Net interest and debt income increased $123,000 in the 2024 thirteen-week period compared to the 2023 thirteen-week period. The increase in interest and debt income was primarily attributable to increased interest income earned on cash balances held by the transportation logistics segment, partially offset by increased interest expense related to finance lease obligations.
The provisions for income taxes for the 2024 and 2023 thirteen-week periods were based on estimated annual effective income tax rates of 24.3% and 24.4%, respectively, adjusted for discrete events, such as benefits resulting from stock-based awards. The effective income tax rate for the 2024 thirteen-week period was 22.2%. The effective income tax rate was higher than the statutory federal income tax rate of 21% in the 2024 period primarily attributable to state taxes, partially offset by federal tax credits. The effective income tax rate for the 2023 thirteen-week period was 24.3%. The effective income tax rate was higher than the statutory federal income tax rate of 21% in the 2023 period primarily attributable to state taxes.
Net income was $50,033,000, or $1.41 per basic and diluted share, in the 2024 thirteen-week period. Net income was $61,653,000, or $1.71 per basic and diluted share, in the 2023 thirteen-week period.
CAPITAL RESOURCES AND LIQUIDITY
Working capital and the ratio of current assets to current liabilities were $718,742,000 and 2.2 to 1, respectively, at September 28, 2024, compared with $677,517,000 and 2.0 to 1, respectively, at December 30, 2023. Landstar has historically operated with current ratios within the range of 1.5 to 1 to 2.0 to 1. Cash provided by operating activities was $225,439,000 in the 2024 thirty-nine-week period compared with $303,785,000 in the 2023 thirty-nine-week period. The decrease in cash flow provided by operating activities was primarily attributable to decreased net income and decreased favorable net working capital impacts in connection with decreased net receivables, defined as accounts receivable less accounts payable.
The Company declared and paid $1.02 per share, or $36,325,000 in the aggregate, in cash dividends during the thirty-nine-week period ended September 28, 2024 and, during such period, also paid $71,433,000 of dividends payable which were declared in December 2023 and included in current liabilities in the consolidated balance sheet at December 30, 2023. The Company declared and paid $0.93 per share, or $33,448,000 in the aggregate, in cash dividends during the thirty-nine-week period ended September 30, 2023 and, during such period, also paid $71,854,000 of dividends payable which were declared in December 2022 and included in current liabilities in the consolidated balance sheet at December 31, 2022. During the thirty-nine-week period ended September 28, 2024, the Company purchased 436,919 shares of its common stock at a total cost of $79,388,000, including $78,697,000 in cash purchases and accrued excise tax of $691,000, which is included in other current liabilities in the consolidated balance sheet at September 28, 2024. During the thirty-nine-week period ended September 30, 2023, the Company purchased 89,661 shares of its common stock at a total cost of $15,433,000. As of September 28, 2024, the Company may purchase in the aggregate up to 2,563,081 shares of its common stock under its authorized stock purchase programs. Long-term debt, including current maturities, was $72,506,000 at September 28, 2024, $1,366,000 higher than at December 30, 2023.
Shareholders’ equity was $1,015,918,000, or 93% of total capitalization (defined as long-term debt including current maturities plus equity), at September 28, 2024, compared to $983,923,000, or 93% of total capitalization, at December 30, 2023. The increase in shareholders’ equity was primarily the result of net income, partially offset by purchases of shares of the Company’s common stock and dividends declared by the Company in the 2024 thirty-nine-week period.
On July 1, 2022, Landstar entered into a second amended and restated credit agreement with a bank syndicate led by JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., as administrative agent (as further amended as of June 21, 2024, the “Credit Agreement”). The Credit Agreement, which matures July 1, 2027, provides for borrowing capacity in the form of a revolving credit facility of $300,000,000, $45,000,000 of which may be utilized in the form of letters of credit. The Credit Agreement also includes an “accordion” feature providing for a possible increase of up to an aggregate amount of borrowing capacity of $600,000,000.
The Credit Agreement contains a number of covenants that limit, among other things, the incurrence of additional indebtedness. The Company is required to, among other things, maintain a minimum fixed charge coverage ratio, as described in the Credit Agreement, and maintain a Leverage Ratio, as defined in the Credit Agreement, below a specified maximum. The Credit Agreement provides for a restriction on cash dividends and other distributions to stockholders on the Company’s capital stock to the extent there is a default under the Credit Agreement. In addition, the Credit Agreement under certain circumstances limits the amount of such cash dividends and other distributions to stockholders to the extent that, after giving effect to any payment made to effect such cash dividend or other distribution, the Leverage Ratio would exceed 2.5 to 1 on a pro forma basis as of the end of the Company’s most recently completed fiscal quarter. The Credit Agreement provides for an event of default in the event that, among other things, a person or group acquires 35% or more of the outstanding capital stock of the Company or obtains power to elect a majority of the Company’s directors or the directors cease to consist of a majority of Continuing Directors, as defined in the Credit Agreement. None of these covenants are presently considered by the Company to be materially restrictive to the Company’s operations, capital resources or liquidity. The Company is currently in compliance with all of the debt covenants under the Credit Agreement.
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