CONTACT: Investor Relations (214) 792-4415
SOUTHWEST AIRLINES REPORTS SECOND QUARTER RESULTS
Record operating income
GAAP Net income of $228 million
Excluding special items, record net income of $273 million
DALLAS, TEXAS – July 19, 2012 – Southwest Airlines Co. (NYSE:LUV) (the “Company”) today reported its second quarter 2012 results. Second quarter 2012 net income was $228 million, or $.30 per diluted share, which included $45 million (net) of unfavorable special items. This compared to net income of $161 million, or $.21 per diluted share, in second quarter 2011, which included favorable special items totaling $40 million (net). Excluding special items, second quarter 2012 net income was a record $273 million, or $.36 per diluted share, compared to $121 million, or $.15 per diluted share, in second quarter 2011. This compared favorably to Thomson’s First Call mean estimate of $.33 per diluted share. Operating income for second quarter 2012 was $460 million, compared to $207 million in second quarter 2011. Excluding special items, operating income was a record $485 million for second quarter 2012, compared to $276 million for the same period last year. Additional information regarding special items is included in this release and in the accompanying reconciliation tables.
Gary C. Kelly, Chairman of the Board, President, and Chief Executive Officer, stated, “We are very pleased to report second quarter net income, excluding special items, that more than doubled second quarter last year. Record revenues driven by steady growth were sufficient to overcome high jet fuel prices and produce a record operating income of $485 million, and a record net income of $273 million, both excluding special items. These results would not have been possible without the successful implementation of our strategic initiatives by our People. They have done, and continue to do, a magnificent job.
“We are producing very strong results despite a fragile economic environment. Operating cash flow for the twelve months ended June 30, 2012 was $1.6 billion, and free cash flow* for that period was over $300 million. During that time, we repaid $964 million in long-term debt, further reducing our debt to total capital ratio to 45 percent. Total cash on hand plus short-term investments, at June 30, 2012, was a very solid $3.3 billion. These strong results and financial position, along with record second quarter profits, reinforce the Board’s authorizations for the repurchase of $1 billion in Company common stock, of which half has been completed, along with more than doubling the Company’s quarterly dividend to $.01 per share (declared and announced May 16, 2012).
“We continue to make great progress integrating AirTran into Southwest. We received approval by the Federal Aviation Administration for our Single Operating Certificate in March 2012. Since then, we’ve converted five AirTran aircraft to the Southwest paint and interior configuration, and have begun transitioning AirTran airport facilities to Southwest, with Seattle and Des Moines scheduled to be completed this quarter. The majority of our unions have reached agreements regarding seniority integration, and we are making progress with the remaining agreements. We produced approximately $80 million in net, pre-tax synergies in first half 2012, and we continue to target net, pre-tax synergies of $400 million in 2013 (excluding acquisition and integration expenses).
“We have significant efforts underway to strategically optimize and modernize our fleet. Last December, we announced a firm order for 150 Boeing 737 MAX airplanes, and 58 additional 737NG aircraft, bringing our total firm orders with The Boeing Company to 350 for 2012 through 2022. In January, we announced that we will retrofit the 737-700 fleet with an updated cabin interior. Evolve: The New Southwest Experience provides a new environmentally friendly cabin experience designed to enhance Customer comfort and improve fleet efficiency. The new sleek interior design also provides the opportunity to increase the number of seats onboard from 137 to 143. In May, we moved 30 Boeing 737 scheduled deliveries for 2013 and 2014 to 2017 and 2018. Earlier this month, we reached an agreement with Delta Air Lines, Inc. and Boeing Capital Corp. to lease or sublease all 88 of AirTran's Boeing 717 aircraft to Delta, beginning August 2013. For now, our goal is to keep our fleet relatively flat, based on the current aircraft delivery schedule with Boeing, the B717 retirement schedule established with the Delta deal, and our adjusted retirement schedule for the 737 Classics. Given that we don’t plan to grow the fleet until we hit our financial targets, deferring 30 new aircraft deliveries will reduce our 2012 to 2014 capital spending by approximately $1 billion. Replacing B717s with B737s is expected to significantly benefit our financial results as the B737 trip costs approximate the B717’s, but with 20-26 more seats. All told, our various fleet initiatives are estimated to contribute, pre-tax, more than $300 million in 2013, more than $500 million in 2014, and in excess of $700 million in 2015.
“We continue to aggressively optimize our combined networks. AirTran began new international service in the second quarter to Cancun, Mexico City, and Cabo San Lucas. Southwest launched new service between Austin-Bergstrom International Airport and Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA) earlier this month and, in early August, Southwest will add two daily roundtrips from DCA to St. Louis, Missouri. Our 2012 available seat miles will be comparable to 2011 combined available seat miles, despite our plan to end this year with six fewer aircraft than 2011. For 2013, we expect our fleet to remain comparable to 2012, and we are planning for modest year-over-year available seat mile growth, attributable to additional seats from 737-800 deliveries, the Evolve retrofit, and the replacement of B717s with B737s.”
Financial Results and Outlook
AirTran Airways, Inc. became a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company on May 2, 2011. Results discussed in this release and provided in the accompanying unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements and Comparative Consolidated Operating Statistics include the results of operations and cash flows for AirTran beginning May 2, 2011, including the impact of purchase accounting. Periods presented prior to the acquisition date do not include AirTran’s results. However, the Company believes the analysis of specified financial results on a “combined basis” provides more meaningful year-over-year comparability. Financial information presented on a “combined basis” is the sum of the historical financial results of the Company and AirTran for periods prior to the acquisition date, but includes the impact of purchase accounting beginning May 2, 2011. Supplemental financial information presented on a “combined basis” and the accompanying reconciliations are included in this release.
The Company’s total operating revenues in second quarter 2012 increased 11.6 percent to $4.6 billion, compared to $4.1 billion in second quarter 2011, and increased 4.7 percent year-over-year compared to $4.4 billion, on a combined basis. Operating unit revenues increased 6.0 percent from second quarter 2011, on a combined basis. Based on traffic and revenue trends thus far, the Company currently expects another solid year-over-year increase in operating unit revenues in third quarter 2012.
Total second quarter 2012 operating expenses were $4.2 billion, compared to $3.9 billion in second quarter 2011, and were comparable to second quarter last year on a combined basis. Excluding special items in both periods, second quarter 2012 unit costs increased 1.7 percent from second quarter 2011 combined unit costs.
Second quarter 2012 economic fuel costs were $3.22 per gallon, including $.04 per gallon in unfavorable cash settlements for fuel derivative contracts, compared to $3.28 per gallon in second quarter 2011, including $.03 per gallon in favorable cash settlements. Based on market prices as of July 17, 2012, the Company expects third quarter 2012 economic fuel costs to be in the $3.05 to $3.10 per gallon range, including fuel taxes and $.03 per gallon in unfavorable cash settlements for fuel derivative contracts. Third quarter 2012 premium costs, recorded in Other (gains) losses, are currently estimated to be approximately $17 million, compared to premium costs of $36 million in third quarter 2011. As of July 17, 2012, the fair market value of the Company’s hedge portfolio through 2016 was a net liability of approximately $30 million, compared to a $184 million net asset at March 31, 2012. Additional information regarding the Company’s fuel derivative contracts is included in the accompanying tables.
Excluding fuel and special items in both periods, second quarter 2012 unit costs increased 4.3 percent from second quarter 2011’s combined 7.41 cents. Based on current cost trends, the Company expects another year-over-year increase in its third quarter 2012 unit costs, compared to third quarter 2011’s unit costs of 7.38 cents, excluding fuel and special items in both periods.
Operating income for second quarter 2012 was $460 million, compared to $207 million in second quarter 2011. Excluding special items in both periods, operating income was $485 million for second quarter 2012, compared to $276 million in second quarter 2011, and compared to $295 million in second quarter last year, on a combined basis. The Company incurred $11 million in special charges (before taxes) associated with the acquisition and integration of AirTran during second quarter 2012, representing a cumulative total of $165 million in acquisition and integration costs, as of June 30, 2012. The Company expects total acquisition and integration costs will be approximately $550 million.
Other expenses for second quarter 2012 were $92 million, compared to $68 million of other income in second quarter 2011. This $160 million swing primarily resulted from $62 million in other losses recognized in second quarter 2012, compared to $113 million in other gains recognized in second quarter 2011. In both periods, these gains and losses, which are special items, primarily resulted from unrealized mark to market gains/losses associated with a portion of the Company’s fuel hedging portfolio. Excluding these special items, other losses were $14 million in second quarter 2012, compared to $27 million in second quarter 2011, primarily attributable to the premium costs associated with the Company’s fuel derivative contracts. Second quarter 2012 premium costs were $12 million, compared to $26 million in second quarter 2011. Net interest expense declined to $30 million in second quarter 2012, compared to $45 million in second quarter 2011, primarily as a result of the Company’s repayment of its $400 million notes in December 2011 and the redemption of its $385 million notes in March 2012.
Total operating revenues for the six months ended June 30, 2012 increased 18.9 percent year-over-year to $8.6 billion, while total operating expenses increased 17.5 percent year-over-year to $8.1 billion, resulting in operating income in first half 2012 of $481 million, versus $321 million in first half 2011. Excluding special items in both periods, operating income was $495 million for first half 2012, compared to $387 million for the same period last year. Excluding special items and on a combined basis, total operating revenues for the six months ended June 30, 2012 increased 5.2 percent year-over-year, while total operating expenses increased 4.1 percent year-over-year, resulting in combined operating income in first half 2012 of $495 million, versus $382 million in first half 2011.
Net income for first half 2012 was $327 million, or $.43 per diluted share, compared to $166 million, or $.22 per diluted share, for the same period last year. Excluding special items, net income for first half 2012 was $255 million, or $.33 per diluted share, compared to $142 million, or $.19 per diluted share, for the same period last year.
The Company’s return on invested capital (before taxes and excluding special items) was approximately 8 percent for the twelve months ended June 30, 2012. Additional information regarding pre-tax return on invested capital is included in the accompanying reconciliation tables.
Net cash provided by operations for second quarter 2012 was $145 million, and capital expenditures were $416 million. On May 16, 2012, the Company’s Board of Directors increased the Company’s previous $500 million share repurchase authorization to $1 billion. As of June 30, 2012, the Company had repurchased approximately 59 million shares of common stock for approximately $500 million, since the initial $500 million authorization by the Board of Directors on August 5, 2011. As of July 18th, the Company had approximately $3.7 billion in cash and short-term investments, and a fully available unsecured revolving credit line of $800 million.
Net cash provided by operations for first half 2012 was $1.4 billion, and capital expenditures were $543 million, resulting in free cash flow* in excess of $800 million. The Company repaid $469 million in debt during first half 2012, and is scheduled to repay approximately $90 million in debt for the remainder of 2012.
Southwest and AirTran Awards and Recognitions
| · | Southwest named Customer Service Champions by JD Powers |
| · | Southwest named one of America’s Top 500 Companies by Barrons |
| · | AirTran Airways received top honors in the 2012 Airline Quality Ratings based on ontime performance, customer complaints, and mishandled baggage; Southwest was also recognized for the best Customer Satisfaction rating |
| · | Southwest named as one of the BetterInvesting Top 100 companies |
| · | Southwest ranked first in the 2012 Switchfly Reward Seat Availability Survey by IdeaWorksCompany.com |
| · | Southwest recognized as the Eco-Pioneer of the Year by Air Transport World Magazine for environmentally sound business practices |
| · | Southwest ranked top airline in Bloomberg Business Week’s Fifty Most Popular Employers for College Students |
| · | Southwest named one of the Most Valuable Employers for Military by CiviliansJobs.com |
Southwest will discuss its second quarter 2012 results on a conference call at 12:30 p.m. Eastern Time today. A live broadcast of the conference call will also be available at http://southwest.investorroom.com.
*See Note Regarding use of Non-GAAP financial measures
Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements
This news release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. Specific forward-looking statements include without limitation statements related to (i) the Company’s plans and expectations with respect to its acquisition of AirTran, including without limitation anticipated integration timeframes and expected benefits and costs associated with the acquisition; (ii) the Company’s fleet plans and the Company’s related growth plans and financial expectations; (iii) the Company’s network and capacity plans and expectations; and (iv) the Company’s financial outlook and projected results of operations. These forward-looking statements are based on the Company's current intent, expectations, and projections and are not guarantees of future performance. These statements involve risks, uncertainties, assumptions, and other factors that are difficult to predict and that could cause actual results to vary materially from those expressed in or indicated by them. Factors include, among others, (i) the Company’s ability to successfully integrate AirTran and realize the expected synergies and other benefits from the acquisition; (ii) changes in fuel prices, the impact of hedge accounting, and any changes to the Company’s fuel hedging strategies and positions; (iii) the impact of the economy on demand for the Company’s services and the impact of fuel prices, economic conditions, and actions of competitors on the Company’s business decisions, plans, and strategies; (iv) the Company’s dependence on third parties with respect to certain of its initiatives, in particular its fleet modernization plans; (v) the Company’s ability to timely and effectively implement, transition, and maintain the necessary information technology systems and infrastructure to support its operations and initiatives; and (vi) other factors, as described in the Company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including the detailed factors discussed under the heading "Risk Factors" in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2011.
NOTE REGARDING USE OF NON-GAAP FINANCIAL MEASURES
The Company’s consolidated financial statements are prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States (GAAP). These GAAP financial statements include (i) unrealized non-cash adjustments and reclassifications, which can be significant, as a result of accounting requirements and elections made under accounting pronouncements relating to derivative instruments and hedging and (ii) other charges the Company believes are not indicative of its ongoing operational performance.
As a result, the Company also provides financial information in this release that was not prepared in accordance with GAAP and should not be considered as an alternative to the information prepared in accordance with GAAP. The Company provides supplemental non-GAAP financial information, including results that it refers to as “economic,” which the Company’s management utilizes to evaluate its ongoing financial performance and the Company believes provides greater transparency to investors as supplemental information to its GAAP results. The Company’s economic financial results differ from GAAP results in that they only include the actual cash settlements from fuel hedge contracts--all reflected within Fuel and oil expense in the period of settlement. Thus, Fuel and oil expense on an economic basis reflects the Company’s actual net cash outlays for fuel during the applicable period, inclusive of settled fuel derivative contracts. Any net premium costs paid related to option contracts are reflected as a component of Other (gains) losses, net, for both GAAP and non-GAAP (including economic) purposes in the period of contract settlement. These economic results provide a better measure of the impact of the Company’s fuel hedges on its operating performance and liquidity since they exclude the unrealized, non-cash adjustments and reclassifications that are recorded in GAAP results in accordance with accounting guidance relating to derivative instruments, and they reflect all cash settlements related to fuel derivative contracts within Fuel and oil expense. This enables the Company’s management, as well as investors, to consistently assess the Company’s operating performance on a year-over-year or quarter-over-quarter basis after considering all efforts in place to manage fuel expense. However, because these measures are not determined in accordance with GAAP, such measures are susceptible to varying calculations and not all companies calculate the measures in the same manner. As a result, the aforementioned measures, as presented, may not be directly comparable to similarly titled measures presented by other companies.
Further information on (i) the Company’s fuel hedging program, (ii) the requirements and accounting associated with accounting for derivative instruments, and (iii) the causes of hedge ineffectiveness and/or mark-to-market gains or losses from derivative instruments is included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2011, as well as subsequent quarterly filings.
In addition to its “economic” financial measures, as defined above, the Company has also provided other non-GAAP financial measures as a result of items that the Company believes are not indicative of its ongoing operations. These include expenses associated with the Company’s acquisition and integration of AirTran. The Company believes that evaluation of its financial performance can be enhanced by a presentation of results that exclude the impact of these items in order to evaluate the results on a comparative basis with results in prior periods that do not include such items and as a basis for evaluating operating results in future periods. As a result of the Company’s acquisition of AirTran, which closed on May 2, 2011, the Company has incurred and expects to continue to incur substantial charges associated with integration of the two companies. While the Company cannot predict the exact timing or amounts of such charges, it does expect to treat the charges as special items in its future presentation of non-GAAP results.
The Company has also provided other supplemental non-GAAP financial information on a “combined basis.” This supplemental non-GAAP financial information on a “combined basis” includes specified combined financial results of the Company and AirTran for periods prior to May 2, 2011, as if the acquisition had occurred prior to the beginning of the applicable reporting period, but excludes any impact of purchase accounting prior to May 2, 2011. AirTran’s historical financial information included in the combined presentation has been conformed to the Company’s financial statement classification where appropriate. The Company believes that evaluation of its financial performance can be enhanced by a presentation of combined results in order to evaluate its prior, current or future period results on a more meaningful, consistent year-over-year basis.
The Company has also provided free cash flow, which is a non-GAAP financial measure. The Company believes free cash flow is a meaningful measure because it demonstrates the Company’s ability to service its debt, pay dividends and make investments to enhance shareholder value. Although free cash flow is commonly used as a measure of liquidity, definitions of free cash flow may differ; therefore, the Company is providing an explanation of its calculation for free cash flow. For the twelve months ended June 30, 2012, the Company generated over $300 million in free cash flow, calculated as operating cash flows of approximately $1.6 billion less capital expenditures of approximately $1.2 billion. For the six months ended June 30, 2012, the Company generated over $800 million in free cash flow, calculated as operating cash flows of approximately $1.4 billion less capital expenditures of $543 million.
