of 2018, while volumes remained flat. South Asia net revenues increased 1% and 4%, respectively, due principally to growth in order management.
We expect that pricing volatility will continue as customers solicit bids, react to governmental trade policies, and carriers adapt to changes in capacity and market demand, merge or create alliances with other carriers. These conditions could result in lower margins.
Customs brokerage and other services:
Customs brokerage and other services revenues increased 33% and 35%, respectively, for the three and six-month periods ended June 30, 2018, as compared with the same periods in 2017, primarily as a result of higher volumes in customs brokerage, road freight and warehouse and distribution services. Customs brokerage and other services expenses increased 51% and 53% for the three and six-month periods ended June 30, 2018, as compared with the same periods in 2017, principally as a result of higher volumes. In conjunction with the adoption of the new revenue recognition standard, we analyzed contracts with customers in our warehouse and distribution business. In 2018, we changed our presentation of certain warehouse and distribution revenues from a net to a gross basis, which increased both revenues and operating expenses by approximately $50 million in both the first and second quarters of 2018.
Customs brokerage and other services net revenues increased 16% and 19%, respectively, for the three and six-month periods ended June 30, 2018, as compared with the same periods in 2017, primarily as a result of an increase in customs brokerage, road freight and distribution volumes, particularly in North America, Europe and North Asia. Customers continue to seek out customs brokers, such as Expeditors, with sophisticated computerized capabilities critical to an overall logistics management program, including rapid responses to changes in the regulatory and security environment.
North America net revenues increased 11% and 15%, respectively, for the three and six-month periods ended June 30, 2018, as compared with the same periods for 2017, primarily as a result of higher volumes in customs brokerage and road freight services. Europe net revenues increased 34% and 36% primarily due to higher customs brokerage and road freight services net revenues. North Asia net revenues increased 42% and 29% primarily due to higher customs brokerage volumes.
Overhead expenses:
Salaries and related costs increased 10% and 13%, respectively, for the three and six-month periods ended June 30, 2018, as compared with the same periods in 2017, due principally to an increase in the number of employees, primarily in North America and Europe, higher base salaries and benefits and increased bonuses from higher operating income. The number of employees increased primarily to support increased activity in our business operations.
Historically, the relatively consistent relationship between salaries and net revenues has been the result of a compensation philosophy that has been maintained since the inception of our company: offer a modest base salary and the opportunity to share in a fixed and determinable percentage of the operating profit of the business unit controlled by each key employee. Using this compensation model, changes in individual incentive compensation occur in proportion to changes in our operating income, creating an alignment between branch and corporate performance and shareholder interests. Bonuses to field and executive management for the six-month period ended June 30, 2018 were up 18% while operating income increased 20%. Our management compensation programs have always been incentive-based and performance driven. Salaries and related costs as a percentage of net revenues decreased from 56% to 54% for the six-month period ended June 30, 2018, as compared to the same period in 2017.
Because our management incentive compensation programs are also cumulative, generally no management bonuses can be paid unless the relevant business unit is, from inception, cumulatively profitable. Any operating losses must be offset in their entirety by operating profits before management is eligible for a bonus. Executive management, in limited circumstances, makes exceptions at the branch operating unit level. Since the most significant portion of management compensation comes from the incentive bonus programs, we believe that this cumulative feature is a disincentive to excessive risk taking by our managers. Due to the nature of our services, it has a short operating cycle. The outcome of any higher risk transactions, such as overriding established credit limits, would be known in a relatively short time frame. Management believes that when the potential and certain impact on the bonus is fully considered in light of this short operating cycle, the potential for short-term gains that could be generated by engaging in risky business practices is sufficiently mitigated to discourage excessive and inappropriate risk taking. Management believes that both the stability and the long-term growth in revenues, net revenues and net earnings are a result of the incentives inherent in our compensation programs.
Other overhead expenses increased 41% and 27%, respectively, for the three and six-month periods ended June 30, 2018, as compared with the same periods in 2017. In the second quarter of 2017, we recovered certain legal and related costs totaling $8 million and had a favorable resolution of an indirect tax contingency of $6 million. The increase in expenses was also due to renting additional space and technology-related fees, partially offset by lower consulting costs. We will continue to make important investments in people, processes and technology, as well as to invest in our strategic efforts to explore new areas for profitable growth. Other overhead expenses as a percentage of net revenues for the six-month period ended June 30, 2018 increased 2% to 17% compared to the same period in 2017, principally as a result of the events in 2017 discussed above.
Income tax expense:
Our consolidated effective income tax rate was 25.8% and 28.5%, respectively, for the three and six-month periods ended June 30, 2018, as compared to 37.4% for the comparable periods in 2017. The lower effective tax rate in 2018 was principally due to the lower U.S. federal tax rate and the shift to a territorial tax system that resulted from the 2017 Tax Act coupled with significant share-based compensation deductions principally from stock option exercises during the quarter ended June 30, 2018. This was partially offset by certain expenses that are no longer deductible under the 2017 Tax Act and the recognition of estimated BEAT income tax expense of $2.0 million. The recorded impacts of the 2017 Tax Act are provisional and the final amount may differ, possibly materially, due to various factors. See Note 4 to the condensed consolidated financial statements for additional information.


Currency and Other Risk Factors

The nature of our worldwide operations necessitates dealing with a multitude of currencies other than the U.S. dollar. This results in our being exposed to the inherent risks of volatile international currency markets and governmental

19



interference. Some of the countries where we maintain offices and/or agency relationships have strict currency control regulations, which influence our ability to hedge foreign currency exposure. We try to compensate for these exposures by accelerating international currency settlements among our offices and agents. We may enter into foreign currency hedging transactions where there are regulatory or commercial limitations on our ability to move money freely around the world or the short-term financial outlook in any country is such that hedging is the most time-sensitive way to mitigate short-term exchange losses. Any such hedging activity during the three and six months ended June 30, 2018 and 2017 was insignificant. We had no foreign currency derivatives outstanding at June 30, 2018 and December 31, 2017. During the three and six-month periods ended June 30, 2018 net foreign currency gains were approximately $5 million and $1 million, respectively. During the three and six-month periods ended June 30, 2017, net foreign currency losses were approximately $4 million and $9 million, respectively.
International air and ocean freight forwarding and customs brokerage are intensively competitive and are expected to remain so for the foreseeable future. There are a large number of entities competing in the international logistics industry, including new technology-based competitors entering the industry, many of which have significantly more resources than us; however, our primary competition is confined to a relatively small number of companies within this group. Expeditors must compete against both the niche players and larger entities. The industry continues to experience consolidations into larger firms striving for stronger and more complete multinational and multi-service networks. However, regional and local brokers and forwarders remain a competitive force.
The primary competitive factors in the international logistics industry continue to be price and quality of service, including reliability, responsiveness, expertise, convenience, and scope of operations. We emphasize quality customer service and believe that our prices are competitive with those of others in the industry. Customers regularly solicit bids from competitors in order to improve service, pricing and contractual terms such as seeking longer payment terms, higher or unlimited liability limits and performance penalties. Increased competition and competitors' acceptance of expanded contractual terms could result in reduced revenues, reduced margins, higher operating costs, higher claims or loss of market share, any of which would damage our results of operations and financial condition.
Larger customers utilize more sophisticated and efficient procedures for the management of their logistics supply chains by embracing strategies such as just-in-time inventory management. We believe that this trend has resulted in customers using fewer service providers with greater technological capacity and more consistent global coverage. Accordingly, sophisticated computerized customer service capabilities and a stable worldwide network have become significant factors in attracting and retaining customers. Developing and maintaining these systems and a worldwide network has added a considerable indirect cost to the services provided to customers. Smaller and middle-tier competitors, in general, do not have the resources available to develop customized systems and a worldwide network.
Liquidity and Capital Resources
Our principal source of liquidity is cash and cash equivalents and cash generated from operating activities. Net cash provided by operating activities for the three and six months ended June 30, 2018 was $149 million and $384 million, respectively, as compared with $81 million and $277 million for the same periods in 2017. The increases of $68 million and $107 million, respectively, in the second quarter and first half of 2018 are primarily due to higher earnings and improved working capital. At June 30, 2018, working capital was $1,324 million, including cash and cash equivalents of $1,021 million. We had no long-term debt at June 30, 2018. Management believes that our current cash position and operating cash flows will be sufficient to meet our capital and liquidity requirements for at least the next 12 months and thereafter for the foreseeable future, including meeting any contingent liabilities related to standby letters of credit and other obligations.
As a customs broker, we make significant cash advances for a select group of our credit-worthy customers. These cash advances are for customer obligations such as the payment of duties and taxes to customs authorities in various countries throughout the world. Increases in duty rates could result in increases in the amounts we advance on behalf of our customers. Cash advances are a “pass through” and are not recorded as a component of revenue and expense. The billings of such advances to customers are accounted for as a direct increase in accounts receivable from the customer and a corresponding increase in accounts payable to governmental customs authorities. As a result of these “pass through” billings, the conventional Days Sales Outstanding or DSO calculation does not directly measure collection efficiency. For customers that meet certain criteria, we have agreed to extend payment terms beyond our customary terms. Management believes that it has established effective credit control procedures, and historically has experienced relatively insignificant collection problems.
Our business historically has been subject to seasonal fluctuations and this is expected to continue in the future. Cash flows fluctuate as a result of this seasonality. Historically, the first quarter shows an excess of customer collections over customer billings. This results in positive cash flow. The increased activity associated with periods of higher demand (typically commencing late second or early third quarter and continuing well into the fourth quarter) causes an excess of customer billings over customer collections. This cyclical growth in customer receivables consumes available cash.

Cash used in investing activities for the three and six months ended June 30, 2018 was $14 million and $28 million, respectively, as compared with $20 million and $34 million in the same period of 2017. We had capital expenditures of $12 million and $26 million for the three and six-month periods ended June 30, 2018, respectively, as compared with $20 million and $34 million for the same periods in 2017. Capital expenditures in the three and six months ended June 30, 2018 related primarily to continuing investments in technology, building construction, building and leasehold improvements. Occasionally, we elect to purchase buildings to house staff and to facilitate the staging of customers’ freight. Total anticipated capital expenditures in 2018 are currently estimated to be $70 million. This includes routine capital expenditures and investments in technology.
Cash used in financing activities during the three and six months ended June 30, 2018 was $223 million and $369 million as compared with $108 million and $117 million for the same periods in 2017. We use the proceeds from stock option exercises, employee stock purchases and available cash to repurchase our common stock on the open market to limit the growth in issued and outstanding shares. During the three and six months ended June 30, 2018, we used cash to repurchase 3.1 million and 5.8 million shares, respectively, to reduce the number of total outstanding shares, compared to 1.5 million and 2.5 million shares, respectively, in the same periods in 2017.
We follow established guidelines relating to credit quality, diversification and maturities of our investments to preserve principal and maintain liquidity. Historically, our investment portfolio has not been adversely impacted by disruptions occurring in the credit markets. However, there can be no assurance that our investment portfolio will not be adversely affected in the future.
We maintain international unsecured bank lines of credit. At June 30, 2018, we were contingently liable for $65 million from standby letters of credit and guarantees. The standby letters of credit and guarantees relate to obligations of our foreign subsidiaries for credit extended in the ordinary course of business by direct carriers, primarily airlines, and for duty and tax deferrals available from governmental entities responsible for customs and value-added-tax (VAT) taxation. The total underlying amounts due and payable for transportation and governmental excises are properly recorded as obligations in the books of the respective foreign subsidiaries, and there would be no need to record additional expense in the unlikely event the parent company is required to perform.
We typically enter into short-term unconditional purchase obligations with asset-based providers reserving space on a guaranteed basis. The pricing of these obligations varies to some degree with market conditions. We only enter into agreements that management believes we can fulfill.
Our foreign subsidiaries regularly remit dividends to the U.S. parent company after evaluating their working capital requirements and needs to finance local capital expenditures. In some cases, our ability to repatriate funds from foreign operations may be subject to foreign exchange controls. At June 30, 2018, cash and cash equivalent balances of $546 million were held by our non-United States subsidiaries, of which $10 million was held in banks in the United States. Earnings of our foreign subsidiaries are not considered to be indefinitely reinvested outside of the United States.
Item 3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk
We are exposed to market risks in the ordinary course of our business. These risks are primarily related to foreign exchange risk and changes in short-term interest rates. The potential impact of our exposure to these risks is presented below:
Foreign Exchange Risk
We conduct business in many different countries and currencies. Our business often results in billings issued in a country and currency that differs from that where the expenses related to the service are incurred. In the ordinary course of business, we create numerous intercompany transactions and may have receivables, payables and currencies that are not denominated in the local functional currency. This brings foreign exchange risk to our earnings. The principal foreign exchange risks to which Expeditors is exposed are in Chinese Yuan, Euro, Mexican Peso, Canadian Dollar and British Pound.
Foreign exchange rate sensitivity analysis can be quantified by estimating the impact on our earnings as a result of hypothetical changes in the value of the U.S. dollar, our functional currency, relative to the other currencies in which we transact business. All other things being equal, an average 10% weakening of the U.S. dollar, throughout the six months ended June 30, 2018, would have had the effect of raising operating income approximately $27 million. An average 10% strengthening of the U.S. dollar, for the same period, would have the effect of reducing operating income approximately $22 million. This analysis does not take into account changes in shipping patterns based upon this hypothetical currency fluctuation. For example, a weakening in the U.S. dollar would be expected to increase exports from the United States and decrease imports into the United States over some relevant period of time, but the exact effect of this change cannot be quantified without making speculative assumptions.
We currently do not use derivative financial instruments to manage foreign currency risk and only enter into foreign currency hedging transactions in limited locations where regulatory or commercial limitations restrict our ability to move money freely. Any such hedging activity throughout the three and six months ended June 30, 2018 and 2017 was insignificant. During the three and six-month periods ended June 30, 2018 foreign currency gains were approximately $5 million and $1 million, respectively. During the three and six-month periods ended June 30, 2017, foreign currency losses were approximately $4 million and $9 million. We had no foreign currency derivatives outstanding at June 30, 2018 and December 31, 2017. We instead follow a policy of accelerating international currency settlements to manage foreign exchange risk relative to intercompany billings. As of June 30, 2018, we had approximately $36 million of net unsettled intercompany transactions. The majority of intercompany billings are resolved within 30 days.
Interest Rate Risk
At June 30, 2018, we had cash and cash equivalents of $1,021 million, of which $494 million was invested at various short-term market interest rates. We had no long-term debt at June 30, 2018. A hypothetical change in the interest rate of 10 basis points at June 30, 2018 would not have a significant impact on our earnings. In management’s opinion, there has been no material change in our interest rate risk exposure in the second quarter of 2018.
Item 4. Controls and Procedures
Evaluation of Controls and Procedures
We carried out an evaluation, under the supervision and with the participation of our management, including the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, of the effectiveness of the design and operation of our disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in the Exchange Act Rule 13a-15(e)) as of the end of the period covered by this report. Based upon that evaluation, the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer concluded that our disclosure controls and procedures were effective as of the end of the period covered by this report at the reasonable assurance level.
Changes in Internal Controls
There were no changes in our internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the most recent fiscal quarter that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.
We are developing a new accounting system, which is being implemented on a worldwide basis over the next several years. This system is expected to improve the efficiency of certain financial and transactional processes and reporting. This transition affects the processes that constitute our internal control over financial reporting and requires testing for operating effectiveness.
In 2018, we adopted new accounting standard Topic 606 Revenue from Contracts with Customers. The adoption of this standard resulted in changes to existing processes and systems. In particular, to capture information to measure the progress of completion of performance obligations under contracts with customers, both at transition and on an on-going basis. In 2019, we will adopt a new accounting standard related to accounting for leases. The adoption of these accounting standards will require further changes to existing processes and systems that are an integral part of our internal controls and will require testing for operating effectiveness.
Our management has confidence in our internal controls and procedures. Nevertheless, our management, including Expeditors’ Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, does not expect that our disclosure controls and procedures or our internal controls will prevent all errors or intentional fraud. An internal control system, no matter how well-conceived and operated, can provide only reasonable, not absolute, assurance that the objectives of such internal controls are met. Further, the design of an internal control system must reflect the fact that there are resource constraints, and the benefits of controls must be considered relative to their costs. Because of the inherent limitations in all internal control systems, no evaluation of controls can provide absolute assurance that all of our control issues and instances of fraud, if any, have been detected.



20



PART II. OTHER INFORMATION
Item 1. Legal Proceedings
Expeditors is involved in claims, lawsuits, government investigations and other legal matters that arise in the ordinary course of business and are subject to inherent uncertainties. Currently, in management's opinion and based upon advice from legal advisors, none of these matters are expected to have a significant effect on our operations, cash flows or financial position. As of June 30, 2018, the amounts accrued for these claims, lawsuits, government investigations and other legal matters are not significant to our operations, cash flows or financial position. At this time, we are unable to estimate any additional loss or range of reasonably possible losses, if any, beyond the amounts recorded, that might result from the resolution of these matters.
Item 1A. Risk Factors
There have been no material changes in Expeditors' risk factors from those disclosed in our annual report on Form 10-K filed on February 23, 2018 other than the following:

International Trade
 
Expeditors primarily provides services to customers engaged in international commerce. Everything that affects international trade has the potential to expand or contract our primary market and adversely impact our operating results. For example, international trade is influenced by:
 
 
• currency exchange rates and currency control regulations;
 
 
• interest rate fluctuations;
 
 
• changes and uncertainties in governmental policies and inter-governmental disputes, which could result in increased tariff rates, quota restrictions, trade barriers and other types of restrictions;
 
 
• changes in and application of international and domestic customs, trade and security regulations;
 
 
• wars, strikes, civil unrest, acts of terrorism, and other conflicts;
 
 
• changes in labor and other costs;
 
 
• natural disasters and pandemics;
 
 
• changes in consumer attitudes regarding goods made in countries other than their own;
 
 
• changes in availability of credit;
 
 
• changes in the price and readily available quantities of oil and other petroleum-related products; and
 
 
• increased global concerns regarding working conditions and environmental sustainability.

Item 2. Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds
ISSUER PURCHASES OF EQUITY SECURITIES
 
Period
 
Total number of
shares purchased
 
Average price
paid per share
 
Total number of shares
purchased as part of
publicly announced
plans or programs
 
Maximum number
of shares that may yet be
purchased under the
plans or programs
April 1-30, 2018
 

 
$

 

 
6,680,503

May 1-31, 2018
 
650,000

 
74.88

 
650,000

 
7,780,511

June 1-30, 2018
 
2,440,592

 
76.58

 
2,440,592

 
4,779,986

Total
 
3,090,592

 
$
76.22

 
3,090,592

 
4,779,986

In November 1993, Expeditors' Board of Directors authorized a Non-Discretionary Stock Repurchase Plan for the purpose of repurchasing our common stock in the open market with the proceeds received from the exercise of stock options. On February 9, 2009, the Plan was amended to increase the authorization to repurchase up to 40 million shares of our common stock. This authorization has no expiration date. This plan was initially disclosed in our annual report on Form 10-K filed on March 31, 1995. In the second quarter of 2018, 996,109 shares of common stock were repurchased under the Non-Discretionary Stock Repurchase Plan.

21



In November 2001, under a Discretionary Stock Repurchase Plan, Expeditors' Board of Directors authorized the repurchase of our common stock in the open market to reduce the issued and outstanding stock down to 200 million shares. In February 2014, the Board of Directors authorized repurchases down to 190 million shares of common stock. In February and August 2015 and May 2016, the Board of Directors further authorized repurchases down to 188 million, 180 million and 170 million, respectively. The maximum number of shares available for repurchase under this plan will increase as the total number of outstanding shares increases. This authorization has no expiration date. In the second quarter of 2018, 2,094,483 shares of common stock were repurchased under the Discretionary Stock Repurchase Plan.
Item 3. Defaults Upon Senior Securities
Not applicable.
Item 4. Mine Safety Disclosures
Not applicable.
Item 5. Other Information
(a)
Not applicable
(b)
Not applicable

22



Item 6. Exhibits
Exhibits required by Item 601 of Regulation S-K.
Exhibit Number
  
Description
 
 
 
  
Certification of Chief Executive Officer pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
 
 
 
  
Certification of Chief Financial Officer pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
 
 
 
  
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

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SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements 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.
 
 
 
EXPEDITORS INTERNATIONAL OF WASHINGTON, INC.
 
 
 
August 8, 2018
 
/s/ JEFFREY S. MUSSER
 
 
Jeffrey S. Musser, President, Chief Executive Officer and Director
 
 
 
August 8, 2018
 
/s/ BRADLEY S. POWELL
 
 
Bradley S. Powell, Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer

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