This month the LT 50 charts the entire course of 2004, reflected in the performance of the NASDAQ, S&P 500 and LT 50, our index of the top 50 carriers, 3PLs and solution providers. The technology-heavy NASDAQ exchange finished the year up 8.6%, while the industrial/consumer-focused S&P 500 gained 9.0%. All those who doubted how well the logistics industry would do in 2004 had to be quite pleased, as the LT 50 index grew a robust 30.0% last year, with 45 of the 50 companies (90%) posting gains over the course of the year.
The biggest gainer in 2004 was intermodal services provider Hub Group Inc., as its share price grew 143% during the past year. The company's revenues were up nearly $39 million through the third quarter, allowing Hub Group to pay off $62 million in debt (see p. 16 for an interview with Phillip Yeager, Hub Group's chairman).
On the opposite side, supply chain solution provider Manugistics Group Inc. weathered a very disappointing 2004, with its stock plummeting 55%. Total revenues were down nearly 25% in the third quarter compared to the previous year, with software revenue taking a big hit, down 61% from the prior year quarter.
| Who's Hot | Who's Not | ||
| The Hub Group | 143.7% | Manugistics Group Inc | -55.0% |
| US Xpress | 134.5% | General Motors | -21.7% |
| Landstar | 95.3% | Manhattan Associates | -12.5% |
