Expeditors Announces 2008 Earnings Per Share Increase of 13%

SEATTLE-(Business Wire)-February 10, 2009 - Expeditors International of Washington, Inc. (NASDAQ:EXPD) today announced quarterly total revenues and operating income of $1,307,389,000 and $119,205,000 as compared with $1,446,582,000 and $107,616,000 for the same quarter of 2007, a decrease of 10% and an increase of 11%, respectively. Net earnings were $77,728,000 for the fourth quarter of 2008, compared with $70,057,000 for the same quarter of 2007, also an increase of 11%. Net revenues for the fourth quarter of 2008 increased 6% to $402,481,000 as compared with $379,441,000 reported for the fourth quarter of 2007. Diluted net earnings per share for the fourth quarter were $.36 as compared with $.32 for the same quarter in 2007, an increase of 13%. The Company also reported that same store net revenues and operating income increased 6% and 11%, respectively, for the fourth quarter of 2008 when compared with 2007.

For the year ended December 31, 2008, total revenues and operating income were $5,633,878,000 and $473,136,000 compared with $5,235,171,000 and $423,400,000 for the same period in 2007, increases of 8% and 12% respectively. Net earnings rose to $301,014,000 from $269,154,000 in 2007, an increase of 12%. Net revenues for the year increased to $1,603,261,000 from $1,452,961,000 for 2007, up 10%. Diluted net earnings per share for the year 2008 were $1.37 as compared with $1.21 for the same period of 2007, a 13% increase. Same store net revenues and operating income increased 10% and 12%, respectively, for the year ended December 31, 2008, when compared with the same period of 2007.

“Given the incessant tales of woe emanating from Wall Street these days, we hope the consistency and stability projected by these results will be reassuring to our employees, to our customers and to our shareholders,” said Peter J. Rose, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer. “The efforts to make this fourth quarter a success started back in the 2008 first quarter, when we banned the internal use of the “R” word as an excuse for poor performance. There was no magic formula. We simply executed. We increased productivity through on-going process improvement initiatives; we reduced our exposure where we struggled to make money; we cut back on discretionary overhead expenses, like travel and entertainment; and we were increasingly selective with our service provider allocations. This resulted in expanded net revenue yields and higher operating margins, all while offering market-competitive rates and uncompromising service to our customers. We also expanded market share through aggressively focusing on new products, like Sea-Air, new customers and new market vertical opportunities," Rose commented.

“Looking forward to 2009, we definitely understand that we have our work cut out for us. That said, we also have a lot going for us: a strong balance sheet with no debt and nearly three-quarters of a billion dollars in cash; a successful, proven business model that has worked in slow times as well as in boom times; and most important of all, the best trained and best motivated employees in the business - all of which are reinforced by our performance-based culture. Unlike the banking industry, however, our people understand that without real cash profits, there can be no real cash bonuses. Our incentive based bonus system, tied to a strictly GAAP definition of cumulative operating income, keeps our people focused and grounded. They also understand that the most effective way of perpetuating profits is to keep our existing customers satisfied while aggressively attracting new business. With this combination of factors working for us, we’re confident that we’ll find ways to turn challenges into opportunities. We always have,” Rose concluded.

Expeditors is a global logistics company headquartered in Seattle, Washington. The company employs trained professionals in 181 full service offices, 68 satellite locations and 4 international service centers located on six continents linked into a seamless worldwide network through an integrated information management system. Services include air and ocean freight forwarding, vendor consolidation, customs clearance, marine insurance, distribution and other value added international logistics services.


Expeditors International of Washington, Inc.
Financial Highlights
Three months and Year ended
December 31, 2008 and 2007
Unaudited
(in 000's of US dollars except share data)

	Three months ended December 31,						Year ended December 31,
	2008		2007		% Inc. (Dec.)		2008		2007		% Inc.
Revenues	$	1,307,389	$	1,446,582	-10	%	$	5,633,878	$	5,235,171	8	%
Net revenues	$	402,481	$	379,441	6	%	$	1,603,261	$	1,452,961	10	%
Operating income	$	119,205	$	107,616	11	%	$	473,136	$	423,400	12	%
Net earnings	$	77,728	$	70,057	11	%	$	301,014	$	269,154	12	%
Diluted earnings per share	$	.36	$	.32	13	%	$	1.37	$	1.21	13	%
Basic earnings per share	$	.37	$	.33	12	%	$	1.41	$	1.26	12	%
Diluted weighted average shares outstanding	216,925,452		221,192,441				219,170,003		221,799,868
Basic weighted average shares outstanding	211,952,384		213,095,428				212,755,946		213,314,761

There were no office openings in the fourth quarter of 2008.

Investors may submit written questions via e-mail to: investor@expeditors.com or by fax to: (206) 674-3459

Questions received by the end of business on February 12, 2009 will be considered in management’s 8-K “Responses to Selected Questions” expected to be filed on or about February 25, 2009.

Certain portions of this release contain forward-looking statements which are based on certain assumptions and expectations of future events that are subject to risks and uncertainties. Actual future results and trends may differ materially from historical results or those projected in any forward-looking statements depending on a variety of factors including, but not limited to, our ability to maintain consistent and stable operating results, future success of our business model, ability to perpetuate profits, changes in customer demand for Expeditors’ services caused by a general economic slow-down, inventory build-up, decreased consumer confidence, volatility in equity markets, energy prices, political changes, or the unpredictable acts of competitors and other risks, risk factors and uncertainties detailed in our Annual and Quarterly Reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

EXPEDITORS INTERNATIONAL OF WASHINGTON, INC.
AND SUBSIDIARIES
Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets
(In thousands, except share data)
(Unaudited)

	December 31,			December 31,
Assets	2008			2007

Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	$	741,028		$	574,599
Short-term investments		658			674
Accounts receivable, net		788,176			933,519
Deferred Federal and state income taxes		7,986			8,278
Other current assets		35,511			17,627
Total current assets		1,573,359			1,534,697

Property and equipment, net		493,129			497,892
Goodwill, net		7,927			7,927
Other intangibles, net		6,503			7,832
Other assets		19,921			20,717

	$	2,100,839		$	2,069,065
Liabilities and Shareholders' Equity

Current liabilities:
Accounts payable		491,823			613,108
Accrued expenses, primarily salaries and related costs		150,487			129,669
Federal, state and foreign income taxes		28,039			26,976
Total current liabilities		670,349			769,753

Deferred Federal and state income taxes		46,574			55,533

Minority interest		17,498			17,208

Shareholders' equity:
Preferred stock, par value $.01 per share.
Authorized 2,000,000 shares; none issued		—			—
Common stock, par value $.01 per share.
Authorized 320,000,000 shares; issued and outstanding 211,973,377 shares at December 31, 2008 and 212,996,776 shares at December 31, 2007		2,120			2,130
Additional paid-in capital		7,150			50,006
Retained earnings		1,372,356			1,143,464
Accumulated other comprehensive (loss) income		(15,208	)		30,971
Total shareholders' equity		1,366,418			1,226,571

	$	2,100,839		$	2,069,065


EXPEDITORS INTERNATIONAL OF WASHINGTON, INC.
AND SUBSIDIARIES
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Earnings
(In thousands, except share data)
(Unaudited)

	Three months ended						Twelve months ended
	December 31,						December 31,
	2008			2007			2008			2007
Revenues:
Airfreight services	$	579,580		$	696,835		$	2,541,377		$	2,407,582
Ocean freight and ocean services		460,563			474,613			1,990,983			1,820,558
Customs brokerage and other services		267,246			275,134			1,101,518			1,007,031

Total revenues		1,307,389			1,446,582			5,633,878			5,235,171

Operating expenses:
Airfreight consolidation		430,167			561,464			1,962,621			1,879,434
Ocean freight consolidation		361,517			385,751			1,596,346			1,473,942
Customs brokerage and other services		113,224			119,926			471,650			428,834
Salaries and related costs		217,687			206,519			863,846			791,879
Rent and occupancy costs		18,446			17,514			76,984			67,676
Depreciation and amortization		9,953			9,763			40,003			39,303
Selling and promotion		9,649			11,168			37,778			38,735
Other		27,541			26,861			111,514			91,968
Total operating expenses		1,188,184			1,338,966			5,160,742			4,811,771

Operating income		119,205			107,616			473,136			423,400

Interest income		6,193			6,005			21,077			22,341
Interest expense		(14	)		(37	)		(183	)		45
Other, net		2,205			419			5,542			3,887

Other income, net		8,384			6,387			26,436			26,273

Earnings before income taxes and minority interest		127,589			114,003			499,572			449,673

Income tax expense		48,883			43,590			196,593			179,815

Net earnings before minority interest		78,706			70,413			302,979			269,858

Minority interest		(978	)		(356	)		(1,965	)		(704	)

Net earnings	$	77,728		$	70,057		$	301,014		$	269,154

Diluted earnings per share	$	0.36		$	0.32		$	1.37		$	1.21

Basic earnings per share	$	0.37		$	0.33		$	1.41		$	1.26

Dividends declared and paid per common share	$	0.16		$	0.14		$	0.32		$	0.28

Weighted average diluted shares outstanding		216,925,452			221,192,441			219,170,003			221,799,868

Weighted average basic shares outstanding		211,952,384			213,095,428			212,755,946			213,314,761


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

	Three months ended						Twelve months ended
	December 31,						December 31,
	2008			2007			2008			2007
Operating Activities:
Net earnings	$	77,728		$	70,057		$	301,014		$	269,154
Adjustments to reconcile net earnings to net cash provided by operating activities:
Provision for losses on accounts receivable		1,046			594			1,976			940
Deferred income tax (benefit) expense		(1,240	)		(6,465	)		16,350			18,991
Excess tax benefits from stock plans		(1,074	)		(2,333	)		(10,954	)		(28,105	)
Stock compensation expense		10,763			10,208			44,879			44,917
Depreciation and amortization		9,953			9,763			40,003			39,303
Gain on sale of assets		(48	)		(49	)		(699	)		(1,053	)
Minority interest in earnings of consolidated entities		978			356			1,965			704
Other		698			415			2,026			1,472
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:
Decrease (increase) in accounts receivable		169,287			85,717			85,841			(84,950	)
Decrease (increase) in other current assets		454			1,983			(1,413	)		(342	)
(Decrease) increase in accounts payable and other current liabilities		(162,368	)		(94,672	)		(66,470	)		46,881
(Decrease) increase in income taxes payable, net		(3,597	)		(2,514	)		(5,552	)		4,673

Net cash provided by operating activities		102,580			73,060			408,966			312,585

Investing Activities:
Increase in short-term investments		(282	)		(198	)		(72	)		(10	)
Purchase of property and equipment		(10,569	)		(11,953	)		(59,726	)		(82,786	)
Proceeds from sale of property and equipment		82			90			369			504
Prepayment on long-term land lease		-			(4	)		-			(2,820	)
Other		(486	)		(473	)		204			(2,859	)

Net cash used in investing activities		(11,255	)		(12,538	)		(59,225	)		(87,971	)

Financing Activities:
Net distributions to minority interests		-			-			(879	)		(316	)
Proceeds from issuance of common stock		4,572			5,529			51,460			64,985
Repurchases of common stock		(9,258	)		(21,467	)		(154,178	)		(207,584	)
Excess tax benefits from stock plans		1,074			2,333			10,954			28,105
Dividends paid		(33,942	)		(29,846	)		(68,103	)		(59,748	)

Net cash used in financing activities		(37,554	)		(43,451	)		(160,746	)		(174,558	)

Effect of exchange rate changes on cash		(9,092	)		346			(22,566	)		13,185

Increase in cash and cash equivalents		44,679			17,417			166,429			63,241

Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period		696,349			557,182			574,599			511,358

Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	$	741,028		$	574,599		$	741,028		$	574,599

Interest and taxes paid:
Interest	$	7		$	49		$	173		$	83
Income tax		48,147			47,814			172,146			146,353


EXPEDITORS INTERNATIONAL OF WASHINGTON, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
Business Segment Information
(In thousands)
(Unaudited)

	United States		Other North America		Latin America		Asia		Europe and Africa		Middle East and India		Australasia		Eliminations		Consolidated
Three months ended
December 31, 2008

Revenues from unaffiliated customers	$	306,678	$	43,039	$	20,120	$	674,137	$	179,563	$	66,833	$	17,019	-		1,307,389
Transfers between geographic areas		26,807		2,626		4,786		4,792		10,996		4,305		2,289	(56,601	)	-
Total revenues	$	333,485		45,665		24,906		678,929		190,559		71,138		19,308	(56,601	)	1,307,389

Net revenues	$	150,936	$	21,494	$	13,946	$	113,312	$	68,081	$	22,489	$	12,223	-		402,481
Operating income	$	19,124	$	7,862	$	4,647	$	60,068	$	15,788	$	7,850	$	3,866	-		119,205
Identifiable assets at quarter end	$	974,284		64,652		48,282		469,819		392,820		116,167		30,364	4,451		2,100,839
Capital expenditures	$	5,612		301		224		3,988		32		304		108	-		10,569
Depreciation and amortization	$	5,326		336		268		1,855		1,410		591		167	-		9,953
Equity	$	1,507,700	$	31,476	$	28,542	$	365,612	$	136,824	$	59,568	$	18,240	(781,544	)	1,366,418

Three months ended
December 31, 2007

Revenues from unaffiliated customers	$	289,736		37,373		20,414		822,553		191,512		63,791		21,203	-		1,446,582
Transfers between geographic areas		27,880		2,616		3,226		5,066		11,068		3,519		2,376	(55,751	)	-
Total revenues	$	317,616		39,989		23,640		827,619		202,580		67,310		23,579	(55,751	)	1,446,582

Net revenues	$	155,236		18,058		11,222		96,653		68,201		17,586		12,485	-		379,441
Operating income	$	23,325		6,251		3,508		49,773		15,696		5,448		3,615	-		107,616
Identifiable assets at quarter end	$	939,203		72,150		46,492		422,038		443,758		100,934		34,174	10,316		2,069,065
Capital expenditures	$	4,392		583		302		3,354		2,258		783		281	-		11,953
Depreciation and amortization	$	5,347		324		322		1,154		1,856		505		255	-		9,763
Equity	$	1,371,296		32,309		25,341		306,115		156,349		48,477		19,410	(732,726	)	1,226,571

Twelve months ended
December 31, 2008

Revenues from unaffiliated customers	$	1,260,995		162,730		90,449		2,974,328		789,442		274,094		81,840	-		5,633,878
Transfers between geographic areas		108,439		10,205		16,167		21,156		44,721		17,598		8,888	(227,174	)	-
Total revenues	$	1,369,434		172,935		106,616		2,995,484		834,163		291,692		90,728	(227,174	)	5,633,878

Net revenues	$	618,970		75,376		55,731		436,050		280,229		86,712		50,193	-		1,603,261
Operating income	$	128,326		18,356		15,236		211,140		60,047		24,251		15,780	-		473,136
Identifiable assets at quarter end	$	974,284		64,652		48,282		469,819		392,820		116,167		30,364	4,451		2,100,839
Capital expenditures	$	25,615		2,149		1,183		20,359		7,074		2,836		510	-		59,726
Depreciation and amortization	$	21,498		1,347		1,237		6,294		6,470		2,274		883	-		40,003
Equity	$	1,507,700		31,476		28,542		365,612		136,824		59,568		18,240	(781,544	)	1,366,418

Twelve months ended
December 31, 2007

Revenues from unaffiliated customers	$	1,069,734		134,436		79,314		2,959,873		684,661		236,062		71,091	-		5,235,171
Transfers between geographic areas		105,263		9,030		11,640		18,234		36,563		13,883		7,854	(202,467	)	-
Total revenues	$	1,174,997		143,466		90,954		2,978,107		721,224		249,945		78,945	(202,467	)	5,235,171

Net revenues	$	586,938		65,534		42,920		402,613		245,761		67,151		42,044	-		1,452,961
Operating income	$	120,311		15,893		9,958		197,017		50,762		17,546		11,913	-		423,400
Identifiable assets at quarter end	$	939,203		72,150		46,492		422,038		443,758		100,934		34,174	10,316		2,069,065
Capital expenditures	$	25,437		1,899		1,259		41,773		7,879		3,119		1,420	-		82,786
Depreciation and amortization	$	21,204		1,321		1,523		4,917		7,759		1,657		922	-		39,303
Equity	$	1,371,296		32,309		25,341		306,115		156,349		48,477		19,410	(732,726	)	1,226,571