Spirit Airlines Reports Third Quarter 2017 Results


MIRAMAR, Fla., Oct. 26, 2017 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Spirit Airlines, Inc. (NASDAQ:SAVE) today reported third quarter 2017 financial results.

  • GAAP net income for the third quarter 2017 was $60.2 million ($0.87 per diluted share), or $65.5 million ($0.94 per diluted share)1 excluding special items.
     
  • GAAP operating margin for the third quarter 2017 was 15.1 percent, or 16.4 percent excluding special items1.
     
  • Spirit ended the third quarter 2017 with unrestricted cash, cash equivalents, and short-term investments of $964.4 million.
     
  • Spirit's return on invested capital (non-GAAP, before taxes and excluding special items) for the twelve months ended September 30, 2017 was 18.1 percent2.

“Multiple hurricanes during the third quarter 2017 caused us to cancel over 1,650 flights.  In preparation for Irma, we relocated our Systems Operations Control Center and over 305 team members and their families to our backup facility in Detroit where we ran our operations for about a week.  I am very proud of how the Spirit team pulled together to assist our guests and employees in the regions affected by the storms while keeping the rest of the network running smoothly and still delivering solid financial results.  Excluding the impact of these storms, we estimate our third quarter on-time performance would have been 78.5 percent, a 2.2 percentage point improvement year over year,” said Robert Fornaro, Spirit’s President and Chief Executive Officer.  “It was a challenging quarter on many fronts and I want to thank our entire team for their dedication in going the extra mile to care for our guests and volunteering to assist with the relief efforts.”

Spirit carried over 3,000 guests and more than 800 team members and their families to safety, many of whom were elderly or at risk.  We have transported over a 100,000 pounds of relief supplies in joint efforts with the American Red Cross, Airlink Operation, Puerto Rico Care Lift and many others, have pledged to match donations up to $150,000 to the American Red Cross, and are committed to assist with ongoing relief efforts throughout the Caribbean.

Revenue Performance
For the third quarter 2017, Spirit's total operating revenue was $687.2 million, an increase of 10.6 percent compared to the third quarter 2016, driven by an 11.2 percent increase in flight volume.  During the third quarter 2017, Spirit canceled over 1,650 flights related to Hurricanes Harvey, Irma, and Maria.  Spirit estimates these hurricanes, together with the revenue overhang from the pilot work action earlier in the year, negatively impacted third quarter 2017 revenue by approximately $40 million and operating income by approximately $39 million.

Total revenue per available seat mile (TRASM) for the third quarter 2017 decreased 6.3 percent compared to the same period last year, primarily driven by lower passenger yields as a result of aggressive competitive pricing action in many of our markets.

On a per passenger flight segment basis, total revenue for the third quarter 2017 decreased 0.5 percent year over year to $108.96 due to ticket revenue per passenger flight segment decreasing 3.2 percent to $56.48, partially offset by non-ticket revenue per passenger flight segment increasing 2.6 percent to $52.48.

Cost Performance
For the third quarter 2017, total GAAP operating expense, including special items of $8.4 million3, increased 20.0 percent, or $97.0 million, year over year to $583.1 million.  Adjusted operating expense for the third quarter 2017 increased 20.2 percent, or $96.4 million to $574.8 million4. The year-over-year increase in both GAAP and adjusted operating expense was primarily driven by an increase in flight volume, higher passenger re-accommodation expense (recorded within other operating expenses), and higher fuel rates.

Aircraft fuel expense increased in the third quarter 2017 by 29.9 percent, or $36.5 million, compared to the same period last year, due to a 12.2 percent increase in the cost of fuel per gallon and a 15.3 percent increase in fuel gallons consumed.

Spirit reported third quarter 2017 cost per available seat mile ("ASM"), excluding special items and fuel (“Adjusted CASM ex-fuel”), of 5.42 cents4, a decrease of 1.1 percent compared to the same period last year.   The decrease year over year was primarily driven by lower maintenance and salaries, wages, and benefits per ASM, partially offset by higher passenger re-accommodation expense and depreciation and amortization per ASM.

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

Fleet
Spirit took delivery of three new A321ceo aircraft and one new A320ceo aircraft and returned one leased A321ceo aircraft during the third quarter 2017, ending the quarter with 107 aircraft in its fleet.

Share Repurchase Authorization
On October 25, 2017, Spirit's Board of Directors authorized a repurchase program of up to $100 million in aggregate value of shares of Common Stock, par value $0.0001 per share, from time to time in open market or privately negotiated transactions. The authorization will expire on October 25, 2018. The timing and amount of any stock repurchases are subject to prevailing market conditions and other considerations.

Recent New Service Announcements
Boston - New Orleans (11/09/17)
Minneapolis-St. Paul - New Orleans (11/09/17)
Newark - New Orleans (11/09/17)
Tampa - New Orleans (11/09/17)
Newark - Las Vegas (11/09/17)
Chicago - West Palm Beach (11/09/17)*

* Seasonal Service Operates 11/9/17- 4/11/18

Conference Call/Webcast Detail
Spirit will conduct a conference call to discuss these results today, October 26, 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 480 daily flights to 60 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, Adjusted Pre-tax Income, and Adjusted Operating Income to GAAP Net Income" table below for more details.
(2)  See "Calculation for Return on Invested Capital, non-GAAP" table below for more details.
(3)  See "Special Items" table for more details.
(4)  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.


SPIRIT AIRLINES, INC.
Condensed Statement of Operations
(unaudited, in thousands, except per share data)
 
 Three Months Ended   Nine Months Ended  
 September 30, Percent September 30, Percent
 2017 2016 Change 2017 2016 Change
Operating revenues:           
Passenger$356,207  $331,004  7.6  $1,027,891  $900,031  14.2 
Non-ticket331,024  290,325  14.0  952,768  843,574  12.9 
Total operating revenues687,231  621,329  10.6  1,980,659  1,743,605  13.6 
            
Operating expenses:           
Salaries, wages and benefits134,114  120,190  11.6  391,144  349,530  11.9 
Aircraft fuel158,300  121,844  29.9  440,376  321,018  37.2 
Aircraft rent53,396  49,367  8.2  163,032  151,433  7.7 
Landing fees and other rents48,498  39,345  23.3  134,538  114,096  17.9 
Depreciation and amortization36,840  25,304  45.6  103,680  73,370  41.3 
Maintenance, materials and repairs26,176  30,443  (14.0) 81,473  72,010  13.1 
Distribution29,469  25,565  15.3  85,875  73,190  17.3 
Special charges7,853  7,355  nm   12,629  31,609  nm  
Loss on disposal of assets516  423  nm   3,114  1,166  nm  
Other operating87,965  66,277  32.7  268,553  197,833  35.7 
Total operating expenses583,127  486,113  20.0  1,684,414  1,385,255  21.6 
            
Operating income104,104  135,216  (23.0) 296,245  358,350  (17.3)
            
Other (income) expense:           
Interest expense15,018  11,362  32.2  41,237  29,588  39.4 
Capitalized interest(3,203) (3,067) 4.4  (10,125) (9,163) 10.5 
Interest income(2,605) (1,222) 113.2  (5,746) (4,235) 35.7 
Other expense114  180  (36.7) 221  407  (45.7)
Total other (income) expense9,324  7,253  28.6  25,587  16,597  54.2 
            
Income before income taxes94,780  127,963  (25.9) 270,658  341,753  (20.8)
Provision for income taxes34,590  46,581  (25.7) 100,390  125,367  (19.9)
            
Net income$60,190  $81,382  (26.0) $170,268  $216,386  (21.3)
Basic earnings per share$0.87  $1.17  (25.6) $2.45  $3.06  (19.9)
Diluted earnings per share$0.87  $1.17  (25.6) $2.45  $3.05  (19.7)
            
Weighted average shares, basic69,370  69,727  (0.5) 69,363  70,689  (1.9)
Weighted average shares, diluted69,458  69,808  (0.5) 69,537  70,832  (1.8)


SPIRIT AIRLINES, INC.
Condensed Statements of Comprehensive Income
(unaudited, in thousands)
  
 Three Months Ended Nine Months Ended
 September 30, September 30,
 2017 2016 2017 2016
Net income$60,190  $81,382  $170,268  $216,386 
Unrealized gain (loss) on short-term investment securities, net of deferred taxes of $7, $3, ($6) and $313  4  (11) 4 
Interest rate derivative losses reclassified into earnings, net of taxes of $31, $32, $92 and $9753  56  160  170 
Other comprehensive income (loss)$66  $60  $149  $174 
Comprehensive income$60,256  $81,442  $170,417  $216,560 
 

 

SPIRIT AIRLINES, INC.
Condensed Balance Sheets
(unaudited, in thousands)
 September 30, December 31,
 2017 2016
Assets   
Current assets:   
Cash and cash equivalents$863,680  $700,900 
Short-term investment securities100,732  100,155 
Accounts receivable, net46,235  41,136 
Aircraft maintenance deposits, net166,386  87,035 
Prepaid expenses and other current assets67,707  46,619 
Total current assets1,244,740  975,845 
    
Property and equipment:   
Flight equipment2,017,888  1,461,525 
Ground property and equipment148,324  126,206 
Less accumulated depreciation(183,065) (122,509)
 1,983,147  1,465,222 
Deposits on flight equipment purchase contracts304,732  325,688 
Long-term aircraft maintenance deposits138,672  199,415 
Deferred heavy maintenance, net87,566  75,534 
Other long-term assets112,085  110,223 
Total assets$3,870,942  $3,151,927 
    
Liabilities and shareholders’ equity   
Current liabilities:   
Accounts payable$30,961  $15,193 
Air traffic liability276,933  206,392 
Current maturities of long-term debt105,958  84,354 
Other current liabilities249,132  226,011 
Total current liabilities662,984  531,950 
    
Long-term debt, less current maturities1,214,138  897,359 
Deferred income taxes406,080  308,143 
Deferred gains and other long-term liabilities17,204  19,868 
Shareholders’ equity:   
Common stock7  7 
Additional paid-in-capital557,772  551,004 
Treasury stock, at cost(219,930) (218,692)
Retained earnings1,233,901  1,063,633 
Accumulated other comprehensive loss(1,214) (1,345)
Total shareholders’ equity1,570,536  1,394,607 
Total liabilities and shareholders’ equity$3,870,942  $3,151,927 
 

 

SPIRIT AIRLINES, INC.
Condensed Statement of Cash Flows
(unaudited, in thousands)
 Nine Months Ended September 30,
 2017 2016
Operating activities:   
Net income$170,268  $216,386 
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operations:   
Losses reclassified from other comprehensive income252  267 
Equity-based compensation6,723  5,503 
Allowance for doubtful accounts (recoveries)(53) 213 
Amortization of deferred gains and losses and debt issuance costs6,415  3,837 
Depreciation and amortization103,680  73,370 
Deferred income tax expense97,834  77,627 
Loss on disposal of assets3,114  1,166 
Lease termination costs12,629  31,609 
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:   
Accounts receivable(5,046) (7,840)
Aircraft maintenance deposits, net(28,422) (38,299)
Prepaid income taxes(160) 66,218 
Long-term deposits and other assets(81,622) (43,252)
Accounts payable13,829  (7,044)
Air traffic liability70,540  21,963 
Other liabilities16,152  38,317 
Other339   
Net cash provided by operating activities386,472  440,041 
Investing activities:   
Purchase of available-for-sale investment securities(96,851) (100,076)
Proceeds from the maturity of available-for-sale investment securities95,881   
Proceeds from sale of property and equipment  50 
Pre-delivery deposits for flight equipment, net of refunds(121,702) (109,260)
Capitalized interest(8,054) (7,032)
Purchase of property and equipment(428,061) (447,455)
Net cash used in investing activities(558,787) (663,773)
Financing activities:   
Proceeds from issuance of long-term debt405,827  378,569 
Proceeds from stock options exercised45  92 
Payments on debt and capital lease obligations(63,643) (29,663)
Excess tax (deficiency) benefit from equity-based compensation  (497)
Repurchase of common stock(1,238) (102,390)
Debt issuance costs(5,896) (107)
Net cash provided by financing activities335,095  246,004 
Net (decrease) increase in cash and cash equivalents162,780  22,272 
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period700,900  803,632 
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period$863,680  $825,904 
Supplemental disclosures   
Cash payments for:   
Interest, net of capitalized interest$22,541  $26,025 
Income taxes paid, net of refunds$4,352  $(18,169)
Non-cash transactions:   
Capital expenditures funded by capital lease borrowings$(1,370) $(31)
  

 

SPIRIT AIRLINES, INC.
Selected Operating Statistics (unaudited)
 Three Months Ended September 30,  
Operating Statistics2017 2016 Change
Available seat miles (ASMs) (thousands)7,681,312  6,507,204  18.0%
Revenue passenger miles (RPMs) (thousands)6,452,529  5,599,370  15.2%
Load factor (%)84.0  86.0  (2.0) pts
Passenger flight segments (thousands)6,307  5,674  11.2%
Block hours112,701  98,586  14.3%
Departures42,599  38,310  11.2%
Total operating revenue per ASM (TRASM) (cents)8.95  9.55  (6.3)%
Average yield (cents)10.65  11.10  (4.1)%
Average ticket revenue per passenger flight segment ($)56.48  58.34  (3.2)%
Average non-ticket revenue per passenger flight segment ($)52.48  51.17  2.6%
Total revenue per passenger flight segment ($)108.96  109.51  (0.5)%
CASM (cents)7.59  7.47  1.6%
Adjusted CASM (cents) (1)7.48  7.35  1.8%
Adjusted CASM ex-fuel (cents) (2)5.42  5.48  (1.1)%
Fuel gallons consumed (thousands)90,274  78,288  15.3%
Average economic fuel cost per gallon ($)1.75  1.56  12.2%
Aircraft at end of period107  89  20.2%
Average daily aircraft utilization (hours)11.6  12.3  (5.7)%
Average stage length (miles)1,006  968  3.9%
  
      
 Nine Months Ended September 30,  
Operating Statistics2017 2016 Change
Available seat miles (ASMs) (thousands)21,851,789  18,909,627  15.6%
Revenue passenger miles (RPMs) (thousands)18,285,588  16,219,093  12.7%
Load factor (%)83.7  85.8  (2.1) pts
Passenger flight segments (thousands)18,083  16,268  11.2%
Block hours326,033  290,529  12.2%
Departures123,492  111,495  10.8%
Total operating revenue per ASM (TRASM) (cents)9.06  9.22  (1.7)%
Average yield (cents)10.83  10.75  0.7%
Average ticket revenue per passenger flight segment ($)56.84  55.32  2.7%
Average non-ticket revenue per passenger flight segment ($)52.69  51.85  1.6%
Total revenue per passenger flight segment ($)109.53  107.17  2.2%
CASM (cents)7.71  7.33  5.2%
Adjusted CASM (cents) (1)7.64  7.15  6.9%
Adjusted CASM ex-fuel (cents) (2)5.62  5.45  3.1%
Fuel gallons consumed (thousands)254,871  225,851  12.8%
Average economic fuel cost per gallon ($)1.73  1.42  21.8%
Average daily aircraft utilization (hours)11.7  12.6  (7.1)%
Average stage length (miles)991  978  1.3%

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

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
(unaudited)

 

 Three Months Ended
 September 30,
(in thousands)2017 2016
Operating special items include the following (1):   
Loss on disposal of assets516  423 
Special charges7,853  7,355 
Total operating special items$8,369  $7,778 
        

 

 

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

 

 Three Months Ended
 September 30,
(in thousands, except CASM data in cents)2017 2016
Total operating expenses, as reported$583,127  $486,113 
Less operating special items (1)8,369  7,778 
Adjusted operating expenses, non-GAAP (2)574,758  478,335 
Less: Economic fuel expense158,300  121,844 
Adjusted operating expenses excluding fuel, non-GAAP (3)$416,458  $356,491 
    
Available seat miles7,681,312  6,507,204 
    
CASM (cents)7.59  7.47 
Adjusted CASM (cents) (2)7.48  7.35 
Adjusted CASM ex-fuel (cents) (3)5.42  5.48 

(1)  Special items include loss on disposal of assets and special charges.  Special charges are primarily related to lease termination costs.
(2)  Excludes operating special items.
(3)  Excludes operating special items and economic fuel expense.

Reconciliation of Adjusted Net Income, Adjusted Pre-Tax Income, and Adjusted Operating Income to GAAP Net Income
(unaudited)

 

 Three Months Ended
 September 30,
(in thousands, except per share data) 2017  2016
Net income, as reported$60,190  $81,382 
Add: Provision for income taxes 34,590   46,581 
Income before income taxes, as reported 94,780   127,963 
Pre-tax margin, GAAP 13.8%  20.6%
Add operating special items (1)$8,369  $7,778 
Adjusted income before income taxes, non-GAAP (2) 103,149   135,741 
Adjusted pre-tax margin, non-GAAP (2) 15.0%  21.8%
Add:  Total other (income) expense 9,324   7,253 
Adjusted operating income, non-GAAP(2) 112,473   142,994 
Adjusted operating margin, non-GAAP(2) 16.4%  23.0%
    
Provision for adjusted income taxes (3) 37,644   49,412 
Adjusted net income, non-GAAP (2)(3)$65,505  $86,329 
    
Weighted average shares, diluted 69,458   69,808 
    
Adjusted net income per share, diluted (2)(3)$ 0.94   $ 1.24  
    
Total operating revenues$687,231  $621,329 

(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. 

The Company tracks a non-GAAP calculation of Return on Invested Capital "ROIC", as a way of measuring our efficiency in delivering returns and in allocating capital.  We calculate ROIC as Adjusted Operating Income (non-GAAP), divided by Total Invested Capital (non-GAAP), on a pre-tax and after-tax basis, expressed as a percentage.

Because a substantial portion of our aircraft fleet is held under operating leases, which do not appear on the balance sheet, a GAAP-based calculation of our total capital deployed may be considered understated (which would have the effect of overstating ROIC, if calculated solely using GAAP line items).  Accordingly, we adjust our total capital, the denominator of the ROIC measurement, by capitalizing operating leases at a multiple of seven times our aircraft rent expense, a measure used commonly in the airline industry and by analysts.

To calculate Adjusted Operating Income (non-GAAP), we add back aircraft rent to GAAP operating income, consistent with the adjustment to total capital discussed above.  In order to remove the effects of non-recurring gains and losses that may affect GAAP operating income, we also exclude special items from Adjusted Operating Income (non-GAAP). We present Adjusted Operating Income (non-GAAP) on a pre-tax basis and present Adjusted Operating Income (non-GAAP) on an after-tax basis, using our effective tax rate for the period.

Calculation of Return on Invested Capital, non-GAAP
(unaudited)

 

 Twelve Months Ended
(in thousands)September 30, 2017
Operating income$381,556 
Add operating special items (1)24,344 
Adjustment for aircraft rent213,274 
Adjusted operating income, non-GAAP619,174 
Tax (37.2%) (2)230,333 
Adjusted operating income, after-tax, non-GAAP$388,841 
Invested capital: 
Total debt$1,320,096 
Book equity1,570,536 
Less: Unrestricted cash, cash equivalents & short-term investments964,412 
Add: Capitalized aircraft operating leases (7x Aircraft Rent)1,492,918 
Total invested capital, non-GAAP$3,419,138 
  
Return on invested capital (ROIC), pre-tax, non-GAAP18.1%
Return on invested capital (ROIC), after-tax, non-GAAP (2)11.4%

(1)  See "Special Items" for more details.
(2)  Assumes same marginal tax rate as is applicable to GAAP net income for the twelve months ended September 30, 2017. 

Investor Relations Contact:
DeAnne Gabel
InvestorRelations@spirit.com 
954-447-7920

Media Contact:
Stephen Schuler
Stephen.Schuler@spirit.com
(954) 364-0231