While investors monitor revenue and EPS changes relative to the prior year and Wall Street estimates, other key financial metrics often provide a more accurate picture of a company’s health. Comparing these metrics to previous periods and analyst expectations can help investors better forecast stock performance.

Here are the most notable metrics for Old Dominion in the recent quarter:

Operating Ratio:** 75.4%, better than the estimated 76.3% (seven analysts).
LTL Tons:** 2,087,000 tons, slightly above the estimate of 2,079,280 tons (four analysts).
LTL Tons per Day:** 33.14K tons versus the estimate of 33.4K (four analysts).
LTL Shipments:** 2,808 shipments, compared to the expected 2,801 shipments (four analysts).
Work Days:** 63 days, aligned with estimates.
Shipments per Day:** 44,570 shipments versus an estimated 44,470 (four analysts).
Weight per Shipment:** 1,487 lbs., slightly above the estimate of 1,484.92 lbs. (four analysts).
Revenue per Hundredweight (excluding fuel surcharges):** $27.89, slightly higher than the $27.84 estimate.
Revenue per Hundredweight:** $32.67 compared to the expected $32.62.
Revenue per Shipment:** $485.79 versus an estimated $483.32.
Total Revenue from Other Services:** $14.02 million, a 5.1% increase from the previous year, versus the estimate of $13.37 million.
Total Revenue from LTL Services:** $1.36 billion, a 5.9% decrease year-over-year, slightly above the estimate of $1.35 billion.

Analysis and Outlook:

Despite the decline in revenue and earnings, several operational metrics surpassed analyst expectations, indicating that Old Dominion continues to perform efficiently on key operational fronts. The slight revenue decline reflects ongoing macroeconomic pressures and industry-wide challenges, but the company’s ability to outperform in areas like operating ratio and shipment metrics suggests resilience.

Looking ahead, investors should monitor whether these operational strengths can offset revenue headwinds in the coming quarters. The company’s focus on efficiency and service quality positions it well to navigate the current environment, but broader economic factors and freight demand will remain critical.

Summary:

Old Dominion’s first-quarter results show a mixed picture: top-line revenue and EPS declined, but operational efficiencies and shipment metrics outperformed expectations. The company’s ability to sustain its operational performance amid challenging economic conditions will be key to watch in the upcoming quarters.