Wyndham Worldwide reports first quarter results

Wyndham Worldwide Corporation has announced results for the three months ended 31 March 2018, with first quarter revenues from continuing operations were $1.2 billion, an increase of three per cent compared with the prior-year period.

Results reflect the required adoption of the new revenue recognition standard, which had an immaterial year-over-year impact on the company’s results on a comparable basis.

Net income from continuing operations in the first quarter of 2018 was $81 million compared with $127 million for the first quarter of 2017. Diluted earnings per share (EPS) from continuing operations were $0.80, versus $1.20 in the prior-year period. Net income from continuing operations was impacted by $53 million ($0.53 per diluted share) of after-tax separation- and transaction-related costs in first quarter 2018.

Adjusted net income from continuing operations was $134 million or $1.33 per diluted share, compared with $106 million or $1.01 per diluted share in the first quarter of 2017. Adjusted diluted EPS increased 32%, and 10% excluding the benefit of a reduced effective income tax rate.

Stephen P. Holmes

Higher revenues

The growth in adjusted earnings primarily reflects higher revenues in all three of the company’s operating segments, hurricane-related insurance recoveries and lower taxes, partially offset by increased interest expense. Adjusted diluted EPS also reflects the benefit of the Company’s share repurchase program.

Stephen P. Holmes, chairman and CEO, said: “We’ve started the year with strong growth in our businesses. Our teams delivered solid financial results while executing on several key strategic initiatives, including the pending sale of our European vacation rentals business, the planned spin-off of Wyndham Hotels & Resorts into a separate publicly traded company, and the pending acquisition of La Quinta’s hotel franchising and hotel management business.”

First quarter EBITDA from continuing operations was $221 million, compared with $237 million in the prior-year period, due to separation-related costs recorded in first quarter 2018. Adjusted EBITDA from continuing operations increased 10%, to $274 million, compared with $249 million in the first quarter of 2017. Results primarily reflect the growth in revenues as well as an approximately $5 million net benefit from hurricane-related impacts and insurance proceeds.