Sun Country Airlines Holdings, Inc. (“Sun Country Airlines,” “Sun
Country,” the “Company”) (NASDAQ: SNCY) today reported financial
results for its third quarter ended September 30, 2024.
“Sun Country is pleased to report our ninth consecutive
profitable quarter with GAAP EPS of $0.04 and adjusted EPS of
$0.06(2),” said Jude Bricker, Chief Executive Officer of Sun
Country. “Despite the impact of the Crowdstrike outage and the
hurricanes during the quarter, we delivered $249 million of total
revenue, the highest third quarter on record for Sun Country.
Robust growth in our charter and cargo businesses helped offset
lower scheduled service revenue, demonstrating the effectiveness of
our diversified business model. Additionally, our GAAP operating
margin of 5.0% and adjusted operating margin of 5.6%(2) exceeded
the top end of our guidance range. While third quarter unit revenue
was lower than last year, we began to see year-over-year
favorability in fares booked in September, which has persisted into
the fourth quarter. As always, we want to thank our employees for
their hard work and dedication during a challenging operating
period.”
Overview
of Third Quarter |
|
Three Months Ended September 30, |
(unaudited) (in millions, except per share
amounts) |
2024 |
2023 |
% Change |
Total Operating Revenue |
$ |
249.5 |
$ |
248.9 |
0.2 |
|
Operating Income |
|
12.4 |
|
19.0 |
(34.9 |
) |
Income Before Income Tax |
|
3.0 |
|
10.1 |
(70.2 |
) |
Net Income |
|
2.3 |
|
7.6 |
(69.1 |
) |
Diluted earnings per share |
$ |
0.04 |
$ |
0.13 |
(69.2 |
) |
|
Three Months Ended September 30, |
(unaudited) (in millions, except per share
amounts) |
2024 |
2023 |
% Change |
Adjusted Operating Income (2) |
$ |
13.9 |
$ |
20.0 |
(30.8 |
) |
Adjusted Income Before Income Tax
(2) |
|
4.5 |
|
11.1 |
(59.5 |
) |
Adjusted Net Income (2) |
|
3.5 |
|
8.4 |
(58.4 |
) |
Adjusted diluted earnings per
share (2) |
$ |
0.06 |
$ |
0.14 |
(57.1 |
) |
|
Nine Months Ended September 30, |
(unaudited) (in millions, except per share
amounts) |
2024 |
2023 |
% Change |
Total Operating Revenue |
$ |
815.3 |
$ |
804.1 |
1.4 |
|
Operating Income |
|
79.9 |
|
110.4 |
(27.6 |
) |
Income Before Income Tax |
|
52.6 |
|
86.5 |
(39.1 |
) |
Net Income |
|
39.5 |
|
66.5 |
(40.7 |
) |
Diluted earnings per share |
$ |
0.72 |
$ |
1.12 |
(35.7 |
) |
|
Nine Months Ended September 30, |
(unaudited) (in millions, except per share
amounts) |
2024 |
2023 |
% Change |
Adjusted Operating Income (2) |
$ |
84.5 |
$ |
118.5 |
(28.7 |
) |
Adjusted Income Before Income Tax
(2) |
|
57.2 |
|
94.9 |
(39.7 |
) |
Adjusted Net Income (2) |
|
43.0 |
|
72.9 |
(41.1 |
) |
Adjusted diluted earnings per
share (2) |
$ |
0.78 |
$ |
1.23 |
(36.6 |
) |
Amounts presented in
the tables above may not recalculate due to rounding |
|
For the quarter ended September 30, 2024, Sun Country
reported net income of approximately $2 million and income before
income tax of $3 million, on $249 million of revenue. Adjusted
income before income tax(2) for the quarter was approximately $4
million. GAAP operating income during the quarter was $12 million,
while adjusted operating income(2) was $14 million, and GAAP
operating margin was 5.0% and adjusted operating margin(2) was
5.6%.
“Our third quarter results reflect the continued earnings power
of our diversified business model,” said Dave Davis, President and
Chief Financial Officer. “Cargo revenue per block hour grew by
16.0% year-over-year while third quarter charter revenue easily
exceeded charter block hour growth. This strength partially offset
the weaker third quarter scheduled service demand environment that
we experienced. We expect strength in these businesses to persist,
while we also see improving trends in scheduled service unit
revenue in the fourth quarter and into 2025. We continue to exhibit
solid cost control as our GAAP operating expense grew 3.1% while
total block hours grew 3.8% in the third quarter. Adjusted CASM(3)
grew by 3.7% year-over-year, largely driven by near-in reductions
in scheduled service capacity. We have right-sized our scheduled
service capacity to match current demand and we expect fourth
quarter scheduled service ASMs to grow by slightly over 3% versus
last year. We are preparing to take on additional cargo aircraft in
2025, and still expect the first aircraft to enter service in late
March or early April 2025, allowing us to take full advantage of
seasonally strong first quarter passenger demand.”
Notable Highlights
- Ninth consecutive profitable quarter and highest third quarter
total revenue on record(1).
- Further extended the existing lease on one 737-800 aircraft Sun
Country has on lease to an unaffiliated airline. This aircraft is
now expected to redeliver to Sun Country in November 2025.
- Supported Major League Soccer by flying all 18 Liga MX teams
home for 2024 Leagues Cup.
Capacity
System block hours flown during the third quarter of 2024 grew
by 3.8% year-over-year. All of this growth was allocated to the
passenger segment, resulting in a 5.8% increase in scheduled
service ASMs and 1.7% increase in charter block hours. Scheduled
service ASMs are expected to grow in the fourth quarter 2024 by
slightly more than 3% over fourth quarter 2023. Cargo block hours
declined in the third quarter by 3.6% year-over-year due to
scheduled heavy maintenance events and the impact of the hurricanes
on cargo operations in the Southeast.
Revenue
The domestic market continued to be impacted by overcapacity in
the third quarter which pressured unit revenue. The Company
reported total revenue of $249 million for the third quarter,
which was 0.2% greater than the third quarter of 2023. Scheduled
service TRASM(4) of 10.42 cents decreased 11.1% year-over-year,
while scheduled service ASMs increased 5.8%. The third quarter 2024
total fare per scheduled passenger of $141 was lower than third
quarter 2023 by 7.8% as scheduled service passengers grew 2.0%. The
Company’s third quarter charter service revenue was $51 million, an
increase of 7.0% year-over-year despite charter block hour growth
of only 1.7% and the impact of lower fuel cost reimbursements from
our customers.
In the third quarter of 2024, cargo revenue was $29 million, an
11.9% increase versus the third quarter of 2023 on a 3.6% decline
in cargo block hours. This improvement was primarily driven by the
annual rate escalation which went into effect in mid-December 2023
and the beginning of the new Amazon contract rates which went into
effect in June 2024.
Cost
Third quarter CASM fell 1.9% while adjusted CASM(3) was up 3.7%
year-over-year. Total GAAP operating expenses increased 3.1%
year-over-year, primarily due to a 3.8% increase in total block
hours. The top non-fuel expenses that grew faster than the level of
flying included ground handling costs, which increased 23.3%,
driven by a 5% increase in Passenger segment departures and rate
increases at our outsourced ground stations. Landing fees and
airport rent increased 14.5% due to the expiration of COVID
assistance that airports had used to limit rate increases.
Balance Sheet and Liquidity
Total liquidity(5) was $165 million on
September 30, 2024, while the Company’s net debt(6) was $532
million.
(in millions - amounts may not recalculate due to
rounding) |
September 30, 2024 |
|
December 31, 2023 |
|
(Unaudited) |
|
|
Cash and Cash Equivalents |
$ |
56.8 |
|
$ |
46.3 |
Available-for-Sale
Securities |
|
83.3 |
|
|
134.2 |
Amount Available Under
Revolving Credit Facility |
|
24.7 |
|
|
24.7 |
Total Liquidity |
$ |
164.8 |
|
$ |
205.2 |
|
|
|
|
(in millions - amounts may not recalculate due to
rounding) |
September 30, 2024 |
|
December 31, 2023 |
|
(Unaudited) |
|
|
Total Debt, net |
$ |
351.8 |
|
$ |
401.6 |
Finance Lease Obligations |
|
298.5 |
|
|
277.3 |
Operating Lease
Obligations |
|
21.4 |
|
|
18.8 |
Total Debt, net, and Lease Obligations |
|
671.6 |
|
|
697.7 |
Cash and Cash Equivalents |
|
56.8 |
|
|
46.3 |
Available-for-Sale
Securities |
|
83.3 |
|
|
134.2 |
Net Debt |
$ |
531.5 |
|
$ |
517.2 |
|
Fleet
As of September 30, 2024, the Company had
44 aircraft in its passenger service fleet, operated 12 freighter
aircraft in its cargo operation and had seven aircraft that are
currently on lease to unaffiliated airlines.
Guidance for Fourth Quarter 2024
|
Q4 2024 |
H/(L) vs Q4 2023 |
Total revenue - millions |
$250 to $260 |
2% to 6% |
Economic fuel cost per
gallon |
$2.47 |
(20)% |
Operating income margin -
percentage |
7% to 9% |
0pp to 2pp |
Effective tax rate |
23% |
|
Total system block hours -
thousands |
36.5 to 37.5 |
2% to 5% |
|
|
|
Conference Call & Webcast Details
Sun Country Airlines will host a conference call to discuss its
third quarter 2024 results at 8:30 a.m. Eastern Time on Thursday,
October 31, 2024. A live broadcast of the conference call will be
available via the investor relations section of Sun Country
Airlines’ website at
https://ir.suncountry.com/news-events/events-and-presentations. The
online replay will be available on the same website approximately
one hour after the call.
About Sun Country Airlines
Sun Country Airlines is a new breed of hybrid low-cost air
carrier, whose mission is to connect guests to their favorite
people and places, to create lifelong memories and transformative
experiences. Sun Country dynamically deploys shared resources
across our synergistic scheduled service, charter, and cargo
businesses. Based in Minnesota, we focus on serving leisure and
visiting friends and relatives (“VFR”) passengers and charter
customers and providing cargo service to Amazon, with flights
throughout the United States and to destinations in Mexico, Central
America, Canada, and the Caribbean. For photos, b-roll and
additional company information, visit
https://www.stories.suncountry.com/multimedia.
End Notes
1 - |
Records begin in January 2017 |
2 - |
See additional details, including reconciliations to the most
comparable GAAP measures, in the section titled “Non-GAAP financial
measures” |
3 - |
Adjusted CASM is a non-GAAP measure derived from CASM by excluding
fuel costs, non-cash management stock compensation expense, costs
arising from its cargo operations, depreciation and amortization
recognized on certain assets that generate lease income, certain
commissions, and other costs of selling its vacations product from
this measure. See table titled “Reconciliation of CASM to Adjusted
CASM” |
4 - |
Scheduled Service TRASM includes Schedule Service revenue,
Ancillary revenue, and ASM generating revenue classified within
Other Revenue on the Condensed Consolidated Statement of Operations
/ Scheduled Service ASMs. Other Revenue includes rental revenue
associated with certain assets that generate lease income of
approximately $10.1 million and $5.9 million in the three months
ended September 30, 2024 and 2023, respectively, and $29.2
million and $11.7 million in the nine months ended
September 30, 2024 and 2023, respectively, which is not
included. |
5 - |
Total liquidity = cash and cash equivalents + available-for-sale
securities + amount available under revolver |
6 - |
Net debt = current portion of long-term debt + long-term debt +
finance lease obligations + operating lease obligations – cash and
cash equivalents - available-for-sale securities |
|
|
Forward Looking Statements
This press release contains forward-looking
statements, which involve risks and uncertainties. These
forward-looking statements are generally identified by the use of
forward-looking terminology, including the terms “anticipate,”
“believe,” “continue,” “could,” “estimate,” “expect,” “intend,”
“likely,” “may,” “plan,” “possible,” “potential,” “predict,”
“project,” “should,” “target,” “will,” “would” and, in each case,
their negative or other various or comparable terminology. All
statements other than statements of historical facts contained in
this press release, including statements regarding our strategy,
future operations, future financial position, future revenue,
projected costs, prospects, plans, objectives of management, and
expected market growth are forward-looking statements. The
forward-looking statements are relating to:
- our strategy, outlook and growth prospects;
- our operational and financial targets and dividend policy;
- general economic trends and trends in the industry and
markets;
- potential repurchases of our common stock; and
- the competitive environment in which we operate.
These statements involve known and unknown
risks, uncertainties and other important factors that may cause our
actual results, performance, or achievements to be materially
different from any future results, performance, or achievements
expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements.
These forward-looking statements reflect our
views with respect to future events as of the date of this press
release and are based on assumptions and subject to risks and
uncertainties. Given these uncertainties, you should not place
undue reliance on these forward-looking statements. These
forward-looking statements represent our estimates and assumptions
only as of the date of this press release and, except as required
by law, we undertake no obligation to update or review publicly any
forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information,
future events or otherwise after the date of this press release. We
anticipate that subsequent events and developments will cause our
views to change. You should read this press release completely and
with the understanding that our actual future results may be
materially different from what we expect. Our forward-looking
statements do not reflect the potential impact of any future
acquisitions, mergers, dispositions, joint ventures, or investments
we may undertake. We qualify all of our forward-looking statements
by these cautionary statements. Additional information concerning
certain factors is contained in the Company’s Securities and
Exchange Commission filings, including but not limited to the
Company’s Annual Reports on Form 10-K, Quarterly Reports on Form
10-Q, and Current Reports on Form 8-K.
Non-GAAP Financial
Measures
We sometimes use information that is derived
from the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements, but that is
not presented in accordance with GAAP. We believe
these non-GAAP measures provide a meaningful comparison
of our results to others in the airline industry and our prior year
results. Investors should consider
these non-GAAP financial measures in addition to, and not
as a substitute for, our financial performance measures prepared in
accordance with GAAP. Further, our non-GAAP information
may be different from the non-GAAP information provided
by other companies. We believe certain charges included in our
operating expenses on a GAAP basis make it difficult to compare our
current period results to prior periods as well as future periods
and guidance. The tables below show a reconciliation of
non-GAAP financial measures used in this document to the most
directly comparable GAAP financial measures.
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS (Dollars in
thousands, except per share amounts) (Unaudited-
amounts may not recalculate due to rounding) |
|
|
|
|
|
Three Months Ended September 30, |
|
|
|
2024 |
|
2023 |
|
% Change |
Operating Revenues: |
|
|
|
|
|
Scheduled Service |
$ |
83,784 |
|
|
$ |
96,483 |
|
|
(13.2 |
) |
Charter |
|
50,769 |
|
|
|
47,437 |
|
|
7.0 |
|
Ancillary |
|
73,211 |
|
|
|
70,435 |
|
|
3.9 |
|
Passenger |
|
207,764 |
|
|
|
214,355 |
|
|
(3.1 |
) |
Cargo |
|
29,165 |
|
|
|
26,059 |
|
|
11.9 |
|
Other |
|
12,541 |
|
|
|
8,462 |
|
|
48.2 |
|
Total Operating Revenue |
|
249,470 |
|
|
|
248,876 |
|
|
0.2 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Operating
Expenses: |
|
|
|
|
|
Aircraft Fuel |
|
54,737 |
|
|
|
61,179 |
|
|
(10.5 |
) |
Salaries, Wages, and Benefits |
|
80,919 |
|
|
|
72,541 |
|
|
11.5 |
|
Aircraft Rent |
|
— |
|
|
|
22 |
|
|
(100.0 |
) |
Maintenance |
|
15,973 |
|
|
|
15,330 |
|
|
4.2 |
|
Sales and Marketing |
|
7,748 |
|
|
|
7,569 |
|
|
2.4 |
|
Depreciation and Amortization |
|
23,754 |
|
|
|
22,762 |
|
|
4.4 |
|
Ground Handling |
|
11,568 |
|
|
|
9,382 |
|
|
23.3 |
|
Landing Fees and Airport Rent |
|
15,979 |
|
|
|
13,958 |
|
|
14.5 |
|
Other Operating, net |
|
26,410 |
|
|
|
27,127 |
|
|
(2.6 |
) |
Total Operating Expenses |
|
237,088 |
|
|
|
229,870 |
|
|
3.1 |
|
Operating Income |
|
12,382 |
|
|
|
19,006 |
|
|
(34.9 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Non-operating Income
(Expense): |
|
|
|
|
|
Interest Income |
|
1,659 |
|
|
|
2,480 |
|
|
(33.1 |
) |
Interest Expense |
|
(11,049 |
) |
|
|
(11,403 |
) |
|
(3.1 |
) |
Other, net |
|
12 |
|
|
|
(15 |
) |
|
NM |
|
Total Non-operating Expense, net |
|
(9,378 |
) |
|
|
(8,938 |
) |
|
4.9 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Income before Income Tax |
|
3,004 |
|
|
|
10,068 |
|
|
(70.2 |
) |
Income Tax Expense |
|
662 |
|
|
|
2,477 |
|
|
(73.3 |
) |
Net Income |
$ |
2,342 |
|
|
$ |
7,591 |
|
|
(69.1 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net Income per share
to common stockholders: |
|
|
Basic |
$ |
0.04 |
|
|
$ |
0.14 |
|
|
(71.4 |
) |
Diluted |
$ |
0.04 |
|
|
$ |
0.13 |
|
|
(69.2 |
) |
Shares used for computation: |
|
|
|
|
|
Basic |
|
52,876,339 |
|
|
|
55,435,386 |
|
|
(4.6 |
) |
Diluted |
|
54,780,672 |
|
|
|
58,595,646 |
|
|
(6.5 |
) |
NM - not
meaningful |
|
Nine Months Ended September 30, |
|
|
|
2024 |
|
2023 |
|
% Change |
Operating Revenues: |
|
|
|
|
|
Scheduled Service |
$ |
313,056 |
|
|
$ |
360,607 |
|
|
(13.2 |
) |
Charter |
|
149,090 |
|
|
|
143,250 |
|
|
4.1 |
|
Ancillary |
|
236,677 |
|
|
|
205,633 |
|
|
15.1 |
|
Passenger |
|
698,823 |
|
|
|
709,490 |
|
|
(1.5 |
) |
Cargo |
|
78,560 |
|
|
|
74,437 |
|
|
5.5 |
|
Other |
|
37,951 |
|
|
|
20,150 |
|
|
88.3 |
|
Total Operating Revenue |
|
815,334 |
|
|
|
804,077 |
|
|
1.4 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Operating
Expenses: |
|
|
|
|
|
Aircraft Fuel |
|
187,229 |
|
|
|
185,829 |
|
|
0.8 |
|
Salaries, Wages, and Benefits |
|
242,516 |
|
|
|
223,890 |
|
|
8.3 |
|
Aircraft Rent |
|
— |
|
|
|
2,281 |
|
|
(100.0 |
) |
Maintenance |
|
50,129 |
|
|
|
44,311 |
|
|
13.1 |
|
Sales and Marketing |
|
26,819 |
|
|
|
26,005 |
|
|
3.1 |
|
Depreciation and Amortization |
|
71,194 |
|
|
|
64,577 |
|
|
10.2 |
|
Ground Handling |
|
32,090 |
|
|
|
28,299 |
|
|
13.4 |
|
Landing Fees and Airport Rent |
|
44,431 |
|
|
|
36,847 |
|
|
20.6 |
|
Other Operating, net |
|
81,003 |
|
|
|
81,663 |
|
|
(0.8 |
) |
Total Operating Expenses |
|
735,411 |
|
|
|
693,702 |
|
|
6.0 |
|
Operating Income |
|
79,923 |
|
|
|
110,375 |
|
|
(27.6 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Non-operating Income
(Expense): |
|
|
|
|
|
Interest Income |
|
5,907 |
|
|
|
7,766 |
|
|
(23.9 |
) |
Interest Expense |
|
(33,238 |
) |
|
|
(31,272 |
) |
|
6.3 |
|
Other, net |
|
55 |
|
|
|
(370 |
) |
|
NM |
|
Total Non-operating Expense, net |
|
(27,276 |
) |
|
|
(23,876 |
) |
|
14.2 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Income before Income Tax |
|
52,647 |
|
|
|
86,499 |
|
|
(39.1 |
) |
Income Tax Expense |
|
13,180 |
|
|
|
19,963 |
|
|
(34.0 |
) |
Net Income |
$ |
39,467 |
|
|
$ |
66,536 |
|
|
(40.7 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net Income per share
to common stockholders: |
|
|
Basic |
$ |
0.75 |
|
|
$ |
1.19 |
|
|
(37.0 |
) |
Diluted |
$ |
0.72 |
|
|
$ |
1.12 |
|
|
(35.7 |
) |
Shares used for computation: |
|
|
|
|
|
Basic |
|
52,866,797 |
|
|
|
56,051,173 |
|
|
(5.7 |
) |
Diluted |
|
54,990,437 |
|
|
|
59,281,819 |
|
|
(7.2 |
) |
NM - not
meaningful |
KEY OPERATING STATISTICS - amounts may not recalculate due
to rounding |
|
The following
tables presents key operating statistics and metrics for the three
and nine months ended September 30, 2024 and 2023. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Three Months Ended September 30, |
|
|
|
|
2024 |
|
2023 |
|
% Change |
|
Scheduled Service Statistics: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Revenue passenger miles (RPMs) –
thousands |
|
1,288,460 |
|
|
|
1,252,583 |
|
|
2.9 |
|
|
Available seat miles (ASMs) –
thousands |
|
1,530,058 |
|
|
|
1,446,462 |
|
|
5.8 |
|
|
Load factor |
|
84.2% |
|
|
|
86.6% |
|
|
(2.4 |
) |
(3 |
) |
Revenue passengers carried |
|
1,112,455 |
|
|
|
1,090,172 |
|
|
2.0 |
|
|
Departures |
|
7,259 |
|
|
|
6,878 |
|
|
5.5 |
|
|
Block hours |
|
21,416 |
|
|
|
19,935 |
|
|
7.4 |
|
|
Scheduled service TRASM(1)-
cents |
|
10.42 |
|
|
|
11.72 |
|
|
(11.1 |
) |
|
Average base fare per
passenger |
$ |
75.31 |
|
|
$ |
88.50 |
|
|
(14.9 |
) |
|
Ancillary revenue per
passenger |
$ |
65.81 |
|
|
$ |
64.61 |
|
|
1.9 |
|
|
Total fare per passenger |
$ |
141.13 |
|
|
$ |
153.11 |
|
|
(7.8 |
) |
|
Fuel gallons - thousands |
|
16,565 |
|
|
|
15,536 |
|
|
6.6 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Charter
Statistics: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Departures |
|
2,809 |
|
|
|
2,688 |
|
|
4.5 |
|
|
Block hours |
|
5,366 |
|
|
|
5,274 |
|
|
1.7 |
|
|
Available seats miles (ASMs) -
thousands |
|
328,142 |
|
|
|
322,722 |
|
|
1.7 |
|
|
Fuel gallons - thousands |
|
3,525 |
|
|
|
3,513 |
|
|
0.3 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Cargo
Statistics: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Departures |
|
3,519 |
|
|
|
3,432 |
|
|
2.5 |
|
|
Block hours |
|
8,957 |
|
|
|
9,287 |
|
|
(3.6 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total System
Statistics: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Average passenger aircraft |
|
43.6 |
|
|
|
42.0 |
|
|
3.8 |
|
|
Passenger aircraft – end of
period |
|
44 |
|
|
|
42 |
|
|
4.8 |
|
|
Cargo aircraft – end of
period |
|
12 |
|
|
|
12 |
|
|
— |
|
|
Leased aircraft – end of
period |
|
7 |
|
|
|
5 |
|
|
40.0 |
|
|
Available seat miles (ASMs) –
thousands |
|
1,884,889 |
|
|
|
1,791,485 |
|
|
5.2 |
|
|
Departures |
|
13,730 |
|
|
|
13,128 |
|
|
4.6 |
|
|
Block hours |
|
36,191 |
|
|
|
34,874 |
|
|
3.8 |
|
|
Daily utilization – hours |
|
6.8 |
|
|
|
6.6 |
|
|
3.0 |
|
|
Average stage length – miles |
|
1,001 |
|
|
|
1,005 |
|
|
(0.4 |
) |
|
Total revenue per ASM (TRASM) -
cents |
|
11.15 |
|
|
|
12.11 |
|
|
(7.9 |
) |
|
Cost per ASM (CASM) - cents |
|
12.58 |
|
|
|
12.83 |
|
|
(1.9 |
) |
|
Adjusted CASM(2)- cents |
|
8.04 |
|
|
|
7.75 |
|
|
3.7 |
|
|
Fuel gallons - thousands |
|
20,344 |
|
|
|
19,262 |
|
|
5.6 |
|
|
Fuel cost per gallon |
$ |
2.69 |
|
|
$ |
3.19 |
|
|
(15.7 |
) |
|
Employees at end of period |
|
2,965 |
|
|
|
2,692 |
|
|
10.1 |
|
|
1 – See note 3 in
end notes |
2 – See note 4 in
end notes |
3- Percentage point
difference |
|
Nine Months Ended September 30, |
|
|
|
|
2024 |
|
2023 |
|
% Change |
|
Scheduled Service Statistics: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Revenue passenger miles (RPMs) –
thousands |
|
4,335,623 |
|
|
|
3,900,975 |
|
|
11.1 |
|
|
Available seat miles (ASMs) –
thousands |
|
5,098,876 |
|
|
|
4,489,968 |
|
|
13.6 |
|
|
Load factor |
|
85.0% |
|
|
|
86.9% |
|
|
(1.9 |
) |
(3 |
) |
Revenue passengers carried |
|
3,437,005 |
|
|
|
3,093,536 |
|
|
11.1 |
|
|
Departures |
|
22,109 |
|
|
|
19,456 |
|
|
13.6 |
|
|
Block hours |
|
70,312 |
|
|
|
61,438 |
|
|
14.4 |
|
|
Scheduled service TRASM(1)-
cents |
|
10.95 |
|
|
|
12.80 |
|
|
(14.5 |
) |
|
Average base fare per
passenger |
$ |
91.08 |
|
|
$ |
116.57 |
|
|
(21.9 |
) |
|
Ancillary revenue per
passenger |
$ |
68.86 |
|
|
$ |
66.47 |
|
|
3.6 |
|
|
Total fare per passenger |
$ |
159.95 |
|
|
$ |
183.04 |
|
|
(12.6 |
) |
|
Fuel gallons - thousands |
|
54,634 |
|
|
|
48,046 |
|
|
13.7 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Charter
Statistics: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Departures |
|
7,638 |
|
|
|
7,816 |
|
|
(2.3 |
) |
|
Block hours |
|
15,355 |
|
|
|
15,994 |
|
|
(4.0 |
) |
|
Available seats miles (ASMs) -
thousands |
|
937,057 |
|
|
|
961,953 |
|
|
(2.6 |
) |
|
Fuel gallons - thousands |
|
10,558 |
|
|
|
11,063 |
|
|
(4.6 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Cargo
Statistics: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Departures |
|
9,726 |
|
|
|
9,643 |
|
|
0.9 |
|
|
Block hours |
|
25,008 |
|
|
|
25,633 |
|
|
(2.4 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total System
Statistics: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Average passenger aircraft |
|
42.6 |
|
|
|
41.8 |
|
|
1.9 |
|
|
Passenger aircraft – end of
period |
|
44 |
|
|
|
42 |
|
|
4.8 |
|
|
Cargo aircraft – end of
period |
|
12 |
|
|
|
12 |
|
|
— |
|
|
Leased aircraft – end of
period |
|
7 |
|
|
|
5 |
|
|
40.0 |
|
|
Available seat miles (ASMs) –
thousands |
|
6,108,695 |
|
|
|
5,516,826 |
|
|
10.7 |
|
|
Departures |
|
39,879 |
|
|
|
37,295 |
|
|
6.9 |
|
|
Block hours |
|
111,908 |
|
|
|
104,188 |
|
|
7.4 |
|
|
Daily utilization – hours |
|
7.4 |
|
|
|
6.9 |
|
|
7.2 |
|
|
Average stage length – miles |
|
1,100 |
|
|
|
1,088 |
|
|
1.1 |
|
|
Total revenue per ASM (TRASM) -
cents |
|
11.58 |
|
|
|
13.01 |
|
|
(11.0 |
) |
|
Cost per ASM (CASM) - cents |
|
12.04 |
|
|
|
12.57 |
|
|
(4.2 |
) |
|
Adjusted CASM(2)- cents |
|
7.51 |
|
|
|
7.56 |
|
|
(0.7 |
) |
|
Fuel gallons - thousands |
|
65,884 |
|
|
|
59,734 |
|
|
10.3 |
|
|
Fuel cost per gallon |
$ |
2.86 |
|
|
$ |
3.12 |
|
|
(8.3 |
) |
|
Employees at end of period |
|
2,965 |
|
|
|
2,692 |
|
|
10.1 |
|
|
1 – See note 3 in
end notes |
2 – See note 4 in
end notes |
3- Percentage point
difference |
SUMMARY BALANCE SHEET (Dollars in millions)
(amounts may not recalculate due to rounding) |
|
|
September 30, 2024 |
|
December 31, 2023 |
|
% Change |
|
(Unaudited) |
|
|
|
|
Cash & Cash Equivalents |
$ |
56.8 |
|
$ |
46.3 |
|
22.7 |
|
Other Current Assets |
|
169.2 |
|
|
225.1 |
|
(24.8 |
) |
Total Current Assets |
|
226.0 |
|
|
271.4 |
|
(16.7 |
) |
Total Property & Equipment,
net |
|
993.1 |
|
|
969.0 |
|
2.5 |
|
Other |
|
390.7 |
|
|
383.3 |
|
1.9 |
|
Total Assets |
|
1,609.9 |
|
|
1,623.6 |
|
(0.8 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Air Traffic Liabilities |
|
131.5 |
|
|
158.0 |
|
(16.8 |
) |
Current Finance Lease
Obligations |
|
42.2 |
|
|
44.8 |
|
(5.8 |
) |
Current Operating Lease
Obligations |
|
3.2 |
|
|
2.2 |
|
45.5 |
|
Current Maturities of Long-Term
Debt, net |
|
75.9 |
|
|
74.2 |
|
2.3 |
|
Income Tax Receivable Agreement
Liability |
|
9.5 |
|
|
3.3 |
|
187.9 |
|
Other Current Liabilities |
|
118.5 |
|
|
136.2 |
|
(13.0 |
) |
Total Current Liabilities |
|
380.8 |
|
|
418.6 |
|
(9.0 |
) |
Finance Lease Obligations |
|
256.3 |
|
|
232.5 |
|
10.2 |
|
Operating Lease Obligations |
|
18.2 |
|
|
16.6 |
|
9.6 |
|
Long-Term Debt, net |
|
275.9 |
|
|
327.5 |
|
(15.8 |
) |
Income Tax Receivable Agreement
Liability |
|
88.2 |
|
|
97.8 |
|
(9.8 |
) |
Other |
|
38.0 |
|
|
16.2 |
|
134.6 |
|
Total Liabilities |
|
1,057.3 |
|
|
1,109.2 |
|
(4.7 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total Stockholders’
Equity |
$ |
552.5 |
|
$ |
514.4 |
|
7.4 |
|
SUMMARY CASH FLOW (Dollars in millions)
(Unaudited - amounts may not recalculate due to
rounding) |
|
|
Nine Months Ended September 30, |
|
|
|
2024 |
|
2023 |
|
% Change |
Net Cash Provided by Operating Activities |
$ |
74.3 |
|
|
$ |
102.7 |
|
|
(27.7 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Purchases of Property & Equipment |
|
(42.6 |
) |
|
|
(210.6 |
) |
|
(79.8 |
) |
Other, net |
|
63.6 |
|
|
|
32.4 |
|
|
96.3 |
|
Net Cash Provided by
(Used in) Investing Activities |
|
20.9 |
|
|
|
(178.3 |
) |
|
111.7 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Common Stock Repurchases |
|
(11.5 |
) |
|
|
(55.1 |
) |
|
(79.1 |
) |
Proceeds from Borrowing |
|
10.0 |
|
|
|
119.2 |
|
|
(91.6 |
) |
Repayment of Finance Lease Obligations |
|
(26.2 |
) |
|
|
(16.4 |
) |
|
59.8 |
|
Repayment of Borrowings |
|
(60.8 |
) |
|
|
(35.5 |
) |
|
71.3 |
|
Other, net |
|
(3.0 |
) |
|
|
(1.7 |
) |
|
76.5 |
|
Net Cash Provided by
(Used in) Financing Activities |
|
(91.5 |
) |
|
|
10.6 |
|
|
NM |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net Increase (Decrease) in Cash, Cash Equivalents and Restricted
Cash |
|
3.8 |
|
|
|
(65.0 |
) |
|
105.8 |
|
Cash, Cash Equivalents and Restricted Cash – Beginning of the
Period |
|
63.7 |
|
|
|
102.9 |
|
|
(38.1 |
) |
Cash, Cash Equivalents and Restricted Cash – End of the Period |
$ |
67.4 |
|
|
$ |
37.9 |
|
|
77.8 |
|
NM - not meaningful |
|
NON-GAAP FINANCIAL MEASURES
Adjusted Operating Income, Adjusted
Operating Income Margin, Adjusted Income Before Income Tax,
Adjusted Pre-tax Margin, Adjusted Net Income, Adjusted Net Income
per Share, Adjusted EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA Margin
Adjusted Operating Income, Adjusted Operating
Income Margin, Adjusted Income Before Income Tax, Adjusted Pre-tax
Margin, Adjusted Net Income, Adjusted Net Income per share,
Adjusted EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA Margin are non-GAAP measures
included as supplemental disclosure because we believe they are
useful indicators of our operating performance. Derivations of
Operating Income and Net Income are well recognized performance
measurements in the airline industry that are frequently used by
our management, as well as by investors, securities analysts and
other interested parties in comparing the operating performance of
companies in our industry.
The measures described above have limitations as
analytical tools. Some of the limitations applicable to these
measures include: they do not reflect the impact of certain cash
and non-cash charges resulting from matters we consider not to be
indicative of our ongoing operations; and other companies in our
industry may calculate these non-GAAP measures differently than we
do, limiting each measure’s usefulness as a comparative measure.
Because of these limitations, the following non-GAAP measures
should not be considered in isolation or as a substitute for
performance measures calculated in accordance with GAAP and may not
be the same as or comparable to similarly titled measures presented
by other companies due to the possible differences in the method of
calculation and in the items being adjusted.
For the aforementioned reasons, Adjusted
Operating Income, Adjusted Operating Income Margin, Adjusted Income
Before Income Tax, Adjusted Pre-tax Margin, Adjusted Net Income,
Adjusted Net Income per Share, Adjusted EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA
Margin have significant limitations which affect their use as
indicators of our profitability. Accordingly, readers are cautioned
not to place undue reliance on this information.
Reconciliation of GAAP Operating Income to Adjusted
Operating Income |
Dollars in millions – Unaudited - amounts may not
recalculate due to rounding |
The following
table presents the reconciliation of GAAP operating income to
adjusted operating income. |
|
|
Three Months Ended September 30, |
|
Nine Months Ended September 30, |
|
2024 |
|
2023 |
|
2024 |
|
2023 |
Operating Revenue |
$ |
249.5 |
|
|
$ |
248.9 |
|
|
$ |
815.3 |
|
|
$ |
804.1 |
|
Operating Income |
|
12.4 |
|
|
|
19.0 |
|
|
|
79.9 |
|
|
|
110.4 |
|
Stock Compensation Expense |
|
1.5 |
|
|
|
1.0 |
|
|
|
4.6 |
|
|
|
8.1 |
|
Adjusted Operating Income |
$ |
13.9 |
|
|
$ |
20.0 |
|
|
$ |
84.5 |
|
|
$ |
118.5 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Operating Income Margin |
|
5.0 % |
|
|
|
7.6 % |
|
|
|
9.8 % |
|
|
|
13.7 % |
|
Adjusted Operating Income Margin |
|
5.6 % |
|
|
|
8.1 % |
|
|
|
10.4 % |
|
|
|
14.7 % |
|
Reconciliation of GAAP Income Before Income Tax to Adjusted
Income Before Income Tax |
Dollars in millions – Unaudited - amounts may not
recalculate due to rounding |
The following
table presents the reconciliation of GAAP income before income tax
to adjusted income before income tax. |
|
|
Three Months Ended September 30, |
|
Nine Months Ended September 30, |
|
2024 |
|
2023 |
|
2024 |
|
2023 |
Net Income |
$ |
2.3 |
|
|
$ |
7.6 |
|
|
$ |
39.5 |
|
|
$ |
66.5 |
|
Add: Provision for Income Tax
Expense |
0.7 |
|
|
2.5 |
|
|
13.2 |
|
|
20.0 |
|
Income Before Income Tax, as
reported |
3.0 |
|
|
10.1 |
|
|
52.6 |
|
|
86.5 |
|
Pre-tax margin |
1.2 |
% |
|
4.0 |
% |
|
6.5 |
% |
|
10.8 |
% |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Stock Compensation Expense |
1.5 |
|
|
1.0 |
|
|
4.6 |
|
|
8.1 |
|
Tax Receivable Agreement
adjustment (1) |
— |
|
|
— |
|
|
— |
|
|
(0.4 |
) |
Secondary offering costs |
— |
|
|
— |
|
|
— |
|
|
0.6 |
|
Adjusted Income Before Income
Tax |
$ |
4.5 |
|
|
$ |
11.1 |
|
|
$ |
57.2 |
|
|
$ |
94.9 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Adjusted Pre-tax margin |
1.8 |
% |
|
4.5 |
% |
|
7.0 |
% |
|
11.8 |
% |
(1) This represents the adjustment to the TRA for the period,
which is recorded in Non-Operating Income (Expense) |
Reconciliation of GAAP Net Income and Earnings per Share to
Adjusted Net Income and Adjusted Earnings per Share |
Dollars and shares in millions, except for per share –
Unaudited - amounts may not recalculate due to
rounding |
The following
table presents the reconciliation of GAAP net income and earnings
per share to adjusted net income and adjusted earnings per
share. |
|
|
Three Months Ended September 30, |
|
2024 |
|
2023 |
|
Dollars |
|
Per Share - diluted |
|
Dollars |
|
Per Share - diluted |
Net Income |
$ |
2.3 |
|
|
$ |
0.04 |
|
|
$ |
7.6 |
|
|
$ |
0.13 |
|
Stock Compensation Expense |
|
1.5 |
|
|
|
0.03 |
|
|
|
1.0 |
|
|
|
0.02 |
|
Income tax effect of adjusting
items, net(1) |
|
(0.3 |
) |
|
|
(0.01 |
) |
|
|
(0.2 |
) |
|
|
— |
|
Adjusted Net Income |
$ |
3.5 |
|
|
$ |
0.06 |
|
|
$ |
8.4 |
|
|
$ |
0.14 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Diluted share count |
|
54.8 |
|
|
|
|
|
58.6 |
|
|
|
|
Nine Months Ended September 30, |
|
2024 |
|
2023 |
|
Dollars |
|
Per Share - diluted |
|
Dollars |
|
Per Share - diluted |
Net Income |
$ |
39.5 |
|
|
$ |
0.72 |
|
|
$ |
66.5 |
|
|
$ |
1.12 |
|
Stock Compensation Expense |
|
4.6 |
|
|
|
0.08 |
|
|
|
8.1 |
|
|
|
0.14 |
|
Tax Receivable Agreement adjustment(2) |
|
— |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
(0.4 |
) |
|
|
(0.01 |
) |
Secondary offering costs |
|
— |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
0.6 |
|
|
|
0.01 |
|
Income tax effect of adjusting
items, net(1) |
|
(1.1 |
) |
|
|
(0.02 |
) |
|
|
(2.0 |
) |
|
|
(0.03 |
) |
Adjusted Net Income |
$ |
43.0 |
|
|
$ |
0.78 |
|
|
$ |
72.9 |
|
|
$ |
1.23 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Diluted share count |
|
55.0 |
|
|
|
|
|
59.3 |
|
|
|
|
(1) The tax effect of adjusting items, net is calculated at
the Company’s statutory rate for the application
period |
(2) This represents the adjustment to the TRA for the period,
which is recorded in Non-Operating Income (Expense) |
Reconciliation of GAAP Net Income to Adjusted
EBITDA |
Dollars in millions – Unaudited - amounts may not
recalculate due to rounding |
The following
tables present the reconciliation of net income to adjusted EBITDA
for the periods presented below. |
|
|
Three Months Ended September 30, |
|
Nine Months Ended September 30, |
|
2024 |
|
2023 |
|
2024 |
|
2023 |
Net Income |
$ |
2.3 |
|
|
$ |
7.6 |
|
|
$ |
39.5 |
|
|
$ |
66.5 |
|
Interest Income |
|
(1.7 |
) |
|
|
(2.5 |
) |
|
|
(5.9 |
) |
|
|
(7.8 |
) |
Interest Expense |
|
11.0 |
|
|
|
11.4 |
|
|
|
33.2 |
|
|
|
31.3 |
|
Stock Compensation Expense |
|
1.5 |
|
|
|
1.0 |
|
|
|
4.6 |
|
|
|
8.1 |
|
Tax Receivable Agreement
adjustment(1) |
|
— |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
(0.4 |
) |
Secondary offering costs |
|
— |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
0.6 |
|
Provision for Income Taxes |
|
0.7 |
|
|
|
2.5 |
|
|
|
13.2 |
|
|
|
20.0 |
|
Depreciation and
Amortization |
|
23.8 |
|
|
|
22.8 |
|
|
|
71.2 |
|
|
|
64.6 |
|
Adjusted EBITDA |
$ |
37.6 |
|
|
$ |
42.8 |
|
|
$ |
155.7 |
|
|
$ |
183.0 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Adjusted EBITDA margin |
|
15.1 |
% |
|
|
17.2 |
% |
|
|
19.1 |
% |
|
|
22.8 |
% |
(1) This
represents the adjustment to the TRA for the period, which is
recorded in Non-Operating Income (Expense) |
|
Adjusted CASM
Adjusted CASM is a non-GAAP measure
derived from CASM by excluding fuel costs, costs related to our
cargo operations, stock based compensation, depreciation and
amortization recognized on certain assets that generate lease
income, certain commissions and other costs of selling our
vacations product from this measure as these costs are unrelated to
our airline operations and improve comparability to our peers.
Adjusted CASM is an important measure used by management and by our
board of directors in assessing quarterly and annual cost
performance. Adjusted CASM is also a measure commonly used by
industry analysts and we believe it is an important metric by which
they compare our airline to others in the industry, although other
airlines may exclude certain other costs in their calculation of
Adjusted CASM. The measure is also the subject of frequent
questions from investors.
Adjusted CASM excludes fuel costs. By excluding
volatile fuel costs that are outside of our control from our unit
metrics, we believe that we have better visibility into the results
of operations and our non-fuel cost initiatives. Our
industry is highly competitive and is characterized by high fixed
costs, so even a small reduction in non-fuel operating
costs can lead to a significant improvement in operating results.
In addition, we believe that all domestic carriers are similarly
impacted by changes in jet fuel costs over the long run, so it is
important for management and investors to understand the impact and
trends in company-specific cost drivers, such as labor rates,
aircraft and maintenance costs, and productivity, which are more
controllable by management.
We have excluded costs related to the cargo
operations and depreciation recognized on our aircraft and flight
equipment held for operating lease as these operations do not
create ASMs. We have entered into a series of aircraft-related
transactions where we act as an aircraft lessor. As of
September 30, 2024, we leased or subleased seven aircraft.
Depreciation expense on these aircraft materially began during the
three months ended June 30, 2023. Adjusted CASM further excludes
other adjustments, as defined in the relevant reporting period,
that are not representative of the ongoing costs necessary to our
airline operations and may improve comparability between periods.
We also exclude stock compensation expense when computing Adjusted
CASM. The Company’s compensation strategy includes the use of
stock-based compensation to attract and retain employees and
executives and is principally aimed at aligning their interests
with those of our stockholders and at long-term employee retention,
rather than to motivate or reward operational performance for any
particular period. Thus, stock-based compensation expense varies
for reasons that are generally unrelated to operational decisions
and performance in any period.
As derivations of Adjusted CASM 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, derivations of Adjusted
CASM as presented may not be directly comparable to similarly
titled measures presented by other companies. Adjusted CASM should
not be considered in isolation or as a replacement for CASM. For
the aforementioned reasons, Adjusted CASM has significant
limitations which affect its use as an indicator of our
profitability. Accordingly, readers are cautioned not to place
undue reliance on this information.
Reconciliation of CASM to Adjusted CASM |
Amounts may not recalculate due to rounding, dollar amounts
in millions |
The following
table presents the reconciliation of CASM to Adjusted CASM. |
|
|
Three Months Ended September 30, |
|
2024 |
|
2023 |
|
Operating Expenses- mm |
|
Per ASM (cents) |
|
Operating Expenses- mm |
|
Per ASM (cents) |
CASM |
$ |
237.1 |
|
12.58 |
|
$ |
229.9 |
|
12.83 |
Less: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Aircraft Fuel |
|
54.7 |
|
2.90 |
|
|
61.2 |
|
3.41 |
Stock Compensation Expense |
|
1.5 |
|
0.08 |
|
|
1.0 |
|
0.06 |
Cargo expenses, not already
adjusted above |
|
27.1 |
|
1.45 |
|
|
26.4 |
|
1.48 |
Sun Country Vacations |
|
0.2 |
|
0.01 |
|
|
0.2 |
|
0.01 |
Leased Aircraft, Depreciation and Amortization Expense |
|
2.0 |
|
0.10 |
|
|
2.2 |
|
0.12 |
Adjusted CASM |
$ |
151.5 |
|
8.04 |
|
$ |
138.8 |
|
7.75 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Available seat miles (ASMs) -
mm |
|
1,884.9 |
|
|
|
|
1,791.5 |
|
|
|
Nine Months Ended September 30, |
|
2024 |
|
2023 |
|
Operating Expenses- mm |
|
Per ASM (cents) |
|
Operating Expenses- mm |
|
Per ASM (cents) |
CASM |
$ |
735.4 |
|
12.04 |
|
$ |
693.7 |
|
12.57 |
Less: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Aircraft Fuel |
|
187.2 |
|
3.06 |
|
|
185.8 |
|
3.37 |
Stock Compensation Expense |
|
4.6 |
|
0.07 |
|
|
8.1 |
|
0.14 |
Cargo expenses, not already
adjusted above |
|
77.4 |
|
1.28 |
|
|
77.2 |
|
1.40 |
Sun Country Vacations |
|
1.0 |
|
0.02 |
|
|
0.9 |
|
0.02 |
Leased Aircraft, Depreciation and Amortization Expense |
|
6.3 |
|
0.10 |
|
|
4.5 |
|
0.08 |
Adjusted CASM |
$ |
458.9 |
|
7.51 |
|
$ |
417.2 |
|
7.56 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Available seat miles (ASMs) -
mm |
|
6,108.7 |
|
|
|
|
5,516.8 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
This press release was published by a CLEAR® Verified
individual.
Contacts
Investor Relations
IR@suncountry.com
Media
mediarelations@suncountry.com
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