Hilton Grand Vacations Reports First Quarter 2020 Results

Hilton Grand Vacations Inc. (NYSE:HGV) (“HGV” or “the Company”) today reports its first quarter 2020 results.

“The COVID-19 pandemic has had unprecedented impacts on our business, and we continue to take decisive action to navigate the current environment and mitigate the challenges it presents,” said Mark Wang, president and CEO of Hilton Grand Vacations. “We have a strong balance sheet, and we have made critical decisions to defend our cash flow and enhance our financial flexibility, including adjustments to our cost structure and spending plans. I remain confident in the resilience of our business model and look forward to welcoming back our owners and guests as the pandemic subsides.”

KEY HIGHLIGHTS

First Quarter 2020 Results1

• Total revenues for the first quarter were $351 million compared to $450 million for the same period in 2019.
  • Total revenues were affected by a deferral of $47 million in the current period. There were no deferrals or recognitions in the same period in 2019.
• Net income for the first quarter was $8 million compared to $55 million for the same period in 2019.
  • Net income was affected by a net deferral of $27 million in the current period. There were no deferrals or recognitions in the same period in 2019.
• Diluted EPS for the first quarter was $0.09 compared to $0.58 for the same period in 2019.
  • Diluted EPS was affected by a net deferral of $27 million or $0.31 per share in the current period. There were no deferrals or recognitions in the same period in 2019.
• Adjusted EBITDA for the first quarter was $33 million compared to $102 million for the same period in 2019.
  • Adjusted EBITDA was affected by a net deferral of $27 million in the current period. There were no deferrals or recognitions in the same period in 2019.
• In addition to the adverse impact from the closure of our sales centers and resort operations, the COVID-19 pandemic had the following impacts on total revenues, net income, diluted EPS and Adjusted EBITDA:
  • $37 million provision for financing receivables of which $23 million or $0.26 per share is related to changes in estimates primarily driven by economic factors surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic.
  • $11 million or $0.12 per share of one-time payroll related expenses incurred primarily related to payments made to team members as a result of operational closures caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.
  • $2 million or $0.03 per share related to the refunding of club transaction fees to accommodate guests impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.
• Contract sales in the first quarter were $244 million, a decrease of 24% from the same period in 2019.
• Net Owner Growth (NOG) for the 12 months ended March. 31, 2020, was 5.3%.

COVID-19 Update

As disclosed in our press release dated March 16, 2020, the Company has withdrawn its prior Full Year 2020 Guidance due to the increased uncertainty created by the impact of COVID-19.

The Company continues to be impacted by the pandemic and the various government mandates in nearly all of the locations in which it operates. It is unknown how long these adverse conditions and restrictions will continue. To optimize HGV’s liquidity and access to capital in light of the adverse impact of the pandemic, particularly as substantially most of the Company’s properties have temporarily suspended operations and substantially all of its sales, operations and other activities have been suspended, the Company has taken significant steps in an effort to decrease its expenses. These efforts include the recently announced furlough of over 6,100 of its team members, and the temporary reductions of all team members’ base salaries and directors’ annual cash retainers, among other actions.

The Company will share additional details during its conference call scheduled for later today.

Overview – First Quarter 2020

For the quarter ended March 31, 2020, diluted EPS was $0.09 compared to $0.58 for the quarter ended March 31, 2019. Net income and Adjusted EBITDA were $8 million and $33 million, respectively, for the quarter ended March 31, 2020, compared to $55 million and $102 million, respectively, for the quarter ended March 31, 2019. Total revenues for the quarter ended March 31, 2020, were $351 million compared to $450 million for the quarter ended March 31, 2019.

Net income and Adjusted EBITDA for the quarter ended March 31, 2020, included a net deferral of $27 million relating to sales made at The Central at 5th by Hilton Club and Ocean Tower at Hilton Grand Vacations Club Phase II projects, which were under construction during the period. The Company anticipates recognizing these revenues and related expenses in 2021 when it expects to complete these projects and recognize the deferrals.

Segment Highlights – First Quarter 2020

Real Estate Sales and Financing

For the quarter ended March 31, 2020, Real Estate Sales and Financing segment revenues were $206 million, a decrease of 32.9% compared to the quarter ended March 31, 2019. Real Estate Sales and Financing segment Adjusted EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA margin as a percentage of Real Estate Sales and Financing segment revenues were $15 million and 7.3%, respectively, for the quarter ended March 31, 2020, compared to $80 million and 26.1%, respectively, for the quarter ended March 31, 2019. Real Estate Sales and Financing results in first quarter 2020 weakened due to decrease in contract sales as a result of the temporary suspension of the Company’s operations as a result of COVID-19 and an increase in construction-related deferrals.

Real Estate Sales and Financing segment Adjusted EBITDA reflect the $27 million of net deferrals related to The Central at 5th and Ocean Tower Phase II projects for the quarter ended March 31, 2020.

Contract sales for the quarter ended March 31, 2020, decreased 24.2% to $244 million compared to the quarter ended March 31, 2019. For the quarter ended March 31, 2020, tours decreased 19% and VPG decreased 4.7% compared to the quarter ended March 31, 2019. For the quarter ended March 31, 2020, fee-for-service contract sales represented 53.3% of contract sales compared to 59% for the quarter ended March 31, 2019.

Financing revenues were $44 million for the quarter ended March 31, 2020, an increase of 7.3% compared to the quarter ended March 31, 2019. This reflects a 5.6% increase in interest income, which was driven by a 2.3% increase in the net timeshare financing receivables portfolio and a 21 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.

Resort Operations and Club Management

For the quarter ended March 31, 2020, Resort Operations and Club Management segment revenue was $104 million, a decrease of 5.5% compared to the quarter ended March 31, 2019. Resort Operations and Club Management segment Adjusted EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA margin as a percentage of Resort Operations and Club Management segment revenue was $55 million and 52.9%, respectively, for the quarter ended March 31, 2020, compared to $65 million and 59.1%, respectively, for the quarter ended March 31, 2019. Compared to the prior-year period, Resort Operations and Club Management results in the first quarter of 2020 decreased primarily due to a decrease in rental and ancillary services revenue related to the temporary suspension of operations due to COVID-19.

Inventory

The estimated contract sales value of HGV’s total pipeline is approximately $9.4 billion at current pricing, which represents approximately seven years of sales at the current trailing 12-month sales pace.

The total pipeline includes approximately 2.6 years of sales relating to inventory that is currently available for sale at open or soon-to-open projects. The remaining 4.4 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 79% of HGV’s total pipeline. Approximately 32% of the owned inventory pipeline is currently available for sale.

Fee-for-service inventory represents 21% of HGV’s total pipeline. Approximately 58% of the fee-for-service inventory pipeline is currently available for sale.

With 31% of the pipeline consisting of just-in-time inventory and 21% consisting of fee-for-service inventory, capital-efficient inventory represents 52% of HGV’s total pipeline.

Balance Sheet and Liquidity

Total cash and cash equivalents were $759 million as of March 31, 2020, including $90 million of restricted cash.

As of March 31, 2020, HGV had $1.266 billion of corporate debt, net outstanding with a weighted average interest rate of 3.54% and $885 million of non-recourse debt, net outstanding with a weighted average interest rate of 2.65%.

As of March 31, 2020, the Company’s liquidity position consisted of $669 million of unrestricted cash and available capacity of $39 million on the revolving credit facility and $255 million on the warehouse facility.

Free cash flow was $45 million for the quarter ended March 31, 2020, compared to $4 million in the prior period. Adjusted free cash flow was $182 million for the period ended March 31, 2020, compared to ($36) million in the prior period.

As of March 31, 2020, our net leverage ratio was 1.45x and our interest coverage ratio was 9.56x.

Given the uncertainties related to the duration and the extent of the impact that COVID-19 and related conditions may have in the future, the Company is currently engaged in discussions with its lenders under the credit facility to amend certain financial covenants and believes it will reach an agreement.

Share Repurchase

On March 13, 2020, the Company announced that its Board of Directors had approved a share repurchase program authorizing the Company to repurchase up to an aggregate of $200 million of its outstanding shares of common stock. Due to the then-still developing significant adverse impact on global economy, capital markets, travel industry, and various government mandates regarding closures of businesses, all due to COVID-19 and various uncertainties related to it, the Company previously announced on March 31, 2020, that it had suspended the repurchase program.

During the quarter ended March 31, 2020, the Company repurchased 0.8 million shares for $9.7 million at an average price of $11.92.

Subsequent Events

• On April 16, 2020, the Company announced it adopted a shareholder rights plan.
• On April 22, the Company entered into Amendment No. 14 to its Timeshare Facility, which amended certain key definitions related to delinquency level calculations of underlying timeshare loans that are used as collateral for borrowings under its Timeshare Facility. Additionally, it provides the Company with the added flexibility to manage any potential increase in the rate of delinquency that may result from the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. All other terms and borrowing capacity remained unchanged.
• In April 2020, the Company furloughed approximately 6,100 out of its 9,100 team members.

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.

Conference Call

Hilton Grand Vacations will host a conference call on April 30, 2020, at 11 a.m. (EDT) to discuss first 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 May 7, 2020. To access the replay, please dial 1-844-512-2921 in the U.S. (+1-412-317-6671 internationally) using ID# 13697041. 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 Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. Forward-looking statements convey management’s expectations as to the future of HGV, and are based on management’s beliefs, expectations, assumptions and such plans, estimates, projections and other information available to management at the time HGV makes such statements. Forward-looking statements include all statements that are not historical facts and may be identified by terminology such as the words “outlook,” “believe,” “expect,” “potential,” “goal,” “continues,” “may,” “will,” “should,” “could,” “seeks,” “approximately,” “projects,” predicts,” “intends,” “plans,” “estimates,” “anticipates” “future,” “guidance,” “target,” or the negative version of these words or other comparable 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, including those that are beyond HGV’s control, that may cause its actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from the future results, business performance or achievements expressed in or implied by such statements. The forward-looking statements in this press release are not guarantees of HGV’s future performance, and you should not place undue reliance on such statements. Factors that could cause HGV’s actual results to differ materially from those contemplated by its forward-looking statements include: (1) the material impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on HGV’s business, operating results, and financial condition, including, without limitation, its ability to meet certain sales and performance levels, particularly as they relate to its fee-for-service and third party partners, the effectiveness of actions taken by HGV to manage the impact of the pandemic, the duration of closure of substantially all of its properties and operations, and uncertainties of when its properties will re-open or the period of time required for ramp-up of operations upon re-opening; (2) the extent and duration of the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on global economic conditions; (3) the extent and duration of government and other restrictions on travel and commercial activity in response to the COVID-19 pandemic; (4) HGV’s ability to meet its liquidity needs and ability to remain compliant with its debt covenants; (5) risks associated with the inherent business, financial and operating risks of the timeshare industry, including limited underwriting standards due to the real-time nature of industry sales practices, and the intense competition associated with the industry; (6) HGV’s ability successfully market and sell VOIs; (7) HGV’s development and other activities to source inventory for VOI sales; (8) significant increases in defaults on HGV’s vacation ownership mortgage receivables; (9) the ability of managed homeowner associations to collect sufficient maintenance fees; (10) general volatility in the economy and/or the financial and credit markets; (11) adverse economic or market conditions and trends in the tourism and hospitality industry, which may impact the purchasing and vacationing decisions of consumers; (12) actions or the occurrence of other events that could cause a breach under or termination of HGV’s license agreement with Hilton Worldwide that could affect or terminate HGV’s access to the Hilton brands and programs, or actions of Hilton that affect the reputation of the licensed marks or Hilton’s programs; (13) economic and operational uncertainties related to HGV’s expanding global operations, including its ability to manage the outcome and timing of such operations and compliance with anti-corruption, data privacy and other applicable laws and regulations affecting HGV’s international operations; (14) the effects of foreign currency exchange; (15) changes in tax rates and exposure to additional tax liabilities; (16) the impact of future changes in legislation, regulations or accounting pronouncements; (17) HGV’s acquisitions, joint ventures, and strategic alliances that may not result in expected benefits, including the termination of material fee-for-service agreements; (18) HGV’s dependence on third-party development activities to secure just-in-time inventory; (19) HGV’s use of social media platforms; cyber-attacks, security vulnerabilities, and information technology system failures resulting in disclosure of personal data, company data loss, system outages or disruptions of its online services, which could lead to reduced revenue, increased costs, liability claims, harm to user engagement, and harm to its reputation or competitive position; (20) the impact of claims against HGV that may result in adverse outcomes, including regulatory proceedings or litigation; (21) HGV’s credit facilities, indenture and other debt agreements and instruments, including variable interest rates, operating and financial restrictions, its ability to make scheduled payments, and its ability to refinance its debt on acceptable terms; (22) the continued service and availability of key executives and employees, including HGV’s ability to meet human capital needs given its recent furloughs as its business and operations normalize after the COVID-19 pandemic eases and the succession planning of its key executives; and (23) catastrophic events or geo-political conditions including war, terrorist activity, political strife, pandemic outbreak (including COVID-19), or natural disasters that may disrupt HGV’s operations in key vacation destinations. Any one or more of the foregoing factors could adversely impact HGV’s operations, revenue, operating margins, financial condition and/or credit rating.

For additional information regarding factors that could cause HGV’s actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied in the forward-looking statements in this press release, please see the risk factors discussed in “Part I.—Item 1A. Risk Factors” of HGV’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2019, as supplemented and updated by the risk factors discussed in “Part II-Item 1A. Risk Factors” on HGV’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, as well as those described from time to time other periodic reports that it files with the SEC. There may be other risks and uncertainties that HGV is unable to predict at this time or that it currently does not expect to have a material adverse effect on its business. Except for HGV’s ongoing obligations to disclose material information under the federal securities laws, it undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future developments, changes in management’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 over 325,000 club members. For more information, visit 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; and
• 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 (fee-for-service and developed) under purchase agreements signed during the period where we have 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 we report in our consolidated statements of operations due to the requirements for revenue recognition, as well as adjustments for incentives and other administrative fee revenues. We consider contract sales to be an important operating measure because it reflects the pace of sales in our business and is used to manage the performance of the sales organization. While the presentation of contract sales on a combined basis (fee-for-service and developed) is most appropriate for the purpose of the operating metric, additional information regarding the split of contract sales, included in “—Real Estate” below, is useful for investors who are interested in the underlying capital structures of the Company’s projects. See Note 2: Basis of Presentation and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies in our audited consolidated financial statements included in Item 8 in our Annual Report on form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2019, for additional information on Sales of VOI, net.

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. We consider this to be an important operating measure because it measures the efficiency of our 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. See Note 2: Basis of Presentation and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies in our audited consolidated financial statements included in Item 8 in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for further discussion on Club Bonus Points.

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