Vail Resorts Reports Fiscal 2012 Third Quarter Results and Spring Pass Sales Results

 

Commenting on the Company’s fiscal 2012 third quarter results, Rob Katz, Chief Executive Officer said, “We are pleased with our third quarter results as they evidenced our ability to successfully navigate the most challenging winter in the history of the United States ski industry.  Cumulative snowfall levels for the 2011/2012 ski season were down more than 50% across our resorts, compared with the prior year, and snowfall at our Colorado resorts was down more than 70% in March.  The lack of snow, combined with unseasonable temperatures, affected visitation levels during the key spring break and Easter vacation periods.  Yet, despite these unprecedented conditions, we delivered an approximate 1% increase in Mountain Reported EBITDA in the third quarter compared with the prior year.  This performance demonstrates the stability and resiliency of our business model, which benefitted from our growing season pass business, as well as the quality of our resorts and the breadth of the experience we offer, which attracted guests throughout the season.”  

 

Continuing on the third quarter performance, Katz added “There were several positive indicators in the third quarter that contributed to our performance and bode well as we look toward the 2012/2013 ski season.  Our Mountain net revenue increased 0.9% to $354.6 million as higher spending per skier visit, improved lift ticket pricing and strong season pass revenue more than offset the decline in skier visits.  Lift ticket revenue increased 0.7% during the quarter despite a drop of 9.8% in visitation benefitting from a 12.8% increase in season pass revenue and a 9.4% gain in ETP, excluding season pass holders.  On a per visit basis, our ski school revenue per visit increased 12.1%, dining revenue per visit was higher by 9.7% and retail/rental revenue per visit was up 12.3%, reflecting the high income demographic of our resort guests enabling us to benefit from enhanced consumer spending, especially in the luxury segment, as well as from our international guests.  Over the course of the 2011/2012 ski season, our international visitation increased by approximately 2%, despite a 12.1% decline in total visitation and continued challenges in the European economy, reflecting targeted marketing efforts to drive more visits from this growing international segment.  For the full 2011/2012 ski season, visitation at our Tahoe resorts declined 22.4% compared to the prior year, while our Colorado resorts were down 8.9% with Beaver Creek essentially flat reflecting its higher mix of luxury and destination guests.  Our season passholders, representing arguably our most weather sensitive guests, skied only approximately one day less, on average, in the current ski season compared to the prior year.   Overall season pass revenue represented approximately 40% of our total lift ticket revenue for the winter season.  Also during the third quarter we leveraged our strong balance sheet, acquiring a third Tahoe resort, Kirkwood, with early indications that this unique resort should prove to be highly complementary to our existing portfolio and pass programs.  Finally, I could not be more pleased to report that total spring season pass sales, which include sales through Tuesday May 29, 2012 compared to sales through Tuesday May 31, 2011 and including Kirkwood pass sales in both years, were up approximately 17% in units and approximately 22% in sales dollars.  These sales, which will be recorded as revenue in the second and third quarters of fiscal 2013, provide perhaps the strongest indicator we have seen for the upcoming 2012/2013 ski season.” 

  

Regarding Lodging, Katz said, "Lodging results, while down compared with the prior year, held up relatively well, reflecting an improved mix of luxury room nights and the benefits of the higher consumer spending, which fueled an 8.2% increase in Average Daily Rate (“ADR”) at our owned hotels and managed condominiums, partially offsetting the decline in occupancy resulting from lower skier visitation.  Lodging results also were impacted by costs associated with the previously announced RockResorts reorganization, though the Lodging business should benefit going forward by over $2 million annually in lower net costs resulting from these structural changes.”

 

Regarding Real Estate, Katz said, “We are pleased with the rate of new sales at both The Ritz-Carlton Residences, Vail and One Ski Hill Place in Breckenridge.  During the quarter, we closed on four Ritz-Carlton Residences and, subsequent to quarter-end, we closed on two additional units at The Ritz-Carlton Residences and one additional unit at One Ski Hill Place for a total of 18 units sold at both projects since the beginning of fiscal 2012.  We have now closed on 37 whole ownership units at The Ritz-Carlton Residences and 47 One Ski Hill Place units.  While Real Estate Reported EBITDA was a loss of $3.5 million for the third quarter of 2012, net cash proceeds from sales totaled approximately $10.2 million.  Since the start of fiscal 2012 we have generated net cash proceeds of $34.6 million and currently believe we will fall within our targeted full year net cash proceeds goal of $35- $45 million given that we have one additional Ritz-Carlton Residences unit under contract.”

 

 “Our balance sheet remains in a very strong position,” Katz added.  “We generated $234.0 million of operating cash flow in the nine month period ended April 30, 2012, ending the third quarter of fiscal 2012 with cash on hand of $147.1 million, Net Debt at 1.8 times trailing twelve months Total Reported EBITDA, and no borrowings under the revolver component of our senior credit facility.  We have virtually no principal payments due on debt until 2019.” 

 

“I am also very pleased to announce that our Board of Directors has declared a quarterly cash dividend on Vail Resorts’ common stock,” Katz commented.  “The quarterly dividend of $0.1875 per share of common stock, will be payable on July 10, 2012 to shareholders of record on June 25, 2012.”

 

Mountain Reported EBITDA includes $1.6 million of stock-based compensation expense for both the three months ended April 30, 2012 and 2011.

 

Our resorts experienced historically low snowfall (with cumulative snowfall at our six resorts (excluding Kirkwood) down more than 50% over the prior ski season) and one of the mildest winters on record, including over the key spring break and Easter periods, which adversely impacted our skier visitation which was down 9.8% (with our Colorado and Tahoe resorts down 9.0% and 12.4%, respectively) for the three months ended April 30, 2012 compared to the same period in the prior year.  Despite these unprecedented conditions, revenues were generally stabilized by increased season pass sales, higher pricing and increased average guest spend.  Additionally, we acquired Kirkwood (on April 12, 2012) and Skiinfo (on February 1, 2012) during the three months ended April 30, 2012; however, these acquisitions did not significantly impact the Mountain segment results for the current period or comparability to the three months ended April 30, 2011. 

 

Lift revenue increased $1.4 million, or 0.7%, for the three months ended April 30, 2012 compared to the same period in the prior year. This increase resulted from a $7.5 million, or 12.8%, increase in season pass revenue, mostly offset by a $6.2 million, or 4.8%, decline in lift revenue excluding season pass revenue.  The increase in season pass revenue was driven primarily by an increase in pricing for season pass products as well as an increase in units sold.  The decline in lift revenue excluding season pass revenue was due to a decline in visitation excluding season pass holders, of 13.0%, partially offset by an increase in ETP excluding season pass holders of $6.52, or 9.4%.  The increase in ETP excluding season pass holders is attributable to increased pricing of our lift ticket products and a change in mix as a higher percentage of higher priced lead/window lift ticket products were sold in the three months ended April 30, 2012 compared to the same period in the prior year.  Total ETP increased $6.07, or 11.7%, due primarily to the increase in ETP excluding season pass holders as discussed above and a decline in visitation per season pass holder of 7.7%, or approximately one half day on average per season pass holder. 

 

Ski school revenue for the three months ended April 30, 2012 increased $0.5 million, or 1.1%, compared to the same period in the prior year, with our Colorado resorts’ ski school revenue increasing $1.1 million, or 2.7%, compared to the same period in the prior year.  Although all of our resorts were negatively impacted by a decline in skier visitation as discussed above, the impact to ski school revenue resulting from lower visitation was entirely offset by improved yields per skier visit.  Ski school revenue benefited from an overall 12.1% increase in yield per skier visit primarily due to higher guest penetration and pricing. 

 

Dining revenue decreased $0.3 million, or 1.1%, for the three months ended April 30, 2012 compared to the same period in the prior year, and was negatively impacted by lower skier visitation as well as earlier terrain closings which impacted certain on mountain dining facilities. The adverse impact of lower skier visitation on dining revenue was partially offset by a 9.7% increase in yield per skier visit.

 

Retail/rental revenue increased $0.8 million, or 1.3%, for the three months ended April 30, 2012 compared to the same period in the prior year, which was primarily driven by an increase in retail sales of $1.7 million, or 4.5%.  The increase in retail sales was primarily attributable to our on-line retailer (acquired in July 2011), partially offset by declines in retail sales occurring at our Any Mountain stores (in the San Francisco bay area) resulting from unseasonably warm weather in the San Francisco bay area.  Additionally, impacting retail/rental revenue was a decline in rental revenue of $0.9 million, or 4.2%, due to the decline in skier visitation. 

 

Other revenue mainly consists of private club revenue (which includes both club dues and amortization of initiation fees), other mountain activities revenue, marketing and internet advertising revenue, commercial leasing revenue, employee housing revenue, municipal services revenue and other recreation activity revenue.  For the three months ended April 30, 2012, other revenue increased $0.8 million, or 3.2%, compared to the three months ended April 30, 2011, due primarily to an increase in internet advertising revenue resulting from the acquisition of Skiinfo in February 2012. 

 

Operating expense increased $2.1 million, or 1.1%, for the three months ended April 30, 2012 compared to the three months ended April 30, 2011. General and administrative expenses increased $3.2 million, or 11.8%, primarily due to higher Mountain segment component of corporate costs including expenses related to the introduction of EpicMix Photo in the current ski season, as well as increased costs associated with higher internet advertising revenues resulting from the acquisition of Skiinfo.  Retail cost of sales increased $2.6 million, or 13.2%, primarily due to an increase in retail sales volume primarily generated by our on-line retailer and reduced gross margins.  Labor and labor-related benefits decreased $1.7 million, or 2.4%, for the three months ended April 30, 2012 when compared to the same period in the prior year.  Labor costs were favorably impacted by a decrease in staffing levels primarily in ski school, as well as reduced bonus expense.  Other expense decreased $2.0 million, or 5.1%, due to lower operating expenses including supplies, repairs and maintenance and property taxes, partially offset by acquisition related costs related to Kirkwood and Skiinfo.

 

Mountain equity investment income, net primarily includes our share of income from the operations of a real estate brokerage joint venture. 

 

 

Lodging Reported EBITDA includes $0.4 million and $0.5 million of stock-based compensation expense for the three months ended April 30, 2012 and 2011, respectively.  

 

Revenue from owned hotel rooms decreased $0.1 million, or 1.2%, for the three months ended April 30, 2012 compared to the three months ended April 30, 2011, resulting from a decline in occupancy of 4.9 percentage points, mostly offset by a 6.6% increase in ADR. The decline in occupancy was primarily due to a decrease in transient guest visitation at our Colorado lodging resort properties, which were adversely impacted by a decrease in skier visitation at our Colorado ski resorts as discussed in the Mountain segment above.  Also negatively impacting revenue from owned hotel rooms for the three months ended April 30, 2012 compared to the same period in the prior year was lower group business at our Keystone resort and the closure of a 71 room facility in Breckenridge.  Revenue from managed condominium rooms increased $0.1 million, or 1.0%, for the three months ended April 30, 2012 compared to the three months ended April 30, 2011, primarily due to additional managed condominium units at One Ski Hill Place in Breckenridge and The Ritz-Carlton Residences, Vail, which largely contributed to the 8.6% increase in ADR as those units are generally higher priced luxury rentals. The revenue gains from One Ski Hill Place and The Ritz-Carlton Residences were mostly offset by a decline in transient guest visitation to our Keystone resort and Lake Tahoe region. 

 

Dining revenue for the three months ended April 30, 2012 was relatively flat compared to the three months ended April 30, 2011, mainly due to increased dining revenue at The Arrabelle offset by a decline in group business at our Keystone resort and conversion of an owned restaurant at the Lodge at Vail to a leased facility.  Transportation revenue for the three months ended April 30, 2012 decreased $0.6 million, or 6.8%, as compared to the three months ended April 30, 2011, primarily due to the reduced skier visitation as well as a decrease in revenue per passenger of 7.6% resulting from competitive pricing strategies implemented during the current fiscal quarter combined with a modest decline in passengers of 1.5%.  Other revenue decreased $1.0 million, or 9.7%, during the three months ended April 30, 2012 compared to the same period in the prior year primarily due to lower homeowner association management fee revenue and lower revenue from reimbursed costs (other than payroll) from managed hotel properties. 

 

Operating expense (excluding reimbursed payroll costs) increased $0.5 million, or 1.1%, for the three months ended April 30, 2012 compared to the three months ended April 30, 2011, due to an increase in labor and labor-related benefits of $0.6 million, or 2.9%, resulting from normal wage and benefit increases, partially offset by lower staffing levels associated with decreased occupancy.  Additionally, general and administrative expense for the three months ended April 30, 2012 increased $0.1 million, or 1.1%, compared to the same period in the prior year, due to reorganization related expenses and an increase in estimated uncollectible accounts receivable from managed hotel properties in conjunction with the previously announced RockResorts reorganization plan, largely offset by a lower Lodging segment component of corporate costs. Other expense decreased $0.2 million, or 1.6%, primarily due to a decrease in property taxes and a decrease in reimbursable costs (other than payroll) associated with managed hotel properties.

 

Revenue from payroll cost reimbursement and the corresponding reimbursed payroll costs relates to payroll costs at managed hotel properties where we are the employer and all payroll costs are reimbursed by the owners of the properties under contractual arrangements.  Since the reimbursements are made based upon the costs incurred with no added margin, the revenue and corresponding expense have no effect on our Lodging Reported EBITDA.

 

 

Real Estate Reported EBITDA includes $0.5 million and $0.8 million of stock-based compensation expense for the three months ended April 30, 2012 and 2011, respectively.

 

Real Estate segment net revenue for the three months ended April 30, 2012 was driven primarily by the closing of four condominium units at The Ritz-Carlton Residences, Vail ($10.7 million of revenue with an average selling price per unit of $2.7 million and a price per square foot of $1,112).  The average price per square foot of this project is driven by its premier location and the comprehensive and exclusive amenities related to this project.  In addition to the revenue generated by the closing of units as noted above, Real Estate net revenue also included rental revenue from placing certain of our unsold units into our rental program. 

 

Operating expense for the three months ended April 30, 2012 included cost of sales of $9.4 million primarily resulting from the closing of four condominium units at The Ritz-Carlton Residences, Vail (cost per square foot of $934).  The cost per square foot for this project is reflective of the high-end features and amenities and high construction costs associated with mountain resort development.  Additionally, sales commissions of approximately $0.7 million were incurred commensurate with revenue recognized. Other operating expense of $6.0 million (including $0.5 million of stock-based compensation expense) was primarily comprised of general and administrative costs which includes marketing expense for the real estate available for sale (including those units that have not yet closed), carrying costs for units available for sale and overhead costs, such as labor and labor-related benefits and allocated corporate costs.  

 

 

As of April 30, 2012, we had cash and cash equivalents on hand of $147.1 million, Net Debt of 1.8 times trailing twelve months Total Reported EBITDA and no revolver borrowings under our $400 million senior credit facility that has $332.7 million available for borrowing after considering $67.3 million in currently issued letters of credit.  We have virtually no principal maturities due until 2019.

 

We did not repurchase any shares of common stock during the three months ended April 30, 2012.  Since inception of this stock repurchase program in 2006, we have repurchased an aggregate of 4,468,181 shares at a cost of approximately $170.7 million, or $38.20 per share.  As of April 30, 2012, 1,531,819 shares remained available under the existing repurchase authorization.  The repurchases under this program are reviewed by our Board of Directors quarterly and are based on a number of factors including our expected future financial performance, our available cash resources and competing uses for cash that may arise in the future, the restrictions in our senior credit facility and in the indenture governing our 6.50% senior subordinated notes, the prevailing prices of our common stock and the number of shares that become available for sale at prices that we believe are attractive.

 

 Outlook

Commenting on the Company’s spring season pass sales for the upcoming 2012/2013 ski season, Katz said, “We are extremely pleased that our total spring season pass sales through May 29, 2012 for the upcoming 2012/2013 ski season, adjusted as if Kirkwood were owned in both periods, increased approximately 17% in units and approximately 22% in sales dollars, as compared to the prior year period through May 31, 2011.  This strong sales performance was achieved despite record performance in the prior year spring sales period.  The success of our spring season pass program, following the weather challenges of the past winter, is testament to the strong connection our guests have to our resorts and their confidence in our ability to deliver the best possible guest experience in a wide range of conditions.  We are excited to see strength in spring pass sales across the entire spectrum of pass products, including an approximate 30% increase in pass sales in international markets and outstanding momentum in our Tahoe market.  Historically our spring pass sales period represents roughly one-third of our total season passes sold over the entire program period.  At the same time, it is important to note that we believe that a portion of the increase this spring is due to the success of our continued efforts to entice guests to purchase their passes even earlier in the year and we do not believe these results are indicative of the results we expect to see in our season pass sales in the fall of 2012.  It is also important to remember that all of the 2012 spring pass sales will be recorded as revenue in fiscal 2013, over the course of the 2012/2013 ski season.”

Regarding capital spending for calendar 2012, Katz noted, “We are increasing our planned capital spending for calendar 2012 by $10 million to a range of $85 to $95 million, including maintenance capital of $43 to $47 million. This incorporates an estimated $5 million in capital spending for the newly acquired Kirkwood resort, including normal maintenance capital as well as instituting our Vail Resorts lift ticket scanning, EpicMix and other systems.  Additionally, we anticipate making initial capital investments in 2012 towards a first phase of summer activity at Vail Mountain, with certain activities potentially becoming operational in the summer of 2013.” 

 

Commenting on the Company’s outlook for the remainder of fiscal 2012, Katz said, “As we noted in our May 1, 2012 metrics release, we currently believe that our Resort Reported EBITDA results for fiscal 2012 will fall slightly below the low end of the guidance range issued on March 6, 2012, but would represent only a mid-single-digit percentage decline over the prior year after adjusting for one-time acquisition and litigation settlement related items in both years.” 

 

For further discussion of the contents of this press release, please listen to our live webcast today at 11:00 am ET, available at www.vailresorts.com in the Investor Relations section.

 

Vail Resorts, Inc., through its subsidiaries, is the leading mountain resort operator in the United States. The Company's subsidiaries operate the mountain resorts of Vail, Beaver Creek, Breckenridge and Keystone in Colorado, and Heavenly, Northstar and Kirkwood in the Lake Tahoe area of California and Nevada, and the Grand Teton Lodge Company in Jackson Hole, Wyoming. The Company's subsidiary, RockResorts, a luxury resort hotel company, manages casually elegant properties. Vail Resorts Development Company is the real estate planning, development and construction subsidiary of Vail Resorts, Inc. Vail Resorts is a publicly held company traded on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE: MTN). The Vail Resorts company website is www.vailresorts.com and consumer website is www.snow.com 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Resort, Mountain and Lodging, and Real Estate Reported EBITDA have been presented herein as measures of the Company's financial operating performance.  Reported EBITDA and Net Debt are not measures of financial performance or liquidity under accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America ("GAAP"), and they might not be comparable to similarly titled measures of other companies.  Reported EBITDA and Net Debt should not be considered in isolation or as an alternative to, or substitute for, measures of financial performance or liquidity prepared in accordance with GAAP including net income, net change in cash and cash equivalents or other financial statement data.  The Company believes that Reported EBITDA is an indicative measurement of the Company's operating performance, and is similar to performance metrics generally used by investors to evaluate companies in the resort and lodging industries.  The Company primarily uses Reported EBITDA based targets in evaluating performance.  The Company believes that Net Debt is an important measurement as it is an indicator of the Company’s ability to obtain additional capital resources for its future cash needs.  

 

Presented below is a reconciliation of Total Reported EBITDA to net income attributable to Vail Resorts, Inc. calculated in accordance with GAAP for the three and nine months ended April 30, 2012 and 2011.

 

 

 

 

 

Presented below is a reconciliation of Total Reported EBITDA to net income attributable to Vail Resorts, Inc. calculated in accordance with GAAP for the twelve months ended April 30, 2012.

 

 

 

 

 

The following table reconciles Net Debt to long-term debt and the calculation of Net Debt to Total Reported EBITDA for the twelve months ended April 30, 2012.