EX-99.2 3 d339987dex992.htm UNITED CONTINENTAL HOLDINGS, INC. INVESTOR UPDATE DATED APRIL 26, 2012 United Continental Holdings, Inc. Investor Update dated April 26, 2012

Exhibit 99.2

 

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Investor Update    Issue Date: April 26, 2012

This investor update provides forward-looking information about United Continental Holdings, Inc. (the “Company” or “UAL”) for second quarter and full year 2012.

Capacity

The Company estimates its second quarter 2012 consolidated system available seat miles (“ASMs”) to decrease between 0.3% and 1.3% as compared to the same period in the prior year. The Company estimates its second quarter 2012 consolidated domestic ASMs to decrease between 1.1% and 2.1% and consolidated international ASMs to be down 0.3% to up 0.7% year-over-year. For the full year, the Company estimates its consolidated system ASMs to decrease between 0.5% and 1.5% year-over-year.

Non-Fuel Expense Guidance

The Company expects second quarter consolidated cost per ASM (“CASM”), excluding profit sharing, third-party business expense, fuel, certain accounting charges and integration-related expenses, to increase 3.0% to 4.0% year-over-year. For the full year, the Company expects CASM, excluding profit sharing, third-party business expense, fuel, certain accounting charges and integration-related expenses, to increase 2.5% to 3.5% year-over-year.

In an effort to provide more meaningful disclosure, the Company provides non-fuel CASM guidance excluding third-party business expenses not associated with the generation of a seat mile. The Company’s third-party business includes activities such as maintenance, ground handling and catering services for third parties, fuel sales and non-air mileage redemptions. The Company expects to record approximately $70 million of third-party business expenses in the second quarter and $330 million for the full year. Corresponding third-party business revenue associated with these activities is recorded in other revenue.

Fuel Expense

The Company estimates its consolidated fuel price, including the impact of cash settled hedges, to be $3.44 per gallon for the second quarter and $3.40 for the full year based on the forward curve as of April 18, 2012.

Non-Operating Expense

The Company estimates second quarter non-operating expense to be between $190 million and $210 million. For the full year, the Company estimates non-operating expense to be between $735 million and $775 million. Non-operating expense includes interest expense, capitalized interest, interest income and other non-operating income/expense.

Profit Sharing and Share-Based Compensation

The Company pays 15% of total GAAP pre-tax earnings, excluding special items and share-based compensation program expense, as profit sharing to employees when pre-tax profit, excluding special items, profit sharing expense and share-based compensation program expense, exceeds $10 million. Share-based compensation expense for the purposes of the profit sharing calculation is estimated to be $20 million year-to-date through the second quarter of 2012 and $36 million for the full year.

Capital Expenditures and Scheduled Debt and Capital Lease Payments

In the second quarter, the Company expects approximately $510 million of gross capital expenditures and $290 million of net capital expenditures, excluding net purchase deposit refunds of $2 million. For the full year, excluding $57 million of net purchase deposit refunds, the Company expects approximately $2.35 billion of gross capital expenditures and $1.25 billion net capital expenditures.

The Company estimates scheduled debt and capital lease payments for the second quarter to be $0.2 billion. For the full year, the Company estimates scheduled debt and capital leases to be $1.3 billion.

Pension Expense and Contributions

The Company estimates that its pension expense will be approximately $160 million for 2012. This amount excludes non-cash settlement charges related to lump-sum distributions. The Company made $42 million of cash contributions to its tax-qualified defined benefit pension plans in April. The Company’s remaining minimum funding requirement is approximately $103 million for 2012.

Taxes

The Company currently expects to record minimal cash income taxes in 2012.

Advance Booked Seat Factor (Percentage of Available Seats that are Sold)

Compared to the same period last year, for the next six weeks, mainline domestic advance booked seat factor is up 3.5 points, mainline international advance booked seat factor is up 1.7 points, mainline Atlantic advance booked seat factor is up 0.1 points, mainline Pacific advance booked seat factor is up 2.9 points and mainline Latin America advance booked seat factor is up 2.6 points. Regional advance booked seat factor is up 4.3 points.

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Company Outlook

Second Quarter and Full Year 2012 Operational Outlook

 

     Estimated
2Q 2012
     Year-Over-Year  %
Change

Higher/(Lower)
    Estimated
FY 2012
     Year-Over-Year  %
Change

Higher/(Lower)
 

Capacity (Million ASMs)

                                

Mainline Capacity

                                

Domestic

     28,069         -         28,355         (1.7 %)      -         (0.7 %)                 

Atlantic

     12,474         -         12,605         (4.6 %)      -         (3.6 %)                 

Pacific

     10,014         -         10,109         5.1     -         6.1                

Latin America

     5,306         -         5,359         0.0     -         1.0                

Total Mainline Capacity

     55,864         -         56,428         (1.1 %)      -         (0.1 %)                 

Regional1

     8,302         -         8,387         (2.6 %)      -         (1.6 %)                 

Consolidated Capacity

                                

Domestic

     35,917         -         36,283         (2.1 %)      -         (1.1 %)      139,325         -         140,757         (2.7 %)      -         (1.7 %) 

International

     28,249         -         28,532         (0.3 %)      -         0.7     109,503         -         110,595         0.2     -         1.2

Total Consolidated Capacity

     64,166         -         64,815         (1.3 %)      -         (0.3 %)      248,828         -         251,352         (1.5 %)      -         (0.5 %) 

Traffic (Million RPMs)

                                

Mainline Traffic

                                

Domestic

                                

Atlantic

     Traffic guidance to be provided at a future date   

Pacific

  

Latin America

  

Total Mainline System Traffic

  

Regional System Traffic1

  

Consolidated System Traffic

                                

Domestic System

                                

International System

                                

Total Consolidated System Traffic

                                

Load Factor

                                

Mainline Load Factor

                                

Domestic

                                

Atlantic

     Load factor guidance to be provided at a future date   

Pacific

  

Latin America

  

Total Mainline Load Factor

  

Regional Load Factor1

  

Consolidated Load Factor

                                

Domestic

                                

International

                                

Total Consolidated Load Factor

                                

 

1. Regional results reflect flights operated under capacity purchase agreements and flights operated as part of our joint venture with Aer Lingus.

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Company Outlook

Second Quarter 2012 Financial Outlook

 

     Estimated
2Q 2012
     Year-Over-Year %
Change
Higher/(Lower)
    Estimated FY 2012      Year-Over-Year %
Change
Higher/(Lower)
 

Revenue (¢/ASM, except Cargo and Other Revenue)

                                

Mainline Passenger Unit Revenue

     Revenue guidance to be provided at a future date   

Regional Passenger Unit Revenue

  

Consolidated Passenger Unit Revenue

  

Cargo and Other Revenue ($B)

  

Operating Expense1 (¢/ASM)

                                

Mainline Unit Cost Excluding Profit Sharing & Third Party Business Expenses

     13.25         -         13.33         6.4     -         7.1     13.38         -         13.46         5.8     -         6.4

Regional Unit Cost

     20.09         -         20.25         2.5     -         3.3     20.07         -         20.22         3.2     -         4.0

Consolidated Unit Cost Excluding Profit Sharing & Third Party Business Expenses

     14.13         -         14.22         5.5     -         6.2     14.26         -         14.35         5.3     -         6.0

Non-Fuel Expense1 (¢/ASM)

                                

Mainline Unit Cost Excluding Profit Sharing, Fuel & Third Party Business Expenses

     8.12         -         8.20         2.7     -         3.7     8.29         -         8.37         2.1     -         3.1

Regional Unit Cost Excluding Fuel

     12.43         -         12.59         4.7     -         6.0     12.56         -         12.71         4.0     -         5.3

Consolidated Unit Cost Excluding Profit Sharing, Fuel & Third Party Business Expenses

     8.68         -         8.77         3.0     -         4.0     8.85         -         8.94         2.5     -         3.5

Third Party Business Expenses ($M)

     $70                $330           

Select Expense Measures ($M)

                                

Aircraft Rent

     $255                $1,010           

Depreciation and Amortization

     $380                $1,555           

Fuel Expense

                                

Mainline Fuel Consumption (Million Gallons)

     840                3,270           

Regional Fuel Consumption (Million Gallons)

     180                720           

Consolidated Fuel Consumption (Million Gallons)

     1,020                3,990           

Consolidated Fuel Price Excluding Hedges

     $3.40 / Gallon                $3.35 / Gallon           

Consolidated Fuel Price Including Cash Settled Hedges

     $3.44 / Gallon                $3.40 / Gallon           

Non-Operating Expense ($M)

     $190         -         $210                $735         -       $ 775           

Income Taxes

                                

Income Tax Rate

     0%                0%           

Capital Expenditures ($M)

                                

Gross Capital Expenditures ex Purchase Deposits

     $510                $2,350           

Net Capital Expenditures ex Purchase Deposits

     $290                $1,250           

Net Purchase Deposits Paid / (Refunded)

     ($2)                ($57)           

Debt and Capital Lease Obligations ($B)

                                

Scheduled Debt and Capital Lease Obligations

     $0.2                $1.3           

 

1. Excludes special charges.

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Company Outlook

Fuel Hedge Positions by Quarter

As of April 18, 2012, the Company had hedged approximately 36% of its expected second half of 2012 consolidated fuel consumption; further details are as follows:

 

          2Q 2012      3Q 2012      4Q 2012  
          % of Expected
Consumption
    Weighted
Average
Strike Price
     % of Expected
Consumption
    Weighted
Average
Strike Price
     % of Expected
Consumption
    Weighted
Average
Strike Price
 

Heating Oil Call Option

   ($/gal)      12     3.20         —             —       

Diesel Fuel Call Option

   ($/gal)      —                1     3.13         1     3.25   

Brent Crude Collar

   ($/bbl)      2     115         81         12     115         80         13     115         80   

Heating Oil Collar

   ($/gal)      23     3.08         2.46         11     3.25         2.52         13     3.68         2.75   

Aircraft Fuel Collar

   ($/gal)      —                2     3.00         2.35         —          

Diesel Fuel Collar

   ($/gal)      —                10     3.10         2.35         8     3.28         2.45   
     

 

 

         

 

 

         

 

 

      

Total

        37           36           35     
     

 

 

         

 

 

         

 

 

      

Fuel Price Sensitivity

The table below outlines the Company’s estimated settled hedge impacts at various crude oil prices, based on the hedge portfolio as of April 18, 2012:

 

Crude Oil Price*

  

Cash Settled Hedge Impact

   1Q12      2Q12     3Q12     4Q12     FY12  

$140 per Barrel

   Fuel Price Excluding Hedge** ($/gal)    $ 3.31       $ 4.29      $ 4.25      $ 4.22      $ 4.02   
   Increase/(Decrease) to Fuel Expense ($/gal)      0.03         (0.25     (0.26     (0.19   ($ 0.17

$130 per Barrel

   Fuel Price Excluding Hedge** ($/gal)    $ 3.31       $ 4.05      $ 4.02      $ 3.98      $ 3.84   
   Increase/(Decrease) to Fuel Expense ($/gal)      0.03         (0.16     (0.17     (0.10   ($ 0.10

$120 per Barrel

   Fuel Price Excluding Hedge** ($/gal)    $ 3.31       $ 3.81      $ 3.78      $ 3.74      $ 3.66   
   Increase/(Decrease) to Fuel Expense ($/gal)      0.03         (0.07     (0.09     (0.04   ($ 0.04

$110 per Barrel

   Fuel Price Excluding Hedge** ($/gal)    $ 3.31       $ 3.58      $ 3.54      $ 3.51      $ 3.48   
   Increase/(Decrease) to Fuel Expense ($/gal)      0.03         0.02        (0.00     0.01      $ 0.01   

$102.67 per Barrel

   Fuel Price Excluding Hedge** ($/gal)    $ 3.31       $ 3.40      $ 3.36      $ 3.33      $ 3.35   
   Increase/(Decrease) to Fuel Expense ($/gal)      0.03         0.04        0.04        0.06      $ 0.04   

$100 per Barrel

   Fuel Price Excluding Hedge** ($/gal)    $ 3.31       $ 3.34      $ 3.30      $ 3.27      $ 3.30   
   Increase/(Decrease) to Fuel Expense ($/gal)      0.03         0.06        0.04        0.03      $ 0.04   

$90 per Barrel

   Fuel Price Excluding Hedge** ($/gal)    $ 3.31       $ 3.10      $ 3.06      $ 3.03      $ 3.12   
   Increase/(Decrease) to Fuel Expense ($/gal)      0.03         0.06        0.04        0.03      $ 0.04   

$80 per Barrel

   Fuel Price Excluding Hedge** ($/gal)    $ 3.31       $ 2.86      $ 2.82      $ 2.79      $ 2.94   
   Increase/(Decrease) to Fuel Expense ($/gal)      0.03         0.06        0.04        0.05      $ 0.05   

$70 per Barrel

   Fuel Price Excluding Hedge** ($/gal)    $ 3.31       $ 2.62      $ 2.59      $ 2.55      $ 2.76   
   Increase/(Decrease) to Fuel Expense ($/gal)      0.03         0.10        0.07        0.10      $ 0.08   

$60 per Barrel

   Fuel Price Excluding Hedge** ($/gal)    $ 3.31       $ 2.38      $ 2.35      $ 2.32      $ 2.58   
   Increase/(Decrease) to Fuel Expense ($/gal)      0.03         0.16        0.16        0.18      $ 0.13   

 

* Projected impacts assume a common, parallel jet fuel refining crack spread consistent with April 18, 2012 forward prices and a parallel crude forward price curve consistent with April 18, 2012 forward prices. Row headings refer to illustrative spot closing prices on April 18, 2012.
** Fuel price per gallon excluding hedge impacts, but including taxes and transportation costs.

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Company Outlook

Fleet Plan

As of April 26, 2012, the Company’s mainline fleet plan is as follows:

 

     Mainline Aircraft in Scheduled Service  
     YE 2011      1Q D     2Q D     3Q D     4Q D     YE2012      FY D  

B747-400

     23         —          —          —          —          23         —     

B777-200

     74         —          —          —          —          74         —     

B787-8

     —           —          —          1        4        5         5   

B767-200/300/400

     59         —          (3     —          (2     54         (5

B757-200/300

     155         —          —          (1     (4     150         (5

B737-500/700/800/900

     238         (4     4        (3     2        237         (1

A319/A320

     152         —          —          —          —          152         —     
  

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total Mainline Aircraft

     701         (4     1        (3     —          695         (6

Share Count

These share count charts are based upon several assumptions including market stock price and number of shares outstanding. The number of shares used in the actual earnings per share calculation will likely be different from those set forth below.

 

     2Q 2012  
   (Estimated)  
     Basic Share Count      Diluted Share Count      Interest Add-back  

Net Income

   (in millions)      (in millions)      (in $ millions)  

Less than or equal to $0

     331         331       $ —     

$1 million—$36 million

     331         332         —     

$37 million—$62 million

     331         372         4   

$63 million—$111 million

     331         384         7   

$112 million—$229 million

     331         389         8   

$230 million or greater

     331         393         11   

 

     Full Year 2012  
   (Estimated)  
     Basic Share Count      Diluted Share Count      Interest Add-back  

Net Income

   (in millions)      (in millions)      (in $ millions)  

Less than or equal to $0

     331         331       $ —     

$1 million—$145 million

     331         332         —     

$146 million—$248 million

     331         372         17   

$249 million—$447 million

     331         384         26   

$448 million—$1,248 million

     331         389         32   

$1,249 million or greater

     331         393         46   

Non-GAAP to GAAP Reconciliations

Pursuant to SEC Regulation G, the Company has included the following reconciliation of reported non-GAAP financial measures to comparable financial measures reported on a GAAP basis. The Company believes that excluding fuel costs and certain other charges from some measures is useful to investors because it provides an additional measure of management’s performance excluding the effects of a significant cost item over which management has limited influence, and the effects of certain other charges that would otherwise make analysis of the Company’s operating performance more difficult.

 

     Estimated
2Q 2012
     Estimated
FY 2012
 
     Low      High      Low      High  

Mainline Unit Cost (¢/ASM)

           

Mainline CASM Excluding Profit Sharing

     13.38         13.46         13.55         13.63   

Special Charges (a)

     —           —           —           —     
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Mainline CASM Excluding Profit Sharing & Special Charges (b)

     13.38         13.46         13.55         13.63   

Less: Third-Party Business Expense

     0.13         0.13         0.17         0.17   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Mainline CASM Excluding Profit Sharing, Third-Party Business Expense & Special
Charges (b)

     13.25         13.33         13.38         13.46   

Less: Fuel Expense (c)

     5.13         5.13         5.09         5.09   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Mainline CASM Excluding Profit Sharing, Third-Party Business Expense, Fuel & Special Charges (b)

     8.12         8.20         8.29         8.37   
     Low      High      Low      High  

Regional Unit Cost (¢/ASM)

           

Regional CASM

     20.09         20.25         20.07         20.22   

Less: Fuel Expense

     7.66         7.66         7.51         7.51   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Regional CASM Excluding Fuel

     12.43         12.59         12.56         12.71   


LOGO

 

     Low      High      Low      High  

Consolidated Unit Cost (¢/ASM)

           

Consolidated CASM Excluding Profit Sharing

     14.24         14.33         14.41         14.50   

Special Charges (a)

     —           —           —           —     
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Consolidated CASM Excluding Profit Sharing & Special Charges (b)

     14.24         14.33         14.41         14.50   

Less: Third-Party Business Expense

     0.11         0.11         0.15         0.15   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Consolidated CASM Excluding Profit Sharing, Third-Party Business Expense & Special Charges (b)

     14.13         14.22         14.26         14.35   

Less: Fuel Expense (c)

     5.45         5.45         5.41         5.41   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Consolidated CASM Excluding Profit Sharing, Third Party Business Expense, Fuel & Special Charges (b)

     8.68         8.77         8.85         8.94   

 

(a) Operating expense per ASM – CASM excludes special charges, the impact of certain primarily non-cash impairment, severance and other similar accounting charges. While the Company anticipates that it will record such special charges throughout the year and may record profit sharing, at this time the Company is unable to provide an estimate of these charges with reasonable certainty.
(b) These financial measures provide management and investors the ability to measure and monitor the Company’s performance on a consistent basis.
(c) Both the cost and availability of fuel are subject to many economic and political factors and are therefore beyond the Company’s control.

Safe Harbor Statement under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995:

Certain statements included in this investor update are forward-looking and thus reflect our current expectations and beliefs with respect to certain current and future events and financial performance. Such forward-looking statements are and will be subject to many risks and uncertainties relating to our operations and business environment that may cause actual results to differ materially from any future results expressed or implied in such forward-looking statements. Words such as “expects,” “will,” “plans,” “anticipates,” “indicates,” “believes,” “forecast,” “guidance,” “outlook” and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. Additionally, forward-looking statements include statements which do not relate solely to historical facts, such as statements which identify uncertainties or trends, discuss the possible future effects of current known trends or uncertainties, or which indicate that the future effects of known trends or uncertainties cannot be predicted, guaranteed or assured. All forward-looking statements in this investor update are based upon information available to us on the date of this investor update. We undertake no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events, changed circumstances or otherwise, except as required by applicable law. Our actual results could differ materially from these forward-looking statements due to numerous factors including, without limitation, the following: our ability to comply with the terms of our various financing arrangements; the costs and availability of financing; our ability to maintain adequate liquidity; our ability to execute our operational plans; our ability to control our costs, including realizing benefits from our resource optimization efforts, cost reduction initiatives and fleet replacement programs; our ability to utilize our net operating losses; our ability to attract and retain customers; demand for transportation in the markets in which we operate; an outbreak of a disease that affects travel demand or travel behavior; demand for travel and the impact that global economic conditions have on customer travel patterns; excessive taxation and the inability to offset future taxable income; general economic conditions (including interest rates, foreign currency exchange rates, investment or credit market conditions, crude oil prices, costs of aviation fuel and energy refining capacity in relevant markets); our ability to cost-effectively hedge against increases in the price of aviation fuel; any potential realized or unrealized gains or losses related to fuel or currency hedging programs; the effects of any hostilities, act of war or terrorist attack; the ability of other air carriers with whom we have alliances or partnerships to provide the services contemplated by the respective arrangements with such carriers; the costs and availability of aviation and other insurance; the costs associated with security measures and practices; industry consolidation or changes in airline alliances; competitive pressures on pricing and on demand; our capacity decisions and the capacity decisions of our competitors; U.S. or foreign governmental legislation, regulation and other actions (including open skies agreements and environmental regulations); labor costs; our ability to maintain satisfactory labor relations and the results of the collective bargaining agreement process with our union groups; any disruptions to operations due to any potential actions by our labor groups; weather conditions; the possibility that expected merger synergies will not be realized or will not be realized within the expected time period; and other risks and uncertainties set forth under Item 1A., Risk Factors of our Annual Report on Form 10-K, as well as other risks and uncertainties set forth from time to time in the reports we file with the SEC. Consequently, forward-looking statements should not be regarded as representations or warranties by us that such matters will be realized.

For further questions, contact Investor Relations at (312) 997-8610 or investorrelations@united.com