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Adding to investors’ pessimism, JetBlue Airways (JBLU - Free Report) reports loss in second-quarter 2020 results.
With this underperformance, the company joins its peers Alaska Air Group (ALK - Free Report) , Spirit Airlines (SAVE - Free Report) and Southwest Airlines (LUV - Free Report) , which too suffered the same setback this earnings season.
The airline incurred a loss (excluding 84 cents from non-recurring items) of $2.02 per share, comparing unfavorably with the Zacks Consensus Estimate of a loss of $1.86. Results were hurt by the coronavirus-induced weakness in air-travel demand. However, sentiments were bullish in the year-ago period when the company delivered earnings of 60 cents per share owing to strong air-travel demand.
JetBlue Airways Corporation Price, Consensus and EPS Surprise
Moreover, operating revenues of $215 million plunged 89.8% year over year and also lagged the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $220.1 million. This steep year-over-year fall was due to the 91.6% decrease in passenger revenues, which accounted for bulk (79.1%) of the top line. Revenues from other sources declined 39.7% to $45 million.
Notably, revenue per available seat mile (RASM: a key measure of unit revenues) in the reported quarter dropped 32.2% to 8.91 cents. Passenger revenue per available seat mile (PRASM) fell 44.3% to 7.06 cents. Average fare at JetBlue during the quarter increased 50% to $276.35. Yield per passenger mile rose 41.5% year over year to 20.86 cents.
Capacity, measured in available seat miles, contracted 84.9% year over year. Meanwhile, traffic, measured in revenue passenger miles, deteriorated 94.1% due to softness in air-travel demand. Consolidated load factor (percentage of seats filled by passengers) slumped to 33.8% from 86% a year ago as traffic decline was more than the capacity reduction in the reported quarter.
In the second quarter, total operating expenses (on a reported basis) decreased 66.3% year over year, mainly owing to the 94% plummet in aircraft fuel and related taxes. With major part of the fleet remaining grounded/under-utilized, fuel gallons consumed tanked 86.7% to 30 million. Average fuel cost per gallon (including fuel taxes) declined 55.4% year over year to 96 cents. JetBlue’s operating expenses per available seat mile (CASM) shot up more than 100% to 25.9 cents due to capacity cuts. Excluding fuel, the metric escalated more than 100% to 36.95 cents.
JetBlue exited the quarter with cash and cash equivalents of $2,561 million compared with $959 million at the end of 2019. Total debt at the end of the reported quarter was $4,776 million compared with $2,334 million at 2019 end. Including the financial aid under the CARES Act, JetBlue’s liquidity stood at $3.4 billion at the end of the June quarter.
Management stated that due to various measures undertaken to combat the current pandemic-inflicted crisis, the company successfully lowered its cash burn from $18 million per day, on average, during the second half of March to $9 million in May. Average daily cash burn in the second quarter was $9.5 million and the daily cash burn at the end of June was just below $8 million.
Outlook
Revenues for the third quarter are expected to tumble approximately 80% year over year. Capacity is anticipated to contract at least 45% year over year in the third quarter. JetBlue still expects average daily cash burn for the September quarter in the $7-$9 million band. Average fuel cost per gallon (including fuel taxes) is estimated to be $1.24.
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Our research shows that 5 cutting-edge stocks could skyrocket from the exponential increase in demand for “stay at home” technologies. This could be one of the biggest buying opportunities of this decade, especially for those who get in early.
Image: Bigstock
JetBlue Airways (JBLU) Posts Q2 Loss, Suffers Weak Load Factor
Adding to investors’ pessimism, JetBlue Airways (JBLU - Free Report) reports loss in second-quarter 2020 results.
With this underperformance, the company joins its peers Alaska Air Group (ALK - Free Report) , Spirit Airlines (SAVE - Free Report) and Southwest Airlines (LUV - Free Report) , which too suffered the same setback this earnings season.
All the above-mentioned stocks currently carry a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.
The airline incurred a loss (excluding 84 cents from non-recurring items) of $2.02 per share, comparing unfavorably with the Zacks Consensus Estimate of a loss of $1.86. Results were hurt by the coronavirus-induced weakness in air-travel demand. However, sentiments were bullish in the year-ago period when the company delivered earnings of 60 cents per share owing to strong air-travel demand.
JetBlue Airways Corporation Price, Consensus and EPS Surprise
JetBlue Airways Corporation price-consensus-eps-surprise-chart | JetBlue Airways Corporation Quote
Moreover, operating revenues of $215 million plunged 89.8% year over year and also lagged the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $220.1 million. This steep year-over-year fall was due to the 91.6% decrease in passenger revenues, which accounted for bulk (79.1%) of the top line. Revenues from other sources declined 39.7% to $45 million.
Notably, revenue per available seat mile (RASM: a key measure of unit revenues) in the reported quarter dropped 32.2% to 8.91 cents. Passenger revenue per available seat mile (PRASM) fell 44.3% to 7.06 cents. Average fare at JetBlue during the quarter increased 50% to $276.35. Yield per passenger mile rose 41.5% year over year to 20.86 cents.
Capacity, measured in available seat miles, contracted 84.9% year over year. Meanwhile, traffic, measured in revenue passenger miles, deteriorated 94.1% due to softness in air-travel demand. Consolidated load factor (percentage of seats filled by passengers) slumped to 33.8% from 86% a year ago as traffic decline was more than the capacity reduction in the reported quarter.
In the second quarter, total operating expenses (on a reported basis) decreased 66.3% year over year, mainly owing to the 94% plummet in aircraft fuel and related taxes. With major part of the fleet remaining grounded/under-utilized, fuel gallons consumed tanked 86.7% to 30 million. Average fuel cost per gallon (including fuel taxes) declined 55.4% year over year to 96 cents. JetBlue’s operating expenses per available seat mile (CASM) shot up more than 100% to 25.9 cents due to capacity cuts. Excluding fuel, the metric escalated more than 100% to 36.95 cents.
JetBlue exited the quarter with cash and cash equivalents of $2,561 million compared with $959 million at the end of 2019. Total debt at the end of the reported quarter was $4,776 million compared with $2,334 million at 2019 end. Including the financial aid under the CARES Act, JetBlue’s liquidity stood at $3.4 billion at the end of the June quarter.
Management stated that due to various measures undertaken to combat the current pandemic-inflicted crisis, the company successfully lowered its cash burn from $18 million per day, on average, during the second half of March to $9 million in May. Average daily cash burn in the second quarter was $9.5 million and the daily cash burn at the end of June was just below $8 million.
Outlook
Revenues for the third quarter are expected to tumble approximately 80% year over year. Capacity is anticipated to contract at least 45% year over year in the third quarter. JetBlue still expects average daily cash burn for the September quarter in the $7-$9 million band. Average fuel cost per gallon (including fuel taxes) is estimated to be $1.24.
These Stocks Are Poised to Soar Past the Pandemic
The COVID-19 outbreak has shifted consumer behavior dramatically, and a handful of high-tech companies have stepped up to keep America running. Right now, investors in these companies have a shot at serious profits. For example, Zoom jumped 108.5% in less than 4 months while most other stocks were sinking.
Our research shows that 5 cutting-edge stocks could skyrocket from the exponential increase in demand for “stay at home” technologies. This could be one of the biggest buying opportunities of this decade, especially for those who get in early.
See the 5 high-tech stocks now>>