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Dollar Thrifty Automotive Group Reports Third Quarter Results and 2010 Outlook

TULSA, Okla., Oct. 26 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Dollar Thrifty Automotive Group, Inc. (NYSE: DTG) today reported results for the third quarter ended September 30, 2009. Net income for the 2009 third quarter was $30.1 million, or $1.29 per diluted share, compared to net income of $18.9 million, or $0.87 per diluted share, for the comparable 2008 quarter. The net income for the third quarter of 2009 included income of $0.15 per diluted share, compared to a loss of $0.02 per diluted share in last year's third quarter, both of which related to changes in fair value of derivatives.

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Non-GAAP net income for the 2009 third quarter was $26.8 million, or $1.15 per diluted share, compared to non-GAAP net income of $19.3 million, or $0.89 per diluted share for the 2008 third quarter. Non-GAAP net income (loss) excludes the (increase) decrease in fair value of derivatives, net of related tax impact. Corporate Adjusted EBITDA for the third quarter of 2009 was $54.7 million, compared to $43.4 million in the third quarter of 2008. Reconciliations of non-GAAP to GAAP results are included in Tables 3 and 4.

"In spite of the difficult economic environment, we achieved our third consecutive quarter of year-over-year improvement in both non-GAAP net income (loss) and Corporate Adjusted EBITDA," said Scott L. Thompson, Chief Executive Officer and President. "The difficult steps we have taken over the past twelve months to maximize profitability and cashflow, combined with improvements in residual values, positively impacted this quarter. We expect both of these factors will continue to benefit future operating results."

For the quarter ended September 30, 2009, the Company's total revenue was $438.9 million, as compared to $500.6 million for the comparable 2008 period. The decline in revenue was primarily driven by a 21.3 percent decrease in rental days, partially offset by an 11.5 percent improvement in revenue per day. Excluding the impact of location closures, rental days were down approximately 17 percent on a same store basis. The third quarter average fleet was down approximately 20 percent compared to last year's third quarter.

"Revenue for the quarter was in line with our expectations and consistent with our strategy of enhancing profitability by maintaining an optimal balance between transaction volume and pricing," said Thompson. "During the month of September, we experienced rental revenue declines of only 3% compared to September 2008, and we currently expect year-over-year rental revenue growth for the month of October as increases in RPD are expected to fully offset volume declines, making October the first month since May of 2008 that the Company would experience year-over-year growth in rental revenue. These trends, augmented by our visibility into forward reservations, indicate to us that we may have seen the worst of the rental revenue declines for this business cycle."

Per vehicle depreciation cost of $315 per month in the third quarter of 2009 was approximately 3 percent lower than the comparable quarter of 2008. On a sequential basis, per vehicle depreciation costs declined approximately 14 percent as a result of improved residual values, longer hold periods, mix optimization and more effective remarketing. Vehicle utilization, a measure of fleet efficiency, was 84.2 percent, down 100 basis points from last year's third quarter. On a sequential basis, utilization was up 360 basis points from 80.6 percent in the second quarter of 2009.

Direct vehicle and operating expenses and selling, general and administrative expenses were lower in the third quarter of 2009 compared to the same quarter in 2008 as a result of transaction declines and cost reduction initiatives. Interest expense for the third quarter of 2009 declined as debt was reduced by $873 million, or approximately 33 percent, from September 2008 levels.

Nine Month Results

For the nine months ended September 30, 2009, net income was $33.6 million, or $1.47 per diluted share, compared to a net loss of $268.2 million, or $12.57 loss per diluted share for the comparable period in 2008. The net income for the nine months ended September 30, 2009 included income of $0.53 per diluted share related to an increase in fair value of derivatives, compared to a loss of $0.06 per diluted share for the nine months ended September 30, 2008, related to a decrease in fair value of derivatives. In addition, the net loss for the nine months ended September 30, 2008 included non-cash charges of $12.42 per diluted share related to the impairment of goodwill and long-lived assets.

Non-GAAP income per diluted share for the nine months ended September 30, 2009 was $0.96, compared to a non-GAAP loss per diluted share of $0.09 for the same period in 2008. Non-GAAP net income (loss) excludes the (increase) decrease in fair value of derivatives and the non-cash charges related to the impairment of goodwill and long-lived assets, net of related tax impact. A reconciliation of non-GAAP to GAAP results is included in Table 3.

Liquidity and Capital Resources

As of September 30, 2009, the Company had $306 million in cash and cash equivalents and an additional $562 million in restricted cash and investments primarily available for the purchase of vehicles and/or repayment of vehicle financing obligations. The Company's tangible net worth at the end of the third quarter of 2009 was $237.3 million, and the Company is in full compliance with all of the financial covenants under its various financing arrangements with lenders.

Outlook

The Company expects low single-digit declines in rental revenue during the fourth quarter of 2009, in line with the Company's previously announced guidance for an annual decline in rental revenue of 8 to 10 percent for 2009 compared to 2008. The Company also expects to realize year-over-year improvements in rate per day and vehicle depreciation costs per unit per month during the fourth quarter of 2009. The Company's operating results in the fourth quarter 2009 are expected to be significantly improved from the same period last year.

The Company expects the operating environment in 2010 to improve slightly as conditions in the overall economy and credit markets continue to recover. The Company expects to realize single-digit growth in rental revenues in 2010, and believes fleet costs will be below $350 per unit per month throughout 2010.

Web cast and conference call information

The Dollar Thrifty Automotive Group, Inc. third quarter 2009 earnings conference call will be held on Tuesday, October 27, 2009, at 8:00 a.m. (CDT). Those interested in listening to the conference call live may access the call via Web cast at the corporate Web site, www.dtag.com, or by dialing 888-946-7608 (domestic) or 630-395-0278 (international) using the pass code "Dollar Thrifty." An audio replay of the conference call will be available through November 10, 2009, by calling 866-363-4001 (domestic) or 203-369-0204 (international). The replay will also be available via the corporate Web site for one year.

About Dollar Thrifty Automotive Group, Inc.

Dollar Thrifty Automotive Group, Inc. is headquartered in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Driven by the mission "Value Every Time," the Company's brands, Dollar Rent A Car and Thrifty Car Rental, serve value-conscious travelers in over 70 countries. Dollar and Thrifty have over 600 corporate and franchised locations in the United States and Canada, operating in virtually all of the top U.S. and Canadian airport markets. The Company's approximately 6,400 employees are located mainly in North America, but global service capabilities exist through an expanding international franchise network. For additional information, visit www.dtag.com or the brand sites at www.dollar.com and www.thrifty.com.

This press release contains "forward-looking statements" about our expectations, plans and performance. These statements use such words as "may," "will," "expect," "believe," "intend," "should," "could," "anticipate," "estimate," "forecast," "project," "plan" and similar expressions. These statements do not guarantee future performance and Dollar Thrifty Automotive Group, Inc. assumes no obligation to update them. Risks and uncertainties that could materially affect future results include:

    --  the impact of persistent pricing and demand pressures, particularly in
        light of the continuing volatility in the global financial markets,
        constrained credit markets and concerns about global economic prospects,
        which have continued to depress consumer confidence and spending levels
        and could affect the ability of our customers to meet their payment
        obligations to us;
    --  whether ongoing governmental and regulatory initiatives in the United
        States and elsewhere to stimulate economic growth will be successful;
    --  the effectiveness of other actions we take to manage costs and liquidity
        and whether further reductions in the scope of our operations will be
        necessary;
    --  our ability to obtain cost-effective financing as needed (including
        replacement of asset backed medium term notes and other indebtedness as
        it comes due) without unduly restricting operational flexibility,
        particularly if global economic conditions and credit markets fail to
        improve;
    --  our ability to comply with financial covenants or to obtain necessary
        amendments or waivers, and the impact of the terms of any required
        amendments or waivers, such as potential reductions in lender
        commitments;
    --  whether efforts to revitalize the U.S. automotive industry are
        successful, particularly in light of our dependence on vehicle supply
        from U.S. automotive manufacturers;
    --  the impact of pricing and other actions by competitors;
    --  our ability to manage the consequences under our financing agreements of
        an event of bankruptcy with respect to any of the monoline insurers that
        provide credit support for our asset backed financing structures;
    --  the cost and other terms of acquiring and disposing of automobiles and
        the impact of conditions in the used car market on our ability to reduce
        our fleet capacity as and when projected by our plans;
    --  the potential for significant cash tax payments in 2009 and 2010 as a
        result of the reduction in our fleet size and the resulting impact of
        our inability to defer gains on the disposition of our vehicles under
        our like-kind exchange program;
    --  our ability to manage our fleet mix to match demand and reduce vehicle
        depreciation costs, particularly in light of the significant increase in
        the level of Non-Program Vehicles (i.e., those vehicles not acquired
        through a guaranteed residual value program) in our fleet and our
        exposure to the used car market;
    --  the impact of our strategy to increase holding periods for vehicles in
        our fleet, including potential adverse customer perceptions of the
        quality of our fleet and increased servicing costs;
    --  airline travel patterns, including disruptions or reductions in air
        travel resulting from airline bankruptcies, industry consolidation,
        capacity reductions and pricing actions;
    --  local market conditions where we and our franchisees do business,
        including whether franchisees will continue to have access to capital as
        needed;
    --  volatility in gasoline prices;
    --  access to reservation distribution channels;
    --  disruptions in the operation or development of information and
        communication systems that we rely on, including those relating to
        methods of payment;
    --  the cost of regulatory compliance and the outcome of pending litigation;
        and

    --  the impact of natural catastrophes and terrorism.

Forward-looking statements should be considered in light of information in this press release and other filings we make with the Securities and Exchange Commission.


                                                                  Table 1


                     Dollar Thrifty Automotive Group, Inc.
                     Consolidated Statement of Operations
                     ------------------------------------

                (In thousands, except share and per share data)
                                   Unaudited

                                     Three months ended       As % of
                                       September 30,       Total revenues
                                    2009           2008     2009    2008
                                    ----           ----     ----    ----
    Revenues:
      Vehicle rentals             $418,665    $477,085      95.4%   95.3%
      Other                         20,227      23,563       4.6%    4.7%
                                    ------      ------       ---     ---
           Total revenues          438,892     500,648     100.0%  100.0%
                                   -------     -------     -----   -----

    Costs and Expenses:
      Direct vehicle
       and operating               213,412     249,147      48.6%   49.8%
      Vehicle depreciation and
       lease charges, net          102,968     137,438      23.5%   27.5%
      Selling, general
       and administrative           54,746      51,598      12.5%   10.3%
      Interest expense, net         24,554      31,033       5.6%    6.1%
      Goodwill and long-
       lived asset impairment          383           -       0.1%      -
                                       ---         ---       ---     ---
           Total costs
            and expenses           396,063     469,216      90.3%   93.7%
                                   -------     -------      ----    ----

    (Increase) decrease in
     fair value of derivatives      (5,569)        689      (1.3%)   0.2%
                                    ------         ---      ----     ---

    Income before
     income taxes                   48,398      30,743      11.0%    6.1%

    Income tax expense              18,304      11,810       4.1%    2.3%

                                   -------     -------       ---     ---
    Net income                     $30,094     $18,933       6.9%    3.8%
                                   =======     =======       ===     ===

    Earnings per share:
      Basic                          $1.38       $0.88
      Diluted                        $1.29       $0.87

    Weighted average number
     of shares outstanding:
      Basic                     21,729,092  21,443,418
      Diluted                   23,255,110  21,789,272


                                    Nine months ended         As % of
                                      September 30,        Total revenues
                                   2009           2008      2009    2008
                                   ----           ----      ----    ----
    Revenues:
      Vehicle rentals           $1,143,172  $1,279,422      95.2%   95.3%
      Other                         57,755      63,462       4.8%    4.7%
                                    ------      ------       ---     ---
           Total revenues        1,200,927   1,342,884     100.0%  100.0%
                                 ---------   ---------     -----   -----

    Costs and Expenses:
      Direct vehicle
       and operating               590,102     688,744      49.1%   51.3%
      Vehicle depreciation and
       lease charges, net          345,206     406,667      28.7%   30.3%
      Selling, general
       and administrative          153,751     160,281      12.8%   11.9%
      Interest expense, net         73,630      82,891       6.2%    6.2%
      Goodwill and long-
       lived asset impairment          644     350,144       0.1%   26.1%
                                       ---     -------       ---    ----
           Total costs
            and expenses         1,163,333   1,688,727      96.9%  125.8%
                                 ---------   ---------      ----   -----

    (Increase) decrease in
     fair value of derivatives     (20,023)      2,043     (1.7%)   0.1%
                                   -------       -----      ----     ---

    Income (loss)
     before income
     taxes                          57,617    (347,886)      4.8%  (25.9%)

    Income tax
     expense
     (benefit)                      24,059     (79,642)      2.0%   (5.9%)

                                   -------   ---------       ---   -----
    Net income (loss)              $33,558   $(268,244)      2.8%  (20.0%)
                                   =======   =========       ===   =====

    Earnings (loss) per
     share: (a) (b)
      Basic                          $1.55     $(12.57)
      Diluted                        $1.47     $(12.57)

    Weighted average number
     of shares
      outstanding: (a)
      Basic                     21,592,137  21,344,105
      Diluted                   22,751,590  21,344,105


    (a)  Because the Company incurred a loss from continuing operations
         during the nine months ended September 30, 2008, outstanding
         stock options, performance awards and employee and director
         compensation shares deferred are anti-dilutive.  Accordingly,
         basic and diluted weighted average shares outstanding are equal
         for such period.

    (b)  The underlying diluted per share information is calculated from
         the weighted average common and common stock equivalents
         outstanding during each quarter, which may fluctuate based on
         quarterly income levels and market prices.  Therefore, the sum of
         the quarters' per share information may not equal the
         year-to-date amounts.



                                                                  Table 2

                 Dollar Thrifty Automotive Group, Inc.
                 Selected Operating and Financial Data
                 -------------------------------------

                                            Three months    Nine months
                                                ended           ended
                                            September 30,   September 30,
                                                 2009           2009
                                                 ----           ----

    OPERATING DATA:

    Vehicle Rental Data:

      Average number of vehicles operated       106,245        105,186
        % change from prior year                 (20.4%)        (15.6%)
      Number of rental days                   8,231,903     23,633,380
         % change from prior year                (21.3%)        (18.3%)
      Vehicle utilization                         84.2%          82.3%
         Percentage points change from
          prior year                               (1.0) p.p.     (2.4) p.p.
      Average revenue per day                    $50.86         $48.37
         % change from prior year                 11.5%           9.4%
      Monthly average revenue per vehicle        $1,314         $1,208
         % change from prior year                 10.2%           5.9%

      Average depreciable fleet                 109,105        107,615
         % change from prior year                (22.8%)        (16.3%)
      Monthly average depreciation (net)
       per vehicle                                 $315           $356
         % change from prior year                 (2.8%)          1.4%



    FINANCIAL DATA: (in millions) (unaudited)

      Non-vehicle depreciation and amortization      $7            $21
      Non-vehicle interest expense                    3             10
      Non-vehicle interest income                    (1)            (2)
      Non-vehicle capital expenditures                3              7
      Cash paid for income taxes                      8             18



                          Selected Balance Sheet Data
                          ---------------------------
                                 (In millions)

                                                    September      December
                                                        30,           31,
                                                    2009   2008      2008
                                                    ----   ----      ----
                                                   (unaudited)

      Cash and cash equivalents (c)                 $306   $209       $230
      Restricted cash and investments                562    252        597
      Revenue-earning vehicles, net                1,363  2,623      1,946

      Vehicle debt                                 1,602  2,445      2,310
      Non-vehicle debt (corporate debt)              158    188        178
      Stockholders' equity                           263    309        215


                     Adjusted Tangible Net Worth Calculation
                     ---------------------------------------
                                  (In millions)

                                                     September     December
                                                        30,           31,
                                                    2009   2008      2008
                                                    ----   ----      ----
                                                   (unaudited)

      Stockholders' equity                          $263   $309       $215
      Less:  Intangible assets, net                  (26)   (36)       (30)
      Plus:  Accumulated other comprehensive loss     21      6         29
                                                     ---    ---        ---
      Adjusted tangible net worth                   $258   $279       $214
                                                    ====   ====       ====


    (c)  Under the terms of an amendment to the Senior Secured Credit
         Facilities, the Company is required to maintain a minimum cash
         balance of $100 million at all times, such minimum balance is
         included in cash and cash equivalents herein.



                                                                    Table 3

                 Dollar Thrifty Automotive Group, Inc.
                           Non-GAAP Measures
                           -----------------



    Non-GAAP pretax income (loss), Non-GAAP net income (loss) and Non-GAAP
    EPS exclude the impact of the (increase) decrease in fair value of
    derivatives and the impact of goodwill and long-lived asset
    impairments, net of related tax impact (as applicable), from the
    reported GAAP measure. Due to volatility resulting from the
    mark-to-market treatment of the derivatives and the nature of the
    non-cash impairments, the Company believes non-GAAP measures provide an
    important assessment of year over year operating results.  See table
    below for a reconciliation of non-GAAP to GAAP results.

    The following table reconciles reported GAAP pretax income (loss) per
    the income statement to non-GAAP pretax income (loss):

                                          Three months       Nine months
                                             ended              ended
                                          September 30,      September 30,
                                          2009     2008    2009       2008
                                          ----     ----    ----       ----
                                          (in thousands)    (in thousands)

    Income (loss) before income taxes
     - as reported                        $48,398  $30,743 $57,617  $(347,886)

    (Increase) decrease in fair value of
     derivatives                          (5,569)     689 (20,023)     2,043

    Goodwill and long-lived asset
     impairment                              383        -     644    350,144

                                         -------  ------- -------     ------
    Pretax income (loss) - non-GAAP      $43,212  $31,432 $38,238     $4,301
                                         =======  ======= =======     ======


    The following table reconciles reported GAAP net income (loss) per the
     income statement to non-GAAP net income (loss):



                                            Three months       Nine months
                                               ended              ended
                                            September 30,      September 30,
                                            2009     2008    2009       2008
                                            ----     ----    ----       ----
                                          (in thousands)    (in thousands)

    Net income (loss) - as reported      $30,094  $18,933 $33,558  $(268,244)

    (Increase) decrease in fair value of
     derivatives, net of tax              (3,467)     405 (11,967)     1,201

    Goodwill and long-lived asset
     impairment, net of tax                  174        -     288    265,183

                                         -------  ------- -------    -------
    Net income (loss) - non-GAAP         $26,801  $19,338 $21,879    $(1,860)
                                         =======  ======= =======    =======


    The following table reconciles reported GAAP diluted earnings (loss) per
     share ("EPS") to non-GAAP diluted EPS:



                                            Three months       Nine months
                                               ended              ended
                                            September 30,      September 30,
                                            2009     2008    2009       2008
                                            ----     ----    ----       ----

    EPS, diluted - as reported             $1.29    $0.87    $1.47    $(12.57)

    EPS impact of (increase) decrease
     in fair value of derivatives,
     net of tax                            (0.15)    0.02    (0.53)      0.06

    EPS impact of goodwill and
     long-lived asset impairment,
     net of tax                             0.01        -     0.01      12.42

                                           -----    -----    -----     ------
    EPS, diluted - non-GAAP (d)            $1.15    $0.89    $0.96     $(0.09)
                                           =====    =====    =====     ======


    (d)  Since each category of earnings per share is computed independently
     for each period, total per share amounts may not equal the sum of the
     respective categories.



                                                                 Table 4

                    Dollar Thrifty Automotive Group, Inc.
                              Non-GAAP Measures
                              -----------------


    Corporate Adjusted EBITDA means earnings, excluding the impact of the
    (increase) decrease in fair value of derivatives, before non-vehicle
    interest expense, income taxes, non-vehicle depreciation,
    amortization, and certain other items as recapped below.  The Company
    believes Corporate Adjusted EBITDA is important as it provides
    investors with a supplemental measure of the Company's liquidity by
    adjusting earnings to exclude certain non-cash items. The Company has
    revised its calculation of Corporate Adjusted EBITDA for all periods
    presented to be consistent.  EBITDA is not defined under GAAP and
    should not be considered as an alternative measure of the Company's
    net income, operating performance, cash flow or liquidity.  Corporate
    Adjusted EBITDA amounts presented may not be comparable to similar
    measures disclosed by other companies.



                                  Three months ended    Nine months ended
                                     September 30,        September 30,
                                   2009       2008       2009       2008
                                   ----       ----       ----       ----
                                    (in thousands)        (in thousands)
    Reconciliation of Net
     Income (Loss) to
    Corporate Adjusted EBITDA
    -------------------------

    Net income (loss) - as
     reported                   $30,094    $18,933    $33,558  $(268,244)

    (Increase) decrease in
     fair value of derivatives   (5,569)       689    (20,023)     2,043
    Non-vehicle interest
     expense                      2,734      3,578     10,153     12,345
    Income tax expense
     (benefit)                   18,304     11,810     24,059    (79,642)
    Non-vehicle depreciation      4,887      5,547     15,058     16,506
    Amortization                  2,135      2,185      6,155      5,344
    Non-cash stock incentives     1,712        513      3,618      2,354
    Goodwill and long-
     lived asset impairment         383          -        644    350,144
    Other                             3        158         (5)       280

                                -------    -------    -------    -------
    Corporate Adjusted EBITDA   $54,683    $43,413    $73,217    $41,130
                                =======    =======    =======    =======





    Reconciliation of
     Corporate Adjusted
     EBITDA
    to Cash Flows From
     Operating Activities
    ---------------------

    Corporate Adjusted EBITDA   $54,683    $43,413    $73,217    $41,130

    Vehicle depreciation,
     net of gains/losses
     from disposal              102,935    137,195    344,743    405,705
    Non-vehicle interest
     expense                     (2,734)    (3,578)   (10,153)   (12,345)
    Change in assets and
     liabilities, net of
     acquisitions, and other     (9,975)   (18,535)   131,469     64,050
                                 ------    -------    -------     ------
         Net cash provided by
          operating activities $144,909   $158,495   $539,276   $498,540
                               ========   ========   ========   ========

    Memo:
    Net cash provided by (used
     in) investing activities   $(19,880) $(165,831)  $169,107  $(358,124)
    Net cash provided by (used
     in) financing activities  $(81,551)  $136,215  $(732,033)  $(32,239)

SOURCE Dollar Thrifty Automotive Group, Inc.

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