Hyatt Hotels Corporation («Hyatt» or the «Company») (NYSE: H) today reported first quarter 2017 financial results. Net income attributable to Hyatt was $70 million, or $0.54 per diluted share, in the first quarter of 2017, compared to $34 million, or $0.25 per diluted share, in the first quarter of 2016. Adjusted net income attributable to Hyatt was $95 million, or $0.73 per diluted share, in the first quarter of 2017, compared to $34 million, or $0.25 per diluted share, in the first quarter of 2016. Refer to the table on page 4 of the schedules for a summary of special items impacting Adjusted net income and Adjusted earnings per share in the three months ended March 31, 2017.
Mark S. Hoplamazian, president and chief executive officer of Hyatt Hotels Corporation, said, «I am pleased with our first quarter results which reflect the strength of the Hyatt brands and demonstrate upward momentum in our business. In the quarter, Adjusted EBITDA grew approximately 18%, driven by systemwide comparable RevPAR growth of nearly 5% and the continued expansion of our portfolio, including earnings from recently opened and acquired properties.»
First quarter of 2017 financial highlights as compared to the first quarter of 2016 are as follows:
"¢ Net income increased 104.8% to $70 million.
"¢ Adjusted EBITDA increased 17.8% to $228 million, up 18.8% in constant currency.
"¢ Comparable systemwide RevPAR increased 4.7%, including an increase of 2.7% at comparable owned and leased hotels.
"¢ Comparable U.S. hotel RevPAR increased 4.8%; full service and select service hotel RevPAR increased 5.3% and 3.6%, respectively.
"¢ Comparable owned and leased hotels operating margins increased 50 basis points to 25.8%.
"¢ Adjusted EBITDA margin increased 120 basis points to 31.8%, in constant currency.
"¢ Net hotel and net rooms growth was 9% and 7%, respectively.
Mr. Hoplamazian continued, «Our disciplined program of asset recycling supported our long-term growth strategy and yielded meaningful shareholder capital returns in the quarter. With the investment and redemption of our preferred equity stake in Playa Hotels & Resorts, we facilitated the growth of our all inclusive resort business and funded a $300 million accelerated share repurchase program. Looking ahead, we continue to target an even balance of acquisitions and dispositions over the long term to stimulate the growth of the Hyatt brand and create shareholder value. Given our liquidity profile, strong operating results and expected asset disposition activity, I am pleased to announce that our Board of Directors has approved a new $500 million share repurchase authorization.»
First quarter of 2017 financial results as compared to the first quarter of 2016 are as follows:
Owned and Leased Hotels Segment
Total owned and leased hotels segment Adjusted EBITDA increased 8.8% (10.0% in constant currency) net of an 8.6% decrease in pro rata share of unconsolidated hospitality ventures Adjusted EBITDA. The increase in segment Adjusted EBITDA was primarily driven by acquisitions and new openings. Refer to the table on page 16 of the schedules for a detailed list of portfolio changes and the year-over-year net impact to owned and leased hotels segment Adjusted EBITDA in the first quarter.
Owned and leased hotels segment revenues increased 10.8% (11.7% in constant currency).
RevPAR for comparable owned and leased hotels increased 2.7%. Occupancy increased 80 basis points and ADR increased 1.6%.
Management and Franchise Fees
Total fee revenue increased 14.2% (14.4% in constant currency) to $122 million, primarily driven by new hotels and improved performance at existing hotels in the Americas region. Base management fees increased 4.7% to $47 million and incentive management fees increased 17.0% to $35 million. Franchise fees increased 16.2% to $27 million. Other fee revenues increased 47.2% to $13 million, including a $4 million termination fee for a hotel that left the chain.
Americas Management and Franchising Segment
Americas management and franchising segment Adjusted EBITDA increased 18.1% (18.3% in constant currency). RevPAR for comparable Americas full service hotels increased 5.1%; occupancy increased 100 basis points and ADR increased 3.7%. Roughly a third of the RevPAR growth at comparable Americas full service hotels was attributable to the shift of the Easter holiday to the second quarter this year compared to the first quarter last year, and the U.S. Presidential Inauguration. RevPAR for comparable Americas select service hotels increased 3.9%; occupancy increased 80 basis points and ADR increased 2.7%. Revenue from management, franchise and other fees increased 14.1% (14.2% in constant currency).
Group rooms revenue at comparable U.S. full service hotels increased 10.3%; room nights increased 5.7% and ADR increased 4.3%. Group demand benefited from the aforementioned timing of the Easter holiday and U.S. Presidential Inauguration. Transient rooms revenue at comparable U.S. full service hotels decreased 1.1%, in part displaced by strength in some of the Company’s higher-rated group business; room nights decreased 4.3% and ADR increased 3.4%.
The following five hotels were added to the portfolio in the first quarter:
"¢ Hyatt Regency Andares Guadalajara, Mexico (managed, 257 rooms)
"¢ Hyatt Place Edmonton-West, Canada (franchised, 161 rooms)
"¢ Hyatt Place Blacksburg (franchised, 123 rooms)
"¢ Hyatt Place State College (franchised, 165 rooms)
"¢ Hyatt Place West Des Moines / Jordan Creek (franchised, 123 rooms)
One hotel was removed from the portfolio in the first quarter.
Southeast Asia, Greater China, Australia, South Korea, Japan and Micronesia (ASPAC) Management and Franchising Segment
ASPAC management and franchising segment Adjusted EBITDA increased 27.6% (28.6% in constant currency). RevPAR for comparable ASPAC full service hotels increased 5.2%, driven by increased occupancy in China, Hong Kong, South Korea and Southeast Asia. Occupancy increased 520 basis points and ADR decreased 2.8%. Revenue from management, franchise and other fees increased 16.1% (17.2% in constant currency).
The following hotel was added to the portfolio in the first quarter:
"¢ Hyatt Regency Xiamen Wuyuanwan, China (managed, 301 rooms)
Europe, Africa, Middle East and Southwest Asia (EAME/SW Asia) Management and Franchising Segment
EAME/SW Asia management and franchising segment Adjusted EBITDA increased 3.7% (5.2% in constant currency). RevPAR for comparable EAME/SW Asia full service hotels increased 3.1%, driven by strength in the United Kingdom, Germany and India offset partially by weakness in France, Switzerland and Turkey. Occupancy increased 360 basis points and ADR decreased 2.5%. Revenue from management, franchise and other fees increased 2.2% (3.3% in constant currency).
The following two hotels were added to the portfolio in the first quarter:
"¢ Hyatt Centric Levent Istanbul, Turkey (franchised, 79 rooms)
"¢ Hyatt Regency Riyadh Olaya, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (managed, 261 rooms)
Corporate and Other
Corporate and other Adjusted EBITDA increased 14.2% (also 14.2% in constant currency), primarily driven by the acquisition of Miraval. Corporate and other revenues increased 174.6% (also 174.6% in constant currency).
The following three destination wellness resort properties were added to the portfolio in the first quarter:
"¢ Miraval Arizona Resort & Spa, Tucson, Ariz. (owned, 118 rooms)
"¢ Travaasa Resort, Austin, Texas, part of the Miraval portfolio (owned, 120 rooms)
"¢ Cranwell Spa & Golf Resort, Lenox, Mass., part of the Miraval portfolio (owned, 148 rooms)
Selling, General, and Administrative Expenses
Selling, general, and administrative expenses increased 11.7%, inclusive of rabbi trust impact and stock- based compensation. Adjusted selling, general, and administrative expenses decreased 2.3%. Refer to the table on page 9 of the schedules for a reconciliation of selling, general, and administrative expenses to Adjusted selling, general, and administrative expenses.
OPENINGS AND FUTURE EXPANSION
Eleven (11) hotels (or 1,856 rooms) were added in the first quarter of 2017, each of which is listed above. The Company’s net rooms increased 7%, compared to the first quarter of 2016. Hyatt is on pace to add approximately 60 hotels in the 2017 fiscal year.
As of March 31, 2017, the Company had executed management or franchise contracts for approximately 305 hotels (or approximately 66,000 rooms), the same as at year-end 2016. The executed contracts represent important potential entry into several new countries and expansion into new markets or markets in which the Company is under-represented.
SHARE REPURCHASE
During the first quarter of 2017, the Company repurchased 5,480,636 shares of Class A common stock at a weighted average price of $52.48 per share, for an aggregate purchase price of approximately $288 million. This includes $240 million of Class A shares which were part of the $300 million accelerated share repurchase agreement entered into on March 16, 2017. This agreement is covered by Hyatt"™s previously announced share repurchase programs.
On May 3, 2017 the Company’s board of directors authorized the repurchase of up to an additional $500 million of the Company’s Class A and Class B common stock. These repurchases may be made from time to time in the open market, in privately negotiated transactions, or otherwise, including pursuant to a Rule 10b5-1 plan, at prices that the Company deems appropriate and subject to market conditions, applicable law and other factors deemed relevant in the Company"™s sole discretion. The Company is not obligated to repurchase any dollar amount or any number of shares of common stock, and repurchases may be suspended or discontinued at any time. As of May 4, the Company had approximately $509 million remaining under its share repurchase authorization.
CORPORATE FINANCE / ASSET RECYCLING
During the first quarter, the Company completed the following transactions:
"¢ On January 17, 2017, the Company acquired Miraval Group, which included the Miraval brand, a Miraval destination resort in Tucson, Ariz. and a resort in Austin, Texas, which will be renovated and rebranded as Miraval. On January 26, 2017, the Company acquired approximately 95% of a third resort, the Cranwell Spa & Golf Resort in Lenox, Mass., which will be renovated and rebranded as Miraval. Total cash consideration for all Miraval related assets was approximately $239 million.
"¢ In connection with the March 11, 2017 business combination of Playa Hotels & Resorts B.V. and Pace Holdings Corporation, the Company announced the full redemption of its $290 million preferred share investment in Playa. Following the redemption, Hyatt retains a common equity stake of 11.57% in Playa Hotels & Resorts N.V. (NASDAQ: PLYA).
"¢ An unconsolidated hospitality venture in which the Company holds an ownership interest sold a Hyatt Place hotel, for which Hyatt received proceeds of approximately $4 million. The hotel continues to be Hyatt-branded.
BALANCE SHEET / OTHER ITEMS
As of March 31, 2017, the Company reported the following:
"¢ Total debt of $1.7 billion.
"¢ Pro rata share of unconsolidated hospitality venture debt of $557 million, substantially all of which is non-recourse to Hyatt and a portion of which Hyatt guarantees pursuant to separate agreements.
"¢ Cash and cash equivalents, including investments in highly-rated money market funds and similar investments, of $374 million, short-term investments of $52 million and restricted cash of $64 million.
"¢ Undrawn borrowing availability of $1.2 billion under its revolving credit facility.
2017 OUTLOOK
The Company is reaffirming the following information for the 2017 fiscal year:
"¢ Adjusted EBITDA is expected to be approximately $769 million to $804 million. These estimates include a negative impact from foreign currency translation of approximately $15 million (at the low end of the forecast) to $10 million (at the high end of the forecast). Refer to the table on page 3 of the schedules for a full reconciliation of the Company’s forecast for Net Income attributable to Hyatt Hotels Corporation to Adjusted EBITDA, a non-GAAP measure.
"¢ Comparable systemwide RevPAR is expected to increase approximately 0% to 2%, as compared to fiscal year 2016.
"¢ Adjusted selling, general, and administrative expenses are expected to be approximately $310 million. This excludes approximately $31 million of stock-based compensation expense, and any potential expenses related to benefit programs funded through rabbi trusts.
"¢ Other income (loss), net is expected to be negatively impacted by approximately $80 million related to performance guarantee expense for the four managed hotels in France.
"¢ The effective tax rate is expected to be approximately 36% to 38%.
"¢ The Company expects to open approximately 60 hotels.
The Company is revising the following information for the 2017 fiscal year:
"¢ Net income is expected to be approximately $123 million to $159 million, compared to previous expectation of $130 million to $166 million.
"¢ Capital expenditures are expected to be approximately $375 million, compared to previous expectation of $430 million. The decrease from the prior estimate is primarily attributable to the Company entering into unconsolidated joint venture agreements with respect to several corporate development projects, along with a change in the timing of corporate development projects.
"¢ Depreciation and amortization expense is expected to be approximately $376 million to $380 million, including the acquisition of Miraval. This compares to the Company’s previous expectation of $370 million to $374 million.
"¢ Interest expense is expected to be approximately $83 million, reflecting amounts drawn on Hyatt’s revolving credit facility. This compares to the Company’s previous expectation of $77 million.
The Company’s outlook is based on a number of assumptions that are subject to change and many of which are outside the control of the Company. If actual results vary from these assumptions, the Company’s expectations may change. There can be no assurance that the Company will achieve these results.
CONFERENCE CALL INFORMATION
The Company will hold an investor conference call today, May 4, 2017, at 10:30 a.m. CT. All interested persons may listen to a simultaneous webcast of the conference call, which may be accessed through the Company"™s website at investors.hyatt.com, or by dialing 647.788.4901 or 877.201.0168, passcode #4606211, approximately 10 minutes before the scheduled start time. For those unable to listen to the live broadcast, a replay will be available from 1:30 p.m. CT on May 4, 2017 through May 5, 2017 at midnight by dialing 416.621.4642, passcode #4606211. Additionally, an archive of the webcast will be available on the Company"™s website for 90 days.
AVAILABILITY OF INFORMATION ON HYATT’S WEBSITE
Investors and others should note that Hyatt Hotels Corporation routinely announces material information to investors and the marketplace using U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) filings, press releases, public conference calls, webcasts and the Hyatt Investor Relations website. While not all of the information that the Company posts to the Hyatt Investor Relations website is of a material nature, some information could be deemed to be material. Accordingly, the Company encourages investors, the media, and others interested in Hyatt Hotels Corporation to review the information that it shares at the Investor Relations link located at the bottom of the page on www.hyatt.com. Users may automatically receive email alerts and other information about the Company when enrolling an email address by visiting «Sign up for Email Alerts» in the «Investor Resources» section of Hyatt’s website at investors.hyatt.com.
DEFINITIONS
Adjusted Earnings Before Interest Expense, Taxes, Depreciation and Amortization («Adjusted EBITDA») and EBITDA
We use the terms Adjusted EBITDA and EBITDA throughout this earnings release. Adjusted EBITDA and EBITDA, as the Company defines them, are non-GAAP measures.
We define consolidated Adjusted EBITDA as net income attributable to Hyatt Hotels Corporation plus its pro rata share of unconsolidated hospitality ventures Adjusted EBITDA based on its ownership percentage of each venture, adjusted to exclude the following items:
"¢ interest expense;
"¢ provision for income taxes;
"¢ depreciation and amortization;
"¢ equity earnings (losses) from unconsolidated hospitality ventures;
"¢ stock-based compensation expense; and
"¢ other income (loss), net.
We calculate consolidated Adjusted EBITDA by adding the Adjusted EBITDA of each of our reportable segments and eliminations to corporate and other Adjusted EBITDA.
Our board of directors and executive management team focus on Adjusted EBITDA as a key performance and compensation measure both on a segment and on a consolidated basis. Adjusted EBITDA assists us in comparing our performance over various reporting periods on a consistent basis because it removes from our operating results the impact of items that do not reflect our core operations both on a segment and on a consolidated basis. Our president and chief executive officer, who is the chief operating decision maker, also evaluates the performance of each of our reportable segments and determines how to allocate resources to those segments, in significant part, by assessing the Adjusted EBITDA of each segment. In addition, the compensation committee of our board of directors determines the annual variable compensation for certain members of our management based in part on consolidated Adjusted EBITDA, segment Adjusted EBITDA or some combination of both.
We believe Adjusted EBITDA is useful to investors because it provides investors the same information that the Company uses internally for purposes of assessing operating performance and making compensation decisions.
Adjusted EBITDA and EBITDA are not substitutes for net income attributable to Hyatt Hotels Corporation, net income, or any other measure prescribed by accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (GAAP). There are limitations to using non-GAAP measures such as Adjusted EBITDA and EBITDA. Although we believe that Adjusted EBITDA can make an evaluation of our operating performance more consistent because it removes items that do not reflect our core operations, other companies in our industry may define Adjusted EBITDA differently than we do. As a result, it may be difficult to use Adjusted EBITDA or similarly named non-GAAP measures that other companies may use to compare the performance of those companies to our performance. Because of these limitations, Adjusted EBITDA should not be considered as a measure of the income generated by our business. Our management compensates for these limitations by reference to its GAAP results and using Adjusted EBITDA supplementally.
Adjusted EBITDA Margin
We define Adjusted EBITDA margin as Adjusted EBITDA divided by total revenues, net of other revenues from managed properties. Other revenues from managed properties reflect reimbursed costs incurred on behalf of managed hotel property owners. We believe Adjusted EBITDA margin is useful to investors because it provides investors the same information that the Company uses internally for purposes of assessing operating performance.
Adjusted Net Income
We define Adjusted Net Income as Net Income Attributable to Hyatt Hotels Corporation excluding special items, which are those items deemed not to be reflective of ongoing operations. We believe Adjusted Net Income provides meaningful comparisons of ongoing operating results.
Adjusted Selling, General, and Administrative (SG&A) Expenses
Adjusted SG&A expenses, as we define it, is a non-GAAP measure. Adjusted SG&A expenses exclude the impact of expenses related to benefit programs funded through rabbi trusts and stock-based compensation expense. Adjusted SG&A expenses assist us in comparing our performance over various reporting periods on a consistent basis since it removes from our operating results the impact of items that do not reflect our core operations, both on a segment and consolidated basis.
Comparable Owned and Leased Hotels Operating Margin
We define comparable owned and leased hotels operating margin as the difference between comparable owned and leased hotels revenues and comparable owned and leased hotels expenses. Comparable owned and leased hotels revenues is calculated by removing non-comparable hotels revenues from owned and leased hotels revenues as reported in our condensed consolidated statements of income. Comparable owned and leased hotels expenses is calculated by removing both non-comparable owned and leased hotels expenses and the impact of expenses funded through rabbi trusts from owned and leased hotels expenses as reported in our condensed consolidated statements of income. We believe comparable owned and leased hotels operating margin is useful to investors because it provides investors the same information that the Company uses internally for purposes of assessing operating performance.
Comparable Hotels
«Comparable systemwide hotels» represents all properties we manage or franchise (including owned and leased properties) and that are operated for the entirety of the periods being compared and that have not sustained substantial damage, business interruption or undergone large scale renovations during the periods being compared or for which comparable results are not available. We may use variations of comparable systemwide hotels to specifically refer to comparable systemwide Americas full service or select service hotels for those properties that we manage or franchise within the Americas management and franchising segment, comparable systemwide ASPAC full service or select service hotels for those properties that we manage or franchise within the ASPAC management and franchising segment, or comparable systemwide EAME/SW Asia full service or select service hotels for those properties that we manage or franchise within the EAME/SW Asia management and franchising segment. «Comparable operated hotels» is defined the same as «comparable systemwide hotels» with the exception that it is limited to only those hotels we manage or operate and excludes hotels we franchise. «Comparable owned and leased hotels» represents all properties we own or lease and that are operated and consolidated for the entirety of the periods being compared and have not sustained substantial damage, business interruption or undergone large scale renovations during the periods being compared or for which comparable results are not available. Comparable systemwide hotels and comparable owned and leased hotels are commonly used as a basis of measurement in our industry. «Non-comparable systemwide hotels» or «non-comparable owned and leased hotels» represent all hotels that do not meet the respective definition of «comparable» as defined above.
Constant Dollar Currency
We report the results of our operations both on an as reported basis, as well as on a constant dollar basis. Constant dollar currency, which is a non-GAAP measure, excludes the effects of movements in foreign currency exchange rates between comparative periods. We believe constant dollar analysis provides valuable information regarding our results as it removes currency fluctuations from our operating results. We calculate constant dollar currency by restating prior-period local currency financial results at the current period"™s exchange rates. These adjusted amounts are then compared to our current period reported amounts to provide operationally driven variances in our results.
Revenue per Available Room (RevPAR)
RevPAR is the product of the average daily rate (ADR) and the average daily occupancy percentage. RevPAR does not include non-room revenues, which consist of ancillary revenues generated by a hotel property, such as food and beverage, parking, telephone and other guest service revenues. Our management uses RevPAR to identify trend information with respect to room revenues from comparable properties and to evaluate hotel performance on a regional and segment basis. RevPAR is a commonly used performance measure in our industry.
RevPAR changes that are driven predominantly by changes in occupancy have different implications for overall revenue levels and incremental profitability than do changes that are driven predominantly by changes in average room rates. For example, increases in occupancy at a hotel would lead to increases in room revenues and additional variable operating costs (including housekeeping services, utilities and room amenity costs), and could also result in increased ancillary revenues (including food and beverage). In contrast, changes in average room rates typically have a greater impact on margins and profitability as there is no substantial effect on variable costs.
Average Daily Rate (ADR)
ADR represents hotel room revenues, divided by the total number of rooms sold in a given period. ADR measures average room price attained by a hotel and ADR trends provide useful information concerning the pricing environment and the nature of the customer base of a hotel or group of hotels. ADR is a commonly used performance measure in our industry, and we use ADR to assess the pricing levels that we are able to generate by customer group, as changes in rates have a different effect on overall revenues and incremental profitability than changes in occupancy, as described above.
Occupancy
Occupancy represents the total number of rooms sold divided by the total number of rooms available at a hotel or group of hotels. Occupancy measures the utilization of a hotel’s available capacity. We use occupancy to gauge demand at a specific hotel or group of hotels in a given period. Occupancy levels also help us determine achievable ADR levels as demand for hotel rooms increases or decreases.
