MCLEAN, Va. (April 29, 2015) - Hilton Worldwide Holdings Inc. ("Hilton," "Hilton Worldwide" or the "Company") (NYSE: HLT) today reported its first quarter 2015 results and raised its full year 2015 outlook.
Highlights include:
• EPS was $0.15 for the first quarter, a 25 percent increase from the same period in 2014; EPS, adjusted for special items was $0.12
• Net income attributable to Hilton stockholders for the first quarter was $150 million, a 22 percent increase from the same period in 2014
• Adjusted EBITDA for the first quarter increased 18 percent from the same period in 2014 to $599 million and Adjusted EBITDA margin increased 320 basis points
• System-wide comparable RevPAR increased 6.6 percent for the first quarter on a currency neutral basis from the same period in 2014
• Management and franchise fees for the first quarter increased 18 percent from the same period in 2014 to $391 million
• Gross operating profit margins for U.S. comparable owned and operated hotels increased over 120 basis points for the first quarter compared to the same period in 2014
• Opened more than 8,000 rooms in the first quarter
• Approved more than 23,000 new rooms for development during the first quarter, growing its development pipeline to 1,432 hotels, consisting of 240,000 rooms, as of March 31, 2015
• Reduced long-term debt by $225 million during the first quarter; additional $100 million voluntary prepayment of senior secured term loan facility in April 2015
• Entered into an agreement to sell Hilton Sydney for A$442 million Australian Dollars in a tax-efficient manner; upon closing, plan to use proceeds, net of transaction costs, to further reduce long-term debt • Entered into an agreement to acquire what is currently the Cypress Hotel in Cupertino, California for $112 million, reinvesting the last portion of the Waldorf Astoria New York sale proceeds
• Increased outlook for full year Adjusted EBITDA to between $2,810 million and $2,870 million.
Overview
For the three months ended March 31, 2015, earnings per share ("EPS") was $0.15 compared to $0.12 for the three months ended March 31, 2014, and EPS, adjusted for special items, was $0.12 for the three months ended March 31, 2015 compared to $0.13 for three months ended March 31, 2014.
Adjusted EBITDA increased 18 percent to $599 million for the three months ended March 31, 2015, compared to $508 million for the three months ended March 31, 2014 and net income attributable to Hilton stockholders was $150 million for the three months ended March 31, 2015 compared to $123 million for the three months ended March 31, 2014.
Christopher J. Nassetta, President & Chief Executive Officer of Hilton Worldwide, said, "We started the year with another strong quarter, with top line growth at the high end of our guidance, despite significant weather impact in the U.S., and strong fee growth and owned asset performance, that all resulted in Adjusted EBITDA exceeding our guidance. Our portfolio of industry-leading brands continues to fuel our growth, resulting in the industry's largest pipeline and most rooms under construction globally."
