Atlas Air Worldwide Holdings, Inc. (Nasdaq: AAWW), a leading global provider of outsourced aircraft and aviation operating solutions, today announced adjusted net income attributable to common stockholders of $28.6 million, or $1.13 per diluted share, for the three months ended September 30, 2013, compared with $33.4 million, or $1.26 per diluted share, for the three months ended September 30, 2012.
On a reported basis, third-quarter 2013 net income attributable to common stockholders totaled $23.7 million, or $0.94 per diluted share, compared with $33.9 million, or $1.27 per diluted share, in the third quarter of 2012. Free cash flow of $73.8 million in the third quarter of 2013 compared with $98.9 million in the third quarter of 2012.
“Earnings in the third quarter of 2013 were below our expectations, reflecting market factors,” said William J. Flynn, President and Chief Executive Officer. “Demand in the commercial airfreight peak season through September was less than we anticipated. Airfreight yields remained under pressure, impacting our Commercial Charter segment. In addition, a decline in military demand led to a reduction in AMC volumes and fewer favorable one-way missions.
“Results during the quarter were supported by strength in our core ACMI operations and growth in our Dry Leasing business. Led by our new 747-8 freighters in ACMI, we saw increasing contributions during the quarter from investments to diversify our business mix, including the addition of 777 freighters with predictable, long-term revenue and earnings streams in Dry Leasing; our expanding 767 service; growing CMI operations within ACMI; and ongoing continuous improvement initiatives.
“Reflecting our commitment to enhance stockholder value, we acquired a further 3.1% of our outstanding common stock through our share repurchase program from May through August. Combined with the shares that we bought through the end of April, we have repurchased approximately 6.5% of our shares for $72 million this year. In addition, our board of directors has increased our existing authority to repurchase shares from $9 million to $60 million.”
Revenue, volume and profitability growth in our core ACMI business during the third quarter were driven by our new 747-8Fs, with an average of 3.3 additional -8F aircraft in service compared with the third quarter of 2012, and the continued ramp up and expansion of CMI service.
Improved ACMI segment earnings during the period benefited from higher rates per block hour and lower maintenance expense for our 747-8Fs, partially offset by the redeployment of 747-400 aircraft to other business segments.
In Dry Leasing, revenue and profitability grew following the acquisition of one 777-200LRF aircraft in March 2013 and two 777-200LRF aircraft in July 2013. Each aircraft was acquired with a long-term customer lease already in effect.
In AMC Charter, a reduction in cargo and passenger block hours, as well as a reduced number of one-way AMC missions and a change in the proportion of those missions from outbound U.S. to inbound U.S., led to a significant decline in segment contribution. Higher average cargo and passenger revenue per block hour during the period stemmed from an increase in the average pegged fuel price set by the U.S. military.
Segment results in Commercial Charter primarily related to a reduction in yields driven by soft third-quarter global charter-market conditions. Results also reflected a reduction in return legs due to the change in the number and direction of one-way AMC missions.
Results in the third quarter were also affected by a reduction in capitalized interest on 747-8F aircraft that entered service.
Reported earnings for the third quarter of 2013 included an effective income tax rate of 31.3%, reflecting both the ongoing beneficial impact of lower taxes for certain foreign subsidiaries in our Dry Leasing business and the net impact of the resolution of certain income tax liabilities.
For the nine months ended September 30, 2013, adjusted net income attributable to common stockholders totaled $54.9 million, or $2.13 per diluted share, compared with $78.3 million, or $2.95 per diluted share, for the nine months ended September 30, 2012.
On a reported basis, nine-month 2013 net income attributable to common stockholders totaled $63.9 million, or $2.48 per diluted share, compared with $77.5 million, or $2.92 per diluted share, in the first nine months of 2012.
Free cash flow in the first nine months of 2013 increased to $180.8 million from $154.1 million in the first nine months of 2012.
At September 30, 2013, our cash, cash equivalents, short-term investments and restricted cash totaled $298.4 million, compared with $419.9 million at December 31, 2012.
The change in position at September 30 reflected cash provided by operating and financing activities offset by cash used for investing activities.
Net cash used for investing activities in the first nine months of 2013 primarily related to the purchase of two 747-8F aircraft as well as three 777-200LRF aircraft for our Dry Leasing business.
Net cash provided by financing activities primarily reflected proceeds from the issuance of debt in connection with the acquisitions of these aircraft. Those proceeds were partially offset by payments on debt obligations and debt issuance costs.
Between mid-May and mid-August, we repurchased 820,276 shares of our common stock for $35.6 million. The shares were acquired pursuant to an accelerated share repurchase program with a financial institution that settled in August.
Through the nine months ended September 30, 2013, we repurchased a total of 1,723,577 shares, or 6.5%, of our outstanding common stock at December 31, 2012.
Future repurchases under our new $60 million authority may be made at our discretion, and the actual timing, form and amount will depend on company and market conditions.
Looking to full-year 2013, we expect fully diluted earnings per share to total between $3.40 and $3.80 on an adjusted basis and $3.75 and $4.15 on a reported basis.
Our current outlook reflects a much less robust commercial airfreight peak season than previously anticipated. While commercial airfreight volumes are strengthening, airfreight yields remain volatile. In addition, military cargo volumes have declined at a more rapid rate. Together, these factors affected our third-quarter results and have reduced anticipated profitability for the fourth quarter.
Partially offsetting these challenges are increasing contributions from investments to diversify the company’s business mix, led by new 747-8 freighters in the company’s core ACMI business; the addition of 777 freighters with predictable, long-term revenue and earnings streams in Dry Leasing; an expanding 767 service platform; entry into military and commercial charter passenger operations; and continuing growth in the company’s non-asset-intensive CMI operations. Also contributing are ongoing continuous improvement productivity and efficiency initiatives.
Mr. Flynn added: “Airfreight remains a long-term growth industry despite current market challenges. We are focused on the long-term growth of our business, and we are well-positioned to capitalize on market improvements. Our business model is solid and is complemented by substantial operating leverage, strong customer relationships and a superior fleet. We continue to strengthen our competitive position and generate substantial free cash flow, which will enhance stockholder value.”
Management will host a conference call to discuss Atlas Air Worldwide’s third-quarter financial and operating results at 11:00 a.m. Eastern Time on Thursday, November 7, 2013.
Interested parties are invited to listen to the call live over the Internet at www.atlasair.com (click on “Investor Information”, click on “Presentations” and on the link to the third-quarter call) or at the following Web address:
http://www.media-server.com/m/p/rq4h455p
For those unable to listen to the live call, a replay will be available on the above Web sites following the call. A replay will also be available through November 14 by dialing (855) 859-2056 (domestic) and (404) 537-3406 (international) and using Access Code 88980639#.
To supplement our financial statements presented in accordance with U.S. GAAP, we present certain non-GAAP financial measures to assist in the evaluation of our business performance. These non-GAAP measures include EBITDAR, as adjusted; EBITDA, as adjusted; Direct Contribution; Adjusted Net Income Attributable to Common Stockholders; Adjusted Diluted EPS; and Free Cash Flow, which exclude certain items. These non-GAAP measures may not be comparable to similarly titled measures used by other companies and should not be considered in isolation or as a substitute for measures of performance prepared in accordance with U.S. GAAP.
Our management uses these non-GAAP financial measures in assessing the performance of the Company’s ongoing operations and in planning and forecasting future periods. We believe that these adjusted measures provide meaningful information to assist investors and analysts in understanding our financial results and assessing our prospects for future performance.
Atlas Air Worldwide is the parent company of Atlas Air, Inc. (Atlas) and Titan Aviation Leasing (Titan), and is the majority shareholder of Polar Air Cargo Worldwide, Inc. (Polar). Through Atlas and Polar, Atlas Air Worldwide operates the world’s largest fleet of Boeing 747 freighter aircraft.
Atlas, Titan and Polar offer a range of outsourced aircraft and aviation operating solutions that include ACMI service – in which customers receive an aircraft, crew, maintenance and insurance on a long-term basis; CMI service, for customers that provide their own aircraft; express network and scheduled air cargo service; military cargo and passenger charters; commercial cargo and passenger charters; and dry leasing of aircraft and engines.
Atlas Air Worldwide’s press releases, SEC filings and other information can be accessed through the Company’s home page, www.atlasair.com.
This release contains “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 that reflect Atlas Air Worldwide’s current views with respect to certain current and future events and financial performance. Such forward-looking statements are and will be, as the case may be, subject to many risks, uncertainties and factors relating to the operations and business environments of Atlas Air Worldwide and its subsidiaries (collectively, the “companies”) that may cause the actual results of the companies to be materially different from any future results, express or implied, in such forward-looking statements.
Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from these forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, the following: the ability of the companies to operate pursuant to the terms of their financing facilities; the ability of the companies to obtain and maintain normal terms with vendors and service providers; the companies’ ability to maintain contracts that are critical to their operations; the ability of the companies to fund and execute their business plan; the ability of the companies to attract, motivate and/or retain key executives and associates; the ability of the companies to attract and retain customers; the continued availability of our wide-body aircraft; demand for cargo services in the markets in which the companies operate; economic conditions; the effects of any hostilities or act of war (in the Middle East or elsewhere) or any terrorist attack; labor costs and relations; financing costs; the cost and availability of war risk insurance; our ability to maintain adequate internal controls over financial reporting; aviation fuel costs; security-related costs; competitive pressures on pricing (especially from lower-cost competitors); volatility in the international currency markets; weather conditions; government legislation and regulation; consumer perceptions of the companies’ products and services; anticipated and future litigation; and other risks and uncertainties set forth from time to time in Atlas Air Worldwide’s reports to the United States Securities and Exchange Commission.
For additional information, we refer you to the risk factors set forth under the heading “Risk Factors” in the most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K and subsequent reports on Form 10-Q filed by Atlas Air Worldwide with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Other factors and assumptions not identified above may also affect the forward-looking statements, and these other factors and assumptions may also cause actual results to differ materially from those discussed.
Except as stated in this release, Atlas Air Worldwide is not providing guidance or estimates regarding its anticipated business and financial performance for 2013 or thereafter.
Atlas Air Worldwide assumes no obligation to update such statements contained in this release to reflect actual results, changes in assumptions or changes in other factors affecting such estimates other than as required by law.
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