Life Time Fitness, Inc. (NYSE:LTM), The Healthy Way of Life Company, today reported its financial results for the second quarter ended June 30, 2014.

Second quarter 2014 revenue grew 6.0% to $326.6 million from $308.1 million during the same period last year. Revenue for the first six months of 2014 grew 6.6% to $638.5 million from $598.9 million during the same period last year.

Net income for the quarter was $29.8 million, or $0.76 per diluted share, compared to net income of $33.2 million, or $0.80 per diluted share, for 2Q 2013. Net income for the first six months of 2014 was $58.1 million, or $1.45 per diluted share, compared to net income of $61.3 million, or $1.47 per diluted share for the prior-year period.

The Company also announced that its board of directors has authorized a share repurchase program under which the Company may repurchase up to $200.0 million of its outstanding common stock.

“The second quarter was a challenging one for our company as we faced unexpected erosion of membership levels at some centers,” said Bahram Akradi, Life Time chairman, president and chief executive officer. “We believe the retention-focused initiatives we have previously introduced will positively affect membership levels over time. At the same time, I am pleased to report that, as a group, the five Life Time Athletic centers we have opened in 2014 have outperformed our financial expectations. Our current plans call for one additional Life Time Athletic center opening this year, and six new Life Time Athletic center openings in 2015. These openings, along with the expansion and improvement of our member-focused health, fitness, family recreation and sports programs, serve as the foundation of long-term growth for our Healthy Way of Life Company.”

During the quarter, the Company opened its first center in Des Moines, Iowa, and the sixth center in the Detroit market, located in Bloomfield Township, Michigan. Since the beginning of the year, the Company has opened five of the six planned new centers for 2014, the last of which will be in the Las Vegas market during the fourth quarter.

Share Repurchase Program:

The new program replaces a $200.0 million share repurchase program that was introduced in August 2013. Under the former program, from its inception through June 30, 2014, the Company repurchased approximately 3.6 million shares at a total cost of approximately $171.0 million. Under the new program, share repurchases may be made from time to time through open market or privately negotiated transactions. The timing of such transactions depends on a variety of factors, including market conditions, blackout periods, and the terms of trading plans, if any, established in accordance with Securities and Exchange Commission rules.

The authorization to repurchase shares terminates when the aggregate repurchase amount totals $200.0 million or at the close of business on June 30, 2016, whichever comes earlier. The share repurchase program does not obligate the company to repurchase any dollar amount or number of shares of its common stock and the program may be extended, modified, suspended or discontinued at any time.

Three and Six Months Ended June 30, 2014, Financial Highlights:

Total revenue for the second quarter grew 6.0% to $326.6 million from $308.1 million in 2Q 2013. Total revenue for the first six months of 2014 grew 6.6% to $638.5 million from $598.9 million during the prior-year period.

       

2Q 2014 vs. 2Q 2013

(in millions except revenue per membership data)

 

Membership dues

$205.2 vs. $194.8 (up 5.3%)

In-center revenue $104.4 vs. $97.3 (up 7.3%)
Other revenue $14.0 vs. $12.4 (up 12.7%)
 
Average center revenue per Access membership $442 vs. $416 (up 6.3%)
Average in-center revenue per Access membership $150 vs. $139 (up 7.9%)
Same-center revenue (open 13 months or longer) Down 0.6%
Same-center revenue (open 37 months or longer) Down 0.9%
 
   
       

YTD 2014 vs. YTD 2013

(in millions except revenue per membership data)

 

Membership dues

$402.0 vs. $381.2 (up 5.5%)

In-center revenue $202.8 vs. $189.2 (up 7.1%)
Other revenue $27.6 vs. $21.5 (up 28.8%)
 
Average center revenue per Access membership $872 vs. $821 (up 6.2%)
Average in-center revenue per Access membership $294 vs. $272 (up 7.8%)
Same-center revenue (open 13 months or longer) Up 0.4%
Same-center revenue (open 37 months or longer) Up 0.1%
 

Total memberships grew 1.2% to 823,021 at June 30, 2014, from 812,866 at June 30, 2013.

  • Access memberships were 712,296 at June 30, 2014 compared to 713,138 at June 30, 2013.
  • Non-Access memberships were 110,725 at June 30, 2014 compared to 99,728 at June 30, 2013.
  • Attrition in 2Q 2014 was 8.3% compared to 8.2% in the prior-year period. Attrition for the 12-month period ended June 30, 2014, was 35.8% compared to attrition of 34.5% during the 12-month period ended June 30, 2013.

Total operating expenses during 2Q 2014 were $269.1 million compared to $247.4 million for 2Q 2013. Total operating expenses for the first six months of 2014 were $527.0 million compared to $485.8 million for the first six months of 2013.

  • Income from operations margin was 17.6% for 2Q 2014 compared to 19.8% in the prior-year period.
  • Income from operations margin was 17.5% for the first six months of 2014 compared to 18.9% for the first six months of 2013.
       

2Q 2014 vs. 2Q 2013

(expense as a percent of total revenue)

 
Center operations 59.4% vs. 57.4%
Advertising and marketing 3.0% vs. 3.1%
General and administrative 4.4% vs. 5.1%
Other operating 5.0% vs. 4.9%
Depreciation and amortization 10.6% vs. 9.7%
 
       

YTD 2014 vs. YTD 2013

(expense as a percent of total revenue)

 
Center operations 59.0% vs. 57.9%
Advertising and marketing 3.5% vs. 3.4%
General and administrative 4.8% vs. 5.2%
Other operating 4.8% vs. 4.7%
Depreciation and amortization 10.4% vs. 9.9%
 

Net income for 2Q 2014 was $29.8 million, or $0.76 per diluted share, compared to net income of $33.2 million, or $0.80 per diluted share, for 2Q 2013. Net income for the first six months of 2014 was $58.1 million, or $1.45 per diluted share, compared to net income of $61.3 million, or $1.47 per diluted share, for the prior-year period.

EBITDA for 2Q 2014 was $92.2 million compared to $91.1 million in 2Q 2013. For the first six months of 2014, EBITDA was $178.7 million compared with $173.1 million in the prior-year period.

  • As a percentage of total revenue, EBITDA in 2Q 2014 was 28.3% and 29.6% in 2Q 2013.
  • For the first six months of 2014, EBITDA, as a percentage of total revenue, was 28.0% compared to 28.9% in the prior-year period.

Cash flows from operating activities for the first six months of 2014 totaled $133.7 million compared to $124.5 million in the prior-year period.

Weighted average fully diluted shares for 2Q 2014 totaled 39.3 million compared to 41.7 million in 2Q 2013. For the first six months of 2014, weighted average fully diluted shares totaled 40.1 million compared to 41.6 million for the prior-year period.

Updated 2014 Business Outlook:

The following statements are based on the Company’s current expectations for fiscal year 2014. These 2014 expectations are subject to the risks and uncertainties further described in the Company’s forward-looking statements:

  • Revenue is expected to be $1.290-1.310 billion (revised from $1.300-1.320 billion).
  • Net income is expected to be $120.0-125.0 million (revised from $125.0-130.0 million).
  • Diluted earnings per common share is expected to be $3.00-3.10 (revised from $3.05-3.15).

As announced on July 17, 2014, the Company will hold a conference call today at 10:00 a.m. ET to discuss its second quarter 2014 results. Akradi, Eric Buss, executive vice president and chief financial officer, and John Heller, vice president, Finance and Investor Relations, will host the conference call. The conference call will be webcast and may be accessed via the Company’s Investor Relations section of its website at lifetimefitness.com. A replay of the call will be available the same day via the Company’s website beginning at approximately 2:00 p.m. ET.

As announced on February 20, 2014, Buss assumed the additional role of interim chief financial officer, effective March 2, 2014. The Company’s board of directors has confirmed Buss’ appointment as chief financial officer, effective July 21, 2014. Buss joined Life Time in September 1999 as vice president of Finance and general counsel. Prior to joining the Company, Buss was an associate with the law firm of Faegre & Benson LLP (now Faegre Baker Daniels LLP) and, before that, he served as an auditor with Arthur Andersen LLP.

About Life Time Fitness, Inc.:

As The Healthy Way of Life Company, Life Time Fitness (NYSE:LTM) helps organizations, communities and individuals achieve their total health objectives, athletic aspirations and fitness goals by engaging in their areas of interest — or discovering new passions — both inside and outside of Life Time’s distinctive and large sports, professional fitness, family recreation and spa destinations, most of which operate 24 hours a day, seven days a week. The Company’s Healthy Way of Life approach enables customers to achieve this by providing the best programs, people and places of uncompromising quality and value. As of July 24, 2014, the Company operated 112 centers under the LIFE TIME FITNESS® and LIFE TIME ATHLETIC® brands in the United States and Canada. Additional information about Life Time centers, programs and services is available at lifetimefitness.com.

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 can usually be identified by the use of terminology such as “anticipate,” “believe,” “continue,” “could,” “estimate,” “evolve,” “expect,” “forecast,” “intend,” “looking ahead,” “may,” “opinion,” “plan,” “possible,” “potential,” “project,” “should,” “will” and similar words or expressions. Forward-looking statements are subject to certain risks and uncertainties that could cause the Company’s actual results in the future to differ materially from its historical results and those presently anticipated or projected. Among these factors are attracting and retaining members, risks related to our debt levels and debt covenants, the ability to access our existing credit facility and obtain additional financing, strains on our business from continued and future growth, including potential acquisitions and other strategic initiatives, risks related to maintenance and security of our data, potential recognition of compensation expense related to performance-based stock grants, competition from other health and fitness centers, identifying and acquiring suitable sites for new centers, delays in opening new centers, unanticipated expenses relating to regulatory matters or litigation, and other factors set forth in the risk factor section of the Company’s annual report on Form 10-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The Company cautions investors not to place undue reliance on any such forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date on which such statements were made. The Company undertakes no obligation to update such statements to reflect events or circumstances arising after such date. All remarks made during the Company’s preliminary financial results webcast will be current at the time of the webcast and the Company is under no obligation to update the recording.

   
LIFE TIME FITNESS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
(In thousands)
(Unaudited)
     
June 30, December 31,
2014 2013
ASSETS
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents $ 15,850 $ 8,334
Accounts receivable, net 11,091 8,298
Center operating supplies and inventories 36,660 32,778
Prepaid expenses and other current assets 28,942 25,802
Deferred membership origination costs 9,455 9,945
Deferred income taxes 4,526 6,881
Income tax receivable   7,614     6,698  
Total current assets 114,138 98,736
Property and equipment, net 2,289,876 2,105,077
Restricted cash 588 850
Deferred membership origination costs 6,433 5,210
Goodwill 57,478 49,195
Intangible assets, net 35,175 29,299
Other assets   43,675     42,684  
Total assets $ 2,547,363   $ 2,331,051  
 
LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY
Current liabilities:
Current maturities of long-term debt $ 27,366 $ 24,505
Accounts payable 37,688 28,645
Construction accounts payable 43,436 47,342
Accrued expenses 67,327 67,435
Deferred revenue   46,037     35,032  
Total current liabilities 221,854 202,959
Long-term debt, net of current portion 1,097,716 824,093
Deferred rent liability 29,149 28,933
Deferred income taxes 94,496 100,504
Deferred revenue 6,499 5,246
Other liabilities   20,938     21,287  
Total liabilities   1,470,652     1,183,022  
Shareholders' equity:
Common stock 794 843
Additional paid-in capital 272,921 402,147
Retained earnings 808,774 750,654
Accumulated other comprehensive loss   (5,778 )   (5,615 )
Total shareholders' equity   1,076,711     1,148,029  
Total liabilities and shareholders' equity $ 2,547,363   $ 2,331,051  
 
                 
LIFE TIME FITNESS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
(In thousands except per share data)
(Unaudited)
 
For the Three Months Ended For the Six Months Ended
June 30, June 30,
2014 2013 2014 2013
Revenue:
Membership dues $ 205,164 $ 194,816 $ 401,979 $ 381,190
Enrollment fees 3,019 3,573 6,142 6,969
In-center revenue   104,359     97,275     202,764     189,246  
Total center revenue 312,542 295,664 610,885 577,405
Other revenue   14,022     12,444     27,634     21,450  
Total revenue   326,564     308,108     638,519     598,855  
Operating expenses:
Center operations 194,005 176,798 377,123 346,760
Advertising and marketing 9,733 9,629 22,072 20,588
General and administrative 14,496 15,713 30,360 31,069
Other operating 16,377 15,225 30,799 28,059
Depreciation and amortization   34,460     30,017     66,598     59,279  
Total operating expenses   269,071     247,382     526,952     485,755  
Income from operations   57,493     60,726     111,567     113,100  
Other income (expense):
Interest expense, net (8,652 ) (6,434 ) (16,503 ) (12,563 )
Equity in earnings of affiliate   270     378     568     724  
Total other income (expense)   (8,382 )   (6,056 )   (15,935 )   (11,839 )
Income before income taxes 49,111 54,670 95,632 101,261
Provision for income taxes   19,307     21,483     37,512     39,973  
Net income $ 29,804   $ 33,187   $ 58,120   $ 61,288  
 
Basic earnings per common share $ 0.76   $ 0.80   $ 1.46   $ 1.48  
Diluted earnings per common share $ 0.76   $ 0.80   $ 1.45   $ 1.47  
 
Weighted average number of common shares outstanding - basic   39,128     41,456     39,870     41,376  
Weighted average number of common shares outstanding - diluted   39,255     41,659     40,123     41,644  
 
     
LIFE TIME FITNESS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
(In thousands)
(Unaudited)
For the Six Months Ended
June 30,
  2014         2013  
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net income $ 58,120 $ 61,288

Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:

Depreciation and amortization 66,598 59,279
Deferred income taxes (3,715 ) 671
Gain on disposal of property and equipment, net (459 ) (216 )
Gain on sale of land held for sale (17 ) -
Amortization of deferred financing costs 1,245 1,100
Share-based compensation 6,777 6,286
Excess tax benefit related to share-based compensation (917 ) (4,564 )
Changes in operating assets and liabilities 6,508 1,726
Other   (478 )   (1,116 )
Net cash provided by operating activities   133,662     124,454  
 
Cash flows from investing activities:
Purchases of property and equipment (253,411 ) (137,433 )
Acquisitions, net of cash acquired (12,400 ) (437 )
Proceeds from sale of property and equipment 691 763
Proceeds from sale of land held for sale 785 -
Proceeds from property insurance settlements - 175
Decrease (increase) in other assets 2,333 (736 )
Decrease in restricted cash   262     1,640  
Net cash used in investing activities   (261,740 )   (136,028 )
 
Cash flows from financing activities:
Proceeds from long-term borrowings 83,750 75,000
Repayments of long-term borrowings (10,772 ) (28,272 )
Proceeds from (repayments of) revolving credit facility, net 203,400 (13,500 )
Increase in deferred financing costs (4,470 ) (976 )
Excess tax benefit related to share-based compensation 917 4,564
Proceeds from stock option exercises 2,662 1,108
Proceeds from employee stock purchase plan 775 607
Stock purchased for employee stock purchase plan (701 ) (569 )
Repurchases of common stock   (139,994 )   (28,157 )
Net cash provided by financing activities   135,567     9,805  
 
Effect of exchange rates on cash and cash equivalents   27     (1,604 )
 
Increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents 7,516 (3,373 )
Cash and cash equivalents - beginning of period   8,334     16,499  
Cash and cash equivalents - end of period $ 15,850   $ 13,126  
 

Non-GAAP Financial Measure

This release and the related conference call disclose EBITDA, a non-GAAP financial measure.

EBITDA. Earnings Before Interest, Income Taxes and Depreciation and Amortization (EBITDA) is a non-GAAP measure consisting of net income plus interest expense, net, provision for income taxes and depreciation and amortization. This term, as the Company defines it, may not be comparable to a similarly titled measure used by other companies and is not a measure of performance presented in accordance with GAAP. The Company uses EBITDA as a measure of operating performance. The funds depicted by EBITDA are not necessarily available for discretionary use if they are reserved for particular capital purposes, to maintain compliance with debt covenants, to service debt or to pay taxes. EBITDA should not be considered as a substitute for net income, net cash provided by operating activities or other income or cash flow data prepared in accordance with GAAP. Additional details related to EBITDA are provided in the Form 8-K that the Company filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on the date of this press release. The following table provides a reconciliation of net income, the most directly comparable GAAP measure, to EBITDA:

       
RECONCILIATION OF NET INCOME TO EBITDA
(In thousands)
(Unaudited)
         
For the Three Months Ended For the Six Months Ended
June 30, June 30,
2014 2013 2014 2013
Net income $ 29,804 $ 33,187 $ 58,120 $ 61,288
Interest expense, net 8,652 6,434 16,503 12,563
Provision for income taxes 19,307 21,483 37,512 39,973
Depreciation and amortization   34,460   30,017   66,598   59,279
EBITDA $ 92,223 $ 91,121 $ 178,733 $ 173,103