AMERCO (UHAL): history, ownership, mission, how it works & makes money

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AMERCO (UHAL) Information


A Brief History of U-Haul

U-Haul Holding Company, a well-known entity in the moving and storage industry, has its roots dating back to 1945 when it was founded by Leonard Shoen in Ridgefield, Washington. The company revolutionized the self-moving industry by providing rental trucks and trailers to consumers. Over the decades, U-Haul expanded its services to include self-storage facilities, making it a comprehensive solution for moving and storage needs.

Financial Performance Overview

As of September 30, 2024, U-Haul reported total revenues of $3,206.6 million, a slight increase from $3,190.2 million in the same period of 2023. The earnings from operations decreased to $608.2 million for the first six months of fiscal 2025, compared to $822.0 million in the prior year, reflecting an overall decline in operational efficiency amid rising costs.

Revenue Breakdown

The revenue streams for U-Haul in the first half of fiscal 2025 were diversified across several categories, as illustrated in the following table:

Revenue Source Six Months Ended September 30, 2024 (in thousands) Six Months Ended September 30, 2023 (in thousands)
Self-moving equipment rental revenues $2,103,497 $2,070,767
Self-storage revenues $440,256 $407,851
Self-moving and self-storage products and service sales $184,354 $192,443
Property management fees $19,081 $18,444
Life insurance premiums $41,228 $45,629
Property and casualty insurance premiums $46,996 $45,893

Operating Expenses and Profitability

Operating expenses increased significantly, totaling $1,356.2 million in the first half of fiscal 2025, up from $1,227.5 million in the same period of 2024. Key factors contributing to this rise included higher personnel costs, property taxes, and maintenance expenses.

Debt and Interest Expenses

U-Haul's interest expenses for the first six months of fiscal 2025 amounted to $138.7 million, compared to $124.5 million in the prior year, indicating a rising cost of debt amid increasing interest rates. The company maintained total debt obligations of approximately $6.79 billion as of September 30, 2024.

Cash and Liquidity Position

As of September 30, 2024, U-Haul's cash and cash equivalents were reported at $1,435.6 million, showing a decrease from $1,534.5 million as of March 31, 2024. This liquidity position is crucial for meeting operational needs and capital investments.

Market Position and Future Outlook

U-Haul continues to be a leader in the self-moving and storage industry, with a strategic focus on expanding its service offerings and enhancing customer experience. The company is well-positioned to navigate the challenges of rising operational costs and interest rates, supported by its strong brand and market presence.



A Who Owns AMERCO (UHAL)

Ownership Structure

As of 2024, AMERCO, the parent company of U-Haul, has a dual-class share structure comprising Voting Common Stock and Series N Non-Voting Common Stock. The ownership distribution is as follows:

Share Class Shares Outstanding Ownership Percentage
Voting Common Stock 19,607,788 10%
Series N Non-Voting Common Stock 176,470,092 90%

Major Shareholders

The Shoen family holds a significant portion of AMERCO's Voting Common Stock through trusts. Key individual shareholders include:

  • Edward J. Shoen - President and CEO, significant Voting Common Stock holder.
  • James P. Shoen - Vice Chairman, also a major Voting Common Stock holder.
  • Mark V. Shoen - Controls the general partner of Mercury Partners, L.P., which owns interests in U-Haul properties.

Shareholder Equity and Financial Data

As of September 30, 2024, AMERCO’s total stockholders' equity was reported at $7,519,398,000. The breakdown of equity components is as follows:

Equity Component Value (in thousands)
Common Stock 10,497
Series N Non-Voting Common Stock 176
Additional Paid-In Capital 462,548
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss (240,831)
Retained Earnings 7,964,658
Treasury Common Stock (525,653)
Treasury Preferred Stock (151,997)
Total Stockholders' Equity 7,519,398

Stock Performance

AMERCO's stock performance has shown fluctuations. As of September 30, 2024, the stock price stood at approximately $78.50 per share, reflecting a market capitalization of about $15.4 billion based on total outstanding shares.

Dividends

Dividends declared for Series N Non-Voting Common Stock in 2024 included:

Date Declared Dividend Per Share Record Date Payment Date
June 5, 2024 $0.05 June 17, 2024 June 28, 2024
August 15, 2024 $0.05 September 16, 2024 September 27, 2024

Related Party Transactions

For the six months ended September 30, 2024, related party revenues amounted to $19.1 million, while related party costs and expenses totaled $63.4 million.

Conclusion on Ownership

The ownership of AMERCO remains heavily concentrated within the Shoen family, maintaining significant control over the company through their shareholdings while also reflecting a robust financial standing as of 2024.



AMERCO (UHAL) Mission Statement

Overview

AMERCO, the parent company of U-Haul, emphasizes its commitment to providing high-quality rental services and storage solutions. The company aims to offer affordable and reliable self-moving equipment and self-storage services while maintaining a focus on customer satisfaction and operational excellence.

Financial Performance

As of the second quarter of fiscal 2025, AMERCO reported total revenues of $3,206,598 thousand, compared to $3,190,168 thousand in the same quarter of the previous year. The earnings from operations decreased to $608,198 thousand from $822,013 thousand year-over-year.

Metric Q2 FY 2025 (in thousands) Q2 FY 2024 (in thousands)
Total Revenues $3,206,598 $3,190,168
Earnings from Operations $608,198 $822,013
Net Earnings Available to Common Stockholders $382,215 $530,346
Basic Earnings per Share $1.86 $2.63
Diluted Earnings per Share $1.86 $2.63

Operational Highlights

U-Haul's self-moving equipment rental revenues reached $2,101,680 thousand in the first six months of fiscal 2025, an increase from $2,068,611 thousand in the same period the previous year. Additionally, self-storage revenues increased to $440,256 thousand from $407,851 thousand.

Cost Structure

The company experienced an increase in total costs and expenses, which rose by $230.4 million during the first six months of fiscal 2025 compared to the same period in fiscal 2024. This increase is attributed to higher operating expenses, including personnel costs and maintenance.

Expense Type Q2 FY 2025 (in thousands) Q2 FY 2024 (in thousands)
Operating Expenses $1,680,830 $1,598,499
Commission Expenses $231,579 $218,888
Cost of Product Sales $128,264 $137,295
Benefits and Losses $88,398 $87,897
Total Costs and Expenses $2,598,400 $2,368,155

Market Position

AMERCO continues to expand its market presence, with a significant increase in the average monthly number of occupied storage units, which rose by 5.5% or 31,933 units during the second quarter of fiscal 2025. The company has added approximately 6.1 million net rentable square feet of new storage over the last twelve months, enhancing its service capacity.

Dividend Information

For the first six months of fiscal 2025, AMERCO declared dividends of $0.05 per share for its Series N Non-Voting Common Stock.

Declared Date Per Share Amount Record Date Dividend Date
August 15, 2024 $0.05 September 16, 2024 September 27, 2024
June 5, 2024 $0.05 June 17, 2024 June 28, 2024

Conclusion

AMERCO’s mission statement, supported by its financial and operational performance, highlights its commitment to maintaining leadership in the self-moving and storage solutions market, focusing on customer satisfaction, and ensuring operational efficiency.



How AMERCO (UHAL) Works

Business Overview

AMERCO, the parent company of U-Haul, primarily operates in the self-moving and storage industry. The company offers a range of services, including self-moving equipment rentals, self-storage solutions, and related products and services.

Financial Performance

As of September 30, 2024, AMERCO reported consolidated revenues of $3,206,598,000 for the six months ended September 30, 2024, compared to $3,190,168,000 for the same period in 2023. This represents an increase of $16,430,000.

Revenue Category 2024 (in thousands) 2023 (in thousands)
Self-moving equipment rental revenues $2,101,680 $2,068,611
Self-storage revenues $440,256 $407,851
Self-moving and self-storage products and service sales $184,354 $192,443
Property management fees $19,081 $18,444
Life insurance premiums $41,228 $45,629
Property and casualty insurance premiums $46,996 $45,893
Net investment and interest income $74,919 $129,330
Other revenue $298,084 $281,967

Cost Structure

AMERCO's total costs and expenses increased by $230.4 million during the first six months of fiscal 2025 compared to fiscal 2024. Operating expenses increased by $76.7 million, while depreciation associated with rental equipment rose by $58.3 million.

Expense Category 2024 (in thousands) 2023 (in thousands)
Operating expenses $891,073 $835,258
Commission expenses $119,008 $111,961
Cost of product sales $62,250 $66,620
Benefits and losses $44,392 $42,553
Amortization of deferred policy acquisition costs $4,439 $6,826
Lease expense $4,729 $8,450
Depreciation expense $227,270 $154,122
Net losses on disposal of real estate $2,991 $1,715

Earnings and Shareholder Information

For the quarter ended September 30, 2024, AMERCO reported net earnings available to common stockholders of $186,798,000, a decrease from $273,508,000 in the same quarter of 2023.

Metric 2024 2023
Net Earnings (in thousands) $186,798 $273,508
Basic Earnings per Share $0.91 $1.36
Diluted Earnings per Share $0.91 $1.36
Weighted Average Shares Outstanding 19,607,788 19,607,788

Operational Highlights

AMERCO's Moving and Storage segment has seen significant operational changes. The average monthly number of occupied self-storage units increased by 5.5% during the second quarter of fiscal 2025 compared to the previous year.

Operational Metric 2024 2023
Average Monthly Occupied Units 602 529
Average Monthly Occupancy Rate 80.5% 83.5%
New Net Rentable Square Feet Added 2,600,000 N/A

Investment and Financing Activities

In fiscal 2025, AMERCO plans to reinvest approximately $1,115 million in its rental equipment fleet and has invested $795 million in the first six months of the fiscal year.

Investment Activity Amount (in millions)
Total Planned Investment for Fiscal 2025 $1,115
Investment in Rental Equipment (First Six Months) $795

Debt and Liquidity

As of September 30, 2024, AMERCO had additional cash available under existing credit facilities of $495 million. The average interest rate for revolver borrowings during the quarter was 6.60%.

Debt Metric Amount (in millions)
Cash Available under Credit Facilities $495
Average Interest Rate 6.60%


How AMERCO (UHAL) Makes Money

Self-Moving Equipment Rental

AMERCO generates significant revenue through self-moving equipment rental services. For the first six months of fiscal 2025, self-moving equipment rental revenues amounted to $2,103,497,000, reflecting an increase from $2,070,767,000 in the same period of fiscal 2024. This growth can be attributed to an increase in transactions and average revenue per transaction, alongside an expanded fleet and retail locations.

Self-Storage Services

The company also earns from self-storage services, which generated $440,256,000 in revenue for the first six months of fiscal 2025, up from $407,851,000 in the prior year. The average monthly number of occupied units increased by 5.6%, indicating strong demand for storage solutions.

Product and Service Sales

In addition to rental services, AMERCO sells self-moving and self-storage products. Revenue from these sales reached $184,354,000 during the first half of fiscal 2025, a slight decrease from $192,443,000 in fiscal 2024. This reduction was primarily due to lower sales of hitches and moving supplies.

Insurance Premiums

AMERCO's insurance operations contribute to its revenue through life and property and casualty insurance premiums. For the first six months of fiscal 2025, life insurance premiums totaled $41,228,000, while property and casualty insurance premiums were $46,996,000. This represents a decline from $45,629,000 and $45,893,000 respectively in the previous year.

Net Investment and Interest Income

The company also earns net investment and interest income, which was reported at $74,919,000 for the first half of fiscal 2025, compared to $129,330,000 in fiscal 2024. The decline was primarily due to a decrease in the valuation of investments.

Comprehensive Revenue Breakdown

Revenue Source Fiscal 2025 (First Six Months) Fiscal 2024 (First Six Months)
Self-Moving Equipment Rental $2,103,497,000 $2,070,767,000
Self-Storage Revenues $440,256,000 $407,851,000
Self-Moving and Self-Storage Products $184,354,000 $192,443,000
Property Management Fees $19,081,000 $18,444,000
Life Insurance Premiums $41,228,000 $45,629,000
Property and Casualty Insurance Premiums $46,996,000 $45,893,000
Net Investment and Interest Income $74,919,000 $129,330,000
Other Revenue $295,616,000 $279,771,000
Total Revenue $3,206,598,000 $3,190,168,000

Operating Expenses

For the first six months of fiscal 2025, AMERCO's total operating expenses were $2,598,400,000, an increase from $2,368,155,000 in the previous year. This rise in expenses was driven by higher costs in personnel, property taxes, utilities, and building maintenance.

Earnings Performance

Earnings available to common stockholders for the first half of fiscal 2025 were reported at $382,215,000, down from $530,346,000 in the same period of fiscal 2024. This decrease is attributed to rising operating costs and reduced investment income.

Comprehensive Income Overview

Comprehensive income for the first six months of fiscal 2025 was $480,229,000, compared to $364,600,000 in the prior year, reflecting fluctuations in net earnings and other comprehensive income items.

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Resources:

  1. AMERCO (UHAL) Financial Statements – Access the full quarterly financial statements for Q2 2025 to get an in-depth view of AMERCO (UHAL)' financial performance, including balance sheets, income statements, and cash flow statements.
  2. SEC Filings – View AMERCO (UHAL)' latest filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) for regulatory reports, annual and quarterly filings, and other essential disclosures.