AMERCO (Nasdaq:  UHAL), parent of U-Haul International, Inc., Oxford Life Insurance Company, Repwest Insurance Company and Amerco Real Estate Company, today reported net earnings available to shareholders for the year ended March 31, 2014, were $342.4 million, or $17.51 per share, compared with $264.7 million, or$13.56 per share for the same period last year.

For the quarter ended March 31, 2014, the Company reported net earnings available to shareholders of $39.2 million, or $2.00 per share compared with net earnings of $37.9 million, or $1.93 per share for the same period last year.  The fourth quarter of fiscal 2013 included an $8.4 million pre-tax gain at our insurance companies resulting from an investment gain.

“Our employees, dealers and affiliates continue to find ways to improve the U-Haul rental experience,” stated Joe Shoen, chairman of AMERCO.  “We operate in very competitive markets.  We are surrounded by uncertainty.  The better we serve the customer, the better our longer term prospects.”

Highlights of Fiscal Year and Fourth Quarter 2014 Results

• Self-moving equipment rental revenues increased $31.4 million or 8.6% in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2014 compared with the fourth quarter of fiscal 2013, and finished the full year up $187.9 million or 10.6% compared with fiscal 2013. The increase in revenue was largely due to transaction growth fueled by the expansion of our rental equipment fleet, growth in our independent dealer network and the addition of Company-operated locations.
• Self-storage revenues increased $7.2 million or 17.6% in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2014 compared with the fourth quarter of fiscal 2013 and for the full year increased $29.1 million or 19.1% compared with fiscal 2013. Recent acquisitions, along with occupancy improvements at existing locations, contributed to the increase in storage revenue. During both fiscal 2014 and fiscal 2013 we added approximately 2.1 million square feet of owned net rentable storage each year.
• Operating earnings at our Moving and Storage operating segment increased $17.6 million in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2014 compared with the same period last year and for the full year increased $122.4 million.
• Operating earnings at our Life Insurance segment increased $3.7 million for fiscal year 2014 compared with fiscal 2013. OnMay 7, 2014, A.M. Best upgraded the financial strength rating of Oxford Life to A- (Excellent) with a stable outlook.
• Operating earnings at our Property and Casualty Insurance segment increased $5.1 million for fiscal year 2014 compared with fiscal year 2013 led by sales of insurance products related to the increased rental transactions at U-Haul.
• Gross truck and trailer capital expenditures for fiscal 2014 were approximately $776 million compared with approximately$599 million for fiscal 2013. Proceeds from the sales of rental equipment were $258 million for fiscal 2014 compared with$208 million in fiscal 2013. Spending on real estate related acquisitions and projects increased approximately $152 million to $321 million in fiscal 2014 compared with fiscal 2013.

AMERCO will hold its investor call for fiscal 2014 on Thursday, May 29, 2014, at 8 a.m. Arizona Time (11 a.m. Eastern). The call will be broadcast live over the Internet at www.amerco.com. To hear a simulcast of the call, or a replay, visit www.amerco.com.

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About AMERCO

AMERCO is the parent company of U-Haul International, Inc., Oxford Life Insurance Company, Repwest Insurance Company and Amerco Real Estate Company. U-Haul is in the shared use business and was founded on the fundamental philosophy that the division of use and specialization of ownership is good for both U-Haul customers and the environment. For more information, please visit: www.amerco.com

(via PRNewswire)

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