Hilton Grand Vacations Reports Third Quarter 2019 Results

Hilton Grand Vacations Inc. (NYSE:HGV) (“HGV” or “the Company”) today reports its third quarter 2019 results. Highlights include:

KEY HIGHLIGHTS

Third Quarter 2019 Results1

• Total revenues for the third quarter were $466 million compared to $427 million for the same period in 2018.
  • Total revenues were affected by a deferral of $15 million in the current period and a deferral of $45 million in the same period in 2018.
• Net income for the third quarter was $50 million compared to $41 million for the same period in 2018.
  • Net income was affected by a net deferral of $8 million in the current period and a net deferral of $25 million in the same period in 2018.
• Diluted EPS for the third quarter was $0.59 compared to $0.42 for the same period in 2018.
  • Diluted EPS was affected by a net deferral of $8 million or $0.09 per share in the current period and a net deferral of $25 million or $0.26 per share in the same period in 2018.
• Adjusted EBITDA for the third quarter was $111 million compared to $80 million for the same period in 2018.
  • Adjusted EBITDA was affected by a net deferral of $8 million in the current period and a net deferral of $25 million in the same period in 2018.
• Tours were up 8.5% compared to the same period in 2018.
• Contract sales in the third quarter were $360 million, a decrease of 1.1% from the same period in 2018.
• Net Owner Growth (NOG) for the 12 months ended Sept. 30, 2019, was 5.6%

“We saw strong Adjusted EBITDA growth and healthy NOG this quarter, driven by record owner engagement,” said Mark Wang, president and CEO of Hilton Grand Vacations. “We are starting to realize the benefits of the operational and cost improvements that we announced last quarter. Overall, I am encouraged by our progress and believe we are well positioned for growth as we exit this year and prepare for the launch of our highly anticipated new inventory beginning in 2020.”

Full Year 2019 Outlook1

• Net income is now projected to be between $175 million and $190 million, reflecting restructuring costs, a slightly higher net deferral, and a slightly higher tax rate.
  • Net income is now expected to be affected by a net deferral of $39 million.
• Diluted EPS is now projected to be between $1.97 and $2.13.
  • Diluted EPS is now expected to be affected by a net deferral of $39 million or $0.44 per share.
• Adjusted EBITDA is now projected to be between $376 million and $396 million.
  • Adjusted EBITDA is now expected to be affected by a net deferral of $39 million.
  • Given our third quarter results, we now expect to be at the high end of this range.
• Full-year 2019 contract sales are expected to be flat to down 3.0%.
  • Given our third quarter results, we now expect to be at the high end of this range.
• Adjusted free cash flow is projected to be between $50 million and $110 million.
• The 2019 outlook does not reflect any additional share repurchases.

Overview

For the quarter ended Sept. 30, 2019, diluted EPS was $0.59 compared to $0.42 for the quarter ended Sept. 30, 2018. Net income and Adjusted EBITDA were $50 million and $111 million respectively, for the quarter ended Sept. 30, 2019, compared to $41 million and $80 million, respectively, for the quarter ended Sept. 30, 2018. Total revenues for the quarter ended Sept. 30, 2019, were $466 million compared to $427 million for the quarter ended Sept. 30, 2018.

Net income and Adjusted EBITDA for the quarter ended Sept. 30, 2019, include a net deferral of $8 million relating to sales made at The Central at 5th by Hilton Club project, which was under construction during the period. The company anticipates recognizing these revenues and related expenses in the second quarter of 2020 when it expects to complete this project.

Net income and Adjusted EBITDA for the quarter ended Sept. 30, 2018, include a net deferral of $25 million relating to sales made at the Ocean Tower by Hilton Grand Vacations Club project, which was still under construction during the period. The revenues net of related expenses for the Ocean Tower project were subsequently recognized in the fourth quarter of 2018.

Segment Highlights – Third Quarter 2019

Real Estate Sales and Financing

For the quarter ended Sept. 30, 2019, Real Estate Sales and Financing segment revenues were $324 million, an increase of 11.3% compared to the quarter ended Sept. 30, 2018. Real Estate Sales and Financing segment Adjusted EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA margin as a percentage of Real Estate Sales and Financing segment revenues was $94 million and 29.0%, respectively, for the quarter ended Sept. 30, 2019, compared to $67 million and 23.0% respectively, for the quarter ended Sept. 30, 2018. Real Estate Sales and Financing results in third quarter 2019 improved due to growth in financing and lower construction-related deferrals versus the prior year, offsetting a modest decline in contract sales and lower revenue from the Company’s fee-for-service contracts.

Real Estate Sales and Financing segment Adjusted EBITDA reflect the $8 million of net deferrals related to The Central at 5th project for the quarter ended Sept. 30, 2019, and $25 million of net deferrals related to the Ocean Tower project for the quarter ended Sept. 30, 2018, as previously discussed.

Contract sales for the quarter ended Sept. 30, 2019, decreased 1.1% to $360 million compared to the quarter ended Sept. 30, 2018. For the quarter ended Sept. 30, 2019, tours increased 8.5% and VPG decreased 7.8% compared to the quarter ended Sept. 30, 2018. For the quarter ended Sept. 30, 2019, fee-for-service contract sales represented 53.9% of contract sales compared to 58.0% for the quarter ended Sept. 30, 2018.

The modest decline in contract sales in the third quarter of 2019 reflects comparisons against the strong launch of phase I of the Ocean Tower project, which produced a period of elevated VPGs in 2018 driven by strong conversion rates and average transaction prices.

HGV’s tour growth continued to strengthen in the quarter, and while VPG levels have continued to face difficult comparisons subsequent to the peak selling period of Ocean Tower phase I, they were within the Company’s expectations.

Financing revenues were $43 million for the quarter ended Sept. 30, 2019, an increase of 7.5% compared to the quarter ended Sept. 30, 2018. This reflects a 5.7% increase in interest income, which was driven by a 1.7% increase in the net timeshare financing receivables portfolio and a 23 bps increase in the weighted average interest rate the Company receives on the portfolio. It also reflects a $1 million increase in other financing revenue related to growth in servicing revenues related to the Company’s third-party loan portfolios.

For the nine months ending Sept. 30, 2019, 66.6% of HGV’s sales were to customers who financed part of their purchase, compared to 66.3% for the nine months ended Sept. 30, 2018.

As of Sept. 30, 2019, gross timeshare financing receivables were $1.3 billion with a weighted average interest rate of 12.43% and a weighted average remaining term of 7.8 years. As of Sept. 30, 2019, 93.5% of HGV’s financing receivables were current, compared to 93.2% as of Sept. 30, 2018.

Resort Operations and Club Management

For the three months ended Sept. 30, 2019, Resort Operations and Club Management segment revenues were $108 million, which remained flat compared to the three months ended Sept. 30, 2018. Resort Operations and Club Management segment Adjusted EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA margin as a percentage of Resort Operations and Club Management segment revenues was $62 million and 57.4% for each of the three months ended Sept. 30, 2019 and 2018, respectively. Compared to the prior-year period, Resort Operations and Club Management results in the third quarter of 2019 benefitted from the additional club dues and transaction fees from the more than 17,000 net new members added over the previous 12-month period.

Inventory

The estimated contract sales value of HGV’s total pipeline is approximately $9.9 billion at current pricing, which represents approximately seven years of sales at the current trailing 12-month sales pace.

The total pipeline includes approximately 1.5 years of sales relating to inventory that is currently available for sale at open or soon-to-open projects. The remaining 5.5 years of sales is inventory at new or existing projects that will become available for sale in the future upon registration, delivery or construction.

Owned inventory represents 76% of HGV’s total pipeline. Approximately 14% of the owned inventory pipeline is currently available for sale.

Fee-for-service inventory represents 24% of HGV’s total pipeline. Approximately 43% of the fee-for-service inventory pipeline is currently available for sale.

With 31% of the pipeline consisting of just-in-time inventory and 24% consisting of fee-for-service inventory, capital-efficient inventory represents 55% of HGV’s total pipeline.

Balance Sheet and Liquidity

Total cash and cash equivalents was $211 million as of Sept. 30, 2019, including $98 million of restricted cash.

As of Sept. 30, 2019, HGV had $815 million of corporate debt, net outstanding with a weighted average interest rate of 4.74% and $795 million of non-recourse debt, net outstanding with a weighted average interest rate of 2.87%.

As of Sept. 30, 2019, the company’s liquidity position consisted of $113 million of unrestricted cash and available capacity of $494 million on the revolving credit facility and $450 million on the warehouse facility.

Free cash flow was $104 million for the nine months ended Sept. 30, 2019, compared to ($246) million in the prior period. Adjusted free cash flow was $142 million for the nine months ended Sept. 30, 2019, compared to ($19) million in the prior period.

Share Repurchase

On Nov. 28, 2018, the Company announced that its board of directors approved a $200 million share repurchase program. Under the program, repurchases may be carried out through open-market purchases, block trades or other transactions subject to customary restrictions through November 2019. In April 2019, the company substantially reached its $200 million capacity under the initial authorization. On May 1, 2019, the Company announced that the board of directors approved an additional $200 million of share repurchases.

During the third quarter, the Company repurchased 469,924 shares for $12 million at an average price of $25.90. Approximately $45 million remains available under the current repurchase authorization. Since the launch of the share repurchase program approved in November 2018, the company has repurchased 11.8 million shares for $355 million at an average price of $29.90. This represents approximately 12.25% of the company’s shares outstanding at the time of the initial announcement.

Total Construction Deferrals and/or Recognitions Included in Results Reported Under Accounting Standards Codification Topic 606 (“ASC 606”)

The Company’s Adjusted EBITDA as reported under ASC 606 includes construction-related recognitions and deferrals of revenues and related expenses as detailed in Table T-1. Under ASC 606, the Company defers revenues and related expenses pertaining to sales at projects that occur during periods when that project is under construction until the period when construction is completed.

HGV deferred revenues and expenses related to sales made at Ocean Tower for the first three quarters of 2018 and recognized them in the fourth quarter of 2018 when construction was complete. Likewise, HGV deferred revenues and expenses related to sales made at The Residences by Hilton Club in the first quarter of 2018 and recognized them in the second quarter of 2018 when construction was complete. These deferrals and recognitions of sales made in 2018 offset and there was no net financial impact in 2018.

The $79 million net recognition impact for 2018 relates to the recognition of revenues and expenses related to sales made at The Residences prior to 2018 that were recognized in the second quarter of 2018 when construction was complete. A portion of these pre-2018 sales had been partially recognized in prior periods under the previous accounting guidance, but as part of the adoption of ASC 606 on Jan. 1, 2018, those recognitions were reversed with a cumulative adjustment to retained earnings.

Conference Call

Hilton Grand Vacations will host a conference call on Oct. 31, 2019, at 11 a.m. (EDT) to discuss third quarter results.

To access the live teleconference, please dial 1-877-407-0784 in the U.S./Canada (or +1-201-689-8560 internationally) approximately 15 minutes prior to the teleconference’s start time. A live webcast will also be available by logging onto the HGV Investor Relations website at https://investors.hgv.com.

In the event of audio difficulties during the call on the toll-free number, participants are advised that accessing the call using the +1-201-689-8560 dial-in number may bypass the source of audio difficulties.

A replay will be available beginning three hours after the teleconference’s completion through Nov. 7, 2019. To access the replay, please dial 1-844-512-2921 in the U.S. (+1-412-317-6671 internationally) using ID# 13695690. A webcast replay and transcript will be available within 24 hours after the live event at https://investors.hgv.com/events-and-presentations.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements convey management's expectations as to the future of HGV, and are based on management’s beliefs, assumptions, and such plans, estimates, projections and other information as is available to management at the time HGV makes the statements. Forward-looking statements may be identified by terminology such as “may,” “will,” “seeks,” “anticipates,” “believes,” “estimates,” “expects,” “plans,” “intends,” “would,” “could,” "plans," "goal," "future," "outlook," "guidance," "target," "projection," "estimate," or similar expressions; however, not all forward-looking statements include these identifying words. The forward-looking statements contained in this press release include statements related to HGV’s revenues, earnings, taxes, cash flow and related financial and operating measures, and expectations with respect to future operating, financial and business performance, and other anticipated future events and expectations that are not historical facts.

HGV cautions you that its forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors, which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of HGV to be materially different from the future results, business performance or achievements expressed or implied by its forward-looking statements. HGV’s forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and you should not place undue reliance on such statements in this in this press release. Factors that could cause HGV’s actual results to differ materially from those contemplated by its forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, risks associated with: (1) general volatility in the economy and/or the financial and credit markets; (2) HGV’s credit facilities and indenture, including interest rates, restrictive covenants, the ability to make scheduled payments, and the ability to refinance our debt on acceptable terms; (3) changes in tax rates, exposure to additional tax liabilities, and differences between the actual impact of recently enacted corporate tax reform and HGV’s current expectations; (4) the economic environment for and trends in the hospitality industry, which may impact the vacationing and purchasing decisions of consumers; (5) the inherent business, financial and operating risks, and the intense competition associated with the vacation ownership business in particular, including the company’s ability successfully market and sell VOIs, the risks associated with its development and other activities to source inventory for VOI sales, significant increases in defaults on our vacation ownership mortgage receivables, and the ability of managed homeowner associations to collect sufficient maintenance fees; (6) actions of HGV or the occurrence of other events that could cause a breach under or termination of the company’s license agreement with Hilton Worldwide that could affect or terminate our access to the Hilton brands and programs, or actions of Hilton Worldwide that affect the reputation of the licensed marks or Hilton’s programs; (7) HGV’s joint ventures and strategic alliances that may not result in expected benefits, including terminations of its fee-for-service arrangements; (8) economic and operational uncertainties related to the company’s increasing global operations, including its ability manage the outcome and timing of such activities, its compliance with anti-corruption, data privacy and other international laws and regulations, and the effects of foreign currency exchange; (9) the company’s use of social media platforms, cybersecurity vulnerabilities, and information technology system failures resulting in disclosure of personal data, company data loss, system outages or disruptions of online services, which could lead to increased costs, liability claims, harm to user engagement, and harm to HGV’s reputation or competitive position; (10) the impact of claims against the company that could result in adverse outcomes, including legal, business or regulatory issues or litigation; (11) the continued service of HGV’s key executives and employees; and (12) catastrophic events or geo-political conditions including war, terrorist activity, political strife or natural disasters that may disrupt HGV’s operations in key vacation destinations. The above list of factors is not a comprehensive list of factors that could impact the future of HGV. Any one or more of the foregoing or other factors not identified above could adversely impact HGV’s future operations, revenue, operating margins, financial results and/or financial condition.

For additional information regarding factors that could cause HGV’s actual results to differ materially from those contemplated in the forward-looking statements in this press release, please see the risk factors and other factors discussed in our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including in the “Risk Factors” and “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” sections of our most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K, each of our Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q filed subsequent to such Form 10-K, and those described from time to time in our other filings. There may be other risks and uncertainties that we are unable to predict at this time or that we currently do not expect to have a material adverse effect on our business. All information in this press release is as of the date of the release unless otherwise indicated. Except for HGV’s ongoing obligations to disclose material information under the federal securities laws, HGV undertakes no obligation to release publicly any revisions to any forward-looking statement or information to conform to actual results, whether as a result of new information, future developments, or changes in the company’s expectations, or otherwise.

Non-GAAP Financial Measures

The Company refers to certain non-GAAP financial measures in this press release, including EBITDA, Adjusted EBITDA, Adjusted EBITDA margins, free cash flow and adjusted free cash flow. Please see the tables in this press release and “Definitions” for additional information and reconciliations of such non-GAAP financial measures.

About Hilton Grand Vacations Inc.

Hilton Grand Vacations Inc. (NYSE:HGV) is recognized as a leading global timeshare company. With headquarters in Orlando, Florida, Hilton Grand Vacations develops, markets and operates a system of brand-name, high-quality vacation ownership resorts in select vacation destinations. The Company also manages and operates two innovative club membership programs: Hilton Grand Vacations Club® and The Hilton Club®, providing exclusive exchange, leisure travel and reservation services for more than 320,000 club members. For more information, visit www.hgv.com and www.hiltongrandvacations.com.

HILTON GRAND VACATIONS INC.
DEFINITIONS

EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA

EBITDA, presented herein, is a financial measure that is not recognized under U.S. GAAP that reflects net income (loss), before interest expense (excluding non-recourse debt), a provision for income taxes and depreciation and amortization.

Adjusted EBITDA, presented herein, is calculated as EBITDA, as previously defined, further adjusted to exclude certain items, including, but not limited to, gains, losses and expenses in connection with: (i) asset dispositions; (ii) foreign currency transactions; (iii) debt restructurings/retirements; (iv) non-cash impairment losses; (v) reorganization costs, including severance and relocation costs; (vi) share-based and certain other compensation expenses; (vii) costs related to the spin-off; and (viii) other items.

EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA are not recognized terms under U.S. GAAP and should not be considered as alternatives to net income (loss) or other measures of financial performance or liquidity derived in accordance with U.S. GAAP. In addition, our definitions of EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA may not be comparable to similarly titled measures of other companies.

HGV believes that EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA provide useful information to investors about us and our financial condition and results of operations for the following reasons: (i) EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA are among the measures used by our management team to evaluate our operating performance and make day-to-day operating decisions; and (ii) EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA are frequently used by securities analysts, investors and other interested parties as a common performance measure to compare results or estimate valuations across companies in our industry. EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA have limitations as analytical tools and should not be considered either in isolation or as a substitute for net income (loss), cash flow or other methods of analyzing our results as reported under U.S. GAAP. Some of these limitations are:

• EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA do not reflect changes in, or cash requirements for, our working capital needs;
• EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA do not reflect our interest expense (excluding interest expense on non-recourse debt), or the cash requirements necessary to service interest or principal payments on our indebtedness;
• EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA do not reflect our tax expense or the cash requirements to pay our taxes;
• EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA do not reflect historical cash expenditures or future requirements for capital expenditures or contractual commitments;
• EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA do not reflect the effect on earnings or changes resulting from matters that we consider not to be indicative of our future operations;
• EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA do not reflect any cash requirements for future replacements of assets that are being depreciated and amortized;
• EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA may be calculated differently from other companies in our industry limiting their usefulness as comparative measures.

Because of these limitations, EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA should not be considered as discretionary cash available to us to reinvest in the growth of our business or as measures of cash that will be available to us to meet our obligations.

Free Cash Flow and Adjusted Free Cash Flow

Free Cash Flow represents cash from operating activities less non-inventory capital spending.

Adjusted Free Cash Flow represents free cash flow less non-recourse debt activities, net.

We consider Free Cash Flow and Adjusted Free Cash Flow to be liquidity measures not recognized under U.S. GAAP that provides useful information to both management and investors about the amount of cash generated by operating activities that can be used for investing and financing activities, including strategic opportunities and debt service. We do not believe these non-GAAP measures to be a representation of how we will use excess cash.

Real Estate Metrics

Contract sales represents the total amount of VOI products under purchase agreements signed during the period where HGV has received a down payment of at least 10 percent of the contract price. Contract sales differ from revenues from the Sales of VOIs, net that HGV reports in its consolidated statements of operations due to the requirements for revenue recognition as described in Note 2: Basis of Presentation and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies in the Company’s audited consolidated financial statements, as well as adjustments for incentives and other administrative fee revenues. HGV considers contract sales to be an important operating measure because it reflects the pace of sales in HGV’s business.

Developed Inventory refers to VOI inventory that is sourced from projects the Company develops.

Fee-for-Service Inventory refers to VOI inventory HGV sells and manages on behalf of third-party developers.

Just-in-Time Inventory refers to VOI inventory primarily sourced in transactions that are designed to closely correlate the timing of the acquisition with HGV’s sale of that inventory to purchasers.

NOG or Net Owner Growth represents the year-over-year change in membership.

Real estate margin represents sales revenue less the cost of VOI sales and sales and marketing costs, net of marketing revenue. Real estate margin percentage is calculated by dividing real estate margin by sales revenue. HGV considers this to be an important operating measure because it measures the efficiency of the Company’s sales and marketing spending and management of inventory costs.

Sales revenue represents sale of VOIs, net and commissions and brand fees earned from the sale of fee-for-service intervals.

Tour flow represents the number of sales presentations given at HGV’s sales centers during the period.

Volume per guest (“VPG”) represents the sales attributable to tours at HGV’s sales locations and is calculated by dividing Contract sales, excluding telesales, by tour flow. The Company considers VPG to be an important operating measure because it measures the effectiveness of HGV’s sales process, combining the average transaction price with closing rate.

Resort and Club Management and Rental Metrics

Transient rate represents the total rental room revenue for transient guests divided by total number of transient room nights sold in a given period and excludes room rentals associated with marketing programs, owner usage and the redemption of Club Bonus Points.