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Allegiant Travel Company First Quarter 2015 Financial Results

April 22, 2015 4:00 PM

49th Consecutive Profitable Quarter

First Quarter 2015 Fully Diluted Earnings per Share of $3.74

LAS VEGAS, April 22, 2015 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Allegiant Travel Company (Nasdaq: ALGT) today reported the following financial results for the first quarter 2015, as well as comparisons to prior year equivalents:

Three Months Ended March 31,
Unaudited 2015 2014 Change
Total operating revenue (millions) $329.2 $302.5 8.8%
Operating income (millions) $108.1 $57.3 88.7%
Operating margin 32.8% 18.9% 13.9pp
EBITDA (millions) * $132.5 $75.8 74.8%
EBITDA margin * 40.2% 25.1% 15.1pp
Net income (millions) $64.9 $34.2 89.8%
Diluted earnings per share $3.74 $1.86 101.1%
Return on capital employed ** 21.3% 16.5% 4.8pp
* - see appendix for reconciliation of non-GAAP financial measures
** - see appendix for calculation

"We are very proud to report our 49th consecutive profitable quarter, a record quarter for the company, both in absolute terms and on a percentage basis," stated Maurice J. Gallagher, Jr., Chairman and CEO of Allegiant Travel Company. "I especially want to thank our team members for their contributions. Their everyday efforts delivering customers safely and reliably is critical to our continued success. It's nice to start the year off with such strong results after coming off one of the most operationally challenging years in recent memory.

"I'm also pleased to announce our pilots will be receiving a pay increase as a result of our continued success. Excluding a $43.3 million non-cash impairment change in the fourth quarter of 2014, our trailing twelve month operating margin was 21.8 percent as of March 31st. As part of our pilots' variable pay band structure, pilot pay scales will increase between 5 and 7 percent per hour effective May 1st.

"And lastly we have had recent labor/legal issues with the representative of our pilots, the IBT. We expect a successful outcome on our Preliminary Injunction request before the Las Vegas Federal court in the coming weeks. In conjunction with these labor activities, our local FAA office has stepped up surveillance of our operations. We are not aware of any findings from the FAA related to this increased surveillance. However, the FAA has indicated their heightened focus and surveillance associated with the labor activity will continue until the outcome of the litigation is known. While this increased surveillance is in place, the FAA has indicated it will not process any current or additional requests for work that may relate to our planned growth. At the current time, we do not expect any immediate effect on our operations."

Notable first quarter 2015 company highlights

First quarter 2015 revenue performance

Three Months Ended March 31,
2015 2014 Change
Scheduled Service:
Average fare - scheduled service $90.18 $99.52 (9.4)%
Average fare - ancillary air-related charges $47.25 $41.79 13.1%
Average fare - ancillary third party products $4.86 $5.20 (6.5)%
Average fare - total $142.29 $146.51 (2.9)%
Scheduled service passenger revenue per ASM (PRASM) (cents) 8.16 8.74 (6.6)%
Total scheduled service revenue per ASM (TRASM) (cents) 12.87 12.87 —%
Load factor 88.0% 88.5% -0.5pp
Passengers (millions) 2.2 2.0 8.7%
Average passengers per scheduled departure 145 147 (1.4)%
Average scheduled service stage length (miles) 943 977 (3.5)%
ASMs = available seat miles
PRASM = scheduled passenger revenue per scheduled available seat mile
TRASM = (scheduled passenger revenue + ancillary air revenue + ancillary third party revenue) per scheduled available seat mile

Third party products performance

Three Months Ended March 31,
Supplemental Ancillary Revenue Information Unaudited 2015 2014 Change
Gross ancillary revenue - third party products (millions) $37.3 $35.7 4.4%
Cost of goods sold (millions) ($26.0) ($24.7) 5.3%
Transaction costs* (millions) ($0.5) ($0.5) 19.9%
Ancillary revenue - third party products (millions) $10.8 $10.6 1.6%
As percent of gross ancillary revenue - third party products 28.9% 29.7% (0.8)pp
As percent of income before taxes 10.7% 19.6% (8.9)pp
Ancillary revenue - third party products/scheduled passenger $4.86 $5.20 (6.5)%
Hotel room nights (thousands) 135.4 143.8 (5.8)%
Rental car days (thousands) 303.7 281.3 8.0%
* - Includes payment expenses and travel agency commissions.

First quarter 2015 cost performance

Three Months Ended March 31,
2015 2014 Change
Total System*:
Operating expense per passenger $98.01 $118.32 (17.2)%
Operating expense per passenger, excluding fuel $67.15 $65.76 2.1%
Operating expense per ASM (CASM) (cents) 8.76 10.30 (15.0)%
Operating expense, excluding fuel per ASM (CASM ex fuel) (cents) 6.00 5.72 4.9%
Average block hours per aircraft per day 6.0 5.8 3.4%
Average system stage length (miles) 929 960 (3.2)%
* - Total system includes scheduled service, fixed-fee contract and non-revenue flying

Second quarter 2015 cost trends

Full year 2015 cost trends

Balance sheet highlights

Unaudited (millions) 3/31/2015 12/31/2014 Change
Unrestricted cash* $438.0 $416.8 5.1%
Total debt $617.3 $593.1 4.1%
Total Allegiant Travel Company stockholders' equity $302.4 $292.9 3.2%
Three Months Ended March 31,
Unaudited (millions) 2015 2014 Change
Capital expenditures $64.1 $11.1 477.5%
* - Unrestricted cash includes investments in marketable securities.

At this time, Allegiant Travel Company provides the following guidance to investors, subject to revision.

Guidance, subject to revision
April 2015 2Q15
Estimated TRASM year-over-year change (9) to (7)% (10) to (8)%
Fixed fee and other revenue guidance 2Q15
Fixed fee and other revenue (millions) $9 to $11
Capacity guidance
System 2Q15 3Q15 FY15
Departure year-over-year growth 16 to 20% 23 to 27%
ASM year-over-year growth 16 to 20% 21 to 25% 15 to 18%
Scheduled
Departure year-over-year growth 16 to 20% 23 to 27%
ASM year-over-year growth 16 to 20% 21 to 25% 15 to 18%
Cost guidance 2Q15 FY15
CASM ex fuel – year-over-year change 0 to 2% (13) to (10)%
CASM ex fuel (excluding non-cash AC impairment charge) - year over year change (7) to (4)%
CAPEX guidance FY15
Capital expenditures (millions) $260
CASM ex fuel – cost per available seat mile excluding fuel expense
Aircraft fleet plan by end of period
Aircraft - (seats per AC) 1Q15 2Q15 YE15 YE16
MD-80 (166 seats) 53 53 52 50
757 (215 seats) 6 6 5 5
A319 (156 seats) 5 7 10 17
A320 (177 seats) 9 9 15 15
Total 73 75 82 87
Aircraft listed in table above include only in service aircraft and future aircraft under contract

Allegiant Travel Company will host a conference call with analysts at 4:30 p.m. ET Wednesday, April 22, 2015 to discuss its first quarter 2015 financial results. A live broadcast of the conference call will be available via the Company's Investor Relations website homepage at http://ir.allegiant.com. The webcast will also be archived in the "Events & Presentations" section of the website.

Allegiant, Travel is our deal.®

Las Vegas-based Allegiant Travel Company® (Nasdaq: ALGT) is focused on linking travelers in small cities to world-class leisure destinations. Through its subsidiary, Allegiant Air, the company operates a low-cost, high-efficiency, all-jet passenger airline, and offers other travel-related products such as hotel rooms, rental cars, and attraction tickets through its website, allegiant.com. The company has been named one of America's 100 Best Small Companies by Forbes Magazine for four consecutive years. ALGT/G

Under the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, statements in this press release that are not historical facts are forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are only estimates or predictions based on our management's beliefs and assumptions and on information currently available to our management. Forward-looking statements include our statements regarding future unit revenue, future operating expense, ASM growth, departure growth, fixed-fee and other revenues, expected capital expenditures, number of contracted aircraft to be placed in service in the future, as well as other information concerning future results of operations, business strategies, financing plans, competitive position, industry environment, potential growth opportunities, the effects of future regulation and the effects of competition. Forward-looking statements include all statements that are not historical facts and can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as the words "believe," "expect," "guidance," "anticipate," "intend," "plan," "estimate," "project," "hope" or similar expressions.

Forward-looking statements involve risks, uncertainties and assumptions. Actual results may differ materially from those expressed in the forward-looking statements. Important risk factors that could cause our results to differ materially from those expressed in the forward-looking statements generally may be found in our periodic reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission at www.sec.gov . These risk factors include, without limitation, volatility of fuel costs, labor issues, the effect of economic conditions on leisure travel, debt covenants, terrorist attacks, risks inherent to airlines, demand for air services to our leisure destinations from the markets served by us, our dependence on our leisure destination markets, our competitive environment, an accident involving or problems with our aircraft, our reliance on our automated systems, our reliance on third parties who provide facilities or services to us, the possible loss of key personnel, economic and other conditions in markets in which we operate, aging aircraft and other governmental regulation, increases in maintenance costs and cyclical and seasonal fluctuations in our operating results.

Any forward-looking statements are based on information available to us today and we undertake no obligation to update publicly any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of future events, new information or otherwise.

Detailed financial information follows:

Allegiant Travel Company
Consolidated Statements of Income
Three Months Ended March 31, 2015 and 2014
(in thousands, except per share amounts)
(Unaudited)
Three Months Ended March 31, Percent
2015 2014 change
OPERATING REVENUE:
Scheduled service revenue $ 200,529 $ 203,521 (1.5)
Ancillary revenue:
Air-related charges 105,069 85,454 23.0
Third party products 10,797 10,629 1.6
Total ancillary revenue 115,866 96,083 20.6
Fixed fee contract revenue 4,368 2,646 65.1
Other revenue 8,478 274 NM*
Total operating revenue 329,241 302,524 8.8
OPERATING EXPENSES:
Aircraft fuel 69,626 108,949 (36.1)
Salary and benefits 58,553 46,439 26.1
Station operations 23,852 22,233 7.3
Maintenance and repairs 21,392 20,600 3.8
Sales and marketing 7,101 7,818 (9.2)
Aircraft lease rentals 718 9,429 (92.4)
Depreciation and amortization 24,347 18,431 32.1
Other 15,553 11,354 37.0
Total operating expenses 221,142 245,253 (9.8)
OPERATING INCOME 108,099 57,271 88.7
As a percent of total operating revenue 32.8% 18.9%
OTHER (INCOME) EXPENSE:
Loss from unconsolidated affiliates, net 4 3 33.3
Interest income (105) (205) (48.8)
Interest expense 6,826 3,128 118.2
Total other (income) expense 6,725 2,926 129.8
INCOME BEFORE INCOME TAXES 101,374 54,345 86.5
As a percent of total operating revenue 30.8% 18.0%
PROVISION FOR INCOME TAXES 36,551 20,270 80.3
NET INCOME 64,823 34,075 90.2
Net loss attributable to noncontrolling interest (44) (147) (70.1)
NET INCOME ATTRIBUTABLE TO ALLEGIANT TRAVEL COMPANY $ 64,867 $ 34,222 89.5
Earnings per share to common stockholders (1):
Basic $3.75 $1.87 100.5
Diluted $3.74 $1.86 101.1
Weighted average shares outstanding used in computing earnings per share to common stockholders (1):
Basic 17,197 18,166 (5.3)
Diluted 17,237 18,248 (5.5)
* - not meaningful

(1) The Company's unvested restricted stock awards are considered participating securities as they receive non-forfeitable rights to cash dividends at the same rate as common stock. The Basic and Diluted earnings per share for the periods presented reflect the two-class method mandated by accounting guidance for the calculation of earnings per share. The two-class method adjusts both the net income and shares used in the calculation. Application of the two-class method did not have a significant impact on the Basic and Diluted earnings per share for the periods presented.

Allegiant Travel Company
Operating Statistics
Three Months Ended March 31, 2015 and 2014
(Unaudited)
Three Months Ended March 31, Percent
2015 2014 change*
OPERATING STATISTICS
Total system statistics
Passengers 2,256,235 2,072,720 8.9
Revenue passenger miles (RPMs) (thousands) 2,191,468 2,081,501 5.3
Available seat miles (ASMs) (thousands) 2,526,031 2,381,139 6.1
Load factor 86.8% 87.4% (0.6)
Operating revenue per ASM (RASM) (cents) 13.03 12.71 2.5
Operating expense per ASM (CASM) (cents) 8.76 10.30 (15.0)
Fuel expense per ASM (cents) 2.76 4.58 (39.7)
Operating CASM, excluding fuel (cents) 6.00 5.72 4.9
Operating expense per passenger $ 98.01 $ 118.32 (17.2)
Fuel expense per passenger $ 30.86 $ 52.56 (41.3)
Operating expense per passenger, excluding fuel $ 67.15 $ 65.76 2.1
ASMs per gallon of fuel 70.2 70.0 0.3
Departures 15,987 14,501 10.2
Block hours 38,733 36,348 6.6
Average stage length (miles) 929 960 (3.2)
Average number of operating aircraft during period 71.6 67.9 5.4
Average block hours per aircraft per day 6.0 5.8 3.4
Full-time equivalent employees at period end 2,448 2,130 14.9
Fuel gallons consumed (thousands) 36,002 34,002 5.9
Average fuel cost per gallon $ 1.93 $ 3.20 (39.7)
Scheduled service statistics
Passengers 2,223,703 2,045,028 8.7
Revenue passenger miles (RPMs) (thousands) 2,163,618 2,059,188 5.1
Available seat miles (ASMs) (thousands) 2,457,705 2,327,935 5.6
Load factor 88.0% 88.5% (0.5)
Departures 15,321 13,935 9.9
Average passengers per departure 145 147 (1.4)
Scheduled service seats per departure 168.0 168.5 (0.3)
Block hours 37,546 35,385 6.1
Yield (cents) 9.27 9.88 (6.2)
Scheduled service revenue per ASM (PRASM) (cents) 8.16 8.74 (6.6)
Total ancillary revenue per ASM (cents) 4.71 4.13 14.0
Total scheduled service revenue per ASM (TRASM) (cents) 12.87 12.87
Average fare - scheduled service $ 90.18 $ 99.52 (9.4)
Average fare - ancillary air-related charges $ 47.25 $ 41.79 13.1
Average fare - ancillary third party products $ 4.86 $ 5.20 (6.5)
Average fare - total $ 142.29 $ 146.51 (2.9)
Average stage length (miles) 943 977 (3.5)
Fuel gallons consumed (thousands) 35,000 33,207 5.4
Average fuel cost per gallon $ 1.96 $ 3.23 (39.3)
Percent of sales through website during period 95.4% 94.3% 1.1
* Except load factor and percent of sales through website, which is percentage point change.

Allegiant Travel Company Non-GAAP Presentations Three Months Ended March 31, 2015 and 2014 (Unaudited)

"EBITDA" represents earnings before interest expense, income taxes, depreciation and amortization. EBITDA is not a calculation based on generally accepted accounting principles and should not be considered as an alternative to net income or operating income as an indicator of our financial performance or to cash flow as a measure of liquidity. EBITDA is included as a supplemental disclosure because we believe it is a useful indicator of our operating performance. Further, EBITDA is a well-recognized performance measurement that is frequently used by securities analysts, investors and other interested parties in comparing the operating performance of companies. We believe EBITDA is useful in evaluating our operating performance compared to our competitors because the calculation generally eliminates the effects of financing and income taxes and the accounting effects of capital spending and acquisitions and lease versus purchase decisions, which items may vary between periods and for different companies for reasons unrelated to overall operating performance. The following represents the reconciliation of EBITDA to net income for the periods indicated below.

The SEC has adopted rules (Regulation G) regulating the use of non-GAAP financial measures. Because of our use of a non-GAAP financial measure in this press release to supplement our consolidated financial statements presented on a GAAP basis, Regulation G requires us to include in this press release a presentation of the most directly comparable GAAP measure, which is net income as indicated above, and a reconciliation of the non-GAAP measures to the most comparable GAAP measure. Our utilization of non-GAAP measurements is not meant to be considered in isolation or as a substitute for net income or other measures of financial performance prepared in accordance with GAAP. EBITDA is not a GAAP measurement and our use of EBITDA may not be comparable to similarly titled measures employed by other companies in the airline and travel industry. The reconciliation of EBITDA to GAAP net income follows.

Three Months Ended March 31, Percent
(in thousands) 2015 2014 change
Net income attributable to Allegiant Travel Company $ 64,867 $ 34,222 89.5%
Plus (minus)
Interest income (105) (205) (48.8)%
Interest expense 6,826 3,128 118.2%
Provision for income taxes 36,551 20,270 80.3%
Depreciation and amortization 24,347 18,431 32.1%
EBITDA $132,486 $75,846 74.7%
Total revenue $329,241 $302,524 8.8%
EBITDA margin 40.2% 25.1% 15.1pp
Appendix A
Additional Financial Information
(Unaudited)
Twelve Months Ended March 31,
Return on capital calculation (millions) 2015 2014
Net income attributable to Allegiant Travel Company $ 117.3 $ 94.6
Income tax 67.1 56.5
Interest expense 24.9 10.4
Less interest income (0.7) (1.0)
208.6 160.5
Interest income 0.7 1.0
Tax rate 36.6% 37.4%
Numerator 132.7 101.1
Total assets as of prior March 31 904.2 859.3
Less current liabilities as of prior March 31 303.0 260.0
Plus short term debt as of prior March 31 20.4 11.9
Denominator 621.6 611.2
Return on capital employed 21.3% 16.5%

To provide more transparency into operating expenses for the quarter, the company experienced the following non-cash expense items in the first quarter of 2015.

Non-cash items (millions) 1Q15 1Q14
Stock based compensation $5.0 $2.2
Loss - disposed assets 2.8 1.4
Lease maintenance accrual 0.5
Total of selected non-cash items $7.8 $4.1
CONTACT: Media Inquiries: Jessica Wheeler
         [email protected]

         Investor Inquiries: Chris Allen
         [email protected]

Source: Allegiant Travel Company

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