Vail Resorts (MTN) Tops Q3 EPS by 6c

Vail Resorts (NYSE: MTN) reported Q3 EPS of $7.12, $0.06 better than the analyst estimate of $7.06. Revenue for the quarter came in at $957.99 million versus the consensus estimate of $958.75 million.

• Net income attributable to Vail Resorts, Inc. was $292.1 million for the third fiscal quarter of 2019 compared to net income attributable to Vail Resorts, Inc. of $256.3 million in the same period in the prior year.
• Resort Reported EBITDA was $480.7 million for the third fiscal quarter of 2019, which includes the operations for acquisitions completed during the fiscal year (Falls Creek, Hotham, Triple Peaks and Stevens Pass) prospectively from each acquisition date, and $4.9 million of acquisition and integration related expenses. In the same period in the prior year, Resort Reported EBITDA was $419.7 million, which included $3.5 million of acquisition and integration related expenses.
• The Company updated its fiscal 2019 guidance range and is now expecting Resort Reported EBITDA, on a comparable basis with its prior guidance issued on March 8, 2019 which excluded the expected Resort Reported EBITDA contribution from the Falls Creek and Hotham resorts, to be between $700 million and $710 million. For fiscal 2019, Falls Creek and Hotham resorts are expected to contribute $2 million of Resort Reported EBITDA, including a $3 million stamp duty payment and $1 million of integration expenses. Including the impact of Falls Creek and Hotham, the Company expects Resort Reported EBITDA to be between $702 million and $712 million, which includes an estimated $16 million of acquisition, stamp duty and integration related expenses and $4 million of unfavorable foreign exchange as a result of the U.S. Dollar strengthening relative to the time of our initial guidance issued in September 2018.
• Season pass sales through May 28, 2019 for the upcoming 2019/2020 North American ski season increased approximately 9% in units and 13% in sales dollars as compared to the period in the prior year through May 29, 2018, excluding sales of all military pass products in both periods. Pass sales include Stevens Pass and Triple Peaks pass sales in both periods and are adjusted to eliminate the impact of foreign currency by applying an exchange rate of $0.74 between the Canadian dollar and U.S. dollar to the current period and the prior period for Whistler Blackcomb pass sales.

Commenting on the Company\'s fiscal 2019 third quarter results, Rob Katz, Chief Executive Officer, said, "We are pleased with our overall results for the quarter and for the full 2018/2019 North American ski season, with strong growth in visitation and spending compared to the prior year, including a strong finish to the season with good conditions across our western U.S. destination resorts. After the challenging early season period for destination visitation, our results for the remainder of the season were largely in line with our original expectations. Our results throughout the 2018/2019 North American ski season highlight the growth and stability resulting from our season pass, the benefit of our geographic diversification, the investments we make in our resorts and the success of our sophisticated, data-driven marketing efforts.

"Our Colorado, Utah and Tahoe resorts experienced strong local and destination visitation throughout the third fiscal quarter, supported by favorable conditions across the western U.S. which also allowed for an extension of the ski season for select resorts in Colorado and Tahoe. The Company continued experiencing relative weakness in international visitation compared to the prior year, particularly at Whistler Blackcomb.

"Total lift revenue increased 16.4%, driven by a 14.3% growth in skier visitation primarily from Triple Peaks and Stevens Pass. Total effective ticket price ("ETP") increased 1.8% in the third quarter compared to the prior year, primarily due to price increases in both our lift ticket and season pass products, partially offset by higher skier visitation by season pass holders, lower ETP from the acquired Triple Peaks and Stevens Pass resorts and the new Military Epic Pass. Excluding season pass holders, ETP increased 5.5% compared to the prior year. The growth in visitation and spending compared to the prior year, along with the addition of Triple Peaks and Stevens Pass, drove a 9.4% increase in ski school revenue, an 11.7% increase in dining revenue and a 9.5% increase in retail/rental revenue compared to the prior year."

Regarding the Company's Lodging segment, Katz said, "Our lodging results for the third fiscal quarter were positive, with revenue(excluding payroll cost reimbursements) increasing 16.8% compared to the prior year primarily due to the incremental operations of Triple Peaks. The average daily rate ("ADR") decreased compared to the prior year primarily as a result of the inclusion of the Triple Peaks resorts, as well as incremental managed Tahoe lodging properties that we did not manage in the prior year, all of which generate a lower ADR as compared to our broader Lodging segment."

Regarding the Company\'s outlook, Katz said, "Given the strong finish to the season, our successful season extensions and our continued focus on cost discipline, we now expect Resort Reported EBITDA, on a comparable basis with our prior guidance issued March 8, 2019 which excluded the expected Resort Reported EBITDA contribution from the Falls Creek and Hotham resorts, to be between $700 million and $710 million. For fiscal 2019, Falls Creek and Hotham resorts are expected to contribute approximately $2 million of Resort Reported EBITDA, including a $3 million stamp duty payment and $1 million of integration expenses. Including the impact of Falls Creek and Hotham, the Company expects net income attributable to Vail Resorts, Inc. for fiscal 2019 to be between $277 million and $297 million and Resort Reported EBITDA to be between $702 million and $712 million, which includes an estimated $16 million of acquisition, stamp duty and integration related expenses and $4 million of unfavorable foreign exchange as a result of the U.S. Dollar strengthening relative to the time of our initial guidance issued in September 2018."

For earnings history and earnings-related data on Vail Resorts (MTN) click here.

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