Hub Group, Inc. - Annual Report: 2015 (Form 10-K)

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

FORM 10-K

(Mark One)

For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2015

OR

Commission File No. 0-27754

HUB GROUP, INC.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

2000 Clearwater Drive

Oak Brook, Illinois 60523

(Address and zip code of principal executive offices)

(630) 271-3600

(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act: None

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act:

Class A Common Stock, $.01 par value

(Title of Class)

Indicate by check mark if the Registrant is a well-known seasoned issuer, as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act.    Yes  x    No   ¨

Indicate by check mark if Registrant is not required to file reports pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Act.    Yes  ¨    No  x

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  ¨

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 (§ 229.405 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  ¨

Indicate by check mark if disclosure of delinquent filers pursuant to Item 405 of Regulation S-K is not contained herein, and will not be contained, to the best of Registrant’s knowledge, in definitive proxy or information statements incorporated by reference in Part III of this Form 10-K or any amendment to this Form 10-K.  x

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer or a smaller reporting company. See definitions of “large accelerated filer”, “accelerated filer” and “smaller reporting company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act. (Check one):

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act).    Yes  ¨    No  x

The aggregate market value of the Registrant’s voting stock held by non-affiliates on June 30, 2015, based upon the last reported sale price on that date on the NASDAQ Global Select Market of $40.34 per share, was $1,400,902,186.

On February 17, 2016, the Registrant had 34,988,704 outstanding shares of Class A Common Stock, par value $.01 per share, and 662,296 outstanding shares of Class B Common Stock, par value $.01 per share.

Documents Incorporated by Reference

The Registrant’s definitive Proxy Statement for the Annual Meeting of Stockholders to be held on May 6, 2016 (the “Proxy Statement”) is incorporated by reference in Part III of this Form 10-K to the extent stated herein. Except with respect to information specifically incorporated by reference in this Form 10-K, the Proxy Statement is not deemed to be filed as a part hereof.

PART I

FORWARD LOOKING STATEMENTS

This annual report contains, and our officers and representatives may from time to time make, forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Words such as “expects,” “hopes,” “believes,” “intends,” “estimates,” “anticipates,” “predicts,” “projects,” “potential,” “may,” “could,” “might,” “should,” and variations of these words and similar expressions are intended to identify these forward-looking statements. In particular, information appearing under “Business,” “Risk Factors,” and “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” includes forward-looking statements.  Forward-looking statements are neither historical facts nor assurance of future performance.  Instead, they are based our beliefs, expectations and assumptions regarding the future of our business, future plans and strategies, projections, anticipated events and trends, the economy and other future conditions.  Because forward-looking statements relate to the future, they are subject to inherent uncertainties, risks and changes in circumstances that are difficult to predict and many of which are outside of our control. Our actual results and financial condition may differ materially from those indicated in the forward-looking statements.  All forward-looking statements made by us in this annual report are based upon information available to us on the date of this report and speaks only as of the date in which they are made. Except as required by law, we expressly disclaim any obligations to publicly update any forward-looking statements whether written or oral, that may be made from time to time, whether as a result of new information, future developments or otherwise.  Important factors that could cause our actual results and financial condition to differ materially from those indicated in the forward looking statements include, in addition to those described in detail under Items 1A “Risk Factors,” include the following:

1

General

Hub Group, Inc. (the “Company”, “we”, “us” or “our”) is a Delaware corporation that was incorporated on March 8, 1995. We are one of North America’s leading asset-light freight transportation management companies. We offer comprehensive intermodal, truck brokerage and logistics services. Since our founding in 1971, we have grown to become one of the largest intermodal marketing companies (“IMC”) in the United States and one of the largest truck brokers. Through our network, we have the ability to arrange for the movement of freight in and out of every major city in the United States, Canada and Mexico. We utilize an asset-light strategy in order to minimize our investment in equipment and facilities and reduce our capital requirements. We arrange freight movement for our customers through transportation carriers and equipment providers.

In April 2011, we acquired all of the capital stock of Exel Transportation Services, Inc. (“ETS”). ETS is now our wholly-owned subsidiary, operating independently and renamed Mode Transportation, LLC (“Mode LLC”). Mode LLC has approximately 197 agents, consisting of 99 IBOs, who sell services and operate the business throughout North America and 98 sales only agents. Mode also has a company managed operation and corporate offices in Dallas, TX, a temperature protected services division operated out of our Oak Brook, IL headquarters and corporate offices in Memphis, TN.

We report two distinct business segments. The first segment is “Mode,” which includes the acquired Mode LLC business only. The second segment is “Hub,” which is all business other than Mode. Both segments offer intermodal, truck brokerage and logistics services. “Hub Group” includes both segments.

Hub operates through a network of operating centers throughout the United States, Canada and Mexico. Each operating center is strategically located in a market with a significant concentration of shipping customers and one or more railheads. Hub services a large and diversified customer base in a broad range of industries, including consumer products, retail and durable goods.

Mode LLC markets and operates its freight transportation services primarily through its network of IBOs who enter into contracts with Mode LLC. Mode LLC’s company managed operation includes a business arranging for the transportation of raw materials and finished products for a major food producer and, to a lesser extent, other truck brokerage, intermodal and logistics operations.

Services Provided

Our transportation services for both the Hub and the Mode segments can be broadly placed into the following categories:

Intermodal. As an IMC, we arrange for the movement of our customers’ freight in containers and trailers, typically over long distances of 750 miles or more. We contract with railroads to provide transportation for the long-haul portion of the shipment and with local trucking companies, known as “drayage companies,” for pickup and delivery. As part of our intermodal services, we negotiate rail and drayage rates, electronically track shipments in transit, consolidate billing and handle claims for freight loss or damage on behalf of our customers.

We use our network to access containers and trailers owned by leasing companies, railroads and steamship lines. We are able to track trailers and containers entering a service area and reuse that equipment to fulfill the customers’ outbound shipping requirements. This effectively allows us to “capture” containers and trailers and keep them within our network. As of December 31, 2015, we owned a total of 23,422 53 foot private containers. In addition to the containers we own, we had exclusive access to approximately 5,628 rail-owned containers for our dedicated use on the Union Pacific (“UP”) and the Norfolk Southern (“NS”) rails as of December 31, 2015.

During 2015, our subsidiary, Hub Group Trucking, Inc. (“Hub Group Trucking”) accounted for approximately 61% of Hub’s drayage needs by assisting us in providing reliable, cost effective intermodal services to our customers. As of December 31, 2015 Hub Group Trucking had terminals in Atlanta, Birmingham, Charlotte, Chattanooga, Chicago, Columbus (OH), Dallas, Hammond (IN), Harrisburg, Huntsville, Indianapolis, Jacksonville, Kalamazoo, Kansas City, Los Angeles, Milwaukee, Memphis, Nashville, Newark, Philadelphia, Portland (OR), Salt Lake City, Savannah, Seattle, St. Louis, and Stockton metro areas. As of December 31, 2015, Hub Group Trucking leased or owned 1,248 tractors and 447 trailers, employed 1,036 drivers and contracted with 1,727 owner-operators.

2

Truck Brokerage (Highway Services). We are one of the largest truck brokers in the United States, providing customers with another option for their transportation needs. We match the customers’ needs with carriers’ capacity to provide the most effective service and price combination. We have contracts with a substantial base of carriers allowing us to meet the varied needs of our customers. As part of the truck brokerage services, we negotiate rates, track shipments in transit and handle claims for freight loss and damage on behalf of our customers.

Logistics and Other Services. Hub’s logistics business operates under the name of Unyson Logistics. Unyson Logistics is comprised of a network of logistics professionals dedicated to developing, implementing and operating customized logistics solutions. Unyson Logistics offers a wide range of transportation management services and technology solutions including shipment optimization, load consolidation, mode selection, carrier management, load planning and execution and web-based shipment visibility. Unyson Logistics operates throughout North America, providing operations through its main operating location in St. Louis with additional support locations in the Boston, Chicago, Cleveland and Minneapolis metro areas. Certain Mode LLC agents provide logistics services. Our multi-modal transportation capabilities through both the Hub and Mode segments include small parcel, heavyweight, expedited, less-than-truckload, truckload, intermodal and railcar.

Hub and Mode LLC Networks

Hub’s entire network is interactively connected through Hub’s proprietary Network Management System and Mode LLC’s network is connected through its third party transportation management system. This enables us to arrange for the movement of freight into and out of every major city in the United States, Canada and Mexico.

In a typical intermodal transaction, the customer contacts one of Hub’s intermodal operating centers or a Mode LLC IBO to place an order. The operating center/IBO determines the price, obtains the necessary intermodal equipment, arranges for it to be delivered to the customer by a drayage company and, after the freight is loaded, arranges for the transportation of the container or trailer to the rail ramp. Relevant information is entered into our system by the assigned operating center/IBO. Our predictive track and trace technology then monitors the shipment to ensure that it arrives as scheduled and alerts the customer service personnel if there are service delays. The operating center/IBO then arranges for and confirms delivery by a drayage company at the destination. After unloading, the empty equipment is made available for reloading by the operating center/IBO for the delivery market.

We provide truck brokerage services to our customers in a similar manner. In a typical truck brokerage transaction, the customer contacts one of Hub’s highway operating centers or a Mode LLC IBO to obtain a price quote for a particular freight movement. The customer then provides appropriate shipping information to the operating center/IBO. The operating center/IBO makes the delivery appointment and arranges with the appropriate carrier to pick up the freight. Once it receives confirmation that the freight has been picked up, the operating center/IBO monitors the movement of the freight until it reaches its destination and the delivery has been confirmed. If the carrier notifies us that after delivering the load it will need additional freight, we may notify other operating centers/IBOs. Although under no obligation to do so, those operating centers/IBOs may then attempt to secure additional freight for the carrier.

Marketing and Customers

We believe that fostering long-term customer relationships is critical to our success. Through these long-term relationships, we are able to better understand our customers’ needs and tailor our transportation services to the specific customer, regardless of the customer’s size or volume. Hub currently has full-time marketing representatives at various operating centers, headquarters and sales offices with primary responsibility for servicing local, regional and national accounts. These sales representatives directly or indirectly report to our Executive Vice President, Sales. This model allows us to provide Hub customers with both a local marketing contact and access to our competitive rates as a result of being a large, multinational transportation service provider. Mode LLC IBOs and sales agents are located throughout North America and also enjoy local marketing advantages with access to the Hub network and carrier base. Mode LLC IBOs may act to both generate business and to perform the transportation brokerage services. Mode LLC sales agents are focused entirely on the sales effort and utilize an IBO to service the freight.

The Mode LLC acquisition diversified Hub Group’s customer base with more small and medium sized customers, as Hub has traditionally focused, to a significant degree, on larger national accounts. Mode IBOs and sales agents are often able to devote more attention to smaller and medium sized shippers and develop long-term relationships with them.

Our marketing efforts have produced a large, diverse customer base, with no one customer representing more than 10% of our total revenue in 2015 in either reporting segment. We service customers in a wide variety of industries, including consumer products, retail and durable goods.

3

Management Information Systems

A primary component of our business strategy is to invest in highly disciplined execution capabilities.  These capabilities will allow us to proactively create solutions and provide clear and concise communication to better serve our customers.  This investment is underway and capabilities in 2016 will include the ability to capture timely and accurate information from our internal and external drayage providers.  In addition, we will continue to leverage mobile solutions to capture real time position information.  These new solutions will include both SaaS based and cloud hosted solutions.  While we implement new solutions we will continue to leverage our proprietary software running on a combination of platforms located at a secure offsite data center.  We will continue to offer solutions to our customers and carriers at www.hubgroup.com.  These solutions offer customers the ability to receive pricing information, place orders, track shipments, and review historical shipment information.  In addition, drayage providers can provide status information, view paperwork requirements and facilitate invoicing.  

Unyson Logistics is known in the industry for solving complex problems with sophisticated solutions using world class processes and technology.  In order to continue to meet and exceed the expectations of current and future customers we have invested in best in class transportation management software that enables complex supply chain planning and logistics management.  We were successful in our goal to lay down the foundation and transition 2 of our existing customers to this new platform in 2015.  We are now ready to on-board new customers in 2016 as well as continue the transition of current customers over the next 2-3 years.  

Mode LLC utilizes a dynamic transportation management platform that integrates best in class third party technologies to manage its business.  This platform includes an execution system that provides multi-modal solutions, visibility to status of shipments, facilitation of customer billing, and a robust portal that allows exchange of information about loads, capacity, and event status information between transportation providers and our end customers.  Additionally Mode LLC’s platform consists of components that allow for optimization of our customer’s order process, management of our diverse carrier base, and robust analytics and business intelligence solutions that allow our customers to better understand outcomes and opportunities within their supply chain.  Throughout our platform we leverage flexible integrations to provide connectivity between our technology components along with available touch points across our thousands of trading partners ranging from customers to major rail carriers to numerous trucking partners.  This provides a robust and scalable technological solution that can meet the needs of a growing transportation network.

Relationship with Railroads

A key element of our business strategy is to strengthen our close working relationship with the major intermodal railroads in the United States. Due to our size and relative importance, some railroads have dedicated support personnel to focus on our day-to-day service requirements. On a regular basis, our senior executives and each of the railroads meet to discuss major strategic issues concerning intermodal transportation.

We have relationships with each of the following major railroads:

We also have relationships with each of the following major service providers: APL, CMA CGM (America) Inc., COSCO (China Ocean Shipping (Group) Company), Domestic Intermodal America, Evergreen Shipping Agency (America) Corp., Express System Intermodal Inc., Florens Container Services, Hamburg Sud Group, Hanjin Shipping, Hapag-Lloyd (America) Inc., Hyundai Merchant Marine, K-Line America, Maersk Sea-Land, Mediterranean Shipping Company, Mitsui O.S.K. Lines (America) Inc., NYK (Nippon Usen Kaisha) Line, Triton Overseas Transport, Westwood Shipping Lines, Yang Ming (America) Corp., and Zim Integrated Shipping Services.

Transportation rates are market driven. We sometimes negotiate with the railroads or other major service providers on a route or customer specific basis. Consistent with industry practice, some of the rates we negotiate are special commodity quotations (“SCQs”), which provide discounts from published price lists based on competitive market factors and are designed by the railroads or major service providers to attract new business or to retain existing business. SCQ rates are generally issued for the account of a single IMC. SCQ rates apply to specific customers in specified shipping lanes for a specific period of time, usually up to 12 months.

4

Relationship with Drayage Companies

Hub has a “Quality Drayage Program,” under which participants commit to provide high quality drayage service along with clean and safe equipment, maintain a defined on-time performance level and follow specified procedures designed to minimize freight loss and damage. We negotiate drayage rates for transportation between specific origin and destination points.

We also provide drayage services with our own drayage operations, which we operate through our subsidiary Hub Group Trucking. Our drayage operations employ their own drivers and also contract with owner-operators who supply their own trucks.

Relationship with Trucking Companies

Our truck brokerage operation has a large number of active trucking companies that we use to transport freight. The Hub operating centers and Mode IBOs deal daily with these carriers on an operational level. Our corporate headquarters handles the administrative and regulatory aspects of the trucking company relationship. Our relationships with these trucking companies are important since these relationships determine pricing, load coverage and overall service.

Risk Management and Insurance

We require all drayage companies participating in Hub’s Quality Drayage Program to carry at least $1.0 million in general liability insurance, $1.0 million in truckman’s auto liability insurance and a minimum of $100,000 in cargo insurance. Railroads, which are self-insured, provide limited cargo protection, generally up to $250,000 per shipment. To cover freight loss or damage when a carrier’s liability cannot be established or a carrier’s insurance is insufficient to cover the claim, we carry our own cargo insurance with a limit of $1.0 million per container or trailer and a limit of $20.0 million in the aggregate. We also carry general liability insurance with limits of $1.0 million per occurrence and $2.0 million in the aggregate with a companion $45.0 million umbrella policy on this general liability insurance.

We maintain separate insurance policies to cover potential exposure from our company-owned drayage operations. We carry commercial general liability insurance with a limit of $1.0 million per occurrence, subject to a $2.0 million policy aggregate limit, and trucker’s automobile liability insurance with a limit of $1.0 million per occurrence. Additionally, we have an umbrella excess liability policy with a limit of $34.0 million. We also maintain motor truck cargo liability insurance with a limit of $1.0 million per occurrence.

Government Regulation

The company and various subsidiaries, including Mode LLC, are licensed by the Department of Transportation as brokers in arranging for the transportation of general commodities by motor vehicle. To the extent that the Hub operating centers and Mode LLC IBOs perform truck brokerage services, they do so under these licenses. The Department of Transportation prescribes qualifications for acting in this capacity, including a $75,000 surety bond that we have posted. In addition, Hub and Mode each have customs bonds. To date, compliance with these regulations has not had a material adverse effect on our results of operations or financial condition. However, the transportation industry is subject to legislative or regulatory changes that can affect the economics of the industry by requiring changes in operating practices or influencing the demand for, and cost of providing, transportation services.

Custom-Trade Partnership Against Terrorism

We achieved Custom-Trade Partnership Against Terrorism (C-TPAT) certification in 2013 and validation in 2014. C-TPAT is a voluntary supply chain security program led by U.S. Customs and Border Protection focused on improving the security of private companies’ supply chains with respect to terrorism. Companies who achieve C-TPAT certification must have a documented process for determining and alleviating risks throughout their international supply chain. This certification allows us to be considered low risk, resulting in expedited processing of our customers’ cargo, including fewer customs examinations.

Competition

The transportation services industry is highly competitive. We compete against other IMCs, as well as logistics companies, third party brokers, trucking companies and railroads that market their own intermodal services. Several larger trucking companies have entered into agreements with railroads to market intermodal services nationwide. Competition is based primarily on freight rates, quality of service, reliability, transit time and scope of operations. Several transportation service companies and trucking companies, and all of the major railroads, have substantially greater financial and other resources than we do.

5

General

Employees: As of December 31, 2015, Hub Group had 2,633 employees consisting of 2,516 Hub employees, or 1,480 employees excluding drivers, and 117 Mode LLC employees. We are not a party to any collective bargaining agreements and consider our relationship with our employees to be satisfactory.

As of December 31, 2015, Mode LLC had 99 IBOs and 98 sales only agents. Nearly all of the sales-only agents and IBOs are under contract with Mode LLC.

Other: No material portion of our operations is subject to renegotiation of profits or termination of contracts at the election of the federal government. Our business is seasonal to the extent that certain customer groups, such as retail, are seasonal.

Periodic Reports

Our annual report to the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) on Form 10-K, our quarterly reports on Form 10-Q and current reports on Form 8-K, and amendments to such reports, are available free of charge on our website at www.hubgroup.com as soon as reasonably practicable after we electronically file or furnish such reports to the SEC. Information on our website does not constitute part of this annual report on Form 10-K. In addition, the SEC maintains a website (http://www.sec.gov) that contains our annual, quarterly, and current reports, proxy and information statements, and other information we electronically file with, or furnish to, the SEC. Any materials we file with, or furnish to, the SEC may also be read and/or copied at the SEC’s Public Reference Room at 100 F Street, N.E., Washington, D.C. 20549. Information on the operation of the Public Reference Room may be obtained by calling the SEC at 1-800-SEC-0330.

Because our business is concentrated on intermodal marketing, any decrease in demand for intermodal transportation services compared to other transportation services could have an adverse effect on our results of operations.

We derived 62% of our revenue from our intermodal services in both 2015 and 2014 and 64% in 2013. As a result, any decrease in demand for intermodal transportation services compared to other transportation services could have an adverse effect on our results of operations.

Because we depend on railroads for our operations, our operating results and financial condition are likely to be adversely affected by any increase in rates, reduction or deterioration in rail service or change in the railroads’ reliance on us to market their intermodal transportation services.

We depend on the major railroads in the United States for virtually all of the intermodal services we provide. In many markets, rail service is limited to one or a few railroads. Consequently, a reduction in, or elimination of, rail service to a particular market is likely to adversely affect our ability to provide intermodal transportation services to some of our customers. In addition, the railroads are relatively free to adjust shipping rates up or down as market conditions permit.  Declines in coal, crude oil and other commodity freight volumes negatively affect the business and profitability of the major railroads, which they may try to offset in part through higher rates to other customers, including us and other IMCs.  Rate increases would result in higher intermodal transportation costs, reducing the attractiveness of intermodal transportation compared to truck or other transportation modes, which could cause a decrease in demand for our services. Further, our ability to continue to expand our intermodal transportation business is dependent upon the railroads’ ability to increase capacity for intermodal freight and provide consistent and reliable service. Our business could also be adversely affected by a work stoppage at one or more railroads or by adverse weather conditions or other factors that hinder the railroads’ ability to provide reliable transportation services.

In the past, there have been service issues when railroads have merged. As a result, we cannot predict what effect, if any, further consolidations among railroads may have on intermodal transportation services or our results of operations.

To date, the railroads have chosen to rely on us, other IMCs and other intermodal competitors to market their intermodal services rather than fully developing their own marketing capabilities. If one or more of the major railroads were to decide to reduce their dependence on us, the volume of intermodal shipments we arrange would likely decline, which could adversely affect our results of operations and financial condition.

6

Because we rely on drayage companies in our intermodal operations, our ability to expand our business or maintain our profitability may be adversely affected by a shortage of drivers and drayage capacity.

In certain markets we serve, we use third-party drayage companies for pickup and delivery of some or all of our intermodal containers. Most drayage companies operate relatively small fleets and have limited access to capital for fleet expansion. In some of our markets, there are a limited number of drayage companies that can meet our quality standards. This could limit our ability to expand our intermodal business or require us to establish more of our own drayage operations in some markets, which could increase our operating costs and could adversely affect our profitability and financial condition. Also, the trucking industry chronically experiences a shortage of available drivers, which may limit the ability of third-party drayage companies to expand their fleets. This shortage also may require them to increase drivers’ compensation, thereby increasing our cost of providing drayage services to our customers. Therefore, the driver shortage could also adversely affect our profitability and limit our ability to expand our intermodal business.

Because we depend on trucking companies for our truck brokerage services, our ability to maintain or expand our truck brokerage business may be adversely affected by a shortage of trucking capacity.

We derived 19% of our revenue from our truck brokerage services in 2015, 2014 and in 2013. We depend upon various third-party trucking companies for the transportation of our customers’ loads. Particularly during periods of economic expansion, trucking companies may be unable to expand their fleets due to capital constraints or chronic driver shortages, and these trucking companies also may raise their rates. If we face insufficient capacity among our third-party trucking companies, we may be unable to maintain or expand our truck brokerage business. Also, we may be unable to pass rate increases on to our customers, which could adversely affect our profitability.

Because we depend on less than truckload companies for our logistic services, our ability to maintain or expand our logistics business may be adversely affected by a shortage of less than truckload capacity.

We derived 19% of our revenue from our logistics services in both 2015 and 2014 and 17% in 2013.  We depend on various less than truckload companies for the transportation of our customers’ freight.  As many of our logistic contracts have a gain share component, changes in less than truckload rates due to these trucking companies being unable to expand their fleets or chronic driver shortages, may affect our profitability and our ability to retain our customers.  Also, we may be unable to pass rate increases on to our customers, which could adversely affect our profitability.

Because we use a significant number of independent contractors, such as owner operators, in our businesses, legislative, judicial and regulatory authorities could take actions or render decisions that change the independent contractor classification, which could have a significant impact on our gross margin and operating income.

We do business with a large number of independent contractors, such as Mode LLC IBO’s and sales agents and Hub Group Trucking owner-operators, consistent with longstanding industry practices. Legislative, judicial, and regulatory (including tax) authorities could take actions or render decisions that could affect the independent contractor classifications.  Class action and individual lawsuits have been filed against us and others in our industries, challenging the independent contractor classifications.  See Item 3 - Legal Proceedings for further discussion and see Note 15 to the consolidated financial statements under “Legal Matters” for a description of material pending litigation and regulatory matters affecting us and certain risks to our business presented by such matters.  If current independent contractors are determined to be employees, then we may incur legal liabilities associated with that determination, such as liability for unpaid wages, overtime, employee health insurance and taxes.  If we were to change how we treat independent contractors or reclassify independent contractors to employees, then we would likely incur expenses associated with that reclassification and could incur additional ongoing expenses.  The costs associated with these matters could have a material adverse effect on results of operations and our financial position.

We depend on third parties for equipment essential to operate our business, and if we fail to secure sufficient equipment, we could lose customers and revenue.

We depend on third parties for transportation equipment, such as tractors, containers, chassis and trailers, necessary for the operation of our business. Our industry has experienced equipment shortages in the past, particularly during the peak shipping season in the fall. A substantial amount of intermodal freight originates at or near the major West Coast ports, which have historically had the most severe equipment shortages. As an asset-light freight transportation management company, if we cannot secure sufficient transportation equipment at a reasonable price from third parties to meet our customers’ needs, our customers may seek to have their transportation needs met by other providers with their own assets. This could have an adverse effect on our business, results of operations and financial position.

7

Our business could be adversely affected by strikes or work stoppages by draymen, truckers, port workers and railroad workers.

There has been labor unrest, including strikes and work stoppages, among workers at various transportation providers and in industries affecting the transportation industry, such as port workers. We could lose business due to any significant work stoppage or slowdown and, if labor unrest results in increased rates for transportation providers such as draymen, we may not be able to pass these cost increases on to our customers. Strikes among longshoreman and clerical workers at ports in the past few years have slowed down the ports for a time, creating a major impact on the transportation industry. Work stoppages occurring among owner-operators in a specific market have increased our operating costs periodically over the past several years. In the past several years, there have been strikes involving railroad workers. Future strikes by railroad workers in the United States, Canada or anywhere else that our customers’ freight travels by railroad would impact our operations. Any significant work stoppage, slowdown or other disruption involving port workers, railroad workers, truckers or draymen could adversely affect our business and results of operations.

Losing one or more key Mode LLC IBOs or sales agents could have an adverse effect on revenue and net income.

Certain Mode LLC IBOs and sales-only agents represent a large portion of Mode’s overall revenues. Traditionally, transportation agents have shifted from company to company, although most companies, including Mode LLC, attempt to address this situation contractually. If one or more large IBOs or sales-only agents were to terminate their relationship with Mode LLC, there could be an adverse effect on Mode’s business and results of operations.

Relatively small increases in our transportation costs that we are unable to pass through to our customers are likely to have a significant effect on our gross margin and operating income.

Transportation costs represented 88% of our consolidated revenue in 2015, 90% in 2014 and 89% in 2013. Because transportation costs represent such a significant portion of our costs, even relatively small increases in these transportation costs, if we are unable to pass them through to our customers, are likely to have a significant effect on our gross margin and operating income.  Transportation costs may increase if we are unable to sign on owner-operators or recruit employee drivers as this may increase driver costs or force us to use more expensive purchased transportation.  Rail and third party carrier costs could increase and if we are unable to pass the cost increase through to our customers, the impact on our gross margin and operating income could be significant.

Our business could be adversely affected by heightened security measures, actual or threatened terrorist attacks, efforts to combat terrorism, military action against a foreign state or other similar event.

We cannot predict the effects on our business of heightened security measures, actual or threatened terrorist attacks, efforts to combat terrorism, military action against a foreign state or other similar events. It is possible that one or more of these events could be directed at U.S. or foreign ports, borders, railroads or highways. Heightened security measures or other events are likely to slow the movement of freight through U.S. or foreign ports, across borders or on U.S. or foreign railroads or highways and could adversely affect our business and results of operations. Any of these events could also negatively affect the economy and consumer confidence, which could cause a downturn in the transportation industry.

If we fail to maintain and enhance our information technology systems, or if we fail to successfully implement new technology or enhancements, we may be at a competitive disadvantage and lose customers.

Hub Group’s information technology systems are critical to our operations and our ability to compete effectively as an IMC, truck broker and logistics provider. We expect our customers to continue to demand more sophisticated information technology applications from their suppliers. To keep pace with changing technologies and client demands, we must anticipate market trends and enhance or replace our information technology systems or the features and functionality of our logistics software, which may involve significant research and development costs and implementation challenges.  If we do not continue to enhance Hub Group’s Network Management System and the logistics software we use to meet the increasing demands of our customers, we fail to successfully implement these enhancements, or we are unable to replace our information technology systems to meet market demands, we may be placed at a competitive disadvantage and could lose customers, negatively impacting our financial condition and results of operations.  

Technology may also disrupt the way we and other IMCs and freight brokers operate.  As technology improves, our customers may be able to find alternatives to our services for matching shipments with available freight hauling capacity.  We must continue to develop innovative services and capabilities in order to continue to attract and maintain customer demand for our services.

8

Our information technology systems are subject to risks that we cannot control and the inability to use our information technology systems could materially adversely affect our business.

Our information technology systems are dependent upon global communications providers, web browsers, telephone systems and other aspects of the Internet infrastructure that have experienced significant system failures and electrical outages in the past. Our systems are susceptible to outages from fire, floods, power loss, telecommunications failures, break-ins and similar events. Our servers are vulnerable to computer viruses, break-ins and similar disruptions from unauthorized tampering with our computer systems. The occurrence of any of these events could disrupt or damage our information technology systems and inhibit our internal operations, our ability to provide services to our customers and the ability of our customers and vendors to access our information technology systems. This could result in a loss of customers or a reduction in demand for our services.

Disruptions and other damages to our information technology and other networks and operations and breaches in data security could adversely affect our business.

Our current operations reside on multiple technology platforms.  The size and complexity of our computer systems make them potentially vulnerable to fire, power outages, equipment failure, Internet service and telecommunications failures, breakdown, malicious intrusion and random attack.  Failure to prevent or mitigate data loss from cyber-attacks or other security breaches could expose us or our vendors or customers to a risk of loss or misuse of such information, adversely affect our operating results, result in litigation or potential liability for us and otherwise harm our business.  Likewise, data privacy breaches by employees and others who access our systems may pose a risk that sensitive customer or vendor data may be exposed to unauthorized persons or to the public, adversely impacting our customer service, employee relationships and our reputation.  While we believe that we have taken appropriate security measures to protect our data and information technology systems and prevent data loss, there can be no assurance that our efforts may not prevent breakdowns or breaches in our systems that could have an adverse effect on our business.

The transportation industry is subject to government regulation, and regulatory changes could have a material adverse effect on our operating results or financial condition.

The Company and various subsidiaries, including Mode LLC, are licensed by the Department of Transportation as motor carrier freight brokers. The Department of Transportation prescribes qualifications for acting in this capacity, including surety bond requirements. Our Hub Group Trucking subsidiary is licensed by the Department of Transportation to act as a motor carrier. To date, compliance with these regulations has not had a material adverse effect on our results of operations or financial condition. However, the transportation industry is subject to legislative or regulatory changes, including potential limits on carbon emissions under climate change legislation and Department of Transportation regulations regarding, among other things, driver breaks and “restart” rules, that can affect the economics of the industry by requiring changes in operating practices or influencing the demand for, and cost of providing, transportation services. We may become subject to new or more restrictive regulations relating to fuel emissions or limits on vehicle weight and size. Future laws and regulations may be more stringent and require changes in operating practices, influence the demand for transportation services or increase the cost of providing transportation services, any of which could adversely affect our business and results of operations.

We are not able to accurately predict how new governmental laws and regulations, or changes to existing laws and regulations, will affect the transportation industry generally, or us in particular. Although government regulation that affects us and our competitors may simply result in higher costs that can be passed along to customers, that may not be the case.

Antidumping and Other Duties Could be Imposed on Us and Our Suppliers

We import 53 foot intermodal containers manufactured in China.  A petition was filed requesting the United States Government to impose antidumping duties on these containers.  Under United States law, an antidumping duty may be imposed on any imports if two conditions are met.  First, the Department of Commerce must decide that the imports are being sold in the United States at less than fair value.  Second, the International Trade Commission (the “ITC”) must determine that the United States industry is materially injured, threatened with material injury or materially retarded by reason of the imports.  The ITC’s determination of material injury or retardation involves a two-prong inquiry:  first, whether the industry is materially injured or retarded, and second, whether the dumping, not other factors, caused the injury or retardation.  The ITC is required to analyze the volume of imports, the effect of imports on United States prices for like merchandise, and the effects the imports have on United States producers of like products, taking into account many factors, including lost sales, market share, profits, productivity, return on investment, and utilization of production capacity.  In May 2015, the ITC determined that antidumping duties should not be imposed on 53 foot intermodal containers manufactured in China.  The petitioner has appealed this determination to the United States Court of International Trade, where its appeal is now pending.  If antidumping or other increased duties are imposed on these containers, this could adversely affect our results of operations.

9

Our operations may be subject to various environmental laws and regulations, the violation of which could result in substantial fines or penalties.

From time to time, we arrange for the movement of hazardous materials at the request of our customers. As a result, we may be subject to various environmental laws and regulations relating to the handling of hazardous materials. If we are involved in a spill or other accident involving hazardous materials, or if we are found to be in violation of applicable laws or regulations, we could be subject to substantial fines or penalties and to civil and criminal liability, any of which could have an adverse effect on our business and results of operations.

We derive a significant portion of our revenue from our largest customers and the loss of several of these customers could have a material adverse effect on our revenue and business.

For Hub Group’s consolidated revenue, our largest 20 customers accounted for approximately 35% of our revenue in 2015 and 36% in 2014 and 34% in 2013. A reduction in or termination of our services by several of our largest customers could have a material adverse effect on our revenue and business.

Insurance and claims expenses could significantly reduce our earnings.

Our future insurance and claims expenses might exceed historical levels, which could reduce our earnings. If the number or severity of claims increase, our operating results could be adversely affected. We maintain insurance with licensed insurance companies. Our insurance and claims expense could increase when our current coverage expires. If these expenses increase, and we are unable to offset the increase with higher freight rates to our customers, our earnings could be materially and adversely affected.

Our success depends upon our ability to recruit and retain key personnel including Mode LLC Sales Only Agents and IBOs.

Our success depends upon attracting and retaining the services of our management team, Mode LLC sales-only agents and IBOs as well as our ability to attract and retain a sufficient number of other qualified personnel to run our business. There is substantial competition for qualified personnel in the transportation services industry. As all key personnel devote their full time to our business, the loss of any member of our management team, key Mode LLC sales only agents or IBOs or other key persons could have an adverse effect on us. We do not have written employment agreements with any of our executive officers and do not maintain key man insurance on any of our executive officers. Nearly all Mode LLC sales-only agents and IBOs are under contract with Mode LLC.

Our growth could be adversely affected if we are not able to identify, successfully acquire and integrate future acquisition prospects.

We believe that future acquisitions and/or the failure to make such acquisitions or integrate such acquired business could significantly impact financial results. Financial results most likely to be impacted include, but are not limited to, revenue, gross margin, salaries and benefits, selling general and administrative expenses, depreciation and amortization, interest expense, net income and our debt level.

Our obligation to pay our carriers is not contingent upon receipt of payment from our clients and we extend credit to certain clients as part of our business model.

In most cases, we take full risk of credit loss for the transportation services we procure from carriers.  Our obligation to pay our carriers is not contingent upon receipt of payment from our clients.  If any of our key clients fail to pay for our services, our profitability would be negatively impacted.

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An economic downturn and cyclical fluctuations in the economy could materially adversely affect our business.

Our operations and performance depend significantly on economic conditions. Uncertainty about United States and global economic conditions poses a risk as consumers and businesses may postpone spending in response to tighter credit, negative financial news and/or declines in income or asset values, which could have a material negative effect on demand for transportation services. We are unable to predict the likely duration and severity of disruptions in the financial markets and adverse economic conditions, and if the current uncertainty continues or economic conditions further deteriorate, our business and results of operations could be materially and adversely affected. Other factors that could influence demand include fluctuations in fuel costs, labor costs, consumer confidence, and other macroeconomic factors affecting consumer spending behavior. We have little or no control over any of these factors or their effects on the transportation industry.  Increases in the operating costs of railroads, trucking companies or drayage companies can be expected to result in higher freight rates.  Our operating margins could be adversely affected if we were unable to pass through to our customers the full amount of higher freight rates.  Economic recession or a downturn in customers’ business cycles also may have an adverse effect on our results of operations and growth by reducing demand for our services.  Therefore, our results of operations, like the entire freight transportation industry, are cyclical and subject to significant period-to-period fluctuations.  There could be a number of follow-on effects from a credit crisis on our business, including the insolvency of key transportation providers and the inability of our customers to obtain credit to finance development and/or manufacture products resulting in a decreased demand for transportation services. Our revenues and gross margins are dependent upon this demand, and if demand for transportation services declines, our revenues and gross margins could be adversely affected.

Although we believe we have adequate liquidity and capital resources to fund our operations internally, our inability to access the capital markets on favorable terms, or at all, may adversely affect our ability to engage in strategic transactions. The inability to obtain adequate financing from debt or capital sources could force us to self-fund strategic initiatives or even forgo certain opportunities, which in turn could potentially harm our performance.

Uncertainty about global economic conditions could also increase the volatility of our stock price.

We are exposed to credit risk and fluctuations in the market values of our investment portfolio.

Although we have not recognized any material losses on our cash and cash equivalents, future declines in their market values could have a material adverse effect on our financial condition and operating results. The value or liquidity of our cash and cash equivalents could decline, which could have a material adverse effect on our financial condition and operating results.

None.

In reliance on General Instruction G to Form 10-K, information on executive officers of the Registrant is included in this Part I. The table sets forth certain information as of February 1, 2016 with respect to each person who is an executive officer of the Company.

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David P. Yeager has served as our Chairman of the Board since November 2008 and as Chief Executive Officer since March 1995. From March 1995 through November 2008, Mr. Yeager served as Vice Chairman of the Board. From October 1985 through December 1991, Mr. Yeager was President of Hub Chicago. From 1983 to October 1985, he served as Vice President, Marketing of Hub Chicago. Mr. Yeager founded the St. Louis Hub in 1980 and served as its President from 1980 to 1983. Mr. Yeager founded the Pittsburgh Hub in 1975 and served as its President from 1975 to 1977. Mr. Yeager received a Masters in Business Administration degree from the University of Chicago in 1987 and a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Dayton in 1975. Mr. Yeager is the father of Phillip D. Yeager and Matthew Yeager.

Donald G. Maltby was appointed President and Chief Operating Officer in September 2015.  Mr. Maltby served as Chief Supply Chain Officer of Hub Supply Chain Solutions from January 2011 to May 2014.  From February 2004 to December 2010, Mr. Maltby served as Executive Vice President-Logistics Services.  Mr. Maltby previously served as President of Hub Online, our e-commerce division, from February 2000 through January 2004.  Mr. Maltby also served as President of Hub Cleveland from July 1990 through January 2000 and from April 2002 to January 2004.  Prior to joining Hub Group, Mr. Maltby served as President of Lyons Transportation, a wholly owned subsidiary of Sherwin Williams Company, from 1988 to 1990.  In his career at Sherwin Williams, which began in 1981 and continued until he joined us in 1990, Mr. Maltby held a variety of management positions including Vice-President of Marketing and Sales for its Transportation Division. Mr. Maltby has been in the transportation and logistics industry since 1976, holding various executive and management positions.  Mr. Maltby received a Masters in Business Administration from Baldwin Wallace College in 1982 and a Bachelor of Science degree from the State University of New York in 1976.

Terri A. Pizzuto has been our Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer since March 2007. Prior to this promotion, Ms. Pizzuto was Vice President of Finance from July 2002 through February 2007. Prior to joining us, Ms. Pizzuto was a partner in the Assurance and Business Advisory Group at Arthur Andersen LLP. Ms. Pizzuto worked for Arthur Andersen LLP for 22 years holding various positions and serving numerous transportation companies. Ms. Pizzuto received a Bachelor of Science in Accounting from the University of Illinois in 1981. Ms. Pizzuto is a CPA and a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants.

David L. Marsh was named our Chief Highway Solutions Officer in September 2015.  Prior to this promotion, Mr. Marsh served as Chief Supply Chain Officer since May 2014.  Previously, Mr. Marsh served as Chief Marketing Officer from October 2007 to May 2014. Mr. Marsh was Executive Vice President-Highway from February 2004 through September 2007. Mr. Marsh previously served as President of Hub Ohio from January 2000 through January 2004. Mr. Marsh joined us in March 1991 and became General Manager with Hub Indianapolis in 1993, a position he held through December 1999. Prior to joining Hub Group, Mr. Marsh worked for Carolina Freight Corporation, a less than truckload carrier, starting in January 1990. Mr. Marsh received a Bachelor of Science degree in Marketing and Physical Distribution from Indiana University-Indianapolis in 1989. Mr. Marsh has been a member of the American Society of Transportation and Logistics, the Indianapolis Traffic Club, the Council for Logistics Management and served as an advisor to the Indiana University-Indianapolis internship program for transportation and logistics. Mr. Marsh was honored as the Indiana Transportation Person of the Year in 1999.

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Vava R. Dimond was named Chief Information Officer in April 2015 after serving as the Interim Chief Information Officer since September 2014. Ms. Dimond began her career with Hub Group in June 2013 as the Vice President of Business Engineering, responsible for overseeing Hub Group’s Business Intelligence, Business Engineering and Program Management projects and processes. Previously, Ms. Dimond spent 16 years with Schneider National and held several leadership positions within IT, most recently serving as Vice President of Technology Services. Ms. Dimond earned her Bachelor of Science degree in Economics from South Dakota State University in 1991.

James J. Damman assumed the role of President of Mode LLC, following the acquisition of Exel Transportation Services from Deutsche Post DHL in April 2011. Prior to this transaction, Mr. Damman served as a President of Exel Transportation Services and President of Technology, Aerospace and Service Logistics Americas for DHL/Exel. Before Exel, he served as a President of Transentric LLC, a supply chain technology provider. Prior to this, Mr. Damman held senior executive roles in operations, marketing, sales and customer service with the Union Pacific Railroad. Mr. Damman has been in Transportation and Supply Chain Management since 1980, holding various executive and management positions. Mr. Damman received a Bachelor of Science degree in Business from Central Michigan University in 1980 and a Master of Business Administration from Southern Illinois University at Edwardsville in 1986.

John C. Vesco was named Executive Vice President, President of Hub Group Trucking in January 2016. Mr. Vesco has led Hub Group Trucking’s operations as its President since January 2015, after serving as Executive Vice President of Hub Group Trucking from March 2012 to December 2014. Prior to joining Hub Group, Mr. Vesco held several management positions with Schneider National, most recently as Vice President and General Manager of Schneider Logistics. Mr. Vesco earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Finance and Business Administration from Walsh University and a Master of Business Administration degree from Silver Lake College.

Brian D. Alexander was named Executive Vice President of Unyson Logistics in September 2015.  Before being named Executive Vice President, Mr. Alexander served as Vice President of Operations of Unyson Logistics from December 2010 to September 2015 and was responsible for the operational execution and excellence for Fortune 500 manufacturing, retail and consumer packaged goods clients. Prior to that, Mr. Alexander was Unyson’s Senior Director of Strategic Accounts, where he had a ten-year history of managing and directing continuous improvement initiatives for key accounts. Mr. Alexander earned a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from Marquette University and Master of Business Administration degree from Cardinal Stritch University.

James B. Gaw has been our Executive Vice President-Sales since February 2004. From December 1996 through January 2004, Mr. Gaw was President of Hub North Central, located in Milwaukee. From 1990 through late 1996, he was Vice President and General Manager of Hub Chicago. Mr. Gaw joined Hub Chicago as Sales Manager in 1988. Mr. Gaw’s entire career has been spent in the transportation industry, including 13 years of progressive leadership positions at Itofca, an intermodal marketing company, and Flex Trans. Mr. Gaw received a Bachelor of Science degree from Elmhurst College in 1973.

Phillip D. Yeager was named Executive Vice President, Account Management and Intermodal Operations in January 2016 after serving as Vice President of Account Management and Business Development from February 2014 to January 2016. Mr. Yeager is responsible for managing Hub Group’s overall customer experience, including customer service, intermodal operations and rail relationships. Mr. Yeager joined Hub Group in 2011 as the Director of Strategy and Acquisitions to focus on strategic initiatives and acquisitions throughout the company and lead the integration of Mode Transportation. Prior to joining Hub Group, Mr. Yeager served as Assistant Vice President of Commercial Banking at BMO Harris Bank, and as an investment banking analyst for Lazard Freres & Co. Mr. Yeager earned his Bachelor of Arts degree from Trinity College in Hartford, Connecticut, and a Master of Business Administration from the University of Chicago Booth School of Business. Mr. Yeager is the son of David P. Yeager.

Douglas G. Beck was named Vice President, Secretary and General Counsel in July 2015 after serving as the Interim General Counsel since January 2015. In his role, Mr. Beck is responsible for managing the Legal, Human Resources and Compliance departments. Mr. Beck began his career with Hub Group in June 2011 as Assistant General Counsel. Prior to joining Hub Group, Mr. Beck was a Senior Attorney with Alberto-Culver Company from 2007 to 2011. Mr. Beck previously held counsel positions at Navistar International Corporation, Allegiance Healthcare Corporation and Seyfarth Shaw. Mr. Beck earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Illinois in 1987 graduating summa cum laude and received his Juris Doctor from Northwestern University School of Law in 1992.

Directors of the Registrant

In addition to David P. Yeager, the following four individuals are also on our Board of Directors: Gary D. Eppen – currently retired and formerly the Ralph and Dorothy Keller Distinguished Service Professor of Operations Management and Deputy Dean for part-time Masters in Business Administration Programs at The University of Chicago Booth School of Business; Charles R. Reaves – Chief Executive Officer of Reaves Enterprises, Inc., a real estate development company, Martin P. Slark – Chief Executive Officer of Molex Incorporated, a manufacturer of electronic, electrical and fiber optic interconnection products and systems, and Jonathan P. Ward – Operating Partner at Kohlberg & Co., a leading U.S. private equity firm.

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As of December 31, 2015. we directly, or indirectly through our subsidiaries, operated 35 offices throughout the United States, Canada and Mexico, including our headquarters in Oak Brook, Illinois and our Company-owned drayage operations located throughout the United States. Hub operates out of 34 of the 35 offices.  Mode LLC has a company managed operation and corporate offices in Dallas, TX, a temperature protected services division operated out of our Oak Brook, IL headquarters and corporate offices in Memphis, TN. All of our office space except for our corporate headquarters is leased. Most office leases have initial terms of more than one year, and many include options to renew. While some of our leases expire in the near term, we do not believe that we will have difficulty in renewing them or in finding alternative office space. We believe that our offices are adequate for the purposes for which they are currently used.

We are a party to litigation incident to our business, including claims for personal injury and/or property damage, bankruptcy preference claims, and claims regarding freight lost or damaged in transit, improperly shipped or improperly billed. Some of the lawsuits to which we are party are covered by insurance and are being defended by our insurance carriers. Some of the lawsuits are not covered by insurance and we defend those ourselves. We do not believe that the outcome of this litigation will have a materially adverse effect on our financial position or results of operations. See Item 1 Business—Risk Management and Insurance and see Note 15 to the consolidated financial statements under “Legal Matters” for a detailed discussion of our ongoing legal proceedings.

Not applicable

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PART II

Our Class A Common Stock (“Class A Common Stock”) trades on the NASDAQ Global Select Market tier of the NASDAQ Stock Market under the symbol “HUBG.” There is no established trading market for shares of our Class B Common Stock (the “Class B Common Stock” together with the Class A Common Stock, the “Common Stock”). Set forth below are the high and low closing prices for shares of the Class A Common Stock for each full quarterly period in 2015 and 2014.

On February 17, 2016, there were approximately 429 stockholders of record of the Class A Common Stock and, in addition, there were an estimated 6,595 beneficial owners of the Class A Common Stock whose shares were held by brokers and other fiduciary institutions. On February 17, 2016, there were 10 holders of record of our Class B Common Stock.

We were incorporated in 1995 and have never paid cash dividends on either the Class A Common Stock or the Class B Common Stock. The declaration and payment of dividends are subject to the discretion of the Board of Directors. Any determination as to the payment of dividends will depend upon our results of operations, capital requirements and financial condition of the Company, and such other factors as the Board of Directors may deem relevant. Accordingly, there can be no assurance that the Board of Directors will declare or pay cash dividends on the shares of Common Stock in the future. Our certificate of incorporation requires that any cash dividends must be paid equally on each outstanding share of Class A Common Stock and Class B Common Stock. Our credit facility prohibits us from paying dividends on the Common Stock if there has been, or immediately following the payment of a dividend there would be, a default or an event of default under the credit facility. We are currently in compliance with the covenants contained in the credit facility.

See Notes 16 and 18 to the consolidated financial statements for information on share repurchases.

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Performance Graph

The following line graph compares the Company’s cumulative total stockholder return on its Class A Common Stock since December 31, 2010 with the cumulative total return of the Nasdaq Stock Market Index (NQUSBT) and the Nasdaq Trucking and Transportation Index (NQUSB27707). These comparisons assume the investment of $100 on December 31, 2010 in each index and in the Company’s Class A Common Stock and the reinvestment of dividends.

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Selected Financial Data

(in thousands except per share data)

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

Hub Group, Inc. (the “Company”, “we”, “us” or “our”) reports two distinct business segments, Hub and Mode. The Mode segment includes only the business we acquired on April 1, 2011. The Hub segment includes all businesses other than Mode. Hub Group refers to the consolidated results for the company, including both the Mode and Hub segments. For the segment financial results, refer to Note 5 to the consolidated financial statements.

We are one of the largest intermodal marketing companies (“IMC”) in the United States and a full service transportation provider offering intermodal, truck brokerage and logistics services. We operate through a nationwide network of operating centers and independent business owners.

We also arrange for the transportation of freight by truck, providing customers with another option for their transportation needs. We match the customers’ needs with carriers’ capacity to provide the most effective service and price combinations. As part of our truck brokerage services, we negotiate rates, track shipments in transit and handle claims for freight loss or damage on behalf of our customers.

Our logistics service consists of complex transportation management services, including load consolidation, mode optimization and carrier management. These service offerings are designed to take advantage of the increasing trend for shippers to outsource all or a greater portion of their transportation needs.

Hub has full time marketing representatives throughout North America who service local, regional and national accounts. We believe that fostering long-term customer relationships is critical to our success and allows us to better understand our customers’ needs and specifically tailor our transportation services to them.

Hub’s account management group works with pricing and operations to enhance Hub’s customer margins. We are working on margin enhancement projects including using the most cost effective drayage carriers, improving utilization, improving our accessorial management, reducing empty miles and routinely reviewing and improving low margin loads.

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Hub’s top 50 customers represent approximately 62% of the Hub segment revenue for the year ended December 31, 2015. We use various performance indicators to manage our business. We closely monitor margin and gains and losses for our top 50 customers. We also evaluate on-time performance, cost per load and daily sales outstanding by customer account. Vendor cost changes and vendor service issues are also monitored closely.

Mode has approximately 197 agents, consisting of 99 sales/operating agents, known as Independent Business Owners (“IBOs”), who sell and operate the business throughout North America and 98 sales only agents. Mode also has a company managed operation and corporate offices in Dallas, a temperature protected services division, Temstar, located in Oak Brook, IL and corporate offices in Memphis. Mode’s top 20 customers represent approximately 35% of the Mode segment revenue for the year ended December 31, 2015. We closely monitor revenue and margin for these customers. We believe Mode brings us highly complementary service offerings, more scale and a talented sales channel that allows us to better reach small and midsize customers.

RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

Year Ended December 31, 2015 Compared to Year Ended December 31, 2014

The following table summarizes our revenue by segment and business line (in thousands):

Revenue

Hub Group’s revenue decreased 1.3% to $3.5 billion in 2015 from $3.6 billion in 2014 due primarily to lower fuel revenue.

The Hub segment revenue decreased 1.6% to $2.7 billion. Hub segment intermodal revenue was flat at $1.8 billion. Intermodal volume increased 3% and price and mix combined were also up.  These increases were offset by a decline in fuel revenue. Hub segment truck brokerage revenue increased 5% to $355 million. Truck brokerage handled 11% more loads, but fuel, mix and price combined were down.  Hub segment logistics revenue decreased 6% to $532 million due to losing one customer in May of 2015 and one customer selling a portion of its business and taking another portion of its business in house.

Mode’s revenue decreased 0.3% to $928.7 million in 2015 from $931.1 million in 2014. Mode’s intermodal revenue increased 4% primarily due to an 8% increase in volume which was partially offset by a decline in fuel revenue. Mode’s truck brokerage revenue decreased 6% primarily due to a decrease in revenue per load that was driven by lower fuel revenue.  Mode’s logistic revenue increased 1%.

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The following is a summary of operating results for our business segments (in thousands):

Transportation Costs

Hub Group’s transportation costs decreased 2.7% to $3.1 billion in 2015 from $3.2 billion in 2014.  Transportation costs in 2015 consisted of purchased transportation costs of $2.7 billion and equipment and driver related costs of $386.4 million compared to 2014 costs of purchased transportation of $2.8 billion and equipment and driver related costs of $425.9 million.  As a percentage of revenue, transportation costs decreased in 2015 to 88.3% from 89.6% in 2014.  

The Hub segment transportation costs decreased 3.1% to $2.4 billion in 2015 from $2.5 billion in 2014.  Hub segment transportation costs in 2015 consisted of $2.0 billion in purchased transportation costs, which was consistent with 2014.  Equipment and driver related costs decreased 9% to $383.0 million in 2015 from $421.7 million in 2014 due primarily to a decrease in fuel cost and a decrease in driver count.

The Mode segment transportation costs decreased 1.5% to $810.1 million in 2015 from $822.4 million in 2014. Mode segment transportation costs are primarily purchased transportation costs which decreased due primarily to lower fuel costs, partially offset by higher volume in intermodal and truck brokerage.

Gross Margin

Hub Group’s gross margin increased 11.4% to $412.7 million in 2015 from $370.4 million in 2014. Hub Group’s gross margin as a percentage of revenue increased to 11.7% in 2015 from 10.4% in 2014.

The Hub segment gross margin increased 12.4% to $294.1 million.  Hub’s $32.5 million gross margin increase resulted from an increase in gross margin in all three business lines.  Intermodal margin increased due to price increases, a 3% increase in loads and a more favorable mix.  Truck brokerage margin increased as a result of growth with targeted customer accounts. Logistics margin increased due to providing additional services to existing accounts and growth with new customers.  As a percentage of revenue, Hub segment gross margin increased to 11.0% in 2015 from 9.6% in 2014.  Intermodal gross margin as a percentage of sales increased 130 basis points because of price increases, lower drayage costs, improved accessorial management and effectively using our new load acceptance optimization tool. Truck brokerage gross margin as a percentage of sales was up 200 basis points due to more value added services, price increases and better purchasing. Logistics gross margin as a percentage of sales was up 110 basis points due to purchasing more cost effectively, price increases and changes in customer mix.

Mode’s gross margin increased 9.0% to $118.6 million in 2015 from $108.8 million in 2014 due to growth in all three business lines.  Mode’s gross margin as a percentage of revenue increased to 12.8% in 2015 from 11.7% in 2014 due primarily to a 110 basis point improvement in intermodal yield and a 120 basis point improvement in truck brokerage yield. Mode’s logistics gross margin increased by 100 basis points.

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CONSOLIDATED OPERATING EXPENSES

The following table presents certain items in the Consolidated Statements of Income as a percentage of revenue:

Salaries and Benefits

Hub Group’s salaries and benefits increased to $158.9 million in 2015 from $136.5 million in 2014. As a percentage of revenue, Hub Group’s salaries and benefits increased to 4.5% in 2015 from 3.8% in 2014.

The Hub segment salaries and benefits increase of $21.9 million was due primarily to increases in employee bonuses of $11.2 million, salaries of $6.9 million, payroll taxes and commissions of $1.5 million each, severance of $0.9 million and employee benefits of $0.6 million.  These increases were partially offset by a decrease in compensation related to restricted stock awards of $0.7 million.

Mode’s salaries and benefits expense increased to $14.9 million in 2015 from $14.4 million in 2014. The increase was due primarily to increases in bonuses of $0.5 million and compensation related to restricted stock awards of $0.2 million partially offset by decreases in salaries expense and employee benefits expense of $0.1 million each.  

Hub’s headcount as of December 31, 2015 and 2014 was 1,480 and 1,380, respectively, which excludes drivers, as driver costs are included in transportation costs. As of December 31, 2015 and 2014, Mode had 117 and 125 employees, respectively.

Agent Fees and Commissions

Hub Group’s agent fees and commissions increased to $68.7 million in 2015 from $62.0 million in 2014. As a percentage of revenue, these expenses increased to 2.0% in 2015 from 1.8% in 2014. The increase in the expense and the increase in the percentage of revenue were primarily related to Mode’s increase in gross margin.

The Mode segment agent fees and commissions expense increase of $6.7 million was primarily due to the increase in gross margin.

General and Administrative

Hub Group’s general and administrative expenses increased to $60.0 million in 2015 from $58.0 million in 2014. As a percentage of revenue, these expenses increased to 1.7% in 2015 from 1.6% in 2014.

The Hub segment increase of $1.9 million was due primarily to increases in personal property and real estate taxes and repairs and maintenance expense of $0.8 million each, technology communication charges of $0.6 million, bad debt expense of $0.2 million and an increase in the loss on the sale of fixed assets of $0.1 million.  These increases were partially offset by decreases in training expense and temporary employee expense of $0.2 million each as well as general insurance and rent expense of $0.1 million each.

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Mode’s general and administrative expenses increased to $7.0 million in 2015 from $6.9 million in 2014.  The increase was primarily due to an increase outside services of $0.2 million partially offset by a decrease in repairs and maintenance expense of $0.1 million.

Depreciation and Amortization

Hub Group’s depreciation and amortization increased to $8.0 million in 2015 from $7.8 million in 2014. This expense as a percentage of revenue remained constant at 0.2% in both 2015 and 2014.

The Hub segment’s depreciation expense increased to $6.7 million in 2015 from $6.2 million in 2014.  This increase was related primarily to more depreciation related to additional computer hardware and software.

Mode’s depreciation expense decreased to $1.3 million in 2015 from $1.6 million in 2014.   The decrease in expense was primarily related to less depreciation related to computer hardware and software.

Driver Settlements and Related Costs

In 2014, the Hub segment recorded a charge of $10.3 million for driver settlements and related costs.  This charge included $9.3 million in settlements for individual drivers and $1.0 million of related legal, communication and implementation costs.  This expense as a percentage of revenue was 0.3% in 2014.  In 2015, there were no such costs.

Impairment of Software

In 2014, the Hub segment recorded a charge of $11.9 million related to the write-off of software development costs as a result of our decision to terminate a long-term technology project.  This expense as a percentage of revenue was 0.3% in 2014.  In 2015, there were no such costs.

Other Income (Expense)

Hub Group’s other expense increased to $5.4 million in 2015 from $2.0 million in 2014 due primarily to $1.2 million in increased interest expense related to our tractor and container debt as well as an increase of $2.3 million in foreign currency translation losses.

Provision for Income Taxes

The provision for income taxes increased to $40.6 million in 2015 from $30.3 million in 2014 primarily due to the increase in our pretax income.  Our effective tax rate was 36.4% in 2015 and 37.0% in 2014.  The rate decrease was primarily due to the effect of state tax apportionment changes reducing our provision for state taxes.

Net Income

Net income increased to $70.9 million in 2015 from $51.6 million in 2014 due primarily to increased margin, partially offset by higher operating expenses and higher income tax expense.

Year Ended December 31, 2014 Compared to Year Ended December 31, 2013

The following table summarizes our revenue by segment and business line (in thousands):

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Revenue

Hub Group’s revenue increased 6% to $3.6 billion in 2014 from $3.4 billion in 2013.

The Hub segment revenue increased 5% to $2.7 billion. Hub segment intermodal revenue was flat at $1.8 billion. Price and mix combined were up but were offset by a 2% decline in loads. Hub segment truck brokerage revenue increased 2% to $339 million. Price, fuel and mix were up 12% offset by a volume decline of 10%.  Length of haul increased 7%. Hub segment logistics revenue increased 27% to $568 million related primarily to growth from existing customers.

Mode’s revenue increased 13% to $931.1 million in 2014 from $823.2 million in 2013. Mode’s intermodal revenue increased 20% primarily due to a 17% increase in volume. Mode’s truck brokerage revenue increased 8% due to truckload capacity and increased rates.  Mode’s logistic revenue increased 5% due to an increase in both loads and rates across multiple business lines.

The following is a summary of operating results for our business segments (in thousands):

Transportation Costs

Hub Group’s transportation costs increased 6.6% to $3.2 billion in 2014 from $3.0 billion in 2013.  Transportation costs in 2014 consisted of purchased transportation costs of $2.8 billion and equipment and driver related costs of $425.9 million compared to 2013 costs of purchased transportation of $2.6 billion and equipment and driver related costs of $380.6 million.  

The Hub segment transportation costs increased 5.8% to $2.5 billion in 2014 from $2.3 billion in 2013.  Hub segment transportation costs in 2014 consisted of $2.04 billion in purchased transportation costs up from $1.95 billion in 2013.  The 4.6% increase was due to higher rail and truck costs due to price increases and higher volumes.  Equipment and driver related costs increased 12.1% to $421.7 million in 2014 from $376.3 million in 2013 due primarily to an increase in equipment depreciation and lease costs due to an increase in our tractor and container fleet size and higher driver and maintenance costs due to our change in driver model in California and a larger tractor fleet.

The Mode segment transportation costs increased 13.2% to $822.4 million in 2014 from $726.4 million in 2013.  Mode segment transportation costs are primarily purchased transportation costs which increased due to higher volume and slight price increases.  

Gross Margin

Hub Group’s gross margin decreased 0.2% to $370.4 million in 2014 from $371.0 million in 2013. Hub Group’s gross margin as a percentage of sales decreased to 10.4% in 2014 from 11.0% in 2013.

The Hub segment gross margin decreased 4.6% to $261.7 million.  Hub’s $12.6 million gross margin decrease came primarily from intermodal.  Intermodal margin declined primarily due to higher transportation costs related to a challenging intermodal

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operating environment.  The first quarter weather related gross margin impact in intermodal was approximately $2.2 million and included a couple of percentage points of lost volume, sub optimization of the network, slower box turns, increased equipment and accessorial costs, higher fuel and accident costs.  The second quarter was impacted by the unfavorable timing of cost increases and worse equipment utilization year over year due to rail service issues.  Rail service continued to deteriorate year over year in the third quarter, further impacting equipment utilization.  Slower train speeds and late trains hurt our fleet utilization by 1.4 days and caused us to incur higher repositioning and accessorial costs as well as more empty miles.  Gross margin was also negatively impacted in the third quarter due to increased costs associated with chassis shortages and insufficient gate reservations.  Higher drayage costs also negatively impacted intermodal margin in the third quarter as a result of our business model change in California from independent contractors to employee drivers.  In the fourth quarter, gross margin continued to be impacted by the same challenges we experienced in the third quarter. Intermodal margin declined in the fourth quarter due to rail service issues and higher drayage costs.  Poor rail execution hurt our fleet utilization by 1.6 days, and caused us to incur more empty miles and increased our accessorial costs.  Truck brokerage margin declined because of lower value added services. Logistics margin helped offset a small portion of these declines with an increase in margin due to growth with existing customers.  As a percentage of Hub segment revenue, gross margin decreased to 9.6% in 2014 from 10.5% in 2013.  This decrease is due to lower yield across all business lines.

Mode’s gross margin increased 12.4% to $108.8 million in 2014 from $96.8 million in 2013 due to growth in intermodal and highway.  Mode’s gross margin as a percentage of revenue decreased to 11.7% in 2014 from 11.8% in 2013.

CONSOLIDATED OPERATING EXPENSES

The following table presents certain items in the Consolidated Statements of Income as a percentage of revenue:

Salaries and Benefits

Hub Group’s salaries and benefits increased to $136.5 million in 2014 from $135.3 million in 2013. As a percentage of revenue, Hub Group’s salaries and benefits decreased to 3.8% in 2014 from 4.0% in 2013.

The Hub segment salaries and benefits increase of $1.6 million was due primarily to increases in salaries of $4.8 million, employee benefits of $1.0 million and compensation related to restricted stock awards of $0.3 million partially offset by decreases in bonuses of $3.7 million and commissions of $0.9 million.

Mode’s salaries and benefits expense decreased to $14.4 million in 2014 from $14.9 million in 2013. The decrease was due primarily to decreases in bonuses of $0.5 million, and salaries of $0.1 million partially offset by increases in compensation related to restricted stock awards of $0.2 million.  

Hub’s headcount as of December 31, 2014 and 2013 was 1,380 and 1,334, respectively, which excludes drivers, as driver costs are included in transportation costs. As of December 31, 2014 and 2013, Mode had 125 and 126 employees, respectively.

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Agent Fees and Commissions

Hub Group’s agent fees and commissions increased to $62.0 million in 2014 from $55.8 million in 2013. As a percentage of revenue, these expenses increased to 1.8% in 2014 from 1.6% in 2013. The increase in the expense and the decrease in the percentage of revenue was primarily related to Mode’s increase in gross margin.

The Mode segment agent fees and commissions expense increase of $7.6 million was primarily due to the increase in gross margin.

General and Administrative

Hub Group’s general and administrative expenses increased to $58.0 million in 2014 from $56.8 million in 2013. As a percentage of revenue, these expenses decreased to 1.6% in 2014 from 1.7% in 2013.

The Hub segment increase of $0.6 million was due primarily to increases in travel and entertainment expense of $0.7 million, consultant expense of $0.6 million, repairs and maintenance expense of $0.6 million, outside sales commissions of $0.5 million, general insurance expense of $0.4 million, temporary labor expense of $0.2 million, training expense of $0.2 million and office expense of $0.1 million.  These increases were partially offset by decreases in rent of $1.9 million due to the move to our new corporate headquarters in 2013, a decrease in loss on sale of fixed assets in 2014 of $0.3 million, decrease in bad debt expense of $0.3 million and other taxes of $0.2 million.

Mode’s general and administrative expenses increased to $6.9 million in 2014 from $6.3 million in 2013.  The increase was primarily due to a lower gain on the sale of equipment in 2014 as compared to 2013 of $0.5 million and increases in repairs and maintenance of $0.3 and consultant expense of $0.2 million.  These increases were partially offset by a decrease in bad debt expense of $0.2 million and also a decrease in travel and entertainment expense of $0.1 million.

Depreciation and Amortization

Hub Group’s depreciation and amortization increased to $7.8 million in 2014 from $6.5 million in 2013. This expense as a percentage of revenue remained constant at 0.2% in both 2014 and 2013.

The Hub segment’s depreciation expense increased to $6.2 million in 2014 from $4.3 million in 2013.  This increase was related primarily to depreciation for the new corporate headquarters and more depreciation related to computer software.

Mode’s depreciation expense decreased to $1.6 million in 2014 from $2.1 million in 2013.   The decrease in expense was primarily related to less depreciation related to computer software.

Driver Settlements and Related Costs

Driver settlements and related costs include $9.3 million in settlements for individual drivers and $1.0 million of related legal, communication and implementation costs.  See Note 15 of the notes to unaudited consolidated financial statements for more details.

Impairment of Software

In 2014, the Hub segment recorded a charge of $11.9 million related to the write-off of software development costs as a result of our decision to terminate a long-term technology project.  See Note 4 of the notes to consolidated financial statements for more details.

Impairment of Trade Name

In 2013, the Hub segment incurred a $2.9 million expense associated with changing the Comtrak Logistics trade name to Hub Group Trucking. See Note 6 to the consolidated financial statements for information on this impairment charge.

Other Income (Expense)

Hub Group’s interest expense increased to $1.8 million in 2014 from $1.2 million in 2013 due primarily to the increased interest expense related to higher debt for new tractors and containers.  

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Provision for Income Taxes

The provision for income taxes decreased to $30.3 million in 2014 from $43.4 million in 2013 primarily due to the decrease in our pretax income.  Our effective tax rate was 37.0% in 2014 and 38.6% in 2013.  The rate decrease was primarily due to the effect of state tax apportionment changes on our deferred tax assets and liabilities.

Net Income

Net income decreased to $51.6 million in 2014 from $69.1 million in 2013 due primarily to the driver settlements and related costs and the software impairment charge.

LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES

During 2015, we funded operations, capital expenditures, capital leases, purchase of treasury stock, repayments of debt and stock buy backs related to employee withholding upon vesting of restricted stock through cash flows from operations, cash on hand and proceeds from the issuance of long-term debt. We believe that our cash, cash flow from operations and borrowings available under our Credit Agreement will be sufficient to meet our cash needs for at least the next twelve months.

Cash provided by operating activities for the year ended December 31, 2015 was approximately $171.7 million, which resulted primarily from income of $70.9 million adjusted for non-cash charges of $61.1 million and the change in operating assets and liabilities of $39.7 million. The $73.2 million increase in cash flow provided by operating activities for 2015 compared to 2014 was primarily attributed to a positive cash change in operating assets and liabilities of $66.7 million and an increase in net income of $19.4 million, partially offset by a decrease in non-cash charges of $12.9 million.  The positive cash change in assets and liabilities in 2015 versus 2014 resulted from an improvement in DSO and the use of prepaid for taxes, partially offset by quicker payments to our vendors.

Cash provided by operating activities was approximately $98.5 million and $117.4 million for the years ended December 31, 2014 and 2013, respectively.  The cash provided by operating activities in 2014 resulted primarily from income of $51.6 million adjusted for non-cash charges of $73.9 million partially offset by the change in operating assets and liabilities of $27.0 million. The $18.9 million decrease in cash flow provided by operating activities for 2014 compared to 2013 was primarily attributed to the decrease in net income of $17.6 million, a larger use of cash for prepaid taxes offset by higher add backs of non-cash items such as the impairment of software and higher depreciation expense.

Net cash used in investing activities for the year ended December 31, 2015 was $80.7 million which includes proceeds from the sale of equipment of $2.3 million. Capital expenditures of $83.0 million included tractor purchases of $45 million, container purchases of $21 million, purchases of transportation equipment of $11 million and $6 million related primarily to technology purchases.  

Capital expenditures decreased by approximately $36.1 million in 2015 as compared to 2014. The 2015 decrease was due to decreases in container purchases of $18 million, tractor purchases of $14 million, payments for our new headquarters in Oak Brook of $8 million and technology and other purchases of $3 million.  These decreases were partially offset by approximately $7 million more of transportation equipment purchased in 2015.

Net cash used in investing activities for the year ended December 31, 2014 was $118.6 million as compared to $109.1 million in 2013.  Capital expenditures increased by approximately $8 million in 2014 as compared to 2013. The 2014 increase was due to additional tractor purchases of $44 million and technology and other purchases of $2 million partially offset by approximately $20 million less of container purchases and $18 million less spent on construction costs for our new headquarters.

In 2016 we expect to purchase between 3,300 and 4,000 containers and about 50 tractors.  We are also investing in technology including transportation management systems and satellite tracking.  We have not decided if we will finance the containers and tractors using debt or operating leases.  If we finance with operating leases, we estimate our capital expenditures will range from $25 million to $30 million.  If we finance with debt, we estimate capital expenditures will range from $62 million to $73 million.  

Net cash provided by financing activities for the year ended December 31, 2015 was $7.1 million.  We used $28.8 million to purchase treasury stock, $23.2 million for repayment of long term debt, $2.9 million of cash for stock tendered for payments of withholding taxes and $2.5 million for capital lease payments. These payments were offset by proceeds from the issuance of debt of $64.4 million and excess tax benefits from share-based compensation of $0.2 million as a financing cash in-flow.  The $53.7 million decrease in cash provided by financing activities for 2015 compared to 2014 was primarily due to the decrease of $26.7 million in debt issuance, additional debt payments of $16.0 million and additional treasury stock purchases of $10.8 million.

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Net cash provided by financing activities for the year ended December 31, 2014 was $60.8 million.  We used $18.0 million to purchase treasury stock, $7.3 million for repayment of long term debt, $3.2 million of cash for stock tendered for payments of withholding taxes and $2.5 million for capital lease payments. These payments were offset by proceeds from the issuance of debt of $91.1 million and excess tax benefits from share-based compensation of $0.7 million as a financing cash in-flow.  The $70.9 million increase in cash provided by financing activities for 2014 compared to 2013 was primarily due to the increase of $81.9 million in debt issuance which was partially offset by the $6.4 million increase in debt payments.

Cash paid for income taxes of $7.0 million was less than our income tax expense of $40.6 million due to the combination of our utilization of $14.6 million in prepaid taxes carried over from 2014 along with the effects of favorable timing differences between our tax returns and financial statements.  The largest favorable timing difference in 2015 related to depreciation for tractors and containers.  In 2016, we expect our cash paid for taxes to be closer to our income tax expense because we do not have a material prepaid tax carry over from 2015 to 2016 and we expect to have a smaller favorable timing difference between the 2016 tax return and financial statement depreciation.

See Note 10 of the consolidated financial statements for details related to interest rates and commitment fees.

We have standby letters of credit that expire in 2016. As of December 31, 2015, our letters of credit were $8.2 million.

Our unused and available borrowings under our bank revolving line of credit were $41.8 million as of December 31, 2015 and $43.9 million as of December 31, 2014. We believe our line of credit is adequate to meet our cash needs.  We were in compliance with our debt covenants as of December 31, 2015.

CONTRACTUAL OBLIGATIONS

Aggregated information about our obligations and commitments to make future contractual payments, such as debt and lease obligations, and contingent commitments as of December 31, 2015 is presented in the following table (in thousands).

Future Payments Due: 

In addition to the commitments above, in December 2015, we committed to acquire 1,000 53’ containers.  We expect the total purchase price of these containers to be approximately $9 million.  We expect to take delivery of the equipment between February and April 2016.  We are still deciding whether we will finance the containers with an operating lease or debt.

Deferred Compensation

Under our Nonqualified Deferred Compensation Plan (the “Plan”), participants can elect to defer certain compensation. Payments under the Plan are due as follows (in thousands):

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Future Payments Due:

CRITICAL ACCOUNTING POLICIES

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles requires management to make estimates and assumptions. In certain circumstances, those estimates and assumptions can affect amounts reported in the accompanying consolidated financial statements. We have made our best estimates and judgments of certain amounts included in the financial statements, giving due consideration to materiality. We do not believe there is a great likelihood that materially different amounts would be reported related to the accounting policies described below. However, application of these accounting policies involves the exercise of judgment and use of assumptions as to future uncertainties and, as a result, actual results could differ from these estimates. The following is a brief discussion of the more significant accounting policies and estimates.  These critical accounting policies are further discussed in Note 1 of the consolidated financial statements.

Allowance for Uncollectible Trade Accounts Receivable

We extend credit to customers after a review of each customer’s credit history.  An allowance for uncollectible trade accounts has been established through an analysis of the accounts receivable aging, an assessment of collectability based on historical trends and an evaluation based on current economic conditions.  Annually we review, in hindsight, the percentage of receivables that are collected that aged over one year, those that are not one year old and the accounts that went into bankruptcy.  Due primarily to the difference in customer mix, the percentage of receivables collected in the Hub segment has been higher than the Mode segment although both have been over 98%.  We reserve for accounts less than one year old based on specifically identified uncollectible balances and our historic collection percentage.   In establishing a reserve for certain account balances specifically identified as uncollectible, we consider the aging of the customer receivables, the specific details as to why the receivable has not been paid, the customer’s current and projected financial results, the customer’s ability to meet and sustain their financial commitments, the positive or negative effects of the current and projected industry outlook and the general economic conditions.  Once a receivable ages over one year, our collection percentage is much lower for both the Hub and Mode segments, thus a separate calculation is done for open receivables that have aged over one year.   We also review our collection percentage after a company has gone into bankruptcy.  Although these collection percentages may change both negatively and positively, since only a small portion of our receivables are aged over one year or are involved in a bankruptcy case, a large change in the either of those collection percentages would not have a material impact on our financial statements.  Our level of reserves for customer accounts receivable fluctuate depending upon all the factors mentioned above.  Historically, our reserve for uncollectible accounts has approximated actual accounts written off and we do not expect the reserve for uncollectible accounts to change significantly relative to our accounts receivable balance.  The allowance for uncollectible accounts is reported on the balance sheet in net accounts receivable.  Recoveries of receivables previously charged off are recorded when received.

Revenue Recognition

Revenue is recognized at the time 1) persuasive evidence of an arrangement exists, 2) services have been rendered, 3) the sales price is fixed and determinable and 4) collectability is reasonably assured. Revenue and related transportation costs are recognized based on relative transit time. For transportation services not completed at the end of a reporting period, we use a percentage of completion method to allocate the appropriate revenue to each separate reporting period.  Further, in most cases, we report revenue on a gross basis because we are the primary obligor and are responsible for providing the service desired by the customer. The customer views us as responsible for fulfillment including the acceptability of the service. Service requirements may include, for example, on-time delivery, handling freight loss and damage claims, setting up appointments for pick-up and delivery and tracing shipments in transit. We have discretion in setting sales prices and as a result, our earnings vary. In addition, we have the discretion to select our vendors from multiple suppliers for the services ordered by our customers. Finally, we have credit risk for our receivables. These three factors, discretion in setting prices, discretion in selecting vendors and credit risk, further support reporting revenue on the gross basis.

Valuation of Finite-Lived Intangibles and Fixed Assets

Our fixed assets consist of equipment, computer software and hardware as well as our corporate headquarters.  Our finite-lived intangibles consist of customer and agency relationships.  We evaluate the potential impairment of finite-lived intangible assets and

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fixed assets when impairment indicators exist.  In the third quarter of 2014, the Hub segment recorded a full write-off of $11.9 million related to software development costs as a result of our decision to terminate a long-term technology project.  Upon deployment of the software in 2014, we discovered that the software did not properly integrate with our current systems or meet the criteria for which it was designed.  We did not believe the software could be cost effectively salvaged and it had no value on the open market.  This charge is included in Impairment of software in the Consolidated Statements of Income and Comprehensive Income.  We currently have no other software projects of this nature that are at risk for impairment.

Equipment

We operate tractors and utilize containers and chassis in connection with our business. This equipment may be purchased or leased as part of an operating or capital lease. In addition, we rent equipment from third parties and various railroads under short term rental arrangements. Equipment which is purchased is depreciated on the straight line method over the estimated useful life. Our equipment leases have five to ten year terms and, in some cases, contain renewal options.

New Pronouncements

In May 2014, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued Update No. 2014-09—Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606).  This Standard provides guidance on how to recognize revenue to depict the transfer of promised goods or services to customers in an amount that reflects the consideration to which the entity expects to be entitled in exchange for those goods or services.  For public organizations, the guidance in the update is effective for annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2017, including interim reporting periods within that reporting period.  The update provides two transition methods to the new guidance: a retrospective approach and a modified retrospective approach.  Early application is permitted for annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2016.  We plan to adopt this standard January 1, 2018, as required.  We are awaiting the Joint Transition Resource Group for Revenue Recognition’s (TRG) guidance on principal versus agent (reporting revenue gross versus net) to complete our assessment of the effect of this pronouncement on our consolidated financial statements.  We are currently evaluating the transition method and effect this update will have on our consolidated financial statements.

In November 2015, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued Update No. 2015-17—Income Taxes (Topic 740).  This Standard provides guidance on the balance sheet classification of deferred taxes, amending the accounting for income taxes and requiring all deferred tax assets and liabilities to be classified as non-current on the consolidated balance sheet.  For public organizations, the guidance in the update is effective for annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2016, including interim reporting periods within that reporting period.  Early application is permitted.  We are currently evaluating the method of adoption and expect this Standard will have an impact on our consolidated balance sheets as our current deferred tax assets were $8.4 million as of December 31, 2015.

OUTLOOK, RISKS AND UNCERTAINTIES

Business Combinations/Divestitures

We believe that any future acquisitions that we may make could significantly impact financial results. Financial results most likely to be impacted include, but are not limited to, revenue, gross margin, salaries and benefits, selling general and administrative expenses, depreciation and amortization, interest expense, net income and our debt level.

Revenue

We believe that the performance of the railroads and a severe or prolonged slow-down of the economy are the most significant factors that could negatively influence our revenue growth rate. Should there be further consolidation in the rail industry causing a service disruption, we believe our intermodal business would likely be negatively impacted. Should there be a significant service disruption, we expect that there may be some customers who would switch from using our intermodal service to other transportation services. We expect that these customers may choose to continue to utilize other services even when intermodal service levels are restored. Other factors that could negatively influence our growth rate include, but are not limited to, the elimination of fuel surcharges, lower fuel prices, the entry of new competitors, the loss of Mode LLC IBOs and or sales agents, poor customer retention, inadequate drayage service and inadequate equipment supply.

Gross Margin

We expect fluctuations in gross margin as a percentage of revenue from quarter-to-quarter caused by various factors including, but not limited to, changes in the transportation business mix, changes in logistics services between transactional business and management fee business, insurance costs, driver recruiting costs, driver compensation changes, impact of regulations on drayage costs, trailer and container capacity, vendor cost increases, fuel costs, equipment utilization, intermodal industry growth, intermodal

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industry service levels, accessorials, competitive pricing and accounting estimates.  On January 29, 2016, we closed Hub Group Trucking’s Los Angeles terminal.  The business model in the Los Angeles terminal was not cost-competitive.  The Los Angeles terminal was a high cost model in a low priced market.  This means that our costs were substantially higher than what we would pay a third party carrier to perform this service.  As a result, our gross margin should improve.  Further, we expect one-time costs in the first quarter of 2016 to be approximately $1.5 million related to shutting down the Los Angeles terminal.

Salaries and Benefits

We estimate that salaries and benefits as a percentage of revenue could fluctuate from quarter-to-quarter as there are timing differences between volume increases and changes in levels of staffing. Factors that could affect the percentage from staying in the recent historical range include, but are not limited to, revenue growth rates significantly higher or lower than forecasted, a management decision to invest in additional personnel to stimulate new or existing businesses, changes in customer requirements, changes in our operating structure, severance, how well we perform against our EPS goals, and changes in railroad intermodal service levels which could result in a lower or higher cost of labor per move.  Further, we expect one-time costs in the first quarter of 2016 to be between $1.5 million and $2.0 million related to severance.

Agent Fees and Commissions

Agent fees and commissions are directly related to the gross margin earned by the Mode agents. This expense will fluctuate as Mode’s gross margin fluctuates.

General and Administrative

We believe there are several factors that could cause general and administrative expenses to fluctuate as a percentage of revenue. As customer expectations and the competitive environment require the development of web-based business interfaces and the restructuring of our information systems and related platforms, we believe there could be significant expenses incurred, some of which would not be capitalized. Other factors that could cause selling, general and administrative expense to fluctuate include, but are not limited to, changes in insurance premiums, claim expense, bad debt expense and professional services expense.

Depreciation and Amortization

We estimate that depreciation and amortization of property and equipment will increase slightly due to technology related additions.

Impairment of Property and Equipment, Goodwill and Indefinite-Lived Intangibles

On an ongoing basis, we assess the realizability of our assets. If, at any point during the year, we determine that an impairment exists, the carrying amount of the asset is reduced by the estimated impairment with a corresponding charge to earnings which we estimate could have a material adverse impact on earnings.

Other Income (Expense)

We expect interest expense to increase in 2016 because we financed our 2015 tractor and container purchases with debt. Factors that could cause a change in interest income include, but are not limited to, change in interest rates, change in investments, funding working capital needs, funding capital expenditures, funding an acquisition and purchase of treasury stock.  See Note 10 of the consolidated financial statements for additional information regarding new debt. We do not expect the loss related to currency translation to repeat in 2016 as the 2015 loss was unprecedented.

Provision for Income Taxes

Based on current tax legislation, we estimate that our effective tax rate will be between 37.0% and 38.0% in 2016.

Leasing on Owner-Operators

Our drivers are comprised of 62% independent contractors and 38% employees.  We had difficulties signing on owner-operators in recent months but more success recruiting employee drivers.  If this trend continues, the Company may have to recruit more employee drivers in certain markets.

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We are exposed to market risk related to changes in interest rates on our bank line of credit which may adversely affect our results of operations and financial condition. Although we conduct business in foreign countries, international operations are not material to our consolidated financial position, results of operations, or cash flows. Additionally, foreign currency transaction gains and losses were not material to our results of operations for the year ended December 31, 2015. Accordingly, we are not currently subject to material foreign currency exchange rate risks from the effects that exchange rate movements of foreign currencies would have on our future costs or on future cash flows we would receive from our foreign investment. To date, we have not entered into any foreign currency forward exchange contracts or other derivative financial instruments to hedge the effects of adverse fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates.   We do not use financial instruments for trading purposes.

The Company has both fixed and variable rate debt as described in Note 10 to the Consolidated Financial Statements. Any material increase in market interest rates would not have a material impact on the results of operations for the year ended December 31, 2015.

As of December 31, 2015 and 2014, other than our outstanding letters of credit, the Company had no outstanding obligations under its bank line of credit arrangement.

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INDEX TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

AND FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULE

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REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

The Board of Directors and Stockholders of Hub Group, Inc.:

/s/ ERNST & YOUNG LLP

Chicago, Illinois

February 26, 2016

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HUB GROUP, INC.

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

(in thousands, except share amounts)

The accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements are an integral part of these statements.

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HUB GROUP, INC.

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME

AND COMPREHENSIVE INCOME

(in thousands, except per share amounts).