Attached files

file filename
8-K - 8-K - Spirit Airlines, Inc.form8-k4q16earningsrelease.htm


contacts1014a02a01a02.jpg
EXHIBIT 99.1

Spirit Airlines Reports Fourth Quarter and Full Year 2016 Results

MIRAMAR, FL. (February 7, 2017) - Spirit Airlines, Inc. (NASDAQ: SAVE) today reported fourth quarter and full year 2016 financial results.
GAAP net income for the fourth quarter 2016 was $48.5 million ($0.70 per diluted share), or $53.9 million ($0.77 per diluted share)1, excluding special items.

GAAP net income for the full year 2016 was $264.9 million ($3.76 per diluted share), or $291.0 million ($4.13 per diluted share)1, excluding special items.

Spirit ended 2016 with unrestricted cash, cash equivalents, and short-term investments of $801.1 million.

Spirit's return on invested capital (before taxes and excluding special items) for the twelve months ended December 31, 2016 was 23.0 percent2.

“Throughout 2016, we made solid progress towards our goal of consistent reliability. We improved our on-time performance3 by 5.2 percentage points and we made great progress in lowering the number of complaints reported to the Department of Transportation. We started the year with a complaint ratio of over 11 per 100,000 customers and by year-end we were under 4 per 100,000 customers. We also maintained our focus on controlling costs, which together with our own revenue initiatives, and an improved industry pricing environment, helped us to achieve a full year 2016 operating margin of 19.1 percent, or 20.9 percent4, excluding special items,” said Bob Fornaro, Spirit’s President and Chief Executive Officer.  “I thank the entire Spirit team for their efforts and dedication to improve our operations and for delivering solid financial results."

Revenue Performance
For the fourth quarter 2016, Spirit's total operating revenue was $578.4 million, an increase of 11.3 percent compared to the fourth quarter 2015, driven by a 12.9 percent increase in flight volume.

Total revenue per available seat mile (TRASM) for the fourth quarter 2016 decreased 3.6 percent compared to the same period last year, driven by a 1.9 percent decrease in operating yields and a 1.5 point decrease in load factor.

On a per passenger flight segment ("PFS") basis, total revenue for the fourth quarter 2016 decreased 3.3 percent year over year to $108.11, driven by modest declines in both ticket and non-ticket revenue per PFS.


1




Cost Performance
For the fourth quarter 2016, total GAAP operating expense, including special items of $8.6 million5 primarily related to lease termination charges, increased 23.4 percent, or $93.5 million, year over year to $493.0 million. Adjusted operating expense for the fourth quarter 2016 increased 20.7 percent, or $83.2 million to $484.4 million6. The increase in both GAAP and adjusted operating expense was primarily driven by an increase in flight volume.

Aircraft fuel expense increased in the fourth quarter 2016 by 20.3 percent, or $21.3 million, compared to the same period last year, primarily due to a 14.0 percent increase in fuel gallons consumed.
 
Spirit reported fourth quarter 2016 cost per available seat mile, excluding special items and fuel (“Adjusted CASM ex-fuel”), of 5.44 cents6, an increase of 5.6 percent compared to the same period last year, driven primarily by higher other operating expenses and salaries, wages, and benefits per ASM, partially offset by lower aircraft rent per ASM.

"For the full year 2016, our adjusted CASM ex-fuel decreased 0.9 percent6 year over year. I applaud our team members for their continued efforts to improve our cost structure," said Ted Christie, Spirit's Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer. "Our low cost structure is the backbone of our competitive advantage and we remain dedicated to maintaining our cost discipline."

Labor
Spirit and its pilots, represented by the Airline Pilots Association, remain in open contract negotiations under the supervision of the National Mediation Board.

Fleet
Spirit took delivery of five new A320neo and one new A321ceo aircraft during the fourth quarter 2016.

Full Year 2016 Highlights
Added Seattle, Washington; Akron-Canton, Ohio; Newark, New Jersey; and Havana, Cuba to its list of destinations.
Added 16 (3 A320ceos, 5 A320neos, and 8 A321ceos) new Airbus aircraft to its fleet, ending the year with 95 aircraft. As of year-end 2016, Spirit's Fit Fleet™ averaged 5.2 years, the youngest fleet of any major U.S. airline.
Returned approximately $100 million to shareholders by repurchasing approximately 2.3 million shares.
Ratified agreements with its flight attendants, represented by the Association of Flight Attendants - CWA, and with its ramp service team members at Fort Lauderdale Hollywood International Airport, represented by the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers.
Created over 850 new jobs, bringing our total number of team members to over 5,800.

Conference Call/Webcast Detail
Spirit will conduct a conference call to discuss these results today, February 7, 2017, at 9:00 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 U.S. airline, we operate more than 420 daily flights to 59 destinations in the U.S., Latin America and the Caribbean. Come save with us at www.spirit.com.

2




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) As defined by the Department of Transportation.
(4) See "Reconciliation of Adjusted Operating Income to GAAP Operating Income" table below for more details.
(5)
See "Special Items" table for more details.
(6)
See "Reconciliation of Adjusted Operating Expense to GAAP Operating Expense" table below for more details.



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. Furthermore, such forward-looking statements speak only as of the date of this release. 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. 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. 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 certain 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.


3




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


 
Three Months Ended

 
 
Year Ended
 
 
 
December 31,
 
Percent
 
December 31,
 
Percent

2016

2015

Change
 
2016
 
2015
 
Change
Operating revenues:
 
 
 


 
 
 
 
 
 
Passenger
$
300,590

 
$
267,487


12.4

 
$
1,200,621

 
$
1,169,338

 
2.7

Non-ticket
277,761

 
252,359


10.1

 
1,121,335

 
972,125

 
15.3

Total operating revenues
578,351

 
519,846


11.3

 
2,321,956

 
2,141,463

 
8.4

 
 
 
 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Operating expenses:
 
 
 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Salaries, wages and benefits
122,941

 
97,035


26.7

 
472,471

 
377,508

 
25.2

Aircraft fuel
126,535

 
105,215


20.3

 
447,553

 
461,447

 
(3.0
)
Aircraft rent
50,242

 
52,091


(3.5
)
 
201,675

 
211,531

 
(4.7
)
Landing fees and other rents
37,583

 
32,590


15.3

 
151,679

 
131,077

 
15.7

Depreciation and amortization
27,766

 
22,278


24.6

 
101,136

 
73,908

 
36.8

Maintenance, materials and repairs
26,577

 
18,544


43.3

 
98,587

 
80,448

 
22.5

Distribution
23,437

 
20,656


13.5

 
96,627

 
86,576

 
11.6

Special charges
5,580

 

 
nm

 
37,189

 
673

 
nm

Loss on disposal of assets
3,021

 
304

 
nm

 
4,187

 
1,604

 
nm

Other operating
69,358

 
50,796


36.5

 
267,191

 
207,569

 
28.7

Total operating expenses
493,040

 
399,509


23.4

 
1,878,295

 
1,632,341

 
15.1

 
 
 
 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Operating income
85,311

 
120,337


(29.1
)
 
443,661

 
509,122

 
(12.9
)
 
 
 
 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Other (income) expense:
 
 
 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Interest expense
12,066

 
7,200


67.6

 
41,654

 
20,382

 
nm

Capitalized interest
(3,542
)
 
(3,161
)

12.1

 
(12,705
)
 
(11,553
)
 
10.0

Interest income
(1,041
)
 
(1,581
)

(34.2
)
 
(5,276
)
 
(2,125
)
 
nm

Other expense
121

 
(267
)

nm

 
528

 
15

 
nm

Total other (income) expense
7,604

 
2,191


nm

 
24,201

 
6,719

 
nm

 
 
 
 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Income before income taxes
77,707

 
118,146


(34.2
)
 
419,460

 
502,403

 
(16.5
)
Provision for income taxes
29,214

 
43,746


(33.2
)
 
154,581

 
185,183

 
(16.5
)
Net income
$
48,493

 
$
74,400


(34.8
)
 
$
264,879

 
$
317,220

 
(16.5
)
Basic earnings per share
$
0.70

 
$
1.04


(32.7
)
 
$
3.77

 
$
4.39

 
(14.1
)
Diluted earnings per share
$
0.70

 
$
1.04


(32.7
)
 
$
3.76

 
$
4.38

 
(14.2
)

 
 
 

 
 
 
 
 
 

Weighted average shares, basic
69,325

 
71,543


(3.1
)
 
70,344

 
72,208

 
(2.6
)
Weighted average shares, diluted
69,551

 
71,672


(3.0
)
 
70,508

 
72,426

 
(2.6
)




Note: Certain prior period amounts have been reclassified to conform to the current presentation.


4




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

 
Three Months Ended
 
Year Ended
 
December 31,
 
December 31,
 
2016
 
2015
 
2016
 
2015
Net income
$
48,493

 
$
74,400

 
$
264,879

 
$
317,220

Unrealized gain (loss) on interest rate derivative instruments, net of deferred taxes of $0, $0, $0 and ($550)

 

 

 
(910
)
Unrealized gain (loss) on short-term investment securities, net of deferred taxes of ($16), $0, ($13) and $0
(27
)
 

 
(23
)
 

Interest rate derivative losses reclassified into earnings, net of taxes of $33, $34, $130 and $50
55

 
58

 
224

 
82

Other comprehensive income (loss)
$
28

 
$
58

 
$
201

 
$
(828
)
Comprehensive income
$
48,521

 
$
74,458

 
$
265,080

 
$
316,392





5




SPIRIT AIRLINES, INC.
Balance Sheets
(unaudited, in thousands)
 
December 31,
 
December 31,
 
2016
 
2015
Assets
 
 
 
Current assets:
 
 
 
Cash and cash equivalents
$
700,900

 
$
803,632

Short-term investment securities
100,155

 

Accounts receivable, net
41,136

 
28,266

Aircraft maintenance deposits
87,035

 
73,415

Prepaid income taxes

 
72,278

Prepaid expenses and other current assets
46,619

 
48,749

Total current assets
975,845

 
1,026,340

 
 
 
 
Property and equipment:
 
 
 
Flight equipment
1,461,525

 
834,927

Ground property and equipment
126,206

 
74,814

Less accumulated depreciation
(122,509
)
 
(65,524
)
 
1,465,222

 
844,217

Deposits on flight equipment purchase contracts
325,688

 
286,837

Long-term aircraft maintenance deposits
199,415

 
206,485

Deferred heavy maintenance, net
75,534

 
89,127

Other long-term assets
110,223

 
77,539

Total assets
$
3,151,927

 
$
2,530,545

 
 
 
 
Liabilities and shareholders’ equity
 
 
 
Current liabilities:
 
 
 
Accounts payable
15,193

 
17,043

Air traffic liability
206,392

 
216,831

Current maturities of long-term debt
84,354

 
49,637

Other current liabilities
226,011

 
182,729

Total current liabilities
531,950

 
466,240

 
 
 
 
Long-term debt, less current maturities
897,359

 
596,693

Long-term deferred income taxes
308,143

 
221,481

Deferred gains and other long-term liabilities
19,868

 
20,821

Shareholders’ equity:
 
 
 
Common stock
7

 
7

Additional paid-in-capital
551,004

 
544,277

Treasury stock, at cost
(218,692
)
 
(116,182
)
Retained earnings
1,063,633

 
798,754

Accumulated other comprehensive loss
(1,345
)
 
(1,546
)
Total shareholders’ equity
1,394,607

 
1,225,310

Total liabilities and shareholders’ equity
$
3,151,927

 
$
2,530,545



6




SPIRIT AIRLINES, INC.
Statement of Cash Flows
(unaudited, in thousands)
 
Year Ended December 31,
 
2016
 
2015
Operating activities:
 
 
 
Net income
$
264,879

 
$
317,220

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

 
2,202

Losses reclassified from other comprehensive income
354

 
132

Equity-based compensation
7,105

 
9,222

Allowance for doubtful accounts (recoveries)
80

 
12

Amortization of deferred gains and losses and debt issuance costs
5,732

 
1,165

Depreciation and amortization
101,136

 
73,908

Deferred income tax expense
86,545

 
155,614

Loss on disposal of assets
4,187

 
1,604

Lease termination costs
37,189

 

Changes in operating assets and liabilities:
 
 
 
Accounts receivable
(12,951
)
 
(5,592
)
Aircraft maintenance deposits
(45,869
)
 
(32,101
)
Long-term deposits and other assets
(75,780
)
 
(103,613
)
Prepaid income taxes
72,278

 

Accounts payable
(6,823
)
 
2,706

Air traffic liability
(11,582
)
 
36,387

Other liabilities
46,992

 
14,119

Other
206

 

Net cash provided by operating activities
473,678

 
472,985

Investing activities:
 
 
 
Purchase of short-term investment securities
(103,258
)
 

Proceeds from the maturity of short-term investment securities
2,842

 

Proceeds from sale of property and equipment
50

 

Pre-delivery deposits for flight equipment, net of refunds
(173,947
)
 
(142,323
)
Capitalized interest
(10,834
)
 
(10,159
)
Purchase of property and equipment
(541,122
)
 
(548,800
)
Net cash used in investing activities
(826,269
)
 
(701,282
)
Financing activities:
 
 
 
Proceeds from issuance of long-term debt
417,275

 
536,780

Proceeds from stock options exercised
92

 
32

Payments on debt and capital lease obligations
(64,421
)
 
(26,364
)
Proceeds from sale leaseback transactions

 
7,300

Excess tax (deficiency) benefit from equity-based compensation
(470
)
 
8,850

Repurchase of common stock
(102,510
)
 
(112,261
)
Debt issuance costs
(107
)
 
(15,192
)
Net cash provided by financing activities
249,859

 
399,145

Net (decrease) increase in cash and cash equivalents
(102,732
)
 
170,848

Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period
803,632

 
632,784

Cash and cash equivalents at end of period
$
700,900

 
$
803,632

Supplemental disclosures
 
 
 
Cash payments for:
 
 
 
Interest, net of capitalized interest
$
39,963

 
$
7,061

Income taxes paid, net of refunds
$
(5,579
)
 
$
95,933

Non-cash transactions:
 
 
 
Capital expenditures funded by capital lease borrowings
$
(31
)
 
$


7




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

 
Operating Statistics
2016

2015

Change
Available seat miles (ASMs) (thousands)
6,585,018


5,705,398


15.4
 %
Revenue passenger miles (RPMs) (thousands)
5,362,518


4,727,996


13.4
 %
Load factor (%)
81.4


82.9


(1.5) pts

Passenger flight segments (thousands)
5,350


4,651


15.0
 %
Block hours
99,385


89,016


11.6
 %
Departures
38,019


33,662


12.9
 %
Total operating revenue per ASM (TRASM) (cents)
8.78


9.11


(3.6
)%
Average yield (cents)
10.79


11.00


(1.9
)%
Average ticket revenue per passenger flight segment ($)
56.19


57.52


(2.3
)%
Average non-ticket revenue per passenger flight segment ($)
51.92


54.26


(4.3
)%
Total revenue per passenger flight segment ($)
108.11


111.78


(3.3
)%
CASM (cents)
7.49


7.00


7.0
 %
Adjusted CASM (cents) (1)
7.36


7.03


4.7
 %
Adjusted CASM ex-fuel (cents) (2)
5.44


5.15


5.6%

Fuel gallons consumed (thousands)
76,930


67,467


14.0
 %
Average economic fuel cost per gallon ($)
1.64


1.59


3.1
 %
Aircraft at end of period
95


79


20.3
 %
Average daily aircraft utilization (hours)
11.7


12.5


(6.4)%

Average stage length (miles)
981


1,000


(1.9
)%
 
Year Ended December 31,
 
 
Operating Statistics
2016

2015

Change
Available seat miles (ASMs) (thousands)
25,494,645


21,246,156


20.0
 %
Revenue passenger miles (RPMs) (thousands)
21,581,611


17,995,311


19.9
 %
Load factor (%)
84.7


84.7



Passenger flight segments (thousands)
21,618


17,921


20.6
 %
Block hours
389,914


337,956


15.4
 %
Departures
149,514


128,902


16.0
 %
Total operating revenue per ASM (TRASM) (cents)
9.11


10.08


(9.6
)%
Average yield (cents)
10.76


11.90


(9.6
)%
Average ticket revenue per passenger flight segment ($)
55.54


65.25


(14.9
)%
Average non-ticket revenue per passenger flight segment ($)
51.87


54.24


(4.4
)%
Total revenue per passenger flight segment ($)
107.41


119.49


(10.1
)%
CASM (cents)
7.37


7.68


(4.0
)%
Adjusted CASM (cents) (1)
7.21


7.69


(6.2
)%
Adjusted CASM ex-fuel (cents) (2)
5.45


5.50


(0.9
)%
Fuel gallons consumed (thousands)
302,781


255,008


18.7
 %
Average economic fuel cost per gallon ($)
1.48


1.82


(18.7
)%
Average daily aircraft utilization (hours)
12.4


12.7


(2.4)%

Average stage length (miles)
979


987


(0.8
)%


(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 analytical tools. 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
 
Year Ended
 
December 31,
 
December 31,
(in thousands)
2016

2015
 
2016
 
2015
Operating special items include the following (1):
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Unrealized losses (gains) related to fuel derivative contracts

 
(1,988
)
 

 
(3,880
)
Loss on disposal of assets
3,021

 
304

 
4,187

 
1,604

Special charges
5,580

 

 
37,189

 
673

Total operating special items
$
8,601

 
$
(1,684
)
 
$
41,376

 
$
(1,603
)

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

 
Three Months Ended
 
Year Ended

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

2015
 
2016
 
2015
Total operating expenses, as reported
$
493,040

 
$
399,509

 
$
1,878,295

 
$
1,632,341

Less operating special items (1)
8,601

 
(1,684
)
 
41,376

 
(1,603
)
Adjusted operating expenses, non-GAAP (2)
484,439

 
401,193

 
1,836,919

 
1,633,944

Less: Economic fuel expense
126,535

 
107,203

 
447,553

 
465,327

Adjusted operating expenses excluding fuel, non-GAAP (3)
$
357,904

 
$
293,990

 
$
1,389,366

 
$
1,168,617


 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Available seat miles
6,585,018

 
5,705,398

 
25,494,645

 
21,246,156


 
 
 
 
 
 
 
CASM (cents)
7.49

 
7.00

 
7.37

 
7.68

Adjusted CASM (cents) (2)
7.36

 
7.03

 
7.21

 
7.69

Adjusted CASM ex-fuel (cents) (3)
5.44

 
5.15

 
5.45

 
5.50


(1)
Special items include unrealized gains and losses related to outstanding fuel derivative contracts, loss on disposal of assets, and special charges. Special charges for 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
 
Year Ended
 
December 31,
 
December 31,
(in thousands, except per share data)
2016
 
2015
 
2016
 
2015
Net income, as reported
$
48,493

 
$
74,400

 
$
264,879

 
$
317,220

Add: Provision for income taxes
29,214

 
43,746

 
154,581

 
185,183

Income before income taxes, as reported
77,707

 
118,146

 
419,460

 
502,403

Pre-tax margin, GAAP
13.4
%
 
22.7
%
 
18.1
%
 
23.5
%
Add operating special items (1)
8,601

 
(1,684
)
 
41,376

 
(1,603
)
Income before income taxes, non-GAAP (2)
86,308

 
116,462

 
460,836

 
500,800

Adjusted pre-tax margin, non-GAAP (2)
14.9
%
 
22.4
%
 
19.8
%
 
23.4
%
Provision for income taxes (3)
32,448

 
43,122

 
169,829

 
184,592

Adjusted net income, non-GAAP (2)(3)
$
53,860

 
$
73,340

 
$
291,007

 
$
316,208

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Weighted average shares, diluted
69,551

 
71,672

 
70,508

 
72,426

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Adjusted net income per share, diluted (2)(3)
$0.77
 
$1.02
 
$4.13
 
$4.37



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

 
Three Months Ended
 
Year Ended

December 31,
 
December 31,
(in thousands)
2016
 
2015
 
2016
 
2015
Operating income, as reported
$
85,311


$
120,337

 
$
443,661

 
$
509,122

Operating margin, GAAP
14.8
%

23.1
%
 
19.1
%
 
23.8
%
Add operating special items (1)
8,601

 
(1,684
)
 
41,376

 
(1,603
)
Operating income, non-GAAP (2)
$
93,912


$
118,653

 
$
485,037

 
$
507,519

Operating margin (2)
16.2
%

22.8
%
 
20.9
%
 
23.7
%








(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 its business, because it most closely approximates the net cash outflow associated with purchasing fuel used for its 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 its 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 its 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
 
Year Ended
 
December 31,
 
December 31,
(in thousands, except per gallon data)
2016
 
2015
 
2016

2015
Fuel expense



 



Aircraft fuel, as reported
$
126,535

 
$
105,215

 
$
447,553

 
$
461,447

Less:





 
 
 
 
     Unrealized losses (gains) related to fuel derivative contracts


(1,988
)
 

 
(3,880
)
Economic fuel expense, non-GAAP
$
126,535


$
107,203

 
$
447,553

 
$
465,327





 
 
 
 
Fuel gallons consumed
76,930


67,467

 
302,781

 
255,008





 
 
 
 
Economic fuel cost per gallon, non-GAAP
$
1.64


$
1.59

 
$
1.48

 
$
1.82


Calculation of Return on Invested Capital
(unaudited)
 
Twelve Months Ended
(in thousands)
December 31, 2016
Operating income
$
443,661

Add operating special items (1)
41,376

Adjustment for aircraft rent
201,675

Adjusted operating income (2)
686,712

Tax (36.9%) (3)
253,397

Adjusted operating income, after-tax
433,315

Invested capital
 
Total debt
$
981,713

Book equity
1,394,607

Less: Unrestricted cash, cash equivalents & short-term investments
801,055

Add: Capitalized aircraft operating leases (7x Aircraft Rent)
1,411,725

Total invested capital
2,986,990

 
 
Return on invested capital (ROIC), pre-tax (2)
23.0
%
Return on invested capital (ROIC), after-tax (2)(3)
14.5
%

(1)
See "Special Items" for more details.
(2)
Excludes special items.
(3)
Assumes same marginal tax rate as is applicable to GAAP net income for the twelve months ended December 31, 2016.
###

11