Carnival Corporation & plc Reports Third Qu...
Carnival Corporation & plc Reports Third Quarter Earnings
MIAMI, Sept. 21 -- Carnival Corporation & plc today reports earnings for the
third quarter ended August 31, 2006. The earnings of Carnival Corporation and
Carnival plc have been consolidated, and this statement includes consolidated
results on a U.S. GAAP basis.
Q3 Highlights
-- Revenues increased $298m or 8.3% to $3.91bn compared to 2006 primarily
driven by a 5.2% increase in capacity and an increase in revenue yields
-- Net revenue yields increased 1.0% compared to the prior year (were in
line with prior year on a constant dollar basis)
-- Net cruise costs per available lower berth day increased 4.8% compared
to the prior year primarily due to higher fuel prices ($0.07 per share)
-- Net income (profit after tax) increased by $51m to $1.23bn (2005: net
income of $1.18m on revenues of $3.61bn)
-- Earnings per share (diluted) was $1.49 or a 6.4% increase (2005:
earnings per share (diluted) of $1.40)
2006 Outlook
-- Net revenue yields for the fourth quarter of 2006 are expected to
increase slightly compared to last year (flat to down slightly in
constant dollars)
-- Net cruise costs per available lower berth day for the fourth quarter
of 2006 are expected to be flat to up slightly (flat to down slightly
in constant dollars)
-- Q4 2006 earnings per share (diluted) expected to be in the range of
$0.46 to $0.48
-- Full year 2006 forecasted earnings per share (diluted) of approximately
$2.71 to $2.73
Commenting on these results, Chairman and Chief Executive Micky Arison
said:
"Despite rising fuel costs and softness in Caribbean business, we still
managed to grow earnings by over six percent in a difficult environment. The
successful introduction of three new ships along with strong European and
Alaska cruise seasons helped us overcome $55 million in higher fuel costs and
weakness in Caribbean demand," he explained. "Both our European and North
American brands have enjoyed a very strong summer in Europe and the North
American brands operating in Alaska also performed very well during the
quarter."
Looking to early 2007, Arison said that overall booking levels on a
capacity adjusted basis, for the first quarter of 2007 are modestly down
compared to the same time last year. The sluggish demand for the Caribbean is
continuing into the first quarter of 2007 causing North American booking
levels to be behind last year, while business for the company's European
brands for that period is running ahead of last year's pace.
MEDIA CONTACTS INVESTOR RELATIONS CONTACT
US US/UK
Carnival Corporation & plc Carnival Corporation & plc
Tim Gallagher Beth Roberts
001 305 599 2600, ext. 16000 001 305 406 4832
UK
Brunswick Group
Richard Jaques/Ruban Yogarajah
020 7404 5959
Analyst conference call
Carnival has scheduled a conference call with analysts at 15.00 London
time (10 a.m. EDT) today to discuss its 2006 third quarter earnings. This
call can be listened to live, and additional information can be obtained, via
Carnival Corporation & plc's Web site at www.carnivalcorp.com and
www.carnivalplc.com.
Carnival Corporation & plc
Carnival Corporation & plc is the largest cruise vacation group in the
world, with a portfolio of cruise brands in North America, Europe and
Australia, comprised of Carnival Cruise Lines, Holland America Line, Princess
Cruises, Seabourn Cruise Line, Windstar Cruises, AIDA Cruises, Costa Cruises,
Cunard Line, Ocean Village, P&O Cruises, Swan Hellenic, and P&O Cruises
Australia.
Together, these brands operate 81 ships totaling approximately 144,000
lower berths with 15 new ships scheduled to enter service between March 2007
and spring 2010. Carnival Corporation & plc also operates the leading tour
companies in Alaska and the Canadian Yukon, Holland America Tours and Princess
Tours. Traded on both the New York and London Stock Exchanges, Carnival
Corporation & plc is the only group in the world to be included in both the
S&P 500 and the FTSE 100 indices.
Carnival Corporation & plc Reports Third Quarter Earnings
MIAMI, Sept. 21 -- Carnival Corporation & plc (NYSE/LSE: CCL; NYSE: CUK)
reported net income of $1.23 billion, or $1.49 diluted EPS, on revenues of
$3.91 billion for its third quarter ended August 31, 2006. Net income for
the third quarter of 2005 was $1.18 billion, or $1.40 diluted EPS, on
revenues of $3.61 billion.
Net income for the nine months ended August 31, 2006 was $1.86 billion, or
$2.25 diluted EPS, on revenues of $9.03 billion, compared to net income of
$1.92 billion, or $2.29 diluted EPS, on revenues of $8.52 billion for the same
period in 2005.
Third quarter 2006 revenues increased 8.3 percent, primarily driven by a
5.2 percent increase in capacity and an increase in revenue yields (revenue
per available lower berth day). Net revenue yields in current dollars for the
third quarter of 2006 increased 1.0 percent compared to the prior year. Net
revenue yields as measured on a local currency basis ("constant dollar
basis"), which the company believes better reflects underlying revenue
performance, were in line with the same period last year. Gross revenue yields
increased 2.1 percent.
Net cruise costs per available lower berth day ("ALBD") for the third
quarter of 2006 increased 4.8 percent compared to the same period last year.
On a constant dollar basis, net cruise costs per ALBD increased 3.8 percent
from the same period last year. The increase in costs per ALBD was primarily
due to a 29 percent increase in fuel prices. Excluding the increased fuel
prices, the company's 2006 third quarter net cruise costs per ALBD were in
line with last year on a constant dollar basis. Gross cruise costs per ALBD
increased 5.4 percent.
Carnival Corporation & plc Chairman and CEO Micky Arison said, "Despite
rising fuel costs and softness in Caribbean business, we still managed to grow
earnings by over six percent in a difficult environment. The successful
introduction of three new ships along with strong European and Alaska cruise
seasons helped us overcome $55 million in higher fuel costs and weakness in
Caribbean demand," he explained. "Both our European and North American brands
have enjoyed a very strong summer in Europe and the North American brands
operating in Alaska also performed very well during the quarter."
Forward Outlook
For the fourth quarter, advance booking levels are slightly behind last
year at this time on a capacity adjusted basis, with average pricing slightly
above last year in current dollars. As a result, the company expects that net
revenue yields for the fourth quarter of 2006 will increase slightly (flat to
down slightly in constant dollars) compared to last year's fourth quarter.
Net cruise costs per ALBD in the fourth quarter of 2006 are expected to be
flat to up slightly (flat to down slightly in constant dollars) compared to
2005. The company's cost guidance for fuel is based on recent forward prices
for the balance of the year which are in line with the average prices for the
fourth quarter of 2005.
Based on these estimates, the company expects diluted earnings per share
for the fourth quarter of 2006 to be in the range of $0.46 to $0.48. This
guidance is based on currency exchange rates of $1.27 to the euro and $1.87 to
sterling.
Arison also noted that for the full year the company is currently on track
to post earnings per share of $2.71 to $2.73. This is slightly higher than
last year despite significant challenges in 2006, not the least of which was a
$210 million or $0.25 per share increase in fuel costs.
Looking to early 2007, Arison said that overall booking levels on a
capacity adjusted basis, for the first quarter of 2007 are modestly down
compared to the same time last year. The sluggish demand for the Caribbean is
continuing into the first quarter of 2007 causing North American booking
levels to be behind last year, while business for the company's European
brands for that period is running ahead of last year's pace.
New Ship Delivery
During the third quarter, the company's Costa Cruises brand took delivery
of the new 3,000-passenger Costa Concordia, which launched seven-day
Mediterranean cruises from Civitavecchia (Rome) on July 23, 2006.
Also in the third quarter, the company launched its first Asian-based
cruise initiative, Costa Asia, with the newly refurbished Costa Allegra
operating five-day voyages from Shanghai, the People's Republic of China,
which began July 3, 2006.
Carnival has scheduled a conference call with analysts at 10 a.m. EDT
(15.00 London time) today to discuss its 2006 third quarter earnings. This
call can be listened to live, and additional information can be obtained, via
Carnival Corporation & plc's Web site at www.carnivalcorp.com and
www.carnivalplc.com.
Carnival Corporation & plc is the largest cruise vacation group in the
world, with a portfolio of cruise brands in North America, Europe and
Australia, comprised of Carnival Cruise Lines, Holland America Line, Princess
Cruises, Seabourn Cruise Line, Windstar Cruises, AIDA Cruises, Costa Cruises,
Cunard Line, Ocean Village, P&O Cruises, Swan Hellenic, and P&O Cruises
Australia.
Together, these brands operate 81 ships totaling approximately 144,000
lower berths with 15 new ships scheduled to enter service between March 2007
and spring 2010. Carnival Corporation & plc also operates the leading tour
companies in Alaska and the Canadian Yukon, Holland America Tours and Princess
Tours. Traded on both the New York and London Stock Exchanges, Carnival
Corporation & plc is the only group in the world to be included in both the
S&P 500 and the FTSE 100 indices.
Cautionary note concerning factors that may affect future results
Some of the statements contained in this earnings release are "forward-
looking statements" that involve risks, uncertainties and assumptions with
respect to Carnival Corporation & plc, including some statements concerning
future results, outlook, plans, goals and other events which have not yet
occurred. These statements are intended to qualify for the safe harbors from
liability provided by Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section
21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. You can find many, but not all,
of these statements by looking for words like "will," "may," "believes,"
"expects," "anticipates," "forecast," "future," "intends," "plans," and
"estimates" and for similar expressions. Because forward-looking statements
involve risks and uncertainties, there are many factors that could cause
Carnival Corporation & plc's actual results, performance or achievements to
differ materially from those expressed or implied in this earnings release.
Forward-looking statements include those statements which may impact the
forecasting of earnings per share, net revenue yields, booking levels,
pricing, occupancy, operating, financing and/or tax costs, fuel costs, costs
per available lower berth day, estimates of ship depreciable lives and
residual values, outlook or business prospects. These factors include, but are
not limited to, the following: risks associated with the DLC structure,
including the uncertainty of its tax status; general economic and business
conditions, which may impact levels of disposable income of consumers and
thereby impact the net revenue yields for cruise brands of Carnival
Corporation & plc; conditions in the cruise and land-based vacation
industries, including competition from other cruise ship operators and
providers of other vacation alternatives and increases in capacity offered by
cruise ship and land-based vacation alternatives; risks associated with
operating internationally; the international political and economic climate,
armed conflicts, terrorist attacks and threats thereof, availability of air
service, other world events and adverse publicity, and their impact on the
demand for cruises; accidents, unusual weather patterns or natural disasters,
such as hurricanes and earthquakes, and other incidents, (including machinery
and equipment failures or improper operation thereof), which could cause the
alteration of itineraries or cancellation of a cruise or series of cruises and
the impact of the spread of contagious diseases, affecting the health, safety,
security and vacation satisfaction of passengers; changing consumer
preferences, which may, among other things, adversely impact the demand for
cruises; the ability of Carnival Corporation & plc to implement its
shipbuilding programs and brand strategies and to continue to expand its
business worldwide; Carnival Corporation & plc's future operating cash flow
may not be sufficient to fund future obligations and Carnival Corporation &
plc may not be able to obtain financing, if necessary, on terms that are
favorable or consistent with Carnival Corporation & plc's expectations;
Carnival Corporation & plc's ability to attract and retain qualified shipboard
crew and maintain good relations with employee unions; the impact of changes
in operating and financing costs, including changes in foreign currency
exchange rates and interest rates and fuel, food, payroll, insurance and
security costs; the impact of pending or threatened litigation; changes in and
compliance with the environmental, health, safety, security, tax and other
regulatory regimes under which Carnival Corporation & plc operates, including
the implementation of U.S. regulations requiring U.S. citizens to obtain
passports for travel to or from additional foreign destinations; continued
availability of attractive port destinations; Carnival Corporation & plc's
ability to successfully implement cost reduction plans and the continuing
financial viability of Carnival Corporation & plc's travel agent distribution
system and air service providers. Forward-looking statements should not be
relied upon as a prediction of actual results. Subject to any continuing
obligations under applicable law or any relevant listing rules, Carnival
Corporation & plc expressly disclaims any obligation to disseminate, after the
date of this release, any updates or revisions to any such forward-looking
statements to reflect any change in expectations or events, conditions or
circumstances on which any such statements are based.
MEDIA CONTACTS INVESTOR RELATIONS CONTACT
US US/UK
Carnival Corporation & plc Carnival Corporation & plc
Tim Gallagher Beth Roberts
1 305 599 2600, ext. 16000 1 305 406 4832
UK
Brunswick Group
Richard Jaques /Ruban Yogarajah
44 (0) 20 7404 59592006
CARNIVAL CORPORATION & PLC
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
Three Months Ended Nine Months Ended
August 31, August 31,
2006 2005(1) 2006 2005(1)
(in millions, except per share data)
Revenues
Cruise
Passenger tickets $2,894 $2,700 $6,825 $ 6,446
Onboard and other 709 656 1,847 1,766
Other 302 251 357 309
----- ----- ----- -----
3,905 3,607 9,029 8,521
----- ----- ----- -----
Costs and Expenses
Operating
Cruise
Commissions,
transportation
and other 538 475 1,351 1,278
Onboard and other 128 118 326 311
Payroll and related 294 297(2) 854 844(2)
Fuel 243 189 707 491
Food 168 160 479 464
Other ship operating 398 359(3) 1,135 1,063(3)
Other 206 162 259 215
----- ----- ----- -----
Total 1,975 1,760 5,111 4,666
Selling and administrative 335 300 1,054 978
Depreciation and
amortization 255 226 727 672
----- ----- ----- -----
2,565 2,286 6,892 6,316
----- ----- ----- -----
Operating Income 1,340 1,321 2,137 2,205
----- ----- ----- -----
Nonoperating (Expense) Income
Interest income 5 10 17 19
Interest expense,
net of capitalized
interest (81) (82) (232) (250)
Other expense, net (1) (23)(4) (17)(5) (15)(4)(6)
(77) (95) (232) (246)
----- ----- ----- -----
Income Before Income
Taxes 1,263 1,226 1,905 1,959
Income Tax Expense, Net (31) (45) (42) (42)
----- ----- ----- -----
Net Income $1,232 $1,181 $1,863 $ 1,917
======= ======= ======= =======
Earnings Per Share
Basic $1.55 $1.46 $2.32 $2.38
======= ======= ======= =======
Diluted $1.49 $1.40 $2.25 $2.29
======= ======= ======= =======
Dividends Per Share $0.25 $0.20 $0.75 $0.55
======= ======= ======= =======
Weighted-Average
Shares Outstanding -
Basic 797 806 804 805
======= ======= ======= =======
Weighted-Average
Shares Outstanding -
Diluted 831 854 839 854
======= ======= ======= =======
(1) Reclassifications have been made to certain 2005 amounts to conform to
the current period presentation as a result of adopting a new chart of
accounts in connection with the initial implementation of a new
worldwide accounting system.
(2) Includes $23 million expense related to the British Merchant Navy
Officers Pension Fund contribution.
(3) Retrospectively adjusted for the change in the company's method of
accounting for dry-dock costs from the deferral method to the direct
expense method, which resulted in a $30 million and $13 million
decrease in other ship operating costs for the three and nine months
ended August 31, 2005, respectively.
(4) Includes a $22 million expense for a non-cruise investment write-down.
(5) Includes a $10 million expense for a non-cruise investment write-down
partially offset by a $4 million gain on sale of this investment, and
a $5 million expense for a litigation reserve.
(6) Includes a $7 million gain from the settlement of litigation.
CARNIVAL CORPORATION & PLC
SELECTED STATISTICAL AND SEGMENT INFORMATION
Three Months Ended Nine Months Ended
August 31, August 31,
2006 2005 (1) 2006 2005 (1)
(in millions, except statistical information)
STATISTICAL INFORMATION
Passengers carried
(in thousands) 2,012 1,953 5,237 5,260
Available lower
berth days(2) 12,937,155 12,297,220 37,116,575 35,595,494
Occupancy percentage 111.0% 110.9% 107.0%(3) 106.6%
Fuel cost per
metric ton $350 $271 $341 $239
SEGMENT INFORMATION
Revenues
Cruise $3,603 $3,356 $8,672 $8,212
Other 380 329 449 401
Intersegment
elimination (78) (78) (92) (92)
----- ----- ----- -----
$3,905 $3,607 $9,029 $8,521
======= ======= ======= =======
Operating expenses
Cruise $1,769 $1,598 $4,852 $4,451
Other 284 240 351 307
Intersegment elimination (78) (78) (92) (92)
----- ----- ----- -----
$1,975 $1,760 $5,111 $4,666
======= ======= ======= =======
Selling and administrative
expenses
Cruise $324 $289 $1,023 $943
Other 11 11 31 35
----- ----- ----- -----
$335 $300 $1,054 $978
======= ======= ======= =======
Depreciation and
amortization $246 $219 $702 $651
Cruise 9 7 25 21
----- ----- ----- -----
Other $255 $226 $727 $672
======= ======= ======= =======
Operating income
Cruise $1,264 $1,250 $2,095 $2,167
Other 76 71 42 38
----- ----- ----- -----
$1,340 $1,321 $2,137 $2,205
======= ======= ======= =======
(1) Reclassifications have been made to certain 2005 amounts to conform to
the current period presentation.
(2) Available lower berth days is the standard measure of capacity for the
period. It assumes that each cabin we offer for sale accommodates two
passengers. ALBDs are computed by multiplying passenger capacity by
revenue-producing ship operating days in the period.
(3) Occupancy percentage includes the three ships chartered to the
Military Sealift Command in connection with Hurricane Katrina relief
efforts at 100% occupancy.
CARNIVAL CORPORATION & PLC
NON-GAAP FINANCIAL MEASURES
Gross and net revenue yields were computed by dividing the gross or net
revenues, without rounding, by ALBDs as follows:
Three Months Ended Nine Months Ended
August 31, August 31,
2006 2005 (2) 2006 2005 (2)
(in millions, except ALBDs and yields)
Cruise revenues
Passenger tickets $2,894 $2,700 $6,825 $6,446
Onboard and other 709 656 1,847 1,766
----- ----- ----- -----
Gross cruise revenues 3,603 3,356 8,672 8,212
Less cruise costs
Commissions,
transportation
and other (538) (475) (1,351) (1,278)
Onboard and other (128) (118) (326) (311)
----- ----- ----- -----
Net cruise revenues(1) $2,937 $2,763 $6,995 $6,623
======= ======= ======= =======
ALBDs 12,937,155 12,297,220 37,116,575 35,595,494
========== ========== ========== ==========
Gross revenue yields(1) $278.50 $272.90 $233.64 $230.72
======= ======= ======= =======
Net revenue yields(1) $227.06 $224.72 $188.44 $186.07
======= ======= ======= =======
Gross and net cruise costs per ALBD were computed by dividing the gross or
net cruise costs, without rounding, by ALBDs as follows:
Three Months Ended Nine Months Ended
August 31, August 31,
2006 2005 (2) 2006 2005 (2)
(in millions, except ALBDs and costs per ALBD)
Cruise operating
expenses $1,769 $1,598 $4,852 $4,451
Cruise selling and
administrative expenses 324 289 1,023 943
----- ----- ----- -----
Gross cruise costs 2,093 1,887 5,875 5,394
Less cruise costs
included in net
cruise revenues
Commissions,
transportation
and other (538) (475) (1,351) (1,278)
Onboard and other (128) (118) (326) (311)
----- ----- ----- -----
Net cruise costs (1) $1,427 $1,294 $4,198 $3,805
======= ======= ======= =======
ALBDs 12,937,155 12,297,220 37,116,575 35,595,494
========== ========== ========== ==========
Gross cruise costs
per ALBD (1) $161.83 $153.49 $158.29 $151.54
======= ======= ======= =======
Net cruise costs
per ALBD (1) $110.38 $105.31 $113.09 $106.89
======= ======= ======= =======
NOTES TO NON-GAAP FINANCIAL MEASURES
(1) We use net cruise revenues per ALBD ("net revenue yields") and net
cruise costs per ALBD as significant non-GAAP financial measures of
our cruise segment financial performance. We believe that net revenue
yields are commonly used in the cruise industry to measure a company's
cruise segment revenue performance. This measure is also used for
revenue management purposes. In calculating net revenue yields, we
use "net cruise revenues" rather than "gross cruise revenues." We
believe that net cruise revenues is a more meaningful measure in
determining revenue yield than gross cruise revenues because it
reflects the cruise revenues earned by us net of our most significant
variable costs, which are travel agent commissions, cost of air
transportation and certain other variable direct costs associated with
onboard revenues. Substantially all of our remaining cruise costs are
largely fixed once our ship capacity levels have been determined,
except for the impact of changing prices.
Net cruise costs per ALBD is the most significant measure we use to
monitor our ability to control our cruise segment costs rather than
gross cruise costs per ALBD. In calculating net cruise costs, we
exclude the same variable costs that are included in the calculation
of net cruise revenues. This is done to avoid duplicating these
variable costs in these two non-GAAP financial measures.
We have not provided estimates of future gross revenue yields or
future gross cruise costs per ALBD because the reconciliations of
forecasted net cruise revenues to forecasted gross cruise revenues or
forecasted net cruise costs to forecasted cruise operating expenses
would require us to forecast, with reasonable accuracy, the amount of
air and other transportation costs that our forecasted cruise
passengers would elect to purchase from us (the "air/sea mix"). Since
the forecasting of future air/sea mix involves several significant
variables that are relatively difficult to forecast and the revenues
from the sale of air and other transportation approximate the costs of
providing that transportation, management focuses primarily on
forecasts of net cruise revenues and costs rather than gross cruise
revenues and costs. This does not impact, in any material respect,
our ability to forecast our future results, as any variation in the
air/sea mix has no material impact on our forecasted net cruise
revenues or forecasted net cruise costs. As such, management does not
believe that this reconciling information would be meaningful.
We also monitor these two non-GAAP financial measures assuming the
2006 currency exchange rates have remained constant with the 2005
comparable period rates, or on a "constant dollar basis," in order to
remove the impact of changes in exchange rates on our non-U.S. dollar
cruise operations. We believe that this is a useful measure indicating
the actual growth of our operations in a fluctuating rate environment.
On a constant dollar basis, net cruise revenues and net cruise costs
would be $2.90 billion and $1.41 billion for the three months ended
August 31, 2006, and $7.03 billion and $4.23 billion for the nine
months ended August 31, 2006, respectively. On a constant dollar
basis, gross cruise revenues and gross cruise costs would be $3.56
billion and $2.07 billion for the three months ended August 31, 2006
and $8.72 and $5.93 billion for the nine months ended August 31, 2006,
respectively. In addition, our non-U.S. cruise operations
depreciation and net interest expense were impacted by changes in
exchange rates for the three and nine months ended August 31, 2006,
compared to August 31, 2005.
(2) Reclassifications have been made to certain 2005 amounts to conform to
the current period presentation.
SOURCE Carnival plc
-0- 09/21/2006
/CONTACT: Media: US, Tim Gallagher, +1-305-599-2600, ext. 16000, or
Investor Relations: US & UK, Beth Roberts, +1-305-406-4832, both of Carnival
Corporation & plc; or UK, Richard Jaques or Ruban Yogarajah, both of Brunswick
Group, +44-0-20-7404-59592006, for Carnival Corporation & plc /
/Web site: http://www.carnivalcorp.com
http://www.carnivalplc.com /
(CCL CUK)
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