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8-K - 8-K - Spirit Airlines, Inc.form8-k1q16earningsrelease.htm


EXHIBIT 99.1

Spirit Airlines Reports First Quarter 2016 Adjusted Pre-Tax Margin of 21.3 Percent1 

MIRAMAR, FL. (April 26, 2016) - Spirit Airlines, Inc. (NASDAQ: SAVE) today reported first quarter 2016 financial results.
Adjusted net income for the first quarter 2016 was $72.3 million ($1.01 per diluted share)1. GAAP net income for the first quarter 2016 was $61.9 million ($0.86 per diluted share).

Adjusted pre-tax margin for the first quarter 2016 was 21.3 percent1. On a GAAP basis, pre-tax margin for the first quarter 2016 was 18.2 percent.

Unrestricted cash and cash equivalents as of March 31, 2016 was $902.8 million.

Spirit's return on invested capital (before taxes and excluding special items) for the twelve months ended March 31, 2016 was 28.3 percent2.

“I want to thank our Spirit team members for their contributions in achieving these solid first quarter results. The pricing environment remains very competitive, but we aren't just sitting passively by. We have upgraded our pricing systems, made modest revisions to our schedules, and adjusted our approach to inventory management, all of which have produced improvements to our revenue results," said Bob Fornaro, Spirit’s Chief Executive Officer. "As we head into the peak summer travel months, we are focused on continued cost and revenue execution, improving our operational reliability and providing friendly customer service."

Revenue Performance
For the first quarter 2016, Spirit's total operating revenue was $538.1 million, an increase of 9.1 percent compared to the first quarter 2015, driven by an increase in flight volume, partially offset by a decrease in operating yields.

Total revenue per passenger flight segment ("PFS") for the first quarter 2016 decreased 13.0 percent, or $16.08, year over year to $107.88, primarily driven by a 20.5 percent decrease, or $14.06, in ticket revenue per PFS. Non-ticket revenue declined 3.7 percent, or $2.02, year over year on a per flight segment basis to $53.23. Although non-ticket revenue per passenger segment remains relatively stable, the Company has experienced modest pressure on take rates for certain ancillary items which it believes is correlated to low fare levels in its markets.

Cost Performance
Adjusted operating expense for the first quarter 2016 increased 10.2 percent, or $39.0 million, to $420.4 million3 on a capacity increase of 26.5 percent year over year. During the first quarter 2016, the Company purchased two A319 aircraft it formerly financed under operating lease agreements which resulted in lease termination charges. GAAP total operating expenses, including special items of $16.4 million4 that are primarily driven by lease termination charges, increased 13.7 percent, or $52.7 million, year over year to $436.8 million.



1





Economic fuel expense decreased 23.5 percent, or $24.7 million, year over year on a 24.4 percent increase in fuel volume. This decrease was driven by a 37.4 percent decrease in the average economic fuel cost per gallon compared to the same period last year.
 
Spirit reported first quarter 2016 cost per available seat mile ("ASM") excluding special items and fuel (“Adjusted CASM ex-fuel”)3 of 5.59 cents, a decrease of 2.3 percent compared to the same period last year, driven primarily by lower aircraft rent per ASM. The decrease in aircraft rent per ASM was driven by a change in the mix of leased (rent recorded under aircraft rent) and purchased (depreciation recorded under depreciation and amortization) aircraft. This benefit was partially offset by higher other operating expense related to increased passenger re-accommodation expense, and higher depreciation and amortization expense related to the depreciation of aircraft. Additionally, during the first quarter 2016, the Company and its flight attendants, represented by the Association of Flight Attendants - CWA (AFA), reached a tentative agreement for a five-year contract. During the first quarter 2016, labor expense per ASM was higher year over year due to the accrual of a one-time ratification incentive payment of $8.4 million related to this tentative agreement.

"Our greatest competitive strength is our relative cost advantage. We are focused on getting better all the time and doing so while maintaining, or improving upon, our relative cost advantage," said Ted Christie, Spirit's Chief Financial Officer. "After adjusting for the economic impact of our tentative flight attendant agreement, including the $8.4 million ratification incentive accrual, we are confident we can hold the line on costs and now estimate our full year 2016 adjusted CASM ex-fuel will be about flat year over year."

Fleet
During the first quarter 2016, Spirit took delivery of 4 new aircraft (2 A320ceo and 2 A321ceo aircraft), ending the quarter with 83 aircraft in its fleet. 

Conference Call/Webcast Detail
Spirit will conduct a conference call to discuss these results today, April 26, 2016, at 8:30 a.m. ET. A live audio webcast of the conference call will be available to the public on a listen-only basis at http://ir.spirit.com. An archive of the webcast will be available under Webcasts & Presentations for 60 days.

About Spirit Airlines:
Spirit Airlines (NASDAQ: SAVE) is committed to offering the lowest total price to the places we fly, on average much lower than other airlines. Our customers start with an unbundled, stripped-down Bare Fare™ and get Frill Control™ which allows them to pay only for the options they choose - like bags, seat assignments and refreshments - the things other airlines bake right into their ticket prices. We help people save money and travel more often, create new jobs and stimulate business growth in the communities we serve. With our Fit Fleet™, the youngest fleet of any major US airline, we operate more than 400 daily flights to 56 destinations in the U.S., Latin America and the Caribbean. Come save with us at www.spirit.com.

Investors are encouraged to read the Company's periodic and current reports filed with or furnished to the Securities and Exchange Commission, including its Annual Report on Form 10-K, Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, and Current Reports on Form 8-K, for additional information regarding the Company.

End Notes
(1)
See "Reconciliation of Adjusted Net Income to GAAP Net Income" table below for more details.
(2)
See "Calculation for Return on Invested Capital" table below for more details.
(3)
See "Reconciliation of Adjusted Operating Expense to GAAP Operating Expense" table below for more details.
(4) See "Special Items" table for more details.

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Forward-Looking Statements
Statements in this release and certain oral statements made from time to time by representatives of the Company contain various forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the Securities Act), and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the Exchange Act) which are subject to the “safe harbor” created by those sections. Forward-looking statements are based on our management’s beliefs and assumptions and on information currently available to our management. All statements other than statements of historical facts are “forward-looking statements” for purposes of these provisions. In some cases, you can identify forward-looking statements by terms such as “may,” “will,” “should,” “could,” “would,” “expect,” “plan,” “anticipate,” “believe,” “estimate,” “project,” “predict,” “potential,” and similar expressions intended to identify forward-looking statements. Such forward-looking statements are subject to risks, uncertainties and other important factors that could cause actual results and the timing of certain events to differ materially from future results expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause or contribute to such differences include, but are not limited to, those identified below. Furthermore, such forward-looking statements speak only as of the date of this report. Except as required by law, we undertake no obligation to update any forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date of such statements. Additional risks or uncertainties (i) that are not currently known to us, (ii) that we currently deem to be immaterial, or (iii) that could apply to any company, could also materially adversely affect our business, financial condition, or future results. You should carefully consider the risks described below and the other information in this report. If any of the following risks materialize, our business could be materially harmed, and our financial condition and results of operations could be materially and adversely affected. References in this report to “Spirit,” “we,” “us,” “our,” or the “Company” shall mean Spirit Airlines, Inc., unless the context indicates otherwise. Additional information concerning these and other factors is contained in the Company's Securities and Exchange Commission filings, including but not limited to the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K, Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, and Current Reports on Form 8-K.


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SPIRIT AIRLINES, INC.
Statement of Operations
(unaudited, in thousands, except per share data)


 
Three Months Ended

 
 
 
March 31,
 
Percent
 

2016

2015

Change
 
Operating revenues:





 
Passenger
$
272,626


$
273,466


(0.3
)
 
Non-ticket
265,517


219,889


20.8

 
Total operating revenues
538,143


493,355


9.1

 






 
Operating expenses:





 
Aircraft fuel
85,982


112,426


(23.5
)
 
Salaries, wages and benefits
116,410


88,961


30.9

 
Aircraft rent
52,202


52,788


(1.1
)
 
Landing fees and other rents
34,807


30,546


13.9

 
Distribution
22,933


20,497


11.9

 
Maintenance, materials and repairs
20,940


19,160


9.3

 
Depreciation and amortization
23,109


14,863


55.5

 
Other operating
64,045


43,843


46.1

 
Loss on disposal of assets
214


595


(64.0
)
 
Special charges
16,202


425


nm

 
Total operating expenses
436,844


384,104


13.7

 









 
Operating income
101,299


109,251


(7.3
)
 






 
Other (income) expense:





 
Interest expense
8,060


2,812


nm

 
Capitalized interest
(3,325
)

(2,533
)

31.3

 
Interest income
(1,566
)

(134
)

nm

 
Other expense
70


72


(2.8
)
 
Total other (income) expense
3,239


217


nm

 








 
Income before income taxes
98,060


109,034


(10.1
)
 
Provision for income taxes
36,140


40,032


(9.7
)
 
Net income
$
61,920


$
69,002


(10.3
)
 
Basic earnings per share
$
0.87


$
0.94


(7.4
)
 
Diluted earnings per share
$
0.86


$
0.94


(8.5
)
 






 
Weighted average shares, basic
71,572


73,054


(2.0
)
 
Weighted average shares, diluted
71,777


73,370


(2.2
)
 







4




SPIRIT AIRLINES, INC.
Statements of Comprehensive Income
(unaudited, in thousands)

 
Three Months Ended
 
March 31,
 
2016
 
2015
Net income
$
61,920

 
$
69,002

Unrealized loss on interest rate derivative instruments, net of deferred tax benefit of $0 and $940

 
(1,594
)
Interest rate swap losses reclassified into earnings
$
90

 
$

Other comprehensive income (loss)
$
90

 
$
(1,594
)
Comprehensive income
$
62,010

 
$
67,408





5




SPIRIT AIRLINES, INC.
Balance Sheets
(unaudited, in thousands)
 
March 31,
 
December 31,
 
2016
 
2015
Assets
 
 
 
Current assets:
 
 
 
Cash and cash equivalents
$
902,809

 
$
803,632

Accounts receivable, net
32,469

 
28,266

Aircraft maintenance deposits
79,276

 
73,415

Prepaid income taxes

 
72,278

Prepaid expenses and other current assets
54,760

 
48,749

Total current assets
1,069,314

 
1,026,340

 
 
 
 
Property and equipment:
 
 
 
Flight equipment
1,031,886

 
827,282

Ground and other equipment
93,724

 
82,459

Less accumulated depreciation
(76,703
)
 
(65,524
)
 
1,048,907

 
844,217

Deposits on flight equipment purchase contracts
289,835

 
286,837

Long-term aircraft maintenance deposits
196,470

 
206,485

Deferred heavy maintenance, net
80,144

 
89,127

Other long-term assets
78,578

 
77,539

Total assets
$
2,763,248

 
$
2,530,545

 
 
 
 
Liabilities and shareholders’ equity
 
 
 
Current liabilities:
 
 
 
Accounts payable
$
23,017

 
$
17,043

Air traffic liability
263,430

 
216,831

Current maturities of long-term debt
53,012

 
49,637

Other current liabilities
228,137

 
182,729

Total current liabilities
567,596

 
466,240

 
 
 
 
Long-term debt less current maturities
655,103

 
596,693

Long-term deferred income taxes
242,602

 
221,481

Deferred gains and other long-term liabilities
20,179

 
20,821

Shareholders’ equity:
 
 
 
Common stock
7

 
7

Additional paid-in-capital
545,377

 
544,277

Treasury stock, at cost
(126,779
)
 
(116,182
)
Retained earnings
860,674

 
798,754

Accumulated other comprehensive loss
(1,511
)
 
(1,546
)
Total shareholders’ equity
1,277,768

 
1,225,310

Total liabilities and shareholders’ equity
$
2,763,248

 
$
2,530,545



6




SPIRIT AIRLINES, INC.SPIRIT AIRLINES, INC.
Statement of Cash Flows
(unaudited, in thousands)
 
Three Months Ended March 31,
 
2016
 
2015
Operating activities:
 
 
 
Net income
61,920

 
69,002

Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operations:
 
 
 
Unrealized losses on open derivative contracts, net

 
3,783

Losses reclassified from other comprehensive income
90

 

Equity-based compensation
1,790

 
1,985

Allowance for doubtful accounts (recoveries)
25

 
31

Amortization of deferred gains and losses
1,968

 
164

Depreciation and amortization
23,109

 
14,863

Deferred income tax expense (benefit)
21,066

 
(5,560
)
Loss on disposal of assets
214

 
595

Lease termination cost
16,202

 

Changes in operating assets and liabilities:
 
 
 
Accounts receivable
(4,229
)
 
(5,444
)
Aircraft maintenance deposits
(12,311
)
 
(12,317
)
Prepaid Income Taxes
72,278

 

Long-term deposits and other assets
(8,495
)
 
(6,160
)
Accounts payable
4,703

 
433

Air traffic liability
46,473

 
79,350

Other liabilities
33,296

 
28,810

Net cash provided by operating activities
258,099

 
169,535

Investing activities:
 
 
 
Pre-delivery deposits for flight equipment, net of refunds
(50,358
)
 
(50,388
)
Capitalized interest
(2,575
)
 
(1,700
)
Purchase of property and equipment
(159,829
)
 
(184,609
)
Net cash used in investing activities
(212,762
)
 
(236,697
)
Financing activities:
 
 
 
Proceeds from issuance of long-term debt
73,914

 
185,000

Proceeds from stock options exercised
88

 
15

Payments on debt and capital lease obligations
(9,749
)
 
(2,968
)
Excess tax benefit (deficiency) from equity-based compensation
(778
)
 
7,877

Repurchase of common stock
(9,601
)
 
(10,943
)
Debt issuance costs
(34
)
 
(2,976
)
Net cash provided by financing activities
53,840

 
176,005

Net increase in cash and cash equivalents
99,177

 
108,843

Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period
803,632

 
632,784

Cash and cash equivalents at end of period
$
902,809

 
$
741,627

Supplemental disclosures
 
 
 
Cash payments for:
 
 
 
Interest, net of capitalized interest
$
3,430

 
$
11

Income taxes paid, net of refunds
$
(64,158
)
 
$
9,883


7




SPIRIT AIRLINES, INC.
Selected Operating Statistics (unaudited)
 
Three Months Ended March 31,

 
Operating Statistics
2016

2015

Change
Available seat miles (ASMs) (thousands)
5,983,005


4,729,463


26.5
 %
Revenue passenger miles (RPMs) (thousands)
5,070,313


4,017,559


26.2
 %
Load factor (%)
84.7


84.9


(0.2) pts

Passenger flight segments (thousands)
4,988


3,980


25.3
 %
Block hours
93,545


77,035


21.4
 %
Departures
35,160


29,044


21.1
 %
Total operating revenue per ASM (TRASM) (cents)
8.99


10.43


(13.8
)%
Average yield (cents)
10.61


12.28


(13.6
)%
Average ticket revenue per passenger flight segment ($)
54.65


68.71


(20.5
)%
Average non-ticket revenue per passenger flight segment ($)
53.23


55.25


(3.7
)%
Total revenue per passenger flight segment ($)
107.88


123.96


(13.0
)%
CASM (cents)
7.30


8.12


(10.1
)%
Adjusted CASM (cents) (1)
7.03


8.06


(12.8
)%
Adjusted CASM ex-fuel (cents) (2)
5.59


5.72


(2.3)%

Fuel gallons consumed (thousands)
70,550


56,723


24.4
 %
Average economic fuel cost per gallon ($)
1.22


1.95


(37.4
)%
Aircraft at end of period
83


70


18.6
 %
Average daily aircraft utilization (hours)
12.8


12.7


0.8%

Average stage length (miles)
995


991


0.4
 %
 
 
 
 
 
 



(1)
Excludes special items.
(2)
Excludes economic fuel expense and special items.



8





The Company is providing a reconciliation of GAAP financial information to non-GAAP financial information as it believes that non-GAAP financial measures provide management and investors the ability to measure the performance of the Company on a consistent basis. These non-GAAP financial measures have limitations as an analytical tool. Because of these limitations, determinations of the Company's operating performance excluding unrealized gains and losses or special items should not be considered in isolation or as a substitute for performance measures calculated in accordance with GAAP.
Special Items
 
Three Months Ended
 
March 31,
(in thousands)
2016

2015
Operating special items include the following (1):
 
 
 
Unrealized losses (gains) related to fuel derivative contracts
$

 
$
1,695

Loss on disposal of assets
214

 
595

Special charges
16,202

 
425

Total operating special items
$
16,416

 
$
2,715


Reconciliation of Adjusted Operating Expense to GAAP Operating Expense
(unaudited)


 
Three Months Ended

March 31,
(in thousands, except CASM data in cents)
2016

2015
Total operating expenses, as reported
$
436,844

 
$
384,104

Less operating special items (1)
16,416

 
2,715

Adjusted operating expenses, non-GAAP (2)
420,428

 
381,389

Less: Economic fuel expense
85,982

 
110,731

Adjusted operating expenses excluding fuel, non-GAAP (3)
$
334,446

 
$
270,658


 
 
 
Available seat miles
5,983,005

 
4,729,463


 
 
 
CASM (cents)
7.30

 
8.12

Adjusted CASM (cents) (2)
7.03

 
8.06

Adjusted CASM ex-fuel (cents) (3)
5.59

 
5.72



(1)
Special items include unrealized gains and losses related to outstanding outstanding fuel derivative contracts, loss on disposal of assets, and special charges. Special charges for the first quarter 2016 are primarily related to lease termination costs.
(2)
Excludes operating special items.
(3)
Excludes operating special items and economic fuel expense as described in the "Reconciliation of Economic Fuel Expense to GAAP Fuel Expense" table below.




9




Reconciliation of Adjusted Net Income to GAAP Net Income
(unaudited)

 
Three Months Ended
 
March 31,
(in thousands, except per share data)
2016
 
2015
Net income, as reported
$
61,920

 
$
69,002

Add: Provision for income taxes
36,140

 
40,032

Income before income taxes, as reported
98,060

 
109,034

Pre-tax margin, GAAP
18.2
%
 
22.1
%
Add operating special items (1)
16,416

 
2,715

Income before income taxes, non-GAAP (2)
114,476

 
111,749

Adjusted pre-tax margin, non-GAAP (2)
21.3
%
 
22.7
%
Provision for income taxes (3)
42,190

 
41,029

Adjusted net income, non-GAAP (2)(3)
$
72,286

 
$
70,720

 
 
 
 
Weighted average shares, diluted
71,777

 
73,370

 
 
 
 
Adjusted net income per share, diluted (2)(3)
$1.01
 
$0.96



Reconciliation of Adjusted Operating Income to GAAP Operating Income
(unaudited)

 
Three Months Ended

March 31,
(in thousands)
2016
 
2015
Operating income, as reported
$
101,299


$
109,251

Operating margin, GAAP
18.8
%

22.1
%
Add operating special items (1)
16,416

 
2,715

Adjusted operating income, non-GAAP (2)
$
117,715


$
111,966

Adjusted operating margin, non-GAAP (2)
21.9
%

22.7
%








(1)
See "Special Items" for more details.
(2)
Excludes operating special items.
(3)
Assumes same marginal tax rate as is applicable to GAAP net income.





10




The Company believes economic fuel expense is the best measure of the effect fuel prices are currently having on our business, because it most closely approximates the net cash outflow associated with purchasing fuel used for our operations during the period. Economic fuel expense is defined as into-plane fuel expense, realized gains or losses on derivative contracts, plus the economic premium expense related to fuel option contracts in the period the option is benefiting. The key difference between aircraft fuel expense as recorded in our statement of operations and economic fuel expense is unrealized mark-to-market changes in the value of aircraft fuel derivatives outstanding and the timing of premium gain or loss recognition on our outstanding fuel option contracts. Many industry analysts evaluate airline results using economic fuel expense, and it is used in our internal management reporting.
Reconciliation of Economic Fuel Expense to GAAP Fuel Expense
(unaudited)
 
Three Months Ended
 
March 31,
(in thousands, except per gallon data)
2016
 
2015
Fuel expense



Aircraft fuel, as reported
$
85,982


$
112,426

Less:





     Unrealized losses (gains) related to fuel derivative contracts


1,695

Economic fuel expense, non-GAAP
$
85,982


$
110,731





Fuel gallons consumed
70,550


56,723





Economic fuel cost per gallon, non-GAAP
$
1.22


$
1.95


Calculation of Return on Invested Capital
(unaudited)
 
Twelve Months Ended
(in thousands)
March 31, 2016
Operating Income
$
501,170

Add operating special items (1)
12,098

Adjustment for aircraft rent
210,945

Adjusted operating income (2)
724,213

Tax (36.9%) (3)
267,235

Adjusted operating income, after-tax
456,978

Invested Capital
 
Total debt
$
708,115

Book equity
1,277,768

Less: Unrestricted cash
902,809

Add: Capitalized aircraft operating leases (7x Aircraft Rent)
1,476,615

Total invested capital
2,559,689

 
 
Return on invested capital (ROIC), pre-tax (2)
28.3
%
Return on invested capital (ROIC), after-tax (2)(3)
17.9
%

(1)
Special items include unrealized gains or losses related to outstanding fuel derivative contracts, loss on disposal of assets, and special charges primarily related to lease termination costs in the first quarter 2016.
(2)
Excludes special items as described above.
(3)
Assumes same marginal tax rate as is applicable to GAAP net income for the twelve months ended March 31, 2016.
###

11