Transportation

Will Spirit Airlines Remain the Most Profitable US Carrier?

Spirit Jet
Spirit Airlines
Spirit Airlines Inc. (NASDAQ: SAVE) reported second-quarter 2015 results before markets opened Friday. The ultra-low cost air carrier posted adjusted diluted earnings per share (EPS) of $1.03 on revenues of $553.4 million. In the same period a year ago, the company reported EPS of $0.91 on revenues of $499.34 million. Second-quarter results also compare to the Thomson Reuters consensus estimates for EPS of $1.01 and $555.06 million in revenues.

Last April, Spirit’s profit margin was running at 11.7%, tops among all U.S. carriers, just ahead of number two Alaska Air Group Inc. (NYSE: ALK), with a profit margin of 11.3%. Spirit’s return on assets was about 40% higher than Alaska’s, at 15.9% compared with 9.8%. On the basis of return on investment, Alaska posted a return of 20.2%, compared with 19.8% for Spirit.

In the second quarter, Spirit’s adjusted operating margin was 21.6% and the return on invested capital for the 12 months ended June 30 was 29.4%. Fuel costs in the quarter came to an adjusted $2.08 per gallon, a third less than the $3.13 per gallon cost in the same quarter a year ago.

Year over year, revenues rose 10.8%, driven by an increase in the number of flights, but partially offset by a decrease in operating yields. Total revenue per passenger flight segment dropped 12.4%, driven by a 19.4% decrease in ticket revenue per segment. Non-ticket revenue (fees) declined 1.7% year over year.

ALSO READ: Low Oil Prices Translate Into Higher Profits for Big 3 Airlines

The company’s CEO, Ben Baldanza, specifically noted that more than 500 flights and numerous flight delays were cancelled in June due to bad weather in a number of cities. He also mentioned the competitive pressures facing Spirit:

In addition to an unusual number of storms, we’ve recently seen a noticeable change in competitive pricing behavior. But, the fundamentals of our business haven’t changed: we continue to grow our network while maintaining high margins, delivering strong returns, and offering our customers low fares.

Spirit did not provide guidance in this report, but consensus estimates call for EPS of $1.18 on revenues of $588.65 million in the third quarter and full-year EPS of $4.17 on revenues of $2.19 billion.

In Friday’s premarket session, Spirit’s shares traded up about 0.6%, at $61.75 in a 52-week range of $52.75 to $85.35. The consensus price target on the stock was $79.40 before this report.

100 Million Americans Are Missing This Crucial Retirement Tool

The thought of burdening your family with a financial disaster is most Americans’ nightmare. However, recent studies show that over 100 million Americans still don’t have proper life insurance in the event they pass away.

Life insurance can bring peace of mind – ensuring your loved ones are safeguarded against unforeseen expenses and debts. With premiums often lower than expected and a variety of plans tailored to different life stages and health conditions, securing a policy is more accessible than ever.

A quick, no-obligation quote can provide valuable insight into what’s available and what might best suit your family’s needs. Life insurance is a simple step you can take today to help secure peace of mind for your loved ones tomorrow.

Click here to learn how to get a quote in just a few minutes.

Thank you for reading! Have some feedback for us?
Contact the 24/7 Wall St. editorial team.