Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. announced today that net income for the second quarter of 2005 was $154.5 million, or $0.71 per share…
Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. announced today that net income for the second quarter of 2005 was $154.5 million, or $0.71 per share. This compares to $122.2 million, or $0.58 per share, for the second quarter of 2004. Revenues for the second quarter of 2005 increased 5.3% to $1.2 billion from revenues of $1.1 billion in the second quarter of 2004. The increase in revenues was attributable to an increase in cruise ticket prices and onboard revenues. Gross Yields and Net Yields for the second quarter of 2005 increased 5.6% and 6.3% from the second quarter of 2004, respectively.
Clearly we had an excellent quarter that exceeded our expectations, said Richard D. Fain, chairman and chief executive officer. Despite the spike in fuel prices we are pleased to report a 26% increase in earnings with no increase in capacity.
The company estimates that lost revenue and costs associated with previously disclosed cancelled/modified voyages reduced second quarter 2005 earnings per share by approximately $0.05.
Gross Cruise Costs and Net Cruise Costs, on a per APCD basis, for the second quarter of 2005 increased 4.9% and 5.7%, respectively, compared to the same quarter in 2004. The increase in these costs was primarily attributable to a 37% increase in at-the-pump prices of fuel during the quarter. Net of hedging benefits, fuel costs accounted for 4.1 percentage points of the increase in Net Cruise Costs and represented approximately 7.3% of total revenues. Net Cruise Costs per APCD were lower than previous expectations of an increase of approximately 8%.
During the quarter, the company`s net debt to capital dropped to approximately 46.5% from 49.6%, demonstrating the company`s success in strengthening its balance sheet.
Outlook
Current consumer demand remains strong and the company continues to enjoy price increases over those experienced in the prior year. Assuming there are no external shocks and current booking trends continue, the company reaffirms its prior estimates for Net Yields to increase in the range of 6% to 7% in 2005 compared to the prior year. The company currently expects Net Yields for the third quarter of 2005 will increase by approximately 6%.
Fuel costs remain unpredictable. At-the-pump fuel prices increased 37% in the second-quarter of 2005 compared to the second quarter of 2004. Prices have continued to rise and are currently about 30% higher than the average price for the second half of 2004. If fuel prices for the remainder of the year remain at today`s level, the company estimates that its fuel costs (net of hedging and fuel saving initiatives) will increase approximately $32 million and negatively impact earnings per share by $0.14 compared to the company`s last guidance. Based on this fuel assumption, the company estimates that Net Cruise Costs per APCD for 2005 will increase in the range of 6% to 7% as compared to the prior year. Higher fuel costs account for approximately 4 percentage points of this increase. The company`s expectations for Net Cruise Costs excluding fuel have not changed from previous guidance despite incurring costs associated with vessel incidents.
Based on the aforementioned fuel assumption, the company estimates that Net Cruise Costs per APCD for the third quarter of 2005 will increase approximately 9%, compared to the same quarter in 2004. Higher fuel costs account for approximately 5 percentage points of this increase.
Depreciation and amortization is expected to be in the range of $405 to $415 million and net interest expense is expected to be in the range of $285 to $295 million.
The company also announced several other factors that it expects to positively impact 2005:
- First Choice Holidays PLC (First Choice) has called for redemption in full of its 6.75% convertible preferred shares (Convertible Preferred Shares) effective immediately. Upon redemption, Royal Caribbean will receive $348.0 million in cash, resulting in a gain of $44.2 million, or $0.19 per share. As a result of this redemption, the company will no longer receive dividends associated with the Convertible Preferred Shares, which were approximately $6.0 million on a quarterly basis. The decrease in dividend income is expected to negatively impact 2005 earnings per share by approximately $0.04. The decrease in dividend income will be partially offset by interest benefits resulting from the additional liquidity provided by the redemption. Accordingly, the total impact on 2005 earnings per share relating to the redemption of the First Choice Convertible Preferred Shares is expected to be an improvement of approximately $0.17.
- Royal Caribbean has been an important investor in First Choice for the last five years and has a successful joint venture cruise line with them, Island Cruises. This venture continues to do well and will be expanding later this year with the addition of Horizon.
- The company also announced today that it has called for a partial redemption of its Liquid Yield Option Notes due February 2, 2021 (LYONs) equal to approximately $182 million of the accreted balance of outstanding LYONs. The LYONs will be redeemed on a pro rata basis and the redemption date is August 11, 2005. Notices of redemption are being mailed to holders of the LYONs today.
- The LYONs called for redemption are convertible into shares of the company`s common stock at a conversion rate of 11.7152 shares per LYON. The company expects that most holders of LYONs will choose to convert their portion of LYONs to be redeemed into common stock of the company rather than be redeemed for cash. If all the LYONs called for redemption were to be converted into common shares of the company`s stock, this would result in the issuance of approximately 4.5 million shares. For those holders of LYONs who choose not to convert, the company will pay the redemption price in cash equal to the LYON`s original issue price plus accrued original issue discount accreted through and including August 11, 2005. The redemption price is $474.64 per LYON.
- The company also announced today that, following the redemption date of the LYONs, it expects to implement an orderly program to repurchase up to $250 million of its common stock, which could include open market purchases, an accelerated share repurchase program, or a tender offer.
- The total impact of the First Choice, LYONs and share repurchase transactions is expected to be neutral to 2006 earnings per share.
Based upon the expectations and assumptions relating to fuel prices contained in this outlook section, management expects full year 2005 earnings per share to be in the range of $2.70 to $2.80 and third quarter 2005 earnings per share are expected to be in the range of $1.45 to $1.50.
Looking forward to the 2006 booking environment, demand for products of Royal Caribbean International and Celebrity Cruises remains strong. The company continues to generate solid demand for its products, resulting in pricing that is ahead of its level at the same time last year. While the company does not have enough visibility to provide specific yield guidance for 2006, demand remains stronger than at the same time last year and early indications point to a positive yield environment.
Terminology and Non-GAAP Financial Measures
Available Passenger Cruise Days (APCD)
Available Passenger Cruise Days are the company`s measurement of capacity and represent double occupancy per cabin multiplied by the number of cruise days for the period.
Gross Yields
Gross Yields represent total revenues per APCD.
Net Yields
Net Yields represent Gross Yields less commissions, transportation and other expenses and onboard and other expenses per APCD. The company utilizes Net Yields to manage its business on a day-to-day basis and believes that it is the most relevant measure of its pricing performance because it reflects the cruise revenues earned by us net of our most significant variable costs. The company has 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, the company does not believe that reconciling information for such projected figures would be meaningful.
Gross Cruise Costs
Gross Cruise Costs represent the sum of total cruise operating expenses plus marketing, selling and administrative expenses.
Net Cruise Costs
Net Cruise Costs represent Gross Cruise Costs excluding commissions, transportation and other expenses and onboard and other expenses. In measuring the company`s ability to control costs in a manner that positively impacts net income, the company believes changes in Net Cruise Costs to be the most relevant indicator of its performance. The company has 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, the company does not believe that reconciling information for such projected figures would be meaningful.
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.
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.
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