Expeditors International - 10-Q quarterly report FY

PART I.  FINANCIAL INFORMATION

Item 1.  Financial Statements

EXPEDITORS INTERNATIONAL OF WASHINGTON, INC.
AND SUBSIDIARIES

Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets
(In thousands, except share data)
(Unaudited)

See accompanying notes to condensed consolidated financial statements.

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EXPEDITORS INTERNATIONAL OF WASHINGTON, INC.
AND SUBSIDIARIES

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Earnings
(In thousands, except share data)
(Unaudited)

See accompanying notes to condensed consolidated financial statements.

All share and per share amounts have been adjusted for the 2-for-1 stock split effective June 2006.

Certain 2006 amounts have been reclassified to conform to the 2007 presentation.

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EXPEDITORS INTERNATIONAL OF WASHINGTON, INC.
AND SUBSIDIARIES

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows
(In thousands)

(Unaudited)

See accompanying notes to condensed consolidated financial statements.

Certain 2006 amounts have been reclassified to conform to the 2007 presentation.

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EXPEDITORS INTERNATIONAL OF WASHINGTON, INC.
AND SUBSIDIARIES

Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements

(in thousands, except share data)

(Unaudited)

Note 1.  Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

The attached condensed consolidated financial statements have been prepared pursuant to the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission. As a result, certain information and footnote disclosures normally included in financial statements prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States have been condensed or omitted.  The Company believes that the disclosures made are adequate to make the information presented not misleading.  The condensed consolidated financial statements reflect all adjustments which are, in the opinion of management, necessary to a fair statement of the results for the interim periods presented.  These condensed consolidated financial statements should be read in conjunction with the financial statements and related notes included in the Company’s Form 10-K as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on or about March 1, 2007.

Certain 2006 amounts have been reclassified to conform to the 2007 presentation.

Note 2.  Comprehensive Income

Comprehensive income consists of net income and other gains and losses affecting shareholders’ equity that, under generally accepted accounting principles in the United States, are excluded from net income.  For the Company, these consist of foreign currency translation gains and losses and unrealized gains and losses on securities, net of related income tax effects.

The components of total comprehensive income for interim periods are presented in the following table:

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Note 3.  Business Segment Information

Statement of Financial Accounting Standards (SFAS) No. 131, “Disclosure about Segments of an Enterprise and Related Information” establishes standards for the way that public companies report selected information about segments in their financial statements.

The Company is organized functionally in geographic operating segments.  Accordingly, management focuses its attention on revenues, net revenues, operating income, identifiable assets, capital expenditures, depreciation and amortization and equity generated in each of these geographical areas when evaluating the effectiveness of geographic management.  The Company charges its subsidiaries and affiliates for services rendered in the United States on a cost recovery basis.  Transactions among the Company’s various offices are conducted using the same arms-length pricing methodologies the Company uses when its offices transact business with independent agents.

Financial information regarding the Company’s operations by geographic area for the three months ended March 31, 2007 and 2006 are as follows:

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Note 4.  Basic and Diluted Earnings per Share

The following table reconciles the numerator and the denominator of the basic and diluted per share computations for earnings per share for the three months ended March 31, 2007 and 2006:

The following shares have been excluded from the computation of diluted earnings per share because the effect would have been antidilutive:

Note 5.  Shareholders’ Equity

Stock Option Plans and Stock Purchase Plan

The Company provides compensation benefits by granting stock options to its employees and directors and employee stock purchase rights to its employees. In accordance with SFAS No. 123R, “Share-Based Payment” (SFAS 123R) the Company recognizes compensation expense based on the estimated fair value of options awarded under its fixed stock option and employee stock purchase rights plans.  The stock compensation expense is recognized on a straight-line basis over the period stock options become vested.  The Company’s annual grant of option awards generally takes place during the second quarter of each fiscal year and no grants were made in the quarters ended March 31, 2007 and 2006. The grant of employee stock purchase rights and the issuance of shares under the employee stock purchase plan are generally made in the third quarter of each fiscal year and none were issued in the quarters ended March 31, 2007 and 2006.

Total stock compensation expense and the total related tax benefit recognized in the three months ended March 31, 2007 and 2006 are as follows:

Note 6.  Income Taxes

On January 1, 2007, the Company adopted the provisions of FASB Interpretation No. 48, “Accounting for Uncertainty in Income Taxes” (FIN 48). FIN 48 clarifies the accounting for uncertainty in income taxes recognized in the Company’s financial statements in accordance with SFAS No. 109, “Accounting for Income Taxes” (SFAS 109). The interpretation establishes guidelines for recognition, measurement, presentation and disclosure of uncertain tax positions taken or expected to be taken in income tax returns. The adoption of FIN 48 had no material impact on the Company’s consolidated financial condition or results of operations.

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Based on management’s review of the Company’s tax positions the Company had no significant unrecognized tax benefits as of March 31, 2007 and January 1, 2007.

The Company or one of its subsidiaries files income tax returns in the U.S. federal jurisdiction and various state, local and foreign jurisdictions. The Company is no longer subject to U.S. federal income tax examinations by tax authorities for years prior to 2003. With respect to state and local jurisdictions and countries outside of the United States, with limited exceptions, the Company and its subsidiaries are no longer subject to income tax audits for years prior to 2000. In the normal course of business, the Company is subject to examination by taxing authorities throughout the world. Although the outcome of tax audits is always uncertain, the Company believes that adequate amounts of tax, interest and penalties have been provided for any adjustments that may result from these open tax years.

The Company recognizes interest expense related to unrecognized tax benefits or underpayment of income taxes in interest expense and recognizes penalties in operating expenses. The Company has not changed its policy as a result of adopting FIN 48. Amounts accrued for the payment of interest and penalties were insignificant at the date of adoption of FIN 48.  Accordingly, any interest and penalties expensed in relation to the underpayment of income taxes were insignificant for the three months ended March 31, 2007 and 2006.

Note 7.  Recent Accounting Pronouncements

Effective January 1, 2007, the Company adopted Emerging Issues Task Force Issue 06-3, “How Sales Taxes Collected From Customers and Remitted to Governmental Authorities Should Be Presented in the Income Statement,” (EITF 06-3). The scope of EITF 06-3 includes any tax assessed by a governmental authority that is both imposed on and concurrent with a specific revenue-producing transaction between a seller and a customer, including but not limited to sales and value-added taxes.  In EITF 06-3 a consensus was reached that entities may adopt a policy of presenting these taxes in the income statement on either a gross or net basis. If these taxes are significant, an entity should disclose its policy of presenting taxes and the amount of taxes if reflected on a gross basis in the income statement. The Company presents revenues net of sales and value-added taxes in its condensed consolidated statements of earnings and did not change its policy as a result of the adoption of EITF 06-3. The adoption of EITF 06-3 had no impact on the Company’s condensed consolidated financial condition or results of operations.

In September 2006, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) issued SFAS No. 157, “Fair Value Measurements” (SFAS 157).  SFAS 157 defines fair value, establishes a framework for measuring fair value in generally accepted accounting principles, and expands disclosures about fair value measurements. This Statement applies under other accounting pronouncements that require or permit fair value measurements, the FASB having previously concluded in those accounting pronouncements that fair value is the relevant measurement attribute. Accordingly, this Statement does not require any new fair value measurements. SFAS 157 is effective for financial statements issued for fiscal years beginning after November 15, 2007, and interim periods within those fiscal years. The Company is required to and plans to adopt the provisions of SFAS 157 beginning in the first quarter of 2008.  The Company is currently assessing the impact of the adoption of SFAS 157.

In February 2007, the FASB issued SFAS No. 159, “The Fair Value Option for Financial Assets and Financial Liabilities” (SFAS 159).  Under the provisions of SFAS 159, companies may choose to account for eligible financial instruments, warranties and insurance contracts at fair value on a contract-by-contract basis.  Changes in fair value will be recognized in earnings each reporting period.  SFAS 159 is effective for financial statements issued for fiscal years beginning after November 15, 2007, and interim periods within those fiscal years.  The Company is required to and plans to adopt the provisions of SFAS 159 beginning in the first quarter of 2008.  The Company is currently assessing the impact of the adoption of SFAS 159.

Item 2.  Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations

SAFE HARBOR FOR FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS UNDER SECURITIES LITIGATION
                REFORM ACT OF 1995; CERTAIN CAUTIONARY STATEMENTS

Certain portions of this report on Form 10-Q including the section entitled “Currency and Other Risk Factors” and “Liquidity and Capital Resources” contain forward-looking statements, which must be considered in connection with the discussion of the important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from the forward-looking statements.  In addition to risk factors identified elsewhere in this report, attention should be given to the factors identified and discussed in the report on Form 10-K filed on or about March 1, 2007.

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

Expeditors International of Washington, Inc. is engaged in the business of global logistics management, including international freight forwarding and consolidation, for both air and ocean freight.  The Company acts as a customs broker in all domestic offices, and in many of its international offices.  The Company also provides additional services for its customers including value-added distribution, purchase order management, vendor consolidation and other logistics solutions.  The Company does not compete for overnight courier or small parcel business.  The Company does not own or operate aircraft or steamships.

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International trade is influenced by many factors, including economic and political conditions in the United States and abroad, currency exchange rates, and United States and foreign laws and policies relating to tariffs, trade restrictions, foreign investments and taxation.  Periodically, governments consider a variety of changes to current tariffs and trade restrictions.  The Company cannot predict which, if any, of these proposals may be adopted, nor can the Company predict the effects the adoption of any such proposal will have on the Company’s business.  Doing business in foreign locations also subjects the Company to a variety of risks and considerations not normally encountered by domestic enterprises.  In addition to being influenced by governmental policies concerning international trade, the Company’s business may also be affected by political developments and changes in government personnel or policies in the nations in which it does business.

The Company derives its revenues from three principal sources: 1) airfreight, 2) ocean freight and 3) customs brokerage and other services and these are the revenue categories presented in the financial statements.

As a non-asset based carrier, the Company does not own transportation assets.  Rather, the Company generates the major portion of its air and ocean freight revenues by purchasing transportation services from direct (asset-based) carriers and reselling those services to its customers.   The difference between the rate billed to customers (the sell rate), and the rate paid to the carrier (the buy rate) is termed “net revenue” or “yield.”  By consolidating shipments from multiple customers and concentrating its buying power, the Company is able to negotiate favorable buy rates from the direct carriers, while at the same time offering lower sell rates than customers would otherwise be able to negotiate themselves.

Customs brokerage and other services involves providing services at destination, such as helping customers clear shipments through customs by preparing required documentation, calculating and providing for payment of duties and other taxes on behalf of the customers as well as arranging for any required inspections by governmental agencies, and arranging for delivery.   This is a complicated function requiring technical knowledge of customs rules and regulations in the multitude of countries in which the Company has offices.

The Company’s ability to provide services to its customers is highly dependent on good working relationships with a variety of entities including airlines, ocean steamship lines, and governmental agencies.  The significance of maintaining acceptable working relationships with governmental agencies and asset-based providers involved in global trade has gained increased importance as a result of ongoing concern over terrorism.  As each carrier labors to comply with governmental regulations implementing security policies and procedures, inherent conflicts emerge which can and do affect global trade to some degree.  A good reputation helps to develop practical working understandings that will effectively meet security requirements while minimizing potential international trade obstacles.  The Company considers its current working relationships with these entities to be satisfactory.  However, changes in space allotments available from carriers, governmental deregulation efforts, “modernization” of the regulations governing customs brokerage, and/or changes in governmental quota restrictions could affect the Company’s business in unpredictable ways.

Historically, the Company’s operating results have been subject to a seasonal trend when measured on a quarterly basis.  The first quarter has traditionally been the weakest and the third and fourth quarters have traditionally been the strongest.  This pattern is the result of, or is influenced by, numerous factors including climate, national holidays, consumer demand, economic conditions and a myriad of other similar and subtle forces.  In addition, this historical quarterly trend has been influenced by the growth and diversification of the Company’s international network and service offerings.  The Company cannot accurately forecast many of these factors nor can the Company estimate accurately the relative influence of any particular factor and, as a result, there can be no assurance that historical patterns, if any, will continue in future periods.

A significant portion of the Company’s revenues are derived from customers in retail industries whose shipping patterns are tied closely to consumer demand, and from customers in industries whose shipping patterns are dependent upon just-in-time production schedules.  Therefore, the timing of the Company’s revenues are, to a large degree, impacted by factors out of the Company’s control, such as a sudden change in consumer demand for retail goods and/or manufacturing production delays.  Additionally, many customers ship a significant portion of their goods at or near the end of a quarter, and therefore, the Company may not learn of a shortfall in revenues until late in a quarter.  To the extent that a shortfall in revenues or earnings was not expected by securities analysts, any such shortfall from levels predicted by securities analysts could have an immediate and adverse effect on the trading price of the Company’s stock.

As further discussed under liquidity and capital resources, total capital expenditures in 2007 are expected to exceed $106 million.

In terms of the opportunities, challenges and risks that management is focused on in 2007, the Company operates in 60 countries throughout the world in the competitive global logistics industry and Company activities are tied directly to the global economy.  From the inception of the Company, management has believed that the elements required for a successful global service organization can only be assured through recruiting, training, and ultimately retaining superior personnel.  The Company’s greatest challenge is now and always has been perpetuating a consistent global culture which demands:

·                           Total dedication, first and foremost, to providing superior customer service;

·                           Aggressive marketing of all of the Company’s service offerings;

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·                           Ongoing development of key employees and management personnel via formal and informal means;

·                           Creation of unlimited advancement opportunities for employees dedicated to hard work, personal growth and continuous improvement;

·                           Individual commitment to the identification and mentoring of successors for every key position so that when inevitable change is required, a qualified and well-trained internal candidate is ready to step forward; and

·                           Continuous identification, design and implementation of system solutions, both technological and otherwise, to meet and exceed the needs of our customers while simultaneously delivering tools to make our employees more efficient and more effective.

The Company has reinforced these values with a compensation system that rewards employees for profitably managing the things they can control.  There is no limit to how much a key manager can be compensated for success.   The Company believes in a “real world” environment in every operating unit where individuals are not sheltered from the profit implications of their decisions.  At the same time, the Company insists on continued focus on such things as accounts receivable collection, cash flow management and credit soundness in an attempt to insulate managers from the sort of catastrophic errors that might end a career.

Any failure to perpetuate this unique culture on a self-sustained basis throughout the Company, provides a greater threat to the Company’s continued success than any external force, which would be largely beyond our control.  Consequently, management spends the majority of its time focused on creating an environment where employees can learn and develop while also building systems and taking preventative action to reduce exposure to negative events.   The Company strongly believes that it is nearly impossible to predict events that, in the aggregate, could have a positive or a negative impact on future operations.  As a result our focus is on building and maintaining a global culture of well-trained employees and managers that are prepared to identify and react to subtle changes as they develop and thereby help the Company adapt and thrive as major trends emerge.

Critical Accounting Estimates

Management believes that the nature of the Company’s business is such that there are few, if any, complex measurement issues or challenges in accounting for operations.

While judgments and estimates are a necessary component of any system of accounting, the Company’s use of estimates is limited primarily to the following areas that in the aggregate are not a major component of the Company’s statement of earnings:

·                  accounts receivable valuation,

·                  the useful lives of long-term assets,

·                  the accrual of costs related to ancillary services the Company provides,

·                  establishment of adequate insurance liabilities for the portion of the freight related exposure which the Company has self-insured, and

·                  accrual of tax expense on an interim basis.

Management believes that the methods utilized in all of these areas are non-aggressive in approach and consistent in application.  Management believes that there are limited, if any, alternative accounting principles or methods which could be applied to the Company’s transactions.  While the use of estimates means that actual future results may be different from those contemplated by the estimates, the Company believes that alternative principles and methods used for making such estimates would not produce materially different results than those reported.

As described in Note 5 in the condensed consolidated financial statements in this quarterly report, the Company accounts for share based compensation in accordance with SFAS 123R. This accounting standard requires the recognition of compensation expense based on an estimate of the fair value of options granted to employees and directors under the Company’s stock option and employee stock purchase plans.  This expense is recorded on a straight-line basis over the option vesting periods.

Determining the appropriate option pricing model to use to estimate stock compensation expense requires judgment. Any option pricing model requires assumptions that are subjective and these assumptions also require judgment. Examples include assumptions about long-term stock price volatility, employee exercise patterns, pre-vesting option forfeitures, post-vesting option terminations, and the future interest rates and dividend yields.  The Company uses the Black-Scholes model for estimating the fair value of stock options.

For the three month periods ended March 31, 2007 and 2006, no options were granted by the Company so there is no required disclosure for options issued under SFAS 123R.

Management believes that these assumptions are appropriate, based upon the requirements of SFAS 123R and the guidance included in SAB 107 and the Company’s historical and currently expected future experience. Looking to future events, management has been strongly influenced by historical patterns which may not be valid predictors of future developments and any future deviation may be material.

The Company’s expected volatility assumptions are based on the historical volatility of the Company’s stock. The expected life assumption is primarily based on historical employee exercise patterns and employee post-vesting termination behavior. The risk-free interest rate for

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the expected term of the option is based on the corresponding yield curve in effect at the time of grant for U.S. Treasury bonds having the same term as the expected life of the option, i.e. a ten year bond rate is used for valuing an option with a ten year expected life. The expected dividend yield is based on the Company’s historical experience. The forfeiture rate used to calculate compensation expense is primarily based on historical pre-vesting employee forfeiture patterns.

The use of different assumptions would result in different amounts of stock compensation expense. Keeping all other variables constant, the indicated change in each of the assumptions below increases or decreases the fair value of an option (and the resulting stock compensation expense), as follows:

The fair value of an option is more significantly impacted by changes in the expected volatility and expected life assumptions. The pre-vesting forfeitures assumption is ultimately adjusted to the actual forfeiture rate. Therefore, changes in the forfeitures assumption would not impact the total amount of expense ultimately recognized over the vesting period. Different forfeitures assumptions would only impact the timing of expense recognition over the vesting period. Estimated forfeitures will be reassessed in subsequent periods and may change based on new facts and circumstances.

Results of Operations

The following table shows the consolidated net revenues (revenues less transportation expenses) attributable to the Company’s principal services and the Company’s expenses for the three-month periods ended March 31, 2007 and 2006, expressed as percentages of net revenues.  Management believes that net revenues are a better measure than total revenues of the relative importance of the Company’s principal services since total revenues earned by the Company as a freight consolidator include the carriers’ charges to the Company for carrying the shipment whereas revenues earned by the Company in its other capacities include only the commissions and fees actually earned by the Company.

The table and the accompanying discussion and analysis should be read in conjunction with the condensed consolidated financial statements and related notes thereto which appear elsewhere in this quarterly report.

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Airfreight net revenues increased 16% for the three-month period ended March 31, 2007, as compared with the same period for 2006.  The increase in airfreight net revenues was due to a 6% increase in airfreight tonnages handled by the Company during the first quarter of 2007 and a 220 basis point yield expansion (a 10% increase), as compared with the same period of 2006.  The Company’s North American export airfreight net revenues increased 13% in the first quarter of 2007, as compared to the same period for 2006, primarily the result of increased market share attributable to focused sales activity.  Airfreight net revenues from Asia and Europe increased 21% and 7%, respectively, for the three month period ended March 31, 2007.  The increase in Asia is primarily the result of yield increases of 13% combined with tonnage increases of 7%.  The increase in Europe is a result of tonnage increases of 6% combined with average pricing increases of 4%, offset by average yield declines of approximately 90 basis points (a 5% decrease).

Ocean freight volumes, measured in terms of forty-foot container equivalent units (FEUs), increased ­­ 12% in the first quarter 2007, as compared with the same period for 2006.  Ocean freight and ocean services net revenues increased only 3% during the same period, reflecting lower yields of approximately 110 basis points (a 5% decrease) and average pricing decreases of 4%.  The dynamics in the ocean freight market are a combination of market conditions and pricing adjustments which can occur when direct carriers invest in increased capacity.

The Company’s North American ocean freight net revenues increased 1% in the first quarter of 2007, as compared with the same period for 2006.  Ocean freight net revenues from Asia decreased 3% and from Europe increased 14% for the three months ended March 31, 2007, as compared to the same period for 2006.  The increase in European ocean freight net revenue during the quarter is primarily a result of increased imports driven by more focused sales collaboration between the Company’s Asian and European offices.  This increase was also influenced by the relative strength of European currencies.  The decrease in Asian ocean freight net revenue is a result of lower average prices and yields in the Trans-Pacific shipping market.

Customs brokerage and other services net revenues increased ­­14% for the three-month period ended March 31, 2007, as compared with the same period for 2006, as a result of the Company’s continuing reputation for providing high quality service.  Consolidation within the customs brokerage market has also contributed to this increase as customers seek out customs brokers with more sophisticated computerized capabilities critical to an overall logistics management program.  In addition, increased emphasis on regulatory compliance continues to benefit the Company’s customs brokerage offerings.

Salaries and related costs increased 14% during the three-month period ended March 31, 2007, as compared with the same period in 2006, as a result of (1) the Company’s increased hiring of sales, operations, and administrative personnel in existing and new offices to accommodate increases in business activity, and (2) increased compensation levels.

The effect of including stock-based compensation expense in salaries and related costs for the three-months ended March 31, 2007 and 2006 are as follows:

Of the 70 basis point increase in salaries and related costs as a percentage of net revenue, 60 basis points is the result of the increase in stock compensation expense as a percentage of net revenue.

Historically, the relatively consistent relationship between salaries and net revenues is the result of a compensation philosophy that has been maintained since the inception of the Company: offer a modest base salary and the opportunity to share in a fixed and determinable percentage of the operating profit of the business unit controlled by each key employee.  Using this compensation model, changes in individual compensation will occur in proportion to changes in Company profits.  Management believes that the growth in revenues, net revenues and net earnings, for the three month period ended March 31, 2007, are a result of the incentives inherent in the Company’s compensation program.

Other overhead expenses increased 10% for the three-month period ended March 31, 2007, as compared with the same period in 2006, as communications expense, quality and training expenses, and other costs expanded to accommodate the Company’s growing operations.  Other overhead expenses remained consistent as a percentage of net revenues for the three-month period ended March 31,

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2007, as compared with the same period in 2006.  Management believes that this was significant as it reflects the successful achievement of ongoing cost containment objectives at the branch level.

Other income, net, increased 1% for the three-month period ended March 31, 2007, as compared with the same period in 2006.  Due to slightly higher interest rates on higher average cash balances and short-term investments during the first quarter of 2007, interest income increased by approximately $1 million.

The Company pays income taxes in the United States and other jurisdictions, as well as other taxes which are typically included in costs of operations.  The Company’s consolidated effective income tax rate for the three months ended March 31, 2007 of 40.96% increased when compared with the 40.58% rate for the same period in 2006.  The higher consolidated effective income tax rate for 2007 as compared to 2006 is partially the result of a lower net tax benefit received for non-qualified stock options during the first quarter of 2007 than was realized during the first quarter of 2006.

Currency and Other Risk Factors

International air/ocean freight forwarding and customs brokerage are intensively competitive and are expected to remain so for the foreseeable future. There are a large number of entities competing in the international logistics industry; however, the Company’s primary competition is confined to a relatively small number of companies within this group. While there is currently a marked trend within the industry toward consolidation into large firms with multinational offices and agency networks, regional and local broker/forwarders remain a competitive force.

Historically, the primary competitive factors in the international logistics industry have been price and quality of service, including reliability, responsiveness, expertise, convenience, and scope of operations.  The Company emphasizes quality customer service and believes that its prices are competitive with those of others in the industry.  Customers have exhibited a trend towards more sophisticated and efficient procedures for the management of the logistics supply chain by embracing strategies such as just-in-time inventory management.  The Company believes that this trend has resulted in customers using fewer service providers with greater technological capacity and consistent global coverage.  Accordingly, sophisticated computerized customer service capabilities and a stable worldwide network have become significant factors in attracting and retaining customers.

Developing these systems and a worldwide network has added a considerable indirect cost to the services provided to customers.  Smaller and middle-tier competitors, in general, do not have the resources available to develop customized systems and a worldwide network.  As a result, there is a significant amount of consolidation currently taking place in the industry.  Management expects that this trend toward consolidation will continue for the short- to medium-term.

The nature of the Company’s worldwide operations necessitates the Company dealing with a multitude of currencies other than the U.S. dollar.  This results in the Company being exposed to the inherent risks of the international currency markets and governmental interference.  Some of the countries where the Company maintains offices and/or agency relationships have strict currency control regulations which influence the Company’s ability to hedge foreign currency exposure.  The Company tries to compensate for these exposures by accelerating international currency settlements among its offices or agents.  The Company enters into foreign currency hedging transactions only in limited locations where there are regulatory or commercial limitations on the Company’s ability to move money freely around the world or the short-term financial outlook in any country is such that hedging is the most time-sensitive way to avoid short-term exchange losses.  Any such hedging activity during the three months ended March 31, 2007 and 2006 was insignificant.  During the three months ended March 31, 2007, the Company had a net foreign exchange loss of approximately $110.  For the same period in 2006, the Company recorded net foreign exchange gains of approximately $1,049.  The Company had no foreign currency derivatives outstanding at March 31, 2007 and 2006.

Sources of Growth

During the first quarter of 2007, the Company opened four full-service offices (–) and one satellite office (+), as follows:

(1)             Chongqing, China converted from a satellite to a full-service office.

(2)             Batam, Indonesia is a satellite office of Singapore.

Acquisitions - Historically, growth through aggressive acquisition has proven to be a challenge for many of the Company’s competitors and typically involves the purchase of significant “goodwill,” the value of which can be realized in large measure only by retaining the customers and profit margins of the acquired business. As a result, the Company has pursued a strategy emphasizing organic growth supplemented by certain strategic acquisitions, where future economic benefit significantly exceeds the “goodwill” recorded in the transaction.

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Internal Growth - Management believes that a comparison of “same store” growth is critical in the evaluation of the quality and extent of the Company’s internally generated growth. This “same store” analysis isolates the financial contributions from offices that have been included in the Company’s operating results for at least one full year.   The table below presents “same store” comparisons for the first quarter of 2007 (which is the measure of any increase from the same period of 2006) and for the first quarter of 2006 (which measures growth over 2005).

Liquidity and Capital Resources

The Company’s principal source of liquidity is cash generated from operating activities.  Net cash provided by operating activities for the three months ended March 31, 2007, was approximately $116 million, as compared with $138 million for the same period of 2006.  This $22 million decrease is principally due to decreases in accounts payable and other current liabilities and a decrease in taxes payable, net of prepaid taxes.

The Company’s business is subject to seasonal fluctuations.  Cash flow fluctuates as a result of this seasonality.  Historically, the first quarter shows an excess of customer collections over customer billings.  This results in positive cash flow.  The increased activity associated with peak season (typically commencing late second or early third quarter) causes an excess of customer billings over customer collections.  This cyclical growth in customer receivables consumes available cash.

As a customs broker, the Company makes significant 5-10 business day cash advances for certain of its customers’ obligations such asthe payment of duties to the Customs and Border Protection of the Department of Homeland Security.  These advances are made as an accommodation for a select group of credit-worthy customers.  Cash advances are a “pass through” and are not recorded as a component of revenue and expense.  The billings of such advances to customers are accounted for as a direct increase in accounts receivable to the customer and a corresponding increase in accounts payable to governmental customs authorities.  As a result of these “pass through” billings, the conventional Days Sales Outstanding or DSO calculation does not directly measure collection efficiency.

Cash used in investing activities for the three months ended March 31, 2007, was $13 million, as compared with $22 million during the same period of 2006.  The largest use of cash in investing activities is cash paid for capital expenditures.  As a non-asset based provider of integrated logistics services, the Company does not own any physical means of transportation (i.e., airplanes, ships, trucks, etc.).  However, the Company does have need, on occasion, to purchase buildings to house staff and to facilitate the staging of customers’ freight.  The Company routinely invests in technology, office furniture and equipment and leasehold improvements.  In the first quarter of 2007, the Company made capital expenditures of $13 million, as compared with $21 million for the same period in 2006.  Capital expenditures in the first quarter of 2007 and 2006 related primarily to investments in technology, office furniture and equipment, building improvements and leasehold improvements.  The Company currently expects to spend approximately $43 million for normal capital expenditures in 2007. In addition to property and equipment, normal capital expenditures include leasehold improvements, warehouse equipment, computer hardware and furniture and fixtures.  Total capital expenditures in 2007 are currently estimated to be $106 million.  This includes normal capital expenditures as noted above, plus additional real estate acquisitions and development.  In April 2007, the Company signed a commitment for approximately $34 million (HK$263 million) to purchase 48,300 square feet of office space in Kowloon, Hong Kong.  The transaction is expected to close in July 2007.  The Company expects to finance capital expenditures in 2007 with cash.

Cash used in financing activities during the first quarter of 2007 was $41 million as compared with $15 million during the first quarter of 2006.  The Company uses the proceeds from stock option exercises to repurchase the Company’s stock on the open market.  The Company follows a policy of repurchasing stock to limit growth in issued and outstanding shares as a result of stock option exercises.  The increase in cash used in financing activities during the first quarter of 2007 compared with the same period in 2006 is primarily the result of this policy.  This increase was offset by a $10 million increase in the excess tax benefits received by the Company from the exercise of certain employee stock options during the first quarter of 2007 when compared to the same period in 2006.

At March 31, 2007, working capital was $666 million, including cash and short-term investments of $577 million.  The Company had no long-term debt at March 31, 2007.

The Company maintains international and domestic unsecured bank lines of credit.   At March 31, 2007, the United States facility totaled $50 million and international bank lines of credit, excluding the U.K. bank facility, totaled $18 million.  In addition, the Company maintains a bank facility with its U.K. bank for $14 million which is available for issuances of standby letters of credit.  At March 31, 2007, the Company had $224 outstanding on these lines of credit and was contingently liable for $64 million from standby letters of credit and guarantees related to these lines of credit and other obligations.  The guarantees relate to obligations of the

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Company’s foreign subsidiaries for credit extended in the ordinary course of business by direct carriers, primarily airlines, and for duty and tax deferrals available from governmental entities responsible for customs and value-added-tax (VAT) taxation.  The total underlying amounts due and payable for transportation and governmental excises are properly recorded as obligations in the books of the respective foreign subsidiaries, and there would be no need to record additional expense in the unlikely event the parent company were to be required to perform.

Management believes that the Company’s current cash position, bank financing arrangements, and operating cash flows will be sufficient to meet its capital and liquidity requirements for the foreseeable future, including meeting any contingent liabilities related to standby letters of credit and other obligations.

In some cases, the Company’s ability to repatriate funds from foreign operations may be subject to foreign exchange controls. At March 31, 2007, cash and cash equivalent balances of $402 million were held by the Company’s non-United States subsidiaries, of which $61 million was held in banks in the United States.

Item 3.  Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk

The Company is exposed to market risks in the ordinary course of its business.  These risks are primarily related to foreign exchange risk and changes in short-term interest rates.  The potential impact of the Company’s exposure to these risks is presented below:

Foreign Exchange Risk

The Company conducts business in many different countries and currencies.  The Company’s business often results in revenue billings issued in a country and currency which differs from that where the expenses related to the service are incurred. In the ordinary course of business, the Company creates numerous intercompany transactions.  This brings a market risk to the Company’s earnings.

Foreign exchange rate sensitivity analysis can be quantified by estimating the impact on the Company’s earnings as a result of hypothetical changes in the value of the U.S. dollar, the Company’s functional currency, relative to the other currencies in which the Company transacts business.  All other things being equal, an average 10% weakening of the U.S. dollar, throughout the three months ended March 31, 2007, would have had the effect of raising operating income approximately $7 million.  An average 10% strengthening of the U.S. dollar, for the same period, would have the effect of reducing operating income approximately $6 million.  This analysis does not take in to account changes in shipping patterns based upon this hypothetical currency fluctuation.  For example, a weakening in the U.S. dollar would be expected to increase exports from the United States and decrease imports into the United States over some relevant period of time, but the exact effect of this change cannot be quantified without making speculative assumptions.

As of March 31, 2007, the Company had approximately $3 million of net unsettled intercompany transactions.  The Company currently does not use derivative financial instruments to manage foreign currency risk and only enters into foreign currency hedging transactions in limited locations where regulatory or commercial limitations restrict the Company’s ability to move money freely.  Any such hedging activity during the three months ended March 31, 2007, was insignificant.  The Company had no foreign currency derivatives outstanding at March 31, 2007 and 2006.  The Company instead follows a policy of accelerating international currency settlements to manage foreign exchange risk relative to intercompany billings.  The majority of intercompany billings are resolved within 30 days and intercompany billings arising in the normal course of business are fully settled within 90 days.

Interest Rate Risk

At March 31, 2007, the Company had cash and cash equivalents and short-term investments of $577 million, of which $419 million was invested at various short-term market interest rates.  The Company had short-term borrowings of $224 at March 31, 2007.  A hypothetical change in the interest rate of 10% would not have a significant impact on the Company’s earnings.

In management’s opinion, there has been no material change in the Company’s market risk exposure in the first quarter of 2007.

Item 4.  Controls and Procedures

Evaluation of Controls and Procedures

The Company carried out an evaluation, under the supervision and with the participation of its management, including the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, of the effectiveness of the design and operation of the Company’s “disclosure controls and procedures” (as defined in the Exchange Act Rule 13a-15(e)) as of the end of the period covered by this report.  Based upon that evaluation, the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer concluded that the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures were effective.

Changes in Internal Controls

There were no changes in the Company’s internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the most recent fiscal quarter that have materially affected or are reasonably likely to materially affect, the Company’s internal control over financial reporting.

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EXPEDITORS INTERNATIONAL OF WASHINGTON, INC.
AND SUBSIDIARIES

PART II.  OTHER INFORMATION

Item 1. Legal Proceedings

The Company is ordinarily involved in claims and lawsuits which arise in the normal course of business, none of which currently, in management’s opinion, will have a significant effect on the Company’s financial position or results of operations.

Item 1A. Risk Factors

There have been no material changes in the Company’s risk factors from those disclosed in the report on Form 10-K filed on or about March 1, 2007.

Item 2.  Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds

ISSUER PURCHASES OF EQUITY SECURITIES

In November 1993, the Company’s Board of Directors authorized a Non-Discretionary Stock Repurchase Plan.  This plan was amended in February 2001 to increase the authorization to repurchase up to 20 million shares of the Company’s common stock.  This authorization has no expiration date.  This plan was disclosed in the Company’s report on Form 10-K filed March 31, 1995.  In the first quarter of 2007, 268,583 shares were repurchased under the Non-Discretionary Stock Repurchase Plan.

In November 2001, under a Discretionary Stock Repurchase Plan, the Company’s Board of Directors authorized the repurchase of such shares as may be necessary to reduce the issued and outstanding stock to 200 million shares of common stock.  The maximum number of shares available for repurchase under this plan will increase as the total number of outstanding shares increases.  This authorization has no expiration date.  This plan was announced on November 13, 2001.  In the first quarter of 2007, 1,348,639 shares were repurchased under the Discretionary Stock Repurchase Plan.  These discretionary repurchases were made to limit the growth in the number of issued and outstanding shares resulting from stock option exercises.

Item 5.  Other Information

(a)  Not applicable.

(b)  Not applicable.

Item 6. Exhibits

Exhibits required by Item 601 of Regulation S-K.

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SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized.

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EXPEDITORS INTERNATIONAL OF WASHINGTON, INC.
AND SUBSIDIARIES

Form 10-Q Index and Exhibits

March 31, 2007

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