Royal Caribbean Reports Record Third Quarter Earnings And Comments On Current Environment
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Royal Caribbean Reports Record Third Quarter Earnings And Comments On Current Environment
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Category: Worldwide - Industry economy
- Figures / Studies
This is a press release selected by our editorial committee and published online for free on 2008-10-29
Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. (NYSE: RCL; Oslo) today announced its earnings for the third quarter of 2008.
Key Highlights
-- Third quarter 2008 net income rose to a record $411.9 million, or $1.92 per share, compared to $395.0 million, or $1.84 per share in 2007. Business conditions for the quarter were about as expected, but operating expenses were lower.
-- The strengthening of the U.S. dollar impacted third quarter yields and expenses by corresponding amounts versus expectations. Net Yields improved 0.7% for the quarter.
-- Net Cruise Costs per APCD increased 5.0%, and Net Cruise Costs excluding fuel per APCD decreased 2.3%, both significantly better than previous guidance.
-- For the full year 2008, the company expects earnings per share to be $2.73 to $2.78, based on today's fuel prices.
-- While the company's order book remains solid, there has been a significant deterioration recently in new bookings due to economic and financial turmoil. The company expects fourth quarter yields to decrease approximately 4% to 5%. Just over half of the decline from prior guidance is due to the stronger U.S. dollar.
-- The company's liquidity as of September 30 was comparable to historical levels at approximately $1.4 billion.
-- The company has financing commitments and/or financing guarantees available for all of its vessels on order.
-- The previously announced $125 million cost savings initiatives are in place and the company expects to meet this target.
"While we are pleased with our third quarter results, the operating environment has changed dramatically in recent weeks," said Richard D. Fain, chairman and chief executive officer. "We are focused on responding to this challenge, but it is reassuring to know that our liquidity is good, that we entered this period with a solid order book, and that we have a business model that has proven resilient during tough times."
Third Quarter 2008 Results
Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. today announced record net income for the third quarter 2008 of $411.9 million, or $1.92 per share, compared to net income of $395.0 million, or $1.84 per share, in 2007. This improvement was due primarily to increased capacity, higher yields, and lower net cruise costs, partially offset by higher fuel prices. As previously announced, these figures also include the receipt of a legal settlement of $17.6 million. Higher fuel prices increased costs by $65.1 million, or $0.30 per share. While fuel costs per metric ton increased 46% versus 2007, they were $48 per metric ton, or $0.07 per share lower than previous guidance. Selling, general and administrative expense was $17.2 million, or $0.08 per share better than previous guidance due primarily to timing and management's focus on cost containment.
Significant strengthening of the U.S. dollar during the quarter affected Net Revenue Yield and Net Cruise Cost per APCD compared to previous guidance, but largely offset one another and were not material to the company's third quarter net income. Absent this currency fluctuation, Net Revenue Yields for the quarter would have been consistent with previous guidance. Net Cruise Costs per APCD would still have been lower than previous guidance due to fuel pricing, timing and continued cost focus.
Key metrics for the quarter were as follows:
-- Net Yields increased 0.7% to $219 per APCD.
-- Excluding fuel, Net Cruise Costs per APCD decreased 2.3%.
-- Fuel expenses increased 46%, while fuel expenses per APCD increased 42%
as a result of hedging and energy saving initiatives. The average
at-the-pump price for the quarter was $669 per metric ton versus
$457 per metric ton in 2007.
-- Net Cruise Costs per APCD increased 5.0%.
Revenue Environment
The company noted that new bookings slowed considerably during the month of September, but have leveled off over the last couple of weeks. "As we have seen during other challenging periods, our customers are delaying their further out purchase decisions," said Brian J. Rice, executive vice president and chief financial officer. "It is too early to respond to this atmosphere in a systematic way, but we have attracted short term volume in the traditionally weak fourth quarter using discounts. Had the value of the U.S. dollar not strengthened, we would be forecasting flat yields in the fourth quarter."
Cost Savings Initiatives Update
In conjunction with the release of the company's second quarter earnings, a $125 million cost cutting initiative was announced. The initiative was primarily targeted at the company's general and administrative expenses and was specifically designed to preserve the company's guest experience, trade relationships and global expansion efforts. The program is on track to deliver the announced 2009 cost savings and has produced better than expected results in 2008. Given the success of the program, the company is reiterating its previous guidance to reduce 2009 Net Cruise Costs excluding fuel per APCD to 2007 levels.
Fuel Expense Guidance
The company does not forecast fuel prices and its cost guidance for fuel is based on current at-the-pump prices net of any hedging impacts. Based on today's fuel prices, the company has included $686 million in fuel expenses in its full year 2008 guidance. This figure is $86 million, or $0.40 per share, lower than its previous guidance. Assuming the company's fuel costs correlate with movement in the price of WTI, a $10 change in WTI per barrel, would equate to a $10 million change in the company's fuel expense for the fourth quarter.
In summarizing the company's third quarter 2008 results and outlook Fain added, "The company's performance, during a period of such economic uncertainty and unprecedented market volatility, is a testament to our business model. Nonetheless, we are taking proactive steps to respond to these challenges. Our strong brand positioning, a management team focused on cost improvement and the most innovative fleet in the industry provide a strong and stable platform from which to weather a difficult 2009 and to capture the eventual benefit of a rebounding economy and a more optimistic consumer."
Liquidity and Financing Arrangements
As of September 30, 2008, liquidity was $1.4 billion, including cash and cash equivalents and the undrawn portion of the company's unsecured revolving credit facility.
In response to recent events in the credit markets, the company provided more details about its Newbuild financing arrangements.
The company took delivery of the Celebrity Solstice on October 24. The vessel was financed through a $519.1 million loan facility with KfW Ipex-Bank GMBH and BNP Paribas S.A. The facility is a 12-year unsecured loan bearing interest of LIBOR plus 45 basis points, or a total of 4.28% at today's interest rates.
The company has four additional Solstice Class vessels under construction in Germany, all of which have committed bank financing arrangements and include financing guarantees for a portion of the financed amount from HERMES (Euler Hermes Kreditrersicherungs AG), the export credit agency of the German government. The terms of the financing guarantees and bank commitments are similar to those established for the Celebrity Solstice and are executable at the company's option.
The company also has two Oasis Class vessels for its Royal Caribbean International brand under construction in Finland, both of which have commitments for financing guarantees which can be used at the company's option. Oasis of the Seas is scheduled for delivery in the fourth quarter of 2009 and Allure of the Seas is scheduled for delivery in late 2010. The guarantee commitments are from Finnvera, the export credit agency of Finland and provide potential lenders with government guarantees of up to 80% of the financed amount.
The company expects that these financing arrangements will be adequate to meet its ongoing operations and capital expenditure requirements and the company does not anticipate any other requirements to access the capital markets in the foreseeable future.
Capital Expenditures and Capacity Guidance
Based on current ship orders, projected capital expenditures for 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, and 2012, estimates are $2.1 billion, $2.1 billion, $2.2 billion, $1.0 billion, and $1.0 billion, respectively. Projected capacity increases for the same five years are estimated at 5.2%, 6.9%, 12.8%, 7.1%, and 3.0%, respectively.
Conference Call Scheduled
The company has scheduled a conference call at 10 a.m. Eastern Daylight Time today to discuss its earnings. This call can be heard, either live or on a delayed basis, on the company's investor relations web site at www.rclinvestor.com.
Terminology
Available Passenger Cruise Days ("APCD")
APCDs are our measurement of capacity and represent double occupancy per cabin multiplied by the number of cruise days for the period.
Gross Cruise Costs
Gross Cruise Costs represent the sum of total cruise operating expenses plus marketing, selling and administrative expenses.
Gross Yields
Gross Yields represent total revenues per APCD.
Net Cruise Costs
Net Cruise Costs represent Gross Cruise Costs excluding commissions, transportation and other expenses and onboard and other expenses. In measuring our ability to control costs in a manner that positively impacts net income, we believe changes in Net Cruise Costs to be the most relevant indicator of our performance. We have not provided a quantitative reconciliation of projected Gross Cruise Costs to projected Net Cruise Costs due to the significant uncertainty in projecting the costs deducted to arrive at this measure. Accordingly, we do not believe that reconciling information for such projected figures would be meaningful.
Net Debt-to-Capital
Net Debt-to-Capital is a ratio which represents total long-term debt, including current portion of long-term debt, less cash and cash equivalents ("Net Debt") divided by the sum of Net Debt and total shareholders' equity. We believe Net Debt and Net Debt-to-Capital, along with total long-term debt and shareholders' equity are useful measures of our capital structure.
Net Revenues
Net Revenues represent total revenues less commissions, transportation and other expenses and onboard and other expenses.
Net Yields
Net Yields represent Net Revenues per APCD. We utilize Net Revenues and Net Yields to manage our business on a day-to-day basis as we believe that it is the most relevant measure of our pricing performance because it reflects the cruise revenues earned by us net of our most significant variable costs, which are commissions, transportation and other expenses and onboard and other expenses. We have not provided a quantitative reconciliation of projected Gross Yields to projected Net Yields due to the significant uncertainty in projecting the costs deducted to arrive at this measure. Accordingly, we do not believe that reconciling information for such projected figures would be meaningful.
Occupancy
Occupancy, in accordance with cruise vacation industry practice, is calculated by dividing Passenger Cruise Days by APCD. A percentage in excess of 100% indicates that three or more passengers occupied some cabins.
Passenger Cruise Days
Passenger Cruise Days represent the number of passengers carried for the period multiplied by the number of days of their respective cruises.
Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. is a global cruise vacation company that operates Royal Caribbean International, Celebrity Cruises, Pullmantur, Azamara Cruises and CDF Croisieres de France. The company has a combined total of 38 ships in service and six under construction. It also offers unique land-tour vacations in Alaska, Asia, Australia, Canada, Europe, Latin America and New Zealand. Additional information can be found on www.royalcaribbean.com, www.celebrity.com, www.pullmantur.es, www.azamaracruises.com or www.rclinvestor.com.
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